HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0185.003 2020-2022 1 I
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From: Janice Glennie
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2021 12:27 PM
To: Council Testimony.
Cc: Villegas, Rebecca
Subject: Should funding be diverted for chef challenge
Aloha council members,
These are challenging financial times. As much as there are wonderful and diverse activities and efforts we'dall like
to support (including possibly a "chef's challenge" show), there are priorities we must address first, particularly with
covid shortfalls.*
I'm unclear as to what a "contingency relief account" is, but I do know that $1000 isn't a pittance, especially at this
critical financial time. Our parks and other public, recreational and cultural spaces and facilities are suffering. Our
kupuna are suffering with lack of services and housing. Lower income residents (and even those in moderate
brackets) are suffering due to lack of affordable housing and other necessities of life, and homelessness is severe and
growing. Our schools need help. Our roads and other infrastructure need help. These and other life-sustaining
necessities and components of a healthy society are suffering— even before covid.
My main concern is not this one request. The impending "bare bones" county budget should be a concern to everyone
when it's clear that critical services are lacking and even important, protective laws are not being enforced due to lack
of funding.
Since manini amounts of money add up, I ask that you please think long view when deciding what funds will be
diverted to less critical "asks".
Mahalo and sincerely,
Janice ralma-61clinie
*As to what lack of funding can mean and how the county hopes to alleviate that shortfall, it can be clearly seen in
land use. The planning director stated the problem of closing previously existing vacation rentals that went out of
circulation during covid is an issue to funding county services despite the general consensus (of anyone who
doesn't make money through vacation rentals) is that they are a drain and drag on our communities and society when
situated in ag and residential areas. Yet these are the types of questions that have to be grappled with as we decide
what's truly "critical"to our island residents' well-being.
Comm. NcL, ✓
Ref. T .
Ref. ate Y
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