Sewer Fees to go up 224%
Mental Health Waiver: Another Second Amendment Win on Big Island
Legislature Begins Hiring Staffers for 2025 Session
Hawaii Bar: 'Property Rights & Regulatory Takings'
It's Important To Truly Understand Why Trump Might Win
CB: … Weird, isn’t it? The presidential election is too close to call, which means that about half the country will vote for Donald Trump. Yet Democrats know so little about his supporters and care even less.
There are two parts to this. The first involves why people have such willful ignorance about the presidential race. I focus on the Democrats.
The second, a discussion of Nate Silver’s recent article about why Trump could win, is an example of a how to reduce this ignorance, though it is probably too late. Voters may claim they are interested in the campaign, but it’s a limited kind of interest.
The 2024 presidential campaign is yet another reminder that your friends are probably not a representative sample of public opinion, and that thinking that they are closes you off from reality….
Instead of taking seriously the reasons people give for supporting Trump, they say things like, “How can anyone vote for him?”
These people, including your friendly media, are on a hamster wheel of misunderstanding. They have Trump Derangement Syndrome, which is understandable because Donald Trump is truly off the rails….
there’s a leakage of Democrats’ friends and allies. Though they are still in the minority, a worrisome number of Blacks and Hispanics support Trump.
You may be willing to denigrate Trump voters generally by calling them deceived, misled, psychologically bereft maybe even racist. Are you prepared to use that same language of disrespect and dismissal, that same labeling, for these groups, especially African Americans, who have been the heart and soul of the Democratic Party?
If not, what is the language you use to describe their choices? Frankly, I think the answer is that you have no language.
It’s the same with white working-class men, the guys who were at one time so central to labor’s Democratic support….
There may be plausible reasons why these groups have leaked in Trump’s direction. You may think they are wrong, but they can’t be dismissed as irrelevant. Face it. You have no good explanation.
And then there’s the widening gender gap. Men are much more likely to vote for Trump than woman are. The other day a person I know used the term “toxic masculinity” to explain this.
What does that even mean? At best it’s a stigmatizing label making it improbable that you’ll understand what’s going on in their minds and impossible for you to have a campaign strategy that moves these men back to the Democratic Party….
Trump has all the characteristics of a con man but being a con man often works, and he has had a long time to polish his con….
(CLUE: Trump voters have discerned the fact that Democrats are against them personally.)
read … Neal Milner: It's Important To Truly Understand Why Trump Might Win
In surprise move, state high court takes on appeal of Hilo doctor’s HMSA lawsuit
HTH: … A Hilo doctor’s lawsuit against Hawaii’s largest health insurer will unexpectedly go before the state Supreme Court.
Hilo obstetrician-gynecologist Frederick Nitta filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the Hawaii Medical Services Association over several incidents in which the insurer failed to cover certain medications and treatments he considered to be medically necessary for patients….
Feb 2024: Court: HMSA Physician Contracts “oppressive, unconscionable, and unenforceable”
read … In surprise move, state high court takes on appeal of Hilo doctor’s HMSA lawsuit
Projected air seat declines underscore Hawaii tourism softening
SA: … Total trans-Pacific airline seats for Hawaii’s top U.S. market are projected to drop in November and December, with losses widening at the start of next year and remaining evident into April, according to Hawai‘i Visitors &Convention Bureau market data.
Total U.S. trans-Pacific airline seats for November are projected to drop 2% from the same period in 2022, while December seats are expected to fall 4% from 2022, said Jeffrey Eslinger, senior director of market insights for the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau, who presented an air service outlook Wednesday at a Pacific Asia Travel Association Hawaii chapter event….
Alpha: Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines merger will create a 'formidable West Coast franchise' - analyst
read … Projected air seat declines underscore Hawaii tourism softening
More Payroll Bumbling: State missed Oct 4 child support payments
KHON: … The state has announced that delayed child support payments from its employees are set to be disbursed on Wednesday.
In a statement, State Comptroller Keith Regan confirmed that all necessary information had been provided to the contractor, ADP Inc., for processing the payments.
However, payments scheduled for October 4 were not issued as planned….
read … State announces resolution for delayed child support payments
Hensel Phelps Lunatic Hospital Moldy, Leaking
CB: … During heavy rain water runs down some walls inside of the structure and collects on the floors. Staff deal with that problem by dropping towels on the floor to sop up the water and posting signs warning of wet floors, the hospital employee said.
“There’s obviously flaws in the way the building was built. The roof is terrible,” the staffer said. “It’s obviously a bad design, and bad construction.”
State Department of Accounting and General Services Public Works Administrator Gordon Wood said in a written statement the state has been “pursuing recourse” with the contractor “through enforcement of warranties, as well as demanding that elements that were poorly designed and/or constructed be fixed.”…
The new four-story building is called Hale Ho’ola and was built by Hensel Phelps Construction Co. under a design-build contract with the state…
(CLUE: Hensel Phelps also installed a gigantic white PVC pipe in a fuel tank farm, thus causing the Red Hill mess.)
read … Hawaii's State Psychiatric Hospital Has Leaks, Causing Mold To Grow
Views on Lahaina rebuild divided as council considers nonconforming structures, STRs
HNN: … Many of Lahaina’s structures, built decades ago, no longer meet current building codes.
BILL 105 would grant exemptions for things like height and density requirements to these nonconforming buildings, especially historic ones along Front Street.
West Maui Councilmember Tamara Paltin added an amendment that would exclude Transient Vacation Rentals (TVRs) also known as short-term rentals (STRs) from this list….
“I just don’t think it’s right. We didn’t buy it to cash in. We didn’t buy it for things other than it helped supplement our kids’ preschool tuition, Sacred Hearts. It actually allowed me to be engaged in the community and volunteer my time. I didn’t have to go look for a second job,” said Sne Patel, who opposes amendment.
“Penalizing locals who have paused hosting short-term rentals for the past year in order to house displaced residents long term, and for many, the supplemental income that we heard before is really important now more than ever,” said Alex Folsom with Airbnb.
“If it’s not allowed to come back, I will lose my home. I’ve lost my home, but I will not have the ability to rebuild,” said Tanna Swanson who lives in the STR she owns in Wahikuli.
While the vacation rental issue was the focus of the debate, some testifiers said no nonconforming structures should be exempt from current building codes.
Councilmembers decided to defer this bill until further notice so they can learn more about the consequences….
REALITY: Meet the Meth Gang Behind ‘Lahaina Strong’
KITV: Maui lawmakers discuss rebuilding 'nonconforming' structures in Lahaina, vacation rentals
read … Views on Lahaina rebuild divided as council considers nonconforming structures, STRs
Hawaii Is Allowing Registered Sex Offender To Keep Treating Patients
CB: … A Hawaii acupuncturist and physical therapist convicted of arranging a sexual encounter with an undercover agent he believed to be a 13-year-old boy still has his professional licenses two-and-a-half years later — 20 months after California revoked his license based on the Hawaii judgment.
The state Regulated Industries Complaints Office, which makes cases against licensed professionals, did not directly answer why Hawaii has not yet acted on Edward Hsu’s felony conviction or discuss whether allowing a registered sex offender to continue practicing endangers the public.
“The circumstances of each complaint or investigation are unique, and as such the time towards the closure of a complaint remains varied,” William Nhieu, spokesman for the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, wrote in an email….
Hsu continued making sexual remarks and sent several photos of his erect penis to what he believed to be the 13-year-old boy, according to the case summary. The two agreed to meet at a Maui grocery store. Hsu said he wanted to stop first at a nearby pharmacy to buy an enema kit.
In the grocery store parking lot, Hsu was met not by a teenager but by agents of a Hawaii attorney general task force.
A year later, he pleaded no contest to electronic enticement of a child in the second degree, a felony, and was sentenced to a year in jail.
Some 40 people wrote letters of support saying they knew Hsu to be a compassionate man who stumbled into the sting operation. One described him as "a gentle soul who wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone a human being," the Maui News reported at the time.
“It’s severely impacted his ability to be an acupuncturist and physical therapist,” Virtue said. “His husband is still standing by him.”
But Judge Kirstin Hamman countered what she termed "delusional" and "disturbing" statements from his supporters, the newspaper wrote.
"You were paying attention," Hamman told Hsu. "You knew what you were doing. You were not trapped." …
read … Hawaii Is Allowing Registered Sex Offender To Keep Treating Patients
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