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UH Athletic Director Craig Angelos Suddenly Ousted
Will Trump Kill Rail?
CB: … The Federal Transit Administration in 2012 committed $1.55 billion in federal funding to the construction of the largest public works project in Hawaii history. So far the federal government has provided more than $931 million of that total.
The chief operating officer for Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, which manages the project, expressed confidence that the flow of federal funding for rail will continue now that Donald Trump has been elected to a second term, but acknowledged the funding is not guaranteed.
“We do feel confident that we will still get that, but right now there’s no guarantee on that,” Rick Keene said. “We are trying to get more assurance that the rest of it is still there.”
The national rail industry has concerns that a Republican-led U.S. Senate and the president-elect may object to further federal spending on rail projects, but it is unclear how that might affect the Honolulu project and the remaining $619 million in committed federal funds.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz declared that the Full Funding Grant Agreement the city signed with the FTA more than a decade ago to secure the $1.55 billion in federal money for rail is “a binding contract.” ….
The original 2012 agreement with the FTA called for the rail line from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center to be completed by 2020 for $5.2 billion. The city finally opted in 2022 to scale back the project to end it in Kakaako to try to hold the cost below $10 billion.
Construction is now ‘scheduled’ to be completed in 2030….
read … Honolulu Rail Supporters Worry About Funding Under Trump Administration
Future of Aloha Stadium: Leaders discuss progress being made and challenges still ahead
HNN: … Chair of the Aloha Stadium Authority provided updates on the project, but noted that they are expecting to be somewhat short when it comes to the overall budget. ….
read … Future of Aloha Stadium: Leaders discuss progress being made and challenges still ahead
Kauai: Waste, fraud, and abuse, is present in every large organization
TGI: … Affordable housing is non-existent yet we have thousands of additional dwelling units (ADU’s) waiting in the wings with nothing to stop their construction except the lack of adequate sewer facilities. The County must take the initiative to expand sewer capacity in existing urban areas. Build it and the ADU’s will come – constructed in existing urban areas, near job centers, schools, shopping, and public facilities.
Waste, fraud, and abuse, is present in every large organization – public and private.
In a political environment, investigating County operations to root out such activity is challenging at best. Some would say in a small town where everyone knows everyone, or literally related to everyone, it’s impossible
The answer is a politically independent office of the auditor that conducts regular “performance audits” in addition to financial audits.
Our County Charter says, “There is established within the legislative branch an office of the county auditor…appointed by the county council…to conduct or cause to be conducted…performance and financial audits of the funds, programs, and operations of any agency or operation of the county, as determined by the county auditor…”
Yet the Council has not complied with the Charter. Yes, they order and conduct occasional audits, but they’ve not complied with the Charter by establishing a permanent and politically independent, office of the auditor….
read … HOOSER: A New Kaua‘i Council Dynamic - The Garden Island
West Oahu leaders urge immediate action on gang violence
KHON: … West side leaders are partnering together to introduce Resolution 24-275, a proposal created in response to a rise in shootings and gang-related crimes.
Councilmember Andria Tupola created the resolution to urge the Hawaii State Legislature to pass legislation to “define gang-related crimes and enhance penalties for committed offenses in association with gang activity.”
A companion bill will be introduced during the 2025 State Legislative Session backed by Rep. Darius Kila, Rep. Chris Muraoka and Senator-elect Samantha De Corte…
SA: Honolulu Council urges state to stem street gang violence | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
read … West Oahu leaders urge immediate action on gang violence
National watchdog calls for federal probe into Maui police's handling of remains following Lahaina fire
HNN: … A national watchdog for government transparency is expressing deep concern over revelations about the Maui Police Department’s handling of human remains following the Lahaina disaster.
For nearly six weeks, Common Cause Hawaii has called on the Maui Police Commission to publicly question Chief John Pelletier about apparent missteps the department made while recovering the remains of Lahaina fire victims.
So far, the police commission has chose not to act.
Now, the organization’s national leadership is getting involved.
“It feels to me that this could be ripe for a federal investigation,” said Heather Ferguson, director of state operations for ethical governance advocate Common Cause.
“There’s a tremendous amount of federal funds that have been allotted to the police department to conduct these investigations. To provide answers to the families that were affected by these tragic fires. And it sounds like there aren’t answers,” Ferguson said.
She added, “There’s a lot more to uncover with this story.”
Published records, along with MPD statements and eyewitness accounts, reveal many of the recovery processes and procedures critical to accurately documenting the location of a person’s death and keeping those remains separate so they’re not lost or confused with other sets of remains weren’t followed….
read … National watchdog calls for federal probe into Maui police's handling of remains following Lahaina fire
Maui Relief TANF Program offers new benefits, including appliances
MN: … The nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity in partnership with the state Department of Human Services began administering the wildfire relief program in November 2023 and provided housing, vehicle, utility, clothing and school supply support for families with dependent children. The new adopted emergency rules – with the additions – are retroactive to Oct. 5, 2024.
The changes follow:
- Automobile down payment increased from a maximum of $5,000 to $6,000.
- Automobile payments increased from a maximum of $500 to $1,000 for up to four months.
- Automobile down payment and up to 4 months of automobile payments may be combined for a one-time purchase of an automobile with a bill of sale of up to $10,000.
The new emergency rules also include a one-time replacement of a refrigerator up to $1,000; range up to $1,000; washer or dryer up to $1,000 or washer and dryer for $1,750; microwave or toaster oven up to $200. Items being replaced have to be owned by the family.….
read … Maui Relief TANF Program offers new benefits, including appliances : Maui Now
Move to Vegas: Civil Beat Finds Four Ways to make Housing More Expensive
- The Empty Homes Tax A Promising Step On Affordable Housing — If We Get It Right - Honolulu Civil Beat
- Safer Buildings Vs More Housing: How New Building Codes May Impact Hawaii - Honolulu Civil Beat
- Hawaii's Love Affair With Cesspools Is Ruining Its Reefs - Honolulu Civil Beat
- Why It's Hard For Disaster Survivors To Rebuild Safer, Sustainable Homes - Honolulu Civil Beat
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