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JN1 vfa F pq� <br /> a. <br /> Harry Kim Dixie Kaetsu <br /> Mayor ' + Managing Director <br /> Pr't' �<M°•'''`/ Barbara Kossow <br /> Deputy Managing Director <br /> Countp of 'abaail <br /> 891 Ululani Street • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 -(808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA 75-5706 Kuakini Highway,Suite 103 • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)329-5226 • Fax(808)326-5663 <br /> September 19, 2008 <br /> The Honorable Pete Hoffmann, Chairperson, <br /> and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> 333 Kilauea Avenue <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Re: Veto Message—Bill 326 Draft 2 <br /> Plastic Bag Reduction Bill <br /> Dear Chairperson Hoffmann and Council Members: <br /> Pursuant to Section 3-12 of the Hawaii County charter,I am disapproving Bill 326 Draft 2 <br /> and returning it to you. <br /> Bill 326 Draft 2 has generated tremendous interest from a large number of people in the <br /> community,as evidenced by the amount of letters, emails,and telephone calls received by this <br /> office,both in support and in opposition. The Council is to be commended for raising <br /> awareness in our community about this important environmental issue. <br /> It is clear that people on both sides of this issue do agree on two things: <br /> • Plastic bags do not belong in our oceans or loose on our lands. <br /> • Plastic bags that are not recycled or otherwise properly disposed of contribute to litter <br /> problems. <br /> However,plastic bags themselves are not inherently evil. They are more practical for some <br /> uses than paper bags, and are often reused several times before their ultimate disposal. The <br /> true problem is not the bags;the problem is we the people. It is our failure to dispose of bags <br /> properly that litters and pollutes our land and oceans. <br /> There are two reasons for this veto. First,there are concerns specific to this bill. They relate <br /> to certain provisions in the bill and how the bill was handled in regards to public involvement. <br /> Second is a more philosophical issue about whether this is the right way to address the <br /> environmental problems caused by plastic bags when they are not disposed of properly. <br /> The specific concerns with Bill 326 Draft 2 that led to this veto action follow: <br />