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building dept employees where they kind of make things up
No, there's a "process" where you can "apply for a variance" -- that you may or may not get, depending -- but it's definitely not "made up", there are fees and paperwork.
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Excellent points, Carey. The main issue for me is that the county went immediately from decades of complacency to $4000 a day fines. No government of the people should operate that way. They are using their authority to bully, without considering the vendors and customers that will be affected.
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using their authority to bully
...and "selectively", which is the best kind.
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The whole market area is a big tourist draw. Many tourists support other downtown businesses, such as Cafe Pesto and the art galleries. Wonder what local merchants say about how their business is on Farmer's Market days, compared to non-market days.
Some posters here seem optimistic that only a few vendors will give up because of the hassle of the tent removals. We'll see. If yesterday's rain had happened on a market day (now without main tents), there probably would have been rain-damaged merchandise.
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quote:
Originally posted by kalakoa
Interesting, those 2 properties pay no tax. $0.00
They are considered a "road"... privately owned... open to the public...
The map shows one lot fronting Mamo st. and the other is a corner lot fronting Mamo and Kamehameha. How or why are these considered roads?
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The county has been requesting change since before I became active in the downtown improvement in `06 & DeLaCruz had spent over a decade touting proposed changes... meanwhile collect millions of dollars & not re-ivesting much of the vendors fees into the Market. the public, nor to Hilo...
Now, he is whining about being punished for his years of inaction (much like a toddler whining about a punishment) and passing off his kuleana of providing safe market space onto the vendors that have paid him thousands to tens of thousands of dollars every week....
Such a whiny slum landlord, & totally not pono!
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Mahalo for your kokua Carey!
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Kim also addressed the short notice given vendors. “They’re the ones that are being hurt by this, more than the landlord,” he said.
“I find that unacceptable, as far as I’m concerned, because we’ve been dealing with this guy for almost a year or more, and before that, more … with private meetings and trying to assist in any way we can,” the mayor said.
BULL. If you care so much, why do it so abruptly right before Merry Monarch? After such a long time of negotiating, why couldn't this have waited another 3 weeks?
Someone suggested that he is actually trying to sabotage Merry Monarch because Honolulu wants it. Remember last year when he abruptly pulled the school facilities out from under them with little warning or notice?
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3 decades to provide not much more than the "FEMA special" tarps that leak in the Hilo rain.
$35 rent for a 5'x5' market stall: the owners investment is a few tarps and poles, 200 stalls available
$70 for a nice vacation rental: owners investment for a 1 bedroom house, $150,000, 1 unit available
Pretty good return on investment, over 30 years
If you want to combine the dual pleasures of insanity and social acceptance, religion is your only choice. - Last Aphorisms
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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What many people do not realize is that this is NOT just an aesthetic issue...
I have seen the damage these tarps can cause when ignited, or windblown - Chicago area had people KILLED by these tarps tents during a freak wind gust
Granted for safety concerns, pop-up tents are no better if high winds or flames hit...
The real solution is a safe, permanent place....
Something the county would REQUIRE if there was ever deaths due to these safety-hazard filled temporary tents that were never designed to be more than a quick temporary cover...