Record cases, bars shuttered, Governor vetoes COVID funding
August 1, 2020
Aloha Neighbor,
As we end the week and plan for the weekend, be mindful –more than ever. We are seeing triple digit numbers of cases so be careful for yourselves and for your neighbors.
NEW RECORD HIGHS…Lead to New Restrictions to Protect Us
In light of the recent surge and record-breaking numbers of Hawaii’s COVID cases –124 cases Thursday (7/30) and one fewer but nevertheless too high at 123 on Friday, the Mayor tightened some restrictions. Enjoy your time at home again as bars will be closed beginning Friday July 31. Governor Ige approved the City’s amended order (See Rule 22 in Exhibit A) that removes “bars” as a designated business or operation (effectively shutting down bars). The closure of Oahu’s bars will be re-evaluated in three weeks. But you can dine out –just consume your alcoholic drinks by 10pm as the Order also prohibits the sale, service, and consumption of liquor after 10 p.m. daily. Restaurants in noncompliance will be subject to immediate closure for a 24-hour period.
Condo and Apartment Residents: Be Considerate of Your Neighbors
A reminder to condo and apartment dwellers: The Mayor is requiring you to mask up and to physically distance from each other in common areas. See Rule No. 5 of the City’s amended order. HPD announced that it will enforce against violators of the Order. To encourage neighborly compliance, building managers and condo boards can post notices in mailrooms and elevators to remind residents of these rules. If you haven’t and are looking for posters, here are a few.
CARES ACT FUNDING: Governor Vetoes Funding for Needy
And if there isn’t enough pandemic gloom, the Governor made some line item vetoes in SB126, the budget bill that allocated the balance of CARES Act funding. No more $100/week state “plus up” for UI/PUA claimants; and funds are reduced for rent and mortgage assistance needed when the Governor’s eviction moratorium is lifted, for PPE supplies, and for workforce development and training, among others. For full list see here. House Speaker Scott Saiki expressed the sentiment of many in the legislature who worked hard to craft programs to help the needy weather the pandemic.
SILVER LINING AMIDST THE PANDEMIC
There are a few silver linings: resources that include alternative income streams and new and better ways to provide services through government and community partnering on solutions that work –and hopefully faster! My office will be monitoring especially those the affect our district:
RESOURCES: Help for Small Businesses & Individuals
With some COVID-related income streams ending, here are more resources that residents can tap into:
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) provides economic relief to businesses experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL can be used to cover working capital and normal operating expenses, e.g. continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. For questions, call 1-800-659-2955. Visit this website to apply.
The HCRC Emergency Loan Program gives funding priority to organizations who have already applied for the SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and are waiting for a response or have been declined. For more information, email help@hcrchawaii.com or visit this web page. And more loan resources can be found here.
Don’t forget these programs are still available from the City:
The Small Business Relief and Recovery Fund ($10,000 max) and
The Individual COVID-19 Hardship & Relief Program (up to $2,000/mo. per household and additional $500/mo. for childcare. See application information here.
HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC (HECO): Continuing Service
In March, HECO suspended collection so service would not be disrupted during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period. It will extend the moratorium on service disconnections through September 1st. HECO also strongly urges customers who are having difficulty paying their bill to contact them well before September to so they can work to find the best options to make their payments manageable. There are a variety of public and nonprofit assistance and HECO payment arrangements available. For more information see HECO’s news release.
ALA MOANA-KAKAAKO ISSUES
The Kakaako /Ala Moana Neighborhood Board met on Tuesday (7/28) with a number of issues affecting the community. Some of the issues that may interest you: halting the construction of a permanent bike lane on Pensacola Street until further community input; city council’s continuing planning of the Ala Wai Watershed flood mitigation project; Kakaako Land Company private roads update; developments relating to Transit Oriented Development plans and to Ala Moana Plaza. For more details, minutes will be posted here when available.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK: LEGISLATIVE COVID BRIEFINGS Both the House and Senate committees on COVID-19 continue during the interim. Next meetings scheduled and topics are:
COVID HOUSE SELECTCOMMITTEE meetson Monday (8/3) at10am. Viewers can watch the House of Representatives’ COVID Committee address Hawaii economic sectors impacted by the pandemic: Public Health, Tourism, Housing & Homeless, Agriculture, Food Stream, etc. Virtual meetings are held every other Monday. This Monday’s meeting is at 10am on Olelo TV, Channel 49. It will also be livestreamed on Olelo.org. View the agenda here
COVID SENATE COMMITTEE meets on Thursday (8/6) at 2pm; DOT and DOH will update the committee on arriving travelers, COVID testimony and contact tracing. More information will be posted next week.
