January 1989 Home   Newsletters

February 1989

March 1989

Membership and Public Meeting
Testimony on SB 313 ... Relating to Land Use (Marian Wilkins)
Initiative and Referendum Study (Marian Wilkins)
Testimony on HB 631 Relating to Voter Registration (Arlene Ellis)
Statement at Honolulu City Council Meeting, January 31, 1989 (Arlene Ellis)
Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OMPO) (Shirley Cartwright & Mildred Walston)
Sources and Uses of City Funds
Letter to the League (Virginia Flygare)
League of Women Voters Presents....

Initiative and Referendum Study

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HONOLULU
INITIATIVE AND REFERUNDUM STUDY
Marian Wilkins - Chair

CONSENSUS

  1. Should the LWV of Honolulu support Initiative in the Honolulu Charter for:
    1. Amending the Charter? Unanimous Agreement.
    2. Proposing Ordinances? Unanimous Agreement.

  2. If the answer to Part "A" is Yes, should the initiative be Direct or Indirect?

    There was no opposition to supporting either type of initiative, although one or perhaps two preferred indirect. Only one opposed direct or indirect initiative.

  3. If the answer to Part "B" is Yes, should the initiative be Direct or Indirect?

    The consensus was the same as for number "2". No preference was shown with one person preferring indirect.

  4. If the answer to Question 1. "B" is Yes, should there be any restrictions on subject matter?

    The consensus was that there should be no restrictions on subject matter. Two persons thought there should be a restriction using initiatives for tax purposes because there had been some unfortunate results because of this on the mainland. There were no other objections. The use of initiative and referendum for land use planning and zoning issues was discussed. The consensus was that there be no restrictions on these items.

  5. Should the LWV of Honolulu support Optional Referendum for ordinances?

    The consensus was Yes.

  6. Should the LWV of Honolulu support Petition Referendum for ordinances?

    The consensus was Yes.

COMMENTS

The consensus was taken on February 4, 1989 at a breakfast meeting. Nineteen persons attended the meeting.

There was overwhelming support for all aspects of Initiative and Referendum at the local level. The feeling of the group was that it was vital to keep the Initiative power that we do have and to expand citizen participation to include both Optional (Legislative) and Petition Referendum.

The feeling of the group was that although citizens may make a mistake, the advantages in having the right of initiative far outweighed any possible disadvantages.

Marian Wilkins

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