HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0711.013 2008-2010Yoshimoto, J
From: Sandra Shigeta [shigetasandra @hotmail.comj
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:49 PM
To: jyoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: RE: HI County Band
I wish that you would share this with the rest of our council people and our mayor. It is a sad
time for our nation, state and county in terms of finances. The state and county employees and
some others who have been affected by the furloughs have been financially impacted, more so
when both parents are municipal employees. Our governor and others have said we all must share
the burden. I agree. However, not all are sharing the burden and as stated in today's Tribune
Herald, the ripple effect of the furloughs does not result in improving our state's economy. I don't
feel that our governor will own up to her poor judgment and dictates and other means of helping
the economy is needed.
It is always the arts that suffer when decisions of reducing funding are needed. However the
performing and visual arts set us apart from the lower species and enhance our creative spirits a
human necessity. My husband suggests that the free bus ridership program be looked at. People
drive to work daily to near and far places. Those who commute to districts outside of Hilo should
pay at least a dollar per trip. $2 for a round trip is $40 -$44 a month. Much more than it takes to
fill a single tank of gas if commuting. A fee of $.50 should be collected within Hilo. We recently
acquired new buses and I am sure the maintenance, gas and personnel that are needed to run the
free ridership program using old and new buses is a costly program. We did ride the free bus to
Honokaa and back. It was nice but we wondered about costs and changing it to a program that
would charge a minimal amount so as the program would be less tax consuming and of benefit to
the riders only. The municipal employees have made their sacrifices of pay and higher medical
coverage costs. Let the regular passengers, tourist, and other non regular riders who use the free
bus ridership program be part of the solution for maintaining our county band funding.
Thank you for your attention.
Alan Shigeta
Sandra Shigeta
Yuriko Shigeta
Subject: HI County Band
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:52:00 -1000
From: JYoshimoto @co.hawaii.hi.us
Aloha Supporters,
Page 1 of 2
217, irk
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01
CTS
Thank you for your expressions of support for the Hawaii County Band. Please be
assured I will introduce an amendment to restore funding for the Hawaii County Band
in the budget. This amendment will need Council consideration and approval in the
upcoming weeks leading to June. If you have any further comments or questions,
please feel free to contact my office.
Once again, mahalo for taking positive action for the betterment of our community.
Yours truly,
3/11/2010
Comm. No. 711.13
Ref. To;
Ref. Date 2 ZOta