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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0718.001 2022-2024 P/CRcoG CDN.718 Comments on Communication 718: Hamakua Institute for Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee West Hawai'i Civic Center,Tuesday, February 20, 2024 2:30p.m. from Cory Harden, Hio Aloha Councilmembers, It appears that Mr. Flemming has done extensive research and is successfully collaborating with significant community organizations. However, I am concerned that any resulting public-private partnership will benefit the private sector at the expense of the public. ; . C'y'7 Z So please ask these questions: raa 1-Who will run the Agricultural Innovation Center proposed in the Hamakua Institute's 2021 report,The` �.r Feasibility of a Hilo Agricultural Hub? r. nttps.,/www.narnahuainstitute.org Hies/uga/e23325 ac71367t538a45ea92ftra027169696c.pat „p 2-What are the funding sources for Hamakua Institute? 3-What place do the officers and board members of Hamakua Institute call home? How much time do they spend on Hawai'i Island? 4-The Hamakua Institute Form 990 dated November 7, 2023 lists $20,254 for "staff development". Which staff people were involved, and what activities? Note that the vice-president, secretary, and treasurer each only work 15 minutes a month. (see Form 990 in separate attachment) Also please note: Hamakua Institute lists CBI (Consensus Building Institute) under "Who We Work With". 15,000 residents sought medical treatment after a fire and hydrocarbon release at the Richmond, California Chevron refinery. Merrick Hoben, director at CBI, was a lead facilitator assisting Chevron in "rebuilding"their relationship with the community. Hoben was also involved in agreements with Chevron and "communities impacted by oil extraction" in Nigeria, attempts to resolve conflicts over potential impacts of a hydro-electric project in India, conflict management between mining companies and communities in Peru, and a number of similar endeavors. https://www.csb.gov/events/csb-public-meeting-in-richmond-ca/ https://www.cbi.org/assets/profile/staff/merrick hoben/CB1 Resume Merrick Hoben 2022.pdf Mr. Flemming applied to be on the Hamakua Action Committee in 2021. But after questions were raised, such as those in my e-mail below, he withdrew his application. Comm. N . 0. Ref. To: Ref. bate FEB 2 0 2024 Cory Harden <333cory@gmail.com> Mon, Nov 15, 2021 at 11:52 AM Aloha [Hamakua] Action Committee members, I'm writing with concerns about the Hamakua Institute. Director Dennis Flemming spoke to you on September 15, and you may discuss the Institute again November 16. The Hamakua Institute was awarded $20,000 for a feasibility study for an Agricultural Innovation Center in East Hawai'i. (1) Mr. Flemming has worked with UH Hilo on planning for social and economic development projects. (2) When asked about his funding sources on September 15, Mr. Fleming named several sources. But he did not mention Chevron or the New Nigeria Foundation. Chevron donated almost $340,000 to the Institute. (3) Chevron also announced a $40 million donation to another organization where Flemming was the director,the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI), in 2014. (4) But Chevron's record in Nigeria is deeply troubling. "Big Oil has a filthy legacy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. One prominent environmentalist said: "They are moving out and leaving all the mess behind."...0il companies like Chevron, Shell and Eni have made billions in profits in the vast Niger Delta region in the last decades. But now some are pulling out — and they are leaving utter ruin in their wake, according to government monitors and environmental and human rights organizations.The delicate ecosystem of the Niger Delta, once teeming with plant and animal life, is today one of the most polluted places on the planet." (5) Another large donation—over$10,000—came to the Hamakua Institute from the New Nigeria Foundation (NNF). It's unclear what interest a Nigerian organization would have in Hawai'i. (6) NNF is connected to Flemming by the fact that his NDPI organization commissioned NNF to do a study. "To determine the economic opportunities in the region, NDPI commissioned the New Nigeria Foundation (NNF)to gather data on the Niger Delta's overall economy, key sectors, marginal groups, position of the poor within those sectors, and key market constraints in each sector." (7) NNF is also connected to Chevron, which is lists as a partner. (8) It's unclear what Chevron and NNF hope to gain by supporting the Hamakua Institute, but I think it's important that people be aware of these connections. Aloha, Cory (1 ) https://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2020/06/25/video-funds-awarded-to-innovative-hawaii-island- ag-projects/ (2) (3) Chevron listed as $339,608 contributor on 2019 tax form 990, PDF p. 26 https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/473114047_201912_990PF_2021061518352724.pdf (4) https://www.reuters.com/article/chevron-nigeria/chevron-boosts-donation-in-nigeria-its-no-2-source- of-crude-idUKL1N0OL12Y20140610 (5)The Fisherwomen, Chevron and the Leaking Pipe, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/25/world/africa/nigeria-fisherwomen-chevron.html (6) NNF listed as $10,940 contributor on 2019 tax form 990, PDF p. 26 https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/473114047_201912_990PF_2021061518352724.pdf (7) NDPI Annual Report, 2011, section 11, http://docplayer.net/171957864-2011-annual-report-building-our-base-for-effective-development.html (8) bottom of page, https://nnfng.org/who-we-are/about-us/ $20, 254 for staff development fW .rbcx iS3 -333cory grai,-_ X Ha^aku3 n X + — CP X C prelectsprc•pubiicaora r-rcrafir cr�arzat, ,, tl3114O47,f2023431193491CO1O9/fuf C 0 0 NonprofitExplorer Hawaii > Hamakua Institc:te fl Nonprofits. Search fat a nonprofit Q Select a schedule Other Expenses Schedule Ncrrp ron •evenue ar xpenses • nv:, men ncome •r1 . •r ncome r suisemen s or per Books Charitable Purposes EXPENSES BANK CHARGES 409 205 BOOKS 78 79 TELEPi-ONE 4,125 2,Be4 INSURANCE 1,752 1,752 COMPUTERS AND 5,945 5,; 5 SOFTWARE SUPPLIES 4,718 4,718 MEALS AND 339 169 ENTERTAINMENT STAFF DEVELOPMENT 20,254 20,254 OUTREACH 1,704 RECRUITING 537 537 a P Type here to search iga 1 :Itn S e I lea a ® © I a a�40 ENG &12 PM Q . • 1$r212024 Dennis Flemming works 36 hours a week and earns$72,046. The vice-president, secretary, and treasurer each only work 15 minutes a week. The Hamakua Institute website also shows a development director and facilitation coordinator. The website does not say where any of these people live. M Inbaa 531) 333cory8gmailr. X El -;,,3F,a •.c - X t — O X f 0 : projects.propublica.org' .,c:r, r,t: . , * 0 Nonprofit Explorer > Hawaii > Hamakua Institute Cl Nonprofits. Search for a norprofit Q Select a schedule Form 990PF 1 List all officers, directors,trustees, foundation managers and their compensation. See instructions (b)Title, and average (c) Coroersation (If (d) Contributions to (e) Expense account, (a)Name and address hours per week not paid,enter employee benefit plans and other allowances :.evoted to position -0-) deferred compensation DENNIS FLEMMING PRESIDENT.EX 72,046 0 0 PO BOX 39 "O DO HONOMU.HI 96728 TAM NGUYEN - ICE PRESIDE 0 0 0 PO BOX 39 0.25 HONOMU:HI 96728 DANIEL MCCALL SECRET.Rf 0 0 0 PO BOX39 0.25 HONOMU.HI 96728 NANCY GILBERT 0 j PO BOX39 0.25 HONOMU H: 9572S 2 Compensation of five highest-paid employees (other than those included on line 1—see instructions).If none, enter"NONE." (d) Contributions to (a) Name and address of each employee (b)Title,and average employee pto y paid hours per week (c) Compensation benefit (e) Expense account, more than $50,000 devoted to position plans and deferred other allowances compensatior NONE P Type here to search IBC 0 ll y • a © ® C: 4a ■ /f © E t6:17P za Q