Sentencing reform creates liability issue
Dear Editor,
In a recent Star-Advertiser editorial there was discussion regarding Senate Bill 106 SD1 HD1, which would require the state Judiciary to change all multiple sentences to be served simultaneously (“Legislature steps over judicial line,” Our View, Star-Advertiser, April 14).
This means that a person with two or more sentences would remain incarcerated only for the amount of time of the longest sentence.
This bill is seriously flawed. For example, if a prisoner is currently serving two consecutive 10-year sentences and has completed 14 years (of a 20-year sentence), the prisoner will now be released. Will the state then be liable for the four years that this person was incarcerated beyond the term? How will the state manage hundreds or thousands of potential lawsuits?
The retroactive aspect of this bill exposes the state to potential liability.
Finally, this bill micromanages judges by converting sentences of criminals serving consecutive terms for more heinous crimes.
Judges should be allowed to do their jobs without interference from the Legislature.
Rep. George R. Fontaine
House District 11 (Kihei, Wailea, Makena)
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Romy Cachola threatens Barbers Point Park Deal
Dear Editor,
The City is getting 380 acres of land for park use under the Navy Base Realignment and Closure of NAS Barbers Point in Kalaeloa. This land is being transferred through the National Park Service to the City...but one councilman wants the park lands REJECTED!
Watch Live Testimony from Norm Wong, Brad Hayes and Gen Boyer and more on Public-Private Partnerships with City Parks land. Failure of West Oahu residents to get involved in this process means West Oahu WILL LOSE these park lands if Councilmen like Romy Cachola has his way. He wants to cut a DEAL with HCDA to take this park land!
Cachola's Salt Lake district has parks- but it appears he doesn't believe West Oahu NEEDS to have ANY REGIONAL PARKS- instead he wants to give the land to HCDA to make a profit instead.
West Oahu's future park lands could become the next UNDER THE TABLE LAND DEAL if West Oahu citizens aren't willing to STEP UP and SPEAK OUT about this!
Do YOU have a Public-Private Park Partnership Concept for West Oahu Kalaeloa Park lands the City is getting? Public-Private Park Partnerships are encouraged- contact City Councilman TOM BERG at 768-5001, TBERG@HONOLULU.GOV
SEE the Planning Committee Meeting of Mar 29, 2011 and go FORWARD to minutes 38.15 to see this testimony. VIDEO
SUPPORT WEST OAHU PARKS in Kalaeloa-- or they will be GIVEN AWAY to developers!
John Bond
December7.com
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Habitat for Humanity accepting applications for Homes
Aloha,
Please help us in spreading the word of our upcoming Summer 2011 Informational Sessions! If you know of any families that may benefit from hearing about how to apply for a Habitat Home and what the process is like, please feel free to send them the attached marketing flyer!
Also attached is a press release in case you'd like to include this on a community bulletin board, calendar, or newsletter. You can also find some wonderful information at our website at: www.honoluluhabitat.org. Thank you so much for all of your help!
Warmest Aloha,
Shaila Mirchandani, Honolulu Habitat for Humanity
Office: 808-538-7070 www.honoluluhabitat.org
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Honolulu Rail isn't that much different than Wisconsin
Dear Editor,
Although the battle over rail isn't a battle between Democrats and Republicans, it is very similar to Wisconsin in that it is The People versus corporations, big business versus the tax-payers, middle class versus the uber-rich.
Let's be honest, the way I feel, this 5.5 billion dollar train to nowhere was jammed down our throats by Mufi Hanneman. He spent millions of dollars of tax-payers money on pro-rail ads, and rail still barely passed and that's when the economy was booming. He is, of course, long gone having vacated his position in an unsuccessful attempt at governor.
The new mayor has been a disappointment in terms of transparency and has already been caught lying to the public about prices. I think most people I know are in shock that the City and County has the audacity to continue with this charade. One reader likened the carpenter's union unemployment to a VCR repairman, "It's like the city is saying we have to build this rail so that carpenters can have jobs, but if there was shortage of jobs for VCR repairman, it's not the City's responsible to create jobs for something that is obsolete like repairing VCRs. What is really going on here is Big Business wants to develop the land and they are doing it whether the people are in favor of it or not.
Like I said, middle class versus the rich greedy land-developers. Big business versus the tax-payers, and like Wisconsin we are losing the battle. We can only hope the courts, like in Wisconsin will find in favor of the people, because money talks and B.S. walks.
Joe DeMarco, Kailua, Oahu
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No Development Moratorium in Kau
Mr. Chair and Members of the Council April 18, 2011
Aloha, my name is Lee McIntosh. I live in Discovery Harbour in Kau.
I am not in favor of Resolution 60-11, which delays general plan amendments and rezoning applications in Kau until the CDP is adopted or December 31, 2012.
There is no guarantee that a consultant can be hired to pick up where PlaceMakers left off, and that there will not be any more hiccups in the process if a consultant is successfully hired. If the CDP is stalled indefinitely or fails to be adopted by the December deadline, then valuable, precious time will have been unnecessarily wasted that could have been spent providing jobs or services to Kau.
The County has a process established for the community to express their opinion on general plan amendments and rezoning applications. The CDP will compliment that process, not replace it. I do not see the need to hinder development that the community so desperately needs and wants in Kau.
Kau is not like Kona or South Kohala, and nor have we asked for similar treatment in regards to our CDP. History has proven that Kau is more than able to prevent development if it is undesirable. Please do not hinder Kau by supporting Resolution 60-11. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on Resolution 60-11.
Lee McIntosh
Discovery Harbour, Hawaii
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