Louie-ellin

Aloha, Susan and all:
Small can be beautiful in government, as in many other endeavors. How small is most beautiful can depend on many factors. One could make a case that similarity of concerns, issues, priorities, visions can help establish useful geographic boundaries for units of government.
The arguments against splitting Hawaii Island into two counties are many, and they are good arguments. For example, cost is one issue, although one would need a mindful analysis of true costs including travel and response times before concluding that it would cost twice as much were there to be two County Councils, two Police Departments, and so on. The spiritual virtue of being our brother's and sister's keepers in sharing wealth is another consideration, although again a mindful analysis could examine the role of state and national governments in redistributing wealth based on need.
The arguments against a split deserve identification, a careful analysis, and discussion.
There are also good arguments for splitting the county. These include governmental responsiveness when there is no city or municipal government and we are a multi-island state, differential priorities, the historical record of apparent inequities in distribution of resources giving too little to those who pay the most...and apparent gridlock in the Council.
These too deserve identification, a careful analysis, and discussion.
I personally favor splitting the county, based on current knowledge. It is not likely to be enough to elect good representatives who can be trusted to honor their commitments to the constituencies who elected them, important as this is---and it is very important--as well as work together for a common good across constitutencies. These fine representatives may deserve a venue which is more manageable in scale and in communality of interests.
There seems to be much in the current planning process that would be useful for either a single or a dual county system. Further, as I understand it, the results of this effort would be a general guiding framework, not too different from what already is fairly well-known such as the need to better align housing, transportation, and job opportunities. Further, the results are not likely (a) to be how-to, what-to-do specific, or (b) to sort out conflicting priorities when funds are not infinite, or (c) to be legally binding as a set of laws, initiatives, or resolutions. Rather, the hope seems to be that if small groups of citizens get commited to their own ideas, these groups will continue to support, lobby for, and promote their ideas and perhaps make common cause with other groups that form around this planning effort.
I will not be able to attend the meeting on the 30th, and will be shortly after be away until May. When I get back, however, I could perhaps help with some of the analysis.
Many thanks to you and to all the others who are already giving so much to making our Island all it can be.
Lois-ellin (Datta)