The wealthy will never understand today’s struggle

This is one of those instances where we have to wonder if the affluent sitting in positions of power can ever truly understand what it is we, everyday Guamanians, struggle through every day.

The undeniable reality for tens of thousands of Guamanian families is how unaffordable it is to rent or qualify for a mortgage for a home with running water and a connection to the electrical grid. Aside from access to food, water, and wastewater services, affordable housing is the most basic of civilized needs, yet so many Guamanians either struggle with keeping a roof over their heads, or have already given up.

Legislation by Chris Duenas would effectively open up hundreds, if not thousands of undeveloped lots to a new septic technology that will allow more affordable housing construction. Another bill by Therese Terlaje will create a financial mechanism to get water, wastewater, and power infrastructure onto undeveloped Chamorro Land Trust lots. Companion legislation by Joe San Agustin would provide a significant funding source to turn Ms. Terlaje’s mechanism into a financial reality for thousands of people waiting to build homes on those lots.

The legislation would allow the repurpose of Chamorro Land Trust land in Dededo from the current operation of the Guam International Country Club into a solar farm whose future operators intend to sell electricity cheaper than fuel sources to Guam Power Authority. In exchange, the new operators would front 30 years worth of lease payments – estimated to be about $9 million. That $9 million, according to financial and housing experts who testified at the public hearing for the bill, can be used to finance more than $30 million in power, water, and wastewater infrastructure for hundreds, or even thousands of currently undeveloped CLTC lots.

Despite the promising economic development and affordable housing opportunities that legislation provides, at a May 30 Guam Economic Development Authority board of directors meeting, chairman David John started and led a discussion against the proposal, telling the other board members that the public is better served by having access to the property as a golf course.

The board ended up approving his motion  “to send testimony to the legislature opposing the legislation and as an alternative to explore the use of the golf course, through a public-private partnership, to benefit junior golf similar to the national tennis center.”

The GEDA board provided no notice to the public about this discussion, according to a review of its May 30 published agenda, which is a violation of the Open Government Law.

“The GEDA Board Chair brought this item up during the board meeting,” GEDA administrator Melanie Mendiola confirmed. “It was not on the agenda so any board action is invalid. The board will be addressing this oversight at our next meeting.”

Beyond the issue of the board breaking the Open Government Law in such a cavalier way, I cannot imagine either Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio, or Ms. Mendiola signing off on an entire agency posture prioritizing golf over affordable housing. These leaders are not – despite whatever limitations their critics have assigned them – tone deaf.

Mr. Tenorio, who last year announced he is running for governor in 2026 on a platform of addressing poverty, uses his current position to address the homelessness and affordable housing problem.

The GEDA charter itself gives the agency broad supervision over economic development planning and implementation. Why would its board members break the law and rush to prioritize sustaining an environmentally damaging golf operation over a transparent proposal to increase renewable energy production while pumping millions into the everyday Guamanian’s dream of homeownership?

This is not to mention the direct benefits of diversification and job creation that will yield from passage of the Duenas, Terlaje, and San Agustin proposed statutes. Why was the illegal GEDA conversation about protecting golf rather than endorsing the affordable housing measures currently before senators? Why wouldn’t GEDA want to spur construction activity outside the military buildup, as has been the economic policy of the government for the past three gubernatorial administrations since the announcement of the buildup?

I would rather not believe that any of the members of the board are engaged in some shady back room deals, as they all are reputable businesspeople and educators. So, if it isn’t corruption, it’s separation. Their world, where affordable housing and high costs aren’t so significant to their personal lives, is separated from the world the everyday Guamanian lives in.

I mean, at the end of the day, who needs a concrete roof over their heads and basic sanitation when we can all be owners of golf clubs? Your baby’s going hungry? I guess the GEDA board wants you to feed her a golf ball.

Ridiculous. The board owes the public an apology.