The year ends with a typical day’s news, it seems.
I got up early, checked the Star-Advertiser.
A headline in the local news section, repeated online, stated incorrectly that a lawsuit seeking to block implementation of the state’s new civil unions’ law was “thrown out.”
The story was correct, unlike the headline. Federal Judge Mike Seabright denied a request for an injunction, but the lawsuit now proceeds. The story notes that it could go to trial late in 2012.
Then there was a front page story about the resignation under pressure of Patty Teruya, who was appointed by Mayor Hannemann in 2006 to serve as special events coordinator. In that capacity, she selected groups to receive public funds to take part in or provide services for various projects.
The case was described by the Honolulu Ethics Commission director as one of the worst he has seen, but the S-A story provided very little “value added” beyond the commission’s own press release and the summary section of its opinion.
Prior heavy lifting on this story was done by activist and independent journalist Carroll Cox, as well as Andrew Walden, Hawaii Free Press. Both deserve credit for pushing beyond the obvious.
Walden put Teruya’s resignation in context yesterday with a collection of background materials.
Cox has been investigating Andrew Jamila Jr. and Patty Teruya for several years. Jamila, appointed by former Mayor Hannemann to the City Planning Commission, also heads the Waimanalo Construction Coalition.
In order for Mr. Jamila to receive a grant from the City’s Leeward Coast Community Benefits Program, Jamila’s organization, the Waimanalo Construction Coalition, had to submit a proposal and have it reviewed by one of two committees whose members are handpicked by Mayor Hannemann. The possibility of a cover up increases because the mayor appointed Ms. Patty Teruya to serve on the selection committee as well as serving as the Mayor’s official Special Events Coordinator. Ms. Teruya not only sits on the selection committee for the City’s Leeward Coast Community Benefits Program and is a city employee, she is also a member of the Waimanalo Construction Coalition. Her official title in documents filed with the Hawaii State Dept. of Consumer Affairs identifies Ms. Teruya as “Secretary”.
I spent a few minutes this morning researching some of these links.
State business registration records confirm that Teruya and Jamila are officers of the nonprofit Waimanalo Construction Coalition.
The organization’s 2008 tax return, the most recent publicly available, lists Teruya as the person in charge of the organization’s financial records, and gives her city office telephone number. According to the tax return, Teruya spent a average of 16 hours a week working for the organization as its secretary. Only Jamila, its president, reported putting in more hours than Teruya.
During 2008, the Waimanalo Construction Coalition reported receiving $143,729 in gifts and grants.
Jamila is also a partner in Waimanalo Construction LLC, a for-profit construction company registered in May 2008 at the same street address as the nonprofit Waimanalo Construction Coalition.
Between July 2010 and May 2011, Waimanalo Construction LLC paid $50,000 to retain The Consilio Group of Pleasanton, California, to lobby in Washington on its behalf, U.S. Senate lobbyist registration records show.
Teruya and Jamila are also listed as general partners in A.P.A.Equipment Rentals and Services, registered to do business at the same Poalima Street address as both the for-profit and nonprofit Waimanalo Construction businesses. The company, formed in September 2003, is delinquent in filing annual reports, state business registration records show.
During 2008, the Waimanalo Construction Coalition reported spending $47,024 for equipment rentals, and another $18,948 on “supplies.” Whether any of these purchases were from the equipment rental business at the same address is not disclosed.
During the 2010 election, Teruya was co-chair of a group called “Hawaiians for Mufi,” which endorsed and campaigned for the former mayor during his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign.
In any case, there’s obviously a lot more to this than has been reported by Honolulu’s daily newspaper. There are lots of dots, both financial and political, waiting to be connected.
That’s perhaps a good way to start a new year.