HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0101.029 1998-2000 L.
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February 3, 1999
co
Council Chairman James Arakaki co
25 Auptmi Street c j Cr
Hilo, HI 96720
RE: Alii Highway
Representative Arakaki, ry L'
Your ad in Sunday's paper has raised many questions which 1 feel need addressed First, l would
like to know how this ad was paid for. I did read the disclaimer, but have to question the motive
behind former councilman Joe Reynolds willingness to pay for the ad What is his agenda - is he
one antic contractors? I have to question why an elected official such as yourself feels you needs
to advertise in the paper to express your point of view, which does not necessarily state your
constituent's views_
Second, Mr. Arakaki, I doubt there are any council members voting on this issue whose lives will
be impacted as ours will- I live on Royal Poinciana with my 82 year- old - mother who has been in
Hawaii since 1987. She is a retired teacher who retired an disability and is living on a small,
fixed income. Her life savings were put into building her hone where she wants to live out the
rest of her days in peace. She is in no condition to have her life totally up- rooted and have to find
a new place to live. If this proposal went within 50' of any of the council member's living rooms,
I am sure a new route or plan would be devised to eliminate this 'inconvenience'. Politicians like
you seem to forget that you are elected to carry out the will of the people who put you on the
council, not run ads and promote your point of view over those of the voters.
I agree that the traffic is outrageous, but there are many solutions which do not put heavy traffic
loads through established residential areas WHICH INCLUDE A GRADE SCHOOL WHICH IS
ALREADY OVERLOADED TRAFFIC WISE! One -way streets have alleviated traffic in large
cities throughout the United States for decades. The Kona Area is not that large. With proper and
thoughtful plarming, traffic could be eliminated and accommodations could be made for
pedestrians, walkers, bikers and others which would alleviate most oftbe problems. The area
down by the palace should be closed off to vehicles and the traffic re- routed via one -way streets to
bypass that area. The existing Knakim Highway south of town should be widened to accommodate
two lanes each direction and continue that policy all the way north.
These are just a few suggestions and I am sure there are many other options- Ion' rail and
incentives for ROV lanes have made major irnprovemetris throughout the States. There are
mrmerous solutions that have been tried and proven in other places where the traffic is mach worse
than here and in much denser populations. Comm. INTO. 101.2.9
File No. F�(
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Ref. Date FEB 0 4 1999
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These are just solutions I thought of without the benefit of studies and without spending the
millions of dollars the council has already wasted to come with a completely unsatisfactory
solution
Mr. Arakai, I resent your ad stating it is fiction that everyone's against the road - you need to listen
to those it will impact Come to our homes and see how it will affect and ruin our quality of
living. We are not silent, but we need representatives who will open their ears. The people in
Kilo should not be the ones to determine how we must spend the rest of our lives. We do not need
it - there are better solutions.
You and your council have already spent millions and have little to show for it but a very
disgnhtled populace. You need to listen to the people who are in the area, and then, as elected
officials were intended to do, carry out the peoples' wishes. Running ads which stress YOUR
point of view does not represent the people - just promotes you and your agenda I would like to
see elected officials that care about the little guy.
Sincerely, S