Full Text: Honolulu Audit Report on Rail
Government Spending Transparency: Hawaii Ranks 45th
Honolulu Average Monthly Rent Jumps 7.28%
Hawaii: Four Anti-Gun Bills Heading for Conference Committee
Does the EITC Reduce Savings Among the Poor?
Hawaii Republican State Convention Set for May 21
Rail: Project planners engage in “strategic misrepresentation”
PBN: …Some of us have been arguing for years that cost overruns were inevitable and that officials were soft-pedaling the cost of rail while inflating ridership estimates.
We’re now up to $6.7 billion, and counting, to build what The New York Times last month described as “the most expensive transit project in the country’s history.”
Not Hawaii’s history. The most expensive, on a per capita basis, in American history.
Grabauskas and Horner alone didn’t make this happen. Horner is out, while Grabauskas’ fate remains to be seen — his performance review is underway and a city audit into rail finances due out today may lead to more fallout. Going after the HART leadership now is a bit like firing the captain of the Titanic after the ship hit the iceberg.
The fact is, infrastructure projects like these, around the world, consistently go over budget. A 2002 study of 258 transportation infrastructure projects around the world found that nine out of 10 of them exceeded their budgets, on average by 28 percent, as reported in citylab.com, a online publication of The Atlantic Monthly focused on urban issues. The University of Oxford scholar, Bent Flyvbjerg, who conducted the study concluded that no one could be so consistently bad at estimating costs, so something else must be at play. His conclusion? Project planners engage in “strategic misrepresentation.” They lie to their constituents, in other words, to sell their projects. All around the world.
Flyvbjerg’s work holds a warning for us, too, on ridership. In his 2007 study of 210 rail and road projects around the world, he and his team found that, “For nine out of 10 rail projects, passenger forecasts are overestimated; the average overestimation is 106 percent. The result is substantial financial risks, which are typically ignored or downplayed by planners and decision makers to the detriment of social and economic welfare. ... The causes of inaccuracy in forecasts are different for rail and road projects, with political causes playing a larger role for rail than for road.”
Who, I’d like to know, is going to resign in say, 2025, if we find we’ve spent $7, or $8 or $10 billion building a rail line ridden by a fraction of the people we were told would use it?
SA: Audit describes financial train wreck
read … We Told You So
Thoughtlessly Signing ‘Organic Farmland Initiative’
MN: I have observed people thoughtlessly signing a petition for the Organic Farmland Initiative. People should think critically before signing such petitions.
The initiative would have these and other consequences:
1) A committee can order farmland to be forcibly acquired from one farmer in order to lease it to another farmer, whose efforts to profitably farm the land may fail. The county becomes a landlord.
2) County funds - your tax dollars - would be used to fund this utopian vision. Administrative costs will be incurred to acquire the land, fight lawsuits, track leases and enforce terms, manage abandoned lease land, manage tax obligations, and carry out other responsibilities.
3) Use will be limited to organic farming as loosely defined by the law. This limits the probability of success for the tenant farmer and the types of crops that can be raised. A thorough definition of the methods being required by the law should be included in this or another law.
4) The law allows lessees to sublease the land! An entity could petition the seizure of land in order to lease it back out. This results in a feudal system where landlords make profit on the backs of tenants, reducing their income from the subleased land. The consequence could be added profits to the very companies that the law demonizes in its findings section!
It is unwise to sign a petition for initiatives you know nothing about. Read the language, not just the brochure! Otherwise you are a dupe…..
Dupes: Anti-Pesticide Activists Hype Discredited Autism Claims
read … Don’t be a Dupe
Lawmakers May Replace State Auditor With Ethics Director
SA: … Souki (D, Waihee-Waiehu-Wailuku) wrote to the ethics commissioners last year to criticize commission staff under Kondo for “rewriting the Ethics Code” by prohibiting once-common practices such as charitable fundraising at the Legislature and other state venues.
When asked about Kondo’s appointment Friday, Souki said lawmakers had an internal agreement that Souki would choose the state ombudsman, Senate President Ron Kouchi would select the auditor and they would make a joint decision on hiring the head of the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Souki said he reviewed Kondo’s background and concurred with his appointment, and “I believe he has the capability. I have no problem. I’ve met with him a few times even prior to this appointment, and think we reached some understanding.”
Of his differences with Kondo, “that’s all in the past,” Souki said. Kondo’s new role will have him focusing his audits and reports “entirely” on the administration and not on the Legislature, Souki said.
Kondo has served as executive director of the Ethics Commission since 2011, but last year the five-member commission had rated him as only “average” overall, and the commission was considering whether to remove him from the job.….
read … Auditor
TMT opponents seek hearings officer’s removal
SA: The Mauna Kea Hui filed a formal complaint Friday involving retired Hawaii island Circuit Judge Riki May Amano, who was hired to oversee the contested case over the Thirty Meter Telescope. Opponents object to Amano’s background, as she and her husband, Donald Amano, have been members of Imiloa Astronomy Center since 2012. Opponents also are asking that the hiring process be restarted for the hearings officer….
Reality: Telescope: For OHA, it’s all About the Rent Money
read … TMT opponents seek hearings officer’s removal
OHA to Obama: Expand Tuna Monument
HTH: …They want Obama to expand the monument to the full 200 nautical-mile limit of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands exclusive economic zone while keeping the main Hawaiian Islands outside the boundaries.
“While the current boundary of Papahanaumokuakea includes vital habitat for a number of species, it doesn’t fully protect habitat and travel routes for several species including Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, sharks, whales, Black-footed and Laysan albatrosses as well as other species,” reads the letter signed by Department of Hawaiian Homelands Deputy Chairman William Aila, Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamanaopono Crabbe, Polynesian Voyaging Society President Nainoa Thompson and others.
If Obama expands the monument, it would be the largest protected area on Earth, they say.
Sean Martin, president of the Hawaii Longline Association, questioned whether there’s been significant cultural activity beyond the current boundary. He thinks environmental organizations with deep pockets are using Hawaiian culture to push their agenda at the expense of longline fishermen.
“I think that plays good, sounds good,” he said of highlighting the monument’s cultural significance. “But the reality is that it’s a very important area we work in. … We’re into continuing to support access for U.S. fishermen to fish in U.S. waters.” ….
read … Kill off Fishing Fleet
HD14: Teacher Running as Republican
KGI: …Sandi Combs said she wants to represent District 14 because it’s time for her to lead by example.
“I always say someone should do something,” she said. “My students say I’m someone, so it’s time for me to walk the talk.”
Combs, a psychology, economics, Hawaiian history and participation democracy teacher at Kapaa High School, filed nomination papers for State Representative District 14 for the 2016 elections on April 11, according to a release from Kauai Office of Council Services.
She filed as a Republican, the release said.
State Rep. Derek Kawakami (D) is the District 14 representative, which covers Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kapaa and Wailua Houselots.
While Combs’ candidacy has only been official for a few days, her students have known for a while, she said.
“It’s a great teaching tool,” she said. “My students get to watch and see what the process is like. But it gets dicey because you can’t politic in school — so I focus on the process.”
While this is the first time Combs is seeking office, she has experience campaigning.
“I campaigned for Jimmy Carter in 1976 with my high school teacher; we went knocking on people’s doors,” she said.
The seven-year Kauai resident said she is concerned about the same issues that concern her neighbors.
“I’m worried about traffic and infrastructure, and the drug problem is paramount,” she said.
The 56-year-old also said she is a supporter of quality education and veteran’s affairs….
read … Teacher announces candidacy
High cost of doing business in Hawaii expected to drive up pot prices
HNN: If the Suganos could buy marijuana (for their 7-year-old daughter MJ) from dispensaries on the mainland, it would cost them $450 for a 30-day supply….
Bill Jarvis heads Pono Wellness, which has applied for a Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary license, and said mainland dispensaries charge about $10 to $20 per gram of weed. He isn't ready to publicize his price plan….
Hawaii dispensaries will have to cover higher overhead costs in the islands, from pricey real estate space to higher power costs. The federal government also takes 70 cents for every dollar earned from medical cannabis.
"I think a lot of people believe that these are absolute gold mines. They really aren't when you put pencil to paper," Jarvis said.
Dispensaries will also compete against a black market that operates with no regulations…..
Her mother added that (7-year-old) MJ now weighs about 50 pounds. As she grows, she'll ‘need’ higher dosages that cost more….
read … High cost of doing business in Hawaii expected to drive up pot prices
HECO Pressures Solar Customers to Buy Batteries
SA: …HECO also said it will send out a letter with similar concerns notifying 66 customers waiting for approval for a solar incentive program called grid-supply. These customers will have to pay $1,700 for a technical review because they were flagged for potential over-voltage in an earlier screening.
Grid-supply customers have to notify HECO within 15 days if they want to move forward with the study and have to pay for it within 30 days. A total of 418 HECO customers have applied for grid-supply solar systems.
The customers could also switch to a third solar program, called “self-supply,” and not have to pay for the study. The self-supply system requires owners to link to a battery system and does not send excess power to the grid.
The letters to NEM customers were sent out Friday. HECO said it plans to mail letters to grid-supply customers Monday.…
read … Batteries
HOPE Probation for 24-Time Loser Leads to Double Stabbing
KHON: "If the court, when this defendant violated the conditions of probation, would have revoked his probation and sentenced him to prison, yes, the victim would still be alive," Kaneshiro told Hawaii News Now….
Kaneshiro says this is a perfect example of criminals in Hawaii getting too many chances.
Bringas has 58 prior arrests and 24 felony convictions. He's been on HOPE probation for six years and in and out of jail for numerous violations.
On March 29, he was released by a judge to visit a drug program under the condition he would come back, but he didn’t.
Two weeks later, Wesley Sula was fatally stabbed.
"It's a tough pill for me to swallow because I see this happen time and time again," Kaneshiro said.
The state Public Safety Department says Bringas has been in and out of jail 20 times in the past eight years.
"When is enough, enough?" Kaneshiro asked. "I say when they violate the conditions of probation and they show that they continue to violate the conditions of probation. Then that's enough."
Meanwhile, court documents say Bringas was attempting to sell the Sula brothers illegal drugs at Kuhio Park Terrace just before an argument broke out. The documents say Bringas pulled an object out of his backpack and used it to stab Sula in the chest. He then allegedly stabbed Sula's older brother in the leg.
While on HOPE probation, Bringas' judge was Steven Alm….
the judiciary is pointing the finger back at the prosecutors saying they missed a chance last year to put Bringas behind bars for 10 years by agreeing to a plea agreement to reduce two felony charges to misdemeanors….
CB: Lawsuit Claims Widespread Infringement of Inmates’ Religious Rights
read … No HOPE?
Former state worker indicted for embezzlement
HTH: …Kagami told the Tribune-Herald in September 2014 Ryder “created three fictitious accounts, put (the state’s) money into the accounts, and drew it out” in 2013.
Kagami said Ryder used electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards and went to numerous automated teller machines to withdraw the funds. He said Ryder was identified from surveillance photos taken while making the ATM withdrawals.
According to Kagami, the new charges stem from continued records investigations.
“We think there may be even more (thefts) but a lot of those bank records no longer exist,” he said Thursday….
WHT: Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi delivered keynote address to 40 high school students at LEI program
read … $200,000
Sex Harassment Training Ordered At DOT
CB: “The court believes that DOT-Airports’ current training efforts are not adequate, given past events,” wrote Seabright. His order comes in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of a former state employee, Sherry Valmoja, who worked as the handler of an explosives-detecting dog at Honolulu International Airport….
read … Sex Harassment Training Ordered At DOT
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