New poll on big island shows strong TMT support

[ohiagrrl]

Kkoa, I've noticed the roads have been getting silkier and silkier from Hilo to Puna to the Saddle....infrastructure is steadily being improved. Shipping monopolies are still an issue. Water diversion and power grids and sourcing need major improvements however, so true.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

ohiagrrl,
You have said:
the project would still mostly benefit the technicians and scientists.
which implies the technicians and scientists would keep the money they make and no one else would benefit.

Now you say:
Tech companies do draw other tech companies and then suddenly rents and home prices go up by 300% in the first year then within a decade by 500% or more
indicating they take their high salary and spend it freely on expensive homes. And as gypsy suggested earlier, everything else as well.

So which is it, does the TMT bring money only to a select few, or enough money for enough people that it's spent wildly, driving up prices for everyone? Remember, you and gypsy have also said the TMT only offers a limited number of jobs to the Big Island community, so how do those few people create such a snowball effect in the marketplace?

On the fifth day - the scientists who studied the rivers - were forbidden to speak - or to study the rivers. -Jane Hirshfield's poem on creation

[kalakoa]

roads have been getting silkier and silkier ... Water diversion and power grids and sourcing

Tech companies need bandwidth. Not only is this not generally available, Telcom routes all internet through Oahu.

Even if that problem were solved, Hawaii is fairly "business-hostile", and it's a very expensive place to have employees.

[ohiagrrl]

HoT, if as Eric says Telescopes need vast tech support networks, then tech will breed tech infrastructure, sourcing outside employees. Salaries of an influx market have been shown to drive up prices for all in a competetive renter market driving out the poor to make way for more incoming rich and benefitting mostly the same rich outsiders (and of course a few locals). Not that complicated. The 1% hold 99% of wealth model.

We live here because we can afford to. I never even imagined gentrification would happen here until Gypsy brought it up but he is right, I have personally witnessed it happen fast in several places primarily developed by big pharma, tech or silicon valley.

Kkoa, if TMT is investing 1.4 kajillion dollars it seems likely they have contingencies lined up for that in their budget.

[kalakoa]

Telescopes need vast tech support networks, then tech will breed tech infrastructure

They already have this infrastructure. It goes point-to-point from Mauna Kea to the telescope offices. It is not available to outsiders.

drive up prices for all in a competetive renter market driving out the poor

This will happen anyway. We currently have an influx of people from "more expensive" markets (Oahu, etc) buying up all of our "cheap" real estate. They tend to be working-class and/or retired, so they're not really bringing any infrastructure improvements with them.

Consider that we can't even widen a highway to meet the current population growth.

[MarkP]

You never imagined that gentrification would occur.... Well, I can see your main problem.

[TomK]

"HOT I have heard that logic but think the project would still mostly benefit the technicians and scientists."

Most, if not all the technicians working at the observatories, are local hires. They outnumber the scientists significantly.

Edited for clarity.

[kalakoa]

The people who "live here because we can afford to" are merely the homesteaders that make gentrification possible.

Eventually "we" will be priced out of the market and/or find that it becomes unlivable.

The fight against gentrification requires constant vigilance. Fortunately, County is doing all they can to slow the process down. But they need everyone's help.

Do what you can. Become a NIMBY today. Operators are standing by.

[ohiagrrl]

People who move to Puna from other places on this and other islands do so because there is no other way to remain on the islands otherwise. I couldn't afford to stay by my family in Hamakua or Waimea with its beautiful soil. There's no soil in Puna, any "homesteader" who moves here is going to be hauling dirt riddled with fire ants, rat lung slugs and a variety of plant killing fungi. We here are also fairly well informed about living on the side of a capricious godess with a fiery temper and long arms of destruction. For many, the only insurance they have against lava is the healthy deference to where the spiritual realm meets the material.

Pele is the landlady and doesn't care if you make double payments on your mortgage. Ask Kalapana. Pahoa came close. The air was thick with prayers then. Where is the deference to the God now? Kalapana was tested many times before it was overtaken and the range of superstitions I have heard flying around over the years about who is at fault and why could fill a book. The only explanation for the rampant denial I keep hearing on line here is a paralell Universe. We live on very different islands in very different communities.