{"id":5110,"date":"2019-04-19T21:25:01","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T21:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hawaiioceannews.com\/?p=5110"},"modified":"2019-04-20T08:52:11","modified_gmt":"2019-04-20T08:52:11","slug":"hb1032_sb1257_dangerous_precedents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiioceannews.com\/index.php\/2019\/04\/19\/hb1032_sb1257_dangerous_precedents\/","title":{"rendered":"Activists Hand-Deliver Appeal to Legislators"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIf Passed, SB1257 and HB1032 Set Dangerous Precedents\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHanding Corporations Our Public Assets Would Be a Shocking Betrayal of Public Trust<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

(Editor's Note:\u00a0 this article, along with the latest petition was sent to all of the legislators noted below.)<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Two crucial bills, SB1257 and HB1032, are now set for hearings sometime before the April 26th hearings deadline for this legislative session.\u00a0 Their implications are huge for this State.\u00a0 If passed, the legislature would have then told the people of Hawaii that it has no problem with handing over public lands, submerged, fast, and dry, to corporate, for-profit, interests.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

If these pass, the legislators pictured above will have opened the floodgate to privatization, something that salivating corporations, waiting in the wings, have been lusting after for decades.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Further, by passing these measures, the legislators will have told the people of Hawaii that \"we have neither the business acumen, commonsense, wherewithal, or desire to manage the public assets that were entrusted to us for custodianship . . .\u00a0 we're throwing the public under the bus . . . \".<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the names, email addresses and phone numbers of the legislators who will soon be voting on these bills in committee:<\/span><\/p>\n

Phone Numbers:<\/span><\/div>\n
Rep. David A. Tarnas (he listens)<\/b>:\u00a0 808-586-8510
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Rep. Ryan Yamane:\u00a0 808-586-6150
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Rep. Nicole E. Lowen:\u00a0 808-586-8400<\/span><\/div>\n
Rep. Chris Todd:\u00a0 808-586-8480\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Rep. Cynthia Thielen:\u00a0 808-586-6480<\/span><\/div>\n
Sen. Kaiali'i Kahele:\u00a0 808-586-6760<\/span><\/div>\n
Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran:\u00a0 808-586-7344<\/span><\/div>\n
Sen. Kurt Fevella:\u00a0 808-586-6360
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\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Email addresses:<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
repyamane@Capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
replowen@Capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a>
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reptodd@Capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a>
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reptarnas@Capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a>
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repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a>
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senkkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a>
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senkeithagaran@capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a>
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senfevella@capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
senmoriwaki@capitol.hawaii.gov<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

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Practically speaking, what does this mean when we say that this legislation will set a shocking precedent?<\/span><\/p>\n

Implications now:<\/strong> <\/em>it means that State agencies like the DLNR and DOBOR, already having demonstrated a complete disregard for the public assets that they were charged with managing, will now be able to hand over every public small boat harbor in the State of Hawaii over to for-profit private interests.\u00a0 Let that sink in for a moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Implications for the near future:<\/strong> <\/em>The precedent that these bills --\u00a0 especially 1032 -- set for future handling of all public assets is shocking.\u00a0 Once the legislature pulls the trigger on this kind of legislation, it will be a very small leap to allow for the privatization of any public lands, including submerged<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 What does this mean?\u00a0 Say, the Hilton Hawaiian decides to lease the submerged lands in front of its hotel in Waikiki.\u00a0 No problem, now that the precedent is in place. This would theoretically mean that they could control the world class surf spots out in front, with guests getting first priority.\u00a0 Did I hear you say you'd crash the party and go out anyway.\u00a0 Good luck. The private police force patrolling the lineup will be checking for your special QR coded bracelet-pass. No pass, no surf.<\/span><\/p>\n

You say that will never happen?\u00a0 That's what they said twenty years ago about privatizing the public harbor system.\u00a0 But we're here, now.<\/span><\/p>\n

You say you'll protest . . .\u00a0 maybe even get a little crazy?\u00a0 Too late.\u00a0 When it's a law on the books, the police and all enforcement have a responsibility to enforce the law. There will be a lot of people getting hurt. Wrong time to protest.\u00a0 Now is the time to stop this nonsense, before this kind of self-serving precedent gets started, before this silly idea becomes law, on the books.<\/span><\/p>\n

The following was the message that was hand-delivered by activists to legislators on Thursday, April 18th, 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Public Harbors should remain PUBLIC and should not be handed to corporations for PRIVATE gain.\u00a0 Representing this legislation as being needed to fill fiscal voids is a misrepresentation of its true purpose<\/u>, which is to prepare our public harbor for conveyance to private interests.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Members of the PUBLIC are STRONGLY OPPOSED to<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

S.B. 1257, and H.B. 1032.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

SEE ATTACHED PETITION<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

S.B. 1257 begins by deleting any reference to \u201ca cost-of-living index increase\u201d with respect to mooring fees, disregarding any consideration for making recreational boating available to the average Hawaii citizen on average income.\u00a0 The Ala Wai Harbor is a \u201cpublic<\/em><\/strong>\u201d marina, set aside for the people of Hawaii as per the Kaiser Indenture and, as such, should continue to be accessible to all of Hawaii\u2019s boating community, on all economic scales. Deliberately setting unrealistic fee rates in our public harbors patently discriminates against average- and lower-income boaters.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to mooring fee increases, S.B. 1257 would allow for exponential increases in fees currently paid by those who legally live aboard their boats the Ala Wai and Keehi Small Boat Harbors (50% per year, forever, increases that far exceed the cost-of-living index), receiving nothingin exchange<\/em><\/strong>, except freedom from fear of getting caught during very infrequent<\/em> raids that occur at night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is clear from public statements and media releases by DOBOR that bid proposals are currently<\/em><\/strong> being entertained which would allow for the privatization of this public harbor facility.\u00a0 The timing of SB1257 coinciding with DOBOR's request for proposals could be perceived as a <\/em>vehicle of preparation for the anticipated bid process<\/em><\/strong> (i.e.<\/em>, to provide a large income-stream-bargaining-chip for use in direct negotiations with private entities). \u00a0The timing of S.B. 1257 offers another, equally enticing carrot for DOBOR to hold out to potential private developers\u2014namely, to offer a harbor that is nearly devoid of liveaboards (having been driven out by much higher fees). Why? When the harbor changes hands, and there are liveaboards there, regular tenant\/landlord State laws apply, making the managing of 129 liveaboards a potential nightmare for the new lessee.<\/span><\/p>\n

H.B. 1032 (related bill) and DOBOR\u2019s current request for proposals (see Honolulu Star Bulletin April 9, 2019) indicates DOBOR\u2019s true intent with respect to the Harbor, and the lack of any intent to use increased slip fees to actually perform maintenance or improvements.\u00a0 The true intent of all of DOBOR\u2019s current efforts (S.B. 1257 included) is to SELL<\/strong> our PUBLIC HARBORS<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

S.B. 1257purports to do one thing \u2013 innocently raise rates to keep up with alleged expenses \u2013 while its actual intent is to accomplish the far different goal of paving the road to private management and commercialization of Public Lands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is this good-faith law-making?<\/span><\/p>\n

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What's Going On<\/span><\/p>\n

Hawaii's legislature seems determined to set a precedent that will allow the unfettered leasing of Hawaii's public-owned submerged and fast lands to for-profit corporations, beginning with all of Hawaii's publicly held harbors.\u00a0 HB 1032 will face a final vote soon.\u00a0 HB 1032 states: \" . . . Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the board may lease any existing state boating facility in its entirety, and fast lands and submerged lands within [an] any existing state boating facility, by public auction, a request for proposals, or by direct negotiation . . . .\"<\/span><\/p>\n

SB1257 is the first step in \"clearing out\" the State's largest public harbor by requesting huge increases in liveaboard fees there, with the obvious intent of preparing the Ala Wai for handover to a new, private, for-profit corporate lessee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please do not allow the passage of this irresponsible legislation.\u00a0 If these bills pass, a new precedent will be set allowing the eventual leasing of all of Hawaii's publicly held lands and assets, submerged<\/strong><\/em>, fast and dry lands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please let your voice be heard.\u00a0 Hawaii is about its people, not about the individual agendas of the private financial self-interests that are ruining Hawaii now.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please join us in opposing these bills, and ones like them, forever.\u00a0 Please sign the petition below and let your voice be heard (Please Note: iPetitions.com provides this service to us for free.\u00a0 When you submit your signature, it will as for a donation.\u00a0 This is entirely voluntary and will not affect your entry)<\/em><\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

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