HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0183.063 2020-2022 K 185
From: 808slopez
Seat: Tuesday, August 17, 2021 11:43 AM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: Kimball, Heather; Chung, Aaron; Lee Loy, Sue; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Villegas, Rebecca;
Inaba, Holeka; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Richards, Tim; David, Maile
Subject: PC-24, C183
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF AI'I
Hawaii County CouncilI 'D
Council Meeting Ti 1 e
ie—
August 18, 2021 Date AUG 1 7 2021
Honorable Council Members,
I am in no position to make accusations and none intended but please entertain my perspective as a constituent who is looking
in from the outside. I ask you to take the emotion out of this matter, follow the will of the people in the County Charter and
apply good rationale protecting the'aina and our people. In that overarching consideration,what is the bottom line need and
benefit of removing Mark Van Pernis as a community volunteer?
Surely, in the public arena,this appears to be personal attack against one who is freely giving time and talent in service to his
community. He is clearly representing the best interests of the tax paying public and not cow towing to be a YES man as are so
many other appointees. The media, always subject to scrutiny, portrays a sinister vendetta in the Administration supported by
aligned East side Council members driven by a determined and influential land owner to destroy someone that they see as an
obstacle to what may otherwise be a slam-dunk for personal interest prevailing.
I wish to defend the position of Mark Van Pernis. He may be obnoxious at times but, knowing him personally, I would always
go to him for land use issues. It is this long standing reputation, drive and determination for representing the public that is at
stake. He does that exceedingly well and I don't care that he may hurt disingenuous feelings. This theater portrayed by the
Mayor and Director Kern is off the charts. Were it not for Mark, Kern's "staff mistake"to sign off on a questionable permit
was only due to Mark's probing. Did Mark dare to open his mouth for us in Bills 52 and 53 to further the ire of the Mayor and
Director Kern who represented this party as a consultant? The public is well aware and watching how getting "qualified"
people on the commission stands against Zendo's being unqualified, by charter(the peoples will),to hold his post. Our trusted
steward, Mark Van Pernis would surely question how Director Kern can issue positive recommendations then immediately
recuse himself due to potential for conflict of interest—akin to closing the barn door after the horse is gone and all interested
minions know of his position on the matter—mission accomplished!
Being castigated for supposedly"causing" a petitioner to cry when she didn't ger her way(who falls for these ploys?) or
holding unrestrained development's feet to the fire, as has not been the case historically, is enough to question who is in
charge here. Developers and influential land owners have long come crying to the council to amend this or that requirement
they readily agreed to at the onset knowing full well its an easy remedy to come back later to a different and often
sympathetic council. Here we have a community volunteer who was reprimanded for not being "nice"and agreed to be
schooled and counseled to improve. DIDN'T MATTER! The powers that be don't care of this and surrounded the wagons to
bring him down and, as time will tell, destroy anyone who is not a YES man.
Political figures are already distrusted overall so this kind of garbage just adds to the distrust. Having submitted this testimony
I have faith that the powers that be will black ball me in any pursuits going to county. To me,this issue is simply much too
critical to remain silent. Shame on those council members who do not find it mandatory to be present for a vote on someone's
character and reputation. Perhaps not the case here but this too has been a long known ploy to avoid being connected to a
vote.
Commi. No, _
Ref, yo;
1Ref. Date—AN-1-8-ML
Intelligent and mutually respectful people will recognize we don't all agree on everything—that's what makes us
STRONG. C'mon kids, GET OVER IT ALREADY and care about results over cry babies.
Kawena Lopez
Kailua Kona
i
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