COM 1088.003 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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problematic in our society today. We as citizens are presumed innocen L In the instant situation of marijuana cultivation I think it is sate to say that more than 99.5 percent of the population is, in addition, actually innocent of violating the laws prohibiting marijuana cultivation in Hawaii County. Those of us presumed and actually innocent of any crime are still subjected to the helicopter harassment as though we were guilty. My silence is shattered, my blue sky is fouled and my peace of mind and heart are destroyed. The threat of force is a force in itself. These machines are not birds. There is nothing quiet, graceful or natural about them, and frankly their whole energy is sinister. Exacerbating this problem is the issue of oversight. This council has given no credence to the public complaints about the low and inappropriate flights that have and continue to occur all over the island. A friend commented to me over the weekend that two weeks ago in south kona the black DEA helicopter was so low that 'another foot and they would have been harvesting my bananas'. When several people testified to such flights at the Councirs committee meeting on April 1016 the response was almost to a member, "we believe the police'; this without further questioning or investigation into any of the grievances. My husband and I have spoken to several of our neighbors in Hawi town and surrounds and many of them witnessed the low flights and disruptive, threatening actions of this helicopter which was by all witnesses well below 500 feet over highly populated areas, farms and ranches. We filed a complaint with HPD on the 10"' after the meeting. The flight itself was initially denied before any checking was done and then when further checking revealed that the flights complained of had occurred in the time and place stated the statement was, they weren't below 1000 feet. That's it, no further checking no room for any error in the police judgment, just you are wrong, even if there are many of you. There is a monumental problem in having an agency, any agency, but especially one as powerful and as impervious as the Hawaii Police Department handle its own complaints. With the notable exception of a couple of council members it seems that the same inabMity exists here. Given the reluctance most of the council members to give the people any real "voice', the likelihood for abuse with helicopter flyovers, the lack of any really meaningful results and the cost to the County, what valid argument exists in favor of accepting these funds. None. The people of Hawaii County deserve your honest and forthright attention to this matter, not a politically spun non-statement such as the one five of the seven council committee members espoused at the April W meeting. It goes like this: While I support the people's right to petition for a change of the laws until that happens I'm going to obey the law. Well, bully for you all but that is NOT the issue before you. We understand you support the law, however, using these helicopter flights to enforce it condones a pervasive spiritual blight which cannot be justified logically. I urge you to think this through, ignore your committee's recommendation and refuse the federal funds.