• Cars are here to stay • Law with bite in it needed • It’s them complaining Cars are here to stay The Garden Island interview with Councilman Tim Bynum, “Building a safe walking community,” was quite interesting. However, every
• Cars are here to stay • Law with bite in it needed • It’s them complaining
Cars are here to stay
The Garden Island interview with Councilman Tim Bynum, “Building a safe walking community,” was quite interesting. However, every story has two sides and the flip side needs to be addressed.
Do we need safe walk ways for our citizens? Of course we do.
Do we need more buses predominantly subsidized by our tax dollars? Questionably.
Some municipalities have contracts with cab companies that pick up seniors and ADA people and take them to shop or the doctor and take them back home, at a cost far less than what buses are costing. This would seem to be more convenient for the users and for economic reasons so should be explored before spending more money on buses.
Do we need to be spending $100 million or more for a multi-use path on the Eastside of Kaua‘i that will be of such little benefit to the total population of our island? I don’t think so.
The vast majority of this island moves by their own vehicle — probably 95 percent or more. To get from point A to point B whether it is for shopping, work, emergency or recreation, the vehicle is and always will be the number one choice.
Ask any member of the council (including Tim Bynum) or the Administration if they will ever abandon their truck or car to walk, bike, or bus to their destination — on a regular basis — and the answer, if honest, will be no.
At council meetings I have challenged all members to tell me that they will abandon their vehicles and the silence is deafening. The old saying that “do as I say” but not “do as I do” fits this situation so clearly.
The “feel good” proponents of this multi-use path as a means of transportation can give no factual use for its being used as such. The only reason the word “transportation” was ever used was to satisfy federal regulations for building the path and this is still a debatable point today.
The vehicle is here to stay — be it gas, hybrid, electric, hydrogen or some new fuel as yet undiscovered. Gas prices in European and Asian nations are double ours and yet there are as many vehicles on their roads as in the U.S. They love the independence and the freedom of their vehicle the same as we do.
We mush have more alternate roads around our Island for emergency purposes as well as to alleviate the horrendous traffic that gets worse by the day. Many years ago Billy Fernandez wisely proposed a route from Puhi to the North Shore over the Power Line trail but it was ignored. Think of how that alternate route would have made a huge difference in traffic flow today.
Hopefully our elected leaders will prioritize our needs and stop living in the dream world with so many projects. And, while they are at it, get us a county manager that is experienced and educated to fullfill these needs.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Law with bite in it needed
Interesting, the subject of barking dogs makes the rounds … again.
Yes, I do think it’s a big problem, not just here on Kaua‘i but statewide. I know what it’s like to live next to neighbors who cannot or will not control their pets.
You would think that on our beautiful island where “live aloha” is supposed to be a way of life that residents whether locally born or newcomers understand that it’s just plain ole common courtesy and respect that you control you animals so that they do not bother your neighbors.
This has nothing to do with infringing on anyone’s rights as a pet owner but it has everything to do with your responsibility as one.
Think about it. Whether you have a 2 pound Chihuahua or a pack of 20 hunting dogs, it is you, the legal guardian that has ultimate responsibility. Dog owners need to realize that it’s not just one neighbor that might be upset but the whole neighborhood.
Sometimes your neighbors might not want to approach you or they even may be afraid of retribution in some way; this should not matter. Again I think it boils down to common courtesy and respect for others.
It’s too bad really, that laws need to be implemented to help curb this type of problem here on Kaua‘i. But I’m a realist, I know full well that this issue will never go away so I think we do need some laws passed with some bite in it (pun intended) to give law enforcement and the Humane Society the tools they need to help keep the peace. Have you hugged your dog today? I did.
Stephen Shioi, Kapa‘a
It’s them complaining
The letter that Triana Bergonia wrote is true (“Barking dogs a perception problem,” June 19).
A dog will bark for a good reason. Why do we call them guard dogs? Dogs will protect their owner and property and will let everyone know if there is a stranger around.
Yes, I will say we have some bad apples around but why should we make a law for some people to make them happy? Our Island has a lot of hunters with a lot of dogs this is part of our way to put food on the table so to make a law to stop the dogs from barking is nuts.
Maybe we should make a law to limit the people from moving to the island. Seems to me that is the ones that is always complaining about something.
Royden Orsatelli, ‘Ele‘ele
