I think this is very important. The noise gets really bad in the downtown Honolulu area. We get many bikes and cars drIive through late at night/early morning. The noise just echos and bounces off the buildings. I signed the petition. I'm in District 26 though and Scott Saiki is the representative for my district. Should I bring my support of this bill to his attention? How best should I do that?
Thanks,
QUIETER O'AHU RESPONSE
Mahalo for your support in signing our petition. Visibility is essential in capturing the attention of our lawmakers. If they believe that we have the votes to sway an election they will pay attention. We are hoping to build a mailing list where we can bring the public's attention to the action, or inaction, of our lawmakers and hold them to account at the ballot box.
There are several things you can do to help focus the attention of neighbors and lawmakers. Our Neighborhood Board's represent the Government's organization closest to its residents. Each of the Neighborhood Boards can be found at this link, http://www.honolulu.gov/cms-nco-menu/site-nco-featured/191-site-nco-cat/682-test.html and the sub-district representatives are included as well. You can email the board president, and your sub-district representative, and ask that they call attention to this bill at their next meeting. You can also request time as a speaker at your next board meeting where you would have an opportunity to simply say that noise has gotten too loud, there's an attempt to curtail it, and call attention to our website and our petition.
And YES, an email to your representative and senator are also ways to gain visibility. Let them know that you support this legislation, and also call their attention to our website and our petition. A list of representatives can be found here http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=H, senators can be found here http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=S , and, by the way, your concilmember can be found here https://www.honolulu.gov/component/content/article/172-site-ccl-cat/1740-ccl-view-council-members.html?Itemid=597 .
We believe this is not an issue where "twisting arms" is necessary. Literally everyone who has seen this bill WANTS to sign the petition. Let your friends, neighbors, and ohana know! Across our island and across our state the issue of noise is one that brings us all together - save those who are actually creating the noise: the riders of motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds, and the loud cars, and the unscrupulous vendors who modify them to create even louder noise. Together we can make a difference. Together we can bring this to an end. This bill is the beginning. Alone it will help, but not solve for the larger problem. It will be a long fight, but one we can win.
Mahalo,
A Quieter O'ahu