The Star-Bulletin has by far the best story on the recent Chinatown shooting in today’s paper by Leila Fujimori and Nelson Daranciang. They got the scoop that the shooter was among three men arrested the previous day on drug charges who made bail just hours before the shooting. They also quote a witness saying “the shooters were part of a group that call themselves the ‘Friscos.'” Good reporting.
Now isn’t it time to put the mayor and police chief on the spot? Just what’s being done in the face of this surge in organized crime violence? Publicly, they seem to be ignoring it, but when guys are getting gunned down just outside of the shadow of the State Capitol, something has to be said and done. Some feet need to be held closer to the fire.
Of note: Former State Campaign Spending Director Jack Gonzales was released from federal custody on March 6, according to the federal inmate locator. Gonzales was convicted for his role in a so-called “Prime Bank” fraud in 1995 and sentenced to a 15-year term. I don’t know if he has returned to Hawaii.
“If you don’t do politics, politics will do you.”
-California Teachers Association President David Sanchez, quoted in a Sacremento Bee story on the “select and elect” strategy used by interest groups in California. It’s an interesting read.
I’m sure that there’s a lot more “select and elect” being done here in Hawaii than the public is generally aware of.
Legislative staff were buzzing yesterday about SB1271 SD1, which would strip managerial employees in the executive or legislative departments and agencies of accrued vacation if they are terminated either voluntarily or involuntarily. It would also prohibit a managerial employee from being hired in the same department after being terminated.
Year-round legislative staff, including office managers in each of the legislative offices, are worried that the proposed changes will hit them hard. Some legislators are well known for intemperate and unpredictable treatment of staff, and good workers fired by erratic bosses are often snapped up by other offices. Apparently that could not happen if this bill passes.
The bill is being pushed by Senator Donna Mercado Kim. There was little testimony on the bill, which was opposed by the Lingle administration and several departments.
The bill is being viewed as unnecessarily punitive. At least that’s how it looks from the perspective of those who might be impacted. And although it was first referred to the House Labor Committee and Finance, it was re-referred last week to bypass Labor.
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Finally, here are a few photos of the puppies around the corner. They were 10 weeks old over the weekend and we managed to get some visiting time. These are hand-raised and totally lovable. What a treat! The other six pups found good homes. These are staying put. So you’ll see them again.
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Aloha,
I am not agreeing with the bill, I’m well aware of the jumping between offices at the legislature and I do not see it as a negative. Actually, I think it is positive because it keeps the qualified staff employed. However, I do wonder if this bill grew from the situation when Bunda was Senate president. He increased the salary of his staff well beyond the allocation given to other Senators and when the presidency of the Senate shifted to Hanabusa, his staffing allocation became the same as every other Senator. His staff terminated employment, cashed out the accrued vacation at the much higher rate and then a few days later were re-hired by Bunda at the lower salary. The amounts involved were quite large. I think it was picked up by one of the papers at the time it happened.
Ah, so!
RE: SB 1271, this should prove to everyone in the private sector that public employees are very much on the chopping block when it comes to balancing the budget. Without a “savings caluse” to make this prospective in effect only, I see a real constitutional “takings” issue here. Also, note that, as introduced, it applied to all executive/legislative branch employees (wonder why the judiciary was spared?), not just the managerial type. And I thought the President was the biggest ballbuster in the Senate!
In response to nafisa’s simultaneous post, I have to say “Wow! Nothing like throwing out the baby with the bath water! Settling scores is not the way to make good public policy. But then, look at the proponents and it should come as no surprise.”
legislators can certainly be capricious. Public-private is one thing, but public-public?