Latest news with #HonoluluStar-Advertiser
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mayor Blangiardi wants authority to hire, fire Honolulu police chief
Only two of the seven members of the commission responsible for hiring and firing the Honolulu police chief were told by Mayor Rick Blangiardi that he wants to bring in Hawaii island's police chief to Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. Blangiardi, in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, said his administration will introduce an amendment to the city charter to remove the Honolulu Police Commission's authority over the office of the chief of the police. The Honolulu Police Department is only city department that the mayor cannot make decisions about the leadership of, he said. The Office of the Mayor is responsible for keeping the community safe, Blangiardi said, noting you can't 'hold somebody responsible and not give them commensurate authority.' 'I don't have the authority to hire and fire (the police chief ). But that doesn't mean I can't have a candid conversation with the chief of police about the state of the department. Which is exactly what I did, ' said Blangiardi, noting the process of seeking to change the city charter takes at least 18 months. 'I have responsibility not only for HPD but all public safety issues and I have no authority, to deal, officially, (with ) who is the chief of police ' Blangiardi said. 'That's wrong and that is fundamentally bad management structure.' In response to a Star-Advertiser request to interview Logan, Kathleen Alina Lee, HPD's public information officer, told the Star-Advertiser that at 'this time, Chief Logan will not be offering interviews regarding his retirement.' 'All information available is in his current statement. Should he decide to open up the opportunities for interviews in the future, we'll reach out and let media know, ' said Lee, in a statement. The commissioners will meet today at 2 p.m. in the first floor Conference Room A at HPD's Alapai Headquarters for their regularly scheduled meeting. Blangiardi informed HPC Chair Kenneth Silva and Vice Chair Laurie Foster that Logan would retire June 30 and he had negotiated Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz's application to serve as interim HPD chief starting July 16. Moszkowicz, a former major with HPD, was one of four finalists for chief when Logan, 66, was selected May 23, 2022. Moszkowicz is a 22-year veteran of HPD who left the department to become chief on Hawaii island. Blangiardi made no secret of his desire for Logan to move on from his post. A public rift between the two leaders emerged following a 2024 New Year's Day-long manhunt and shootout. HPD did not notify the public that officers were chasing around the island an armed attempted murder suspect, who had shot his ex-girlfriend, until the suspect was dead and two officers were shot. The Star-Advertiser asked all seven members of the commission if they discussed Blangiardi's police leadership transition and what they knew about Logan's retirement, who informed them and when. On Monday, Blangiardi, speaking to reporters in his office about Logan's ouster, said commissioners were 'well aware of this for some time now.' The commission is not required to consider Blangiardi's recommendation more than other applicants. The Star-Advertiser also asked about Blangiardi's desire to take away the commission's oversight of HPD's chief. Foster told the Star-Advertiser that in mid-May, the mayor 'indicated to me that he was going to act on his dissatisfaction with the chief ' but did not discuss how he planned to do so 'nor did he mention Chief Ben as a replacement.' Foster believes it is 'inappropriate to suggest that the answer to HPD governance is simply the mayor having oversight authority over the chief.' 'The entire HPD governance model has to be comprehensively reassessed. As I understand it, oversight authority of the chief's office was removed from the mayor in the past for good reason. In part, that reason was to separate HPD governance from the political process, which seems quite appropriate for that time period, ' Foster said. 'When that happened, however, there appears to have been little thought given to the appropriate HPC governance of HPD. Currently, HPC has very little ability to influence the chief or HPD and therefore HPC is a neutered organization that is considerably hampered from doing their job of 'holding the chief accountable.'' The criteria for selecting commissioners and the selection process is 'flawed ' and needs to be assessed as well, he said. 'My suggestion is that a small group of knowledgeable and unbiased people be assigned the responsibility of comprehensively assessing the entire HPD governance model and to make recommendations to the City Council, ' Foster said. This group would focus only on HPD governance, not on all commissions, she said. The Charter Commission is tasked with assessing all commissions and 'I suggest that this mandate is too broad.' Commissioners did not discuss the mayor's move to take out Logan and make Moszkowicz HPD's 13th chief, Silva told the Star-Advertiser. 'The commission will accept all interested and qualified candidates cover letters and resumes for consideration, ' said Silva, noting that as of Monday afternoon no one had applied to serve as interim HPD chief. He and Blangiardi 'had conversations regarding Chief Logan's leadership at HPD.' 'The commission meets twice a month. Our next meeting is June 4. The commission, because of the sunshine (law ), did not meet to discuss chief's retirement (on Monday ), ' said Silva, noting the commission had just started to review Logan's annual performance review. 'Chief Logan didn't let me know he was retiring until after the meeting he had with the mayor (on Monday ).' Logan's last review from the commission in August said he was exceeding expectations as a leader, innovator and a cost saver while needing to improve internal and external communications. Commissioner Ann Botticelli told the Star-Advertiser she learned of Logan's retirement from the news media. She interviewed Moszkowicz as part of the chief selection process in 2022 and he 'was a good candidate.' 'Having said that, I believe our responsibility is to invite others to also apply (internally and externally ) and select the best candidate for the job, ' she said. Botticelli said it is a good idea to review how the commission is set up in general, to include a review of why it was first established in 1932. That review should include a look at what the roles and responsibilities of the commission are and whether they are still appropriate today. Any consideration of overhauling the commission should also consider why voters rejected previous attempts to change the charter to give the mayor the same authority to hire and fire the police chief, Botticelli said. 'The larger question of who should be responsible for hiring and firing the chief should be part of that larger discussion, ' she said. Commissioner Doug Chin told the Star-Advertiser that he did not know Logan was retiring until 'I heard the announcement on Monday around 4 p.m. ' … But I also had stepped down in January from being chair when my official term had expired and I became a holdover appointment. I hope to learn more at a future meeting, ' Chin said. Commissioners Elizabeth Char, Carrie K.S. Okinaga and Jeannine A. Souki did not reply to Star-Advertiser requests for comment. All members serve staggered five-year terms and the panel 'appoints and may remove the Chief of Police, ' according to the city's description of commissioners' duties. Commissioners review rules and regulations for the HPD's administration, the annual budget and may make recommendations to the mayor. The commission also receives, considers and 'investigates charges brought by the public against the conduct of the department or any of its members ' and submits a written report of its findings to the chief, who is responsible for the disciplinary process.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor wants authority to hire, fire police chief
Only two of the seven members of the commission responsible for hiring and firing the Honolulu police chief were told by Mayor Rick Blangiardi that he wants to bring in Hawaii island's police chief to Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. Blangiardi, in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, said his administration will introduce an amendment to the city charter to remove the Honolulu Police Commission's authority over the office of the chief of the police. The Honolulu Police Department is only city department that the mayor cannot make decisions about the leadership of, he said. The Office of the Mayor is responsible for keeping the community safe, Blangiardi said, noting you can't 'hold somebody responsible and not give them commensurate authority.' 'I don't have the authority to hire and fire (the police chief ). But that doesn't mean I can't have a candid conversation with the chief of police about the state of the department. Which is exactly what I did, ' said Blangiardi, noting the process of seeking to change the city charter takes at least 18 months. 'I have responsibility not only for HPD but all public safety issues and I have no authority, to deal, officially, (with ) who is the chief of police ' Blangiardi said. 'That's wrong and that is fundamentally bad management structure.' In response to a Star-Advertiser request to interview Logan, Kathleen Alina Lee, HPD's public information officer, told the Star-Advertiser that at 'this time, Chief Logan will not be offering interviews regarding his retirement.' 'All information available is in his current statement. Should he decide to open up the opportunities for interviews in the future, we'll reach out and let media know, ' said Lee, in a statement. The commissioners will meet today at 2 p.m. in the first floor Conference Room A at HPD's Alapai Headquarters for their regularly scheduled meeting. Blangiardi informed HPC Chair Kenneth Silva and Vice Chair Laurie Foster that Logan would retire June 30 and he had negotiated Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz's application to serve as interim HPD chief starting July 16. Moszkowicz, a former major with HPD, was one of four finalists for chief when Logan, 66, was selected May 23, 2022. Moszkowicz is a 22-year veteran of HPD who left the department to become chief on Hawaii island. Blangiardi made no secret of his desire for Logan to move on from his post. A public rift between the two leaders emerged following a 2024 New Year's Day-long manhunt and shootout. HPD did not notify the public that officers were chasing around the island an armed attempted murder suspect, who had shot his ex-girlfriend, until the suspect was dead and two officers were shot. The Star-Advertiser asked all seven members of the commission if they discussed Blangiardi's police leadership transition and what they knew about Logan's retirement, who informed them and when. On Monday, Blangiardi, speaking to reporters in his office about Logan's ouster, said commissioners were 'well aware of this for some time now.' The commission is not required to consider Blangiardi's recommendation more than other applicants. The Star-Advertiser also asked about Blangiardi's desire to take away the commission's oversight of HPD's chief. Foster told the Star-Advertiser that in mid-May, the mayor 'indicated to me that he was going to act on his dissatisfaction with the chief ' but did not discuss how he planned to do so 'nor did he mention Chief Ben as a replacement.' Foster believes it is 'inappropriate to suggest that the answer to HPD governance is simply the mayor having oversight authority over the chief.' 'The entire HPD governance model has to be comprehensively reassessed. As I understand it, oversight authority of the chief's office was removed from the mayor in the past for good reason. In part, that reason was to separate HPD governance from the political process, which seems quite appropriate for that time period, ' Foster said. 'When that happened, however, there appears to have been little thought given to the appropriate HPC governance of HPD. Currently, HPC has very little ability to influence the chief or HPD and therefore HPC is a neutered organization that is considerably hampered from doing their job of 'holding the chief accountable.'' The criteria for selecting commissioners and the selection process is 'flawed ' and needs to be assessed as well, he said. 'My suggestion is that a small group of knowledgeable and unbiased people be assigned the responsibility of comprehensively assessing the entire HPD governance model and to make recommendations to the City Council, ' Foster said. This group would focus only on HPD governance, not on all commissions, she said. The Charter Commission is tasked with assessing all commissions and 'I suggest that this mandate is too broad.' Commissioners did not discuss the mayor's move to take out Logan and make Moszkowicz HPD's 13th chief, Silva told the Star-Advertiser. 'The commission will accept all interested and qualified candidates cover letters and resumes for consideration, ' said Silva, noting that as of Monday afternoon no one had applied to serve as interim HPD chief. He and Blangiardi 'had conversations regarding Chief Logan's leadership at HPD.' 'The commission meets twice a month. Our next meeting is June 4. The commission, because of the sunshine (law ), did not meet to discuss chief's retirement (on Monday ), ' said Silva, noting the commission had just started to review Logan's annual performance review. 'Chief Logan didn't let me know he was retiring until after the meeting he had with the mayor (on Monday ).' Logan's last review from the commission in August said he was exceeding expectations as a leader, innovator and a cost saver while needing to improve internal and external communications. Commissioner Ann Botticelli told the Star-Advertiser she learned of Logan's retirement from the news media. She interviewed Moszkowicz as part of the chief selection process in 2022 and he 'was a good candidate.' 'Having said that, I believe our responsibility is to invite others to also apply (internally and externally ) and select the best candidate for the job, ' she said. Botticelli said it is a good idea to review how the commission is set up in general, to include a review of why it was first established in 1932. That review should include a look at what the roles and responsibilities of the commission are and whether they are still appropriate today. Any consideration of overhauling the commission should also consider why voters rejected previous attempts to change the charter to give the mayor the same authority to hire and fire the police chief, Botticelli said. 'The larger question of who should be responsible for hiring and firing the chief should be part of that larger discussion, ' she said. Commissioner Doug Chin told the Star-Advertiser that he did not know Logan was retiring until 'I heard the announcement on Monday around 4 p.m. ' … But I also had stepped down in January from being chair when my official term had expired and I became a holdover appointment. I hope to learn more at a future meeting, ' Chin said. Commissioners Elizabeth Char, Carrie K.S. Okinaga and Jeannine A. Souki did not reply to Star-Advertiser requests for comment. All members serve staggered five-year terms and the panel 'appoints and may remove the Chief of Police, ' according to the city's description of commissioners' duties. Commissioners review rules and regulations for the HPD's administration, the annual budget and may make recommendations to the mayor. The commission also receives, considers and 'investigates charges brought by the public against the conduct of the department or any of its members ' and submits a written report of its findings to the chief, who is responsible for the disciplinary process.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mayor wants authority to hire, fire police chief
Only two of the seven members of the commission responsible for hiring and firing the Honolulu police chief were told by Mayor Rick Blangiardi that he wants to bring in Hawaii island's police chief to Arthur 'Joe ' Logan. Blangiardi, in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, said his administration will introduce an amendment to the city charter to remove the Honolulu Police Commission's authority over the office of the chief of the police. The Honolulu Police Department is only city department that the mayor cannot make decisions about the leadership of, he said. The Office of the Mayor is responsible for keeping the community safe, Blangiardi said, noting you can't 'hold somebody responsible and not give them commensurate authority.' 'I don't have the authority to hire and fire (the police chief ). But that doesn't mean I can't have a candid conversation with the chief of police about the state of the department. Which is exactly what I did, ' said Blangiardi, noting the process of seeking to change the city charter takes at least 18 months. 'I have responsibility not only for HPD but all public safety issues and I have no authority, to deal, officially, (with ) who is the chief of police ' Blangiardi said. 'That's wrong and that is fundamentally bad management structure.' In response to a Star-Advertiser request to interview Logan, Kathleen Alina Lee, HPD's public information officer, told the Star-Advertiser that at 'this time, Chief Logan will not be offering interviews regarding his retirement.' 'All information available is in his current statement. Should he decide to open up the opportunities for interviews in the future, we'll reach out and let media know, ' said Lee, in a statement. The commissioners will meet today at 2 p.m. in the first floor Conference Room A at HPD's Alapai Headquarters for their regularly scheduled meeting. Blangiardi informed HPC Chair Kenneth Silva and Vice Chair Laurie Foster that Logan would retire June 30 and he had negotiated Hawaii Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz's application to serve as interim HPD chief starting July 16. Moszkowicz, a former major with HPD, was one of four finalists for chief when Logan, 66, was selected May 23, 2022. Moszkowicz is a 22-year veteran of HPD who left the department to become chief on Hawaii island. Blangiardi made no secret of his desire for Logan to move on from his post. A public rift between the two leaders emerged following a 2024 New Year's Day-long manhunt and shootout. HPD did not notify the public that officers were chasing around the island an armed attempted murder suspect, who had shot his ex-girlfriend, until the suspect was dead and two officers were shot. The Star-Advertiser asked all seven members of the commission if they discussed Blangiardi's police leadership transition and what they knew about Logan's retirement, who informed them and when. On Monday, Blangiardi, speaking to reporters in his office about Logan's ouster, said commissioners were 'well aware of this for some time now.' The commission is not required to consider Blangiardi's recommendation more than other applicants. The Star-Advertiser also asked about Blangiardi's desire to take away the commission's oversight of HPD's chief. Foster told the Star-Advertiser that in mid-May, the mayor 'indicated to me that he was going to act on his dissatisfaction with the chief ' but did not discuss how he planned to do so 'nor did he mention Chief Ben as a replacement.' Foster believes it is 'inappropriate to suggest that the answer to HPD governance is simply the mayor having oversight authority over the chief.' 'The entire HPD governance model has to be comprehensively reassessed. As I understand it, oversight authority of the chief's office was removed from the mayor in the past for good reason. In part, that reason was to separate HPD governance from the political process, which seems quite appropriate for that time period, ' Foster said. 'When that happened, however, there appears to have been little thought given to the appropriate HPC governance of HPD. Currently, HPC has very little ability to influence the chief or HPD and therefore HPC is a neutered organization that is considerably hampered from doing their job of 'holding the chief accountable.'' The criteria for selecting commissioners and the selection process is 'flawed ' and needs to be assessed as well, he said. 'My suggestion is that a small group of knowledgeable and unbiased people be assigned the responsibility of comprehensively assessing the entire HPD governance model and to make recommendations to the City Council, ' Foster said. This group would focus only on HPD governance, not on all commissions, she said. The Charter Commission is tasked with assessing all commissions and 'I suggest that this mandate is too broad.' Commissioners did not discuss the mayor's move to take out Logan and make Moszkowicz HPD's 13th chief, Silva told the Star-Advertiser. 'The commission will accept all interested and qualified candidates cover letters and resumes for consideration, ' said Silva, noting that as of Monday afternoon no one had applied to serve as interim HPD chief. He and Blangiardi 'had conversations regarding Chief Logan's leadership at HPD.' 'The commission meets twice a month. Our next meeting is June 4. The commission, because of the sunshine (law ), did not meet to discuss chief's retirement (on Monday ), ' said Silva, noting the commission had just started to review Logan's annual performance review. 'Chief Logan didn't let me know he was retiring until after the meeting he had with the mayor (on Monday ).' Logan's last review from the commission in August said he was exceeding expectations as a leader, innovator and a cost saver while needing to improve internal and external communications. Commissioner Ann Botticelli told the Star-Advertiser she learned of Logan's retirement from the news media. She interviewed Moszkowicz as part of the chief selection process in 2022 and he 'was a good candidate.' 'Having said that, I believe our responsibility is to invite others to also apply (internally and externally ) and select the best candidate for the job, ' she said. Botticelli said it is a good idea to review how the commission is set up in general, to include a review of why it was first established in 1932. That review should include a look at what the roles and responsibilities of the commission are and whether they are still appropriate today. Any consideration of overhauling the commission should also consider why voters rejected previous attempts to change the charter to give the mayor the same authority to hire and fire the police chief, Botticelli said. 'The larger question of who should be responsible for hiring and firing the chief should be part of that larger discussion, ' she said. Commissioner Doug Chin told the Star-Advertiser that he did not know Logan was retiring until 'I heard the announcement on Monday around 4 p.m. ' … But I also had stepped down in January from being chair when my official term had expired and I became a holdover appointment. I hope to learn more at a future meeting, ' Chin said. Commissioners Elizabeth Char, Carrie K.S. Okinaga and Jeannine A. Souki did not reply to Star-Advertiser requests for comment. All members serve staggered five-year terms and the panel 'appoints and may remove the Chief of Police, ' according to the city's description of commissioners' duties. Commissioners review rules and regulations for the HPD's administration, the annual budget and may make recommendations to the mayor. The commission also receives, considers and 'investigates charges brought by the public against the conduct of the department or any of its members ' and submits a written report of its findings to the chief, who is responsible for the disciplinary process.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Changes coming to city grant program for rail-affected businesses
The City and County of Honolulu's financial relief effort for small businesses negatively affected by ongoing construction of the over-$10 billion Skyline project is on track for proposed changes. That's because the city's so-called transit construction mitigation fund, or TCMF, grant program—which Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed into law under Bill 40 in February 2024—was supposed to individually award any struggling, eligible business located along the rail corridor into Kakaako with a $10, 000 grant. But the city says only a few grants—out of the dozens of applications its received thus far—were actually awarded. 'Five awards of $10, 000 have been paid, ' Ryan Wilson, a city spokesperson, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser this week. Wilson noted the city has received 34 applications submitted by local businesses. Of those, 15 applications were deemed ineligible. And 19 applications were returned for revision. To date, six applications were awarded—one on first submission, five on second submission, he said. 'The sixth business owner has not returned multiple calls and emails from the city, ' Wilson asserted. 'A letter will also be sent to the business owner providing a deadline to comply with the Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE ) certificate requirement, or the award will be terminated.' Legislation to expand eligibility to floundering businesses along the rail line who could receive TCMF funds recently materialized. The Honolulu City Council's Budget Committee on Tuesday voted to pass Bill 31, which seeks to increase the maximum allowed annual revenue for small businesses to $1 million, up from $750, 000. The measure's other proposed amendments would remove the number of employees limit, previously locked at 15 or fewer workers ; and require the applicant business to have opened at least 12 months prior to the start of any rail project construction within the transit construction mitigation zone in which the business is physically located, as determined by the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services director. Previously, a grant applicant's business had to be open for business at their current physical location before Jan. 1, 2022. The full Council may review Bill 31 for possible approval at its meeting on Wednesday. Before the vote at Tuesday's committee meeting, Council member Radiant Cordero—who co-sponsored the measure in March with Tyler Dos Santos-Tam—asked BFS Director Andy Kawano 'if there's a need for rule-making again since there's going to be new criteria with this program ?' Kawano replied, 'Yes, we're going to have to amend the rules we currently have in place.' 'One requirement, for instance, is the limitation on employees ; I think it's 15 or fewer right now, ' he added. 'So that's going to have to be amended.' Kawano confirmed that a 'public notice ' will have to be issued over the program's potential changes. After the meeting, Dos Santos-Tam noted Bill 31 updates will expand the grant program's requirements. 'The expansion of eligibility for the (TCMF ) shows our commitment to making assistance more accessible and inclusive, allowing more small and medium-sized businesses to receive the support they need, ' he said in a statement. 'Rail project construction can create significant disruptions that impact day-to-day operations, and this bill helps ease those burdens so businesses can continue to serve their customers and maintain their employees.' Cordero agreed. 'These businesses provide more than just jobs and services ; they bring life and identity to our neighborhoods, ' she said in a statement. 'Supporting Bill 31 ensures our small businesses, which play a vital role in our communities, can keep thriving as our city grows and changes.' Cordero and Dos Santos-Tam—who respectively represent portions of the Kalihi and Iwilei communities—co-sponsored Bill 40 as well. Meanwhile, Anthony Han, owner of Soul Chicken and Bliss Lounge on the 1000 block of Dillingham Boulevard, said he's hanging on to his business in the face of Skyline's construction that's slated through year 2030. 'I've made a little more money than last year or a few years ago, but I'm still struggling, ' Han told the Star-Advertiser. 'That's why I'm thinking about whether to close this place or not.' Han said he currently owes $60, 000 in unpaid rent. 'I have another debt around $45, 000, ' he asserted. 'That is a true story.' Still, he confirmed the city approved his $10, 000 grant application earlier this year : he received a check in the mail in April. 'It's not enough though, ' Han claimed, 'the cost of everything went up.' In January, the city started offering $10, 000 grants to applicant businesses located near the rail line. At the time, TCMF grants were to be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, based on authorized and available funding for the program. But by early February, the city had to extend the time to submit applications. That month, the Mayor's Office said the extension—to Feb. 21—was due to TCMF grant applicants not properly filing business documentation with the city. 'Many of the applications that were submitted to the portal needed to be returned to applicants for revisions, especially because they lacked the required documentation, ' Ian Scheuring, the mayor's deputy communications director, told the Star-Advertiser previously. He noted errors led to applicants being denied grant funding. 'The city has received numerous applications for the (TCMF ) program that did not qualify, or were not in compliance with the rules of the program and were rejected, ' Scheuring said previously. According to the city, the total dollar amount spent on this program so far includes $50, 000 for the five $10, 000 awards ; $13, 585 for the program's one-year payment toward its information management system ; and $967.94 to publish legal notices regarding administrative rules hearings on this city-run program.
