Question: In this age of cutbacks and increased city fees, does the city still allow city workers to park at the Neal Blaisdell Center parking structure at vastly reduced rates, or did they correct that and start charging market rates? I thought that always was a perk that wasn’t deserved — that they could park there and get free shuttle serv­ice from the Civic Center to the Blaisdell parking structure.

Answer: City employees who park at the Blaisdell pay $20 per month, a rate set by Section 15-16.5(f) of the Revised Ordinances of Hono­lulu.

The rate for the Blaisdell is described as "Unassigned uncovered satellite stall with bus pass for commuting to working place not less than 3/8 mile away."

"The limited area bus pass allows employees to use TheBus to transport them from Blaisdell to work, then back to Blaisdell, because we do not have enough space in the parking lot next to the Fasi Municipal Building and Hono­lulu Hale," said city administration spokes­woman Louise Kim McCoy.

Employees are prohibited from parking at the Blaisdell when certain events require the use of the entire parking complex, she added.

Kim McCoy said Mayor Peter Carlisle’s administration has proposed increasing the parking fees to $33 a month the first year and $45 a month the second year. The proposal requires the approval of the City Council.

Question: We suspect a neighbor is responsible for illegal dumping in our neighborhood. What can be done or what should we do?

Answer: You should report it to the city’s Department of Environmental Serv­ices by calling 768-3300.

You are asked to have detailed information available, including specifying what is being dumped and the exact location. You are also asked to provide a name and contact information, in case more information about the illegal dumping is needed.

If you see your neighbor in the act of dumping the trash, you should call 911 with as much information about the location, activity and description of the culprit.

Scholarships for Older Women

Women 40 and older who are seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities should contact the AARP Foundation to apply for scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Applicants must be at least 40 years old as of March 31, able to demonstrate financial need and be enrolled in an accredited school or technical training program within six months of the scholarship award date.

The AARP says it awarded more than $450,000 in scholarships to 200 women nationwide last year.

Interested applicants can apply at www.aarp.org/womensscholarship.

Mahalo

To the guy in a silver car who pulled up beside me (going westbound onto the H-1 freeway from Moana­lua) to tell me my tire was flat on Feb. 23.

On leave

After this column, June Watanabe will be on temporary leave.

Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.