2007-09-12 Board of Ethics Minutes mc

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because I had not had an opportunity to discuss the matter with my board of directors. CHAIR: I think anybody that knows any County politics knows that you are on the Planning Commission. I mean, I knew you were on the Planning Commission, and I've never met you before. And I think that's why this letter was received in a negative way, was because of the way you said things —not what you said, but how you said it. And—of course, Linda Berry also had a response just a couple of days ago, I believe, as well. And I made copies of that letter and shared it with the Board members as well. But it's up to the Board to decide. LUM: I think the difficulty is, when we write something, those of you who are writers more than I, it can take a tone down in black and white that perhaps is or is not intended. But be that as it may, when we are on these boards and commissions, and that was my thoughts all the way in this morning, it's a small place and people know who we are, and they associate us with those things that we —those organizations that we are involved in. And whether we sign as Board of Ethics or Planning Commission or any of these things, our name is still on it. And in that respect, perhaps, as our responsibility to the public, we maybe have to tone our own First Amendment rights as little bit so that we don't get these big flaps. I don't think thatI don't see this is an ethics violation here. I see it as perhaps a cautionary tale that we all have to look at when we're dealing with the public and we're in the public eye in some way. We have a little bit more responsibility to be calmer or—keeping our tones a little softer. CHAIR: Iif I might, I'd like to hear from Lori Enriquez. No —Mrs. Siracusa, if you don't mind, you could stay right there. ENRIQUEZ: Aloha. Well, this is the first time I've ever come before you to speak, and the reason why I am here is because I have been watching this whole thing unfold, and all of the letters to the editor, and I watch the blogs. And I live in an area called Kaohe Homesteads. We're a very rural residential community above Pahoa Town. And there was a certain Mr. Henderson — I don't remember if you guys recall the 80 -acre parcels along the highway that goes to Leilani Estates. And it just seemed really odd to me that yes, there was this letter written by a Linda Berry, unfortunate circumstances, and it's unfortunate that Rene chose to respond, and maybe the tone of her letter could have been toned downI think she was giving factual information. And then this letter comes out, and it's "commissioner chastised," is the title of the letter. And I looked at the letter, commissioner chastised, who is this, what is this talking about. And then I started reading it, and this was obviously somebody who was upset and really attacking Ms. Siracusa. And then I turned to the blog, and he says that he has never met this woman. And I would like to give you a copy of that blog, because—it says here, "Now like you, Ms. Siracusa, I do not 11