Small Business Hawaii | Volume 23 Number 4 | April 1998
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
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
The State Legislature and Democratic Administration are doing their part to equal the excitement of Titanic; our ship of state has hit a stone wall of political arrogance, ineptness, and self interest, and is rapidly sinking despite the past held belief that our economy is unsinkable. Shock statewide followed the March 19 announcement that Liberty House had filed for bankruptcy. Just weeks earlier, the oldest and proudest of locally grown retailers, known around the world, laid off several hundred employees. This action occurred when the big banks and other large businesses followed the pattern small businesses have endured here during the past several years. On a personal note: my first Liberty House Aloha shirt arrived from my Uncle in Honolulu at my home in Allentown, PA in 1948. At 6, I wore it proudly to school, in the snow. CNN sent a Los Angeles crew to Hawaii during the week of March 23 - 27 joining the ranks of top news organizations who clearly see and are amazed at Hawaii's regressing economic fortunes amid lack of leadership and direction. CNN interviewed many people including the Governor and SBH small business owners while here and wrapped up their visit at the March 27 "Hawaii Tea Party" at the State Capitol, cosponsored by SBH and KHVH Real Radio 830 AM. A number of organizations were unhappy that SBH published their names last month as being supporters of the Governor's original Economic Revitalization Task Force (ERTF) plan to raise your GET tax 34%. They argued they had "privately" opposed the tax, and "knew" it wouldn't pass, but the truth is, publicly they signed on and drove a wedge between big and the small businesses who fought the tax hike from the beginning. Now that the tax may be defeated by broad public action, these organizations can't stand the jerk of what they did. Their actions also assured that most of the 58 of 60 good ERTF proposals would be lost or watered down because of the tax controversy. One organization that was listed by error by the ERTF itself as a supporter, is Local 5; read their story at this link. Cliff Slater suggests the State's motto be revised to read, "The Life of the Land Is Perpetuated in Outrageousness." Looking at legislative bills still alive proves his point. Maui Divers' Slater, who also heads the Hawaii branch of REASON Foundation debated union boss Gary Rodrigues on Privatization at the Pearlridge Elementary School Town Meeting March 23. It was great. Catch it on Olelo TV. Where were the union leaders when their members were being stripped of their income and contract rights by the State Senate (SB 2222) on March 10? The "leaders" are so busy hobnobbing with big government and big, subsidized businesses, that they don't have time for their members anymore. They have lost touch and don't honestly represent their members although they are still content in confiscating mandatory dues to continue to lavish on the very politicos who brought us our current "economic" mess. The vote in the Senate was 15 -10 to violate a state contract, do what is clearly unconstitutional, and plain wrong. Current public workers are being used as political pawns in a sleazy game between the Senate and the House and they deserve better. Watch for a revolt of the membership at the polls Nov. 3. Speaking of polls, the first major (NBC / Star-Bulletin ) poll, on March 23, showed Linda Lingle defeating Ben Cayetano for Governor. Gambling continues to pick up steam as an "economic option." Gambling will only enforce our social problems, add to growing welfare and homeless and do nothing to improve Hawaii's image as a health or technology state. Citizens, however, should have a referendum to voice their opinion on any issue. Just when we thought we had it with El Nino, now we learn that Nino has a sister (sista?) named La Nina coming with colder water from Peru. What next? Bambina Nina? The Honolulu Police Department disclosed it often uses "Ramona," an inflatable mannequin (womankin?) in uniform sitting in a cruiser in the Wahiawa district to fake out speeders. Do you suppose Ramona (the name of the Mayor's wife) qualifies for vacation, unemployment, TDI, or work comp stress? At least we don't have to worry about Asteroid XF11, scheduled to come within 30,000 miles of Earth in a scant 30 years. Recalculation showed it will be much farther away. Now what to do about computers in 18 months at the year 2000? The death of Maurice "Sully" Sullivan here last month was another great loss to the community. This much honored business leader, founder of the Foodland chain, gave so much to so many. Sully, a longtime SBH member, will be missed. This is April Fool and Tax Deadline (IRS on the 15th and State taxes on the 20th) month. Mere coincidence? If it were not for withholding which fools people into thinking they are getting "money back," the revolution would come much sooner when families realize just how much they must chopstick over to government avarice annually. We deserve better.
LOCAL 5 DID NOT ENDORSE (Editor's Note: in the March, 1998 issue of SB NEWS, a listing of those organizations supporting the Governor's Economic Revitalization Task Force (ERTF) recommendations was published based on newspaper and press release lists from the ERTF. Local 5 objected to the ERTF and released the following statement) Despite being listed as one of the various groups endorsing the Hawaii Economic Task Force's Recommendations for Revitalizing the State's economy, Local 5, H.E.R.E. never endorsed the recommendations and should not have been listed as one of the endorsers. The hotel workers union which represents more than 11,000 members in the State has never been asked for its endorsement to such a controversial plan, that calls for, among other remedies, an increase to the General Excise Tax. "We took up this matter at our recently completed Local 5 Convention," said Financial Secretary-Treasurer Tony Rutledge. "But since there were more concerns and questions about the impact of the recommendations, the Convention delegates took no action." Nor has the Local 5 Executive Board of Directors, added Rutledge. Since the ad was first published to rally public support for the Plan, Local 5 has made repeated attempts to contact the Task Force at the number listed in the ad. They were only able to reach an answering machine where messages were left telling them that the Local 5 has not endorsed the Plan and that such references should be taken out of future ads. They were also told that if they wished to discuss the matter further, they should call Tony Rutledge. However, he has not received a call from anyone connected to the Task Force about this matter. He further added that he has received several calls from members who have seen the ad recently and wonder why the union is supporting the controversial plan. "Enough is enough," Rutledge said. "Given the fact that our union had no participation in the formulation of the recommendations, it is difficult for us to get behind an effort in which we remain uncertain that they will help Hawaii, especially the visitor industry."
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Editor: Sam Slom
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