Thursday, April 19, 2012

Musings: Stall Tactics


The guv's been taking cracks lately for some lousy appointees, but here's one that's solid: Nathan Kalama has been confirmed to the Kauai-Niihau Island Burial Council. His nomination for a term expiring June 2016 was approved by the state Senate yesterday afternoon. Uncle Nathan, a respected kumu hula, brings a high level of cultural knowledge to the panel, which hasn't met since June 2011, due to lack of a quorum. (And shockingly, the minutes from that session still aren't posted on line.)

Not so solid are the maneuverings at work with Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, her office's POHAKU program and now, unfortunately, a majority of the County Council.

Yesterday, the Council was scheduled to go into executive session for a briefing on the POHAKU program and a related grant application. But Shay sent over Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Winn to ask for a two-week deferral, saying Shay was trying to pull together more information for the Council.

Next up came Deputy County Attorney Mona Clark, who repeatedly urged the Council to proceed with the briefing anyway, saying things like “it will increase your knowledge base” and “the more information you have, the better.”

Mona even came straight out and said, “I think it's important the Council has as much information as possible, as soon as possible,” before noting the Council could always have a second meeting to consider any additional data that Shay compiles in the next two weeks.

Responding to a question by Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura, Mona made it clear that there are liability issues related to POHAKU, and the Council's timely knowledge of these matters could help to minimize the county's liability.

But in the end, with Councilman Mel Rapozo leading the way, the Council essentially decided that it doesn't need timely information, and is content to wait another two weeks before learning more details. Councilmen Dickie Chang and KipuKai Kualii voted with Mel for the deferral, as did Chairman Jay Furfaro, though he said the item will not be deferred again.

In two weeks, however, there won't be a need to defer the item again, because Shay's budget session with the Council — scheduled for tomorrow morning — will be pau. This means the Council will have lost an important opportunity to question Shay publicly about this matter, armed with whatever details would have been shared in yesterday's aborted executive session.

Mona even alluded to that, saying, “I think you are in a better position if you have the information. This will not prevent you for getting that additional information. It will just supplement your knowledge so you can ask applicable questions.”

So why did a majority of the Council back off? Mel's stance is understandable, because everybody knows he's a solid Shay ally, and is going to go along with what she wants. But what about the others? Why would they pass up an opportunity to be better informed about the workings of the prosecutor's office, especially when there's potential liability at stake?

How could it possibly hurt to participate in a briefing?

Especially when Jay acknowledged that he had received some answers to his initial questions about the program, but had not yet had the opportunity to share them with his colleagues.

Clearly, there's something sketchy going on with POHAKU. At the April 4 meeting, Jay publicly stated that he had questions about the program and its related grant application and had asked the County Attorney's office for answers.

County Attorney Al Castillo acknowledged he had received “a couple of confidential communications from the Council” — indicating Jay wasn't the only one who expressed concerns — and his office needed a week to respond.

Shay threw a hissy fit, claiming she was a very busy woman and these repeated delays were screwing up her schedule and besides, time was of the essence. And she made a really big deal out of how she wasn't going to apply for “free money” anymore if the Council kept holding her up.

The following week, April 11, when the issue was set to come up again, Shay sent over an email saying she'd gotten communications from the county attorney and mayor's office that she wanted to look over, so she wouldn't be attending the Council meeting. But Jay said he still wanted a briefing from the County Attorney, so they had an executive session.

Then yesterday, with the matter again on the agenda, Shay asked for and got yet another deferral. Yeah, maybe it's all totally legit and Shay is busily, as Jennifer Winn put it, getting answers and making the POHAKU program better.

Or maybe she's just playing a stall game, and the Council majority is going along.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Council will pick localism over law every time. What self respecting council member could really vote not to receive relevant information? This County talks about sunshine but shuns it in practice. And they seem to fear Shay like she's Tony Soprano. In a sane world these POHAKU questions would have been answered or the program shut down. Who cares that we taxpayers are paying for this junior mobster shell game.

Anonymous said...

I think the county council have the "fear of Shay" affecting their actions.

Maybe everyone has something to hide and are afraid Shay will dig it up and rub their noses in it.


Dr Shibai

Anonymous said...

Aggressive tactics, threats and intimidation work for Shay again. Weak Council Chair and clueless Dicky cave joining Shaylene apologists KipuKai and Mel to keep Council from getting the briefing from the County Attorney they asked for in the first place. At least until after her budget hearing on Friday. There is more hear than meets the eye. Shay is desperately trying to hide something! Wonder if we will ever know what it is.

Anonymous said...

Joan, please keep on "Shay" watch!

Anonymous said...

Joan, please keep on "Shay" watch!

Anonymous said...

Dickie rides the short bus, There is no hope in him. Just crack a beer and walaau.

Mel collects checks from Shay so you know how he takes it, just bend over Mel.

Jay is a little Napoleonic turd.

Tim trembles like we are still suffering from Hilo's 2005 earthquake, turn on the rice cooker Shay is busy covering her buttocks once again. Retaliation is a Bitch! Yes she is

Nadine is lost in the sauce trying so hard not be recognized as a good ol gal.

Kipu has to blanket all the complaints from YWCA, as they shield the dirty little secrets of the the HUD and low income housing crimes.

Maybe we should swing on vines and live naked in tree houses, ain't that a good idea Joann.

Kaipo And Darryl are laughing it up while building all of Darryls homes on his AG land, that he helped pass the bill. There's no conflict of interest there as long as I get mines.

Kauai's judicial system is a symbol of the collapse of WTC7. The corruption is within the ashes. The foundation is where the Trojan Horse rests: Seek and you shall find

Anonymous said...

Really shocking to read council members so nonchalant about potential liabilities. Why does Shay get any say in whether council has executive session?

Anonymous said...

Disappointed in KipuKai.

Anonymous said...

They eliminated the victim witness counselors and outsourced it to YWCA. Is it a coincidence that KipuKai Kualii is an employee of YWCA. And is it a coincidence that the Director of YWCA Renee Hamilton is KipuKais campaign manager

Anonymous said...

" disappointed in KipuKai"
Big time!
Even though he has a history of connection with Shay and Mel I thought he would show some integrity and independence. I guess not.

Anonymous said...

What does it take to get an outside agency to investigate the rampant political corruption on this island? And what agency would do it?

Give me a lead, and I will GLADLY make the call.

Anonymous said...

I also am disappointed in Kipukai. I voted for him, expecting him to think critically.

Anonymous said...

Goody goody! The more they delay, the more times we get to read Joan's excellent reporting on their shenanigans. I hope Mel and Kipukai drag this out until the election and keep Shay and her misconduct on TV for all to see. I wasn't going to vote for Mel, but I'm adding Kipukai to the list. Mel's all for exposing corruption unless it involves Shay.

Anonymous said...

Hey that's right! Doesn't Mel usually call for a "full investigation"? But not this time...

Anonymous said...

Jay and Dickie need to grow some testicles. If Council members ask questions about Pohaku or other grants at prosecutors office, they should be willing to listen to the answers. Jay demanded the county attorneys office "get a grip" on grant applications before they get to council yet he's not willing to listen to answers to his own questions.

Grow some.

Anonymous said...

This shit gotta be edited by some techie and posted on YouTube with Joan's narration.

Anonymous said...

County Attorney: There's something I have to tell you and it involves liability so let's go talk in private.
Mel: Your opinions in the past have sucked so I don't think we should listen to you.
County Attorney: Well, it's kind of important and I'll try to take as little of your time as possible.
Kipukai: I agree with Mel. You guys are baboozes.
Jay: It's important to you but what about Shay? It's only 2 weeks.
Tim: No fair! I want to know how that that that meanie is making us liable and I want to know now!
Dickie: That settles it. I've been sitting here for six or seven fucking hours and I need a beer. Let's go home.
Nadine (whispering to JoAnn): That does it. I'm dropping the nice Japanese girl routine and taking lessons on how to be a bitch.
JoAnn: You don't have the raw material to pull that off. Plus, you can't utter sentences that run on for five minutes and you're not insane.

Anonymous said...

More entertaining than reality shows on TV

Could have not written a better script. It could be a series... Kauai 5-0

Anonymous said...

You mean Kauai 5-0 and Lolo

Anonymous said...

If you have anytime to spare while in Lihue on a Wendsday drop in at the Council meeting free entertainment.

Anonymous said...

Mona even came straight out and said, “I think it's important the Council has as much information as possible, as soon as possible,” before noting the Council could always have a second meeting to consider any additional data that Shay compiles in the next two weeks.

And they still put it off for two weeks. As Joan said, WTF is going on with Pohaku.

Anonymous said...

has anyone raised the issue of possibly having this woman's textbook behavior tested for mental illness or more realistically substance abuse?

Anonymous said...

POHAKU is a scam, It's unconstitutional. This was made to make Shay look good by the numbers.

Pohaku discriminates race, wealth, gender, relation and connections. It's a flawed program based on bribery. It's a Deceitful numbers game that actually will show it's true colors if a case study is done. It's Unconstitutional to coerce a citizen into accepting a plea deal with bribery, without due process. If you don't complete the POHAKU (slavery) program then you are in default of the signed contract saying you are guilty of all charges. They have you on a string, program shows signs of major abuse and possible lawsuits.

She uses the dog ate my homework so give me more time excuse all the time, when she is plotting how to cover up the truth.

Why is Kauai's people so gullible?

KamaKele said...

I think what you guys are either overlooking or missing is that a COUNTY ATTORNEY even went so far as to disagree with Al Castillo and his sidekick Mona Clark. Has anyone asked or wondered what that means?

How did Joan pass this through as "Shay sent Jennifer Wynn..." Since when has Shay and Jennifer Wynn ever been friends? All of you might want to second-guess what's going on when even county attorneys start taking Shay's side against Castillo.

Joan Conrow said...

It has nothing to do with Shay and Jennifer being friends. Jennifer is assigned to do work for Shay, and Shay asked for the deferral. Jennifer wasn't giving advice, she was acting as a messenger for Shay.

Anonymous said...

What are they afraid of? What kind of an idiot wouldn't want to be told about problems with a county program? That's our taxpayer dollars at risk, and Mel, Kipukai, Jay and Dickie woud rather protect Shay. Vote the bums out.

Anonymous said...

Stop relying on Shay and Jake for your information and watch the meeting yourself. If she's your boss, quit now before she has you do something stupid and unethical, like tape a victim to get evidence in an unrelated case against a political foe. Or maybe that kind of stuff doesn't bother you.

Anonymous said...

Watch today's council meeting. Meltdown

Anonymous said...

Is this Melfeasance?

Anonymous said...

I watched the meeting on Ho'ike tonight, and it scares me that a majority of the council is moving out of the sunshine again.

POHAKU is a grant-funded program, and I believe it's important for the council to scrutinize it for accountability. If Shay doesn't want to pursue grants anymore because of the scrutiny, so be it. Grants are not "free money" as she says. Great money comes with great responsibility.

Anonymous said...

It's not up yet.

Anonymous said...

It's not up yet.

Anonymous said...

It's on Ho'ike right now...I think it started around 8:30 PM

Anonymous said...

Shay wants the FBI to investigate the County Attorney but doesn't want the council to know about Pohaku. That is so Shay.

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable! Melfeasance to da max. Was that Shay who yelled? Gotta be her.

Anonymous said...

That was Shay who Screamed!

Anonymous said...

Nobody screamed

Anonymous said...

Yeah it was more of a loud piercing yell.

Anonymous said...

All grant funded programs administered by the county should be scrutinized by council. It is their job.

Anonymous said...

Next thing you know, you're going to tell me that it's their job to scrutinize county operations.