“Of all the applicants in the race, I have the most powerful in supporting and running to create more housing. “
Editor’s note: For the Nov. 8 general election in Hawaii, Civil Beat asked applicants to answer some questions about their position on the issues and what their priorities would be if elected.
The following Americans come from Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, a candidate for Honolulu City Council District 6, which includes parts of Kakaako, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Papakolea, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Iwilei, Liliha, Alewa Heights, Kalihi and Kalishi Valley. His opponent is Traci Toguchi.
Access Civil Beat’s election advisor to get general data and be informed about other candidates in the general election.
1. Which is the biggest facing Oahu and what would you do about it?
Affordable housing, first and foremost. I will work diligently every day as a member of your board to focus on expanding our housing inventory, to every degree that local families can afford.
Of all the applicants in the race, I have the greatest interest in supporting and running to create more affordable housing. I am in favor, and testified about it, of creating housing for others on the edge of homelessness through renovation and expansion. of sponsored or city-owned housing sites in Chinatown, and I also worked with a coalition of housing stakeholders to expand the tax requirement, exempting projects from accepting Section 8 bondholders. I am also proud to have been the lead advocate for the new law to expand the state’s general excise credits and the corresponding municipal payment waiver program for affordable rental apartments.
As a board member, I will not only sit down and communicate about the demanding housing situations we face; instead, I am in a position to roll up my sleeves and take action. As stated above, we want to create more affordable housing within the success of our local citizens and I am in a position to introduce Day 1 law that would remove barriers to the creation of affordable, low-rise apartments in our existing apartment spaces and within our existing height limits.
2. The Honolulu Rail Project: What to Do?
I that train wants to pass to the Ala Moana Center to maximize the number of passengers and reap the long-promised benefits of housing in transit-oriented progression spaces along the train route. The short stop in Kakaako, as proposed, creates more problems, such as the additional operating prices of the staggered bus service to update the last railway section, and the effects that the new “end” of the transience will have on the surrounding neighborhood.
We want board members who are willing to take on the complicated train factor, which many applicants have tried to avoid. The board continues to dodge difficult questions or relies on HART or esteemed consultants. those factors that lie ahead: accelerating the opening of the first segment and ensuring the good fortune of the initial operations; financing of operations and maintenance; integrate our award-winning bus formula with the train; and the creation of a mechanism to capture the highest revenues from TOD developments.
With my delight in the structure industry, and my willingness to speak up if things happen, I look forward to answering those questions and more, and finding workable solutions, especially as the train assignment moves closer to the urban core. .
3. In recent years, serious disorders have arisen within the Honolulu Police Department. At the same time, significant efforts have been made to monitor the police and reform certain practices. What would you do in particular to improve the accountability of local law enforcement?Are you happy with the Honolulu Police Department?What about the Honolulu Police Commission?
This is a delicate balance: on the one hand, we want more oversight to avoid as many heinous incidents as possible within the HPD, but on the other hand, too much micromanagement by the mayor or the city council risks politicizing internal operations. of the HPD at a time when functional disintegration is desired to the maximum. Finding the right balance will require a collaborative effort on the part of the City Council, the Mayor, the Police Commission, the Police Decomposition, SHOPO and the Legislature as well.
In comparing the proposals to HPD reform and oversight, the main questions I will weigh are whether such a proposal will reduce crime, whether such a proposal will make our neighborhoods safer for all residents, and whether such a proposal can actually be implemented.
Having visited so many constituents on your doorstep, I recognize your concerns about crime in your neighborhoods and will work diligently to reduce crime if elected. I am committed to working without delay with HPD on the recruitment and retention of workers, especially given the existing list of vacancies and the growing number of retirements; and expand our policing and netpainting programs; and working with the HPD and the prosecutor’s office to fight repeat offenders.
4. Honolulu has some of the lowest asset taxes in the country. Is it time to raise those rates to meet the city’s obligations?Tax vacant homes at a higher rate?
I oppose an accumulation of tax rates on assets for local citizens who own their homes. Too many local families are in a hurry right now.
That said, for non-owner-occupied housing or speculative investments, I’m willing to explore the option of converting our existing “residential A” rate, so that owners of investment homes with values (above, say, $3 million) pay their fair share.
As a separate but similar issue, I have also been heavily involved in accelerating the accumulation of asset valuations, which is resulting in a general accumulation of asset taxes for local residents. We want to take a look at the opaque way reviews are made, especially since an increase in valuation can be caused through a close sale, through no fault of the current owner.
Finally, we also want to take a look at how we can implement a design such as financing construction taxes (similar to what many continental jurisdictions have done), for new advances in TOD spaces so that the city can meaningfully capture the new taxes on the assets generated. through those TODs. Developments.
5. Is Honolulu a safe position to live?What can be done with the quality of life on the island?
Crime has increased in our neighborhoods, and we have to say enough is enough. Lately, a more insidious bureaucracy has been carried beyond the theft of goods and home invasion, and now includes illegal gambling halls, drug use in our parks, and acts of violence even in broad daylight. It is clear that public protection will have to be the number one priority of our leaders, and I will work diligently to make other people feel safer in their own neighborhoods.
To the quality of life, we want a municipal government that is responsive, proactive and fulfills its promises. It’s hard to have a smart quality of life if your street floods every time it rains, if speed and lack of sidewalks save you from moving around your neighborhood, or if our parks are shabby and unpleasant. During my election campaign, I responded to considerations raised through giant and small neighbors, and I will remain receptive as a member of your city council.
6. Hawaii has experienced a developing department in policy, development, fitness mandates, and other topics. The protests are becoming increasingly violent. What would you do to close the gaps of some and unite other people despite their differences?
Clear, perceptible and consistent communication is essential. While other people disagree with the decisions made by our government, it is mandatory for our government to explain why we make those decisions, as well as the pros and cons of the alternatives. I think our network is akamai enough to perceive the “why. “” behind the decisions if we explain them with patience and clarity.
7. Al like the state, the city and county have had their share of instances of corruption, from the police branch and prosecutor’s office to the mayor’s branch and the plan-making branch. What would you do to restore public trust in our public servants?What happens if something you want to replace in the operation of the town hall?
I talked about the corruption disorders within the village, especially within the Permitting and Planning Department. Through HI Good Neighbor, I have worked to uproot, discover and disclose the likely preferential remedy that some permit applicants receive, and I have asked the DPP to make sure their processes are fair and absolutely honest. I have worked with the local media to publicize inspectors that they have accepted bribes, and I will continue to be a strong advocate for a blank and effective municipal government if elected to the city council.
To tackle corruption, we cannot simply be reactive when bad news comes, but we want to work proactively within departments to update, update and optimize their internal processes, which must be implemented equitably for all, and isolate them. of the whims of bad actors. A first step is to promptly put more data and processes online, so that we know who is involved in applying for and making decisions on discretionary matters, and also to make city records more readily available to the public.
8. La lack of housing has been a challenge for decades, but we don’t seem to be making much progress. What new concepts would you recommend for this persistent challenge?
As a council member, I will advocate for an “all of the above” technique for the homeless that includes staffed hygiene facilities, areas, circle of family repatriation programs, fitness and intellectual fitness services, and housing-focused villages.
Specifically, I will work with Mayor Blangiardi to expand the CORE program beyond Chinatown to address the district’s camps; download other case sets first; and making sure the board is proactive in helping the administration apply for and achieve every federal dollar we are eligible for.
9. No one needs the sale of the island in their garden. Should Waimanalo Gulch remain on the west side and expand?Or are there other solutions?
The legislature passed Bill 73 in 2020, which imposed restrictions that made it virtually unlikely to locate any type of landfill in almost any and every component of Oahu, unless a handful of wallets in Kunia, downtown Oahu and Pupukea Highlands. If those are the only features allowed under Bill 73, then the hand is distributed to us. The government has to make difficult decisions, especially when the hand of the people is restricted by state law.
In addition to selling recycling and reusing waste, we will also have to look for tactics to upgrade H-POWER to process other types of fabrics to decrease the volume of waste entering Waimanalo Gulch and any long-term landfills. It’s about exploring how we can treat waste that lately isn’t worthy of combustion.
10. La coronavirus pandemic has revealed many flaws in Hawaii’s design and systems, from generation to economic disparity. If you can use this moment to reinvent Hawaii, build on what we’ve learned, and create a more wonderful state, a more wonderful way of doing things, what would you do?Please share a wonderful concept you have for Oahu. Be innovative, but be specific.
We have been discussing for years how to diversify our economy and also revitalize our urban neighborhoods. As a board member, I would love to paint on systems that foster and network entrepreneurship. I think we also want to establish an urban business or entrepreneurial zone. in certain neighborhoods of Oahu, as some localities of the continent have done to boost local economic activity.
This would blank our arts and culture neighborhoods like Chinatown, allowing fledgling businesses to thrive without being threatened by crime and homelessness. We can also re-engage the small family business centers we have in our older neighborhoods. , like Liliha and Pauoa, and advertise them.
Finally, we have a wonderful opportunity in Iwilei and Palama, as those neighborhoods begin to evolve in their own way, to be informed of the remodeling in Kakaako and think about how we can apply the positives (more housing, especially rents, as well as opportunities for small businesses to take root) without the negative facets (rapid gentrification).
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