Maui has just experienced the worst home foreclosure crisis in its history. It was heart-wrenching to hear that families had lost their homes.
Now we are experiencing a respite in the number of homes in foreclosures, but we are not out of danger. A major disruption in tourism could result in numerous home foreclosures.
The County Council may have exacerbated the potential foreclosure threat by increasing real estate taxes and planning water rate hikes. These actions, coupled with skyrocketing gas and electricity costs, could lead to foreclosures.
A damper has to be put on the tax-and-spend mentality that has the members of the County Council enthralled - at least until we are clear of the foreclosure threat.
Tom Hansen
Lahaina
