Former longtime WHT reporter Bobby Command sent me this press release to clear the air why he really left West Hawaii Today to become the West Hawaii executive assistant to Mayor Billy Kenoi.
“Aaron,
Thank you for your kind remarks about my work. I appreciate them very much and I am humbled that people like yourself feel I have helped affect positive change in our community.
I am so excited to start in my new position. I am also very grateful that Mayor Kenoi has given me this chance. I don’t intend to drop the ball. But I do intend to ask our community for their kokua, since this is the only way we’ll be able to get things done, especially in this tight economy. This is really all about “us.”
Please allow me to clear the air. I have enjoyed every moment of working at West Hawaii Today. I will be forever grateful that they hired me quite literally right out of college. This was a job I intended to hold onto for no more than a year before moving onto bigger and better things. But I stayed, because what I found in Kona was a chance to return to a kinder and gentler Hawaii that I was born into, a Hawaii I saw evaporate as I grew up in Honolulu during the explosive growth of the 60s and 70s. I hope we all understand how special a place the Big Island is. I do, and I intend to consider that during every moment of my new career.
Regretfully, I also leave many friends at WHT, including one of my best friends, Reed Flickinger, who remains the single biggest influence in my life. I am indebted to him, and you can bet that I’ll also lean on his counsel during my tenure in county government. But let me be clear: My choice to leave West Hawaii Today is just that: My choice. Reed had nothing to with me leaving the paper. I can’t begin to tell you how difficult and emotional it was to tender my resignation.
But this is an incredible opportunity for myself and my family. We’re all still pinching ourselves. We’re also ready to get going. We hope you are too. Like Billy says, “Together we can!”
Aloha and mahalo,
Bobby Command”
There was yet another sign today Hawaii’s economy is rapidly deteriorating.New weekly unemployment claims skyrocketed to a 7 month high as of the week ending November 22, 2008. I’m predicting that things will get much worse before we see any semblance of of a economy recovery here in Hawaii.Which may take up to 4 years to happen (or possibly longer).
There was some more interesting commentary (here, and here) about Go morphing into Aloha Airlines.
I found yet another interesting article about General Growth Properties financial woes.According that article, Boston based Fidelity Investments stands to lose their shirt if GGP has to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Especially since they are the second largest shareholder. But all they will have to do is look in the mirror to see who is at fault for this debacle. Fidelity inexplicably increased their stake in GGP sometime during the middle part of 2008.
Hat tip to Damon Tucker for blogging about yet another interesting Big Island blog. Which I’m also going to add to my blog roll.
Lastly, I urge anyone with a legitimate news tips to e-mail them to me. However there is no guarantee that I’ll be able to blog about it unless I’m able to corroborate it with additional sources.
“Together we can” was first used as a slogan by Deval Patrick when he ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2006. This year it was used by one of the mayoral candidates on Kaua’i, and probably all over the country. It’s a good slogan because it suggests cooperation, but promises nothing.
I was a loyal Aloha customer until Hawaiian started giving specific seat assignments, because I didn’t enjoy the open seating. I’ve never flown go! and I never will, no matter what they call themselves.
Why the “urge” for news tips?
You don’t have enough to blog about as it is?