March 2007 | Small Business News
Small Business Views
By Sam Slom, President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii
A big victory in February for small businesses in Kakaako. The state and HCDA announced they were not able to proceed with the Queen Street project that would have uprooted many longtime small businesses. Also, the cost of the proposed improvements soared from $10.7 million to $17.5 million. The businesses were not against safety and sanitary improvements; only the major widening and taking of their property, turning Queen Street into a raceway and not a business area. The real credit goes to SBH’s Small Business Person of the Year, Dexter Okada of U. Okada & Co., and Senator Carol Fukunaga.
Member Robert Thomas of the Pacific Legal Foundation delivered a masterful argument in behalf of small business taxpayers on Kauai before the Hawaii Supreme Court, February 15. (See story on page 5). Opposing counsel and lobbyist Gary Slovin, who was ill prepared and inexperienced in tax law, should find another line of work.
HawaiiReporter’s Malia Zimmerman had an article on American Samoa and Nancy Pelosi published in the “A” section of the Wall Street Journal on January 27. Ms. Zimmerman said Ms. Pelosi is “ethically challenged” and very selective on the minimum wage issue. In late February she interviewed Duane “Dog” Chapman after a Mexican court ruled he must be extradited by the U.S. to face jail in Mexico (SBH continues to support small business bounty hunter Chapman). Then on March 9 or 16, ABC-TV’s “20/20” is scheduled to air a story originated by Zimmerman about the background of the Koloko Dam disaster on Kauai and the complicity of the then Mayor, Mariann Kusaka.
It’s true, Rod Haraga fired as State DOT Director by Governor Lingle, is now working across the street for Mayor Hannemann.
The Governor has nominated DCCA super director Mark Recktenwald to be Chief Judge of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals. He was a deputy US Attorney before taking the DCCA job 4 years ago and turning that agency around.
There will be no private jet for the Governor, Senate President, or anyone else. The bill before the Legislature which would have set aside nearly $2 million for a jet (interisland only) ran out of fuel immediately upon introduction. Alaska is still trying to unload its costly state jet.
Buzz words at the legislature: (1) innovation; (2) sustainability, and (3) asset building. “Voter Owned” Elections, is still gasping at the Capitol. All mean more tax dollars and less choice for taxpayers.
A bill to the lower the age a person can run for Governor (currently) 30 to 25, was amended in the Senate Judiciary to 21.
Assisted suicide dead but “civil unions” will be fought to the end of Session in May.
Marine Patrick Brent, 18 vendors and 150 employees need your support at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center about to be scuttled by the U.S. Parks Service and Navy. See story on page. 3.
ABC-TV’s hit “LOST,” filmed entirely in Hawaii, may be in the tank after #1 ratings.
The much awaited Hawaii Superferry was torpedoed in the Legislature by several key legislators, special interest groups and environmental wackos who want the Superferry to do things no other carrier has been required to do. Come to the next SBH Sunrise Networking Breakfast on Thursday, March 29 (7 am at the Pineapple Room) to hear Terry O’Halloran update business on the Hawaii Superferry.
The Hawaii Bar Association (bars not lawyers!) staged a successful rally at the Capitol on February 9 to protest the loss of business due to the state’s near total smoking ban enacted in 2006. Some bars are directly challenging the law by allowing patrons to light up. The law makes criminals out of law abiding citizens. Interestingly, one of the few exemptions to the smoking ban is for criminals in state correctional facilities.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month tossed a $79.5 million punitive-damages award against Philip Morris. The high court by a 5-4 vote, overturned a jury verdict in an Oregon case, ruling it violated earlier decisions on limits to punitive damages. This decision might curb the size of product-liability awards against companies beyond new limits the Court outlined in a State Farm Insurance ruling in 2003.
The dreaded shrieking cocqui frogs have settled in Hawaii Kai on Oahu after driving Neighbor Islanders wild with their noise.
Don’t forget to honor the 2007 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureates, March 8 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
See you March 15 for the SBH Pau Hana at member Skylights of Hawaii. Check our website at www.smallbusinesshawaii.com.
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