Kailua Speaks Out - Forum
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racket is an illegal business, usually run as part of organized crime. Engaging in a racket is called racketeering or making a racket.
Several forms of racket exist. The best-known is the protection racket, in which criminals demand money from businesses in exchange for the service of "protection" against crimes that the racketeers themselves instigate if unpaid. A second well known example is the numbers racket, a form of illegal lottery.
The term racket comes from the Italian word ricatto (blackmail) and is also used as a pejorative term for legitimate businesses. Typically, this usage is based on the example of the "protection racket" and indicates that the speaker believes that the business is making money by selling a solution to a problem that it created (or that it intentionally allows to continue to exist), specifically so that continuous purchases of the solution are always needed. Racket businesses in the past have been noted to be hidden in different parts of buildings, perhaps most notibly in basement areas.
The term was also used to describe the lavish parties thrown by gangs (circa 1850) located in the Five Points (New York City). Corrupt politicians sold tickets to these parties through coercion and threatening ultimatums.
[edit] United States of America
On October 15, 1970, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968), commonly referred to as the "RICO Act", became law. The RICO Act allowed law enforcement to charge a person or group with racketeering, defined as committing multiple violations of certain varieties within a 10 year period. The purpose of the RICO Act was stated as "the elimination of the infiltration of organized crime and racketeering into legitimate organizations operating in interstate commerce." S.Rep. No. 617, 91st Cong., 1st Sess. 76 (1969). However, the statute is sufficiently broad to encompass illegal activities relating to any enterprise affecting interstate or foreign commerce. Section 1961(10) of Title 18 provides that the Attorney General may designate any department or agency to conduct investigations authorized by the RICO statute and such department or agency may use the investigative provisions of the statute or the investigative power of such department or agency otherwise conferred by law. Absent a specific designation by the Attorney General, jurisdiction to conduct investigations for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1962 lies with the agency having jurisdiction over the violations constituting the pattern of racketeering activity listed in 18 U.S.C. § 1961.
In The United States of America, civil racketeering laws are also used in their federal and state courts. The National Federation of Independent Business has challenged these civil laws for being excessively abusive.
I have to say that I agree with 313. Sometimes (and I'm sure it's not intentional) it does sound a bit hostile on this site towards tourists whether they are staying in Kailua or not. We definitely don't want to stoke the fires of prejudice here like in the case of the guy who got beat up in Nanakuli earlier this month.
So just concentrate on the illegal B&B's and leave it at that.
The people who bought property (whether they live in Hawaii or not) and are using it legally are lawful homeowners. No one should chastise them for that. Now if there are those that are using it ILLEGALLY, then they should be punished based on the law.
That's what I meant about the flip flopping earlier. For some reason many of the comments start off talking about the illegal B&B's and then change into a tourist bashing and future development (only the good ones) crusade.
I agree somewhat too we are all guilty of bashing someone now and then ... its not good to bash the locals either.. because one person says "go home Haole" it doesn't mean all locals at Kailua Beach are doing that .. what message does that send? It's sad what happened down in Nanakuli too.
But I'll try to keep focused on the ILLEGAL OPERATIONS - cuz I can see how one spark can light a whole forest a blaze.
So yeah I will take that into consideration and thanks for your input u 2.. I'm finishing up on a new version of Kailua Speaks Out.. almost done..
where it is more educational and interactive and each topic page will have its own message board ( to keep topic conversation more orderly) ..
So if you have any ideas send em to me..
Actually, I had an idea maybe to let a club of childrn (teens) run and operate the site.. I got a few of them myself..
Maybe like the Boys & Girls Club..Or maybe a few from children from each school make a club out of it... I would volunteer my time to work with a few of them for a community project.
I'll probably going to be putting the new site up within a few days or maybe tommorow if I heal from my nite out ....gosh this red does hurt the eyes and head LOL 
........thanks Baht you been a real help through all this.
Location: KAILUA BEACH OAHU
