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+--- Thread: Big Island Video News - Redistricting (/showthread.php?tid=8073)
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Big Island Video News - Redistricting - Rob Tucker - 02-17-2011
I received this link for a Big Island Video News segment on the topic of Redistricting as required when the 2010 Census Data is released.
http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2011/02/17/video-hawaii-county-redistricting-controversy-begins/
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - JerryCarr - 02-17-2011
What is the problem that the Kenoi administration has with getting commissions and committees appointed? First it took almost a year and a half to get the Puna Development Plan Action Committee appointed, and now this. Reapportionment has the potential to double Puna's representation on the Council, or it could gerrymander us once again into a marginal situation.
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - Greg - 02-17-2011
I think Rene Siracusa will be an excellent advocate for Puna. Dominic Yagong says; "The names are not the problem". So...........What's the problem?
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - Rob Tucker - 02-17-2011
From what I heard on the video the council requires at least two readings to approve the commission members. There are two weeks to do so under law and there is already a full schedule of council business. Limited time available for council or for the public to have opportunity to testify on the subject. It may be that residents of other districts may not be as pleased as we are to see Rene Siracusa representing District 5. There are eight other districts.
Seems like the Mayor's late delivery has limited the opportunity for the council and community to digest nominations for a very important commission. That $56 million bond proposal last year was a rush job too.
Thank you Billy Kenoi.
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - punaticbychoice - 02-18-2011
I wish we had more time to consider too.
One doesn't know how these commissions will jell once they meet and function together.
But learning about the individuals selected can produce a reasonably educated guess.
I'm just not sure about all these selections, but have some mixed feelings at this point.
Guess we shall see.
My best wishes and thanks to all who were selected and those who were willing to volunteer.
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - Greg - 02-18-2011
Brenda ford in Bill 18, sets the maximum allowable population deviation for each district to be no larger than plus or minus 4.99 percent.
How does this help the district with the largest population growth? I never thought Brenda would advocate the "status quo". Am I mistaken in this?
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - Rob Tucker - 02-18-2011
Two more relevant articles in the Trib today:
1. Quote: "The perception is, the council is being force-fed this commission, and we must approve it or put a cloud over the whole redistricting process," Yagong said. "Everyone knows that the balance of power is at stake here."
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2011/02/18/local_news/local03.txt
2. Quote: Mayor Billy Kenoi's appointees to the Redistricting Commission include three who have donated more than $100 to the mayor's campaign.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2011/02/18/local_news/local04.txt
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - Rob Tucker - 02-18-2011
I just realized something.... one of nominated Redistricting Commissioners served on the 2001 Reapportionment Commission.
2001 Reapportionment Commission members:
Vice Chair, Mark Van Pernis
Commissioner Lawrence Balberde
Commissioner Patrick Kahawaiola’a
Commission Steven Pavao
Commissioner Jeanne Fuller
Commissioner Jack L. Ferguson
Commissioner John J. Fernandez
2011 Redistricting Commission Nominees:
Valerie Poindexter, Jeffrey Melrose, John "Mike" Middlesworth, Patrick Kahawaiolaa, Rene Siracusa, Linda Ugalde, Susan Maddox, Dru Kanuha and Peter Hendricks
I mention this because I posted a reference to him on another topic. What and where I said this was:
"One of the testifiers, a gentleman from Keaukaha, was on the Redistricting Commission in 2001 and had EXPERIENCE to share. Astoundingly the man, I won't name him, made a statement that he had had to look up the word "gerrymandering" the night before to know what it was. Brenda (and I) rolled our eyes. If you wanted proof positive of why Bill 18 should pass Donald Ikeda provided it with that testifier."
http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11998&SearchTerms=Our,new,council,-,like,night,and,day
I think we have to be grateful to Brenda Ford's Bill 18 and make sure it passes. Bill 18 will require some training for the Redistricting Commission and it was apparent to me that Mr. Kahawaiolaa, despite having previously served in this capacity, was a bit uninformed on some very basic redistricting issues.
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - JerryCarr - 02-18-2011
Greg, IIRC, previous redistricting plans allowed as much as a 10% deviation among districts in population. I believe the rationale was to keep traditional constituencies together in the face of population growth that would have distorted those traditional boundaries. Of course, what we ended up with was Puna with one solid district from HPP down to Kapoho and Kalapana and the remainder split between South Hilo and Ka'u. Some people might call that gerrymandering to reduce the influence of the most underserved and underrepresented area in the County, if not the entire state. So I don't think Brenda Ford's legislation is in support of the status quo.
The full breakdown on Hawaii's population by locality is due in the next month, and it should be quite enlightening. The growth in HPP alone might qualify Puna for a full second seat on the Council.
RE: Big Island Video News - Redistricting - Greg - 02-18-2011
Maybe I don't understand this correctly, so Pardon my naivety. But.....If Puna's growth has been greater than 4.99%, (which I'm pretty sure it has)...and we're only credited with 4.99% maximum growth; We are being penalized and don't receive credit for our surging population.
Would someone put this in layman's terms for me.
As far as Billy Kenoi appointing commission volunteers that have supported him in the past; How can this be shocking? We will never know if Angel Pilago, if he had won the election, would have appointed people who showed him support; but if he did, would it be a surprise?