11-22-2018, 06:51 PM
Back in the '70s and '80s Hilo had a thriving economy. Nothing on paper to substantiate it because its foundation was pot production and sales. Those days are gone but there were some lessons that should have been learned.
The foundation itself was illegal so it couldn't be taxed or regulated, but most of the product was sold to the mainland, which brought mainland money into our economy. The growers were making good money and they spent it locally in the island businesses. New cars and trucks, building materials for new houses, labor to build those new houses and landscaping, restaurants, clothes, you name it. All of the businesses were doing well and there were plenty of jobs available. The county also profited on the increased property values on homes and businesses.
Vacation rentals could have a similar impact on our economy if they would just leave it alone. Tourists bring tons of money from outside and leave it here to circulate in our economy. They don't care if the space they are renting is permitted or not, they will go shopping and dine at Pesto's regardless. The proprietors of the VRs will spend much of their earnings locally as well. It's all very similar, but the county seems to be hell bent on killing the golden goose and snuffing out this economy at the foundation level.
I don't even have a VR and it pisses me off to see it happening.
The foundation itself was illegal so it couldn't be taxed or regulated, but most of the product was sold to the mainland, which brought mainland money into our economy. The growers were making good money and they spent it locally in the island businesses. New cars and trucks, building materials for new houses, labor to build those new houses and landscaping, restaurants, clothes, you name it. All of the businesses were doing well and there were plenty of jobs available. The county also profited on the increased property values on homes and businesses.
Vacation rentals could have a similar impact on our economy if they would just leave it alone. Tourists bring tons of money from outside and leave it here to circulate in our economy. They don't care if the space they are renting is permitted or not, they will go shopping and dine at Pesto's regardless. The proprietors of the VRs will spend much of their earnings locally as well. It's all very similar, but the county seems to be hell bent on killing the golden goose and snuffing out this economy at the foundation level.
I don't even have a VR and it pisses me off to see it happening.