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Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - JWFITZ - 06-08-2008
Sorry in advance: I'm recovering from a nasty sinus infection from inhaling (dog poop likely) spearfishing and a bit boozy as well. As I often say, if your knickers are prone to twisting, beware.
It is hardly a day that goes by that I don't get some notice from some group I'm fringe involved with(read alienated from) about some or another new regulation, or correction in some or another body of law. Often this has something to do with building codes, or run-off restrictions, or limit on how many crappy vehicles you can store on yours, your brothers, or your brothers off island neighbors property. Or that you can't plant this or cut down this, or some such or whatever. Great. I'll assume for the moment that the people behind this sort of thing are well meaning, and they don't intend, and least consciously, to use the law as a sneak attack to prohibit a certain way of living. What, you might ask? A certain way of living? Yes, exactly that, one that values family time and leisure time more than cashflow and material possessions, big trucks exempted. I must say, I feel a certain snot nosed resentment from some in a lot of this: ie, I put in my 40 years by god, punching a clock, and what is up with those people there sitting on their porch! Jeez! It's the central pacific people! Sitting on the porch is the indigenous traditional sport! And there is nothing wrong with that!
I see more than anything a process here making certain that the cost of living becomes so high that no one except the idle rich can afford to live here. You may not appreciate small shaky houses in your neighbor hood, or crappy cars, or people with time on their hands, but that sort of "getting by" of thing is as traditional to the pacific ocean as poi and there's nothing wrong with it. As gas prices come up, as restrictions in every way of how to live, the size of the house you must own, ect ect ect come along, the notion of living "small" becomes trampled underfoot--which is criminal especially at a point in history in which we must ALL learn to live much much more small.
I think more than anything this can be the great source of Haole hatred, because, for sure, if we take a racial crosssection, the Haole tribe has got "on the make" written on it hard. We don't own a monopoly on that, and there's a fair number of locals who have in essence the same values and fly under radar with a 'brah' thrown in and all that--but really, why would you come to this place if you didn't expect to have the time to enjoy it?
So often, if you love a thing, the best thing to do to show it, is nothing at all.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - Guest - 06-08-2008
quote:
Originally posted by JWFITZ
Sorry in advance.....
....but really, why would you come to this place if you didn't expect to have the time to enjoy it?
Love the quote Jerome!
I know of so many people thinking that they can come here and just cruise.... when in reality... it's not that easy.
I hear of stories of people saying they will move into the lower parts of Puna and then Driving into Hilo everyday for work.
Do these people realize that to work full time and live in Puna... your actually working and DRIVING to work.... so that 40 hour week becomes 60 hours really quickly.
Do people realize that many people leave their houses when it is still dark to get to work in Hilo.... Only to leave work and arrive home and it's already dark out!
Time is money!
Money can't buy time.
Time can buy Happiness.
Money can't buy Happiness.
Think before you move here people!
When you are so worried about how much everything costs here.... you probably can't afford to live here.
-------
Lower your expectations and be ready for anything.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - gtill - 06-08-2008
I wish I could have gone my 20 years of commuting from Puna to Hilo, instead it was from Haleiwa to airport. Keaau traffic is a joke.
But now I drive when I want, and own where I live. I'm going to squack about the further regs we're supposed to go by. And I'm going to squack about the ungodly electric costs.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - oink - 06-08-2008
quote:Was the inhaling of dog poop directly related to the bit boozy?
from inhaling (dog poop likely) spearfishing and a bit boozy as well.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - Carolann R - 06-08-2008
Very eloquent rant for being "boozy." I enjoyed it.
Carrie
http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com
http://www.vintageandvelvet.blogspot.com
"Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head..." U2
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - Bob Orts - 06-09-2008
quote:Usually, it's a lot simpler than that.
Originally posted by JWFITZ
I'll assume for the moment that the people behind this sort of thing are well meaning, and they don't intend, and least consciously, to use the law as a sneak attack to prohibit a certain way of living.
Yes, most times, it is well intended to address an issue. Likewise most times they can't see the forest from the trees.
When ever I hear of a movement to use regulations, ordinances, or other government mandates to solve a problem, I am required to ask; Do you know what else it will prohibit? Do you know what else it will allow? Most times people have no idea the true impact of what they are doing. They usually find out after they opened or closed doors and find they don’t like what they are getting.
Take a look at the Stimulus checks. How many have been denied Stimulus checks because they are caught in the illegal immigration wars? Was the rules designed to keep active military personnel serving in foreign wars from getting their rightful money? No, it was designed to keep illegal immigrants from getting a check. But since nobody bothered to look beyond the illegal immigration issue to see WHO ELSE and WHAT ELSE it impacted, we have the snafu we have today that nobody can figure out how to correct.
The same is true of the recent issue regarding grading, grubbing, lot clearing etc. The idea is great - the proposal is a ticking bomb with dangers to every property owner and riddled with a loophole that can make developers rich and the county poor.
People need to think very carefully when they want government to intervene and people need to make sure they know exactly what they are getting.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - JWFITZ - 06-09-2008
As well, in the case of building codes, zoning, and guidelines, as a builder myself I know full well these only apply to people who can't afford a variance, or even in more extreme cases, can't afford to just give the county or state the finger and pay the fine. Many times that's cheaper and easier.
My big concern is that what is going on here is basically outlawing a type of lifestyle--by making certain that the cost of living is high enough that it requires full-time gainful employment to even afford to set foot on this island. There is indeed a lot of progress being made that way. Something must be done to protect a low impact, non-consumptive, non-materialist lifestyle--and to tacitly promote and respect people that choose to live in such a manner as valuable citizens also.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - topograph - 06-10-2008
I fail to see how a
quote:qualifies as a
limit on how many crappy vehicles you can store on yours, your brothers, or your brothers off island neighbors property
quote:
sneak attack to prohibit a certain way of living. What, you might ask? A certain way of living? Yes, exactly that, one that values family time and leisure time more than cashflow and material possessions
Trash piled head high and an assortment of decrepit rusting vehicles is not a
quote:
low impact, non-consumptive, non-materialistic lifestyle.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - JWFITZ - 06-10-2008
Well, I agree, I've got a couple neighbors like that get on my nerves for sure, but you've got to admit that the "trashy" life is vastly less impactive than the new spec built McMansion with the horrid pillars out front that I see down towards Pahoa, and I'd go so far as to say that a house with a couple wrecked cars out in front is nearly as effective as coqui frogs as discouraging that sort of exploitive development.
RE: Rant:: Building Codes, Busybodies, Economy, etc. - Kapohocat - 06-10-2008
quote:
...McMansion with the horrid pillars out front..
Yah, what is the deal with the pillars???
Stucco and mc mansion pillars belong in the madlands. (and no that isnt a typo this time!)
Sorry my design sensibilities rearing its ugly head! [}
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