By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar
[File Video]
HONOKAA, Hawaii: Yesterday we mentioned the growing concern in the Hamakua region over a possible draft political map being looked at by the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission… today, Hamakua’s councilman Dominic Yagong is voicing his opinion on the process.
In an email sent out to his constituents, Yagong – who is also the council chair – says he has been receiving many questions about the Commission as of late.
The Commission currently has two plans before it, Plan A as amended, and Community Plan 40, as amended. The Commission will be holding meetings on Thursday November 3, and also November 10, the self imposed deadline to finalize which plan they will be presenting as their final plan.
Yagong says he believes Plan A, in its current state, is very bad for the Hāmākua coast and Council District 1.
In his message, Yagong says quote
“What Plan A would do is cut the Hāmākua District in half, sending all residents north and west of Pa‘auhau road near Honoka‘a into Council District 9 with Waimea, Kohala, and the Puako/Kawaihae areas. This would result in the communities of Honoka‘a, Kukuihaele, Waipio Valley, and Āhualoa all being lumped into this new District 9.
The remainder of Hāmākua from Pa‘auhau traveling east towards Hilo would form a new Council District 1 that would begin in downtown Hilo. This would include but not be limited to the communities of Pa‘auhau, Pa‘auilo, O‘okala, Laupāhoehoe, Ninole, Hakalau, Honomu, Umauma, Pepe‘ekeō, Pāpa‘ikou, Paukaa, and Wainaku.
By splitting the Hāmākua district, and placing the split near Honoka‘a, the Hāmākua Coast would effectively be rendered inconsequential. Taking into account populations and registered voters in the new districts it is likely that the new Council District 1 would be represented by someone from the Hilo side. Likewise, Honoka‘a in the new Council District 9 would likely end up being represented by someone that comes from Waimea.”
Yagong encouraged folks who share his view to submit testimony to the Commission, tellng them to vote against Plan A.
What can I say, just another “power struggle”, come-on you so-called “LAW-MAKERS”, I have been employed with the County of Hawai’i for nearly 39 years, retired now, and all this B.S. is disgusting. Do what’s right for “ALL” of the big island!!
By the way, I wish I could vote for each and every council district representative, what you decide is “good ” for everybody affects me in my district, S. Hilo, and I have no say in the process.
And; no, I don’t have all the answers; however; your actions as Council Members, speaks volumes as to your agenda, personal or political.
The mayor should have followed proper procedure and made his selections and appointment’s to the Redistricting Commission in a timely manner to allow the county council the proper time to vet these selections.
Not at the last minute to practically force the county council to accept them.
No matter what Re-districing Plan we are to accept, the appointment and selection of the Redistricting Commission should have been done in a way not to taint nor compromise the process.
It’s called following the law.
. And there will probably be a lawsuit over those rushed appointments by one of these political groups like the lawsuit over State Reapportionment..
The mayor has also transferred the Office of Information and Complaints out of his office, where it has been for years, to another location to ignore the last chance many tax payers have of their voices and complaints heard by the Administration.
That is not fair.
The mayor also fought Yagong on bills to 1) preserve Hamakua land for farming and another bill 2) that allowed transparency in the purchase of the Hamakua Lands if Yagong could not stop the sale with Yagong writing in said bill that buyer must state his intention on what buyer would do with the land if bought.
Kenoi fought Yagong’s “preservation of” and “transparency bill” in buyer purchasing of Hamakua land against the wishes of many Hamakua residents and farmer’s looking for a sustainability lifestyle or leasing lands and creating a small business or farm.
But the voters are not stupid….it’s who do you trust based on their policies and support of particular issues, public collaboration with elected officials, elected officials communications with the public and what we have seen and read in both of our island papers.
I know who I trust and who I do not..