$4 Million In Roadwork Done For Free By Citizens In Eight Days
When the government didn't have the money it estimated it would take to fix a state park in Hawaii, residents pulled together and fixed it themselves, doing roadwork and making other repairs. Mallory Simon writes at CNN:
Ivan Slack, co-owner of Napali Kayak, said his company relies solely on revenue from kayak tours and needs the state park to be open to operate. The company jumped in and donated resources because it knew that without the repairs, Napali Kayak would be in financial trouble."If the park is not open, it would be extreme for us, to say the least," he said. "Bankruptcy would be imminent. How many years can you be expected to continue operating, owning 15-passenger vans, $2 million in insurance and a staff? For us, it was crucial, and our survival was dependent on it. That park is the key to the sheer survival of the business."
So Slack, other business owners and residents made the decision not to sit on their hands and wait for state money that many expected would never come. Instead, they pulled together machinery and manpower and hit the ground running March 23.
And after only eight days, all of the repairs were done, Pleas said. It was a shockingly quick fix to a problem that may have taken much longer if they waited for state money to funnel in.
"We can wait around for the state or federal government to make this move, or we can go out and do our part," Slack said. "Just like everyone's sitting around waiting for a stimulus check, we were waiting for this but decided we couldn't wait anymore."
via @mpetrie98
I'm waiting for the fines, because they didn't file a survey for the Endangered Microbe or hire enough Minbari.
Radwaste at May 16, 2012 2:57 AM
Hawaii is a special case--even more than D.C., it is the epitome of the bureaucratic liberal utopia gone bad.
Astra at May 16, 2012 6:18 AM
I'm reminded of a bit from the Goon Show where Neddie Seagoon (Harry Seacombe) playing a member of Parliament, rages about a building that was budgeted fr 20,000 pounds, but ended up costing 40,000.
As part of the war against waste, he says "We are going to have that building torn down, and built again at the proper price."
Vinnie Bartilucci at May 16, 2012 7:03 AM
I'm more curious about how much it actually cost the volunteers to do.
Gov't estimates 4 million, usually means it will cost 6 million.
So I'm wondering how much in materials, rental, and man hours the volunteers put in. Since it was done in 8 days. I siuspect It would be for much less than 1 million but don't know.
Joe J at May 16, 2012 8:29 AM
Citizens managing their own roads happens pretty frequently on a smaller scale in rural areas. My former boss, and my former father-in-law, for example, both live in fairly rural (but nice) areas. The roads aren't really maintained by the county in any meaningful way, and so these two gentlemen take it upon themselves to grade and plow the roads as needed to make it driveable and pleasant. Some of the other neighbors contribute, but as typical, some just sit back and let the entitlement flow in (and to the discouragement of those who work to make it nice, even complain when things aren't nice or drive in ways that tear up the road more quickly).
Meloni at May 16, 2012 8:31 AM
Since I was curious I did some digging on the cost, unfortunately wasn't able to find any official breakdown, just a persons comments in a newspaper. Which covered just cost of materials. Estimates went from 12,000 to 25,000. Gov't estimates for materials was $800,000 or 400,000 if they used the nonspecialty wood. In other words about 16 times the cost if non gov't.
Joe J at May 16, 2012 9:34 AM
In a similar fashion, animal rescue groups have admirably picked up the slack where city animal control, under-funded and -staffed, has fallen short. I expect that at one time most folks thought this was the government's job, but so many things take priority over it.
And it's all coordinated by volunteer animal lovers, who have other paid jobs and do it out of love. Shelter staff notify various breed-specific groups when an animal at least partly of that breed comes in, someone springs the animal out of jail, someone else fosters it at home at their own expense and provides vet care, and another person publishes an adoption page about the animal. Frequently volunteers drive animals thousands of miles to their adoptive homes. All without government money or coercion!
Of course, some cities' regulations make it difficult to perform this rescue work legally. Also, popular anti-puppy-mill legislation is often used against rescuers and fosters who aren't able to provide the same kind of kennel facilities breeders have. All in the name of animal welfare, the rescued animals sometimes wind up killed in shelters, for their own good, of course.
Miss Conduct at May 16, 2012 9:37 AM
Guarantee: The government will rip out/rope off/condemn the repaired bridge, citing safety/environmental/erosion concerns.
AB at May 16, 2012 10:55 AM
Radwaste nailed it in one!
cornerdemon at May 16, 2012 12:21 PM
The crankiness, cynicism, and (dare I say?) foresight of Radwaste and cornerdemon be damned.
I always suspected we could take care of ourselves if we were just allowed to. You'll see more of these kinds of things as government fails. We'll be amazed they thought it was so hard and expensive in the first place. Take heart.
Pirate Jo at May 16, 2012 4:43 PM
This year's Amgen Tour of California pro bike race had one stage going over scenic Mount Diablo, but the road was impassable. Money to fix it magically appeared just in time for the race.
jefe at May 16, 2012 11:15 PM
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