KAKA'AKO

WHO WILL GET THAT 'AFFORDABLE' HOUSING?

I keep hearing that 20 percent of the Kaka'ako development units are going to be affordable. Just how affordable?

What is going to be the size of these units? Are the people of Hawai'i, who need housing so badly, going to be given preference, or is it going to be people from the Mainland who come in and want these units for their own profit?

Development officials might want to consider the desperate needs of the local people, who really care about this island, when it comes time to letting buyers in.

Maybe a little village like Seaport Village in San Diego would fit better into this spot. It has just one-story four-plexes for a variety of shops, with a wide wooden boardwalk, paths, and benches and restaurants to visit, and lots of trees and greenery. Do something that really gives it that nautical seaport feel.

But it really is OK to leave a little green on this beautiful island for future generations.

I know they say that Waterfront Park won't eventually be touched, but do you really believe that? Maybe we should take lots of pictures now.

TAX HIKES

O'AHU HOMEOWNERS ARE BEING VICTIMIZED

I received my property tax assessment for 2006 on Dec. 16. What a terrible thing to receive during the holiday season.

When property taxes skyrocketed for 2005, I contacted Mayor Hannemann and our city's council members to request fairer methods of determining the property tax amounts for homeowners. Knowing that the property assessments were going to continue to rise, I had hoped that the city would make the necessary adjustments to make it fairer for homeowners like myself who have no intention of selling our homes. But nothing was done by the city.

I also learned from appealing my tax assessment that the laws are only for the benefit of the government, not for the citizens. I recommend that people not appeal because they will lose.

My property tax for 2005 more than doubled from 2002. Now it will more than triple the 2002 amount for 2006. I doubt the city will do anything to reduce it. Most of us would not even be able to qualify for mortgage loans for the assessed value of our existing homes.

I also heard that many of the homes purchased in recent years have been by investors who have the money to buy and sell to make money. Many of them are also not residents.

I really feel victimized by our government and am beginning to believe that our democracy is not for, by and of the people.

Thanks go to Councilwoman Barbara Marshall and to those of you who have written letters to the editor, been quoted in news articles, and have called me to encourage me to continue working to make changes to the law.

RE-ELECTION

COUNCIL HAD BETTER HOLD THE LINE ON TAXES

Mayor Hannemann said he'd like to give us tax relief, but darn it, there's just no way to balance the budget without increasing property taxes by the full 26 percent (the increase in assessed values).

He then challenged any City Council members proposing tax relief to come up with a detailed budget, saying, "Talk is cheap."

Well, if my council member, Barbara Marshall, wants to get re-elected, here's what her constituents expect:

Photocopy the current fiscal year budget. Change the year. Invite some reporters along, go into the mayor's office and drop that puppy on his desk. (Sarcastic sticky note on top optional.)

SCHOOL LIBRARY

KALANI APPRECIATES EVERYONE'S GENEROSITY

The students, teachers, staff and families of the Kalani High School community are thrilled at the response to renew the Kalani High Library. Our library shelves are being filled with new books. We are overwhelmed by the generosity and concern of everyone who is supporting us.

We would like to thank The Honolulu Advertiser for the coverage about our library, which generated this outpouring of good will. Kalani High School would like to thank our community partners, the businesses, parents, community members and the Kalani High School Association.

Our students, faculty and school will benefit immeasurably from their kindness and thoughtfulness.

GAS PRICES

SOMETHING SMELLS

Hawai'i gas prices are 50 cents higher than the national average. Hawai'i gas prices are going up again, while prices on the Mainland are going down. Hawai'i crude oil does not come from the Gulf area devastated by hurricanes. We're told it comes from Indonesia. Something smells.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING WARMTH TO HOMELESS

Mililani Middle School Girl Scout Troop 171, Rainbow Service Unit, reached its goal of collecting 100 blankets for the homeless.

On Dec. 17, we held a "blanket drive" at Mililani Town Center, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. People came from all over the island to drop off blankets for the homeless.

Congratulations to the winners of the raffle and a big mahalo to everyone who donated blankets. A big mahalo to The Honolulu Advertiser; many of the people who came said they saw the announcement in the paper.

Blankets were taken to The Institute for Human Services and Women's and Children's Shelter, just in time for the cold weather we've been having. The aloha spirit is alive and well!

Mele Kalikimaka.

UNMET NEEDS

STATE SURPLUS COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON POOR

Gov. Lingle's idea to return the state surplus to taxpayers fails to address the growing unmet needs of people too poor to pay taxes.

Homelessness continues to be a disgraceful problem, and services to senior citizens and the disabled have been disappearing while the state counts its extra money like a miser.

First things first, and that means providing for people who are unable to take care of themselves.

WAIMEA VALLEY

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF MAKING A PROFIT

With the grandstanding by attorney Bill McCorriston and absentee investor Christian Wolffer over the "price" Mr. Wolffer should get for Waimea Valley, or that Mr. Wolffer should get the valley back despite his record with the Waimea Ahupua'a, there seems to be one little fact that has not really been discussed:

No one is guaranteed full recovery of every investment, especially with a handsome profit. Many investments fail, for one reason or another.

The circumstances surrounding the current situation at Waimea Valley, as described in these pages and elsewhere, certainly offer many reasons why the City and County, the people of O'ahu, should prevail. Much of the valley has yet to have an archaeological survey. The descendants of the former inhabitants of Waimea Ahupua'a have a right to ensure the safety of their ancestors' remains.

All of Waimea Valley is conservation land and important watershed. It is also home to a world-class arboretum, which would be even more imperiled without the surrounding buffer of undeveloped land.

Endangered water birds live throughout the gardens and lower reaches of Waimea Stream. Many endangered plants are given refuge in Waimea Arboretum, and native forests in the upper reaches of the valley harbor native forest birds and other unique organisms.

These riches belong to all of us. Proceed with the condemnation and make no deals.

SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD DUMP SITES WOULD CLEAN UP O'AHU

Trashing school property by dumping makes it look as if anything is OK, including littering, graffiti, etc., anywhere and everywhere. The school dumping behavior is akin to vandalism and gives a junk message to our kids.

These trespasser/vandals require careful surveillance and severe consequences.

Almost all of our residential areas live with the same kind of dumping and trashing on our sidewalks. Mattresses, carpets, termite-eaten desks, TVs, car batteries, toilets, computers, couches, refrigerators, chairs. They are an islandwide visual blight.

The sidewalk pile grows daily for two to four weeks till finally it is picked up. Why? More people, more junk, less money to go around to pick it up.

Perhaps our public servants haven't noticed what really accompanies "sustainable" growth: all the above junk plus crowding, traffic, garbage, costs for new and bigger schools, parks, police, higher cost of living, libraries, etc.

If the increased population brings in so much revenue to benefit, rather than burden, the public, then let's use some of the increased revenue for weekly bulky-item pickup everywhere. If, instead, the development and population increases spread infrastructure maintenance and services too thin, then lawmakers need to stop it by appropriate zoning.

But what to do about the dumping now? People need conveniently located legal dump sites 24/7. Set aside small parcels — locations and numbers comparable to the abused, illegal school dump sites now. The school dumpers and community in general would take their junk to another convenient, designated place instead.

Not only should these area sites be convenient and accessible around the clock, but aesthetically disguised with landscaping and attractive wooden or other solid fencing. Pickups as needed.

People in our neighborhood recently moved out at least two weeks before their bulky items were picked up. By that time, the pile had featured people's junk from far and wide. Like the schoolyards, our neighborhood sidewalks are in the same situation. This goes on year-round, makes our island ugly, and has been ignored for too long.