Aloha Friends,   July 21, 2024

This 2024 Election has been extremely damaging to Democracy. The Political Machine has decided there would be NO Mayoral forum for Oahu.  

Consequently NO corporate media has provided any Oahu Mayoral forum as of this writing.

On the other hand, PBS aired its Mayoral Forum for Big Island Hawaii with a population of 200,000!  AARP also provided a forum for Big Island Hawaii’s Mayoral candidates.

The Public should be alarmed by this corporate media shutdown for this Election.

Isn’t it ironic that Mayor Blangiardi, who was in corporate broadcasting, would now be hiding from robust dialogue during this mayoral election?

This Mayor has been carefully promoting himself as a “leader” through public relations narratives, paid for by taxpayers. 

I can understand why the Mayor hired a former news Director for Hawaii News Now as his Communications Director. But we should question the Mayor’s new Chief of Staff who is a former TV executive from New York! How many Public Relations workers at City Hall are taxpayers paying for?

There are clear distinctions between Mayor Blangiardi and I.

I’ve been a community advocate for Public Interest at Honolulu Hale for over 20 years. This shows an authentic commitment to Oahu that we love.

I don’t have a ego. I’m always respectful. I’m not a bully.

I’ve been a successful small businesswoman in residential real estate for over 30 years. I’m also an organic farmer for food sustainability.

I have zero money from lobbyists or special interests. I abhor Pay to Play in our Democracy. I abhor big money buying elections. In his first six months in office, Mayor Blangiardi collected over $600,000 from developers, bankers, rail lobbyists, and others. 

I’m 100% independent. I cannot be bought or sold. I want to put Residents First.

We’ve all grown increasingly alarmed at the City Hall disconnect with the public. I recognize that it’s the 10,000 hard working employees who operate the city daily.  Oahu cannot function without them. On the other hand, a Mayor could go on a long vacation and not be missed.

However, a Mayor provides the direction and culture for City Hall. I will provide an Open and Transparent Government with focus on our Residents First.

I’m from Singapore and I can envision how much more vibrant, safe, and beautiful Oahu can become! The present “Tax & Spend” mindset is not sustainable and will price more locals out of Paradise. There is no reason why a city hall cannot maintain a lean budget by cutting out the pork. Residents are not money-trees.

We must control the Rail costs

I’m from Singapore and I appreciate rapid transit efficiency.  This Honolulu Rail started in 2006 at $2.7 Billion. It has ballooned to $11 Billion and incomplete!

We must contain and reset this struggling Honolulu Rail Skyline and its unacceptable runaway costs. Hiring $500K consultants who hire more $500K consultants with no accountability is fleecing the city treasury. Asking for $110K for another public relations person to boost HART’s image is putting lipstick on a pig.

HART is already paying about  $8,000 monthly for a PR consultant.

As Mayor, I will make the bold decision to gather all parties to unravel this Sunken Costs Status Quo.

We will invite INDEPENDENT experts to re-examine and reset this boondoggle.

Should HART be dissolved and transferred back to the Transportation Department?

The people of Oahu must decide the future direction of this Honolulu Rail again. The Mayor cannot use FTA  as an excuse or to hide behind.

Oahu must INDEPENDENTLY address traffic decongestion solutions without being a hostage to obscene Special Interests fleecing.

We must not let Status Quo just happen to Oahu or lead Oahu along.

Honolulu Rail Skyline’s costs continue to undermine Oahu’s core city services, as warned by the federal Porter Report in 2012.

This is the first time I have seen real property tax assessments higher than market value, across the board. Gentrification will price many more kama’aina out of Paradise. Property taxes have escalated wildly and negatively affecting renters too. Residents are working 2-3 jobs and seniors cannot retire.

Imagine the other nice things Oahu can have when we control the Rail Money Monster.

Affordable Housing and Other Issues

As to “affordable” housing issues, we must first question the Status Quo.

How many billions of dollars has Oahu received from the Federal, State, County and private entities for the past 10 years?

How affordable is affordable?

Affordable for who?

What is the definition for “resident”?

I also want to work towards a property tax cap for kupuna who have lived in their homes for 20 years or more. It makes no sense to provide “affordable” housing on one end and push local residents out of their homes on the other end.

There are a million other issues.  My 20 years of citizen participation at City Hall show a commitment to the Oahu that we love. We know what’s going on at City Hall.

 The fact that I have ZERO donations from lobbyists or developers or bankers shows my INDEPENDENCE to logically and boldly improve Oahu with you.

I humbly ask for your vote. What is there to lose?

Mahalo,

Choon James

www.VoteChoon.com