Aloha, friends
Big Island Video News is sending this out to fans and supporters of our news gathering efforts here on Hawaii Island.
As you may already be aware, we have a weekly TV program on Na Leo o Hawaii public access television (Wednesday on ch. 54 at 6:30 pm, replay on Friday on ch. 53 at 7:30 pm)
Na Leo provides generous support for this program because they believe it serves the public interest. It is a strong first step towards providing dedicated TV news for Hawaii Island, and it helps to fulfill the station's PEG mission (public, education and government) with our varied coverage.
At this point in time, nearly 100% of our funding comes from the support provided by Na Leo. We have plans to introduce additional revenue from website advertising at some point in the future, but until that time, the Na Leo funding is critical to our continued operation. (The weekly TV show cannot have advertising, as per Na Leo rule.)
The Na Leo board of directors is about to consider the continued funding of our newscast at their next meeting in June. In making their decision, they need to see that our efforts matter to the local community in order to justify the expense.
We ask that if you share our opinion that we are doing important work for the community, and if you appreciate our efforts and would like to see them continue, please: send them a short message encouraging them to continue their funding for the Big Island Video News programming.
The message can be short or long, whatever works best for you. We have provided some simple sample letters.
The following message would be great: (For those of you that do not have cable but still appreciate Big Island Video News.)
To the Na Leo Board of Directors,
Big Island Video News provides a valuable community service and is a needed alternative to how the island receives its news and information. Please continue the Big Island Video News program on Na Leo o Hawaii TV.
Thank you,
Signed XXXX
This message would be ideal:
To the Na Leo Board of Directors,
Big Island Video News gives us a strong reason to tune in to Na Leo o Hawaii television. It is a valuable addition to the programming already offered on the station. We hope that you continue to support the effort, and keep Big Island Video News on Na Leo o Hawaii TV.
Thank you,
signed XXXX
We encourage you to use your own words, and only ask that you be truthful in what you write.
Please send your message by email to davidcorrigan@bigislandvideonews.com, and please copy general manager, Juergen Denecke, at jdenecke-naleo@hawaii.rr.com
If you prefer to send via traditional mail, the Na Leo address is:
Leo O Hawai'i, Inc - Community Television
91 Mohouli Street
Hilo, HI 96720
The deadline is this Thursday, June 24th.
Thank you for your kokua. Taking the five minutes to send this message stating your support will go a long way to preserving the current level of Big Island Video News service. We hope to grow and provide an even higher level of service in the future, and this funding is crucial to achieving that goal.
Mahalo!
David Corrigan
Big Island Video News
895-9855
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
West Hawaii Today - The argument for renewable energy
Is the problem only energy? How is it billed on our power bill???
West Hawaii Today - from archives > Opinion > Letters - Your Voice > The argument for renewable energy#blogcomments#blogcomments
West Hawaii Today - from archives > Opinion > Letters - Your Voice > The argument for renewable energy#blogcomments#blogcomments
Do you have a Home Owners Exemption? Better check your TAXES may be going UP!
Today I was reviewing the multiple listings for North Kona and I noticed something.
Billy Kenoi and our County Council just voted to increase property taxes on agricultural land.
When we bought our home in 1988 our home was zoned unplanned. A few years ago the County decided to change a lot of property designations to AGI (Agricultural).
Here are a few subdivisions that are zoned A5/A. Does that mean all of the Agi zonings will be subject to Billy’s Tax Increase?
Kona Coastview, Kaloko, Wonderview (7,500 sq. ft lots), Palisades (10,000 sq ft lots), Kona Highlands (8,000 to 10,00 sq ft lots), Kona Acres, Kona Hills Estates…
Kona Heavens, Keopu Heights……………..
=====================================================================
I just got off the phone with Hawaii Property Tax Department and here are a few good things to know.
1. If your property is assessed at any of these rates, then here are your taxes.
$0 to $25,000 $25.00 a year
$25,001-$50,000 $50.00 a year
$50,001-$75,000 $75.00 a year
Above $75,000 is at the assessed rate.
2. If your property has a homeowners exemption
of owner occupied plus 20% of assessed value plus $40,000
For Disabled Vets $100.00
Culilani land descendent Hawaiians only $100.00
Additional exemption for 60 years up $40,000
*****NOTE*****
To get a homeowners exemption you have until June 30th
for the next payment or December 30th for 2011 Property Tax Bill.
http://www.hawaiipropertytax.com/ for more information.
People may not know their property is Agi and if they don’t have any exemptions then their taxes will be going UP UP and Away!!!!
You can call me and I can check your property's exemptions on MLS. Be happy to!
Aloha, Susan 325-7576
Billy Kenoi and our County Council just voted to increase property taxes on agricultural land.
When we bought our home in 1988 our home was zoned unplanned. A few years ago the County decided to change a lot of property designations to AGI (Agricultural).
Here are a few subdivisions that are zoned A5/A. Does that mean all of the Agi zonings will be subject to Billy’s Tax Increase?
Kona Coastview, Kaloko, Wonderview (7,500 sq. ft lots), Palisades (10,000 sq ft lots), Kona Highlands (8,000 to 10,00 sq ft lots), Kona Acres, Kona Hills Estates…
Kona Heavens, Keopu Heights……………..
=====================================================================
I just got off the phone with Hawaii Property Tax Department and here are a few good things to know.
1. If your property is assessed at any of these rates, then here are your taxes.
$0 to $25,000 $25.00 a year
$25,001-$50,000 $50.00 a year
$50,001-$75,000 $75.00 a year
Above $75,000 is at the assessed rate.
2. If your property has a homeowners exemption
of owner occupied plus 20% of assessed value plus $40,000
For Disabled Vets $100.00
Culilani land descendent Hawaiians only $100.00
Additional exemption for 60 years up $40,000
*****NOTE*****
To get a homeowners exemption you have until June 30th
for the next payment or December 30th for 2011 Property Tax Bill.
http://www.hawaiipropertytax.com/ for more information.
People may not know their property is Agi and if they don’t have any exemptions then their taxes will be going UP UP and Away!!!!
You can call me and I can check your property's exemptions on MLS. Be happy to!
Aloha, Susan 325-7576
Thursday, June 17, 2010
*112 on your Cell phone can SAVE YOUR LIFE!
Some know about the red light on cars, but nots the *112.
It was about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have always told her never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they get to a gas station, etc.
Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called *112 on her cell phone to tell the
police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was anunmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way.
Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground.
The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.
I never knew about the *112 Cell Phone Feature,
but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe place.
*Speaking to a service representative at ** Bell ** Mobility confirmed that *112 was a direct link to State trooper info.So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about *112.
You may want to Send this to every woman (and man) you know; it may save a life.
This applies to ALL 50 states
It was about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have always told her never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they get to a gas station, etc.
Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called *112 on her cell phone to tell the
police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was anunmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way.
Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground.
The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.
I never knew about the *112 Cell Phone Feature,
but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe place.
*Speaking to a service representative at ** Bell ** Mobility confirmed that *112 was a direct link to State trooper info.So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about *112.
You may want to Send this to every woman (and man) you know; it may save a life.
This applies to ALL 50 states
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Summer Block Party and Music Festival in Waikoloa
Summer Block Party & Music Festival
Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010
Time: 9:00am - 10:00pm
Location: Hooko St Park, Waikoloa Village, Big Island of Hawaii
Description.Aloha from Greg Rideout of Loud & Clear Productions, Live Sound Contractor on the Big Island. We have joined forces with the non-profit group Waikoloa Community Development Corporation and are asking you to join us in raising funds for a new Skate Park in Waikoloa Village. This project began several years ago and with your help could be ready to break ground in the near future.
Loud & Clear Productions ‘Summer Block Party & Music Festival’ on July 17th 2010, Hooko St Park in Waikoloa Village from 9am - 10pm will feature some of the Best of the Big Islands top musicians/performers, 5K Skateboard Race (first of its kind), Skate Ramp Exhibitions, Car & Bike Show-Poker Run, Hula & Fire Knife Dancers, Traditional hands-on Hawaiian Cultural Village with crafts & learning plus much more. All proceeds from gate, car & bike show, raffles and auctions will go to the non-profit organization. Huge Mahalo to sponsors KAPA & Native FM, Hawaii Event Lighting, Monster Energy, Koa Puna MC, Oasis Skateboards and many more.
An all day stellar line-up of Entertainers featuring ‘Opu Vibes, Kapakahi Brothers, Ressless Soulz, Keoki Kahumuku, Johnny Shot, Donald Kaulia, Hama’Jang, the Coral Heads, Blaine Brown & the Downtowns and Ras Sparrow. Headlining this event are RJ Kaneou and Ka’u featuring legendary performers Bruddah Waltah & Sistah Robi.
This is a challenging endeavor and we need help from our local business community. Support from local community civic organizations onsite will show the support to our youth & community and the rest of the Island. For more information call (808) 936-4400.
check out the link for flyer... http://www.veryclearsound.com/Events---Pics.html
Monday, June 14, 2010
Next O'oma Land Use Commission hearing
Aloha e,
The next date for public testimony on O’oma Beachside Villages (OBV) request to reclassify 181 acres of coastal Conservation land into Urban is this Thursday at 1:30PM at the King Kamehameha Hotel.
Talking points against this application include:
1) The Land Use Commission has already twice denied upzoning of this land.
2) Reasons to keep this land in Conservation have become much greater over the past two decades.
3) The infrastructure deficit in Kona, such as traffic and sewage treatment, has dramatically increased.
4) The National Park Service has found that the State Historic Preservation Division has not adequately protected cultural sites over the past ten years and is threatening to yank SHPD’s funding. As such, no Archaeological Inventory Survey or Cultural Impact Statement for any property can be relied upon.
5) The University of Hawai’i-Hilo Marine Sciences Department conducted a study of our nearshore marine water quality which found that “conditions may be developing for extreme environmental degradation”.
6) If all existing approvals for subdivisions and other development already approved in Kona were in place, Kona would look like Honolulu.
7) Numerous studies and polls of the Kona community conducted over the years have proven beyond doubt that Kona residents want “Kona to stay Kona”.
8) Given that one of OBV has hired as a consultant former Hawai’i County Deputy Managing Director and former state Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Director, Peter Young (Ho’okuleana), it is clear that the developer has inside political influence that the community does not enjoy (see NOTE below).
Regardless, there is no economic or legal basis for approval of the OBV application on this land.
If you cannot attend the LUC meeting, please send your testimony to luc@dbedt.hawaii.gov .
Mahalo ia oe!
NOTE: At the March 3rd LUC meeting in Waikoloa, OBV’s consultants and other financially-conflicted supporters arrived early, forcing those opposed to the project to wait for many hours to testify. In addition, many people, including Kona representative Brenda Ford, attended the LUC meeting the next day under the traditional assumption that public testimony would be taken at the beginning of that meeting. However, they were not allowed to do so, despite having driven to Waikoloa from Kona.
Using experience as a guide, those opposing the project arrived early to the May 5th meeting so they could testify first. However, without prior notice, the LUC changed its traditional protocol of first-to-sign-up/first-to-testify. The reason given was to allow those who had not previously testified to testify first. As a result, everyone who had previously testified at the March 3rd meeting were forced to wait for as long as seven hours to testify.
After this, I received e-mails from numerous people, who had taken time from their jobs and businesses, saying that they would never again attend an LUC meeting. So much for encouraging public participation…
Chuck Flaherty
The next date for public testimony on O’oma Beachside Villages (OBV) request to reclassify 181 acres of coastal Conservation land into Urban is this Thursday at 1:30PM at the King Kamehameha Hotel.
Talking points against this application include:
1) The Land Use Commission has already twice denied upzoning of this land.
2) Reasons to keep this land in Conservation have become much greater over the past two decades.
3) The infrastructure deficit in Kona, such as traffic and sewage treatment, has dramatically increased.
4) The National Park Service has found that the State Historic Preservation Division has not adequately protected cultural sites over the past ten years and is threatening to yank SHPD’s funding. As such, no Archaeological Inventory Survey or Cultural Impact Statement for any property can be relied upon.
5) The University of Hawai’i-Hilo Marine Sciences Department conducted a study of our nearshore marine water quality which found that “conditions may be developing for extreme environmental degradation”.
6) If all existing approvals for subdivisions and other development already approved in Kona were in place, Kona would look like Honolulu.
7) Numerous studies and polls of the Kona community conducted over the years have proven beyond doubt that Kona residents want “Kona to stay Kona”.
8) Given that one of OBV has hired as a consultant former Hawai’i County Deputy Managing Director and former state Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Director, Peter Young (Ho’okuleana), it is clear that the developer has inside political influence that the community does not enjoy (see NOTE below).
Regardless, there is no economic or legal basis for approval of the OBV application on this land.
If you cannot attend the LUC meeting, please send your testimony to luc@dbedt.hawaii.gov .
Mahalo ia oe!
NOTE: At the March 3rd LUC meeting in Waikoloa, OBV’s consultants and other financially-conflicted supporters arrived early, forcing those opposed to the project to wait for many hours to testify. In addition, many people, including Kona representative Brenda Ford, attended the LUC meeting the next day under the traditional assumption that public testimony would be taken at the beginning of that meeting. However, they were not allowed to do so, despite having driven to Waikoloa from Kona.
Using experience as a guide, those opposing the project arrived early to the May 5th meeting so they could testify first. However, without prior notice, the LUC changed its traditional protocol of first-to-sign-up/first-to-testify. The reason given was to allow those who had not previously testified to testify first. As a result, everyone who had previously testified at the March 3rd meeting were forced to wait for as long as seven hours to testify.
After this, I received e-mails from numerous people, who had taken time from their jobs and businesses, saying that they would never again attend an LUC meeting. So much for encouraging public participation…
Chuck Flaherty
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Hawaii fishing and Boating Assoc. HARBOR HELP!
Hawaii fishing & Boating Association Membership.
Please join and have your friends understand the importance of joining. No cost just need as many as possible people to join and make a showing that we care about our Harbor.
Applications can be obtained at:
Kona Marine Supply
Gentry's Kona Marina
Bite Me Fish Market
Or contact me with address and I will mail the application.
Organization is moving ahead and we need Members. Lets keep up the momentum. Dennis Coffman, Kelly Greenwell, Neil Abercrombie have written letters understanding the what the Kona Communitee is trying to accomplish.
shirl72025@hawaii.http://www.facebook.com/l/89aa6;rr.com
you can also contact
Margaret Smith-Pierce 329-1012
Tina Prettyman 329-7896
Please join and have your friends understand the importance of joining. No cost just need as many as possible people to join and make a showing that we care about our Harbor.
Applications can be obtained at:
Kona Marine Supply
Gentry's Kona Marina
Bite Me Fish Market
Or contact me with address and I will mail the application.
Organization is moving ahead and we need Members. Lets keep up the momentum. Dennis Coffman, Kelly Greenwell, Neil Abercrombie have written letters understanding the what the Kona Communitee is trying to accomplish.
shirl72025@hawaii.http://www.facebook.com/l/89aa6;rr.com
you can also contact
Margaret Smith-Pierce 329-1012
Tina Prettyman 329-7896
8th Annual Hawaii Island Seed Exchange
Aloha Everyone,
The 8th Annual Hawai'i Island Seed Exchange will be on Saturday form 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook. I hope all seed savors will be able to attend. This year's Exchange will include a short meeting to summarize the work of the recent Seed Symposium at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort in April and establish a Kona Seed Working Group of farmers/gardeners who would like to work together in this coming year on knowledge building through seed growing, selection and saving.
Please bring saved seed, cuttings, roots, and huli of food crops that do well for you. Bring a picnic lunch or plan to stay after and talk story with other seed enthusiasts! Attached is a link to more information. See you there! Lotus Cafe will also be serving delicious food!
Aloha,
Nancy Redfeather
Coordinator
322-2801
http://www.hawaiihomegrown.net/events/upcoming-events-month/icalrepeat.detail/2010/06/19/93/-/8th-annual-hawaii-island-seed-exchange-summer-solstice-celebration-south-kona
The 8th Annual Hawai'i Island Seed Exchange will be on Saturday form 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook. I hope all seed savors will be able to attend. This year's Exchange will include a short meeting to summarize the work of the recent Seed Symposium at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort in April and establish a Kona Seed Working Group of farmers/gardeners who would like to work together in this coming year on knowledge building through seed growing, selection and saving.
Please bring saved seed, cuttings, roots, and huli of food crops that do well for you. Bring a picnic lunch or plan to stay after and talk story with other seed enthusiasts! Attached is a link to more information. See you there! Lotus Cafe will also be serving delicious food!
Aloha,
Nancy Redfeather
Coordinator
322-2801
http://www.hawaiihomegrown.net/events/upcoming-events-month/icalrepeat.detail/2010/06/19/93/-/8th-annual-hawaii-island-seed-exchange-summer-solstice-celebration-south-kona
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Meet State Rep Denny Coffman tonight
Legislative “Talk Story”
Meet your State Representative, DENNY COFFMAN @
End of Session "Talk Story".
• Find out how this year's legislation will affect you.
• Sign up to for updates and newsletters by email.
• Ask questions of the Representative.
• Propose bills or ideas for next year.
• Free Spaghetti Dinner
• Get handouts on participating in the Legislative Process.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Kealakehe High School Cafeteria
4:30 – 8:00 pm
Please forward this email to others in the district.
N Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau
Thanks and see you there. Bring your family.
Meet your State Representative, DENNY COFFMAN @
End of Session "Talk Story".
• Find out how this year's legislation will affect you.
• Sign up to for updates and newsletters by email.
• Ask questions of the Representative.
• Propose bills or ideas for next year.
• Free Spaghetti Dinner
• Get handouts on participating in the Legislative Process.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Kealakehe High School Cafeteria
4:30 – 8:00 pm
Please forward this email to others in the district.
N Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau
Thanks and see you there. Bring your family.
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Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Councilman Greenwell for Higher taxes!
Dear Dave,
I thought Kelly Greenwell and Emily Nanoele-Beason went to DC. What did we get for our TAX DOLLARS? Nothing. There is no magic lamp in DC or one of these two would have brought home the bacon.
We are in fact a business and that is why we follow business practices like balancing the budget.
The mid level road is a WASTE of Tax payer dollars. It only benefits those that own property adjoining it. It doesn’t help the thousands of residents in the upper Palisades subdivisions.
Sad our own Councilman wants the rich to pay his way. He came up with the idea of charging all the rich aircraft on the ground $2,500.00 a day to stay here. He doesn't know the State operates the Airport and he has NO jurisdiction there.
What is going to happen to those renters that will now have their rents go up do to the property tax increase. The trickle down will be that the public will no longer want to vacation or buy on the Big Island. The island will become a ghost town when they find out having a rental will be guaranteed 29% taxes and the property has no chance of breaking even.
Get rid of the $100.00 min. tax if you want to be FAIR.
According to West Hawaii Today quote 5/7/10 "That category has grown the most in North Kona, increasing 34 percent in property value in one year alone.Yet County Councilman Kelly Greenwell, who represents that district, says the tax hike is perfectly acceptable to him"
Kelly never did anything prior to being County Council. Never came to a meeting, Never helped volunteer with parks,… Just a golden spoon baby that doesn’t know how to run a successful business (Hawaiian Gardens went under and the property sits with all of his improvements and nothing to show for it.)
Sadly we are at the short end of the stick when it comes to Greenwell.
Mrs. McGeachy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aloha,
Please find attached, and pasted below, Councilmember Greenwell’s June 7 & 8, 2010 Council meeting comments regarding Comm. 711.200 (Bill 211 Draft 3) -the Operating budget-FY2010-2011.
Please feel free to post on your blogs\news sites for public review and comments.
As always, feel free to email or call me with any questions,
Dave Hirt
Legislative Assistant to
Councilmember Kelly Greenwell
Council District 8, North Kona, Hawai‘i
Phone 808-327-3642
Fax 808-329-4786
dhirt@co.hawaii.hi.us
June 7, 2010
To understand the solution to fixing our budget woes, we must first accept that we can no longer think of government as a business. Government process is not based on the typical business model. In fact, government draws on an entirely different reason for being. Beyond the assurance of justice, public safety, and welfare, the responsibility of government is to ensure an economic setting wherein private business can succeed. While responsible accounting is certainly necessary, balancing the county budget, which has dominated our efforts for 6 months, is merely a part of the accounting process and cannot be considered as a required goal. Therefore, before we concern ourselves any further with what is really the Mayor’s budget, we need to focus on reviving our county’s business climate. In our present situation the only realistic way to do this is to enhance our financial situation. Since the level of government that creates money is federal, and since they have largely recognized that more cash is needed in the overall economy, and are providing it through the ARRA, we at county need to make the effort to obtain our share.
Our County’s share of the ARRA has presently been determined to exceed $500 million on a per capita basis but so far we have received only about 20% of that. To illustrate our reluctance to seek ARRA funding, had I not insisted that U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono research our eligibility to receive federal assistance in building the Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kona ($35 million) we might not have gotten it at all. Certainly it was secured by the Mayor and his staff who in a timely fashion met the requirements needed to qualify for the grant, but we as a county were content with Ms. Hirono’s rationale for why we couldn’t qualify until I challenged her thinking – and our thinking as well.
I challenge your thinking today by again insisting that federal money is available if we frame the request properly and with conviction.
The ARRA is intended to be the tool to restart the U.S. economy and like any tool, it only works if we use it − and it works a whole lot better if we learn how.
If we continue to follow the current thinking, where will the county’s business environment be a year from now? Will cutting county services and employment by 10% improve things? In this economy? Do we believe the private sector, pressed to manage with reduced services and probably intensified criminal activity based merely on not having enough to eat, is going to rally?
Do we think that the developers and investors who provide most of our jobs are going to be moved to participate in an extended economic crisis?
Fellow Councilors, please understand that we are government, not business, and as such, have quite different responsibilities, goals and objectives.
It may be the established path of business to cut back during hard times but the very last thing government does during these same hard times is cut service. Again, like so many businesses have done already, we in government do not have the option to fail. – We can not close the doors, and furthermore our success is not measured by profit – or by loss.
Our primary, and perhaps only responsibility right now is to revive the economy, and an economy does not perform if you eliminate its’ ability to grow.—if you take the capacity to earn out of the equation by not spending, the economy will only continue to decline.
Where do we think we will be next year? We are significantly worse off this year than last and we will not reverse the trend by down-sizing. The investors and the businesses who can, along with the minds who operate them, will move away and the rest of us will fail, further impacting government services.
Crime, as the only occupation that pays under those conditions, will take over, and what is left of Government will be entirely focused in that area, perhaps even, as in so many other similar situations, becoming a partner. We can’t afford to take that risk under any circumstance.
We need to return this budget to the mayor with one comment and only one comment: That we will assist his administration in any way possible to secure our share of ARRA funds, so much of which is already being held by the State – that would mean:
1. No Reduction in Service
2. No New Taxes
3. No Furloughs
I thought Kelly Greenwell and Emily Nanoele-Beason went to DC. What did we get for our TAX DOLLARS? Nothing. There is no magic lamp in DC or one of these two would have brought home the bacon.
We are in fact a business and that is why we follow business practices like balancing the budget.
The mid level road is a WASTE of Tax payer dollars. It only benefits those that own property adjoining it. It doesn’t help the thousands of residents in the upper Palisades subdivisions.
Sad our own Councilman wants the rich to pay his way. He came up with the idea of charging all the rich aircraft on the ground $2,500.00 a day to stay here. He doesn't know the State operates the Airport and he has NO jurisdiction there.
What is going to happen to those renters that will now have their rents go up do to the property tax increase. The trickle down will be that the public will no longer want to vacation or buy on the Big Island. The island will become a ghost town when they find out having a rental will be guaranteed 29% taxes and the property has no chance of breaking even.
Get rid of the $100.00 min. tax if you want to be FAIR.
According to West Hawaii Today quote 5/7/10 "That category has grown the most in North Kona, increasing 34 percent in property value in one year alone.Yet County Councilman Kelly Greenwell, who represents that district, says the tax hike is perfectly acceptable to him"
Kelly never did anything prior to being County Council. Never came to a meeting, Never helped volunteer with parks,… Just a golden spoon baby that doesn’t know how to run a successful business (Hawaiian Gardens went under and the property sits with all of his improvements and nothing to show for it.)
Sadly we are at the short end of the stick when it comes to Greenwell.
Mrs. McGeachy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aloha,
Please find attached, and pasted below, Councilmember Greenwell’s June 7 & 8, 2010 Council meeting comments regarding Comm. 711.200 (Bill 211 Draft 3) -the Operating budget-FY2010-2011.
Please feel free to post on your blogs\news sites for public review and comments.
As always, feel free to email or call me with any questions,
Dave Hirt
Legislative Assistant to
Councilmember Kelly Greenwell
Council District 8, North Kona, Hawai‘i
Phone 808-327-3642
Fax 808-329-4786
dhirt@co.hawaii.hi.us
June 7, 2010
To understand the solution to fixing our budget woes, we must first accept that we can no longer think of government as a business. Government process is not based on the typical business model. In fact, government draws on an entirely different reason for being. Beyond the assurance of justice, public safety, and welfare, the responsibility of government is to ensure an economic setting wherein private business can succeed. While responsible accounting is certainly necessary, balancing the county budget, which has dominated our efforts for 6 months, is merely a part of the accounting process and cannot be considered as a required goal. Therefore, before we concern ourselves any further with what is really the Mayor’s budget, we need to focus on reviving our county’s business climate. In our present situation the only realistic way to do this is to enhance our financial situation. Since the level of government that creates money is federal, and since they have largely recognized that more cash is needed in the overall economy, and are providing it through the ARRA, we at county need to make the effort to obtain our share.
Our County’s share of the ARRA has presently been determined to exceed $500 million on a per capita basis but so far we have received only about 20% of that. To illustrate our reluctance to seek ARRA funding, had I not insisted that U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono research our eligibility to receive federal assistance in building the Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kona ($35 million) we might not have gotten it at all. Certainly it was secured by the Mayor and his staff who in a timely fashion met the requirements needed to qualify for the grant, but we as a county were content with Ms. Hirono’s rationale for why we couldn’t qualify until I challenged her thinking – and our thinking as well.
I challenge your thinking today by again insisting that federal money is available if we frame the request properly and with conviction.
The ARRA is intended to be the tool to restart the U.S. economy and like any tool, it only works if we use it − and it works a whole lot better if we learn how.
If we continue to follow the current thinking, where will the county’s business environment be a year from now? Will cutting county services and employment by 10% improve things? In this economy? Do we believe the private sector, pressed to manage with reduced services and probably intensified criminal activity based merely on not having enough to eat, is going to rally?
Do we think that the developers and investors who provide most of our jobs are going to be moved to participate in an extended economic crisis?
Fellow Councilors, please understand that we are government, not business, and as such, have quite different responsibilities, goals and objectives.
It may be the established path of business to cut back during hard times but the very last thing government does during these same hard times is cut service. Again, like so many businesses have done already, we in government do not have the option to fail. – We can not close the doors, and furthermore our success is not measured by profit – or by loss.
Our primary, and perhaps only responsibility right now is to revive the economy, and an economy does not perform if you eliminate its’ ability to grow.—if you take the capacity to earn out of the equation by not spending, the economy will only continue to decline.
Where do we think we will be next year? We are significantly worse off this year than last and we will not reverse the trend by down-sizing. The investors and the businesses who can, along with the minds who operate them, will move away and the rest of us will fail, further impacting government services.
Crime, as the only occupation that pays under those conditions, will take over, and what is left of Government will be entirely focused in that area, perhaps even, as in so many other similar situations, becoming a partner. We can’t afford to take that risk under any circumstance.
We need to return this budget to the mayor with one comment and only one comment: That we will assist his administration in any way possible to secure our share of ARRA funds, so much of which is already being held by the State – that would mean:
1. No Reduction in Service
2. No New Taxes
3. No Furloughs
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Alaska Senator wants YOU AND ME to pay for BP Oil Spill!
http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=71
Hey there,
You won't believe this: As the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig continues to spill over 1 million gallons of oil into the Gulf everyday, Republicans are demanding less regulation for companies like BP and Transocean while also looking for a taxpayer-funded bailout of BP. Yeah, I'm serious.
After a month of oil spewing into the Gulf, the cost of cleaning up BP's mess is $542 million and counting. But a group of Republican senators led by Lisa Murkowski of Alaska want the company to only pay for about the first five days of the cleanup and put taxpayers on the hook for everything else.
That's right, Murkowski and her pals want to "Bail out BP."
I just told my Senators that this is not ok, that it's time to end offshore drilling and focus on clean energy instead. Can you do the same thing?
This website makes it really easy
http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=71
Thanks!
Hey there,
You won't believe this: As the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig continues to spill over 1 million gallons of oil into the Gulf everyday, Republicans are demanding less regulation for companies like BP and Transocean while also looking for a taxpayer-funded bailout of BP. Yeah, I'm serious.
After a month of oil spewing into the Gulf, the cost of cleaning up BP's mess is $542 million and counting. But a group of Republican senators led by Lisa Murkowski of Alaska want the company to only pay for about the first five days of the cleanup and put taxpayers on the hook for everything else.
That's right, Murkowski and her pals want to "Bail out BP."
I just told my Senators that this is not ok, that it's time to end offshore drilling and focus on clean energy instead. Can you do the same thing?
This website makes it really easy
http://act.truemajorityaction.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=71
Thanks!
Friday, June 04, 2010
Kenoi decries council budget! WHY and What is he doing about it?
West Hawaii Today - Local > Kenoi decries council budget amendments#blogcomments#blogcomments
1. Change the $100.00 min. tax to $500.00
2. remove the golf subsidy from west hawaii. charge the east hawaii golf course the lowest rate you can play golf for on the west side.
3. Remove ALL of the unfilled County positions that have not been filled in the last 2 years and put that money BACK into the budget. over 100 paid unfilled positons are being held.
4. Stop all pleasure travel from Council and mayor.
5. charge $2.00 to ride the bus. Why should it be free?
6. charge .25 to swim in any of the County pools.
7.Stop paying for lunch to the Council or the Mayor weather at home or on the road.
8. quite trying to sell any land. This is only a temporary fix. CUT the size of government down. The rest of the Nation is shrinking down their governments, BUT NOT THE BIG ISLAND.
WE ARE INCREASEING OUR BUDGET. DON'T VOTE FOR ANY OF THESE IDIOTS THAT CAN'T FIND SOLUTIONS FOR CUTTING OUR BUDGET. "
" NO TAX INCREASES.
CALL THE MAYOR
CALL YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL PERSON.
CALL ALL OF THE COUNCIL PERSONS.
MAKE IT KNOWN WE DON'T
I REPEAT WE DON'T WANT ANY
PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.
iF YOU DO NOTHING THEN YOU WILL BE SORRY! cALL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. mAKE SOME NOISE PEOPLE. "
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Links for submitting testimony to our council members:
Council Testimony: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Council District contact information;
1 Dominic Yagong < dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 961-8225
2 Donald Ikeda(808) 961-8225
3 J Yoshimoto,(808) 961-8225
4 Dennis “Fresh” Onishi(808) 961-8225
5 Emily I. Naeole(808) 965-2712
6 Guy Enriques(808) 961-8225
7 Brenda Ford(808) 326-5684
8 Kelly Greenwell(808) 327-3642
9 Pete Hoffmann(808) 887-2043
1. Change the $100.00 min. tax to $500.00
2. remove the golf subsidy from west hawaii. charge the east hawaii golf course the lowest rate you can play golf for on the west side.
3. Remove ALL of the unfilled County positions that have not been filled in the last 2 years and put that money BACK into the budget. over 100 paid unfilled positons are being held.
4. Stop all pleasure travel from Council and mayor.
5. charge $2.00 to ride the bus. Why should it be free?
6. charge .25 to swim in any of the County pools.
7.Stop paying for lunch to the Council or the Mayor weather at home or on the road.
8. quite trying to sell any land. This is only a temporary fix. CUT the size of government down. The rest of the Nation is shrinking down their governments, BUT NOT THE BIG ISLAND.
WE ARE INCREASEING OUR BUDGET. DON'T VOTE FOR ANY OF THESE IDIOTS THAT CAN'T FIND SOLUTIONS FOR CUTTING OUR BUDGET. "
" NO TAX INCREASES.
CALL THE MAYOR
CALL YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL PERSON.
CALL ALL OF THE COUNCIL PERSONS.
MAKE IT KNOWN WE DON'T
I REPEAT WE DON'T WANT ANY
PROPERTY TAX INCREASES.
iF YOU DO NOTHING THEN YOU WILL BE SORRY! cALL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. mAKE SOME NOISE PEOPLE. "
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Links for submitting testimony to our council members:
Council Testimony: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Council District contact information;
1 Dominic Yagong < dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us> (808) 961-8225
2 Donald Ikeda
3 J Yoshimoto,
4 Dennis “Fresh” Onishi
5 Emily I. Naeole
6 Guy Enriques
7 Brenda Ford
8 Kelly Greenwell
9 Pete Hoffmann
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