October 10, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, October 10, 2009

October 10, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:38 PM :: 8618 Views

Mayor Outlines Deal With HGEA

The state has reached a tentative deal that includes 18 furlough days in the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends in June, and 24 furlough days in the next fiscal year.

The counties will plan no furlough days in the current fiscal year, but keep the option of up to 18 days, and furlough HGEA workers 24 days in the following fiscal year, Hannemann said.

"Definitely the second year we have always said we are going to need furlough days -- 24 furlough days the second year," Hannemann said.

As for health care, the counties agreed to pay the 60 percent increase, but HGEA employees will have to pick up some of the additional increases the following year.

The state faces a more than $900 million deficit it is trying to close with budget cuts and furloughs. On Thursday, the state released statistics that showed tax revenues last month were down 9.7 percent compared to the 1.5 percent economists with the Council on Revenues had projected.

Gov. Linda Lingle said on Friday that the mayors should have agreed to all 18 furlough days this fiscal year same as the state to build up a savings surplus for next year.

"If it were me, and I had the opportunity to ride on the back of the state this way since we have already negotiated, they could have gone along with us from the beginning. It would benefit them and their taxpayers in the long term I think to take these furloughs now," Lingle said.

ADV: Hawaii mayors want county furloughs added to HGEA pact

(Next item: State attempts to shift some responsibilities to Counties. Next Year: Counties, failing to take Lingle's advice, demand tax hikes, blame "unforeseen" blablabla...or blame Lingle for shifting responsibilities to Counties.)

Good News: A Small Elite No Longer Runs Hawaii

Bad News: Nobody Does (Hawaii Business outlines the case for Mufi Hannemann as Governor)

Private Medical Foundation Plans New Hospital in Kihei, Maui

...the Malulani Foundation has partnered with Crossroads Program Group, LLC, to revive plans to build a private, full service state-of-the-art teaching hospital in Kihei on Maui, the Malulani Health & Medical Center.

Charter school idea advances (after DoE planned to close rural school)

The group Save/Improve Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School has worked for months, holding forums and gathering community input to start the conversion process.

Isle teachers deserve praise for sacrifice

Critics and politicians miss the true meaning of what an overwhelming number of teachers decided to do in voting for their new contract and voluntarily taking furlough days.

Teachers voted to save their profession, they voted to save the families of younger teachers, and they voted in significant numbers for sacrifice.

(Too bad their leaders are voting for chaos.)

Na Wai Eha: HC&S speaks (Will OHA destroy ANOTHER agricultural enterprise???)

About 20 Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. employees held their own news conference Thursday afternoon, along with a few HC&S supervisors, to make their case to the public that 800 full-time Maui jobs with benefits are at stake if the state Water Resource Management Commission rules against them in the Na Wai Eha streams case.

At issue is HC&S' current practice of diverting up to 70 million gallons a day from Na Wai Eha, or "the four great waters" - Iao, Waihee, Waikapu and Waiehu streams. Water Commission Hearings Officer Dr. Lawrence Miike, who also sits on the independent board, has proposed reducing that amount by half.

HC&S agronomist Mae Nakahata said that if Miike's proposed decision stands, about 5,500 acres of sugar cane above and below Honoapiilani Highway in Central Maui would be lost forever.

(OHA already destroyed Molokai Ranch. Will OHA be allowed to destroy the MLP Cane operations as well????? Oh, how the once mighty ILWU has fallen! BTW, the name of OHA appears nowhere in this Maui news article.)

Rail tax collection down 19%

Mufi's poll numbers down 19%.

Accused murderer jailed 7 times after 2006 arrest

Pollack put Susa on five years' probation in June 2005 after Susa pleaded guilty to the drug and paraphernalia charges, stemming from a Jan. 17, 2005, arrest at the International Market Place. Police found him with a wad of cash wrapped around a glass smoking pipe that contained drug residue.

Pollack later sent Susa to jail for various probation violations:

» In June 2006 Pollack revoked Susa's first probation and resentenced him to a new five-year term in June 2006 because Susa failed to report to his probation officer following his release from confinement and report that he moved to a new address. This time Pollack also ordered Susa to jail for six months.

» Susa was back in court in July 2008 for failing to report to his probation officer, failing to report he had moved to a new address and because he was convicted of a misdemeanor unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. Pollack again revoked Susa's probation and resentenced him to another five-year term, this time under the HOPE probation program. Susa again was sent to jail for six months.

» While Susa was on HOPE probation, Pollack sent him to jail five times for periods ranging from one week to the four-month jail term ordered in June. Susa's violations were for failing to report to his probation officer, failing to obtain and maintain an approved residence and twice refusing to submit to urinalysis.

("HOPE Probation" is just probation where they actually enforce the rules. Some people just don't deserve probation at all--but Hawaii judges give it to them.)

Akaka and Inouye Push for Public Option in Healthcare Bill

To Reid: "We urge you to fight for a sustainable health care system that ensures Americans the option of a public plan in the merged Senate bill."

Abercrombie on C-Span spinning furiously on behalf of surrender to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan

LINK: http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/07/HP/A/24027/Rep+Neil+Abercrombie+DHI+Armed+Services+Air+Land+Forces+Subcmte+Chair.aspx

UH Manoa UHPA "teach-in" against contract proposal

They claim MRC Greenwood is overpaid--and therefore are demanding tax increases. One hand washes the other!

How to create chaos? Inouye's BoR cronies put someone like Greenwood in charge and make her oversee cutbacks: Engineered choice: How to pick a Greenwood

Honolulu: Audit faults upkeep, liabilities of Honolulu's city-owned vehicles

Among the major concerns is the lack of enforcement and potential for abuse involving the city's policy allowing some employee to take city vehicles home. The city's passenger vehicle fleet grew by 13 percent over three years.

Hawaii County Council sued over reorganization

HILO -- South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford is suing her colleagues, alleging they violated state law by failing to provide the public with ample notice of the County Council's June 16 reorganization meeting.

The decision to hold the meeting anyway broke another state law, Ford claims in a civil lawsuit filed Oct. 2. The lawsuit doesn't name the lawmakers individually, but rather as a group.
The council's chairman and its top attorney both said her allegations are false.

Commission recommends 4-year council terms for Hawaii Co Council (four years for these clowns???)

"I support four-year council terms so members have time to learn the complexities of government, but only if there are strong recall and impeachment options," said (911 Trooother and Sierra Club leader) Cory Harden, of Hilo.

Others were not so supportive. "We passed the two-year terms for a very good reason, to dispel the perception and the reality of corruption" said Puna resident Joyce Folena.

Amendments that pass muster will be on the 2010 ballot.

read more

Sound off on Hawaii Co building division (aka Dep't of Retaliation)

The 16-question survey also is available on the county's Web site, http://www.hawaii-county.com/.

Kauai: Yoshioka’s 20.02D opinion released

Yoshioka, then a member of the Charter Review Commission, had requested clarification of the ongoing discussion of conflicts of interest and the proscription against county officers and employees appearing on behalf of private interests before any county board, commission or agency.

Molokai to have St. Damien Church

The Catholic parish in Kaunakakai will be renamed St. Damien Church as soon as Pope Benedict XVI declares the sainthood of the missionary to Molokai. Signs were erected days ago, covered with canvas, awaiting the moment.

The unveiling will be a highlight of late-night festivities as Catholic and non-Catholic residents of the Friendly Isle gather to watch the live broadcast of the canonization in St. Peter's Square tonight.