Please define ‘local’ family
I read an article in Thursday’s paper (TGI Oct. 25) about affordable housing on the Westside. In the article, there were several quotes from Ross Kagawa stating he supports the project because it would provide affordable housing for “local” families. What is a “local” family? Why do you say it would be good, “because the actual results when you go on the roads are all locals.”
Are you saying you believe these affordable houses should not be for any people of Caucasian heritage and they are not considered “local families” as well? Please clarify and please define what you believe a “local” family is exactly instead of slinging those terms around like everyone understands.
Shouldn’t affordable housing be for anyone who qualifies regardless of race or heritage, as per state and federal laws, or is it more of the good ol’ boy network where friends and relatives get affordable housing, county jobs and preferential treatment?
James Silva, Kalaheo
Don’t leave pakalolo, poop behind for others to find
Today (Saturday, Oct. 28), our short visit along a 50-foot stretch of the walking path at Kamalani Playground resulted in one of our leashed dogs finding and eating something along the walkway which, unbeknownst to us, was marijuana.
When she vomited, her vomit reeked of it. This ingestion resulted in her needing emergency medical care after becoming ill, which can be difficult and/or impossible on an island with no dedicated 24-hour emergency vet service.
A week ago, our leashed dog found human excrement under the sand right next to the shoes we left on the beach when we went to dip our feet in the ocean directly adjacent to the Courtyard Marriott by Longs in Waipouli.
People, if you have to take a dump at the beach, do what we do for our dogs and bring a poop bag. If you’re gonna stash your dope, you better make sure it’s out of reach of dogs or kids or your actions could possibly kill somebody’s child, human or otherwise.
Mahalo for caring.
Deb Dixon, Kapaa
Mr. Silva, I’ve often wondered who the “locals” are, especially on Kauai.
Ms. Dixon, welcome to our world of increasing vagrant populations, many with addictions and other issue, and most of whom could not care less about society.
Yeah Derek saying it’s for “locals” is a trump-like dog whistle. I’ve noticed you doing that a lot. Seems like you’re lacking confidence and need to appeal to the lowest denominator = race. You can be born and raised here 2-3 generations but if you’re white, that’s not fitting with his word “local”. If you’re straight from Manila or Luzon, you can be “local” the minute your plane lands. Not cool.
Uncleaina, I think your comment was meant for Ross not Derek. Reread the article, Ross is the one accused of being a narrow minded racist.
Mr. Silva and other two commenters. I’m pretty sure and feel safe to say, ” Mr. Kagawa’s statement “for local families”. He means, ” all color and race who was born here in Hawaii!’ You guys are taking it to deep, “chill why don’t you?”
Ah yea,…..but…..and here we go again…..”Born in Hawaii” is not a condition, or credential, for any Government subsidy. Furthermore, the “I was here first” attitude is less than sophomoric……no one cares where you were born unless you want to claim citizenship.
Ross will jump up and down that he is not a racist, but we all know what he meant.
So, if you were not born here but have lived here for 30 years, for example, you are not a “local”? Is that what Kagawa means?
Local means “of or in particular area” After living here for thirty years from elsewhere. You are still a transplant!
In other words, “born and raised!” Doesn’t matter what color or race. Get it straight.
I googled the definition of “local” and this is what came up: “belonging or relating to a particular area or neighborhood, typically exclusively so.” It doesn’t mention a requirement of having been born in the neighborhood. If you live exclusively in an area, you are a local, per definition. You, as well as Kagawa and others have different definitions of “local” that do not comport with the accepted generic definition. Why is that? Racism?
James , “my father didn’t raise me to be a racist”! If that was so, “I wouldn’t have marry someone out of my race.”
What about this: if you look Hawaiian and are born elsewhere and speak pidgeon, you are considered local. If you are white, born here, speak pidgeon, you are not local. What’s up with that?
Mano gindashadow0711 if you get this please reply I have a question for you
So Deb, let me guess? Your dog was not on a leash, or you would have been able to stop it from eating the weed and would have been able to take it home for a mind fest? Try obeying the law! PUT YOUR DOG ON A DAMN LEASH!!
Putting the Ross distain for “transplants” aside……the real issue is using your tax dollars (your money) to subsidize families to remain on the islands. In the real world….you are born, raised, attend school, then move on to find the best opportunity (job/career), regardless of location. This sophomoric “People born here need to live here” is ridiculous.
If you cannot afford the median price for a house, then you buy a house, somewhere, that you can afford. It’s not that hard to do a little planning and sacrifice. This pandering (“WE NEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING”) by elected government officials needs to end. Stop the madness!
Let’s be honest here, bottom line is you are local here if you are of color. If you are white, you will never be local and that is what Kagawa acatually means. He just doesn’t want to say it outright.
I can outright say that “I didn’t vote for Ross.” So lets break this down. I’m born and raised from Oahu and moved to Kauai in 1996 (22 years ago). My keiki attended school on Kauai. Now, am I local? Or “local” to Oahu only? Mixed plate but not Hawaiian, Am I “local?” Do I need to speak Hawaiian or like Ross (pigen to da max) and not understand what the heck he’s saying. Let’s first start on a clearer definition of “affordable housing” than who’s “local”. Mel for Mayor!
The irony is that we are all “mixed” race.
Hawaii has less than 5% of its population that claims to be “Native Hawaiian” (however you want to define it these days). Saying you are “local” is totally subjective. Almost everyone that was born here claims to be “local”. Because you were born on Oahu, the sixth-grade ignorants on this island will state you are not local. Having Hawaiian blood has nothing to do with being “local”.
Affordable Housing = Subsidized Housing……..you cannot fight Supply-and-Demand.
According to some, since I am a “Flip” I am no local. I was born here. Stupid. I am local just a much as any.
Mr. Oswald. Read the article again and you will find in he first paragraph that the dogs were leashed. Quit berating everyone else and try to look for some positives every now and then. You seem very bitter with all of your responses.