Aloha Susan,
I’m sad to hear that you’ve decided to sell your house and move away. As the strongest single voice for the division of the island into two counties, your departure will likely set that decade-long proposition back several years. Now, with elections looming and a continuing dysfunctional county council, those of us who still think that something can and must be done need to organize. We need to discuss candidates – from all districts – with the hope of endorsing, supporting, and holding responsible those who understand that the current “Side-vs-Side” mentality is not just foolish but harmful. Whatever the ultimate merits of a West Hawaii County, the next three elections (at least) will be done with the current districting. If the council does not begin giving the infrastructure of the West side due consideration, the entire island’s economy _will_ suffer greatly (as will quality of life, affordability, and safety). People in Hamakua have to deal with Waimea. People commute from Puna to the West Side. People from Hilo use the Saddle Road to get to construction jobs on the West side: the West side’s infrastructure is an _island-wide_ issue.
What will become of the mailing list now? Will you pass it on (import it into the Yahoo group, for instance) for those of us who continue to believe in the possibility of change?
Aloha and, although I am sad that you leave discouraged, mahalo for all the work you have done,
Larry O’Brien
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