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How can republicans represent us when they don’t trust women?

This country desperately needs a functioning Fourth Estate.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

Maybe you would prefer that we take Joelle’s side in ALL CAPS?

Peak wingnut was a lie.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Ron DeSantis, the grand wizard, oops, governor of FL.

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Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

You are here: Home / Nature & Respite / Something Good Open Thread / Late Night Open Thread: Returning to Lahaina, Slowly

Late Night Open Thread: Returning to Lahaina, Slowly

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Per the Associated Press, “Heart of Hawaii’s historic Lahaina, scene of deadly wildfire, reopens to residents after 4 months”:

The heart of Lahaina, the historic town on the Hawaiian island of Maui that burned in a deadly wildfire that killed at least 100 people, is reopening to residents and business owners holding day passes.

The renewed access on Monday and Tuesday marks an important emotional milestone for victims of the Aug. 8 fire, but much work remains to be done to safely clear properties of burned debris and rebuild. Some residents are concerned about where the fire debris will wind up on the island with a vibrant and delicate ecosystem.

The reopened areas include Banyan Tree Park, home to a 150-year-old tree that burned in the fire but is now sprouting new leaves, as well as Lahaina’s public library, an elementary school and popular restaurants.

An oceanfront section of Front Street, where the fire ripped through a traffic jam of cars trying to escape town, reopened Friday.

Authorities are continuing to recommend that people entering scorched lots wear protective gear to shield them from hazards.

On Sunday, the state Department of Health released test results confirming the ash and dust left by the fire is toxic and that arsenic is the biggest concern. Arsenic is a heavy metal that adheres to wildfire dust and ash, the department said…

Residents and business owners have been able to visit their properties after the EPA has finished clearing their lots. In some cases, residents — often wearing white full-body suits, masks and gloves — have found family heirlooms and mementos after sifting through the charred rubble of their homes…

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin hauling away the remaining debris and take it to a landfill after it gets permission from property owners.

Officials have said the debris would be put into dumpsters lined with impermeable plastic, then wrapped up and sealed with glue. Another layer of plastic would then cover it before it’s placed in the landfill site, which would be closed and covered with grass to look like a park.

The county plans to monitor the area for the next 30 years, the county has said. Officials plan to install groundwater wells between the landfill and the ocean to check for potential contaminant leaks…

From Hawaii News Now, “Maui County reopens all Lahaina burn zones ahead of schedule”:

Four months since the Maui disaster, officials said Tuesday it has reopened all 83 burn zones in Lahaina to residents, marking a significant milestone in recovery efforts.

And they’re more than a week ahead of schedule.

Re-entry to fire-impacted areas began on Sept. 25. The five-mile, 2,170-acre stretch along Front Street and Honoapiilani Highway has been reopened in phases in past weeks as safety reviews took place.

And 11 weeks later, all zones are now accessible to residents. Access is restricted to residents with a vehicle pass or valid ID, and is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

“Volunteers have spent countless hours assisting our residents in the difficult and emotional process of sifting through the ash and fire debris,” Mayor Richard Bissen said.

“Their support has made a difference for many of our community members who were affected by this unprecedented disaster, and for that, we are truly grateful.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now awaiting “right of entry” approval from property owners to begin clearing debris and hazardous material. Those who participate in the government-sponsored cleanup don’t have to pay any money beyond insurance proceeds designated for debris removal.

Right-of-entry applications will also be required for the Army Corps to remove hazards from 173 properties that were deferred by the EPA because physical conditions prevented safe access to the properties. Removal of the hazards must occur before sifting on the properties can take place…

The Star-Advertiser:

Residents affected by the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires who were scheduled to relocate to new Red Cross non-congregate shelter locations between Friday and next Monday will stay in their current hotel shelter locations until after the holidays, the American Red Cross of Hawaii announced Wednesday.

In negotiating hotel contract deadline extensions, the Red Cross in a press release said it continues to advocate for residents to “ensure the least amount of disruption to people’s lives as possible.”

“We will continue to work to ensure stability, security and a peaceful holiday season for everyone in our NCS care,” the press release read…

Reader Interactions

18Comments

  2. 2.

    mvr

    I’m very happy about that tree. Saw it nearly 40 years ago when I was there as a legal investigator looking into a client’s arrest iirc. It was an amazing thing and I’m glad it survived the fires.

  3. 3.

    TriassicSands

    Something good open thread?

    Oops! I guess I’m in the wrong place. Maybe tomorrow.

     

    “After all, tomorrow is another day.” (Oh, yeah, well, frankly my dear I don’t give a damn.)

  7. 7.

    Rebel's Dad

    I’m so scattered lately that I don’t remember if I’ve even showered today. How tf can Trump keep up with FOUR lawsuits? Normally each case would have a bevy of stellar attorneys so all he’d have to do is sign the checks, but we all know it’s tie game of who’s the biggest stupid? with the lawyers and Trump.

    If he was even a halfway-decent person, I’d be in awe. But instead I feel bamboozled and lightheaded just trying to keep up with his tonterías. 

    My comments are going into moderation again. I blame Chrome’s updates.

  10. 10.

    piratedan

    since they are ahead of schedule, no credit will be given to the efforts to make it happen, it’s only news if someone can be blamed, namely Dem politicians, otherwise competence is expected.

     

    Was there a year ago November, ecstatic that the tree was saved as it’s a symbol of the community.  It will be a long recovery, first to reclaim and then rebuild and I hope that the state and feds can ensure that those that own the land get a chance to rebuild once again and can keep it from outside developers making a buck and ruining the small town vibe that made Lahaina awesome.

  12. 12.

    FastEdD

    I’m in Maui right now. I’m visiting with my brother who lives on Oahu and he met me here. He says the first rule as a visitor is never ask a local if they were affected by the fire-it is decidedly not cool. Tourism is way way down-the plane I was on was less than half full this morning. There is some discussion about tourists taking up housing units that could be used for displaced residents, but right now the island is very slow. I played uke on a song last month called “Lahaina Shine” written by Grace Slick. It is being edited with performances from Native Hawaiians singing the verses and it will be released for download soon. People can pay whatever they choose to download the video, and 100% of the money will go to the people from Maui who were displaced by the fires.

  14. 14.

    JWR

    Ruh roh! (From The Daily Beast):

    The congressional stock trading scandal of 2020 claimed its share of political victims, but one member’s curiously well-timed trades that year flew under the radar—because he appears to have broken the law about disclosing them.

    In August 2020, Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) sold up to $50,000 in shares of aerospace giant Boeing, weeks before his committee released the damning results of its investigation into deadly crashes involving the company’s 737 Max airliner.

    But while other incumbent campaigns were dogged by blockbuster stock scandals that year, the Garcia campaign never had to answer for this trade. That’s because Garcia blew the mandated deadline to report the transaction, only filing the paperwork on Nov. 23—more than two months after the 45-day reporting window had closed. When he finally did disclose the sale, it was two weeks after the 2020 general election votes were cast, and three days after Garcia declared victory. He won by 333 votes.

    Much more hinky behavior at the link. BTW, this is Katie Hill’s old seat, and I’ll bet we can take this one back, with or without this crook standing in the way.

  15. 15.

    Betty

    The way Senator Schatz lays out the problem and solution is so simple and straightforward. One would hope Congress were capable of achieving such an important goal without partisan games. The House may not be capable of even that.

  16. 16.

    Steeplejack

    @Rebel’s Dad:

    Your comments are going into moderation because of the straight apostrophe in your nym, which you have been told about several times in the past.

    Use this nym instead:

    Rebel’s Dad

  17. 17.

    Pink Tie

    So happy to see that Lahaina is beginning to heal. I was trapped about 2 miles north of the town during the fires while the rest of my family slept on the side of the road the first night; they then found another place to stay for several days until I could be evacuated by bus. We rode through the northern part of town on the way to the bypass, and it was devastating just to see out the windows… can’t imagine being a f/t resident. The line of burned-out vehicles clearly overtaken by fire as people tried to get out was probably the most horrifying thing I’ve ever seen.

    Hoping that all the rebuilding will go as well as it can. Schatz is a great advocate.

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