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PIgtDc. coMIv1. n► Murashige, Laura From: HedrickHNECA@aol.com Sent: Monday, May 15, 2017 10:18 AM To: Council Testimony 0;o, Cc: hedrickhneca@aol.com; mhapai@aol.com; pintoian@gmail.com; Ohara, en; es, Jennifer Subject: Testimony in Support of Resolution 205-17,Tuesday, May 1, 1:00 . Testimony in SUPPORT of Resolution 205-17 " — Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee Tuesday, May 1, 1:00 PM Thank you for this opportunity to testify in SUPPORT of Resolution 205-17, "Acknowledging Ruling from Office of Civil Rights dated September 28, 2000." I have hesitated to call attention to the lack of Puna infrastructure as a Civil Right violation, but activities in the Fern Forest and Eden Roc subdivisions may need that kind of"wake up" call to acknowledge that road barriers constructed by past and current roads board members are flagrant civil rights violations. This applies not only to the low-income and Native Hawaiian communities, but also for residents in general who need reasonable access to job, education, health care services, and other amenities readily available in Hilo. The inter-subdivision connectivity components of the Puna Community Development Plan, adopted as ordinance in 2008, were reiterated in the connectivity subcommittee report adopted by the County Council in August 2016.The relative lack of implementation of the PCDP to date attests to the historical inequities and continued demographic disparities. Regardless of whether or not Resolution 205-17 is passed, members of the Connectivity Action Team respectfully ask for the assistance of all Council members and Council departments in getting the Fern Forest and Eden Roc boards to remove the barriers at lower Kaleponi (Fern Forest) and Punahele (Road 17, Eden Roc). This action would not require expenditure of resources except those required to remove the barriers. "Road Connectivity" is currently the PCDP Action Committee's"Priority 2." Physical connectivity between Fern Forest and Eden Roc is essential (1)to resident civil rights, including access to their property; (2)to resident health and safety, including access to police and fire services, (3)to sustainability, (4) to individual, emergency, and public transportation, (5) to cooperative Safety and Surveillance Systems, and (6)to successful area events, such as farmers' markets, swap meets, etc.. I understand that the General Plan Comprehensive Review by members of the Long Range Planning Division will "lift up" the connectivity components of the PCDP. The Connectivity Action Team will continue to work with and through the PCDP AC and the General Plan revisions. We have requested assistance specifically in developing a Grassroots Inter-subdivision Connectivity Model at the connectivity location linking Fern Forest with Eden Roc. Comm No g.lif) 1 Ref. To: C'A 617L Ref,, Date MAY 1 t 2U.17 A