Posted on: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Hawaii sinks into gloomy times
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i has dropped three spots on national Happiness Index since April, and it's not hard to see why as we "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused:
A national tax lobby says recent tax increases passed by our Legislature might drive away Hawai'i's best and brightest. That's old news. If our brightest were still here, do you really think we would have elected these legislators?
The state Employees Retirement System lost more than a half-billion dollars as the stock market declined during the first three months of the year. Luckily for state employees, there's no economic setback ano-ther tax increase can't fix.
The Maui police chief, fire chief and county prosecutor are disappointed they won't be getting pay raises as the economy continues to sink. Who do they think they are, legislators?
The city's commuter ferry, TheBoat, will cease operations this month after a study showed it costs taxpayers $30,000 a year per commuter. For that money, you could get your councilman to give you a ride.
The city mistakenly listed the cost of a $35,248 pickup truck as $3,524,813, according to auditors. Looks like they're getting practice for rail transit accounting.
The prosecutor's office will seek a life sentence for an accused Kailua identity thief who allegedly took $160,000. Whose identity did she steal, a mass murderer's?
The state Judiciary is sponsoring a free seminar on bankruptcy. Nice of the judges to provide follow-up services for the Hawaii Superferry after running it out of business.
Robert J. Jones, a candidate for University of Hawai'i president, says there are a lot of similarities between his home state of Minnesota and Hawai'i. Not really. Their state bird is the mosquito and ours is the middle finger.
UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw will shake hands with diploma recipients at today's commencement. Hand sanitizers will be passed out to quell swine flu fears. Guess she won't have to do the Three Stooges' thumb-and-nose waggle after all.
And the quote of the week ... from Honolulu Symphony board member Valerie Ossipoff at the orchestra's final performance of the year: "The musicians and staff of the Honolulu Symphony have been working without pay for nearly three months. Who do you know who could, or would, do that?" That was the cue for legislators in the audience to stare at their shoes.
