September 15, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

September 15, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 10:59 AM :: 7462 Views

Gov. Lingle reviewing HSTA-DoE settlement

“I appreciate the Department and Board of Education taking the lead in these negotiations, in coordination with my negotiation team, to work toward reaching an agreement with the HSTA that is in the best interest of teachers, our students and the general public, and that recognizes our growing budget shortfall. My negotiation team, including the budget director and the attorney general, are currently reviewing the proposed contract and I hope to reach a decision soon."

Funding details on rail campaign remain secret

Last year the city said it spent nearly $2.6 million from August 2005 through June 30, 2008, on a rapid transit public information campaign that included newsletters and radio and television shows.

However, the city has not responded to several requests by The Advertiser made since June for details on how much was spent since June 30, 2008. The city also hasn't disclosed how much was spent creating a recent "I Love Rail" logo and to hold a June 23 transit symposium, including the costs incurred to make it possible for seven national speakers to appear at the symposium.

Five steps between Mufi and Rail

1. Getting permission to enter into Preliminary Engineering.

2. Gaining acceptance of the Final Environmental Impact Statement.

3. Achieving a two-thirds City Council approval of a billion dollar bond issue.

4. Getting the FTA’s Record of Decision certifying completion of the EIS process.

5. Successfully countering possible legal action.

www.HonoluluTraffic.com

DoE/BoE Solution: School bus fare may go up 114% (so we can keep getting our 'top three years' and retire)

At a meeting of the BOE's Administrative Services Committee this afternoon, public school officials are expected to request that bus fares increase from 35 cents to 75 cents for a one-way trip. For annual bus riders, that means the cost to ride the bus will increase from $119.60 to $225.

The fare increase proposal comes at a time when the state Department of Education is struggling to subtract some $227 million from its roughly $1.8 billion annual budget. Education officials note that the state can no longer afford to subsidize bus transportation at the level it has for years.

Hawaii cited in report for improving children's health care

Hawaii is one of 23 states that expanded or improved children's health coverage this year despite a struggling economy, according to a report released today by the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute.

For more information on the report, visit CCF's Website at: http://ccf.georgetown.edu/ or Say Ahhh! A Children's Health Policy Blog at: http://theccfblog.org/

Report ranks city's economy 19th best

But Honolulu had the 19th best economic performance of the largest 100 U.S. cities during the second quarter, according to the latest report from the Brookings Institution's MetroMonitor program.

Honolulu was in the top 10 in several components used in coming up with the index ranking, including unemployment rate and bank-owned properties. It also was among the top 10 in change in gross metropolitan product since its pre-recession peak.

Property crimes in Honolulu dropped as violent crimes rose

Honolulu showed a 15.2 percent decrease in property crimes to 46,004 cases in 2008 from 54,228 in 2007, led by a 23.6 percent drop in auto thefts, according to the FBI.

In Honolulu, burglaries increased 3.1 percent to 9,379 cases in 2008 from 9,097 in 2007 while larceny thefts dropped 18 percent to 31,492 in 2008 compared with 38,416 in 2007, the FBI said.

Violent crime increased 0.3 percent to 3,512 in 2008, compared with 3,501 in 2007, according to the FBI.

FBI Crime Report: www.fbi.gov/page2/sept09/crimestats_091409.html

Maui judge formalizes ruling that bans electronic voting

A Maui judge has made permanent an oral ruling that bars the state Office of Elections from using electronic voting machines or transmitting election results over the Internet or telephone lines.

How the ruling might affect the 2010 elections was not immediately known.

Chief Election Officer Kevin Cronin said his office was reviewing Cardoza's decision and was not prepared to comment on specifics.

The issue is expected to come up today as the Senate Ways and Means Committee holds an informational briefing on the office's ability to carry out next year's elections under tight budget restraints.

The office also needs to buy voting machines for next year's election.

Vendors' bids are due to the office by Oct. 15, but (anti-Superferry Protester) Lance Collins, the attorney for the plaintiffs in the Maui case, says the judge's ruling invalidates the request for proposals until administrative rules are adopted spelling out the method of voting.

The statewide primary election is scheduled for Sept. 18, 2010, and the general election is Nov. 2, 2010.

Isles' beef, pork, egg production drop

Beef production took the biggest hit, with the cattle slaughter falling 19 percent to 3,900 head from 4,800 head in July 2008. A 26 percent drop in exports more than offset an 11 percent increase in the local slaughter.

(Politicians will continue to prattle endlessly about "saving agriculture". But only in reference to hippie gardeners, organic cultists, and anti-gmo protesters. Meanwhile REAL agriculture is slipping away under the same tax and regulatory burdens which strangle the rest of Hawaii business.)

Hon Adv: Supreme Court should clarify worth of years-old Turtle Bay EIS

If the court hears this, its ruling will be based on the need to shift the balance of power in the Hawaii Democratic party towards the greens and away from the unions--not on any tenet of law.