A Different Kind of Stimulus - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

genuinegirly · 04-10-2009, 07:01 AM

Some things are too important to wait for the government.

Quote:

Island DIY: Kauai residents don't wait for state to repair road
By Mallory Simon
CNN

(CNN) -- Their livelihood was being threatened, and they were tired of waiting for government help, so business owners and residents on Hawaii's Kauai island pulled together and completed a $4 million repair job to a state park -- for free.

Polihale State Park has been closed since severe flooding destroyed an access road to the park and damaged facilities in December.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources had estimated that the damage would cost $4 million to fix, money the agency doesn't have, according to a news release from department Chairwoman Laura Thielen.

"It would not have been open this summer, and it probably wouldn't be open next summer," said Bruce Pleas, a local surfer who helped organize the volunteers. "They said it would probably take two years. And with the way they are cutting funds, we felt like they'd never get the money to fix it."

And if the repairs weren't made, some business owners faced the possibility of having to shut down.

Ivan Slack, co-owner of Napali Kayak, said his company relies solely on revenue from kayak tours and needs the state park to be open to operate. The company jumped in and donated resources because it knew that without the repairs, Napali Kayak would be in financial trouble.

"If the park is not open, it would be extreme for us, to say the least," he said. "Bankruptcy would be imminent. How many years can you be expected to continue operating, owning 15-passenger vans, $2 million in insurance and a staff? For us, it was crucial, and our survival was dependent on it. That park is the key to the sheer survival of the business."

So Slack, other business owners and residents made the decision not to sit on their hands and wait for state money that many expected would never come. Instead, they pulled together machinery and manpower and hit the ground running March 23.

And after only eight days, all of the repairs were done, Pleas said. It was a shockingly quick fix to a problem that may have taken much longer if they waited for state money to funnel in.

"We can wait around for the state or federal government to make this move, or we can go out and do our part," Slack said. "Just like everyone's sitting around waiting for a stimulus check, we were waiting for this but decided we couldn't wait anymore."

Thielen has been waiting, too. She wants the legislature to approve her Recreation Renaissance project, a $240 million booster shot to help fix parks across the state. Without it, at least five state parks may be forced to close, and there would be no emergency repair money to fix Polihale State Park.

"We shouldn't have to do this, but when it gets to a state level, it just gets so bureaucratic, something that took us eight days would have taken them years," said Troy Martin of Martin Steel, who donated machinery and steel for the repairs. "So we got together -- the community -- and we got it done." See photos of the volunteers working to repair the road »

The park is a fixture on the west side of the island and a favorite spot for many in the area, but it's also a hub for tourists.

"Tourism is our lifeblood. It's what pays all of our bills," Slack said. "The money that pours in comes from tourism is really an important factor for everyone here in Hawaii, and it's such an important time to encourage tourism."

And it's an important time to keep jobs, which were threatened if the park had to remain closed. In February, Kauai's unemployment rate was at 9.1 percent, up from 2.8 percent during the same time in 2008, according to Hawaii's Department of Labor.

"I think it's crucial to say the doors are open, everyone is ready," Slack said. "So when one of the most important parks in Hawaii is closed, it really changes things."

Now, because of their hard work, volunteers hope they'll be ready to send that positive message -- right in time for the tourist season.

Slack said he likes to have business up and running by April 15, and the season gets busy around May 1.

The business owners and residents are hopeful that their generous contributions in time and resources mean the park should officially open soon. Pleas says they have only to get the new bridge certified and do minor cleanup.

"A lot of people are quietly sitting by, waiting for it to open," Slack said. "This really this is one of the nicest parks in the state and in all of Hawaii, in the entire state parks department. Now, hopefully, those people get their wish."

I couldn't believe this article when I first read it. I didn't know what was more compelling - the fact that a road in a state park could be central to a local economy, or the fact that there were people willing to do 8 days of hard labor at no charge.

Have you seen or heard of any similar for-free work projects in your area?
Do you see these actions as undermining the state, or helping it along?
Does this story alter your opinion of the role of government?
Do you see this "don't wait for government - do it" mentality as a trend?

____________________________________________________________

Have you seen or heard of any similar for-free work projects in your area?
I haven't heard of any projects similar to this in my area. Though I did participate in Berkeley Project Day while I was living in Berkeley, CA.
Do you see these actions as undermining the state, or helping it along?
I see these actions as helpful to the state. The state exists to serve the people, and if the people are willing to do it themselves - all the better.
Does this story alter your opinion of the role of government?
I don't see the role of government in a different light because of this article.

Do you see this "don't wait for government - do it" mentality as a trend?
I do see a trend with the "Don't wait for government - do it!" mentality.

This article reminded me of guerrilla gardening: a growing trend in declining neighborhoods a way to take back the plantings that the local government has allowed to fall into neglect and in the process either raise the desirability of the local real estate or improve the well-being of local residents. Guerrilla gardeners work in the cover of nighttime without proper permits, so I suppose it's a bit different from this road project - but one must admit that major road work is more intense than adding flowers and mulch to a bare-dirt median.

biznatch · 04-10-2009, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genuinegirly

Have you seen or heard of any similar for-free work projects in your area?
Do you see these actions as undermining the state, or helping it along?
Does this story alter your opinion of the role of government?
Do you see this "don't wait for government - do it" mentality as a trend?

1) No, I haven't seen much in local media about any projects like this. I think the sense of community is more important in some communities than others. Here in the NY-metro area, I feel people are too "busy," although I do remember a few years back, someone started operating a center from a trailer somewhere in Brooklyn or Queens, I think it was for disadvantaged kids, and did so with the help of donations from local people.
2) In the case of the OP, it helps the state tremendously: the state saves millions, yet the community gets to keep doing business, which the state still collects taxes on.
3)No, it doesn't. in normal times, the government should be the one to fix this immediately. I do however understand that some projects have to be pushed back, in hard times, since funding is hard to raise for these projects, and everyone wants a bailout.
4) I haven't seen much of it, but it'd be a good thing if it became so. Let the gov't take care of healthcare and other things, and encourage community service on things everyone use, such as roads, maybe consider adjusting taxes for people who put in time to make their community a better place without tax dollars. This could make us much healthier as a country.

blahblah454 · 04-10-2009, 11:14 AM

I don't really see that as the people doing 8 days of free labour. They said that they are in tourism, so essentially it was all work to build on their industry.

What shocks me the most is that they managed to do it in 8 days, and at a cost much lower than $4,000,000. I am sure all the time they put it could be amounted to a dollar figure, plus the materials donated, but there is not a hope in hell it came close to even $4,000,000. It probably cost them less than a hundred thousand.

And that guerrilla gardening sounds like a pretty cool idea.

eribrav · 04-10-2009, 03:03 PM

This only re-affirms my opinion of government.
As power ascends away from the people, to ever higher levels of the
bureacracy, it loses its mission of serving the citizens.
What should really happen: Shrink the state and federal kleptocracy,
keep that tax money in local hands. Then you would see this kind of thing
much more frequently.

Cynthetiq · 04-10-2009, 03:46 PM

eribrav, lost of this kind of stuff is already in the hands of the people and direct citizens.

the challenge and problem is that they aren't getting their money's worth as now there is yet ANOTHER bureaucracy who wants to dip their hand into people's pockets.

Quote:

Deerfield HOA Annual Meeting Minutes 11-01-08 | Monthly Minutes | Deerfield Plantation
Road Maintenance Report: Scott Baldwin
After walking all Deerfield roads in late September, the board has decided to delay road patching until the Spring. Although there are many problem areas with our roads, at this time no asphalt is coming loose. Considering the current cost of asphalt and the cost of bringing in machinery each time we patch, the board felt it prudent to wait and see if precipitation and freezing weather during the winter months will add to our road deterioration. Hopefully, the cost of asphalt will stabilize by spring and any additional damage can be included in the spring repair work.

Road repair discussion:
Currently $35,000 (an amount agreed upon by the entire HOA when we restructured) is collected yearly for road repair. Several members offered opinions as to what should be done:

• Adopt a five year plan to repave all Deerfield.*
• Build up a fund by collecting a higher fee.
• And an opposite opinion - Return excess money to members if it is not being used immediately.

*The rejected reclamation project, which covered Ski Trail's 9,195 sq. yds. would have cost $175,000.00. Since repairing roads is twice as expensive as reclamation, $35,000 would only cover 919 sq yds which, for example, is about a third of Mountain Folk Lane .It would not be possible to repair all of Deerfield in five years. Unfortunately, resurfacing would not prevent further road decay. A request to charge a one-time fee for new construction in Deerfield that impacts our roads was voted on and accepted. The new board will decide how to carry out that ruling.

with regards to the group, more power to them. they had a real economic reason to move, that's the reason why NYC has Business Improvement Districts who take care of the areas where businesses need services the city falls short on.

Aurakles · 04-10-2009, 06:11 PM

Very good story. Not much more I can say than that.

ASU2003 · 04-10-2009, 09:18 PM

Peaceful anarchism at work.

Corporations will charge the government as much as they can, non-profits will want to find more and more things to do, government has lots of overhead and forms.

While I'm not sure I would want to drive across a bridge built in a few days by untrained people who cut lots of corners, there are two highway projects in Ohio that still aren't done an it's been 5 years already.

eribrav · 04-11-2009, 03:13 AM

cyn, HOA sounds like a whole new level of bureacratic hell that
I never even contemplated........

Cynthetiq · 04-11-2009, 06:42 AM

here's the scariest part... while a city can just garnish your wages for back taxes, an HOA or similar has the power to foreclose on your property.

okay maybe not the scariest part, because think of the fact that the people in Kauai didn't know what they were doing, or not "professionals" think of how those choices and decisions are made by HOA board of directors who also, don't really know what they are doing and are relying on studies, expert opinions, newspaper clippings, and other non-professional methods to understand all the workings of what it takes to be/run a community land effort.

I know this, because I'm on the board of directors of my coop and the things that people don't know vs. the things that they do and how they get elected is just mind boggling.

04-10-2009, 06:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Aurakles Crazy Location: behind open eyes	Very good story. Not much more I can say than that. __________________ Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.

04-11-2009, 06:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	here's the scariest part... while a city can just garnish your wages for back taxes, an HOA or similar has the power to foreclose on your property. okay maybe not the scariest part, because think of the fact that the people in Kauai didn't know what they were doing, or not "professionals" think of how those choices and decisions are made by HOA board of directors who also, don't really know what they are doing and are relying on studies, expert opinions, newspaper clippings, and other non-professional methods to understand all the workings of what it takes to be/run a community land effort. I know this, because I'm on the board of directors of my coop and the things that people don't know vs. the things that they do and how they get elected is just mind boggling. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

04-10-2009, 11:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
blahblah454 Let's put a smile on that face Location: On the road...	I don't really see that as the people doing 8 days of free labour. They said that they are in tourism, so essentially it was all work to build on their industry. What shocks me the most is that they managed to do it in 8 days, and at a cost much lower than $4,000,000. I am sure all the time they put it could be amounted to a dollar figure, plus the materials donated, but there is not a hope in hell it came close to even $4,000,000. It probably cost them less than a hundred thousand. And that guerrilla gardening sounds like a pretty cool idea.

04-10-2009, 03:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
eribrav Junkie Location: upstate NY	This only re-affirms my opinion of government. As power ascends away from the people, to ever higher levels of the bureacracy, it loses its mission of serving the citizens. What should really happen: Shrink the state and federal kleptocracy, keep that tax money in local hands. Then you would see this kind of thing much more frequently.

04-10-2009, 09:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
ASU2003 immoral minority Location: Back in Ohio	Peaceful anarchism at work. Corporations will charge the government as much as they can, non-profits will want to find more and more things to do, government has lots of overhead and forms. While I'm not sure I would want to drive across a bridge built in a few days by untrained people who cut lots of corners, there are two highway projects in Ohio that still aren't done an it's been 5 years already.

04-11-2009, 03:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
eribrav Junkie Location: upstate NY	cyn, HOA sounds like a whole new level of bureacratic hell that I never even contemplated........