ACLU: Hawaii COVID Enforcement Racist
Unpacking Court Order Denying TRO to Block COVID Emergency Rules
COVID Count: Seven new cases out of 615 tests
COVID Count: 25 new cases out of 733 tests
Ige: State facing $2.3B in lost tax revenue due to coronavirus pandemic
HNN: …In a press conference from the state Capitol less than a week after the end of the 2019 fiscal year, the governor laid out the early signs of what he called a “looming financial crisis,” including a nearly half-billion dollar loss in projected tax revenues when compared to the year $7 billion collected the year before.
The number includes a roughly $160 million loss in June tax revenues alone, attributable to the impact that the coronavirus pandemic has already had on Hawaii’s economy.
“A record year to a significant financial loss in a manner of three months,” Gov. Ige said.
And the shortfall is expected to continue to worsen, ballooning all the way to a $2.3 billon loss in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, according to financial projections released by the state on Monday.
“As difficult as it has been, we haven’t felt the full financial pain yet. Our finances have been kept afloat by an infusion of 4 billion in federal money,” said Gov. Ige. “You have a right to know, and I have to give you the facts and keep you informed.”
The projected shortfall is expected to force the state to consider cuts to the budget in the upcoming fiscal year, Gov. Ige admitted, and the state is already putting some of those belt-tightening measures into place.
A hiring freeze has already been implemented on all vacancies and potential vacancies, so that as state employees retire ― as many as 2,000 in any given year, the governor said ― the state can save money by temporarily declining to rehire an employee for that position.
The state is also considering municipal loans through the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and some government expenditures have been temporarily frozen. Payroll-saving measures ― things like salary reductions, furloughs or layoffs ― will only be considered as a last resort.
“We are facing a challenging future, and we will attack it head on. There are no easy answers, and tough decisions will be needed to be made in the next weeks and months ahead,” Gov. Ige said.
The grim financial projections come as the state nears a critical juncture in the reopening process. Gov. Ige is set to modify the state’s travel restrictions on August 1, allowing anyone who has received a negative coronavirus test within three days of traveling to visit Hawaii without needing to quarantine for 14 days, as visitors are presently required to do….
“I am concerned about opening up on August 1. I think there’s risk involved because we’re inviting people back to our shores from major markets like California, where we see huge spikes in cases,” Honolulu mayor Kirk Caldwell said earlier Monday, in an interview on Hawaii News Now Sunrise.
“Our big problem is the mainland, what’s going on over there,” said Lt. Gov. Josh Green, in response to a question about the growing number of cases outside of Hawaii….
HNN: Honolulu mayor: ‘I am concerned’ about reopening tourism on Aug. 1
MN: Maui County not looking at furloughs, pay cuts—‘but nothing's off the table’
read … Ige: State facing $2.3B in lost tax revenue due to coronavirus pandemic
Public chance to weigh in on the major overhaul of election rules
KHON: …A big overhaul of election rules is on the table, and the public has a chance to weigh in on Monday, July 6.
In the lead-up to Hawaii’s first all-mail vote, five chapters of administrative rules will be repealed, and new rules adopted for voter registration, challenges, appeals, ballots, and more.
The public hearing–both in person and by call-in–will take place at 9 a.m. at the Office of Elections.
Here’s a link with the hearing notice and rule-change details….
Related: Hearing Set for New Administrative Rules for Hawaii Elections
read … Public will have a chance to weigh in on the major overhaul of election rules
Hawaii Senate worker tests positive for coronavirus but legislative session to resume Monday
SA: … The Hawaii State Senate will reconvene on Monday, despite learning Saturday that a Senate staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.
Senate President Ron Kouchi sent out a memo Saturday informing Senate members of the new case, which he said posed little risk of spreading the virus.
“The (Department of Health) has informed me that the risk of infection to other employees is low as all social distancing requirements were followed,” Kouchi wrote. “Masks were always worn while in the Capitol, equipment was continuously sanitized, proper distancing was observed.”…
In mid-June, House Speaker Scott Saiki said in a letter that a staff member at the House Majority Research Office had tested positive for coronavirus. In that case, which occurred when the state Legislature was closed to the public, all workers in the same office were isolated at home.
Reaction to both cases is in contrast to mid-March when Sen. Clarence Nishihara’s positive coronavirus prompted Saiki to tell workers to leave the Capitol as soon as possible, and not return until given clearance to do so.
At the time, health officials said they believed Nishihara may have picked up the coronavirus during a Feb. 22 to Feb. 25 visit to Las Vegas, where he visited the downtown Main Street Station and California Hotel & Casino and played the slot machines.
Based on the results of three negative antibody tests, Nishihara later speculated that his COVID-19 test result may have been a false positive….
read … Hawaii Senate worker tests positive for coronavirus but legislative session to resume Monday
Senate passes bill granting emergency powers to Hawaii health director
KITV: … Monday, the Hawaii Senate voted 20-4 in favor of the controversial House Bill 2502 that would give more power to the director of the State Department of Health (DOH)….
The measure would allow the health director to declare a public health emergency if authorized by the governor.
Under an emergency, the director would be allowed to require screening, testing, contact tracing, quarantine, and isolation of people deemed by the department to be infected, at higher risk of infection, or at risk of spreading infection.
The director would be allowed to require travelers to disclose their health status, travel history, and intended place of stay….
The measure now heads to the House where state representatives will decide its fate….
read … Senate passes bill granting emergency powers to Hawaii health director
Hawaii State Legislature passes police reform bill
SA: … Both houses of the state Legislature passed a police reform bill today that would require county police departments to disclose to lawmakers the identity of an officer upon his or her suspension or discharge….A few dozen State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers and their supporters gathered at the State Capitol rotunda late this morning against the bill objecting to the naming of officers who have been suspended….
SHOPO leaders said the bill would allow an officer who was suspended for as little as a day to be named, saying it violates their due process rights provided by the County Civil Service Rules and the Collective Bargaining Agreement with all Hawaii counties.
House Bill 285 HD1, SD2, CD1 passed final reading in the Senate with 20 in favor and four no votes. In the House, 14 of the 51 House members voted against the bill.
State Rep. Sharon Har, (D, Kapolei-Makakilo), said cited arguments made by SHOPO that the measure would expose the names of police officers who are accused of misconduct before they are allowed due process, which includes the right to grievance hearings on their suspensions or firings.
“It adjudicates someone guilty before they’re actually found guilty,” said Har, who voted against the measure….
SA: Police reform bill passes; law would require county departments to disclose identity of an officer upon suspension
CB: Hawaii Legislature Removes Police Exemption For Misconduct Cases
WHT: Police accountability bill headed to Ige’s desk
KITV: Members of SHOPO show opposition to bill requiring transparency of police discipline
read … Hawaii State Legislature passes police reform bill
Substitute teachers’ unemployment benefits in limbo in Hawaii
SA: … When public schools shut down in Hawaii in March, substitute teachers were able to file for unemployment insurance, but that money stopped flowing in June.
“It’s affecting thousands of us,” said Sierra Knight, who lives in Kula, Maui, and has been a substitute teacher for five years. “It’s been five weeks that no one has been paid. Every one of our claims is on ‘pending’ status.”
Under federal and state law, such educational workers normally aren’t eligible for unemployment benefits over the summer if they have a “reasonable assurance” they will return to work in the next academic year.
“So the question is, what’s a reasonable assurance?” Bill Kunstman, spokesman for the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, said today. “In the COVID-19 situation, that may change.”
“The Unemployment Insurance Division is in the process of making a sort of blanket determination for all of those personnel,” he said. “I’m expecting to know sometime early this week.”…
read … Substitute teachers’ unemployment benefits in limbo in Hawaii
Future of Hawaii's "only free dental clinic" in jeopardy due to Cancellation of State Grants in Aid Program Statewide
KITV: … Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aloha Medical Mission has seen a drastic increase in patients.
Executive Director Toni Muranaka told KITV4 the clinic saw 352 patients in June, compared to an average of 120 patients per month….
The dental clinic, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is funded by donations and grants. This year, however, the state is not giving grants-in-aid. In a letter to applicants, the legislature writes this is due to the State's "changing financial circumstances."…
read … Future of Hawaii's "only free dental clinic" in jeopardy
COVID News: Taxpayers won’t be Covering Cesspool Expense at Gay TVR in Puna
HTH: … The Kalani Oceanside Retreat in lower Puna, more commonly called Kalani Honua, has sought a $100,000 grant to convert cesspools on the retreat into septic systems for the better part of two years, to the consternation of a group of Puna residents opposed to the high traffic drawn to the retreat….
The grant has already been a long time coming. In 2018, state Rep. Joy San Buenaventura supported the $100,000 grant to convert 11 cesspools at the retreat into 12 septic systems. However, the existence of that grant has been uncertain since then, after the Kilauea eruption forced Kalani Honua Inc. to close the retreat down and put it up for sale.
Cash and her fellow board members took control of the retreat from the previous board in 2019 and has said the grant is still on the table for the retreat.
However, San Buenaventura said the point is moot thanks to the massive strain on the state budget caused by the pandemic.
“There’s no grant funding at all this session, for anybody,” San Buenaventura said.
Cash said the retreat (TVR) has been closed due to the pandemic, but added that the board is looking into ways to reopen in a limited capacity….
With the retreat closed and the grant unlikely to materialize soon, a group of Puna residents called the Puna Coastal Alliance may be mollified for now. Earlier this year, the group, frustrated by the noisy events being regularly held at the retreat, attempted to file an ethics complaint against San Buenaventura for her support of the grant, claiming that she was aware that the retreat was operating without valid building permits.
“Representative San Buenaventura championed funding an organization that was notoriously out of compliance with local codes, does not pay taxes, and simply capitalized on the area’s natural beauty for the benefit of a few,” wrote Coastal Alliance member John DuBois in an email. “Meanwhile, qualified organizations, that do comply, that do pay taxes, were not funded. We believe that is unethical.”…
read … Puna retreat’s grant request delayed as pandemic stifles state funding
Kakaako condo tower construction upended by coronavirus
SA: … The 42-story project called Ililani held a groundbreaking ceremony in October on a lot fronting Keawe and Halekauwila streets to celebrate construction expected to start in November following high interest from prospective buyers.
That interest included 564 applications for a lottery to buy 165 one- and two-bedroom units reserved for moderate-income households at prices from $312,000 to $657,100.
Ililani’s developer, local architect Ken Chang, began inking sales contracts in February — a month before Hawaii leaders issued stay-at-home orders that derailed so much business activity and employment.
“Between mid-March and mid-May, there were some buyers who were wary about proceeding, which was understandable,” Chang said.
As of late May the developer had 101 contracts for Ililani’s 328 units, including only six market-priced units. Since then, Chang said, about seven more sales were made.
Still, with about a third of units sold, the project’s lender would not release money for construction….
read … Kakaako condo tower construction upended by coronavirus
Envisioned vertical public school in Kakaako faces new delays
SA: … Building of the 10-story elementary school was expected to be started last year by a private developer in conjunction with a moderate-price rental apartment tower on state land next to Mother Waldron Park.
But Hawaii lawmakers recently decided not to include $20 million for the school in a supplemental capital improvement spending authorization running through June 2021.
The nixed funding and other issues mean that the estimated $60 million school and associated residential tower likely won’t even break ground this year — a delay that follows prior difficulties for the project, which is known as 690 Pohukaina and began eight years ago as an effort to deliver badly needed affordable housing on state land….
read … Envisioned vertical public school in Kakaako faces new delays
Surfing Goat Dairy Down 89% Without Tourists
MN: … Surfing Goat Dairy’s sales during the second quarter of this year have declined 90.2 percent, according to a news release last week. The number of visitors to the farm has plunged from 16,780 in the second quarter of last year to 49 this year — none in April, 12 in May and 37 in June.
Kafsack said the dairy used to make about $3,000 a day. After reopening at the beginning of June, the dairy averaged $52 a day over the first four weeks.
Total income for the second quarter this year was just $42,947, or 89 percent less than the same time period last year.
Surfing Goat Dairy was hit hard, not only by the decline in visitors — who make up 85 percent of the dairy’s customers — but by the closure of restaurants and hotels, as well….
There’s been one bright spot during the pandemic — online orders have increased by nearly 83 percent. However, they’ve totaled less than $10,000, still not enough to cover the $25,000-a-month payroll and $1,000-a-week costs for grain and other goat feed.
Surfing Goat Dairy was able to get $124,000 in aid through the Paycheck Protection Program, which is helping to cover salaries from mid-March to mid-August. Without it, they would have had to close a month ago, Kafsack said….
read … As sales decline during pandemic, Surfing Goat Dairy fights to stay afloat
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