Latest news with #RadiantCordero
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Honolulu Council might widen surveillance at parks
Overt video monitoring at city-owned parks prone to high crime has advanced under a new Honolulu City Council resolution. On its first reading Wednesday, the Council voted to pass Resolution 128, which seeks to authorize the use of more video surveillance at Oahu's public parks to deter crime and provide 'a safe environment for city residents, visitors and employees.' The Council's Public Safety and Customer Serv ices Committee is expected to further review the legislation. Introduced in April by Council member Radiant Cordero, Resolution 128 says the Honolulu Police Department and other city agencies 'are currently utilizing video surveillance cameras and installing additional video surveillance cameras at various locations within the city, including but not limited to Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, East Oahu, and west side city parks.' The legislation seeks to quell violent crimes at city parks. 'There are multiple reports of violent crimes occurring in parks operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation, the most recent being reports of gunfire on April 20, 2025, at Ala Moana Regional Park, which is one of the busiest parks on Oahu and is frequently visited by tourists, ' the legislation states. Resolution 128 also underscores HPD's vacancy of over 400 police officer positions. HPD 'is currently dealing with a staffing shortage that would impact the department's ability to maintain a physical presence at city parks in order to detect and deter criminal activity, ' the legislation says. To aid policing efforts, the resolution urges the city to implement 'a one-year pilot program, in order to achieve the legitimate public purposes and legitimate law enforcement objectives … including the detection and deterrence of criminal activity and ensuring the safety and security of the general public and its property.' It says the pilot program is authorized for 'at least one city park per Council district, to be identified by the Council member assigned to that Council district based on a pattern of high criminal activity at or ongoing public safety concerns for the respective park.' It says that 'overt video monitoring devices authorized under this resolution must be overt and clearly visible, with appropriate public signage to inform the public as set forth pursuant to (city laws ).' Cordero—whose Council District 7 spans Kalihi Kai to Waimalu Kai—previously told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that her resolution 'was prompted by a series of break-ins at one of my district parks, highlighting the urgent need for stronger security.' 'The need for video surveillance in Oahu's city parks is driven by growing concerns over public safety and rising violent crimes, ' she said. 'Notable incidents include gunfire at Ala Moana Regional Park, two break-ins in a District 7 city park, and the recent fire at the Wahiawa District Park Playground.' 'By testing this approach through a pilot program, we can assess its effectiveness and make data-driven decisions for future expansion, ' she added. Cordero said the projected cost of her park surveillance program was not determined. HPD and 'the director of Parks and Recreation, and the director of Information Technology are responsible for implementing the proposed pilot program—this includes determining the projected cost and allocating the necessary funding, ' she said previously. During public comment Wednesday, Hawaii Kai resident Natalie Iwasa testified against the resolution. 'First, I want to make an important distinction : We're talking about government videos here, not private, and I oppose the government's surveillance, ' she said. 'Currently, it is possible for the city to tell when you leave your home, when you come back, what time you go get the mail, when you take your dog for a walk, when you come back, possibly when you're on vacation. A lot of things can be put together currently. 'And I've asked for discussions on this, ' Iwasa added. 'This is related to people who are on bus routes, because the cameras record for 30 days and they have thousands of recordings that are out there. I've never heard of how those cameras are secured, how that information is kept encrypted or anything like that. So I think that should be part of the discussion.' Waikiki resident Jacob Wiencek offered cautious support for the resolution. 'We do need to take all necessary steps to ensure that we have safe, clean public spaces, including our parks … that are enjoyed by the citizens of our city. I do believe this is taking the right step, ' he told the Council. 'However … we definitely need to make sure we put privacy and civil liberty concerns first.' 'Unfortunately, it can be a very thin line between using technology as a public safety benefit to turning into something much more worse, ' he said. 'So I would like to ask the Council that while I support this, I encourage that there be follow-on measures to address privacy and civil liberties concerns.' Before the Council's vote, Vice Chair Matt Weyer—whose Council District 2 includes the Wahiawa District Park Playground, which suffered suspected arson damage May 1—said the city's use of video monitoring raised 'questions in people's minds, but as far as I can tell from the resolution, it's specific to city infrastructure, ' including park facilities. 'Just historically, I know that there have been instances of crime, particularly violent crime, caught on video cameras at some of our parks, and it's a tool that's useful, ' he said. Weyer added that the resolution 'was an appropriate step in terms of protecting our city assets and also increasing public safety without overstepping or going too far.' Council Chair Tommy Waters also favored surveillance in public spaces. 'In our city parks there's rampant vandalism, graffiti and the recent arson in Council member Weyer's district, ' Waters said. 'The surfboard rack in Waikiki was burned down twice, and perhaps video monitoring could have either prevented it or catch the people who are doing these things.' After the meeting, the ACLU of Hawaii expressed skepticism over Resolution 128's intent. 'We understand the city's impulse to respond to recent events, but expanding surveillance in parks raises serious civil liberties concerns, ' Jongwook 'Wookie ' Kim, the organization's legal director, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. 'Parks are vital spaces for protest, expression and community life. More cameras risk chilling First Amendment activity, and will disproportionately impact communities already overpoliced, especially houseless people who rely on parks for survival.' 'Any expansion must come with strict safeguards, transparency, and oversight to prevent abuse, ' Kim said. 'We are glad to hear that this is only a one-year pilot program.' Meanwhile, DPR spokesperson Nate Serota confirmed there are currently 165 surveillance cameras installed at 16 city parks on Oahu. 'There have been cameras in city parks for well over a decade under a variety of initiatives, ' he told the Star-Advertiser via email. 'Our most recent batch of surveillance cameras installed included 25 new surveillance cameras within Ala Moana Regional Park.' Serota said previously there were 23 cameras inside Ala Moana park, on or near bathrooms and bathhouses. 'Now there are 48 cameras total, with the 25 new ones on street lights around the park, ' he said. 'These cameras were installed as part of technological improvements to the park. The primary goal of which was to improve network connectivity (internet and phone ) to the park, police, and lifeguard facilities in Ala Moana. So, basically the cameras were an added element to these improvements.' Cameras are installed and maintained with in-house city staff, while costs depend on the particular cameras used as well as who paid for them, he added. Organizations, like the Hawaii Tourism Authority, sponsored 75 cameras, including at Kapiolani Regional Park. 'For instance, HTA-sponsored cameras cost $38, 800 for 75, while the eight security cameras installed at Sandy Beach Park's bathroom buildings (and the data retention system ) cost about $3, 200, ' he said. Serota said that 'footage from these cameras is not continuously monitored.' 'Instead staff and law enforcement will review the footage should it be needed for an investigation, ' he explained. 'They are ultimately intended to be a deterrence and to help prevent criminal activity.' As far as their active use, he said that 'so far this year HPD has requested footage from park surveillance cameras 12 times.' 'I know there was a case of a stolen beach wheelchair at Ala Moana Regional Park where the surveillance footage helped to locate the stolen wheelchair, ' he added. As far as park vandalism is concerned, Serota said the parks department will 'spend between $300, 000 to $400, 000 annually addressing vandalism through in-house maintenance.' 'This doesn't include more egregious cases, like the recent arson case where the playground at Wahiawa District Park was torched, ' he said. 'That alone will cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.' All in all, he said new surveillance cameras will be welcomed at city parks around Oahu. 'We certainly will work with each of the Council members to determine where they would like to see these cameras installed, ' Serota said. 'This will also be dependent on the existing infrastructure and connectivity of these locations.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu Council OKs sponsorship of public facilities
Legislation to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities in order to garner more revenue for the city was unanimously adopted Wednesday by the Honolulu City Council. Introduced in January by Council member Radiant Cordero, Bill 4 will 'create and enhance public-private relationships, including with individuals, corporations, and other organizations, through the creation of commercial sponsorships.' 'Private sponsorships will create alternate revenue streams that will increase the city's ability to deliver services and to maintain city assets, including its facilities, parks, programs, equipment, and tangible property, and provide enhanced levels of service and maintenance beyond the core levels funded from the city's general fund for the benefit of users and the community at large, ' the bill states. The measure will also allow the director of a city agency to enter into a sponsorship agreement, but only for a term of less than five years, with a financial contribution of less than $50, 000. Sponsorship agreements of $50, 000 or more and agreements for a period of five years or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council, the bill says. Bill 4's approval comes as the nine-member Council and city administration allege budgetary constraints for the coming 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Those multimillion-dollar costs include siting the city's next solid-waste landfill on Oahu ; operating and maintaining ongoing city rail services toward downtown ; and implementing a total increase of 115 % for sewer fees across all rate-paying classes over a 10-year period to address rising operational costs and fund critical sewage treatment projects within the city's $10.1 billion capital improvement program, scheduled for 2025-2040. During public testimony, Kaimuki resident Tim Garry lauded Bill 4. 'This could be a game changer for so many things, to where we don't have to tax everybody to death, ' he said. Garry said the measure's intent could be like the city's Adopt a Park program, 'where somebody takes responsibility for a certain part of the public ' properties. 'The possibilities are endless, ' he said. 'There are so many trusts, and foundations that are set up that have to give away money every year.' And he added, 'I hope to see all of the Council people in NASCAR uniforms, with sponsorships all over their body.' Council member Andria Tupola said the measure 'really gives us a real pathway to bring in revenue, create partnerships and move our city forward.' Representing the Leeward Coast, Tupola said her focus for sponsorships included approximately 400 acres of former Barbers Point Naval Air Station lands, also known as Kalaeloa, that the city officially took possession of in June. Mayor Rick Blangiardi's administration asserts that many in the public had asked for Kalaeloa to feature city parks and other recreational opportunities, including a racetrack. 'There is just no way we're going to come up with the kind of funds that we need to create a sports facility or a racetrack, ' said Tupola. 'We are going to need to really rely on these community partnerships.' Council Chair Tommy Waters also supported Bill 4. 'And I just want to assure the public we're not talking about renaming the Fasi Building or Honolulu Hale, but really we're talking about things like … the basketball court at the Blaisdell Center, or the stage at the Tom Moffatt Shell, or … a sponsorship of the lawn at the Shell, ' he said. 'We're just being creative and finding other ways of raising revenues for our city.' And alluding to a first-reading measure he had introduced at the same meeting, Waters quipped that sponsorship revenues could even be deposited in the city's sewer fund to offset costs associated with the city's pending 115 % sewer fee hike. In March the Council adopted Resolution 50, which urged the city Department of Enterprise Services to pursue the sponsorship of naming rights for Neal S. Blaisdell Center at 777 Ward Ave. Typically, naming rights means the city may grant people or organizations the opportunity to have their names associated with a facility, such as a stadium or arena, in exchange for financial contributions. As an example, the resolution notes that in 2020 the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii entered into a 10-year, $5 million sponsorship agreement for the naming rights of the Stan Sheriff Center, now known as the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, at UH's Manoa campus. DES Director Dita Holifield previously told the Council her department was excited to pursue this revenue-generating opportunity to improve the Blaisdell campus. But she also said that based on discussions with the city Department of the Corporation Counsel, existing city laws do not allow for the sponsorship of naming rights. The Blaisdell Center, originally called the Honolulu International Center, was built in 1964.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City Council requests to restore Sand Island's Native name
City lawmakers are leading the push to return Sand Island's name to its Native Hawaiian name Mauliola, which means 'breath of life ' or 'power of healing.' Over 641 acres in size and largely man-made, Sand Island features industrial zone businesses, a U.S. military base, a state-owned recreational park and the city's prime wastewater treatment facility, all within Honolulu Harbor. But the site also has significant local history, and that's why the Honolulu City Council's International and Legal Affairs Committee voted unanimously last week to pass Resolution 63, which urges the Hawaii State Board on Geographic Names (HBGN ) to rename the site as Mauliola. The full Council is expected Wednesday to review Resolution 63 for approval. The resolution, introduced by Council member Radiant Cordero, states, 'From the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s, this small tidal island grew in size with the dredging and infilling of Honolulu Harbor, altering an area that had once been a large complex of fishponds and reefs.' The resolution says the name Mauliola harks back to the late 1800s and early 1900s, when the rapid urbanization of Honolulu and an increasingly busy harbor brought an influx of disease, which rapidly spread. 'Mauliola was utilized to quarantine ships, and the government built a crematorium on the island, which in part led to Mauliola becoming known as Quarantine Island, ' the resolution read. Over time, Quarantine Island grew in size with more dredging and infilling of Honolulu Harbor in the 1940s. The island was utilized by the military as a coastal defense station and an internment camp during World War II, for Japanese Americans and other Axis nationals. The resolution states, 'Quarantine Island later became known by its present name, Sand Island, which is listed as the island's official name on the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS ), a federal repository for identifying official place names. State governments are given the authority to provide 'administrative names' to places, which are then listed in the GNIS.' The state Board on Geographic Names was established to designate the official place names and spellings of geographic features in the state of Hawaii, and to ensure uniformity in the use and spelling of geographic features, the resolution says. 'The HBGN uses cultural and historical significance as a criterion for considering a name change, with preference given to names in 'Olelo Hawaii, ' the resolution states. Rhonda Burk, advocacy chair for the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, or OHCRA, during an April 30 committee meeting told the panel that her group had officially requested that Sand Island be renamed Mauliola. She said that name 'embodies values of healing, renewal and interconnectedness that resonate deeply within our paddling community.' 'Renaming Sand Island to Mauliola aligns with efforts to restore traditional place names and highlights the historical and cultural significance of this location, which was historically used by Native Hawaiians and later became a site of a World War II detention camp, ' Burk added. The canoe racing association was not alone in its Sand Island name-change request. In submitted written testimony to the Council, state Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Kalihi, Mapunapuna, Airport ) expressed his support for Resolution 63 as well. 'Renaming the island to its original name of Mauliola is a thoughtful and appropriate action to reflect the historical and cultural significance of the area, ' Wakai said. 'While many know it today as Sand Island, the name Mauliola connects us to the deeper history of the island, particularly its role as a place of quarantine and the meaning behind the name itself, which refers to healing and renewal.' 'Recognizing original place names in 'Olelo Hawaii is one way we can promote awareness of and respect for Native Hawaiian culture, ' he added. 'It also helps preserve the unique identity of our communities and the stories tied to the land.' At the meeting, Cordero said the resolution's effort was only 'a starting base.' She also stressed that the requested name change will not affect address changes or renaming to actual streets and thoroughfares—including to well-traveled Sand Island Access Road, off North Nimitz Highway.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu Council OKs merged housing department
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi's longtime vow to merge the city's real estate and housing agencies into one unified operation has come to fruition. During a special meeting Wednesday, the City Council voted 6-1, with Radiant Cordero dissenting, to adopt Resolution 86, which advanced the mayor's plan to create the city Department of Housing and Land Management. The Council's approved merger—which amends the City Charter via the mayor's executive power to reorganize city departments—will supposedly consolidate key housing and land functions. Those tasks involve the city Department of Land Management, the Mayor's Office of Housing, as well as the city Department of Planning and Permitting and city Department of Community Serv ices, into a single entity with 51 full-time positions, the city said. Kevin Auger, executive director of the Office of Housing since November, has been nominated by the mayor to serve as DHLM's director. Catherine Taschner, director designate of DLM, has been appointed to become the new department's deputy director, the city said. 'This marks the first time in 27 years that the city will have a fully staffed department dedicated to the development of much needed housing, ' Blangiardi said in a statement. 'When I took office in 2021, the Office of Housing had just one employee. Today, we are launching a department built from the ground up—one that reflects our administration's resolve to take action, cut through bureaucracy, and deliver real results for the people of Oahu.' 'DHLM will give us the structure, the scale, and the leadership to do more—and do it faster, ' the mayor added. The new department will feature two major new divisions : a housing development division to lead partnerships on city-owned land, and a housing finance division to create innovative funding tools that reduce barriers to development, the city said. DHLM's formation aligns with the city's 2025-2028 Strategic Housing Plan, released in January, which aims to partner with developers to 'activate underutilized ' city-owned lands on the island and involve using new types of 'financing strategies ' to build more housing on the island. Before the vote, Council member Val Okimoto questioned the city about staffing—including leadership positions within divisions of DHLM that still remain vacant—and the logistics of the new department. 'I think in theory it seems wonderful, (but ) I wonder how feasible this is, ' Oki moto said. 'And in your mind, knowing that we still have some vacancies that you're having to fill, how long do you think you anticipate before you're running efficiently ?' In response, Auger said DHLM 'won't be fully funded until July, ' with the start of the 2026 fiscal year. 'And then obviously, it takes time to identify really good candidates, ' he added. 'We're starting with the top leadership for those divisions, because generally when you hire somebody to lead a division, they can bring other people in under them. But it's still going to take time … and we've got to start somewhere.' Cordero expressed displeasure over the way the new city department was brought to the Council. 'It's been very sloppy, and honestly, as a Council member, I feel like we've been pushed into a corner to pass this as well as putting it into the budget, to also approve of that budget under DHLM, ' she said. 'Council member, I appreciate and respect those comments, I do, ' Auger replied. 'However, the mayor announced this (reorganization ) in the State of the City in 2023, mentioned it again in 2024, and we've been working closely with Housing Committee Chair (Matt ) Weyer on this process. It's been almost two years.' But Cordero shot back, 'That's my exact question to you : Why are we doing it in March 2025, with 60 days for the Council to pass it ? We could have had it even at the end of last year, and introduced it in March of 2025.' Auger replied, 'The simple answer to that is it's important. It's not an issue of trying to jam the Council.' 'No, ' Cordero retorted, 'you jammed the Council.' Council Chair Tommy Waters—who has expressed support for the merged department—recently requested the city administration provide a list of all city-owned properties on Oahu. In a written response Tuesday, city Managing Director Mike Formby told Waters the city does not have easy access to records regarding city-owned properties. 'The responsibility for properties was decentralized in 1998 following the disbandment of the former Department of Housing and Community Development, ' Formby explained. He'd note that one of the goals of the reorganization 'is to aggregate all housing programs and properties, particularly affordable housing programs and properties, into DHLM for centralized reporting consistent with the Charter.' Formby said the inventory of city-owned properties is maintained on the city's Enterprise Resource Planning System, or C2HERPS, platform. 'Unfortunately, that platform lacks a user-friendly interface for sortable data review and reporting, ' he added. Still, Formby said city staff are working 'to aggregate and update data from various departments, which is distinctive and incomplete in its existing format, to create a comprehensive database as required ' by City Charter. He noted the requested 'database will be maintained in DHLM.' 'In closing, I apologize that we are not presently able to deliver the requested update, ' Formby said, 'but we are working in good faith on what we agree is a necessary database for both Council and the administration, and we will update Council as we make improvements.' At the meeting, Waters said his April 8 request for a list of city-owned properties was related to affordable housing. 'The reason it's important is I'm asking each of the Council members to look at city-owned properties in their districts that we can identify for affordable housing, ' he added. Although he received Formby's response, Waters asked, 'Do you have any more information on when we can expect that list ?' 'I don't, Chair, ' Auger replied, 'I can certainly follow up on that and get back to you on that.' Waters said, 'The idea is we want to help you build affordable housing.' And he added, 'If we don't know what properties we have, it makes it that much more difficult.' In response, Auger said, 'We do have an inventory of property ; it's just not really accessible in the way that we'd really like to see it be accessible.' Auger asserted that 10 city-owned properties have been identified for up to 2, 500 units, 'which is more than we can currently finance.' Council members Augie Tulba and Andria Tupola were absent from the meeting.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Honolulu City Council considers sponsorships for public facilities
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. 1 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. 2 /2 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2014 A sponsorship between a private supporter and the city would create alternate revenue streams that can go toward the upgrading and modernization to the 60-year-old Blaisdell Center. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2019 The name change of the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in 2020 was part of a sponsorship agreement between the University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii. A Honolulu City Council measure to allow private sponsorship of city parks and other public facilities to garner more revenues for the city is scheduled for further review today. Introduced in January by Council member Radiant Cordero, Bill 4 revisits aspects of a prior law, Ordinance 17-16, that established nonproperty tax revenue sponsorships in 2017. That law all but disappeared after the pilot measure's five-year repeal clause took effect in 2022. As drafted, Bill 4 would seek to 'create and enhance public-private relationships, including with individuals, corporations, and other organizations, through the creation of commercial sponsorships.' 'Private sponsorships will create alternate revenue streams that will increase the city's ability to deliver services and to maintain city assets, including its facilities, parks, programs, equipment, and tangible property, and provide enhanced levels of service and maintenance beyond the core levels funded from the city's general fund for the benefit of users and the community at large, ' the bill states. The bill would allow the director of a city agency to enter into a sponsorship agreement, but only for a term of less than five years, with a financial contribution of less than $50, 000. 'All sponsorship agreements for a financial contribution of $50, 000 or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council, ' the bill states. 'All sponsorship agreements for a period of five years or more must be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council.' Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. During the Council's Jan. 29 meeting, the panel reviewed and adopted Bill 4 on the first of three readings. Winston Welch, executive director of The Outdoor Circle, said his environmental group generally opposed the bill's current language. He said Hawaii's 1926 law that prohibits outdoor signage and billboards—created with the advocacy of The Outdoor Circle during Hawaii's territorial days—should not be overlooked. 'Our concerns are especially about the signage, and I think the reason why this bill was not utilized before (was because ) it became toxic, ' Welch said at the meeting. 'And we don't need to go down that road again.' Such an ordinance also contributes to the 'over-commercialization of our public spaces, ' he added. But Council Chair Tommy Waters challenged Welch's assertions that the new measure would harm the environment. And he noted that under Bill 4 all sponsorship agreements must first be approved by a resolution adopted by the Council. Waters said the potential for revenue-generating sponsorship 'was vitally important ' to the city. Bill 4 is also being advanced with accompanying legislation. City Council Resolution 50 urges the city Department of Enterprise Services to specifically pursue the sponsorship of naming rights for the city-owned Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Typically, naming rights means the city may grant individuals or organizations the opportunity to have their names associated with a facility, like a stadium or arena, in exchange for financial contributions. 'Such a sponsorship would provide the city with an alternate revenue stream and thus enable it to make much needed upgrades and modernization improvements to the more than 60-year-old Blaisdell and increase services offered to users and the community at large, ' the legislation indicates. As an example, the resolution notes that in 2020 the University of Hawaii and the Bank of Hawaii entered into a 10-year, $5 million sponsorship agreement for the naming rights of the Stan Sheriff Center—now known as the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center—at UH's Manoa campus. DES Director-designate Dita Holifield has said her department was excited to pursue this revenue-generating opportunity to improve the Blaisdell campus. But Holifield noted that based on discussions with the city Department of the Corporation Counsel, existing city laws do not allow for the sponsorship of naming rights. The Blaisdell Center, originally called the Honolulu International Center, was built in 1964. Today's City Council meeting begins at 10 a.m. inside the City Council Chamber, 530 S. King St.
