To the Forum: Open letter: Planning Dept. and Kusaka Administration: I don’t know what it is going to take to convince you that this is a democracy, not a dictatorship. It is unbelievable that the proposed Kilauea development is now
To the Forum:
Open letter: Planning Dept. and Kusaka Administration:
I
don’t know what it is going to take to convince you that this is a democracy,
not a dictatorship.
It is unbelievable that the proposed Kilauea
development is now showing up in the GPU, even though the people of Kilauea
have spent a great deal of volunteer time and effort to do a thorough survey of
their community, and have concluded that the majority of residents do not want
this development.
If the Planning Department were doing their homework,
this is the kind of survey they should be running. But to reject it so rudely,
when it is handed to them on a silver platter by volunteers, is a
disgrace.
In short, the good people of Kilauea have already made the
decision about the development.
As official representatives of the people
(in this case a majority of Kilaueans) it is your duty to uphold the will of
the people. You are paid public servants, not dictators.
In a democracy
the power is invested in the people. They provide the guidelines for your
administration. You administer their will, not your own. The Kilauea
development is not your decision.
Often the excuse for dictatorship is
apathy by the people, which is a vicious cycle. But in this case the Kilaueans
did their homework thoroughly. And it is STILL not honored.
Disgraceful!
This action by the Planning Department calls into question all
the GPU requests and suggestions we, the people, have entrusted the Planning
Department to represent us with. How many have found their way into the current
GPU draft? Is the public input process just a scam?
I caution you strongly:
Don’t rush the public review process of the GPU. This is a public, bottom-up
document. It is not your document, nor do you have the right to dictate to us
how much time we have to review it. It needs time.
The entire struggle
between developers and environmentalists will vanish into thin air the moment
we enter common ground, in this case sustainable development.
The
developers, the Planning Department, the Planning Commission and the Kusaka
Administration have not been learning and embracing the simplest fundamentals
of sustainability. So far, there has not been a development proposal made that
is sustainable, yet the information to do so is readily available to anyone who
searches.
We made this request to the administration already four years
ago. What will it take?
I encourage the formation of a voting coalition of
concerned citizens as per Sam Blair. I encourage honoring the view from the
bleachers as per Sue Dixon, and I encourage the empowerment of the third sector
as per Ken Stokes. Let’s make it happen, it is easily within our grasp! I am
getting real tired of unresponsive, untransparent government. Time for a
change.
Arius Hopman
Hanapepe
