American Savings Bank Sucks

I’m absolutely frustrated with American Savings Bank. My girlfriend received a notice from the Department of Taxation stating they were unable to direct deposit her refund and she would receive a paper check. The Department of Taxation got an error message (invalid account number) when they attempted the electronic transfer with American Savings Bank.

I put the same account number/routing number for her workplace paycheck- no problems. However, ASB rejected her federal and state refunds with the same information this year.

There was yet another letter to the editor complaining about how little the current Mauna Kea telescopes pay in lease rent. I agree $1.00 a year is totally inadequate. However, the activists have requested this fee is  increased to a cumulative 50 million dollars. This is a pure and simple shakedown.

Andrew Cooper explains here why this request is also unreasonable:

“One recent letter parroted an oft heard complaint about money, that the observatories pay only a token rent for the use of the mountain. The assumption in paying a “fair market value” rent presupposes that there is profit involved. The telescopes are non-profit institutions, these institutions make no money from the use of the summit of Mauna Kea.

The only ones making a profit from the observatories are the businesses and citizens of Hawai’i that benefit from the millions of dollars that these telescopes bring to the island. Millions of dollars in payroll, millions more in services provided by local businesses. This money has a direct impact on the lives of every resident of the island.”

My brother was a direct beneficiary of the Mauna Kea telescopes. He participated in the Akamai Observatory Internship Program in 2005.

Hawaii247 published my letter to the editor regarding my frustration with the anti-Mauna Kea astronomy activists. I hope the other local newspapers publish this op-ed.

Lastly, I received this follow-up e-mail from Councilman Enriques office regarding the estimated time line when the unfinished HOVE well facility may be completed.

Aloha Mr. Stene,

I would love for you to see the timeline chart: it is a very impressive, complex grid of duties interlocking the actions of several subcontractors, 97 stages with it culminating with the DWS operational acceptance on or before January 25, 2011. It is very understandable that it’s a challenge to revise such plans. Meanwhile the project continues to move forward.

We are awaiting an updated timeline, and expect to receive it soon. The last timeline as stated above, had a completion date of January 2011. I would hazard a guess a few months further on would be the new target, but we do not know yet. I’ll be sure to write you as soon as we have the next published set of plans.