Friday, August 22, 2008
Much in need: decentralizing decisionmaking
In the past, and in a lot of mainland communities that I have worked with, Issuance of a building Permit was under the control and supervision of one department, usually the Planning Department, who in turn passed it around to the various agencies for their advise and consent,with a certain time limit to act on the process. In Guam that responsibility was given to the Department of Public Works, And the system worked well.
But our elected officials, to curry favor and secure additional votes, mandated that all the agencies must also sign and be made part of the approval process. So in the past, an applicant had to content with only one agency, now under our enlightened management system, we nearly have sixteen(16) different agencies, approving a building permit, and each agency has a veto or blackball power over each applicant, and to make matters worse, there is no time limit to the approval process from each department.
The natural consequences, is the ability of thevarious agencies to hold a project hostage, and extort whatever concessions theywant from the applicant. This is the major reason, a multiplicity of a vetopower by all agencies, on each permit application, why it takes nearly ninemonths to a year to approve a building permit application. The present process is a nightmare, and time consuming, for nothing, only adding extra unnecessary costs, and time to a project, which will ultimately be passed on to the consumers.
The permitting process must be retained by one department, Public Works, who will get comments and advise from other agencies,to streamline and modernize the application process.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Complete and absolute failure, Public education is only about one hundred years old. Previously it was private religious and secular schools that provided the education for the USA. Revert back to private education, funded by a Voucher program to every child. This will bring back productivity and performance.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The Treasury of Guam has become a free for all money pouch for our elected officials. Monies are spent and diverted without any accountability. Examples:The millions of TAWSA money collected to upgrade our sewer system.No one knows what happened or given an accounting on how the monies were spent,or where it went. The Tumon Beautification Revenue Bond, of about $53 Million. Monies wereagain diverted from Phase I and Phase II, (COLA $4 Million?) resulting thatPhase I or Phase II could not be completed. There is an empty 36" sewer line not connected anywhere.
The System Development Charge (SDC), is another scam to extort more money from developers,who in turn will just pass on this added cost to the ultimate consumer, you and I, and this includes GovGuam employees. A developer, a businessman, is not a philantrophist, all his costs are just passed on to the eventual buyer of his product.
TUMON and other Island beaches
(1) No working usable, public facilities. Where do our residents and visiting military go to the bathroom (WC), specially, after a day of drinking beer.
(2) No enforcement of the litter laws on the beach, in particular on days of heavy usage, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
(3) No prohibition to the bringing and the use of glass containers on the beach.
(4) No enforcement on bringing dogs without leash,and dog "PO" pick up.
(5) No enforcement concerning the burning of wood or charcoal fires on the beach sand. Open pit fires.
(6) No enforcement concerning the permitting and placement of tents on the beach.
(7) Where are the enforcers of the above, in particular on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.
CONSISTENCY AND CONTRADICTIONS:
(8) Dept of Agriculture prohibits the cleaning of the beach sand, and limits the use of mechanical raking to a depth of one (1"0 inch) two days a week. The Dept of Agriculture also prohibits the taking of sea algae both in the water and on the beach. Does the Dept of Fisheries expect the fish to jump out of the water to eat the algae on the sand? Lack of cleaning Causes Excess Algae accumulation.
But there are no restrictions on GovGuam Vehicles running up and down the beach, or humans walkingor digging large holes on the beach, making deeper indentations on the beach than a mechanical raking machine.
It is my sincere belief and opinion, that this would be an easy matter for the policemen stationed in the Tumon area, to ride their Kawasaki four wheeler, ON Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, once every hour, and drive slowly up and down on the beach, with a sign on the side of the vehicle giving first warning about littering. The mere presence of a policemen driving, will help keep the beach in a cleaner environment. And the issuance ofa few litter fines and citations, at the beginning, will enhance the depleted treasury of Guam, against the litter bugs, for a short while, until people learn to respect the environment and the public beaches.
Al Ysrael is a businessman and special contributing blogger for KUAM
But our elected officials, to curry favor and secure additional votes, mandated that all the agencies must also sign and be made part of the approval process. So in the past, an applicant had to content with only one agency, now under our enlightened management system, we nearly have sixteen(16) different agencies, approving a building permit, and each agency has a veto or blackball power over each applicant, and to make matters worse, there is no time limit to the approval process from each department.The natural consequences, is the ability of thevarious agencies to hold a project hostage, and extort whatever concessions theywant from the applicant. This is the major reason, a multiplicity of a vetopower by all agencies, on each permit application, why it takes nearly ninemonths to a year to approve a building permit application. The present process is a nightmare, and time consuming, for nothing, only adding extra unnecessary costs, and time to a project, which will ultimately be passed on to the consumers.
The permitting process must be retained by one department, Public Works, who will get comments and advise from other agencies,to streamline and modernize the application process.
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Complete and absolute failure, Public education is only about one hundred years old. Previously it was private religious and secular schools that provided the education for the USA. Revert back to private education, funded by a Voucher program to every child. This will bring back productivity and performance.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The Treasury of Guam has become a free for all money pouch for our elected officials. Monies are spent and diverted without any accountability. Examples:The millions of TAWSA money collected to upgrade our sewer system.No one knows what happened or given an accounting on how the monies were spent,or where it went. The Tumon Beautification Revenue Bond, of about $53 Million. Monies wereagain diverted from Phase I and Phase II, (COLA $4 Million?) resulting thatPhase I or Phase II could not be completed. There is an empty 36" sewer line not connected anywhere.
The System Development Charge (SDC), is another scam to extort more money from developers,who in turn will just pass on this added cost to the ultimate consumer, you and I, and this includes GovGuam employees. A developer, a businessman, is not a philantrophist, all his costs are just passed on to the eventual buyer of his product.
TUMON and other Island beaches
(1) No working usable, public facilities. Where do our residents and visiting military go to the bathroom (WC), specially, after a day of drinking beer.
(2) No enforcement of the litter laws on the beach, in particular on days of heavy usage, Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
(3) No prohibition to the bringing and the use of glass containers on the beach.
(4) No enforcement on bringing dogs without leash,and dog "PO" pick up.
(5) No enforcement concerning the burning of wood or charcoal fires on the beach sand. Open pit fires.
(6) No enforcement concerning the permitting and placement of tents on the beach.
(7) Where are the enforcers of the above, in particular on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays.
CONSISTENCY AND CONTRADICTIONS:
(8) Dept of Agriculture prohibits the cleaning of the beach sand, and limits the use of mechanical raking to a depth of one (1"0 inch) two days a week. The Dept of Agriculture also prohibits the taking of sea algae both in the water and on the beach. Does the Dept of Fisheries expect the fish to jump out of the water to eat the algae on the sand? Lack of cleaning Causes Excess Algae accumulation.
But there are no restrictions on GovGuam Vehicles running up and down the beach, or humans walkingor digging large holes on the beach, making deeper indentations on the beach than a mechanical raking machine.
It is my sincere belief and opinion, that this would be an easy matter for the policemen stationed in the Tumon area, to ride their Kawasaki four wheeler, ON Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays, once every hour, and drive slowly up and down on the beach, with a sign on the side of the vehicle giving first warning about littering. The mere presence of a policemen driving, will help keep the beach in a cleaner environment. And the issuance ofa few litter fines and citations, at the beginning, will enhance the depleted treasury of Guam, against the litter bugs, for a short while, until people learn to respect the environment and the public beaches.
Al Ysrael is a businessman and special contributing blogger for KUAM
Dare to challenge authority
Letter To The EditorHafa Adai,
Do you agree with the proposed military buildup on Guam?
SPEAK UP!
I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
The long-standing history of the military on Guam IS the best defense against them in a court of law. A complaint in the federal courts in Honolulu, highlighting the abuses and constraints to our rights and freedoms as citizens of America should be documented NOW.
We can not wait decades to realize that we were all prisoners in our own island...as evidenced in 1963 with the lifting of the travel ban in/out of Guam....a military directive, no doubt.
We can not wait until the island that we love and cherrish is pulverized and blown to smitherines because we allowed it to become a depot for nuclear ordinance.
We can not wait generations to find out that toxic wastes and nuclear dumping in and around our ocean waters have become common practice, marked by the cloak of military secrecy.
We can not wait until Tun Juan and Tan Maria start glowing in the dark to realize that something went wrong.
We can not and must not assume that Big Brother will watch our backs....because his long-standing record showed otherwise.
SPEAK UP! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!
Will be in Honolulu September 20 thru September 24 to finalize our court documents for filing. Anyone interested in becoming a part of this historic Fiesta, please send us an email with your comments and support: chamori@excite.com
Chonik ham mo'na gi chalan minaolek,
NORBERT PEREZ Panama City, Panama
Norbert Perez is a special guest contributor to KUAM Blogs
A plan to restructure GMH
One of the busiest places on the island is the Guam Memorial Hospital, we always hear stories of patients having had to wait for several hours to be admitted due to the shortage of hospital beds, and especially at the emergency clinics where numerous people had to wait for several hours before they get to see a physician.
As you can imagine, this hectic activity generates a tremendous vehicular traffic, which has overtaxed the parking lots at the hospital, and it has been extremely difficult to find a parking slot, especially during visiting hours.
Additionally, the hospital occupancy rates have been consistently 100% – fully occupied.
An enterprising entrepreneur would envy the hospital "business" side, yet, we all know that gmh has serious "cash flow" problem; and you would think that the hospital rates should be at an amount to resolve this problem, which unfortunately, doing so, has it own– socio–political obstacle. Surely, there must be some alternative sources to generate revenue without having direct impact on the way the hospital provides patient services.
I am talking about three areas to generate revenues at the hospital
1. Why not do what the airport is doing with its general public parking lots? They charge by the amount of time the vehicle stays parked at the airport lot. The hospital parking lot with a car capacity of over 100 cars, surely would generate sufficient revenue.
2. The hospital as constructed has in each room, fully wired for telephone and cable tv. What is really keeping the hospital authority for not making use of these facilities? Surely, both GTA and MCV Guam, both private firms, should be allowed to install both services at each room, and the cost for such services, could be part and partial of the patient's room charges. The hospital should be able to agree with these two private firms a sharing of the revenues– which the hospital presently not getting a "cent".
Recently, during my routine medical check in la hospital, one of the doctors when learning that the GMHA hospital room does not have "cable tv", asked – how does the patient cope with boredom, while lying in bed? Of course, with a cell phone readily available, maybe we do not need to install a telephone. On the other hand, cell phones may not be allowed since it might interfere with some of the electronic hospital equipment.
These three are common and readily available in all hospitals, be they be in the U.S. or in Philippines. Why not implement them at Guam Memorial Hospital?
Joe T. San Agustin has served Guam as former chairperson of the Democratic Party of Guam and as former speaker of the Guam Legislature. He is currently chairman of the GovGuam Retirement Fund.
As you can imagine, this hectic activity generates a tremendous vehicular traffic, which has overtaxed the parking lots at the hospital, and it has been extremely difficult to find a parking slot, especially during visiting hours.Additionally, the hospital occupancy rates have been consistently 100% – fully occupied.
An enterprising entrepreneur would envy the hospital "business" side, yet, we all know that gmh has serious "cash flow" problem; and you would think that the hospital rates should be at an amount to resolve this problem, which unfortunately, doing so, has it own– socio–political obstacle. Surely, there must be some alternative sources to generate revenue without having direct impact on the way the hospital provides patient services.
I am talking about three areas to generate revenues at the hospital
1. Why not do what the airport is doing with its general public parking lots? They charge by the amount of time the vehicle stays parked at the airport lot. The hospital parking lot with a car capacity of over 100 cars, surely would generate sufficient revenue.
2. The hospital as constructed has in each room, fully wired for telephone and cable tv. What is really keeping the hospital authority for not making use of these facilities? Surely, both GTA and MCV Guam, both private firms, should be allowed to install both services at each room, and the cost for such services, could be part and partial of the patient's room charges. The hospital should be able to agree with these two private firms a sharing of the revenues– which the hospital presently not getting a "cent".
Recently, during my routine medical check in la hospital, one of the doctors when learning that the GMHA hospital room does not have "cable tv", asked – how does the patient cope with boredom, while lying in bed? Of course, with a cell phone readily available, maybe we do not need to install a telephone. On the other hand, cell phones may not be allowed since it might interfere with some of the electronic hospital equipment.
These three are common and readily available in all hospitals, be they be in the U.S. or in Philippines. Why not implement them at Guam Memorial Hospital?
Joe T. San Agustin has served Guam as former chairperson of the Democratic Party of Guam and as former speaker of the Guam Legislature. He is currently chairman of the GovGuam Retirement Fund.
Prediction: 2 Republicans will get bumped
This is a poll we did with an emphasis on the primary, therefore, the republicans ran low here. Following the primary, these numbers should adjust to the final stretch by the third week of September. One crude measure we use at this point is to stagger the democrats with the republicans to get an idea of true ranking.
As expected, Ada and Aguon will bump two incumbents. Who will be bumped and why is something we are following closely.
The normal strategy for the primary will be for the republicans to coast and the marginal democrats to try to bolster their inner party placement. Some of these candidates may have been affected by the struggle over the majority. This will probably be cleared up after the post primary correction. (When the actual general slate is finalized.)
Due to the El Farol Bar principle, every republican percentage point below 40 will mean an artificial primary election for the democrats due to cross over, not true partisan voting. Therefore in real terms, the legislative primary is a fairly meaningless process.
In effect, the taxpayers of Guam are providing organizatonal welfare to the political parties by providing them with this costly primary.
We will follow the legislative election closely, right now not a lot will happen between now and the primary. The numbers here compared to the finals in November will be fluid in the top 20.
Note: these are the likely leaders following the primary. In our experience, 1 or 2 candidates might emerge from the 16-20 ranks and finish in the top 15. This doesn't always happen though. In 2004, there were was an issue cascade that shifted the ranks 6-10 spaces in three days before the election and flipped the majority back to the republicans.
Top 20 (Pre-Primary Table) 500 Registered Voters Sampled (In- person/random; sample error does not apply) (First week of August Completed Aug 7-8)
Rank/Name/Number/Party/
1) GUTHERTZ, JUDITH P. (I) 253 (D)
2) CRUZ, BENJAMIN J.F. (I) 245 (D)
3) CALVO, EDWARD J.B. (I) 212 (R)
4) PALACIOS, ADOLPHO B. (I) 210 (D)
5) AGUON, FRANK B. JR. 207 (D)
6) WON PAT, JUDITH (I) 206 (D)
7) BLAS, FRANK F. JR. (I) 200 (R )
8) ESPALDON, JAMES V. (I) 197 (R)
9) ADA, THOMAS 180 (D)
10) SHIMIZU, DAVID L.G. (I) 171 (D)
11) ISHIZAKI, FRANK (I) 162 ( R)
12) RESPICIO, RORY (I) 162 (D)
13) TENORIO, RAY (I) 154 (R)
14) BARNES, TINA ROSE MUNA (I) 147 (D)
15) PANGELINAN, VICENTE (I) 138 (D)
-------------
16) FORBES, MARK (I) 129 (R)
17) TAITAGUE, TELO T. 96 (R)
18) RECTOR, MATTHEW J. 94 (D)
19) LUJAN, JESSE (I) 86 (R)
20) MOYLAN, DOUGLAS B. 56 (R)
DEMOCRATS
=============
ADA, THOMAS 180
AGUON, FRANK B. JR. 207
BARNES, TINA ROSE MUNA (I) 147
BENAVENTE, ROBERT L.G. 39
CARBULLIDO, IVAN 29
CRUZ, BENJAMIN J.F. (I) 245
CRUZ, PHILLIPE J. 47
DUENAS, LUIS P. 43
GUTHERTZ, JUDITH P. (I) 253
LEON GUERRERO, JOSEPH B. 49
PALACIOS, ADOLPHO B. (I) 210
PANGELINAN, VICENTE (I) 138
RECTOR, MATTHEW J. 94
RESPICIO, RORY (I) 162
SAN MIGUEL, ROSSANA D. 31
SHIMIZU, DAVID L.G. (I) 171
WON PAT, JUDITH (I) 206
REPUBLICANS
==================
BENAVENTE, JOHN B. 49
BLAS, FRANK F. JR. (I) 200
BORJA, DENNIS T. 30
CALVO, EDWARD J.B. (I) 212
ESPALDON, JAMES V. (I) 197
FLORES, RONALD 31
FORBES, MARK (I) 129
ISHIZAKI, FRANK (I) 162
JANSSEN, JULIAN C. 20
LUJAN, JESSE (I) 86
MOYLAN, DOUGLAS B. 56
TAITAGUE, TELO T. 96
TENORIO, RAY (I) 154
Dr. Ron McNinch is a professor of public administration at the University of Guam and also serves as KUAM's political analyst
As expected, Ada and Aguon will bump two incumbents. Who will be bumped and why is something we are following closely.
The normal strategy for the primary will be for the republicans to coast and the marginal democrats to try to bolster their inner party placement. Some of these candidates may have been affected by the struggle over the majority. This will probably be cleared up after the post primary correction. (When the actual general slate is finalized.)
Due to the El Farol Bar principle, every republican percentage point below 40 will mean an artificial primary election for the democrats due to cross over, not true partisan voting. Therefore in real terms, the legislative primary is a fairly meaningless process.
In effect, the taxpayers of Guam are providing organizatonal welfare to the political parties by providing them with this costly primary.
We will follow the legislative election closely, right now not a lot will happen between now and the primary. The numbers here compared to the finals in November will be fluid in the top 20.
Note: these are the likely leaders following the primary. In our experience, 1 or 2 candidates might emerge from the 16-20 ranks and finish in the top 15. This doesn't always happen though. In 2004, there were was an issue cascade that shifted the ranks 6-10 spaces in three days before the election and flipped the majority back to the republicans.
Top 20 (Pre-Primary Table) 500 Registered Voters Sampled (In- person/random; sample error does not apply) (First week of August Completed Aug 7-8)
Rank/Name/Number/Party/
1) GUTHERTZ, JUDITH P. (I) 253 (D)
2) CRUZ, BENJAMIN J.F. (I) 245 (D)
3) CALVO, EDWARD J.B. (I) 212 (R)
4) PALACIOS, ADOLPHO B. (I) 210 (D)
5) AGUON, FRANK B. JR. 207 (D)
6) WON PAT, JUDITH (I) 206 (D)
7) BLAS, FRANK F. JR. (I) 200 (R )
8) ESPALDON, JAMES V. (I) 197 (R)
9) ADA, THOMAS 180 (D)
10) SHIMIZU, DAVID L.G. (I) 171 (D)
11) ISHIZAKI, FRANK (I) 162 ( R)
12) RESPICIO, RORY (I) 162 (D)
13) TENORIO, RAY (I) 154 (R)
14) BARNES, TINA ROSE MUNA (I) 147 (D)
15) PANGELINAN, VICENTE (I) 138 (D)
-------------
16) FORBES, MARK (I) 129 (R)
17) TAITAGUE, TELO T. 96 (R)
18) RECTOR, MATTHEW J. 94 (D)
19) LUJAN, JESSE (I) 86 (R)
20) MOYLAN, DOUGLAS B. 56 (R)
DEMOCRATS
=============
ADA, THOMAS 180
AGUON, FRANK B. JR. 207
BARNES, TINA ROSE MUNA (I) 147
BENAVENTE, ROBERT L.G. 39
CARBULLIDO, IVAN 29
CRUZ, BENJAMIN J.F. (I) 245
CRUZ, PHILLIPE J. 47
DUENAS, LUIS P. 43
GUTHERTZ, JUDITH P. (I) 253
LEON GUERRERO, JOSEPH B. 49
PALACIOS, ADOLPHO B. (I) 210
PANGELINAN, VICENTE (I) 138
RECTOR, MATTHEW J. 94
RESPICIO, RORY (I) 162
SAN MIGUEL, ROSSANA D. 31
SHIMIZU, DAVID L.G. (I) 171
WON PAT, JUDITH (I) 206
REPUBLICANS
==================
BENAVENTE, JOHN B. 49
BLAS, FRANK F. JR. (I) 200
BORJA, DENNIS T. 30
CALVO, EDWARD J.B. (I) 212
ESPALDON, JAMES V. (I) 197
FLORES, RONALD 31
FORBES, MARK (I) 129
ISHIZAKI, FRANK (I) 162
JANSSEN, JULIAN C. 20
LUJAN, JESSE (I) 86
MOYLAN, DOUGLAS B. 56
TAITAGUE, TELO T. 96
TENORIO, RAY (I) 154
Dr. Ron McNinch is a professor of public administration at the University of Guam and also serves as KUAM's political analyst
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Independence for the People of Guam.
This morning I had the opportunity to have Trini Torres and Tony Artero Sablan on my radio program and was glad at the response of the listeners. It will be a challenge for the people of Guam to come out and say that they will unify and support this political status but today was very informative form me and a good chance for my guests to get the word out.
There are options out htere and the people to bring it all out.
Felix Aguon is a KUAM radio personality and guest blogger
Monday, August 18, 2008
Southern Little League at Williamsport Pennsylvania
I am extremely proud of the little league members who are now in Williamsport representing Guam in the little league world series. I wish them well and hope of their advancement through their pool. They managed to win their first game yesterday 7-6 and did their island and themselves proud and my hope is for them to continue in their quest.
When crunch time comes you leave it up to someone from Guam to perform in unfamiliar territory. Continued good luck to all of you.
Felix Aguon is a KUAM radio personality and guest blogger.