Three Republican Bills Cross Over in Legislature
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Finance Committee Eliminates Money for Sheriff to Protect Telescopes from Protesters
CB: …The Finance Committee’s cuts create a balanced budget over six years, but the spending plans could still change….
The House Finance Committee on Wednesday trimmed $35 million from Gov. David Ige’s proposed $7.4 billion state spending plan for next fiscal year, which begins July 1….
The governor’s proposal would have left the state with a $100 million carryover balance by 2021 and a negative balance of $95 million by 2022, she said. The amended budget leaves $249 million as a surplus in 2021 and a positive balance of $108 million for 2022….
The committee nixed the administration’s $2.5 million request for the Attorney General’s office to spend on a state law enforcement coalition to cover costs for items such as sheriffs’ overtime.
Luke said committee members were concerned about the office using the money in response to activist movements like the protest at Mauna Kea over the Thirty Meter Telescope project….
The biggest reduction was for Maui Health Systems. Luke, who voted in favor of the bill in 2015 that authorized the privatization of the state hospitals there, said the Ige administration had requested $32 million but did not provide sufficient explanation to justify it….
“This is an example in why privatization does not result in cutting costs,” she said, adding that the Legislature approved $28 million for Maui Health Systems last year. “This kind of discourages future discussion about privatization of hospitals.”
The Finance Committee also took a closer look at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, which Luke said has been a “continuous struggle.”
Fifteen years ago, she said, the facility housed 120 youths. Now, it houses 20 — three girls and 17 boys, as of January. But the facility still has 117 staff positions, with 73 guards who racked up $667,000 in overtime.
Luke said the committee decided to convert more guard positions into social worker and counseling jobs, calling the guards part of an “antiquated” model of reform….
The Finance Committee, which includes 15 House members, also found $10.7 million in budget savings by eliminating 203 positions that had been vacant for 18 months or longer.
The capital improvement projects budget, which Ige proposed beefing up by $1.5 billion next year, stayed relatively intact….
The overall state budget bill, House Bill 1900, goes to a vote by the full House next before crossing over to the Senate for its consideration. The Senate Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, will have the lead on it there….
SA: State budget draft funds foster settlement, school construction
read … House Shaves $35 Million From Governor’s Budget
Senators seek support for Mauna Kea Payoffs to OHA
SA: …Senators Kaiali‘i Kahele (D, Hilo) and Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Wahiawa, Mililani) have been holding presentations across the state in an effort to clear up misunderstanding about the proposal and to win support to pressure state House of Representative members.
Senate Bill 3090 was approved Tuesday by the state Senate on a 25-0 vote, although eight senators expressed reservations. The measure now goes to the House, where its outcome is far from secure….
The bill is opposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Mauna Kea observatories and the University of Hawaii, which controls the 11,288-acre Maunakea Science Reserve atop the mountain.
Also resisting are foes of the Thirty Meter Telescope, who say the bill does nothing to prevent construction of the controversial $1.4 billion cutting-edge observatory now on appeal at the state Supreme Court….
The bill calls for a single state agency to manage Hawaii’s tallest mountain and home to a dozen telescopes. Led by a seven-member, $65,000-a-year paid board appointed by the governor, the authority will renegotiate leases, subleases, easements, permits and licenses to generate revenue, which would be shared with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs….
(Problem: The Telescope already made one deal with OHA. OHA Trustees welched on the deal when the protests began.)
“The $1-a-year lease rent paid by Mauna Kea observatories is an insult to the Native Hawaiian people,” Kahele said….
Kahele said commercial tourism on the mountain is virtually unrestricted and undercharged. What’s more, millions of dollars in revenue have been lost because of the university’s failure to capture its fair share of technology and intellectual property rights revenue. (Blablabla…)
While the bill calls for charging admission to the summit area $$$, it does offer free access for traditional cultural purposes (clutural practitioners get a free ride).
“I’m tired of (Mauna Kea) continuing to tear apart the very fabric of our community and divide Native Hawaiians and the business community and the environment community,” he said….
read … Senators seek support for Mauna Kea proposal
City to Buy OHA Land Valued at $30M?
HNN: …For two years, OHA and the city have been meeting behind closed doors to talk about OHA's parcel of undeveloped ceded lands -- being used as a parking lot. It's a 3-acre parcel along Ala Moana Boulevard in between Forrest Avenue and Ilalo Street. The city says it's an ideal location to build a $650 million dollar sewer pump station and tunnel to provide more capacity for development in East Honolulu.
"That sewer tunnel if we get it would serve from Niu Valley to Pauoa and it is imperative for development in the Kakaako area. Without this tunnel we have some major restrictions," said Lori Kahikina, City Director of Environmental Services.
The city and OHA agreed on an independent appraiser who said the land was worth $29.6 million dollars and sources say the city made an offer of that same amount. Even though the trustees agreed to continue negotiations, there are issues. OHA has generally avoided selling ceded lands and Trustee Lei Ahu Isa worries if OHA doesn't agree to a deal, would the city force a sale through condemnation.
"They are dragging it out. Can they eminent domain and take it from us," she asked.
"The quick answer is yes. We are talking about an infrastructure system that's in desperate need," said Miles Nishijima, OHA Land and Property Director.….
read … City of Honolulu negotiating for OHA land
Remembering Hee’s Time At OHA
CB: …The issues of “guns” and “violence” in our schools and in society in general, have been kicked down the road for many decades.
If Clayton Hee wants to make this an issue that sets him apart, he also needs to wear the label of the poor management and possible fraud at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. As former chair he bears much of the blame brought to the public’s attention by OHA Trustee Keli’i Akina. That’s why Akina has called for a forensic audit….
read … Remembering Hee’s Time At OHA
Here's how far $100 really goes in Hawaii — the priciest state in the nation
HNN: …Enter a new handy visualization based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
It looks at how much $100 of goods and rent really costs in every state.
And sorry, Hawaii residents: Stuff costs more here.
How much more? Goods that would set you back $100 on average nationally cost nearly $119 here.
Nowhere else are goods more expensive.
In New York, you'd pay $115 for the same things and in New Jersey, you'd pay $113.
The cheapest spots: Mississippi, where you'd pay $86, and Alabama, where you'd fork out just a bit more.
If you thought that was bad, the rent calculation is worse.
In Hawaii, $100 worth of rent nationally actually sets you back $163.
The islands were the priciest nationally — pricier than California ($147) and Alaska ($139).
And there were a number of places that were less expensive. The cheapest were Mississippi and Alabama again, both at about $63….
read … Here's how far $100 really goes in Hawaii — the priciest state in the nation
Study: New Federal Tax Law Makes Limousine Liberals Pay
CB: The loss of some deductions for mortgage and state and local taxes impacts areas with the most expensive real estate….
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 reduces the mortgage interest deduction to borrowing of up to $750,000 for mortgages taken out after Dec. 14, 2017; caps state and local tax deductions at $10,000; and doubles the standard deduction.
That increase in the standard deduction could cancel out the losses from smaller housing deductions, meaning some homeowners might still pay less taxes overall…..
Background: Bum Deal for Left-Leaning States? The Impact of the New Trump Tax Bill on Homeowners
read … Study: New Federal Tax Law Will Hurt Many Honolulu Homeowners
Hawaii paid family leave bill crosses from Senate to House
PBN: …Language in the bill calls for $1.5 million to be appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii for fiscal year 2018-2019 and be deposited into the paid family leave special fund.
The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii opposes the bill, saying it would harm Hawaii businesses due to the state’s high cost of doing business and its low unemployment rate.
“As many national rankings have shown, the cost of doing and running a business is extremely high,” the chamber said in its testimony. “With every additional workplace mandate, the competitive distance is increased, which in turn, affects the ability for employers to sustain and create jobs, as well as provide benefits to employees. While we do not know yet what the program will entail and who will pay for the benefit until the task force meets, we do know that the business community will ultimately be responsible to execute and shoulder at a minimum, some costs.”…
read … Hawaii paid family leave bill crosses from Senate to House
HCDA to Discuss Ways to Prevent the Little People from Building Equity in Real Estate
SA: …The state board regulating development in Kakaako will take another crack at amending its rules for producing affordable housing after Gov. David Ige objected to one piece of a comprehensive overall plan put forth in September.
Board members of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, which has spent close to four years on the rule revision effort, on Wednesday endorsed moving ahead with two public hearings to consider making a change Ige suggested in January that defines how long the agency retains rights to buy back an affordable home if the owner decides to sell.
The HCDA’s proposed buyback period was 30 years. That was approved by the agency’s board after numerous public hearings and a recommendation by the agency’s staff for a perpetual buyback period. The existing buyback period is five years.
Ige said 30 years was too long, and suggested 10 years. The HCDA board members approved holding public hearings, likely in May and June, to consider a 10-year term.
Board members also are mulling another change that would affect the price the HCDA pays when buying back affordable homes that under agency rules are reserved for households with moderate incomes…..
read …Kakaako affordable housing rule changes up for debate again
HCDA: Waste $7.3M to Build Sandbox for Fake Tech Entrepreneurs
SA: …A state-run technology business incubator in Manoa is headed for expansion in Kakaako after a state board approved on Wednesday a development agreement for the $7.3 million project.
Construction of the two-story “collaboration center” with 13,500 square feet of work area is projected to start next month and open about 10 months later on what is now a parking lot immediately Ewa of the University of Hawaii medical school…. (which is half vacant)
The facility being dubbed the Entrepreneur’s Sandbox will be operated by the Hawaii Technology Development Corp., a state agency that runs Manoa Innovation Center….
The second phase calls for a seven-story office building for tech businesses. Carr has two years to assess the feasibility of that project and another three years to build it — otherwise a development agreement would terminate. Other phases of the campus are envisioned to include 140,000 square feet of education space, 47,000 square feet of incubator space and a 900-stall parking garage on the 5.5-acre site….
read … Entrepreneur’s Sandbox tech workspace coming to Kakaako
Coco Palms Grifters Demand $200M Cash Payoff
KGI: Defendants in the Coco Palms land dispute want to charge rent for the use of the Wailua land upon which the old hotel sits and they’ve set the price tag at $200 million.
A notice to quit or pay rent against Prudential Insurance, the State of Hawaii, the County of Kauai and Old Republic Title Escrow of Hawaii was filed by Noa Mau-Espirito and Kamu Charles Hepa, through certified mail….
The notice, Mau-Espirito said, is for $200 million because Coco Palms Hui LLC’s projected investment into the property once reconstruction is built is $175 million….
Waters said Coco Palms Hui LLC could use some of that $200 million itself, if Mau-Espirito and the other defendants were to win in their bid for rent money.
“Whether it is $200 million or $200 billion that they get paid, it would be appreciated if they help pay for the cost of hauling away all of the rubbish they left on the property,” said Waters of the newest development in this case.
On Monday, the Department of Land and Natural Resources was scheduled to remove those that remain on state land in the area by 6:30 a.m., but the ejectment never happened….
Background:
read … Coco Palms land dispute may continue
Meth Addicts to be Cleared from Waianae Boat Harbor
CB: …After more than a decade of letting people camp on undeveloped land near the Waianae Boat Harbor, the state is now moving forward with plans to clear Hawaii’s most well-established homeless community by May or June.
State officials announced their intention to relocate residents of the camp, known as Puuhonua O Waianae, at Tuesday’s Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board meeting, just weeks after saying publicly that fears in the community over an impending sweep were unfounded.
State homeless coordinator Scott Morishige and Pua Aiu of the Department of Land and Natural Resources said at the meeting their goal is to transfer the property to the Department of Education for use as a marine education center….
Roughly 200 people currently live in tents and makeshift structures on state-owned land bordering the Waianae Boat Harbor.
The community is self-governed, (ungoverned) and has been cited by (the idiot tent city advocates among) state and local lawmakers in recent years as a potential model for homeless safe zones in other parts of the state.. (all the more reason to shut it down)….
“The village is a safe and stable place to live,” Borge said at a press conference last month aimed at staving off a sweep….
(Translation: We are helping the homeless stay homeless.)
SA: Waianae homeless on edge as they await state action
CB: The homeless camp at Waianae Boat Harbor
read … State Plans To Sweep Longtime Homeless Camp At Waianae Boat Harbor
Homeless Start Grass Fire Next to Gigantic Fuel Storage Tanks
HNN: Police are investigating whether a suspicious brush fire that cut off water to a Sand Island homeless shelter was motivated by revenge.
Witnesses say flames broke out Tuesday in Sand Island about a half hour after the state swept the area of illegal campers and put up a fence warning squatters to stay off the property. The land, not far from the Sand Island draw bridge, is leased by the University of Hawaii.
"When we reviewed our surveillance video from the area we saw an individual leaving the area," said UH associate Dean Sandy Shor. "As he or she walked by — the fire started behind them."
The video shows a total four separate fires — all igniting in less than 90 seconds….
An influx of illegal campers started moving into the area last November after being forced from under the Nimitz Viaduct. Despite repeated offers of help, most have no interest in moving into homeless shelters, advocates say.
The fire wasn't large, but it did harm those who are trying to rebuild their lives.
Kimo Carvalho, spokesman for Hale Mauliola, said the shelter has no water.
Carvalho added this latest brush fire wasn't the first. Another one happened earlier this week….
The city says water should be restored to the shelter Thursday morning. There's no word yet on how much repairs will cost. …
read … Police investigate whether Sand Island fires motivated by revenge
Homeless Drug Addicts Dumping their Needles Everywhere
HTH: …One photo, posted by state Sen. Kai Kahele, D-Hilo, showed needles in the grass near what he described as the Hilo Bayfront soccer fields restroom. The photo was taken Monday and sent to him by a friend, he said.
The area is a known gathering and camping area for homeless individuals.
Kim said he also received reports about paraphernalia in homeless gathering spots in West Hawaii, including in parks and along Alii Drive. He said there have been no recent complaints about Old Kona Airport Park, where tent cities were cleared out last fall….
Kahele, who has young children, was equally upset. He called it “ironic” that needles were discarded just 500 yards from the mayor’s office…..
read … Discovery of needles at park sparks creation of task force
Opioids: 9 Bills Still Alive in Legislature
KHON: …Here is a list of the bills introduced this session dealing with opioid addiction still moving through the legislature:
read … Curbing opioid addiction in the islands
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