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Wednesday, November 16, 2016

"Where is the leadership on Kaua'i..?" 'Glenn Mickens' (Kauai county watchdog)

Glenn Mickens has lived on Kauai  with his wife Ruth for the last 26 years. Born July 26, 1930 in Wilmar, California, USA) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in four games (two of which were starts) for the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers. He also played for five years in Japan, from 1959 until 1963 for the Kintetsu Buffaloes. There, he compiled a record of 45–53 with a 2.54 ERA.  Glenn also  served in the Army for 2 years and coached baseball at UCLA for 25 years. 
Last but not least Glenn would really like to see Kaua'i give the county manager style of Government a chance.
Above photo of Glenn Mickens courtesy of Kauai Garden island news, used with permission...

Mr. Mickens is locally known
as one of Kauai county's
political watchdogs
and Nitpickers...
Mahalos Glenn!
Where is the leadership on Kaua'i


  In his recent column in TGI Jerome "Da Shadow" Frietas asks a number of good questions (to our elected officials) that get either vague answers or no answers at all. And, remember that Jerome is one of the most dedicated, volunteers for public safety that this Island has ever had---using his own time and money uncovering problems that need attention. 
"The Shadow"(Jerome Frietas)
"Is one of the most dedicated volunteers
for public safety this island
has ever had."

Glenn Mickens


His one question, "At the intersection of Kukui St and Ulu in Kapaa, the intersection road surface is very bad. Can this intersection road (heavily used) be improved EVEN ON A TEMPORARY BASIS (emphasis added) until road resurfacing can be done?" 

Answer. " Public works will investigate this concern and schedule if necessary."

REALLY! This intersection has been in horrible shape for years and we now hear public works say they will investigate this concern and schedule if necessary!!!!
Mahalo Outgoing county council.
Gary Hooser and Kipu Kai
Kuulili were voted out
by the slightest margins
and replaced with Derek Kawakami
and Arthur Brun!
Congratulations to new comers Brun
and Kawakami!


When Olohena road was recently resurfaced from the round-a-bout to Kapaa middle school, Grace Pacific (the contractor who won the roads repaving bid) verbally told me that it would be far more economical to pave this intersection (about 100 yards from where they repaved) while their equipment was there than if they had to come back--a simple change order was all it would take. With a job that needed doing and with savings to be made what happened--nothing, absolutely nothing.

So while auto tires and front ends are being ruined, we drivers keep wondering where our gas tax, registration fees, and weight tax are going and gross inefficiency continues. Our roads continue to be the worst in the state and yet our elected officials refuse to use section 3.17 of our Charter to fully investigate and correct this glaring problem as well as many more.
Aliomanu road hazard.
When is it going to be fixed?

(From The Shadow's Facebook page)


Where is the leadership on Kauai---administrative or legislative? We watch both branches of government point the finger at each other over whose problem it is with stagnation taking place and nothing getting done FOR THE PEOPLE!. Traffic, new development with no infrastructure in place to handle it, no true low income housing, no new landfill, homeless people and on and on. 

We had a golden opportunity to reverse this Island's downward spiral by getting a County Manager style of government on the ballot for a vote of the people. But politics, lack of will and a legal problem that could have been easily solved stopped it and the problems continue. A few council members are still willing to pursue getting a Manager and are certainly to be commended for their efforts. And, ironically, none of those who oppose trying this new style of government have any other solution  to offer.

And, Shadow, keep up your great work and doing all you can to hold those responsible for tacking care of the safety problems that we citizens deserve.

P.S.
Check out Glenn's Wikipedia page;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Mickens
Editor's note, Dakinetalk guest bloggers do not necessarily represent the opinions of dakinetalk. Guest bloggers are given space to express their beliefs and or opinions. We feel there are many roads and like to give people space to express their thoughts,after-all that's what dakine is...
Aloha, James "Kimo" Rosen---Blogger-n-chief, dakinetalk blog---

Kapaa Sunrise
From my lanai
i-Phone photo by James "Kimo Rosen

Hana Hou, (Encore)