The wind roared through the trees, causing the ironwoods to bend and sigh and shake off the rain that still clung from the nighttime showers when Koko and I went out walking this fresh, chilly morning. Clouds billowed like smoke over the waterfall-streaked face of Makaleha as two-thirds of the sky stained orange, signaling the shift from dawn to day.
There’s been a promising shift on the Planning Commission, with Herman Texeira yesterday assuming leadership of that panel after Jimmy Nishida resigned as chair. Texeira has frequently spoken up and out against some of the questionable recommendations from the Planning Department, so at least he’s not afraid or unwilling to buck the tide on what is otherwise a go-along board.
I was especially heartened to read this comment in The Garden Island’s report:
“I would like to be more proactive,” he said. “It’s not just working on the agenda. There are other matters that I would like to work on.”
Wow, proactive planning. What a concept.
In skimming the article, it struck me that Bernard “together we can!” Carvalho has assembled a planning commission comprised entirely of locals. Kinda makes a mockery of his campaign rhetoric, which spoke of “creating an inclusive method of leadership that brings everyone involved together.”
I found it quite interesting, considering that boards and commissions are supposed to be representative of the entire community and the applicants coming before the panel are so often mainland haoles, either transplanted or not.
And it’s particularly intriguing as I seek confirmation on whether investigations have started into complaints of systemic racism in the planning department.
Stay tuned.
"I seek confirmation on whether investigations have started into complaints of systemic racism in the planning department."
ReplyDeletereally? that would be interesting... a salary review of the discrepancies between male and female salaries in all of the departments would be more interesting. Have women been promoted equally in all departments? I'm going to guess....no.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgvn3gmthwo
ReplyDeletePlanning is where racism lives best on Kauai. More coming on that one. Most of the island people are wonderful, but planning is where haoles (or, "transplants" code for Fu**ing haoles) lose unless they have money and lawyers to keep those haters honest, while all things local sail through.. Certain inspectors are particularly notorious and they hate as good as a southerner in a KKK mask.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the reason they are the last agency on earth not yet competerized is that they do not want scrutiny as to all of the trends that record keeping and a spreadsheet would reveal.
How can we make reports to whoever is investigating?
"I seek confirmation on whether investigations have started into complaints of systemic racism in the planning department."
ReplyDeletewould rather an investigation on equal pay for women in all county departments
If you want to find racism, I'm sure you will.
Gotta agree. That department is customer anti-service. Bernard should be ashamed. As third world as it gets.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Michelle Hughes should be a planner. Or maybe the principal brokers at the many fine north shore real estate offices who told their customers to build fancy vacation rentals on ag or conservation land. That might balance out the ethnic mix at the planning department but it would leave a huge vacuum in the north shore real estate market that, unfortunately, would be filled by more transplants (code for fucking haole).
ReplyDeleteThe planning dept has not shown discrimination towards its applicants(seems all who have the money to pay them off, can and do without discrimination as to the color of the applicant. They are a little color blind, but as long as the green comes there way, all is good.
ReplyDeleteNow as far as the hiring practices of planning, that's where the discrimination comes in.
At the permitting counter, local people often lose, they don't have the extra money for the required payoffs for approval. Really need the ex director to be investigated. Let's not talk about all the documents that have "gone missing" from planning. Bernard allowed the corruption to continue his first term, then he picked the new director in violation of our laws. We need a real planning director, and a big time audit of the dept. Their hiring practices are the least of the problems.
Much rather have the locals controling their destiny thenthe "wannabe locals"
ReplyDelete"Local" doesn't mean NOT corrupt and as a local Hawaiian I don't want anyone local or otherwise who is corrupt running the show. Integrity and competence are standards to adhere to as well as basic qualifications of the job description. Bernard's choice is questionable...no real planning experience or expertise. Not impressed w/ his legal counsel to the Planning Commission especially re: tvrs. Just a shuffling of the same faces into different departments regardless of qualifications i.e. Costa.
ReplyDeleteMarch 23, 2011 12:27 PM
ReplyDeletedo political favors and appointments count? I belive the Mayor has placed a few clerks and extraneous female staff in various departments.