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It’s a hurry-up-and-wait situation for backers of the planned $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. Now that the Hawaii Supreme Court has invalidated the TMT permit, everyone is waiting for the court to issue specific instructions on how to proceed. TMT officials say that information is critical to keep the project moving forward.
The court revoked the permit in its Dec. 2 ruling, saying the state Board of Land and Natural Resources erred in approving the project’s conservation district use permit before holding a contested case hearing. The big question now is whether the University of Hawaii, on behalf of the TMT, must apply for another permit or simply start again at the contested case hearing using the same application as before. It will take years to resolve either way — unfortunately.
Getting animal control under control
It’s encouraging news that the city is grappling more realistically with its animal control problems by increasing its contract with the Hawaiian Humane Society. The $800,000 boost is quite an increase, considering that it was budgetary problems that curtailed such services in the past.
But if the city has the funds, clearly the demand for response to animal care and control issues merits increased attention. At the very least, animal calls should be the least of the police department’s worries.