From Maui News interview

nterview:

From Star Advertiser interview:

We have a serious housing crisis:   The fact that such a small amount of land is available for housing is one of the largest cost drivers creating the housing crisis.  I support initiatives to use state land to build affordable housing using union workers.  I’ll support Executive branch action freeing up state land that is not in environmentally or culturally sensitive areas.  

What I am proposing here is 20x the size of what the county council members have proposed, but without affecting your taxes: 

I’ll support executive action to build truly affordable housing on free state land that is not in environmentally or culturally sensitive areas.  I’ll submit legislation to use state funds to build infrastructure and housing with union labor and allocate homes for teachers and other civil servants. This will make good jobs and help all of society.

This will generate housing at half the cost as the land is free. I’ll submit legislation to use state funds to build that housing and allocate a dedicated percentage of it for teachers, healthcare workers and other civil servants. This is more than just talk: It will help address our housing crisis, create good jobs and help people.  

For the houseless, we should also invest 5 times the current level in proven small housing projects for the houseless, similar to Kau Hale in Kalaeloa.

State and county legislators rarely speak.  I’ll have monthly meetings with my county counterparts, so we can work as a team on housing AND other critical issues like tax reform so giant corporations pay their fair share, our environment, jobs, health care access (especially for women considering Roe) and Solar power.

A ‘Living Wage’ is needed: A minimum wage is not sufficient. People should be able to afford their basic needs on 40 hours a week: I support more than just higher wages over a 6 year period as passed in this year's House bill 2510. We must add to that good start, a LIVING wage geared to the cost of living index.