|
of Government Commission necessary? I know it’s by Charter, but is it necessary
<br />considering you folks are doing the job?
<br />MAYOR KENOI:
<br />Yeah. I think it’s a good thing. When you get good people who are
<br />able, for example, as a trial attorney, I would test my cases on a security guard at my
<br />apartment building, my friend down the hall. And he would airbrush cars. I sit with
<br />other attorneys, right? You brainstorm with attorneys, ready for trial, then go down the
<br />hall and, Bruce. Hey Bruce, can I ask you about my case? These are the facts. This is
<br />what my witness is going to say, this is what they’re witness is going to say. What you
<br />think? Can go? I would be asking myself what about that? Then I’d be like,yeah.
<br />Thanks. I would go back and then run down, check with my security guard –let me
<br />practice my case on you. And I tell people how would I be wondering to myself if I was
<br />sitting there on jury. What happened to that person? How come they didn’t come
<br />testify? But so what I’m saying is the professionals have a skill set, and they’re paid to
<br />work really hard. But sometimes people who aren’t vested, you know in decision
<br />making, I try to encourage honesty and promise not to shoot the messenger who gave
<br />me the message that a good friend is an honest friend. That my best employee is one
<br />who is not afraid to tell the truth. People got to speak truth to power. I think it’s critical
<br />in leadership. And not everybody does that. I go to congressman in DC instead. I seen
<br />people BS the boss repeatedly. So, when you ask the question is the Cost of
<br />Government Commission necessary? I think it is. I’ve never called any of you on the
<br />side. Never done that with any commission. Planning, Police, Fire, Liquor. I don’t
<br />communicate with my commission. I just appoint them. Even like Reapportionment
<br />Commission, I, you read the paper, oh, look Kenoi trying to run this, run that, and every
<br />council person vote 9-0 on every name, like good people. I’m not appointing just
<br />anybody. You appoint people who care and willing to serve. And so, I think it’s great.
<br />I’m eagerly awaiting recommendations and suggestions because I guarantee there are
<br />going to be stuff in there, Madam Vice Chair, that I’m going, oh, how come we didn’t
<br />take care of that. Look at the permitting process, that thing’s been going on for
<br />decades. People been frustrated. Eh, how come we don’t all go the same road, one
<br />time, once a week, take care of that. All of a sudden, the whole system transformed.
<br />So, I’m curious. People have come up with great suggestions. And I think sometimes
<br />we have our limitations.
<br />MS. WONG:
<br />So you put in your budget over several months which finalizes about June
<br />or so. And we come up with our recommendations and present it to you. Our term is up
<br />in June, so by the time we get our recommendations to you, your budget is already
<br />done. Your programs are already set in place. And your term is, since you’ve started in
<br />2008, your term will end in 2012. So there’s not a whole lot of time to implement any
<br />recommendations, but your intent is to
<br />MAYOR KENOI:
<br />Bill, when do we start working on the budget?
<br />MR. TAKABA:
<br />September is the actual kick off, but we start talking
<br />MAYOR KENOI:
<br />The minute we finish, we’re looking already.
<br />MR. TAKABA:
<br />We’re projecting for the following year.
<br />12
<br />
<br />
|