Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Mayor Cayetano? Former Hawaii Governor Considers a Run for Honolulu Mayor

Ben Cayetano (photo courtesy of PBS Hawaii)

BY MALIA ZIMMERMAN - Will former Governor Benjamin Cayetano become Mayor Cayetano in 2012?

Cayetano?said in a Sunday interview with Hawaii Reporter he is considering a run at Honolulu Mayor in August 2012.

The tenacious politician, who has never been one to shy away from controversy, has won every one of his elections. In the 28 years he served in public office in the state House and Senate and as lieutenant governor and governor, he had a well deserved reputation of being a street fighter.

Cayetano, a Democrat and attorney who retired from politics in 2002, is now taking on Hawaii's all Democratic Congressional delegation, many establishment politicians and private construction unions over the proposed $5.3 billion Honolulu rail project. They all support the city's planned 20-mile heavy steel on steel elevated rail system. He has been a long time outspoken critic of the project and is one of seven plaintiffs in a controversial federal lawsuit aiming to stop the construction.

The lawsuit, filed by?Cayetano, HonoluluTraffic.com founder Cliff Slater, retired Judge Walter Heen, University of Hawaii Law Professor Randal Roth, Small Business Hawaii Entrepreneurial Education Foundation, Dr. Michael Uechi and Hawaii's Thousand Friends,?claims the city administration and federal government did not consider more environmentally friend and cost effective traffic solutions before selecting heavy rail as the best choice.

The alliance, organized and funded through HonoluluTraffic.com, teamed up with nationally renowned environmental attorney Nicolas Yost, partner in San Francisco based SNRDenton firm. Yost is considered one of the top ? if not the top ? environmental lawyer in the country.

But Cayetano and his supporters, who say the rail will destroy Oahu's beauty and bankrupt the state, are looking at another way to stop the rail project - electing Cayetano as mayor. If he wins, he can stop the 20-mile project immediately.

Cayetano, who would be the only leading mayoral candidate opposed to heavy rail, has?formed an exploratory committee to determine if he can raise enough money and organize his campaign in time for the August primary.

One challenge, Cayetano said, is most of his would be campaign volunteers are already committed to a number of other political campaigns including Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa's re-election campaign as well as the U.S. Senate campaigns for Congresswoman Mazie Hirono and former Congressman Ed Case. Cayetano already has secured campaign pledges from supporters.

"I know what it takes to run a hard campaign, and this would be hard," Cayetano said, noting some of the key unions would likely be against him because of the rail issue and he is starting his campaign late. "I?am willing to take on the establishment, but I am not interested in bonzai charge."

Cayetano, 72, said he would run because he wants people to have a choice this election between candidates who support and oppose the rail.

The current Honolulu mayor, Peter Carlisle, who is strongly in favor the project, will run for re-election. Former mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell, a Democrat who served as interim mayor in 2010, will also run for election under a pro-rail platform. University of Hawaii Professor Panos Prevedouros, who was a candidate for mayor twice before with an anti-rail platform, announced on December 30 he will not seek election in 2012.

Cayetano supported Carlisle in his bid for mayor in 2010 over Caldwell and Prevedouros, but soon after Carlisle won, Cayetano said he regretted the endorsement.

?I know Peter. I made the mistake of supporting him in the election in which I will not do again," Cayetano said in a press conference about the rail lawsuit back in March. ?I?m disappointed that Mayor Carlisle has not been more careful, more judicious. Maybe it?s his experience, he spent 20 years throwing people in jail (as the city prosecutor), and he never analyzed a project like this by himself.?

Cayetano said he would support Caldwell, a favorite of many establishment Democrats, if his stance on rail was more "moderate."

The public is sharply divided over the rail project, which continues to escalate in price and will be an imposing structure along Honolulu's waterfront and historic districts.

On one side, the appointed board charged with overseeing the project, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, rushed to sign a $1.4 billion 14-year contract with the financially troubled Italian-owned firm, Ansaldo Honolulu Joint Venture, for car construction, operation and maintenance, to move the project ahead.

U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, the most important backer of the project, also is stepping up the pressure, announcing recently that Hawaii could be eligible for up to a portion of $510 million in FY 2012 should a full funding grant agreement be signed by the end of 2012. So far, Hawaii has received about $90 million, but Inouye pledged to bring in $1.855?billion should the city keep the project on track.

On the other side, there are several well-known community and political leaders who oppose the elevated steel rail system because they say it is expensive, invasive, culturally insensitive, inflexible, and frankly too ugly, for an island paradise.

The Outdoor Circle, which is opposed to the project, issued a scathing statement in recent days, saying in its 100 year history, The Outdoor Circle has seen no other venture that holds the potential to degrade the landscape of Oahu as the proposed Honolulu Rail Transit project.

"Of great concern to The Outdoor Circle is the visual damage caused by Transit. The City acknowledges that the damage will occur but has determined that the blight the project creates is the price our residents and visitors must pay for ?progress.? Imagine the cumulative visual impact of more than 20 miles of a massive elevated concrete guideway, supported by 720 large concrete columns with the inevitable graffiti and enormous transit stations. The project is destined to become an ugly scar across one of the most beautiful places on earth while there is little evidence that it will bring relief to Oahu?s unacceptable traffic situation," the Outdoor Circle said.

The League of Women Voters also is opposed to the project.

Cayetano said the rail project, which may reach as high as $7 billion because of cost overruns, creates a number of problems for Oahu.

  • First, this is the largest public works project in Hawaii's history, five times bigger in terms of cost than the H-3 Freeway, the most expensive freeway in terms cost per mile in the world, and will not relieve traffic congestion as originally promised.
  • The operations and maintenance costs will be "huge," Cayetano said, leading to city property tax hikes and state tax increases.
  • The state already has billions of dollars in debt because of unfunded liabilities, Cayetano said, such as the Employee Retirement System.
  • The city also is facing billions of dollars in infrastructure repairs. He points to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's order to upgrade the city sewer system - a project expected to cost nearly $2 billion. Other infrastructure improvements, such as road repairs and water main repairs and replacements, could total another $4 billion.

Deciding whether the federal lawsuit will be enough to stop the rail or whether Cayetano will need to be mayor to do so is a matter of timing.

The city has delayed the lawsuit for at least 6 months by refusing to hand over 500,000 pages of record. Judge A. Wallace Tashima of the Ninth Circuit Court, who is overseeing a lawsuit, ordered the city and FTA to comply in December, but added the outcome of the lawsuit will probably not be determined until next summer or fall. That decision could come right around primary election time.

Short URL: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/?p=44075

Author: Malia Zimmerman

Malia Zimmerman is the editor and co-founder of Hawaii Reporter. She has worked as a consultant and contributor to several dozen media outlets including ABC 20/20, FOX News, MSNBC, the Wall Street Journal, UPI and the Washington Times. Malia has been listed as one of the nation?s top "Web Proficients, Virtuosi, and Masters" and "Hawaii's new media thought leader" by http://www.thewebstersdictionary.com Reach her at Malia@hawaiireporter.com

Malia Zimmerman has written 301 articles for us.

Source: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/mayor-cayetano-former-hawaii-governor-considers-a-run-for-honolulu-mayor/123

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Brock Lesnar Retires From UFC After Loss to Alistair Overeem


Brock Lesnar went down hard against kickboxer Alistair Overeem in the first round at UFC 141 last night. A few minutes later, he announced his retirement.

The former heavyweight champion finished his own meteoric mixed martial arts career on a losing note at Friday's Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

Lesnar retired from the UFC after Overeem stopped him with one vicious kick to the body at 2:26 of the first round in their much-touted heavyweight bout.

"Tonight is the last time you'll see me in the octagon," Lesnar said.

That leaves the UFC heading into 2012 without its biggest star.

Even though he fought only seven times in the UFC, Lesnar was a pay-per-view audience magnet because of his compelling past as a WWE "champion."

He reigned as heavyweight champ, headlined UFC 100, generated the most Internet traffic of any MMA fighter and actually has fights left on his contract.

UFC President Dana White and Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta took the high road with Lesnar even after the fighter blew off the post-fight news conference.

White said, "When a guy decides he wants to retire, you let him do it. This is not, 'Go hit a ball with a stick for the next two or three years on your way out.'"

"This is the real deal, guys. ?We'll figure it out." He said regardless of how many fights Lesnar has on his contract, "Doesn't matter. If he's done, he's done."

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/12/brock-lesnar-retires-from-ufc-after-loss-to-alistair-overeem/

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Monday, January 2, 2012

Sri Lanka Banking Jobs Bank Trainee

Thank author of this post/commentDate of Birth -: 16 January 1992

Age -: 19 years

Address -: 44, Wijaya Mawatha, Galawilawatte, Homagama

School attend -: President?s College ?Homagama

Dharmapala Vidyalaya ?Pannipitiya

Tel -: 075-6195310/071-7680810

E-mail -: aajithadvp@gmail.com

Educational Qualifications

(1) G.C.E (A/L) Examination 2011 (stream ? Maths)

Combined Maths - S General English - C

Physics - S

Chemistry - S

(2) G.C.E (O/L) Examination 2007

English - A Maths - B Music -B

So. Studies - A Science - B Dep. Studies -C

Buddhism - A IT - B

History - A Sinhala - B

Extra Curricular Activities

(1) Sports - (a) I have played boxing for the school team

(b) Now I playing cricket for Leo Cricket Club

(c) Swimming & life saving

(2)Other -

(a) I was a School Prefect

(b) President of the school Astronomical Society

(c) President of the school Aeronautical Society

(d) Member of Mathematical Society

(e) Member of Computer Society

(f) Member of school Quiz Club

(g) Member of Homagama central Leo Club

Special Awards

(a)8th Place in Provincial Software Competition -2007

(b)Participated and obtained the 1 st place up to Zonal level in inter

School group English songs competition.

Qualifications

(a)I have completed Certificate Course in Computer Studies conducted by Technical Engineering College (Sri Lanka)

(b)Following Diploma course of English at Aquinas Collage of Higher Studies, Colombo.

I hereby certify that the above particulars are given by me true and accurate. I assure that all duties entrusted to me will be fulfilled to the best of my ability.

Source: http://jobs.classifieds1000.com/Sri_Lanka/Banking_Jobs/143282-Bank_Trainee

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BuddyRoemer: Until we get $$ out, every policy-- jobs, economy, banking, education, energy, trade, tax code, etc. -- will go to the highest bidder.

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Until we get $$ out, every policy-- jobs, economy, banking, education, energy, trade, tax code, etc. -- will go to the highest bidder. BuddyRoemer

Gov. Buddy Roemer

Pied de page

Source: http://twitter.com/BuddyRoemer/statuses/153253226630742017

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Sunday, January 1, 2012

Video: Brigham Exploration Adding Oil Rigs

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Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/45818906/

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Redistricting changes political landscape in Western Washington

By GREG ALLMAIN
Federal Way Mirror reporter
December 29, 2011 ? Updated 12:04 PM?

A proposed map of the legislative districts in Washington would create some major changes in the political landscape of the state, but especially in Western Washington.

The proposed map, released Dec. 28 by the state's Redistricting Commission, would make Federal Way's district, the 9th District, the state's first "majority-minority" congressional district, meaning that the majority of people in the district are "non-white." According to some reports, that margin is slim, with the 9th District now comprised of 50.3 percent "non-white" residents. The district is represented by Congressman Adam Smith, a Democrat who was first elected in 1997 to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The proposed map would create a new legislative district, the 10th District, centered on the Olympia area. The 10th District is being created because Washington has seen nearly a million new residents move into the state since the 2000 Census. The 8th District would be the most radically changed, with the proposal including parts of King, Pierce, Kittitas and Chelan counties.

The proposal was put together by Republican and Democratic commissioners, and requires at least a third vote from the four-member committee. The deadline for the maps is Jan. 1. That Jan. 1 deadline could be in jeopardy, however, as an unexpected snag arose late on Dec. 28, over the redrawing of some districts in Eastern Washington. The commission was set to reconvene on Dec. 29 to attempt to untangle this last snarl in the delicate political process.

If the commission cannot agree on the new maps, the process will be turned over to the state's Supreme Court.

?

Contact Federal Way Mirror reporter Greg Allmain at gallmain@fedwaymirror.com or 253-925-5565 ext. 5054.

Source: http://feeds.soundpublishing.com/~r/fwmall/~3/JPa8hskd0eI/136388858.html

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