Civil Beat Staff

Ben Angarone

Ben Angarone is a reporter for Civil Beat. He recently earned a master’s degree at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, focusing on politics and writing his magazine-length thesis on a virtual cryptocurrency community.

Ben was born in New Jersey and earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton. He bounced between different STEM majors before landing on politics, and decided to pursue journalism senior year during a covid-driven virtual semester. Ben wrote feature stories for the Daily Princetonian, chronicling how communities adjusted to the pandemic.

In college, Ben led backpacking orientation trips along the East Coast, bringing unsuspecting frosh face-to-face with bears, rocky inclines and cheesy campfire songs. His eternal fun fact is that he used to operate rollercoasters at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Calls Mount For The Honolulu City Council To Vote On Salary Increases David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Calls Mount For The Honolulu City Council To Vote On Salary Increases

UPDATES: Many constituents feel that the increases are a "slap in the face," and they want more accountability.

Honolulu Council Members Seek To Make The Chamber A Full-Time Job Amid Pay Criticism Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2021

Honolulu Council Members Seek To Make The Chamber A Full-Time Job Amid Pay Criticism

Two measures would ban council members from having other jobs in a move aimed at ensuring they focus all their attention on the public's business.

New Aloha Stadium Development Plan To Include Only 1 Contractor David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

New Aloha Stadium Development Plan To Include Only 1 Contractor

State officials said the new stadium is expected to be open in time for the University of Hawaii's 2028 football season.

A Rough-And-Tumble Oahu Park Is Finally Getting Some Love As Rail Opening Looms Ben Angarone/Civil Beat/2023

A Rough-And-Tumble Oahu Park Is Finally Getting Some Love As Rail Opening Looms

Community input is helping resuscitate this neglected facility along the future rail corridor.

Buckle Up: Resident Only Parking Zones May Expand Across Oahu Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2022

Buckle Up: Resident Only Parking Zones May Expand Across Oahu

Parking in residential areas would essentially be limited to those who live there.

Lawmakers End Session Amid Criticism Of The Budget And Use Of Surplus David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Lawmakers End Session Amid Criticism Of The Budget And Use Of Surplus

Gov. Green was given the power to restore funding to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, but some Democrats decried budget cuts to public schools and the University of Hawaii.

Lawmakers Look Back At Session During Civil Beat Event David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Lawmakers Look Back At Session During Civil Beat Event

Topics of discussion included doomed cannabis bills and a potential override of the governor's first veto.

Green’s First Veto Override: A Condo Bill That Could Increase The Cost Of Housing David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Green’s First Veto Override: A Condo Bill That Could Increase The Cost Of Housing

Besides the Senate override, lawmakers in both chambers worked through numerous bills Tuesday, including some dealing with taxes and guns.

Hawaii House And Senate Give Nod To Sweeping Tax Relief Bill David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023

Hawaii House And Senate Give Nod To Sweeping Tax Relief Bill

Lawmakers agreed to double tax credits for working families, limit guns in sensitive places and tax e-cigarettes but failed to reach consensus on HTA.