Chutzpah in all the wrong places

chutzpah noun(Yiddish) unbelievable gall; insolence; audacity [syn: chutzpa]


Senator Shan Tsutsui wrote a "lecture" in the Viewpoint Section of the MN today about dialogue and compromise being the keys to a successful future for Maui. Now that takes chutzpah! Sissy Shan, hid behind the skirts of Senator Roz Baker and didn't engage in any dialogue about the hospital situation on Maui. Malulani Hospital, the proposed second hospital for Maui, did indeed have widespread community support. Weren't you listening, Shan?
The fact is we have a second class hospital that hasn't had an increase(ok, it got a net one bed increase with the new addition)in beds in years despite a rapidly increasing population and 50,000 visitors on island each day. Heart attack, preemie baby, any serious problem and its on an airplane for us.
This is about money--the hospitals in Honolulu get the benefit of the cash cow hospital on Maui while also getting the sickiest patients with the highest insurance reimbursement. Abolishing the CON(Certificate of Need) would mean real competition which will produce real medical care. Status quo is sick, Shan. Fair question--why would these Senators not support Maui's need? One look at the contributors list and you'll know. The vast majority are from Oahu. In fact, for Roz Baker, the local contributors are a little more than a dozen people. Compromised?
Our masquerading Senators also speak in reverent tones about depriving people in central Maui of their hospital by turning Maui Memorial's antiquated building into a quality long term care facility. They advocate for a long term care facility in Lahaina--which would put Maui's elderly and infirmed far away from their families. Hobson's choice?
Ironically, today Roz Baker is presenting a demonstration of an inflatable hospital--in Lahaina because it would be further political suicide to do it on the South shore!
Shan chooses to use an overwrought cliche "..my way or the highway attitude is not productive"--yet this is exactly what the senatorial triumvirate that is supposed to represent Maui engaged in. No dialogue...and now chutzpah.

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Speaking of triumvirates--those little monkeys--Maui Tomorrrow aka The Dirty Dozen, Sierra Club(same players, different club)and the Kahului Harbor Coalition(both of them) seem to be rolling in dough these days. If they were truly pure of heart, I would expect that they would reveal who their contributors are to this holy war against the Superferry. They have raised sanctimony to an artform. Hear some people are snooping around about those finances.........

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MARIJUANA AND MONEY AND MISC'L

Marijuana game-

Reading the letters to the editor in the Maui News is always good for a chuckle. Still lots of letters whining about illegal B & B and TVR's being treated unfairly. If you substitute marijuana for B & B's in the letters ......."Nobody said I couldn't have a B & B(substitute marijuana here) and even though it is illegal, I should be able to do it."



Money, money money-

Another epistle from Karen Chung, one half of the Kahului Harbor Coalition(the other half is Jeff Parker) that's part of the Superferrry lawsuit, saying that Maui Tomorrow, Sierra Club and her little group aren't getting money from Young Brothers and the airlines to stop the Superferry. I'd sure like to see this group make full disclosure of their donors--then we'd could decide who the interests were behind this stupid lawsuit. Of course, that will never happen because YB won't want them to do it!!! Or is Isaac Hall performing for free?



Maui Community College Forum--

There they were--half the dirty dozen aka Maui Tomorrow--on Channel 4 News holding a forum about the Superferry and nobody came. Ok, maybe eight people in the audience held in a huge classroom. Indicative of community support??????



Something to Cheer about--

Council member Michelle Anderson's "Show Me The Water" bill! So simple it's positively brilliant! Take a bow, Michelle.

Dollars and Dunces

Economics and Eh

Today's currency market says the value of the Canadian dollar and the US Dollar are equal. When "Eh Day", the Monday after Canadian Thanksgiving Day, arrives so will many many Canadians who love Maui and find it even more appealing now that their dollar will go so much further than in the past. We can't grouse as we have had the advantage--monetarily--for a long time! Eh? Welcome Back!



Dunces and Voodoo Economics

Op Ed piece in today's Maui News written by a realtor/appraiser about affordable housing. He claims affordable housing developers are building isn't affordable to most locals. (Who shall determine who is local?)



The irony of this op ed is that realtors on Maui have played a key role in running up the price of affordable housing. How you ask? By buying up any new housing to come on the market before it is even built and then running the prices up for resale. I've heard of one broker who literally purchased every house in a new subdivision. But he's stuck with them now in this down market.

To get affordable housing the author of the op ed says the county has two options: 1) Set aside land for housing under the county's power of eminent domain. Hmmmmmm-The Courts have determined that Eminent Domain is a "taking". When this happens the Courts then determine by appraisal , calculating worth of the seized land based on its "highest and best use". In essence, the County would be paying market prices for the land they "take". So, we the taxpayers would be paying for land which the County would not recover costs, to build affordable housing. A whole new class of subsidies. Not to mention the additional taxes needed to cover this purchase.



His second point 2) require developers of high end properties to give up some land in their projects for affordable homes built by the County of Maui or some other non profit. Really?

Pardon my skepticism...but when has government ever done anything cheaper than the private sector? Once again, this idea is absolutely fraught with voodoo economics that will end up costing the taxpayers(property owners)big bucks.



Affordable housing isn't a new issue. It's been around for generations. Best advice--do what people have done for generations. Work hard, skrimp, save, have a dream and someday it will all come together and you'll own your own moneypit, errr home!

A class act....and Trash

Every state needs a place to dump its trash. For Hawaii, it appears that Kauai is the garbage place. www.kauaiworld.com/news/ has a link to video of the Governor's visit to Kauai last night to talk about the Superferry. Ugly behavior--rude to the Governor and rude to each other. Doesn't matter whether you are for or against the Superferry--civilized discourse is not difficult among civilized intelligent people. Apparently that is impossible for Kauai. Decent people on Kauai should be disgusted! Why haven't they spoken up?

Small minded point of view

Caught just a little bit of Councilmember Michelle Anderson's testimony at the Superferry trial today. Akaku has the worst streaming video! This little ditty came to mind after listening to her testimony. It was embarassing to hear her say 50,000 tourists are welcomed here but the only people coming here from Oahu would be poachers, hookers, crooks and drug dealers. How offensive to the many good residents across our island state.

A Ode written for Councilmember Michelle Anderson

This land is my land, This land is my land

it doesn't belong to the other islands,

go away, don't come, you might stay

if you from Oahu, don't come and play

From across the globe, 50,000 tourist here each day

but if you from Oahu, don't come and stay.

Just for Maui --opihi, aku, campsites and deer,

residents of Oahu not welcome here.

Set up border patrols, put up fences,

whatever it takes to firm our defenses

Hawaii's other island residents won't be welcomed here.

Aloha

The obvious, the idiotic, and temper tantrums

A REAL DUHHHHHHHHH...
A statement about the US Congress that certainly applies to our State Legislature....we, the citizens of the State would be better off if our elected reps took this to heart and implemented.
"In your face contempt on both sides of the aisle for the process has been very destructive for our government. I believe in checks and balances and separation of powers. We are stronger when we're looking for ways to make progress together. I believe in evidence based decision making, not ideological bases." Senator Hillary Clinton in Newsweek interview.

AND NOW FOR THE IDIOTIC...
Letter to editor--9/14/07--written by Bill Stroud--he reports that emu rocks found in trucks waiting to ride on Superferry were "caught in the act of taking"by a DLNR employee. The letter claims takers flashed a business card of the Governor saying she had "given permission" so DLNR officer backed off in fear of his job!
Let's STOP the story right there--if a DLNR employee stopped these rockers, it was probably a DOCAR(the cops of DLNR)officer. Now these guys are Tough and smart too. A business card isn't going to phase these guys.
Let's take it one step further in this idiotic premise. Do you think these poachers stopped by the Guv's office and said we need rocks and can you help? Maybe Stroud and his friend, "who filled him in on the details" ought to test out that theory themselves and drop by the Guv's office for one of those get out of jail free cards. So, the winner of the Most Idiotic Letter of the Week goes to Bill Stroud! It was a tough competition as lack of common sense or accurate information doesn't seem to hold some people back from writing public letters! Bill, "A friend told me" is right up there "with the dog ate my homework".
By the way, the trucks were stuck at the pier because of the TRO stopping the Superferry. They would have been subject to inspection when the Superferry loaded eventually, and would have been prohibited onboard. Guess Bill didn't hear the rumor about Lance Holter and Isaac Hall loading the rocks themselves and the trucks being registered to the Biggest Wazoo Rob Parsons-- :-)

SPEAKING OF ISAAC HALL
A friend told me.....har,har
Isaac Hall, attoney for Plaintiffs in Superferry lawsuit, who apparently has only one shirt and tie for Court appearances--fashion police-- had a giant meltdown snit fit on Thursday afternoon in Court. So bad, the Judge admonished and the next morning Hall apologized to the Court for his behavior but not for his attire.... tskkkk... Maybe he was in a bad mood because YB's check bounced, some observers speculate.

JUST GO AWAY
Leftist Lunatic Congressman Dennis Kucinich arrives on Maui right after appearing on Syrian Television denouncing the war and the US. And guess whose there to embrace him--the Democratic Party of Maui. Yankee go Home!!!

Who is the Big Wazoo?

Ah, life on a small island has its perks, especially if you are fond of honest gossip. Seems "Rob Parsons, former Environmental Coordinator for Mayor Arakawa," as he likes to be referred to in print, is masquerading as Rob Pearson, the piano mover. The name attached to his business is Big Wazoo. A most fitting name for Parson. "Only the names have been changed to protect my important prior title and status" Parson or Pearson might be quoted as saying in response. Perhaps having an alter ego is appropriate for someone who has such a big primary ego.

It is a well known fact that Parson was appointed by the Mayor to this high paying post as a payback for Parson's endorsement in a tight mayoral race. Piano mover Parson garnered an impressive 13% of the vote in the mayoral primary which just about equals the tree hugging community population--a noisy 13%. In all fairness, it should be noted that election day was a day of great surf--resulting in campaign manager/ wife of Parson noting "...we're screwed because of the big surf." Classy.

But I digress... No one seems to know anything about Parson's environmental education or even if he is a high school graduate.......he is a card carrying member of the Sierra Club and the Dirty Dozen, an environmentalist in his own mind. At least, now he's back to an honest job...if you don't count being a "columnist" for one of Maui's junk class, crediability lacking, fish wrapper simulated newspapers.

Back to the crossword puzzle-

Football and hair

It's not enough that Colt Brennan, Quarterback for the Warriors, is the leader in passing, now he's being criticized for his hairstyles. There's been a dramatic change since practice began this summer. I think I have the answer re his hair--do you think his girlfriend may be in beauty school and he is her practice? It began with dark dreadlocks and now he is sporting a blond crewcut with the islands of Hawaii stained onto the haircut. A lot of flack for a 19 year old star quarterbacks hair. Most of the critics?--sportswriters probably are losing their hair!!! Go away!

Aloha Friday

Are we running out of water? With a mandatory cut back of water upcountry and the rest of the island, except Lahaina, on a requested 10% cutback, is this a real problem or another pseudo alarm. Watching the discussion about this issue (Water Resources Comm of Council)on Akaku, it appears that there is reason for significant concern. Geologist testified that there is new water but it is difficult to reach and hard to retain because of terrain. Most people are unaware and figure its just a temporary drought problem. Wrong. Think before you turn on.......

So, the buzz I'm hearing today is about a certain legislator who loves ink(press)--showed up to meet with the Mala Wharf orphans--everybody has ignored their poor little wharf and its in bad shape. Problem is--the wee Scotsman--was a day late. No, not literally--but these Mala orphans had appealed to the Guv and funding has been granted for lots of sorely needed improvements, the least of which is a good dredging. Needless to say the orphans are onto the Scotsman and his self serving motives.

Wow! If you don't read the Hawaii Reporter, this is definitely out of character but true!
http://hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?0780aba7-d62f-4132-9ac9-96347a210556
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A beginning...

Labor Day and very little going on. Used to be this day was the kick off for the next election. Unions put on big luaus for the troops and the politicos came to talk story. Now they skip the luaus and just send money to buy their favorite legislators.

Hot topics around Maui--

If you run an illegal B & B, HOT UNDER THE COLLAR about the County of Maui deciding to actually enforce the laws regarding unlicensed B & B's. The whiny letters to the editor are really funny especially from those New Yorkers who are spending $10,000 a week while living their two weeks in an illegal B & B--which they claim is their right! What about the neighborhood rights, buster? Or how did you like the letter writer who claimed they based their mortgage on income they would get from operating an illegal B & B. Their mortgage lender must be really special--dumber than dirt. No sympathy for this cause. These illegal hoteliers should get legal or shut up and shut down. Maybe they should have to do an EIS........

HOT POTATO AWARD--To Mayor Charmaine Tavares for hanging on to the B & B issue and not letting go! She's proving to be a refreshing change from the County same old same old. Lots of substance.

HOT TO TROT BUT MAYBE NOT is another topic du jour, da Superferry....Judges become traffic engineers, the dirty dozen (bet you can't name more than 12 members of Maui Tomorrow!) win a round in the courts while the people who want the Superferry get zero. Maybe a group should be formed called Maui Today that will ask Young Brothers to stop shipping cars and other stuffs until they have a tough invasive species inspection program, do a traffic study on what happens when the huge Jean Ann arrives with 400 cars on board to unload, and stops mushing through whale rich waters without a whale avoidance policy. Do you think that the big environmental attorney who is representing little Maui Tomorrow might be getting paid some vigorous from YB not to raise those same questions? Heard that whispered around for weeks.
And what's with these people who think Maui is only for Maui? They need to get a life or promise never ever ever to leave their cave in Haiku.

NOT SO HOT--the behavior of the hoodlums on Kauai that greeted the Superferry arrival there. Reports from the front lines say the beer was flowing and the behavior was badddddddd. Takes real guts to beat on a car going into the port with a family inside. SHAME! First night the cops were a no show. Second night the cops showed up and watched the Coast Guard do absolutely nothing to protect the "security zone". SHAME! Those aloha filled film clips showed up on TV news across the country--sure to give a whole new meaning to aloha. Just wait till tourists get a whiff of Kauai's skyrocketing crime rate for crimes against tourist--and that's not counting the Superferry "parties". Also on the pier was the law breaking members of the Kingdom of Attui--which said they were not subject to the laws of the State of Hawaii. And we are encouraged to support the Akaka Bill which would grant the same exemption to all Hawaiians. No thanks--

SO KOOL THEY'RE HOT--the OBon dances across Maui. They're over but there is always next year to see this lovely Japanese tradition. It honors ancestors in a elegant way.

NOT HOT ENOUGH ...YET. Will he or won't he be a candidate for something in the next election cycle? Alan Arakawa is said to be undecided ....unless he gets mad enough.

Always leave them laughing---Kimo got in a fight this morning. He rear ended a car. Other driver, a dwarf, gets out and says to Kimo, "I'm not happy." "Which one are you then?" Kimo replied. That's when the fight broke out.......