On customer service, employee privilege and government enabling
A year and a half after COVID turned the world on its ear, hindsight shows that humanity did not and may not ever rise to this challenge. Six months into the pandemic, I wrote a piece about grieving for a world lost to COVID. I am still grieving, as time has not healed the wound. And there are further losses to bear.
Before COVID, I came to think that paying a fair price at a reputable place of business meant that I would receive a level of service that was promised in a timely, courteous manner. In the “new normal” we are forced to accept things that used to be unacceptable. Let me illustrate with my experiences with my automobiles.
One of my cars needed a wheel alignment, so I booked an appointment at a place that I have used before and claims to be a specialist in the service. Upon arrival, I was told that no mechanic was available to do the service and that they couldn’t call to notify me because they didn’t have my phone number (I left that information on the website that I booked the appointment with).
The frazzled manager said they were having a hard time finding and keeping employees because enhanced unemployment benefits made it more attractive to stay at home than be employed. He booked me for another appointment, and that procedure was done all right.
My other vehicle needed an alignment, so I booked with a phone call to the shop, because the website was no longer functioning. I made sure to leave my contact information, even if the person did not ask for it. When I showed up for this appointment, I was told that the machine was not working, and they did not have my phone number to alert me. They promised to contact me for a new appointment but never did. I might add that every time I went to the shop to drop off and pick up vehicles, I had to have my wife follow me for pickup, as they did not allow customers to wait for completion. Many trips were taken in vain. I wonder if I will ever get a call from this shop, and when I do, whether I will use them after their repeated blunders.
So, I get it that this business is under stress.
I get it that people would prefer to have “something for nothing” by receiving unemployment benefits that outstrip their earnings if they worked.
What I don’t get is why the government is creating an unsustainable model of entitlement for the very people it is trying to “help.”
One day, unemployment bonuses will stop, eviction moratoriums will end, and employees will be held to a standard of conduct that is mutually beneficial to them, their employers and their customers.
We need a government that has the political will to do the right thing rather than the popular thing. We need to end the social and economic disaster of this pandemic.
In 1955, the polio vaccine was mandated to everyone in the United States, man, woman and child. No exceptions, no bonus to comply. I don’t think there was even parental consent needed. Result? Polio all but gone. Where is that spirit of cooperation by the people, and where is that leadership by government today?
After a year and half, I find I still grieve, and there seems to be no relief in sight, except early death.
Nolan Ahn, Lihu‘e
Open up ‘Kitchens’ beach at Kamalani Kai
When will the beach behind the Kamalani Bridge be opened for the community?
When the pandemic started we lost access to the beach we call Kitchens, behind the Kamalani Kai Bridge (Tim Bynum Bridge) and the Wailua Golf Course. It was blocked off by giant boulders so no one could get through. The area was designated for the homeless to have a safe place to be able to hunker down while the virus ran rampant.
Before the pandemic, the public had access to this beach, where we brought our ‘ohana to spend all day surfing, swimming, babecuing and walking the beach. We had that taken away from us for a good reason.
But now the homeless have been dispersed from the area. Camping can resume, but why can we not have access to the beach again? I don’t see any real reason. I have heard that the boulders haven’t been moved in fear that the homeless may take the area over. If that is the reason, it does not justify taking it away from the rest of us. We are law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who deserve to have our beach back.
I urge the mayor to reopen this beach to us, and I urge anyone else who feels the same to say so. We have lost so much in the past years to out-of-state homeowners who try to block the beaches, tourism has taken over many of our beaches, and now our government officials deprive us of the simple pleasures that we deserve. AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO OPEN THE BEACH!!!
Raychel Brandenburg, Kapa‘a
Kitchens is open,, it never closed.
Access to beach will only only encourage more litter on one of the most pristine Eastside beach. I’ve been walking the beach practically every morning and have seen litter left behind from illegal campers, fishermen and from people who hangout. Some have used it as a dumping ground for home appliances and derelict vehicles. Sad to say but local residents are to blame. Keep our beaches clean, respect our land and please leave it as is. It’s only a short walk to Kitchens.
My guess is Derek doesn’t surf Kitchens. If he decides to he may get this cleared up. If you haven’t noticed beach access on Kauai is becoming a real issue for residents. One of Surfrider Foundation’s missions is to protect beach access for all. Hope they see this.
I thank Surfriders for their efforts to keep our beaches open to us. I understand that littering and disrespect to the beach is happening but closing it off is not the solution. If more respectable people had access we could help keep it clean.
Had to smirk at this comment. I agree, saw him surfing Waiohai this weekend.
Nolan, That subsidy ends on Sep 11th, So rejoice all of the deadbeats who struggled (or not) with the safety of the Kapuna or going back to work or being exposed to covid and bringing it home will now be back at work on the 12th. Or maybe a lot of the places you mention pay a ridiculously low wage for Kauai and will always struggle to get quality employees. Only time will tell.
Maholo for your viewpoint.
Jamie R
Mr. Ahn ,
The reason for all the insanity is really not the pandemic and not getting compliance from people to take the Covid -19 vaccine, (As you said, ” in the 19950 w the Goverment and the people tursted each other and worked togrther in getting the polio vaccine,)
Today there are so much coruption in the Government that people just don’t trust of what they say! Crooked people in Govenment and who don’t care of the people can not be trusted.
And another subject, you say that, ” it took two(wife and yourself) to bring your vehicle for repair every time. How far is a bus stop from the repair shop?’
WE WANT OUR PARK BACK!!! To clarify, the homeless have been dispersed from the campground, but have not left. They are scattered all over the rest of Lydgate Park and the adjacent Hawaiian Homelands and DLNR Properties. The county’s only plan seems to be to put up more rocks, make more rules, and then not enforce any of them. Lydgate was a beautiful place before the Mayor imported them there. They seem to have no intention of leaving their new home, and the Mayor has no coordinated plan between agencies to get our park back. Honorable Mayor, you broke this, you fix it. I encourage anyone else who wants Lydgate park back to reach out to every official you can to. What they have allowed to happen to our once beautiful Lydgate park is so sad. They should be made ashamed enough to fix it.
Add the IRS making unexplainable mistakes and following with the power to take your assets without communicating with you. Add unsupported charges (medical, insurance) accumulated during the pandemic now threatening collection to ruin your credit. No way to communicate with them. If the charges are small should I just let them extort the money from me to avoid the bother?
Time to stop relying on electronic communication and hire some people to answer the telephone.
Supplemental benefits are ending this month. Now we see if the lines at Safeway were due to people unwilling to work or Safeway trying to save money with fewer cashiers.
Keep a list of businesses and govt agencies behaving badly.
Agreed… WE WANT OUR PARK BACK! More rocks are not the answer. The homeless at Lydgate won’t leave their new home until they enforce the rules, and that won’t happen unless we all call and write and email every county person responsible for this embarrassing mess. Count me in!!
Id also like to point out that the issue with our homeless population is a very complex one. I feel for them being put here then pushed out with nowhere to go. Our county of Kauai should hold a community meeting and maybe listen to any suggestions brought by the public to see what could be done. Obviously the issue has not been dealt with yet, and maybe some new ideas could be brought to the table. The homeless need a safe place to nest, just not in areas that we all should be able to use.