HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0689.009 2018-2020 urashige, Laura
From: Janice Glennie <palmtree7@hawaiiantel.net>
Sent: Monday,January 13, 2020 4:28 PM
To: Council Testimony; Chung, Aaron; Poindexter, Valerie; Lee Loy, Sue; Kierkiewicz,Ashley;
Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; David, Maile;Villegas, Rebecca; Eoff, Karen; Richards,Tim
Subject: Testimony regarding Mark Van Pernis' nomination to the Leeward Planning Commission
Aloha council members,
Mahalo for considering my testimony(also a letter to local newspapers) regarding the above nomination and the
discussion surrounding it.
Sincerely,
Janice Palma-glennie
CD
emu few
LETTERS YOUR VOICE
(West HawaN Today) 1 -11 -2020
•_}i '*>
as -�
Government criticism 01K _
It's one thing for the County Council to consider a past complaint against a Planning
Commission nominee when determining if a person should or shouldn't be considered
for a board or commission. It's quite another when a nominee's political views and
past criticism of government is weaponized against them.
I don't know anything about the disciplinary action taken in 2003 against Mark Van
Pernis, Mayor Kim's recent nominee to the Leeward Planning Commission. I do know,
however, that Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewiez's comments against Mr Van Pernis
as being potentially unfit to serve on that commission due to his criticism of county
government in a public forum shows her deep ignorance of the bedrock democratic
principle of free speech.
It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious, particularly when Kierkiewitz was elected
to serve the needs of all people in her district, and this island, regardless of their
antipathy or love of government. Disappointingly, her comments reiterate those in
recent letters to this paper by residents who similarly underestimate or are ignorant of
the importance of that right -- people who would restrict free speech that's at odds
with their beliefs or goals. Auwe.
In the nearly four decades I've been tuned in to local politics, I've seen kowtowers and
rebel rousers appointed to commissions and boards, myself included, That's how it
should be. The important thing about democracy is that the voices on those volunteer
boards and commissions reflect the diversity of the community, be they Old Boys,
activists, or somewhere (or nowhere) in-between.
Janice Palma-Glennie
Kailua-Kona
Janice ralma-Glennie �.�
�'.D.L�jox4849 Comm. NO.
Ref.To:- P I LQI Ad f
Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96745 1 Ref, Oahe JAN 2 2 2020