Seven low-cost ways to speed up permitting in Hawaii
Vote ‘No’ to Support Traditional Marriage
Jewish Republican says she is running against ‘Hamas Squad member’ in Hawaii state House
Green: $400M not enough to build New Stadium
KHON: … Negotiations between the state and lone developer Aloha Halawa District Partners continue in the process of building the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District.
“We’re continuing to seek some additional private equity, and we’ve had some suitors. So that means extra money could come to the project to help build a more beautiful stadium. As you know, I’ve traveled to other stadiums in Los Angeles, in Japan. I’ve looked at these places, and they usually cost a lot more than the 400,000,000 that we have available. If we only have the $400,000,000 available, then we’re gonna have to bond out a lot of this, cost or they’re gonna have to take on debt, which will make it more difficult to build the affordable housing in the entertainment district,” Governor Green said….
EP: So what's going on with the Hawaii stadium situation?
read … Gov. Green asks PUC to soften rate increases
Gov. Green asks PUC to soften rate increases
KHON: … Young Brothers, Honolulu’s sewer operators, American Water, and Hawaii Gas are all asking for rate increases, with approval still pending from Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission. Governor Josh Green stopped by Wake Up 2Day on Monday to discuss the impact this can have on local residents and what he wants to see the PUC do.
“I think they should modulate downward those, asks. I don’t think people can afford everything that’s been asked for. Right now, we’re still feeling kind of the headwinds of inflation, and we’re coming still economically off of COVID where everyone’s trying to catch up. There were a lot of costs, and the supply chain costs are high, but people can only tolerate so much. So I hope it’ll come in a little lower, and people can then benefit from the tax breaks we’re putting in and hopefully over time, lower rents.”
Speaking of utilities, Governor Green is considering bringing liquid, natural gas coming into the state to help fuel electricity by transitioning the old oil-burning power plants to liquefied natural gas. …
read … Gov. Green asks PUC to soften rate increases
SHPDA State Agency Backlog Stalls Lahaina Rebuilding
CB: … Orlando and Rowena Baraoidan thought it would be faster to rebuild on a different lot in Central Maui after their home burned down in Lahaina in August 2023. Instead, they’re stuck in bureaucratic limbo with a vacant residential property that they can’t build on.
The issue: a completed archaeological study – the final step needed to get a county building permit – has been sitting with the State Historic Preservation Division for months.
“We just don’t know what to do,” Rowena Baraoidan said in an interview. “Our hands are tied.”
Planners, consultants and property owners say SHPD’s review process is the slowest they’ve seen it in years. …
One Honolulu lawyer had five homeowners stuck in the process until last week, when one finally got a building permit after conducting multiple archaeological studies over three years.
“SHPD’s had a long history of delaying projects. That’s nothing new,” says Thorne Abbott, a former Maui County coastal planner who now works as a consultant. “But this is the worst I’ve seen it in years.”…
RELATED: The Maui County Cultural Commission's Unfortunate Failure
read … State Agency Backlog Is Stalling Building On Maui
Democrats Target Three House Republicans for Defeat
HPR: … In the House, there are six Republicans — three face competitive Democratic challengers this year.
Reps. David Alcos, Diamond Garcia and Elijah Pierick of Oʻahu are part of a more socially conservative pack of Republicans elected in the 2022 election….
read … These 3 House races could flip seats in the state Legislature
New Carpenters Union Super PAC Is Spending Big On Three Maui Council Races
CB: … For A Better Tomorrow, the new super PAC created less than two months ago, has sent mailers to voters on Maui supporting the reelection of Tom Cook, Tasha Kama and Nohe U‘u-Hodgins, who are seen as part of the pro-development majority on the council.
Cook is facing former council member Kelly King on Nov. 5. Kama is running against Carol Lee Kamekona. U‘u-Hodgins’ opponent is Nara Boone.
A loss for any of the incumbents would tip the balance in favor of a political faction on the council that has generally opposed large development projects and advocated for a greater share of affordable housing units….
read … New Carpenters Union Super PAC Is Spending Big On Maui Council Races
Green ranks sixth nationally in governor approval ratings
SA: … Gov. Josh Green ranks in the top 10 in approval ratings compared with the rest of America’s governors, according to separate surveys reported this month.
Morning Consult, an independent pollster that conducts political polling and continues to track this year’s presidential race, placed Green sixth most popular in the nation, with a 62% approval rating that “likely reflects a solid base of support among Hawaii’s electorate.”
“This places him among the more well-regarded governors in the United States. He is among the top 10 most popular,” Morning Consult said in its U.S. Governor Approval Outlook….
read … Green ranks sixth nationally in governor approval ratings | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Two Escape Routes Could Have Saved Dozens Of Maui Fire Victims
CB: … The largest concentration of people who died in the 2023 Lahaina wildfire — nearly three dozen victims — were found in the Kuhua Camp neighborhood, where fallen trees and power lines blocked many as they tried to flee across narrow roads.
However, everyone there would have escaped that day if the neighborhood had had two key evacuation routes: a through road instead of a dead end at Kuhua Street’s north end, connecting it to Keawe Street, and an Aki Street that runs the full length of the neighborhood without getting split mid-way by a private lot.
That’s according to special computer modeling that the U.S Army Corps of Engineers recently provided to Maui County. County planners say plans are already underway to build those routes….
read … Two Escape Routes Could Have Saved Dozens Of Maui Fire Victims
Methampetamines News: ‘Lahaina Strong’ Whines about Committee Chair System
CB: … (Here’s a typical whine from Paele Kiakona, whose daddy was in federal penitentiary while Lahaina burned)
“…Take Senate Bill 2908 — a bill to stop rent gouging after a disaster such as our mega-fire. Unlike the regenerative tourism bill, this one made it through all of its assigned committees and passed three floor votes in both the House and Senate. I’ve come to learn what a rarity that is.
“Just when we thought we were approaching the finish line, it was killed by an all-powerful lead committee chair who refused to schedule it for the conference committee — despite the bill receiving unanimous support from colleagues in both chambers.”
Dead wrong.
Here’s what really happened: Legislators all knew they could rely on the Committee Chair to kill the bill. They therefore were able to freely pander to Lahaina Strong by voting for it. And it worked. Lahaina Strong is still fooled by this annual hustle. What a bunch of suckers.
By hiding their ‘no’ votes behind the Committee Chair, legislators minimize opposition and maximize incumbency. This is why they are not seriously challenged on Election Day.
When meth dealers lead, the people suffer.
REALITY: Meet the Meth Gang Behind ‘Lahaina Strong’
read … What A Lahaina Advocate Learned At The Legislature This Year - Honolulu Civil Beat
Saguaro Prisoners feel 'anxious, unsafe' with drinking water
KHON: … the standing water in their toilets “makes each cell ‘smell like chlorine.'” Prisoners allege it causes burning eyes, crashed and bleeding skin, gastrointestinal issues and more when consumed or bathed in ….
CLUE: The Saguaro Inmate handbook explains: “Saguaro Correctional Center has a Gray water system in place. The water in the toilet bowls is non potable (do not drink). All other water at this facility is safe to consume.”
Nitrates in Water from adjacent Water Utility -- Villa Grande DWID
ACLU HI Saguaro Water Contamination Demand Letter FINAL
Contaminated Water Reports Prompt ACLU To Request Tests At Arizona Prison - Honolulu Civil Beat
read … Prisoners feel 'anxious, unsafe' with drinking water
Honolulu mayor blows up fireworks measure
SA: … Citing the Honolulu Fire Department’s prior opposition to the measure, Blangiardi asserted Bill 22’s enactment by the Council risked public safety.
The mayor claimed he could not support the bill that seeks to amend the city’s fire code by exempting “consumer fireworks” from permit requirements when used during designated periods, “essentially repealing the ban on consumer fireworks established by Ordinance 10-25 in 2010.”
“The years since the enactment of Ordinance 10-25 has provided (HFD) with important information illustrating the dramatic decline of fireworks-related injuries and fireworks-related fires after the ban went into effect,” Blangiardi said in a written message to the Council.
“The data that HFD presented clearly indicates that existing consumer fireworks laws lowered the risk of structure and wildland fires in communities across Oahu, and we do not believe that relaxing those laws will have any positive impact on the proliferation of illegal aerial fireworks,” he wrote….
read … Honolulu mayor blows up fireworks measure
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