My first priority is jobs. We are in a time of economic difficulty and need to take aggressive steps to help our residents keep and find work, our small businesses stay afloat during the fall off of tourism and insure of people have homes and income to weather this difficult time.
As soon as possible, I propose we create jobs using County, State and Federal programs to improve our infrastructure and provide housing for our working families that is really affordable.
Meanwhile we will push for longterm strategies that will diversify our economy such as enhancing Maui Community College, increasing our technical four year degree programs and even looking at advanced degrees. Education attracts high tech industry which will bolster our economy.
We have more water than we think - we waste a significant portion of it. We treat our wastewater to tertiary levels but then, instead of reusing it, we inject it into wells where it becomes an expensive problem instead of a resource. I propose we create a delivery system so that this water can be used for irrigation and agriculture in order to free up significant amounts of drinking water.
Conservation, changes in law to allow gray water irrigation, drought-tolerant landscaping, are all ways we can extend our water supply. It is not responsible to allow private water systems. Upcountry needs reservoirs. In wet areas irrigation catchment systems should be encouraged to offset demands on our public water.
The Iao aquifer is being drawn down rapidly with the possibility that if we keep taking more, we'll end up turning it salty and ruin it. We cannot continue turning arid Wailea and Lahaina into jungles for the tourists while our residential lots go thirsty.
Our residents are being crushed under high gas and utility bills. Oddly enough, done right, renewable resources can lower utility bills. By supporting no-taxpayer-cost programs to help everyone install solar hot water, solar electric and wind generators, we can stop people's bills from going up, up, up. Much of this is a State issue and I would work for legislation enabling everyone to install these in order to reduce their monthly utility bill.
Our residents are paying hundreds of dollars per month on gas for their vehicles. The County is responding by increasing bus service. I will continue to increase bus service as well as pushing for safe bike paths and electric vehicle routes.