Faith Group Wants Commitment from Hawaii Political Candidates

KHON Channel 2 News
July 29, 2010

Faith Group Wants Commitment from Hawaii Political Candidates
Reported by: Brianne Randle
Email: brandle@khon2.com

Faith Action for Community Equity also known as “FACE” called on the who’s who of the upcoming 2010 elections. Candidates for the city and state’s top jobs.

“What FACE is fighting for is a safe and decent place for families to live in,” said Chrisy MacPherson, FACE Oahu.

400-plus FACE leaders presented the candidates with a list of concerns they want those running for office to address.

“Homelessness, furloughs, education these are issues affecting our members,” says Clementina Ceria-Ulep, FACE Oahu Co-President.

“Very important to let them know what we want,” says Van Tores, FACE member.

“So much is at stake everyone understands these issues are real,” says David Goldberg, FACE member.

The candidates were then asked if elected would they tackle these issues in office and attend a FACE Equity Summit.

“Usually get them in a public forum so they commit with us and after they get elected we remind they covented, committed and now it’s time to work with us,” says Ceria-Ulep.

FACE is made up of over 40-thousand faith based members. And is a strong presence at the polls.

“It’s strategic for them if you’re trying to get elected you should be there cause lots of people that didn’t show up either didn’t respond to the invitation or couldn’t or what have you,” says Golderg.

All candidates present today supported FACE’s platform. Now the group says the task begins to make sure that happens.

“The question is how do you hold them to these questions afterwards,” says Goldberg.

“They know we will not give up until we work thru the issue,” says Ceria-Ulep.

FACE represents over 50 church groups on both Maui and Oahu.

Click here for the original story.

Interfaith Service

Tuesday, July 27, 2010
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Nuuanu Congregational Church
2651 Pali Highway
Honolulu, HI 96817

Click here for a map and directions.

Stop the (un)Fare bus increase!

June 26, 2010
Sign onto the online petition to tell Mayor Mufi Hannemann to reconsider the bus fare increase.

The petition states:
Aloha Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Please reconsider your increase to the cost of theBus. We just had a fare increase and two at once is too much. Many of us support rail, but we think that you shouldn’t pay for it by increasing the cost of theBus.

Click on the following link:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/unfareincrease/
Read more…

FACE Accountability Assembly this Saturday!

Our Accountability Assembly this Saturday will be at First United Methodist Church in town from 9:00 – 11:00 AM. This meeting is the culmination of all the work that we have been doing since the beginning of the year.

From the beginning of the year, we started a listening process that we called our Talk Story Sessions. We held Talk Story Sessions all over the island at all of our congregations and organizations. Through this process our leaders were able to categorize the community issues into 6 areas, which on April 11th, FACE as a whole voted to work in three main areas: Education, Affordable Housing, and Jobs + Economic Development. Statewide, FACE decided to work on Immigration Reform.

This Saturday, we have invited the candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Mayor to listen to our community concerns. This is who has committed to come:

For Governor:
Neil Abercrombie will be present. Duke Aiona will not be in attendance. Mufi Hannemann has not responded.

Candidates for Lt. Governor:
Norman Sakamoto, Gary Hooser, Lyla Berg, Brian Schatz and Jon Karamatsu on the Democratic side, and Adrienne King and Lynn Finnegan on the Republican side will attend. Robert Bunda will respond this week.

Candidates for Mayor:
Panos Prevedouros and Donovan Dela Cruz have confirmed. We are still waiting to confirm attendance from Kirk Caldwell. Rod Tam will not be available. Peter Carlisle will not be able to attend the meeting, but FACE leaders are scheduled to meet with him Thursday afternoon.

In addition to these candidates we also will be joined by Speaker of the House Calvin Say, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, Senator David Ige and Representative John Mizuno.

See you this Saturday at First United Methodist Church.

First United Methodist Church
1020 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu 96814

Parking will be available across Beretania at Linekona School.
Childcare is available.
Check with the office if a bus is available in your area.

Contact the FACE office for any questions 522-1304 or email us at face.office@facehawaii.org.