Persona non grata: Common Cause Hawaiʻi director Camron Hurt is the latest to feel the wrath of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. The mayor removed Hurt from a city commission that directs money to nonprofits the day after Hurt was quoted in a Civil Beat story criticizing Honolulu Managing Director Mike Formby for threatening to withhold funding from two council members’ districts unless the members voted to confirm the mayor’s choice for housing director.
Hurt is often outspoken, and refreshingly so. But so is Blangiardi, which The Blog has always appreciated. People who are not afraid to speak their minds are rare in these islands. So it’s really too bad that the mayor seems to be sending a message that speaking out will not be tolerated. (Now who else do we know who doesn’t like that? Hmmm.)
A Special Commentary Project…