BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
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Q. There is a pile of trash on the corner of Kapahulu and Harding avenues under the freeway overpass near Market City Shopping Center, just past the entrance for the motor vehicle yard. Seems no garbage or bulky item pick up occurs here. Who handles this?
A. The state Department of Transportation is taking care of the problem, said spokesman Scott Ishikawa.
You are not the only one complaining about the trash building up next to Swedish Motor Repair and the entrance to the motor vehicle yard, which is a city yard leased from the state.
"Someone apparently dumped a lot of trash there recently, and we're in the process of hiring a private contractor to help dispose of it in case there are any harmful chemicals or hazardous waste involved," Ishikawa said.
Q. What can I do about loud mopeds and cars, since the police don't have decibel measuring machines and say they can't do anything about it? Really loud mopeds and cars are disturbing our sleep.
A. The only thing police need to enforce the noise law is a good pair of ears. "The police officer can use his own discretion in issuing a violation of the noise ordinances," said Vicki Borges, a special assistant in the mayor's office.
Officers cannot help if they don't observe the violations, however, so you might have to do more to help them locate the vehicle. "If citizens would call (911) and inform dispatch of the general area of the noise violation and a license number, if possible, they will investigate," Borges said.
Q. I have two questions about wheelchair access.
At Ena and Hobron, the city improved the curb cut for wheelchair access, but added a curb that prevents me from reaching the mailbox. The post office said they can't do anything because the mailbox is on private property. It's on a concrete slab and just needs to be moved forward a few inches so I can reach it from my wheelchair.
Also, on Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalia Road, the city installed a new curb cut and crosswalk 13 or 14 feet away from the old one. The white lines on the old crosswalk remain visible enough that pedestrians still use it.
A. Borges said the contractor moved the mailbox forward so it abuts the back of the curb, so hopefully you can reach it now.
The appropriate city department has been asked to rectify the crosswalk situation, she said.
If you have a government-related question and need help getting to the right person, you can direct a question to The Bureaucracy Buster in one of three ways:
• Write to:
The Bureaucracy Buster
The Honolulu Advertiser
605 Kapi'olani Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96813
• e-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com
• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message
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