2014-02-06HEARINGTRANSCRIPT-VINCENTTAI REZ13-167

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kind of housing, ok. They cannot afford $2-3,000 and they not qualify for low income, all right? So, I believe what I’m doing here is, haven’t been done in Hilo at all. Even in the Kona side, very limited. Even in Oahu, very limited, ok. So again, you know, I follow every rule, everything according to the book, and the so-called workforce housing is needed in Hilo, this is one opportunity here. Now, I went to see, I went to meet with the Honolulu office of the Hawai‘i Finance and Development Corporation . They are the one who hand out the low income tax credits. I met with Darren Ueki. He’s the finance manager. He spent more than half an hour with me. First I asked him why he’s even want to talk to me. Now, he said two things. You may or may not know, ok. First he said, oh good, this one’s in Hilo, and someone is willing to offer a piece of property. He said there is lack of properties to really do a substantial project in Hilo, number one. Number two, he said financially, it’s very difficult to do it in Hilo because the cost of construction is so high. He said you have to watch your construction, you make sure, you know, because otherwise you won’t make it, you know. I think I can make it, ok? And he told me that if I can do it, I might have a good chance in winning one of the competitions for the low income housing credits are nine percent is highly competitive. If I apply before January of next year, I might have a good shot just because of nothing happening here, but of course he cannot say that. He kind of encouraging me, ok? But then, he also stressed that 60 to 100 percent is a real big gap. Very few people are doing that. So, I think in sincerity, I believe I met with almost all the reasonable requests that my neighbors have raised, those that are even beyond what the code requires. There are issues that I cannot deal with. There are questions that I cannot answer, but I do know from reading newspapers, and going on line, that that affordable housing between 60 to a hundred percent AMI is badly needed in the whole State, and particularly in Hilo. Thank you. Any questions? ISHIBASHI: Thank you, Mr. Tai. Questions Commissioners? Thank you. Ok, we have public testimony. Mrs. Nishida--Ms. Charlene Nishida, Alan Rudo, David Martins, Roy Toma, Leatrice Kishii. If you could raise your right hand. Do you swear and affirm to tell the truth before the Windward Planning Commission over this matter? TESTIFIERS: I do. ISHIBASHI: Ok, thank you so much. Ok, start with Charlene, please. NISHIDA: My name is Charlene Nishida, and I reside at 16 Hale Nani Drive in Hilo. You know, I need to start off by saying Mr. Tai has on several occasions in written and in testimony has absolutely made false statements that I’ve said, and I need to be very clear that these are inaccurate and the two things that he quoted today, I have never said. And I need to be very clear about that. That Mr. Tai has this ability to take things that people say and twist them into things they have not said. I did not say anything that stating that Hilo was not, in our neighborhood, was not in an urban area. I did not state that I was opposed to workforce housing developments that would have, and that they would have a negative effect on our property values. I have never said, and I need to be clear that letters he sent out that he’s quoting me as saying things. I have not said and I need to be on record as saying that to you. So, in moving forward, I wanted to, there’s a couple things that I want to point out, and I think that first and foremost, as neighbors, we are not opposed to an affordable housing development 7 EXHIBIT E