Friday, November 23, 2012

Musings: Beefing Up

Scarlet dripped like blood from wispy clouds as the sun shot red rays into a somber, streaky sky and the waves rolled like glass barrels onto a chilly beach this still and windless morning.

It's Black Friday, the day that is more quintessentially American than the Fourth of July. I was reading in The Week about how Sandy “threatens holiday shopping” because the supply chain is slowing down and states hardest hit by the storm account for about 16 percent of all holiday spending nationwide. Seems customers are suffering from “post-Sandy traumatic stress, which will lower their inclination to spend.”

Or maybe, faced with all their flooded and ruined crap, they've come to the realization that many of us did after Iniki: stuff means nothing in the overall scheme of things. The things that matter most in life can't be purchased from a mall or ordered from Amazon.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor-elect Justin Kollar has announced his line up, which is definitely beefing up the OPA. Not surprisingly, First Deputy Jake Delaplane, bag man for defeated Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, has been axed.

Instead, Justin has chosen a first deputy who is actually qualified for the job: Kevin Takata, a highly experienced homicide prosecutor. Kevin also worked with the state Attorney General in cold case homicide prosecution. Besides carrying a caseload, he'll be engaged in — gasp — training the younger deputies. What a concept, as opposed to spending all the training money on your own travel, as Shay did.

Becky Vogt, who previously filed a  discrimination lawsuit against Shaylene and the county, was named second deputy — a move that may render her legal action moot.

And Tracy Murakami will return to her old job as appellate and asset forfeiture attorney — the position that Charley Foster was given — minus the blogging duties that he performed. Charley, not surprisingly, was also given a pink slip, along with three others.

Justin did retain some of the current OPA staffers, including Lisa Arin, Melinda Mendes, John Murphy, Gary Nelson and Ramsay Ross. Justin also brought in Ginger Grinpas and Jenelle Hughes, who clerked for Judges Randal Valenciano and Kathleen Watanabe, respectively, as well as Teresa Tumbago.

Tim Tobin, who was previously screwed out of a job at the OPA by Shay, will be returning, which is kind of sad news, as he did some good work for defendants in cases that involved PASH and other Hawaiian issues. Who is going to step up and represent the kanaka now?

And Shauna Cahill, another former deputy who crossed paths with Shay, is also coming back.

Overall, it's a pretty strong line up. Now if Justin can just avoid the traps that Shay has set for him by forwarding the Janine Rapozo theft case to the state Attorney General and pushing the cops to do a little more investigation into the other suspect — the bad boyfriend — in the Sandy G murder case.

In any case, with the drama queen exiting stage left, things just might be able to settle down and return to some sort of normalcy at the OPA.

One thing's for certain, Justin's got an ample supply of tote bags, rally fans, bracelets and other junk. Too bad it's all black and orange — Shay's campaign colors.  

In other news, Dupont Pioneer has co-opted yet another westside school — this time, Waimea Canyon Middle School — with one of its “educational grants.”  This one is supposed to support the school's media center, which teaches kids journalism skills. Though you can be certain that the dirty business of growing pesticide-dependent GMO crops in their backyard won't be one of the stories they investigate on Dupont's dime.

Guess it's a lot cheaper to buy off the schools than clean up your act so the kiddies don't end up puking in the classroom again.

And finally, the Public Land Development Corp. has cancelled its November board meeting. Perhaps they are going to hold off and see what the Lege has in store. Even Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, who co-sponsored the bill, is now talking repeal.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the blog, Joan. Justin has made a strong entrance by releasing the bad blood and bringing in some talent. I, too, hope KPD does their part with the complete investigation with the prisoner and ex-boyfriend. This is too important a case to be lost on a technicallity or rushed-to-trial speed. Maybe we'll actually see justice served all around. Any chance of the bad apples in KPD finally getting justice? Wishful thinking but we're making progress.

Anonymous said...

Jake and Charley,
Very happy to see you go! You are the most disgusting pair of individuals Kauai has seen in many years and that is really saying something! Shay couldn't help herself but you two have no excuse. Kiss your careers on Kauai goodby. Good riddance!

Anonymous said...

Cleaning house, yeah? But which house? BigAg polluting/poisoning the very house we have to share. Does the 1% really believe it's above natural law? Do we eventually gag in our own filth?

Anonymous said...

Shay, Jay, and of course Charley - I bid you a quick trip to the airport!

Anonymous said...

Wonder why, excluding Jake and Sam, he canned all the non-whites?

Anonymous said...

Oh, right, and charley

Anonymous said...

2nd Deputy? Nice job Becky Vogt, looks like your lawsuit might pay double...or was that the deal in the first place? Sue Shaylene and the County, get a cushy job that you're clearly not qualified for.

And the political payback begins. Watch out everyone - he's in debt up to his eyeballs to all the corrupt and whiney losers that spearheaded his lawsuit-driven campaign.

Anonymous said...

If that was Becky's plan at least her gamble paid off better thzn Charley's. will Shay take care of her boys now that she's crashed thrir careers?

Anonymous said...

How could Shay now "take care of her boys"? What does she have left?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure they'll manage to land on their feet. "Crashed their careers." How moronic.

Anonymous said...

Any word on how Shay's closed door "cleaning" went, last weekend?
Did the shredders burn out?

Anonymous said...

Kevin Taketa just lost a hard fought race for the top prosecutor's job at the City and County of Honolulu.

Anonymous said...

That corrupt Judge Valenciano needs to be brought to Justice but we need to find out first who is giving him orders and paying him off. Oh yeah and all the attorneys he made deals with in his chambers needs to go down also. One by one like Shay and Jake the dominoes will fall down and corruption will suffer its own defeat.

Anonymous said...

Is there any severance cost to flushing out all these people or do they serve completely at will?

not much job security .........

Anonymous said...

Imagine Shay as a defense attorney.

Anonymous said...

Kevin obviously is qualified for the job as the first DPA, but what makes Becky Vogt qualified for the job as the Second DPA?

Becky has been an Attorney for only 2 years. How is Justin appointing Becky to be 3rd in command any different from Shaylene appointing Jake to be 2nd in command?

Anonymous said...

November 24, 1:16 a.m.:
The difference is that 1st Deputy is a position created by the Charter and by the Charter the 1st Deputy does act in place of Prosecutor when Prosecutor not able to act. 2nd Deputy is not a charter created position and has no succession authority, i.e. if no prosecutor or 1st deputy, the mayor appoints the prosecutor. Soong did not have a 2nd Deputy. It is up to the prosecutor as to whether he or she wishes to designate one of the regular deputies as 2nd Deputy and defines what those duties entail. It sounds like Vogt will basically be the District/Family (lower) court supervisor and most Distrcit/Family court deputies have less than two years experience. 2nd Deputy also has the same maximum salary as a regular deputy.

Anonymous said...

I think the difference is.....I had heard that this was Jake's first job.

Anonymous said...

Judge Valenciano is not a crook. He's pompous and has let the robe go to his head but he's not a crook.

Anonymous said...

Does Kollar know that Vogt is a strictly 7:45 to 4:30 employee who never stayed late or took work home, and still complained she had too much to do?

Great idea. Make her a supervisor.

Anonymous said...

Valenciano is a criminal in robes that serves the Powers.

Anonymous said...

Justin named Becky second deputy not district court supervisor. That implies to anyone who sees that title that she is third in command.

That has got to rankle the other deputies but having friends in high places cannot be beat. BAU (business as usual).

Anonymous said...

The implication would be wrong and those people should read the charter.

Anonymous said...

No wind and no rain again! Jan T. has a good post about warm waters and the impact on the trades and rainfall. And what's up with Wailua Beach???

Anonymous said...

The "other deputies" either have less experience than Vogt or would rather not have to deal with the lower courts and just work on their case load. Especially since there is no difference in maximum salary.

Anonymous said...

Get real. The average citizen or agency personnel is going to read the charter.

Anonymous said...

Technicalities aside, anticipate more than one feather being ruffled over giving Ms. Vogt that undeserved title.

Anonymous said...

Did the attorneys in OPA protest Jake being named first deputy? Did they storm the walls when Charley got a fat raise for blogging and writing press releases? Did they burn Shay I effigy because Lance, Gary and Jared got huge raises despite their inexperience?

Anonymous said...

All kinds of development that will have a far bigger impact on Kauai than the Superferry or the PLDC go through the Planning Commission for approval every other week and people are complaining about Act 55? Clueless grandstanders.

Anonymous said...

Deceptively sweet but in reality lazy. The perfect supervisor.

Anonymous said...

"The "other deputies" either have less experience than Vogt or would rather not have to deal with the lower courts and just work on their case load. Especially since there is no difference in maximum salary."

November 24, 2012 9:06 AM

That is rediculous. the other deputies are insulted.

Anonymous said...

OK, some good news. One more head of the "6 headed snake" has been cut off. Good luck Justin Kollar, and the other newly chosen attorney's at the OPA. Maybe there is hope.

Maybe justice will now be served in all cases, including the murder of Mr. Moore.

Was there any media coverage in Kauai that the boyfriend who killed Sandy G has been released on the $300,000.00 bail that Judge Watanabe reduced from the original $1,000,000.00 bail? This story hit the O'ahu tv news.

Cutting edge forensic evidence finally points to the boyfriend killing this young woman, arrested and charged, bail set at $1,000,000.00 as should be expected to keep the killer behind bars, and Judge Watanabe reduces the bail significantly. Why?

The guy is on house arrest. Find the appropropriate definition for this by Kauai court standards...and watch your wife children, watch your back, and lock your doors.

Judge Valenciano?

What's Mayor Bernard Carvalho got on Judge Valenciano for Valenciano to throw out the Police Commission's complaint against Carvalho?

A few more snake's heads need to be cut off, and the "off springs" watched closely as well.

Anonymous said...

anon 1:16 would appear to be correct. circuit and district/family courts are basically separate units. takata (massive win for kauai on that hire) supervises the big guns in circuit and vogt supervises the newer attorneys in district and family. seeing as how iseri badly neglected the lower courts (they haven't had any real supervision in a long time) this should be an upgrade in those courtrooms. much ado about not much.

Anonymous said...

"Ruffled feathers" is on to something.

Second DPAs have long been seen as third in the chain of command, and part of the administration. Other DPAs, staff, KPD, other agencies and the public treat them the same.

Choosing to bypass other deputies for that title and giving a top position to an inexperienced deputy with a "work stops at 4:30PM and fridays are for sick leave" attitude does not bode well for the new administration.
Hey but she does know how to act sweet.

Anonymous said...

12:29 Your "facts" are so wrong. The ex-husband not the boyfriend was released on bail. There's no new forensic evidence it's the same old rehashed old evidence. It was covered in the local paper. The judge reduced the bail because prosecutor not prepared and couldn't argue convincingly it should be kept high.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like deborah moron is back.

Anonymous said...

I am for a commission against corruption in Kauai.

Anonymous said...

4:48 thank you! 12:29 - Get your facts straight before commenting! Do you really know??? The media will write what they want to write to spice up their articles & fire up the public! They will also choose to leave out information at their own will! It's amazing how people will write crap with out even knowing the truth... The FACTS!! Do you even know 'the husband' personally or are you going by what you are reading out in the news? Because I can tell you one thing... Its all BULL SHIT! They fail to publicize that Sandra lived a dirty life sleeping with many men, drinking & drugs. She was never at home taking care of her kids because she wanted to be out partying with her nite life friends. Her boyfriend that found her was a key person in a drug ring. She was pregnant with her boyfriends baby & wanted to abort it. And her boyfriends DNA was never tested... Why? 'The husband' has led a clean life all of his life. Everyone that is going by what they are reading shouldn't judge him by that... People that knows him personally - knows the person he really is! So HATERS get your facts straight before judging!

Anonymous said...

What about the death of Lauren Kagawa? Does everyone believe what te chief of police public statement that her death was unattended and it was a drug overdose. Research the facts and find out who is the prime suspect in her murder. This is a sick KPD cover up and lots of people know about it. It is just like the west side serial rapist murderer. The old guard dogs in KPD protecting ther kind.

Anonymous said...

Yeah I read some messed up crap on Kauai I solved murders about the Kagawa murder and cover up. The family and friends believe that more than one person was involved. The neighbors who saw the girl got beaten and left to die was threatened by Kauai's finest.

Anonymous said...

"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way."
- Mark Twain

Anonymous said...

Can you guys prosecute the lady who drives slow in the left lane during contra-flow - steadily driving right next to the car on the right - blocking everyone from passing on the left. Can someone please teach people on Kauai how to drive - slower on the right, passing on the left.

Anonymous said...

You mean the lady going the speed limit and it's pissing you off because you want to speed? Chillax -- this ain't the mainland.