Off The Beat: What We Didn’t Know Could Hurt Us
Honolulu City Council Chair Nestor Garcia has a conflict of interest when it comes to rail.
He’s been drawing a $60,000 paycheck from the pro-rail Kapolei Chamber of Commerce since 2009. Now, thanks to a , Garcia says he’ll declare the conflict going forward.
鈥淪hould there be a vote again on rail, I will make my disclosure,鈥 Garcia said.
To be fair, Garcia never hid his work with the chamber. He listed the work in his financial disclosures.
But it’s troubling that he wouldn’t publicly declare it in council meetings. Before becoming council chair, he headed the transportation committee.
Garcia has had plenty of chances to declare the conflict. In January, he gave an inaugural address before a packed city council chambers, touting the importance of moving forward with rail. Later that month, the council unanimously approved permits allowing rail construction to begin. He’s traveled 鈥 on taxpayers’ dime 鈥 to Washington D.C. to meet with federal transit officials about rail.
Garcia says he’ll do the right thing from now on. Better late than never? Seems like an elected official, especially a leader, ought have a better defense.
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