CITY'S AWARD TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE RAIL CARS IS RUNNING AMUCK PER LOSING BIDDERS

My resolution 11-248 to start the procurement process over to save the taxpayer $234 million revealed that somebody is not telling the truth. See the full one and a half hour video exchange here, and the two minute news clip coverage here - Hawaii News Now clip. To compound the chaos, see the letter I received yesterday that points out to the City that some serious fiscal issues relating to Anslado may be brewing. See documentation here.

EWA DEVELOPMENT PLAN MADE PUBLIC

At approximately 5:00 p.m. yesterday, the update to the Ewa Development Plan was delivered to our office. To review the cover letter and be in receipt to the link to actually review the plan, click here.

WAIANAE SECOND ACCESS ROAD STUDY BEING KILLED

The urgency to advance discussions for possible use around Kaena Point as an emergency route becomes more relevant as OMPO proposes to shut us down completely - see latest OMPO communication calling for the Waianae Second Access Road to be deleted from all planning on the grounds the DOT states there is simply not enough money to do anything here. Please see my idea for discussion to get the private sector to build a dinner train that would get us a way out without one penny needed in tax dollars - see outline here.

FLOODING; RESOLUTION TO FORM MULTI-AGENCY TASK FORCE TO RESOLVE FLOODING FROM HONOULIULI TO MAKAHA PASSES COMMITTEE

Albeit the City tried to shoot me down and argued my resolution 11-203 was not needed, I made the case to counter that assertion and time was my witness - meaning decades of apathy was being condoned by government and a lot of pointing fingers taking place with study after study doing nothing but exhibiting there indeed is a problem- without any real follow through. Kudos to Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard who chairs the committee on Safety, Economic Development and Government Affairs who passed out this most important piece of legislation for us. A big MAHALO to all of the testifiers that came from our district to fight for this resolution and a special MAHALO to Senator Maile Shimabukuro whose testimony included language to improve the overall content of which the committee adopted.

PAINT-BALL COMPLEX IN KALAELOA; RESO ADVANCES

The paint-ball faction is growing worldwide and the economic benefits to Oahu if we can capture a permanent arena in Kalaeloa for tournaments, ESPN coverage and more should be a win-win if we do this right. My reso 11-283 passed the committee on Parks and Cultural Affairs earlier this week of which I am the chairman. With the City about to acquire some 580 acres in Kalaeloa for parks, we can either remain idle and watch those acres grow weeds for decades to come or let the private sector take charge and generate revenue for the City.

LETTING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TACKLE THE HOUSING CRISIS

More television coverage on the idea of allowing farmers and landowners of fallow ag land to take command of their property and be permitted to be Good Samaritans for the less fortunate continues to get debated. See KHON newsclip from 10/10/2011 here.

MAILI BEACH PARK HOSTS FREE EVENT THIS SATURDAY

Please see flyer here.

DE BARTOLO TESTIMONY FROM OUR OFFICE IS ON RECORD

For details on the new shopping center proposed - see my testimony here.

SAVING HISTORIC EWA VILLAGES FROM REDISTRICTING BLUNDER

I testified to the City's Reapportionment Commission on Wednesday advocating they reconsider their plan on splitting the council district for the next ten years down Renton Road. This is not good. This is the only historical district in the State of Hawaii. Dividing their community in half when it is the only community association in the State that has to get approval from the City and State Historical Preservation Division when amending their bylaws and governing documents makes no sense at all.

REMINDER: NEXT FULL COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE AT KAPOLEI HALE STARTING AT 10AM AND INCLUDE AGENDA ITEMS YOU CAN TESTIFY ON:

1. PUBLIC FIRING RANGE KALAELOA
2. PUBLIC PAINT-BALL COMPLEX KALAELOA
3. TASK FORCE ON FLOODING LEEWARD COAST
4. WAIANAE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLAN (SECOND READING)

NOTE: IF YOU ARRIVE AT 8:30 A.M., YOU WILL BE ABLE CATCH THE COUNCIL HONORING LOCAL HISTORIAN JOHN BOND FROM EWA BEACH ON HIS WORK TO SAVE EWA AIR FIELD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE ENDEAVORS OVER THE YEARS.