Sunday, November 08, 2009
Watch history in the making – attend Monday’s Furlough Friday hearing
by Larry Geller
(click for directions)
If you can, why not be where the action is and also show your support for the attorneys fighting Hawaii’s toxic Furlough Friday school closures. No one is working harder for parents concerned about their children’s education than these attorneys.
The hearing is set for 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 8, 2009 at the Federal Courthouse at 300 Ala Moana Blvd. The best entrance is on Halekauwila St., just to the left of the little target marked “A” on the map.
The courthouse is served by many buses that stop along Ala Moana Blvd. Parking can be chancy, though. There is a parking lot diagonally opposite on Halekauwila St., the Makai Parking lot, but it is often full at that hour. There is another one kind of attached to the family court building on Pohukaina St., but that’s often full as well. So if you plan to drive, best to allow plenty of extra time to stash your car someplace.
After passing through the metal detector you’ll be asked to put your cell phone in a filing cabinet. No cameras, cell phones, etc., are allowed in the courtrooms.
Judge A. Wallace Tashima will hear the case in the 4th Floor courtroom Aha Nonoi, just ask the friendly guard on that floor which courtroom to go to.
Judge Tashima will be hearing two motions for preliminary injunction against the Furlough Fridays. Of course, we don’t know know how he will rule. Should he enjoin the state from closing the schools, at least in theory, the DOE will have to open them, then someone in our state government will finally have to deal with finding the money. It could be a grand scramble.
Regardless of how the judge rules, there will be a flock of TV cameras stationed outside the entrance to the courthouse. It will be an opportunity to make a statement if anyone is so inclined.
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