Zoning the truth

In response to the Zoning board’s recent media attempts to muddy the waters and zone the truth to fit their self-serving needs, it is necessary to set the record straight about their claims that there exists the “public’s highly unfavorable” reaction to rezoning certain paved roads to a flexible plan of mixed commercial use.

I have copies of the attendance sheets for all the public hearings held last summer over the proposed amendments to the Zoning board’s new 2012 Zoning Law, and the Zoning board’s interpretation of the “public” attendance and “highly unfavorable” reaction is a figment of their own delusional zoned truth.

Here’s a breakdown of the public hearings: “Garapan” (6/6/11): 15 attendees, including only four actual members of the public and myself, and 10 attendees were Zoning board members, staff, and their spouses. “San Roque” (6/7/11): Eight attendees, including five members of the public, including myself, and three Zoning attendees. “Kagman (6/8/11): 6 attendees, all Zoning members and one spouse, and myself. “Zoning Office” (6/9/11): one attendee who was a Zoning member. “SanVicente” (6/10/11): Six attendees, all Zoning members and family, and myself. “DanDan” (6/13/11): Seven attendees, two members of the public, five Zoning members and spouse, and myself. “Koblerville” (6/14/11): Eight attendees, including four members of the public, three legislators including myself, and one member of the Zoning Board. “Oleai” (6/15/11: Cancelled, no attendees. “Zoning board” (6/30/11): 19 attendees, including 10 members of the public, one media member and myself, and seven Zoning members.

Some basic math will give you only 70 attendees for all the nine hearings, and subtracting myself and comparing the 35 “biased” Zoning attendees to the total attendees, you have nearly 60 percent of the total attendees were “Zoners.” The remaining attendees are too few to gauge the “highly unfavorable” public reaction, especially considering the repeat attendees and the usual Saipan “always complaining” suspects.

I will rest my zoning amendments and their good intentions on all the Saipan residents who have continually called and visited me with their support, and the fear that the Zoning board has about their self-serving empire being challenged is noted for the record.