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Council member’s racist comments not appreciated

I am getting ready to vote in the upcoming election. I like to do research to know who to vote for so I focused on the nine council seats and the mayoral race. I was dismayed at what I found! So much campaign money going to candidates from real estate, agrochemical companies, A&B, Dowling, off-island interests, money made on building mansions. I am most worried about the affordable housing issue as I see how it is affecting good people with families who can’t afford to live where they were born.

Council Member Riki Hokama from Lanai shocked me with his attitude about affordable housing and people who would live in it.

Hokama, on Sept. 17, 2017, at the Housing, Human Services, and Transportation Committee meeting about housing said casually: “I am biased. I want those brownies in those housing units. Period. I don’t need invasive species.”

What? Excuse me? Did Riki Hokama really have the nerve to say “brownies” meaning people with brown skin and “invasive species” meaning people who moved over to the islands who needed assistance?

Saying overtly racist language out loud in the County Council Chambers while pushing for illegal racist housing policies should not be allowed. Riki Hokama should be ashamed. I am surprised that Chair Stacy Crivello allowed it and did not speak out against it.

Maui County citizens deserve better. Do you want an alternative to this? Vote Gabe Johnson for Maui County Council. He has integrity of word and action.

Barbara Barry

Haiku

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