Small Business Hawaii | Volume 24 Number 11 | November 1999
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
Small Business Hawaii | Volume 24 Number 11 | November 1999
Sam Slom is also a State Senator from the 8th District (Waialae Iki to Hawaii Kai)
and has a website at this URL: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html
Just when you thought things couldn't get worse - 8 years of the nation's worst economy - the ILWU unionized stevedores proved us wrong. They flexed their muscle and voted to strike and tie up shipping - Hawaii's lifeline - thus strangling the remaining lifeblood from these Islands. They demand salary and benefit "parity" with West Coast dockworkers even though they average $96,000 annually. When the strike threat first surfaced, Isle residents rushed to retailers and bought out the two most important commodities: toilet paper and rice. Last minute state and citizen efforts to "save the Honolulu Star-Bulletin" and a TRO before October 30 will most likely buy time, but not another editorial voice in the community. The Sun Press community papers are gone, and the locally owned Maui News is on the block. Can full Internet news be far behind? I like former City Councilman Kekoa Kaapu and several of his innovative legislative suggestions involving real property appraisals and taxation, but what was the Harvard grad smoking when he proposed the City condemn the Star-Bulletin under urban renewal powers, then run it?? What should be condemned is any more government condemnation of private businesses in this state. Billed as the "richest auto race in history," the over-hyped Hawaiian Super Grand Prix race, scheduled for this month at Kalaeloa, was cancelled October 19 when $10 million in financing was not paid to the sponsoring Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. (CART) firm. The purse was to be $10 million; a record $5 million to the winner. Mario Andretti was prominently involved. The race failed to materialize in part because the money had not been secured, television deals fell through, no major sponsor came forward, and expenses ate up the project - just like our state does "business." Pacific Business News scooped the financial problems with this PR race, and was vilified for "negative" reporting. Backers said there was "no chance" the race wouldn't be held. Prominent pols originally backed the project, then backed away. CART is the big winner: it cashed the $5 million performance bond and its stock increased 2-1/8. Poor Kazu Hayashida, former water board head who used to round up "water weenies." As head of the State Department of Transportation, he's been caught-several times-in embarrassing situations where he oversaw the awarding of millions of dollars in non-bid contracts to his son's firm and his wife's employer. He said he didn't know he was supposed to fully report employment information on Ethics Commission financial disclosure forms. The Gov rushed to provide an answer: change the law so public officials don't have to provide disclosure information. The Ethics Commission, having seized the Capitol computer last year of then Rep. Terrance Tom, took no action against the former lawmaker for campaigning done in his office using the computer and other resources during state time with a state employee. Tom said he didn't know what was going on or what was on his computer, because he's blind. That didn't stop him from leading the House Judiciary Committee for years, offering the "Stop Linda Lingle" bill, or accepting a retainer from Bishop Estate. The staffer couldn't be charged because Tom admitted he never explained to her that campaigning is not part of the job taxpayers pay for at the Capitol. (??) $350,000 - or more - is "missing" from State Capitol repair payments four years ago. A former public employee is under investigation. This is yet another example of how the state wastes money and does not hold people responsible. Rep. Cynthia Thielen was a constant critic of the Capitol repairs raising numerous cost issues at the time. These pleas were ignored by the Legislature and Governor. The "WikiWiki" Ferry began "free" operation in mid-October with the goal of alleviating traffic from Leeward Oahu. The scheme is to bring up to 140 working passengers to downtown on each run. The Legislature (taxpayers) kicked in $3 million for the subsidized project; the latest in a long list of failed ferry ventures. There is one boat; if it breaks down so does the project. Senator Brian Kanno wanted to insure success of the venture: he wants free rides, free parking, free shuttles to and from the boat, and possibly some free food and service coupons as well. Why stop there: we could provide free rent, school tuition and clothing for those that use the free ferry. There is no such thing as a "free" lunch - or ferry. The real test comes when passengers are asked to pay what it actually costs to operate. Ed Medeiros, ousted from the Aloha Flea Market he created 20 years ago at Aloha Stadium, is having a hard time locating an alternate site. Suggestion: use the State Capitol. It has ample lawn space. If we adopt a unicameral legislature, it would free one whole floor for vendor stalls. If we abolished the Legislature, the Capitol could be a successful swap meet, though many argue the Capitol is already a swap meet of special interests. I want to correct a mistake and take responsibility for the gaff in last month's issue, regarding The Swiss Inn Restaurant in Niu Valley. It is not closing at the end of this year as erroneously reported; it will close October, 2000, when the present lease expires. So, do what I do; go there for a wonderful dinner served by a dedicated, caring family business.
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Small Business Hawaii SBH also accepts articles relating to small business issues about its members and Hawaii. Submit your articles to SBH by the 10th of the month for publication into the next month's issue. E-Mail: smallbusinesshawaii@yahoo.com
Editor: Sam Slom
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