Students, advocates to hold Empty Homes Tax press conference
MEDIA ADVISORY
Thursday, November 21, 2024, Noon
The proposed City & County of Honolulu Empty Homes Tax (Bill 46) was originally designed to generate revenue for critically-needed housing, and to discourage the use of our limited housing stock for investment purposes. Concerned about recently-proposed bill language that could introduce loopholes into the regulation with harmful unintended consequences, University of Hawaiʻi students have joined local affordable housing advocates in calling for a policy that accomplishes the original intended purpose.
These students have called for a press conference to precede Thursday’s City Council Budget Committee hearing where the newly-proposed draft language is set to be discussed and voted on. Students and activists plan to highlight their concerns and ask the committee to adopt a draft that is in-line with the original intent of the policy. Directly following the press event, the students and advocates will attend the 1 o’clock City Council Budget Committee hearing to provide testimony in support of their position.
WHAT: Honolulu Empty Homes Tax Press Conference
WHY: University of Hawaiʻi students and affordable housing advocates will share concerns over recently-proposed changes to Bill 46 and answer questions.
WHEN: Thursday, November 21, 2024, Noon (budget committee hearing at 1 p.m.)
WHERE: Honolulu Hale Front Steps, 530 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813
WHO: Tentative line-up of speakers:
Susan Le, Hawaiʻi Appleseed (brief overview of Bill 46)
Student Voices (sharing their perspectives on the housing crisis)
Speaker from UNITE HERE! Local 5, TBD
Madelyn McKeague, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
City Council Member Matt Weyer (schedule permitting)
