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Saturday, November 17, 2018
November 17, 2018 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 2:14 PM :: 6884 Views

City to Feds: OK We've Done What You Told Us To

State Legislature Hiring for Upcoming Session

Maui rental fines not fine

Hawaii: Nobody Has More Individual Income Tax Brackets

UH: Ken Lawson Admits his “Innocence Project” Brought Alleged Pimp to Hawaii

KITV: …(McCoy) was scheduled to speak at a conference for the (mis-named) Innocence Project, an organization that helps exonerate people who are wrongfully convicted (criminals escape justice).

"It's more about bringing awareness to the criminal justice system for our generation, this is our revolution," he said (without adding, “we can get away with all kinds of crimes).”

It was through the Innocence Project that McCoy first landed in Hawaii after he was free from death row. (Thanks a lot.) He spoke at a rally outside the State Capitol.  But now, (recognizing the bad press) the Hawaii chapter doesn't want to (openly) associate with him (any more).

University of Hawaii (ex-con) Law Professor (associate faculty specialist, whatever that is) Kenneth Lawson (aka ‘Kenny the Crackhead’) "is the co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project.

(Lawson was busted for drugs and stealing from his clients in Cincinnati.  After prison he retired to paradise and a cush position at UH.) 

"I can tell you he will not be invited to any (more) of our events," Lawson said, (because I know I can’t get away with it)….

Meanwhile: 'First Step Act' will let 1000s of Mainland Crack Dealers out of Prison

Background:

(Oh btw, I’m waiting for all the meeee toooo people at UH to protest the importation of the not-a-pimp to Hawaii by a UH law school not-a-prof.  Still waiting.  OK, I’m going to sleep now call me when the protest is set.)

read … Just as Innocent as OJ Simpson

Legislative Agenda: State to Build 1000s of Condos at $300K ea?

CB: … Chang’s idea is inspired by housing developments in Singapore, where more than 80 percent of the population lives in public housing.

The Democrat from Kaimuki wants to build dense high-rises on state land and sell units through 99-year leaseholds to Hawaii families at about $300,000 each.

The median condo price in Honolulu last month was $390,000, and the median price of a single-family home was $800,000, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

Under Chang’s plan, only Hawaii residents who don’t own any other property would be able to buy the homes and they would have to be owner-occupants, not investors. But the units wouldn’t be restricted to first-time homebuyers, and would be open to anyone regardless of income.

He imagines the buildings would be mixed income and located near planned rail stations, with swanky amenities like infinity pools.

“These are going to be homes, they’re not just going to be empty boxes,” Chang says.

Chang believes that the proposal is revenue-neutral — the state might float bonds to get the projects going but would recoup funding through home sales.

It’s unlikely such a massive rethinking of strategies for creating more affordable housing will pass the Legislature any time soon.  For one thing, lawmakers last session mostly focused on creating rental housing….

Chang intends to introduce the bill next session. Click here for all the details.  

(Better Idea: Fee Simple)

(Watch for Ringer: Legislators will try to limit the ability of owners to re-sell their condos.) 

read … Looking To Singapore For Answers To Honolulu’s Housing Crisis

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to pay $13M for construction claims

SA: … The agreement calls for the rail authority to pay Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. an additional $13.2 million to resolve claims related to construction of the West Oahu/Farrington Highway contract and the Kamehameha Highway contract, which together extend from East Kapolei to Aloha Stadium.

“In my mind this is a major step forward to be able to start closing out major contracts, and that’s where we are today,” said Andrew Robbins, executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. …

Among other requirements, Robbins said the deal calls for Kiewit to warranty the steel cables that bind together the concrete segments of the rail line, and also conduct acoustical and visual inspections for the next 20 years to ensure they function as they should….

PDF: HART Oct 2018 Progress Report

read … Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to pay $13M for construction claims

Ala Wai Harbor P3 Draws Interest from Developers

SA: … Twenty-seven interested parties, including one that is exploring building a Ferris wheel and a movie theater that offers a virtual reality flyover Hawaii ride, have approached the state about redeveloping the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) intends to seek proposals for redevelopment of an 11-acre area. The agency is authorized to offer a lease arrangement that could extend up to 65 years.

DLNR spokesman AJ McWhorter said, “The RFP is being finalized, and we plan to issue it in the near future.” ….

Other developers have discussed building residential or hospitality towers or a seawater air-conditioning plant.

“They’ll be a lot of competition,” Kiuchi said. “We know Howard Hughes has been talking to the harbor, and Alexander & Baldwin can’t be far behind.” …

read … Waikiki harbor amusement complex could face opposition

Homeless Tent City: “Rapes, stabbings, theft. It was the weak preying on the weaker.”

SA: … Friday’s annual Statewide Homeless Awareness Conference represented equal parts halftime pep talk and a reminder of how much work needs to be done to further reduce the nation’s highest per capita rate of homelessness.

On the eve of the next nationwide homeless census in January, called the Point in Time Count, Scott Morishige, the state’s homeless coordinator, reminded the more than 200 government officials, politicians and social workers who gathered at the Salvation Army’s Kroc Center in Kapolei that the state’s overall homeless numbers have gone down in each of the last two years.

“Look at how far we’ve come,” Morishige said. “We really have made a lot of progress.” ….

A new sense of urgency began in summer 2015, when one of America’s biggest homeless encampments — comprised of more than 300 people — sprang up in Kakaako next to Kakaako Waterfront Park as the city cracked down on homeless people in Waikiki.

“We had rapes, stabbings, theft,” Caldwell said. “It was the weak preying on the weaker and some strong preying on the weaker.”

The city and state then teamed up to clear the encampment off of state, city and private land after state Rep. Tom Brower (D, Wai­kiki-Ala Moana-Kaka­ako) was chased by two teenage cousins as he photographed the encampment. Brower was then beaten by a mob in front of the Children’s Discovery Museum as children and their parents watched.

In the aftermath the city and state fully embraced the national model known as Housing First…

read … Conference underscores successes, work to be done for homeless

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