Interior Department Still Trying to Sell Doomed Obamacare Program to Micronesia
Hawaii Republicans Comment on Election Results
Grassroot: Mahalo Nui to our Vets
A Story of Great Courage from Afghanistan
Trump Monster
Police Commission Has New Power—Will They Use it?
KHON: …With the vote, the commission now has the following:
- Greater authority to suspend or dismiss a chief
- Additional powers to investigate complaints about officer misconduct
- Requires a written explanation if a chief disagrees with the commission
How will these broadened tools impact department leadership? Always Investigating is following up as the chairmanship is about to change with an outgoing appointee, and its most vocal new member weighs in on how the current chief should be evaluated.
“I am surprised and I wonder if it is a question of leadership at the Honolulu Police Department,” said Loretta Sheehan, Honolulu Police Commission member. “What I think has to happen is a series of confidential conversations with the rank and file.”
read … What Now?
Hawaii Senate Shuffles Leadership
CB: Kouchi is not optimistic about federal funding for Hawaii…“Clearly, with the Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, I believe any more federal assistance is going to be very challenging, not just for rail but for every aspect of our lives here in Hawaii,” he said….
As far as the state Senate leadership shuffle goes, the changes were relatively minor.
Sen. Michelle Kidani, who had chaired the Education Committee, will be vice president. And Sen. Will Espero, who was vice president, will be majority floor leader, Kouchi said.
Sen. Kalani English will continue serving as majority leader. Sen. Brickwood Galuteria will still be majority caucus leader, and Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz will remain majority whip, Kouchi said.
The so-called “A Bracket” committees will also remain the same: Sen. Roz Baker will continue to chair Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health; Sen. Jill Tokuda will chair Ways and Means; and Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran will chair Judiciary and Labor.
Sen. Josh Green, who had been majority floor leader, said he has been asked to chair the Human Services Committee — a role he welcomes — but the rest of the committee lineups have not been finalized. That’s expected to happen next week, Kouchi said.
read … Shuffle
Developer Pays for Fake Article--Brickwood Galuteria Fluff-Piece in Star-Advertiser
SA: …The Galuterias left Kakaʻako in 1962. They moved to Kāneʻohe and “took Kakaʻako with them,” says Senator Galuteria. It’s a bittersweet subject. “People didn’t willingly move out of Kakaʻako,” says Barbara. “There was sadness and anger at having to leave.” But, the cottages and family run businesses were being torn down, and large warehouses were going up. There was traffic, construction workers, and new, unfamiliar faces. “The atmosphere of Kakaʻako as we knew it had changed,” says Barbara. Kakaʻako was no longer the haven of her childhood. Fortunately, one of the Galuteria brothers had had enough business success that he was able to purchase the family a nice home in Kāneʻohe….
(That’s funny. Not a single word about Brickwood’s ‘home’ on Curtis Street. Remember THIS??? >>> Residency: Senator Galuteria Tangled in Lies?)
read … Fake Article Paid for by ‘Keauhou Place’
Caldwell ‘Encouraged’ by Trump Election Night Speech
HNN: …Lee and Mayor Kirk Caldwell said they're also encouraged by Trump's election night speech, where he talked about the need to invest in America's aging infrastructure. In that speech, Trump said he's committed to rebuilding "our highways, bridges, tunnels and airports, schools, hospitals."
Caldwell said, "I'm hopeful, I'm going to take him at his word that he's going to support infrastructure projects in all of the states including the 50th state."
The mayor said he doesn't expect any changes in the full funding agreement, in which the federal government has agreed to provide $1.55 billion to the project. But finding the money to pay for cost overruns and to finish the project is another matter….
read … Caldwell Loves Trump
Star-Adv: Trump Election Means Progress for Veterans Health Care
SA: For American veterans who need medical care, the situation looks different than it did two years ago — and for that matter, three days ago.
In 2014, the health care scandal that swept through the Department of Veterans Affairs — hopelessly long wait times, botched recordkeeping, a suicide epidemic and inadequate treatment of “invisible” wounds like PTSD — triggered a national uproar and calls for major reforms.
On Wednesday, America woke up to a new president-elect, Donald Trump, who, in his victory speech, promised to “finally take care of our great veterans.”
Trump’s plan to help veterans includes stronger oversight of those providing veterans services, and providing more access to physical and mental health care through partial privatization of the VA. Both President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton oppose a privatized VA, but elections have consequences. And there is no denying the need for more and better services. The number of veterans seeking health care through the VA has expanded significantly, a trend expected to continue through 2019, according to a RAND survey. Many of those are veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts who require sophisticated and long-term care.
While the VA is capable of providing high-quality care, easier access for veterans to private medical services should be considered as well….
read … Trump = Progress
Trump Supporters More Open-Minded than Anti-GMO Activists
KE: It's been interesting, as I cruise through social media, to see that some of the people who oppose me on GMOs share my dismay about Trump, while some who support my stance on biotech crops voted for Trump.
One big difference, though, is that none of the Trump supporters attacked or shunned me for my views, unlike those in the anti-GMO camp.
Still, it reminded me again that beliefs — ideologies — serve primarily to create and enforce separation. Almost always there is some area of agreement, of like-mindedness, even among those with bitterly opposing views….
I had lunch with a friend (and Clinton supporter) yesterday who said she wanted to understand the views of those who voted for Trump. She wanted to know more about the disaffection and despair, the alienation and anger, that led to their choice.
“I'm not ready to write off everyone who voted for Trump as a racist, sexist, zenophobic, crazy person,” she said.
Nor am I.
In working with farmers and ranchers, I've come to understand their point of view about the regulations and unfunded mandates that are strangling them. I've seen the overreach of the federal government in programs like WOTUS, the spinelessness of politicians swayed by the squeaky wheels. I've become acutely aware that “social activists” are often driven by the same quest for money and power as the corporatists….
MN: Maui County’s political battle lines may be changing
read … Kauai Eclectic
Hawaii Psychologists and their Patients to Protest Trump Win
HNN: …So far, there have been only small spontaneous protests near the Waikiki hotel that bears the Trump name. But people unhappy with the election results are mobilizing.
"I've heard from several folks, and many people are literally viscerally upset," said Dr. Martin Johnson of the Hawaii Center for Psychology. "They feel it."
Johnson was part of a panel discussion on Hawaii Public Radio that burned up the phone lines.
"Watching the election night on Tuesday was brutal," said Gary, a caller who described himself as a liberal in a very conservative household. "I mean it was like watching a slow-motion train wreck."
"They are attached to staying upset right now," said HPR host Beth-Ann Kozlovich. "We've heard sentiments like 'he's never going to be my president.'"
"I think these protests are really good signs of how people feel and what can be done," said Katherine Aumer, a psychology professor at Hawaii Pacific University. "Right now all you can really do is protest."
"I think it's a complete and utter disgrace that we have a president that denies the existence of climate change," said Natalie Rita, a University of Hawaii graduate student….
Asami Kobayashi of the group Young Progressives Demanding Action has organized a rally against Trump this Sunday that more than 200 people have already said they'll attend.
"We want to be taken seriously….” (Waaaaa!)
read … Tantrum
DOH Will Ask Legislators to Fund More Positions
KHON: …Dr. Sarah Park speaks highly of her team’s handling of the recent threats, “It’s a testament frankly to my staff to the staff here in the department not just in my division but in other programs around the department. If anything if you’re looking for a silver lining out of all this, it’s made us work even more and more closely together.”
The hepatitis A outbreak that followed is also still under the department’s watch. Dec. 5 is the day the outbreak can finally be taken off the watch list.
With a current Salmonella outbreak, and with the peak of flu season on the horizon, the department still has its hands full. We’re going to be constantly busy there’s always going to be something new and it does speak to the fact that we do need more capacity we need increase capacity.”
Staffing is an issue the health department has struggled with, hoping for increased staffing in the future, to deal with the ever changing landscape of infectious diseases. “We’re hopeful we have put in requests but we’ll just have to see how things go.”
The department will ask the legislature for two more full-time workers to help with their outbreak investigations.
The popular Stop Flu at School program will be getting a late start. Some smaller schools will start to see the program in the coming weeks, but the majority of clinics will be held in January….
read … More Positions
Mail-Order Abortion Comes to Hawaii
NYM: …A new study is under way in four states that examines the feasibility and safety of women getting abortion pills by mail. The small study, currently only available in Hawaii, New York, Oregon, and Washington, aims to analyze the effectiveness of “telemedicine” as a way to increase access to abortions for women who might otherwise have trouble getting to a clinic.
The TelAbortion Study allows participants to remotely consult with an abortion provider via a video conference (i.e. a webcam and internet access). After a undergoing a medical screening, an ultrasound, and some blood testing, qualifying candidates are then shipped two abortion-inducing pills via overnight mail, according to the New York Times.
read … Mail Order Abortion
Anti-Aquarium Obsessives Appeal to State Supreme Court
HNN: … groups represented by Earthjustice say DLNR should have required environmental reviews before granting permits for the unlimited capturing of wild fish for aquariums.
The state's Intermediate Court of Appeals earlier said that was okay….
A DLNR spokesman says there's no evidence that aquarium fish collecting has had a significant detrimental impact on aquatic resources….
read … Attack on Small Business
Long-Lost High Potency Tropical Bed Bugs Are Back in Hawaii
S: After a suspected 60-year absence from the U.S., a bed bug known for its ability to spread rapidly has just invaded Florida and Hawaii, according to experts who study the parasitic pest.
The tropical bed bug Cimex hemipterus is raising concern because traditional eradication methods might not keep its numbers in check….
read … Theyrre Baaaack
More Marijuana for Hawaii Legislature?
HNN: …Lawmakers will probably introduce pot bills in the coming legislative session. But House Majority Leader Scott Saiki thinks passing one isn't likely until medical marijuana dispensaries are opened and the industry's procedures are finalized.
"Our state medical marijuana program is still not really off the ground, even though we authorized dispensaries a couple of years ago," he said….
KGI: Drug Court graduates record 14
read … Keep the People Doped up
Soft on Crime: Man Pulls Gun on Wife, Kids Avoids Prison Because he was “Depressed”
During sentencing, the judge said “beyond a reasonable doubt” Domingo committed the offenses of kidnapping, being a felon in possession of a firearm, violating a protective order and terroristic threatening.
“Court will also find … after reviewing the reports of the examiners that were submitted, that at the time of these offenses, that Ben Domingo did suffer from a mental defect or disease or disorder … diagnosed as major depression,” Hara added. “And, as a result, he lacks the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law. … Therefore, the court will acquit Mr. Domingo for the charges that he could be found guilty of.”
The police Special Response Team, the department’s SWAT unit, responded to the family’s Mokuna Street home on the evening of Sept. 4, 2015, after receiving a report of an argument between Domingo and his wife, Nicole Young Domingo, that escalated into a critical incident due to Domingo possessing a firearm. At the time, Domingo was under a court order not to contact, threaten or physically harm his wife.
According to court documents filed by police, Domingo held his wife in a headlock with one arm while pointing a silver and black handgun to her head with the other hand. Their daughter, then 14, and son, then 12, witnessed the incident.
The court filings stated Domingo pointed the firearm at the children and told them “get out.”
Nearby homes were evacuated and members of the police Crisis Negotiation Team communicated with the family throughout the night….
Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara on Thursday committed Ben Lucas Domingo to the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe, Oahu.
read … Soft on Crime
Veterans Day
QUICK HITS: