Federal Court Ruling Outlines Hawaii CWS Kidnapping, Conspiracy
Ige 'Intent to Veto' List -- 30 Bills
Hawaii Least Affordable State in USA
Permitting Worker Who Took Bribes For A Decade Gets Prison Time
CB: … A veteran of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting will go to prison for two and a half years after pleading guilty to accepting over $63,000 in bribes over the course of a decade, a federal judge ordered on Monday.
Jennie Javonillo, 72, worked for DPP for 32 years. For the last 10 years of her career, she accepted cash from at least 10 individuals and companies who received expedited processing for their projects, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael David Nammar. The prosecutor said after the sentencing that he was not allowed to share the names of the customers who bribed Javonillo.
It was not a victimless crime, according to Nammar. The former building plans examiner perpetuated a pay-to-play culture at DPP in which people who offered bribes got their projects approved in “record time,” while construction stalled for those who refused to pay, Nammar said. …
The judge noted that Javonillo’s misconduct occurred “again and again” over many years and that she initially showed no remorse or embarrassment for her actions. In fact, Javonillo previously minimized her conduct and spoke about it as if she were providing a public service and that everyone else was doing it, according to Watson.
The judge expressed hope that Javonillo’s sentence would be a deterrent to others who may be tempted to take bribes….
SA: Former Department of Planning and Permitting building plans examiner sentenced for taking bribes
PDF: Plea Agreement
read … Permitting Worker Who Took Bribes For A Decade Gets Prison Time
Governor Will Not Veto Bill Creating New Mauna Kea Authority
BIVN: … “I do look forward to working with the legislature in identifying and appointing the best members of our community that are committed to supporting astronomy on Maunakea, and supporting moving forward in the best way to manage Maunakea,” the Governor said….
read … Governor Will Not Veto Bill Creating New Mauna Kea Authority
Governor plans to veto child welfare bill inspired by Isabella ‘Ariel’ Kalua case
HNN: … That’s because while House Bill 2424 would give the Child Welfare system extra resources and funding, it would also let social workers respond to complaints about any foster or adoptive family, even after parents become legal guardians.
“This bill requires monitoring and surveillance of all families who have adopted or taken guardianship of former foster children so that the families can never live free of government intrusion in their lives, or right which all other families often take for granted,” said Ige….
The governor has until July 12 to make final decisions….
read … Governor plans to veto child welfare bill inspired by Isabella ‘Ariel’ Kalua case
State ‘Certificate of Need’ Rules Make It Harder To Open Dialysis Centers In Hawaii
CB: … On a Friday morning in mid-June, a string of representatives from two national dialysis companies spoke for more than two hours at a virtual Hawaii Department of Health hearing to make their case about whether thereʻs a need for a new dialysis center in Kahului, Maui.
U.S. Renal Care argued that the growing prevalence of end-stage renal disease in Hawaii justifies approving their application to open a new center, part of a string of new clinics they’re opening statewide.
Fresenius, which operates Liberty Dialysis, argued that a new center would pull patients away from their existing Maui Lani dialysis clinic. That clinic funnels its profits to rural dialysis clinics, thus any change in its profitability could potentially threaten existing care for rural patients.
Fresenius is one of only two companies currently offering dialysis on Maui. The second is Kaiser, which did not oppose U.S. Renal Care’s application. U.S. Renal Care has been aggressively seeking to open new clinics statewide, hoping to double its Hawaii dialysis centers by 2023.
For the players involved, the Zoom hearing followed a familiar cadence. Similar arguments have been expressed time and time again at numerous hearings, a key part of Hawaii’s health care regulations that for decades have required state approval before new large health care facilities can be built.
It’s a process called “certificate of need” that’s common in the eastern U.S. Thirty-five states have some sort of certificate of need laws on the books, but the pandemic has fueled a pushback against the laws due to the sudden need for more health care infrastructure….
Background:
read … State Rules Make It Harder To Open Dialysis Centers In Hawaii
RIMPAC will not use Red Hill Fuel -- Navy
SA: … officials insist that this year they will make due without Red Hill. At Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Pearl Harbor has six above-ground tanks called the Upper Tank Farm that hold 36 million gallons, and Hickam has four above-ground tanks that store about 14 million gallons.
Cmdr. Sean Robertson, the Navy’s spokesperson for the RIMPAC exercise, said participants would be relying on the Upper Tank Farm for fuel and will be doing most refueling at sea. The only in-port refueling during the exercise will be at Pearl Harbor’s Hotel Pier, the main fuel pier for the facility.
“RIMPAC will primarily exercise the at-sea fuel storage and transfer concept using two large fuel tankers which hold approximately 12 million gallons each,” Robertson said. “These tankers will provide fuel to combat logistics force ships, who will then transfer to surface ships at sea. Combat logistics force ships are highly specialized units designed to transfer fuel in an effective and safe manner.”
The Red Hill crisis has made the Navy the subject of criticism and a series of lawsuits in Hawaii. A third-party contractor review commissioned by the Navy found that Red Hill’s pipes are in a state of profound disrepair and that it might take months or years — along with millions of dollars — to make enough repairs to safely drain the tanks without causing further contamination of the island’s water resources….
read … Red Hill crisis casts shadow on RIMPAC exercises set to begin in Hawaii
Homeless Dude with 18 Priors on Street with Broken Bottle Looking for #19
MN: … the victim and his girlfriend were in the area of the canoe club when Greer approached. After getting into an argument with the other man, Greer picked up a bottle, broke it off and pointed the sharp end at the other man while threatening to kill him, Kent said.
He said what happened was unprovoked.
Greer then ran into traffic on South Kihei Road and was yelling at passing motorists, Kent said. Greer also allegedly made threatening comments to police officers while being transported to the Wailuku Police Station.
Kent asked for bail to be increased from $2,100 to $5,000 for Greer, based on the allegations as well as his criminal history. He has convictions for two counts of third-degree assault, abuse, eight counts of contempt of court, three counts of failure to appear, second-degree terroristic threatening, harassment and two counts of disorderly conduct.
Deputy Public Defender Emily Collins asked for a reduction in bail or supervised release for Greer, who is homeless and has lived on Maui for 13 years.
Judge Chris Dunn kept bail at $2,100 for Greer….
read … Solve Homelessness, Supply this dude with free room and board
Chinatown dealing with wave of thefts
KITV: …Orathay Rasapout works this grocery market in Chinatown. If someone tries to steal something out of the store while she's there, she has to think twice about stopping him.
"Some of them don't listen. They might just take their knife out. That's when I call the police. By the time [the police] come here, They are gone already," said Rasapout.
She says one of her fellow employees was beaten up trying to catch a thief. "When there is a bunch of people here and I'm at the cash register, I can't run after them. I have the cash register opening back and forth. So I have to let them go," said Rasapout.
Often they use a person to distract employees or come in during a busy time. There are bigger ticket items like seafood and meat. One thief even stole three giant bags of rice and sold it just a few doors down. But most are smaller items stolen in higher quantity. Some are bold enough to re-sell items right outside the market's front door.
"When you add a sweet potato or two or three and a soda, it's going to add up. Even thought it's a small price per item, its going to total out to be $200 to $300 dollars-a-month loss," said Rasapout….
KITV: Nearly $5,300 worth of jewelry stolen from Ala Moana store
read … Chinatown dealing with wave of thefts
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