Free-Fall – Let It Be

Idigo J.C. 11-12-04 , 11/12/04, 7:08 PM, 8C, 8000×8146 (0+437), 100%, Repro 11.10.04, 1/8 s, R70.9, G33.0, B34.8


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Michael Benfield, one of many founders of the Inexperienced Celebration of England and Wales lately proclaimed “It’s too late to avoid wasting the surroundings.” He instructed the BBC “I feel now we have succeeded in serving to to coach… however now we have failed in coping with the battle for environmental survival. I’ll say to you now that it’s too late. The battle for the world’s environmental survival is, at this second, misplaced.”

The scope and scale of the options which he believes  obligatory are just too huge to be acceptable for any political get together. The main focus now, he acknowledged, must be on mitigation.

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There may be little doubt that the worldwide surroundings is in a state of dynamic free – fall. There may be additionally little doubt that the driving issue is sustained, damaging human exercise.

Whereas you will need to separate fiction from reality and “get up” to actuality, expending power on blame, feelings of guilt, regret, belated outrage, and so on. is ineffective and meaningless. Posturing and theatrics. It adjustments nothing. Now we have, undeniably, set a colossal course of in movement. It can play out as nature seeks a brand new steadiness.

We are able to, at greatest, as Benfield suggests, try to mitigate / decrease the diploma and price of destabilization by adopting extra sustainable methods of dwelling. Anticipating steerage in the direction of this finish by political leaders has confirmed fruitless. Their focus is supporting the commercial entities that drive the degradation of the surroundings and finance the physique politic. They’re, actually, the stewards, guardians and enforcers of the system. Neither proper nor fallacious, good nor dangerous  . . . simply the best way it’s.

For instance: March 6 (Reuters) –

Environmental teams sued the Biden administration on Monday to dam the sale of oil and fuel drilling rights within the Gulf of Mexico.

The lawsuit filed by Earthjustice, the Sierra Membership and different environmental teams in federal courtroom in Washington, D.C., seeks to cease the U.S. Inside Division from providing up drilling rights in 73.3 million acres of the oil-rich area later this month.

The Biden administration finalized its plan to supply the Gulf drilling rights final month and mentioned bids are due March 28. The public sale is seen as a take a look at of trade demand for funding within the Gulf simply over a yr after the Russian invasion of Ukraine cranked up strain on the administration to extend home provides of oil and fuel.

A basic case of optimistic environmental motion versus industrial alternative for revenue. No contest . . . large cash calls the shot. Authorities bends over with a smile.

That leaves duty with us as people who can take management of our personal lives and actions.

For example:

The world’s oceans are polluted by a “plastic smog” made up of an estimated 171 trillion plastic particles that if gathered, would weigh round 2.3 million tons, in response to a brand new research. (CNN). Governments received’t drive producers to restrict manufacturing of single use plastics . . . however . . . easy resolution . . . we will cease utilizing / shopping for them.

Trying to repair and rebalance the free – fall state of destabilized core environmental components on a worldwide stage is, as Benfield acknowledges, a misplaced trigger.

 Because the chaos of unbalance proceeds, an infinite variety of dynamically linked variables come into play, leading to unforeseeable, unknowable and unpredictable outcomes. Nature’s return to steadiness is a non linear course of regardless of our makes an attempt to suit it into comprehensible, linear, sequential templates and fashions.

The return  to international steadiness is just not one thing we will management. What we will management is our personal private conduct. Our actions are the instruments of mitigation. How we behave and act impacts the diploma of continued harm that the surroundings sustains and consequently the general extent of ecological instability and unbalance. Ready for political / industrial management to information us to a neat repair is tantamount to ready for the satan to open the gates of heaven.

Ain’t gonna occur.

The world we stay in . . . what we name the human world . . . doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It isn’t the entire image. Planet earth with all the creatures that inhabit it . . . all the drama, historical past, twists and turns that make up “our world” doesn’t exist in a separate, enclosed, remoted, or in any approach, particular house. We’re a component in an infinite, linked, evolving universe. Each occasion, motion, change, and so on. that happens on earth is linked to and resonates all through the huge totality of existence. Not philosophy, non secular perception, faith . . . simply primary science.

It appears very doubtless that the accelerating free – fall and destabilization of of the world that we maintain as acquainted is constructing to a grand scale and that we’re on the cusp of a dimensional or quantum change.

An unbelievable, thrilling time to be current and aware . . . an epochal alternative to awaken and depart fiction and delusion behind.

Ixtlan by Joe Carlisi

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Joseph Carlisi – Biography     

Born and raised in New York Metropolis, he earned BA and MA levels in Philosophy at Hunter School of the Metropolis College of New York after which continued his graduate research in Philosophy and Synthetic Intelligence at Massachusetts Institute of Know-how working beneath the mentorship of Marvin Minsky. Joseph labored as a component time content material and replica editor for Harvard College Press (science and medication) whereas attending M.I.T.     

After ten years as a college lecturer, researcher and administrator, he began and managed an promoting / public relations agency in San Diego, CA that dealt with a variety of business accounts. On the educational facet, he revealed a collection of seven articles on animal conduct for Harvard Journal and two books: “A Information to Private Energy” and most lately “Enjoying God on the Eve of Extinction”.

Joseph Carlisi creates oil on canvas work that may be described as vivid, surreal and sudden. His work have been exhibited and bought in: Honolulu, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York Metropolis, Miami, Tokyo, Yokohama, Amsterdam, Berlin and Salvador Brazil.

Joe’s artwork is on the market for buy.

Contact him at carlisijoseph@yahoo.com.

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Hawaii County has likelihood to make zoning extra pleasant to housing


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The next commentary by coverage researched Jonathan Helton was initially revealed March 5, 2023, by the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
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Hawaii island’s housing provide may get a lift within the close to future, because of an effort underway to replace the county’s zoning code.

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A undertaking crew working with the Hawaii County Division of Planning has been reviewing and proposing adjustments to the code, which has not been overhauled since 1996.

This replace is lengthy overdue, particularly since housing continues to be unaffordable for a lot of Hawaii Island residents, and bettering the county zoning code may assist change that.

A 2022 research by the Financial Analysis Group on the College of Hawaii discovered that Hawaii County has the strictest land use rules of any county in the whole United States, and that nationwide, such rules are considerably associated to excessive housing costs.

The excellent news is that there are a lot of methods to make the county’s zoning legal guidelines extra pleasant to new housing. A great place to begin could be to permit larger housing density.

Proper now in Hawaii County, greater than 5 occasions as many parcels are zoned for single-family items than for duplexes, triplexes and different types of multifamily homes, which typically are much more inexpensive than single-family properties.

The county must also revisit minimal lot sizes, which specify {that a} land parcel must be a sure dimension earlier than a house might be constructed on it. All parcels in single-family residential zones should be at the very least 7,500 sq. ft. That is positive for anybody who can afford a giant, sprawling yard, however many households can’t as a result of county land values are so excessive.

Different zoning legal guidelines drive up prices, too. Parking minimums make housing and enterprise building costlier by forcing builders to supply a sure variety of parking areas in every undertaking.

A 2020 research by the Ulupono Initiative discovered that Hawaii County companies can anticipate to pay greater than $12,000 and home-builders greater than $4,000 per parking area, which drives up the price of residing and doing enterprise.

The county must also take a look at selling mixed-use neighborhoods, combining industrial and residential makes use of. This may promote walkability, save on transportation prices and scale back greenhouse fuel emissions.

One other essential reform could be to undertake by-right approvals, whereby any undertaking that meets current specs is authorized routinely, with out having to undergo politicized public hearings the place they are often delayed, which provides to constructing prices, and even denied.

For Hawaii Island, this zoning replace will set the tone on housing coverage for years to return. If daring reforms usually are not adopted, housing costs on the island possible will proceed to soar, forcing many Hawaii residents to maintain working two or three jobs simply to make ends meet, or to easily transfer to the mainland and even onto the streets.

“Good, clear regulation can spur larger home-building and assist preserve county ohana on the island they love,” stated Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii government vice chairman, in feedback submitted earlier this month to the undertaking crew tasked with updating the codes.

When the county seeks public touch upon the code replace once more later this yr, Hawaii Island residents ought to let the planners know they favor zoning reform — on behalf of themselves and the generations to return.

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‘Customer impression’ payment proposal fraught with issues


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Photograph by Charley Myers

By Keli‘i Akina

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When a brand new coverage proposal will get a heavy push from a well-liked new governor, individuals generally overlook to ask the laborious questions. 

That’s what the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is for.

On Wednesday, Gov. Josh Inexperienced took to Twitter to foyer for his proposed $50 “customer impression” payment. He promised the payment would increase $400 million yearly and be used to protect coral reefs, shield forests and watersheds, take away invasive species, assist endangered wildlife and fund state and county businesses and nonprofits of their conservation efforts.

For example public assist for his proposal, the governor referenced a Nature Conservancy Hawaii survey that discovered 63% of Hawaii residents supported a customer payment, 88% preferred the concept that vacationers ought to pay their fair proportion to protect Hawaii’s pure assets, and 95% favored defending the state for future generations. 

Frankly, I’m stunned that the response to the final merchandise wasn’t 100%. In any case, I’ve little doubt that the governor is honest in his want to guard Hawaii’s atmosphere, and I consider that his proposed customer payment is his manner of attempting to extend state revenues with out growing the price of dwelling for Hawaii residents.

Nevertheless, respecting the governor’s intentions doesn’t imply ignoring the failings of his proposal. The practicalities alone are mind-boggling. 

For instance, we’re advised that this payment — formulated in SB304 as a license payment to make use of parks, seashores, trails and any state-owned pure space —  would have an effect on solely guests. 

The invoice defines a customer as anybody who just isn’t a Hawaii resident. That implies that in case your auntie needed to depart Hawaii for Seattle as a result of she couldn’t afford to stay right here, however she comes again for Grandma’s party, she and your cousins must pay lots of of {dollars} to go to the household barbecue at Ala Moana Seaside Park.

As well as, the invoice would require indicators at seashores and different public websites informing guests that they want a license to be there and outlining the penalties for visiting the positioning with no license. 

How would that be enforced? Would county or state officers be out roaming the seashores and parks, approaching anybody who “seems like” a customer and asking for proof of their seaside licenses? It’s not laborious to think about how that might go incorrect.

And let’s not ignore that a number of revered sources, starting from UHERO — the Financial Analysis Group on the College of Hawai‘i — to the Tax Basis of Hawaii, have repeatedly warned Hawaii policymakers that such visitor-only charges are unconstitutional. 

The U.S. Supreme Court docket has dominated towards burdening the correct of Individuals to journey freely, and it frowns on taxes that deal with nonresidents extra harshly than residents.

In different phrases, you’ll be able to’t cost somebody to enter Hawaii simply because they occur to stay in California or Michigan.

As for the declare the payment would herald $400 million a 12 months for environmental spending, we have already got a funds surplus, so why are we searching for methods to extend revenues? 

And what would we get for that additional spending? The one factor we all know for certain is that it could create an infusion of latest funds for a number of nonprofits and authorities businesses.

Lastly, we will’t overlook what this may imply for tourism, the state’s main driver of financial exercise. In reality, a number of the most crucial responses on Twitter to the governor’s tweet got here from individuals who noticed this as a clear try and shake down vacationers.

“Are you able to outline fair proportion?” one individual requested. “Is the three% resort surcharge and 10% state TAT [transient accommodations tax] not already taxing guests extremely? I respect Hawaii, however that is simply fleecing individuals. Ought to we in California levy a tax on Hawaiians once they fly over for his or her ‘fair proportion?’”

One other commented: “It’s already overly costly to trip in Hawaii. Folks will select to journey elsewhere. The implication is that guests should not needed.”

I applaud the governor for addressing issues which might be vital to Hawaii residents. However the customer impression payment is inherently flawed. 

As a substitute, we’d like extra debate and dialogue about find out how to steadiness tourism and conservation. We should keep away from the financial and authorized pitfalls introduced by the governor’s idealistic proposal.
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Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

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Do we’ve to win ‘American Idol’ contest to afford residing in Hawaii?



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By Keli‘i Akina

You shouldn’t must win on “American Idol” to afford to maneuver again dwelling to Hawaii. 

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However that’s the way in which it’s searching for increasingly former Hawaii residents who felt they needed to depart the state due to its excessive taxes and excessive price of fundamental requirements reminiscent of housing, utilities and groceries.

This week, our hearts have been touched by the story of 18-year-old Iam Tongi, a former Kahuku resident whose singing and guitar-playing on the nationwide talent-search program introduced tears to the eyes of the judges. 

Now residing in Seattle, Tongi was requested by decide Lionel Richie, “Why on Earth would you allow Hawaii?”

With out lacking a beat, Tongi responded: “Priced out of paradise.”

It’s the identical reply given by practically everybody who participates within the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii’s “Why we left Hawaii” sequence. It’s additionally the main reply pollsters hear once they analysis why Hawaii’s inhabitants has been declining for the previous six years.

However now that we all know why so many individuals depart this glorious place, the following query is, “Why is Hawaii so costly?” 

My reply is that it’s principally due to Hawaii’s extreme rules, huge budgets and excessive taxes. 

They’ve frequently added rules that stifle financial progress and restrict job alternatives, and frequently expanded their budgets that should be paid for by taxes.

Certain, many issues we want must be shipped right here from afar, in order that provides to our prices — and all of the extra so due to the federal Jones Act, which restricts delivery competitors to Hawaii.

However essentially, Hawaii’s price of residing is the very best within the nation as a result of our state and county governments continue to grow in dimension.

Sooner or later, this all turns into an excessive amount of to afford for a lot of of Hawaii’s struggling residents, so that they depart.

Once they do, the variety of individuals left behind who pay taxes shrinks, however our state and county authorities budgets don’t. The result’s a downward spiral that results in extra spending, extra taxes, extra spending, extra taxes — and an more and more weaker and unsustainable economic system.

At what level will our policymakers step as much as cease this? I can solely hope that it’s quickly.

As an alternative, even now, with an enormous finances surplus and residents struggling to make ends meet as a result of inflation, lots of our leaders are embracing tax hikes and continued excessive ranges of spending. 

Within the 2023 Legislature, many payments are being thought-about that might improve our tax load — all of which I hope will likely be rejected.

As for spending, Gov. Josh Inexperienced knowledgeable the Legislature final week that he desires funding for all kinds of tasks — practically $1 billion for infrastructure and housing tasks, greater than $50 million for healthcare packages, greater than $73 million for setting and agriculture tasks, greater than $62 million for schooling and $50 million for “authorities effectivity.” 

These are all worthy causes. However is that this actually the best time to extend spending?

To his credit score, the governor can also be proposing to scale back taxes by means of some tax credit, greater private exemptions and normal deductions for the state earnings tax, and indexing the state earnings tax brackets to inflation — truly fairly radical stuff within the present political local weather.

This prompted some observers to induce that the Legislature not reduce taxes an excessive amount of as a result of the state finances may undergo. However I say the family budgets of Hawaii residents are already struggling, and what our households, mates and neighbors want now greater than anything is a break. 

If policymakers wish to make the state extra reasonably priced, they can not afford to not reduce taxes. Tongi himself mentioned that his household moved to Washington state as a result of it was “cheaper.”

I’ll be rooting for Tongi to do nicely on “American Idol,” so someday he and the remainder of his household can transfer again to Kahuku. 

Within the meantime, we have to work collectively to make our state extra reasonably priced so households like Tongi’s don’t have to depart within the first place. 
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Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

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THE FUTURE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN HAWAI’I SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTS: Animal Agriculture – By Whom, For Whom, and at What Value?


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March 9, 2023

Animal agriculture performs an vital and quickly evolving function within the meals system of Hawai’i.

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By Civil Beat, UHWO, Higher Tomorrow Sequence, Waiwai

This dialogue might be devoted to the current developments in industrial scale animal agriculture in Hawai’i and the recognized ecological, social and financial prices and advantages. The dialog will discover greatest practices in animal agriculture to advance well being, fairness, resilience and sustainability within the meals system of Hawai’i.

Offered by The Hawaiʻi Institute for Sustainable Neighborhood Meals Techniques at College of Hawaiʻi – West Oʻahu, Honolulu Civil Beat, UH Higher Tomorrow Speaker Sequence, and Waiwai Collective, this sequence is supposed to generate key alternatives for group dialogue amongst a various viewers, aiming to realize a wholesome, equitable, resilient and sustainable meals system for Hawaiʻi.

Featured Audio system:

Chad Buck, Proprietor/CEO, Hawaii Foodservice Alliance & Large Island Dairy

Thomas Heaton, Reporter, Honolulu Civil Beat

Agenda:

Doorways open at 5 p.m. for cubicles, music and a complimentary pupu. Audio system will begin at 6 p.m, adopted by an non-compulsory post-discussion group discussion board from 7 – 8 p.m.

Parking Instructions: Ka Waiwai Parking is situated on the makai aspect of the Varsity Constructing. The doorway to the lot is situated off of Coyne Avenue. Parking is $6.

***in the event you park in any of the tons situated on the mauka aspect of the constructing you have to to self pay on the self pay station. They’ll ticket/tow in these tons if you don’t pay.

Sponsors:

The Way forward for Meals and Agriculture in Hawaii is a joint mission of Civil Beat, the Hawai’i Institute for Sustainable Neighborhood Meals Techniques on the College of Hawai’i – West O’ahu, and the UH Higher Tomorrow Speaker Sequence. These occasions are made potential by beneficiant help from the Kellogg Basis. BTSS is a three way partnership of the Hawaii Neighborhood Basis, Kamehameha Faculties, and UH, with help from the Faculty of Tropical Agriculture & Human Assets and the Ulupono Initiative. Civil Beat’s agricultural and meals safety reporting is funded partially by grants from the Stupski Basis, Ulupono Fund on the Hawaii Neighborhood Basis and the Frost Household Basis.

In the event you require particular help or auxiliary aids and/or companies (i.e., signal language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact Civil Beat at 808-737-2300 or e mail your request for an interpreter to membership@civilbeat.org at the very least 4 enterprise days previous to the occasion.

By registering for this occasion, you’ll obtain a subscription to our free e-newsletters. And don’t fear, you’ll be able to unsubscribe any time by clicking the hyperlink on the backside of every e mail.

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Tax cuts are higher than tax credit


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By Keli‘i Akina

Gov. Josh Inexperienced’s massive tax plan, the “Inexperienced Affordability Plan,” guarantees to place
$300 million again into taxpayers’ pockets, making it one of many largest tax reductions in Hawaii historical past.

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However can the GAP dwell as much as that promise?

For the previous a number of years, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has urged Hawaii lawmakers to chop taxes. With a surplus of greater than $10 billion anticipated over the following 4 years, Hawaii can afford it. Tax cuts would put a refund in folks’s wallets, cut back the price of residing and spur financial progress.

If the governor’s GAP plan had been based mostly round tax cuts, there wouldn’t be sufficient area on this web page to comprise all of my reward. However his plan is usually about tax credit.

What’s flawed with tax credit?

Keli‘i Akina

Politically, they’re a gold mine. They will goal particular teams, they sound nice on paper, and so they really feel like a cut price for taxpayers. Who doesn’t wish to get a refund? 

Gov. Inexperienced’s tax plan has tax credit galore — for meals, low-income renters, little one and dependent care, and academics who purchase provides for his or her school rooms with their very own cash. It additionally would broaden the earned revenue tax credit score.

All of it sounds splendidly beneficiant, however credit contain plenty of paperwork — one thing not everyone is sweet at — and identical to that promise out of your cousin to pay you again the $20 he owes you subsequent month, $20 in the present day received’t be the identical as $20 as much as a 12 months from now when the following tax season rolls round. 

In all probability the worst half about tax credit is that lawmakers usually wish to offset them with tax will increase. It’s one factor to create tax cuts and credit as a part of a broader plan that features sensible, accountable budgeting. It’s one other to supply tax breaks with one hand whereas rising taxes with the opposite. 

Fortuitously, Gov. Inexperienced has not stated something about rising taxes. However, Hawaii taxpayers ought to stay alert to the chance. 

The one precise tax cuts within the governor’s plan, for those who might name them that, would contain rising the state’s revenue tax deductions and exemptions. Collectively, these two modifications would save Hawaii taxpayers about $162 million in 2024. That may be a welcome transfer.

Additionally welcome is the governor’s proposal to peg the usual deduction, private exemption and the state’s many revenue tax brackets to inflation, which suggests lower-income earners received’t get pushed into increased tax brackets. This might save taxpayers about about $26 million in 2024 and is a terrific concept.

So total, there’s a lot to love about Gov. Inexperienced’s GAP plan. Any tax plan that saves Hawaii residents cash needs to be a very good factor — in actual fact, an excellent factor! 

Sooner or later, nevertheless, efforts to cut back Hawaii’s tax burden would have extra affect in the event that they targeted much less on tax credit and extra on straight up tax cuts — both by eliminating sure taxes or by decrease tax charges.
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Keli‘i Akina is president and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

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Interstate licensure compacts would assist appeal to extra medical staff


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The next testimony was offered Feb. 1, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Home Committee on Well being & Homelessness.
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To: Home Committee on Well being & Homelessness
Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chair
Rep. Jenna Takenouchi, Vice Chair

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From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Jonathan Helton, Coverage Researcher

RE: HB 666 — RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT

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Expensive Chair and Committee Members:

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii want to supply its feedback on HB666, which might enter Hawaii into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

If this invoice is enacted, the Legislature will take an necessary step towards addressing Hawaii’s physician scarcity, an issue that has existed for years and has turn into a critical impediment to healthcare entry in our state.

It’s properly established that Hawaii is affected by a doctor scarcity. In line with the newest report from the Hawaii Doctor Workforce Evaluation Undertaking, the state is at present brief by roughly 776 full-time equal physicians.[1] Whereas the best space of want is main care physicians, the dearth of specialists — particularly in rural areas — can be extreme

Furthermore, that scarcity doesn’t apply to solely docs. Throughout the state, and particularly in rural areas, Hawaii is going through shortages of skilled well being professionals, from main care suppliers to nurses, specialists and workers.

Fixing the issue requires a multipronged technique that may deal with all the things from Hawaii’s excessive price of residing to the state’s regulatory scheme for healthcare amenities. Maybe most necessary, nevertheless, is the necessity to reform licensing rules for healthcare professionals.

One-fourth of all licensed staff within the U.S. work in healthcare.[2] These licenses could be troublesome to acquire, are costly and carry geographic or “scope of follow” limitations.

In gentle of Hawaii’s shortages of healthcare professionals, restrictions on healthcare staff who already maintain licenses in different U.S. states appear redundant and self-defeating. Because the Federal Commerce Fee famous in a report on occupational licensing portability:

There’s little justification for the burdensome, expensive, and redundant licensing processes that many states impose on certified, licensed, out-of-state candidates. Such necessities seemingly inhibit multistate follow and delay and even stop licensees from working of their occupations upon relocation to a brand new state. Certainly, for occupations that haven’t carried out any type of license portability, the hurt to competitors from suppressed mobility could far outweigh any believable client safety profit from the failure to supply for license portability.[3]

In different phrases, although medical licensing is meant to guard the general public, there’s a level at which the extent of regulation reduces the variety of folks in follow with out an considerable public profit.

One examine of licensing amongst medical professionals discovered that, “licensing is related to restricted labor provide, an elevated wage of the licensed occupation, rents, elevated output costs, and no measurable impact on output high quality.”[4]

That is the place we will profit from the teachings of the coronavirus scenario. The governor’s emergency modification to state licensing legal guidelines demonstrated a have to embrace license portability, making it a easy matter for a physician licensed in one other state to follow in Hawaii.

The interstate compact method outlined on this invoice would streamline licensing for physicians, making it simpler for docs from collaborating states to follow in Hawaii with out going through time-consuming, expensive and redundant regulatory hurdles.

The state would retain its management over Hawaii licensure necessities, however would concurrently improve the pool of docs capable of follow in Hawaii and shorten the time it might take for them to start working right here.

At current, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact contains 37 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. 5 further states have launched laws to hitch as properly. Years of profitable implementation testify to the security and effectiveness of this method to license reciprocity.

In line with the IMLC, its goal is to function “an administrative clearinghouse of licensing and disciplinary info amongst collaborating member states and territories. The Fee doesn’t have regulatory management over physicians or the follow of medication. It neither points nor revokes licenses. Its solely goal is to facilitate interstate cooperation and the switch of data between member states and territories.”

Becoming a member of the IMLC can be an necessary step towards attracting extra docs to our state, thereby addressing our doctor scarcity and bettering healthcare entry for all.

Thanks for the chance to submit our feedback.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Helton
Coverage Researcher,
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] “Annual Report on Findings from the Hawai’i Doctor Workforce Evaluation Undertaking: Report back to the 2023 Legislature,” College of Hawaii, December 2022, p.1

[2] Ryann Nunn, “Enhancing Well being Care By way of Occupational Licensing Reform,” RealClear Markets, Aug. 28, 2018

[3] Karen Goldman, “Choices to Improve Occupational License Portability,” Federal Commerce Fee, September 2018, p. 25.

[4] Sean Nicholson and Carol Propper, “Chapter Fourteen — Medical Workforce,” “Handbook of Well being Economics,” Vol. 2, Elsevier, B.V., 2012, p. 885, cited additionally within the beforehand talked about FTC examine, footnote #9, p3.

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LUC reform would assist cut back homebuilding delays in Hawaii


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The next testimony was offered Feb. 1, 2023, by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii to the Home Committee on Housing.
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To: Home Committee on Housing
Rep. Troy N. Hashimoto, Chair
Rep. Micah P.Okay. Aiu, Vice Chair

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From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns

RE: HB670 — RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION

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Expensive Chair and Committee Members:

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii want to supply its feedback on HB670, which might streamline the method by which the state Land Use Fee acts on boundary amendments.

Beneath this invoice, the variety of affirmative votes required for a boundary modification can be diminished from six to a easy majority.

As well as, the variety of days from submitting a petition through which the fee should maintain a listening to can be diminished from 180 to 120, and the variety of days through which the fee should act to approve, deny, or modify the petition can be diminished from 365 to 180.

This invoice accurately identifies and addresses one of many main causes for the gradual development of housing on this state: the delays attributable to a number of layers of bureaucratic approvals.

Delays in county and state approvals — whether or not attributable to allowing backlogs or the difficulties of navigating Hawaii’s multitiered approval course of — are one of many causes Hawaii’s common approval delay is 3 times the nationwide imply.[1]

We commend this committee for contemplating a invoice that would scale back such delays at LUC.

Over time, the LUC has developed right into a sort of state-level zoning and approval company, which has added to the delay and forms confronted by these seeking to develop extra housing. A Grassroot Institute of Hawaii report, “Reform the Hawaii LUC to encourage extra housing,” mentioned how state policymakers might encourage the expansion of housing by reexamining the function and goal of the LUC.

The Grassroot report targeted closely on methods to scale back the scope of the LUC, leaving it free to deal with statewide environmental points and district boundary amendments of conservation lands. Nevertheless it additionally promoted the concept of constructing the LUC extra environment friendly usually.

Additional reform ought to have a look at methods to proceed refocusing the LUC to raised obtain its unique goal, however within the quick time period, this invoice would assist cut back the anticipate housing developments that require LUC approval.

For anybody who needs to see extra properties constructed, enactment of this invoice can be an necessary and really welcome step ahead. We urge the committee to cross this invoice.

Thanks for the chance to submit our feedback.

Sincerely,

Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] Rachel Inafuku, Justin Tyndall and Carl Bonham, “Measuring the Burden of Housing Regulation in Hawaii,” Financial Analysis Group on the College of Hawaii, April 14, 2022, p.7.

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Testimony: To lift or to not increase the salaries of Maui County officers?


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The next testimony by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii was thought of by the Maui County Wage Fee on Jan. 20, 2023.
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Jan. 20, 2023
9:00 a.m.
Mayor’s Convention Room and Videoconference

To: The Maui County Wage Fee
Chair, Scott Parker
Vice Chair, Grant Nakama

From: Joe Kent
          Government Vice President

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

RE: Merchandise 5.A, Dialogue and consideration of the Wage Fee’s 2023 technique and strategy relating to the salaries for the Mayor, County Council members, Administrators, Deputy Administrators and County Auditor.

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Pricey Chair and Fee Members:

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii want to supply its feedback on the Wage Fee’s 2023 technique for figuring out the salaries of the mayor, County Council members, division administrators and the county auditor.

In April 2022, the Fee voted to present the mayor, County Council members and division administrators a 5% pay improve. This was the primary increase the Council had acquired since 2013.[1]

Going ahead in 2023, the Fee ought to take into account the next:

>> The Maui County Council is the very best paid Council within the state.

Due to final yr’s pay increase, members of the Maui County Council now obtain a wage of $80,298.75 a yr; the Council chair receives $86,336.25.

On Kauai, the Kauai County Council voted in September 2022 to present itself, the mayor and the division heads 15% raises. By 2024, Kauai’s Council members will likely be making $78,672 a yr, and the Council chair $88,502.[2]

In Honolulu and Hawaii counties, the mayors and county councils didn’t obtain any pay will increase final yr.[3] Their council members are paid $68,904 and $70,008 per yr, respectively.[4]

>> Many metropolis and county council members throughout the U.S. work for much less.

Throughout america, there’s nice variation in how metropolis and county council members are compensated.

In Texas, Austin Metropolis Council members make $116,688 per yr whereas Dallas Council members earn solely $60,000 per yr — regardless that each councils are full-time.[5]

In the meantime, many smaller localities throughout the nation are led by council members who obtain a lot decrease compensation.

For instance, Sandy Springs, Georgia, a city of about 100,000 individuals, pays its mayor $47,000 per yr, and its council members $21,000, adjusted for Hawaii’s price of dwelling.[6] The town is persistently ranked as probably the greatest locations to dwell in America,[7] and is dwelling to a number of Fortune 500 corporations.[8]

Maui lawmakers usually are not essentially full-time staff

Maui County officers are neither part-time nor full-time staff, in accordance with the Maui Company Council, which said on April 8, 2019:

Elected officers are a novel class of public servant who’re neither full-time or part-time. Whereas the county council could designate its members as full-time, the advantages accorded to elected officers usually are not primarily based on that designation. The advantages accessible to elected officers are established by statute. We make no opinion whether or not the Wage Fee ought to take into account the full-time or part-time standing of elected officers.[9]

The truth that the mayor and council have prior to now labored lengthy hours doesn’t essentially imply that they need to work a lot, nor that spending a lot time on their jobs is a “public good.”

For instance, in some situations, the laborious creation of laws that places limitations in the way in which of housing or enterprise exercise, or infringes on the property rights of residents, might really be thought of a “public unhealthy,” and shouldn’t be inspired.

Above all, because the Maui County Wage Fee works on its technique for 2023, it is very important keep in mind that creating an excellent place to dwell doesn’t require paying the mayor and County Council members excessive salaries.

Thanks for the chance to testify.

Joe Kent

Government Vice President

Grassroot Institute of Hawaii


[1] Lila Fujimoto, “Panel awards pay raises to mayor, council,” The Maui Information, April 9, 2022.

[2] Guthrie Scrimgeour, “Kaua‘i county council approves raises for mayor, division heads, councilmembers,” The Backyard Island, Sept. 8, 2022.

[3] Ashley Mizuo, “No wage improve this yr for Council members, mayor and division heads,” Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 19, 2022.

[4] Richard Wiens, “Which County Pays Its Council Members The Most? (Trace: It’s Not Honolulu),” Honolulu Civil Beat, Oct. 17, 2021.

[5] Bridget Grumet, “Grumet: Austin Metropolis Council’s large raises got here with too little clarification,” Austin American-Statesman, Aug. 21, 2022.

[6] Based mostly on Grassroot Institute of Hawaii calculations, Jan. 19, 2023, utilizing the U.S. Bureau of Financial Evaluation cost-of-living adjuster, and Sandy Springs base salaries of $40,000 for its mayor and $18,000 for its council members. See “Actual Private Consumption Expenditures by State and Actual Private Earnings by State and Metropolitan Space, 2021,” U.S. Bureau of Financial Evaluation, Dec. 15, 2022; and “Working for Workplace and Qualifying for the Municipal Election,” SandySpringsGA.gov, 2021.

[7] “Awards and honors,” SandySpringsGA.gov, 2021.

[8] John Ruch, “Sandy Springs Is A Magnet For Fortune 500 Headquarters,” Sandy Springs journal, Sept. 21, 2021.

[9] Letter from Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Maui County Council vice-chair, to Gary Murai, Maui deputy company counsel, April 8, 2019, p. 6.

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Inexperienced’s State of the State deal with deserves kudos however with caveats


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This information launch was issued Jan. 23, 2023 by Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
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Most compelling was the governor’s proposal to extend tax deductions and assist open data, however all of the speak about spending was worrisome

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HONOLULU, Jan. 23, 2023 >> Grassroot Institute of Hawaii President and CEO Keli‘i Akina issued an announcement following Hawaii Gov. Josh Inexperienced’s first State of the State Tackle. The feedback beneath could also be attributed to him; Akina can be obtainable for interviews:

General ideas:

We are able to’t assist the whole lot Gov. Inexperienced proposed, however there’s a lot to love. That is encouraging. 

On taxes:

The Grassroot Institute could be very joyful to see the governor suggest a rise in the usual deduction for private revenue taxes. Generally, the plan would implement the most important tax discount in state historical past, which might assist struggling taxpayers afford Hawaii’s excessive value of residing.”

Indexing revenue tax brackets to inflation additionally is sensible; we don’t need folks getting pushed into larger tax brackets as a consequence of inflation whereas their shopping for energy is definitely taking place.

Nonetheless, I’d have appreciated to see the governor’s proposals go even additional. For instance, we wish to see the state common excise tax eradicated for groceries, so Hawaii residents can get rapid reduction on the level of sale. That’s a chance to go bolder.

The governor additionally ought to pledge to assist tax reduction for medical providers, as a technique to improve entry to healthcare and make Hawaii a extra enticing place for docs to observe. 

Past that, the governor didn’t say something about imposing new taxes, however we need to make it possible for focused tax cuts are usually not offset by elevating taxes elsewhere. 

One other concern is that the governor proposed new spending that could be troublesome to maintain in non-surplus price range years. 

On housing:

The governor expressed the appropriate sentiment on housing, however extra authorities applications are usually not the reply to the issues we face, and I’m not thrilled with the usage of an emergency order to handle the difficulty.

I perceive why the governor feels that issues have gotten so uncontrolled that an emergency order is required, however Hawaii’s housing drawback is the results of long-standing systemic points. 

We want long-term options that cope with the foundation causes, which primarily are too many land-use, zoning and different homebuilding-related rules, in addition to the glacial allowing techniques of each the state and the counties.

In different phrases, the Legislature must be concerned so any reforms to extend Hawaii’s provide of housing are everlasting and broader in scope.

On authorities transparency: 

I’m thrilled to listen to the governor pledge to signal any laws that meaningfully will increase authorities transparency and accountability. 

I’m particularly joyful that the governor endorsed the suggestions of a letter despatched to him earlier this month supposed to make sure better entry to public data, similar to making public paperwork obtainable at low value. The letter was drafted by the Civil Beat Regulation Middle and signed by greater than two dozen area people and media organizations, together with the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. 

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