As I reprioritize our City budget, this will be one of my biggest priorities. River Street near Aala Park has remained clear of homeless encampments since last year. This crisis is not the time for empty promises or wishful thinking, but a time for responsible decision making. Maybe hes suffering early stage dementia? We must ensure that Honolulu Hale is protecting our small businesses and working families. Karen Chang is a Board Trustee at St. Andrew's, an advocate for sustainable healthcare, and a board member of Farmers Insurance Hawaii. An inspiring and highly effective leader, his passion is infectious to everyone he engages. In fact, as we look back to the early 1980s, when homes were still on leased land, the problems were exactly the same. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Powered byWPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress, http://Democratic%20National%20Convention%20'08, Financial disclosures by mayoral candidates Pine, Blangiardi, Hannemann, Questions raised by mayors late financial disclosure. SEE ALSO: Details about Alana Blanchard' Net Worth and Married Life. If Chang received compensation for her executive board service, that should have been disclosed as well. Ownership or interests in businesses. It is time to solve these ubiquitous problems for good and to make Honolulu meet the promise of its destination. "We talk about this on a regular basis at my house, but I just wanted you to know it doesn't get any deeper than that, and we're real sincere about it. Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Copyright 2020. A quick online search found at least two substantial interests held by the mayors wife, Karen Chang, that were not included on the mayors financial disclosure. Blangiardi, a longtime broadcast industry leader, would be entering a competitive 2020 race for mayor. in 1973. Rick Blangiardi is a 73 years old television executive who is now running to become the Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu. Copyright 2023 StarAdvertiser.com. Search for . Ive found the HEC to be responsive in those instances. Our taxpayers must get more bang for their buck, and doing so can help our departments do more with less as our Citys finances are increasingly impacted by this pandemic. Newly-elected Mayor Rick Blangiardi reviewed the first election results printout with staff and family late Tuesday evening at the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach. He makes decisions that reflect his political allies as he angles for governor in the next election as we have witnessed with the massive shutdowns over covid that have crippled our small businesses while he met with visitor industry folks and bankers. However, I do not support defunding our police, especially with a department as understaffed as ours. Newly-elected Mayor Rick Blangiardi received a call from his opponent, Keith Amemiya, who conceded after the first election results printout was issued late Tuesday evening. He starts out like he is going to be tough but then he backs off and ties it up without resolution. It's an entity created by my wife, Karen Chang, who's on this call." Blangiardi is referring to a new nonprofit, The Creative City, dedicated to arts education and initiatives that enhance the quality of life. Burglaries were down 23% by the end of 2021 and car break-ins were down 13%. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Honolulu, HI 96813 November 4, 2020 Blangiardi did report his wife had been a member of the Honolulu Police Commission for a term that ended in January 2020. His wife was a member of the. Not all agree, but the mood was cordial and constructive as Blangiardi acknowledged public perceptions about Chinatown as dirty, and scary, with drugs and homeless people. Longtime Chinatown observers and activists were there, including neighborhood board member Chu Lan Shubert Kwok. The form and related instructions are pretty clear, but questions may arise. It is past time to bring new, innovative affordable housing projects to Honolulu that bypass all the permitting that is holding up construction. Blangiardi went on to hold senior executive positions at broadcasters in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and was the president of Hispanic television network Telemundo Holdings, Inc. Blangiardi, 73, lives in Honolulu with his wife, Karen Chang. Today, according to new numbers provided by the Honolulu Police Department, the reality is that crime is down in Chinatown. Two things that are of concern: that his wife Karen Chang has taken over all aspects of hiring for the new administration and Blangiardi's thin skin when it comes to media. There will be critics. These is always room for improvement, and I am confident in the efforts of Chief Susan Ballard and our police commission to work to review and improve HPD for the betterment of our community. Some have blamed the service for attracting undesirable behavior to the neighborhood. Retired General Manager of Hawaii News Now, Broadcast Executive 43 years It is imperative that we do not sacrifice our public health in the process. I will work with our State, Federal, and private sector partners to coordinate our efforts and pool resources to maximize all of our efforts. Currently, Rick Blangiardi is married to his beautiful wife, Karen Chang. Get over yourself, coz its not about you its about whoever is doing the criticizing. Learn more here. He has two sons, a daughter, two granddaughters, and a grandson. But records show she held two additional positions. Pictured from left are campaign executive director Alan Tang, campaign manager Gabrielle Richter, son Ryan Blangiardi and Rick Blangiardi. Although based in California, the company registered to do business in Hawaii in July 2018, and listed Chang as a corporate officer. He has a masters degree in educational administration from the University of Hawaii, where he also served as a football coach before starting his broadcast career at KGMB in 1977. 1 Karen Chang Rick Blangiardi pictures. In other words, the public has a constitutional right to expect state and county officials will comply with the disclosure requirements. Former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, City Council members Ron Menor and Kymberly Pine and business executive Keith Amemiya have already launched mayoral campaigns or indicated plans to run. Blangiardi has shown the far-reaching nature of his heart and anabundant generosity of spirit. Blangiardi encourages a culture of service in the workplace and he has made community the foundationof his leadership. Rick Blangiardi, Hawaii News Now's former boss, doesn't want to make waves when it comes to HPD. Blangiardi was elected mayor of Honolulu in the 2020 mayoral election, and took office on January 2, 2021. He began by asking her a long series of very tough questions, much like an attorney on cross examination (he is an attorney). . All rights reserved. To do so, I will work to expand the number of treatment facilities we have on-island, and will work closely with our courts to ensure that our chronically homeless individuals receive this needed help. In addition, Blangiardis candidate financial statement, filed at the beginning of the 2020 campaign, failed to disclose any of his wifes interests and positions. But records show she held two additional positions. In 2020, Blangiardi was a board member for both the YMCA and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museums, but he has since left those positions, according to his disclosure. Over 250 people have pitched in at past events. Meet Rick. #7-500 AMEX Outstanding: $10,000. 500 Ala Moana Blvd. A former executive for Charles Schwab and American Express, she sold her oceanfront mansion in East Honolulu for $19.8 million in 2015, according to Pacific. Two things that are of concern: that his wife Karen Chang has taken over all aspects of hiring for the new administration and Blangiardis thin skin when it comes to media. Do we have to win American Idol contest to afford living Honolulu Teen Wins Scholarship atInternational Music Competition. He has been married to his now-wife, Karen, for nearly two years now; as they exchanged vows in September of 2018. 2) Expand our WorkHawaii Division to ensure that our unemployed workers have the skills they need to competitively seek jobs in a difficult job market, and even transition into another profession. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, middle, embraces his wife, Karen Chang, after being sworn into office by retired Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Steven Levinson on Saturday. YMCA of Honolulu Board member Blangiardis disclosure should have included all financial interests during the prior calendar year (2020) held by himself, his wife, and any dependent children. Click to reveal Although Rick has kept the identity of his first wife private, we do know that he got married to her in the 70s. It is time to begin putting money to work towards subsidizing fertilizer and water projects for our agriculture; towards bring foods to market locally; towards innovation in agriculture; to supporting small businesses who cannot pay these high rents; to working away from tourism that attracts bargain hungers to tourism that attracts spending and lowers the impact; towards bringing infrastructure that brings in tech companies; towards pairing our businesses with lucrative military contracts; towards paying our teachers and attracting educational opportunities to enhance our state university. The newly wedded couple havent started a family of their own, however, Karen treats Ricks family like her own. He knows what is needed and what is out there much better than the candidates wife, who is a career CPA. Last count, he had several dozen union endorsements, which probably heralded the unprecedented turnout of voters fed up with business as usual. Rick Blangiardi. We got to visit the SBX-1 radar known as the Go, A few tips for employers from our friends at @altr, This past fall, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Are you a Hawaii-based digital creative, entrepren, Thats a wrap! This week, the administration reported back to constituents in a live community meeting. Blangiardi says they are setting the stage for a creative hub in Chinatown. 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Barbara and G. William Atkinson. I will: Honolulu, HI 96813 We need to work with the State to ensure rigorous testing is available and results provided in a timely manner. In the last meeting of his committee on Public Safety and Welfare, Waters addressed Police Chief Susan Ballard regarding a very unfavorable audit of her department. Rick's wife Karen is a former executive for Charles Schwab and American Express. Page six of the disclosure, titled "Real Property Owned" includes a leasehold parcel owned by Mayor Blangiardi's wife Karen Chang at 1186 Mikole Street, Honolulu, HI 96816. I will work in office to promote the concrete recommendations the plan made. For those of us who are into it, we have come to know Waters. Its remarkable how a novice politician who made a virtue of his innocence when he ran for office has morphed so quickly into an experienced one. Redirecting this money to services our City needs most will help protect essential services for our residents, and ensure that those who are currently employed at the City are able to keep their salary and job. To do so, I intend to: With the final City Council meeting in the rearview mirror, however, we saw a scary glimpse of the future. There's already an online gallery and events listing on The Creative City website. He has two sons, a daughter, two granddaughters, and a grandson. Rick then found his calling in television; going on to found KHNL and bring live UH sports into living rooms statewide. We must also utilize the $345 million we received from our federal government to protect our Ala Wai watershed and our surrounding communities from potential severe flooding. Rick. Akamai readers may remember back two weeks to this item: Bill 31: Former Meth-head Helps Sand Island Lobby for Property Tax Cap.. By, How this year's Selma Bridge Crossing could mark a community renaissance, Russia's foreign minister gets laughed at over Ukraine remarks at a global conference, Students learn lessons on climate change, pollution through raising salmon, Ukraine is dominating the election in Estonia, a key NATO ally. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Fiduciary Positions. Blangiardi resides in Honolulu with his wife, Karen Chang. With the highest turnout ever, the City and County of Honolulu overturned the status quo and selected a mayor with no meaningful connections to the unions; rejected the ones that did; and put a neophyte in office during the worst economic disaster in the states history. What? I am also very proud to have been recognized by the University of Hawaii as a Distinguished Alumnus and was inducted in the University of Hawaii Circle of Honor. Blangiardi played football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors as a linebacker whereas he was a letterman for the Rainbow Warriors in 1965 and 1966. The new chair will be Dist. An earlier version capped tax increases at 3%. He knows what is needed and what is out there much better than the candidate's wife, who is a career CPA. You are here by popular demand! Rick Blangiardi Blangiardi made the announcement to HNN personnel on Thursday morning, saying hell remain at the station through Jan. 15. Advancing backwards in time to the Lingle era, Honolulu residents were talking then about the huge housing shortage, rising prices, rent increases, diversifying the economy, an island overrun with tourism, etc., etc., etc. Your email address will not be published. Your IP: We may be using that to take people, rather than the ERs," Ireland said. Performance & security by Cloudflare. I have also worked extensively with numerous labor unions. Financial disclosures by mayoral candidates Pine, Blangiardi, Hannemann, iLind.net, July 9, 2020, Mayors financial disclosure is MIA, iLind.net, February 13, 2021, Questions raised by mayors late financial disclosure, iLind.net, February 20, 2021. He previously worked in the television industry and helped consolidate KHNL and KGMB into Hawaii News Now. "That's a name you'll hear a lot about going forward because it's really is going to be a combination of raising monies in the private sector to stage really high-quality events in Chinatown along with all the other things that are going to happen," Blangiardi said. (He did. "You see down there, Creative City. He has helped lead the stations relentless advocacy work in their efforts to put a spotlight onthe plight of Hawaiis Homeless, and he has been nationally recognized by the Joyful Heart Foundation,for his strong commitment and involvement in raising awareness in the battle to end Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse. We must continue to prioritize the services our residents will be needing most during this pandemic. Blangiardi is referring to a new nonprofit, The Creative City, dedicated to arts education and initiatives that enhance the quality of life. Mr. Blangiardi, 73, not only has led a successful life in terms of his career but has equally been prosperous in his personal life. That includes those in Local 5, for example, and teachers, who are experiencing the impacts of cutbacks due to covid along with the rest of us. He wasnt given the same silver spoon Keith Amemiya tried to say he didnt get. Mahalo to all of the 480+ attende, UH Community Colleges Provide Free Vocational Training for In-demand Jobs, $35M Workforce Development Initiative Launched, Good Jobs Hawaii Will Offer Free Skills Training, Placement Support, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii to Accept Applications for 2023 Mentorship Program Through Jan. 31, Experts: Hawaiis Economy Poised to Slow Down Significantly, but Stop Short of Recession. Yes, it is true that the Blangiardis have resided in the 1 percenters.