08-16-2018, 01:50 PM
Here's a semi-informed prediction:
It looks to me that the County Christmas List is DOA, and so far the Mayors office has **** the sheets.
If the County (which by this I mean the Mayors office) wakes up to reality they will submit a pared down Emergency Response funding request that will result in a Special Session. They have only a few weeks to pull this off, for timing reasons. If they don't nothing will occur till the 2019 session and the County will be in line with every other legislative interest.
To me a successful Special Session "Ask" will be limited to Road Repairs and a Loan Program for affected parties (residential, commercial, ag) I would guess that the loan program could likely have very liberal terms.
It goes without saying that the County will have to commit to improve process, likely Ohana zoning and expedited permitting, things they should have done years ago.
There will be zero appetite to fund infrastructure outside of affected Puna, and that likely includes existing Keaau area. I see No Hilo money, and no pie from the sky.
I believe the Legislatures perspective is driven by both politics and perception. The County "leaking" the wish list looks to me a major error. The fact that Ruderman has animus towards Sen President Kouchi, which is reciprocated, affects the politics on the Senate side. However based on my impressions Kouchi is not heartless, so Puna won't suffer because of this, but Kai Kahele will have to carry the water for Puna on this one. The House is more sympathetic, but the two have to agree.
I'm sure neither the Senate nor the House is sympathetic to the County's approach so far...but know that Puna and East Hawaii are hurting and to a much greater extent than the Spring floods on Kauai that resulted in $150mm +/- in State support.
This is exactly the reason that autocrats like Harry, especially in their decrepitude, should not be in office. Pray that we have a couple more event less years in D.C.
It looks to me that the County Christmas List is DOA, and so far the Mayors office has **** the sheets.
If the County (which by this I mean the Mayors office) wakes up to reality they will submit a pared down Emergency Response funding request that will result in a Special Session. They have only a few weeks to pull this off, for timing reasons. If they don't nothing will occur till the 2019 session and the County will be in line with every other legislative interest.
To me a successful Special Session "Ask" will be limited to Road Repairs and a Loan Program for affected parties (residential, commercial, ag) I would guess that the loan program could likely have very liberal terms.
It goes without saying that the County will have to commit to improve process, likely Ohana zoning and expedited permitting, things they should have done years ago.
There will be zero appetite to fund infrastructure outside of affected Puna, and that likely includes existing Keaau area. I see No Hilo money, and no pie from the sky.
I believe the Legislatures perspective is driven by both politics and perception. The County "leaking" the wish list looks to me a major error. The fact that Ruderman has animus towards Sen President Kouchi, which is reciprocated, affects the politics on the Senate side. However based on my impressions Kouchi is not heartless, so Puna won't suffer because of this, but Kai Kahele will have to carry the water for Puna on this one. The House is more sympathetic, but the two have to agree.
I'm sure neither the Senate nor the House is sympathetic to the County's approach so far...but know that Puna and East Hawaii are hurting and to a much greater extent than the Spring floods on Kauai that resulted in $150mm +/- in State support.
This is exactly the reason that autocrats like Harry, especially in their decrepitude, should not be in office. Pray that we have a couple more event less years in D.C.