Author: admin

  • New park restrictions, House COVID hearing, food distribution

    New park restrictions, House COVID hearing, food distribution

    “As long as individuals in our communities fail to accept personal responsibility for the spread of COVID-19, we are unfortunately going to see continued days of triple digit numbers….This already has resulted in the renewal of restrictions on large social gatherings…and is likely going to lead to additional ones.”

    ~ Dr. Bruce Anderson, Hawaii State Health Director

    Aloha Neighbor,

    With Hawaii‘s new record of 207, the highest, single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases thus far, Mayor Caldwell has already reinstated some restrictions for City parks and recreational facilities, described below. The Administration has also adjusted to the surge: a delay in the start date of public schools, the ongoing installation of airport thermal screening cameras, and waiting for the feds to agree on a relief package.  Fortunately, some community organizations are not waiting; they are actively serving those in need with food distribution drives.

    CITY PARK RESTRICTIONS DUE TO COVID SURGE
    Restrictions outlined in Mayor Caldwell’s Emergency Order 2020-22 have resulted in the reinstatement of some Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) facility restrictions. The most notable are:

    • No indoor or outdoor social gatherings exceeding 10 people
    • No new picnic permits issued (but will honor previously approved permits)
    • While outdoor team sports events are allowed up to 100 people,  they are not meant to be social gatherings so participants must leave after the event finishes.
    • Beaches may only be used from a half an hour before sunrise to a half an hour after sunset, unless being used for fishing or exercise. Regular City park closure hours remain in effect.
    • Campgrounds already have a 10-person limit per campsite;  if large gatherings occur they may be closed again.

    HOUSE COVID MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
    The House of Representatives continues its assembly of community leaders to problem-solve and monitor covid-impacted sectors to boost our safe economic recovery. Highlights of yesterday’s (8/3) meeting:

    • FEDERAL RELIEF. Congress is still negotiating a relief package. Points of contention relate to Medicaid, PPP, UI, stimulus payment, extension of CARES act money through 2021.
    • TOURISM / PRE-TRAVEL TESTING. Tour industry partners.– wholesalers, hotels, airlines— are being contacted to notify them about our pre-travel testing. The Administration is executing contracts with pharmacies despite difficulty in obtaining pre-tests due to the mainland covid surge.
    • CARES ACT MONEY. The $8.4 billion CARES Act funds are being documented, where the money is going, who the expending agencies are, how much is drawn down from feds & how much is expended with each agency.
    • JAPANESE BUBBLE–– Japan has identified Hawaii as the only U.S. state to start a travel bubble, it will include exchanging testing protocols, and communication with testing partners and Japan travel agencies.

    FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION: NA KUPUNA MAKAMAE CENTER
    Dates: August 8, 15, 22, 29
    Time: 12 – 2:30 pm (while supplies last)
    Place: 653 Ala Moana Blvd. (Corner of Keawe St. and Ala Moana Blvd., old pump station)
    See flyer for details

    HAWAII FOOD BANK ASSISTANCE UPDATE
    With the addition of food safety guidelines and a flyer of specific resources (mental health, legal, rental, veteran, food, shelter and abuse issues, etc.), the handout broadens its outreach to individuals who most likely have more than just food access issues. View the handout here.

    OTHER DISTRICT PROJECTS AND MEETINGS OF INTEREST

    • MOILIILI AREA SEWER RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
      Sewer reconstruction involving work on Isenberg and Hausten Streets between Date and South King Streets is set to begin September 1st and last for a year.  The allowable work hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.  For more information, see this flyer.
    • MCCULLY – MOILIILI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETING
      THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020, 6:30 p.m.
      McCully District Park
      831 Pumehana Street
      See agenda here.
    • HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY –  Wednesday, August 5, 2020, 10:30 a.m.  The virtual meeting will discuss construction issues affected by the Governor‘s emergency proclamations, including right of entry, approval of contract services, utility easement, and environmental impact statements.  See the agenda here.  Accessible to the public on facebook.
    • SENATE COVID COMMITTEE MEETING – Thursday, August 6 at 2pm; DOT and DOH will update the committee on arriving travelers, COVID testing and contact tracing. Live viewing will be available on Olelo Channel 49 and on olelo.org.

    Take care & stay safe!

  • Record cases, bars shuttered, Governor vetoes COVID funding

    Record cases, bars shuttered, Governor vetoes COVID funding

    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 SELECT COMMITTEE meets on Monday (8/3) at 10am. 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.

    Take care & stay safe!