Love me some Y U NO Guy!

Yes, he is pro-gun....and he was only in office a couple of months when Mufi stepped down. In that short time he tried to get improvements to the range and wanted to start shooting. He was legit in terms of his pro-gun stance.

.........so what did he accomplish?  Keep in mind that politicians like to toe the line to get people to vote for them.  He's far from someone like Sam Slom who's record is clear and his actions speak for themselves.  I remain unconvinced about Caldwell.  If he cannot get anything accomplished after years as City Manager and months as Mayor, then why would I want him in office?  I'm voting for results, not promises.

As City manager, he was not in a position to make policy changes or act independently of his boss's desires. As for his accomplishments during the short time he was Mayor; well I can only tell you that I was impressed with his style (very businesslike) and demeanor. He was open to (and actually brought up making improvements to the range) and was a staunch advocate to doing so.  In one meeting where his Corporate Counsel and Parks Director were saying how the discussed changes couldn't be done, he flatly told them "I want this so make it happen." (I paraphrase, but his message to the two was very clear)

So, you are OK with Uncle Ben's stance on firearms and prior support of unacceptable gun-control control efforts?

I remember when Cayetano cut UH's budget as governor - he then got spat on while he was making a speech.  At the time as a student I thought he almost deserved it.  But now that I look back at how fubar'ed UH's spending priorities are I'm leaning towards thinking he was right just for that matter.   I used to work on campus and saw the yearly spending spree to use up money by buying computers - just so that the department doesn't get less money next year.  Then there were those two marble blocks at the two entrances to the campus.   However, I didn't get the feeling he was a proponent of the correct interpretation of the Second Amendment...  so he is apparently an elitist with some sense of fiscal responsibility. 

As for rail, as a fellow engineer I think if a traffic engineer like Panos says rail won't alleviate traffic - I would tend to believe him more than a politician.  Why anyone would think that sprouting more housing projects on one side of the island is a great idea WITHOUT building up infrastructure is mind boggling.  Unless all they're seeing is more property tax $$$ revenue.  And unless their intent is to coerce the population into giving up their cars by making it less practical and more expensive through increasing registration fees ala Tokyo.  So all the current and past administrations that let the Schulers and Hortons continue to build subdivisions all these years (at least since former agriculatural land became available as companies like Dole and C&H began to leave) without building more roads were either inept or they are a bunch of slimy authoritarians.   Hmm.... maybe both.

I don't see any good choices here.

I don't know who Engineer Panos is, but I wouldn't give one man more credence than another based solely on his job. "Experts" have biases too.....
Just sayin.

As City manager, he was not in a position to make policy changes or act independently of his boss's desires. As for his accomplishments during the short time he was Mayor; well I can only tell you that I was impressed with his style (very businesslike) and demeanor. He was open to (and actually brought up making improvements to the range) and was a staunch advocate to doing so.  In one meeting where his Corporate Counsel and Parks Director were saying how the discussed changes couldn't be done, he flatly told them "I want this so make it happen." (I paraphrase, but his message to the two was very clear)

So, you are OK with Uncle Ben's stance on firearms and prior support of unacceptable gun-control control efforts?

I'm not OK with Ben's stance on firearms. 

However given the fact that Caldwell wants to continue this $5 billion dollar (so far) BS that is RAIL including some $15 million in changes to Kiewit (so far) before the project has even begun on this guaranteed $3 billion project (that both Mufi, he, and our current Mayor back) said it was to first be..........I cannot stand that.

http://honolulu.politics.government.blogs.civilbeat.com/post/16591413896/about-that-15m-kiewit-change-order

We have constantly been lied to.  The project will more than likely end up being $6 billion and will not service UH, nor is there any realistic potential at this time for that spur to go in the future.

This is all happening while we have $3 billion of mandated changes that need to be made on the sewer systems on Oahu.



So let's add this up....................$5 plus billion (RAIL currently and up from the promised $3 billion) + $3 billion (estimated for sewer) is $8+ billion.  We are scrambling right now to get the money for the (optional) RAIL project.  Mayor Carlisle recently promised to float $450 million to get the Fed to buy in...........let's see we don't have money, so we're going to promise you money, so you can give us money............do you see the whole faulty logic in this?;
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/138451549.html

We don't have the money for the mandated sewer project.  Failure to finish the mandated changes will mean heavy EPA fines.  When all is said and done the two projects together you are probably looking at a cool $10 billion dollars.   

Now knowing this, do you think the C&C of Honolulu will have the funds to set aside for the Kokohead range?  I don't think so.  I also don't think Caldwell will alienate the voting constituents by going pro-gun.  I really wish I could believe in Caldwell, but I can't and have not after I saw his (lack of) performance on a RAIL debate.  He absolutely did not know what was within the C&C's own plans.  I was thoroughly shocked.  These are the facts that are the reason why I'm thinking of voting the way I am going to vote.

My bosses know I'm anti-RAIL and I'm in construction.  Hopefully that should tell you what kind of sacrifice that I would be willing to make to assure that RAIL does not go through.  I weigh that against Ben and don't think that he's got the kind of clout to push the anti-gun agenda further than it already is.  With RAIL and sewer you are talking about a bill that you and your children and perhaps their children will be paying.

I don't know who Engineer Panos is, but I wouldn't give one man more credence than another based solely on his job. "Experts" have biases too.....
Just sayin.

Panos is a professor at UH along with Papacostos they handle the Traffic/Transportation Engineering at UH's School of Engineering.  Panos has been performing traffic studies, modeling, etc in Hawaii at least since I was in school back in the late 80's/early 90's.

If there is anyone in Hawaii who understands traffic on Oahu and has a reasonable expectation that is not influenced by political whim or $$$ from the incumbent elected administration (who are not Engineers), then it's Panos.  In Hawaii the only other guy less biased with knowledge would be Papacostas.

..............I don't see any good choices here.

That's the way I see it.  I'm just trying to take the lesser of 3 Evils here.

GZire - You have made a good argument for your decision, and ultimately that's what all of us have to do when we walk into the ballot box: weigh the alternatives and make a choice based on (hopefully) logic and due consideration of the facts. All too often that doesn't happen and folks (none of the folks here, of course...) just make a snap or emotional decision based on name recognition or some other nonsense reason. Thanks for the info.

No problem HiCarry.  Good to know a reasonable discussion can be made and not degenerate into a name calling fest.

Anywhoo.............damn I wish Slom would think about running for Mayor at some point in the future.

Id rather see bu'laia run for mayor then cayetano. 

  Gotta vote for BU! 

Maybe Jeremy Harris will come out of retirement, seemed like he was a good Mayor. But then again, I wasn't living on this island nor was I old enough to vote when he was in office....maybe I should stop talking

Gotta vote for BU! 

Maybe Jeremy Harris will come out of retirement, seemed like he was a good Mayor. But then again, I wasn't living on this island nor was I old enough to vote when he was in office....maybe I should stop talking

Of any name mentioned here Harris is the worst.  He's the guy that got us into the sewer predicament we are in now.

Gzire you hit the nail on the head. We will be on the hook for the billions and billions that we do not have. Some people need to be reminded that the 3 billion for the sewer up grade is only for the federaly mandated secondary treatment and does not include the extensive repairs our sewer system will need. The Kuhio project is just one example. The fines from the feds will have to be paid if we do not implement the secondary treatment up grade. How will we pay for these fines? With more increases to our sewer fees? It may not be enough.

The present mayor has said that we will build the rail even if the feds back out of the 1.5 billion grant. The total cost of the rail will probably exceed the latest cost projection. City agencies are being cut to fund the rail and other favored activities and rail construction has barely started.  I will vote for Ben. He is not the ideal candidate but IMHO he is so far the least harmful. Decades ago Ben used to shoot at the old Koko Head pistol range. Maybe we can bring him back into the fold one day.

More funding info.  Don't know if this would affect RAIL or if RAIL pulls from another fund:

http://www.bnibooks.com/news_trustfund.asp

Congress Faces Highway Trust Fund Budget Shortfall


The Highway Trust Fund, which finances U.S. road, bridge and mass-transit projects, may become insolvent just before the November presidential election unless lawmakers lock in additional funding sources.

The fund, which reimburses states for transportation projects, would be unable to meet its financial obligations as soon as October, according to an analysis of Congressional Budget Office data by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The federal government could have to ration payments to the states to keep the fund solvent, according to the CBO.

That would gradually halt highway projects, leaving hundreds of thousands of construction workers unemployed, said Brian Deery, director of transportation at Associated General Contractors of America, an Arlington, Virginia-based industry group. Congress needs to pass long-term legislation that raises the U.S. fuel tax, transfers money from the government’s general fund or finds a new revenue source to keep transportation projects going, he said.

"This is the day of reckoning," Deery said. "They have to come up with more money or make cuts. There are no two ways about it."


The fund's revenue, from U.S. fuel taxes, has declined as cars have become more fuel-efficient and Americans are driving less because of higher gasoline prices, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. States pay for transportation projects upfront and then apply for reimbursement.

"This would have a real impact on the states if the federal government turns off the spigot to reimburse them for money they have already spent," Deery said.

California has more than 600 construction projects under way, Tamie McGowen, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Transportation, said by e-mail. They include the Presidio Parkway, connecting San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the world's largest carpool lane on Interstate 405 in Los Angeles, she said.

"Disruptions in future funding could negatively affect ongoing projects and have adverse economic consequences," McGowen said.

Surface-transportation legislation authorizing money for the Highway Trust Fund was last passed in 2005 and ran through 2009. Highway funding has continued through a series of extensions, the most-recent of which expires March 31.

The Highway Trust Fund has approached insolvency three times since 2008. Congress has moved $34.5 billion to it from the general fund to keep it solvent and to pass extensions of the surface-transportation bill.

President Barack Obama and Congressional Republicans have ruled out increasing the 18.4-cent-a-gallon vehicle-fuel tax, last raised in 1993. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Obama's deficit-reduction commission have recommended increasing the tax by as much as 15 cents a gallon.

House Republicans have also said they wouldn't transfer money from the general fund again. Without funding, by law, Congress wouldn't be able to extend the legislation without reducing authorized spending, said Jack Basso, AASHTO's chief financial officer.

Maybe we should do this:


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/cat-mayor-alaska-town-15-years-article-1.1116263

FYI, the reason the City has Sewer, Water and Road Problems is BECAUSE of Harris.

He Robbed the Funds for Sewer, Water and Road improvements to Pay for his "Beautification Projects"

Like the planter on Waipahu Depot Road, Waialae Ave and Kuhio Ave.  All which Reduced traffic flow.

Mufi inherited the problems Harris IGNORED. 

The Best Mayor Honolulu ever had was Frank Fasi.  Many people may not have liked him, But, He got the job done.

I worked under him and Harris.  Retired as soon as I could under Harris.

Five years after I retired, Mufi asked me and a few other retirees to return under contract to help the City.  Had to turn him down.

I was recieving SS Disability.  More gov't Humbug.

Of the 3 Mayoral canidates, I'm voting for Caldwell. 

If you are or have friends/relatives working for the City or State, Ben will SHAFT them.  Just look at his record.

Caldwell cares more about the rank and file than any other canidate.

Carlisle has no idea how to run  the City.  Caldwell does.

I may be retired, but doesn't mean I  don't have friends in the City 

Like me, they're Retiring as soon as they can.

And you know what they're taking with them?  The knowledge how make City/State run smoothly.

We all had our own network with others in the different departments to get the job done smoothly.

Want to know how well things are run, ask the people who do the actual day to day work.

couldnt have said it better myself.

FYI, the reason the City has Sewer, Water and Road Problems is BECAUSE of Harris.

He Robbed the Funds for Sewer, Water and Road improvements to Pay for his "Beautification Projects"

Like the planter on Waipahu Depot Road, Waialae Ave and Kuhio Ave.  All which Reduced traffic flow.

Mufi inherited the problems Harris IGNORED. 

The Best Mayor Honolulu ever had was Frank Fasi.  Many people may not have liked him, But, He got the job done.

I worked under him and Harris.  Retired as soon as I could under Harris.

Five years after I retired, Mufi asked me and a few other retirees to return under contract to help the City.  Had to turn him down.

I was recieving SS Disability.  More gov't Humbug.

Of the 3 Mayoral canidates, I'm voting for Caldwell. 

If you are or have friends/relatives working for the City or State, Ben will SHAFT them.  Just look at his record.

Caldwell cares more about the rank and file than any other canidate.

Carlisle has no idea how to run  the City.  Caldwell does.

I may be retired, but doesn't mean I  don't have friends in the City 

Like me, they're Retiring as soon as they can.

And you know what they're taking with them?  The knowledge how make City/State run smoothly.

We all had our own network with others in the different departments to get the job done smoothly.

Want to know how well things are run, ask the people who do the actual day to day work.

....................Of the 3 Mayoral canidates, I'm voting for Caldwell. 

If you are or have friends/relatives working for the City or State, Ben will SHAFT them.  Just look at his record.

Caldwell cares more about the rank and file than any other canidate.

Carlisle has no idea how to run  the City.  Caldwell does.

I may be retired, but doesn't mean I  don't have friends in the City 

Like me, they're Retiring as soon as they can.

And you know what they're taking with them?  The knowledge how make City/State run smoothly.

We all had our own network with others in the different departments to get the job done smoothly.

Want to know how well things are run, ask the people who do the actual day to day work.

Unfortunately I cannot in good conscience vote for Carlisle or Caldwell.  I do agree that Mufi and later Caldwell inherited Harris' problems with sewer and others, Mufi/Caldwell/Carlisle haven't addressed this issue at all.  Sewer is going to be $3B right now, probably $5B when all is said and done.  What is going on with that? Nothing.

Mufi/Caldwell/Carlisle are pushing Rail.  This is something that Mufi/Caldwell said was $3B, is now about $5.5B and by some estimates will be $7.5B without even factoring in eventual upkeep, repairs, replacement, etc.  It will make Harris' bungling look like nothing. 

Things will get WORSE before if gets better, IF at all.

The new people in the City have no idea about the previous problems of the sewer and water systems and

the ground that their in.  Us old retired people know whats down there.

I know when I retired, I asked the "new" engineers if they wanted to know.  Nope, they didn't.

Same with my friends,  the new people will learn the Hard EXPENSIVE way.

We all know Rail will Fail.  When it does, where will all the pro rail people be?  Will they stand and ADMIT failure and ACCEPT responsibility?

Imua rail