Mayor Kim replied to my letter dated Feb. 8 regarding the Department of Public Works directive issued against me. I have a very good memory of what happened over the past two months since his term began. Most of my inquiries went through the DPW public affairs officer, but I did email the highway and traffic division heads about highway and traffic signal issues. In addition, I emailed Ben Ishii about an issue with the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass.
Mayor Kim replied to my letter dated Feb. 8 regarding the Department of Public Works directive issued against me. I have a very good memory of what happened over the past two months since his term began. Most of my inquiries went through the DPW public affairs officer, but I did email the highway and traffic division heads about highway and traffic signal issues. In addition, I emailed Ben Ishii about an issue with the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass.
The only other communications involved emailing Frank DeMarco and Allan Simeon, the director and deputy director of DPW. I emailed Frank twice; once with a list of of eight projects I’d like to see happen in North Kona, the other was a letter to the editor I submitted regarding Highway 11 issues (This was the same day he issued that directive against me). I also tried to get in touch with Allan Simeon regarding Ane Keohokalole Highway phase III since I didn’t get a favorable response from Frank DeMarco.
This is why I called up Roy Takemoto, his executive assistant. I expressed my desire to assist with completion of these projects, along with my desire to get Ane Keohokalole Highway phase III started. The latter is why I also emailed the county planning director since the Kona CDP Action Committee had omitted this project from a list of desired North Kona CIP projects.
As you can see, I wasn’t being overly vexatious with my inquiries with DPW, so it was really hurtful what he said in that article. I felt like the bus ran over me several times after reading what he said. It’s like your administration doesn’t want feedback from the community, especially from me.
I’ve developed a strong rapport with several public works employees over the years. As a result of this directive, I can’t talk to them any further. They were equally shocked this directive was issued against me, especially in light of my positive track record. As it stands now, all my inquiries have to go through the DPW public affairs officer going forward.
The offer I made to Roy Takemoto to assist your administration with various highway projects in North Kona still stands, despite the events of the past month. I want to work with you to make these projects a reality.
Aaron Stene is a resident of Kailua-Kona