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u.s. news Diamars 7 December 2021

Hawaii leaders call on Navy to suspend fuel tank operations

(AP) — Hawaii’s governor the underground fuel tank Reps. Ed Cases and Kaiali’I
and congressional delega- complex that has been the Kahele, all Democrats.
tion have called on the source of multiple fuel leaks
Navy to suspend opera- over the years. The Navy’s water system
tions at World War II era serves about 93,000 people.
fuel tank farm that sits “Test results confirming con- Nearly 1,000 military house-
above an aquifer that sup- tamination of drinking water holds complained about their
plies water to urban Ho- at Joint Base Pearl Harbor- tap water smelling like fuel.
nolulu. Hickam show that the Navy Others reported becoming
is not effectively operating ill with ailments like stomach
The call from the elected the World War II-era facility cramps and vomiting.
leaders comes as Navy Sec- and protecting the health and
retary Carlos Del Toro is set safety of the people of Ha- The Navy said it would flush
to hold a news conference waii. clean water through the dis-
Monday afternoon at Pearl tribution system to clear re-
Harbor to discuss the ongo- We are calling for the Navy to sidual petroleum products
ing crisis concerning tap wa- immediately suspend opera- from the water. The process, vestigate how contaminates to submarines, ships and the
ter at Pearl Harbor. tions at Red Hill while they along with testing, could take got into the well and to fix commander of U.S. forces
confront and remedy this up to 10 days to make sure the problem. in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Navy last week said a crisis,” said the Sunday state- the water meets Environ- They also threaten to jeopar-
water sample from one of its ment signed by Gov. David mental Protection Agency The tap water problems have dize one of Honolulu’s most
wells showed the presence of Ige, U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono drinking standards. afflicted one of the military’s important aquifers and water
petroleum. The well is near and Brian Schatz, and U.S. The Navy also pledged to in- most important bases, home sources.

NYC to impose vaccine mandate on private sector employers

(AP) — From multina- rise in cases in recent weeks nor of New York next year,
tional banks to corner gro- has swamped hospitals, es- has sought to portray him-
cery stores, all private em- pecially in the Midwest and self as a national leader in the
ployers in New York City New England. fight against COVID-19. His
will have to require their other vaccine mandates have
workers to get vaccinated Health experts have strong- largely survived legal chal-
against COVID-19, the ly urged people to get their lenges, and he has credited
mayor announced Mon- shots and a booster, saying the policy with raising vac-
day in the most sweeping they believe the vaccine will cination rates among the re-
vaccine mandate of any still offer protection against luctant.
state or big city in the U.S. the new form of the virus.
lion. mandate to survive any legal The new mandate takes effect
The move by Mayor Bill challenges. Employees will “Vaccination is the central days before de Blasio leaves
de Blasio comes as cases are De Blasio said the move is be able to ask for religious or weapon in this war against office and Democrat Eric
climbing again in the U.S. aimed at staving off a spike of medical exemptions. COVID. It’s the one thing Adams is due to be sworn
and the worrisome but little- infections amid holiday gath- that has worked every single in. Evan Thies, a spokesman
understood omicron variant erings and as cold weather The mayor also announced time across the board,” de for Adams, said in a state-
is gaining a toehold in the drives more people indoors, that anyone 12 or older who Blasio said at a virtual news ment that the mayor-elect
nation’s largest city and else- where the virus can spread wants to dine indoors at a conference. “will evaluate this mandate
where around the country. more easily. restaurant, go to a gym or see and other COVID strategies
a show will have to produce “A lot of folks to me in the when he is in office and make
“We in New York City have Vaccine rules across states and proof of having received two private sector have said to me determinations based on sci-
decided to use a preemp- cities vary widely, with some shots of the vaccine, up from they believe in vaccination, ence, efficacy and the advice
tive strike to really do some- states resisting any mandates the current requirement of but they’re not quite sure of health professionals.”
thing bold to stop the further and others requiring the one dose. In addition, chil- how they can do it them-
growth of COVID and the shots for government em- dren ages 5 to 11 will have selves,” he continued. “Well, The Greater New York
dangers it’s causing to all of ployees or certain sectors that to show proof of at least one we’re going to do it.” Chamber of Commerce,
us,” he said. run a particularly high risk, shot, de Blasio said. which includes some 30,000
such as health care workers. Vaccinations are already re- businesses big and small,
De Blasio, a Democrat with De Blasio said he will release quired in New York City for said it supports the tightened
just weeks left in office, said Full Coverage: Coronavirus more details next week about hospital and nursing home measures.
the mandate will take ef- pandemic how the mandate will be en- workers and for city employ-
fect Dec. 27, with in-person But no state has announced a forced. ees, including teachers, po- But other industry groups
workers needing to provide broad private-sector mandate lice officers and firefighters. said the plan would add
proof they have received at like New York City’s, accord- About 5.9 million adults in A vaccination mandate for to the strain on businesses
least one dose of the vaccine. ing to data compiled by the New York City have gotten employees of private and reli- still struggling to recover
And they will not be allowed nonpartisan National Acad- at least a first dose, out of 7 gious schools was announced from the pandemic and find
to get out of the requirement emy for State Health Policy. million people age 18 and up. last week. enough employees.
by agreeing to regular CO- That translates to 84%. About
VID-19 testing instead. President Joe Biden sought 5.8 million New Yorkers of Some other private-sector Kathryn Wylde, president
to impose a less far-reaching all ages are fully vaccinated. employees, including those and CEO of the Partnership
The measure will apply to mandate nationally, requiring at restaurants, gyms, theaters for New York City, a lead-
roughly 184,000 businesses employees of businesses with Cases of the omicron variant and other entertainment ing business group, said it is
not covered by previous vac- 100 or more workers to ei- have been reported in about sites, were also required to be unclear who will enforce the
cine mandates, ranging from ther get vaccinated or under- one-third of the states, but vaccinated under rules issued mandate and whether it is
big corporations to mom- go regular testing. But federal scientists cannot say for cer- earlier by the mayor. even legal.
and-pop businesses in the courts have blocked that plan tain yet whether it is more
city of 8.8 million people, ac- for now ahead of the Jan. 4 dangerous than previous ver- De Blasio, who leaves office “It is hard to imagine that the
cording to a spokesperson for deadline. sions. The delta variant still at the end of the month and mayor can do what the presi-
the mayor. The city’s private- accounts for practically all has indicated he may seek dent is being challenged to
sector workforce is 3.7 mil- De Blasio said he expects his infections in the U.S., and a the nomination for gover- accomplish,” Wylde said.