Council passes second reading of bill to give vetted media access to HPD radio information, amid legal and security concerns

The Honolulu City Council voted to advance Bill 46 to a third reading after a lengthy debate over public safety, transparency and legal limits on police data access. The measure, which passed second reading as part of Committee Report 255, would permit limited access to Honolulu Police Department communications for credentialed media organizations under conditions to be negotiated with the department.

Supporters, including representatives of local broadcast outlets, said access to timely dispatch information helps newsrooms inform the public during fast-moving emergencies. Katie Pickman, general manager of Hawaii News Now, said the outlet’s coverage of last week’s tsunami warning showed “the vital role local media plays in public safety” and urged the council to pass the bill. Brenda Salgado, assistant news director at KGMB, told the council, “All these events relate to…