HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0968.009 1996-1998
BFS, Inc.
dba Ben Franklin Crafts and Ace Hardware
333 Kilauea Avenue, Suite 214
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone: 933-1908
RECFJVED
To: Hawaii County Council Date
Date: October 7, 1998 E4- nb Council
Subject: Support for Skateboard Ordinance
Good Morning. My name is Wayne Kamitaki and I am one of the owners of the Ben
Franklin Craft store on Kilauea Avenue. I am here to support and speak in favor of
passage of the skateboard ordinance banning skateboarding from certain areas within
downtown Hilo.
The current activity practiced by many of the skateboarders in Hilo downtown is creating
a situation of a tragedy waiting to happen.
We have received numerous complaints from our customers who are harassed and
intimidated by the skateboarders along the sidewalks and within our parking lot. There
have been some close calls of skateboarders doing dare-devil stunts unbeknowst to the
driver of the car.
We have repeatedly and in a friendly way requested to the skateboarders to take their
activity elsewhere for safety and liability reasons. Our building has been pelted with raw
eggs. My van has been vandalized in our own parking lot by someone breaking one of
my windows with nothing taken. All of these incidents have occurred immediately after
our polite requests to the skateboarders to leave. While I have no proof of who is
responsible, 1 do not want to live in an intimidating environment.
We have hired a security guard at the cost of $1,000 per month strictly to help us with
this skateboarding problem. It is a waste of time and money, but it is our interest to make
our customers feel safe and comfortable in shopping at our business.
While not all skateboarders are negligent, there are just too many of them who are
creating very dangerous situations for all of us.
Please take these issues into consideration and please vote to pass this ordinance to
protect both the skateboarders and the public.
Thank you.
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