Fred Blas pledges support for the Land Fund

[Rob Tucker]

Debbie Hecht, who has been spearheading the Land Preservation Fund, tells me she has received a written pledge of support from Fred Blas for Charter Amendment Proposal #1 which would place the Land Fund in the County Charter with a minimum of 1% funding where the council can't drain it.

In 2006 an initiative was passed creating the 2% Land Preservation Fund. From this fund lands have been purchased for ownership by the CoH and removed these lands from development. One of these properties was, I believe, at the Waipio Lookout. Another I believe to be the ponds and acres adjacent to Whittington Park near Nahalehu. A volunteer community commission reviews suggestions for land to be preserved and makes recommendations to the county.

In 2008 Mayor Billy Kenoi sought to acquire the Land Preservation money for his budget and the council majority went along. This upset a lot of people who had worked hard to have the original initiative passed by 63% of voters. So everyone learned that the public can pass things and the county can take them away.... unless it is in the Charter. So...

Vote Yes on #1

I mahalo Fred Blas for his pledge of support for the Land Fund Charter Amendment #1

Rob Tucker
Punaweb

P.S. Someone please correct me if I mis-identified the lands acquired to date. If anyone has knowledge of lands listed for preservation that would be nice to read.

[Guest]

Nahalo to Blas,

the fund should be at 2% and kept there. That is what the people wanted and that is what it should be. It MUST be protected from the stickie fingers by charter no matter what.

The Lack

The Lack Toons

[JerryCarr]

This is a key progressive issue, and it has profound implications for the environment, recreation, cultural preservation, and general land use. Fred is very wise to publicly and clearly support this. This is not campaign fluff. I have seen a digital copy of the document Fred signed.

[Rob Tucker]

I would like to point out that news of Fred's pledge of support for the Land Fund did not come from Fred Blas. It came from the Land Fund supporters. I find it complementary that Fred made his pledge of support and sent it out quietly. It has taken a week for the news to reach us. Fred appeals to me as an 'actions speak louder than words' kind of man.

[mdd7000]

I agree. Fred doesn't seem to be the "Oprah" type who screams out "Look at me. Look at what I did!" all the time. He just quietly does what he believes to right without looking for admiration and applause from the public.

[Greg]

I agree that Fred acts frequently and altruistically for our community; But hey Fred, you are campaigning for office. No shame Bra, let us know what you think. I'd rather hear your positions firsthand than through others.