Honolulu Getting ‘Suckered’ in Affordable Housing Deal

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A number of people have testified during the Honolulu City Council meeting about plans to sell 12 affordable housing complexes to a private developer.

Their concerns are serious. Not only will the deal eliminate workforce housing, they say, but the contracting procedure appeared to be different for the winning bidder.

Some of the words that have been thrown around are “unfair” and “not a level playing field.”

Peter Savio, of the brokerage firm Hawaiian Island Homes LTD, even told the council it’s about to get “suckered” into a bad deal.

Honolulu Council Chairman Ernie Martin acknowledged all of these claims, and told administration officials they should be prepared to answer questions.

—Nick Grube

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