GaryHooser's Blog

The lack of affordable housing is cited as the #1 issue by just about every candidate on the ballot in the Primary Election scheduled for August 13. 

We have more people living in the bushes, alongside the roadways, and under our bridges – than ever before.

The cost of housing is also higher than it’s ever been.

People are hurting. Bad kine.

Kaua`i Councilmember Luke Evslin and Council Vice-Chair Mason Chock have introduced Resolution No. 2022-22 proposing to amend the Kaua’i County Charter, and earmark a minimum of two percent (2%) of County real property tax revenues to the Housing Development Fund for the purpose of affordable housing. Read the entire notice for Resolution No. 2022-22 here.

When ultimately passed by voters, this will ensure that the creation of affordable housing for local residents will be a top priority for Kaua’i County. Because the measure creates a dedicated annual funding source, the County will significantly increase its ability to compete for State and Federal housing funds and to leverage the dedicated funding via long-term bonds. 

The two Councilmembers have also introduced Bill 2872 to amend the “Residential Investor” and “Vacation Rental” tax rate classifications to incentivize long-term rentals and to shift some of the financial burden toward those most capable of paying, and away from owner-occupied homes and long-term rentals. Bill 2872 does not increase property taxes but only creates a broader tax structure that could support the funding of affordable housing and other vital services. Read the entire notice for Bill No. 2872 here.  

These measures represent significant steps Kaua`i County can and must take toward alleviating our existing affordable housing crisis. Both the City and County of Honolulu, and Maui County have created similar funding mechanisms dedicated to increasing their affordable housing inventories.

The Public Hearing for both is Wednesday, July 20 in the Council Chambers at 8:30am and is perhaps the most important public meeting of the year. My hope is that Kaua`i residents will show up to testify in person AND that they will submit testimony in writing to counciltestimony@kauai.gov (late testimony is better than no testimony).

The actual vote will not occur until the August 3 Council meeting. However, it’s important to know where each Councilmember stands on the issue, earlier rather than later.

Vote counting #101:

Obviously the sponsors, Councilmembers Luke and Chock are in strong support.

Based on his past public statements and prior vote on the issue it’s clear that Councilmember KipuKai Kualiʻi is also in strong support.

Similarly, it should be obvious to anyone observing the previous Council meeting where this was discussed, that Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro and Councilmember Bill DeCosta are strongly opposed. The Chair is a genuine budget hawk and prefers not to make a long-term budget commitment for affordable housing. DeCosta’s opposition seems based on a fear that people from the mainland will somehow cut in line ahead of true local residents. 

Councilmember Bernard Carvalho and Councilmember Felicia Cowden both have spoken and voted in support but the clarity of their position, whether grounded in style or substance, sometimes appears muted.

It takes 5 votes to pass and while the preliminary vote count on this looks to be 5 in support and 2 opposed, the ultimate vote of August 3 is the one that matters.

All 7 Councilmembers need to hear from the community on this.

If passed by the Council, Resolution 2022-22 will be placed on the November Ballot for Kaua`i voters to decide whether or not the creation of more affordable housing for local residents and a much-needed dedicated funding source – should be a top priority or not.

The August 13 Primary Election occurs just 10 days after the Council votes on these two issues. While I normally encourage people to vote early, in this case, I’m thinking about waiting to cast mine. #justsayin

The clarity of the choices and the distinctions between the candidates could not be any more lucid. Kai is our guy.

Breaking – Today’s Civil Beat
Lt. Gov. Josh Green has spent $2.65 million. 27% of his contributions larger than $100 were from out of state.

Cayetano reported spending more than $2.25 million – loaning her own campaign $1.52 million so far. 9% of Cayetano’s donations of more than $100 were from out of state

U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele’s report shows he has spent about $178,000 on the election so far. None of Kahele’s donations of more than $100 were from out of state. *Actually his policy is to not accept donations of more than $100.

According to Civil Beat: “Kahele’s initial filing on June 20 made it clear he is backed by much of the progressive wing of the Democrats at the Legislature, with donors who included Reps. Tina Wildberger, Chris Todd and Amy Perruso and Sen. Laura Acasio.

His small-donor supporters also included familiar names from the left wing of state and local politics such as Kyle Kajihiro, Will Caron, Shannon Rudolph, Bart Dame and former state Sen. Gary Hooser. Former state Democratic Party Chair Stephanie Ohigashi was also among his donors.

Kahele also drew support from some well-known environmental advocates including Marti Townsend, Nelson Ho, Josh Stanbro and David Henkin.”

The Civil Beat article also reports: “He (Green) had more than $629,000 in cash on hand as of June 30, while Cayetano had slightly more than $56,000 on hand. Kahele had about $40,450 in cash on hand.”

Kai is our guy. The recent campaign spending reports prove it. But because he is refusing the big money, us small money guys gotta keep spreading the word and giving what we can.

So if you have not yet made an online contribution to the campaign of $100 or less please do so TODAY. And if you have already maxed out and given the $100 directly to the campaign, please consider supporting the Kai Kahele for Governor Grassroots Community Fund with an additional donation!

Information is per Civil Beat – today…breaking news.

The story of Sergio Alcubilla candidate for Congress in Hawaii’s CD1, reminds me of “The Little Engine That Could”.

I am guessing you have either read it to your children or perhaps when you were a child remember it being read to you?

It’s a “Classic story of the little blue engine that comes to the rescue when the train taking supplies to the good children over the mountain breaks down.”

In a world where Nina Turner says “any ole blue won’t do” we know by now that Sergio is blue to the core, unlike his Blue-Dog opponent Congressman Ed Case who stopped in its tracks the “Build Back Better” plan – just as it was preparing to cross the mountain peak of Congressional approval.

The Build Back Better plan would have provided hearing, dental, and vision coverage to all Medicare recipients. It would have supported childcare for families in need, and it would have made possible a college education for every single high school graduate regardless of their ability to pay. All of this and much more was lost due to the action and inaction of Case and his Blue-Dog Caucus

The Hawaiʻi Democratic Party itself passed a Resolution saying that Case’s actions “do not reflect the values and principles” of the party.

According to Wikipedia, “In the tale, a long train must be pulled over a high mountain after its locomotive breaks down. Larger locomotives, treated anthropomorphically, are asked to pull the train; for various reasons they refuse. The request is sent to a small engine, who agrees to try. This small engine succeeds in pulling the train over the mountain while repeating the motto: “I-think-I-can”.”

With real-life imitating this classic tale, the whispers among Democratic Party stalwarts were rife at the time with speculation as to “who might step up” to run against Case? What Democrat who truly believed in the values of the Party was going to challenge him?

Not one of the “larger locomotives” was willing to take up the task. All the usual suspects, those with name recognition, those who had money or access to money, those with connections to the movers and shakers – not one of these larger locomotives was willing to move out of the comfort of their garage.

But Sergio Alcubilla, a graduate of Richardson School of Law, a public interest attorney with immigrant roots, a young family man with a keen sense of responsibility to do more for his community said, “I think I can” which translated quickly to “I know I can”.

9 months ago Sergio Alcubilla was virtually unknown in the world of Hawaiʻi politics. He had no previous campaign experience and unlike his well-funded opponent, his campaign account began at zero – with a firm commitment to reject large corporate campaign donations. Sergio’s campaign would be a people’s campaign, not one fueled and managed by insiders and big business.

He has worked tirelessly since that moment, knocking on countless doors, holding signs across the district, and building a diverse grassroots network of volunteers and supporters.

The hard work has paid off with the campaign garnering the endorsement of:
* Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association (watch/listen to @3.5 minute mark Sergio)
* ILWU, Local 142
* ILWU, International
* Unite Here, Local 5
* Hawaiʻi State AFL-CIO
* Our Revolution, Hawaiʻi
* Hawaiʻi 350.org
* Hawaiʻi Ports Maritime Council
* Inland-boatmen’s Union of the Pacific
* Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaiʻi Chapter
* Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative
* Seafarers International Union of North America
* Sailors Union of the Pacific
* Marine Firemen’s Union
* Hawaiʻi Nurses Association Local 50
* Blue America

*Sergio has also taken the Our Hawaiʻi Pledge, to stand with the people of Hawaiʻi and not corporate greed.

“The story of the little engine that could has been told and retold many times. The underlying theme is the same—a stranded train is unable to find an engine willing to take it over difficult terrain to its destination. Only the little engine is willing to try and, while repeating the mantra “I think I can, I think I can”, overcomes a seemingly impossible task.”

To go all the way, up and over the peak that is before him – Sergio needs your support. He needs you to spread the word, to volunteer, and he needs your financial support to fund TV ads during the crucial next few weeks.

Can you help today with an online contribution so Sergio can get the critical TV time needed prior to the ballots being mailed out on July 20th?

The cost of a single 30-second TV spot on the morning news is $300, and the late afternoon prime-time hour is $700. Any help you can offer today and before July 20th is especially needed. Can you by chance contribute 1 or 2 or 3 TV spots?

Whatever the contribution – all are welcome.

ReviewSergio’s background and issue priorities. Watch this short campaign video to get a true sense of who he is. Do your homework. I trust you will agree – Sergio Alcubilla is by far the best choice to serve us in Congress.

We can do this. I know we can.

Sincerely,
Gary Hooser http://www.garyhooser.com
Former Hawaiʻi State Senator

Sergio is a good man. If you haven’t figured it out already, read my blog: Why I’m Choosing Sergio Over Ed Case.

Why do I do this you might ask? Why use my time and my money small though it may be, to support Sergio? I’m holding two of the main answers right here, one in each arm.

I’m flabbergasted to be reminded yet again of the State of Hawaii’s negligence with regard to pesticide contamination.

I was recently sent a legal paper by David M. Forman Director, Environmental Law Program William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

His paper dense though it may be (as legal papers tend to be) – has awakened in me the awareness, concern, and outrage that enveloped our collective community for several years – in our ongoing fight to increase the regulation of pesticides across the islands.

The below snippet is now stuck in my brain. To my knowledge, no state agency has ever taken this investigation any further. Where did the Roundup come from? What impacts is it having on health and the environment? What should be done to mitigate those impacts? Have residents and users of those streams been notified of the risk?

Professor Forman’s report states:

“During deliberations on a proposed county ordinance (referencing Kauai Bill 2491), the Branch Chief for the Hawai‘i State Pesticide Branch offered damning testimony:

“We looked into stream sediments specifically for glyphosate, for Roundup, and we found Roundup in all of the samples that we took. All in all, we found 20 herbicides, 11 insecticides, 6 fungicides, 7 locations with glyphosate but […] there are no EPA benchmarks for […] glyphosate. So we found stuff but, frankly, we don’t know what it means and […] we don’t know how to compare that to any kind of health standards.59”

I will repeat: “We looked into stream sediments specifically for glyphosate, for Roundup, and we found Roundup in all of the samples that we took.”

IN EVERY SINGLE STREAM THEY TESTED THEY FOUND GLYPHOSATE IN THE SEDIMENTS. THEY FOUND 20 HERBICIDES, 11 INSECTICIDES, AND 6 FUNGICIDES – IN 7 DIFFERENT STREAMS. NOT ONE SINGLE STREAM TESTED WAS FREE OF PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION.

To my knowledge, the State of Hawaii took no further action to test these streams further or explore why or how this happened, or mitigate or inform the public.

.

In response to those who have reached out and asked about my thoughts on the latest Kahele campaign developments:

I agree, that losing the opportunity for public matching funds is not good news but my response…once I got past the disappointment…was to just double down.

Today my wife Claudette decided that she would match the donation of $100 I made about one month ago…and I’m reaching out to other friends encouraging them to also contribute $100 as her “match” and keep the “match” going.

Please at this particular point in time, today, give what you can – but no more than $100. And keep the conversation and the matching process going by reaching out to 3 of your friends!

We can do this. We have only a few hours before Kai will take the stage on PBS Air Date: Thursday, Jul 7, 2022, 7:30 PM – alongside his competitors. We need to show him now, with a flood of new online donations, before he steps up on that stage – that we’ve got his back.

Yes…he has an uphill battle but in my opinion, Kai Kahele is still by far the best choice to be Hawaii’s next governor.

The failure to file a form on time = the failure to qualify for key public benefits. How many times have we heard this story?

Congressman Kahele could easily have thrown someone under the bus for the error but he has accepted full responsibility. As a true leader should do.

Campaigns, especially low-budget people-powered campaigns, often are managed and run by volunteers who may not be familiar with all of the forms, and all of the boxes to be checked.

They do the best they can but sometimes the ball gets dropped. In this case, the dropped ball was a very large one. I’m sure there is no shortage of people feeling very awful about this and what role they may or may not have played.

The candidate is ultimately responsible for everything but must spend the vast majority of their time “on the streets” meeting people face-to-face. They must trust those helping them and delegate the day-to-day tasks of campaign administration.

A ball was dropped, responsibility was accepted – it’s time to move on and prove that we as a community can elect the leaders we want and deserve – without their big money, big favors, and the pay-to-play corruption too many see as “just the way things are done”.

Yes…I am all in for Kai Kahele and ask that you join me. Today. Now. Before he takes the stage on PBS tonight at 7:30 pm. Give online whatever you feel comfortable with. But no more than $100 – because Hawaiʻi is not for sale.

*If you have already not done so, you might find interesting my blog piece: Why I’m Supporting Kai Kahele Over Josh Green

Who really controls government here in Hawaiʻi?  Who picks and chooses our elected leaders? Who decides who wins and who loses?

There’s really no mystery, no black box, no secret formula, and for sure there is no conspiracy. It’s all very simple and basic really – our government is controlled by the people who show up to vote.

There’s no magic to it all. The people who show up win.

49% of the votes in 2020 were literally left on the kitchen table. 388,058 legally registered voters who each received a ballot in the mail did not even bother to open the envelope, check a few boxes, and put it back in the mail so their votes would be counted.

David Ige defeated Colleen Hanabusa for Governor in the 2018 primary election by only 16,941 votes. In that election, 454,827 registered voters failed to show up.

Governor Ige’s election was not the result of a conspiracy. He won because more people showed up to vote for him than those that showed up to vote for his opponent. Sure, the various interest groups (unions, business, progressives, conservatives, etc) all conspired with their members and networks – encouraging them to vote for their endorsed candidate. But there was no pre-ordained or manipulated outcome controlled by Bill Gates, George Soros, or the Koch Brothers.

Yes, “big money” does exert an inappropriate amount of influence on our elections and should be controlled, minimized, and removed from the process.

Though Democrats dominate the electoral scene, the Democratic Party is not in charge. Read my 09/21/21 blog piece The Myth Of Democrats Controlling Politics And Government In Hawaiʻi.

The real culprit to be blamed for the dysfunctions within our government and political systems – are those people who don’t show up.

It’s called civic engagement and it requires a personal investment in time, energy, and yes, sometimes money as well.

I get it. We are all busy. According to a Hawaii Community Foundation survey, 70% of us struggle financially to just pay our basic bills. We have children, grandchildren, and parents to care for, and once in a while, we might like to go to the beach or read a book.

But is opening an envelope and checking a few boxes every two years too much to ask?

Please don’t complain about a lack of choices. From the mainstream to the extreme, there are a ton of choices.

For the people to win, for our children and grandchildren to win – we just gotta do a little bit of homework, Google around a bit, and then walk from our kitchen table to our mailbox twice – once in the primary and again in the general.

Those whose main interest is preserving the status quo are retirees’, establishment corporate interests, and organized labor – these folks vote. Low-income working people, the poor and underserved, the young, and the disenfranchised – typically do not vote.

This is why we have the government we have.

It’s not really that complicated.

On June 29th at 2pm the Hawaiʻi Commission To Improve Standards Of Conduct (CISC) is scheduled to discuss recommendations on campaign finance reform.

Will you join me in sending an email to StandardsofConduct@capitol.hawaii.gov in support of the below 5 recommendations?

If your email does not arrive in time for the 2pm meeting, not to worry – please send it anyway.

Do we need more evidence of the need? I think not. We have elected officials and big-money campaign donors under indictment. We have two state legislators who have pleaded guilty to accepting bribes. We have obscenely high campaign account balances, approaching $ 1 million held by some legislators. And we have as a regular occurrence legislators fundraising directly from special interests poised to benefit from the votes of those same legislators.

My hope is that the CISC will embrace and recommend to the incoming 2023 legislature and to our new governor all 5 of the below reforms:

*The full public funding for all State and County elections in Hawaii.

*Banning the solicitation or acceptance of campaign donations during the legislative session.

*Reducing the cap on campaign donations from from $6,000, $4,000 and $2,000 to $100, $100, and $100. Montana caps their maximum donation for state legislative races at $180 per election.

*Banning contributions from corporations and unions as 21 other states now do.

*Limit candidate campaign war chests. This is done in Alaska where candidates can only carry forward a small portion of their campaign account from one election to the next. This law was upheld by the Alaska Supreme Court which noted that when a candidate who is unopposed raises money and squirrels it away for a future election, they are effectively circumventing donation limits for that future election.

All 5 are important, but the reform that makes all other reforms possible is the public funding of elections. Ban and limit big-money special interests and replace it with public funds to be used to elect public servants beholden only to the public.

The State of Maine has such a program and it has proven to be a huge success.

Essentially, candidates for public office in Maine who wish to participate in the program must gather X number of signatures and $5 donations, which qualifies them then for public funding sufficient to run a credible campaign. The number of signatures and $5 donations is intended to prove the candidate is legitimate and varies depending on the race (gubernatorial, state senate or house, or county/city positions).

According to the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL): “Today, 14 states provide some form of public financing option for campaigns…The two main types of programs states offer for public financing of elections are the clean elections programs offered in states such as Maine, Arizona, and Connecticut, and programs that provide a candidate with matching funds for each qualifying contribution they receive.

The “clean election states” offer full funding for the campaign, and the matching funds’ programs provide a candidate with a portion of the funds needed to run the campaign.”

Hawaii presently has a program that provides some matching funds. While this program is utilized by some candidates in some races, it is significantly underutilized, underfunded, and in general falls far short of the Maine “Clean Elections” model.

In Maine, over 60% of all legislators and 75% of democratic legislators participate in this program. In the Connecticut 2014 elections, both the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor and all the winning candidates for the six major statewide offices used their public funding system, as did 83.4% of the candidates from both parties who won seats in the state senate and the general assembly.

Arizona’s Clean Election system is largely financed by special surcharges on legal fines or penalties, such as parking tickets, speeding tickets and other civil law violations. Connecticut’s Clean Elections program avoids using taxpayer funding by deriving its money from general state revenues generated by abandoned property and unclaimed financial accounts. Maine funds its program through a general budget appropriation.

There is no question that special interest money has a corrupting influence on politics and government. There is no question that those entities who have the ability to supply the money have a significantly greater amount of influence on government policymakers.

And there is no question that the Commission To Improve Standards Of Conduct (CISC) is in a position to greatly influence the future of democracy in Hawaii. Please email them today and encourage them to do so: StandardsofConduct@capitol.hawaii.gov

Did you read the latest on the impudence, arrogance, tone-deafness, or at the minimum very bad judgment surrounding 4 Senators and the notorious Hu Honua project? “Hu Honua Lobbyist Hosted Fundraiser For Senators Who Were Key To Energy Bill”

Maybe you also read about the arrest of still yet another high-level elected official and his even higher-powered friends, who allegedly exchanged campaign contributions for political favors? “Keith Kaneshiro Charges Detail Abuse Of Power, Bribery And Conspiracy”

The rules of the game must be changed. Hawaiʻi needs a complete overhaul of our campaign finance, ethics, and lobbyist regulations.

If you would like to help fight back and help change those rules, please join online the Our Hawaiʻi volunteer training tomorrow June 23.

Only by changing the rules, and getting rid of the corrupting influence of money in politics, do we have a chance to create the democracy we deserve.

We need publicly funded elections.

Voters deserve the right to vote on the issue of term limits for state legislators.

But seriously folks – do any of you really expect those who are now in power to take any meaningful action to restrict their own power?

Yes, there are a few and I can name them on one hand (well maybe on both hands if I include the House and the Senate and the various County Councils).

But a majority of those now in power will certainly never vote to make it easier for other candidates to run against them. Nor will they pass a bill to give you and me the power to vote for term limits.

We are now at a moment in time when the opportunity for systemic change is knocking. And we must seize that moment.

We have high-quality candidates at all levels – federal, state, and county, who are uniting around a powerful message that service in elective office is not for sale. (see a partial list of who have signed the “Our Hawaii” pledge below).

Gubernatorial candidate Kai Kahele has made campaign finance reform and getting money out of politics his #1 priority. Vicky Cayetano also has stated emphatically her support. Josh Green? Err…not so much.

Read each of their positions on this critically important issue here in Civil Beat “A Year Of Embarrassing Scandal May Help Hawaii Finally Reform Campaign Financing”

Read my blog piece: “Why I am supporting Kahele over Green”

CD1 Congressional candidate Sergio Alcubilla likewise has made a firm commitment to not accept corporate PAC money and to fight to get money out of politics. From his opponent Ed Case, all we hear are crickets. Read Civil Beat’s “Political Newcomer Sergio Alcubilla Is Seeking To Out US Rep Ed Case”

There are many other highly qualified candidates who are likewise committed to getting rid of the pay-to-play curse that has infected our politics, including the below Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative endorsed candidates who have already stepped up and signed the “Our Hawaii” pledge:

Governor – Kaialiʻi Kahele

Congress – Sergio Alcubilla

State Senate – Laura Acasio, Walter Ritte

State House of Representatives – Kim Coco Iwamoto, Amy Perruso, Natalia Hussey-Burdick, Shannon Lopeka Matson, Kathy Feldman, Elle Cochran, and Jeanné Kapela

Honolulu Council – Ikaika Hussey

Kauai Council – Fern Ānuenue Holland

Maui Mayor – Kelly King

Maui Council – Jordan Hocker, Gabe Johnson, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Carol Lee Kamekona, Nara Boone, and Robin Knox

Is your favorite candidate on the list? If not, perhaps reach out to ask them why. Please also consider attending the Our Hawaiʻi volunteer training tomorrow June 23 .

The Our Hawaiʻi Pledge states in part:
“Turn down political bribes in any form and reject all campaign contributions more than $100 from corporate PACs and lobbyists, and the executives of luxury and out-of-state developers, major landowners, hotel conglomerates, energy monopolies, and military contractors.”

Read the entire pledge, and learn more about the “Our Hawaiʻi” movement. Watch the short but very compelling video .

We have a political status quo that is both corrupted and corrupting, AND we are at a unique point in time when we can do something about it.

Please – take action as if our local democracy depends on it, because it does.

Review the candidates endorsed by Pono HawaiʻiInitiative (PHI) and help them win. This is the home stretch, ballots will soon be hitting the mail.

We must vote out those in power now who have allowed our local government institutions to sink this low, AND we must support and vote for those incumbents and newcomers who have made a commitment to get money out of politics.

We don’t have a lot of time. Let’s do this. Our children, our grandchildren, and our planet – will thank us for it.

Sincerely,

Gary Hooser
Please encourage friends and networks to sign up for my email at https://policy-and-politics.mailchimpsites.com

Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative (PHI) pays for Mail Chimp but these are my words and my words alone. No candidate has given me permission nor approved my words nor is even aware of my words until I utter them on these pages 😉 No one pays me to write this stuff. I am not looking for a job and I have no issues, bills, resolutions, or anything at all pending before any government body that will benefit me. EXCEPT those that impact the future of my grandchildren and our planet.

I have a confession. For the first time in over 4 years, I watched an entire County Council meeting.

I’d be lying if I said that it was anything less than painful. Not boring. It was interesting and even fascinating at times, but tedious, painful to watch, and even more painful to listen to.

God bless them for being willing to serve.

The main issue on the table was Resolution No. 2022-22, proposing a Charter Amendment requiring a minimum of 2% of real property tax revenues to be dedicated every year for affordable housing. If the Resolution is passed by the Council a question will be placed on the ballot stating, “Shall two percent (2%) of real property tax revenues be earmarked for the purpose of affordable housing?”

Kaua`i voters would then decide yes, or no.

Maui voters have approved a similar proposal for 3%, and Honolulu voters will be given the choice in November to increase their existing .5% to 1%.

Kudos to Vice-Chair Mason Chock and Councilmember Luke Evslin for introducing it and persevering in their effort to make affordable housing a top priority for Kauai County.

The measure passed on Wednesday and is now scheduled for a July 20th Public Hearing.

While the vote was unanimous in support the reality is that Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro and Councilmember Bill DeCosta are adamantly and ardently opposed.

They made clear they don’t like it, but voted yes to allow it to be scheduled for a Public Hearing.

Fortunately, Councilmember KipuKai Kualiʻi was in strong support and repeatedly emphasized the voters of Kaua`i deserved the right to decide for themselves whether affordable housing should receive dedicated funding, or not.

The depth of support for more affordable housing “today” could be felt in the voice and in the heart of Councilmember and former Mayor Bernard Carvalho, who cast a strong yes vote.

Councilmember Felicia Cowden, after an extended and detailed discussion, cast her vote also in support of the Resolution.

Chair Kaneshiro said he believes affordable housing is important, but that lots of County services were important. His preference is to budget “year to year” and he opposes the County making a long-term irrevocable commitment to building more affordable housing.

While his argument may appeal to the budget hawks of the world, what he is saying also is that the voters of Kaua`i County should not be given the opportunity to weigh in on an issue that is fundamental to our collective quality of life.

Councilmember DeCosta also said he believed affordable housing was important. His primary concern seemed to revolve around the risk that affordable housing would fall into the hands of new residents from the mainland. He seemed obsessed with the idea that people from the mainland were squeezing out locals and that the money proposed to be set aside for affordable housing would unduly benefit new residents from California or Idaho (two states he specifically called out).

He continually stated that all you needed was a driver’s license to claim residency, and thus qualify for affordable housing benefits.

DeCosta’s assertions were repeatedly refuted by other Councilmembers and by the head of the County Housing Agency. It was stated over and over again that proving residency was only one factor out of numerous others that a prospective buyer or renter must comply with in order to qualify for an affordable “for purchase” or “for rent” unit.

The truth is that new residents represent an infinitesimal number of the folks who benefit from publicly subsidized affordable housing.

Why do I say observing the Council in action was a “painful” experience? Though the outcome was a positive one, the conversation and debate was tedious, and at times unpleasant to observe.

The meeting briefly fell into personal insult territory when Councilmember DeCosta accused Councilmember Cowden of “playing the victim” (his words). She earlier had made a comment about being an “outlier” after three amendments she had proposed were voted down 6 to 1. To her credit, she did not rise to the bait and respond in kind. The moment though tense for a few seconds, thus passed without escalation.

But please don’t take my word for it. Watch the meeting yourself. Start around the 2.5-hour mark and fast forward through breaks and lunch (and some of the more tedious conversation).

Most importantly, if increasing the supply of truly affordable housing on Kauai is important to you – submit email testimony ASAP to counciltestimony@kauai.gov – Share this request with friends and show up at the public hearing scheduled for July 20 at 8:30am.

I’m not pulling any punches today. The time is too short and the need is too great – read on, please.

If you live in or around Ala Moana, Kaka’ako, or downtown Honolulu I encourage you to vote for Kim Coco Iwamoto. She is incredibly qualified, community-based, and totally committed to serving in a way that is “pono”. 

Regardless of where you live in Hawaiʻi, the outcome of this race and the two others listed below, will affect all of us.

Kim Coco is running against Speaker of the House Scott Saiki and came within 167 votes of beating him in 2020. We need to help push her over the top this time.

She is quoted in a recent StarAdvertiser article that her focus will be on “decentralizing the power that Saiki holds over his colleagues right now…I want more openness and transparency. I’m very much interested in holding whoever’s in leadership accountable to the body and not getting petty and vindictive. I want to get away from that petty schoolyard bullying.” 

What is she talking about?

Scott Saiki has been in office 28 years and as Speaker of the House supports, perpetuates, leads, or at the minimum enables a legislative culture that most observers on the inside, describe as toxic.

If you’re a State employee and you somehow cross him, he can and will make your life miserable. He will have those that carry his water attack your character, your credibility, and your work. The message sent to every state agency is clear and unequivocal. Fail to kowtow to House Leadership, and you risk paying a very high price.

Need proof? Ask State Auditor Les Kondo. Or read about it in Civil Beat here and here.

If you have the audacity to support his political opponent Kim Coco Iwamoto and you are an advocate or lobbyist with bills before the legislature, he will kill your bills.

If you are a member of the House of Representatives and you fail to support his agenda, you risk losing your committee Chair-personship, having your bills derailed, and losing valuable Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding for your district.

This is the reality folks. Ask others who work in and around the Capitol. They will confirm what I say here as truth, of this I have no doubt.

In the Speaker’s defense, this toxic culture of fear and retribution has been supported and utilized by other Speakers in years past. But in the over 20 years that I’ve been working in and around the legislature, this is the worse I have ever seen it.

The unilateral decision-making, the secrecy, the deal-making, and the retribution toward those that don’t go along – is real.

Please make an online campaign contribution, or volunteer today to help Kim Coco Iwamoto defeat Saiki and end the current political climate. 

The fact that former Senate Majority Leader Kalani English and former Vice Chairman of the House Finance Committee Ty Cullen pleaded guilty to accepting bribes is further evidence of how far the institution has fallen.

Senate President Ronald Kouchi through his acquiescence is similarly responsible but much less so. Due to the nature of the Senate, the unilateral power at the top is much weaker than in the House. Senators serve larger districts and with 4-year staggered terms, they are more secure in their seats and less susceptible to the petty bullying that goes on in the House. 

Ask legislators in private and they will tell you. Rather than being a place where the climate is conducive to creativity and collaboration, the atmosphere in that big square building is fear-based, and the air heavy with apprehension.

Fortunately, in the Senate, there are also new candidates running who have the maturity and strength of character desperately needed and sufficient to hold the entire body accountable.

On Maui, Walter Ritte is running for election to Senate District #7 challenging Senator Lynn DeCoite. Ritte is a proven force of nature, grounded in community. On Hawaiʻi Island, Senator Laura Acasio is completing her first term and running for reelection against Senator Lorraine Inouye (in a district that has been consolidated via redistricting). Senator Acasio has proven without a doubt that she is incredibly capable, values-based, and unafraid to take on the status quo.

We need to take back our government.

Support, and yes make some level of financial contribution and help elect all three:  Kim Coco Iwamoto, Walter Ritte, and Senator Laura Acasio – and the world as we know it at the legislature will change for the better. Of this I am sure.  

There are other good people running for election on all islands and at all levels. A list of those I feel particularly strong about is here at Pono Hawaiʻi Initiative (PHI).

These opinions are my own and the candidates listed above are not aware and have not given permission or approval of what I have written. While PHI pays for the cost of Mail Chimp’s email hosting services – no one pays me to write this stuff.

Sincerely,
Gary Hooser
Former Hawaiʻi State Senator
Read:
Why I’m Supporting Kai Kahele over Josh Green?
Why Sergio over Ed Case?