Laserfiche WebLink
Testimony to the Hawaii County Committee on Planning <br /> Presented by Robert Ritter, March 6,1997 RECEIVED '1~ . <br /> n ~ •-----3 By-.~_ <br /> <br /> Aloha, _ County~Coundlf._' <br /> Robert Gottlieb wrote in his book, A Life of Its Own, The Politics and Power of <br /> Water, "Water policy touches our lives in an enormous number of ways. It affects <br /> the water we drink and the food we eat. It is central to irrigation and urban <br /> growth. It addresses water quality and toxicity associated with increasing kinds of <br /> industrial hazards. It is linked to our mighty river systems, deep-water lakes, and <br /> shallow streams. It establishes in legal, political, and economic terms what to <br /> some is sacred but to others is nothing more than a commodity to buy or sell, <br /> transfer or lease. Control over water has ultimately become tantamount to <br /> controlling the destiny of the land and the people who settle on the land." <br /> Because water is so important, I believe the committee should, with all due <br /> respect to Mr.Takeya, be faithful to ArticleXlll, Sectionl3-3 of the Hawaii County <br /> Charter which states, "No appointing authority shall appoint any person to any <br /> office or position which is exempt from the civil service laws until satisfied by <br /> proper investigation that the person to be appointed is fully qualified by <br /> experience and abilities to pertorm the duties of that office." <br /> Is Mr. Takeya experienced or educated in the history, management and politics <br /> of water? Does he have any experience dealing with water issues? Does he <br /> have a working understanding of hydrology, the properties and chemistry of <br /> water, the complexity of aquifers and the disaster potential inherent in abusing <br /> them? Would he recognize and does he realize the consequences of poor water <br /> policies? <br /> The brief statement in the agenda for today states that Mr. Takeya has been a <br /> land broker for the past 25 years. In that time has he had, or does he currently <br /> have relationships with developers or others that might present a conflict of <br /> interest when the time comes to make decisions for the good of the public and/or <br /> for the good of the environment? Will anyone unfairly profit from his appointment <br /> or his voting? Is he willing to excuse himself from voting if and when any such <br /> conflict of interest arises? <br /> The answers to these questions that go to Mr. Takeya's experience and ability <br /> should be the deciding factors in his appointment, not partisan politics. Our <br /> county, our citizens, our land, and our environment cannot afford mistakes that <br /> wind up costing us dearly in the long run. Our county government cannot afford <br /> the perception, real or imagined, that it is not adhering strictly to the County <br /> Charter. <br /> Mahalo ,r.y ^1 <br /> Comma. DTo.~- <br /> NiVe IQo. - <br /> Ref. To: Presented pV _ <br /> ~r MAR 0 6 1997 <br /> <br />