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Aloha's offer doesn't hold water; state should reject it

Re: Aloha Utilities.

Same subject, same point of contention. Only now the Public Service Commission staff has recommended their bosses accept Aloha's recently proposed settlement. Can't help but wonder how many of them have actually taken the time to review all prior meeting transcripts and consumer complaints logged in on the subject over the past eight to 10 years. Better yet, how many of them actually have Aloha water coming out of their taps at home, experiencing the perpetually foul smelling liquid this private monopoly sells to us as a product that they claim meets "all minimum government standards."

State Sen. Mike Fasano is a customer and even he too is uncomfortable with this proposal that purposely omits Aloha from accepting any blame for past and present water quality problems.

The fact may well be Aloha's lawyers see the handwriting on the wall. After years of denials and stonewalling, their legal options had all but run out. To leave them off the hook at this crucial moment and accept their latest proposal will only serve them in perpetuating that which they do best - confuse the issues, blame others and deny they have an inferior product. I guess I've been lucky up to now. We've enjoyed excellent drinking water in all prior residences including New York City, Long Island, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Portland, Maine. It's my fault I moved here into a new house with bad pipes that cause my problem.

Yes, their proposal supposedly includes financial aid for up to 200 customers who wish to replace their present piping systems. Considering there are more than 2,000 customers who, because of problems, have already petitioned to lease the Aloha system, where do they leave us, the remaining 1,800, not to mention those additional homeowners who have yet to sign a deletion of territory petition? And what about all those who over the years, had no choice but to install expensive water purification systems such as reverse osmosis? Will they get any credit for correcting a problem that should not have existed to begin with?

Like all prior initiatives, Aloha will see that this one, if approved by the PSC, works totally to their advantage. They have all but destroyed any existing goodwill between them and their customer base. Ask them if they cooperated with the government-sponsored panel that included a select group of consumers. Ask them why they never returned customer money collected in advance of a subsequently disapproved increase request from 2002. Ask them how much compensation they received from a security firm providing customer names and addresses while exhibiting reluctance to comply with a similar request from the PSC.

Hopefully, the PSC will stand their ground and, based on the overwhelming evidence of Aloha's uncompromising and uncooperative stance over the years, reject this latest offer as just another legal ploy to delay the inevitable.

Selfish few who feed ducks help make mess for others

It is unfortunate that the selfish actions of a few who insist on feeding the Muscovy ducks in Jasmine Lakes can cause such a mess for so many. These inconsiderate people do not care that neighbors' driveways, porches, open patios, sidewalks and lawns are covered with duck feces. They do not understand the responsibility that comes with living in a community, that what they do affects others.

While there are able-bodied individuals who are sick and tired of cleaning their driveways and walkways every day, there are also the elderly and infirm who cannot do so. These people are forced to endure the health hazard that those who insist it is their right to feed the ducks have helped to create.

It is not uncommon to see 40 to 50 ducks at one time spreading out across streets and yards. Speaking conservatively, if 20 of the 40 are females and these females have a minimum of 10 ducklings each, we will soon see 200. Not long ago there were 20. These numbers will continue to increase unless something is done.

Commissioner Jack Mariano has been informed of the situation and he assures that he will work toward a viable solution.

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[Last modified July 27, 2005, 01:04:17]