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The chair and vice chair discussed the search for a new chief, mainland versus local experience, transparency and communication, proposed charter amendments and HPD spending.

How Hawaii cared for its older and most vulnerable residents during Covid, and on the need to hire more ombudsmen for the neighbor islands.

Nebraska is the only state to have one, and it has cut costs, improved efficiency and reduced partisanship.

A commission formed to improve standards of conduct of state government has made recommendations, but ultimately Hawaii lawmakers must take the lead.

As coordinator of the Community Alliance on Prisons she lobbies lawmakers and other officials for a more humane system. It’s an uphill battle.

It’s not enough for the leaders of the House and Senate, with little deliberation, to simply declare that something is not a conflict.

There are many things the Legislature can do to bring far greater transparency and accountability to a sometimes shady political industry.

The practice of introducing bills anonymously “by request of another party” is a disservice to the public and to lawmakers themselves. What is there to hide?

Some bills before the Legislature would help — for instance, by reducing copying fees. Others are bad ideas that would blow holes in the public’s right to know.

The nonprofit advocacy organization is again pushing for the Legislature to enact a Hawaii Retirement Savings Program. But that’s just one part of its broad agenda.