Flashback — Nov. 2000-Nov. 2001

Housing benefits for FAS citizens approved[/B]

President Clinton has signed into law a piece of legislation that would allow citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the Republic of Marshall Islands to avail of federal housing benefits. Citizens of the three Freely Associated States living on Saipan had challenged the original limitation on their eligibility for federal housing benefits in a case brought before the federal courts. After losing in the CNMI District Court, the petitioners appealed to the Ninth Circuit. Jane Mack of Micronesian Legal Services said that the case is still pending and that the appeal was fully briefed and originally scheduled for oral argument on Nov. 14, 2000.

CNMI Developmental Disabilities Council Executive Director Thomas J. Camacho is encouraging locally-based architects to take advantage of a newly-developed Web-based education course, a comprehensive guide to designing public facilities compliant to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Mr. Camacho said that with numerous government Capital Improvement Projects underway, the ADA Accessibility Guidelines course presented by the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board is quite timely. “Architects should take advantage because till this day some renovated and new building construction and facilities (such as public parking and public rights-of-way) are still being designed and built in violation of the ADA,” said the DDC chief.
[B] Nov. 16, 2001

GES launches Corporate Challenge[/B]

The Garapan Elementary School yesterday launched the Corporate Challenge, which entices businesses and hotels in the Garapan area to help bring in needed resources to GES students. “In these difficult financial times, our school children are in dire need of resources that are integral to the learning environment. As budgets focus on priorities such as school curricula materials and supplies, other items such as crayons, pencils, glue, even toilet paper, become harder and harder to procure,” said the GES school administration in a statement.

Prompted by the widespread economic impact of the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington DC, the US Small Business Administration has widened access to Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses across the country, including the US insular areas of Guam and the Northern Marianas. On Wednesday, November 21, the NMC Small Business Development Center will team up with the SBA Guam Branch Office to offer a free workshop about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. In addition to this workshop, three additional programs will be delivered.

Nov. 16, 2002

Babauta touts recycling program NMI-wide

Gov. Juan N. Babauta is calling on all households, schools, and private businesses to begin or continue their own recycling programs to ensure a cleaner and safer environment. The governor also encouraged the public to patronize products made from recycled materials as a way of promoting the recycling program. Babauta made the call yesterday as he signed a proclamation declaring November 15, 2002 as America Recycles Day. “To focus the nation’s attention on the importance of recycling and closing the loop, businesses, industries, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals have joined together to celebrate America Recycles Day and are encouraging their employers, staff, customers, membership and all citizens to pledge to buy more recycled-content products starting Nov. 15,” Babauta said in the proclamation.

Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona has asked President Bush to waive the 25 percent matching requirement for the $1.2 million federal assistance that was allocated for Rota in the wake of Typhoon Chata’an. Manglona made the request through Federal Emergency Management Agency acting Region IX Director Caren Aarmes, saying he is having a hard time finding the $300,000 matching funds that is required under the Stafford Act. “As a result, we cannot get the $1.2 million. Our people suffer. The Rota municipal government cannot even reimburse itself for the heavy expense of emergency road clearing made necessary by the typhoon,” said Manglona.