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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> BFS, Inc. <br /> dba Ben Franklin Crafts and Ace Hardware <br /> <br /> 333 Kilauea Avenue, Suite 214 <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Phone: 933-1908 <br /> RECFJVED <br /> <br /> To: Hawaii County Council Date <br /> Date: October 7, 1998 E4- nb Council <br /> Subject: Support for Skateboard Ordinance <br /> <br /> <br /> Good Morning. My name is Wayne Kamitaki and I am one of the owners of the Ben <br /> Franklin Craft store on Kilauea Avenue. I am here to support and speak in favor of <br /> passage of the skateboard ordinance banning skateboarding from certain areas within <br /> downtown Hilo. <br /> <br /> The current activity practiced by many of the skateboarders in Hilo downtown is creating <br /> a situation of a tragedy waiting to happen. <br /> <br /> We have received numerous complaints from our customers who are harassed and <br /> intimidated by the skateboarders along the sidewalks and within our parking lot. There <br /> have been some close calls of skateboarders doing dare-devil stunts unbeknowst to the <br /> driver of the car. <br /> <br /> We have repeatedly and in a friendly way requested to the skateboarders to take their <br /> activity elsewhere for safety and liability reasons. Our building has been pelted with raw <br /> eggs. My van has been vandalized in our own parking lot by someone breaking one of <br /> my windows with nothing taken. All of these incidents have occurred immediately after <br /> our polite requests to the skateboarders to leave. While I have no proof of who is <br /> responsible, 1 do not want to live in an intimidating environment. <br /> <br /> We have hired a security guard at the cost of $1,000 per month strictly to help us with <br /> this skateboarding problem. It is a waste of time and money, but it is our interest to make <br /> our customers feel safe and comfortable in shopping at our business. <br /> <br /> While not all skateboarders are negligent, there are just too many of them who are <br /> creating very dangerous situations for all of us. <br /> <br /> Please take these issues into consideration and please vote to pass this ordinance to <br /> protect both the skateboarders and the public. <br /> <br /> Thank you. <br /> <br /> G ~rnn+ No. <br /> LL-L <br /> F '41e Ne._ EC Tl2~ <br /> Ref. lblprPSPns g Co~ti~ L <br /> Ref. I)ate._.-. <br />