Kauai doesn’t want taggers
Recently, Kauai’s taggers have been busy, defacing and destroying other people’s property (TGI, Aug. 3). The product of the taggers’ activity cannot be considered and is not art, no matter what the yardstick.
What was on display in Lihue and Kalaheo, was pure junk, ugly and of no value to anyone. It is vandalism and the community has a responsibility to expose these nasty people.
Once exposed, their punishment, in addition to restoring what they have destroyed should be severe and long lasting. Maybe it’s time for the return of stocks and pillories?
Let’s go Kauai, make those phone calls to the police department and help get these criminals out of circulation.
Michael Diamant, Koloa
Time to change the policies
On a recent family getaway my daughter treated us to a trip that lead us to St. Marteen island in the Bahamas. The best part of stopping there were the facts, that like us, their economy is based on tourism as well. The island is quite a bit smaller than ours, but the daily population was extremely close to what we have.
The most impressive experience is that there was no traffic congestion as we know it. I immediately began to think how can an island smaller than ours, yet has the similar population and traffic that we have and doesn’t seem to have a “Kapaa crawl” as we experience.
This small island has no signals that I could find. Every directional intersection was a Round-a-bout. Traffic was plenty, but the flow of it is what prevented the “Kappa crawl” that we experience daily.”
One important message is that the drivers know how to drive with round-a-bouts with respect of all drivers as to make the traffic flow better.Our problem with a solution to traffic is the state and county policies that don’t allow for creative solutions and therefore hands are tied in order to make a true difference in our traffic issues.
The one-sided thinking of governments solutions to our problems is what needs to change. Just because government puts a price tag on what they think is the solution and then tells us that it’s years way beyond our budgets, doesn’t mean that better management, creative minds, and a second to none plan wouldn’t bring major relief.
The constant talk has been cheap. First thing to do is to change the policies, regulations and red tape that’s halting our forward progress on priority issues of traffic, housing, and the protection for the environment.
Then you must look at how many years has this been a growing problem of kicking the can. Last it’s time to stop the popularity voting and elect people who will make the necessary changes to those regulations and policies that will bring the relief to the priority issues.
Steve Martin, Kapaa
..while you are at it…how about pillorying those wonderful ‘local’ folks who thoughtlessly toss mattresses, appliances and old vehicles around this beautiful island.
I really like roundabouts, however, if the volume is too high, they don’t work. One side takes the lane and another side never gets a chance. I have heard of a new roundabout in Washington state where they have to send in police to direct traffic. I hope the planners are aware of these limits.
Well, perhaps the smaller island (barely 5 miles in diameter) has more of a grid system for traffic movement, rather than point to point between the population concentrations that Kauai has. (Lihue to Waimea for instance). Then too, there is no need to drive between tourist attractions as on Kauai, because you can walk to your destination. One can hardly walk to anywhere on Kauai.
Steve, did you ever consider that the people are so poor that most can’t afford cars or gas? Here, even the poorest have big-tired pickups and SUV’s. So are you suggesting that we make it even more expensive to live here so that only the very wealthy can afford a vehicle and the rest must take a bus?
Great letters Michael and Steve! The graffiti problem has reached Kauai big time! How horrible to it see here on Kauai! Round a Bouts will help! Our population is slowly becoming mainland big city vagrant affected. Our fast food restaurants are becoming gathering places for the mentally ill. Our teenagers are out of control more than at any time in Kauai’s history! I’ve noticed driving down the main streets how many homeless, confused, obvious low life outsiders are multiplying among us. Where are they coming from? How do we send them on their way? Keep up the great letters. You are recognizing the problems and alerting us!
Gordo,
Here is a quote from Socrates.
The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.
You sound like a tired, old man.
Two groups are always calling out for “Roundups;” conservatives and Nazis; but then I repeat myself!
One big difference is that St. Marteen has several different avenues to get around their side of the island. If there is an accident on one street there are many more to choose from, a luxury we don’t have here. The other side of the island, St. Martin is more like Kauai with a main road running around the periphery not unlike our highway 50. Roundabouts are proven to cut down on intersection traffic and we would do well to have more of them here.
Mr. Martin: We must protect the environment. We only have so much land here. When it’s gone, it’s gone. So we have to wait in traffic for awhile! Slow your roll. Be appreciative of your surroundings. I agree with the round-abouts, though. Much better than stop lights!
Well, your boy is working hard at suspending those parts of the Constitution that make it hard to do “roundups” of all those unacceptable people! Maybe we can do it again with cattle cars like the Third Reich!
I don’t see any problems. Only problem I see on Kauai is the Westside. Why the different mentality? Fresh legs in football. Just go in. What is with the starting lineup routine? “Fresh legs” just go in. Why make a name? In business, more so. Idea behind it.
This is truth: everyone enjoys a good time at Disneyland. Why not build one here? This is a truth and always proofs to be valid. Sun coming up again tomorrow. Unless, …
70,085 people in 2017. If you increase it to 100,000, more Cesspools to clean. Why not? I find this to be true.