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Politics, Commentary, Community
Politics, Commentary, Community Thursday
14Feb
Campaign capers audio on KPUA.net
Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 08:03PM I wrote a piece for KPUA radio on the Emily Naeole hearing with audio clips that was on the air today and posted to the KPUA news site this afternoon. You probably know the story by now but you may enjoy hearing some of the players' comments after the hearing.
I got a slow start today on my further reflections of Wednesday's state Campaign Spending Commission hearing and will post them shortly. Meanwhile, enjoy the audio.
There's also Brian Jordan's account, which he just posted in comments. He was there as the campaign spending correspondent for Puna News and looking quite spiffy in his navy blue business suit. Jordan the journalist also managed to get embroiled in the proceeding when he stood and launched an angry tirade at Naeole attorney Gerard Lee Loy after Lee Loy testified that people in the room such as Brian Jordan were running a political campaign against his client. Naeole's other attorney, Stan Roehrig, then apologized to Jordan in a loud voice from across the room while the hearing was in progress.
It was all a part of a wonderful Puna show at the hearing that, from the looks on some of the commissioners' faces, they don't often see on Beretania Street.
More to come.
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Reader Comments (10)
Brian has told me that it was actually a brillant tactic on Lee Loy's part. Lawyers ARE paid to serve their CLIENTS. Inferring ulterior motives can be pricelss, I guess. I have a few words other than "brillant", but I will keep them to myself.
Then today, I see Emily set up outside Cash & Carry, selling Valentine gifts. After all the press about the panhandling stuff, I really thougt that was a questionable idea on her part. Yes, it was her legal right. If a person offers to sell you a peper clip for spare change, is he vending, or panhandling. Yes, I guess I do hold some people to higher standards. Some people are in positons where they should set better examples. I guess I should be over that with the world today, but I still believe.
Oh, and I also believe Brian looks spiffy when he wears a suit. And I really like the dark blue one!
Kim Jordan
"...wonderful Puna show ... they don't often see on Beretania Street."
great quote!
:)
Like it or not, Brian is a politician until he says otherwise. I'm not sure his reporting can appear totally unbiased. With respect, Greg
I am also a craftsperson, having sold my Koa products at the Hilo Farmers Market for 10 years. My question has to do with the difference between vending and panhandling. Some vendors do not sell items they've crafted. Is there a price point where we draw the line? I'm concerned about a panhandling bill creating problems for vendors, not the other way around. I point out that articles written in some venues stated that vending would also become illegal. Whether this was a misstatement in the articles or not, I think it needs more clarification.
I think there is a difference in an Artist selling their Artwork, and someone picking up a rock and calling it a lava paperweight. But how would we legally tell the difference. If you offer something for the money, does a panhandler legally become a vendor?
When a law, supposedly meant to keep sandwich board signs from blocking Kona sidewalks, was put into effect, the 'sign police' went through Pahoa and forced established businesses to take their signs off their walls.
A law that is too open to interpertation can easily be misused. I don't want that to happen to Craftpersons and vendors when someone starts trying to stop panhandling.
At a couple of times in the late 1990's, the Hilo merchants tried to shut down the Hilo Farmers Market, Brian was asked by the vendors near our stand to please speak up for them. He did a great job. So, please reread my statements. I, We, are on your side.
Thank you for your concerns, Kim
While I don't agree with everything Emily has done on the council, I still have a great respect for her as a person and a "non proffessional" politition.
There are a lot of people in Puna who appreciate the Leis and other handcrafted products auntie makes. My point is that she has as much right to sell them as you or I.
Why does her selling crafts keep coming up in the same paragraphs as panhandling?
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Quote:
"Then today, I see Emily set up outside Cash & Carry, selling Valentine gifts. After all the press about the panhandling stuff, I really thougt that was a questionable idea on her part. Yes, it was her legal right. If a person offers to sell you a peper clip for spare change, is he vending, or panhandling. Yes, I guess I do hold some people to higher standards. Some people are in positons where they should set better examples. I guess I should be over that with the world today, but I still believe. "
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Because Auntie EmilyCouncilwoman Naole is the one who introduced the panhandling bill!
The Panhandling Bill could have affected the legal right of craft and other vendors.. It would've all depended on how the difference in panhandling/vending was worded. This was my concern.
Like you,I don't like the idea of a panhandling bill to begin with.
I too love Auntie Emily. But,I'm not that happy with Councilwoman Naole sometimes. That is the crux of her problems. Councilwoman Naole is a public figure responsible to her constituants. She is now a politician/elected official, and that is a 24/7 position. Not easy, especially for an personality as strong and well known as Auntie Emily.
By the way, what kind of Artwork do you create and sell?
Kim
Back to hibernation... Take care, folks.
You're usually pretty quick to write about Emily Naeole. You said there might be more "meat on the bone" regarding the Campaign Spending Commission looking into Barbara Hale's allegations. Recall Puna Girl referring to Barbara Hale as "the messenger" in one post? Recall Barbara Hale yelling "Rene Mansho," meaning Emily should be jailed for misappropriating the public's money?
I find it ironic that two Puna reporters, yourself and Brian Jordan, have not once reported that Barbara Hale used a altered check as evidence against Emily, and that the check was not cashed despite Barbara Hale's allegation that the check was "evidence?". You don't have to call it "altered;" you could just refer to the two spellings of Emily's last name on the check, and the two different pens used to write the check's entries, and Barbara telling the Campaign Spending Commission that was her handwriting, and let the readers try to figure out the hidden meaning of your post. And the check stub's entries - you could have asked Barbara Hale for an explanation and reported it. You could let your constituency know that the insinuations of "Rene Mansho" against Emily were not accurate. Instead, you leave Brian Jordan to imply "there was not enough evidence" without explaining his exact reference.
The difference between Emily and I is that she is a lady. I am fed up with jingo. I waited four days for your color commentary, Hunter. Right is right.
Irregardless of whether Brian or Gerard are right on the point above, it is interesting to hear Brian say,
"...Candidates are responsible for the paperwork and conduct of their campaigns."
In 2002 I voted for Brian, and was undecided in 2004 -- until the day before the election I pulled from my PO Box in Keaau a sleezy, disgusting attack against Helene Hale.
I voted for her, and then personally, by hand delivery, returned the mailing to Brian. He said it was mailed by "the party" and he had no control over it. My take was that he was not in control of nor took responsibility for the conduct of his own campaign.
hmmmm...