Build a bridge
Build a bridge
As of this writing, the latest projections from the USGS predict the June 27 lava flow will reach Pahoa Village Road in 13 days, and then cross Highway 130 in 21 days. As we all watch this slow-motion potential disaster, I first and foremost have in my heart my friends and neighbors in the direct path of the lava. I’m confident we will all — as one island ohana — be here to support and help out anyone whose property is damaged/destroyed.
But I write this letter in hope of sparking a meaningful conversation about continued access for lower Puna, and specifically to ask: Why not build a bridge?
As owner of a real estate appraisal business and resident of lower Puna, I’m disappointed that none of our esteemed pubic officials have “stepped up” with the courage and vision to do all that is possible to protect lower Puna from a very real and unfolding economic calamity, by promising continued, meaningful road access to lower Puna.
It is fine that the alternate routes of Railroad Avenue and Beach Road are being improved for use (many would say both are long overdue), yet it is also obvious that these routes are entirely inadequate to substitute for Highway 130. And we also all know that both of these routes are also in the lava’s flow path.
So what is our “backup” plan, according to Mayor Billy (Kenoi), for continued access? Well, we’ve been told it is to reopen Chain of Craters Road. If you ask me, that idea is ludicrous!
Do we really want our national park to become a parking lot? And how about the resulting continued gridlock that we would see on Volcano Road from the national park all the way into Hilo?
Goodbye tourists and tourism dollars, if such a foolish plan were ever implemented. Goodbye as well to lower Puna property values — there would be such a “crash” that I would encourage every property owner to appeal their tax assessment, so as to at least save property tax dollars. And, of course, property owners everywhere else on the island can then expect a property tax increase to make up for the resulting shortfall.
We see the bridges across our gorgeous Hamakua Coast gulches; we know that federal disaster relief monies and the expertise of the Army Corp of Engineers could be brought in. So why is it at all a crazy idea to demand that our only major thoroughfare for access to lower Puna be re-opened if lava blocks it? I say it’s a great idea. And, think about the boost in tourism and tax revenues! People would come from everywhere to see the remarkable engineering and get to drive over an active lava flow!!
The mayor’s office won’t answer my question: Why not build a bridge? So I ask of all my island ohana, please join with me and ask this same question — again and again — until we get satisfactory answers.
I say it can be done. I say let’s protect our property values and our local economy by demanding to keep our roads open — it is among the most fundamental and basic responsibilities of our government. Let’s demand no less from our public officials.
Mahalo, and stay safe!
Michael Garbarino
Pahoa
Photo deceptive
On the front page of today’s (Sept. 23) Tribune-Herald is a photo of a coal-fired power plant in Kansas. The photo juxtaposes a flock of cuddly geese with that nemesis of the clean air movement — the dreaded “smokestack.” However, the term used is a bit of a misnomer.
Although the plume in the photo, backlit by the setting or rising sun, appears to suggest a menacing dark smoke plume, that is just a trick of the lighting. It’s actually mostly white condensed steam emerging from the chimney. Coal plants emit primarily water vapor and carbon dioxide — and little else of consequence — thanks to technology advances of the past decade that eliminate most particulate matter that would otherwise emerge as “smoke.”
There must be some political push for new regulations afoot at the present time. Indeed there is (new proposed EPA power plant emission regulations), but why not just let the arguments stand on their merits instead of utilizing an obvious deception with which to alarm people?
Curtis Beck
Hilo