You may be interested in some items below at the state level as well as a number of happenings in the district.
AT STATE: GOVERNOR SIGNS MORE BILLS.
September 15 was the last day the Legislature could override bills the Governor vetoed. The Legislature did not override any vetoed bills. The following measures were signed into law by the Governor, among the other bills that became law. You can see them all here. If you have questions feel free to contact me:
HB1929, Act 034, Extends the deadline for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to renegotiate an existing, or issue a new, ground lease for the Front Street Apartments affordable housing project before the corporation’s requirement to initiate condemnation proceedings is triggered.
HB2183, Act 042, Increases the Hula Mae Multifamily Revenue Bond authorization ceiling amount to continue financing affordable rental housing statewide.
SB2893, Act 065, Amends the definition of “chronically homeless individual” to provide clarity and improve the delivery and development of homeless services.
SB3117, Act 069, Extends the emergency department homelessness assessment pilot program and medical respite pilot program to 06/30/2021. Clarifies the lapse date for encumbered resources for the pilot programs that were previously appropriated.
SENATE WILL CONVENE IN SPECIAL SESSION TO ADVISE & CONSENT ON JUDICIAL NOMINEES
The Senate will be going into special session early in October to confirm one Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge and seven District/Family Court judges. The session itself will be October 5-6. The nominees and positions are:
Karen T. Nakasone, Intermediate Court of Appeals
Karin L. Holma, District Court of the First Circuit
Tracy S. Fukui, District Court of the First Circuit
Bryant G.F.Y. Zane, District Court of the First Circuit
Andrew T. Park, District Court of the First Circuit
Courtney N. Naso, District Family Court of the First Circuit
Elizabeth Paek-Harris, District Family Court of the First Circuit
Thomas A.K. Haia, District Family Court of the First Circuit
LOOKING FOR JOBS AND TRAINING IN CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY: Kupu Aina Corps
As one of Hawaii Business Magazine’s 2020 “Top Places to Work in Hawaii,” Kupu provides service-learning programs to empower youth and build a more sustainable future. Just launched, Kupu Aina Corps program is a new initiative funded by the CARES Act and provides temporary employment for anyone interested in botany, natural and aquatic resource management, marine biology, Hawaiian cultural studies, agricultural science, ornithology (study of birds), and more! Click here to apply. For more information about Kupu, call (808) 735-1221 or email info@kupuhawaii.org
MORATORIUM ON HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC DISCONNECTIONS EXTENDED TO DEC. 31
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has ordered a moratorium on service disconnections for nonpayment through Dec. 31. The company voluntarily suspended its collection in March so electric service would not be disrupted while many were staying home. Customers should continue paying their bills to the extent possible. Customers are urged to get financial help by calling 2-1-1 or click here. For more information, call HECO at 548-7311, 7:30am – 6:00pm, M-F.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY LAUNCHES YOUTUBE CHANNEL
As part of the National Preparedness Month (NPM) festivities this September, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) debuts its YouTube channel. You’ll get information on disaster preparedness AND pandemic safety. For more information, call 733-4300 x529 or email Hawaiiema@hawaii.gov
PROPOSED ALA MOANA PLAZA DEVELOPMENT—WEIGH IN AT THE KAKAAKO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD: SEPT. 22
Brookfield Properties is proposing a new mixed-use 400 ft. tower at 451 Piikoi St. The project consists of 583 multi-family units of which 124 will be affordable, about 1,500 sq.ft. of commercial space, and 220 parking stalls. Click here to view the Ala Moana Plaza development plan. The Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board is considering a resolution that expresses concerns regarding the project. View the agenda and resolution here. If you have input: EMAIL WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov 48 hours prior to the meeting. You can also attend the board meeting via zoom.
More background: The proposed 400′ tower of the Ala Moana Plaza would be allowable under the Ala Moana Neighborhood Transit Oriented Development 2016 Draft Final Plan ( see pgs. 130-131). Current City rules set the building height limit for the proposed site to a maximum 100′. Under the proposed TOD plan, the 100′ limit can be exceeded if adequate “community benefits” are included by the developer (pg. 138). Under consideration at the City Council is Resolution 19-238 which would adopt the TOD plan but with some amendments that would allow more 400′ high rises to be built on the Ala Moana Center block. The last hearing for that resolution was on June 18, 2020, but decision was postposed as the Council sought more community input. No future hearing has yet been set.
CITY-SPONSORED OPEN MARKETS RESUME THIS SATURDAY: SEPT 19
Certified farmers’ markets are considered essential businesses under the Mayor’s emergency orders, and with park parking lots reopened, open markets will resume. Our district location was to be at Magic Island in Ala Moana Park but has been moved temporarily due to construction. It will be at the parking lot adjacent to the Canoe Hale on the mauka side of Ala Moana Park Drive just Ewa of Waikiki Yacht Club. The Market opens at 10 am starting this Monday, and will continue weekly thereafter:
Ala Moana Regional Park (Magic Island) 1201 Ala Moana Boulevard Every Monday 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. *Currently relocated to the Canoe Hale Parking Lot due to a parking lot reconstruction project*
View the schedules of all rotating sites here
For produce types, and shopping tips, click here
For more information, call the Department of Parks and Recreation, Nathan Serota at (808) 768-3046.
REMINDER: DON’T FORGET TO COMPLETE THE US CENSUS
The 2020 Census counts everyone who lives in the U.S. as of April 1, 2020. Mandated by the US Constitution, the Census statistics help determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and how billions of dollars in federal funds are allocated by state, local, and federal lawmakers every year for the next 10 years. Census takers are currently doing door-to-door visits to get census responses. The national self-response rate is 66.0% whereas the Hawaii self-response rate is 62.4%. Help Hawaii get its fair share of federal funds –especially now – go NOW to: my2020census.gov. Mahalo!
