Port expansion not needed
A recent article said that the state is wanting to spend $15 million to expand the port of Hilo, primarily to improve traffic flow in Keaukaha.
As a business owner in this area, I agree that traffic was a serious problem during the extremely long construction project. However, now that it is finally completed, it is not a concern. Even on the days where the trucks line up early to enter the port, traffic can go around with no issues, unlike before.
If this project goes ahead, our business is one that will be eliminated. We have seven employees and provide valuable low-cost car rentals to the community.
Relocation may be impossible. Also, there is a certified kitchen on the property used by over a dozen vendors who rely on it.
There are many proposed projects that need urgent attention, like the Pohoiki Boat Ramp. Why does our government want to spend money on something that is not needed which puts people out of business?
Colleen Otani
Hilo
The COVID blame game
The “Their View” column on the Commentary page for June 21 inspired me to make a few comments.
It expounds upon a book published by The Institute of Economic Affairs that concluded that lockdowns instituted to slow the spread of COVID-19 were negligibly effective.
In a search online for The Institute of Economic Affairs Wikipedia describes it as: “a right-wing pressure group and think tank registered as a UK charity associated with the New Right.” An online search of many reliable sources confirms this.
The measures instituted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were their response to a sudden, rapid increase in COVID-19, a new virus for which they had no information. They used measures developed during the 1918-1919 flu epidemic that were markedly successful, a logical course of action given the circumstances.
I’m wondering how the authors of the book came up with the figure of 16,000 lives saved by COVID measures. The pandemic was a massive, worldwide event, and any estimate of deaths “prevented” is theoretical at best. Comparing pandemic-“prevented” deaths to actual reported deaths from annual influenza is clearly apples and oranges.
The article goes on to assume a link between drug overdoses and the shutdown. I believe the increase in drug overdoses is due to dealers increasingly using fentanyl to cut into many illegal drugs and counterfeit prescription pills to increase their profit. It makes more sense than jumping to a conclusion that it was lockdown-caused.
Once again, the setback in learning for students during the pandemic is bemoaned. What was the alternative? The nature of COVID-19 was unknown, and attempts to be cautious were wise. We now know that kids are vulnerable to the virus and it can have long-term effects.
We all had to live through the pandemic, and we’re dealing with the resulting problems. Can we stop blaming or crediting various parties?
We all did the best we could under the circumstances.
Karen Cooper
Hilo