09-20-2006, 01:38 PM
This is thoughtful and important topic. I think Lucy's "carrot" approach has some merit to it. Tax incentives work on me. I think the California assessment was born of frustration. Developers were simply not building affordable housing. On Kauai, I know they have done a conscious effort to do that, specifically targeting locals. There is a development at Port Allen where you have to down to the local Costco to get on the list, at least initially. The prices are much lower than the rather amazing prices asked elsewhere on Kauai. I am not sure, but I think the developer is doing this out of a sense of civic duty.
You can't count on that sense of civic duty, and thus the assessment in California.
I think we are on the right track as long as we, as a community, are addressing the problem in some way, and are concerned about the effect on Hawaiian culture from losing Hawaiians who can no longer afford to live in Hawaii. Whether it be a carrot, or a stick, something has to be done to enable islanders to live on their island. I am willing to be part of the solution.
You can't count on that sense of civic duty, and thus the assessment in California.
I think we are on the right track as long as we, as a community, are addressing the problem in some way, and are concerned about the effect on Hawaiian culture from losing Hawaiians who can no longer afford to live in Hawaii. Whether it be a carrot, or a stick, something has to be done to enable islanders to live on their island. I am willing to be part of the solution.