Alleviating homelessness

My vision is for Honolulu to be a thriving island metropolis with healthy citizens, vibrant public spaces, a robust economy and quality housing. Our homelessness problem is a sign that we have not achieved this goal. I propose that we address homelessness by applying short-term and long-term strategies to tend to the whole city: our people, our housing, our economy and our public spaces.

City-led affordable housing. Rather than cajoling private developers to build truly affordable housing, the city should resume its role as the leading developer of affordable housing, similar to the work of the Hawaii Housing Authority which built 2,884 units in the 1950s and 1960s. It hasn't built any new units since 2001; meanwhile, housing prices have soared. Public pressure in the 1970s forced the city to construct quality affordable housing in Chinatown: We need to do this again by establishing a redevelopment agency to build housing in the urban core.

A new public works program. Unemployment is historically-low across demographics except with young people and middle-aged men. And automation is likely to further displace more men, with the likely conversion of driving jobs to robotics. I propose that we take a page from Roosevelt's New Deal by creating a public employment program. We need labor in two key areas: 1) Environmental restoration, particularly in light of climate change adaptation, and 2) Care for elders and children.

Reinvestment in public spaces. Many of our parks are under-invested and under-maintained; the city generously subsidizes private spaces such as Ala Moana (via the rail system leading directly to the shopping center). As a result, public spaces wither and deteriorate. Our public resources should be devoted to making our public spaces vibrant and well-used by the public.