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Page 1 of 2 <br /> Murashige, Laura <br /> From: maggie mcgervey (imaedgewalker@yahoo.com] <br /> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 9:12 PM C~L~ ~iJi~ 2~ Fjl~ ~ 1 ~ <br /> To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us <br /> Subject: protection of Punalu'u/ SUPPORT of resolution 169-07 ~.^i.,,, <br /> Hello Council members, <br /> My name is Maggie McGervey and I live in Ocean View. My background is in sustainable agriculture <br /> and social work (MSW). I azn currently blessed to enjoy beautiful Kau every day as I am homeschooling <br /> my five-year-old. I azn writing in strong su ort of resolution 169-07. I attended the Public meeting on <br /> JiJNE 4TH and was greatly heartened by the obvious interest in keeping Punalu'u both public and <br /> preserved. My son and I aze in deep awe every time we spend a day fishing, swimming, nature- <br /> adventuring at Punalu'u. We are recharged, inspired and connected to the wonderful circle of life. My <br /> son Aidan insists that the area not be developed as "the rock and plant wizazds live there." <br /> What I would like to briefly address is the opponents/developer's position that we need this <br /> resort/development to bring jobs into Kau and bolster the depressed economy. As a social worker who <br /> has worked for economic justice and provision of resources/support for the "poverty"/working class for <br /> seventeen years I am appalled and offended by the off-the cuff comments about Kau being in dire need <br /> of Sea Mountain's assistance. As you all know, Hawaiians and working class families are leaving the <br /> islands in exodus because they can no longer afford the cost of living in Hawaii. I can assure you that <br /> the service-type jobs that will accompany this resort will be low-paying and inadequate for survival in <br /> Hawaii, particulary as the area becomes gentrified. <br /> Several of us have stazted a Food Baz>Ic in ocean view. The response has been overwhelming. More than <br /> 120 families have signed up within two months. Many of these good men and women have multiple <br /> low-paying jobs and still fall well below the federal poverty level. Many get by on several hundred <br /> dollars each month due to disabilities. They are certainly in need of services and support but I guazantee <br /> <br /> you that they would be unable to work (inspite of their poverty) and that Sea Mountain would not hire <br /> them on the basis of their appearance alone. And even were our "welfare" (sic) district and citizens to <br /> get the jobs offered by Sea Mountain they would be in no better boat than they aze in now. The struggle <br /> and discouragement would continue as families fall farther and farther behind the incoming flux of <br /> wealth. Please do not listen to the assertion that development is the only chance for boosting our <br /> economy. This is the same old lie that has been told by every big developer who really has NO practical <br /> idea about what it is like to survive paycheck to paycheck. <br /> Please know that without the public protection of Punalu'u, though Sea Mountain may bring in a small <br /> number of jobs, for the majority of Kau's citizens this will widen rather than close the already increasing <br /> class divide. <br /> Thank you for voting for proposal 169-07. The people and the land will thank you for this in perpetuity <br /> and with will bless you and generations to come with great abundance. <br /> Sincerely, Maggie McGervey <br /> Comm. No. .3 .7 <br /> 6/20/2007 Rt}. Dafs,_tL1N 22 2001 <br /> <br />