Musings: Pretty Shocking

It's the time of year when the horizon is crowded with clouds shaped like snake charmers, locomotives, giraffes, hearts, and the sunsets and sunrises are the same shocking pink and orange as the poinciana and shower trees riotously in bloom.

It was pretty shocking to discover that Mayor Bernard Carvalho, who previously ran parks and rec, was shocked at the condition of bathrooms in county parks. 

Hmmm. Guess he doesn't go holoholo much.

But have no fear. Rather than hold his buddy and campaign manager Lenny Rapozo accountable, seeing as how he's the well-paid county parks manager, the mayor has formed a “parks improvement team" instead.

Just like he formed a special team to deal with the vacation rentals. And just like that team was given months to come up with an enforcement plan for at one TVR, the tawdry toilets are on the same fast track.

In fiscal year 2014, according to county spokeswoman Mary Dalbert in today's The Garden Island, the county will be focusing on Lydgate.

Assessments of other major beach parks will be done in the months to come and will be addressed as funds become available.

So let's see, at one park per year, well, let's just say it'll be a couple of decades before they work their way around the island. And as usual, they start with Lydgate and Poipu, while the North Shore, which is gorged with tourists, is an after-thought.

It's not the county doesn't have money. It's been chipping in cash and staff time for the bike Path, where the quarter-mile stretch at Wailua Beach alone cost $1.9 million. Apparently it's OK for our visitors and residents to recreate, just don't urinate or defecate — at least, not in a county toilet.

And come Wednesday, County Attorney Al Castillo will be asking the Council to approve $225,000 in legal fees for Councilman Tim Bynum's suit — $75,000 for former Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, $75,000 for planning supervisor Sheilah Miyake and $75,000 for the county. As previously reported, the county's tab was already at $286,000 for this suit. So if the Council approves this latest request, that will bring us to a shocking half-a-million bucks, and there hasn't even been a trial or settlement.

If it's not cash, then it must be the mayor's priorities. 

Curiously, the Path has had its own team for quite a while, though the team wasn't able to forestall numerous construction problems and delays, nor did it facilitate planning. There's also a special team for the landfill, which is still languishing.

I'm not sure what's most shocking. That Bernard allows his department heads to remain when they've demonstrated they're not up to the job, or that he's so out of touch with the state of the county that he didn't realize the park bathrooms were a wreck until he stepped in it.

Maybe he should go holoholo, check out the westside seed fields, the invasive species in our watersheds, the homeless living wherever, the vacation rentals that have consumed some of the island's most beautiful beaches.

He might find it pretty shocking.