If the University of Hawaii is in the news, money must be flying out the door as we "flASHback" on the week’s news that amused and confused:
» UH regents agreed to pay outgoing President M.R.C. Greenwood $24,470 a month as a part-time medical school professor, but said she won’t be paid for the six months a year she’ll spend on the mainland. I hope they’re not paying for both of her houses.
» UH is spending $224,000 for yet another outside study of the $200,000 Stevie Wonder concert scam. By my math, all the money blown on consultants could have covered both the concert loss and the athletic department’s $1.8 million annual deficit.
» After an ethics ruling, UH athletic director Ben Jay said he’ll trim $2.5 million in free tickets handed out each year for Rainbow Warrior sports events. I wonder ifstate legislators who exempt themselves from ethics rules still get freebies.
» Jeffrey Mahon, whose last job was directing marine exhibits at a Virginia aquarium, was introduced by Mayor Kirk Caldwell as the new head of the Honolulu Zoo. He’s a perfect choice to oversee the zoo’s transition to an underwater facility when global warming hits.
» The Department of Education launched its "Get on Board" initiative that uses new technology, including GPS, to improve student bus service. The old GPS system involved the driver yelling out the window to passers-by, "Hey, where we stay?"
» City Councilman Ikaika Anderson and state Sen. Will Espero hinted they’ll join Councilman Stanley Chang in the race to replace Colleen Hanabusa in Congress. The winner’s main function will be brushing the stardust out of Tulsi Gabbard’s eyes.
» All six new Hawaii island Council members refused small pay cuts that other county leaders accepted to balance the budget, claiming they don’t recall what happened to the paperwork. We’re in trouble when even our junior politicians start having senior moments.
» Big Isle Council members further displayed their idea of fiscal restraint by overspending their travel budget 84 percent in the last fiscal year. In the long run, it probably saves money to keep them traveling instead of staying home and legislating.
» The state posted an upset price of $250,000toauctionoff barges and ramps it built for the bankrupt Hawaii Superferry at a costof $40 million. Some gifts just keep on giving.
And the quote of the week … from city budget director Nelson Koyanagi Jr. on proposed new rules for property tax exemptions sent to the City Council: "These proposals do not raise taxes. Rather, they set the stage for the city to be able to collect tax in different ways." As Woody Guthrie said, some rob you with a six-gun and some with a fountain pen.
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Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
