Hanzawa's Store owners applied for 800-foot expansion and additional three small commercial buildings which require rezoning and state land-use district boundary amendment. Because opponents petitioned against the project, it will require 7 out of 9 votes to pass the zoning change at Monday's County Council meeting.
Long-time neighbor and leader of the opposition, Leina Shirota-Purdy, fears it will change the rural character of Kaupakalua/Haiku area, increase traffic and open the door for A&B to develop their nearby 250 acres.
Owner Matt Daniels says that only one family is organizing the opposition to rezoning. Not mentioned in the article which devotes a significant portion to the anti-zone change family's statements is that most neighbors favor the zoning change as it will make their lives easier. Few Haiku and Paia residents want to travel to Kahului to shop as traffic is exasperating. Paia, although it has Mana Foods, generally has no available parking.
Kudos to Ilima Loomis for an informative article that delved deeper into the issues than most.
Cecilio & Kapono will be at the MAC tonight 7:30pm. Tickets are still available.
Accused Maui spy, Noshir Gowadia, was alleged to have narcissitic personality disorder but competent to stand trial. He is alleged to have designed stealth technology for China, offered to sell the technology to other countries, and is accused of money laundering and falsifying tax returns.
Kodah Kalawe-English, 21, and Kevin Lifoifoi, 26, are standing trial for a Nov. 6 Haycraft Park beating of Jerome Metcalfe which caused broken ribs and a broken right finger. They face charges of robbery and assault. Judge Simone C. Polak reduced bail to $20,000 each.
Photo of Pohakuloa Kahue, 14, of Paukukalo at the Keopuolani Skate Park
Dean Rickard, a 22-year Maui Police Department veteran, has been promoted to captain of the Molokai Patrol District starting Dec. 1.
Maui Community Work Day Program is looking for beach cleanuup volunteers. call 877-2524 or e-mail info@cdwhawaii.org. (incorrectly listed as infor in the news)
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church rummage sale today 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2140 Main St. to benefit Kau Kau Kitchen
Today's editorial says, "That a health care union would dare to ask for such an increase [10%] in this economy is outrageous." Talk about being out of touch. We regularly lose our techs (ultrasound and radiation), nurses and physicians to the mainland where cost of living is less, salaries are higher and hours are less oppressive. Then we have to pay a huge premium to get Traveling Nurses to take their places.
Paying our health care workers salaries commesurate with the mainland would go a long way to reducing costs by eliminating these expensive temporary workers, mandatory overtime and training that is wasted on people who leave after months.
In a completelly illogical mish-mash of GOP talking points the editorial goes on to say, "Normally, we are strong believers in free-market principles. But, it is simply not working in health care" and then "Health care reform should be stopped in its tracks unless it contains real oversight of the spiraling inflation in the industry."
The editorial completely mixes up payments to insurance companies with salaries of health care workers. No one (except the Maui News) has accused health care workers of driving up the cost of medicine. It is the healthcare insurance corporations who rake off in excess of 30% of every healthcare dollar into executive bonuses, lobbying and obscene profits that cause the problem.
Why did the Maui News go after the healthcare employees? Is it just knee-jerk anti-worker GOP talking points?
Today's Letters to the Editor.
The Viewpoint by "4 Ag Hawaii" exhorts us to buy local, pointing out that if we replaced just 10% of our food exports with locally grown, it would mean $94 million for local farmers, generate $188 million in local sales, create $47 million in earnings, $6 million in state taxes, and 2,300 jobs.
What the Viewpoint did not say (possibly due to space limitations) is that vibrant local food production adds to our security, gives us better quality and reduces our impact on global warming. Look for Maui and Hawaii grown lettuce, tomatoes, fruits, nuts and herbs at your grocery store. If they don't carry these items, ask if they'll carry them. Even if the price is slightly higher, you're supporting the local economy and helping establish a strong local food base.
Hans Riecke wants the new parking structure in Wailuku to be put underground and the ground level to be a new town center. Sounds like a good idea but how much will it cost?
Marion Francois points out that Belgium, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Switzerland have cradle to grave health care coverage for all their citizens at a much lower cost than we pay here.
Too bad the Healthcare Insurance Corporations have a stranglehold on our Senators and Representatives, Marion, or we could have the same thing instead of paying an extra 30% surcharge to these leach-like corporations who provide nothing except roadblocks to getting treated.
Sally Raisbeck suggests we read Levi Johnson's Vanity Fair article about Sarah Palin.
1 comment:
Amazing. A small zoning change benefiting a community and a 90+ year business goes through all this huhu and may be turned down.
But Everet Dowling pays off the unions and the Council members with promises (not kept) and favors and donations to their pet charities and voila! He gets to rezone our most precious open land for a gated club, million dollar vacation homes and golf courses.
Guess we know what it takes to get a zoning variance...$$$$$$$ and the right sweeteners.
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