Nonpartisan Races
Romy Cachola
Age: 70
Job: City Council member
Past: Realtor associate (1977-2000); state representative (1984-2000)
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
I know the issues affecting Oahu, having over 24 years of experience in public service.
I’m also an advocate for smart, fiscally responsible government. I constantly look at ways to save taxpayers’ money. As a member of the House of Representatives, I introduced several cost-cutting measures, including a bill that saved $230 million in Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund premiums. As a councilmember, I led efforts to help the city settle the Golf Course 5 & 6 case. As a result … taxpayers were spared from having to pay as much as a 40 percent increase in real property taxes to pay for damages.
What can the city do to help residents cope with the rising cost of living?
The city’s main source of revenue is the property tax paid for by homeowners. In these tough economic times, the city needs to hold the line on only property tax or other user fee increases.
As a Councilmember, I introduced legislation that established an enterprise zone program for urban Honolulu, which includes Kalihi Kai, downtown and Kakaako. This innovative program offers businesses tax incentives, real property tax rebates and a waiver of fees for building and grading permits. The program gave a much-needed shot in the arm for the economy, local businesses and residents.
Should the city continue with its planned rail transit system? Please explain.
Yes. The issue should be on the November ballot for voters to decide. Since current and future taxpayers will be paying for this project for many years, we should continue to involve them in the decision-making process.
I support a mass transit system that relieves gridlock, like building the first segment from downtown to Aloha Stadium. Starting from East Kapolei to Waipahu won’t relieve gridlock since traffic is heaviest at the H-1/H-2 merge. We should consider construction, operation and maintenance costs, since money from the feds and the GE tax won’t be enough to pay for the entire project.
What should the city do to improve the quality of Honolulu’s roads?
I supported increased funding in the city’s Fiscal Year 2008-2009 budget for road repair and maintenance. I’ve taken a proactive approach by instructing my staff to report potholes to the administration, as well as to request road rehabilitation for areas in my district that are in need of repair.
Pedestrian safety is also a big concern. Over the past several years, I’ve requested the administration to re-stripe faded crosswalks and install pedestrian crossing signs to improve pedestrian safety.
Lastly, there needs to be better coordination between state, city and public utility companies on projects that involve road repairs and resurfacing.
What should the city do about homelessness?
We can no longer view homelessness as the state’s or the city’s problem. Instead, we need creative, outside-of-the-box solutions involving the private sector to solve our homeless problem. For instance, as a state representative, I sponsored a bill to establish Hale Kokua, an assistance program that the city could adopt. This program provides tax breaks for private homeowners who make their homes available for the “working homeless” and their families. This removes the stigma of being homeless and dedicates other funds to address other homeless persons with special needs.
Lillian Hong
Age: 67
Job: Business owner, jewelry store
Past: Ran for Honolulu mayor since 1994
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
What I went through with my life will guide me to enact laws for the needs of the people.
Life experience through 67 years. I am a senior.
Health experience: Two heart attacks.
Financial experience: Filed for bankruptcy in 1999.
Homeownership: Two homes foreclosed.
Business experience: Kakaako store closed. Lai Wah Co. store closed. Present store now at old Ranch 99 location in Mapunapuna.
What can the city do to help residents cope with the rising cost of living?
For the rich: City cannot afford to help them!
For the poor: City needs to ask the rich, the charitable organizations, the nonprofit organizations, etc., to help with a private-public cooperation. In return (of) the kindness, city gives incentives when they ask, legally and lawfully.
For the middle class: City needs to educate, and wake them up, “it is time to tighten up your belt.” No more Starbucks coffee! They even closed down to help them!
Should the city continue with its planned rail transit system? Please explain.
Yes. The rail is an essential need for the future.
No, if the administration is using the most monies to return the favors of the campaign donations 2004 to now.
What should the city do to improve the quality of Honolulu’s roads?
Inside the road: Use better materials, use good construction companies unrelated to campaign donations.
On top of the road: Lessen the number of cars running.
Increase the frequency of TheBus during heavy traffic. One bus takes away around 75 cars. One long bus takes away around 135-150 cars. Free TheBus (make admission free) during the off-peak hours.
What should the city do about homelessness?
One of the solutions (the) city can do in one day.
For humanity reason, nobody under a good city government should sleep under the sky without a rooftop. City should open all its facilities (buildings’ courtyard, parking lots, etc.) — especially City Hall, to house the homeless (clean) 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
New law with teeth to bite at the private companies for allowing their shopping carts go out of their store areas/shopping centers.
Lynn Vasquez-Dela Cerna
Age: 52
Job: Blogger
Past: Mother, grandmother, daughter and auntie to many
What qualifies you to be a City Council member?
My love for my community, state and country. As a neighborhood board member and community advocate, I know firsthand what is going on. I hear and see the pain of those around me because I am one of them. I understand the problems and I will be reachable to my constituents.
What can the city do to help residents cope with the rising cost of living?
It’s a delicate balance between providing critical city services and keeping the cost of government down. As a Councilwoman, I would support efforts already under way to pare down a city budget that is larger then Honolulu can afford. I also pledge to avoid any property tax increase during the difficult economic period we are facing. Finally, we must increase and promote the amount of services available on the city’s Web site as a cheaper alternative to adding more staff at satellite city halls, where the wait in line is often too long for our elderly and time-conscious citizens.
Should the city continue with its planned rail transit system? Please explain.
Honolulu has studied and debated mass transit for more than 40 years. Meanwhile, traffic has gotten much worse, gas prices are skyrocketing, and experts predict it will go even higher. What solutions do rail opponents propose? HOT lanes and double-decker toll roads will only put more cars on the road. Should we limit vehicle use to those with downtown parking passes? The solution is rail transit. Yes, it is expensive. That’s why if you elect me, I will undo the damage my incumbent opponent has done by removing his Salt Lake spur from the rail transit route, which will save hundreds of millions of dollars.
What should the city do to improve the quality of Honolulu’s roads?
One of the greatest things the mayor has done during his tenure is to shore up our roads, which were neglected during the Harris administration. I would support an even greater emphasis on repairing our battered roads over piece-meal pothole filling with low-grade asphalt. The city and county of Honolulu’s people are tired of damage being done to their vehicles because of roadway neglect
What should the city do about homelessness?
As a homeless advocate, I would like to see some kind of plan in place to work with those who are living in certain areas for prolonged periods who never were arrested or are causing problems … just merely surviving to be able to stay where they are.
The Kokea Women and Children Homeless Shelter was an excellent example of a transitional housing facility. It is still standing but has been vacant for many years. Perhaps the state and city can get together and bring it back again to serve the people of Oahu!
