GaryHooser's Blog

Effective March 22, 2023, Kaua‘i County became the only county in Hawai‘i whose citizens are not allowed to testify via Zoom or other remote technology.

The reason given: “If we cannot get back online (after a power outage) within 30 minutes, we need to redo the meeting. Not just pick up where we left off, but repost the meeting …Everything that happened up to this point would be null and void.” TGI 03-17-23.

According to the Office of Information Practices (OIP), this already minuscule risk can be eliminated by simply rewording the public notice posted with the agenda.

The county is aware of this fact, yet remote testimony remains banned at county council, planning commission and other official “public” meetings.

While I understand the desire for expediency, and shorter meetings — reducing the public’s ability to testify is not the way to get there.

The OIP administers “meeting requirements” for all public agencies.

To determine what advice the OIP actually provided to councilmembers, I submitted a Uniform Information Protection Act (UIPA) request. https://oip.hawaii.gov/forms/

My request was specific:
“A copy of any email communications between the Office of Information Practices and any member or members of the Kaua’i County Council that occurred after 03/01/23 and the date upon which this request is acted upon (04/14/23) that discusses or references the use of remote interactive conference technology (ICT) testimony or “Zoom like” testimony. And any communications…between Council staff and OIP.”

I expected to see a flurry of emails between various council members and the OIP, but there was nothing. Council members may have reviewed the OIP website or spoken to someone by telephone, but there were no written inquires preceding or immediately following the decision to cancel remote testimony.

After further dialogue, I discovered that County Attorney Matthew Bracken emailed the OIP on March 23 — the day after the council’s no-zoom policy began.

Mr. Bracken’s question: “Can a board hold an in-person meeting but allow the public to testify via zoom and still be considered an in person meeting not subject to the requirements of HRS 92-3.5?”

OIP responded in part:
“1 – …while OIP has not issued a formal opinion on the matter, OIP generally advises that a board can hold an in-person meeting where the public attends and testifies in person, and it can additionally allow the public to testify via zoom as a courtesy or additional option without having to meet the other requirements in HRS 92-3.5.”

“If a board chooses to offer a remote link…as a courtesy, it may place restrictions on testifying, such as requiring preregistration. Also, should the board lose its courtesy ICT connection during an in person meeting or a multi-site meeting, the board may continue the meeting.”

The county attorney replied on March 24th, “…I think we may proceed with option 1… Our notice will state that it is an in-person meeting that allows remote testimony as a courtesy but if the remote technology fails for any reason the meeting will proceed in person without any delays. Our notice will not contain a zoom/teams link but it will be provided to anyone that requests to testify via remote technology 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting. Our meeting rooms don’t all have the technology set up so the last requirement would give us time to set up the necessary equipment prior to the meeting.”

Kaua‘i County should lead in expanding public participation in government, not lead in restricting it. My hope is that the county will soon reverse its decision and allow citizens to once again testify remotely — like every other county does.

Please share your feelings with councilmembers (councilmembers@kauai.gov) and mayor (mayor@kauai.gov) as well — politely and professionally please.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs called the 2023 legislative session “one of the most dysfunctional legislative sessions in recent history.”

I agree 100 percent.

Yes, there were some wins, but the 2023 legislative session was, overall, a bust. Big time.

This was the year to be generous in our funding of public education, not to sell short our children’s future.

We have a historic budget surplus. Yet, our leaders at the Legislature voted to cut funding for public education by $167 million, from the governor’s proposed budget.

Thank goodness eight members of the state House were willing to stand up, speak truth to power, and vote “no” on the final budget.

Mahalo to Rep. Jeanne Kapela for voting “no” and pulling back the curtain on the shibai of reducing public education funding.

Another “no” vote on the budget we should thank is House Higher Education Committee Chairwoman Rep. Amy Perruso, who pointed out the bill before them would result in a “massive budget shortfall” for the University of Hawai’i.

Former House Majority Leader, and now Health and Homelessness Committee Chairwoman Della Au Belatti also voted “no,” stating “the budget fails both on substance and process.”

As is evident by the conference committee chaos, “process” is not something taken seriously by the “money chairs:” Senate Ways and Means Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita, nor by “leadership” Speaker of the House Scott Saiki and Senate President Ron Kouchi.

Representative Hussey-Burdick said the process was so chaotic that “even the conferees didn’t get to see the final draft of the budget before they voted on it”.

Process and rules are trampled on regularly by the big dogs. Rules are changed, suspended, waived, and simply ignored in the mad, self-imposed rush to insert last-minute stuff into the budget and various bills.

All of which happens behind closed doors at the expense of the rest of us.

Two legislators are serving time in prison for bribery. This was the year to emphasize legislative character and to make those important reforms.

The most significant reforms were killed even when a majority of the public and legislators alike professed to support them.

One would think that if a supermajority of legislators voted in support of a bill, such as voter-owned elections, seven different times and never once was it voted down — that it would pass into law.

And, yes, one would, of course, think that, in a democracy, every decision by a legislative committee would be made via a public vote held after public review and input.

One would think.

But, of course, you know that in our legislative system, it’s the big dogs who make the big decisions. And from their perspective, committees, committee members and public input are just for show.

Every government body suffers this affliction to a certain degree, but our Legislature has reached a new low.

Helped along perhaps by an ongoing federal investigation into legislative corruption, the pendulum thankfully may be starting to swing the other way.

As Rep. Elle Cochran said prior to casting her no vote, “something’s got to change. We can’t keep doing things the same way expecting different results.”

The eight members of the State House (six Democrats and two Republicans) who voted “no” should be applauded. Big time.

Six House members also voted “with reservations,” essentially voting yes but holding their nose to hide the stench.

Fourteen House members standing up and pushing back is a big number.

Not big enough, but a big number.

How did your Representative vote?

How do we get that number to go up?

I’m thinking the answer is Plan B.

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Closing note: Some may say I am being unfair and that calling out the Money Chairs and House/Senate Leadership by name and saying they are specifically responsible for the debacle that occurred is a personal attack. The truth is that any one of them could have stood up and said “No” and refused to go along with the trampling of the process. Nothing that happens at the legislature will happen without the agreement of these 4 men. If any one of them refuses to go along, the process will stop until agreement is reached. There are real human consequences to their actions and decisions. My remarks are not to imply in any way that they are bad people, but only that they are making bad decisions.

I’m less concerned about being perceived as unfair to those who are in power than in giving voice to those who elected them — and those who didn’t. Voters and non-voters alike deserve fair representation. It’s the least we can expect of our democracy.

From the words of Frederick Douglass (1857)
“Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.

This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”

Listen to the actual floor remarks, and see the list of No and W/R votes here: https://bit.ly/41iIbii Read Civil Beat – The Hawaii Legislature Is Broken Read also Russell Ruderman: This Year’s Legislature Was Much Worse Than Business As Usual

Two legislators were busted last year for taking bribes in return for helping a prolific campaign donor with legislation benefiting his company. Immediately, with much fanfare, House Speaker Scott Saiki created a “Commission To Improve Standards of Conduct” and vowed to take action.

The Commission did excellent work, held numerous meetings, and submitted 31 recommendations to the 2023 legislature for action. Other’s also introduced “reform agenda” measures with similar themes.

The consolidation of power, and the ability of individual legislators to kill a Bill without a vote, without notice, and without an explanation – invites corruption, both legal and illegal. The insatiable need to raise campaign money to be elected and to remain elected, is an inherently and unhealthy reality for all involved.

The 2023 legislature failed completely to address these key issues. While some modest reform proposals were approved, the much ballyhooed effort fell far short of the bold reforms needed.

The two most significant reforms that would have provided true systemic change both failed.

HB796 – Proposing term limits for all state legislators was killed by Representative David Tarnas Chair of the House Judiciary Committee without even allowing a committee vote. Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads also killed a similar measure without giving it a hearing or allowing the public to provide input.

Many refer to voter owned, publicly funded, clean elections, as the “reform that makes all other reforms possible”. This is probably exactly why SB1543 was killed.

It certainly wasn’t for a lack of public support. The telephone calls and emails coming in to legislators supporting SB1543 represented a relentless stream of community support from all islands and all demographics. Opposition to the measure was negligible to nonexistent.

In addition to strong public support, 73 of the 76 legislators voted in support of SB1543. Committee and floor votes were held on 7 different occasions and each time 100% of the Democrats voted in support, and only 3 Republicans were opposed. Not one single Democrat even voted with “Reservations” – all were solid votes up, in support.

Yet, SB1543 died in Conference Committee – without a vote and without much of an explanation. In their final remarks, the two Judiciary Chairs on the Conference Committee made thinly veiled references to the lack of support by the money chairs Representative Kyle Yamashita (Finance) and Senator Donovan Dela Cruz (Ways and Means).

Who to blame? The most direct figures who should take the hit are obviously the money chairs. Right along side them though are their powerful enablers, Speaker of the House Scott Saiki and Senate President Ron Kouchi. House/Senate “leadership” in theory represents a majority of members in both chambers. They have the power to go to the “money chairs” and ask them to “find the money and make it happen”. Clearly “leadership” was not interested in passing SB1543 either.

The advocacy group “Our Hawaii” said it best in a tweet on the final day of Conference:

“Funds allocated to clean up the reflecting pool at the Capitol reflecting pools? $33.5 million. Funds allocated to clean up our politics? $0
It’s never been about the cost, it’s about whether getting #bigmoneyout of our politics is a priority.”

Clearly for these 4 gentlemen and those legislators in both the House and the Senate who carry their water – getting money out of politics is not a priority.

What’s next? For those who believe in our system of government, yet are dismayed at the toxic culture of entitlement held by too many legislators, what tools and strategies are left?

The answer is obviously electoral and not policy based. Bill’s can be massaged and amended ad infinitum but no amount of tweaking will change the reality that 4 guys call all the shots – only the elections of 2024 can change that.

The good news is a relatively small number of new, strong, value based voices could make a huge difference. A focused, and sustained effort, across all islands is what’s needed.

The August 2024 primary election is only 15 months away. We can do this.

Before I get to the nitty gritty update details of the hot mess that is the proposed Coco Palms Hotel development – may I ask you to please sign this petition and possibly chip in online to help pay the modest administrative and legal expenses of I Ola Wailuanui?

You really can’t make this stuff up. Read on if you can stomach it. And then join us at I Ola Wailuanui to help if the spirit moves you.

The on-again, off-again, development of the Coco Palms Hotel by an endless stream of Utah LLC’s is a charade – an absurd pretense intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance. (Oxford Language)

The Utah owners promised the Kaua’i Planning Commission in August of 2022 they’d hold community meetings. Not a single meeting has been held.

There’s been no HRS343 environmental impact review as required by state law.

They agreed to dispose of their green waste at a facility in Moloaa. Instead, they’ve dumped it illegally on conservation lands.

It’s well documented there are countless Iwi Kūpuna who’ve been laid to rest here. The construction and demolition permits require a qualified archaeological observer whenever digging takes place. I’ve personally witnessed this requirement being violated (pictures and video available).

They promised to build affordable hotel-worker housing specifically upon properties they don’t own and now are “re-negotiating” this requirement with the County.

They’ve cut down well over 100 coconut trees from state-owned and private lands and dumped them in sensitive conservation areas without approvals or permits.

The BLNR has issued a cease and desist notice to the developers for illegal dumping, clearing, and grubbing on conservation lands.

The previous LLC upon which the current LLC foreclosed is appealing the foreclosure, effectively “clouding the title”. This will inhibit future investment capital until resolved – which could take years.

Still yet another LLC at least 3 LLCs back in the long line of LLCs, is listed on State leases and permits required to access and utilize these lands. That particular LLC no longer legally exists and was involuntarily dissolved by the State many years ago.

Consequently, the present LLC owner/developer doesn’t possess a lease, or a permit, from the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) to use the surrounding state-owned lands which include the coconut grove. Yet, they are using these lands anyway, putting up fences, cutting down trees, grubbing, and grading – without regard to the law.

County property taxes on some parcels have not been paid in years.

The whole thing is a very bad joke – a caricature of a charade.

These guys from Utah, one of whom has been convicted of felony fraud, show up via Zoom, wring their hands, promise they will do better, wipe the sweat from their brow, and continue the charade.

Yes, they have expensive lawyers and will sue or threaten to sue the state and county should either or both have the audacity to hold them accountable.

Thankfully, the BLNR appears to be doing just that. Google the April 14 BLNR meeting and watch the hearing. It’s item D1. See for yourself the tough questions asked by Board Chair Dawn Chang and Members.

More importantly, watch the developers misstate the facts, feign ignorance, and promise to do better. They were barely aware the property is listed on both the National and the Hawai’i Register of Historic Places – and the regulatory requirements that accompany those listings.

The County Planning Director and Commission have also expressed outrage and asked tough questions.

But yes, our community and this incredibly significant property need more.

We need our government agencies to take an even more proactive role and ensure the landowner/developer follows the law.

The past and present actions of this owner/developer are too egregious to ignore or write off as only a series of innocent unintended oversights.

We need strong and direct enforcement of existing law, and we need a funding angel or angels to step forward in partnership with the community to purchase, restore, and preserve these lands in perpetuity.

Can you help?

Will you join me in signing a petition in support of the I Ola Wailuanui vision of community stewardship for these incredibly important historic and culturally significant lands?

Will you also take that next step and make an online contribution in support of I Ola Wailuanui to assist in helping to pay basic administrative and legal costs? No contribution is too small and all are welcome.

Please also consider making a gift pledge to be exercised only when we secure the total amount needed to purchase and convert this property to a stewardship-focused, community-owned, cultural and community center. Your pledge and a contingent promise of future support could be for $100, $10,000, $100,000, $1,000,000, $10,000,000, $20,000,000, or any amount in between.

For further information on how you can help, call me at 808-652-4279 or email iolawailuanui@gmail.com

Mahalo,
Gary Hooser – Board Member I Ola Wailuanui

Note: Recently, in The Garden Island newspaper Patrick Manning, managing director of Reef Capital Partners from Utah said “the DLNR has received erroneous complaints that we grubbed or graded the land. We will show the DLNR those complaints were not accurate.”

Excuse me? “Grubbing is defined as removing and disposing of all unwanted vegetative matter from underground, such as stumps, roots, buried logs, and other debris.”

Here is a photo taken less than two weeks ago and validates clearly the DLNR cease and desist order.

According to Civil Beat and many other sources too afraid to speak publicly – SB1543 publicly funded elections – will/may be sentenced to a slow and twisted death today April 27th at 3:05PM in Conference Room 325.

It’s time for that final and all-important push. Public pressure is the only tool we have left, and that means all of us must step up and apply it – liberally.

The 7 Senators and 6 Representatives listed below are the primary legislators responsible for whatever decision is made, and ALL should be contacted now, today, as early in the day as possible.

Yes, after passing every committee in both the House and Senate, behind the scenes and in the dark, SB1543 is being eviscerated. It is shameful really.

They get an A+ however for creativity and subterfuge. Their plan it seems is to actually pass SB1543 but not have it take effect until 2028 and then only for a single election, and then to limit via a lottery the number of candidates who can participate. AND to make absolutely sure this cluster muster won’t fly they are only funding 50% of even that miserable attempt at appeasement.

This way they can claim to have passed this incredibly important measure, promise to “fix it” in the future, and keep open the option of thoroughly killing it again at any time between now and 2027 – while making advocates grovel over the next 4 years begging to extend and properly fund it.

Seriously – can’t make this stuff up. Read “Sunshine Blog: So much for game-changing legislation.” Civil Beat

And then – make those calls and send that email for what is likely to be the very last day and the very last opportunity to change the hearts and minds of key decision-makers.

Please don’t let your own district legislators off the hook on this either. They may not be the key decision-makers, but their voice can make the difference – IF they choose to use it. Find your legislator’s contact info here:

The message is basic: “Pass SB1543. Properly fund it, make it permanent, and have it begin no later than 2026.” Short messages are fine – professional and courteous, please.

**If you live in their district – your call/email is 100 times more important so please let them know that important fact.

The below legislators are all either a member of the Conference Committee or “leadership” and ultimately control what happens to SB1543. Please don’t accept a “There’s nothing I can do” response from any of them.

Senate President Ron Kouchi – 808-586-6030 senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
WAM Chair Donovan Dela Cruz – 808-586-6090 sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov
Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads – 808-586-6130 senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Sharon Moriwaki – 808-586-6740 senmoriwaki@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Brandon Elefante – 808-586-6230 senelefante@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Mike Gabbard – 808-586-6830 sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Brenton Awa – 808-586-7330 senawa@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Speaker Scott Saiki – 808-586-6100 repsaiki@capitol.hawaii.gov
Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita – 808-586-6330 repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov
Judiciary Chair David Tarnas – 808-586-8510 reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Lisa Marten – 808-586-9450 repmarten@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Gregg Takayama – 808-586-6340 reptakayama@capitol.hawaii.gov
Representative Kanani Souza – 808-586-8465 repsouza@capitol.hawaii.gov

We need to pour it on friends. Please Please Please – make the calls, send the emails, and contact your friends and networks to do the same.

We can do this.

Gary

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has issued a cease and desist order against the owners/developers of the Coco Palms hotel for illegally entering state conservation land and using heavy machinery, tree clearing, and grubbing without a permit.

In addition, the developer has been cutting down coconut tree trunks and digging out stumps from other state-owned lands adjacent to and on the hotel site, and then dumping them without permission onto conservation and wetland areas.

In addition to violating laws and administrative rules governing conservation lands, the developer is also violating Kauaʻi County permitting requirements that specify:

“All green waste will be taken to Heart and Soul Organics in Moloaa.” Coco Palms Renovation Construction and Demolition Debris Management Plan (January 2023)

The developer is also violating their agreements with the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) which requires a qualified archeological observer to actually monitor the machines digging the holes and moving the earth around. 

The SHPD requirement states: ”Based on the historic background and previous archaeology detailed above in this plan, and the historic properties already documented, on-site archaeological monitoring is required during all ground disturbance activity. Ground disturbance is defined as all excavations below the existing surface grade.”

To top it all off, the developer does not have permission to enter the state lands in question. There is no state lease, no revocable permit, and no permit whatsoever that allows the developer to enter upon the state-owned parcels – let alone to cut down trees on them, grub and grade turning the area into a mud hole, and dump their green waste cleared from other lands.

The cease and desist order also states:

“the BLNR may subject you to fines of not more than $15,000 per violation in addition to administrative costs and costs associated with land and habitat restoration, or both. Should you fail to immediately cease such activity…willful violation may incur an additional fine of up to $15,000 per violation…”

Mahalo to the DLNR for stepping up to enforce the law and protect public trust lands.

More info is at https://www.wailuanui.org

Action steps!

Please sign the petition in support of I Ola Wailuanui and our effort to stop the hotel and provide the long overdue stewardship to these historically and culturally significant lands. https://www.gopetition.com/petitions/wailuanui-petition-opposing-hotel-development.html#sign

Please help support our legal team and basic administrative costs by donating to our 501c3 non-profit https://www.wailuanui.org/donate No amount is too small and all are welcome and much needed!

“When they tell you there’s no money, what they’re really saying is it’s not a priority.”

This my friends who are new to policy and politics is a teachable moment. I’ll never forget the exact day and time I first learned of this ultimate legislative truism from Jeff Mikulina then Chair of the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi, probably 15 years ago.

Numerous reports are predicting a state budget surplus of up to $2 billion this year.

If SB1543 passes successfully through the legislative conference committee process, it will be because leadership in the House and Senate and the “money chairs” of the Senate Ways and Means and House Finance committees believe reducing the influence of money in our election process is a priority.

That is the short of it. SB1543 is based on a proven model used now in several other states. There is no need to “study it further” and there are no real “bugs that still need to be worked out” – the only question is whether or not House/Senate Leadership and the House/Senate “money chairs” believe this public policy initiative is a priority.

If you believe as I do that the time for publicly funded elections is now and passing SB1543 must be a top priority for our state – please share your thoughts with the 4 men who ultimately are responsible for passing this important measure into law, or not.

Time is of the essence. Please take action today, over the weekend – so when they come into their office on Monday morning they are greeted with an abundance of email and phone messages in support of passing SB1543.

Senate President Ron Kouchi – 808-586-6030 senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
WAM Chair Senator Donovan Dela Cruz – 808-586-6090 sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov

House Speaker Scott Saiki – 808-586-6100 repsaiki@capitol.hawaii.gov
House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita – 808-586-6330 repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov

**If you live in their district – your call/email is 100 times more important so please let them know that important fact.

As always, please keep all communications courteous and professional.

Here is an excellent article published today that’s most definitely worth reading.

Hawai‘i ‘clean elections’ bill nears endgame –

LIHU‘E — The state of Hawai‘i could be weeks away from a radical reenvisioning of politics in the state, as a bill to facilitate full public financing of state and county campaigns awaits debate over final changes by the state Legislature.

Senate Bill 1543, if passed, would create an opt-in system for state and local electoral candidates to receive full public financing for electoral campaigns. Its supporters see the bill as a means of promoting “clean elections,” in which candidates can run without the corrupting influence of private donors.

“Senate Bill 1543 is the most significant and extensive public financing bill currently being considered throughout the nation,” said Heather Ferguson, national director of state operations at Common Cause, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group.

In order to qualify for the program, candidates would need to receive a certain number of $5 contributions within their voting district. Candidates seeking higher-ranking positions would need to obtain more of these contributions, but also receive more funds once they successfully opt in.

For example, a candidate for governor would need 6,250 contributions to receive $1,675,000 in funds — whereas a candidate for Kaua‘i County Council would only need 200 contributions to opt into the program, but would only receive $30,000 to spend on their campaign.

While the bill contains thorough descriptions of how the program would operate, a few core details have been intentionally left out.

For one, all mentions of the program’s funding have been left empty. Additionally, the bill is currently written so that it would take effect on June 30, 3000.

Both the lack of funding details and the ludicrous effective date (commonly called a “defective date”) exist to force a “legislative conference,” in which members of the House and Senate convene to make final edits on the bill.

Finance reform advocate and former longtime state legislator Gary Hooser said he believes the primary point of contention is on funding of the program. Supporters of the bill have stated it would cost around $30 million per electoral season to implement.

“Any other discussion about the details on the bill is really just smoke or cover,” Hooser said. “Because what’s being proposed is already done in other states, so it’s not like this is brand new. It’s just going to be all about the money, and whether or not the leaders in the House and the Senate think that this is important.”

While the legislative conference is all but certain, SB 1543’s future remains unclear. Last month, Sen. Karl Rhoads (D-District 13) — who first announced the bill in early January — expressed to The Garden Island a cautious confidence over the bill’s passage.
“I’m sort of guardedly optimistic,” he said. “I think this is a good year for it to happen in terms of the way political stars are aligned, but there’s no guarantees.”

Additionally, Hooser echoed this sentiment to The Garden Island on Thursday.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said. “We’ve had two legislators go to jail in the past year — one Senator, one House member — for accepting bribes. The person they accepted bribes from was a campaign donor. There’s a spotlight on the House and the Senate. People are saying, ‘Do something, prove to us that you want to do what’s right.’ And so I think the mood is ripe for this kind of change.”

In order to keep the bill alive, the legislative chambers must reach an agreement by April 28. If an agreement is met, the conference committees will publish a Conference Draft of the bill, which would go before the full House and Senate for a final vote no later than May 4.

Jackson Healy, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-4966 or jhealy@thegardenisland.com.

“We’re going to close up our hotel and take our business somewhere else where the taxes are lower!” said No Hotel On Kaua‘i Ever.

Ditto for luxury vacation rentals, and so many other property owners who don’t live here, don’t rent to local residents, and can afford to pay more.

So why is our government operating from a mindset of scarcity?

According to a recent TGI story, the County Housing Agency is asking the Council for budget support for more staff to help manage the complaints and inquiries and to prepare a comprehensive plan. Council Chair Mel Rapozo and Council Member Bill De Costa meanwhile are pushing back against that request and instead promoting the notion of “safe zones,” or homeless encampments run and regulated by the county.

Instead of arguing over whose idea is better why not do both?

And then do more.

The lack of basic shelter for our residents, friends, and neighbors should be declared the disaster it is, and we must use every tool available and then go out and get more and use them too.

Hundreds of people are living on the streets, in the bushes, on the beach, and yes – under bridges. We have hundreds more sleeping on couches, in carports, and in cars.

Yes, we need more staffing for our housing agency. And yes, we need to support safe and sanitary temporary encampments in suitable locations – because there’s literally nowhere else for people to go.

I have a friend who works full-time but because of the extreme shortage of rentals, lives in his van. Routinely, he’s awakened in the night by landowners or police and told to move along. He drives to the next side-of-the-road sleeping spot, only to be told again a few hours later – move along. He’s not doing drugs, playing loud music, or partying with friends – he’s just looking for a place to sleep.

We need to do it all folks. We need to develop permanently affordable housing for local residents. We need to support more temporary shelters. We need a place for those sleeping in cars to park for the night. We need mental health services, addiction treatment, basic health and dental care. And our Housing agency needs more staff to help manage and make all this happen.

Don’t tell me we can’t. Don’t whine about how it’s the State or Federal government’s job, or the problem is too big, there’s not enough money, yada, yada, yada.

And please don’t be that ignorant fool at the table bragging about how he worked 3 jobs, how he sacrificed, how he never took handouts, and how he pulled himself up by the bootstraps. If you don’t believe we have a basic human duty to help those less fortunate, just shut the front door (STFD) and take the drivel to your beer buddies outside.

Eugene Tian, Chief Economist for the DBEDT, reported over 40 percent of homes sold on Kaua‘i are purchased by buyers from outside the state.

We have a severe shortage of affordable housing caused by off-island investors buying up the inventory. This is the problem. The solution is building more permanently affordable housing for local residents and taxing off-island investors to pay for it. Yes, other factors must also be addressed but the complete absence of affordable basic shelter is the fundamental problem.

The time for looking away is over. We need to own our responsibility – increase taxes on those who can afford it and don’t live here, then leverage those funds to support the shelters, build the homes, and provide the services.

Trust me. Those hotels will not pack up their bags and move because taxes are too high.

“Today’s discussion is not about taking hits, or shots — nor is it about weed. It’s about power and control.”

I wrote this for today’s Civil Beat and it seems to have struck a chord.
“Hawaii’s House Speaker Has Way, Way Too Much Power”

Enjoy!

Please share with your friends and networks if you feel the content provides value.

Best,

Gary

The game has changed since I last posted a few hours ago.

Our efforts have paid off and SB1543, publicly funded elections, has been scheduled!

Wednesday at 2pm is the day and time. Please submit testimony and help pass the word!

If you live on Oahu please try also to show up at the hearing.

Details and testimony link is on this revised blog post:

SB1543 – game on. Time to double-down. Testimony needed…let’s do this.

Complete info on bill is here:
https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1543&year=2023