Go here for CHORE's first post and what we hope to achieve.
So far, last night's question remains unanswered this morning. The Honolulu Advertiser's story today -- "Preventing blackout would cost us dearly" -- has a rally-around-the-flag feel to it based on quotes of electric industry insiders. (BTW, with the jury still out, that's a pretty strong assertion for a headline on a news page.)
The experts cite the cost issue; "gold-plating" the system would be expensive, they say. But until last night's question is addressed by Hawaiian Electric, I'm not so sure. But let's not dwell on HECO here. Journalists presumably will ask the company about the unselected "dump the customers" option soon enough, and the issue surely will be plowed through in detail in the Public Utilities Commission inquiry -- we hope.
As noted in Tuesday's first post here at CHORE, the focus is on Citizens Helping Officials Respond to Emergencies, with an emphasis on civil defense officials. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin's editorial today pulls no punches in suggesting a major overhaul of the State's emergency procedures is required.
And speaking of SB editorials, Tuesday's called for an "independent panel" to review what went wrong with the State's emergency communications response. Would you call the Governor's "comprehensive communications review committee" an "independent" body based on its makeup -- and the person selected to chair it?
We made the point on CHORE yesterday that without the public on the panel, it truly isn't "comprehensive." And with the Governor's senior communications adviser chairing it, "independent" isn't plausible either.
Readers (if you're out there), you are the C in CHORE. Got something you want to say to improve not only emergency communications in this state but also the process to improve it, click "Comments" and start writing.
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I think that we have a pretty good take regarding the committee that was begun by the Governor at Hawai`i Election Watch.
ReplyDeleteBasically, if this is going to be treated as a issue for the public, and not a political football, the Governor needs to avoid using any of her appointees. Instead of Lenny Klompus, she should have selected an independent committee chair and members from a much wider cross-section of the community.
Doug, thanks for starting this important forum. I hope the governor tunes in.
ReplyDeleteThe closed meetings seem to be allowed under the Sunshine Law, but that doesn't mean we need to put up with them. Disasters affect all of us, and disaster planning should be a completely open process in my view.
--Larry
Doug:
ReplyDeleteI agree. What's needed is a committee that is independent of the Gov's office or any politician for that matter.
Lenny Klompus to head the committee? April 1st is still a long way off!
J. Comcowich