Ranch freezes out county
March 29, 2008, The Maui News, Editorial
Just what did Molokai Properties Ltd. expect county officials to say or do at a meeting of state officials and Molokai Ranch employees? With no explanation offered by the owner of Molokai Ranch, the officials and The Maui News are left to wonder about motive.
A state rapid response team was on Molokai Thursday. The team held two, two-hour meetings for ranch workers looking at no jobs after April 5. The ranch and its assets — including other businesses — are being “mothballed,” according to Molokai Properties.
That means 120 employees will be laid off. The rapid response team detailed ways of applying for unemployment compensation and other benefits available to the out-of-work employees — a strictly “nuts and bolts” presentation.
There was nothing spectacular about the meetings in the Maunaloa movie theater owned by Molokai Properties. The theater, opened in 1997, is one of the other businesses that will be shut down.
The council member from Molokai, Danny Mateo, and various Maui County administration officials were stopped at the door. Administration spokeswoman Mahina Martin said she was confused by being shut out.
“We were politely told by (labor department director) Darwin Ching that (MPL CEO Peter) Nicholas was concerned about our presence at the meeting, and we would be given no chance to speak,” Martin said. “We only wanted to provide some sense of reassurance that the county is worried about our people, and I have to say I was taken aback.” ...
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