Roz just doesn't listen
Senator Roz Baker voted against the Superferry after being quoted in the MN as supporting the Superferry. She claimed, in a statement on the Senate floor, that her constituents didn't support the Superferry - therefore she couldn't vote for it. Too bad Roz didn't see things the same way in regards to a new hospital in Kihei. Thousands upon thousands of people, i.e. her "constituents," supported abolishing the CON to allow a new hospital to be built. Roz voted against those people. It will be interesting to see Roz's next spending report perhaps Young Bros. sweetened her campaign pot. In the next election those thousands of constituents to whom she has failed to listen may choose sweeten her opponent's campaign pot. Strike two...Time for a change!
A whale of an ego
Greg Kaufmann, self-proclaimed Whale Expert, testified before the Legislature at length, in what could be described as "All About Everything." Kaufmann really needs the Superferry, because it is the only public boat in the state large enough to haul his ego between islands. Kaufmann hasn't done whale research in the state of Hawaii since he lost his scientific research license in 1990. His Pacific Whale Foundation boats have struck more whales than any others in the state. Take a hike, Greg, and take your whale-chasing boats with you.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
29 Reasons .........
http://starbulletin.com/2007/10/19/news/story01.html You have to read the 29 conditions that Isaac Hall and the Dirty Dozen are suggesting be adopted by the Legislature and applied to the Superferry. You can read them at the above link. The entire list is pure garbage and it smacks of Gestapo tactics.
For example, they want Superferry to wash and vacuum each vehicle . They want inspections of engine compartments, trunks, vehicle interiors. They want every cooler, container, purses, pockets and all luggage to be opened and thoroughly inspected. They want drug sniffing dogs and dogs that sniff out agricultural products. You have to read the "rules" to see the ruse. Oh, and they (the Dirty Dozen) want to be able to observe this process whenever they want to without notice. Just think, you could have Dick Meyer rummaging through your suitcases because he is an environmentalist. Gimmmmmmmeeeee a break!!!!
By comparison, right across the fence in the Kahului Harbor, Young Brothers unloads dirty vehicles--500+ at a time as well as construction equipment--big dozers, backhoes, etc dirty with seeds and insects from working open land. We have coqui frogs, stinging caterpillars, invasive alien species here courtesy of Young Brothers. Drugs come in in less than container loads--safe because YB is without requirements for drug sniffing dogs. Just those scary Christmas trees and some fresh flowers are eligible for inspection. "Olly, Olly oxen free" for the rest!
Why hasn't Isaac Hall sent the same list to Young Brothers? YB has created a HUGE problem here and yet are never challenged. Tomorrow YB will initiate a new rate increase--15% increase for less than container load--our farmers use that service to get their products to market. The Superferry would give them cheaper and faster methods to get their crops to market. But I digress---Young Brothers has been left alone because all signs point to the fact that they are bankrolling this effort by the Dirty Dozen.
Bottom line: If Maui Tomorrow, Sierra Club and those two little twerps that call themselves the Kahului Harbor Coalition really cared about Maui, they would have sued the daylights out of Young Brothers years ago for being Maui's Typhoid Mary. We wouldn't be faced with all the invasive crap that they have been paid handsomely to haul in. They didn't and that makes them frauds!
How much longer are those "guardians" of the aina going to ignore the elephant on the front porch?
For example, they want Superferry to wash and vacuum each vehicle . They want inspections of engine compartments, trunks, vehicle interiors. They want every cooler, container, purses, pockets and all luggage to be opened and thoroughly inspected. They want drug sniffing dogs and dogs that sniff out agricultural products. You have to read the "rules" to see the ruse. Oh, and they (the Dirty Dozen) want to be able to observe this process whenever they want to without notice. Just think, you could have Dick Meyer rummaging through your suitcases because he is an environmentalist. Gimmmmmmmeeeee a break!!!!
By comparison, right across the fence in the Kahului Harbor, Young Brothers unloads dirty vehicles--500+ at a time as well as construction equipment--big dozers, backhoes, etc dirty with seeds and insects from working open land. We have coqui frogs, stinging caterpillars, invasive alien species here courtesy of Young Brothers. Drugs come in in less than container loads--safe because YB is without requirements for drug sniffing dogs. Just those scary Christmas trees and some fresh flowers are eligible for inspection. "Olly, Olly oxen free" for the rest!
Why hasn't Isaac Hall sent the same list to Young Brothers? YB has created a HUGE problem here and yet are never challenged. Tomorrow YB will initiate a new rate increase--15% increase for less than container load--our farmers use that service to get their products to market. The Superferry would give them cheaper and faster methods to get their crops to market. But I digress---Young Brothers has been left alone because all signs point to the fact that they are bankrolling this effort by the Dirty Dozen.
Bottom line: If Maui Tomorrow, Sierra Club and those two little twerps that call themselves the Kahului Harbor Coalition really cared about Maui, they would have sued the daylights out of Young Brothers years ago for being Maui's Typhoid Mary. We wouldn't be faced with all the invasive crap that they have been paid handsomely to haul in. They didn't and that makes them frauds!
How much longer are those "guardians" of the aina going to ignore the elephant on the front porch?
Friday, October 19, 2007
this and that .....
Regarding the Mayor
I keep reading these letters to the editor in the MN referring to a website where Mayor Tavares is saying she wouldn't shut down vacation rentals. This statement was made several years ago.
I can't help but believe this statement was made based on the situation at the time. Since then there has been a huge increase in illegal vacation rentals. But all that aside, don't these letter writers realize that it is possible to have a change of mind?
Regarding the Superferry
Looks like Maui is going to get yet another round of meetings re the Superferry. If the first round is any indication, people who turn out to these meetings and speak in favor of the Superferry will be booed and shouted down. Civil discourse is not in the repertoires of the "environmentalists". The last public meeting here was set up by Senator English and only the environmental community was notified.
One of the conditions being suggested for the Superferry by Maui Tomorow's Dirty Dozen is that the ferry not be allowed to go any faster than 15 mph during whale season. Would that also apply to the whale watching boats who cruise the whale birthing bay--Maalaea? How about the barges? cruise ships? Let's slow everybody down to protect the whales.
Kudos to the Guv who has stuck by her guns on this whole issue. It will have devastating effects on the already gloomy business climate Hawaii is noted for having if Superferry is killed now. The Legislatures cheesy answer is "we're going to audit"..... This is the same legislature that conducts public business behind close doors in back rooms. They require all other public business across the state to be subject to open meeting rules except themselves. A collection of frauds!!!
Regarding this blog
It would be nice if there was something more than Superferry, TVR's and B& B's to talk about....
What do you hear out there?
I keep reading these letters to the editor in the MN referring to a website where Mayor Tavares is saying she wouldn't shut down vacation rentals. This statement was made several years ago.
I can't help but believe this statement was made based on the situation at the time. Since then there has been a huge increase in illegal vacation rentals. But all that aside, don't these letter writers realize that it is possible to have a change of mind?
Regarding the Superferry
Looks like Maui is going to get yet another round of meetings re the Superferry. If the first round is any indication, people who turn out to these meetings and speak in favor of the Superferry will be booed and shouted down. Civil discourse is not in the repertoires of the "environmentalists". The last public meeting here was set up by Senator English and only the environmental community was notified.
One of the conditions being suggested for the Superferry by Maui Tomorow's Dirty Dozen is that the ferry not be allowed to go any faster than 15 mph during whale season. Would that also apply to the whale watching boats who cruise the whale birthing bay--Maalaea? How about the barges? cruise ships? Let's slow everybody down to protect the whales.
Kudos to the Guv who has stuck by her guns on this whole issue. It will have devastating effects on the already gloomy business climate Hawaii is noted for having if Superferry is killed now. The Legislatures cheesy answer is "we're going to audit"..... This is the same legislature that conducts public business behind close doors in back rooms. They require all other public business across the state to be subject to open meeting rules except themselves. A collection of frauds!!!
Regarding this blog
It would be nice if there was something more than Superferry, TVR's and B& B's to talk about....
What do you hear out there?
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Oh what to do...........
State Legislature and Superferry
It appears the State Legislature is headed for a special session re the Superferry. Here's the dilemma--somebody has got to fix the problem created by the Supreme's late ruling. (Come on, guys --you had two years to rule on this but you waited until the 11th hour!) The finger pointing has already begun but the bottom line is this; Superferry officials did what they were told to do by the State DOT. Now they could be out a gazillon bucks and those investors are going to want to sue--the State of Hawaii.
While this could be a simple equation, its been complicated by the fact that many voters want the Superferry, especially on Oahu where the majority of legislators are elected to represent Oahu. (Did you see the poll from the Advertiser?)So, looks like reps listen to their voters who support the Superferry....or not, and possibly pay the consequences.
Of course, on Maui, the two stooges and the stoogette, aka our Senators face the same dilemma--a split community. Perhaps they will decide to stonewall, just as they did on the hospital issue here, by suggesting they have another solution and will form a committee that will study it, report findings and have them filed and never acted on. If they do that again, hopefully they will be out of office by the time the study is finished.
These Senators have another problem--almost all of their campaign contribution dollars come from Oahu - the same place there is tremendous support for the Superferry.
Our House reps are either silent or tiptoeing around the issue.
WELCOME BACK WHALES
Front page photo in the Maui News shows the first whale of the season off Lanai. Was that a zoomed photo shoot or was that boat way closer than the law allows? Shocked? Oh, grow up!
I've been reading about other places that whale watching is popular. They have regulations that only allow tour boats to stay in the area of active whale pods for 10 minutes and only three boats at a time. Poor whales get chased down by tour boats all season long including Pacific Whale Foundation boats! Coast Guard doesn't patrol so who's to know. Tourist on those boats aren't going to protest because they get their up close and personal with the whales.
It appears the State Legislature is headed for a special session re the Superferry. Here's the dilemma--somebody has got to fix the problem created by the Supreme's late ruling. (Come on, guys --you had two years to rule on this but you waited until the 11th hour!) The finger pointing has already begun but the bottom line is this; Superferry officials did what they were told to do by the State DOT. Now they could be out a gazillon bucks and those investors are going to want to sue--the State of Hawaii.
While this could be a simple equation, its been complicated by the fact that many voters want the Superferry, especially on Oahu where the majority of legislators are elected to represent Oahu. (Did you see the poll from the Advertiser?)So, looks like reps listen to their voters who support the Superferry....or not, and possibly pay the consequences.
Of course, on Maui, the two stooges and the stoogette, aka our Senators face the same dilemma--a split community. Perhaps they will decide to stonewall, just as they did on the hospital issue here, by suggesting they have another solution and will form a committee that will study it, report findings and have them filed and never acted on. If they do that again, hopefully they will be out of office by the time the study is finished.
These Senators have another problem--almost all of their campaign contribution dollars come from Oahu - the same place there is tremendous support for the Superferry.
Our House reps are either silent or tiptoeing around the issue.
WELCOME BACK WHALES
Front page photo in the Maui News shows the first whale of the season off Lanai. Was that a zoomed photo shoot or was that boat way closer than the law allows? Shocked? Oh, grow up!
I've been reading about other places that whale watching is popular. They have regulations that only allow tour boats to stay in the area of active whale pods for 10 minutes and only three boats at a time. Poor whales get chased down by tour boats all season long including Pacific Whale Foundation boats! Coast Guard doesn't patrol so who's to know. Tourist on those boats aren't going to protest because they get their up close and personal with the whales.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Realtors and Back room deals..just say no!
And now a word from your realtors....
Did you spot the big expensive ad in Sunday's Maui News by the Realtors Association of Maui, re vacation rentals? Every realtor who has uttered those famous words "..you could rent out the extra bedrooms for a lot of money and it would help make your mortgage payment." Or the ever popular "You can do short term vacation rentals on your future retirement home here to make the mortgage payment." Of course, those statements were never followed with words like, you need a permit, or that use is illegal in this zone. Now with the county finally enforcing the law, lots of those realtors are going to be sued for failure to disclose, aka fraud. Realtors are a lot like lawyers--moral neuters if there is a possibility of a commission. Well, perhaps that's a bit harsh--there are a few good apples left in that barrel. At the Planning Commission hearing that realtors are being urged to attend--one could clear the room by shouting.."Look! There's a qualified buyer!"
A whole new way to govern
Ex Mayor Alan Arakawa had yet another viewpoint Sunday--apparently failing to read chapter 7 in the "How to Be a Great Statesmen after the Fall". He writes that "while I was a council member and chairman of the Land Use Committee, the council members, including now Mayor Tavares, requested that I meet with then Mayor Apana, the Planning Department and representatives of Maui Vacation Rental Association. An agreement was forged at that meeting to suspend enforcement of the outdated regulations until the County Council could complete its vacation rental ordinance. The county gave written assurances to the Maui Vacation Rental Assoc and the council agreed to work on a new ordinance with the MVRA and the public. When an agreement is made, I believe in honoring that agreement."
What's wrong here? Since when are laws suspended behind closed doors with an organization that wants the rules changed? That's old boy politics! Just a paragraph later Arakawa states that creating and writing legislation is the responsibility of the council. Yet rules and regulations were suspended by this little band of schemers, not in a public hearing before the Council. Was the Corporation Counsel party to these activities? Now 6 years later that "agreement", never adopted by formal Council action, is resulting in a lawsuit which will cost the taxpayers more money. And by the way, the Council recently attempted a new ordinance and it never got out of the gate because in reality the Maui Vacation Rental Asociation really doesn't want an ordinance--they like the free wheeling , no holds barred, hell with the neighbors current approach that has been in effect since that back room deal.
The Planning Department has a proposed ordinance that updates the rules regarding TVR's and B & B's. It is practical and preserves our neighborhoods. On first reading it appears to be fair and equitable.
The absentee owners operating Transient Vacation Rentals and the North Shore B & B operators have blasted the Mayor and Planning Director for months. It is clearly obvious that Mayor Tavares is on the right track and is doing it in a legal and lawful manner. No back room deals for this Mayor. New woman politics!!! When these new ordinances arrive at the Council, hopefully each will garner the full support of the Council, (pleeeeze no political pandering to this rowdy group)and this issue will just go away. And Alan can go back to playing chess on a board instead of in the newspaper........
And so it goes......
Did you spot the big expensive ad in Sunday's Maui News by the Realtors Association of Maui, re vacation rentals? Every realtor who has uttered those famous words "..you could rent out the extra bedrooms for a lot of money and it would help make your mortgage payment." Or the ever popular "You can do short term vacation rentals on your future retirement home here to make the mortgage payment." Of course, those statements were never followed with words like, you need a permit, or that use is illegal in this zone. Now with the county finally enforcing the law, lots of those realtors are going to be sued for failure to disclose, aka fraud. Realtors are a lot like lawyers--moral neuters if there is a possibility of a commission. Well, perhaps that's a bit harsh--there are a few good apples left in that barrel. At the Planning Commission hearing that realtors are being urged to attend--one could clear the room by shouting.."Look! There's a qualified buyer!"
A whole new way to govern
Ex Mayor Alan Arakawa had yet another viewpoint Sunday--apparently failing to read chapter 7 in the "How to Be a Great Statesmen after the Fall". He writes that "while I was a council member and chairman of the Land Use Committee, the council members, including now Mayor Tavares, requested that I meet with then Mayor Apana, the Planning Department and representatives of Maui Vacation Rental Association. An agreement was forged at that meeting to suspend enforcement of the outdated regulations until the County Council could complete its vacation rental ordinance. The county gave written assurances to the Maui Vacation Rental Assoc and the council agreed to work on a new ordinance with the MVRA and the public. When an agreement is made, I believe in honoring that agreement."
What's wrong here? Since when are laws suspended behind closed doors with an organization that wants the rules changed? That's old boy politics! Just a paragraph later Arakawa states that creating and writing legislation is the responsibility of the council. Yet rules and regulations were suspended by this little band of schemers, not in a public hearing before the Council. Was the Corporation Counsel party to these activities? Now 6 years later that "agreement", never adopted by formal Council action, is resulting in a lawsuit which will cost the taxpayers more money. And by the way, the Council recently attempted a new ordinance and it never got out of the gate because in reality the Maui Vacation Rental Asociation really doesn't want an ordinance--they like the free wheeling , no holds barred, hell with the neighbors current approach that has been in effect since that back room deal.
The Planning Department has a proposed ordinance that updates the rules regarding TVR's and B & B's. It is practical and preserves our neighborhoods. On first reading it appears to be fair and equitable.
The absentee owners operating Transient Vacation Rentals and the North Shore B & B operators have blasted the Mayor and Planning Director for months. It is clearly obvious that Mayor Tavares is on the right track and is doing it in a legal and lawful manner. No back room deals for this Mayor. New woman politics!!! When these new ordinances arrive at the Council, hopefully each will garner the full support of the Council, (pleeeeze no political pandering to this rowdy group)and this issue will just go away. And Alan can go back to playing chess on a board instead of in the newspaper........
And so it goes......
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Guess who came back to Court today!
Re the replacement of reporter Harry Eager at Superferry hearings as reported to you loyal readers---Harry was back in Court today. Kudos to the Maui News for not succumbing to pressure from IH.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
On freedom of the Press......NOT
Not letting that pesky First Amendment regarding freedom of the press get in his way, I have it on good authority that Maui News Reporter Harry Eager, and his coverage of the Superferry trial, were the subject of attorney Isaac Hall's latest tantrum with the paper's management. Nothing Isaac hates more than an unbiased reporter. A day or two later, Claudine San Nicolas replaced Harry in the courtroom. It appears that Claudine is without bias as well. Thank goodness. Give readers the facts and let them make their own decisions.
Thanks to the little mouse who whispered in my ear about this--it checked out--
so keeeeepppp listening and telling.
Thanks to the little mouse who whispered in my ear about this--it checked out--
so keeeeepppp listening and telling.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Are you a deep throat at heart?
Got a hot rumor but haven't got substantiation? Share it with Lawe and it will be checked out! Don't be bashful---use the anonymous response if you're nervous. Share good stuff and you'll be given creditability stars. Share rotten leads and you'll be history!
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