CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
The Revs. Gary Barbaree, left, Alan Mark and Neal MacPherson held hands with fellow ministers in prayer yesterday outside the governor's office at the Capitol before going in to ask for a meeting with the governor.
Churches say
gov is elusive
Leaders of a grassroots group of 24 island churches are complaining that Gov. Lingle doesn't have the open door policy she promised during her campaign.
The group wanted to discuss state action to speed up the renovation of Kalihi Valley Homes, increased safety on public school campuses and to lobby for a long-term care bill that Lingle is indicating she will veto.
To press their point, five clergy from Faith Action for Community Equity went to the Governor's Office yesterday to again ask for a meeting with Lingle.
Lingle later said FACE had been included in a meeting planned for Friday with other groups supporting the long-term care bill, but FACE wanted a private meeting. She said FACE had a meeting last month with Lt. Gov. Aiona and the group's concerns were relayed to her.
After that meeting, Aiona wrote to one of the FACE leaders saying that his concerns were being addressed, Lingle said.
At a news conference yestereday, the Rev. Neal MacPherson, president of FACE and pastor of the Church of the Crossroads, said: "We are very frustrated, and one of the issues frustrating us is the issue of accessibility.
"There are forms to fill out. They say, 'We will get back to you,' and they don't get back. There seems to be a whole line of gatekeepers," MacPherson said.
Another FACE leader, the Rev. Alan Mark of Kilohana United Methodist Church, said he thinks Lingle is insulating herself from organized groups.
"This insulation makes it hard to imagine that she is able to hear from the rank-and-file people," Mark said. "It is obvious that there are areas that she needs to hear from."
Another FACE leader, the Rev. Barbara Grace Ripple, Hawaii district superintendent of the United Methodist Church, complained that she has tried to arrange a meeting with Lingle since February to discuss the long-term care bill.
"I have been trying to meet with her (Lingle), and her aide said possibly I will have 15 minutes to talk to her in July or August," Ripple said.
Aiona noted in the letter to MacPherson that FACE asked that Lingle get Michael Liu, assistant secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, to intervene in the renovation of the Kalihi Valley Homes.
"Gov. Lingle has informed me that she will request Mr. Liu to meet with FACE during his next visit to Hawaii," Aiona wrote.
"On the issues of public school restrooms and campus safety, Gov. Lingle will continue to encourage schools to ensure that they maintain the basic requirements for a safe and healthy environment," Aiona said in the letter.
Yesterday, Lingle also defended her record, saying she is "doing more meetings, public events than anyone."
"I get 500 requests a week for appointments, meetings and appearances," Lingle said. "I can't accept them all."
"I did let FACE know that we would ask the lieutenant governor to meet with them, which he did, and he and I did meet about it and we gave them a written response. I was pretty surprised when they raised this response," Lingle said.
The Friday meeting, Lingle said, was to hear from groups that are supporting the long-term care bill. Lingle said it wouldn't be fair to meet with just one group.
Aiona said that as lieutenant governor, he represents Lingle.
"Talking to me is the same as a meeting with the governor," Aiona said.
