August 2006 | Online Edition
Rail Project Sacndalous | Realtor Alphabets | Smoking Ban
Honolulu Rail Project a Scandalous Proposition
by John M. Corboy
We are being asked to begin paying an extra 13 percent on our general excise tax to cover an uncertain part of the unknown cost of some kind of commuter rail system, which someday may possibly go from somewhere to someplace else. Or maybe it won’t. Our planners seem undeterred by the fact that these projects always cost more than projected, while usage is always less than projected.
1) A worldwide study showed that the average cost of rail construction exceeds projections by over 40 percent.
2) Usage is always far less than expected, and is mainly confined to 4 hours per day, 5 days per week.
3) Light rail is by far the most expensive method per passenger mile of moving people; nothing else even comes close.
4) Commuter rail uses more energy per passenger than a bus, or even an efficient car.
Are we now supposed to trust the planning, construction and management of Hawaii’s largest-ever government capital project — which is still completely undefine — to the same people who cannot even figure out how to collect the tax to pay for this unspecified fantasy? Give me a break. Where’s the revolt?
John Corboy is a resident of Mililani and a member of the Board of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
The Alphabet Soup of Hawaii Real Estate
By Walt Harvey (R), East Oahu Realty, ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, SRES, AHWD, ePRO, QSC, RSPS, TRC
Are you considering selecting a real estate practitioner to help you buy or sell a property? Here’s part one of a two part primer to help you understand what all those letters, if any, represent that follow our names on our business cards and why they make us different.
REALTOR®: There are more than 3 million real estate licensees in the U.S. 1.3 million can call themselves a REALTOR©, a member of the National Association of REALTORS© , NAR, and have pledged to abide by a Code of Ethics.
The R or RA following an agent’s name means they hold either a broker R or a salesperson RA license in the State of Hawaii. All holders of an active license in Hawaii are required to take 10 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license.
Letters following R or RA indicate areas of specialty and additional training and education and the fulfillment of specific experience requirements. All of the following designations require NAR membership and continued membership in national councils. Certifications are awarded upon completion of specific training. Here are some that are recognized by NAR and have nationwide or worldwide memberships:
ABR: Accredited Buyer Representative. Must be a member of the Real Estate Buyers Agent Council and successfully complete a two-day designation course and one elective course & pass the exams. Must submit documentation verifying five completed transactions in which the agent acted solely as a buyer representative, no dual agency. 40,000 members
CCIM: Certified Commercial Investment Member. A candidate must successfully complete four core courses, 37-43 hours each and pass an exam after each as well as a final exam after completion of all other requirements. Three elective credits are required as well as the submission of a Portfolio of Qualifying Experience: 10 qualifying activities totaling $5 million or more, or 20 qualifying activities regardless of volume, or $30 million in volume regardless of the number of activities. Only 6 percent of the estimated 125,000 commercial real estate practitioners nationwide hold the CCIM designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program, but also why it is one of the most coveted and respected designations in the industry. 7,500 members
CIPS: Certified International Property Specialist. This real estate designation is geared to professionals that have demonstrated their international experience and participate in international programs offered by NAR. Five core courses of 1-2 days each plus submission of three international transactions is required. 1,500 members worldwide
CRB: Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager. Must be a member of the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers and have at least two consecutive years of management experience prior to designation and submit a management resume outlining this experience. Also must earn twelve credits within four years of application. Credits are earned by taking specialized management courses and passing the exam. 7,000 members
Walt Harvey can be reached at: walt@coastalhawaii.com or 1-866-773-3351.
Lingle, Aiona on New Smoking Ban Law<
Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor James R. Duke Aiona, Jr., both former smokers, issued the following statements on a new law (SB3262 SD1 HD1 CD1, Act 295) signed by the Governor July 10 that will prohibit smoking in public places, including bars, restaurants, office buildings, and workplaces.
“It was not long ago when we believed that non-smoking sections in restaurants or on airplanes were sufficient to keep second-hand smoke away from nonsmokers” said Governor Lingle, who is a board member of the American Legacy Foundation, a national organization dedicated to preventing smoking and tobacco use among teens. “We now have concrete research about the serious dangers of secondhand smoke. We also know that tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death in Hawai`i, therefore, it is critical that we do all we can to protect the health of our residents and visitors by providing public venues that are truly smoke-free. Hawaii’s new smoke-free law will save lives. At the same time, we will continue to work with our community and health care partners to focus on preventing Hawaii youth from starting smoking.”
The Lt. Governor quit smoking after his father, a lifelong smoker, died from lung cancer. His grandfather, who did not smoke but was exposed to second-hand smoke, also died from lung cancer.
“It took shocking events in my life to understand the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke and what tobacco use was doing to my health as well as the people around me” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “This new law will help protect the health of our youth and our elderly and everyone in between by minimizing the risks of exposure to second-hand smoke.
The 2006 Legislative Session passed SB 3262 with only Senators Slom, Trimble and Whalen voting against the ban while in the House: Evans, Moses and Nakasone voted “no”.
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