Hawaii Governor Admits ‘Possible’ Different Decisions Could’ve Prevented Loss
As many Americans are expressing outrage over questionable decisions made by Hawaiian officials amid the devastating wildfires last month, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) has finally admitted that “if other decisions were made, it is possible that we wouldn’t have had such loss.”
In the weeks following the deadly wildfires — which have killed at least 115 people, including children, and left hundreds still unaccounted for — several significant failures of leadership have been uncovered. Reports have emerged that the local government chose not to use their extensive network of emergency sirens to alert residents to the fire, claiming that they were worried that people “would’ve gone into the fire.” Other reports revealed that local police actually set up a blockade that prevented people from using the only paved road out of town to escape the flames. It has also been confirmed that many were denied access to water that could have been used to battle the deadly wildfires.
Numerous other shocking reports have emerged of negligence from local, state and federal officials in the aftermath of the disaster — including FEMA officials using taxpayer money to stay in five-star hotels while Maui residents are homeless, and FEMA forcing employees to take “diversity” training while they are supposed to be in the middle of a search and recovery mission.
Despite all of these failures, Hawaii’s Democrat governor is refusing to call for the resignation of local officials like Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen — instead calling the decision to resign “a deeply personal discussion” to be had between the leaders and their constituents.
Green made the comments during an interview aired on Friday’s broadcast of “CBS Evening News.”
“Is it time for the Mayor to resign? What are your thoughts?” asked CBS News national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti.
“My first thoughts are, we should really get to all of the facts, whatever they may be, good or bad. That is a deeply personal discussion for any Mayor and his or her constituents to have,” Green claimed.
“Were they asleep at the wheel?” Vigliotti asked.
Green refused to provide a definitive answer, despite the evidence and the anger from his constituents, instead stating: “I don’t know if I should use those words.”
“If you wouldn’t use those words, what words would you use?” the CBS News reporter pressed.
The Hawaii governor finally admitted that it was “possible” that better decision-making could have led to less devastation, but still refused to assign any blame.
“A tragic natural disaster, that, if other decisions were made, it is possible that we wouldn’t have had such loss,” he said.
