LWV-Hawaii - Position Papers

Position Papers - Honolulu

LWV-Hawaii Positions LWV-Honolulu Positions LWV-US Positions

League of Women Voters of Honolulu

Community Government Transportation Continuing Programs

City Funding
Initiative & Referendum
Local Government
Neighborhood Boards

Planning & Zoning
Rail Transit
Transportation

Community

Initiative & Referendum

Initiative & Referendum Position

The League of Women Voters of Honolulu is committed to the declaration in the Constitution of the State of Hawaii that "all political power of the State is inherent in the people and that the responsibility of the exercise thereof rests with the people."

For the full realization of this power and responsibility, the rights of initiative and referendum are necessary tools and should be reserved to the citizens of our County as well as the State.

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Neighborhood Boards

Neighborhood Boards Position

The League of Women Voters of Honolulu believes the Neighborhood Board System should be continued…

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Government

City Funding

City Funding Position

The League of Women Voters of Honolulu believes that sources of revenue for the City and County of Honolulu should be adequate to provide the public services people need. In the event that additional revenues are required, the people's ability to pay should be taken into account in determining the nature and extent of any revenue measure.

The League supports authorization by the State of additional taking powers for the City or an increase in the State funds transferred to the City. User fees could be judiciously instituted or increased.

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Local Government

Local Government Position

A city government serves many functions and performs many services for the people living within its boundaries. The League of Women Voters believes that the government of a city should be open and responsive to the needs of its citizens and representative of the electorate. Its purposes, structure and principles should be expressed in a charter, a broad, basic document.

The League further believes that the language of the charter should be simple and without ambiguities. The charter should clearly define the organization of the city government, should state fair and enforceable standards of conduct for the mayor, city officers and employees, and should specific procedures for its amendment.

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Planning & Zoning

Planning & Zoning Position

The League of Women Voters of Honolulu believes that planning for the City and County of Honolulu should include the following steps…

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Transportation

Rail Transit

Rail Transit Position

May 18, 1990 The proposed fixed guideway rail system's high costs are not justified by the almost meaningless reduction in traffic that it can be expected to bring. Giving drivers incentives to take The Bus or to car pool; giving them disincentives to use their cars; making better, more efficient use of buses; and providing additional buses will reduce traffic congestion by a comparable (or higher) degree-and will do it in a manner that is far less costly and disruptive, more socially equitable, and more quickly realized.

If needs, technology, or demography change, rail may be reconsidered and judged appropriate at some future date. For now, however, for the reasons cited above, the League of Women Voters of Honolulu views the proposed rail system with disfavor.

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Transportation

Transportation Position

The League of Women Voters of Honolulu supports transportation planning which identifies the public's needs and urges creative and innovative approaches to meet those needs…

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CONTINUING PROGRAMS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT - Emphasis on open and responsive government. Action to include observing at the City Council. Testifying and lobbying on issues relating to League positions and validation of the following points of current League position:
The council should have reliable and independent sources of information to assist it in its legislating and policy-making duties.
The League supports the concept of the citizen legislator. This term is defined as one who gives only part of one's time to public service: that may be part of a day, some weeks or months, or a few years away from the private sector.
The council should be non-partisan and composed of some members detected by district and others at large.
We believe that a small, visible council functions most effectively and can more readily be held accountable for its actions.
If a council member faces a substantial conflict of interest in a matter before the council, said member should be free to abstain from voting.

PLANNING & ZONING - Promote member and public understanding of the planning process. Promote city planning which includes overall development objectives and encourages citizen participation. Promote action on planning, zoning and housing.
TRANSPORTATION - Promote understanding of Oahu's transportation needs and problems among League members and the public. Support implementation of "bus rapid transit" and other alternatives to transit.
NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS - Support continuation of a system to strengthen resident participation I governmental process, with improvement to the system.
CITY FUNDING - Support provision for adequate revenues to provide for necessary public services.
INITIATIVES - Support direct and indirect initiative and referendum at city level for both amending and charter and for ordinances.
RECYCLING - Support and monitor the implementation of recycling efforts by the city and the community.
SCHOOLS - Support and educate the public on what needs to be done, in addition to following legislative proposals. Honolulu will implement the position taken by the State on schools-of-choice.
HUMAN RESOURCES - Support and educate the public on issues covering violence as well as basic human needs. Honolulu will implement the positions taken by the State and National Leagues.

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