COMM. 58.2 from R. Bidleman - Laserfiche WebLink

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Testimony, Communications 58, December 16, 2011 I, along with several others from Friends of Puna's Future and interested Puna residents, have followed the redistricting process from the beginning, which has encompassed many months. Under the new ground rules, the public could submit plans for consideration. Friends of Puna's Future as well as other residents of the county submitted several redistricting plans. I think we can say, in most cases, there was significant public participation. Some of the suggestions were incorporated into the final plan. One of the themes that played successfully at most community meetings was not to divide communities. Pahoa town was split right down the middle. It is now in two districts. It did not have to be that way. The committee could have placed Pahoa town in one district. To do so would have required including part or all of Keaau town in one of two Puna districts. It was expressed time and time again that Puna historically consisted of three communities — Pahoa, Keaau and Volcano. Given the numbers, Volcano could not remain in Puna and went over to the Kau district. However, a good portion of Keaau could have been given over to a Puna district. In all the hearings I attended, which was most of them, not one person came forward saying they wanted Keaau in a Hilo district. In fact, several people expressed an interest in wanting to remain in the Puna district. What I saw at the last meeting I attended was a committee member coming forward with a plan that split Pahoa down the middle and placed Keaau in a Hilo district, with the rational that Keaau relates more to Hilo than Puna. For those of us who live in Puna, we know this is not true. Keaau is the gateway to Puna. Most of the people who shop in Keaau are Puna residents. The majority of the businesses in Shipman Industrial Park (HPM, Puna Rentals, Hawaii Catchment, etc) are serving Puna more than Hilo. With Puna being the fastest growing area on the Island this is more likely to increase. Puna needs jobs. When Shipman representatives made their argument at the final consideration of the Puna Community Development Plan at a county council meeting held in I<eaau, they were talking a lot about job creation. Additionally, we all know that various constituencies came forward at the meetings held around the island to express their preference for redistricting. Look back in the transcripts. I don't think you will find anyone coming forward to express an interest in Keaau being in a Hilo district. Respectfully submitted Richard Bidleman Pahoa COMM. 58.2