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.~UL:-r1'-97 13=12 FROM:KTA ADMIN ID-18089598050 PAGE 1/1 ~ July 02, 1997 UL ~ P('1 1 ,'3 CGUi COUfJI Y v, ~ ;-1,a'J4~All County Council Members County of Hawaii 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Council Members, I am here today representing both the Retail Committee from the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce and the Big Island Visitor Security Association. In regards to the issue of marijuana eradication efforts by the Federal, State and County agencies, we are firmly in support of their continued operations. Drug related problems continue to be a source of headache for private business. Fram a retail perspective it was estimated that in 1995 shoplifting cost Big Island businesses $25.0 M, whereas employee theft accounted for 4-5 times this. WitA the younger employees we see alcohol mixed with illicit drug use, uncovered during internal investigations. Due to the high cost of drugs like marijuaaa(1~ = 56-9,000} one of the means to support such a habit is to steal from businesses that they work at. As a security spokesman, when we in the industry, use the word, "Drugs" we also mean "Theft". Who can really afford it? There are many stories that you hear about small businesses on the Big Island closing. One of the factors is internal theft. In our businesses we are also very concerned about produc- tivity. If employees have a high level of sick leave, or report to work late due to a drug problem, this we cannot tolerate. If an employee`s production is low or the quality of work bad, we will not tolerate this as well. In conclusion, we do not need to have this illness enter our workplace. It is not a question o` if this monies should be accepted, it is more a question of how can ~0. 31~-- 3--~ 1~,~ U s G ~f. ~,~,~>~~irnv?UI Bet Dste JUL 0 11997