Aloha:

As you may have read, the City Council recently voted to end the multi-million dollar subsidy to recyclers in Bill 47 (elimination of the massive and needless discount on 'tipping fees' for dumping recyclable materials into our landfill). Right after that, the Council flip-flopped by passing a bill that contradicted it. Please know that I remained consistent and voted to end (and voted to halt the ill-advised resurrection of) "corporate welfare" with your tax dollars. Watch these two video compilations -- about BILL 47 and BILL 36 -- that explain how corporate welfare went away and then came back days later.

Instead of propping up the antiquated system of landfills, as you can see from THIS recent news story on KHON, I have been fighting for the expedited implementation of new technologies from around the globe which will help our island to deal resolutely with the growing crisis concerning sewage and opala. In addition, HERE is a link to the legislation I am pushing for which would create a "recycling/landfill czar" whose job it would be to safely fast-track recycling solutions which will eliminate the need for landfills.

Our next District One TOWN HALL MEETING is JULY 12, 6-9PM at Makaha Elementary School. See flyer HERE.

Nanakuli High School's football field will be the site for an all-day event this Saturday featuring many activities, food and live music- see details HERE.

This weekend, Saturday, July 9th, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. the City Department of Emergency Management, the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program (UH Sea Grant), and the NOAA Sea Grant Coastal Storms Program are teaming up to offer a free Oahu public workshop to assist Hawai'i's communities to plan and prepare for natural hazards. This valuable event will be held at the Kapolei High School cafeteria. Click HERE for more info.

Great news. The Pony 13 League all-star baseball team from Mahiko Park in Ewa won the state championship this past week. The players are headed in a couple of weeks to the West Zone Tournament in Fullerton, California in hopes of winning a spot in the Little League World Series later this month. The team is looking for help (transportation, room and meals). If you wish to assist them, please contact Coach Randall at 520-1913.

The Honolulu Weekly covered my positions concerning the City rail project - read about it HERE.

Two new videos from the town hall meeting on the rail issue - RAIL AWARD TAKES JOBS AWAY -and- OAHU IS LANE DEFICIENT BY DESIGN.

See a video HERE capturing July 4th festivities at the Hawaiian Railway Society.

If you were apprised the Waianae Coast Sustainable Communities Plan was to be heard by the City and County of Honolulu's Planning and Zoning Committee on July 8, 2011 at Nanakuli Elementary School, please understand this public meeting has been cancelled. I will be scheduling a community meeting in the district on this matter as soon as the Mayor's Office provides the communications to the Council to proceed. You will be notified immediately upon that transpiring.

At the most recent City Council meeting, I proudly presented an honorary certificate (along with my colleagues below) to the Friends for Life, an animal shelter that helps retrain, neuter and rehabilitate abused and abandoned pets. For more information about their work, HERE is a link to the certificate for more information about their great work.

Finally, mahalo for taking the time to read this latest e-newsletter for Council District One. If you have any concerns or feedback, please feel free to e-mail me or call my office. Thanks again and have a great weekend!

Mahalo,

CITY COUNCILMAN TOM BERG
tberg@honolulu.gov
(808) 768-5001
www.CouncilmanBerg.com