Here are two video pieces relevant to current news that are worth watching for the different perspective they provide.
The first is an episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, a CNN original series.
This episode, broadcast in December 2014, was filed in Iran.
…the Iran you see from the inside, once you walk the streets of Tehran, meet Iranians, is a very different place than the Iran we know from the news. Nowhere else I’ve been has the disconnect been so extreme between what one sees and feels from the people and what one sees and hears from the government.
I found the episode on Vimeo.
Anthony Bourdain in IRAN from Matthew on Vimeo.
The program’s team was recently in Hawaii, and that island episode will probably air later this year.
The second video for the day is Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kanoi tesifying before the State Water Commission in Kona, also in December 2014.
Those unfamiliar with Kenoi except for his recently publicized pCard escapades may find this an eye-opener. The video was recommended to me by a friend in Hilo. Keno is an elected official with personality and presence. As in this case, he can own a room when he appears in person.
There’s additional video available at Big Island Video News.
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Allen N
I missed the “smug” icon…. but you made your point!
So, do you, or does anyone, have all the facts at this point? BTW: Do you even (really) want them? My point to Natalie was that while the State rules are interesting they are not governing. The only relevant snippet of County pcard policy Ive seen was in an eary commentary. It referred to an issue a few years ago with a CoH employee and therein stated that CoH Dept heads were exempt from the alcohol ban based on policy established by….wait for it….The Mayor. What other policy did he control? I don’t know…the “investigative reporter” has gone silent on this one.
You, and others, are somewhat analogous to the A’ole TMT folks….”I interpret the facts and the law based on MY beliefs, which are NOT subject to change ’cause I don’t want to change them”.
No doubt this is a great chance to thumb your nose at that high mucka-mucka Mayor. Enjoy it, but know who you are….
Whoops…my above comment (snark?) where I say “wait for it” referring to the alcohol policy controlling County pcards was in answer to a question posed by….wait for it….Allen N on Ian’s earlier entry on this same subject. The question he asked was;
“…Moreover, who’s in charge of imposing and lifting purchasing restrictions on Kenoi’s pCard? Obviously, someone allowed him to bypass the restrictions on food and liquor charges. That person(s) should likewise be held accountable for any disciplinary actions carried out….”
There’s nothing wrong with elected officials purchasing or consuming alcohol if done under stated policy. I think this was. I’d like confirmation before passing judgement.
How bout you?
@Hawaiino: Interesting. Not once did you address the address the gift disclosure law violations. Too bad for Kenoi’s lawyers that they don’t likewise have the luxury of selectively ignoring laws like you’re doing right here.
BTW, lest you think that I came out of the womb, sworn to be Billy Kenoi’s worst enemy, let me tell you that the revelations of this past week has actually been a great source of frustration to me. I held high hopes that Kenoi might be the best prospect to knock Tulsi Gabbard out of Congress. Local style charisma, true neighbor island roots,… he had what it took to beat the DINO currently occupying the CD-2 seat. But that hope has been dashed.
If I wasn’t laughing and making jokes at Kenoi’s situation, I would be crying right now.
The difference between us is that I haven’t given up. I want answers….
Hawaiino, I think it’s always good to ask questions. Pcards fall under the state procurement law, which is where the document I linked to earlier comes from.
The StarAdvertiser included Hawaii County’s pcard policies in their April 4 article about Kenoi. It can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/260840616/PCard-Procedures-Oct-2013-Final#scribd.
It’s very clear that personal purchases are not allowed.
Billy Kenoi was my favorite politician until I read the Hawaii Free Press article about his participation in a fundraiser for the Pali Golf Course shooting suspect. That was the end of my admiration. I can forgive alot – maybe even the abuse of his P card – but I do not forgive his support of a murderer.
Mahalo Natalie,
I wasn’t able to open the link on my iPhone so I’ve just now gotten to it at my office. As I scrolled down the pages I found this on page 5;
RESTRICTED PURCHASES AND BLOCKED MCCS
The following is a list of restricted purchases and Blocked Merchant Category Codes. At the request of the Department to the Purchasing Card Administrator, additional categories of merchants can be selected so that some or all of the Department’s pCards will not work at those establishments. Restricted Purchases:
1.Any purchase over the established limit for the
pCard
2. Liquor, unless specifically authorized
3.Cash
4. Goods and services for personal use, unless specifically authorized
5. Others as determined by the Purchasing Card Administrator
I’d read there was a policy in place regarding item 2, liquor. I wonder if there was a policy in place that governed item 4 as well. I know that later in the document, on page 10 wherein the Users responsibilities are listed, there is this, in BOLD ;
“14.Not using the pCard for personal use.”
So, that is “clear” …..except for what was exempted under the conditions on page 5. And that really matters in this matter.
I personally feel better after reading the County pCard policies and having scrolled through a few years of the Mayors accounts, which link was provided on another forum. I don’t see this requiring a table pounder of an attorney, cause there seems to be facts and law that will decide the matter. And I see this going the Mayors way. But to what end?
Cause really, the nonsense that’s been opined likening him to a mobbed up, spendthrift, law breaking local lout based on a tarted up, out of context entertainment expense is really sobering. I hope the Mayor sees how it doesn’t take much to go from being King of the Heap (HPU address, etc) to a Cock on a Dunghill (the Nancy Cook Lauer ‘expose’).
Caesars Wife from here on out !!!
“Goods and services for personal use, unless specifically authorized.” Based on other government pcard policies, this appears to be for things like CD players, cameras or other “personal-use” items that are generally used personally but might be legitimate government purchases. The fact that Kenoi repaid the county for his personal purchases would seem to indicate that they were not of the type that would fall under the exception on page 5.
As I’ve stated here more than once, I’m no attorney. While it is interesting to read the armchair lawyering here, ultimately, it will be the “professionals” in the who will hash out the legal aspects of this.
But as to the political aspect, I can say this. Even if Kenoi gets off with a light slap on the wrist, the damage is already done to his political aspirations. A petition filed for his impeachment (even if unsuccessful) does irreparable harm to any campaign for higher office.
If Kenoi wants to make a political comeback, it will take at least another decade. And even then, it will be confined to Hawai’i County, at best. Governor, Congress? Nope, ain’t happening.