It’s the last Sunday in June and time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused:
>> City ethics director Chuck Totto resigned after being endlessly harassed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s managing director, corporation counsel and Ethics Commission appointees. Caldwell insisted he had nothing to do with it, but ran off without taking questions because his pants were on fire.
>> After famously promising to “build rail better,” Caldwell admitted the project is hopelessly over budget and will have to stop at Middle Street, 5 miles short of its destination. His new slogan: “Better luck next time.”
>> As rail costs passed $8 billion and federal overseers painted a worst case of $10.79 billion, city transportation chief Mike Formby moaned, “Every step along the way, we’ve missed the numbers. How does that happen?” When you do your math with a political calculator instead of an adding machine.
>> Rail officials want to borrow from a $450 million city credit line that then-Mayor Peter Carlisle promised in 2012 wouldn’t be tapped unless “the moon fell into the ocean.” The loud splash you heard was Carlisle’s comeback chances.
>> While Carlisle and former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou filed papers to run against Caldwell, City Council Chairman Ernie Martin chickened out after three years of crowing. Some guys just can’t walk the bawk.
>> Embattled Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, sued the city for investigating their ethics. It’s on Judge Judy’s docket as “The Case of the Poor, Persecuted Power Couple.”
>> U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Hawaii’s most prominent Bernie Sanders backer, told CNN she’s still not ready to support Hillary Clinton for president. She’s waiting to see if Donald Trump offers her a celebrity apprenticeship.
>> Retired Judge Riki May Amano allowed 20 intervenors to join the state’s contested case proceedings on the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. This case will conclude around the time TMT is putting the final touches on its telescope in India.
>> A judge overturned a ban on free travel for public school teachers who organize trips for their students. It’s about time teachers have the same right to free trips as politicians.
>> The state is spending $6.7 million to replace the roof on our open-air Capitol. Only the state would spend millions for a new hole.
>> Disgraced former City Councilman Rod Tam turned Republican to run for the state Senate, and party chairman Fritz Rohlfing said he’s “thrilled” to have him. It’s so lonely in the local GOP that Rohlfing would be thrilled to have ukus.
And the quote of the month … from Caldwell campaign spokeswoman Glenna Wong on opposition promises to restore integrity, honesty and trust at City Hall: “Honesty, trust and integrity were not lost under Mayor Kirk Caldwell.” They’re just waiting for a bus at Middle Street.
Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
