09-22-2009, 07:31 AM
This is submitted by the Board of Directors of Friends of Puna's Future:
Another Swing Vote Issue- Bill 132
Bill 132, sponsored by Dominic Yagong, is a call for transparency in the sales of county lands of over ten acres. While the bill would affect all such land sales, it is inspired by the pending sale of the Hamakua lands in Dominic Yagong’s District 1.
Councilman Yagong and a number of citizens don’t want a fire land sale to be made in a down real estate market and without consideration for or the blessings of the Hamakua Community Development Plan. Whether you agree or disagree with the Hamakua Land sales, Bill 132 is worthy of support on its own merits.
Bill 132 is focused on a good open government practice.... transparency. Transparency in this context mean fully informing the public and their representatives (the Council) as to the terms of sale and the buyer’s identify and intentions. Could be Hamakua, could be Kona, could be Hilo. It is common real estate practice for all terms of sale to be reviewed by the seller, in the case of public land - us, before closing.
Doing business in the open and subject to public review makes simple sense and is one of the basics of Democracy - supporting an informed public. Regarding Bill 132 Councilman Enriques was quoted as saying, "transparency has got to end somewhere." So where do you think transparency ends? Transparency is not something that begins and ends. It should be present in the middle too.
Bill 132 should be strongly supported by all of us.
Now a funny thing happened on the way to the Council for this bill. It was about to get a boost in a council vote in Kona. Emily Naeole was expressing support. For reasons unexplained, J. Yoshimoto withdrew it from vote for a two week delay. Two weeks later Emily Naeole is against the bill. Not for any reasons concerning Bill 132 but because the public has been testifying against Mayor Kenoi and because she has a bone to pick with Dominic Yagong (according the the Tribune Herald). Someone has got her all fired up.
We residents of Puna need to reach out to Emily on this subject. She has to hear from her constituents. The basis for voting for or against bills must reflect the force of logic and serving the needs of the community ... not retribution. She is our representative. We need to politely tell her this.
The Emily Naeole Effect is a story of its own suitable for its own commentary. She is in possession of the Swing Vote. In the words of one council member, Emily Naeole could get everything for Puna that Puna ever needed or Puna ever wanted. For now we need to talk with her about Bill 132.
Emily Naeole <enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us> - 965-2712
Another Swing Vote Issue- Bill 132
Bill 132, sponsored by Dominic Yagong, is a call for transparency in the sales of county lands of over ten acres. While the bill would affect all such land sales, it is inspired by the pending sale of the Hamakua lands in Dominic Yagong’s District 1.
Councilman Yagong and a number of citizens don’t want a fire land sale to be made in a down real estate market and without consideration for or the blessings of the Hamakua Community Development Plan. Whether you agree or disagree with the Hamakua Land sales, Bill 132 is worthy of support on its own merits.
Bill 132 is focused on a good open government practice.... transparency. Transparency in this context mean fully informing the public and their representatives (the Council) as to the terms of sale and the buyer’s identify and intentions. Could be Hamakua, could be Kona, could be Hilo. It is common real estate practice for all terms of sale to be reviewed by the seller, in the case of public land - us, before closing.
Doing business in the open and subject to public review makes simple sense and is one of the basics of Democracy - supporting an informed public. Regarding Bill 132 Councilman Enriques was quoted as saying, "transparency has got to end somewhere." So where do you think transparency ends? Transparency is not something that begins and ends. It should be present in the middle too.
Bill 132 should be strongly supported by all of us.
Now a funny thing happened on the way to the Council for this bill. It was about to get a boost in a council vote in Kona. Emily Naeole was expressing support. For reasons unexplained, J. Yoshimoto withdrew it from vote for a two week delay. Two weeks later Emily Naeole is against the bill. Not for any reasons concerning Bill 132 but because the public has been testifying against Mayor Kenoi and because she has a bone to pick with Dominic Yagong (according the the Tribune Herald). Someone has got her all fired up.
We residents of Puna need to reach out to Emily on this subject. She has to hear from her constituents. The basis for voting for or against bills must reflect the force of logic and serving the needs of the community ... not retribution. She is our representative. We need to politely tell her this.
The Emily Naeole Effect is a story of its own suitable for its own commentary. She is in possession of the Swing Vote. In the words of one council member, Emily Naeole could get everything for Puna that Puna ever needed or Puna ever wanted. For now we need to talk with her about Bill 132.
Emily Naeole <enaeole@co.hawaii.hi.us> - 965-2712
Assume the best and ask questions.
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