When Michael D. Scott fired the 9mm gun he bought to defend himself against racial attacks, he wanted only to scare the five youths who had cornered him and his friend July 19 on the shoulder of the H-2 freeway. Defendant says he was trying
to scare 5 youths offScott, who had been called "nigger" on two occasions by Waianae residents and whose cousin had been hanged by "white guys in college," feared for his life when one youth rushed to their car, he said yesterday in the murder trial for him and Tyrone B. Brown.
"Once he took a step back, his left hand went up and then his right hand went up," he said. "That's when I shot. I thought he was going to hurt me or kill me and Tyrone."
Scott, an honorably discharged Schofield soldier, said he didn't aim at 18-year-old Travis Rollins and didn't think he had hit him.
He said Rollins didn't fall, say anything or have blood on his clothes.
Rollins, who had planned to go to a high school graduation party that night, died from a chest wound.
The state has accused Scott, 23, of second-degree murder and Brown, 22, of two counts of hindering prosecution. Both face firearms charges.
The city can assess Outrigger Hotels and Resorts at hotel tax rates for the chain's Waikiki properties even if they sit on land zoned for apartments. Outrigger must pay hotel taxes,
Hawaii Supreme Court rulesThat ruling came down this week from the Hawaii Supreme Court, which upheld a decision from the Tax Appeal Court.
The city gains $1.3 million in taxes from fiscal years 1991 and 1992 on four hotels. The money has been held in escrow pending settlement of Outrigger's appeal.
The city may also receive millions of dollars in taxes that Outrigger and other Waikiki hoteliers have appealed annually since 1992.
Those appeals have been waiting for this week's decision, said city Finance Director Roy Amemiya.
"They're claiming because they are in areas zoned for apartment, they should be taxed at a lower rate, but clearly they're being operated as hotels," Amemiya said.
Apartment-zoned properties in Waikiki are assessed $3.52 per thousand dollars of valuation. Hotel-resort parcels pay $9.64 per thousand.
The four hotels involved in this week's ruling are the Outrigger West, Outrigger Surf, Outrigger Surf East and Outrigger Hobron.
David Carey, Outrigger president and chief executive officer, said late yesterday that he had not seen the high court ruling and could not comment.
"We've made it clear that we will aggressively fight property tax appeals to make sure that everybody, including the big landowners and corporations, pay their fair share," Mayor Jeremy Harris said in a statement. "The ruling clears the way for the city to continue taxing nonconforming properties at a rate corresponding to their current use."
Twenty-four hundred down, 5,000 to go. TOPS program strives to find
jobs for people receiving assistanceThe state Department of Human Services is creeping toward its federally imposed goal of getting half of all adults on welfare working within six years.
Twenty jobs at a time.
Yesterday, AT&T gave Gov. Ben Cayetano a glimpse of what he hopes will spark a trend in welfare-to-work partnerships between the state and private industry. The company is training 20 participants in the state's Transitional Opportunity Program, known as TOPS, to become network specialists for the Hawaii Information Transfer System project that provides telecommunications services for the military.
"It's the way you get there," said Department of Human Services spokesman Gary Kemp.
"If you get 20 at a time in a state like Hawaii, you're doing great things."
Cayetano praised AT&T and issued a call for Hawaii business to get involved.
"Work first" is the newest buzz phrase sweeping the nation.
Under welfare reform legislation passed by Congress last year, states are to receive federal block grants that will remain unchanged for the next six years instead of funding tied to public assistance caseloads. The law also requires that at least half of all adults on welfare be working within six years; 25 percent of employable recipients must be in "work-related activities" by the end of the first year.
States that don't make the cut face losing up to 21 percent of their federal welfare payments. States also must limit most recipients to no more than five years of benefits in a lifetime.
Hawaiian Electric Co. says placement of 100-foot transmission towers along Waahila Ridge remains a possibility, despite Mayor Jeremy Harris' vow to veto the project. Waahila transmission towers
still a possibility, Heco saysHeco Vice President Chuck Freedman said the utility has an "obligation and responsibility" to inform the public and policymakers about all seven of its proposed transmission line alignments, including use of the controversial towers.
"All of them are options we feel need to be thoroughly described, and we're committed to completing the process the right way," he said.
Tomorrow, the state Land and Natural Resources board will consider Heco's request for a 180-day extension to a Conservation District Use application submitted for a high-voltage line along the ridge.
Consultants CH2M Hill said the extra time is needed to complete detailed cost analyses the state wants included in an environmental impact statement, and to address a new law that toughens the criteria to decide if lines should be above or below ground.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffKAILUA-KONA -- A 69-year-old Kona man suffering multiple stab wounds drove himself to Kona Hospital last night where he remains in critical condition. Stabbing victim critical;
drove himself to hospitalThe man, whose name was not released, reported being stabbed in the chest and stomach in Kailua-Kona between 7 and 8 p.m., police said.
The case is under investigation, and police did not make public any information on the attackers or the cause of the incident.
Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:
- Hilo surfer drowns at Honolii Beach
- Big Islanders warned of scammers' letters
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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