Governor’s Veto List, Health & Public Safety Directors to retire, H-3 closure, testing
September 1, 2020
Aloha Neighbor,
CONSTRUCTIVE DISRUPTION: COMING TOGETHER
Changes happening in the Department of Health with the recent appointment of the disease investigation branch chief, Dr. Emily Roberson; and today, the interim appointment of Dr. Libby Char as Director of Health. We bid aloha and mahalo to Dr. Bruce Anderson, current director until September 15, and welcome Dr. Char who is an emergency physician, provides medical direction to the state’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire and Ocean Safety agencies and chairs the State’s EMS Advisory Committee. Let’s hope that these changes will move the department quickly into high gear to provide more useful data—especially on location of clusters so we can contain the spread; more resources into testing, investigation of cases and tracing contacts; more coordination with the hospitals, doctors, community agencies; and more information to guide the public in being part of the solution. Let us hope…
WE NEED COORDINATION & COOPERATION BY EVERYONE –Yes, YOU, too!
Today the Senate COVID-19 Committee heard from Dr. Jill Hoggard Green, Queen’s President & CEO; Andrew Giles, Assistant Administrator & COVID-19 Incident Commander and Jonathan Ching, Government Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. These hospitals have been meeting daily with other health care providers to coordinate their resources to meet the increasing need– from equipment to staff. Recently DOH has joined them. Both hospitals are short-staffed and hiring travel nurses; but they are proactive and testing every patient, contract tracing, sharing equipment and supplies as needed. Kaiser can test up to 7,000 daily and is providing free testing for its members. Queens is increasing its testing paid for by insurers but it will work with patients who aren’t insured. Tests are evolving daily and Queen’s is researching the state of the art to use here. One clear message that the DOH and the hospitals tell us: We need to change our behaviors. Our community must understand and follow the health directives to reduce the spread: wear your mask, wash your hands, keep your distance from others (the 6-foot rule), and get a flu shot. Dr. Green says these actions can be life-saving. To learn more about what these hospitals are doing, you can see notes from Monday’s briefing here when they become available.
DOCTOR’S ORDERS: Get Your FLU SHOT Early
Dr. Green and other health experts are telling us that flu shots are more important than ever this year. They urge getting vaccinated in September or early October at the latest before the flu season really peaks. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, health experts say they want to avoid putting additional strain on the health care system. If you are getting a flu shot, get your temperature checked before and wear a face covering. Longs and CVS pharmacists and MinuteClinic providers administer vaccines wearing PPE and use enhanced cleaning protocols. You can make a CVS appointment here or by text FLU to 287898.
MORE SURGE TESTING: On H-3 FREEWAY SEPT. 1 AND SEPT. 3
The H-3 Freeway will be closed in both directions between the Halawa Interchange and the Halekou Interchange in Kaneohe from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tomorrow (9/1) and Thursday (9/3). H-3 is closed for surge testing; only those driving in for the free COVID-19 surge test will be allowed. To register or get details on available testing times visit www.doineedacovid19test.com You should know: Testing is between 9am – 2pm.
Vehicles will not be allowed to line up earlier than 8:30 a.m.
Vehicles can enter H-3 to line up for the testing from the following ramps:
H-201 Moanalua Freeway eastbound (Exit 1C) at the Halawa Interchange, offramps to H-3 East/Kaneohe;
H-201 Moanalua Freeway westbound (Exit 1D) at the Halawa Interchange, offramps to H-3 East/Kaneohe;
H-1 eastbound (Exit 13A) offramp to H-3 & 78 East – Honolulu/Kaneohe;
H-1 westbound (Exit 13B) offramp to H-3 & 78 East – Honolulu/Kaneohe;
Kamehameha Highway Kaneohe bound, offramp to H-3 West/Pearl Harbor.
Kamehameha Highway Kailua bound, offramp to H-3 West/Pearl Harbor.
No access to H-3 from Likelike Highway
Registration and testing will take place inside the tunnels in both directions. This will be on the right-hand side. The left lanes of the tunnel will be open for emergency access.
Vehicles can drive to the registration tables, present vouchers and receive the test kit, proceeding to the testing tables to complete the process.
Once testing is completed vehicles must continue on the H-3; no turnarounds.
Test results will be emailed to you in 3-5 days.
GOVERNOR DOESN’T LIKE SOME OF OUR BILLS: INTENT TO VETO LIST
The Legislature passed a number of bills amidst the challenges of COVID-19, but Governor did not like some of our bills. In addition to some of our CARES Act allocations (SB 126) in which he line-item vetoed the $100/week “UI plus up” appropriation and other cuts, Governor Ige intends to veto six bills below. If any of these are bills you want to see signed into law, you have time to contact the Governor. At this point, they may be vetoed, signed, or become law without the Governor’s signature by September 15. See the Governor’s justification for his intent to veto here.
HB1523 HD1 SD2 appropriates $6.4 million of CARES funds for PPE and devices to public schools.
HB1846 HD2 SD2 requires certain State agencies and facilities to adopt specific energy saving measures.
HB2124 HD1 SD2 prohibits former State elected and appointed officials from representing certain interests in a legislative or administrative action before the State for twelve months after the termination of their employment.
SB2206 SD2 HD2 authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to issue revocable month-to-month temporary permits for the temporary emergency sheltering of and facilities for homeless persons on state lands, under certain conditions.
SB2523 SD1 HD2 requires the Department of Public Safety to expend certain appropriated funds during fiscal year 2020-2021 solely for the community-based work furlough program for female inmates.
SB2638 SD2 HD3 establishes a five-year pilot project to strengthen state and county responses to domestic violence and increase offender accountability through changes in the penal code and require annual reporting.
The Governor also announced today (8/31) the retirement of Nolan Espinda as Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director on Oct. 1. Current DPS Deputy Director for Administration, Maria Cook, will be temporarily assigned to the position.
HONOLULU RALLIES TO URGE CONGRESS TO ACT: RESTART ACT (S.3814)
You can join Honolulu Mayor Caldwell in a national campaign imploring the U.S. Congress to pass the RESTART Act (S.3814) which will offer economic relief to the Live Events Industry that has been virtually shuttered since March, putting millions of people out of work. Additionally, the movement supports ExtendPUA.org advocating the continuation and extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Act to provide relief to jobless due to COVID-19.
The Live Event Industry nationwide event is happening tomorrow—Tuesday (9/1), from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. As many as 1,500 buildings across North America will be lit in red with the goal of raising public awareness that the Live Events Industry is on Red Alert for its very survival, and of pressuring Congress to act. On Oahu “red” will be the color of the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall and Arena in support and solidarity with Live Event Industry workers. Supporters are encouraged to use #WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART and #ExtendPUAon social media to hashtag the event. For more details on recent calls to action, go to: https://wemakeevents.org or https://nitolive.org/resources/take-action/.
