I noticed this rebuttal letter to the editor in WHT to attorney Margaret Wille’s letter to the editor questioning the legality of Hawaii County’s fair share assessment system. As far as I understand property taxes are largely used to fund county services, not to build infrastructure. If the latter wasn’t the case then Hawaii County wouldn’t have to float bonds to build infrastructure here.
I had concerns about impact fees due to how it would affect the cost of housing here.I was afraid that it would increase the cost of building that first home out of reach of local families.On top of that, there is a dearth of affordable housing. However I think the 2007 Coupe decision has forced the County’s hand. On top of that, the county’s practice of floating bonds to build infrastructure is unsustainable. Thus I’m a bit more receptive to the county enacting a impact fee ordinance.
The DHHL portion of the Manawalea Street extension will be opened by late April, according to Hawaii247.
The Legislative Hawaiian Caucus held a meeting in regards to State of Hawaii’s fiduciary responsibility to fund the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Attorney Alan Murakami spoke about the latter point during his testimony in front of the caucas.
As it stands now, DHHL largely funds its operations through leasing land to commercial entities. However there is a lawsuit making its way through the courts where the plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory judgment blocking DHHL from leasing homestead land to commercial entities.I strongly feel that if this lawsuit succeeds, DHHL will not be able to get more qualified Native Hawaiians a homestead. Especially since it is unlikely taxpayers would be able pay the $100,000 per lot infrastructure cost to open up more homestead land.
There has been more interesting legal commentary about the Hawaii Supreme Court invalidating Act II which I’ve posted the links to below :
“Other legal blogs on the Superferry decision”
“Sierra Club v. DOT (HSC March 16, 2009)”
This ruling has spurred a flurry of commentary about this turn of events also :
“What is the real reason that the Hawaii Superferry is leaving?”
“Saving the Hawaii Superferry: Federalize the Vessel”
“If no agreement on harbor expenses, state can exercise its third mortgage on the Superferry”
The Hawaii Superferry will announce its future intentions in wake of the Hawaii Supreme Court ruling on Thursday.On a related note, according to Honolulu Advertiser Reporter Derrick DePledge, the State legislature has joined Governor Lingle in asking Hawaii’s high court to reconsider parts of their Hawaii Superferry decision.
Lastly, this the latest information I received in regards to Hawaiian Telcom relocating their utility poles fronting Grace Church.
“I spoke to Ann Nishida of Hawaiian Tel today about Grace Church’s predicament. As far as I understood the lack of communication recently between HT and Grace was due to HT’s island manager being promoted to a position on Oahu.This person was apparently the point of contact between the church and HT. Thus unfortunately this issue slipped through the cracks.
On that note, HT is nearly finished relocating the poles. However they still are waiting for a permit to close the road temporarily to finish the job. The current schedule is showing a early April 2009 completion date for this pole relocation.”
