First Redistricting Hearing: Zero Windward Citizens
“We must have done something right.”
That was the post-meeting joke from Honolulu Council Reapportionment Commission member Rey Graulty after the first of three public hearings ended after one minute — and zero public testimony.
The Commission last month picked a draft plan to take to the community. Named the “,” the proposal would shift some Honolulu City Council boundaries to accommodate the population growth in Leeward Oahu since 2000 and the new inclusion of all nonresident military and students.
But at Castle High School in Kaneohe Monday night, the community was nowhere to be found.
The meeting was called for 6:30 p.m. had been shared on and in Inside Honolulu about 10 days ago. Notice was to have been published in the only daily print newspaper in wide circulation in the county, as is required by law.
Still, nobody came. Heck, nobody even provided written testimony, according to the City Clerk.
To be fair, there were 15 people in the cafeteria: Seven commissioners, seven City and County of Honolulu employees, and your trusty Civil Beat correspondent. The staff came prepared with name tags, sign up sheets, posterboard maps and microphones. The Commission was patient — Chair Albi Mateo waited until 6:48 p.m. to call the meeting to order.
She asked if anybody in the public wished to testify. All eyes turned to Civil Beat. “No thank you” was this reporter’s only on-the-record statement. At 6:49 p.m., a motion was made to adjourn the meeting, and the commissioners dispersed, laughing. Graulty cracked his joke before the microphones were unplugged and packed away.
The only change for the Windward community under the current proposal — which can still be amended by the Commission before a final version is due in early 2012 — is that a portion of the Ahuimanu neighborhood will move from District 2, represented by Council Chair Ernie Martin, to District 3, represented by Vice Chair Ikaika Anderson. It would likely affect just a few thousand residents. Outside of that, most Windward citizens won’t notice any difference.
But other communities will feel the shift more. The population growth in Leeward Oahu over the past decade was dramatic, and the proposed new boundary between Tom Berg‘s District 1 and Nestor Garcia‘s District 9 along Fort Weaver Road would split Ewa in two. That could attract some community attention.
So the future meetings might draw more people. We know they can’t draw less.
The two remaining public hearings are scheduled for Tuesday at Kapolei High School Cafeteria and then Oct. 11 at Council Chambers at Honolulu Hale, both at 6:30 p.m.
