Breaking Free from Big Money's Grip

The influence of substantial financial contributions in our political system has long hindered genuine progress and innovation. John is committed to reforming this system to ensure that our government answers to the people. By reducing the sway of big money, we can reclaim our political process and make decisions that genuinely reflect the will and needs of all of Hawaii.

During the 2024 legislative session, we had an opportunity to pass publicly financed elections, and close loopholes preventing employees of companies with government contracts from donating to politicians. Those bills got killed. Next year, we need to pass those foundational bills.

Investing in Our Community

Only then can we focus all our attention on critical areas:

Affordable Housing: Increasing the availability of affordable homes, making it easier for everyone to have a place to call home.

Crime Prevention: Funding programs that enhance public safety and reduce crime, creating safer neighborhoods for our families.

Kupuna Care: Providing better care for our elders, ensuring they live their golden years with dignity and support.

We must start planning and building for fresh water security. We must build seawater to fresh water facilities.

We need to revive more fish ponds and develop food security through farming incentives.

John’s vision is clear: a Hawaii where politics is free from the undue influence of big money and where new opportunities are intelligently leveraged to benefit all residents. By voting for John, you choose a leader dedicated to these principles, ready to guide Hawaii toward a more equitable and prosperous future.

What is Functional Zero?

"Functional zero" is not just about reducing the number of homeless to zero; instead, it’s about creating a responsive and sustainable system where homelessness is rare and brief. By aligning with the Built for Zero model, John plans to lead to:

Proactively Measure and Address Homelessness: Implement data-driven strategies that accurately track and predict homelessness trends, enabling proactive interventions.

Increase Housing Capacity: Expand and efficiently utilize housing resources to ensure that the supply meets the demands of those in need.

Strengthen Support Systems: Provide accessible, comprehensive support services that address the root causes of homelessness, such as unemployment, mental health, and substance abuse.

Building More Affordable Housing: A Cornerstone of John's Strategy

A critical component of achieving functional zero in homelessness is significantly increasing the availability of affordable housing. John is committed to:

Advocating for State-Funded Housing Projects: Push for increased state funding and incentives for the development of affordable housing units.

Partnering with Developers: Work with private developers to ensure a portion of new housing developments are designated as affordable units.

Utilizing Vacant and Underused Properties: Identify and repurpose vacant and underused properties within the district as affordable housing options.

John's State-Level Plan to Support Functional Zero

John’s initiative centers around:

Local Implementation of Housing First: Uphold and expand the Housing First approach, ensuring that individuals and families are housed quickly, without preconditions.

Community Collaboration: Foster partnerships between local government, non-profits, and private sectors to pool resources and expertise, maximizing the impact of every program implemented under the functional zero framework.

Legislative Support: Advocate for state-level policies that support comprehensive, continuous funding and resources necessary to achieve and maintain functional zero homelessness.

In addition, a Homeless permit program would complement Functional Zero.

Hawaii faces a critical challenge with homelessness, and innovative, compassionate solutions are needed. One such solution is a permit system for homeless individuals. This program, which requires individuals to require a permit (like a camping permit) to be renewed every 90 days at no cost, offers several key benefits that can significantly improve the lives of those experiencing homelessness.

Key Benefits:

1. Free Medical Check-ups: Homeless individuals often face severe health challenges due to lack of access to healthcare. Regular medical check-ups can identify and treat health issues early, improving quality of life and reducing the need for costly emergency room visits.

2. Family Reconnection Database: Homelessness often leads to individuals becoming disconnected from their families. A centralized database allows family and friends to locate and reconnect with homeless individuals, providing much-needed emotional and practical support.

3. Regular Contact and Support: The permit system ensures that homeless individuals have regular check-ins with social services, creating a framework for continuous support and a pathway to permanent solutions.

Supporting this program promotes dignity and provides practical assistance, leading to a healthier, more connected community. As your candidate, I am committed to implementing and expanding such initiatives to ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to live a healthier, more stable life.

By voting for me, you are endorsing a candidate who prioritizes actionable, compassionate solutions to homelessness. Together, we can create a community where no one is left behind, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Vote for compassion. Vote for practical solutions. Vote for a brighter future for Hawaii.

Why Supporting John is Crucial

The fight against homelessness requires innovative thinking and proven frameworks. John's pledge to push toward functional zero is not just visionary—it's practical and grounded in methods that have shown real results. Including the expansion of affordable housing is fundamental to this strategy, addressing one of the most pressing needs in our community.

Vote for John: A Leader Who Believes in Solutions and Sustainability

Your vote for John is a vote for a proactive, informed approach to solving homelessness. It's a commitment to a strategy that has helped communities across the nation not just manage, but end homelessness. Support John in creating a Hawaii where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Understanding the Issue

Recent statistics from the State of Safety report indicate that while Hawaii excels in keeping our community safe from violent offenses, property crime remains persistently high. This disparity suggests a need for targeted strategies that protect our property and belongings as diligently as we safeguard our residents from violence.

John’s Comprehensive Safety Initiative

John understands that to truly enhance safety, we must tackle property crime with as much urgency and dedication as we approach violent crime. Here is how he plans to address this critical issue:

• Enhanced Neighborhood Watch Programs: Expand and support community-based initiatives that have proven successful in other regions. By empowering local residents to take an active role in their community’s safety, we foster an environment where crime is less likely to go unnoticed.

• Increased Police Visibility and Responsiveness: Advocate for allocating more resources to our police departments to increase patrols in high-risk areas. This presence not only acts as a deterrent but also ensures a quicker response to incidents, reducing the chance for criminals to operate unchecked.

• Investing in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: Implement design strategies that naturally prevent crime. This includes improved lighting in public areas, strategic placement of trees and shrubs, and the use of surveillance technology in vulnerable locations.

• Community Engagement and Education: Launch campaigns to educate residents on simple yet effective measures to protect their property, such as securing windows and doors, installing security systems, and participating in local safety programs.

Why Your Vote for John Matters

By voting for John, you’re choosing a leader who not only recognizes the nuances of crime in our community but also is prepared with actionable plans to tackle these issues head-on. His approach goes beyond the surface, offering depth in strategy and breadth in impact, aimed at significantly lowering property crime rates in our district.

Stand with John for a Safer Tomorrow

Our home deserves a representative who will fight for the safety and security of all aspects of our lives. With John, you have a candidate who sees the full picture and is committed to mobilizing the entire community in the fight against property crime. Vote for John and join us in building a safer, more secure District 20.

Addressing the Aging Population Crisis

Hawaii now has one of the oldest populations in the nation. With this comes an increased need for affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and supportive services to manage everyday life, especially as more of our seniors live with disabilities and chronic conditions. The challenges are significant:

• Healthcare and Senior Care Workforce Shortage: As the demand for healthcare rises, the availability of professionals and facilities has not kept pace, leaving many kupuna and their families without the necessary support.

• Affordable Housing Crunch: The number of affordable housing units is vastly inadequate, forcing many seniors into precarious living situations.

Comprehensive Plan for Senior Care

Understanding first-hand the challenges faced by families like mine—where my father cares for my mother who has early dementia, poor vision, and requires a walker—I am driven to ensure no family has to struggle to find the care they need. Here’s how I plan to help:

• Strengthen In-Home Care Services: Invest in services that allow seniors to remain in their homes, respecting their preference for independence while ensuring they receive the comprehensive care they need. This includes expanding funding for personal care services to cover more hours per day, beyond the current 3 to 5 hours.

• Support Family Caregivers: Provide more substantial resources and respite care for family caregivers who play a critical role in the well being of our kupuna. This includes financial support for families who are dedicating significant resources to care for their loved ones.

• Boost Health Care Workforce Training: Address the shortage of skilled healthcare workers by investing in education and training programs that prepare more professionals to enter these essential fields.

The Opportunity in Our Challenges

While the rapid aging of our population presents difficulties, it also offers a chance to enhance community engagement and innovation. By supporting policies that improve the lives of our seniors, we also lay the groundwork for a healthier, more vibrant Hawaii for all generations.

Vote for a Leader Who Cares for Our Kupuna

My dedication to transforming challenges into opportunities is personal. By voting for me, you are choosing a leader who will ensure our state is prepared to offer our aging population the respect, care, and support they deserve. Let’s work together to build a Hawaii where every generation can thrive, inspired by love and driven by the understanding that we can do better for our kupuna.

Understanding the Problem

Monster homes often emerge due to loopholes in zoning laws that allow for the construction of large multi-unit dwellings in areas zoned for single-family residences. This has led to scenarios where homes with numerous bedrooms and bathrooms are built, effectively functioning as apartment buildings without adhering to the appropriate zoning regulations. These developments can overwhelm local infrastructure, such as sewage and parking, and alter the character of neighborhoods.

Comprehensive Policy Solutions

1. On-Site Parking Requirements:

• Require that all parking for newly developed properties be contained within the property boundaries. This measure will help alleviate the strain on neighborhood street parking and reduce traffic congestion. By mandating on-site parking, we can ensure that new developments do not negatively impact existing residents and maintain the quality of life in our communities.

2. Zoning Law Reforms:

• I will advocate for the tightening of zoning regulations to ensure that they clearly define and restrict the size and scope of residential buildings in single-family zones. This includes revisiting and closing any loopholes that currently allow for the construction of these oversized homes.

• Encourage the development of affordable housing projects in areas that are properly zoned for higher density, ensuring that new developments meet community standards and infrastructure capabilities.

3. Enhanced Enforcement and Penalties:

• Strengthen the enforcement capabilities of the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) to ensure that existing laws are upheld. This includes better tracking and monitoring systems for building permits and more stringent inspections during and after construction.

• Increase penalties for violations to deter developers from bypassing regulations. Fines and the possibility of revoking permits should be substantial enough to act as a genuine deterrent.

4. Combatting Corruption:

• Recent arrests and convictions of DPP employees for taking bribes highlight the critical need for integrity and accountability in the permitting process. I will push for stricter oversight and regular audits to prevent such corruption and ensure fair enforcement of building regulations.

• Implement a whistleblower protection program to encourage reporting of any unethical practices within the DPP and other related departments.

5. Community Involvement:

• Establish a more transparent and responsive complaint system for residents to report suspected violations. Ensure that community concerns are addressed promptly and effectively, fostering greater trust between residents and officials.

• Involve neighborhood boards more actively in the planning process. These boards should have a significant voice in any proposed changes to zoning laws or new developments in their areas.

Commitment to the Community

As your candidate, I am dedicated to ensuring that our neighborhoods remain safe, beautiful, and true to their intended character while addressing the critical need for affordable housing. By taking a balanced and comprehensive approach to the issue of monster homes, we can protect our communities from overdevelopment and ensure a sustainable and equitable future for all residents.

Vote for John Choi, and together we will build a better, more harmonious District 20. Thank you for your support.