Hawaii State Representative Beth Fukumoto from Hawaii 36th District

2/14/2017

State Representative Beth Fukumoto

c/o Hawaii State Capitol

415 S. Beretania Street, Room 333

Honolulu, HI   96813

Dear State Representative Fukumoto,

My name is Matt Winick, an Asian American from Ann Arbor, Michigan with a strong interest in learning history with public policy.  In these subjects, I like to learn the need to advance on Civil Rights to help protect people who are different from being discriminated, protect the environment from pollution, and many others.  State Representative Fukumoto, I’m writing you a letter to explain how I find your ole as a moderate Republican State Representative from Hawaii 36^th District and your commitment to the Asian American Community how you inspire me.

In your current role as State Representative from Hawaii 36^th District , I’m very proud on how you are a moderate Republican along with working with Democrats on many issues like Civil Rights, the environment, and many others when your own party gets too extreme on different issues. On Civil Rights, I like on how you advocate for people with disabilities’ rights, support funding women including minorities businesses to help compete in the economy, and express the need for women to have equal pay. On the environment, I like on how you are supporting renewable energy projects to help reduce addiction to oil with gas, providing funds to help protect parks including water resources along with beaches to make them safe for people to use, and emphasizing small businesses along with industries on using energy efficient products to reduce high energy cost.  Pushing for funds for special education to help students with disabilities to get educational accommodations they need, providing schools with money to help fix their schools, implementing after school programs to help youth get assistance on their assignments or get them engage in the community, and supporting funds for the arts including diversity classes to help make learning more diverse are great ways to improve education while make a learning environment a better place.   To improve public safety, I like your approach like increase funding to combat against Little Fire Ants to protect wildlife along with people,   Co-sponsor legislation to help reduce homelessness by increasing more shelters including medical services,  propose measures on increasing school safety, and work with both political parties to find ways to fix infrastructures.   Expanding on educational awareness about Asian American Pacific Islander with Asians to help teach people about their culture,  advocating for Asian Americans with disabilities, and providing funds to help Asian American communities get the help they need to improve their community, and expressing the need for more Asian Americans to be in public service is common sense and a great way to improve awareness about Asian American. 

State Representative Fukumoto, I have autism with a learning disability. Having a disability is hard for me because I have trouble comprehending on learning different subjects, sometimes I struggle to communicate my thoughts, and get teased.  Your commitment to being a strong supporter of Civil Rights, advocating for people with disabilities’ rights, and emphasizing the importance on making Civil Rights stronger really inspires me to work hard on my disability.  As an Asian American with a disability, I face many struggles due to some Asians including Asian Americans being judgmental or using prejudice on me due to not meeting their standards and push me away from social groups.  When I face these struggles it is hard for me to have hope along with feeling like I don’t fit as an Asian American.  However, your role as an Asian American in public service and your commitment to help Asian American community with awareness and your support for Asian American with disabilities really gives me motivation to be proud to be an Asian American when I struggle with a disability.  In 2017, I enjoyed watching your speech at the Womens March in Hawaii on youtube because you did an excellent job explaining the need for respect for diversity, protect women’s rights, and make Civil Rights stronger.  Another thing is I was very proud on how you had the courage as a moderate Republican to give that speech and standing up for good values when the party gets too extreme. My letter is a gift to you for inspiring me, to express my appreciation for your commitment to make society a better place, and to help give motivation to you to continue to work hard when you face different political obstacles.

I strongly believe that you are making a great difference for society including the Asian American community.  Even though you struggle in your own party for standing for good principles, I’m very grateful for your commitment to be a strong ally for Civil Rights, the environment, Asian American communities, and many others.  If you decide to leave Republican Party, I wish you the best to continue to make a great impact on society and will support your decision. You have inspired me to work hard on my disability, be proud to be an Asian American with a disability when there are struggles, and continue my interest in learning history. I have enclosed a picture of me as a gift to you for inspiring me and I hope my letter can give you motivation to continue your work including give you inspiration.  Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, working hard for good policies when there are political obstacles, and inspiring me.  Keep up the great work and please continue to make a great difference for society and Civil Rights and even the Asian American community.

Sincerely,

Matt Winick