Happy New Year! - is this the "official" start of the new millennium?

At least we have a 43rd President. The last court battles that marked the aftermath of the never forgettable 2000 election were unreal: 4 - 3 in Florida, 5 - 4 in Washington. The media, and the Gore folks, took issue with one-vote margins when the vote was against them but had no trouble when the vote was for them. A side note: Hawaii is NOT better than Florida in its election procedures with non-citizen voting and remains the only state without an automatic recount procedure of any kind. That should be remedied in the next Legislative Session. The good from all of this: more people learned the importance of a single vote, checking on how votes are counted, how to read ballots and why there is an electoral college. Another bonus: people actually slept outside overnight not for the chance to buy rock concert tickets or Playstation 2, but to gain access to the historic Supreme Court arguments and decision. Downside: the media's blatant subjectivity (it still continues), Jesse Jackson, no more daily funny e-mails or art, stand-up comics without enough material and lawyers searching for new people to sue. Positive President Bush will surprise a lot of people (not those who know him) with his effectiveness and basic common sense. He will succeed.

Hawaii's 2002 election campaign is already underway. An important part will be required reapportionment. New census data will be available in April and new boundary lines will be drawn by fall by a group of nine.

The state has taken ownership of the opulent Hemmeter Center for $22.5 million for a state art gallery and offices. The Guv also wants his $50 million state aquarium in Kaka'ako - a facility no private entrepreneur would touch. Cayetano felt it necessary to fly to the Bahamas to see their aquarium. His PR director, the flamboyant Jackie Kido, first refused to tell where he went, then said he flew coach by himself, then refused to say who went with him. The image of the Governor with backpack, musubi, and economy coach ticket for that 3rd seat in the 5-seat row is somehow hard to envision, but must be part of the legacy.

Cayetano then surprised many by calling for more tax cuts for personal income-a longtime Republican mantra. But does he really mean it? Past tax cuts were approved over long time periods, then threatened with take-backs and additional new taxes. Let's see.

A week after DOE Superintendent Dr. Paul LeMehieu asked for a 60% salary increase, it was revealed that the Democrat legislative majority wanted to hire his wife, Marina Piscolish, to facilitate their annual closed door pre-session retreat. She declined.

Departing Honolulu Advertiser editor Jim Gatti tried to defame UH Law Prof and author of "The Broken Trust," Randy Roth, in a good-bye whining, non-factual commentary that told more about why it is good that Gatti left here.

Advertiser columnist/playwright Lee Cataluna wrote a stinging article ostensibly uplifting the Portuguese, by tearing down local comedian/humanitarian Frank DeLima. The rest of the story seems to revolve around some personal animosity and employment issues.

Hailed as "the savior of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin," Canadian financier-investor David Black, talked candidly to the Honolulu Community Media Council and blasted the Advertiser's unfair business practices related to stopping the planned March SB takeover.

The Governor declared "Benny Agbiyani Week" to honor the Mets slugger and HPU grad. At the end of the public ceremony in late November, Cayetano had Benny autograph a UH Rainbow football helmet!

Aloha Island Air has been ordered to pay a pilot blind in one eye, a record $1.4 million in damages in a discrimination case by the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. Imagine, not wanting to fly with a one-eyed pilot. (UPS was fined nationally for a one-eyed delivery driver). Both employers said they would appeal.

The State ended its federally-subsidized WikiWiki commuter ferry service. The commuter ferry between Leeward Oahu and downtown Honolulu ended with the few regular riders wanting it to continue. Not to worry: the City again cranking up a $1 billion mass transit.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen advises DEA head McCaffrey intends to publish new regulations in the Federal Register before the new Administration takes over. Agencies sometimes do this to get their regulatory changes into effect before the next president takes over. The regulations will be devastating to efforts to legalize industrial hemp - Hawaii was the first state to do so. Governor Cayetano is a staunch supporter. The regulations also would seriously impact or kill products made with industrial hemp intended for human consumption. This includes hemp lip balm, products used to soothe nose/sinus, or anything DEA claims could be "ingested." The regulations cloud hemp body care products, saying if the shampoo or lotion user tests positive for THC, the products will be outlawed. DEA chose the time when people were celebrating holidays and Congress was in recess to do this. Thielen advises writing Janet Reno or Mr. Clinton.

YIKES! Postage costs up January 7!

Want a free membership in SBH? As part of our New Year's membership drive, sign up a new member during January, and get a free or extended membership. Call me personally. See you with Steve Forbes January 10!

Sam Slom is also a State Senator representing the 8th district in the East Oahu area.
His website can be accessed here: http://hotspotshawaii.com/sam/slom.html

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