Does the American Rescue Plan Ban State Tax Cuts?
Hawaii senators bungle major tax vote
House Republicans: "Tax Increase Will Hurt Hawaii"
Chief Justice Appoints Family Court Judge for Hawaii County
The Hike In State Income Taxes On Top Earners Is As Good As Dead
CB: … A controversial tax hike that would have reaped an extra $1.8 billion over six years from the state’s highest-income taxpayers now appears almost certain to die in the House.
Senate Bill 56 was passed by the state Senate on Tuesday. But supporters were dismayed (so sad -- lol!) to see House Speaker Scott Saiki give the measure a quadruple referral this week — meaning he assigned the bill to four House committees that must each hold hearings and vote in favor of the measure before it can pass ….
The measure is one of an array of tax increase measures lawmakers have been considering this year to raise cash to balance the state budget, but SB 56 stands out because it would push the state’s top income tax rate for the highest earning residents from 11% to 16%….
Meanwhile this is moving … HB1314: Text, Status
read ... The Hike In State Income Taxes On Top Earners Is As Good As Dead
Amid concerns about ‘discontent’ at HPD, chief denies authorizing new quota for officers
HNN: … Honolulu’s police chief is on the defensive after officers were told they had to meet a weekly quota ― or face possible disciplinary action.
In addition to responding to 911 calls, they would have a laundry list of requirements, including:
- Issuing five parking tickets
- Issuing five moving violations
- Completing five written reports
- Completing 10 PR (public relations) checks
- Completing three beat conditions (condition that another department needs to address, such as potholes)
- Completing five “information cards” (IC) with pictures. These are suspicious people officers get information on in the event of a crime.
- Completing five Inspectionals (checks on an area, such as a closed park)
- Conducting two DUI stops
The plan is drawing concern from some, who say the requirements go too far….
Officers in all the patrol districts were notified of the quota requirements recently and some were told it came from Ballard. But in an internal video message Thursday, the chief denied that.
“That information was sent out without my approval or any authorization from me to do that,” Ballard said in the video, which was provided by HPD after HNN requested it.
Burge said if the quota rules were sent out without the police chief’s approval that indicates a lack of communication between Ballard and her commanders.
(Translation: Kealoha loyalists are undermining Ballard in effort to push her out so she can be replaced by a Kealoha clone.)
The issues come amid a concern about poor morale at the department. Police officers have been complaining privately that they are growing increasingly weary of Ballard’s leadership style.
Attorney Megan Kau (Miske’s lawyer) has heard from multiple officers.
“Because they think they’re not being cared for, they get upset so they take action against the administration,” Kau said. “That’s not good because everyone suffers, the police officers suffer, the community suffers, victims suffer.”
Burge agreed, “Eventually , you’ll have a ‘blue flu.’ That’s what’ll happen when it gets totally bad, they’ll start calling in sick or they’ll start leaving. They’ll go to other departments.”…
Hawaii News Now did ask Ballard for an interview regarding the quota.
A spokesperson instead provided a statement that said, “The department is presently developing a daily work report for patrol officers but has not finalized any forms or standards at this time.”
Honolulu Police Commission Chair Shannon Alivado also said in a statement that the body is going through the chief’s 2020 evaluation and collecting information from the public and HPD personnel.
“We have been made aware of some internal officer discontent and all matters raised to our attention will be discussed by the commission as we go through the evaluation process,” Alivado said….
KHON: HPD chief apologizes after memo sent out on ticket quotas
read … Amid concerns about ‘discontent’ at HPD, chief denies authorizing new quota for officers
Should Oahu’s tiered reopening plan receive a public hearing?
SA: … Former Mayor Kirk Caldwell rolled out Oahu’s tiered reopening plan in September as an emergency measure to guide the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. Six months later the island is still adhering to the plan, which has not received any official public hearings.
If the tier system were to go through the same process as other bills to become law, University of Hawaii Director of Public Policy Colin Moore explained that it would have taken months to be implemented, which was time the city did not have….
“I think the question is, At what point after the immediacy of the emergency passes do we need to start public consultation and figuring out what’s working and what’s not?”…
Councilwoman Andria Tupola worked with the mayor and state officials to get organized sports, especially youth programs, to be part of Tier 3. Originally, sports were allowed only in Tier 4.
“If you didn’t like a state law, you could go to your lawmaker, say, ‘Hey, propose this bill or fight against this departmental policy I don’t like,’ but with the tiers, what are you going to do?” she asked.
“There’s not really a process where you can get your voice heard, and we’ve never had emergency proclamations last for this long. So it’s been pretty daunting for people who feel like they’re being unfairly targeted, or even financially hit, to even have a voice.”…
PH: They never wanted to hear from us
SA: Honolulu bars still suing despite reopening
read … Should Oahu’s tiered reopening plan receive a public hearing?
Big Island Traffic Light Timing Improved by Spying on Your Cell Phones
ICN:… New traffic-monitoring technology implemented on the big island of Hawaii reduced travel time by seven minutes on average, according to a case study, and 30 minutes on average when a car crash occurred.
Sensors with software created by Blyncsy were placed on 30 traffic signals around the big island. The sensors anonymously monitor Wi-Fi and Bluetooth data from cell phones and other devices in passing vehicles to determine how fast traffic is moving and how long cars are waiting at red lights.
Using this information, transportation officials can adjust the timing of traffic signals to better manage traffic.
“A vehicle driving down the road today, they have no input on how the traffic system works,” Blyncsy CEO Mark Pittman said. “It’s hard for a traffic engineer to see where the worst intersections are. So what we’re able to do is empirically provide our customers insight into how their intersections perform.”…
read … Toward Smarter Red Lights
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