As Governor David Ige floated the idea of pay cuts for teachers and other state employees last week, the Hawaiʻi State Commission on the Status of Women offered a different take on how the state should cope with economic losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike the governor’s proposal to recover anticipated budget shortfalls by skimming the paychecks of already underpaid … [Read more...] about ‘This Is Our Moment’: Commission on the Status of Women proposes a feminist COVID-19 recovery
Politics
Mayor’s Budget Boosts Tourism: Is it the Best Way to Recover from COVID-19?
Against a backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maui Mayor Michael Victorino released his $870-million county budget proposal last week. It includes a number of measures that Victorino said were responses to the impacts of COVID-19, such as $10 million allocated for countywide costs to “help eliminate COVID-19” and $3.8 million to replenish the Emergency Fund. Also part of … [Read more...] about Mayor’s Budget Boosts Tourism: Is it the Best Way to Recover from COVID-19?
Number of Medical Supplies, Visitors, and New Cases in Hawaiʻi: Facts and Figures From the Governor’s Press Conference
Governor David Ige’s press conference on Thursday was packed with data about the rapid decline in tourist arrivals, medical supplies available to Hawaiʻi, and new COVID-19 cases, plus the news that the Army Corps of Engineers is conducting site assessments in case alternate medical facilities are needed. Ige was joined by several officials, including Lt. Gov. Josh Green, who … [Read more...] about Number of Medical Supplies, Visitors, and New Cases in Hawaiʻi: Facts and Figures From the Governor’s Press Conference
‘It’s Crazy’: Maui residents wait for hours and days to file claims for unemployment insurance
Walter Moses and his uncle walked laps around the State Office Building on Friday, March 20, looking for ways to file an unemployment claim. Moses, who spoke softly as his uncle translated, was laid off from his job at Mama’s Fish House just two days prior, and with upcoming rent to pay, the pair was visibly concerned. “We tried to go on it but no can,” Moses said … [Read more...] about ‘It’s Crazy’: Maui residents wait for hours and days to file claims for unemployment insurance
Hawai’i Doctors: We want Josh Green – Hawai’i’s Lieutenant Governor and emergency room doctor missing at the command table
Who do you want dictating government policy during the COVID-19 pandemic: doctors or government officials? As the state struggles to quickly implement the new lockdown rules, a group of more than 300 Hawai’i physicians and health professionals is demanding that even more stringent steps be taken, and that government officials give Lt. Gov. Josh Green a seat at the … [Read more...] about Hawai’i Doctors: We want Josh Green – Hawai’i’s Lieutenant Governor and emergency room doctor missing at the command table