Reliance on over-tourism as new hotels considered
Most people I talk with, as well as most candidates for public office, seem to agree that we need to diversify our economy and stop the reliance on over-tourism.
However, I see that there are now 10 new hotels or expansions of an existing one in various stages of approval.
Again, most people I talk with as well as political candidates agree that there is a real need for affordable housing for current residents. Then, I read in the paper that there is a 57-unit luxury condo project planned primarily for part-time residents with each unit planned to sell for a whopping $3.6 million each.
Talk about disconnect. More hotels when we want to reduce tourism and more luxury condos when we need affordable housing. I, for one, will not vote for any candidate, no matter what their positions are on other issues, if they support this kind of needless development.
Stephen Beidner
Kula