Future of the Aloha Stadium
Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted June 27, 2020
Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review
State Education Systems with the Most Racial Equality -- Hawaii 16th
COVID Count: 27 new cases out of 1,677 tests
Honolulu police chief says department doesn’t need reforms despite recent spike in fatal shootings by officers
SA: … Despite the long list of changes in the works to comply with a presidential executive order and the anticipated passage by the state Legislature of police reform bills, Police Chief Susan Ballard said she doesn’t think those measures are necessary at the Honolulu Police Department.
Calls for police reform are “a knee-jerk reaction for things that are going on on the mainland,” Ballard told the Honolulu Police Commission on June 17. “We’re not perfect, but when we realize our mistakes we’re going to take action … . The nation is behind, but can you at least leave the 50th State alone? We’re kind of doing OK here.”….
(Wisdom: Know them by what they deny.)
CB: HPD Chief Says There’s Less Racial Bias In Hawaii. She’s Wrong
SA Editorial: Pass mandate for police disclosure
SA: Police can do better with transparency
read … Honolulu police chief says department doesn’t need reforms despite recent spike in fatal shootings by officers
Distance Learning? Students MIA
HTH: … In the Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area, 12 of 139 elementary teachers said between 61% and 80% of students consistently participated in distance learning. Just two said 81%-100% of students participated.
Approximately a third, 33%, said zero to 20% of their students engaged in distance learning while schools were closed.
At the middle and high school levels, just four of 113 teachers in the complex area said students consistently engaged, while 79 said 0% to 20% of their students did.
Just 14 of 139 elementary school teachers in the Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area said students consistently participated in distance learning during the school closures, compared to 46 who said 0% to 20% of their students did.
Similarly, only 14 of 165 middle and high school teachers surveyed said their students consistently participated, but 90 teachers said fewer than 20% of students did….
Lack of reliable internet access was a barrier for many students.
Only 69% of the responding students in Hilo-Waiakea said they had quite reliable or extremely reliable internet access at home, while 72% of the Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa students surveyed did.
Only 94, or 23%, of 414 teachers in the Hilo-Waiakea Complex Area were “quite confident” about online teaching, while just 21, or 5%, were “extremely confident.”
Meanwhile, in the Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area, 85, or 27%, of 311 teachers, were “quite confident,” and 21, or 7%, were “extremely confident.”
For Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa Complex Area Superintendent Chad Keone Farias said the survey results were not surprising but (insert excuses here)….
SA: Teachers struggle to reach students during Hawaii schools’ shutdown
June 23, 2020: Survey: Teachers Report Low Participation in Online Learning
read … Students AFK, MIA
Pandemic or not, legislators open vault for public workers
Shapiro: …Facing a pandemic, 22% unemployment and a $2.3 billion budget deficit, Hawaii legislators bowed to union pressure and overwhelmingly approved $150 million in pay raises for state workers. We’re all in this together except for public servants who social distance from their conscience….Securing raises in a collapsed economy was a major show of political muscle by Hawaii Government Employees Association chief Randy Perreira. He was so moved that he’s now letting legislators keep on their masks when they smooch his bottom….
read … Pandemic or not, legislators open vault for public workers
Honolulu city bus driver tests positive for coronavirus
SA: … They said the driver “operated buses on several bus routes over the past week,” but they did not identify which ones….OTS, which operates TheBus, said in a statement that the organization was notified Saturday night that the worker tested positive, and all coworkers who may have come in close contact with the person were notified and are quarantining at home. All OTS employees have been notified of the positive case through email….
SA: Hawaii health officials report 27 new coronavirus cases, including 17 associated with Oahu funeral
read … Honolulu city bus driver tests positive for coronavirus
Time will tell if Gov. David Ige’s slow-steady style proves wise against COVID-19
Borreca: …As Hawaii took repeated economic hits, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii said the state’s businesses needed immediate direction, help and solutions.
“We, respectfully, urge a more immediate response and commitment to our state’s economic recovery process,” said the business group’s president and CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara.
Shortly after that last call for action, Ige moved to open Hawaii to out-of-state visitors come Aug. 1 if they can prove they have been tested for the virus…..
CB: John Pritchett: Slow Mo
read … Time will tell if Gov. David Ige’s slow-steady style proves wise against COVID-19
Union expresses concern about hotel worker safety
HNN: … Unite Here Local 5 claims it has reached out to several major hotels asking to be part of the discussion about new safety policies regarding COIVD-19 but says only one agreed to to discuss.
Some of the union's concerns include healthcare coverage for employees and their families, testing opportunities and what the sick leave policy will look like if a member tests positive for the virus.
The union says one place that is working with them is the Kahala Hotel and Resort.
In a statement to KITV4, the general manager said, "We have been focusing on health and safety of our employees, guests, and community throughout the pandemic. Mandatory testing, new protocols, and training have been implemented and we recently aligned with Local 5 for their input and support." ….
SA: Hawaii vacation rentals await reopening
read … Union expresses concern about hotel worker safety
Cruise Ships Heading for Hawaii in October
TTW: … Princess Cruises will welcome Majestic Princess to Los Angeles adding to a robust deployment visiting destinations that include Mexico, Hawaii and the California Coast.
On sale 8 July 2020, five ships will sail from the west coast of the USA including departures from Los Angeles and San Francisco, giving guests’ diverse experiences from wine tasting in California, culinary delights in Mexico to tropical island-life in Hawaii. …
Grand Princess…sails roundtrip from Los Angeles on either her 15-day Hawaiian Islands or 10-day Baja Peninsula & Sea of Cortez voyages. Ruby Princess will sail her second season of Hawaii, Mexico, and California Coast sailings roundtrip from San Francisco, including a pair of Panama Canal–Ocean to Ocean voyages transiting the famed Panama Canal. …
Link: Hawaii Cruises
read … Five ships sail West Coast cruises
Work from home era may leave rail behind
Cataluna: … What if one of the after-effects of COVID-19 is that Oahu doesn’t need rail as much anymore? ….maybe there will be fewer downtown workers who will actually work downtown, and fewer University of Hawaii at Manoa students actually sitting in classes on the Manoa campus….
What if rail’s time has passed and we are chugging into a new era where work and school from your kitchen table is possible and preferable for many people?
The latest obstacle is that COVID-19 has obliterated revenue from the general excise tax that was supposed to pay for the rail. Also, the pandemic prevented bidders from completing their proposals….
read … Work from home era may leave rail behind
‘It was hamajang’: East Oahu residents sue the city over shoddy road work
HNN: … Niu Valley residents are suing to halt a road construction job, accusing the city of shoddy work.
They alleged that the construction work on Anonia and Anolike streets is making it unsafe to walk or bicycle in their community….
The city began the repairs in May because previous road job in October had used the wrong materials.
The suit said that the city applied what’s known as a “slurry seal” on the road, which made it ragged and uneven, causing gravel to break off.
It stopped and restarted the project a couple of time due to community opposition. Residents said the city now want to resume the work on July 7.
The suit, which was filed by attorney Eric Seitz, seeks a temporary halt to the project.
“My hope is the city will come to talk to us before we go to court because they ought to be acting in the interests of the community and not just shoving something down people’s throats,” he said.
The hearing on the injunction is set for July 6 -- or the day before construction is supposed to resume….
read … ‘It was hamajang’: East Oahu residents sue the city over shoddy road work
Who is going to pay for Aloha Stadium’s health and safety repairs?
SA: … Aloha Stadium may be forced to rely on developers to fund needed health and safety repairs to keep the current facility operational until the new one debuts in 2023.
The rusting 45-year old stadium has not received appropriations for health and safety work since 2017 and a $7.7 million supplemental request by Gov. David Ige for funds to bridge the period until the opening of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District has not gained traction in the Legislature this session, officials said.
“Currently, we’re not seeing operating funds being appropriated for health and the safety improvements,” said Chris Kinimaka, Public Works Administrator for the Department of Accounting and General Services….
read … Who is going to pay for Aloha Stadium’s health and safety repairs?
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