All grant recipients should be vetted

Nonprofit groups have flocked to the city’s new grants-in-aid program, hoping for a piece of a $5.5 million pie to support their community work. Five meetings have been held to explain the process. It’s possible that 200 nonprofits, and maybe more, have applied for grants.

But who will get the money? That’s the rub. The program won’t succeed unless it is perceived as fair and credible for all applicants, from the tiniest to the largest. Fortunately, there seems to be a commitment from the city to make that happen, through a formal screening process and a commission to review applications.

The same can’t be said for another $8 million in earmarks for agencies handpicked by certain Council members. Suspicions of who-you-know favoritism will inevitably arise. That’s the sort of arrangement that erodes public confidence. Those grants should be put through the screening process, too. Seems fairer.

Now on the menu: GMO Week on Olelo

The hot topic of genetically modified foods will be getting needed discussion tonight through Thursday, as Olelo Community Media hosts "GMO Week."

The hourlong shows will start at 6:30 p.m. — on Oahu on Olelo Channel 55; on neighbor islands, on Channel 54. For online viewing, see www.olelo.org.

Both tonight and Tuesday’s shows will feature pro- and anti-GMO panelists. Speaking for GMOs are Dennis Gonsalves of the USDA Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo, Dean Okimoto of Nalo Farms and Adolph Helm of Dow AgriSciences’ Molokai; speaking against GMOs are Molokai activist Walter Ritte, Kauai Councilman Gary Hooser and UH-Manoa sustainability professor Scott Cooney.

Then, in an Olelo first, the Wednesday and Thursday shows will be live discussions encouraging viewer questions; see www.olelo.org/gmo on how to participate.