Back in February, I wrote a blog post AND a letter to the local newspaper saying that Hawaii's unemployment insurance (UI) office should reopen as soon as possible.
the letter to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser https://www.staradvertiser.com/2021/02/25/editorial/letters/letters-ui-offices-must-open-for-in-person-assistance/
The blog post "Open the Unemployment Insurance office already" https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2021/02/open-unemployment-insurance-office.html
It's November, and it's still not open to the public.
Now, they're saying they'll reopen on December 1. That's more than a year too late.
Here's my letter to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, posted today
In a humane world, the state Unemployment Insurance office would’ve been one of the first places to reopen to the public during the coronavirus crisis. However, in the real world, reopening bars, arcades, banquet halls and stadiums were given higher priority, all because they service those with money to spend.
But the Unemployment Insurance office, which is designed to service those who don’t have much money left, is the last place to reopen to the public. A shameful snapshot of what our priorities really are.
Pablo Wegesend
That the Unemployment Insurance office took this long to reopen is total negligence!
And the person who is in charge of Hawaii's Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR), from which the UI office falls under, is probably the most tone-deaf people in our state government (and that's saying a lot, being that our government officials are notorious for being tone-deaf). DLIR's director is Anne Perreira-Eustaquio.
This from Honolulu Civil Beat
n the absence of in-person help, Liriano says she’s spoken to many workers who have simply given up on getting the money they’re due.
“By the time (unemployment is) calling back people, people have literally lost their phone service. It’s been so many months,” she said. “They’re living on the streets or in their cars.”
Perreira-Eustaquio said people who need computer help can use Hawaii libraries, and questioned how many people aren't able to access the online application.
“I don’t know of one person who doesn’t own a phone,” she said. “Nowadays everyone has a phone.”
WTF? Anne Perreria-Estaquio is implying that everyone has internet access, everyone has a smartphone!
A person who is that OUT OF TOUCH with the reality of poverty SHOULD NEVER be in charge of ANY social service agency!
Just because everyone in your clique has the latest iPhone doesn't mean everyone does. Just because everyone in your clique is experienced with Zoom/Skype/etc, doesn't mean everyone is.
I know MULTIPLE people who don't have a smartphone. In fact, I know MULTIPLE people who lack even basic computer skills.
Yes, even in 2021!
And a person who is desperate for help from the UI office definitely isn't able to afford the latest technology.
There are MANY people out there whose jobs don't even involve any computer technology.
I remember working at a school a few years ago, and some of the custodians and security guards had trouble even doing an online survey that all school staff had to do. That's because their jobs don't require using a computer or a smartphone on a day-to-day basis.
If those same exact people got laid off, do you think they're able to do a Skype session with the UI office? OF COURSE NOT!
But yet, Anne Perreria-Estaquio thinks everyone is a computer expert now. She thinks everyone is addicted to the smartphone like she is.
It's this attitude that tells you that Anne Perreria-Estaquio has ZERO experience with poverty. There's no way a person who experienced poverty can have that kind of blasé attitude towards concerns about those who lack internet access.
This blasé attitude from Anne Perreria-Estaquio is VERY DANGEROUS because it is very intimidating towards desperate people who are seeking help. It shows that she has no heart towards the poor. It gives off a "whatevers" attitude towards desperate people who might be on the brink of suicide because they're about to lose everything.
And remember, she is in charge of the department (DLIR) that supervises the UI office.
I think deep down, she is too nervous to take the necessary precautions to reopen the UI offices, NEVERMIND THAT NEARLY ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS already implemented those precautions to make their services accessible.
I mean, at this point, even the new football stadium on the University of Hawaii campus already implemented some sort of precaution policies to engage public access. And that stadium can hold 9,000 people.
But Anne Perreria-Estaquio took this long to figure out how to make the UI office accessible to the public?
That's the sad thing! Our society prioritizes those who are so spoiled that they demand to attend expensive events, instead of prioritizing those who are facing eviction and starvation.
