73
COURTESY DEPT. OF PARKS AND RECREATION
Last June, vandals used what appeared to be a sledgehammer to destroy the men’s restroom at Kahuku District Park. It’s one of many public restrooms around the island that have been targeted in similar incidents.
Hawaii lawmakers plan to tackle bills on for-profit universities, bathroom vandals and renewable energy in the upcoming week at the Legislature.
Here are a few bill hearings and events to keep an eye on:
BATHROOM OUTLAWS — Vandals have been breaking toilets and sinks in public restrooms around the islands. After a slew of incidents, lawmakers want to do something about it. They’ve introduced a bill to make it a crime to damage a toilet, urinal, bathroom stall, mirror or sink and render it unusable and to set fire to trash cans. The bill will be heard in the Senate Judiciary committee Monday morning.
PROFITABLE UNIVERSITIES — Responding to problems at for-profit colleges including high default rates on student loan, Rep. Matt LoPresti is introducing a bill that would require for-profit colleges and universities to disclose in all print, electronic media and signs that they are for-profit businesses. The bill will be heard Tuesday afternoon in the House Higher Education Committee.
GAS-FREE CARS — Renewable energy advocates are pushing for a transformation of the transportation sector, calling for 100 percent renewable transportation by 2045. The bill — which would set a goal, but not a requirement — is scheduled for decision-making in the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee Tuesday morning.
RENEWABLE REWARDS — Many share the goal of increasing the state’s renewable energy, but not everyone loves the view of a windmill or solar farm from their home. A bill would allow the Public Utilities Commission to set preferential rates for communities that host renewable energy projects. The bill is scheduled for decision-making in the House Energy and Environmental Protection Committee Tuesday morning.
BLACK LIVES MATTER — A group led by black, Micronesian, immigrant and Native Hawaiian women are inviting the public to an event where they’ll talk about organizing and reacting to President Donald Trump. Reps. Cedric Gates and Kaniela Ing along with the feminist group Af3irm Hawaii will host the gathering Friday afternoon in the Capitol auditorium.
Nothing new here folks, move along and keep voting for Democrat cronyism and corrupting that welcomes homeless and parasites and don’t forget the ongoing titanic rail FRAUD at a cost of $30 billion dollars !!!
Keep voting democrat so while we have record tourism and tax collections, we can still get hit with a slew of new tax increases.
“Lawmakers have introduced a bill to make it a crime to damage a toilet, urinal, bathroom stall, mirror or sink and render it unusable and to set fire to trash cans.”
Some one needs to tell these useless, tax raising puppets that vandalism is ALREADY ILLEGAL!! Making it illegal again isn’t going to help anything or keep dirtbags from doing this at 2am when high on meth.
Now that we know that vandalism is illegal. How many culprits or pranksters have been caught. They are working hard to make Honolulu safe. Our mighty leaders are earning their paychecks the democratic way. Also find out why the police is starting to use the “find my fone app”. When previously thay backed down to follow up owners requests to retrieve their phones?
What the? Native Hawaiian women, black women and Micronesians are organizing a meeting to ban Trump? Why racially segregate such a meeting. We all have something at stake. Really, how silly can people get?
Only ones without jobs that can attend?
It would be a lot easier if the public would report these crimes. Many people witness these crimes and never report them.
Or, we could just lock them at night!
You can bet I’d report them. In fact I’d probably flash my strobe from my tactical flashlight at their faces, and if they get within striking distance it’s on to my pepper spray then my knife if necessary to defend myself. However if they pull out of gun I’d run like away like Usain Bolt.
Hey you dumbos in that square building, vandalism is already a crime, just enforce it!
So….presently it’s NOT a crime?
It’ll actually be more comforting if those destroying the bathrooms were under the influence of something or had some sort of mental illness rather than being “normal”. It’s mind boggling to think any sane person would just destroy bathroom fixtures when the fixtures have never done any harm to them. Then again maybe the perpetrator had a bad experience with bathroom fixtures in the past so they want to fell like they’re retaliating for past grievances. Easy to do when toilets don’t hit back.
maybe it is because the fixtures are WHITE!–WHITE PORCELINE MATTERS.
“All lives Matter” just treat everyone like you want to be treated. And don’t tell me about anyone else, its everyone of us that needs to do this, its the right thing!
Japanese toilets – problem solved!
Just enforce the vandalism laws we have on the books.
This is a lineup of some of the dumbest legislative ideas suitable for David Shapiro’s column. It’s already against the law to damage public property including a toilet, etc. Why do we need this law other than to prove our Legislators are actually doing something (2) You mean some people are going to college and haven’t figured out that it is a for-profit business. Don’t give these dummies a degree. (3) Wow, gas free construction equipment, heavy trucks. etc. (4) I want to ask that my high-rise condo. be awarded a renewable reward. How is that supposed to occur for a condo? 95) The category of BLMs is getting larger and larger, but why are you exclusing men, other Pacific Islanders, Asians, etc. ALL LIVES MATTER.
You mean if I destroy a beach bathroom now there is no law against it? Nother STUPID liberal idea.