HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0537.007 2004-2006 Murashige, Laura
From: Lois-ellin Datta [datta@ilhawaii.net]
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 6:24 PM
To: Holschuh, Fred; Ikeda, Donald; Arakaki, James; Pilago, K. Angel; Higa. Stacy;
gsafark@co.hawaii.hi.us; Jacobson, Bob; visbehll@co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: Hoffmann, Pete
Subject: Please Vote Against Resolution 207-05, and Keep Pete Hoffmann as Co-Chair of the
County Planning Committee
Dear Council Members:
My name is Lois-ellin Datta. For ten years, I lived in Waikoloa, and
served on various civic committees, including a period as President and
Board Member of the Waikoloa Village Association. I am now a resident of
the Captain Cook area.
I am writing to request that you vote AGAINST Resolution 207-OS and vote -
FOR retaining Council Member Pete Hoffmann as co-chair of the County
Planning Committee.
There are three primary reasons for this request.
1 Committees can benefit when their leadership is knowledgable. Many
matters of concern to citizens are related to the responsibilities of the
County Planning Committee. Many (though not all) of these issues are
related to the development of the area covered by Districts 7, 8, and 9. -
With Council Member Pilago and Council Member Hoffmann co-chairing the
County Planning Committee. citizens from the West Hawaii area and from
other areas can be confident the issues are being addressed by highly
knowledgable people who "live here, listen to us, and understand the
situation well."
2. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This County Planning Committee has
accomplished a lot in the past ten months. The team seems to me to know
what they are doing, and there is reason to hope that they would get even
more things accomplished that are well-analyzed, soundly researched, and
carefully thought-through over the next year if leadership continues.
Changing hosses, playing musical chairs, and shifting people around can
mean a serious loss of traction on issues. We need the momentum this team
of Members Pilago and Hoffmann have created.
3 We paid for the skills, let's use them to benefit Hawaii County. We,
the taxpayers, paid for the development of exceptional analytic skills
when Colonel Hoffmann was in the military. Military training and the kind
of duties he performed can make for exceptional ability to look at many
sides of an issue, and for reaching sound conclusions. I have seen this
first-hand in Council Member Hoffmann's work in the Waikoloa and Waimea
area. He and I have not always agreed or seen "eye-to-eye" on matters but
I have the greatest respect for his fairness and outstanding abilities. In
my opinion, it would be an benefit to us--and yes, to the Council---to
continue getting fullest use of these skills as co-leader of the Planning
Committee.
If there are inter-personal issues, why not TRY, really try, ho'oponopono7
"Midnight slaughter" doesn't seem build citizen trust 8 respect, and, as
important, it rarely really solves any problems. c 4
There is an old hymn that I may slightly misquote: "Once to every man and Comm. No.
J'~3~'
nation comes a moment to decide, in the fight twixt good and evil, will Ref. 70; Pr ---~,vyMtt'
you choose the better side?" ~9+-4~~LrUwU~ Ji
Rif. Gate
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Dear Council Members, there are often many such moments often in our
lives, not just once, and sides are often not so clear-cut with regard to
what is good or evil.
In this instance, however, the better side is clearly voting against the
resolution, and I strong hope Council Member Isbell and other Council
members will please "hear our voices" and keep Council Member Hoffmann as
Co-Chair of the County Planning Committee.
Thank you for YOUR willingness to serve the public, and thank you for your
time and your courtesy in reading these thoughts.
Sincerely yours
/s/ Lois-ellin Datta, Ph.D.
PO Box 326
Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704
datta@kona.net
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