HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0161.006 2020-2022 P/C&uncil
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From: Janice Glennie
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2021 3:24 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Comm. 161 Say "no" to planning commission nominee
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
Please acid to the public record. Mahalo. de
Mahalo. Time `5.24 p.M• By
Aloha council members, Date APR 0 6 2021
I'm testifying against the nomination of Dana Asis to the Leeward Planning Commission.By his choice of nominees,
the mayor continues to show his goal of being surrounded by pro-development, like-minded people. That is very
disturbing to me. Seven to zero votes in support of projects are the norm on this commission, with an exceptional E-
leven on those that the planning department (i.e.,planning department where the planners are) has recommended
against on legal and other practical grounds. This is further undermining public trust in their elected and, in this case,
appointed officials who, despite not being elected directly by We the People, hold so much sway over our lives and
the natural and cultural resources we depend upon to survive and thrive.
My concern isn't about Ms Asis personally. It's that I feel strongly that we need representation from beyond the real
estate and development sectors on our land use boards and commissions. Her bio ("I fell in love with the luxury real
estate market after managing the office of Kukio Properties and later selling at one of the Kona coast's newest luxury
projects, Kohanaiki.") is fine, but it isn't the perspective we currently need on the Leeward Planning Commission
since there's a whole room full of people who seem to love the same thing. In the past,there've always been at least
one or two people whose top priority and life's work was helping to insure that development projects held true to our
State's Constitutional mandate that the environment and culture of the island be protected. It's rare with the latest
group of commissioners (latest being the last 8-10 years) to hear anyone mention those issues except developers
trying to gloss over their projects or members of the public questioning the potential damage those projects will do.
If Ms Asis was the only applicant (and unless I'm missing info that her background is rife with advocacy unrelated to
the real estate industry), I would still ask that the mayor seek out other potential applicants including asking West
Hawai'i council reps for their ideas of who might be good to recruit. Has Mayor Roth done that with this or any other
nominations associated with land use? If not, I'm asking the mayor to finally, as a nod to others outside his comfort
zone, to go to each of you for your mana'o, especially West Hawaii leaders, regarding the need for diversity on this
commission.
In fact, there were at least two other people who applied for the planning commission. The one I know is young,
smart, trained in land use planning, an active volunteer for protecting land and other natural resources, and a person
who can play well with others. Why would the mayor pass up an opportunity to have someone like that volunteer for
this commission?
Democracy isn't about everyone getting along and agreeing all the time. It cries out for diversity of background and
views, and only thrives when those in positions of power understand what makes democracy work. Our state is
becoming more and more of a people-unfriendly place to live and work, and it's not due to party politics: it's because
of the money that goes into elections and keeps too many elected officials marching in lockstep with those who dole
out the dough.
Say "no" to this nomination, and ask the mayor to bring us a more appropriate choice.
Mahalo and sincerely, 11 (•
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1 Ref. Date APR - 7 7Q91