Last month, the Skyline went backwards; but it was a good thing. Apparently, the elevated transit’s sensors indicated a “stoppage” on the tracks, thus kicking in the “whoa, let’s back up” feature, as designed. Riders were quickly shifted to buses and the train kept a rollin’ within 30-minutes. Nice to see the safety features at work.
But the idea of something going backward got me thinking about what happens far too often locally. We sometimes display a “one step forward, two steps backwards” mentality when it comes to high-profile proposals or even percolating ideas. Large or small- ambitious, newsworthy projects invariably suffer a similar fate. We talk, plan, analyze, prepare, regurgitate, fret, reinterpret, finalize… and then endure a long, vacuous phase- entropy- a gradual decline, or backpedaling. “Hey, whatever happened to…?” We don’t put a period on finalizing projects; we use commas, or semi-colons, because even when it seems like it’s done, it’s not… a lot.
Where to begin? TMT, new Aloha Stadium district, O`ahu replacement refuse center, state prison, new high school in Kapolei. The Waikiki Natatorium, Koolau Stairway to Heaven, North Shore parking, revised land use laws, truly affordable housing, a bypass road to/from leeward O`ahu. Like Lucy invariably snatching the football away just as hapless Charlie Brown approaches to kick it through the uprights, seemingly set projects and plans in Hawai`i dissipate as sure as the Manoa mist gently fades away.
Moving forward on major enterprises affecting our citizenry can be complicated, requires nuance, and must always pass the smell test. But like couples who say “I do”, but then don’t, way too often here something inches toward fruition, and then tumbles into a void- too many see too little get done too often about too much.
Do or do not, there is no try. (Yoda) Well… yes there is locally. Frequently we reach a decision on a major or long-delayed issue, and then something or someone comes along to throw a wrench into the progress/process after we heard the final whistle, or so we thought.
Our visions require stronger glasses when it comes to housing, human service initiatives, and entrepreneurial opportunities too often bandied about. Being cautious and playing within (sometimes outdated) rules on approved, constructive projects remains an absolute. But getting beyond expectations and witnessing no action taken for years or decades is frustrating and confounding, yet accepted… even expected. Which seems self-defeating.
Think about it…