The Uncertain Future of Our Environmental Review Laws- SB2818
Submitted by margaretwille on Sat, 03/13/2010 - 6:25amIn previous action, the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment and Water Land and Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, by vote on February 12th, set up a "stakeholder" committee to work on a compromise of the controversial sections of the bill. According to the March 12th combined House Committee, the key sections of the bill were being removed because the stakeholder group has "not completed its work"-- which means the group has not reached any consensus on the proposed changes.
The sections of SB2818, removed from the House version, and continuing to be considered by the stakeholder group, concern:
1) what type of projects should be subject to an environmental review study,
2) what should be the criteria for determining significant impact,
3) how long a study should be considered valid (before a supplemental study can be required).
Update: Charter Commission Supports Land Fund at 1% Minimum
Submitted by margaretwille on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 7:57pmSEE WEST HAWAII TODAY FRONT PAGE ARTICLE -- PAGES ATTACHED BELOW.
MY WRITTEN TESTIMONY IS ALSO ATTACHED BELOW.
Critical Vote on Land Fund Charter Amendment: 3/12 Charter [Revision] Commission Hearing
Submitted by margaretwille on Thu, 03/11/2010 - 6:17amOnly a few proposed
amendments remain to be voted upon by the Charter [Revision] Commission. One of
the remaining proposed amendments is CA-15 The Land Fund. The purpose of the “Land Fund” is to
dedicate funds to be used to acquire public land including for
preservation of our cultural and natural resources, trails, and public recreation. The question of the moment
is: what should be the minimum level of funding based on real property
taxes received each fiscal year:
2%? 1%? 0.5%?
The electorate voted, by a sizeable majority, for an annual 2% allocation. Since then the Kenoi
administration has sought to reduce this funding by deferring further deposits
for at least this budget cycle. Mayor Kenio has also requested that if the Commission does recommend inclusion of the Land Fund in the Charter, that the minimum
dedicated each year should be 0.5% of real property taxes
collected, and no higher.
At its initial vote on this proposed amendment, the Commission went along with the Administration’s 0.5%
minimum allocation recommendation. Not
surprisingly residents from around County then raised their voices in opposition –
arguing that the Commission should support the vote of the people and therefore
fix the allocation at 2% not 0.5%.
Now at its March 12th
meeting the Commission will consider a “compromise” Draft 3 of Charter
Amendment 15 – with an annual allocation
of 1%.
Environmental Legislation SB2818: Center of Attention Today 3/9 and Again This Thursday
Submitted by margaretwille on Wed, 03/10/2010 - 8:49pm
Respect Our Aina and Support State Legislation Limiting the Use of Plastic Bags
Submitted by margaretwille on Mon, 03/08/2010 - 1:48pmRecently our County Council Chair J Yoshimoto failed "leadership 101" when he and others on the Council refused to pass proposed legislation that would have banned the use of check-out plastic bags on this island. Many of us saw this legislation as an opportunity to impose upon ourselves a higher level of respect for the aina -- a united "together we can" effort. Others, unfortunately who do not see themselves "connected to the land", responded to this legislation simplistically in the old school view of "them" telling independent "us" what to do.
Now legislation to limit the use of plastic bags is moving through the state legislature: SB 2559 SD2. The bill was approved by the Senate and tomorrow 3/9 goes before the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee. SEE Status report SB2559SD2 HD1 HERE. Read more about this legislation in today's Honolulu Advertiser HERE.
On a windy day last weekend, plastic bags were flying out of the Waimea dump across cattle pasture and towards the ocean.

Tired of Hearing Anti-Union Chatter From Our Divisive Governor Lingle Whose Anti-Middle Class Attitude Is Harming Our Economy
Submitted by margaretwille on Sun, 03/07/2010 - 8:47pm
There
are problems with the unions in Hawaii – such as excessive banking of vacation
and sick days paid off in a big lump sum at retirement, lack of flexibility in
job definitions, “bumping” of better qualified folks to accommodate less
qualified employees, and so it appears the HSTA has a fear of Charter schools,
and therefore unfortunately has opposed new Charter Schools. Thursday night at the WCA meeting: Taking On the Planning Department
Submitted by margaretwille on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:29pm-- it will be the Planning Department staff (not the Action Committee) that determines whether development is consistent with the relevant CDP;
-- it is not for the Action Committee to review and comment on any proposed development--unless the Planning Director requests that of the Committee;
-- the Sunshine law prevents the Committee members from talking among themselves and generally prevents them from speaking in any public forum [At a previous meeting Deputy Corporation Counsel explained that in this way that would not have a disportionate impact on whatever board they were speaking before. However, in my opinion, this reasoning has nothing to do with Sunshine Law policies and everything to do with deterring freedom of expression.];
--it is up to the Planning Commission to decide whether to heed the CDP --even when the CDP provision contains the word "shall".
Then members of the Committee and the Waimea public chimed in -- making clear they were not accepting this subordinate role to the Planning Department -- at least not rolling over in the aisles like a bunch of marshmallows.
Members of the Action Committee introduced by WCA chair Sherm Warner:
Waimea Planning & Design Review Comm./Review of Planning Commission's Parker School Decision to Disregard Community Agreement
Submitted by margaretwille on Thu, 03/04/2010 - 1:59pmRe: Approval of Parker School’s Use Permit Application Without Inclusion of the "Community Agreement". Numerous expressions of anger towards the County and its disregard for the Community Agreement that had been negotiated by myself and Carl Sturges, Parker School’s headmaster. Carl was present and said he understood the concern was with the County but assured the group he, as headmaster of Parker School, would honor the Community Agreement -which would impose additional conditions in the Use Permit to increase the school enrollment on its Kapiolani Street campus. Carl plans to write a letter to the Waimea Community Association stating that the school will abide by the Community agreement -- even if not required by the County to do so. He said he had spoken on behalf of the School at the Planning Commission meeting and Parker School accepted the Community Agreement. Everyone present appreciated this moral commitment from Carl, but believed the County was remiss in not including this Agreement in the Use Permit Amendment -- as a legal commitment. [Instead, on the advise of Corporation Counsel, the Planning Commission said it could not include the additional conditions agreed to by Carl Sturges because this was a "third party" contract. Hah!]
There was consensus among those present that what the County did was wrong and with two exceptions, there was agreement that the only way to make the county accountable was to take some legal action. The group generally agreed that otherwise this type of response from the County, including its disregard for the CDPs was likely to continue.
The CDP Action Committees Marginalized
Submitted by margaretwille on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 10:42pm
Support Obama and His Supporters With a Vengeance -or- Face the Horror of the Return of Bush-Cheney-Rove Style Politics
Submitted by margaretwille on Sun, 02/28/2010 - 4:06pmUnfortunately the swamp of BUSH-CHENEY-ROVE political quagmires continues to erode his progress -- the politically stacked Supreme Court, all of the embeded Bush cronies in the Administration, not to mention all of the "bought" legislators in Congress, and the almost complete elitest control of mainstream media, has rendered any progress a formidable and uncertain task. But consider what hell of continued terror we would be part of, had he not won.
Clearly in the 2010 election, without relentless support for "good guys" who care about more than what is best for their own elite special interests, we will watch in horror as those who have been systematically coalescing power for the "choosen few" are elected to enough legislative seats to destroy the possibility of any future Obama achievements. The reason this will occur: complacency on our part.
Think about it. We need to support Obama and his allies WITH A VENGEANCE.
If you don't understand why this is so important watch this video.



^A melodious thrush and some other residents from Waimea
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