This is my neighborhood. I live here, and I love it.
But, for being America's China Town closest to China, it's got some work to do.
* DISTRICT COUNCIL - CLEAN UP. Our neighborhood is riddled with trash, homelessness, urine, drug dealing, dilapidated buildings, grafitti, etc. WHY? What are we doing to attract development projects? Seriously, what??? Whats the plan for Wo Fat - once an icon, now an embarassment? Surely some of the Chinese $$ invested in Honolulu can better serve China Town. If I were a communist government with nationalist tendencies and massive investment in American infrastructures, I would be receptive to a compelling argument for improving my namesake in America's closest CHINA Town. Leading to my next point...
* CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER - where to begin. Every time I walk through your cultural center, I'm embarrassed for China. What are your plans to refurbish? Is the Chinese Cultural Center closest to China out of money? Is your elevator permit REALLY in the manager's office? I have my doubts.
* SHOP OWNERS - ever heard of the broken window theory? Or just plain pride?
* CHURCH COMMUNITY - what would you say it is you do here? Maybe you're transforming souls, but your neighborhood needs work. I never see outreach projects / cleanup projects / food banks / shelters / open doors / any kind of church presence at community events / festivals. What do you DO? Went to a New Life service where everyone was a "profit" (really?) and ministers touted 'transformation`, but I don't see what you DO - and I live right across the street from you. Basilica is historic and pretty and as far as I can tell, pretty isolated from the community. How about Christian ministers downtown, across denominations, ban together (blasphemy, I know) with shared initiatives to create a larger, healthier community - sort of Christ's game plan... (minus the whole multiple denominations thing).
* HPD - WHERE ARE YOUR FOOT PATROLS??? I witness the occasional assault / drug-dealing, do my civic duty and phone it in, and watch the clown show unfold as I guide dispatch guiding patrol cars driving back and forth. Your precinct is IN the neighborhood. Ditch some cars and WALK AROUND. WHY is the strategy different in Waikiki than it is in China Town? Because of the presence of tourists??? Hmm, chicken or egg?
The GREAT things about my neighborhood seem to be driven by individuals and individual business owners, as the exception, predicated on profit. So there's pockets of prosperity within a broader dilapidated environment. Wish the city council and law enforcement and church community and residents and HOA associations did more to BAN TOGETHER to proactively support it for the sake of a thriving community.
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