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Good thing we have an election coming up this year, because according to a slew of surveys, Hawaii voters have little good to say about those in local government today, and it could be time for a change.
According to the 2019 Honolulu Community Livability Report, Honolulu is sinking fast in public perception as a place to live, work and raise kids.
Honolulu was among hundreds of cities that took the National Community Survey, conducted annually by the Colorado-based National Research Center Inc., along with the International City/County Management Association.
“Out of 433 communities that were asked the quality-
of-life question, Honolulu ranked 391st, which is in the 10th percentile,” the survey reported.
Another survey released in the beginning of 2019 was taken by Pacific Resource Partnership, comprising the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and 240
contractors, advocates for
development issues.
That survey asked if residents thought a number of issues had gotten better or worse over the past couple of years. More than 50% said concerns about homelessness, housing that your family can afford, crime and violence were worse.
PRP summed up its poll by essentially saying that a spirit of pessimism is woven through the entire Hawaii discussion about the future.
“Despite a strengthening national economy, continued low unemployment in Hawaii and record visitor arrivals to the Islands, Hawaii residents are not terribly optimistic about their future.
The perennial issues — cost of living, housing affordability and homeless-
ness — are of greater concern than ever, causing a good number of them to consider leaving the state,” the 2019 PRP poll report said.
That same feeling marks the more recent National Community Survey. A Honolulu Star-Advertiser article about the survey said that just 39% saw Honolulu as an excellent or good place to retire. Back in 2006, 68% thought Honolulu was a good place to retire.
As for raising kids, in 2006, 71% gave Honolulu a thumbs up, while last year it was just 53%.
More portions of the survey point to the feeling that, yes, life in Honolulu is just getting worse.
In 2006, 74% said Honolulu police did an excellent job; last year it was 51%.
Traffic enforcement was excellent, according to 52% in 2006, but just 26% last year said it was excellent.
Some drops seem to reflect local controversies.
In 2006, “monster homes” were starting to be an issue and building code enforcement was judged excellent by 49% — but last year, just 13% said the city was doing a good job.
City parks? Seventy percent said great in 2006. Last year? Forty percent.
Public information was great at 62% back in 2006; last year, just 36% thought the same.
PRP’s most troublesome stat shows two-thirds of those surveyed have or are thinking about leaving Hawaii.
“The biggest issue pushing people out is the cost of living. Two related issues, insufficient job opportunities and the expense of housing, contribute as well,” said the report.
When the big boosters
of the local economy such as PRP are saying there’s trouble in Hawaii, then all
incumbent political can-
didates should start thinking about how easy it could be to replace them this fall.
Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays. Reach him at 808onpolitics@gmail.com.
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