Martin Han Answers Honolulu Council Survey

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Reading time: 7 minutes.

Editor’s Note: In June 2012, Civil Beat sent 10 questions to each of the candidates registered to run for Honolulu City Council District 7. All three responded, including 27-year-old first-time candidate Martin Han. The questions and answers are reproduced below in full, and will serve as a resource both to voters deciding for whom to vote at the Aug. 11 primary but also to constituents so they can hold Han to his words should he be elected. To see how Han’s responses compare to those from his main competitor, click here. Click on each topic listed below to read Civil Beat’s question and Han’s response.

Preferred Candidate Name: Martin Han

Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY): 6/20/1985

Place of Birth/Hometown: Manila, Philippines

Current Profession/Employer: Took a leave of absence to campaign

Education/Alma Mater(s): Remington College Graduate

1. Do you believe that Honolulu should proceed with the 20-mile elevated rail project from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Shopping Center? Why or why not?

The people voted twice on Rail once during the Charter amendment and the other during the vote for Hart. I support the rail project and do believe we need to help with traffic congestions. However, if elected I will insure that this project is run on time, fiscally responsible and on budget as we promised the people. I am also willing to take a look at design and construction and be open to any ideas to save the taxpayers’ money. I will ask the hard questions and this will not be a rubber stamp that I promise. ↩ back to top

2. Should the city continue to send municipal solid waste to Waimanalo Gulch Landfill until it reaches capacity, should it site a new landfill elsewhere as soon as possible, or should it pursue a different path? Why?

The City currently has no other real choice but the Waimanalo landfill. It is obvious that we need to prepare for the inevitable maximum capacity of the current site by the identification of an alternate location; it is also very obvious that the selection is destined to take a while.  In the meantime, all avenues of reducing the amount of trash we send to the landfill should continue to be a top priority of the City. ↩ back to top

3. Has the sidewalk ban on stored property, in effect for six months, been a success? What should the city be doing to help Honolulu’s homeless population?

The ban on stored property has had mixed reviews but I believe it is a step in the right direction.  Residents have a right to full access of our sidewalks and other public property. Furthermore, some of these make shift wood huts and other items can be liability and safety issue if someone should trip or get hurt.  We can’t let a small minority impose a major impact on the health and safety of others.  In all fairness, implementation of the ban should be uniformly applied in all areas of the island.  As for the homeless population, I would work to increase the supply of affordable housing for young families and seniors which would greatly assist those who become homeless as a result of being priced out of their homes, just one consequence of today’s depressed economy. ↩ back to top

4. Should the city consider eliminating property tax exemptions for homeowners, nonprofits and other special interest groups if it means lowering rates? What other steps should the council take to improve Honolulu Hale’s financial picture?

The elimination of certain exemptions for homeowners and non-profits would probably not result in a dramatic reduction of tax rates for the rest of us.  Losing the homeowner’s tax exemption would actually result in an increase for most people.  The work of non-profits is especially important in a time of decreased government resources.  New home construction would greatly improve the City’s financial picture. ↩ back to top

5. Relations between the mayor and the City Council have been at times contentious. How would you work to improve those relations?

Communication is the key to improving the relationship between the Mayor and the City Council.  I would have an open door policy as a member of the Council, always willing to listen to suggestions and the possibility of a better idea. ↩ back to top

6. Should the city wait until July 2015 for the recently approved plastic checkout bag ban to take effect, implement something sooner or go a different route? Why?

July 2015 is a fair date for the implementation of the ban.  We need to give businesses adequate time to use up existing inventory and to prepare for the total ban on all non-biodegradable plastic bags. ↩ back to top

7. Do the Oahu General Plan and regional planning documents as currently written need to be overhauled to protect agricultural resources and manage growth or are they sufficient as is? What other steps should the city take to control or promote development?

The Oahu General Plan and the regional plans are meant to be used as blueprints and guidelines to manage growth.  The periodic review and updates of the General Plan as well as the regional plans should reflect the desires of the communities after ample opportunities for public input which is part of the process ↩ back to top

8. What do you see as the largest long-term challenge facing the city — sewers, water, roads, traffic or something else? What immediate steps will you take to put Honolulu in a stronger position to deal with its largest long-term challenge?

Over time, upgrades to an aging sewer system will probably surpass the cost of rail construction.  The City will continue to invest millions of dollars in road repairs and the Board of Water Supply will be faced with the expense of replacing miles of ancient pipes that now deliver water to our homes.  The largest long-term challenge facing the city is money management, namely deficit reduction.  We need to bring down our debt service which continuously siphons money away from all of the infrastructure needs facing the City, now and in the future ↩ back to top

9. What would you want to be remembered for as a member of the City Council?

I would want to be remembered as a fair and honest legislator, philosophically consistent in my policy decisions and as an advocate of fiscal responsibility. Willing to listen to ideas but not afraid to make the tough decisions. More than anything, I want to be remembered as someone who fought for the interests of the working-class citizens of our City. ↩ back to top

10. If you could change one city decision of the last two years, what would it be and why?

I consider the decision to award the rail contract to Ansaldo to have been premature and done without full public disclosure of certain facts such as a questionable license to do business in Hawaii at the time they submitted their bid.  I do not feel that the decision making was transparent enough and raised too many questions about the selection process that had a negative impact on the whole project. Public trust is very important and I would have liked to see Hart initiate the contract since they were only a few months away from being in full operation. Moreover, I would have made more of an argument for a company who could have built the cars here in Hawaii and created more jobs as a result. ↩ back to top

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