Archive for category: Updates

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Tourists using transient rentals to bypass Hawaii quarantine restrictions prove hard to track (Star Advertiser, April 19, 2020)

Crackdowns on transient vacation rentals, which aren’t considered essential businesses right now, are difficult to enforce. It’s suspected that many of the 2,970 visitors who arrived in Hawaii over the past 23 days stayed in transient vacation rentals.

Local 5 has been fighting against the rise of illegal vacation rentals for several years for various reasons, like its impact on affordable housing and good hotel jobs. Another key issue we flagged is that vacation rentals and their guests are hard to monitor during emergency situations like hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and now COVID-19.

Hawaii officials brace for ‘big surge’ of newly homeless from coronavirus shutdowns (Star Advertiser, April 19, 2020)

With nearly 250,000 people unemployed in Hawaii due to COVID-19, officials are worried that many of them will become homeless. People who become newly homeless “won’t meet the requirements for some of our current programs because they won’t be deemed as chronically homeless,” said Laura Thielen, Executive Director of Partners in Care.

Hawaiian Airlines to transport 2 million face masks to Hawaii (Hawaii News Now, April 19, 2020)

Hawaiian Airlines chartered a cargo flight to China, which will bring 2 million face masks back to the islands. The effort is in partnership with the grassroots community group Every1ne Hawaii. More than 2 million face masks will be transported to nonprofits around Honolulu.

COVID Cases Today

World: Cases: Cases: 2.4M (+80k).  Deaths: 165k (+5k)

USA: Cases: 758k (+24k).  Deaths: 40.6 (+1.7k).  Total Tested: 3.8M (+100k)

Hawaii: Cases:  580 (+6).  Deaths: 10 (+1).  Hospitalized: 52 (+1). Recovered: 414 (+4)

Local 5 Financial Secretary-Treasurer Eric Gill has an important update on health & welfare benefits.

Watch the video here (Click CC for subtitles)

 

 

BEWARE OF COVID-19 SCAMS!

 

No, there is no cure. No, the IRS will not ask you for money or personal info. No, you should never send money to someone you don’t know. And no, you do not have to “act immediately” to keep your lights on or your Wi-Fi connected. Click here for a flyer with more for info on how to report these and other common scams.

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

 

WATCH LIVE: Mayor Kirk Caldwell discusses updates to stay-at-home, work-from-home mandate (Hawaii News Now, April 16, 2020)

 

The Mayor is indicating the island’s stay at home order will likely take a while to slowly unwind. The criteria for lifting restrictions include: the total number of cases must decline and stay down for 14 days, medical providers must have a good supply of PPE, robust contact-tracing mechanism, testing and non-hospital quarantine facilities for mild symptom positive cases, and continued social distancing and face mask wearing.

 

READ: White House Guidelines for ‘Opening Up America Again’ (CNN, April 16, 2020)

 

This is the White House’s three-phase plan for localities coming out of lock down. It’s useful to read to understand how stay at home orders might be eased and lifted (under White House suggested guidelines). This is not the same plan as the CDC and FEMA guide to reopening the U.S. that is reportedly still being drafted according to a Washington Post article that provides one part of the CDC/FEMA plan. State governors or city mayors ultimately will decide how easing will take place in their jurisdictions.

 

In the White House guide, “Gating” is about number of COVID cases and medical capacity criteria being met before lock downs can be eased up in phases. Before phase one can begin, gating criteria must be met in the region first, then the phases start:

 

Phase 1 people: less than 10 social gatherings, practice social distancing vulnerable people continue to shelter in place,

Phase 1 employers: return to work in phases or telework, close common areas or enforce SD,

Specific Employers: school stay closed, no senior home visits, large venues can operate under strict social distance protocols (restaurants, movies, sporting, churches), some elective surgeries resume, gyms open under social distancing and cleaning guides, bars stay closed.

 

Phase 2: for regions with no evidence of rebound and met Gating criteria during Phase 1

Phase 2 People: non essential travel can resume

Phase 2 Employers: encourage telework where feasible, close common areas or enforce SD.

Specific Employers:  schools open, no visits to senior cares centers and hospital, large venues operate under moderate social distancing protocols, most elective surgeries resume, bars open with standing room protocols

 

Phase 3: after regions in phase 2 meet Gating criteria during Phase 2: pretty much back to normal.

 

More drive-thru testing for new coronavirus coming to multiple locations around Oahu (Star Advertiser, April 16, 2020)

 

More testing will be available at following locations over next few days on Oahu. Testing is available for those with or without insurance. For more information, contact Kalihi Kai Urgent Care at 841-2273 or Premier Medical Group Hawaii at 304-8816 or 367-6020.

 

Provided by Kalihi Kai Urgent Care

>> 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Geiger Community Park, Ewa Beach

 

Provided by Premier Medical Group Hawaii

>> 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie

>> 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Kakaako Waterfront Park

>> 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Koko Head District Park

>> 9 a.m.-1 p.m Wednesday, The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, Wahiawa

 

Unemployment in Hawaii tops 37% as coronavirus shutdown continues (Hawaii News Now, April 16, 2020)

 

From March 1st to April 16th, 244,330 people in Hawaii have filed for unemployment.

 

Millionaires to reap 80% of benefit from tax change in US coronavirus stimulus (The Guardian, April 16, 2020)

 

A Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation released an analysis showing how a CARES Act tax provision will benefit the rich:

• 43,000 people making $1M/year or more would owe $70.3B less in taxes.
• Less than 3% of this tax cut benefit will go to American’s making less than $100,000/year.
• The law allows owners of businesses known as pass-through entities to lower their taxes by deducting as much as they want against income unrelated to the business. Before, owners of pass-through entities could deduct a maximum of $250,000 in losses from non-business income such as stocks and bonds.

 

Embrace socialism or let corporations fail — America needs to make a choice, NYU professor says (Market Watch, April 16, 2020)

 

If capitalism is so great, why does it need to be bailed out by socialism every ten years?  Questions arise as to why big businesses can do whatever they want and redistribute profits to the already-wealthy in good times, then get bailed out at taxpayers’ expense during bad times. Why would corporations, as institutions, ever behave responsibly if they know they are too big to fail and will get bailed out as necessary? And if executives and politicians who manipulate the system never go to prison for their actions, what incentives are there to behave responsibly?

 

 

Extra $600 to appear on unemployment deposits (KHON, Apri 16, 2020)

The extra $600 of unemployment benefit from federal government is supposed to start for Hawaii claimants on April 21st.

 

$2.1 billion secured from paycheck loans, benefits 11,400 local companies (KHON, April 17 2020)

Some good news as $2.1B in payroll support should benefit local businesses and cover about 170,000 jobs statewide.

 

Hawaii doesn’t meet federal guidelines to lift quarantine orders by May 1 (Star Advertiser, April 17, 2020)

It appears the quarantine orders that were initially set to end by April 30th will likely be extended.  The  guidelines of 14 days of lowered cases hasn’t been met in Hawaii.

 

Governor issues moratorium on evictions as economic fallout of shutdown grows (Hawaii News Now, April 17, 2020)

The ban on evictions is in effect until April 30th for now (courts have been closed until April 30th anyway, creating a de-facto ban on evictions)

 

Everyone in Hawaii now required to wear a mask at essential businesses (KITV, April 17, 2020)

In addition to Honolulu’s order, Ige issued new order for entire state, anyone using or working in an essential businesses must wear masks at all times.

 

State closes all beaches, stricter social distancing requirements imposed for boating, hiking (Star Advertiser, April 17, 2020)

Governor Ige closes all beaches , people can only transit cross the sand to to the ocean for exercise in the ocean water.  No loitering or sitting on the sand.

 

Governor Ige’s Fifth Proclamation (State of Hawaii, April 17, 2020)

You can read Ige’s proclamation order here. The order includes: requiring all public and workers at essential busineses to wear masks, no staying still on any state beach (users only allowed to walk across the sand to access the ocean for allowed exercises), two people or a family unit max on hiking trails/boats/fishing, a moratorium on eviction until April 30th, and some other directives.  This order will last until the emergency declaration is over, which is currently set until April 30th.

 

 

COVID Cases Today

 

World: Cases: Cases: 2.15M (+90k).  Deaths: 144k (+7k)

USA: Cases: 670k (+31k).  Deaths: 33k (+2k).  Total Tested: 3.4M (+200k)

Hawaii: Cases:  541(+11).  Deaths: 9 (+0).  Hospitalized: 45 (+0). Recovered: 374 (+15)

“SAFE HOTELS, SAFE HAWAII” LIVE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

In case you missed it or want to re-watch it, you can view our COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall on our Facebook page. Our Financial Secretary-Treasurer Eric Gill, HARIETT executive director James Hardway, and Dr. Scott Miscovich led a discussion on how to keep our hotels safe during this pandemic to ensure hotel worker and guest safety. Local 5 members asked great questions about this important topic and had them answered by our presenters. Watch the full Virtual Town Hall on our Facebook page.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

NEW TOOL TO TRACK YOUR DIRECT PAYMENT,  UPDATE BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION (Senator Schatz, April 15, 2020)

The IRS created a new tool to track Americans’ $1,200 stimulus check.  You can check the status of your check here if you filed taxes in 2018 or 2019 (you’ll need those years tax return to access the portal).  If you are eligible to receive the money but haven’t filed taxes in those years or receive social security you can submit your info here to IRS to try to receive payment.

State launches new online portal for tracking unemployment claims (Hawaii News Now, April 15, 2020)

The state Unemployment Office has launched a new web link for people to track claims by entering your last name, email and social security.

New email addresses have been setup by the UI office to specifically answer certain questions:

1. Backdating – dlir.ui.backdate@hawaii.gov. This email address is for those who would like to have their claim backdated. The backdate will be for their first week of less than full employment due to COVID-19. Individuals are to submit their full name, last four digits of their Social Security Number, telephone number, and the week that they would like their claim backdated to.
2. Disqualification – dlir.ui.disqualified@hawaii.gov. This email address is for those who have received an email, letter, or other messages that says that they are disqualified from UI. Individuals are to submit their full name, last four digits of their Social Security Number, telephone number (including area code), and a screenshot of their disqualification.
3. Language access – dlir.ui.languageassistance@hawaii.gov. This email address is for those who would like to request language assistance from UI. The interpretation services would be provided free of charge and via telephone

Unions: Governor is proposing 20% pay cuts for ‘most’ state employees (Hawaii News Now, Aprilk 15 2020)

HSTA and HGEA are claiming Ige is verbally proposing pay cuts for “most” state workers of 20% starting May 1st. HGEA claimed the governor has proposed a 10% pay cut for first responders in several bargaining units—including nurses, correctional workers and others. Ige hasn’t confirmed his proposals publicly yet.

Staff: Things Got Out Of Hand Quickly At Maui Hospital (Civil Beat, April 15, 2020)

More reporting on the PPE and policy mismanagement at MMMC by Kaiser and the Maui Health System leading to a outbreak that has infected 36 staff and patients so far.

Coronavirus: Amazon boss Jeff Bezos adds $24bn to fortune (BBC, April 15, 2020)

The richest man in the world just made another $24 billion during this crisis, as people rely on Amazon deliveries while locked down. Amazon stock is at an all time high and has a market cap of $1.15 trillion. Amazon workers are getting fired for raising safety concerns at the warehouses.

US coronavirus deaths set single-day record as total hits 28,300 (Al Jazeera, April 15, 2020)

U.S. coronavirus deaths have risen by a single-day record 2,228 as the total hits 28,300, according to Reuters. The U.S. also passed a second milestone late on Tuesday with over 600,000 reported cases, three times more than any other country.

COVID Cases Today

World: Cases: Cases: 2.06M (+80k).  Deaths: 137k (+11k)

USA: Cases: 639k (+30k).  Deaths: 31k (+5k).  Total Tested: 3.2M (+200k)

Hawaii: Cases:  530(+13).  Deaths: 9 (+0).  Hospitalized: 45 (+0). Recovered: 359 (+26