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The governor’s emergency order says, however, that the boards shall reasonably allow for public participation consistent with social distancing practices, allowing written testimony to be submitted and livestreaming of meetings, as Common Cause Hawaii points out. “Common Cause has always contended that the public should be able to comment and provide testimony in real time because our testimonies can change based on what is discussed at the meeting because we cannot anticipate in advance what’s discussed,” said Common Cause Hawaii Executive Director Sandy Ma.

Not providing the public with the option to testify via remote access at the April 23, 2020 hearing is illogical, especially when your Committee’s April 23, 2020 Agenda specifically provides that “[s]ome committee members may be participating in the meeting by interactive conference technology from remote locations.” More than illogical, the Committee is endangering the health and safety of the public by having the public attend in-person your Committee hearing. The people should not have to decide between their personal welfare and civic engagement. Your Committee (and the entire Council) should value transparency, ethics, and public participation and the health, safety, and welfare of your constituents and our community. As your Committee permits its members to participate remotely in the April 23, 2020 meeting, the Committee obviously values its own members’ health and safety; it needs to value the public’s to a similar extent.

A bill that would allow coronavirus-impacted businesses to hold off paying their property taxes passed the Honolulu City Council’s first hurdle last week. The bill was one of several measures adopted by Council members at its meeting Wednesday aimed at helping businesses and people negatively affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Common Cause Hawaii and several individuals raised objections that the Council does not allow for public testimony to be given remotely on these bills.

Common Cause Hawaii is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. Transparency in government is key to a healthy and strong democracy. Common Cause Hawaii provides the below comments regarding the April 16, 2020 Salary Commission Agenda.

As the Hawaii Economic and Community Recovery & Resiliency Navigator, Common Cause Hawaii respectfully asks you to keep transparency and accountability as tenets in planning for Hawaii’s revival. Meetings of your special task force should be conducted according to Sunshine Law, and all documents and records should be subject to Public Records Law.

Common Cause Hawaii is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. Transparency in government is key to a healthy and strong democracy. Common Cause Hawaii provides the below comments regarding the April 15, 2020 City Council Public Hearing.