June 3, 2011 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Friday, June 3, 2011

June 3, 2011 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 2:12 PM :: 10289 Views

Djou: City should work harder to build consensus on rail

In the months following the '08 vote, the city squandered any goodwill resulting from the vote. Rather than reach out to proponents and opponents alike, the Hannemann administration, the majority on the City Council and the rail transit division charted a divisive path relying on the narrow mandate from the public to do as it pleased without regard to the nearly 50 percent of residents who opposed rail.

Since the 2008 election, the city has not adequately followed up with any broad outreach to the community in seeking consensus on rail. Instead of pausing to reflect and explain the costs of rail to the public, the current city administration and Council have brushed aside legitimate concerns by rail opponents.

Today, rail is embroiled in litigation and it appears the courts may ultimately dictate how rail gets done.

As a result, Oahu residents are now just as bitterly divided over rail as they were in 2008. A recent Star-Advertiser poll shows that the slim support for rail in the 2008 vote has narrowed even further since the question was put on the ballot three years ago. This spells trouble for the future of rail. As long as the city relies on a razor-thin majority favoring rail, it will subject success of the project to the whim of just 2 percent of the electorate changing its mind.

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Abercrombie signs bogus Rail EIS, Enviros Sue, Carlisle Admin blames ... Lingle

Honolulu Managing Director Doug Chin says growing costs associated with delays to the city's rail project could halt construction of the line before it really gets under way.

Pacific Business News characterized Chin's stance in a May 20 article:

"City Managing Director Doug Chin said 'unwarranted delays' will mean additional costs to the project. He said former Gov. Linda Lingle's refusal to sign the final environmental impact statement last year added $129 million to the project's cost.

"'It's no secret that lawsuits and delays result in higher project costs,' Chin said. 'That's why it's imperative that we keep rail transit on track, which means bringing the project in on time and on budget. If delays continue, we will eventually price ourselves out of being able to do this project.'"

The final environmental impact statement (EIS) was completed in mid-June 2010. Lingle stepped down as governor in December 2010. According to Chin, during that period — about six months — project costs for rail grew by $129 million.

(Of course Lingle was not legally able to sign the EIS because of the required review of 13,000 public comments after the so-called EIS completion….)

REALITY: Lingle: “Rail EIS is not on my desk as some have incorrectly stated” (Sept 2010)

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Lim: Handouts to Clinton Movie Mogul Cronies and Windfarm Scammers are key to Hawaii’s Future

Businesses need to partner with state government and provide private capital to develop new industries, improve public lands and link the islands with an undersea cable to deliver broadband technology and renewable energy, Richard Lim told the Hawaii Economic Association.

He cited “a high level of debt,” “outsized obligations” and “the burden of an aging population” at a time when Congress is considering capping Medicaid reimbursements and Hawaii’s seniors are already relying on emergency rooms for basic health care, which ends up stressing the health care system. “We all end up picking up the tab in the form of higher medical bills,” Lim said. (And Windfarm scams are how the Abercrombie admin is going to

Part of the solution is asking businesses to partner with state government to improve parks and other state lands that have been taken over by “undesirable elements … and drain our economy due to the vicious maintenance costs (caused by vandalism).”

He said a dozen companies remain interested in Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s plan to deliver renewable energy to Oahu from the neighbor islands and offer broadband service (???) throughout the state via an underwater cable.

Businesses also need to lobby legislators and push back against community opposition that killed projects such as the Hawaii Superferry, Lim said.

“Ten surfers and a couple of well-heeled NIMBYs can wipe out economic development in the state,” Lim said, referring to “not in my back yard” opposition. (Really? Then WHY did Abercrombie put anti-Superferry protester Herminia Morita at the head of PUC? Duh!)

Businesses also can lead the way in developing companies focused around film and digital media, culture and the arts, and music and entertainment, Lim said.

Dumbest Quote: “This is the first time I’ve heard any of this.” – Paul Brewbaker

REALITY: Cayetano on DBEDT Pick: “Dobelle thought Richard Lim was trying to intimidate him”

MORE REALITY: Why Hawaii Lost the Superferry

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Reapportionment Commission Sets Public Meeting Schedule

…meetings of the state and county Reapportionment Commissions are expected to pick up as the appointees redraw Hawaii’s political boundaries to reflect the most recent population changes in the U.S. Census.

A schedule of meetings and materials is being posted by the state Office of Elections at its Reapportionment Web page.

the Oahu Reapportionment Advisory Council held its first meeting last week, with neighbor island Council’s set to start their work this week. The Neighbor Island councils have said they are looking at ways to increase public participation, either through scheduling hearings at times when more people are off work or by trying to make the state Commission hearings available to neighbor island residents via videoconferencing.

The state Commission expects to publish its first plans for public comment by Aug. 7.

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New plan offers coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions

Thousands of uninsured Hawaii residents could get health insurance under a new pre-existing medical condition plan created by the federal Affordable Care Act.

The Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based private foundation that promotes health care access for low-income, minorities and the uninsured, projected an estimated 12,474 local residents suffering from cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, asthma, diabetes and other serious ailments, or even who are pregnant, could qualify for the stopgap program until 2014, when health insurers will be required by the federal health reform law to insure this population with the same rates as their healthier counterparts…..

BUT…Abercrombie’s Medical Homes scheme will incentivize Doctors to not treat these populations….so the result is a combination of adding sicker patients … and implementing pay schemes for “Medical Homes” based on how healthy their patients are. This is a recipe for disaster which will lead to rationing. And Medical Rationing Begins Here: Hawaii Congressional Reps to Feds: Help Us Curb Micronesians

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Hawaii gov: 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Questioning Pride Month'

Abercrombie salutes convicted thief Michael ‘Bitch Bear’ Golojuch and celebrates those who choose to enjoy oral and anal sex with members of the same gender … or are just thinking about it.

Hawaiian Geothermal Energy: A Gift from the Gods?

The same fraudsters, dopers, and convicted felons who protested against Geothermal at Wao Kele O Puna are now suddenly in favor of it. Why? Because OHA has told them to make an about face. Why? Because OHA owns Wao Kele O Puna now and will profit immensely if Geo is built.

“Four legs good, two legs better!” – George Orwell, Animal Farm

Horizon Lines, another Jones Act Failure

…the Horizon vessels are ageing, as they originally belonged to the Sea-Land Corporation, from which Horizon Lines emerged as a purely US carrier under the terms of the company’s takeover by Maersk.

Horizon is far from financial prosperity, and in reality is struggling to operate on a firm financial footing. The fine imposed upon it as a result of alleged price-fixing wears somewhat thin when one considers that on the routes which it operates within US waters, there is little competition, as mentioned previously.

It would be difficult to imagine, given the present state of the US economy, how Horizon Lines could comply with the NYSE standards in the short term, and indeed in the long term, it may be doubtful whether Horizon lines can continue as a viable concern.

The Jones Act has done little to foster free competition within the US maritime sector because of its restrictive requirements, and this may well yet result in much more major problems for many US maritime companies within a so-called competitive market.

Three steps to sabotage RTTT Teacher Accountability

Sabotaging RTTT:

…nobody wants is a process that's so onerous that it becomes a budgetary burden or is rushed to meet deadlines.
In crafting the final process, the department might want to consider reducing the frequency somewhat or — better — breaking up the evaluation, so that in an annual review, different parts of the evaluation are handled in alternating years.
DOE officials themselves are concerned not to overload the principals….

Charter school to leave probation

The elementary school has had a troubled history marred by financial mismanagement and was placed on probation in 2008. The panel voted to revoke its charter in June 2009, but the decision was overturned in court on a technicality. Since then a new principal, Daniel Caluya, and a new local school board have taken leadership of the campus.

It closed the academic year with 70 students, down from 89 at the start of the school year. It projects an enrollment of 103 in the fall, when it will add a seventh-grade class. Once saddled with debt, the school expects to end this fiscal year with a surplus of more than $100,000, thanks in part to an infusion of federal stimulus money.

Quijano said online testing shows that students made "a huge jump" in proficiency in math on this year's Hawaii State Assessment over last year's abysmal scores. Official results will not be released until this summer. The school offered after-school tutoring and even held tutoring sessions on Saturdays to help get students up to par.

Inouye Continues push for Guam Base

Another wandering incomprehensible ramble of a column by Democrat Borreca:

…He (Inouye) added that he made a swing through the Philippines and Vietnam during the just-ended congressional Easter recess and concluded ,"Our security interests are interwoven with economic prosperity in the Pacific."

This comes at a time when already there is a backlash forming in Congress, led by Inouye's perpetual nemesis, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who along with two other senators (Borreca doesn’t mention their names because they are both Democrats—Levin and Webb) say the Defense Department should review its plans for South Korea, Guam and Okinawa.

RELATED: Senators Question Guam Base Plan – “Senators John McCain, Carl Levin and Jim Webb said the Defense Department should rethink its overall plan to restructure American forces in East Asia, calling it "unrealistic, unworkable, and unaffordable."

REMEMBER ABERCROMBIE’S PLAN? Follow the money: $10B Guam pork project benefits Abercrombie contributor

Feds Propose Expanding Monk Seal Habitat

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is proposing expanding critical habitat for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal to include parts of the main Hawaiian Islands….

The move comes after environmental groups petitioned NOAA to expand critical habitat for the species.

Scientists say about 1,160 Hawaiian monk seals remain. They warn that the species is in danger of extinction because of their declining population in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

The agency said Thursday it is accepting public comments on the proposal through Aug. 31. It expects to post dates, times and locations for public hearings on its website.

REALITY: Ulua Hunters Needed: Fishing ban in NW Hawaiian Islands is Killing Monk Seals

Hawaii's Local Leader in Integrated Care Achieves 5-Star Rating on Medication Safety from Pharmacy Quality Alliance

Clue: Kaiser isn’t using Medco.

Dim Bulbs force Creation of Black market

…And yet there are individuals, businesses, restaurants and home-decorating professionals buying up and hoarding those three-ways, soft whites, pinks, floods, dimmers and clear-glass Edisons against a future when they think all these luminaries won't be available. Easy-money types are warehousing them to be sold for big bucks on a black market they believe will form when Home Depot and Longs can't put them up on the shelves any more….

Most Hawaii House Reps File Disclosures After Legislative Session

The annual disclosures can be used to monitor lawmaker's financial ties and identify possible conflicts of interest. A result of a loophole in the law, politicians aren't required to file the documents until May 31, well after the Legislature closes shop.

As of June 2, the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, which monitors the disclosures, had received reports from all 51 House representatives, which are posted online. Thirty-six of the 51 filed between May 5 and June 1.

Stanley Chang Vulnerable over Parking Meter Fee Hike

Freshman Councilman Stanley Chang is in hot water with some of his Waikiki constituents for being slow to react to the Carlisle administration’s proposal to substantially raise parking rates around Kapiolani Park….

most of the outrage came from residents of the condos that surround Kapiolani Park, who have few other places to park.

The higher rates — and especially extending them all night — could cost them hundreds of dollars a month, which they regard as an unfairly steep budget-balancing burden placed on only a few.

Chang threw in with the opponents and announced this week that he had persuaded his colleagues to recommit Bill 30 to committee at their meeting today, but the critics complain that he was uncommunicative until now and voted for the measure on the first two readings.

They aren’t convinced that Chang’s colleagues won’t throw the junior councilman under a bus and plan to show up at the meeting to apply pressure.

Chang’s handling of the matter seems less than deft and it’ll be interesting to see if it’s just inexperience or the beginning of a pattern.

CB: 'Fiscal Conservative' Mayor Finds Council Wields Sharper Budget Knife

“Concrete shortage” delays pad installation at bus stops

…but we’re going to have enough concrete to build an elevate railroad?

VIDEO: $1 fare for Hele-On bus reconsidered by Hawaii council

The on again – off again effort to enact a $1 fare for the Hele-On bus system was resurrected and passed by the council on Tuesday.

The bus rides are currently free, but the administration was counting on the council to pass a bill that would start a $1 cash fare, adding hundreds of thousands in revenue to the county budget.

Just a few weeks ago, the council failed to pass a measure increasing the bus fares.

After Developer builds 432 Townhouses, LUC reverts project to Agricultural Zoning

Not allowing DW Aina Lea to proceed with construction, despite a Land Use Commission ruling against the project, will cause the developer to break promises to the community, lose goodwill it had with its foreign investors and delay the opening of affordable town houses, attorneys argue.

If the 3rd Circuit Court doesn't postpone the commission's April ruling reverting 1,060 acres from urban back to agricultural use, its Villages at Aina Lea project may suffer "irreparable harm" in the eyes of investors and the community, according to a May 27 motion.

In April, DW Aina Lea officials sued the commission, the state Planning Office and the county Planning Department in 3rd Circuit Court, seeking to have the commission's decision overturned.

Without a stay, the commission's order "will significantly delay portions of the project and completely preclude work on other parts of the project, since the county will not allow additional urban development to proceed on lands within the state agricultural land use district," the motion said. "Specifically, occupancy of the 432 townhouse units will be delayed because the county and State Department of Health will not allow installation of the package wastewater plant that is already on site unless and until a special permit is proceeded and approved to allow installation on agricultural land."

WHT: Hoffmann hosting meeting on troubled project Tuesday

Hawaii Gas Prices Dip While Other States Rise

Hawaii's gas prices are dropping while prices are rising across the rest of the nation.

The national average for gas climbed a penny Thursday after 20 days of decreases, AAA Hawaii said.

Meanwhile, the price of gas in the islands continues to fall. Gas dipped below the $4 mark in two counties.

(Sure is a good thing we don’t have the Gas Cap Law, eh!)

Veteran reporter Huff to say aloha to KITV

After 22 years at KITV, reporter Daryl Huff will leave his TV news career June 24 for a management position with nonprofit health care plan AlohaCare….

Veteran reporter Denby Fawcett retired from KITV at the end of last year, and Huff's departure will leave another opening. "Those are very, very key reporters, so we're in rebuilding and hiring mode," Jackson said.

UHERO Brief: The Lag in Employment Recovery

While US real GDP bottomed out in the second quarter of 2009 and is now back at its pre-recession level, non-farm payrolls only started picking up at the beginning of 2010, and they remain far below their previous peak. What explains the existence of this lag? This brief appeared in the most recent UHERO County Forecast Report …

HR: University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization Report Explains Lag in Employment Recovery