HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0281.075 2020-2022 From: Bennie Ningeok-Ross
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2021 8:25 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Fwd: Councilwoman Viliegas's amendments to bill 44
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Forwarded message
From: Bennie Ningeok-Ross
Date: Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 8:22 PM
Subject: Councilwoman Viliegas's amendments to bill 44
To: <heather.kimball@hawaiicounty.gov>, <matt.kanealii-kleinfelder@hawaiicounty.gov>,
<maile.david@hawaiicounty.gov>, <rebecca.villegas@hawaiicounty.gov>, <holeka.inaba@hawaiicounty.gov>
Dear Council Members,
My name is Bennie Ningeok-Ross, I have been in the construction trades for 20 years and one of the most important
aspects of building anything whether its a single home, or and Air Traffic Control Tower(both of which I have
worked on) is making sure that building codes are being followed properly and the end product is something that will
last a lifetime.
There has been a push in society by a vocal minority to eliminate red tape and reduce regulations citing that it just
adds cost and time to different projects. However, those regulations and the inspectors have a vital role in making
sure that structures we in the construction trades produce do not pose a risk to the new owners or to others around
them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/27/us/miami-building-investigation-clues.html
I'm sure that you all are familiar with the new story from last month about the condo in Miami that collapsed due to
negligent people not doing their part to make sure that regulations are being followed like they are supposed to. If we
decide to start down the path of eliminating crucial steps in making sure that we keep the public safe by cutting
corners, we are just as bad as those who decide that it's not their responsibility to spend the money and time required
to make sure that structures like the one above mentioned are safe.
I implore you to reconsider bill 44 with Councilwoman Villegas's amendments with the additional inspection and
make sure that structures being built in Hawaii are being made safe and not to make a quick buck at the expense of
our citizens.
Respectfully,
Bennie Ningeok-Ross
Comm. No. 261
Ref. To: P I LAILDICil
1 Ref. Dote AUG o 4 2021