City taxpayers foot TV bill as mayor pitches Vision theme

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

Taxpayers paid $21,000 to air a 30-minute video featuring Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris inviting O'ahu residents to the Second Regional Islandwide Vision Meeting tomorrow at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

	Islandwide meeting tomorrow
•	When: 8:30 a.m. to noon tomorrow.
•	Where: At the Hawai'i Convention Center.
•	Keynote speaker: Evan Dobelle, president of the University of Hawai'i.
•	Program: Alan Nemiroff, president of the American Institute of Architects' Honolulu Chapter, will introduce Paperless Urban Design Technology, digital software for planning and designing future communities.
•	Details: The city invites everyone to join. Parking at the Hawai'i Convention Center will be free and light refreshments will be served.

It also includes photos taken at the recent celebrations marking the first "Brunch on the Beach" in Waikiki, the first anniversary celebration of the Kapi'olani Park Bandstand and last month's opening of Central O'ahu Regional Park near Waiola.

The program ran after the 6 p.m. news on KGMB on Monday, KITV Tuesday and KHNL Wednesday and at 9 last night on KHON. Harris has announced he will run for governor next year.

Larry Meacham, spokesman for the citizens advocacy group Common Cause Hawai'i, said the video "sounds like electioneering to me." Meacham said he will take the matter to his board of directors for their consideration.

"If it's done with taxpayers' dollars, that's a big no-no," Meacham said.

In the video, Harris says:

"If we embrace our regions and shape them with aloha, with respect for our natural resources, the 'Aina, the unique qualities of our neighborhoods, with respect for our kupuna and our keiki, then together we can make O'ahu one place, one people, one sustainable paradise."

Harris urges residents to join the process, because "you hold the power to shape the destiny of our island." Council members Duke Bainum, Rene Mansho, Steve Holmes, Romy Cachola, Gary Okino and Jon Yoshimura appear in the video while John DeSoto, John Henry Felix and Andy Mirikitani do not.

City Managing Director Ben Lee said he did not have the final bill for the production and editing of the video because the work was completed Monday afternoon.

Lee said the video is a tool to communicate with more people and invite them to join the process. "The purpose of the video is to inform the public that there is a community vision process," he said. "This is a good process. For those who criticize it as a political agenda, I think it's way off-base."

Councilman Bainum said he thinks it's an effective way to invite more people to help shape their community.

"I think it's good that we're letting people know what we're doing with their tax dollars and inviting them to get involved," Bainum said. "If they're not pleased with how we're spending their money, then (they should) come out and say how they would prefer it. I see it as educating the people of O'ahu, not politicking."

Lee said the city plans to hold Vision meetings four times a year.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.