Episode 25: Public Safety is our focus
On this episode of the One O'ahu Podcast, Mayor Rick Blangiardi joins host Brandi Higa to discuss two key hiring announcements, the unintended consequences of a free feeding program, and Bill 28 relating to naloxone.
Key leadership hires
Dita Holifield (Simeona) has been appointed by Mayor Rick Blangiardi as the new director designate of the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Enterprise Services and Kevin Auger has been hired as the Deputy Director for the Mayor’s Office of Housing (HOU).
A talented leader and innovative media executive with a proven record of success in sales, marketing and events management, Dita Holifield has spent the past nine years as general manager of the seven radio stations in Hawaiʻi owned and operated by Salem Media Group. Since 1997, she has also managed her own successful live events business and is the owner of The All-American Rodeo, the state’s largest rodeo show.
Kevin Auger brings with him over three decades in commercial real estate experience and extensive financing knowledge. He joins the City after leaving his post as redevelopment officer at the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA), where since 2017, he has directed all phases of public and affordable housing activities for HPHA’s 82 property multi-family portfolio, including procurement and selection of development partners.
Free meals for the homeless
A feeding program at St. Augustine by the Sea Catholic Church in Waikīkī has led to widespread complaints that the free meals are attracting homeless individuals from outside the area, some of whom are urinating and defecating on the sidewalks, consuming alcohol in public, and harassing hotel guests and church parishioners near ʻŌhua Avenue.
“Public safety is our number one priority all the way around,” said Mayor Blangiardi. Mayor Blangiardi goes on to explain that he asked the priest of the church if he could think of an alternative means that assure the food service continued for families in need but with a different model, similar to what River of Life Mission did.
River of Life Mission used to serve up to 700 meals a day from it’s North Pauahi Street location in Chinatown. Now, the ministry prepares even more meals out of its kitchen but delivers them to forty “hub spots.” This model has allowed workers to build relationships with individuals across the island and has since helped 77 homeless people go into detox or a shelter.
Bill 28
On July 25, 2023, Mayor Blangiardi held a ceremonial signing for Bill 28 (2023), CD1 relating to naloxone. There is a prevalence of opioid-related deaths in Hawai‘i. The chance of an overdose can drastically increase when opioids are combined with alcohol. Fortunately, naloxone has been proven to counter overdose effects and save lives. Bill 28 promotes public health, safety, and welfare in our communities by enhancing access to naloxone hydrochloride (“naloxone”) in establishments that sell liquor.
“Fentanyl is, as I’ve listened to the different reports and read, the most dangerous drug ever in the history of the United States,” explained Mayor Blangiardi on why he signed this bill into law. He went on to say, “it’s fifty times more powerful than heroin. It’s very addictive. It’s prevalent. Sometimes it’s not coming in as pure Fentanyl. It’s getting laced into other street drugs, which we’ve already seen poeple die from because it was in there.”
This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2024.
