Tyler Dos Santos-Tam

The Honolulu City Council has voted to make Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam its new chair, and Councilmember Esther Kiaʻaina its vice chair.

Current Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters was recently disqualified from a potential third term, meaning the council will lose a member and its presiding officer.

The measure, if approved by a majority of voters, would give counties a new way to pay for sewer, water, drainage and other vital infrastructure for new homes.

The City and County of Honolulu adopted the platform HNL Build last year to streamline permitting processes. Since its launch, the number of building permit applications has increased by 34%.

The Honolulu City Council just passed a $5 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with cuts that some have argued against and could lead to line-item vetoes from the mayor.

District 6 Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam spoke to The Conversation's Catherine Cruz about engaging with the community to improve Chinatown.