Posted on: Tuesday, June 26, 2001

Editorial
Mayor's 'vision teams' deserve a closer look

Those O'ahu residents who for the moment have made Mayor Jeremy Harris the early front-runner in next year's race for governor should take a close look at one of his signature programs — vision teams.

The island's 19 vision teams are now developing their 2003 list of projects for their community. This is the fourth year of the vision process, in which the city allows each team to decide how to spend $2 million for capital improvements in their communities.

At one level, this is plain old democracy at work, with the people deciding "how to spend your money."

We're worried that it also serves as a diversionary tactic, giving communities a feeling they are in control while big decisions go elsewhere.

Consider that each of the 19 communities gets $2 million, whether their needs are equal or not. Yet in many cases, because what these communities really need would cost far more than $2 million, the vision process is effectively offering them consolation prizes.

For example, Kailua is getting a median and underground wiring on Kailua Road — a very nice amenity, many believe. But what Kailua really needs right now, many would argue, is to expedite its marathon sewer- replacement projects.

The town has been torn up from end to end for projects that were then put on hold. The Kalaheo Drive project is supposed to need three to four years, once it begins.

Yes, there should be room in the budget for both gritty sewer projects and pleasing landscaping.

What's required here is strong central leadership and a clear sense of priorities. Just for example, it might make budgetary sense to divert all of the island's "visioning" money to Kailua for a couple of years to speed the sewer work. But that would make the other communities justifiably upset and it wouldn't do any good for the mayor's popularity.