Bill 108
Many short-term vacation rentals were lost in the lava, lowering the incomes of local restaurants, stores, cleaners, handypersons, gardeners, etc.
The owners of these short-term vacation rentals, who are trying to establish new ones in the area, are at present given absolutely no help by the Hawaii County Planning Department. They are being held to the same requirements as everyone else, having to have their rentals in operation by April 1, 2019.
In the new Rule 23, regarding short-term vacation rentals in this area, it states on the LAST page in the LAST paragraph:
“In the event of a declared emergency, natural or manmade, where a significant number of nonconforming short-term vacation rentals are permanently lost within any given judicial district, the director shall assess the effect of such loss upon the affected district and if deemed necessary, initiate legislative and administrative opportunities to restore such loss in short-term vacation rentals capacity within the district of origin.”
This emergency, namely the lava, had already happened at the time of Bill 108’s passing, yet all we get is an obscure paragraph that might be used to help those affected. This is the time to establish a specific rule on this important issue, rather than it being left in the air.
If you care, please attend the meeting at 5:30 p.m. March 1 at the Aupuni Conference Center.
Magdalene Phillips
Pahoa
Always taking
There are two sides to every equation. In the fiscal (government money) equation, there’s give and there’s take.
Give to the government and needed projects; take from the public (taxpayer). Why does government always want to take?
Perhaps it is because they give too much. If the county really doesn’t have control over much of its spending (as a councilwoman contests) perhaps it is time to gain control.
The general excise tax impacts (as some are fond of pointing out) the poor more than the rich. If you really want to help the people of Hawaii, tax less, not more.
This isn’t rocket science.
Address the “give” side of the equation by forcing department heads to establish priorities and live within a budget, and relocate public workers where they are needed most.
Address the “take” side of the equation by legalizing gambling and pakalolo.
What’s so hard about that?
Fred Fogel
Volcano