August - September 2008 Newsletter
Transcription
August - September 2008 Newsletter
BARBARA MARUMOTO REPRESENTATIVE 19th DISTRICT State Capitol #304, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Ph: (808) 586-6310 Fax: (808) 586-6311 [email protected] NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD REPORT AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2008 LEGISLATIVE ISSUES The Governor has released $2 million for Kalanianaole Highway improvements near Makapuu Point. Interim committees have been meeting on the economic effects of vog and state housing finance issues. Elections Office Fiasco - Rep. Marumoto was very disappointed with the actions of the Elections Commissioner when he printed the primary election ballots before challenges were settled and without consulting with political parties. Other decisions call into question his suitability for this important job. The State Dept. of Transportation planted vegetation along the on and off ramps by Kahala Mall. Tens of thousand of runners pass this area every year. Senior Citizens Issues - As Co-Convenor of the Kapuna Caucus, Rep. Marumoto is asking that the Governor release money for programs that help seniors stay at home rather than move to rest homes. The Executive Office on Aging along with the DCCA and AG issued a Hawaii Fraud Prevention & Resource Guide. It warns people about identity theft, internet, tax, securities and healthcare fraud. Remember To Vote Primary Election: September 20th Must register to vote by August 21st General Election: November 4th Must register to vote by October 6th You can find voter registration forms and information from: • Satellite City Hall • Public Libraries • US Post Offices • Phone Directories • Office of Elections website: http://hawaii.gov/elections As a member of the House Committee on Tourism, the representative attended the 2 day Tourism Conference at the Convention Center. In view of a dismal outlook, industry officials were encouraged to step up new and creative marketing efforts. Rep. Barbara Marumoto Page 2 DISTRICT CONCERNS Kahala Avenue Pool Inspected by DOH – Because of reports at the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board No. 3 of stagnant water in a swimming pool at 4585 Kahala Avenue owned by Japanese millionaire, Genshiro Kawamoto, Rep. Marumoto asked the Department of Health to look into possible health hazards. The DOH Vector Control Branch inspected the premises on June 25 and Department Director Dr. Chiyome Fukino reported the following. "The inspector observed no mosquito breeding. The inspector determined that a water pump is continuously running to circulate water and fish were present." Photographs accompanied the report. The letter and photos will be turned over to the NB No. 3 Chair. KCC CULINARY INSTITUTE GETS $5 MILLION FROM CONRAD HILTON FOUNDATION The University of Hawaii happily received $5 million to help construct the Culinary Institute slated for the slopes of Diamond Head. KCC hopes to raise a total of $14 million in private funds for the $20 million project. Currently the KCC program provides a twoyear program, but the new facility would enable it to offer advanced training and bachelors degrees. Dean of Culinary Hospitality Carol Hoshiko, Vice Chancellor Louise Pegotto, Chancellor Leon Richards, Noel Trainor, Liaison to the Hilton Foundation, ‘Nalo Farm’s Dean Okimoto, and Community Colleges Foundation’s Mariko Miho. District Schools Achieve AYP – What schools made Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind Act? Forty percent of Hawaii schools made AYP. Last year 65% made it, but it gets increasingly difficult for schools to keep improving. The schools in East Oahu did very well. In the entire Kaimuki-Kalani Complex 13 schools made the grade and only 5 did not. In contrast, on Maui, 26 schools did not make AYP - several of those must undergo restructuring - and a mere four made it. Kaimuki-Kalani School Complex Results – Neighborhood schools Aliiolani Met AYP In Good Standing, Unconditional John H. Wilson Kahala Kaimuki Middle Met Met Met " " " " " " " " " " " " Not Met " Met " Met " " " " " " " Pending " " Kalani High Liholiho Lili'uokalani 19th District Page 3 New Leadership in Schools – Kalani/Kaimuki Complex Superintendent Estelle Wong is now the Principal of Kaimuki Adult Education. The new Kalani/Kaimuki/Farrington Complex Superintendent is now Ronn Nozoe. Kahala Elementary’s new Principal is Peter Chun, who was formerly the Honolulu District Superintendent. Congratulations are in order to all concerned! Waialae Charter School 1st Day of School Did you see the photo gallery of Jodie Cheff's first grade class in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin or the spread on Kaimuki in August issue of Honolulu Magazine. Mentioned were W & M Burgers, Young Scales, Waialae Dojo, Punchbowl Fender Works, St. Patricks Church, JJ’s Bistro, Coffee Talk, Queen Theatre among others. The Kalani High rifle team practices shooting at the range behind the school. Kalani High In Need of Athletic Improvements – Rep. Marumoto toured the athletic facilities and the school is showing its 50 year old age. The weight room is small and crowded, the gym floor is starting to shift, and the trainers' offices are shabby. Alumni are holding a golf tournament to raise money for new weight room equipment. Also a student pointed out that the riflery team could use shade. Under Title IX the school requires a softball field or a girls athletic locker room. Marumoto will work to obtain these and other improvements during the 2009 legislative session. New Pre-school at Waialae Baptist Church Waialae Baptist on the corner of 21st Avenue and Harding is starting a Christian pre-school for 3 and 4 year olds. Director Danette Abe set the hours for 7 am – 3 pm weekdays at $680/mo. There is a nonrefundable $220 registration fee. Care until 5 pm will bring the cost up to $700/mo. For information call 732-5558 or 732-5561. Visit www.waialaebc.org. Kaimuki - The Kaimuki Christmas Tree Commit- Kaimuki resident Dan Carvalho displays a congratulatory certificate from the House of Representatives at the Kaimuki Orchid Society’s show that was held at Kalani High School. tee has plans to add energy efficient lights and add more strands to the frame. Donations can be sent to the Kaimuki Business & Professional Association. For more neighborhood activities, check www.kaimukihawaii.com Page 4 Neighborhood Board Report NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES 2008 REPORT As usual the NCSL annual meeting is a great learning opportunity, and the more time one invests in the proceedings, the more one takes away from the experience. I always return home with new ideas and goals. General Session – Demographer James Johnson held delegates attention on Friday as he described the specifics of the Changing Face of America. The "browning" and "graying" of the country will have profound effects on policy. Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway and Democrat pollster Celinda Lake also provided spellbinding numbers on the key issues driving voters in 2008. People's concerns have shifted markedly to expensive energy and the rising cost of living. Newt Gingrich and Lee Hamilton provided input on dealing with creativity and new solution to solve our thorny problems of health care, energy, education and the environment. Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Rendell exhorted legislators to address the nation's infrastructure issues – highways, bridges, sewer lines, etc.. DNA for Arrestees – The NCSL provided an excellent program on the crime-fighting use of DNA collected from arrestees. A panel from the National Institute of Justice of the DOJ, the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, the Justice Policy Center, the National Governor's Association, and the Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee discussed state legislation to mandate collection from arrestees. Whereas 45 states require DNA from convicted felons, only a dozen states require DNA swabs from arrestees. The Virginia expert favored arrestee samples noting that arrests take place much earlier than conviction. This means that databank matches, "hits", can be made earlier, and potentially prevent further crimes by the same person. He further noted that although the arrestees' samples comprised 2% of the profiles in the Virginia databank, it made up 9% of the hits. More information is available in my office or through NCSL. Women's Legislative Network - As a past president of the NCSL Women's Network I attend Network events. One function featured two inspirational women who are helping to restore and revitalize their New Orleans communities after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I sat in the session on the Driving Costs of College Tuition that suggested state policies to mitigate increases. Another Network panel encouraged legislators to convene concerned citizens to address pressing community issues and thorny problems. Convening stakeholders and community members can be an important problemsolving technique. Though meetings might be contentious, common ground may be found when dialogue ensues. Asian-Pacific-American Caucus – Despite the fact that no official NCSL Caucus event was scheduled, Sen. Sharon Tomiko Santos of Washington organized an informal gathering to discuss reviving the group. Hawaii Reps. Chang, Karamatsu and Sen. Fukunaga attended. Considering that there are Hispanic, Black, and a tribal caucus (that handles Hawaiian issues) under the NCSL umbrella, there should also be an APA legislators' group.