Shining the Light on City Mismanagement

Message to Supporters, September 16, 2016

A couple of days ago, I talked to a senior consulting engineer on the rail project. He shared with me that the Honolulu rail system will be studied for decades in engineering school as the prime example of how NOT to build a rail system.

Since announcing our campaign for mayor, numerous current and former City employees and contractors, including even a few of the mayor's appointees have spoken to me -- most confidentially requesting anonymity for fear of retaliation -- about the mismanagement and waste they've witnessed at City Hall.

Because of our campaign, the following has been revealed to the public in just the last few months:

ballooning cost overruns associated with rail and an incumbent mayor willing to write a blank check for the project

waste and mismanagement as described by rail contractors working on the rail project that has caused the cost overruns that are paid for by all of us

lack of trust of the incumbent mayor by the FTA, State Legislature, and City Council

$1 million in campaign donations that the incumbent mayor has received from rail contractors

the mayor's second job working at a bank earning between $8,333 - $12,458 per hour (between $200,000 - $299,999/year).

These would not have come to light without your support. And, from what I've been told, there's more mismanagement, and possibly corruption, that has yet to be made public.

But exactly because we are shining the light on the Caldwell administration, they have launched a vicious negative media blitz filled with half-truths and misrepresentations. Kirk Caldwell only got elected mayor four years ago because of a negative media campaign built on lies; he learned from that race and is trying to do it again.

We aren't fighting for power, we are fighting for all of the families who lack affordable housing, for the young people crushed by the high cost of living, for our children who lack a voice to stop the mismanagement of our city and the rail project. But I need your help.

This is a strong campaign, but without your contribution, the Caldwell political machine will silence our voice. We need your contribution of $50, $100, $250, or any amount you can give up to the limit of $4,000, to fight back immediately.

Right now, Caldwell is airing vicious negative TV and radio ads filled with half-truths financed by the rich and well-connected rail and development interests. We desperately need your contribution today to allow us to stay on air and fight against the Caldwell campaign.

We can beat the machine with the truth, but it requires funds.

Ask yourself to name one thing that is going well in the City. We have massive cost overruns on the rail project, water main breaks and sewer spills have become routine, potholes fill our roads, ambulance services are not fully staffed, our police chief is under federal investigation, our zoo has lost its accreditation, our ethics director was forced to resign, and the list goes on.

Can we really afford another four years of more of the same?

Our government only works if we hold our elected officials accountable. Please help me to ensure that we have a City where our people can grow and thrive and are not struggling under the weight of excessive taxes, and where the interests of the people are placed over the interests of a powerful select few.

Aloha,

Charles Djou