A few recent or current signs of the times locally, and what they may or may not portend:
Statewide tourism numbers lagged behind hopes and expectations this summer, and future bookings are also trailing last year’s numbers. Numerous factors are surely at play (the economy, residual impact of the Maui wildfire, less airline lift, etc.) but the bottom line is… well, the bottom line. Fewer tourists means ripple effects even for those not involved in our #1 industry- including job concerns, less spending by locals, and a lower tax base for the government to spread around. Keep an eye on these figures (regardless of your sentiments regarding tourism) as this will impact many locally…
When the nonprofit, Wahiawa shelter, Achieve Zero, closed its doors due to “financial challenges” nine months ago, it left more than an empty building. While wrangling continues about money owed and what to do with the vacant building, the issue of a homeless shelter closing has bigger implications for the neighborhood (and the state). Reports of trash, personal items strewn about, abandoned shopping carts, and some nefarious nighttime activities now occurring in the area only heightens the angst of nearby businesses and residents.
When any non-profit that serves those in need shuts down, the ripple effect (there’s that term again) can be larger than the problem that was being dealt with in the first place. Who will help those not helped now? Stretched-thin government or emergency medical services? At what cost? It is essential that quality non-profits are successfully financed and run in order to help those in need. Or we all pay…
The mayor and City Council signed off on Bill 3 last month. The bill provides added incentives- such as grants post-construction- for builders of private rental projects. The goal is to help incentivize builders to build more “affordable” units. Because, after all, if you can build and sell (multi-) million-dollar units in Kaka`ako vs. barely scrape by building/selling less expensive units, it will require more lucrative inducements (like Bill 3) to ensure that we can meet the demand now and in the future via affordable units.
Kudos to the city, with the hope and expectation that many more units (using this bill and perhaps heretofore unused/unknown incentives) are built to ensure opportunities for local families to stay. Maybe a mantra should be “Keep ‘em here!” with these efforts.
Think about it…