Potholes in governance
The article in Sunday’s paper about the Waianuenue Avenue repaving (Tribune-Herald, April 11) portrayed a type of governance we don’t want for this island — governance by power politics instead of rational systems based on objective data and clear criteria.
“Momentum” for one County Council member could come at the expense of less powerful fellow council members.
The policy question for all of us should be whether there has been progress in the creation of a rational repaving system so that limited funding resources can be fairly allocated to the highest needs.
Such a system was created under Harry Kim’s administration, where the pavement conditions of every mile of county roads was analyzed and a ranking system developed.
This data is the foundation for a rational system of governance regardless of what administration is in place.
Roy Takemoto
Former Hawaii County managing director
Use concrete
Waianuenue Avenue was resurfaced from the junction with Kamehameha Avenue to Komohana Street just a few years ago. This portion is starting to show its age. Now, there is talk about resurfacing farther up Waianuenue.
Frequent resurfacing would not be necessary if we simply paved the major, highly trafficked roads with concrete instead of asphalt.
Yes, it costs more up front, but lasts much longer!
Concrete roads gather dirt and moss and turn dark anyway, blending them with the neighboring asphalted side streets.
Pradeepta Chowdhury
Hilo
No vest required
Every time the employee of a store demands that a person bringing a dog into the store should have the dog wear a service-dog vest, the employee thinks they are trying to discourage fakers. But in reality, they are only opening up the store to a lawsuit.
Nothing in federal or state law requires that service dogs wear a vest.
Threatening to have a handler of a service dog removed because the dog does not have a vest is interference with the lawful use of the dog and it is a very serious crime. The dogs are required to be clean and well-behaved — no ID or paperwork is required.
If your employees are confused, they put your business at risk. The dogs need to be properly trained, and so do the employees!
Carl F. Oguss
Hilo
