Djou Challenges Caldwell to Respond to On-Going EMS Staffing Problems

News Release from Djou Campaign July 12, 2016

Honolulu, HI - Congressman Charles K. Djou, candidate for Mayor of Honolulu, challenged Mayor Kirk Caldwell to personally respond to continued staffing problems in the City's Emergency Medical Services.

"Taking care of our community's public safety concerns must be the top priority of any mayor.  The on-going staffing problems in the City's ambulance service is deeply troubling and a reflection of poor leadership," stated Djou.  "Between the rail mess, skyrocketing homelessness and now clear mismanagement of EMS, there is a collapse of public trust at City Hall.  I call upon Kirk Caldwell to personally respond to the growing troubles at EMS."

• In April 2014, the Caldwell administration was informed of staffing issues with EMS.  At the time, the administration stated they would address this problem and that "they never want this to happen again."
• The administration stated they followed up on these staffing problems in EMS in July 2014 and again in May 2015.  But in December 2015, management failures with the City ambulance service still continued.
• This past Saturday, the City again shut down ambulance services due to staffing shortages.  The mayor's office refused to respond.  Instead the mayor's office referred comments to his campaign, treating the breakdown of public safety as a political matter.  The mayor's political campaign then also failed to respond.
• Yesterday, when asked to respond on EMS staffing shortages, the mayor again refused to respond.

"Our community deserves a leader who steps up, takes responsibility and is held accountable for managing our City, rather than one who hides bad news behind staff and spokespersons," remarked Djou.

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Charles Djou represented Hawaii's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House and previously served on the Honolulu City Council and Hawaii State House.  Djou is an Army Reservist and Afghanistan war veteran.  He is married to Stacey Kawasaki Djou and together they have three children.