A couple of ideas

Dear Mr. Governor: It’s great to be home! It’s unfortunate what happened here from Super Typhoon Yutu but how about we make the schools a priority and repair these classrooms? Some school fences open right up to the roads! We’re marking the days off and, before we know, it it’s the first day of school. They say the children are our future, but all we’re showing them is that we can push off the importance of education. 

I’ve driven here all my life but when you can’t even see if you’re in the correct lane, especially during rainy season, that’s a concern. Went off my lane a couple of times due to lines no longer visible. These roads need serious painting! We have road signs that are still bent over. Stops signs that have flown off and the posts are still bare.

Since we’re on the subject of roads, we have an issue with abandoned cars by the main roads and dilapidated buildings nearly everywhere! And many are prior to Yutu! Where is the money to fix these issues? Does our government not see these eyesores? 

Businesses need paintings. It’ll help the island look livelier and well-maintained.

The Hyatt/American Memorial park area has sewage issues. No one smells that?

Our people are still in tents! Open up the building by the airport that’s been sitting for years! And offer it to the people! 

We need a way to encourage more people to make the street markets on Thursdays livelier. If these events are posted on our brochures or websites, they need help! I give it up to I Love Saipan for having entertainment every night. That business is welcoming and lively. Good job, guys!

Do car rental dealerships have a short video or some type of demonstration in different languages to explain the regulations on the roads and how to drive here? If not, then it needs to be done. We can’t point a finger and assume they know our regulations, when in reality they don’t.

Again, for the safety of everyone, road signs need to be replaced immediately. We have people new to the island and we have our student drivers on the roads as well. We need to understand that other parts of the world don’t have lines on the roads or dividers; offer them maps if you don’t already. Explain the importance of staying on your lane. Again, this video doesn’t have to be long!

We have beautiful islands and great hospitality by our people. Let the islands reflect that same welcoming atmosphere to outsiders, but most of all to ourselves.  We deserve a clean, well-maintained home. One step at a time.

Diana Villagomez Acebedo
As Perdido, Saipan