HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 48.8 from B Ford re BJF Hybrid PlanOctober 27, 2011
Re: suggested change in draft plan for redistricting
Aloha Commissioners,
I've listened to the comments made by many residents regarding redistricting and the
various plans submitted. Many people are angry despite your best efforts to create a fair
and legal plan. No matter how you divide the island, some locations will be split, either
the geographical region or the community. Since the commission chooses to keep
"communities of interest" together as much as possible — which is laudable, please be
very sure to write a justification for each district explaining what the district gains and
loses from that decision. Additionally, I suggest that you choose those criteria that seem
to support the "most" people in the various regions, realizing that no one and no district
is going to completely happy. You are doing the best that you can.
In an effort to assist, I am submitting a map. Although the district deviations are much
higher than I like, each district is within the +/- 4.99 %, and the total deviation is less
than 10 %. A total deviation greater than 10% is illegal on its face and voidable by the
U.S. Supreme Court. Please don't make this error. Consider how everyone would feel if
a disinterested third party (a judge or special master) divided the island just by the
numbers — every district would lose.
These are the pros and cons of my plan:
1. Hilo has 2 districts. Kaumana stays with Hilo.
2. Puna has 2 districts.
3. Almost all Puna residents that need to be assigned to another district are in the
Volcano area which I have assigned to be with Ka`u, South Kona, and southern
North Kona. Basically, Volcano, both upper and lower, will stay in the same
district where it has been for at least 10 years. Attempting to put Volcano in a
Puna district means a third district for Hilo populated by many Puna residents and
potentially controlled by Hilo. Volcano could be with Hilo, Puna, or Ka`u. I
chose Ka'u as the least objectionable of those three alternatives. You must decide
where Volcano would hate to be the most... and eliminate that possibility.
4. Kailua Village remains in one district because of the Business Improvement
District and other characteristics the residents share in that region.
5. District 8 is the northern area of North Kona. Also, access to Saddle Road is from
District 8 as appropriate and continues across the island to the Hilo boundary.
6. District 9 contains Waikoloa Village and most of Waimea excluding the Lakeland
area. (Sorry, the population of Kohala is too large - someone must move east or
south, and the public has been adamant about Waikoloa NOT being assigned to
Kona.)
COMM. 48.8
7. Lakeland goes with Hamakua, and Hamakua is one district and stays north of the
Wailua River without encroaching on Hilo.
For the public, please remember that the geographical districts of Hilo (2), Puna (2 +),
Kona (3), and Kohala (1 +) are all split. Also, remember that the commissioners must try
to accommodate the vast majority of the residents, and no plan will be perfect.
Mahalo for your consideration,
Brenda Ford
Hybrid Plan submitted on 10/28/11 by Brenda Ford