Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 2390 Kaiwiki Rd. <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> 2006 July 28 <br /> <br /> Councilman Fred Holschuh <br /> County Council <br /> 25 Aipuni St. <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> Dear Fred: <br /> <br /> I know that the issue of drinking in the parks is a very difficult matter to resolve, and I <br /> know that no solution will make everyone happy. Here are some of my thoughts on the matter. <br /> The issue is not drinking; it is rowdiness. Everyone knows that rowdiness is often caused <br /> by drinking, but the connection is not absolute. Some drinkers never get rowdy, and there are <br /> rowdy affairs where no alcohol is involved. I believe any ordinance should target the rowdiness, <br /> vandalism, etc., which is the real issue. <br /> <br /> The notion that the County should pass a law which they intend to be selectively enforced <br /> is seriously flawed, in my view. Laws should be obeyed, period. Obviously that's a pipe dream, <br /> but to deliberately create a law meant to be frequently violated with impunity is very poor policy. <br /> I understand that the Police Department would prefer a clear-cut law which says, "No <br /> drinking." Then, when people are being obnoxious, the police can enforce the no-drinking law <br /> without having to make judgements about who is of legal age, how bad the problem is, etc. But I <br /> truly believe that will not solve their problem, and will create one instead for the public. <br /> If, as various Council members suggested, the law will be enforce only when there is <br /> objectionable behavior occurring, the police involved will still have to decide if the behavior is <br /> sufficiently objectionable to warrant invoking the law. And the issue of who is and who isn't 21 <br /> will remain. <br /> <br /> Many communities have a "drunk and disorderly" statue, allowing the police to intervenC <br /> whep drinking coptrlpptes to rowdy JIV gvior. Coglo not a Hawgi'i county ordinance discuss <br /> behavior, rather than' just drinking? ether in conjunction with drinking of not, it is loud, <br /> destructive, and disruptive actions we all want to eliminate. Surely the ordinince could say so. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Dan Lindsay <br /> <br /> P. S. Please share this with all other councilpersons. Mahalo. <br /> <br /> Dan <br /> <br /> Comm. No. ¦ 31p' ~I <br /> Ref. To Pre <br /> Ref. Date AUG 2006 <br />