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+--- Thread: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics (/showthread.php?tid=7471)
Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - james weatherford - 06-30-2010
NOTE: This topic is posted to accept Rob's invitation to make use of this forum to promote my candidacy and positions.
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
To affect real benefit to constituents it is essential for any and every Council member to understand the reality of separate, if complementary, powers and functions of different jurisdictions – County, State, and Federal.
Were time, money, and public attention infinite, the difference in jurisdictional powers and functions might not be something of concern. However, time, money, and public attention are finite.
When time, money, and public attention are directed toward issues over which the Council has no decision making powers or statutory function provided in the County Charter and/or State Constitution, it is inevitably done at the expense of progress on other issues over which the Council does have (sometimes primary) decision making responsibility. There may be occasions when this expense is worth the benefit gained; there are definitely other times it is not.
Certainly, of benefit is close communication and collaboration between the Council member and State and Federal legislators and agencies who are also serving the same local constituents as the Council member. Communication and collaboration, wherein the Council member must advocate for local benefits, is not the matter of concern here.
Rather, the concern here is that when other Council actions stray from decision making powers and functions provided in the County Charter and/or State Constitution the result is confusion, unrealistic expectations, and frustration on the part of the public.
During the most recent Council term, various Resolutions were put forward on emotionally charged issues over which the Council has no decision making powers. Time, money, and public attention were directed at Resolutions with nil potential for tangible benefit to residents of this County.
A cynical view expressed by some is that adventures into issues beyond the Council’s decision making powers and functions purposely serve to distract the public from the lack of solutions for issues that are the Council’s responsibility.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - Obie - 06-30-2010
So,does this mean that you won't waste time and money by pursuing your quest of having roundabouts on state highway 130 ?
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - james weatherford - 06-30-2010
Thanks for the question, Obie.
As a County Council member, there is no official decision to be made in the design of highway 130, and thus no definitive action to be taken.
However, as an active resident of the community and as a Council member I will continue to advocate for a safer road there. The 'quest' you mention is about safety, as well as more efficient and a more cost effective road, and roundabouts are proven to increase road safety and travel efficiency, as well as to be more cost effective.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - 808blogger - 07-10-2010
What amount of force would you personally be willing to use against a person who does not want to pay alleged county "property tax" in order to get them to pay it? (moderator: yes this is a very serious question)
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - LeeE - 07-10-2010
I have great respect for James and am glad to see a good slate of people running for office. I don't agree with him on this one, though.
With only one de facto political party in America, the Wall Street/War Party, we have no real voice in national affairs and little on the state level either. We need our councils across the country to speak out on our behalf, regardless of their actual sphere of influence, imho.
Otherwise, what we got in the way of "democracy"? Bupkis.
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - james weatherford - 07-12-2010
quote:
Originally posted by 808blogger
What amount of force would you personally be willing to use against a person who does not want to pay alleged county "property tax" in order to get them to pay it? (moderator: yes this is a very serious question)
I, "personally", will not use any force.
As a member of Council, will I support the County taking property for payment of over due taxes and/or tax penalties?
At this point, I have to say 'yes', because that is the default process. Should someone come forward with a convincing argument to the contrary, I am certainly open to listening and keeping my mind open.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - james weatherford - 07-12-2010
quote:
Originally posted by LeeE
I have great respect for James and am glad to see a good slate of people running for office. I don't agree with him on this one, though.
With only one de facto political party in America, the Wall Street/War Party, we have no real voice in national affairs and little on the state level either. We need our councils across the country to speak out on our behalf, regardless of their actual sphere of influence, imho.
Otherwise, what we got in the way of "democracy"? Bupkis.
My position is really one of practicality.
No matter what one is doing -- serving as member of Council, working in the garden, cleaning house, whatever... -- when that person is dong one thing, they cannot be doing something else. I want to focus what makes a difference instead of just what makes me get attention.
For example, I have had people ask me what I thought about toxins at Pohakuloa. I hate 'em. Period. Can I, as a Council member, expect to get the U.S. Army to do the right thing there? While I never say never, there is no reason I should expect to. Instead of using my time and the County's money doing that, I'd rather try to deal with what I am confident a Council member can do something about and that no body else is going to do anything about, such as County roads, waste' (i.e., "trash", which the State mandates the County do), Hawaii County police, zoning, etc.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - LeeE - 07-12-2010
Mahalo, James. But then, what do you do when the trash cans start glowing?**S** Aloha, brah.
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - oink - 07-12-2010
Save on street lights.
Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.
RE: Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics - Irongstone - 07-26-2010
James, since you mentioned the DU weapons being used on the island, and that you oppose them but wouldn't have enough time to do much about it, I'm wondering if you'd have time to introduce a resolution to request the gov't to quit using DU weapons on the island.
The resolution could state the two reasons:
1) use of DU weapons here pollutes the island with deadly radioactive particles, and
2) use of DU weapons, after training here, is a crime against humanity, due to its effects on innocent civilian populations.
Whether or not the gov't complies, wouldn't the resolution be the right thing to do and set a good example for people everywhere?