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But, anyway, with that said, I feel that this would create just another place for us to come
<br />together, to have coffee, to talk to each other, and I think somebody earlier said solve the
<br />problems of the world. You know what, just solving the problems in Puna would be an awesome
<br />thing, just that alone would be wonderful, or getting people involved. Honestly, half the time,
<br />I’m sorry, half of the time when the Planning Committee’s meetings are happening --and I’m
<br />pretty much out there, I’m communicating and talking --and the next thing I know a meeting has
<br />happened and I didn’t realize it was happening. Maybe it’s my bad, maybe I haven’t
<br />communicated as well or listened, I don’t know. But I have been to several of the meetings.
<br />And I just think that we could use a lot more support or places to meet so that we could know
<br />these things, you know.
<br />So, again, aside from all the other good things, you know, the fact that it is a business, it will
<br />provide jobs, it will provide jobs for entrepreneurs who want to bake their products or do
<br />whatever they might do in the kitchen, I think the community center thing is a real important
<br />thing. And sustainability, the fact that you don’t have to drive five miles down the road to get a
<br />cup of coffee or to get a loaf bread, cause we do have to do that now; and I’m real concerned
<br />about that. I plan my one trip to Hilo. I feel like a little country girl. I come to Hilo and do
<br />everything in one day so I don’t have to drive back and forth up that hill. But, anyway, that’s
<br />what I have to say, and I just want to thank you for hearing me.
<br />KERN: Thank you. Name and address, and you may begin.
<br />FINCHER: Hi. My name is Jay Fincher. Address is 17-4194 Laau Popohe Road, Kurtistown.
<br />I’ve known Tom and Vickie for several years now; and I was pleased to hear that they were
<br />going to start a new business in the Puna district. They work very hard. I think the issue here is,
<br />you know, with all the permits that have to be pulled, filled, discussed, the government that’s
<br />involved in that, they thought they had it all done. And Mr. Domingo was saying, you know, if
<br />Noah had to do that then, you know, none of us would be here today. We were all drowned.I
<br />think one of the questions that I have is with the Community Development Plan is, you know,
<br />you’re talking about the village center and the Puna district is as big as Oahu. Does Oahu only
<br />have one village center? No, it does not. So why does the Puna district have to have one village
<br />center and why isn’t it where this bakery is? Why isn’t this the new village center?
<br />You talk about the people that represent, these are the people behind us here. You know, what, I
<br />think only good can come from this. They’re going to hire some employees, they’re going to
<br />pay their taxes. I work at the hospital. I see the people who pay taxes, who don’t pay their taxes.
<br />We need tax base revenue, that’s how we survive. That’s how we’re going to live here on this
<br />island. I wish I had something else that could convince you that this is going to be a great thing.
<br />If you were there in the three days and saw the people stopping and, “Oh, you’re opened,” and
<br />then after they were closed the people who kept stopping says “Why aren’t you open?” It’s
<br />because somebody was not happy with for whatever reason saying that you have to do more, you
<br />have to do more. They have exhausted almost three years in their bank accounts trying to do
<br />this. Eat their pie, go buy a loaf of bread, you’ll know why.
<br />DOMINGO: Mr. Chairman?
<br />KERN: Thank you very much. Yes, Commissioner Domingo.
<br />DOMINGO: I appreciate your comments. As a, you folks saw that movie of Jerry McGuire
<br />when after the football game he came home and his wife was with a number of wives and talking
<br />about, you know, they’re divorcees? And he said something and he went on blabbing, blabbing.
<br />And the wife said you had me at the very beginning when you, the first word you said. She said
<br />you had me. Well, you know, you convinced me when you folks came up already on how you
<br />folks feel.
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