Not ADA-friendly
Not ADA-friendly
Having business in Honomu, we decided to drive further to see the “improvements” at Akaka Falls State Park. I regret to inform you that the park is in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.
The park is not handicapped accessible. The new smooth path consists of flights of stairs, so a visitor with a stroller, walker, wheelchair or cane is at a distinct disadvantage.
These days, I use a cane for balance. I had to hold onto the railings or my husband to navigate the park. I am now in considerable pain and will be for several days.
There are two handicapped parking spaces in the new lot. I must remind the County Council that many of our cruise ship visitors are elderly and have saved all their lives for a trip to Hawaii.
To travel so far only to find that they can only get six feet into the park is very wrong. The young man at the entrance admitted that he himself had never hiked the park trail and is ignorant of the various vegetation in the park.
Where is the park ranger? Where are the benches for resting? Where are the solar-powered telephones for calling for help in case of an accident? Where are the illustrated park brochures describing the vegetation? Where are the real improvements?
And how dare you charge admission to this death trap of a park.
Linda Dusek Ravenell
Hilo
Not a good plan
Last week, the Tribune-Herald ran a front-page story informing us of the Board of Education’s “unanimous” vote of “yes” to Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s proposed plan to monitor teacher performance.
On the surface, given the BOE’s “unanimous” vote of approval, one would get the impression that the governor’s plan was progressive, innovative and fair to both teachers and taxpayers.
While the article was well-written, it failed to mention one underlying fact surrounding this vote: Before Gov. Abercrombie took office, BOE officials were always elected by the people. Since taking office, our governor has been given the privilege of appointing all the members of the BOE.
Given the fact that quality job opportunities, while on the rise, are still difficult to find in the wake of the economic meltdown of 2008, one must ask several questions: Would a BOE member vote against the governor, who controls the fate of that member’s livelihood?
Is the governor’s proposal so good as to warrant a unanimous vote if the BOE were an elected body in control of their own job security? And, is this politics as usual administered by another run-of-the-mill, self-serving politician? You decide.
I should point out that I am not a teacher, nor do I work or have ever have worked in the public sector. I’m just a concerned citizen who is tired of seeing a political bully pick on a dedicated, hard working group of men and women who have little way of fighting back in these tough economic times. They are the people who take care of our children, and they need our help.
It would seem that unless the governor instructs some board members to vote a token “no” from time to time, we’ll be seeing many more “unanimous” votes coming out of Honolulu from the emperor and his minions. Remember: Election time draws nearer every day.
Paul Scappechio
Keaau