Good app helps good government

Ever wonder where your neighborhood pol gets his or her campaign cash? There’s an app for that.

The state Campaign Spending Commission has launched its new data visualization app, which makes it easier to see how money is spent in state and county political campaigns. Users select a candidate and an election period, and a pie chart pops up — breaking down contributions by type and amount. You can see what percentage of contributions are funded by individuals, noncandidate committees, political parties and immediate family members, how much of a candidate’s support originates out of state and the percentage of contributions more than $1,000.

The pie charts also illustrate how the candidate spends his or her campaign cash, with breakdowns for advertising, polls, meals and the like. Good-government groups praise the website and app for making public data more accessible, and we certainly agree. Check it out at http://1.usa.gov/1jKKbEz.

A boar in the pot beats 2 in the bush

It’s a shame that the city allowed the recent lapse of its contract to have federal workers catch wild boar at Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden.

The resulting increase in the number of the wild boar has caused an increase in the damage they inflict at the site.

But more shameful, perhaps, is that the critters that were caught were simply euthanized and buried at the landfill.

C’mon, folks. That could be food for needy residents.

7So before the contract is renewed and culling resumes, consider the options.