Civil Beat Publisher Monopolizes Federal Trade Commission
Green: Civil Beat Publisher will Steer Hawaii's Applications for Federal Funds
Six Feet Under: UH Doubles Sea Level Rise Projection (again)
Hawaii's Medicaid coverage for palliative care expected to save the state money
Court stays six Red Hill lawsuits until verdict is reached in recent trial
SB2516: HGEA Power Grab forced State CIO to Resign
'Inappropriate behavior' alleged in lawsuit against top officials at Department of Law Enforcement
KITV: … A commander in the Sheriff Division of the Department of Law Enforcement filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the department's top officials, alleging inappropriate behavior including sexual harassment.
Lanikoa Dobrowolsky previously filed complaints stating inappropriate work behavior involving other sheriffs and previously got promoted during arbitration.
He believes he missed out on promotions because of what he says was his whistleblowing -- one which includes bringing to light the former head of training for the state Public Safety Department, Marte Martinez, who did not have the credentials to be in that position ….
PDF: LAWSUIT (FUN READ!)
read … 'Inappropriate behavior' alleged in lawsuit against top officials at Department of Law Enforcement
Honolulu Finally Fires Electrical Inspector Who Approved His Own Jobs
CB: … During the course of the city’s investigation into the matter, Suverkropp continued to receive a city paycheck, according to DPP. With an annual salary in the range of $54,108 to $80,124 as of 2022, according to Civil Beat’s public employee salary database, Suverkropp’s time off cost taxpayers somewhere between $72,000 and $106,000.
Under the city’s collective bargaining agreement, the city can put workers accused of wrongdoing on unpaid leave for only 30 days. At that point, if the city hasn’t completed its investigation, it has to pay the worker until the city makes a disciplinary decision, according to Hilo-based labor attorney Ted Hong …
read … Honolulu Finally Fires Electrical Inspector Who Approved His Own Jobs
CNHA Next Scheme: Buy a Hotel
HB: … From his east Kapolei office, Kūhiō Lewis leans toward his computer screen, quickly clicking from webpage to webpage. His eyes brighten as his screen flashes to a Google search page filled with hotels and condos in Maui’s Nāpili area. A few minutes later, his screen shows a street view of properties along Waikīkī’s Beach Walk.
The CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is looking for a boutique hotel to buy. If he’s successful, it would be the first for the nonprofit, which aims to enhance the cultural, political, economic and community development of Native Hawaiians.
read … Native Hawaiians Don’t Own Many Local Hotels. Here’s Why That May Change
‘Complete Streets’ -- Omidyar Activists Push to Control Agenda-Driven State Council
CB: … Only one person has been appointed to the new Highway Safety and Modernization Council since it was revamped last year….
lawmakers and other state leaders, including Green, now question whether the reformed oversight group can even function under the changes that were written into law. That’s contributed to the yearlong delay, they say, and it remains unclear when those issues might be resolved….
The retooled committee could also weigh how to expand access to other modes of travel in Hawaii besides cars, such as eBikes, said Kathleen Rooney, director of transportation and policy programs for the Ulupono Initiative.
(CLUE: Another Omidyar power-grab.)
It could also address the 800 miles of needed sidewalks on Oahu, which would cost more than $1 billion to build, she added….
read … Hawaii Retooled A State Council To Give The Public More Say In Transportation. Then Leaders Let It Stall - Honolulu Civil Beat
Activists decry Hawaii’s ‘timid’ stance on cockfighting as they push for tougher laws nationwide
HNN: … the islands are the center for shipping between the continental U.S., the Philippines, Vietnam and other countries.
Last year, a deadly shooting at an illegal chicken fight in Maili left two people dead and a community in grief.
Animal rights groups say they expected Hawaii to toughen its laws after the shooting, but a bill that would have elevated cockfighting to a class C felony died at the Legislature.
“Lawmakers were too timid. They buckled because people claimed that they were not cockfighters, but they just had chickens,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action.
The group says Hawaii along with Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Idaho are the states that only have misdemeanor penalties for cockfighting….
Meanwhile, U.S. senators have introduced the Fight Act to crack down on cockfighting by banning simulcasting and gambling on animal fighting ventures. The law would also stop the shipment of mature roosters through the U.S. mail….
read … Activists decry Hawaii’s ‘timid’ stance on cockfighting as they push for tougher laws nationwide
State moves forward with plan to acquire HPU’s former Windward Oahu home
HNN: … A plan for the state to take over Hawaii Pacific University’s former campus in Kaneohe is moving forward.
The 123-acre property has potential for housing in student dorms and as a temporary headquarters for the state Department of Health.
If the deal goes through, it could mean demolition of dilapidated Kinau Hale on Punchbowl, which has been the department’s headquarters for decades.
Gov. Josh Green hopes to replace the obsolete, asbestos-ridden building with the 60,000 square foot administration and classroom facility at the Hawaii Loa campus….
State Sen. Chris Lee has been involved in planning for the site for years and got $21 million into the budget to buy the entire 123-acre property….
read … State moves forward with plan to acquire HPU’s former Windward Oahu home
DHHL Is Finding It's Not So Easy To Just Buy An Apartment Building For Families On The Homelands Waitlist
CB: … Tenants of the Courtyards at Waipouli on Kauai don't know where to go if they're forced to move out. Many Native Hawaiian beneficiaries don't want to move in….
read ... DHHL Is Finding It's Not So Easy To Just Buy An Apartment Building For Families On The Homelands Waitlist
Insanity: 27 new units for homeless crazies sit vacant for 2½ years
HNN: … For nearly two and a half years, 27 brand new low-income units have sat vacant in Iwilei because the city was unable to find a property manager to run the place.
Now, the state is in charge of operations.
According to officials with the state Department of Health, the apartments will be used to permanently house people with serious mental illness who are stable enough to live on their own. But what’s still unclear is when residents will start moving in.
In March, the state took control of the $17 million facility built by the city at the corner of Sumner Street and Iwilei Road. A portion of the building is now home to the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which provides mental health treatment for everyone — including people who are homeless….
While operations downstairs at the facility are ramping up, the 27 apartments upstairs are still empty. Construction wrapped up on the studio units two and a half year ago. And despite the dearth of affordable housing, government has been unable to figure out a way to move anyone in….
read … Plan for vacant publicly-funded units unveiled, but timeline for filling them still uncertain
QUICK HITS: