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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Call city to get
slumlords to clean upQuestion: On a recent visit to Honolulu, I was so upset to visit some people who are living in horrible apartments. I could not believe the conditions of these apartment complexes. Please let me know where a person can report slumlords. I am at my wit's end worrying about these people who are afraid to report these slumlords.
Answer: Call the city Department of Planning and Permitting's Commercial and Multifamily Code Enforcement Branch at 527-6341. That branch would verify whether there are any housing code violations for substandard dwellings.
If a single-family home were involved, you should call the department's Residential Code Enforcement Branch at 527-6308.
Generally, anything that does not meet existing building, electrical, plumbing and housing codes at the time of construction may be considered "substandard," according to the Planning and Permitting Department.
Buildings that are also extensively damaged structurally by termites, rot or improper maintenance would also be considered "substandard."
Depending on the conditions and circumstances, the city may issue a notice of violation to the owner and/or agent of the building to either repair, demolish or secure the building from entry, officials said.
Q: The City and County of Honolulu built Westloch Estates in 1989 under then-Mayor Frank Fasi. It includes the wonderful Hoaeae Peninsula Shoreline Park, which was dedicated on July 12, 1992. A simple wooden bridge connects the residents of Westloch Estates and the Hoaeae Peninsula Shoreline Park with the Westloch Fairways subdivision. A nature wildlife reserve provides the backdrop to this bridge that allows joggers, walkers, and bicyclists to travel between the two Westloch subdivisions. About three months ago, the bridge was closed and remains that way in need of repair. Those who travel through the park from either direction are now forced to retrace their route because of the closed bridge. Will the city please repair this bridge that provides access through this wonderful park?
A: The city does plan to repair the bridge, but it won't be for at least another year.
According to the city Department of Parks and Recreation, the wooden bridge, approximately 60 feet in length, had rotted to the point it was deemed unsafe and removed.
It will be placed on the high-priority list of capital improvement projects for fiscal year 2005, which begins July 1, 2004, parks officials said.
Auwe
To those drivers who jeopardize others stuck in morning and pau hana traffic by driving along the shoulder lane just to cut a few minutes off their drive time. This is a heads-up to HPD as this is happening quite frequently along the H-1 between the Waialae and Punahou onramps heading Ewa. Drivers be on the lookout for these inconsiderate people as they are a hazard to our highway. -- No Name
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Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com
