• Necessary project? • KIUC response appreciated • Get over it, Mickens • Mahalo for your service Necessary project? Well, Pete, in your July 2 letter “Path popularity” you seem to have information from the Federal Highway Administration that I have not
• Necessary project? • KIUC response appreciated • Get over it, Mickens • Mahalo for your service
Necessary project?
Well, Pete, in your July 2 letter “Path popularity” you seem to have information from the Federal Highway Administration that I have not been privy to.
You state that, “I (me) have been informed over and over and over again that the federal law covering our multi-use path was amended. Transportation use, or proof thereof, is not required for the funding of such paths. The path’s legality was determined and made official when the Secretary of Transportation signed off on it years ago…”
I have a 90-page Federal Highways booklet titled “Federal Guidance Transportation Enhancement Activities 23 U.S.C. and TEA-21” that I got my information from.
If you have documented evidence that the laws in this booklet have been changed, I would appreciate your telling me and the public the date and sections that were amended. If these changes have been made and I am not aware of them I will certainly apologize to the public for my mistake.
In his draft EA four years ago, lawyer Bill Sweeney used these sections of this booklet to keep the path from going in front of the condos along Wailua Beach and won his case — no changes were made to that document at that time.
I will still stand by my statement that $100 million or more to finish this 18 to 23 mile path is an obscene amount of money to spend on a project that is such a low priority.
You state, “The path made Kapa‘a a day-trip destination for island residents like it never was before.” With unemployment rates at an all-time high, home repossession rates skyrocketing, gas prices over $3.50 per gallon, are people really going to drive from the west and north sides of the island to stroll, walk their dogs, or bike on a three-mile path? Sure some people on the Eastside will intermittently use this path but on a cost-to-use basis the cost would be staggering compared to those using our highways to commute.
When megabucks are spent on a project (our taxes), shouldn’t it be one of great use and benefit to all those paying the taxes?
And no, Pete, I don’t think that my approach to putting the facts before the public has been a “complete and utter failure.” The path was once planned to go into the Houselots but once the public was “actually” informed about it the route was dropped.
Native Hawaiians led by Waldeen Palmeira are protesting this path going on the Wailua Beach and another projected route might be stopped.
As stated in The Garden Island, the path in front of Pono Kai may have to be redone and rerouted due to the seawall repair. Councilman Mel Rapozo at the time wisely told the builders of the path to wait until the seawall was repaired before progressing. But our “ready, fire, aim” policy ingrained in our system has raised the possibility of our local dollars paying for this rerouting instead of using fed funds.
The projected finish time for this whole path (as reported in TGI June 22) will be 10 years and with the gigantic cuts in spending across the board the money may never be there to finish it. Factor in maintenance costs, land acquisition, inflation and so many other unforeseen obstacles and can any logical person, even you, Pete, say that this project is a necessity?
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
KIUC response appreciated
Last Saturday night my power went out. I thought I’d head off to bed and it would be back on in the morning, but then I noticed that all my neighbors still had power. Time for a call to KIUC.
I expected to be told they’d get to me on Monday, but they immediately dispatched a truck from Kapa‘a. Within a couple of hours of my call they had my house hooked up to the world’s largest extension cord back to the service vault.
On Monday morning, another seven guys showed up with four trucks and three shovels and fixed the problem. Yes, we have very expensive electrical power on Kaua‘i, but I was impressed by the service and the speed of the repairs. The guys were great. Very reassuring and professional. I didn’t end up throwing out a fridge worth of food. Much appreciated.
Lorelei Armstrong, Princeville
Get over it, Mickens
Kudos to Mr. Antonson on his letter ( “Path popularity,” July 2), with reference to Mr. Mickens and his apparent great dislike of our extremely popular multi-use path.
Mr. Mickens, all the griping, complaining and negative comments on the path aren’t going to stop the continued extension, so why not take a deep breath and get over it to all our relief.
Paleka Smith, Kapa‘a
Mahalo for your service
Before the time passes to far I would like to thank our dear council member Lani Kawahara for her presence of mind on the county council.
She asks pertinent questions and has taken action to protect Kaua‘i from rash decisions. She represents a refreshing voice of wisdom and thoughtfulness.
I’ve watched her ask poignant questions to other council members seeking solution. She is brave and a much needed voice.
She was a standalone vote against the proposed zone change of an Open zoned property in Waimea to an R-4. She asked for a watershed/engineering study to be done prior to further voting.
She was the only council member who was thinking of our future here in Waimea and the importance of undeveloped lands remaining rural, or park, clean and properly maintained.
I would vote for her in a minute if she were to run again. Let’s give her some encouragement. Thanks, Lani, for your service.
Karin Medigovich, Waimea
