{"id":1027,"date":"2017-05-11T13:47:07","date_gmt":"2017-05-11T23:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/?p=1027"},"modified":"2018-07-08T21:23:56","modified_gmt":"2018-07-09T07:23:56","slug":"the-dark-side-of-honolulu-city-hall-retaliationstrolls-disinformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/?p=1027","title":{"rendered":"Choon James: The Dark Side of Honolulu City Hall &#8211; Retaliations,Trolls &#038; Disinformation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-951 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Country-store-470x264.jpg\" alt=\"em-country-store\" width=\"525\" height=\"295\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Country-store-470x264.jpg 470w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Country-store-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Country-store.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.honolulu.gov\/rep\/site\/cor\/rch\/Online_Charter_v02.25.16.pdf\">Honolulu City Charter <\/a>clearly\u00a0 states the purpose for its being:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Section 2-102.\u00a0 Purposes &#8212;\u00a0 All city powers shall be used to serve and advance the\u00a0general welfare, health, happiness, safety and aspirations of its inhabitants, present and future, and <strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">to encourage their full participation in the process of governance.&#8221;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-952 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-country-stores-470x264.jpg\" alt=\"em-country-stores\" width=\"562\" height=\"316\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-country-stores-470x264.jpg 470w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-country-stores-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-country-stores.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 562px) 100vw, 562px\" \/><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, in real life,\u00a0 when\u00a0Mayor Kirk Caldwell\u00a0has his own pet project, the opportunities for citizen participation are met with disinformation,\u00a0retaliation, and abuse of city powers\/resources. The circle-the-wagon mentality kicks into gear from the top on down. Similar\u00a0ill-thought justifications\u00a0 are\u00a0parroted from top on down.\u00a0 Process reports\u00a0and Budget Forms are filled with fabricated information. Lies are perpetuated top on down.<\/p>\n<p>If citizens\u00a0 further resist, there are always the Mayor&#8217;s\u00a0spokesperson and\u00a0media trolls to vilify the messengers\u00a0 and to create confusion and distort facts. (There is an unspecified\u00a0number of public relations and assistants, paid for by taxpayers,\u00a0 who service Mayor.)<\/p>\n<p>An example of this dark side at City Hall\u00a0 would be <a href=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/?p=751\">Hauula Fire Station Relocation <\/a>project. Despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?time_continue=2&amp;v=BlqXQJ_hHpk\">robust protests <\/a>and\u00a0over 1,200 signatures against this extravagant relocation, the city stuck to its nefarious\u00a0PR\u00a0tactic to distract from the city&#8217;s\u00a0gross malfeasance in\u00a0 this process.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0 below August 18, 2008\u00a0letter is the &#8220;sale contract&#8221; that the city and clan freely\u00a0disperse to the public to distract from its failures to provide due process to the most affected citizens in Hauula. The fact is, even if the owner <strong>DONATED<\/strong> the land to the city for the project, the city still has to provide due process to the people living next to this despised project. The city miserably\u00a0failed its environmental review process to the people of Hauula.<\/p>\n<p><strong>August 18, 2008.<\/strong> This is the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u00a0CHERRY-PICKED\u00a0letter<\/span> used by the city and clan\u00a0to hoodwink\u00a0the city council and the public. This\u00a0letter does not even meet the basic rudimentary of a basic sale contract, if there was one.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1028\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0001-273x450.jpg\" alt=\"EM- Jpeg Miyata0001\" width=\"273\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0001-273x450.jpg 273w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0001-768x1265.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0001-622x1024.jpg 622w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>July 2009<\/strong> &#8211; This subsequent city\u00a0notice is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">never<\/span>\u00a0provided to the public by the city\u00a0\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0&#8220;<em>This Notice is not a contractual offer or commitment to purchase your property&#8221;.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1029\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0002-273x450.jpg\" alt=\"EM- Jpeg Miyata0002\" width=\"273\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0002-273x450.jpg 273w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0002-768x1265.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0002-622x1024.jpg 622w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1030\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0003-273x450.jpg\" alt=\"EM- Jpeg Miyata0003\" width=\"273\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0003-273x450.jpg 273w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0003-768x1265.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0003-622x1024.jpg 622w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>December 13, 2013<\/strong> Deposition was taken under oath from Land Chief Thomas Miyata where he finally had to stop his lies about an agreement to sell\u00a0and confess that\u00a0&#8220;<em> there was no agreement between Miss James and the City for the City to purchase or Miss James to sell her property.&#8221;<\/em> Page 120.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1032\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0005-273x450.jpg\" alt=\"EM- Jpeg Miyata0005\" width=\"273\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0005-273x450.jpg 273w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0005-768x1265.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0005-622x1024.jpg 622w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1033\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0006-273x450.jpg\" alt=\"EM- Jpeg Miyata0006\" width=\"273\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0006-273x450.jpg 273w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0006-768x1265.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/EM-Jpeg-Miyata0006-622x1024.jpg 622w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 273px) 100vw, 273px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-765\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Iseke-Lessary-City-Hall-470x264.jpg\" alt=\"Iseke-Lessary City Hall\" width=\"584\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Iseke-Lessary-City-Hall-470x264.jpg 470w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Iseke-Lessary-City-Hall-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Iseke-Lessary-City-Hall-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Iseke-Lessary-City-Hall.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, when Hauula residents protested with signs against the extravagant relocation of the $13 Million\u00a0Hauula Fire Station Relocation, Mayor Kirk Caldwell dispatched the Department of Maintenance &amp; Facilities\u00a0from Halawa (under the supervision of William D. Balfour, Jr.)\u00a0to seize the free speech signs. The federal judge had since ordered the City and County of Honolulu to pay the legal fees of the Plaintiff.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-359\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/DSC07929-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"DSC07929\" width=\"563\" height=\"315\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Mayor Kirk Caldwell\u00a0further engaged the City Corporation Counsel to bully the residents by erecting threatening signs to forcefully close down the recycling center that many depended on. The irony is the Mayor has already stolen $4.6 Million of federal HUD Community Development Block Grants ( CDBG) for this pork\u00a0project. CDBG funds are meant to improve the quality of lives and economic opportunities in low-income communities. Recycling is a critical cottage industry where even the homeless recycle daily to buy themselves a hot meal! The people are asking for &#8220;bread&#8217; but this Mayor is forcing &#8220;cake&#8221; on them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-241\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/DSC08057-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"DSC08057\" width=\"641\" height=\"359\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-957\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Recycling-KC-470x264.jpg\" alt=\"em-recycling-kc\" width=\"602\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Recycling-KC-470x264.jpg 470w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Recycling-KC-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/EM-Recycling-KC.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When residents further protested with new signs below, the Mayor\u00a0dispatched city county\u00a0inspectors to threaten private property owners with a daily $50 fine if they did not remove the signs!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-755\" src=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mayor-no-damn-good-470x264.jpg\" alt=\"Mayor no damn good\" width=\"625\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mayor-no-damn-good-470x264.jpg 470w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mayor-no-damn-good-768x432.jpg 768w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mayor-no-damn-good-1024x576.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mayor-no-damn-good.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 625px) 100vw, 625px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As of this writing, there are three Hawaiian kupuna ( 2 of them in their 80s)\u00a0resisting Mayor Caldwell in the federal courts now. Federal Judge Leslie Kobayashi is hearing the case.\u00a0 CV No: 15-00193 LEK-RLP<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, in April 2017, Mayor Kirk Caldwell opened this controversial project up for bids ( for $7M) when the funds have been deleted by the city council!<\/p>\n<p>Residents are thinking that Mayor Kirk Caldwell is employing the same tactics\u00a0&#8211; SUNKEN COST FALLACY &#8211;\u00a0as he does for the Honolulu Rail.\u00a0 He&#8217;s hoping to encumber as much costs as he can, hoping the judge will not take a bold action against his malfeasance.<\/p>\n<p>A citizen should not be surprised at these capricious and nefarious tactics. Whether it&#8217;s a huge project like the Honolulu Rail or this relocation project, the same modus operandi\u00a0 &#8211; lies, distractions and retaliations &#8211; is implemented.<\/p>\n<p>Honolulu deserves better.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; The Honolulu City Charter clearly\u00a0 states the purpose for its being: &#8220;Section 2-102.\u00a0 Purposes &#8212;\u00a0 All city powers shall be used to serve and advance the\u00a0general welfare, health, happiness, safety and aspirations of its inhabitants, present and future, and to encourage their full participation in the process of governance.&#8221; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[202,200,40,26,57,207,11,43,49,52,229],"class_list":["post-1027","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-federal-hud-cdbg-funds","tag-hart","tag-hauula-fire-station","tag-honolulu-hale","tag-honolulu-rail","tag-jr","tag-kirk-caldwell","tag-mayor-kirk-caldwell","tag-oahu","tag-thomas-miyata","tag-william-d-balfour"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1027"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1132,"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1027\/revisions\/1132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1027"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1027"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/countrytalkstory.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}