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In New York City, 3,000 police officers have retired or left the force. Here on Maui, we have also a deficit of police officers.
When I called the homeless division of the Office of the Mayor of Maui County, I was told that he knows about the situation because people are calling and complaining about this fellow who has set up a studio apartment on the streets between Kamaole II and III in Kihei. He has everything but the kitchen sink and a plug-in for a toaster oven.
I was told that he is breaking several ordinances and the police just don’t care because they’ve been told that homelessness is not their first priority.
The new police chief of Maui is from Las Vegas and Las Vegas has become an encampment for the homeless like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City. I guess he feels comfortable seeing these people on the streets.
This problem starts at the top with orders from headquarters, and I can tell you that the South Kihei constituents of the current mayor are not happy campers.
Turning a blind eye to this problem can escalate beyond your wildest dreams. The new police chief has left the homeless encampments of Las Vegas to bring his brand of policing here.
Lucky Maui?
Hedy Klein
Kihei