The Secret History of the Mercado Kim Crime Family
DLNR Now Charging $1 to Use Ocean
HONU Housing Less Than One Homeless Per Day
How to revive Hawaii’s downtown centers
Lahaina: 500 Properties Cleared, Zero Building Permits Issued
After controversial raises, voters may get a chance to weigh in on Council salary hikes
HNN: … Tupola is proposing an amendment to the City Charter that would limit any raise to 5% per year and require a council vote to approve it ….
read … After controversial raises, voters may get a chance to weigh in on city salary system
Longer council terms rejected following robust criticism
HTH: … Inaba’s bill includes a provision stating that any incumbent council members who win reelection in 2024 will be able to serve for up to three more four-year terms regardless of how long they already have served, potentially allowing some current council members to serve for up to 18 years straight.
Chung said this is objectionable and creates a privileged class of only eight people who benefit from the bill — the current council members, minus the term-limited Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, who has not filed for reelection.
“If something’s going to benefit you, it shouldn’t come from this body,” Chung said. “If this passes, I’m going to be filing an ethics complaint, because this is definitely unethical. And if you guys don’t see it, then I think you guys have … either become too enamored of your positions or you have lost touch with what the public feels.”…
“It feels like a bit of a grab,” Kusch said. “This fall, we’ll have an important presidential election, and one of the candidates has talked about, you know, being a dictator on Day One.”
Former Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford reiterated her long-standing disapproval of extended term limits, saying that being on the County Council is not intended to be a lifelong career. She excoriated the bill, calling it a blatant grab for power and money that should be rejected by every council member….
read … Longer council terms rejected following robust criticism
Marijuana decriminalization bill advances after pot legalization bill dies
KITV: … "Right now it is $130 fine, for possession of 6 joints or three grams - that is decriminalized," stated Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm.
Possession of up to an ounce of pot could get you a petty misdemeanor charge and a criminal record.
"Heavily fining or putting people in jail for possession of some small amount simply serves to impair people to hold a job, get loans, things you need to advance in society," said Senator Chris Lee, one of the authors of a bill that would further decriminalize possession of marijuana.
It would reduce the fine to $25 and increase the amount people would be allowed to have - up to one ounce….
(CLUE: 1oz = 60 joints.)
MM: Hawaii House Passes Bills To Expand Marijuana Decriminalization And Create Expungements Process - Marijuana Moment
SA: Marijuana decriminalization bill runs into opposition, remains alive
read … Marijuana decriminalization bill advances after pot legalization bill dies
More on the 2012 assault of event promoter Michael Galmiche
ILind: … Miske threw a blow at Galmiche, Schubert said, while two other guys were holding him up. Schubert said she want to try to help Galmiche, and one of the guys grabbed her shoulder and said, “sista, too late!”
She kneeled next to Galmiche and tried to bear hug him.
“I thought they would stop since I was a girl,” she said. “I yelled, ‘I’m a girl, I’m a freakin’ chick.”
Instead of backing off, one of the men kicked her in the head and on her right side.
She later identified the guy with a a big tattoo and a broad forehead as John Stancil, Miske’s half-brother.
“It stopped when I heard sirens,” she testified….
PDF: Excerpt of grand jury testimony by Michael Galmiche
read … More on the 2012 assault of event promoter Michael Galmiche
Discrimination Suit Against Kauai Police Chief Dismissed, Captain Forced To Retire
CB: … “I spent tens of thousands of my own funds on outside counsel to have the facts of this case heard before a judge,” Raybuck said in the statement. “Unfortunately, the county negotiated a settlement rather than take the case to trial.”
Portnoy said his client disagreed with the terms of the settlement, and that he demanded the chief’s dismissal from the case prior to the completion of settlement negotiations.
“There’s a history on Kauai of lawsuits against police chiefs and other police officials that are settled without the facts ever being heard in court, and frankly, my client was hoping to change that pattern,” Portnoy said. “But unfortunately the county decided to settle this case without his participation.”…
The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the charges against Raybuck cannot be brought back to court. A settlement agreement between Kauai Police Capt. Paul Applegate, the plaintiff, and Kauai County requires Applegate to retire June 1.
Applegate, who has been employed by the Kauai Police Department for more than 25 years, will receive $350,000 as part of a compensation deal, which includes $181,000 in damages, $124,000 in legal fees and $45,000 in back wages. …
AP: Kauai police officer who alleged racial discrimination by chief settles for $350K
read … Discrimination Suit Against Kauai Police Chief Dismissed, Captain Forced To Retire
Questions swirl over whether wildfire relief aid will pay tab for Maui mayor’s enhanced security
HNN: … Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen’s enhanced security detail cost approximately $115,000 for a six-week period after the devastating wildfires and, HNN Investigates has learned, federal relief aid designated for victims could be used to pay for the protection.
State investigators instead of Maui County police officers provided the law enforcement officers.
HNN Investigates has copies of receipts for plane tickets, hotel accommodations, rental cars, fuel and food plus worksheets that show the cost for overtime.
The four state investigators from the Attorney General’s Office and the Public Safety Department’s Sheriff’s Division were sent from Oahu to Maui between Aug. 23 and Oct. 6 of last year.
The detail started days after a blogger from Louisiana had to be held back by officers with the Maui Police Department who were protecting Bissen following a media briefing on Aug. 18….
read … Questions swirl over whether wildfire relief aid will pay tab for Maui mayor’s enhanced security
Garbage News: City Points to Waipio Peninsula to Justify Extending Use of Waimanalo Gulch
CB: … Formby said, meaning that they would have needed to start in 2020 in order to meet the 2028 deadline for closing the current Waimanalo Gulch site.
Space isn’t too much of an issue — Babcock said that the current site, which opened in 1989, still has room until about 2036. But city officials haven’t publicly announced a decision to extend use at the current site, which Formby said is partially because they may find a site where a landfill can be opened quicker.
He acknowledged the tightening timeline, though.
“Most people do the math and realize that at some point we’re going to have to make that decision. But we’re not making it at this time,” Formby said….
(CLUE: How high is the water table at Waipio Peninsula?)
SA: City still seeks more time to find Oahu landfill alternative
read … Waipio Soccer Complex Is The Frontrunner For Honolulu's New Landfill, But Questions Abound
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