| Mayor’s office plots $1.8B spending plan
Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration is proposing what city Budget Director Mary Patricia Waterhouse calls a "bare-bones" $1.8 billion operating budget for next year that will not raise property taxes. The budget also calls for $831.5 million in construction and other capital costs. About $265.1 million would be spent to plan, design and break ground on construction of a new mass-transit system. 2009 City Budget Operating budget: $1.8 billion Capital improvement budget: $831.5 million Revenues From property taxes: $788 million, an increase of $27.6 million from 2008. The mayor is proposing to keep property tax rates the same and offer a $100 tax credit for qualified homeowners. Spending Retirement and health benefits: $51.9 million toward paying down an estimated $1.2 billion shortfall during the next 30 years in health and other benefits for city workers Transit: $265.1 million for planning, design and construction of a mass-transit system; $4 million to continue operation of TheBoat; $31.1 million to buy 50 hybrid buses; and $1 million for bikeway improvements Sewers and garbage: $245.3 million for sewer projects; $5 million to ship garbage off island; $8 million to expand curbside recycling Roads: $77 million for repair and maintenance of city streets Police and fire: $63,000 to start up a Honolulu Police Department parks patrol; $5.5 million for 58 patrol cars, 10 motorcycles, a helicopter and other police equipment; $4.3 million for three fire engines, two ladder trucks and other fire equipment.; $1.9 million to plan and design a new East Kapolei Fire Station Housing: $7.3 million to renovate the Kulana Nani affordable rental housing project in Kaneohe and acquire the fee interest in the land; $2 million to develop the River Street Residences in Chinatown Parks: $15.6 million for parks improvements; $6.9 million for a new Asian tropical forest elephant facility at the Honolulu Zoo.
Allegiant to Hold Live Webcast of Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2007 ...
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq: ALGT) will hold its conference call for fourth quarter and full-year 2007 financial results on Jan. 30, 2008. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available through the company's Investor Relations website homepage at http://ir.allegiantair.com. The webcast will be also be archived on the "Events & Presentations" section of the site. About the Company Las Vegas based Allegiant Travel Company (Nasdaq: ALGT), is focused on linking travelers in small cities to world-class leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Nev., Phoenix, Ariz., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Orlando, Fla. and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla. Through its subsidiary, Allegiant Air, the Company operates a low-cost, high-efficiency, all-jet passenger airline offering air travel both on a stand-alone basis and bundled with hotel rooms, rental cars and other travel related services.
CAR RENTAL EARLYBIRD Specials - 2008
Car Rental Earlybird specials include discount rates with Hertz in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy & Spain on selected cars, with Free Additional Driver an added bonus for rentals in the UK & Ireland. Book by 31 January 2008. Europcar UK is also offering Free Upgrades on selected cars & with Free Additional Driver on bookings by
31 January 2008 and in France Avis has Free Upgrades on selected cars for bookings by 31 March 2008.
An added Bonus is a special commission level of 20% Commission on all 2008 Earlybird bookings if travel agents book online utilizing the new Europe Travel Centre/World Drive Holidays booking system in November. For full details on our Earlybird specials please contact Europe Travel Centre / World Drive Holidays on Toll Free: 1300 653 270 or Online at www.europetravelcentre.com.au or www.worlddriveholidays.com.au Click here to download the World Drive Holidays' Earlybird 2008 flyer in .PDF format .
Turkoglu is focal point of Magic offense
But there were other stats that won't show up in box scores that emphasized Turkoglu's prowess as a playmaker: Over the course of his 40 minutes of daylight (another game-high total), he had 59 touches an astounding number for a power forward. He also made 42 passes, another amazing stat. Turkoglu was also entrusted with making most of the team's entry passes to posted teammates including two to Rashard Lewis, one to Brian Cook and five to Dwight Howard. On 11 offensive sets, it was Turkoglu who carried the ball across the time-line. For the most part, Turkoglu set burly high screens, then was presented himself with high screens and looked to create something from a spot that was straightaway and near the 3-point line. (Credit him with a gorgeous assist-pass to Adonal Foyle on a high screen/roll.) Or else Turkoglu simply cut through the middle and received the ball after reversing direction and popping back out.
Face Blind
Housman found work as a swing-shift building manager for a Hasidic college in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Most nights, he sits behind a small window near the entrance, answers questions, and is supposed to keep an eye on who is coming and going. Housman doesn't think he's ill-suited for the task; he has developed other ways to recognize people. On a recent Monday night, he peers out of his small window, chews on a pen while beads of sweat gather on his forehead, and watches people walk past. He recognizes one student by his "intense, inwardly focused attitude." He greets a professor he thinks he recognizes by the type of yarmulke he is wearing, though it turns out to be the wrong guy. A young man darts past, but Housman knows him. "I recognize him by his soul," he says. For Housman, as for most prosopagnosics, the Internet is changing everything.
Alliance Data withdraws suit against Blackstone
The company sued Blackstone, claiming the private equity firm appeared to be using issues over regulatory demands as a way to scuttle the deal. Alliance Data (NYSE:ADS) said in a release Friday it withdrew the lawsuit because it feels more confident that Blackstone is pushing ahead to compete the acquisition. "In light of Blackstone's confirmation of its commitment to work to consummate the merger, the company has at this time withdrawn its lawsuit without prejudice," Alliance Data said in a release. Alliance Data employs 1,800 workers at four offices in Central Ohio. Blackstone agreed last May to acquire Alliance Data at $81.75 a share. Since then, markets have been roiled amid an economic slowdown and credit squeeze. Alliance Data's shares closed Friday at $55.02, up $3.56, on the news that it appeared Blackstone and the company would not be locked in a legal fight.
Human Services Will Not Take Action Against Hamburg Office
However, they will, beginning in March provide another series of mandated training to all field staff statewide." According to Munsell, the investigation uncovered a need for additional training, mandatory reporting requirements and policy changes regarding how and when to report alleged abuse or neglect. Munsell explained that when a call is placed, the worker has to make a judgment call on whether the call meets child maltreatment criteria. She said the revision could include a requirement that employees notify the hotline every time a call is placed as a precaution. In addition, she said, training will teach workers what questions to ask callers to determine if criteria is met. "This will ensure that all suspected abuse and neglect is reported to the hotline," she said.
Hot Topic: Lenovo
Lenovo is moving away from its business origins with the launch of a new consumer oriented PC line, dubbed the "Idea" range, later this month. Lenovo's next chief looks to the future Stephen Ward, general manager of IBM's Personal Systems Group, will lead the way as the new Lenovo sets its sights outside China. Lenovo keeps IBM PC unit at arm's length To ensure minimal disruption to its customer base, Lenovo's new IBM-branded business will initially operate virtually as a separate entity. Can I still buy a laptop with Windows XP? Not ready for a Vista laptop? Simply want to stick to good old XP? Here are your options on the market. Who's afraid of the $200 Linux PC? Cheap PCs with a Linux operating system seem to have hit the users' sweet spots, with taking the plunge into the alternate OS not nearly as hard as users had thought.
Targetting Spain - another M11 bomb for another Election?
A certain hysteria has it certain sectors of Spanish & Catalan public opinion following the arrests of 14 suspected Islamist terrorists in the city of Barcelona between Friday night & Saturday morning. In an operation involving the Spanish secret service (the CNI) the Guardia Civil & local regional Catalan police (Mossos d'esquadra) co-ordinated raids made on a bakery, mosque & several flats in the Raval district of central Barcelona. Immediately news services both in the Spanish state & abroad cited further co-operation with amongst others the intelligence services of France & the UK. The Spanish state will celebrate a general election on the 9th of March almost 4 years after the M11 massacre which was falsely attributed to ETA by the then right wing regime. Nobody wants to talk about bombs now - but we should all the same.
|
