Legislative Report - Environment and Economics - HVCA/ThinkTech Luncheon

A number of environmental and permitting exemptions were introduced and considered in the 2012 Legislature to encourage economic development and job creation. There were opinions for and against, and the bills were quite controversial.

Our infrastructure is in need of repair and renewal to service the islands’ growth, but things move so slowly. Even for public projects, years pass after appropriation and before construction. Should we bypass the process or fix the system for everyone?

Join us for an important panel discussion on the controversial environmental exemption bills the legislature considered this past session; what passed, what didn’t; what were the reasons for the controversy; and what are the plans for next session.

Lee Sichter, planner, will moderate a panel including Calvin Say, Speaker of the House; Chad Blair of Civil Beat; Robert Harris of the Sierra Club; Susan Sakai of Belt Collins; and Laura Thielen, former Chair of DLNR.

Meet and explore these things with them at the next ThinkTech HVCA luncheon on June 28, 2012 at the Plaza Club 20th Floor from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Enjoy good food, great people and a first class networking experience. Reserve your seat today at http://www.hvca.org or call Gail Caveney at 382-4638.

Members, affiliates (including faculty and government) attend at the member rate of $29, students are $20 and all others $39. Parking is available in the Pioneer Plaza building, entrance on Merchant St., but we do not validate. Many thanks to our sponsors: Hawaii Business Magazine, the accounting firm KMH, LLP, and Pacific New Media at UH Manoa.

See you there,

Bill Spencer