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Some beautiful sun and some misty rain.
While Glen was in watching the vote on the impeachment, someone slashed the tires on his car. It was a very childish action, yet annoying and mildly threatening. I don't think the DPS actually said anything like I show in this cartoon, but the attitude here does not inspire confidence in the police. Any excuse not to find a culprit... hence the comment from the little guy that this is going around. The girl's comment reflects a different world view--there is in fact a mildly popular band in the states (washington? oregon?) called Slashed Tires.
It was a beautiful day. Sunny and hot, and then dark clouds and strong winds came in to cool things off. And then it cleared to gentle breezes. Lots of cars, trucks, and buses honked in support of impeachment as they went by. The crowd had die-hards who came early and stayed until the end, and also had people who showed up for shorter stints. Photos by Sapuro Rayphand and the last one from Ken Kramer.
P.F. Kluge's new novel The Master Blaster was reviewed by Janet Maslin in The New York Times yesterday:A Far-Off Island Where the American Dream CurdlesThe main character in P. F. Kluge’s stingingly funny new novel, “The Master Blaster,” isn’t a person. It’s a location: Saipan, a very small island with a big, bizarre place in history. Saipan is one of the Northern Mariana Islands in the western
Read full article here:
Marianas Variety
Morning birdsong. The scent of plumeria in full bloom (just in time for graduation leis). Flame trees turning from orange to green.
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Bad News: Another high school student assaulted. This time a teenaged girl on her way to morning classes at Kagman High School. I don't know the extent of the assault, except that the girl was taken to the hospital. Although this crime happened yesterday (Tuesday) morning, it was not on last night's news and is not reported in today's papers. My Kagman staff were discussing it this morning. One suspect was apparently brought in and released already. Another is being sought.
It's becoming extremely worrisome when teenaged girls are attacked in daylight near their schools, in public places.
It's also troublesome when the news isn't promptly reported.
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Good News: Also about students. Fifteen area students from grades 6 through 12 will once again be attending the International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. They will attend workshops and plays, participate in college and scholarship auditions, compete in individual events and stage their own one act production of Pullman Car Hiawatha by Thornton Wilder.
They will showcase the stage play and their individual competition pieces (which also include technical theatre presentations in costume design, scenic design, and film) Thursday, June 17 at 7 PM at the American Memorial Park auditorium. The community is invited to support these students by coming to watch. The show is free.
The weather, the world-more of the same. The ocean was a study in light and dark this morning, with patches of brigh turquoise and strecthes of indeterminable gray/purple/shadow, and in between pacific blue.
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As if hearing Wendy Doromal's question, the Marianas Variety apparently tried to track down the information about the release of David Tanaka Diaz. In fact, he was paroled.
Some interesting bits:
1. Diaz's appeal challenged the court's sentencing. The CNMI Supreme Court, in its October 2003 opinion, said that he could be sentenced to either 25 years or more of jail OR a fine. The Supreme Court wasn't sure the trial court realized that it could avoid jail time in sentencing and just order a fine. So it remanded.
2. The sentencing STATUTE 6 CMC sec. 2141(b)(1)(b) (amended in 1991 by P.L. 7-42) specifically says the sentence shall not be subject to suspension.
Any person that violates subsection (a) of this section with respect to
(1) A substance classified in Schedules I or II which is a narcotic drug or methamphetinehydrochloride shall be sentenced for a first offense to a term of imprisonment for a term of not less than 25 years, a fine of not more than $10,000, or both and the term of imprisonment shall not be subject to suspension, probation, or parole...
3. The Supreme Court, among other things, held that the language of this statute meant that the original sentence, which included 5 years suspended sentence after the 25 years mandatory imprisonment, was not authorized. The sentence, whatever the term of imprisonment, could not be subject to suspension, probation or parole.
4. On remand, the Superior Court issued a 25 year sentence of imprisonment, not subject to suspension, probation, or parole.
5. Obviously, by statute and by court order, that sentence is NOT SUBJECT TO SUSPENSION, PROBATION OR PAROLE.
6. The Attorney General, Ed Buckingham, is the legal counsel for the Board of Parole, according to the Marianas Variety.
7. The Board of Parole granted a parole to David Tanaka Diaz, despite having no authority to do so.
8. The Attorney General, Ed Buckingham, seems to also be the legal counsel for the Department of Corrections. (I say this based on the AG's role in massage-gate.)
9. The DOC, knowing that the Board of Parole had no authority, knowing the terms of imprisonment set by law and court order, knowing 25 years has not elapsed since his imprisonment and the sentence has not been satisfied, released David Tanaka Diaz on March 12, 2010.
10. CONCLUSION: We have put the crooks in charge of the prison. We have a breakdown of law and order.
This is the third incident involving DOC in the past couple of months--the Chinese federal detainee-masseuse taken to the Governor in the dead of night by Dolores San Nicolas to massage him; Mr. Aldan, husband to former DOC chief Dolores San Nicolas, in prison but noncompliant with the terms of his plea but getting weekend releases and his gun which has not been returned; and a two-time convicted ice dealer who got caught with the largest amount of the drug in CNMI history now released contrary to statutory law and the court ordered sentence for his crime.
This is really bad.
Enormous cumulous clouds in the sky; trees in perpetual motion swaying in the breeze. Another hot and beautiful day in paradise.
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An anonymous commenter mentioned on this blog and in the Marianas Variety comments that Governor Fitial has commuted the sentence of convicted ice dealer, David Tanaka Diaz.
I couldn't confirm that report.
I did learn from a DOC official that David Tanaka Diaz has been released from jail.
David Tanaka Diaz was caught with 212.59 grams of ice (a/k/a methamphetamine) and 77.28 grams of marijuana. The ice haul was considered the biggest in CNMI history at the time, and it seems that record may still stand.
Although he tried to quash the search warrant against him that led to the discovery of the ice, he was unsuccessful. And then he was convicted of charges in April 2002 after a jury trial.
The Saipan Tribune reported on this as follows:
The prosecution, through Assistant Attorneys General Daniel Cohan and Janine Udui, convinced the court of Diaz' guilt on the seven-count charges by presenting corroborating witnesses' testimonies, as well as, physical evidence pertaining to the events that occurred on August 29, 2001.
Diaz was apprehended that day in the district of Garapan, where authorities were able to seize from him quantities of crystal methamphetamine or ice.
Aside from the drug charge, prosecutors were able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Diaz had fought to elude police arrest and in the process, rammed into a police vehicle and injured several bystanders.
After disclosing both his and the jury's verdict, Lizama proceeded to impose the sentence on Diaz, which is as follows:
A $500-fine and restitution to the Department of Public Safety on the unsafe backing charge; six months incarceration with a $500-fine on the fleeing/attempting to elude a police officer charge; six months incarceration with a $500-fine for the hit-and-run charge; six months incarceration with a $1,000-fine for the reckless driving charge; and a $50 fine for illegal possession of a controlled substance.
The court has yet to impose a sentence on the two other charges---drug-trafficking and criminal mischief---pending the release of a pre-sentence report.
Illegal trafficking of a controlled substance, in itself, has a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years, according to the court.
Diaz was represented by court-appointed counsel Antonio M. Atalig.
The Superior Court then imposed its sentence in August 2002:
30 years jail term, 25 in jail without the possibility of parole.
Again, from the Tribune:
The Superior Court yesterday sentenced a musician to 30 years in jail "the highest penalty imposed so far by a local court on a drug trafficking offense" for what authorities consider to be the biggest drug-seizure in the Commonwealth last year.
Superior Court Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama, however, ordered that the last five years of the sentence on defendant David Tanaka Diaz be suspended, meaning that he would be released on supervised probation later on. The first 25 years of the sentence is to be served without parole.
Given this report, it seems likely that the only way David Tanaka Diaz could be released from jail would be by the Governor's action.
I hope the Variety and Tribune will investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the release of David Tanaka Diaz from the Department of Corrections.
One small detail--I wonder if he is still obligated to comply with the terms of release orginally set by the judge.
Upon his release from jail, Diaz is to pay a fin
It’s with great pleasure that I introduce readers to Joseph Ruak. Joseph is Repagu’nu’worh and was born and raised on the island of Saipan, the setting of Nancy Bo Flood’s debut YA novel, WARRIORS IN THE CROSSFIRE. His father’s family came from the outer islands of Chuuk and settled on Saipan during a time when few people lived on the island.
DW: You’ve known Nancy Bo Flood for many years. Can you talk a little about how your paths first crossed, your long-term friendship, and your feelings about a person like Nancy – who is not from the island – writing a book about such a significant piece of Saipan’s history?
JR:I met Nancy through a mutual friend, who used to teach at the Northern Marianas College (NMC), where Nancy used to teach also. My friend told me that Nancy writes books, collects legends, myths and folklores. My friend encouraged me to meet Nancy regarding the idea of getting the Talabwogh Men Stick dances recorded on a written format and/or video format. You have to remember that, like many cultures, the Carolinian culture was passed down through the generations through its oral histories.
My father and I had been brainstorming ideas on how to save our traditional chants and dances when this rare opportunity presented itself. We discussed it and decided that the best chance our chants and dances would have of being saved was to work with Nancy.
After my father and I met and worked with Nancy on our first project together, I felt like Nancy was sent by our ancestors to look for my father and me, so that we might work together to save our dances. I have since adopted Nancy to be my Nina or Godmother. Anyone who has the patience and takes the time to see another world view is an exceptional human being.
photo credit: ctsnow
DW: You were born and raised on Saipan and grew up some
20 years after the events chronicled in WARRIORS. Unlike many, myself included, whose parents lived through WW II but experienced it far from the battlefield, your father, Felipe I. Ruak (to whom WARRIORS is dedicated), and many family members actually lived in the middle of the battlefield.
With so many reminders all over the island – memorials, bunkers, tanks, and artillery – did you ever ask your parents about their experiences during the war?
4 Comments on Warriors in the Crossfire, Part 2, last added: 4/16/2010
The tangentangen is full of brown, crackling, dried seed pods. Breadfruit trees are laden with huge ripe fruits. The nights are still cool and comfortable for sleeping, but the days have become hot and close--the kind of heat that leeches the energy out of you and makes you want to take a nap.
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Immigration -- There may be a court challenge to the CNMI's recent enactment, P.L. 17-1. If you are an alien in the CNMI, and you want to join forces in challenging the law, you might see a lawyer now. Low income persons can apply for help at MLSC. Others with middle or more income could check private lawyers like Mark Hanson, Rob Torres, Steve Woodruff, Colin Thompson, Richard Pierce (or any attorney of your choice).
CNMI politics--Still as disruptive as ever. The AG's office seems to be an arm of the Governor's Office, rather than an office serving the interests of the people. I now favor an independently elected AG. I worried that this would only make the office more political; but it now seems to be so political that "more" is impossible. I worried that legal work is not well-understood by the community and the opinions publicly stated would often lead to unconstitutional and unfair results; but the office is being used for unconstitutional and unfair results in the hands of the Governor, without accountability, so the people may be a better choice! I realize that the people re-elected the Governor, so there is little likelihood of real improvement with an elected AG; but it is remotely possible that such election would provide a measure of independence that is currently not present, and that would be healthy.
The CNMI budget--We're going to see the new CNMI Constitutional provision in play this year, and it won't be pretty. Governor Fitial will have a proposed budget by April 1. But the pressure on the Legislature to pass a budget by October 1 may force concessions no one likes.
Some ideas for what our CNMI Legislature could be focusing on now:
1. We have too many government employees--and the cuts should be at the top first, where expense is greatest. Constitutional protections apply to those in office, but if our CNMI Congress would pass legislation now that lowers these salaries, we will at least see savings in the future. Do it!
2. They could change to a part-time Legislature. And eliminate the municipal councils. We don't need so much government.
3. They could LEGISLATE a list of essential public services, so that the Governor cannot decide who gets money and who doesn't based on his own preferences, all under the guise of what is essential, if and when the budget doesn't pass.
We want a rational process, not unmitigated and unrestricted politics.
Community--The SSHS Manta Ray Band concerts on 3/26 and 3/27 were a success. Great performances, reasonably good attendance, successful fundraising. Just one small complaint: fundraising should be transparent. When you've set a specific goal ($140,000) for your trip to Carnegie Hall, you should be telling and showing exactly how close you are to the goal, on a regular basis. You shouldn't dodge specific questions like 'how much more do you need to reach your goal?'with vague assertions like 'we're close.'
Saipan Southern High School's Manta Ray Band is heading to NYC to perform at Carnegie Hall for the New York International Music Festival. They won the right to be on stage through their audition. But now they are desperately trying to raise the funds needed for the trip.
Come have fun and help them! This Saturday.
You can pledge for the band members joining the fun run (either by dollar amount or by the laps they run). [I'd be happy to take pledges! I know several of the students. Checks are made payable to SSHS with a notation in the memo part for Manta's Carnegie trip.]
You can come to the evening festival and spend your pocket money.
Please take this opportunity to help!
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We've been having perfect weather, but just now it's gone grey and looks a bit stormy. The bouganvillea is stunningly bright and beautiful, in full flower. There is plumeria in blossom and even a few Flame Trees already starting to show orange flowers.
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Addendum: If you'll be in New York City during April 2010, you might be interested in seeing the Manta Ray Band on stage at Carnegie Hall. Here's what I've found out about tickets, which are AVAILABLE NOW:
Performance Date – April 20, 2010
Performance Times! – 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Location – Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall
Cost – 2:00pm Adjudicated Performances - Ticketed but free of charge, obtain tickets at Carnegie Hall Box Office
Cost – 8:00pm Showcase Concert - $20.00 per person, obtain tickets at Carnegie Hall Box Office
How to get Ticket – Obtain tickets at Carnegie Hall box office
Box office info – http://www.carnegiehall.org/
Carnegie Hall
57th Street & 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Tickets released – February 15, 2010
Every November when I write during National Novel Writing Month, I set my stories in the CNMI, and I realize how limited my imagination is. The weather in my stories always seems to be whatever it is at the moment; the environment is always November; etc. So I'm starting a "notes" file where I put in bits and pieces about the current weather of the day, the environmental /seasonal notes, and any other bits.
Today's "headline" news is that they tore down the Round House in San Vicente. Bulldozed out of existence. (Noticed this yesterday on the way home from work.) This was an iconic hangout for the neighborhood teens and a bus stop shelter , as well. They're also surveying the roads and it appears we're in for road widening--newspaper says cross-island road. Wonder if they're going to be paying for the land taken in the road widening.
Loads of tangerines on the trees. Plumeria blooming. Today's weather--sunny, bright white puffy clouds--too many, covering the sky, giving a heavy oppressive feel, but cool breezes.
You are invited and urged to attend the "Saipan For Peace Candlelight Vigil" for the victims of yesterday's horrific shootings.
This event is to be held this Sunday (tomorrow) at 6PM, tentatively at American Memorial Park (if the location changes I will post an update).
It is an ecumenical and multi-cultural event of various faith-based and community coalitions and all are invited. This needed event is non-political and spiritual leaders of all religions have been invited to speak.
The healing begins as soon as possible for as many as possible. Join us to denounce this violence coming to our paradise. Evil has no border, but together, as a movement of "one voice, one people," we can affirm that it is not welcome here.
Please join all of Saipan as we hold the victims, their families, and our community in thoughts and prayers.
The word going around the legal community is that Kevin Lynch was fired from the CNMI Attorney General's Office on Friday (October 9, 2009).
I have no other information. Don't know why. Perhaps he actually resigned.
He's been with the AG's Office a long time. I think this will not be pretty.
Our office received this notice. I don't know anything more, but it's a heads-up and means we need to be paying attention.
UPDATE:
The original notice says to expect waves about 1:23 PM local time. But this new bulletin from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancels that alert.
You can follow up for more information at the PTWC Pacific region site.
Saipan is an interesting place to live. It is also a blogger's paradise! Lots to chat about in today's news.
CHC
You can read a good blog post at Ken's SOS site on Fitial's plan to take over DPH by declaration of a state of emergency. And Doctor Cornett's very small hammer rant(they're still not getting it) at the Tribune.
Patrick Calvo
Found guilty on charges of sex abuse of a minor. His defense was that his 14 year old daughter was lying. This might work in some cases, but she's been a model student and otherwise fine person, and his other daughters came forward and testified against him also. For those victims from the earlier 2000 case who did not see justice when the case against Calvo was dismissed, this must be a small victory, too.
Writing
This is, after all, SaipanWriter! Walt Goodridge held a writer's workshop on Sunday, September 27, 2009.
Joe (Mango) Race brought up National Novel Writing Month! Yay! Interested in spending a month noveling? It's happening here in Saipan, as around the world, thanks to NaNoWriMo. Sign up. We write in November. (I'm the municipal liaison. If you need more information, contact me.)
And my own little off-topic "flashback" contribution:
I just found this bit about George W. Bush's favorite painting. This is such a laugh! As Art Blogger Bob says--narcissistic and stupid.
Typhoon Choi-Wan didn't hit Saipan. There were no reports of damages to homes. Some banana plants toppled, but, by all accounts, this was a mild storm, with wind and rain, but nothing terribly serious.
The electricity at my house went out during the storm--sometime Monday night. It's now Wednesday morning, and CUC has yet to even visit my house to assess the problem.
I've called. The trouble desk lines are almost always "busy" so you can't get through. On at least one occasion, the phone actually rang (no busy signal) and then rang and rang and no one picked up. On the few occasions when I did get through, the guys answering (Joe and Bill) were courteous, but had nothing to tell me. I have no idea where in the queue of complaints our little segment of San Vicente is. I have no idea when a crew might get to us. I'm still waiting for the promised --we'll call you when the CUC crew is coming--call.
I enlisted support from my family. My sister-in-law managed to learn a bit more--which neighbors are still without power--and she spoke with Tony Muna personally. But that's not much more than I already knew and still no idea of when; not much greater reassurance than the trouble desk provided.
Today's newspaper gives a sunny report that CUC is on top of the situation of power outages from the storm. But I think that is optimistic, and not entirely accurate.
What bothers me most about this power outage, besides the inconvenience and loss of food in the fridge, is that this was a MILD storm. If this is the level of response from such a minor weather event, what can we expect if we have a serious storm or typhoon that actually hits us?
This from Ruth Tighe's latest On My Mind:
And a plethora of public hearings coming up! To wit:
Tuesday, August 25: 6:00 p.m., at the multi-purpose center in Susupe, Zoning Board hearing on the Beach Road Corridor Improvement Plan. More information from the Zoning Board at 234-9961.
Tuesday, August 25: 6:30 p.m., at the CRM Conference Room in Oleia, Public Works hearing on preparation of an Environmental Assessment Report for the proposed Lake Susupe Educational Boardwalk Trail project. More information available from Public Works Technical Services Division at 234-9828 or 664-4455.
Wednesday, August 26: 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Not exactly a hearing, but worth mentioning: release of the Directory of Traditional Healers and Medicinal Plants of the CNMI at the multi-purpose center in Susupe, a project funded by an Administration for Native Americans grant and sponsored by several local individuals and organizations;
Wednesday, August 26: 6:30 p.m., Retirement Fund hearings on Res. 09-002, which “restricts the Fund from processing any amendments or additions to originally filed Applications for Retirement that would add beneficiaries arising through adoption for purposes of the computation of survivor benefits,” and Res. 09-003, which “proposes for the Fund to cease processing refunds of employee contributions." More information available from the Retirement Fund at 322-3863.
Friday, August 28, 6:30 p.m., at the San Roque school: hearing on the Environmental Assessment Report on the Kalabera Cave Development project prepared for MVA by Herman B. Cabrera and Associates. More information available from his office at 234-1778.
Thursday, August 27: 6:00 p.m., at the Zoning Office in Dandan on "conditional" use of a former garment factory building in Koblerville by Pancy, Inc. More information available from the Zoning Board at 234-9661.
Monday, August 31, 1:00 p.m. at the Senate Chamber on levelized energy adjustments proposed by the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission. More information available from Kyle Cabrese, CPUC Commissioner, at 233-7150.
Monday, August 31, deadline for comments on Senate Bill 16-60 "To enhance enforcement powers and authority under the Alcohol Beverage Control Act and for other purposes" - which would give Board members the same powers as peace officers in enforcing ABC laws and regulations. More information from Congressman Joseph C. Reyes at 664-8836.
IT&E will be holding a job fair on Saturday 1 August 2009 for the purpose of accepting applications for 250-300 telephone operators for its new call center. The location will be the Fiesta Resort's Asuzena Rooms 1&2 from 9 am to 12. Applicants must have completed high school or an equivalency program, have good English speaking abilities, be able to use a computer and type/input at the rate of 20 words per minute, and be US citizens, FSM citizens, green card holders or immediate relatives of a US citizen.
Actual hiring will occur after the Qualifying Certificate conditions are finalized.
This information is from Frank Gibson.
Swine Flu:
One death in Guam and 2 confirmed cases in Saipan. Like everywhere else in the US, swine flu makes headline news. Since I've been in Ohio this summer for vacation, visiting family, I've been hearing about swine flu here, too. Ohio also had its first death from swine flu this month.
Swine flu is a pandemic. More than half of the deaths have been in the U.S. It is NOT the most virulent form of flu the world has seen, but it is the current strain and it's causing plenty of harm. Symptoms being talked about here in Ohio are fever, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea. Best to take precautions.
What's scary in Saipan, though, is how small the population is, how close contact may be unavoidable, and especially how weak our health system is, despite the protestations of CHC and the health department that everything is fine.
Tim Villagomez:
His lawyers are begging for leniency. His family and friends are flooding the court with letters begging for mercy. The newspapers publish only snippets of the requests, but some of them show that the community is also part of the problem.
The comment that gets first place imho in the "you're clueless" category goes to Diego Benevente for this:
“Villagomez has been and remains a respectful and modest public servant in spite of the predicament he found himself in.”
Excuse me? He didn't find himself in a predicament. He committed a crime. He is to blame for his own action. It's about personal responsibility.
I still haven't seen Tim Villagomez own up to his own responsibility in this matter. Yes, he quit his job as lieutenant governor. But that was not until after he was convicted of federal crimes.
I'm guessing he can't say a lot, because he's probably following the advice of counsel to remain silent. But that's a far cry from finding himself in a predicament.
Another comment winner for passing the buck goes to his wife, Margaret Keene Villagomez, who, as his wife, is understandably blinded by loyalty and love. But really, think before you write something like this:
“One of the biggest mistakes that he has ever made, in my opinion, was that he entered the uncertain world of politics where some of the people that he helped would one day be the cause of his demise.”
This just shows it's all about getting caught, in the thoughts of his family. Never mind that there was evidence that he scammed the public through fraudulent rydlime sales to CUC before he went into politics... And those people he helped! How dare they cause him trouble. (Surely she doesn't mean his sister and brother-in-law; it's the snitch who testified against him and those people in the public auditors office and who else?)
I'm not sure what the Bishop hoped to convey with his comment.
“They have strived to live up to the Christian ideals of living out the Gospel message in their day-to-day living. They recognize their mistakes and they are keen on making conscious efforts to correct them. Overall, I see the goodness in their hearts despite their shortcomings.”
I don't remember the Gospel saying anything good about cheating people by enriching your own pockets with a scam, under cover of high status and public power.
And then there are the heartfelt pleas for the sake of the children. I do feel for the children, who are innocent in this matter; who no doubt love their father; who no doubt need their father in their lives. But what are we teaching those children with comments like this?
“Please give them leniency on sentencing day. Please don’t take our families apart. It’s all in your hands.”
“I don’t know how any parent could find the strength to explain to their young children the logic of why their daddy will not be with them much longer, or that soon he may not be coming home at all."
Both of these comments (one from a nephew, one from the wife) again show that denial of the reason why Tim Villagomez is facing jail time. It is not the JUDGE breaking up the family. And what you tell your children is that daddy is a human being who made a big mistake and now must pay for it.
I understand loyalty and wanting someone you love to be given a second chance; be shown mercy. I think Kay Delafield's comments, as reported in the newspaper, help protray that best.
According to the Tribune, "She said Villagomez has no past record of bad acts and he has young children, a wife, a mother and a family who need him in their lives." Okay. Facts. This is an effective plea; simple, direct, not too emotional.
And Sasamoto's comment:
“He has lost credibility in the public eye and I believe that he is truly despondent regarding what he has put his family through.”
Okay, fact and opinion stated as an opinion. Effective.
Lots of people convicted of crimes have wives and children. The judge can't seriously even consider that when sentencing someone convicted of crimes. Many people get despondent when they are caught.
And let's be honest, Tim did some serious harm, despite the denials of his family.
I think Rob Torres' comment sums up the "support:"
Villagomez's counsel, Robert Torres, said his client is no different than other offenders in public corruption cases who have denied their gifts and talents in pursuit of brazen, if not blind, ambition.
“But Tim remains to me someone whom I care for and whom I support unequivocably and without hesitation. I stake my name and reputation as an officer of this court in writing this letter,” he said.
Tim screwed up but we love him anyway. Okay. Now let's get back to logical considerations for sentencing.
Judiciary debt to the Retirement Fund:This one is good: the CNMI
judiciary owes a heck of a lot of money to the NMIRF.
Let's order them to go get second jobs to pay this off, okay? Sic Mike White on them? Threaten them with jail for non-payment?
That's what they do every day to poor debtors without the education and opportunities they all have!
Oh, they want the public to pay from the general fund? That was part of the deal. Okay. They want to work this out. No problem.
Well, there is a problem as there is no easy solution. Oh-oh.
Really, I hope they consider how unreasonable debt happens to the best of us the next time a poor person can't pay in an ordinary debt collection case.
Okay, so I don't normally read it. But hey--when you're part of the front-page feature article, you check it out.
Guam Stripes" writer Mary Parker wrote about writers in this part of the world. And of course, since I am "Saipanwriter" she contacted me. I put her in touch with Joe Race and Angie Wheat, too. Time was short, so I missed out on hooking her up with other writers (and there are plenty), but still, it's nice to see she got Saipan into the mix.
I've met a lot of federal officials over the past two days.
Marine Monument
Some top officials from Fish & Wildlife are here about the Marine Monument--Barbara Maxfield, Barry Stieglitz, Donald Palawski; and also from NOAA--William Robinson. They are meeting with local government officials and conducting their first field review about the national marine monument, designated in January 2009 by then-President Bush.
They have the words of the proclamation and of the designation of DFW as lead agency, but apparently a lot of the groundwork, fieldwork, and framework from the process leading up to the designation has been lost by the change in Presidential administrations.
Here's what I understood would be two of the first agenda items for the Monument management:
1) fishing regulations, which are on the agenda for the next Wespac meeting scheduled for March 17-19, 23-25, 2009 in PagoPago, American Samoa; and
2) NEPA--environmental impact statements. There is a lot of groundwork that goes into one of these; and apparently DFW is looking to get started on the baseline fundamentals. (Lauri, Angelo--please correct me if I got this wrong...)
There is no fixed timeline, but some targeted dates:
4/11/2009--advisory council in place. This date is based on the proclamation language "within 3 months of the date of this proclamation." It is unlikely that this date will be met since the appointment is by the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior, and right now we don't yet have a Secretary of Commerce, although President Obama has nominated Gary Locke.
Governor Fitial's selections may not qualify, either, as the proclamation requires that the advisors be members of the local government.
8/2010--I think this was the target date for draft regulations, with the hope that they would be in place by 12/2010.
2011--Monument included in 2011 budget. It seems to be already too late to include the monument in the 2010 budget. It may be too late for the 2011 budget...
2013--full operation of Monument.
USCIS Application Support Center
Today marked the official opening of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service's Application Support Center in Saipan. This is part of the operation to federalize immigration here.
Present for the ceremony were Michael Aytes--Acting Deputy Director of USCIS, Carolyn Muzyka--Regional Director of the Western Region of USCIS, David Gulick--District Director headquartered in Honolulu, HI, and Walter Haith--Field Office Director from Guam. Other dignitaries came as well, including TSA official (Michael Connolly?), federal Court Judge Munson, DOI representative Jeff Schorr, and CNMI dignitaries including Governor Benigno Fitial, Mayor Juan B. Tudela, and Immigration Chief Mel Grey.
The ASC office is open and has the capacity to do "biometrics"--meaning fingerprinting, photographing, and getting electronic signatures. The staff gave a quick demonstration of how they do these. They have already been doing these things since 3/2/2009, but there is a small snafu for those applying for green cards. Right now USCIS still reads the various laws as requiring "admission upon inspection" and therefore says applicants must still travel to Guam. They are looking into the possibility of changing that, and will change it for sure on the start date of the federalization/transition.
There is some strong speculation that the start date will be delayed and that federalization will not start on June 1, 2009. It can be delayed as much as six months (to 12/1/2009), but could also be delayed for a shorter period of time.
The problem from the USCIS point-of-view seems to be that regulations are not in place, and the time for getting them in place is running out. USCIS does not want to start operation without regulations already in place. Given that regs usually need a 60 day comment period and then republication in adopted form, and we only have about 82 days from now before June 1, 2009, it seems like the time is too limited for a prompt start.
The USCIS officials present were an interesting mix of diplomat and bureaucrat. They got in their soundbites--about being a service provider, about wanting to do things right, about being available and open for comment and information, but they also didn't answer some direct questions, like whether there would be a delay in the start-up date. They expressly denied that there would be any amnesty by the agency, although they acknowledged that Congress could move in that direction.
They also have a policy man in the Saipan office--Fred Ongcapin--who is here to get a better grasp of some of the trickier issues and then go back to Washington and work on them.
All in all, the prospects from today's events seemed hopeful.
I strongly encourage you all to visit Shazam's blog and read the two posts from Sunday, 9/28.
Enough said.
Lil has a cute caption contest at Must Be The Humidity. Ken has a funny spam posted at SOSaipan. Ed still has Harry's fairy tale as his top billed story (too funny). It seems to be time to enjoy a moment of light-hearted silliness.
So, I'll just say that this comment in today's paper made me laugh.
"We're a Christian community and we don't need this kind of negative thing." Ray Tebuteb on the ground-breaking suggestion first made by Pew Charitable Trust for a marine monument here.
God forbid that some outsider (like Jesus himself) should come here and propose anything! How un-Christian!
Jim Davies, in today's Tribune, writes that he has yet to see "Pew supporters offer any substantial proof to the concept behind the project."
1. We're not "Pew supporters." We're Friends of the Monument, supporters of marine conservation, people who want to preserve and protect our natural world.
2. The concept behind the project has been written about extensively--it's marine conservation. Some people have obviously missed all of the information that has been circulated about the benefits of marine conservation throughout the CNMI--not just recently, but for years. We have a lot of information, both from scientific studies and from our own experiences with the ocean.
3. The Marianas Trench Marine Monument project is essentially a project to have the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters around Uracas, Maug, and Asuncion declared a Monument, making them a federally protected marine sanctuary. The CNMI Constitution has already made the islands themselves a CNMI land sanctuary. The proposal, if adopted, would extend the same type of protection the CNMI has given to the islands into the waters, and provide for both CNMI enforcement and federal enforcement and funding.
Photo from Loling Manahane's blog.
Here's a very brief synopsis of the "concept behind the project":
The world's oceans are in rapid decline. (Read the
transcript of Dr. David Suzuki from the movie Empty Ocean, Empty Nets, available at habitat media online.)
It's likely to get worse: 77% of our oceans fisheries have already been fully exploited, overfished, or exhausted, based on information from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization; and estimates by an international team of university research scientists over a 4 year period conclude that by 2048, 90% of all (edible)marine life will be gone. (Reported in Science journal, and by many popular media like
USA Today.)
Overfishing is the main reason that our marine ecosystems are depleted.
The vast majority of scientific consensus is that the main agent of change in the oceans as far as fish populations is concerned is fishing.
Dr. Carl Safina, National Audobon Society's Living Oceans Program
(Read about the problems, history, and potential solutions by the noted fisheries expert Dr. Daniel Pauly and others at the independent resource,
overfishing.org.)
Overfishing continues to deplete our oceans, despite the regulations and enforcement by WESPAC and other U.S. federal (and other nation's) agencies.
Regulations at present are still too weak, faulty in their premises, and poorly enforced because of politics, underfunding of science, and other problems. (Read the
film transcript of Dr. Vaughan Anthony from the New England Fisheries Management Council on how politicians get in the way of science and frustrate fisheries management; how regulations in the past weren't enforced; how our current regulations still don't create inefficiencies and tie-the-hands of fishermen enough.)
We need our marine life, and it's not inexhaustible.
There is an end to a resource. There's no unlimited supply of fish. You keep nibbling away at it, eventually you're going to get 'em all, or almost all of them. So you've got to be very careful.
Edwin Fuglvog, commercial fisherman, Alaska
Fixing the regulatory system will help, but it is not enough alone. (This is the concept of
not-putting-all-your-eggs-in-one-basket that Mike Tripp has written about.)
One of the few proven methods of species recovery is the creation of no-take ocean reserves (sanctuaries, monuments). (Read the
film transcript of Callum Roberts, the Harvard University Marine Conservation professor.)
The proposal is to create a no-take marine reserve around our three northernmost islands, and still allow fishing around all of the other islands--meeting our commitment to the Micronesian Challenge, and doing our part to help ourselves, our future generations, and the world.
The Marianas Trench is a beautiful, almost pristine, and unique eco-system that is worth protecting. Designating the waters around Uracas, Maug, and Asuncion as a National Marine Monument will make it a protected marine conservation area under NOAA sanctuaries program.
And voila! Because there already is a tremendous amount of scientific evidence that protected marine areas help conserve, preserve, and restore marine eco-systems, we can expect that our Marianas Trench Monument would have the same ecological, environmental effect.
That's the "meat" of the proposal and the "substantial proof" of the concept behind it.
All other potential benefits--global recognition that will act as free advertising for our tourism industry, federal funds coming in here for a Visitor's Center that could enhance the tourist experience, scientific research that will add to our knowledge of our unique Marianas Trench, spillover education benefits from scientists present in the CNMI, etc.--are gravy. They appear to be logical and likely consequences of designation of a Monument here.
But in essence, saving our ocean life by creating a marine sanctuary that is a well-documented means of preserving and restoring healthy eco-systems--that is the proven concept behind the proposal.
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Jane, you are right. This is really bad. I am glad you posted the law.I am going to link to this excellent post.