Restore flexibility for delivery of public services
Lava Tube Dishonor goes to Hawaii County Civil Defense
Infested: Honolulu Ranks #2 for Termites
Rep Rida Cabanilla Hires Convicted Child Molester--Then Complains About Catholic Church sexual abuse
KITV: Rida Cabanilla Arakawa, the State Representative for Ewa Beach, called out the Catholic Church Friday. In a news conference at the State Capitol, she urged the pope and church bishops to establish procedures stopping further sexual abuse by clergy and instead help victims heal and keep their faith. Cabanilla Arakawa introduced a House Resolution recently, a reaction to many allegations worldwide….
(Really Obvious Idea: Maybe the hypocrites in the Hawaii Legislature should clean up their own house instead of passing a toothless resolution.)
Rida Cabanilla 2005, 2009: Child molester back at work at Hawaii Legislature (Again)
HCR69: Text, Status
HR69: Text, Status
read … State representative urges the Catholic Church to establish procedures to stop sexual abuse
Star-Adv: Telescope Protesters Can Cash in on Sustainable Future
SA: … Hawaii stands to draw optimal benefits if the protectors, who helped spotlight legitimate cultural and environmental concerns, work in tandem with the 50-year-old Science Reserve and others to shape a sustainable future for the astronomy precinct, which occupies 525 acres of the 11,288-acre site….
Money: OHA’s Pisciotta Demands $50M Rent for Telescopes
read … Thirty Meter Telescope protests warm up
SB887: $100 for Carton of Tobacco Cigarettes
HNN: Under a proposal before legislators, the cigarette tax would jump from 16 cents per stick to 21 cents.
The tax hike would raise the price of a packet of cigarettes to about $10 (from $8.99).
And a carton would set a smoker back $100.
SB887: Text, Status
read … The price for a carton of cigarettes in Hawaii would hit 3 digits under proposal
Dispatchers say valuable time wasted during 911 calls
KHON: …Dispatchers say they have to ask the questions verbatim, which isn't easily understood if the 911 caller doesn't speak proper English. But Dr. Clawson says there's a good reason for it.
"I'll tell you, if you don't give the instruction especially, or ask the question the first time as it is written, that's a failure to follow protocol and you can be sued for negligence for that," he said….
SB281: Honolulu Emergency Services Department says it responded to emergency in 12 minutes
read … Dispatchers say valuable time wasted during 911 calls
Star-Adv: Can Activists Exploit PRP Poll to Keep the Homeless Homeless
SA Editorial: … There is a reason why, as the Hawaii Perspectives poll pointed out, there is a well of sympathy for the homeless within the community. Without negating the effect of the aloha spirit, it’s because the sentiment edges close to empathy.
Many people see a future version of themselves in those encampments and, sadly, some could end up there at some point….
About 57 percent weighed in to support the notion of government doing more to guide the homeless from the streets to any treatment they need and into permanent housing. That’s more than twice the percentage of those who want government to “sweep” the homeless from public spaces more aggressively….
According to the Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, this state has the sixth highest rate of poverty in the country, using the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which takes into account both the cost of living and available government assistance….
(This is just the latest attempt to keep the shelter-refusers nice and comfy on the streets.)
read … Empathy for homeless
State wants to build huge affordable housing projects with units on 99-year leases
HNN: … Gov. David Ige supports the plan. “Our proposal for leasehold condominiums is our way to get affordable, for sale properties to our community,” he said.
But Dr. Kelii Akina, president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, said while the bill is well-intended, it’s not the answer.
"I think we need to come up with better solutions to help people acquire homes, and its not making government a landlord," said Akina. "The government should look at means of helping people to become wealthier. One is to tax them less and also to have policies that bring down the cost of housing."
The ALOHA Homes proposal passed the Senate and is now moving in the House.
If it becomes law, Chang said, it will probably be more than five years before the first condos will be available…..
Related: ‘Singapore model’ doesn’t sing for Hawaii housing
read … State wants to build huge affordable housing projects with units on 99-year leases
Hawaii National Guard soldiers headed soon to Afghanistan
SA: … More than 300 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery will attend a deployment ceremony Sunday ahead of upcoming duty in Afghanistan, officials said.
During the ninth-month deployment the 1-487th will be supporting U.S. forces as part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
This is the third time that the unit will be deployed, including Kuwait/Iraq in 2004 and Kuwait/Iraq in 2008. The 1-487th soldiers will train in Texas for about three months before heading to Afghanistan….
read … Hawaii National Guard soldiers headed soon to Afghanistan
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