Pollyana approach not working
Reform state LUC to encourage more housing, new report says
Cocaine News: Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi Files for Divorce -- Tries to Keep Case Records Secret
COVID Spending: Hirono questions Ige's ‘lack of transparency’
Rep Gabbard backs H.R.6866, the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act
After Secret Meeting, BoE Agrees to Re-Hear Kahuku Windfarm Petition
Pensacola to be Even More Jammed with Bike Lane "It’s about getting people out of their cars”
COVID Count 112 new cases out of 1,445 tests
City is withdrawing from P3 Honolulu rail procurement process, Mayor Kirk Caldwell tells feds
SA: … The city has notified federal authorities that it is withdrawing from participating in the procurement of a public-private partnership for the $9.2 billion rail project.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell notified the Federal Transit Administration of the decision to “conclude its participation in the procurement of a Public-Private Partnership,” city officials said in a news release.
According to the city, it is now up to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to cancel the procurement.
“Until it is canceled, the procurement remains active, which keeps the details of the proposals confidential,” the press release said.….
The plan is key to avoiding the lapse of $250 million in federal funding. The money is part of a $744 million tranche of the FTA’s $1.55 billion share of the project that’s been withheld by federal officials until they are satisfied with the city’s plan to move forward ….
PBN: HART has no alternative plan to build the section other than the P3
read … City is withdrawing from P3 Honolulu rail procurement process, Mayor Kirk Caldwell tells feds
More obstacles threaten to delay completion of rail project by up to 4 years—City and HART Point Fingers at Each other
HNN: … A day after Hawaii News Now reported that the project faces delays of up to 18 months, new documents released by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation show that construction may be pushed back nine months to as much as four years. That could add tens of millions of dollars in extra costs….
The latest problem involves the underground utilities along Dillingham Boulevard, which has been a thorn in the side of rail project for years, adding tens of million of dollars in costs and months of delay.
In a presentation for a Thursday HART board meeting, rail officials indicated that they still haven’t gotten the city’s complete go-ahead to move the power lines underground.
They’re seeking variances from the city that would allow them to place the electrical lines within safe proximity of underground water and sewer lines.
But because HART hasn’t been able to obtain these variances, it’s ordered its contractor to stop all work on underground utilities along Dillingham Boulevard.
Manahan said the delays are partly HART’s fault.
“HART is not coming in to the (city) department with the proper drawings for example to obtain their permits," he said.
But people familiar with the situation said the city has approved these variances in the past without requiring HART to provide all of the lengthy documentation -- so that construction can continue.
HART said if the city doesn’t give those variances it may have to buy a number of small parcels of land along Dillingham, which will delay the project 9 months to 2 years.
Or, it may have to shift portions of the elevated guideway near Honolulu Community College, which could cause a one and-a-half to three year delay.
The worst-case scenario is that it would have to acquire large parcels -- about 20 feet at the side of Dillingham -- along the entire street.
That would delay the project up to four years and add hundreds of millions of dollars in extra costs….
CB: The critical utility relocation work on Dillingham Boulevard has stalled amid an epic impasse between HART and city planners.
read … More obstacles threaten to delay completion of rail project by up to 4 years
HART board won’t fire CEO Robbins before contract expires
HNN: … In a stunning reversal, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board on Thursday refused to fire CEO Andy Robbins ― a week after chairman Toby Martyn claimed he actually had the votes to do so.
Robbins' fate with the problem-plagued rail authority, however, is still up in the air because his three-year contract expires at the end of the year. So far, the HART board has taken no action to extend it.
“We do not have enough votes to pass this. This measure does not pass,” Martyn said during Thursday’s meeting.
The announcement on Robbins’ status came just a day after Hawaii News Now reported that a new set of documents released by the rail authority showed that construction may need to be pushed back by as much as four years, potentially adding tens of millions of dollars in extra costs.
The latest problem involves the underground utilities along Dillingham Boulevard, which has been a thorn in the side of rail project for years.
read … HART board reverses course, won’t fire CEO Robbins before contract expires
COVID Excuse: Third Miske defendant gets bail
ILind: … Springstead said Buntenbah has been undergoing heart examinations after experiencing “chest pain and an abnormal EKG,” and has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Both conditions put him at higher risk if he catches Covid-19.
In approving bail for Buntenbah, Watson imposed a series of strict conditions, including maintaining or seeking employment, restricting travel to Oahu, a prohibition on contacting “co- defendants, co-conspirators, or witnesses in this and any related case,” detention at home except for work, health treatment, attorney or court visits, or other pre-approved activities, and GPS tracking, along with random drug and alcohol testing.
Two other defendants in the case, Preston Kimoto and Hunter Wilson, were released in July on $50,000 bail each, subject to a man of the same conditions, including GPS monitoring….
Michael Buntenbah, whose company manufactured and distributed the “Defend Hawaii” line of clothing and accessories, will be the third of the eleven men charged with being part of a criminal gang controlled by Honolulu businessman Michael John Miske, Jr. to be released on bail.
Federal Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Michael Buntenbah released on $500,000 secured bail following a hearing held Wednesday via video conferencing. His bail is the highest set so far, and the bond must be secured by either cash deposited with the court, or a security mortgage on his family’s home in Kaneohe.
Buntenbah, also known as Michael Malone, will be eligible for release once bail is posted, his passport is surrendered to the court, and a GPS tracking system is installed at his Kaneohe home….
(NOTE: Unlike OCCC, the Honolulu Federal Detention Center hasn’t had a case of COVID since August.)
read … A third Miske-case defendant to be released on bail
Food Giveaways Feed More than 100,000 people — Just on Big Island
WHT: … The Food Basket has been distributing food through the Ohana Food Drop 10 times a month to areas around the island since April, when the need became evident.
Park estimates The Food Basket has served more than 100,000 individuals, or 35,000 families, since the start of the program, spending between $300,000 and $400,000 per month purchasing food through local distributors….
read … Feeding the need: More than 100,000 people fed via Ohana Food Drops
Significant 2021 Hawaii economy rebound not in the forecast
SA: … Hawaii residents should not expect any meaningful broad recovery in the state economy until the middle of next year.
That’s the dour conclusion of a new University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization assessment of where the state economy is headed and how quickly.
In addition to the roughly nine-month wait for meaningful economic gains, UHERO said it’s most likely that the rebound — even with COVID-19 decently managed — will be sluggish, starting with a 1.2% gain next year….
The UHERO forecast, which was released for publication today, does have an alternate, more optimistic scenario for a Hawaii economy rebound — 4.2% growth next year — that could happen if less likely things occur, including receipt of significantly more federal aid.
But there’s also a second alternate outlook with a more pessimistic view that could hit Hawaii residents with a further gut punch — a 2.5% decline next year — if a third wave of Hawaii COVID-19 cases emerges during the fall and winter without an effective vaccine widely available until late next year….
CB: Hawaii Businesses Are Dying. Is Government Helping Or Hurting?
read … Significant 2021 Hawaii economy rebound not in the forecast
Long-term care facilities report additional COVID-19 cases
HTH: … More COVID-19 cases have been reported in Big Island long-term care facilities.
Life Care Center of Hilo last week also reported that two members of its dietary staff tested positive for COVID-19 during weekly employee testing.
Those employees were immediately sent home, said Administrator Mark Mann in a Sept. 16 update posted to the facility’s website. One resident had also tested positive and was moved to a private room in a designated COVID-19 area….
(WRONG MOVE: The patient should be removed from the facility and placed in a COVID-only treatment center. This is how the outbreak at Okutsu started.)
Justin Morrison, administrator at Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, said a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 17, and the result was confirmed shortly thereafter by the state Department of Health. The employee, however, hadn’t worked since Sept. 5, he said….
At Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center, an employee who tested positive Aug. 27 and quarantined for two weeks returned to work last week, wrote Administrator Gail Kahookele in a Sept. 18 update on the facility’s website.
A contractor who tested positive during the first round of facility-wide testing on Sept. 4 has quarantined and has been cleared….
Two cases also were reported last week at Hilo Medical Center’s Extended Care Facility….
HNN: Hilo veterans home grappling with COVID-19 outbreak has faced scrutiny in the past
read … Long-term care facilities report additional COVID-19 cases
Homeless rights and rights of the public are at odds
MN: … Mental illness is also a contributor, and many of the mentally ill do not have the mental capacity to take care of themselves or have the ability to reason logically. However, the homeless who are mentally ill have the right to refuse services and medication which seems to be the opposite of protecting their right to safety. …Living the homeless lifestyle is not a safe or healthy way to live and living in this manner is in direct opposition to their rights as well as the rights of all community members to a clean and safe community. …
read … Homeless rights and rights of the public are at odds
HPD Runs 500 Homeless Thru POST Program
HNN: … The city says it has cost about $2.5 million to run so far, using federal CARES Act funds.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell toured the site Thursday and announced that they've so far had over 500 people stay in these tents, helped 231 of those folks get permanent housing, served 15,000 meals, and have had a total of only seven COVID-19 cases.
The Honolulu Police Department manages the program because, it says, their officers interact most with the community….HPD, which manages the POST program, says the average stay is two weeks….
read … City says homeless program has helped hundreds in pandemic
Hawaii County hasn’t issued a carry permit in 20 years
AP: … Young wants to carry a gun for self-defense and says that not being able to do so violates his rights. His 2012 lawsuit was dismissed, with a judge siding with officials who said the Second Amendment only applied to guns kept in homes. It was Young’s third lawsuit seeking a carry permit to be dismissed.
He appealed. Three federal appeals court judges later ruled in his favor but the state asked for a fuller panel of judges to hear the case.
Hawaii County hasn’t issued a carry permit in 20 years, Young’s attorney, Alan Beck, argued….
read … Attorney argues Hawaii law is a ban on carrying guns
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