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From the Mayor’s desk By Mayor Mufi Hannemann Happy New Year to all Ewa residents! I wish to thank again everyone involved with the Ewa Christmas Parade in December. My staff and I and the Royal Hawaiian Band enjoyed ourselves immensely and we’re already looking forward to the next parade in the Ewa community. You now have an extended opportunity to comment on the Environmental Impact Statement as the city council continues to debate the best route of the new transit system. If you want to raise concerns about the Environmental Impact Statement for the new rail transit project, this is your chance. The comment period has been extended to February 6th so we can get as much input as possible. Copies of the Draft EIS are available for review at State libraries, the City library, the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) office (650 South King Street – 3rd Floor), and the DTS – Rapid Transit Division office (1099 Alakea Street – Suite 1700). In addition, the Draft EIS is online at the project’s website: www.honolulutransit.org. You can either write to the Department of Transportation Services at 650 South King Street, 3rd Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 or comment online at the project website: www.honolulutransit.org. The public comment period is mandated by federal and state laws. As we move to complete the final EIS, we will consider all comments that we receive. We will attempt to respond to all relevant comments. The project website has additional content: a video guide to the DEIS and a computer-simulated fly through of the two alternative alignments covered in the DEIS; the Salt Lake alignment and the Airport alignment. Renderings of rail transit station characteristics will be added to the website in the coming days. Residents can request a free DVD with the DEIS, the video guide, computer simulations of both alignments and renderings of rail transit station characteristics by calling 566-2299 or visiting www.honolulutransit.org Lastly, I felt very privileged to attend and participate in the opening ceremony of the Hoakalei Country Club. I proclaimed January 12, 2009 to be Hoakalei Country Club Day in the City and County of Honolulu. Haseko and professional golfer Ernie Els ought to be commended for “staying the course” and bringing the project to fruition. This is a world class golf course that will be part of a master planned marina resort that will create jobs and economic opportunities in these challenging times. I especially appreciate the fact that several local and national organizations who help our city will be recipients of charitable contributions as a result of the first ever Ernie “Els Cup” Invitational. The tournament’s first beneficiaries are the James Campbell High School Athletic Department, Autism Speaks, Beautiful Son Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii Hale Pono Ewa Beach Clubhouse.
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