Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: Why did the city install a soda machine at Puunui Community Park, in the middle of a residential neighborhood? I don't think it's appropriate to have it outside, open to anybody on the street. It cheapens the neighborhood. They don't have soda machines at Pauoa Park or other parks in the area. The least they could do is put it inside. Why is a commercial activity allowed in a city park anyway? City contract lets Pepsi
sell sodas in parksAnswer: The vending machine is there, and at a lot of other city sites, because Pepsi has obtained the exclusive rights to sell its soft drinks on city property.
The five-year agreement, negotiated by the Department of Enterprise Services in October, calls for Pepsi to pay the city 56 percent of revenues from each machine, said George Souza, of the Department of Customer Services.
Earlier reports said Pepsi would pay the city $1 million over the five-year period.
The soft-drink machines are placed at locations "based on demand and use by the public," Souza said.
The city's sign ordinance prohibits vending machines with company logos large enough to be seen from the street or sidewalk. However, a city spokeswoman last year said the city just doesn't have enough workers to monitor the situation and issue citations.
When asked about the vending machine at Puunui Park, Souza said, "Pepsi will replace the present design with another one that does not have the Pepsi logo prominently displayed."
In the meantime, the company is working on a "unique design featuring the City and County of Honolulu" to be placed on all vending machine fronts, he said.
Q: There is a man living in a building on Dole Street who stands on the second floor lanai while he exposes himself and masturbates. The police have been called a number of times, but can't do anything unless they catch him in the act or unless somebody testifies against him in court. Now he has started to harass women by shouting at them and following them on the street. He has also exposed himself to students from the nearby grade school. Is there anything that we can do before he harms someone, and is there any liability involved for the building owner who hasn't evicted him?
A: Police ran a check of complaint calls and could find only one regarding someone at that building -- a noise complaint, Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu said.
Call HPD's District 1 office, 529-3362, with more details and she said they'll follow through.
Regarding the building owner's liability, that's something you'd have to run by an attorney.
The state Landlord-Tenant Code spells out situations in which a tenant can be evicted. In a case where "a tenant causes or threatens to cause irremediable damage to any person or property," the tenant can be evicted immediately.
Call the state Office of Consumer Protection's Landlord-Tenant Code staff at 586-2634 for more information. Or check out OCP's Web site: http://www.state.hi.us/dcca/ocp/.
Auwe
To the driver of a red Miata who, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, drove from Pearlridge to Hawaii Kai in the HOV lane, at times going less than the speed limit. There were no accidents and traffic was flowing well, except for your vehicle. If you can't do the speed limit, move to the right, as the law says. -- Combat Veteran
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com