Honolulu City Budget close to be approved

Leave a reply

The yearly ritual of city budget hearings – OPERATING PROGRAM and BUDGET and CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM and BUDGET – began in March and will finalize by June.

Cities fall or city flourish on its budgetary health. Generally, the American public is not too enthusiastic with mathematics. Not much is questioned or vetted by the public.

Usually, there is hardly any outside attention on this 3-month review and approval process even though this is the fundamental infrastructure that keeps City Hall alive. This budget process is usually an in-house affair.

However, this year brings a lot of attention to the City Council’s 64% salary increase. Many in the public have submitted opposing testimony. Unfortunately, they have been told the issue is not on the agenda. The salary increase will become automatic come July 1, 2023 if the City Council does not question the Honolulu Salary Commission’s recommendation.

Department Directors or Deputy Directors present their annual budgets before the City Council Budget Committee. These proposals are voted upon by the entire council with three Readings and adopted.

Public residents who are particularly interested in obtaining funding for their special project may also advocate for their own. This year, I find it sad to watch a constituent from Waianae having to lobby hard for a public restroom! That should be a basic amenity for our communities.

The most significant chunk of the budget involves 22.96% is for Retirement and Pension Contributions. You can see more specific details on page 47 in this budget submission.

The debt service for the city is 19.26% – page 12.

Note also the Federal Funds too on the bottom of Page 1

Look for “planning and design” costs. It’s the basis for just about every proposed project. Whether a project is successfully completed or come to fruition or not, “planning and design” contracts are a basic initial requirement with many consultants involved.

For this year’s budget, there is a new $500,000 to plan and design a landfill on Oahu. But everything is still under wraps as to where the landfill site is going to be located. This landfill location search has a long history.

Fire stations are also a staple budget item yearly. There are new fire stations being built to replace older ones. It’s usually a new built and not a renovation project.

For example: In 2020, The Waialua fire station relocation was reported by KHON2:

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) announced today that the department acquired a new property, which will be the future site of the Waialua Fire Station.

The property was acquired from the Dole Food Company, Inc. and the sale is scheduled to close Friday, April 17. The property is located on Lot 463 at the corner of Waialua Beach Road and Goodale Avenue.

The new fire station will occupy more than 5.3 acres of land at a cost of $1,330,000. The acquisition commenced in July 2019 and took approximately 10 months to complete. The new fire station will replace the present Waialua Fire Station, which was built in 1933 and is located at 66-420 Haleʻiwa Road.”

But in 2023, KHON2 reported : “But in January 2022, HFD’s new administration realized the land was in a tsunami evacuation zone.

“There was an oversight on that property, basically it’s in a tsunami zone so we can’t build a fire station on that property,” said Acting Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Mokulehua.

“My first concern I guess is what you call oversight I call a lack of accountability and what will prevent that from the next place,” said a North Shore resident.”

The city budget has a long list of items. I’m not sure how much adoption is based on affinity trust or status quo or if there ever is a scalpel action to any of the requests with neutral vetting with priorities, needs, and wants.

The only public citizen that I know of who has been doggedly looking over the budget items is CPA and a Certified Fraud Examiner Natalie Iwasa. Even then, her concerns are usually not taken into consideration.

Take a look at the budget. Flip through them. What do you think of the priorities? How much is spent on other areas? What about the Honolulu Rapid Transit expenses?

What about housing? Is it time for the city to define what affordable housing is? Who is the affordable housing for? How affordable is affordable? Those were the questions I posed in to the council.

What about road maintenance? With all the millions of dollars that have been poured into roadwork, shouldn’t the city ask for a work warranty from the contractors? That was my question posed to at one of the budget hearings.

Andrew T. Kawano, Director of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, at 768-3901. He has a very set fiscal philosophy. It continues to be tax and spend. Obviously his appointed position is to echo the Blangiardi Administration. Unfortunately, there is no appearance of a willingness to cut out any pork and insist on a lean spending.

Fooling Around with ChatGPT

Leave a reply

We’ve been talking about and using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for quite a while. But this year is its major introduction to the public in a big way.

I finally opened an account today using a new gmail account because I’m not sure how intrusive this account may become. I also provided an alternate birthdate.

It’s impressive how AI can churn out information and responses in such speed. We know AI is the computerized gathering of data. But it’s still really impressive to me. It sounds like a human being even though it’s an artificial intelligence gathering data and then churning it all out in lightning speed. The artificial intelligence even can differentiate implications between a “work horse” versus a “show horse”. Some human beings can’t even do that.

Here is my first conversation. I’m teasing.

I agree with my husband’s philosophy about trucks. This PhD in Applied Linguistics professor emeritus has many varied interests. He enjoys farming and tinkering and repairing things. He lets the heavens wash his truck. I sometimes tease him that one of these days I’m going to put up a sign on the truck that says, ” Please steal me.”
User

Aloha! My husband and I have been married for 40 years. He has the habit of buying old trucks and then run each one of these trucks into the ground. He will then repeat this cycle. He says that he doesn’t need a “show horse” but a “work horse” for his farm truck.

ChatGPT

Aloha! It sounds like your husband has a specific preference when it comes to his choice of trucks. While some people prefer having newer vehicles or “show horses,” he seems to prioritize functionality and reliability by opting for older trucks that can withstand the demands of farm work.

There can be benefits to this approach. Older trucks often have simpler mechanical systems, making them easier and cheaper to maintain and repair. They may also have fewer electronic components, which can be advantageous in rugged farm environments where the risk of damage or malfunction is higher. Additionally, older trucks may have a more rugged design and be better suited for off-road or heavy-duty tasks.

However, it’s important to consider the potential downsides as well. Older trucks may be less fuel-efficient, emit more pollutants, and lack modern safety features found in newer vehicles. They might also require more frequent repairs and maintenance, which could add up in terms of time and money spent.

Ultimately, the decision to prioritize function over aesthetics is a personal one. As long as your husband’s trucks serve their intended purpose effectively and safely, his preference for “work horses” seems reasonable. It might be worth discussing any concerns you have about safety or environmental impact with him, and finding a balance that works for both of you.

User

Aloha. His ugly truck leaks oil on the driveway. I would like to solve this problem once and for all. I’m wondering which is the best solution: Get rid of my husband of 40 years or get rid of his very old truck.

ChatGPT

I’m sorry to hear that the oil leak from your husband’s truck is causing frustration. It’s important to approach this situation with understanding and open communication, rather than considering extreme measures like ending a long-term relationship. Here are some alternative suggestions to address the issue:

  1. Encourage maintenance and repairs: Discuss with your husband the importance of regular maintenance and repairs to address the oil leak. Sometimes, fixing a simple issue can significantly reduce or eliminate leaks. Offer support in finding a reliable mechanic or even learning some basic maintenance skills together.
  2. Seek professional help: If the oil leak persists despite attempts at repair, consider consulting with a professional mechanic or automotive expert. They may be able to identify the root cause of the leak and suggest appropriate solutions. It’s possible that a specific part needs to be replaced or that there are underlying issues that require attention.
  3. Explore eco-friendly alternatives: If the oil leak continues to be a concern and the truck is no longer meeting your needs, you can have a conversation with your husband about the possibility of considering a more eco-friendly alternative for the farm truck. This could involve exploring options like newer trucks with better fuel efficiency and reduced emissions or even considering electric vehicles if they are suitable for your farm needs.

Remember, relationships are built on understanding and compromise. Openly communicating your concerns and seeking mutually beneficial solutions will likely lead to a more positive outcome than contemplating drastic actions.

User

So, you think my husband of 40 years is more valuable than the old truck?

ChatGPT

I apologize if my previous response seemed dismissive or gave that impression. The value of any relationship, especially one spanning 40 years, is significant and should not be easily discarded. Relationships are built on love, commitment, shared experiences, and a deep understanding of each other. They are often more important and valuable than material possessions.

In suggesting alternative solutions, my intention was to focus on finding a middle ground that addresses the issue at hand while preserving the relationship. It’s important to approach problems within a relationship with empathy and open communication, seeking compromise and understanding.

If the oil leak from the truck is causing significant issues and concerns, it would be helpful to have a conversation with your husband about finding a resolution that works for both of you. Discuss the impact the oil leak has on your daily life and the potential risks it poses. Together, you can explore possible solutions that may involve repairs, seeking professional help, or considering alternatives.

Remember, the goal is to find a solution that addresses the issue without sacrificing the valuable bond you share. Relationships require effort, understanding, and compromise, and it’s essential to approach any problem-solving with love and respect for one another.

User

I’m writing to you in jest. This is my first effort to participate in this ChatGPT.

ChatGPT

Ah, I see! Thank you for clarifying that. It’s great to have a lighthearted and playful conversation. Feel free to ask any other questions or share any other topics you’d like to discuss. I’m here to help and engage in a friendly conversation.

User

Take care. I hope you will have some breaks to take a few power naps.

ChatGPT

Thank you for your consideration! As an AI, I don’t require physical rest or naps, but I appreciate your kind wishes. I’m here 24/7 to assist you whenever you need. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out. Take care!

Witty!

Leave a reply

Social media can’t be all that bad. this is funny. Potholes are every where here in Hawaii.

It’s a mystery why we spend millions of dollars each year and we continue to have such problems. Mind you, we don’t even have to deal with snow or de-icing.

It I have my rathers, I would insist that there are warranties to these jobs. Companies must be confident enough of their work to provide a 5-year warranty. If there are potholes, the company has to fix their work within a week at its own expense.

Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters is stonewalling

Leave a reply

There have been a lot of complaints on social media and at the Salary Commission Hearing about the 64% pay raise for the Honolulu City Council.

Honolulu City Council Chair has not scheduled the two existing Resolutions to reject the Salary Commission’s pay increases entirely or in part.

But it appears Chair Tommy Waters is going to deny the public for a City Council hearing and do nothing about their complaints. If the City Council does not adopt a Resolution to refute or reject or redo the salary figures, the recommended increases will automatically become in effect come July 1, 2023.

This is from KHON2.

The Salary Commission adopted these schedule of salaries listed for the upcoming fiscal year:

  • Honolulu mayor: $209,856 
  • Council chair: $123,292 
  • Council members: $113,292
  • Prosecuting attorney: $198,888
  • First deputy prosecuting attorney: $189,096
  • Managing director: $200,712
  • Deputy managing director: $190,296
  • Corporation council: $192,864
  • First deputy corporation council: $183,220
  • Deputy heads: $187,488
  • Deputy department heads: $177,888
  • Police chief: $231,648
  • Deputy police chiefs: $220,944
  • Fire chief: $224,304
  • Deputy fire chief: $213,912
  • Medical examiner: $363,151
  • Deputy medical examiner: $354,161
  • Band director: $177,888

During the hearing before the recommendations were decided these testimonies were said:

“To actually give councilmembers who are at the office three times a week at the most a lot of them — a 90% pay increase? It’s just ignorance in my opinion and I cannot see that happening,” testified Alfred Medeiros.

“Every day citizens never receive 100% pay increases that’s beyond greedy. It makes you look very corrupt,” testified Jasmine Torres.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also testified at the Salary Commission:

“They took pay cuts and they stepped up to the plate at a time when most people didn’t even want to think about what was going to happen,” said Blangiardi. “This was courageous on their part. I’ve been so humbled and inspired by them, and the work that they put in.”

The Mayor’s Managing Director Mike Formby also testified:

“I think those people deserve a right to move into leadership roles but they’re not gonna move into the leadership rules,” said Mike Formby, city managing director. “If they have to take a pay cut it just doesn’t make sense.”

The City Council 64% Pay Raise will go into effect on July 1, 2023 unless the City Council rejects it

Leave a reply

Two city council members have introduced two Resolutions to reject the 2023 Salary Commission’s recommendations for the pay raises.

  1. Resolution 23-81 REJECTS the ENTIRE Salary Commission’s recommendation. This will freeze the salaries as is.

“BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City and County of Honolulu that this
body, by at least a three-quarters affirmative vote of its entire membership, rejects the
entire resolution of the 2023 Salary Commission submitted to the City Council under
Council Communication 111(2023) and the salary and salary schedule increases
recommended therein; and . . .”

2. Resolution 23-82 REJECTS IN PART Salary Commission’s recommendation.

” WHEREAS, the Council wishes to express its appreciation for the work of the
2023 Salary Commission, but concludes that the salary increases and salary schedule
adjustments recommended by the 2023 Salary Commission for Fiscal Year 2023-24
should be rejected in part; ”

Some facts for clarifications:

  1. If the city council does not adopt a resolution to reject the pay raise now, the recommendations of the Salary Commission will automatically become in effect on July 1, 2023.
  2. Chair Tommy Waters has to put the above two resolutions in the Honolulu city Council Agenda pretty quickly. Will Waters promptly allow these two Resolutions or others to be on the Council agenda? Will he come up with his own resolution or let the clock run out?
  3. Chair Tommy Waters publicly states that he’s “totally open to that idea” for the public to determine whether the city council position is a full-time or part-time job through a Honolulu City Charter amendment. Chair Tommy Waters, Vice-Chair Esther Kia’aina, and Budget Chair Radiant Cordera have publicly determined their position as “full-time”.
  4. Through the decades, the position has always been respected as part-time and no council has asked for a huge salary raise based on the platform that it’s a “full-time” position. Former City Council member Ann Kobayashi, amongst others, has publicly said, “You run for public office, you know what the salary is, you know what the hours are, and you do the best you can and the public service. The point is not to get in there and try to change the salary.”
  5. The public participation opportunity to approve the increase salary to “full-time” scale or not is obviously backward.
  6. The City Charter amendment procedure as to whether the Council deserves “full-time” salary cannot be decided before the default date of July 1, 2023. The earliest the city charter amendment process can happen is at next year’s 2024 election ballot. Keep in mind again that this suggested amendment action is separate from #1 timeline.
  7. It has always been the expectation that the city council position is a part-time salary. The council members have health benefits and other benefits. Each council member has 5 full-time staff, the Council Services, and the city departments to assist upon request.

The most recent confirmation of Rebecca Soon to the Honolulu Salary Commission can be viewed at the 4:03 video mark during the Council Hearing on January 25, 2023. The video shows the interactions between the council members and the nominee Soon about pay raises.

Rebecca aka Becky Soon has a lot of experience with Honolulu Hale as the latest addition to the Salary commission. Her father Ray Soon was Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Chief of Staff. Her mother Cheryl Soon held many positions, including Director of Department of Transportation Services and member of the 2018 Honolulu City Charter Review Commission.

The Honolulu Salary Commission:

The current Honolulu Salary Commission Chair is Malia Espinda. The Salary Commission is made up of commissioners nominated by the Mayor and the City Council in this arrangement: 3 members appointed by mayor, 3 members appointed by council, 1 member appointed by mayor & confirmed by council.

This acrobatic tragedy reminds me of a childhood experience in Singapore

Leave a reply

The husband-and-wife acrobatic team somehow disconnected during their performance in Suzhou, China. The plunge led to her death.

According to the Straits Times,

” Authorities are investigating the death of an acrobat, who fell while performing with her husband during a live flying-trapeze performance in Suzhou, China, last Saturday.

Videos of the graphic incident posted on social media showed that the couple was pulled high into the air from the ground by what appears to be a crane.

In the videos, the woman was later seen falling from reportedly more than 9m high, after her husband failed to catch her with his legs during the performance.”

This incident brought back childhood memories of a circus coming to Holland Village in Singapore. I was probably around 7 or 8 years old. We were living in a farm. I remember my lorry-driver father telling us that there was a tent circus coming. We obviously wanted to go but had no money to buy tickets for our big family of ten children.

Later, I remember my father coming home one night with the news that a girl acrobat had fallen to her death from a trapeze.

That news had a powerful imprint on me.

I can’t explain why I was so unequivocal about it. But I decided right there and then that it was not right for people with money to put others in dangerous situations just to entertain themselves.

City Employee expresses his personal views against windowless units as a private citizen in Bill 21

Leave a reply

Bill 21, authored by City Councilman Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, asks for changes to the City County Housing Code to be consistent with the International Building Code (IBC) that allows windowless (no natural light and ventilation) housing units.

Santos-Tam, a construction industry lobbyist, said that the county needs to build 25,000 housing units and thus “optionality” is necessary in housing development. The statement begs many questions as to who these units are for and do we want Oahu to follow other countries’ values and standards. Is this about helping developers or is this about meeting the needs of our local residents?

Below is an excellent example of a local government worker with lots of expertise and experience standing up for the public good, rather than developers. Michael O Silva, speaking as a private citizen, should be commended for speaking up. His testimony is free from self-interests but filled with common sense and aloha for the ordinary local residents. Read the testimonies here.

Listen to Bill 21 here. It starts around the 1:46 mark.

State Legislature wants to repeal the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA)

Leave a reply

The State Legislature wants to repeal the existing HTA and create a new Office of Destination Management within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBET).

This action appears to be a knee-jerk and punitive legislating. It reminds me of the nationwide movement to “Defund The Police” based on the actions of a few bad cops. Some states who defunded the police had to reverse their actions and fund the police. While justice and rule of law is paramount to our democracy, public policy-making must be intelligently and deliberately vetted.

What is interesting is also the punitive language that is attached to Bill 1375 and Bill SB 1522 –

SECTION l. The legislature finds that the Hawaii tourism
authority has failed to effectively execute its duties to manage
the tourism marketing plan for the State.

The Legislature is wielding a quick sword at HTA because it “has failed” in its duty. However, residents of Hawaii does not have the same swift opportunity to treat the Legislature job performance. Public efforts to adopt Term Limits for the State Legislature failed again this 2023 session.

Besides HTA is not the only entity that is contributing to the unhappiness of our residents in Hawaii relating to tourism issues. The Governor, Lt. Governor, Mayors, State and City Transportation departments and so forth are all responsible too.

Note the punitive language.

HB 1381 is a more deliberate and informed legislation to adopt a public policy. But it died very quickly.

OPPOSITION to Dawn Chang for Chairperson, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) GM 516

Leave a reply

Consultant Dawn Chang’s nomination Hearing is on Friday March 31, 2023 1:00 pm

Testimonies can be submitted here. You need an email to register. Testimonies can be a simply OPPOSE or SUPPORT.

This is a written testimony from Deborah Ward from Mountain View, Hawaii Island OPPOSING Dawn Chang. Deborah has been in the environmental movement to preserve and protect Hawaii’s resources for decades. She has been a member of the Hawaii island group of Sierra club since 1984 in Excom positions since then. She served on the OMKM ENVIRONMENT committee for 23 years. Deborah is a retired faculty for UH DEPT of natural resources and environmental management, with an MS in Horticulture. She is currently farming ten acres in Mountain View.

” I am writing to urge you to not to confirm the nomination of Ms.Dawn Chang as Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR).

The basis for my opposition to this appointment is that Ms. Chang’s approach to the pressing issues of our time has been too narrowly focused on meeting the needs of her corporate and organizational clients when the focus needs to be on protecting the public trust.

The context for my concerns is the kuleana of the BLNR. While I am sure that you are aware of that responsibility, a reminder is in order given the importance of the appointment being considered. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, headed by an executive Board of Land and Natural Resources, is responsible for managing, administering, and exercising control over public lands, water resources, ocean waters, navigable streams, coastal areas (except commercial harbors), minerals, and all interests therein.

The department’s jurisdiction encompasses nearly 1.3 million acres of State lands, beaches, and coastal waters as well as 750 miles of coastline (the fourth longest in the country). It includes state parks; historical sites; forests and forest reserves; aquatic life and its sanctuaries; public fishing areas; boating, ocean recreation, and coastal programs; wildlife and its sanctuaries; game management areas; public hunting areas; and natural area reserves.A summary of that kuleana is protecting the public trust.

Given this tremendous responsibility, the selection of a Chair should be guided by the highest principles. There is ample evidence that the selection of Ms. Chang does not demonstrate an adherence to that fundamental requirement.

The candidate should have demonstrated unquestionable integrity, a profound understanding of Hawaiian history and, a deep respect for the traditional Hawaiian civilization.

While Ms. Chang’s work has been involved in a wide range of relevant areas, an examination of her record in those involvements discloses a bias that disqualifies her from holding the BLNR position. Ms. Chang’s career is repeatedly characterized by decisions that ignore the mandates of history in order to facilitate the colonial mindset of facilitating economic exploitation, rather than acting as a protector of Hawai’i’s future. Her long list of corporate clients is the visible manifestation of her true professional commitments.

Her company belongs in the company of businesses that prepare environmental assessments and environmental impact statements which give developers the cover of a document that says what the developer needs to justify the project at issue.

There are other questions about the fitness of Ms. Chang. Some of her actions appear to be unethical, such as advising clients on how to avoid taking legally required actions.

For example, she advised Kawaiahaʻo Church that its proposal to construct a multi-purpose center did not require an archeological inventory survey, which the law clearly required. Ms. Chang’s advice was to ignore the legal requirement to avoid increasing the project cost.Her advice resulted in lengthy litigation and the illegal disturbing of hundreds of burials.

One of the major issues BLNR must address is the future of Mauna Kea. On that issue, Ms. Chang was responsible for preparing a woefully inadequate comprehensive master plan. Her plan was missing provisions for natural and cultural management, decommissioning, and public access. BLNR determined that the plan was deficient. The delay in approving the missing critical pieces of the plan led to delays in the CDUA for the TMT construction. The BLNR had to step in to require compliance with the law lacking in Ms. Chang’s plan.

DLNR is currently plagued by weak leadership, with multiple conflicts between offices and divisions, many due to conflicting mandates. The chronic understaffing and underfunding leads to ineffectiveness and institutional frustration. The loss of institutional knowledge has led to a serious degradation of our cultural heritage.

Ms. Chang does not demonstrate the skills to address these issues, and could serve to exacerbate the problems. Ms Chang is not the right person to be confirmed as Chair. I ask you to oppose her appointment.”