Inside Honolulu: Jan. 3
It’s a new year, and Honolulu Hale is welcoming five new City Council members. The city’s new mayor has eight weeks to go before he has to present his first budget, and a new round of rail hearings start this week. Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.
Nestor Garcia Talks Rail, APEC, City Values
5:30 p.m.
In an address before a packed City Council chamber, Honolulu City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia outlined what he promised would be an exciting session to come. Garcia promised not the “squander” the opportunity to lead the council, saying he felt more like a “host” than the “captain of a ship.”
“My first pledge is to help this council work collaboratively with the administrations of both Mayor Carlisle and Gov. Abercrombie on all matters that affect the people of the City and County of Honolulu,” Garcia said.
The chairman spoke about the importance of moving forward with rail, and for the city being prepared to host the APEC conference in November. He also promised to explore the possibility of introducing fees for taxpayers, to diversify sources of revenue for the city.
“Perhaps it’s a good time to again consider a pay-as-you go system for city services,” Garcia said. “The next generation of parking meters that would allow credit or debit card transactions. … Allowing concessions at city-owned facilities.”
Throughout his speech, Garcia offered advice to the city’s five incoming council members, four of whom were honored today.
“Public service is not suposed to be easy or convenient,” Garcia said. “We must all keep this sense of urgency because that pothole down the street can’t wait another month to be fixed, that clogged storm drain had better be cleared before the next heavy rain, and the trash bin waiting on the curb can’t wait another day.”
Celebratory Vibe at Inaugural City Council Meeting
12:01 p.m.
Honolulu City Council Chambers are packed with officials, reporters, members of the public and family and friends of incoming City Council members Stanley Chang, Breene Harimoto, Ernie Martin and Tulsi Tamayo. The mayor and managing director are walking around greeting people and members of the Royal Hawaiian Band are playing on the chamber floor.
Even Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, a former City Council member who stepped down after being elected to the Hawaii Senate in the last months of his term, stopped by to congratulate newcomers. City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia has taken to the podium. The meeting is scheduled to begin any moment.
Council to Announce Focus on Social Services, APEC
Today is the inaugural session for the Honolulu City Council in the new year, and the nine-member body boasts five new members. Four of those newcomers — Stanley Chang, Breene Harimoto, Ernie Martin and Tulsi Tamayao — legally became council members Sunday. But they’ll be honored in a ceremonial swearing-in this afternoon.
Also on the docket: City Council Chair Nestor Garcia will outline the direction in which he plans to take the new council. He told Civil Beat he promises a serious commitment to social services that will bring out a “kinder and gentler City and County of Honolulu” in 2011. Garcia said he’ll also speak about APEC in his inaugural session statements. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation will bring global economic leaders from 21 countries to Honolulu in November 2011.
