Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, August 6, 1996

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Attorney Daniel Foley, representing the union, said the law is unconstitutional and infringes on officers' rights to free speech and association. Other city employees are allowed to campaign for candidates, and there is no compelling interest for police officers to be treated differently, he said.

Foley noted that Hawaii's other counties do not bar police officers from campaigning.

City Corporation Counsel Darolyn Lendio today restated her belief that the law may be unconstitutional.

Last February, the City Council ditched attempts to bar firefighters from participating in political campaigns after the American Civil Liberties Union voiced strong opposition.

They say the City Council has bypassed its zoning committee to yank out a permit that allows demolition off the buildings at Camp Kailua.

The council is set to vote on the matter at a meeting tomorrow.

Three of the five members of the Zoning Committee are opposed to the demolition, but a majority has agreed to a memorandum to pull the permit for a vote by the council.

Phil Estermann, spokesman for Citizens for Camp Kailua, yesterday said bypassing a committee hearing is a gross violation of due process.

The Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association reported about 20,000 new cars and trucks were sold during the first six months of the year. That's up from almost 19,300 in the first six months of last year.

Eric Miyasaki, president and chief executive officer of Nissan Motor Corp. in Hawaii, says he expects 1996 to be a turning point.

Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Bail for Dean M. Ventura, of Lokoea Street, is $20,000.

He is accused of taking the woman to his home Saturday and refusing to let her leave, police said. He assaulted her and double-locked his home so she wouldn't leave, police said. She escaped, however, and flagged down an officer.

Officers arrested him at his home.

The trio - one of whom threatened the employee with a handgun - fled with the cash register after the employee was too shaken to open it, police said.

The men entered the restaurant at 805 Keeaumoku St. about 10:30 p.m. and demanded money from the employee. They were later seen getting into a car whose license plates showed it had been stolen, police said.