Wednesday, February 22, 2012
West Oahu residents oppose political redistricting
POSTED: 10:05 p.m. HST, Aug 30, 2011
LAST UPDATED: 03:13 a.m. HST, Aug 31, 2011
Several West Oahu residents testified Tuesday night against a political redistricting proposal that would no longer place Makakilo, Kapolei and Ko Olina in the same congressional district.
Makakilo resident Maeda Timson said government officials have pushed for the region to be Oahu's "second city" but turns around and fractures its constituency.
"We feel cheated. We're being cut out," said Timson, a former chairwoman of the Makakilo/Kapolei Neighborhood Board.
"You've got to keep our city together in some shape or form."
About 35 people attended a public hearing at Kapolei High School on voter redistricting proposals formed by the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission.
It was the first of 13 public hearings to be held around the state through Sept. 16.
The commission has until Sept. 26 to submit a final plan.
