Each week, Editorial and Opinion Editor Jeanne Mariani-Belding hosts The Hot Seat, our opinion-page blog that brings in elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

For the past two weeks, the Hot Seat featured both candidates for the Honolulu's mayor's race. On The Hot Seat last week was Mayor Mufi Hannemann.

Here is an excerpt from that Hot Seat session. To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at http://hotseat.honadvblogs.com (Names of questioners are screen names given during our online chat.)

Concerned mom: Will the revised business plan be ready for public review prior to Nov. 4 and will it address the recent events affecting the economy both nationally and in our state? I am concerned that the federal government will not be able to give us as much money as anticipated and that we will not know how much that is until 2011, as stated by the city's consultant, PB America.

The state budget is facing 20 percent cuts, and with the decline in excise tax revenues and government entities not being able to sell their bonds, where will we get the revenues for rail?

Mayor Mufi Hannemann: The Federal Transit Administration will let the city know when to issue the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The federal government has recently taken action to actually increase funding for transit projects. As far as the GET collections, our conservative projections should be able to handle fluctuations such as the one we're currently experiencing.

Mike: More layoffs are certain as the global and local economies tank. I know the city was able to help many Aloha Airline employees get jobs, but what can be done to help others who will be laid off in the near future?

Hannemann: We will continue to be proactive about anticipating challenges with the economy. We have our "Job Focus Honolulu" platform that is projecting jobs based on our plans to do major infrastructure work in the city. We also will be encouraging outside investment in Honolulu, such as the Disney Resort will be announcing with me next week its initiative to create jobs in Ko Olina. Furthermore, we will do what other cities and states have done historically, that is as the private sector slows, government work, such as the rail-transit project and other public works initiatives, can expect to receive assistance from Washington, as recently illustrated by Congress introducing recent legislation to provide additional funding to stimulate the economy.

Anthony: I hear a lot of talk about building the rail system to help stimulate the economy. I don't work in construction, how will it help me?

Hannemann: While you don't work in construction, those that do will spend their money in other sectors of the economy and the dollars will circulate throughout the economy.

Hopeforfuture: I read a story in Hawai'i Business magazine about how public projects shape our economic future. How is rail going to help us during this really bad economic time?

Hannemann: Breaking ground in 2009 will kick-start the construction industry and help us avoid what happened from 1995 to 1999 when unemployment rose to 5 percent. The golden opportunity to receive nearly a billion dollars of federal funds will help us sustain the momentum generated from starting rail.

More than 11,000 jobs per year are projected.

Pualani: Councilmember (Rod) Tam has taken the liberty to try and push a bill through City Council that would lift the prohibition on new permits for bed-and-breakfast operations. Earlier this year, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to reject lifting the prohibition. Numerous communities have come out in opposition to the bill. It seems as though the only people who favor opening up the permitting process to new B&Bs are those making money off of them. Your Planning Director, Henry Eng, had no opposition to the bill when it was discussed at a recent Zoning Committee meeting. This is rather puzzling considering the unanimous rejection by the Planning Commission earlier, and the fact that the Department of Planning and Permitting has had very little success regulating the many unlicensed B&Bs and TVUs currently scattered throughout our island.

The Bed and Breakfast bill pending before council will open permitting to a few, but the bill does not address those currently operating in violation of the City's LUO. In addition, the amended version of the bill removes an avenue of protest for neighbors. What are your thoughts on this issue?

Hannemann: Originally, DPP had opposed the City Council's resolution allowing B&Bs as a home occupation. DPP did support the companion bill providing for more enforcement tools for illegal TVUs. When the City Council passed the bill opening up B&Bs by a 9-0 vote, DPP took that as a clear indication that the council wanted that to happen. A unanimous vote of the council easily overrides a mayor's veto. Taking the council's intent to heart, DPP produced an alternative bill to bring B&Bs under the Land Use Ordinance for better regulation. B&Bs are easier to enforce than TVUs and should not be confused with them. Under the limitations proposed in the pending legislation, B&Bs can be a part of a residential community without any major impacts.

Joe Bob Quayle: Ms. Kobayashi claimed on the Hot Seat last week that you promised to close the landfill. I thought the last mayor made that promise.

Hannemann: Ms. Kobayashi is confused. I never promised to close the landfill. I did promise to see if I could make good on the promise Mayor Harris had made previously. My staff tried hard to find an alternative, but the only other sites that seemed feasible are in Nanakuli and Ma'ili, closer to people's homes.

She voted to keep the landfill open in 2004 for 15 years, not two years as she claims. Then she voted in 2006 to close the landfill without selecting a replacement. Finally, she voted to sustain my veto to keep the landfill open.

Mattchu: I gave up driving when gas hit $4 a gallon. Now I ride the bus. Every day, the bus is packed. When are we going to get more buses?

Hannemann: We're buying more buses every year. But we will liberate the greatest number of buses by building the rail system to provide the best service to communities as feeders and circulators. More buses are not the answer to our traffic woes.

Local Bruddah: I know the DOE is responsible for our schools, but how can the city help O'ahu's schools during the budget crunch?

Hannemann: I speak from time to time with (Superintendent of Schools) Pat Hamamoto, and have a close personal relationship with many principals and teachers throughout the state. We help them with their athletic programs and facilities, art, health and physical fitness, environmental education through our Discover Recycling Fair. And I personally provide scholarships and Harvard Book awards to numerous high schools every year. My 21st Century Ahupua'a Advisory Board is comprised of local high school students.

Sustainability: I recall you had a sustainability plan based on Hawaiian ahupua'a. Is your plan moving forward? I remember I really liked the part where there were kids involved in the plan — they are the ones who will have to deal with what we leave them!

Hannemann: The 21st Century Ahupua'a recently won a National Award for outstanding achievement. It continues to be the foundation of our efforts to conserve water and energy, explore alternative energy, recycle and preserve our unique environment.

Walter: What do you think about Councilman Charles Djou's plan to create a new tax for drivers who drive Downtown?

Hannemann: Councilmember Djou's idea of charging people to drive into town is premature without a viable alternative. Such a tax must be substantial to discourage people from driving. Without an alternative, it's just another tax on our residents, which is one of the reasons why I oppose it.

Marlent: As mayor, will you encourage more agricultural growth on Oahu?

Hannemann: Yes, I am a firm believer in agriculture, which is why the O'ahu Farm Bureau has endorsed me again for mayor, as it did in 2004. They know we'll work with ag supporters to launch new initiatives as we did in saving Kunia plantation for workforce housing.

Reach Jeanne Mariani-Belding at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com.