• Cunningham’s complaint was investigated • Support companion bill to fight housing discrimination • To whom it may concern • Check information sources carefully Cunningham’s complaint was investigated Bruce Cunningham’s letter on Jan. 20 entitled “Secrecy is not justice” claims
• Cunningham’s complaint was investigated
• Support companion bill to fight housing discrimination
• To whom it may concern
• Check information sources carefully
Cunningham’s complaint was investigated
Bruce Cunningham’s letter on Jan. 20 entitled “Secrecy is not justice” claims that the real estate complaint that he filed with the Regulated Industries Complaints Office was investigated and “turned down” in secret.
In fact, Mr. Cunningham’s complaint was fully investigated in accordance with state law and Mr. Cunningham was provided with information relating to the investigation and its outcome in a manner consistent with state law.
RICO complies with the various state disclosure laws that govern the release of government records. In doing so, RICO does not routinely disclose its investigative work product or its confidential witness statements to anyone outside law enforcement. This is, like many other law enforcement agencies, based upon a myriad of concerns about the integrity of the investigative process.
Since the Office of Information Practices found that Mr. Cunningham was entitled to additional investigative information, we provided him with it. However, it’s important to note that OIP’s decision is a major shift from a very long-standing investigative agency practice.
Opening investigation files to one side or other may have detrimental consequences, such as witnesses no longer willing to cooperate with investigations. This practice could lead to difficulty in future investigations for all areas of law enforcement.
Nevertheless, we abided by the OIP’s interpretation, and will continue to do so, unless the law is changed.
•Jo Ann Uchida, Complaints and Enforcements Officer, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Support companion bill to fight housing discrimination
House Bill 1274, a companion bill to Senate Bill 456, was a shock and a very pleasant surprise to me.
Why? Because I didn’t even knew it existed. With all of our wonderful senators and representatives working on almost 2,000 bills, that is to be expected.
I was pleasantly shocked to also find out that the person who wrote and submitted the bill, Rep. Mina Morita, D-14th District, did not do so alone. Five others — Reps. Herkes, Har, Chang, Cabanilla, and our very own Tokioka — also introduced the bill with her.
Sen. Gary Hooser sent the bill over, as a protection for the original bill in the Senate. Bless you, Sen. Hooser for that.
The bill has the exact same wording as SB456. SB456 will not be heard unless e-mails and phone calls are made encouraging Sen. Roz Baker, Consumer Affairs Committee chair, to give the bill a hearing in the next few days.
People have been calling and e-mailing her at senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Please support HB1274, SB456’s companion bill in the House.
And a huge mahalo to Rep. Morita and the rest for their support for this worthy cause to fight housing discrimination based on source of income.
• Anne Punohu, Kaua‘i Fair Housing Law Coalition
To whom it may concern
On Jan. 30, I wanted to powerwash my driveway and I noticed a water leak coming from the hose nozzle caused by a worn O-ring. I went to Kalaheo Auto Value and bought two of those rings, one of which I placed in the bill compartment of my old black O’Neill wallet.
My shorts had no pockets so I left the store carrying my wallet and truck keys in my hand out to the parking lot. I placed them on the rail of my pickup truck while I checked to see if the other rubber O-ring was the right fit for the hose nozzle that I had brought along. It did fit and I was anxious to return home, I took my keys while forgetting my old black wallet on the car rail which is also black plastic.
It wasn’t until 10 minutes later (about 2:40 p.m.) that I had realized where I last placed my wallet. I quickly called the clerk at Auto Value and explained the situation and asked if he could help me in locating it while I started to drive back to try and see if I could find it alongside the road. I thanked the clerk for helping — all to no avail.
The picture on the ID card is someone you might have probably seen. If not, then I can assure you that you do know someone who knows someone that have seen or better yet knows who I am. After all, Kaua‘i is a really small island and I being local and 64 years of age retired from construction and very active in the community, have come across a whole lot of people.
What I will miss most is the pictures of my two sons and of my wife whom I’ve known for 44 years. You might even have children or friends that would know them. I’ll also miss my love poems I had especially written to my wife for Valentine’s Day — which I do annually.
There were lots of addresses, phone numbers and Mainland contacts that can’t be replaced. The ID, credit card, SSI, drug and medical cards are replaceable. I’ll miss my PUC card because that was the souvenir of my trade in construction. The credit receipts helped me in tallying how much I spent each month.
And so, after all this, I am only assuming that you have also found the two $100 bills, neatly folded for emergency in another compartment — which makes it harder for you to return my wallet. I admire your courage in living with the guilt of not trying to return it.
If you’re too young to understand what I have written, then I know you’ll be forgiven. Otherwise, there’s going to be a day when you most least expect that you’ll realize what I really mean — that’s what karma is all about. I won’t be losing any sleep over this incident for the reason that I didn’t do wrong — I just wanted to get my message across.
p.s. I really miss the pictures.
•Melvin Corpuz, Kalaheo
Check information sources carefully
Educators are familiar with the statement: A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
It suggests that to rely on minimal information can get you into trouble. It encourages one to seek out the breadth and depth of information available to hopefully make wise choices or to influence the decisions you make about important matters.
The Age of Information has made it possible for people to access information readily and speedily that heretofore was virtually impossible. This is why we need to be careful about what’s “out there.”
Some people automatically think that if it’s in print, it must be true. Some people have difficulty in distinguishing between statements of fact and statements of opinion.
Some people may get influenced by propaganda techniques that rely on glittering generalities or testimonial support as sufficient evidence of integrity.
Unless we take the time to check out the sources of information carefully, we will find ourselves between a rock and a hard place.
•Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
