Monday, July 8, 2013

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.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

He'll go holoholo using the county's gas, for sure.

The mayor may be a nice guy, but he appointed liars and incompetent fools.

Anonymous said...

abandon ship is the new 'yes we can' motto!

Imai, Pua, Gary, whose next - we can only hope that Mike is looking for his next job and some other territory to destroy.

Anonymous said...

@ 11:04 Who is this Pua that you speak of?

Anonymous said...

County parks workers regularly cleaning up public bathrooms? yeah right. Not in the last 30 years.

Parks, Planning, Building, Public Works. Its like civil beat reported about the DOT - They're basically welfare departments.

Anonymous said...

Pua Aiu is Imai's sister except she worked for state not county. Messed up SHPD worse than her brother messed up planning. Good riddance to both but we'll be paying their retirement for years to come.

Andy Parx said...

We need to hang a banner for the tourists to see as they cross the bridge:
"Welcome to Hanalei; We're sure you can hold it in for a little while"

Anonymous said...

less vacation rentals-less tax dollars to help the County pay for much needed upkeep and repairs-maybe those of you who have so much time on their hands writing blogs or posts can spare a few moments to help keep our community in good shape-the community could come together like they did at Polihale when the road washed out-stop bitchin' and get something done!

Anonymous said...

@ 3:33

but the tax dollars we pay go to the county to provide those services that they have been failing to provide. Why should we bootstrap to do what we work so hard to pay for?

Anonymous said...

"maybe those of you who have so much time on their hands writing blogs or posts "

You mean like you 3:33? What are you waiting for? Start cleaning those toilets.

Anonymous said...

whomever owns the porta potties is responsible for the maintenance, like pump and clean on a regular basis....the two private companies i have worked with for my jobsites were very aware by their questions that thru the building process that i schedule the amount of bodies that would be there when different things were happening, like for grub and grade, form, pour, framing...on and on....so the company that owns the toilet is the one responsible for its function/clean/pump/ maintain schedule and if not they lose business....if these are owned by the county and are not taken care of, there is failure in the department that oversees that operation....so crappy toilets at beach parks, the complaints from the public, and shit don't get done til the grumblings come in.....who is in charge of county parks..? sanitation is a major issue.....aloha Dean

Anonymous said...

to 4:17 pm -actually I am involved with group of people who are planning to do some work on these public facilities around the island-just waiting on the go-ahead-
how about you?

Anonymous said...

planning to do some work ....just waiting

you must work for the county! lol

@dean who is in charge of county parks..?
lenny rapozo

Anonymous said...

so if the government does not do what are supposed to, then at least provide the materials to the community to do it thru volunteers....polihale?.got done..school projects?...got done....plant trees? got done...on and on ....by the people who live around there,,just give us the materials and it will GET DONE, or wait for the gov to do it, kilauea gym is an appropriate example as well as the poipu thing....all parks and rec. oversite....WTF??? trying not to get angry here but more solution oriented w/ respect to community needs taking it in their own hands despite the beaurocracy....aloha Dean

Anonymous said...

That's what happens when you hire cronies. All these problems should have been taken care of by the parks and recreations director. We don't need consultants to tell this Heffers to do their jobs. Now they going create more crony positions for their family members. The Kilauea gym identified fraud, waste, and abuse. Why is the county of Kauai hiring someone to tell us what needs to be done. Who this money going to? Garans another family friend crony. Patch work not going happen this time around when everybody watching. You no can cash in every 5 years on that job no mo. Over charging by hundreds of thousands to fix roof have been outed. These crooks are being watched closely now. Greasin palms has always been goin on around Kauai but now get FEDS watching them. Just ask Imai why he running away.

Anonymous said...

Kauai dirty syndicate cops getting spit on Kauai's Craigslist rants and raves.


Poipu beach bathrooms been dodo for a yr long. Come on with the BS mayor.

All they gotta do is fire all the parks and recs people ( first one Lenny Rapozo- mayor's campaign manager) and then subcontract it to good hard working private businesses. No need pay health insurance and no need pay retirement.


It's going to save lots of money for the county and no need raise property taxes with the savings. Get rid of the scum bags that are collecting welfare checks as county employees.

Anonymous said...

So why doesn't the mayor stop the Wailua sewage treatment plant from pumping treated sewage about 150' off shore just off Lydagte Park? How can you have a world class park with sewage in the water?

Anonymous said...

because the plan is to ENLARGE the Wailua sewage plant, not move it away from the ocean...

Anonymous said...

Bernard was elected because he was popular. He did not, does not have the knowledge required to successfully run a County government. But on the other hand, would we have been better off having Mel Rapozo as Mayor. Just have to pick the lesser of two evils.

Anonymous said...

Bernard looks like the greater of two evils to me

Anonymous said...

From TGI..."To Kagawa, the council cannot worry whether it would be cost-effective to the public to settle the case.

“This is a time when we need the truth to come out and we need to go to trial for this case,” he said."

Thanks Ross, easy for you to say with OUR MONEY!!!!!!

Cause I heard you could have settled it for less than you spent already, and I'd rather have my money with me than finance your expensive truth seeking that is only important to like 4 of you.

Anonymous said...

That former prosecutor is a lying BIH. She will go after you even if it is just for a violation. If you are on her hit list trust me you will end up like Bynum or even worst Aurero Moore. She was a abusive and manipulating syndicate dog.

Anonymous said...

Re 11:13 AM,

Let me clarify, I am not one of the as you claim 4 of them..... But the TRUTH must be heard. The public myself included have been waiting for some time to hear the truth. All we have been getting is hot air from the likes of you. The truth must be heard, let it go to trial. At the least we'll be entertained.

Anonymous said...

Bynum is going to lose. Then he can pay the county and Shay their attorneys fees. The county has to stop handing money to shysters like Bynums attorneys. Fight the suit! Let truth prevail.

Anonymous said...

Re:6:28 A.M.

Touche'

Anonymous said...

It would be nice to know the truth. Too bad it's going to cost a million plus to fight the suit.

Anonymous said...

Truth is Shelia/Shayme went after Tim because Kaipo wanted it done.

Anonymous said...

Hey guys! Stop complaining. We deserved what we got for mayor. Real change comes next year. Wise up guys...! Mel or Gary for mayor.

Anonymous said...

the truth is, our county workers are lazy and don't put in real time to clean. I don't mean all of them are lazy, but that's how the county is run---there are so many jokes about the county workers. I want a mayor and staff who can get their employees to work as they should! Is that possible??!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah not like people who read and respond to blog comments at 1:46 in the afternoon.

Anonymous said...

Don't you know that at 70 years old, retired after working 3/4 of my life I can do what i want at 1:46pm. You sound angry, mean and "KNOW IT ALL" kind of human being!

Anonymous said...

If the county wants the Bynum case to go to trial then why did it file a motion to dismiss?

Cause they're lying to you, dats why.

Anonymous said...

To weed out the bad claims and get to the merits of the case. Why waste time and money on the b.s.? Taxpayers are paying for attorneys, judges, air, lodging, taxis, rental cars, copies of documents, deposition transcripts, investigators, paralegals, meals, expert witnesses, and so on. And thank you, public servants, for all that you've done. You're a bargain at these prices!