Economy booster
Short-term rentals in agriculture districts again an issue?
Most of this county’s land that is privately owned and able to be used for any kind of business activity is zoned A-1, A-3, A-5 or A-20 even if it is many hundreds of acres in size.
Most of that land lacks the soil for growing much, and the lava-based “soil” in most places is hard on critters’ feet, so the options for actual farming and animal husbandry have always been limited.
Lands that can’t be productive of an ag-based income that might produce income by allowing rentals to tourists and short-term residents should be so used.
A tourist’s dollar spent at an international hotel chain goes international. It is not put back into the local community. A tourist’s dollar spent in a locally owned rental is at least very likely to be spent locally.
Local families need this income, and our local economy needs the stimulation.
Carl Oguss
Hilo
‘Clogged streets’
I believe it’s time for the Tribune-Herald to conduct a series or exposé regarding the state of the Big Island’s highway and road conditions, including what government is doing (if anything, other than talk) to remedy the highly unsafe clogging of our thoroughfares.
This should include all parts of the island, but concentrate on Puna (with it’s totally unsafe Highway 130) as well as Hilo/Kona’s clogged streets.
I hear from many, when the subject is brought up, the same concerns and despair people live with in mere driving to their work, shopping, hauling kids to school and back, etc.
It appears the state/county are years behind, with the future only looking worse. I, for one, detest having to drive into Hilo for appointments or anything for that matter, much less consider going back to work.
I hope the Tribune-Herald seriously looks at this proposal and acts upon it. Who knows? Maybe something’s coming on line that we’re unaware of? Makes for good reading I would think.
A series would be welcomed.
Dean Reinking
Keaau
Bad precedent
A murder’s sentence was reduced because he was a police officer when he committed the premeditated murder of his wife?
The recounting of how Albert Pecheco carried out his plan of luring his wife with a lie about their children, then ran her vehicle off the road and shot her 14 times reads like a horror story.
The fact that this killer was a police officer makes it even more heinous. He obviously deserves the sentences he was given.
He must be held to a higher standard. An individual who murders a police officer, even without premeditation, is held to a higher standard and receives harsher punishment upon conviction. Pecheco was a police officer, and that fact alone meets all the requirements for consideration of a harsher punishment.
A precedent is being established by this judicial action, and it’s not a good one.
L. E. Goldstein
Keaau
