Category: ESTA News

The Waikiki crime prevention program ‘Safe and Sound’ of the Honolulu City Government Prosecutor’s Office, launched in September last year, cracked down on 456 criminal activities in four months.

According to Prosecutor’s Office Steve Armam, by crime category, there are 372 misdemeanors, 52 domestic violence and 32 felonies.

Compared to Chinatown’s autonomous crime prevention system ‘With & Seed’, which detected about 575 criminal acts in 16 months, much more crackdowns were made in less time.

City prosecutors explained that because Waikiki’s population is larger than Chinatown, so is the crime.

The ‘Safe and Sound’ program was designed to control Waikiki’s crime rate, which skyrocketed after tourism reopened.

The city government and the Kosasa Foundation each contributed $100,000 to build up finances.

Officer Ryan Yamamoto of the Honolulu Police Department suggested that although Waikiki is the smallest of the police department’s districts, it is necessary to increase police personnel to maintain public order due to the nature of tourist destinations that are always crowded with residents, workers, and visitors.

The Waikiki Residents’ Association pointed out the lack of police manpower at a meeting on January 10th, and is known to have even mentioned the deployment of the National Guard.

Rick Blangiad, spokesman for the Honolulu Mayor’s office, Scott Humber, said that while all crime on Oahu is a concern, Honolulu has some of the best security in the country, giving the police confidence.

Prosecutor Arm said that bad behavior will lead to worse behavior if there is no result and explained that ‘Safe and Sound’ and ‘With and Seed’ programs are showing positive effects little by little.

Police Department Major Randy Platt said most of the suspects arrested in the “Safe and Sound” crackdown had been fully charged.

However, he advised that a regulation would be needed to prevent ex-convicts who committed crimes in Waikiki from entering the area for a certain period of time, as there are cases where they return to Waikiki after the punishment is over.

Prosecutor Ah-Am said that 136 cases of ex-convicts have applied to restrict access to certain areas, and 25 of them have been approved by the court.

So far, the ‘Safe and Sound’ program is going through the first stage of cracking down on criminal activity.

In the second phase, it is known that more emphasis will be placed on maintaining public order, such as placing security officers, expanding security cameras, improving lighting devices, strengthening social welfare, and proposing laws.

Mayor Blangiad promised to keep the surrounding area clean and maintain Biki shared bicycles at the ‘Safe and Sound’ inauguration press conference held at Pavilion 4 in Kuhio Beach last year.

Rick Eggd, president of the Waikiki Improvement Association, who co-chairs the Safe and Sound committee, said they are aiming to complete the appointment of a security officer by this summer.

A Humber spokesman for the mayor’s office reported that as of 2022, 33 security cameras were installed in Waikiki, and nine of them are currently inoperative.

A spokeswoman for Humber said the city’s Department of Transportation will address the camera problem in the coming months.

Meanwhile, violent crimes that occurred in Waikiki in the past year are as follows.

-January 6, 2023: A 25-year-old male was shot at around 10:15 p.m. near the intersection of Kalakaua Avenue and Lures Street.

-December 27, 2022: Hotel employee pistol robbery at the intersection of Paokalani Avenue and Lemon Road at around 6:15 am.

-December 9, 2022: A 48-year-old man was shot dead while confronting police with a pistol at Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites.

-December 6, 2022: A 21-year-old man was stabbed to death at a bus stop in front of the Royal Kuhio Hotel at around 2:45 am

-March 19, 2022: A 19-year-old male was shot and killed near the intersection of Kalakaua Avenue and Loor’s Street.

The Washington Post and others reported on the 21st (local time) that the US Department of Justice seized and searched the private home of US President Joe Biden located in Delaware, US. The Ministry of Justice is known to have obtained six documents marked “confidential” and some memos written by Biden.

Bob Bauer, the president’s attorney, said the Department of Justice raided his home in Wilmington, Delaware, on the 20th. The search is said to have lasted about 13 hours. It is said that President Biden and his wife were not at his home at the time of the seizure and search.

The Ministry of Justice obtained several documents, including six items consisting of several appendices with confidential markings. These documents are known to have been written between President Biden’s days as a federal senator from Delaware (1973-2009) and his vice-presidential tenure. On this day, the prosecution said, “It was determined that it was within the scope of the investigation,” and additionally reviewed a memo written by Biden during his tenure as vice president.

President Biden’s personal office and the fact that confidential documents were found in Wilmington, Delaware, etc., made a big impact in the American political world. The Republican Party has raised its voice, saying that the search and seizure of President Biden should be conducted, as it was at the time when former US President Donald Trump was suspected of leaking classified documents.

Mistakes are said to be made by subcontractor employees during maintenance work.

On the 11th, it was revealed that one data file was damaged during maintenance work by an employee of a subcontractor, causing a computer error that caused a ‘complete suspension of air operations’ across the United States.

This employee did not follow established procedures regarding remuneration.

Authorities are investigating whether this was a singular mistake on the part of the staff or whether it was intentional.

Currently, the national system is operating normally. Flights canceled on the 12th accounted for less than 1%.

After the accident occurred on the night of the 10th, the computer system of NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions), a safety notification system sent by the Aviation Administration to pilots, stopped working.

The Notam system informs various safety-related information that aircraft may encounter at airports or routes. It contains information of various types and contents, from bird movements to runway construction.

Accordingly, the Aviation Administration suspended all take-offs across the country for 90 minutes at 7:00 am on the 11th. This resulted in over 10,000 domestic flights significantly delayed or cancelled.

The Notam system was installed 30 years ago in 1993 and there are no plans to improve it for the next six years.

Some of the systems have not been serviced in the 30 years since their initial installation.

At the end of last year, Southwest Airlines caused chaos when it canceled many flights due to a computer malfunction.

The number of new home listings in Los Angeles County declined significantly in December, indicating a decline in sales contracts. Homeowners are reluctant to put up new listings as the housing market has entered a sluggish phase due to concerns about an economic downturn, and even sales have declined as demand for housing has plummeted due to continued high interest rates.

However, as LA City plans to impose additional transfer tax on high-priced real estate over $5 million, there is a possibility that the number of homes for sale may increase. is expected to be difficult to anticipate.

According to real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman on the 10th, the number of newly registered homes for sale in Los Angeles County in December last year was 1,151, a 36% drop from the previous month, 1,794 in November. In Los Angeles County, where the number of new home listings is on the decline, a significant drop of 36% is considered an anomaly.

As the number of new home sales decreased, the number of home sales contracts also decreased. Last month, 1,541 home sales were signed in Los Angeles County, down 6.2% from 1,541 in November.

The slump in home sales is not just a local phenomenon in LA County, it is a national phenomenon. According to Redfin, a real estate information provider, sales of pending homes for sale nationwide in December fell 32% from a year ago.

Home sales and new listings are declining in the Los Angeles County housing market because mortgage rates continue to rise due to high interest rates. Based on 30-year fixed mortgages, the average interest rate is currently in the mid-6% range, but it is twice as high as last year’s 3% range. High mortgage interest rates have led home buyers to wait and see, and as demand for purchases has plummeted, homeowners are also reluctant to put their homes on the market.

In addition, Douglas Elliman’s analysis is that the LA County housing market has become more frozen as December is traditionally a seasonal factor when housing transactions decrease, and the myth that the real estate market is in a downturn in an election year.

The only consolation thing is that the number of new listings in the Los Angeles County housing market is up compared to a year ago

Douglas Elliman predicts that there will likely be an increase in home sales in Los Angeles County in the future. Ahead of the implementation of the ULA initiative, which would impose an additional transfer tax on the sale of real estate over $5 million in the Los Angeles area starting April, there will be an increase in the number of homes for sale, especially high-priced homes, to dispose of before the law goes into effect to avoid an additional transfer tax bomb. It is because it is.

The problem is the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike. It is not a question of the size of the base rate hike, but additional hikes are accepted as a fait accompli. As the possibility of a rebound in mortgage rates remains the same depending on the rate of interest rate hikes, the pace of recession in the LA home and real estate market may accelerate.

The number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients in the Bay Area exceeded 600, the highest since last August.

Recently, the ‘Triple Demic’, in which Corona 19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the flu spread at the same time, has become a reality, and a health emergency in winter has been put on hold. was counted as it is the first time that the number of inpatients has exceeded 600 since August this year.

California also showed a similar surge, with 3,532 corona19 hospitalized patients on the same basis, a 125% increase from a month ago. Los Angeles County accounted for a third of the total, with 1,040 hospitalized.

Among the Bay Area counties, San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, and Santa Clara showed a sharp increase in the number of inpatients, according to the SF Chronicle.

The health authorities said that it is better to wear a mask indoors and urged that personal quarantine measures such as wearing a mask and vaccination should be thoroughly taken.

It is known that the Honolulu Water Service (BWS) has rejected all landfill candidates proposed by the Honolulu city government.
The city government is required to find a new landfill site by the end of this year to replace the currently used Waimanalo Glutch landfill, following an order from the State Land Use Commission (LUC).
In response, Mayor Rick Blangiad formed an advisory committee, selected six landfill sites, and requested a review by the Waterworks Authority.
However, Director of Waterworks Ernie Lau rejected the city government’s request, explaining that all landfill candidates are located above aquifers and pose a risk of water contamination.
The Honolulu Water Authority supervises water resources located on the island of Oahu, and the aquifers that serve as drinking water sources are classified as No Pass Zones and are specially managed.
In other words, the city government’s landfill candidates were all rejected because they overlapped with the no-pass zone.
Director Lau cited the Red Hill fuel leak incident that occurred in November last year as the reason for rejecting the candidate review, and emphasized that preventive measures should be taken to avoid repeating the same disaster.
He also pointed out that although modern landfill design and the latest technology have reduced the risk of leachate and pollutant leakage, complete containment is not possible, so contamination of drinking water sources cannot be ruled out.
Roger Badcock, director of the city’s environment department, promised the city would go all out to protect drinking water sources.
Ann Wright, a member of the grassroots group Oahu Water Protectors, noted the potential for leachate contamination if landfills were placed over aquifers, and would require the city to apply to the State Land Use Board for an extension of the deadline to find new landfill candidates.

US State Department special envoy for Iran Robert Marley announced that the US is focusing on other pending issues in its policy toward Iran, such as blocking the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia, rather than restoring the Iranian nuclear deal.
According to Bloomberg News, Mali said in an interview in Rome that day that “Iran is not interested in concluding an agreement,” implying that restoring the nuclear deal is not a top priority of US policy toward Iran.
“Right now, it is important for Iran to deter and obstruct arms supplies to Russia and to work to support the fundamental aspirations of the Iranian people,” Mali said.
The Iran nuclear agreement, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed by the West and Iran, including the United States, during the Obama administration in the United States in 2015, but the US Trump administration unilaterally abolished it in 2018.
The United States started negotiations to restore the nuclear agreement after the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration, but negotiations have stalled amid last-minute disagreements.
Iran recently stepped up its uranium enrichment activities, hampering international surveillance.
Last month, the board of directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution calling for an investigation of nuclear material at three undeclared sites in Iran, judging that Iran had not given a sincere response to the allegation that nuclear material had been detected in three undeclared areas.
Iran is demanding an IAEA halt to its probe as a condition of resuming nuclear deal negotiations, but the US and its allies are rejecting the request.
Mali said in an interview that day that there is no reason for the United States to focus on Iran if it continues to make unacceptable demands for nuclear deal negotiations. “Because we cannot go back and continue being deceived.”
He went on to say that contacts between EU and Iranian government officials continued and negotiations had not formally stopped, but the last meeting was not held at the end of August.
Mali said the US goal now is to “deter, delay, deter and sanction” any arms transfers from Iran to Russia. It will happen,” he warned.
The Russian government claims it is not using Iranian weapons, but it is using Iranian drones in its attacks on Ukraine, and its reliance on them is growing.

As the year-end and New Year holidays approach, Hawaii Food Bank is struggling to supply food supplies.
Amy Marvin, CEO of Food Bank, said that it is not easy to prepare food as donations are decreasing compared to increasing demand.
For example, the food distributed every week at Honolulu Central Union Church is about 600 households, but in the second week of November, 642 households applied, exceeding the supply.

On average, 582 households received ration requests each week at the Central Union Church distribution center, so there was no major difficulty in supplying food.

CEO Marvin explained that the demand for food is increasing, especially among elderly households living alone and working households.
Due to the pandemic, the rate of inflation (inflation) continues to march high, and the price of meals is also increasing day by day.
The high cost of living puts a heavy burden not only on the low-income group but also on the non-profit organizations that support them.
CEO Marvin said that it took about 10 years for the damage suffered during the 2008 economic crisis to recover.
The financial crisis it is experiencing could also take years or more to recover from.

The Hawaii Food Bank has faced several challenges this summer, including reduced federal support and increased costs and demand.
For example, in the summer, only about 25% of the federal food supply from the US Department of Agriculture Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is reported to have been supplied with food.

It’s better than no supply at all, but it doesn’t change the fact that the food bank in Hawaii does not have a small food burden to supply itself.
The food bank’s food rations are approximately 360,000 pounds per week.
Alicia Higa, director of the Community Health Department at Waianae Coastal General Hospital (WCCHC), said the demand for food among children and the elderly was higher than during the peak of the pandemic.
According to Isa Higa, about 750 seniors and 1,800 children visit the food pantry every week.

Since the food budget for the elderly is usually set for 500-550 people, it is said that if the current situation continues, the food stockpile could be exhausted by March next year.

Director Higa is experiencing a benefits cliff, where she loses her Social Security or SNAP eligibility for a small wage increase, and her rent increase cuts her budget for food.

WCCHC originally planned a Thanksgiving distribution event, but it was reported that it could not be carried out due to lack of funds.
Governor David Ige announced on November 18 that the Pandemic Food Stamps (SNAP) extended assistance benefit would be extended through January 16 next year.

The Governor benefits from the unprecedented inflation caused by the pandemic, which has increased the cost of food, fuel, childcare, transportation, and utilities, all of which are causing residents to suffer from food insecurity.
Foodbank CEO Marvin said operating costs continue to rise. For example, fuel costs increased by about 66% from about $6,000 in October 2021 to $10,000 in October this year, and the price of chicken jumped about twice in one year.
Marvin said the goal is to fill the shortfall in the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and fundraising.
He stressed the importance of fundraising, especially since for every dollar donated, more than two meals can be provided.
Phil Acosta, director of Aloha Harvest, a food distribution non-profit in Oahu, said they received a lot of funding during the pandemic, but are currently short on budget.

In addition, as the year-end and New Year holidays approached, there was a temporary surge in donations, but since this is a temporary phenomenon, it is necessary to be creative for more stable fund management.
Food insecurity in Hawaii has risen by 50% since the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Hawaii Food Bank. About 250,000 people in Hawaii need food assistance, and one in four children suffer from hunger.

It has been announced that more than 90% of the world’s population is immune to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19).

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said at a press conference on the 2nd (local time), “WHO believes that at least 90% of the world’s population will be infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV, thanks to vaccination or experience of infection. -2) is presumed to have a certain level of immunity,” he said.

Secretary-General Tedros urged the government not to let down its guard against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is true that we are getting closer to the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but not yet,” he said.

Tedros pointed to gaps in the mechanisms to support public health by containing the spread of COVID-19 as a major concern.

He pointed out that “the gap in COVID-19 surveillance, testing and vaccination is the perfect condition for the emergence of a new mutation that can lead to high mortality.”

In other words, if the epidemic continues in underdeveloped countries due to poor quarantine and health systems, highly contagious and fatal mutations can emerge and spread again around the world.

President Tedros explained that there are currently more than 500 sub-mutations of Omicron, and that although these mutations may be less lethal, they are more contagious.
Omicron, which appeared a year ago in South Africa and became the dominant species worldwide, was immediately classified as a mutant of concern due to its explosive infectivity.
New sub mutations of Omicron, such as BA.2 and BA.5, have been confirmed to evade the antibody produced by infection with BA.1, an early Omicron virus.
Secretary-General Tedros sounded the alarm again last week, saying more than 8,500 people were counted as having died from COVID-19.
“It is unacceptable that such deaths occur now, in the third year of the COVID-19 outbreak, and we have learned to some extent how to prevent infection and save lives,” he said.

After the recent Thanksgiving holiday, COVID-19 infections are on the rise again across the United States, including the Bay Area. Unlike the first year of the pandemic, most residents received vaccines and booster shots, and were able to check for corona infection more quickly and prepare for additional infections through self-examination, but quarantine measures such as wearing masks and maintaining distance were greatly loosened. At this time when Christmas and New Year’s holiday holidays are approaching, questions are emerging about how likely it is to be reinfected if you have had Corona 19 or have been vaccinated again. The following is a Q&A with experts about the possibility of reinfecting Corona 19 this winter reported by SF Chronicle.

Those who received the vaccine and booster shot have a low risk of reinfection. However, with the emergence of new viral sub-variants, the previously suggested interval between vaccinations of 6 months was reduced to 3 months. In other words, a reasonable period to be considered ‘safe’ from COVID-19 reinfection is within three months from the date of the COVID-19 vaccine, booster shot, and last infection.

Dr. Peter Chin Hong, UCSF, said that travel will increase during the holiday season and Corona 19 infections will also increase. explained that it can.

A recent study published in Nature Medicine found that people who are repeatedly infected with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, are more likely to suffer from poor health, including hospitalization and death, than those with new infections. According to another study, the more people who are infected again, the more likely they are to suffer from long-term sequelae of Long Covid. Dr. Peter Chin Hong advised that the subjects of the study were in their 60s or older with underlying diseases, which may not apply in general cases, but still be careful not to be infected again.

Above all, the actions of the people are important. Indoor gatherings should be held in well-ventilated places, and when traveling, situations where you are most vulnerable to infection, such as inside a taxi to the airport, food court in the airport, touch payment in the market, using a public toilet, in front of the airport gate, boarding an airplane, etc. Be careful and work hard on personal quarantine, such as wearing a mask.

There is no choice but to follow the individual quarantine measures presented previously. Wash your hands often, get the vaccine and the latest booster shot, wear a mask, maintain social distancing, stay home, and avoid contact with people if you are sick. In addition, it is recommended to frequently test for COVID-19 through a self-test kit. Santa Clara County Health Commissioner Jeffrey Smith said, “In particular, the recent flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection simultaneously have reduced the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the county.”