In limbo
Response to my letter to this newspaper about the Leilani volcanic eruption was a plea to the authorities to resolve this dilemma for people directly involved with this disaster.
I am 80 years old and have no place to call home. The powers that be have allowed building in this rift zone through the years, and now are at a loss to provide a resolution to this ongoing calamity in a timely manner.
The public coffers were filled by the taxes, but the public figures have not reciprocated with a solution for all involved.
Are all our public figures so blase about what has happened to the people of Leilani Estates, Lanipuna Gardens, Vacationland and Kopoho Beach Lots? Where are Mayor Harry Kim and Civil Defense Administrator Talmadge Magno, as well as Gov. David Ige, while we exist in a state of limbo?
Gelsie Jacobellis
Kailua-Kona
Install cameras
I drive by the Glenwood Park on Highway 11 about three times a week. Most of the time, there are people there enjoying the sheltered area.
Several years ago, the county held a public meeting in Volcano about possibly converting the park to a commuter’s park-and-ride. Sentiment was generally in favor of keeping it a green space instead of a parking lot. One lady claimed there were a lot of “druggies” there, and didn’t want them displaced to her subdivision if the park closed.
Back in April, the county spent some bucks fixing up the lua. Then someone ripped off the top of the catchment tank.
Fast forward to today. The park is closed due to repeated vandalism. The director of Parks and Recreation, Roxcie Waltjen, is absolutely correct. The money required to constantly repair the small park takes away from projects elsewhere, and the park users are inconvenienced by a few idiots.
As I stated back in April, for much less than what parks and rec is spending for maintenance, it could have installed cameras long ago.
Do the community a favor. Identify the idiots, and throw the book at them. No doubt they are ripping off or tearing up other things, too. Invest in solving the problem rather than continuously fixing the results.
Just a thought.
Fred Fogel
Volcano