February 19, 2021

Embattled Agribusiness Corporation has powerful friends



Perusso pointed out that the ADC is not merely an obscure entity attached to the Department of Agriculture. The corporation has the power to acquire and develop lands for agriculture, and to that end the Legislature in recent years has appropriated more than a quarter of a billion dollars to the ADC, including about $23.4 million for operations and $238 million for capital investments. Despite such large investments, it has been difficult for lawmakers and the public to see how the money has been spent and how well the corporation has been fulfilling its mission. Read more: Click here.

September 29, 2020

Ongoing Controversy About Reopening Schools



Much has fluctuated in the last six months. But as tensions flare over the best instructional model during a pandemic and scrutiny mounts over what some call“unclear, inconsistent" policies issued by state education leaders, the question remains: did the state Department of Education do all that it could to smartly plan for the transition from spring to fall? Included in the guidance is a chart indicating when it is safe to bring elementary or secondary students back to school based on the number of cases per 10,000 people over a 14-day period. Already, the metrics are drawing fierce pushback [citing article written by Rep. Perruso) from educators and union officials. For more: Click here.


September 7, 2020

New Agency Will Take Over Public School Construction in Hawaii



The bill passed with near unanimous support at the Legislature, with just one dissenting vote in the House, from Rep. Amy Perruso, (D, Wahiawa-Whitmore Village), a veteran public school teacher. "This is just one more effort to privatize the public sphere," Perruso said Wednesday. "I feel like we have gutted public agencies, defunded them since 2008 or even earlier, and then we're surprised when they can't do their jobs." For more: Click here.


September 7, 2020

Hawaii DOE's Distance Learning Tool 'Very, Very Questionable’



The comments are included in an internal DOE document entitled "HIDOE Online Content Review" that was shared in a Facebook post Sunday by state Rep. Amy Perruso, a longtime educator. "It seems to me, as someone who has participated in curriculum and standards review processes, that this is not a thorough vetting (the specialists only look at a few select lessons in specific elementary courses) AND that the feedback provided to the superintendent in no way recommended adoption," Perruso stated in the post. For more: Click here.


September 7, 2020

Lawmakers, Union Officials Are Pushing Back Against State Pay Cuts



Lawmakers who work on education issues are also concerned about cuts to teacher and staff pay. House Rep. Amy Perruso, a teacher at Mililani High who represents Wahiawa, said this move was " really premature" and reflected "unbelievably poor leadership." "It's just ridiculous, unless their intention is to actually gut state government," she said. "I don't think they really have a sense of what our financial situation will look like. We haven't seen all those monies flow into state coffers yet." For more: Click here.


September 6, 2020

Military Won't Say How Many Coronavirus Cases in Hawaii



On March 21, when U.S. Army Hawaii had four positive COVID-19 cases, the command emphasized during its nightly Facebook "town hall" update its intent to "continue to be as transparent as possible." There is a growing call for a return to greater transparency based on the need to address COVID-19 comprehensively. The Hawaii military numbers should be made public "because that's how we're quantifying what we're doing," said state Rep. Amy Perruso."That's how we're looking at the curve — and if their (military) curve is spiking, we need to know that. It's not fair to leave us in the dark about the impact" that the..


September 6, 2020

DOE Will Increase Meals To Meet High Demand



DOE officials acknowledge meal shortages at some sites. New sites will help alleviate that, they said.

The Hawaii Department of Education is adding three more school meal distribution sites to its regular rotation next week to meet rising demand during extended school closures due to coronavirus. Starting Monday, Ka'ala Elementary and Kipapa Elementary on Oahu and Lokelani Elementary on Maui will serve free breakfast and lunch to kids 18 and under, bringing the number of school sites serving free meals to kids to 41 from 38. For more: Click here.


September 7, 2020

Community Groups Offer Free Lunch To Kids



The grab-and-go meals at a handful of sites around Oahu are supplementing the DOE's own meal service which began this week while schools are closed. Several nonprofits and child advocacy organizations banded together to offer free lunches to kids 18 and under during this time of unplanned school closures because of the coronavirus outbreak.Some are worried the DOE-distributed free breakfasts and meals are not enough. On Tuesday morning, House Rep. Amy Perruso posted on her Facebook page that Leilehua High in Wahiawa "looked like it was going to run out of food for the second day in a row." "We know we have kids in Lakeview Circle and Whitmore who will not be able to walk in rain for school meal," she wrote."We need to figure out how to serve the most vulnerable."


September 5, 2020

State Faces More Challenges Clearing Mass Dumping Ground in Wahiawa



Ken Nakamoto "received reports that individuals are entering on foot through remote areas of the 230 acre parcel. They are mainly looking for anything of value that they can salvage." "It's also my understanding that people are continuing to try to go back onto the property to try to get back cars that may still be running," Perruso explained. Perruso said she's not surprised people keep going back. "I think it's understandable that for some period of time we're going to have some struggles around that. It's not a once and done situation." For more: Click here


September 5, 2020

Movement Aimed to Change Political Landscape to a Future Rooted in Aloha Aina



State Representative Amy Perruso says she is inspired by their message. She introduced legislation last session that would put a moratorium on development on Mauna Kea higher than 6,000 feet, which would also halt the Thirty Meter Telescope. "To stop and take stock of what we're doing and to really reconsider whether this is the wisest way we want to move forward with our very precious lands," Representative Amy Perruso said. The bill is still on the table this year, but it won't move forward unless it's scheduled for a hearing. That is why Perruso says it's important for people in the movement to keep up the pressure. For more: Click here

May 8, 2019

Wahiawa General Hospital to Launch ‘Stabilization Program’ for Mental Health



Wahiawa General Hospital is teaming up with the state to offer mental health servivces to high-needs patients, especially the close to 600 homeless people suffering from severe mental illness across the Hawai'i. Hundreds more are struggling with substance addiction.

The hospital is planning to repurpose unused space on its second floor for the program, creating around 40 beds for people in need of mental health and substance abuse treatment. Advocates hope the program will deliver the mental health and addicition services that houseless individuals and families need to obtain permanent shelter and financial security.

For more, see: STABILIZATION PROGRAM.

March 29, 2019

Whitmore Community Food Hub Complex Enviromental Assessment Is Open For Comment

A Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the Whitmore Community Food Hub Complex has been prepared pursuant to the State of Hawai‘i EIS law (Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, Chapter 343) and the State of Hawai‘i EIS rules (Hawai‘i Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 200).

To submit a comment regarding the Whitmore Community Food Hub Complex, please provide your contact information and enter comments at the link below. Contact information is necessary to ensure that you receive a response to your feedback. Comments are due by April 22, 2019.

Read the Whitmore Community Food Hub Complex DEA: CLICK LINK.
Comment on the DEA: CLICK LINK.

March 27, 2019

Rep. Amy Perruso Supports Hotel Workers Call for Respect From Management

DoubleTree by Hilton Alana Waikiki Beach hotel workers organized a public action in their hotel lobby in early March, demanding respect from management, safe workloads, and a fair process to decide whether to unionize.

Rep. Amy Perruso, a long labor leader, said, "I think all workers have the right to unionize and are better off if they’re unionized. It’s important to me that there be a fair process for these workers to decide whether to unionize, that there not be any retaliation against the workers. The community is committed to making sure that all workers are fairly supported,” said State Representative Amy Perruso."

See here for more: Hotel Workers.

November 27, 2018

Climate Action Plan Public Meeting Series (Central O'ahu)

The Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency invite you to the Climate Action Plan Public Meeting Series (Central O'ahu) on Wednesday, December 12, 7:00pm at the Mililani High School Cafeteria. For more information visit: https://bit.ly/2FGOw2n.

Hurricane Lane and Olivia show that climate change is already having profound impacts on O'ahu and we need to chart a new path.What is your vision for a resilient, fossil fuel free future for our island?

We invite you to learn about O'ahu's first climate action plan, engage in a "game" that helps kick-start a discussion about how best to cut our emissions, and chart the next steps for our island.