Kaimuki HS Grad Pleads Guilty to Trumpster Fraud
‘Deliberative process’ loophole would encourage secrecy
City celebrates Earth Day by releasing 2022 Annual Sustainability Report
HART Votes to Stop Rail at ‘Civic Center’ -- still no ‘Recovery Plan’
KHON: … The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said they have voted to support building the rail only to the Civic Center for now as they continue to look for money that could fund a route to Ala Moana Center.
Before any changes to the route can be made, HART said a full recovery plan is needed by the end of June for the feds.
The board projection estimated that a shortened rail route would cost $9.1 billion.
“The public will have an idea of exactly what we think it’s going to be,” said HART Board Chairperson Colleen Hanabusa. “It doesn’t mean that we and HART’s recovery plan are going to be identical simply because we don’t know what their final figures are going to be.”
The Federal Transit Administration has said, unless it gets the new plan by the summer deadline, it will not release any more of the $744 million left in federal funding….
April 20, 2022: HART May Not Get Federal Extension Without Another Tax Hike
read … Honolulu rail to reach Civic Center due to funding
Feds Agree To Stop Fighting Order To Drain Red Hill
CB: … The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to drop its legal challenges to a state health department order that demanded it drain its World War II-era fuel facility at Red Hill.
The Hawaii Department of Health issued the order in December after the U.S. Navy admitted fuel from its facility had contaminated the drinking water of thousands of Pearl Harbor area residents. Despite taking responsibility for the crisis, the military fought against the state order and argued that the state lacked the power to make such demands.
It filed legal appeals in both state and federal court in February. On Friday though, government attorneys notified the court in both cases that they are withdrawing their appeals.
“By dismissing these appeals with prejudice, the Navy can no longer make those legal arguments,” said David Henkin, a senior attorney for Earthjustice. “It has to follow the lead of the Department of Health.” …
SA: Navy drops lawsuit against Hawaii over Red Hill defuelment
HNN: In surprise move, DOD drops appeals to Hawaii’s emergency order over Red Hill
read … Feds Agree To Stop Fighting Order To Drain Red Hill
UH Budget Violates State Constitution, Federal Law
SA Editorial: … Of course, elected leaders can’t take a wholly hands-off approach to the University of Hawaii. Legislators — the state Senate in particular — are quick to say that they want UH to be accountable for campus needs and any failure to fill them.
But budgetary autonomy for the University of Hawaii, a state constitutional amendment the voters ratified 22 years ago, is more aspirational than real these days. Even if that principle is bound to remain negotiable, it ought to mean more to the Senate than it apparently does.
Lawmakers have struggled for years to balance the extremes: a laissez-faire attitude toward UH versus micromanagement. Lately it’s been tipping too heavily toward the latter.
The evidence of this dysfunction includes a resolution by the UH-Manoa Faculty Senate citing in particular Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, who chairs the Higher Education Committee, at the helm of “inappropriate actions undermining university governance and free speech.” At issue was eliminating a tenured faculty member’s job.
Most pointedly, though, there’s House Bill 1600, now in conference committee, with the Senate’s proposal to give the University of Hawaii a $275 million funding increase.
Sounds good, but the dubious conditions of that boost include cutting pay of a vice chancellor and eliminating positions such as, most concerningly, the director of Equal Employment Opportunity. These posts are integral to ensuring that the university meets federal standards and complies with applicable laws. Further, some proposed items for funding aren’t even requested by UH….
read … Senate’s University of Hawaii end run
Lawsuit After Maui Council Slow-Walks Bill on licensing requirements for electric gun sellers
MN: … By not taking steps to implement the law, the county and council “have perpetuated a complete ban on the sale, ownership and possession of electric arms,” according to the lawsuit filed March 30 in U.S. District Court in Honolulu.
It was filed by Maui Ammo and Gun Supply, the business name for Mags Management Inc., a Nevada corporation registered in Hawaii with a location in Wailuku; the Hawaii Firearms Coalition of people who support the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms; and Wailuku resident Christy Gusman, who wants to buy a Taser.
The lawsuit was filed about two weeks after the bill was discussed at a March 14 meeting of the Council Human Concerns and Parks Committee….
When Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura asked whether a Police Commission member could be licensed to sell electric guns, Whittaker said yes.
Sugimura asked if a police commissioner was involved in the lawsuit.
“My understanding is a son of one of the police commissioners is involved in one of the companies that filed a lawsuit against us but not the commissioner himself,” Whittaker said.
In a document filed in the lawsuit, police commissioner Mark Redeker says Maui Ammo and Gun Supply is his business.
A motion for a preliminary injunction in the case is scheduled for June 6….
Related: Maui Taser Lawsuit Filed
read … Bill on licensing requirements for electric gun sellers mulled
Legislative Agenda:
Corona Virus News:
QUICK HITS: