OLCA lawsuit

[kalakoa]

Too much opportunity for embezzlement with 2 associations suing each other.

Could be much worse with County in charge.

[terracore]

Having only one road association is the definition of monopoly. I like that the Arthur's group is finally bringing us some competition, but if they fail it will be because competition is supposed to bring the price down, and they failed.

Obviously more competition is required, but I don't want it to be the county. Who collects our fuel taxes? County or state, or both? I guess they are already involved since they are collecting fuel taxes that are spent driving on private roads they don't fund. Collecting GET taxes and not remitting to the state is a crime, how are they allowed to collect fuel taxes and not remit any of it to the road associations?

[kalakoa]

how are they allowed to collect fuel taxes and not remit any of it to the road associations?

Government has the freedom to interpret rules as they see fit, and can apply all manner of exemptions and limitations.

Electric vehicle owners don't "pay their fair share" of fuel taxes -- but they get tax credits and free airport parking (and in some cases, free charging stations).

Users of private roads don't "receive their fair share" of fuel taxes -- but the police can still write traffic citations (and set up roadblocks).

I think it's time all the taxes were replaced with a simple fee "for the privilege of living in Hawaii". At least then people might understand how much it really costs, so they can plan accordingly.

[Punaperson]

kalakoa: 'I think it's time all the taxes were replaced with a simple fee "for the privilege of living in Hawaii". At least then people might understand how much it really costs, so they can plan accordingly.'

We have always had this - it's been nicknamed the 'paradise tax' for as long as I've been here ( over 50 years on several different islands ). Paying more to live here, with lower wages for the same comparable jobs, because it is far, far away from the mainland, and all the attendant issues that come from living where some material things might be more convenient or accessible, but life is in general much harder. Having just recently had the opportunity to travel to many places both on the mainland, and throughout the South Pacific, I have yet to encounter the utopia you seem to yearn for, where government works well, efficiently, and justly according to your perspective. All the places I was able to visit ( several places in New England, Virginia, the Carolinas, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, California, Washington, Vancouver ( Canada ), Fiji, Philippines, Palau, Thailand )have issues with local government, how money is collected and spent. Here in Puna we have a small populations, where one voice can actually be heard and make a difference. Appreciate what you do have, instead of grumbling about what perfection eludes you. Everyone who purchased land in any of the Puna subdivisions should have had an idea ( or at least a huge clue ) about was they were getting themselves into. Buying a lot
way off any pavement because it was ' affordable ' , and then grumbling about the lack of connectivity, whether it was physical by road, or broadband/wifi, is sadly only buyer's remorse.

[Punaperson]

quote:

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Originally posted by Punaperson

kalakoa: 'I think it's time all the taxes were replaced with a simple fee "for the privilege of living in Hawaii". At least then people might understand how much it really costs, so they can plan accordingly.'

We have always had this - it's been nicknamed the 'paradise tax' for as long as I've been here ( over 50 years on several different islands ). Paying more to live here, with lower wages for the same comparable jobs, because it is far, far away from the mainland, and all the attendant issues that come from living where some material things might be more convenient or accessible, but life is in general much harder. Having just recently had the opportunity to travel to many places both on the mainland, and throughout the South Pacific, I have yet to encounter the utopia you seem to yearn for, where government works well, efficiently, and justly according to your perspective. All the places I was able to visit ( several places in New England, Virginia, the Carolinas, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, California, Washington, Vancouver ( Canada ), Fiji, Philippines, Palau, Thailand )have issues with local government, how money is collected and spent. Here in Puna we have a small population, where one voice can actually be heard and make a difference. Appreciate what you do have, instead of grumbling about what perfection eludes you. Everyone who purchased land in any of the Puna subdivisions should have had an idea ( or at least a huge clue ) about what they were getting themselves into. Buying a lot
way off any pavement because it was ' affordable ' , and then grumbling about the lack of connectivity, whether it was physical by road, or broadband/wifi, is sadly only buyer's remorse.

Grammar - too many beers

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[kalakoa]

buyer's remorse

Nice try, but no.

I want tax increases to benefit the public.

I want the government to stop lying.

An explicit "paradise tax" is a step in the right direction: we can stop pretending that it's "for the roads" or "for the schools".

[terracore]

"so now I'm protesting by withholding my MRMA's until this is resolved."

The downside to this, is of course it prevents you from voting against unfair MMRA's, and the in the meantime your MMRAs continue to accrue. I'm not trying to change your mind, as previously stated I understand your convictions.

I just sent in our ballots. I don't believe that prohibiting poor people from voting and then putting liens on their property for not paying fees they weren't allowed to vote for/against is legal. And if it is, it certainly isn't ethical. Its sounds like something the rich elite or the mafia does: A shake-down. Pay to play. I can not morally support this. I understand the current board members did not create this situation, however as far as I'm aware there has never been a board that wanted to rectify the situation either. And the current board appears to be using this mafia tactic just like the ones that came before them.

So NO to the MRA, and NO to the budget, NO to the road mafia until this taxation without representation injustice is fixed.

I might have made jokes on this thread before, but calls from the wealthy elite for compulsory "pay to vote, regardless if you can pay, or NO VOTE" is not a joke, and it's WRONG.

ETA: drama, italics

[DaVinci]

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

<snip>

So NO to the MRA, and NO to the budget, NO to the road mafia until this taxation without representation injustice is fixed.

ETA: drama, italics

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First of all, that carol... wow, she is so very measured and even handed in all her posts, isn’t she? So anyway, terracore, you made me laugh out loud with that "paint" comment and for that I’m in your debt. I drive Auli’i every day. It’s a disgrace.

Secondly, however, I’d like to point out that the angels among the Wirick Board have quietly and conveniently adopted proxy voting, and made it especially difficult for us mere residents of Orchidland to collect said proxies, so they walk into every vote with 300 or so votes in their back pocket. They can easily outnumber the entire voting bloc on any given question, so what’s the damn point? You think the County is corrupt? OCLA is like the Cold War Soviet Union.

At least the Arthur newsletter offered a chance to vote on prohibiting proxy voting. I lent my support to that notion, although I have little faith in either board right now.

Receivership is looking like the only sane solution.

Peace.

[kalakoa]

You think the County is corrupt?

Just wait until County takes over all the private roads! With the power to assess property taxes, file liens, and foreclose on the liens... for pavement you didn't want in the first place...

[My 2 cents]

Some will think that's a good thing, others not so much.

The up side is that as a government entity it would be covered in the taxation w/o representation laws. Down side is that we will have absolutely no say in the amount of those taxes, just like any other tax that they raise against our will.