Council Division on Rail Led to Shake-Up

Michael Levine/Civil Beat

City Council members' frustration over how City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia and Vice Chair Breene Harimoto handled appointments to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was a "major factor" in a leadership shake-up at the council, according to City Council member Ikaika Anderson.

Anderson confirmed to Civil Beat that he would be the vice chair under Chairman Ernie Martin if the reorganization, first revealed by Civil Beat Wednesday morning, goes through.

"The majority of members feel we need to go another direction, that we need more openness, we need more inclusiveness — in particular with the Transportation Committee — that we weren't seeing before," Anderson said. "Ernie will be a lot more inclusive. Ernie will seek the opinions of a majority of council members. I think it would be in the best interest of everyone."

In a strange twist, at a press conference at Honolulu Hale Wednesday afternoon, Garcia said that he initiated the reorganization that will lead to him losing his leadership position. No one else from the council was present. A spokeswoman for Martin said he wouldn't talk about the reorganization until it was final.

"I am about to volunteer to step down as the chair of the Honolulu City Council, which is unprecedented in its history," Garcia told reporters. If council members approve the change, it will go into effect in July.

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