Inside Honolulu: October 31
There’s always something interesting going on at Honolulu Hale.
Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.
3:53 p.m. Rail Lawsuit Ruling, Oral Arguments Soon
A federal judge today handed down a ruling in the lawsuit challenging the environmental review for the Honolulu rail project.
It appears to be a purely technical matter — more than a dozen uncontested documents are allowed into evidence, but the city’s statements about the nature of those documents aren’t allowed in yet.
Those opinions, presumably, will be shared during oral arguments on the motion for partial judgment filed by the city and the Federal Transit Administration that would dismiss portions of the lawsuit, filed by HonoluluTraffic.com and other opponents.
Last week, lawyers for all parties were instructed to contact a court clerk to schedule the next court appearance. The options are Tuesday, Nov. 15, Wednesday Nov. 30 or Thursday, Dec. 1, according to court filings. The oral arguments and status/scheduling conference will be held at the U.S. Courthouse building here in Honolulu.
Here’s U.S. Circuit Judge A. Wallace Tashima‘s Monday ruling:
3:41 p.m. Landfill Site Committee Reconvening Next Week
From a :
The Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Landfill Site Selection reconvenes meetings November 8 at 9 a.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room at Honolulu Hale.
Two meetings in August were postponed as the nine-member Committee asked the consultant, R.M. Towill Corporation, to investigate potential landfill sites within Oahu’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) Line and No Pass Zone.
11:31 a.m. HUD’s Deadline Day
Today’s the final day of October. Yes, that means it’s Halloween. But something much scarier is going on: The city could lose $8 million in federal funds if it doesn’t come up with a plan to bring a Wahiawa elderly care center into compliance with grant standards.
Yes, today is the final deadline for Honolulu Hale‘s response to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Get the latest scoop over at .
8:43 a.m. Occupy Honolulu Calendar of Events
From a weekend email sent to Inside Honolulu:
Upcoming Occupy Honolulu Events:
Sunday, October 30 @ 2pm – General Assembly at Thomas Square (625 S Beretania St)
Monday, October 31 @ 6:30pm – General Assembly at Thomas Square
Tuesday, November 1 @ 6:30pm – General Assembly at Thomas Square
Wednesday, November 2 @ 6:30pm – General Assembly at Thomas Square
Thursday, November 3 @ 4:00pm – APEC Protest outside UH Manoa Campus Center Ballroom
Thursday, November 3 @ 6:00pm – Non-violent Direct Action Training at Thomas Square followed by General Assembly at 7:00pm
Friday, November 4 @ 6:30pm – General Assembly at Thomas Square
Saturday, November 5 – ALL DAY Event
- Rally at Thomas Square (Ward/Beretania) @ 11am
- March to the Capitol @ 12pm
- Potluck lunch after march
- General Assembly @ 2pm
- Soap Box @ 3pm
- Encampment to be announced!
More details at .
We are the 99%. We will not be silent. Join us!
Silent Homeless Advocate Identified
When the Honolulu City Council last met a month ago, Inside Honolulu pointed out a gentleman in attendance with a basket of his belongings who we thought might be interested in the proposed ban on storing personal belongings on public property. We wrote: “It’s not clear if he’s here to testify on that bill, but it’s not an unreasonable guess.”
Here’s the photo from that day:
Michael Levine/Civil Beat
The man didn’t testify that day. But one of our readers recognized him, and sent us an email last week. Here’s what she wrote:
I’m not positive, but the photo of the man above looks like David Cannell. He is featured in an article by Ka ‘Ohana, Windward Community College‘s newspaper. Mr. Cannell is homeless after losing his job at Continental Paper, where he worked for 26 years. He now spends time researching information on the homeless problem, and frequently attends legislature meetings to see how the problem is being addressed.
Here is the link if you would like to read about this man:
We read the story, and agree that the man in our photo bears a striking resemblance to the man featured in that piece. You should read it too.
The comes back on Wednesday in Kapolei. Will David Cannell be there?
Cock Collecting Contract Concerns Reach Carlisle
Critics of the city contract that — some of whom have as a cultural activity — to pick up loose and noisy chickens may have found a sympathetic ear in the Carlisle administration.
Humane Society Legislative Fund President Michael Markarian wrote on last week that the $60,000 annual contract is up for renewal come Nov. 1 (tomorrow).
Markarian said Managing Director Doug Chin “has assured us that he is investigating our complaint.”
The post includes this photo, for emphasis:
Berg’s MagLev Ballot Question
Among the interesting items on for Wednesday’s full Honolulu City Council meeting in Kapolei is a introduced by anti-rail crusader Tom Berg that would, if passed, instruct the City Clerk to put a rail-related question on the ballot for the third straight election.
In 2008, voters were asked if the city should pursue steel-on-steel rail, and they said yes. In 2010, voters were asked if the city should create a semi-autonomous rail agency to manage the project, and again the answer was yes. In 2012, if Berg gets his way, voters will be asked this:
Shall the Revised City Charter be amended to prohibit the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation from developing, operating, maintaining, and expanding a fixed guideway system that includes “steel wheel on steel rail” technology?
Elsewhere in the resolution, Berg offers magnetic levitation (MagLev) and monorail technologies as alternatives.
What would you vote on the question if you saw it on the ballot next year? Chime in below in the comments.
“Further Review” for Water Rate Hike
The Board of Water Supply still wants to raise rates, but it’s going to revisit the proposal put out earlier this year that would hike them by almost 10 percent per year over the next five years.
That’s from a put out late Friday, which says that the Board “will be undertaking a further water rate study regarding its proposal.”
that a change in plans would cause a delay, giving water users a “temporary reprieve.”
Council Coming to Kapolei Wednesday
The Honolulu City Council is holding a rare full meeting outside of Honolulu Hale this week. On Wednesday, members will meet in Kapolei, and they’ll be taking up a number of issues related to the Leeward Coast and Ewa Plain.
, published to the city’s website Friday, includes the following interesting items, with Kapolei-specific stuff on top:
- Public hearing for , amending the Waianae Sustainable Communities Plan.
- , which would urge the city to develop a public shooting complex in Kalaeloa.
- , which would urge the city to develop a public-private partnership for a paintball gaming complex in Kalaeloa.
- Third reading of , which would regulate the number and size of political signs on private property.
- , which would require that Council members who disclose a conflict of interest also abstain from voting on those matters in which they have a conflict of interest.
Where’s Carlisle?
At 9 a.m. today, Mayor Peter Carlisle is scheduled to deliver remarks at a Honolulu Fire Department promotion ceremony honoring the newly promoted assistant fire chief and fire captains. The event is at Hale Kinai Ahi.
Read Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu
October 28: Ewa Development Plan Up For Review; Dog Fined For High Fence; Carlisle’s Public Sked; HPD’s Hybrids; Undecided on Carlisle; Elephants Moving Soon; Halloween Protest at Turtle Bay; Where’s Carlisle?
October 27: HART Member’s Ansaldo Conflict; $4 Million Change Order; More on TOD Workshops; Real Property Tax Commission Meets; It’s Starting To Look A Lot Like Christmas; Top City Employees Honored; Ansaldo Contract Delivered, Returned; HART Meetings This Morning; Where’s Carlisle?
October 26: APEC Scuttles Camping Permits; Trick or Treat; Reapportionment Commission Cancelled; Intermodal Pete; Public Support for APEC; Where’s Carlisle?
October 25: Finmeccanica Business Plan: Sell Ansaldo; Train Facility Work Begins; City Workers Vaccinated; November Public Hearing; Special Meeting Today; Where’s Carlisle?
October 24: Rail~Volution Sunshine?; Using Force; Friday Night News; Charging for Parks; Where’s Carlisle?
October 21: City Spending On Rail Lawyers; Carlisle’s Public Sked; A Message From Carrie; Sidewalk Project Pau; Parking Hardship; Bus Routes, Trash Pickup Adjusted for APEC; Where’s Carlisle?
October 20: Special Committee Meeting; APEC Security Road Closures; Council Concerned About Rail Operation Costs; City Misses HUD Deadline; Investigation: Rail at the Airport; Where’s Carlisle?
October 19: Mayor Listens to Preschoolers; The CityCamp “Unconference”; Two TOD Workshops Next Week; Rail Construction Knocks Out Traffic Cams; UPW Strike During APEC?; A Merry Celebration; Martin Running For Mayor; Where’s Carlisle?
October 18: Hula Festival Venue Change; “Overwhelming” Response: APEC Turning Away Volunteers; Garbage Truck Problems; APEC Surveillance Camera Locations; Where’s Carlisle?
October 17: You Say You Want A Rail~Volution; An Evening With Carlisle; Mufi’s Fundraising Muscle; Waipahu Rail Soil Tests Begin; Young People Love Honolulu; Where’s Carlisle?
October 13: Low Sewer Bond Interest; Full Steam Ahead; HART: Ansaldo Still Capable; Police Gifts: A History; There’s No Crying In Rail Contractor Disputes!; Drug Summit Coming To Hawaii; Where’s Carlisle?
October 12: Money For Buses; Ewa Development Plan Up For Review; Second Crack At Homeless on Sidewalk; Where’s Carlisle?
October 11: Rail On PBS; Sidewalk Property Bill Advances; Noise Bill Deferred; Merits of Rail-Volution; Carlisle’s Blood; Targeting Homeless?; Rod Tam’s Friends; Today’s Meetings; Where’s Carlisle?
October 10: Transportation Committee Canceled; Hilton Hawaiian Village On The Agenda; Rail = Jobs; Honolulu’s Global Mayor; Zoning and Planning; Where’s Carlisle?
October 7: Gabbard: End The War; Real Property Tax Commission Meeting Monday; The Holidays Are Coming; Carlisle’s Public Schedule; New Rail Financial Plan; More Committee Agendas; Where’s Carlisle?
October 6: Second Committee Posted; Ansaldo Contract Not Signed Yet; Zoning and Planning Meeting Monday, Not Thursday; Rail Opponents To Speak at Rotary Club; Today’s HART Meetings; Where’s Carlisle?
October 5: Police For Sale?; Cameras Coming for APEC; Sidewalk Property, Noise Control Bills Advance; Private Possessions, Public Property; Today’s Honorees; Today’s Council Meeting; Where’s Carlisle?
October 4: Fifty Years Of Friendship With The French; ACLU Scolds HPD; FACE Rail Rally Today; Station to Station; Public Hearing, No Public; Where’s Carlisle?
October 3: Carlisle Responds, Others Attending; Carlisle Attending “Upscale” Condo Groundbreaking; Former DLNR Chair Thielen New City Ag Liaison; HART On Rail Costs; Archaeological Work Begins; Overcharging at Landfill; Carlisle Eats Local; HART Meetings Thursday; Where’s Carlisle?
