YOU GET IT FIRST! Watch and share Governor’s latest commercial on what this race is really all about.
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The Real Issue in this Campaign is about Political Power
FAST vs Rail
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Ben,
I’d like to share my thoughts on the rail issue and how we might be able to spend the same amount of money to help alleviate traffic, spur construction jobs, greatly improve education, teacher’s salaries and balance population distribution. Sounds like a lot and maybe a dream, but thinking a bit outside the box might prove the best way to improve more than just traffic.
Think about it, next week when all the public schools go back in session, the morning and afternoon traffic will be about the same as it has been for the past couple of months, which is really not too bad. In fact if the traffic was like this on a regular basis I believe there would be no public call for rail.
Here’s my thoughts; with the $5.5 billion targeted for rail alone I believe we could use this money (although I know the fund is dedicated for rail and federal funds are from federal transportation department…) to 1. build state of the art, LEED certified centrally air conditioned public schools with the latest technologies and high caliber facilities in the local communities away from town and improve the public schools in town ($75 – 100 million for each new school) let’s say 30-35 schools around Oahu, 2. Dedicated millions of dollars to an interest earning fund exclusively for teacher’s salary adjustments and future raises. and keep the money away from the DOE/BOE 3. Continue to build out the UH West campus to further alleviate the need for college students living on the west and north sides and to some extent Pearl City and Aiea from commuting to UH Manoa.
I realize this is a State issue but really it’s an island issue and the C&C needs to work with the State to solve island issues.
Now here’s how this eliminates the need for rail and the benefits associated with this plan.
1. A vast majority of the private school student population attends these private schools because frankly the public school system is broken and thousands of parents feel they have no choice but to send their children to private schools to receive a quality education. If there were quality schools with better learning environments in their districts with well-paid teachers who now care about their jobs most parents would be glad to send their children to these “learning institutions” rather than feeling forced to pay $15K-$20K after tax dollars for private education. I know I would and I am a private school graduate.
2. Construction and related industries jobs would still be generated but would be targeted at building schools instead of rail. I don’t think people would be adverse to that idea.
3. Now thousands of students who would have otherwise attended private schools and UH Manoa are now attending schools in their own districts or UH West Oahu, what a concept! The traffic then becomes more manageable without thousands UH Manoa students and parents driving their children to and from town every school day. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a private school hater, I just think they are the ones benefitting from our sub-par education system and would not want to see that change.
4. Quality of life increases for those people sending children to local public schools instead of private and can now have some discretionary income to pump into the local economy.
5. Population distribution would even out throughout the island on a daily basis and instead of TOD there can be educational oriented development (EOD).
6. Children and parents have pride in their new schools that have fantastic facilities and brings the community closer together.
7. How could anybody complain about spending money on schools and teachers?
There are so many positives with this scenario.
Again I realize a vast majority of the money would have to come from the Federal DOE instead of the Transportation department, but what if this could happen wouldn’t that be great for the State of Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu?
As John Fink always says “Think about it” Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Aloha,
Cayetano may be ahead in the polls. Except that the pro-rail sentiments (for Caldwell and Carlisle) are overwhelmingly greater than the anti-rail sentiments for Cayetano. This message about political power does not bode well for his candidacy. Cayetano needs ot stick to his original platform, to his entering this race for mayor. This message about political power is too far beyond the comprehension of all voters. It is too far out of mainstreem,
I disagree; I think this ad is more powerful than vicki’s! The people against rail also agree with you about power, or as they use to say, “the old boy network” but I wouldn’t say that ‘cuz it’s old too! Lol
Aloha Mr. Reyes. Your comments deserve a response. To my knowledge, this is one of the few websites were campaign supporters can openly share ideas. My sense is that you are a strong supporter, that you are concerned about winning this tough campaign for the sake your family, friends, and community. With all due respect, we have to address what is going on and why this mayoral election is the most important election in the history of the State of Hawaii.
Government of, for, and by the People is the cornerstone, the foundation, of our political system. We agree that our system, in spite of its flaws, remains the beacon of light and hope for the world. Hawaii, for many, is the heart of that beacon of light and hope. We literally sit in the Heart of the Pacific. And, of course, the People of Hawaii are known for their strength, loyalty, and Heart. We refer to our ‘Heart’ as Aloha.
We agree that Hawaii, and our capitol city, Honolulu, is a very special place. Like all gems of great brilliance, Honolulu, Hawaii must be treated, protected, and preserved with respect. It is in that unique combination of land, people, and Aloha that we find Honolulu, Hawaii. We are privileged to hold the light of Aloha for the world. Just ask your friends, relatives, and associates around the planet.
How did we get here? Some may say luck. More likely, we got here through sacrifice, struggle, and guided by Aloha. The path has not been easy. The uniting of the Islands, dealing with the missionary influence, the overthrow of the monarchy, disease, two world wars, internments, the effort to enfranchise workers, the struggle to ensure that all Hawaii’s Citizens had voting rights, Statehood, environmental challenges, sovereignty, depressions/recessions, strikes, and contentious elections. One of the common themes that tie all of the above is continuing political conflict between insider, usually wealthy, private, elite interests and the usually under-funded, under-connected, general public. Sometimes the struggles stemmed from out-right discrimination and a fight for justice as well as basic human rights. Other times the struggles were less dramatic but just as important, largely between individuals and groups with money, land, and insider control against the People. Remember, education was not a right for all People in Hawaii until we fought for it. Preservation efforts for natural resources, historic resources, and our values have resulted in major fights. Honolulu, Hawaii, we got here, but it was a tough road for many if not all of us.
With missionary zeal, proponents of Rail have pushed hard for their project. We have all watched this campaign, and regardless of which side you are on, we know that the Rail supporters have opted to attack Ben as well as raise our fears about the future. Bottom line, Rail has failed to make an overwhelmingly compelling case for Rail. In fact, the focus of the Pro Rail gang is to attack Ben Cayetano.
The Pro Rail Campaign is about FEAR. Think about it, if all the proponents of Rail had no financial state in Rail, would they even bother to support it? Their advertisements about traffic congestion are beyond disingenuous. Relieving traffic congestion is an afterthought designed to get us, the hard working taxpayers of Oahu on board. Follow the money and we all find the real motivation. And remember, they want to make money with our money and they have the audacity to say they are doing us a favor. What a con.
Fact. Governor Ben Cayetano is genuine. He is the real deal, role model example of what a Public Servant should be. Yes, he has made mistakes. Check the actual record. Ben fights for the People. Read his book. Ben is one of the People. The Pro Rail, inter-connected forces have all slandered Ben Cayetano, and they know it.
All Ben Cayetano has done is ask serious, important, and fair questions about Rail. They have responded with smear attack against him unrivaled in the history of Hawaii.
So, do we let them win? Do we let lies, misinformation, smears, hatred, even bullets carry the day? Do we give in to their enormous money and conspired power? Of course not. We are better than that.
We Stand for Honolulu, Hawaii first. We are the People. We are Aloha. We are the Mainstream.
So, Mr. Reyes, this campaign is about power, People Power over special interests and greed.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed.” (The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776)
We, the People of Aloha, the People of Honolulu, Hawaii, hold the beacon of freedom in our hearts. We know that our choice for Mayor, Benjamin J. Cayetano, is an honorable, principled, action-oriented leader who is truly motivated by a deeply ingrained commitment to fairness, justice, and government of, for, and by the People
For Honolulu, Hawaii, the choice has never been clearer, or more important.
TRAFFIC CONGESTION was and is what Rail Propaganda has been successful in convincing people to vote for RAIL – two times: In 2008 and in 2010. The latest poll shows that Rail Propaganda has 52% (Caldwell 27% and Carlisle 25%) and Anti-Rail Cayetano only has 44%
FIGHTING TRAFFIC CONGESTION is what Cayetano needs to do to fight rail propaganda.
Several states of the US such as Washington State and Floria and seven other states have already found a way to fight traffic congestion – thru smarter highways.
A search of the internet on how other states an other countries are fighting traffic congestion should provide enough material for Cayetano to use against rail propaganda that keeps telling people that rail reduces traffic congestion.
The inception of Rail was proposed over forty years ago when Frank Fasi was our Mayor. Had it been built back then we would probably have the rail system going around the island by now. Our past city counsel and administration did not have the vision of “traffic congestion” in our future. I know the issue of money was involved back then and it is an issue now. Yes! The cost is enormous, I know this puts a burden on our communities and I really don’t know where we can find more funding for the rail project, but we need to find other alternatives beside Bus Rapid Transit.
Here is an example of how things got done with a good leadership at the helm. Hawaii Kai is the only community on Oahu that has a effective bus route running through their community. ( ie:Route #1 Hawaii Kai, Route #1 Lunalilo Home, Route #1 Kahala Mall, Route #1 Aina Haina) These are all separate routes with the same route number, not including the #14 that travels from Kahala to Waikiki. Through their representives in the city counsel, district and influenial partnerships, Hawaii Kai has proven that it can get what they need, that the rest of the Island of Oahu paid for. But when it come to rail for the westside, guess what we get more traffic and no real solution.
But What if.
What if it was built. Are we thinking of Oahu’s future traffic problems. The cost of building this forty years ago would have been less then what is is now, on top of that it would have been intrgrated with the current bus system. I believe we need more transportation alternatives to include rail for our future. I would hope that Mr. Cayetano would be a little more open minded to rail and think about the future traffic woes, regardless of cost.
Kudos to Hawaii Kai! They got it done. & we paid for it.
Aloha, the question was, “Why would Ben Cayetano run for mayor after he served as Governor of Hawaii?” I believe in my heart, only as a voter from the Island of Kauai, that because of his experience serving as governor did he see and learn from all that he was involved with: he has grown with wisdom, knowledge, faith and understanding to what Oahu really needs. B. Cayetano has served his part well as governor, no matter what may have taken place. Everyone that fills a position following the previous person that served, will find nooks and crannies in their position which they may have not been a part of but has to fix it. We are all not perfectionists but we are “human beings”, and being that kind of person that B. Cayetano is, is what reality is all about. How much does one care about what’s going on, what’s happening and what is going to happen, depends on the individual who is putting themselves there to run for that position and humble himself for what is right. I am humbled to say that Ben Cayetano is seeking for that right moment and right timing for that purpose as to where he knows to put it. He is strong, and courageous to do that, inspite of his health, unkind words of others, and his desire and passion to serve the people of Oahu. He knows what is best for the Island and for the people and wants to make it right, which I believe that he can. When you “BELIEVE”, you have “FAITH”, and “TRUST”, and a “DESIRE” to do what is right, it “WILL and CAN HAPPEN”. God bless you Ben Cayetano in all your endeavors and never ever “GIVE UP HOPE”. YOU CAN DO IT!. Me Ke Aloha Pumehana, Arde L. Long-Yamashita
Ben Cayetano has good charactership and has served the public well in all his years of service. Becoming mayor of Honolulu, I believe that he will make the right decisions as to what is best for Oahu, regarding the Rail (which is costing a lot of money) and using strategy to accommodate traffic; setting up funds for education and care for the schools, for the betterment of the students; and restoring programs of bus services that has been stopped for transporting children to and from school; renewing programs that have been taken away from the people. This is what I have to say, added to my first comment. I know that Ben Cayetano can do it because he sees the need for it now and he cares, respects the people’s needs, and is open-minded. You can do it Ben Cayetano with all of the support that you have out there. Sincerely, Arde