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Councilmember Djou continues to work hard for you at City Hall. Here are some of his accomplishments:
1. Liquor Commission clean-up
Building an honest government:
After a series of corruption scandals that tarnished the Honolulu Liquor Commission, Councilmember Djou called for wholesale reform and better oversight of the City's liquor administration system. When seven Liquor Commission inspectors were convicted of bribery charges, Councilmember Djou successfully obtained an audit of the Liquor Commission and subsequently called for the firing of the Liquor Commission Administrator and Chief Investigator in 2005. After four months, the Liquor Commission Administrator was removed, and the Chief Investigator left soon after. Today this agency is rebuilding the trust it lost with the public.
http://starbulletin.com/2005/04/14/news/story1.html
http://www.kitv.com/news/4377937/detail.html
http://www.kitv.com/news/4758958/detail.html
2. Ethics Reform
Instituting civil fines for violators:
When Councilmember Djou entered the City Council, many elected officials had recently been convicted and sent to jail for ethics violations. Councilmember Djou wanted to see tighter ethics rules, including giving the Ethics Commission the power to impose fines on government officials. Councilmember Djou was the driving force behind passage of a Charter Amendment in 2006 that would allow civil fines to be imposed on elected government officials.
In 2008, following up on the passage of the Charter Amendment vote, Councilmember Djou introduced legislation to strengthen conflict of interest rules. After passage by a unanimous vote in the Council, Mayor Hannemann vetoed the measure. In June 2008, Councilmember Tam was sternly rebuked by the City Council for discriminatory racial remarks during a Council committee meeting.
http://starbulletin.com/2004/01/16/news/story10.html
http://starbulletin.com/2004/01/20/editorial/editorials.html
http://starbulletin.com/2008/04/09/news/story08.html
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080604/BREAKING01/80604059
3. Opposition to increasing taxes
Careful management of your money:
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Councilmember Djou believes that all residents have the right to keep more of their hard-earned money and that government should live within its means. Councilmember Djou has voted against every measure that would increase taxes for residents in the City and County of Honolulu. Councilmember Djou fought tax increases ranging from the increase in the vehicle tax to the General Excise Tax surcharge on Transit, because he knows that the people of Oahu are already taxed too much.
http://starbulletin.com/2007/06/06/news/story08.html
http://www.kitv.com/news/2589820/detail.html
http://starbulletin.com/2005/08/10/news/story3.html
4. Protection of the environment and advocate for alternative energy
Responsible stewardship of our environment-fighting for recycling:
Councilmember Djou is a strong advocate for protection of the
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environment and is a vigorous proponent of reducing our dependance on imported oil and increased use of renewable resources. Djou pushed for landmark laws that provided funding for the City to purchase solar photovoltaic systems to generate electricity in City buildings and for City vehicles to use nitrogen in tires to reduce fuel costs. Councilmember Djou continues to advocate for better use of our natural resources. Reducing our need for a landfill by implementing comprehensive curbside recycling throughout Oahu has become a signature issue for Councilmember Djou. To encourage the installation of photovoltaic cells in residential homes, Councilmember Djou introduced and passed legislation that waived the building fees for residents who chose to install PV systems in their home.
In August, 2008, Councilmember Djou introduced three measures to address energy consumption in the city. Amonsgst the package of bills and resolutions introduced, one would limit the amount of kilowattage the city consumes in a year, as well as require all City departments to procure appliances that are "Energy Star" compliant.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Mar/12/ln/FP603120357.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/06/21/focus3.html
http://starbulletin.com/2007/06/27/news/story07.html
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Feb/10/bz/hawaii802100336.html
5. Common Sense Government
Making City Hall work:
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Councilmember Djou has advocated for common sense in our government. When residents asked for some relief from the numerous street closures caused by the large number of parades in Waikiki, Councilmember Djou worked to pass a balanced parades bill that both allowed parades in Waikiki without overburdening the residents of the area. When he discovered that restroom facilities in City buildings were not adequate for women, Councilmember Djou passed a potty parity bill that requires larger female restrooms at specific event facilities. And when it became apparent the City's website address was not user-friendly, Councilmember Djou worked with Congressman Ed Case to streamline the City Web address to www.honolulu.gov.
Upon hearing concerns from Waikiki residents about panhandling around automated teller machines, Councilmember Djou introduced and pushed for legislation to protect residents and visitors from panhandlers around ATM's. Councilmember Djou introduced and pushed a resolution asking the City to investigate the use of car "boots" to get unregistered or uninsured cars off the road. In August, 2008, Councilmember Djou introduced a measure to allow residents to pay for their property taxes by credit card, joining all other counties in Hawaii as well as major metropoltan cities on the mainland.
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Dec/08/ln/ln01p.html
http://www.hawaiinews.com/archives/technology/000296.shtml
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0119/p16s01-lihc.html
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jan/23/br/br2489715630.html
http://www.kitv.com/news/16194420/detail.html?subid=10101241
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/27079724.html