HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0109.009 2020-2022` CbIAM 109
r%ni wVittat VPKCOUNTY OF '
HAWA
From: Diane Franciosa i.s
Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 11:23 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony from Diane Franciosa
Citizens of Puna do not feel uplifted! But we are still in the game swinging and following the money. i
i
Personally I am discouraged by a lack of any response to my previous testimony/questions/comments I've "
officially" posted on the website and in emails. To get nary a response is indicative of the lack of genuineness and
responsiveness being shown to those advocating for recovery.
To now be called to testify because the County is taking advantage of our disaster by choosing to
misappropriate money is truly dispiriting s
These major county plans (Parks/Rec/DWS/Isaac Hale etc)which intend to send+spend State and Federally granted
disaster money out of the disaster, announced on YouTube and garnering nearly a dozen views, are disingenuous at
best, certainly immoral, and possibly illegal.
Yet here is my testimony against it. 1
As a community we feel disregarded and hopeless as we watch"our disaster"monies so casually being manipulated and misappropriated by
"our new administration"and sigh in frustration as those who were not impacted reap rewards from the 2108 disaster we all,suffered from. The
golf course?A bevy of new equipment?No water restoration? Really?
This is not what Mayor Roth promised us during his campaign.
The fact that disaster money which is being misallocated outside impacted areas is planned and happening BEFORE roads,access or connectivity
and people still can't get back home is sad commentary on recovery progress. Where is the accountability and transparency? We-the disaster
victims-want roads.Access.Safe evacuation routes. Infrastructure.Water.
Our community is strongly against decisions that deprioritize recovery from 2018 lava flow.
Water is a basic necessity. An equitable plan for recovery is a County kuleana.
DWS's decision to not restore water to Kapoho was literally announced to the media AS THE COUNTY held a`good faith'zoom meeting with
Puna constituents which is downright insulting.
As a community we are frustrated and disappointed by what appears to be blatant disregard as our County misdirects funds,continuing to
deprioritize and defund the resilient and committed folks who choose to remain as citizens in Lower Puna.
The insistence and prioritization of the Buyout program before putting roads and restoring basic infrastructure and water back is ludicrous and
misguided as it serves only a small percentage of residents impacted.
Coags . N
Ref. o: 4
Ref. gate NOV 1 7 202
1