Redistricting Commisson... what's happening?

[Rob Tucker]

Does anyone know what is happening with the Redistricting Commission?

Is it very important, has to complete it's work this year and has been out of the news.

[Rene Siracusa]

As the Puna commissioner I will be happy to fill you all in. We were approved by the council on March 1st - at the absolutely last minute. I kept waiting to be informed about when we would be sworn in and the date of the first meeting. During the last week in March I sent an email to the mayor's secretary, asking about the meeting and who would be in charge. No answer. Then I spoke with corp.counsel Lincoln Ashida, asking him whose kuleana it would be to arrange the swearing in and calling of the first meeting. He told me it was the council, unless they delegated to Elections. So I contacted Fred Blas and the council. They indicated that they were surprised - thought it was being taken care of, and promised to get on it right away. And they did. The very next day I was contacted and the ball started rolling.

The upshot: The first meeting when everyone can attend and with proper legal notice to the public will be on Monday, April 25th. All the commissioners will be sworn in at the same time, we will be instructed in the rules and guidelines for the process and given the materials. I assume that we will also choose our chair and co-chair and set the next meeting date. We have not yet received the agenda.

I will propose a meeting on May 5th, when the commissioners have all indicated they are available. I will work to expedite the process, as we have lost a lot of time already, and I really don't want us to be backed against a wall at the final hour and forced to accept a plan that is unfair and/or not pono. If you have future questions about the Redistricting Commission's progress, please feel free to contact me - this should all be public knowledge, as it will affect us all.

malama pono,
Rene

[james weatherford]

Rene,
Many thanks for that update and most especially for you persistence.

[JerryCarr]

Rene, I also want to thank you for pushing this forward. It shouldn't be so hard, though. Ultimately, this will determine a large piece of Puna's future, and I trust you to help see that our communities are not unfairly split or gerrymandered out of a just level of representation.

[punaticbychoice]

Bluntly, we need at least 9 months to do this process.
Same old, same old.
Last minute and gerrymander.
Equally bluntly: 2 seats for Puna, 2 seats for Hilo.
And without manipulations in the process.
We are watching.

[Rene Siracusa]

Punaticbychoice - you are right that we need at least 9 months to birth this baby. And we don't have it. Therefore, I will be proposing that we play 'catch-up' by doubling the meetings to 2/month from May to August. I will also be suggesting that we break down into committees with homework assignments so we can move the process along. Of course, I am just one vote, but I will try to be as persuasive as possible. Suggestions for strategy/tactics are always welcome. I consider that a form of community support. Mahalo for caring.

[Rene Siracusa]

Forgot to mention:
First meeting will be on Monday, April 25th at 1:30 in the County Council chambers (County building, 25 Aupuni St., ground floor, makai side closest to State building.) Public turnout to show that you are all watching would send an important message and, hopefully, get us off on the right foot.

See you then?

[Greg]

Rene, I've discovered that commission "committees" should be restricted to no more than two commissioners. Because of the Sunshine Law, participation by more people would require the same legal notifications and public input as a regular meeting.

If two commissioners meet, than one of them has a discussion with a third commissioner, they are all equally responsible for a violation of the law.

I point this out because it might be more efficient to just have regular meetings more often. I realize how difficult this would be and also thank you for representing us.

[punaticbychoice]

Yes Greg.
Good point.
Particularly about something as important as redistricting.

[Rob Tucker]

So who, besides me, is going to the meeting? Rene would like to see community interest and support.