We were walking past Kaaawa Elementary School one recent morning and I stopped for this photo to demonstrate some of the reasons I won’t vote to reelect Peter Carlisle as mayor.
I took the picture while standing in front of the school along Kamehameha Highway looking back up towards the mountains.
First, there’s the shelter at the bus stop. That’s the bus stop that is now being served only once an hour, if you’re lucky and nothing goes wrong along the route. It’s bad enough for regular riders who need to get somewhere. It’s far worse for bicycle riders. Several times I’ve seen bike riders patiently waiting for the next bus, only to find that the bus rack is already full, and our buses aren’t equipped to handle any additional bikes. So now they either wait for another hour and hope for the best, or give up and forget the planned trip.
Second. Just beyond the bus stop is an empty spot where no grass is growing. That’s where our white recycling bin was placed, at least until a couple of weeks ago when it disappeared, as the mayor promised. Those bins were heavily used at this school, and there’s a lot of unhappy people about their removal. Some parts of Kaaawa don’t get curbside recycling pickups, including the section where we live, so this is a major loss for us.
Third. Carlisle’s administration has been far too compliant with development plans farther up the coast in Laie, Malaekahana, and Turtle Bay. As he has done with rail, Carlisle has staked out a simplistic, “development is our future” approach.
Here’s what I wrote earlier this year while fact checking Carlisle’s statement that he wants to “keep the country country” by building rail.
Carlisle stated his support for development around the island in a speech to a Kaneohe business group last year. Note the reference to “fast tracking” of development plans.
The mayor described major development projects proposed for Oahu’s windward side, and the fast tracking process of the Department of Planning and Permitting. “Community growth is inevitable, population growth is inevitable, and although theses projects are controversial, we have to take steps to accommodate that growth and do it in correct fashion,” he said.
One example has been the Carlisle administration’s support of the Mormon plan, Envision Laie, which would create a major suburban development of up to 1,200 new homes on agricultural land in Malaekahana, with supporting commercial and retail areas, in addition to the new Marriott hotel, and an expanded BYUH campus.
Not much “Keep the country, country” in that plan, or in the expansion of the Turtle Bay Resort.
This mayor’s administration seems to have allowed city services to deteriorate while being uncritical boosters of any and all developments without regard for their long-term impacts or their planning impacts.
I’ll be happy if Peter Carlisle is sent off to enjoy his retirement.
Well said Ian! Add to that DPP’s deplorable record on enforcing zoning and permitting rules against the proliferation of illegal transient vacation rental units. He will not get my vote either.
Don’t forget Mayor Carlisle along with City Council Chair Ernie Martin are continuing ex-Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s legacy in many ways.
Most recently, they want to sell the 3.4 acres city park in Haleiwa to developer Andy Anderson, one of Mufi Hannemann for Governor campaign supporter. They consider 3.4 acres a “remnant”.
I really don’t understand why Peter Carlisle wanted to run for Mayor. He’s absolutely clueless to municipal responsibilities and is nothing but a cheerleader for Mufi Hannemann’s dangerous legacy.
That’s why. Because he could and had the backing.
In a moment of extreme stupidity I voted for lazy bozo Pete last time. Never again.
I’m for Kirk.
In regards to Mufi Hanneman’s dangerous legacy, (mufismess.com) you’d better watch out for Kirk Caldwell too. Wasn’t he acting mayor when DPP Director David Tanoue surreptitously inserted Envision Laie and Turtle Bay into the draft Koolauloa Sustainable Community Plan ? And let’s not forget where the highly controversial rail proposal that Caldwell supports originated.
Remember. He wants to put the rail through the Ko’olau and have it come right to his door-step in Hawaii Kai. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6iBay46-ZU
Ben’s my guy. I liked him as Guv (especially after Waihe’e) and I’ll like him as Mayor.
As a devil’s advocate, I don’t see why the bus system should accommodate riders with guaranteed access to the bike rack for a regular fare at all.
As they look for services to cut or charge for, the bike rack is certainly one — small things add up.
Perhaps riders could pay an extra $20 a month or something for -guaranteed- space for a bike — if the rack is full, you get to carry it on the bus.
It would also allow the C&C/State to gauge what routes require greater bike accommodations, and maybe even boost bike-related projects with said funds in those areas.
In April 2010, city council unanimously adopted resolution 10-58 which asked the city to do a needs assessment of bicycle parking and storage facilities on Oahu. The resolution also included an example of city in Colorado that has bike racks in its buses. The resolution asked for a report to council in 90 days. We are still waiting.
Thanks for the intel Natalie! Perhaps Ian can spark some of those Kaawa citizens to approach the City Council and inquire what happened to that resolution and get the ball re-rolling.
You’re welcome. A follow-up request from someone else would be good. I’ve asked at least have a dozen times since the 90-day deadline past.
Every Tuesday morning, Frank Fasi had a cabinet meeting. Each one concluded with Frank’s very own slide show … photos of city facilites he had personally taken over the prior week as he traveled around the island. If there was a foul restroom in a city park, a broken bench at a bus stop, trash uncollected and overflowing in a residential neighborhood, Frank had it on film … and the responsible department head got a butt kicking then and there in front on all his/her colleagues. Many a night I would wander into Frank’s office several hours after normal quitting time and find him reading memos, studying complex reports, signing documents, and dealing with a mound of official paperwork. Being Mayor of Honolulu is a 7-day week filled with 12-hour days. Carlisle still hasn’t figured that out. And he’s had more than enough time.
I totally agree with the description of Frank Fasi. I think he would be reacting to the report on park restrooms by climbing into a city truck, dressed in a work outfit and cap, and pay personal visits to the worst spots. Perhaps even get his hands dirty. Whatever else you can say, he was a master at delivering on these basic complaints.
According to city workers, Mayor Carlisle doesn’t even bother to stay through his own cabinet meetings.
He seems to be only interested in being a travelling dignatory and cutting ribbons . . . and yes, plowing rail through no matter what.
Mahalo Ian for a great blog. Its sad that in Hawaii politicians like Carlisle , Caldwell /Hanneman so blatantly disregard the public always to favor powerful greedy developers. can’t any politician ever say I am against shortsighted development schemes that hurts our island?? is it too much to expect our leaders to have integrity and honor? There is no area that is kapu for the developers and folks like Caldwell and carlisle ram it down our throats . Thank god for the Internet folks can be informed now .
And Peter Carlisle will plow on with the Honolulu Gravy Train at all costs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSNhbXFxwDg
“Community growth is inevitable, population growth is inevitable, and although theses projects are controversial, we have to take steps to accommodate that growth and do it in correct fashion,” he said.
No-Both massive developments proposed for Turtle Bay and the Envision Laie/Malaekahana new town are NOT for the Local Community. Both these Big Real Estate developments purpose is to serve THOUSANDS of visitors and THOUSANDS of visiting students. Then the local community gets stuck with lower-income service jobs, traffic, overcrowding and cement in the Country.
These Mega-Developments in the Country will badly damage the environment, our local culture, our Tourist Industry & our Film Industry -let alone our quality of life on Oahu.
Enough 1960s style big Real Estate overdevelopment that only benefits a few. All of our politicians need to have Modern Economic Plans that focus on developing our human capital, gifts & talents of our local community to raise incomes, protects AG & the aina.
What would Peter Carlisle strive to achieve if elected to another term as mayor?
To answer that, it may be enlightening to look at his goals as recounted in a 2011 khon news story.
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/story/It-is-not-a-pretty-truth/gR9AAXDdr0WTqMqo9wP45A.cspx
One of Peter Carlisle’s major goals of 2011 was to collect more money from local residents, but how?
“Carlisle also said he hopes to RAISE REVENUE by replacing city parking meters with state of the art machines that accept credit cards”
Where did Peter Carlisle intend to “RAISE REVENUE by replacing city parking meters”?
” Carlisle told Khon2 afterwards that hundreds of stalls at Ala Moana Beach Park in Kakaako may not remain free for long. ”
And what other parking areas did Peter Carlisle feel should “not remain free for long”?
““We haven’t basically mapped them out yet but we’re gonna look at that and every other place that we can,” said the mayor…”
Does Peter Carlisle have any other ideas intended to “raise revenue?
“The mayor used the price of a round of golf for seniors over 60 as an example of user fees that are out-of-touch with the reality of running a large municipality.”
Does Peter Carlisle have any ideas on how to help the car driving public deal with the rising price of gas?
“Council Chairman Nestor Garcia is working with members of Carlisle’s cabinet on a plan to increase the city’s gas tax from 16.5 cents per gallon to as much as 23.5 cents per gallon”
“Carlisle told reporters he would be willing to listen to a variety of proposals from the City Council to balance the budget, including increasing the cost of fuel.”
And last but not least, Peter Carlisle on public worker unions:
“One thing the mayor is certain of is labor costs, which he says must be reduced in the coming years.”
“While Carlisle is committed to ending furloughs of two days per month when the current fiscal year expires June 30, he said members of the United Public Workers and Hawaii Government Employees Association would have to SACRIFICE further, most likely in the form of PAY CUTS.”
“‘PAY CUTS are something that have to be considered – absolutely and unequivocally,’ said the mayor.”
“As far as LAYOFFS, Carlisle said such a drastic move would be determined largely by the willingness of unions to negotiate cost savings for the city, which includes unions that represent police officers and fire fighters.”
“‘They are not sacred cows and they will be looked at as well,’ said the mayor.”
What else does Peter Carlisle believe?
“Carlisle believes the controversial $5.5 billion rail project and another $4.7 billion in repairs to the city’s sewer infrastructure as stimulus that will add jobs and help boost Oahu’s economy.”
So why is it that when Peter Carlisle looks at rail project jobs he sees jobs that create “stimulus” but when he looks at existing union jobs, including union jobs “that represent police officers and fire fighters,” he sees jobs that, as he puts it, are “NOT SACRED COWS” and that “will be looked at as well” when it comes to “LAYOFFS”?
Why is it that potential rail jobs are “stimulus” while existing union jobs are an avenue for “COST SAVINGS”?
Peter Carlisle is notoriously stingy when it comes to city spending — except when it comes to rail. He has recently proven himself to be ungenerous to a fault with the bus system and its users, yet offers zero resistance to yearly outlays of millions of dollars in public relations spending for the rail project. Through his cuts to the bus system Peter Carlisle has demonstrated his lack of commitment to public transportation in general. The mystery that remains is, what is it about this rail project that causes him to behave completely out of character from his usual stinginess?
As an outsider, I would hope that Carlisle’s apparent shortcomings as mayor do not derail the future of Honolulu.
I met him a couple of times at bar–press functions and found him reasonably smart but hard headed like his boss at that moment. Who ever said a prosecutor makes a good mayor?
I always like Peter as prosecutor but as Mayor, Peter has become HNL’s example of the Peter Principle – everyone rises to their own level of incompetence. We can’t get him to pave the roads in East Honolulu where he’s from. But gawd help us our other choices — Kirk? No way. Tired ol’ Ben? Scary but at least he’s a proven leader. But with all the big money rail PAC’s after Ben, I’m not sure he can weather the storm.