Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Municipal lot attendant
made isolated errorQuestion: On New Year's Day, I parked in the municipal parking garage on Maunakea Street for two hours and 15 minutes. Being a holiday, I calculated the cost wouldn't exceed $2, but the parking attendant said I owed $3. I was about to hand her $3 when I saw the posted rate chart: 50 cents for each half-hour and, after two hours, $1 per half-hour. Below it, it said for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, it was 25 cents each half-hour. After I left, the more I questioned what happened. You can't tell me the employee was not aware of the holiday rate, since she was there all morning. Maybe this is petty, but I feel if you park there on an annual basis, it's not very petty. Can you give me your input on this matter?
Answer: Actually, we'll give you the input of the city agency responsible for monitoring municipal garages, which are run by contractors.
The city Department of Facility Maintenance's parking and property management branch said it contacted the contractor -- in this case, Republic Parking -- which looked into your complaint.
A Republic official said it was "just a mistake that the attendant made," which was verified by a check of the day's receipts. Also, no one that day was charged more than $2, according to a spokeswoman for the parking branch.
During holidays, attendants "press a specific holiday key in order for the computer to calculate the correct rate," she said. Republic officials thank you for bringing your concerns to its attention because "they don't want anyone to get overcharged," the city spokeswoman said.
In the future, if you have any questions or concerns regarding municipal parking lots, call the parking and property management branch at 523-4314.
Q: Is there a way to recycle compact fluorescent bulbs locally? I've read that they contain small amounts of mercury.
A: Unfortunately, fluorescent bulbs are not recyclable items, so "safe and proper disposal is the issue," says Suzanne Jones, the city's recycling coordinator.
Fluorescent tubes, as well as light bulbs of any sort, should be wrapped in newspaper so that the thin glass won't scatter if they break. Commercial users should call Lenox Resources at 682-5539, Jones said.
She said fluorescent bulbs may have traces of mercury in the coating.
Alkaline batteries also once contained mercury, but manufacturers were able to eliminate the mercury so that it's no longer an issue, she said, noting that manufacturers may be able to do the same with fluorescent bulbs.
Meanwhile, "older fluorescents may also have ballasts containing PCBs," Jones said.
That's why commercial companies with large quantities of fluorescent bulbs are not allowed to just toss the bulbs and tubes into the trash, she said.
Auwe
To the young woman on a red motorcycle on Nimitz Highway on Thursday, Jan. 16. She was riding in the fast lane yelling into her cell phone. If these people have no regard for own lives, they should have regard for others.
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