HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0537.043 2004-2006
Council Chair Stacy Higa
Don't listen to public testimony. It's all orchestrated by Mr. Jacobson. Now I understand what
you really have to deal with behind the scenes.
Keep on truckin Braddah
JR
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob and Julie Jacobson [mailto:jacobs@hgea.org]
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2005 8:11 AM
To: Bob and Julie
Subject: council reorganization 11/22/05
Aloha kakou
On Wed 11/23/05 Council Chair Higa and his Hilo dominated
majority will attempt to remove me from as chair of the
Environmental Management Committee and to remove Councilmember
Pete Hoffmann from t:he Co-Chairmanship of the Planning
Committee.
I can say that the only change in council leadership that is
called for is for Ctiair Higa to resign as Chair of the Council.
Under his form of management we have seen the number of
appointive positions skyrocket, a deterioration of staff morale,
Council management costs skyrocketing, and an atmosphere in
which obstructive behavior toward Councilmembers by staff is
tolerated if not encouraged.
As for my own performance, I can say with all surety that I have
advocated effectively for the public and the Department of
Environmental Management. Our sort station has been funded and
has been put out t_o bid. An open honest method to obtain the
best contract for a solid waste technology has been implemented
and I hope it canno° be unmolested or subverted by this Council.
Perhaps the best thing for me personally to do would be to
declare that I have done my job and ride into the sunset for
another committee or grassroots political work. However since
the Environmental Management Committee has other tasks than jus2t
Comm. No• 5 `~'uNM
Ref. To:~I-~~7V-~~
~~'O~H
solid waste, I feel. my job has only begun. Surely I have had
some successes in funding open space and getting people to work
together for the environment, but I seek to make other lasting
changes to benefit our environment. Our environment is what
keeps us alive, keeps us healthy and brings tourism to our
state. The desire co protect our people':> interests and our
cultural and environmental richness is my motivation for holding
public office. I Eeel that my best contributions may be ahead
of me if I am allowed to continue as chair of this committee.
Chair Higa's accus~~tions that I am too close to Ms Sell carry
little weight. Those who consider themselves my friends know
that I can he demanding when it comes to them performing their
duties. I suspect that they would say I hold them to a much
higher standard of performance than people I don't know as well.
I don't think I have cut Ms Bell any slack in the performance of
her duties. In an~a case she was appointed by Mayor Kim and she
reports to him first.
Councilmember Pete Hoffmann's removal from his Co-Chair of
Planning Committee is equally unjustifiable. His reward for
working with Councilmember Pi.lago to deal with the out-of-
control development situation in Hawaii is removal from this
important committee co-chairmanship. There are no valid reasons
for this change of leadership proposed by Higa's Council
Majority. I have great respect for Pete's honesty, judgment,
inteq_rity and powers of persuasion
If you have any input to the Council req_arding this
reorganization of committees you should send in testimony to
Council Chair Stacy Higa and Members of the Hawaii County
Council by email at shiga@co.hawaii.hi.tas fax it to us at
961-8912, call in testimony if housebound or disabled to
961-8225, o.r better yet, give testimony Wednesday 11/23/05 at
about gam at the Council Chambers at 25 Aupurii Street, or video
conference at Council offices in Kailua-Kona or in Waimea at
that same time.
Mahalo to you for raking the time to read this long letter and
for your input on this serious matter.
Hawaii County Councilmember Bob Jacobson, Puna-Kau-South Kona