Improving Communication And Access In 2015

Rep’n Mililani …Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang

This time of year, I get plenty of opportunities to interact with members of our community at festivals and fairs. Much of the feedback I hear is that people enjoy the frequent communications from my office that either ask for opinions or provide updates.

So, this year, one of my resolutions is to increase our communications by trying some new techniques.

Starting in 2015, I’ll be hosting regular “office hours” in locations around Mililani so that constituents who want to meet face to face have a more accessible venue.

My office is experimenting with an online town hall to provide updates on legislation and to facilitate community involvement by alleviating some barriers, such as the long drive we encounter as residents of Central Oahu.

My goal is to take innovative steps and concrete action to make government more accessible. We also will provide updates via podcast and video throughout the session for those who like to listen to news and receive updates on their own schedule.

Scheduling for these events will be made available at repbeth.com, which also has regular updates on roadwork and other community and legislative events. Mililani residents can sign up for weekly email updates on roadwork at the above website.

Another way we’re looking to engage our community is by sponsoring a model legislature project, similar to Model UN, designed by Mililani High School students who interned with my office this year.

This Model Legislature project is meant to help students get a better idea of how government works and what kinds of issues and situations legislators encounter. We hope that it will help young people get excited about participating in government.

Any Mililani resident who is interested in participating either as a facilitator (18 or over) or as a member of the Model Legislature (grades 9-12) can send me an email for more information.

All of these initiatives are simply meant to provide more avenues to get involved with government. One area where we could use your participation immediately involves a petition to keep soldiers and their families in Hawaii.

As part of its 2020 structure realignment, the Army is considering reducing its force in Hawaii by 19,800 soldiers, mostly from Schofield Barracks.

The loss of these soldiers and their families would reduce our Central Oahu population by approximately 38 percent and eliminate more than $1 billion from our economy. Other communities on the Mainland facing similar cuts are engaging in an active campaign to keep their soldiers at home, and our local campaign needs to catch up. To sign the petition, learn more and help spread the word, visit keephawaiisheroes.org.

As always, we’ll continue to keep you updated on events and issues impacting our community via email, mail and our website.

Contact state Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang at repfukumoto@capitol.hawaii.gov or call her office at 586-9460.