• Let’s improve roads before paths • Cap lift a questionable move • Big hat, no cattle Let’s improve roads before paths In checking out the latest State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) I note that the biggest expenditure of the county in the future
• Let’s improve roads before paths • Cap lift a questionable move • Big hat, no cattle
Let’s improve roads before paths
In checking out the latest State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) I note that the biggest expenditure of the county in the future will be for the multi-use path.
Their objective would be far better served if their purpose was to serve the needs of those who need or choose to use their own vehicles for transportation and that their attention should be on improving the quality of the highway system. Multi-use paths may have attraction for some but they are not transportation systems. No bike, bus or walking will ever be a substitute for the individual vehicle, that is a hard, cold fact. If you doubt this statement then use yourself and your friends as examples and see what you use for transportation. The county offered free bus rides to all 1,500 of their employees for a month and a total of 50 took advantage of the offer!
No expensive study needs to be done to show that we need more alternate and wider roads to alleviate traffic and make it safer for commuters in case of a natural disaster. Originally that bike path was built as a means of transportation and not recreation to satisfy federal guidelines but a simple look will show that not one vehicle has left our roads because of it. In fact there are those who have shown that traffic may have increased due to the people who use their vehicles to get to the path to walk their dogs!
The bike routes that Joe Rosa helped build 35 years ago are still along our highways but for lack of use they are not maintained. So why is someone still pushing for more bike lanes whereas HDOT needs more funds to alleviate traffic as they have done with the wonderful project still on going by KCC — give them what they need for the benefit of the masses and not syphon off funds for a feel good bike path. Just how many bikes do you see on the bike paths that have been built thus far as compared to the number of cars?
Glenn Mickens
Kapaa
Cap lift a questionable move
Who removed the 2 percent maximum increase in real property taxes for homeowners?
If you recall, there was much discussion and consideration given to limiting owner-occupied homeowners real property tax increases. Agreement was reached in 2006, the County Council approved a 2 percent cap increase which provided a shield for many homeowners. In 2014, the council voted to remove the permanent home use cap and offset some of the increases with large exemptions.
It didn’t work!
Who removed the 2 percent maximum increase in real property taxes for homeowners?
Mike Curtis
Koloa
Big hat, no cattle
Attention mayor and Kauai County Council! How many times in 20-plus years has an under-or-nonfunded group talked big about Coco Palms, and then had no funding to back up their claims? Four, six, eight? The latest hui says now they need $126 million to get it done. Give me me a break!
Forget the name dropping of Hyatt Regency: They would only brand and probably run the “new” Coco Palms; they have no skin in the game until it is finished and no doubt meets other Hyatt requirements.
Is there a person or malahini alive who doesn’t despise the rotting hulk? Its very continued existence is a humiliation to all Kauai, and a searing indictment of all past and present administrations. We hear that the mayor is ready to pull the plug. How about the County Council? I hope so.
Eminent domain’s time has come. Seize the property, level it (and don’t forget its rotten cousin, Seashells across the highway), remove all evidence of the demolition and turn it into a park or cultural center. Forget trotting out “Elvis stayed here” or other detritus of the 50s.
It’s an election year and voters will smile on your fast and decisive action.
Tom Rice
Princeville
