DISTRICT 26 HIT HARD BY CRISIS
DISTRICT 26 IS HARDEST HIT BY UNEMPLOYMENT. ISN’T IT TIME FOR CHANGE?
June 2, 2020 — I hope that you and your loved ones have remained in good health during this pandemic. We have been reminded that our welfare and wellbeing are inextricably connected and we can only get through this together. Even before the covid-19 shutdown and economic collapse, the majority of residents who live in District 26 were struggling to keep up with Honolulu’s high cost of living.
The UHERO report released last week identified District 26 as having some of the highest rates of unemployment claims to workforce population in the state by zipcode: 96813 is at 20%, 96814 is at 27%, 96815 is at 31%, and 96816 is at 23%.
Our social safety nets were torn and tattered before the pandemic; and now, for too many of our neighbors, they have become completely untethered. After waiting for hours in food lines, thousands of families are being turned away when supplies run out. Earning a living-wage and being able to put something aside in case of emergencies are critical to a self-reliant safety net. But earlier this year, our current Representative (as Speaker of the House) struck a deal that would allow corporations to continue paying poverty-wages and keep families on the verge of homelessness. Earned unemployment insurance is another safety net that is administered by the state. According to DLIR representatives, there are still over 60,000 workers still waiting for their unemployment insurance — more than two months after filing. Our current Representative has had 26 years in the legislature to raise and allocate sufficient funding to update our IT infrastructure, but he failed to act. Consequently, instead of distributing these earned benefits to workers, he has forced their families into food lines.
Most recently, our current Representative squirreled away over a billion dollars in federal funds that was sent to provide relief to economically injured residents and small business owners. Instead of getting the money into the hands of these struggling families, he stashes the aid into a “rainy day” fund.
Well, its raining hunger right now and the mudslides into homelessness are not far behind.
This is why we need new leadership today. It’s time to tell our current Representative, that after 26 years, it's time that our community is represented by an advocate for the people, who knows that government should help its people - not obstruct, not divert, not delay help from getting to them.
I ask you to join our campaign to bring proactive leadership to our capitol.
Kim Coco Iwamoto
P.S. - Read our June 2 campaign newsletter here and join the movement. Let your voice be heard at the August 8 election for State House Representative of District 26.