Gabbard Cult Hires Scientology Lawyer to Intimidate Hawaii Media
Abortion Rich: Hawaii Planned Parenthood Buys up Mills in Indiana, Kentucky
The Inequality of the Equality Act: Concerns from the Left
14 candidates nominated to temporarily fill Council seat
SA: …The list of those who nominated themselves or were nominated by others includes several high-profile names, including former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou, who also served on the City Council and in the state Legislature; former state Sen. Sam Slom; former state Rep. Barbara Marumoto; Michael Formby, chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa; and attorney Richard Turbin.
Also on the list are Natalie Iwasa, who placed third behind Ozawa and Waters in the 2018 primary for the District 4 seat; Kathryn Henski- Stark, who twice challenged Tom Brower for the state House District 22 seat; Nicola Perez-Garreaud, who also vied for the District 22 seat in 2016; Yvonne Perry, who ran in the U.S. House District 1 special election to replace the late Mark Takai in 2016; Oahu Parks Conservancy President Michelle Matson; community activist David Moskowitz; and attorneys Jo-Ann Adams and Emmanuel Tipon.
Ozawa himself was nominated by three of his District 4 constituents.
Formby’s and Turbin’s nominations were accompanied by numerous letters of support.
The Council Legislative Matters Committee, led by Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi and comprising all eight current members, will meet Monday with the hope of selecting the temporary member. A final vote is expected by the full Council at a special meeting Tuesday. Public testimony will be accepted at both meetings, although Kobayashi expects most of the discussion to take place Monday….
HNN: List of nominations for interim appointee
read … 14 candidates nominated to temporarily fill Council seat
Commission: Squeeze $1.3M out of 20,000 Property Owners
HTH: … Eliminating the solar water tax credit, reclassifying small agriculture lots to residential and repealing an obsolete program are three ways the county could generate revenue and make its property tax code more equitable, according to a report to be considered next week by the County Council.
In all, the county would see more than $1.3 million in revenue or savings annually by making adjustments to more than 20,000 lots….
read … Tax Hikes
New jail a consultant’s paradise
SA: …In August, things finally seemed to be gelling, with state prison officials completing an environmental impact statement for the jail’s replacement and tagging the Halawa site now used by the state Animal Quarantine Station. But the $525 million estimated cost, as well as calls to decrease prison population via pretrial reforms, have raised doubts.
Now comes House Bill 1177, which raises a seemingly attractive option: Buy the Honolulu Federal Detention Center (FDC) near the airport — a fairly modern, well-under-capacity facility that already is housing some 160 OCCC overflow inmates. The $170 million facility opened in 2001, and reportedly can house up to 1,200 prisoners but is only about half full.
State Rep. Gregg Takayama is championing the FDC buy, which also has Gov. David Ige’s ear. One big obstacle, though: No word on whether the feds are even open to selling.
“Four years ago, there was no interest (by the Obama administration),” said Ige, about a previous purchase attempt. “We decided that we are going to make another effort to reach out to see if the current administration is willing to sell or lease the FDC.”
Ige said he’ll try to connect with the Federal Bureau of Prisons later this month while in Washington, D.C., for the National Governors Association meeting.
Hearing definitive interest — or disinterest — from the feds surely would help, to inform the state’s path. That’s because already in the legislative hopper is a request for yet another consulting job: for a $5 million feasibility study for financing a new jail at Halawa….
read … New jail a consultant’s paradise
HPD misconduct report reveals multiple officers found driving under the influence of alcohol
KHON: …In 2018 there were 21 officers that were disciplined for misconduct, with three officers recommended to be discharged. There were less officers cited for misconduct in 2018 compared to 2017.
One of the most egregious misconduct cases listed was of an officer under the color of police authority who engaged in sexual activity while on duty.
Because of this, police initiated a sexual assault incident in the second and fourth degree.
That officer was discharged from the force pending a grievance, but it may take years for the case to be finalized.
The report shows that some cases dating back to 2015, weren't settled until this year.
Three officers were also found driving under the influence of alcohol.
In each of those cases, a collision was involved…
PDF: HPD Discpline 2018 Legislat...
read … HPD misconduct report reveals multiple officers found driving under the influence of alcohol
Mokulele to Fly First Commercial Electric Planes
FC: …Ampaire, an L.A.-based electric plane startup, plans to begin its first tests of a Cessna retrofitted with an electric drivetrain in the first half of this year. Then it plans to partner with Mokulele Airlines, which flies short routes in Hawaii, for further tests. The route to Hana is one potential test location. By 2021–as soon as the company gets FAA approval–passengers will be able to book a flight on one of the planes.
Unlike some other startups working on small electric planes, Ampaire isn’t launching with a plane designed from scratch….
read … This company has found a way to retrofit planes so they fly with electric power
Hu Honua Faces Another Lawsuit
IM: …A lawsuit-- MAUKALOA FARMS LLC VS HU HONUA BIOENERGY LLC—was filed on January 22, 2019. The lawsuit was filed in third circuit court in Hilo (Civil Case No.3CC191000026).
Hu Honua agreed to pay Maukaloa one percent of the cumulative amount of all construction contracts related to the project. Maukaloa wants to have its own auditor examine Hu Honua books to confirm what’s owed….
HTH: Landowner sues Hu Honua
read … Hu Honua Faces Another Lawsuit
Tulsi Gabbard Kicks Off 2020 Campaign With $2 Million In The Bank
CB: …Presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard had just over $2 million in her campaign bank account at the end of 2018, according to her latest filings with the Federal Election Commission.
The Hawaii congresswoman’s campaign posted her year-end fundraising report late Thursday, showing that from Nov. 27 to Dec. 31, she raised about $15,000 while spending more than $51,000.
That’s a slight total in donations, especially for someone who has been projecting a presidential run for several months now….
read … Tulsi Gabbard Kicks Off 2020 Campaign With $2 Million In The Bank
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