Keeping the Country Country

Carol Philips, Candidate State House 46

One of the most important issues now facing our community is the 3,500 new hotel rooms being proposed by the Turtle Bay Corporation for Kewela Bay. I first learned of this in December of 2005 and I’m very concerned about its potential impact. Whatever the arguments by those in favor, common sense suggests that we simply don’t have the infrastructure to support such a mammoth project. Traffic is already unbearable; often near gridlock, and property taxes are already too high. I say enough already! Lets Keep the Country Country!

Although stopping a multi-billion dollar corporation from turning the North Shore into the next Waikiki may seem impossible, we have a lot of support. Rep. Colleen Meyer and I introduced a resolution at the State Republican Convention requesting that the project be re-evaluated and the reso passed because of the strong, personal support of Governor Linda Lingle. Many local organizations and individuals have taken formal positions against the project and there are several law suits pending as well. Re-examining and re-evaluating this huge project is the only reasonable course of action for our community. It is vital that we all stick together and not allow ourselves to be divided as some are working to see happen.

The North Shore as it exists today, and the general welfare of our residents are far too valuable to allow another mainland developer to exploit us; take the money and run. I support carefully-considered development and job creation, but I am strongly against a project of this magnitude that could destroy our country lifestyle in one fatal swoop.