Explaining the candidate-endorsement process
“Who are you going to vote for for Council?” With Kaua‘i ballots being mailed out in just two days, this question seems omnipresent in my email, text and FaceBook feeds.
On behalf of my grandchildren
Dear Kamala Harris, While we have not met in person, I am compelled to reach out and share with you my thoughts, which I know are held by many others across the nation.
‘Poisoning Paradise:’ A look back at Bill 2491
Seven years ago, on Sept. 27, 2013, after a marathon, 13-hour hearing, the Kaua‘i County Council Committee on Agriculture and Economic Development, of which I was the chair, passed out of committee Bill 2491 “as amended.”
‘Work-arounds’ possible with property taxes
So just what can the County Council do anyway? Increasingly, this is the question I am getting from friends and neighbors. Frequently it is preceded by “I know they are responsible for balancing the budget, for setting property tax rates, and that they regulate land use, but what does that mean and what can they actually do?”
Automatic voter registration and voter education
Hawaii had a record voter turnout during the primary election of August 8th, 2020 with 51.2% of registered voters actually casting a vote. In the 2018 primary election the number was 38.6%. For Kauai County the numbers were 49.7% and 43.3%, respectively.
Kauai: Sheltered from the storm
We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and our economy is on the edge of collapse. Sparked by violent acts of racial injustice and fueled by the ever increasing economic disparity between the 1% and everybody else, people across the United States and around the world are gathering and marching by the tens of thousands.
What does Donald Trump’s banner have to do with it?
We are living in extraordinary times with great uncertainty on the horizon. Fortunately, our home is on the most isolated island of the most isolated island chain in the middle of the Pacific ocean.
Affordable Housing — Which side are you on?
The affordable housing conversation happening now at the County Council is an interesting one. As is the case for most complex “omnibus” type legislative proposals, there are both good and bad changes being proposed, depending on your perspective.
The Blank Vote Blues
A friend sent me a short message a few days after the Primary election asking, “Where do we go from here?” My initial response was simply, “Forward.”
HOOSER: Kaua‘i County Council race by the numbers
Barring a major screw-up or an act of God - the top four vote-getters in Saturday’s primary election for Kaua‘i County Council seem to be a lock for the general.
On the ‘we’ of politics, voting, and land-use maps
We are going to need everybody to help these next few days - everyone.
Finding the perfect candidate
There are good people and there are good candidates. But the two are not always in alignment, none are without flaws and all have strengths and weaknesses. An individual could be in many ways a wonderful person, but a terrible candidate. The reverse is also of course true.
Handicapping the Kaua‘i council race
Read on for important voting instructions, plus a simple guide to some basic voting strategy when it comes to the Kaua‘i County Council election.
County has options to encourage affordable housing
Making it easier for developers and landowners to make more money by eliminating their requirement to provide affordable housing, is in my opinion bad public policy.
Eliminating affordable-housing mandate a bad idea
Councilmember KipuKai Kuali’i and Council Chair Kaneshiro have introduced Bill 2774 that if passed, will effectively eliminate the construction of any future workforce/affordable housing in the town cores of Lihue, Koloa, and Kalaheo.
No Democratic Party priorities accomplished this season
“So are you saying that 90% of the state House incumbents basically suck?” This question was received in response to a recent blog post at garyhooser.blog.
Civic duty – avoiding the lines
Imagine for a second or a minute, or perhaps for a day or a month - that you were in control. Instead of watching helplessly as your life and the world flew by, imagine if you could actually make a difference in the outcomes. Now imagine how silly, how dumb and how regretful you will feel when you realize, possibly too late that it is true.
Voters could decide to elect councilmembers by districts
After watching the recent online council forum, it is clear that electing Kaua‘i councilmembers by district is a change that is long overdue.
HOOSER: Important Online Council Forum TONIGHT!
I strongly encourage all to tune into the online Kauai Council Candidate Forum TONIGHT, Wednesday, June 10, 2020 from 6pm to 8:30pm.
Time to pivot to local elections
In only 60 days the 2020 primary election will essentially be over. Ballots will be mailed out on or about July 22, and most of the voting will occur in the following 10 days. All ballots must be received by Aug. 8. Important: Ballots must be received by Aug. 8 and not mailed by Aug. 8.