More transparency
More transparency
I’m a concerned citizen who closely follows county and state highway projects on the Big Island. I think it’s important to monitor these new projects, especially since the state and county are using taxpayer dollars to build these new highways. This is why I’ve spent so much of my free time being a community transportation advocate.
The centralized Hawaii Department of Transportation leadership, along with the Federal Highways Administration, has treated people like myself as enemies of the state. I’ve had to jump through hoops to get any updates through alternative means during the past four years as a result. These departments really need to embrace the public’s participation and be more transparent.
Soon-to-be Gov. David Ige promised to conduct his administration in a more transparent fashion. However, this is only part of the solution to the issues facing the DOT.
Gov. Abercrombie’s DOT appointees had no leadership or public relations skills. This has to change under Gov. Ige’s watch. The DOT needs strong leadership to push several stalled projects — such as the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening, Phase 2, and the final east side Daniel K. Inouye Highway phase — forward.
I hope Gov. Ige fulfills his campaign promises, as Hawaii can’t afford four more years of spinning its wheels.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
Hard to reach
Here it is, the day after Election Day, and I wanted to call my opponent in the contest for state Senate. So, I looked in the telephone directory, and I couldn’t find Josh Green listed.
What is his concern, that someone will call him?
So, then I decided to call my state representative, Richard Creagan; same thing, no number listed.
What exactly is it with doctors who become servants of the state? Perhaps they do want to serve the people, but not to be contacted.
What self-imposing Democrats these two people are. I bet if I looked in the Washington, D.C., phone book I’d find a number listed for the White House.
Since I couldn’t call them, here are my congratulations on fooling enough people. Who says we don’t trust our elected officials?
Michael L. Last
Na’alehu