(The following comments are not directed toward Mr. Diego C. Blanco, who did not partake in the Zoning Board’s June 18, 2010 letter to the governor.)
Your July 1, 2010 letter tries to explain that you were present at the Saipan Northern Islands Legislative Delegation session on May 28, 2010, but then again you are trying to explain that you weren’t really there, or to speak about the business at hand, i.e., House Local Bill 17-2 (zoning amendments).
This is very troubling, since the SNILD members had voted to allow any person in attendance at the session, including yourself, to either comment, ask for time to study the bill further, or even postpone the passage of the bill to allow more members of the community or public agency, e.g., the Zoning Board, to voice their support or non-support of the bill. You had an ample amount of time to state your concerns, but you failed to request for more time to study the bill or for a postponement, which would have been granted. Frankly speaking, you knew that they were added amendments to the bill, but you failed to act.
With respect to the conflict of interest claim made by you, the plain reading of the Constitution is all that is needed, since it is clear that it states “a financial interest,” which I have none in the Servino business enterprise. Besides, why is it you find pleasure in closing down good businesses that hurt our CNMI coffers.
In another matter, I have a constituent in Garapan, who is a businessman that was shouting to me on the phone about the bad treatment from the Zoning Office. Could you look into this matter and try to help this businessman who is suffering from your policies, and whose name is Roman Blanco Matsumoto?
In conclusion, I appreciate your silence in the matter of the five-year suspension of the Zoning Board. I take this as support for this measure.
REP. STANLEY
T. MCGINNIS TORRES
17th CNMI Legislature
