Small Business Hawaii | Volume 24 Number 6 | June 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
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 20th State Legislature ended on time, May 4. Now you only have to keep one hand on your wallet until January. Being a Democrat in Hawaii is the closest thing to, as the Chinese say, "a gold bowl." The list continues for lifetime employment at the public trough (see previous issues). Earl Anzai, "fired" by the State Senate as Budget Director, was hired right back as a "consultant" to the Budget office‹at the same high salary. Remember that former State Education Super, Herman Aizawa, replaced last year, is an assistant principal at McKinley High School earning the same $94,000 salary as when he was DOE head. Former State Attorney General Margery Bronster, was rehired also, but at a $1 a year. We can afford that salary. He's the man; not the man next to the man: Al Mancini, not the Governor, is the man. He is the one, with wife April, who single-handedly can pick up a phone and make things happen such as "Baywatch," "Pacific Blue" and now a resurrected "Star Search" (Mancini produced the original "Star Search" talent show as well as "Lives of the Rich & Famous," other successful TV series, and last year's Miss Universe Pageant). So who needs a Governor? A savvy businessman can do the job... and he's not even on the public payroll. The Chamber of Commerce brought in Joseph R. Garber, technical columnist for Forbes Magazine, who spoke at the Small Business on the Move Expo, May 5. Garber, also known as the author of the best selling novels, "Rascal Money," and "Vertical Run," spoke on, "Magnet: How Other Economies, Including Singapore, New Zealand and Ireland Have Successfully Attracted High-Tech Investment." He was excellent. His message was clear and blunt: Hawaii has many opportunities but can't do anything without a highly-educated‹and literate‹work force coupled with an inviting business climate and government cooperation. Garber contrasted Singapore and Malaysia (Hawaii is more like the latter) and spoke of Texas' rise in high tech developments. It could happen here if only.... The Chamber's Stanley Hong thought the '99 Legislature did a good job for business despite passing defective bills, doing nothing on work comp stress, tax reduction, privatization and a GET pyramiding reduction that stretches over 7 years. Island Business' puff profile detailed how "last year the chamber lobbied heavily to defeat the general excise tax hike..." But Hong was a member of the Governor's ERTF and the Chamber supported the entire package of 60 proposals, including the 34% GET tax increase. Just the facts. SBH cosponsored the speech by leftist-turned conservative author ("Radical Son") and media guest, David Horowitz May 3 at HPU. He discussed the political landscape of the 60's; the culture that gave us our current leadership, nationally and locally. Horowitz was even better the next morning on KHVH. The KHVH-SBH Small Business Network Mixer May 6 at Rumors Ala Moana Hotel was a fun event. We need more of that. The latest overthrow at City Hall (they occur regularly) has Jon Yoshimura replacing Mufi Hanneman as Council Chair. The heavy hand of Mayor Jeremy Harris is clearly evident in the coup. Campaign 2000 begins. "Racism" is everywhere: on a KITV "news" story, Mufi accused Jeremy of racism because Harris called Mufi "abusive" and Mufi said, "to a Polynesian male, that is a racial slur." Mufi then slurred Harris by saying he was from Delaware. We all know the racism in that word. Governor Cayetano was interviewed on KGMB-TV with Jade Moon, after the Bronster confirmation vote. He said, he makes "no threats" and " Retaliation is not my priority." No, but it must be number two, as evidenced by the previous "threats' to release prisoners early and withhold capital improvement project funds from the districts of Senators who didn't support funding of his new prison. Our Guv's guiding philosophy has always been stated as, "reward your friends, punish your enemies." What a difference a (election) year makes: last May, Vicky Cayetano attended‹and spoke to‹the SBA Annual Awards Luncheon, extolling the virtues of small business and the Governor's commitment to small business. This year, Vicky was invited, but did not attend. Health care rates are soaring so much that it will be a huge financial crisis in the next few years. For some of our members, getting news of 25% rate increases, the crisis is now. Rick Hamada led an assault on the 12-a-day commercials for "Top Gun‹nature's ultimate sex formula, aphrodesiac and performance enhancer." Listeners joined in, beseiged the sales department, and the offending commercial was removed. Interesting what will push the public's button. Now, if removing a 40-year monopoly one-party political rule were only as simple. An estimated 2.2 million adult workers (and children) didn't show up for work on May 19. Tax protest? Upset over big government? No. These were adults who stood in line for hours to view "Star Wars" at 12:01 am. And they say we are not commited. Calling all lawyers: millions were spent in the Bronster/Bishop Estate war and many lawyers lined their pockets. Now, the heirs of the Campbell Estate are fighting over the approaching disolution of the estate and the division of the millions. Lawyers are already on duty for all sides. 1999 is only half over.
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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.
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Editor: Sam Slom
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