06-26-2016, 02:40 PM
BillyB: "Why on earth do we need another study? "
Greggor did not oppose funding this study because things had already been figured out, he opposed it on the grounds that a PMAR was counter to the wishes of his benefactor, after telling a less deep pocketed but involved constituent that he would work towards identifying the final route during this term. Instead, he killed the only forward movement that was proposed. The Puna Action Committee proposal was so poorly thought out they didn't know how narrow Railroad was, or that it runs diagonally through HPP, creating more intersections than a simple straight across route. They didn't even know that much of the right of way was abandoned and thought the PMAR could be placed there without having to go the public condemnation route. The Railroad emergency route was able to be forced through because of an impending disaster, but what is needed is a permanent alternative route that can be used on a daily basis, not what Ruderman is proposing either. Puna is still growing, that one highway cannot be expanded enough to handle the population growth, Kalakoa is correct that allowing dispersed development outside of Hilo would really help, but looking at Puna's demographic future, the reality is we are going to need multiple solutions: a PMAR, jobs and services in Puna instead of just Hilo, and an expanded highway to handle the population growth ahead.
Far more people in HPP will feel the impact of the PMAR than the handful of farmers leasing land from Shipman, but things have reached the point where the common good is going to inevitably require the construction of a PMAR, and not just as an emergency route. So just draw the damn line on the map so that moving forward people can know what to expect and not get sandbagged after they invest their life savings in their dream home only to have the PMAR come blasting through a few years later. Right now almost a third of HPP is in the zone of a possible PMAR, which makes it impossible to plan around that eventuality.
Greggor and every other Hawaii County councilor, as well as the mayor, have show a real lack of backbone on this issue, but Greggor has really chosen to make politically expedient choices here, at a cost to his constituents. The difference between a statesman and a politician is the ability to make hard choices and sometimes do the politically unpopular thing because it is necessary for the common good, Greggor has shown he is just another cheaply bought politician who bends the way the wind blows. I voted for him twice, but this issue has really shown what his real priorities are, which is climbing the political ladder at the expense of the people of Puna, which is really a shame. I would be a die hard backer if Greggor had shown a willingness to take a political risk and push for a final decision on where the PMAR will go, he would have shown himself to be someone who deserves higher office.
Greggor did not oppose funding this study because things had already been figured out, he opposed it on the grounds that a PMAR was counter to the wishes of his benefactor, after telling a less deep pocketed but involved constituent that he would work towards identifying the final route during this term. Instead, he killed the only forward movement that was proposed. The Puna Action Committee proposal was so poorly thought out they didn't know how narrow Railroad was, or that it runs diagonally through HPP, creating more intersections than a simple straight across route. They didn't even know that much of the right of way was abandoned and thought the PMAR could be placed there without having to go the public condemnation route. The Railroad emergency route was able to be forced through because of an impending disaster, but what is needed is a permanent alternative route that can be used on a daily basis, not what Ruderman is proposing either. Puna is still growing, that one highway cannot be expanded enough to handle the population growth, Kalakoa is correct that allowing dispersed development outside of Hilo would really help, but looking at Puna's demographic future, the reality is we are going to need multiple solutions: a PMAR, jobs and services in Puna instead of just Hilo, and an expanded highway to handle the population growth ahead.
Far more people in HPP will feel the impact of the PMAR than the handful of farmers leasing land from Shipman, but things have reached the point where the common good is going to inevitably require the construction of a PMAR, and not just as an emergency route. So just draw the damn line on the map so that moving forward people can know what to expect and not get sandbagged after they invest their life savings in their dream home only to have the PMAR come blasting through a few years later. Right now almost a third of HPP is in the zone of a possible PMAR, which makes it impossible to plan around that eventuality.
Greggor and every other Hawaii County councilor, as well as the mayor, have show a real lack of backbone on this issue, but Greggor has really chosen to make politically expedient choices here, at a cost to his constituents. The difference between a statesman and a politician is the ability to make hard choices and sometimes do the politically unpopular thing because it is necessary for the common good, Greggor has shown he is just another cheaply bought politician who bends the way the wind blows. I voted for him twice, but this issue has really shown what his real priorities are, which is climbing the political ladder at the expense of the people of Puna, which is really a shame. I would be a die hard backer if Greggor had shown a willingness to take a political risk and push for a final decision on where the PMAR will go, he would have shown himself to be someone who deserves higher office.