A call for action
Why can’t more be done to move the homeless out of downtown Hilo?
I read that there’s a dispute over doing “sweeps,” but the mayor did the right thing by clearing out some of the homeless in Kona.
When the homeless people are in the way and preventing the rest of the public from accessing our public spaces, they should be moved/relocated. Why can’t this be done in downtown Hilo?
I feel terrible for the merchants and others who are trying to make a living downtown. It’s so bad down there, especially at night! Literally people in almost every doorway/entry!
Hilo needs a clean, pleasant downtown where visitors and locals alike can feel safe. This is an appeal to our elected officials and police to do something about the homeless who are “occupying” downtown.
A. Yamamoto
Hilo
Porta-potties, please
Hawaii County has removed the porta-potties at Hakalau Veterans Park, where a farmers market is held every Tuesday.
The Department of Parks and Recreation says they lack money to get new portable toilets. It is bad enough that Hawaii County cannot do plumbing but to lack portable toilets too is unacceptable.
We pay taxes for infrastructure. Bad enough they closed the bridge to Kaiwiki Homestead Road, forcing residents to cross an ancient wooden bridge on a narrow gravel road, but now our last area park lacks sanitation facilities too.
Where are our taxes going besides police and infrastructure.? How can portable toilets be too expensive for the public when every roadwork project has them?
Bettie Van Overbeke
Hakalau
Obit observations
Besides immediately reading the main headlines of the Tribune-Herald, I go directly to the obituaries. Quite often, I see very short obits on individuals who have passed, and also printed within each obituary are things like “No known families” and “Survivors are asked to call … .”
Many may conclude that many of these individuals may have been homeless, whether they are originally from the islands or out of state.
Many may have chosen not to reveal more than just their names, keeping the names of family members, friends, where they are from, career background, etc., to themselves. Soul searching, perhaps?
Eventually, more information about the deceased becomes available when family and friends are subsequently located but are given the bad news.
Personally, reading these types of obits does humble me. But for whatever reasons, they kept their private lives a secret.
Blessings to all of them upon their next journey.
Rick LaMontagne
Hilo