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work, it was a work of love. The people came out, they supported it; they did it. It <br />was voted in by 63% of the vote. To shed some light on that, the Mayor, Mr. <br />Kenoi, was elected by 56% of the vote, Mr. Onishi by 59 %, Ms. Naeole by 51 %, <br />and Mr. Greenwell by 47% of the vote. Nobody is coming down and saying we <br />should replace them because it was only 53% of the vote. The people voted, and <br />this came from the bottom up. It was our citizens speaking for open space. I urge <br />you to keep the 2% intact, and don't disenfranchise the people who voted and <br />brought this about. It is actually participation in our government and that is what <br />makes democracy and our government work. Where the 0.5% came from, I have <br />no idea. I was surprised at that, but 2% of whatever our budget is, is still 2% of <br />that. It goes up and down according to the budget. People have realized that this <br />is like an evolutionary process. We have seen what has happened on other islands; <br />what's happening around the planet. We have to start taking care of our special <br />places. <br />I was on the first Open Space Commission when we went around the island and <br />collected all the original places. People came from everywhere. We had over 350 <br />places that we had to go through, categorize, and select and put in an order. But it <br />was amazing to see how much the people cared about this, and for that I really <br />urge you to make it 2% again. <br />CHR. HAITSUKA: Thank you, sir. Next we have Karen Clarkson. Good morning. <br />KAREN CLARKSON <br />(At this time Karen Clarkson came forward to address members of the Charter Commission.) <br />MS. CLARKSON: Good morning Commissioners. I am here on behalf of the Save Our <br />Land Citizens Committee, which I was a member of, and the thousands of people who <br />signed the petitions and went out and voted for the 2% for land fund believing that their <br />vote meant something. I would like to believe that you will honor their vote, and keep it <br />2 %. We will have to vote on it again, and please give us the opportunity again to say <br />what we want. People are looking forward, they realize that there are good times and bad <br />times; but it's just like saving for your child's college education. That is something <br />sacred, and you dedicate a certain amount of you income or whatever to that cause and <br />we believe that it's the best thing for our future generation. <br />I would like to speak a little bit on the economic value open space. As a real estate <br />broker, I know how important it is for property values. It is very short sighted to look <br />only at the budget now and not realize and study the fact that wherever there are open <br />spaces around the country go up; and therefore tax revenues go up. I had a client tell me <br />that about Colorado where he moved from and how property values shot up around <br />Boulder where a big open space was created around the city. So, I hope you will look at <br />the long term, and not just short term constraints we are under with our budget. Think <br />about what really is the best for our future. That includes our economic future. Thank <br />you very much. <br />7 <br />