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It’s the last Sunday in June and time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused:
>> Gov. David Ige said he intends to veto 28 bills from this year’s Legislature, including the state budget, admitting it leaves holes in the spending plan. It defies physics to create new holes in what’s already a black hole.
>> Also targeted for veto is a bill providing $2,200 bonuses for teachers, which came under fire from other public worker unions not so favored. They oppose naked political payoffs — when they don’t get their cut.
>> The veto list included the Legislature’s bill to gut
the Hawaii Tourism Authority, leaving management of our leading industry in flux. Until they figure it out, tourism will be guided as usual by illegal vacation rentals.
>> Spared from veto was a controversial measure that lets hotels, shopping centers and other lessees of state land keep their leases another 40 years without competition. With so few Republicans in Hawaii, Democrats take the mantle of helping the rich get richer.
>> Despite doubting the need earlier, Ige let stand a scheme for a new Aloha Stadium and surrounding development with a fuzzy financial plan. With Oahu rail in limbo, the economy needed a fresh boondoggle.
>> Calls for a bid-rigging probe grew after emails showed top rail directors favored Colleen Hanabusa before a nearly $1 million consulting contract was written to her resume. The rail agency replied with its rallying cry: “We nevah!”
>> Lt. Gov. Josh Green drew national attention for predicting “chaos” over the Fourth of July weekend if Ige didn’t ease his strict COVID travel rules. Nothing prevents chaos like the lieutenant governor sending different messages from the governor.
>> Mayor Rick Blangiardi moved Honolulu into the looser Tier 4 of COVID restrictions as the tier criteria continued to shift with the mayor’s desires. It’s a old business theory called “make it up as you go.”
>> After taking responsibility for his crimes to get a lighter sentence, imprisoned former Police Chief Louis Kealoha proclaimed his innocence in a civil suit deposition and wept about being deceived by his wife, Katherine. It was hard to tell whether he was preparing his defense or auditioning for Oprah.
>> Roy Amemiya, managing director in the Caldwell
administration who was kept on the city payroll by Councilman Calvin Say to gain lifetime medical benefits, got a target letter from federal prosecutors tying up loose ends in the Kealoha corruption case. The perp walk lives on as our municipal dance craze.
>> Russian warships and planes conducted exercises off Hawaii to practice destroying the forces of a “mock enemy” and hitting “critically important” military sites with cruise missiles. Where’s the false missile alert when we’re actually attacked by false missiles?
And the quote of the month … from Ige on economic advancement: “If you’re not in the digital economy, then you’re really not in an economy.” For many locals the digital economy resembles a middle finger.
Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com.
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