Geothermal: How to Divide Hawaiians from their Money
Luddites march, rally against GMOs on Kauai
CB: Much of the symbolism was colorful, even a bit carnivalesque, but grim. People wore masks with skulls. One man carried a pitch fork. As the breeze tussled numerous Hawaiian flags, signs lurched into the sky to scream, "Too Much Poison!”
For the crowd, the highlight of the event was a performance by the well-known local musician Makana....
read ... 3000 x zero = zero
Josh Green: Uninsured Unlikely to Sign up for Obamacare
P: Green, the Democratic state senator, said many of the state’s 90,000 uninsured are young and healthy — and unlikely to sign up for insurance under Obamacare, despite the fine they’ll face.
“I think that many of these individuals will not see becoming insured as a benefit that outweighs the penalties, and therefore will not engage,” he said in an email. “As a physician, I would have preferred an approach [in the ACA] that focused more on access to services rather than access to coverage, which will be of minimal benefit if there aren’t more doctors and nurses to care for patients.”
read ... In Hawaii, firms like longtime employer mandate
Parker Ranch Electric Bill $300K, Hospital, $1.4M
SA: Included in Parker Ranch's mission statement is a commitment to support four nonprofit organizations in Waimea: the Parker School Trust Corp., Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Hawaii Community Foundation's Richard Smart Fund and the North Hawaii Community Hospital.
"If there is a way to partner with the community and do a community grid, it seems like a real logical proposition to explore," he said. "Ultimately this is about lowering the cost of electricity for residents and businesses. That's the goal."
Kuyper said he will discuss Parker Ranch's plans during the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit being held this week at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
North Hawaii Community Hospital, the largest consumer of electricity in Waimea, pays an average of $1.2 million to $1.4 million a year for electricity, Kuyper said. Parker Ranch's bill averages about $300,000 a year, he said.
read ... Parker Ranch seeks its own ‘microgrid'
Three More Methods to Force Homeless to Accept Shelter
CB: Bill 59 would make it illegal for any person to “lie down on a public sidewalk, or on a tarp, towel, sheet, blanket, sleeping bag, bedding, chair, bench, tent floor or any other object or material located on a public sidewalk.”
The proposed ordinance, which is similar to other controversial laws in cities across the country, says that individuals won’t be fined unless they “knowingly or recklessly” continue to lie on a sidewalk after they’ve been notified by the police that it’s illegal.
There are some exemptions to the rule, including for children under 6 in strollers and individuals needing emergency medical attention.
Freedom of speech — defined as “expressive activity” — is also exempt under the proposed law, although the bill says that it can’t be used as a defense from prosecution unless an individual has notified a law enforcement official prior to getting a citation. It can also be used as a defense if a “reasonably observant” person could tell that lying down was part of an expressive activity.
Chang’s bill related to publication dispensing racks is even more straightforward. Bill 60 simply says that no one shall “climb, sit, stand, or lay on top of, inside of, or under any publication dispensing rack” unless they have permission from the city.
The other proposal, Bill 58, dovetails with the city’s stored property and sidewalk nuisance ordinances that have been used to clear out homeless encampments and (de)Occupy Honolulu protesters.
The bill, if passed, would essentially allow city crews to seize any property that has been tied to city property. It does not apply to bicycles on bike racks or tents.
SA: ACLU says homeless are wrongfully and unnecessarily being booted from the only places they can call home (except the one thing they refuse: a shelter)
read ... Three More Tools
Was Caldwell's Election Really a Thumbs Up for Rail?
CB: HART's interpretation of history ignores the effect of one of the nastiest political smear campaigns in Hawaii. The Pacific Resource Partnership's multi-million-dollar takedown of Cayetano was not about rail. Instead, PRP dredged up decades old — and unfounded — accusations of illegal campaign contributions and suggested Cayetano encouraged a "pay-to-play" culture when he ran the state. The claims were debunked by reporters and political pundits, but the $3 million TV and radio campaign that saturated the airwaves did a number on Cayetano's once-strong support.
Civil Beat polled voters six times last year about rail. More than 50 percent opposed it every single time, with opposition sometimes running as high as 55 percent. In January, two months after the election (and the last time we polled on rail), opposition was still at 50 percent with 40 percent in favor. Voters who don't care or don't know about rail have consistently been less than 10 percent.
What that tells us is that more people still don't like the rail project than do like it. They articulate their reasons clearly, in public forums and in the dozens of comments we get on every story about rail.
So did they vote for Caldwell because they like the Honolulu rail project? Or did they just not like Cayetano after PRP's scorched earth political campaign?
read ... Railroaded?
After two Mainland Losers, UH needs to pick a Local One
SA: ...a seven-member selection committee begins searching for a permanent UH president. Perhaps jolted by two leaders from afar who turned out to be controversial, the committee is looking this time for a candidate with strong Hawaii ties. All things being equal, that would be an asset — recent history has shown a gullibility for self-aggrandizing resumes....
read ... UH needs to end turmoil at the top
Sierra Club, NHLC Nowhere in Sight as Protests Begin Over A&B Development Project in Honolulu
CB: On Sunday, two groups made up of Kakaako residents said in a press release that they filed a petition Friday that fights HCDA’s approval of A&B’s project.
Among other things the group — consisting of e Association of Apartment Owners of One Waterfront Towers and the nonprofit Kakaako United — say The Collection’s buildings exceed maximum height limits and blocks view corridors.
The group also says that the project’s affordable housing component is not truly affordable, and that it will overburden local schools emergency services and sewer capacity.
read ... Protests Begin Over A&B Development Project in Honolulu
Gabbard Undermines Obama on Syria
DN: Gabbard’s statement contained parts that could signal very bad news for the Obama White House’s war push, including her declaration to “strongly urge my colleagues” to vote against a use-of-force resolution.
Because she is a DNC vice chair, her colleagues have plenty of incentive to at least listen to her case. And Gabbard knows how to make a case and ask insightful questions, according to Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey.
read ... Barack Who?
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