Such information would certainly strengthen his line of thinking in his appeal for greater funding support for education. It's always interesting to look at other communities where partnerships and funding sources are proving the point that arts and cultural activities are vital to a successful tourism program as well as for fueling the local economy. Yes, every major city on the Mainland where dynamic tourism occurs has hotel room tax mechanisms in place to support local artists and arts organizations. The local arts community is poised and ready to enter into a partnership like those in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York and Miami, for example. A grants program for the arts would benefit everyone, especially the hotel and visitor industry.
Growth implies spread, and like a cancer, it metastasizes.
We already top the list of extinct and near-extinct species. Growth has already attacked our fragile ecosystem, and nature is warning us. Not only do we need a real environmental impact study of growth, but a cost-benefit analysis as well. I expect the resident taxpayers will foot the bills for expanded highways and more infrastructure to accommodate the growth. I was born and raised on the Big Island's Hamakua Coast.