Candidate Q&A: Honolulu City Council, District 7 — Joey Manahan
“The Council needs to ensure that we have a viable financialÌýplan to see rail construction through the urban core beyondÌýMiddle Street into Ala Moana and UH Manoa.”
Editor’s note:ÌýFor Hawaii’s Nov. 8 generalÌýelection, Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions.
The following came from Joey Manahan, a candidate for Honolulu City Council, District 7, which includes Kalihi, lwilei, Sand Island, Kalihi Kai, Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Hickam, Foster Village, Ford Island, and Sand Island. There is one other candidate, Chace Shigemasa.
Go to Civil Beat’sÌýElections GuideÌýfor general information, and check out other candidates on theÌýGeneralÌýElection Ballot.
Name: Joey Manahan
Office seeking: Honolulu City Council, District 7
Occupation: City Council member
Community organizations/prior offices held: State representative, 2006-2012
Age as of Aug. 13, 2016: 45
Place of residence: Kalihi
1. Which is closest to your choice for Honolulu rail: KillÌýthe project? Modify the route? Find the additional money toÌýbuild the project as planned? Explain your choice and whatÌý you would do to accomplish that.
Find the additional money and proceed as planned.ÌýKeeping our commitment to rail and the fixed guidewayÌý through to Ala Moana and UH Manoa is essential for Oahu toÌýbe able to manage traffic and growth well into the future.
With nine of the 21 stations (Stadium to Iwilei) located inÌýDistrict 7, we have a majority of transit-orientedÌý development at stake, and we cannot afford to missÌýout on the opportunity to meaningfully address our housingÌýcrisis by building affordable workforce housing in theÌýKalihi corridor.
The Council needs to ensure that we have a viable financialÌýplan to see rail construction through the urban core beyondÌýMiddle Street into Ala Moana and UH Manoa. The Council mustÌýtake the lead in working with the Legislature, the Federal Transit Administration andÌýprivate developers along the transit oriented development corridor to finance theÌýremainder of the project into town.
2. Is Oahu growing in the right direction? What would you doÌýto make it more livable?
Owning a home on Oahu has become a privilege, and theÌýcreation of low-income housing needs to be a priority forÌýthe city and the state. We need to centralize the city’sÌýaffordable housing funds within the Hawaii Public HousingÌýAuthority in order to be able to leverage them withÌýother means of financing from federal and state resourcesÌýsuch as CDBG, low-income housing tax credits, Housing FirstÌýmonies, Section 8 and even state and county lands forÌýhousing developers and service providers to access through aÌýformal RFP.
By leveraging all our resources we canÌýcreate more low-income housing developments moreÌýconsistently and on a regular basis.ÌýWorking with theÌýHawaii Public HousingÌýAuthority also eliminates the need for the creation of a newÌýdepartment in the city to implement and manage theseÌýprojects.
3. This year has seen an outsized influence from people whoÌýwant big changes in how government is run. What would you doÌýto change how the City Council is run?
I spend most of my time working with Council membersÌýand the administration to find compromises between us,Ìýespecially on key issues such as rail and homelessness.ÌýStriking a balance is always a struggle, but it is notÌýimpossible.
4. Hawaii has long been dominated by the Democratic PartyÌýestablishment. Should this change, and if so, how?
Both Democrats and Republicans in this election areÌýre-examining their respective parties’ core values andÌý beliefs.ÌýI think that’s an essential part of theÌýprocess, but at the end of the day, both parties need toÌýrecognize that the middle class, the backbone of our nation,Ìýis suffering, and there needs to be more equity in theÌý growing gaps between the wealthy and the impoverished.
5. What specific steps would you support to strengthenÌýHawaii’s lax lobbying, ethics and financial disclosureÌý laws?
The laws are sufficient, and with the rightÌýinterpretation and execution they can be more effective.ÌýFor example, Former State Ethics Director Les KondoÌýreinterpreted the same ethics laws that governed theÌý Legislature for years and years. By re-interpreting andÌýexecuting the law to the letter of the law, he was able toÌý challenge the status quo and dissuade legislators from theirÌýpractice of attending events where meals above $25 wereÌýserved and from playing golf tournaments with lobbyists.
6. Would you support eliminating Honolulu’s high fees forÌýaccess to public records when the request is in the publicÌýinterest?
Yes, if it is indeed in the public’s bestÌýinterest.
7. Voters complain their elected officials don’t listen toÌýthem. What would you do to improve communication?
I have always believed in having directÌýcommunications with constituents. Giving people a directÌýline of communication either through cellphone, email,Ìýand/or social media is the most personal form ofÌý communication.Ìý Being present at Neighborhood BoardÌýmeetings and having quarterly community cleanups andÌýcitizen’s patrols are also helpful in staying in touchÌýwith constituents.
If there are issues facing the districtÌý that require broader reach in a timely fashion as mostÌýissues on the Council do, then I communicate through theÌýmedia, TV, radio and print.
8. What do you see as the most pressing issue facing yourÌý district? What will you do about it?
If rail stops at Middle Street, it will kill theÌýproject and transit-oriented development.ÌýAgain, keeping our commitment to rail and theÌýfixed guideway through to Ala Moana and UH Manoa isÌýessential for Oahu to be able to manage traffic and growthÌýwell into the future.
