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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0109.013 2020-2022 C,OtAM. COUNly CLEJiK COUNTY OFHAWA14 Aloha County Council, ION NOV 15 M 1: 03 Thank you for allowing us,the residents of Lower Puna the time and the space to here to share our concerns. That you may listen and read our testimonies for the revitalization of our home here in Lower Puna and helping all of us all to get back home. We humbly ask you to please do the right thing by us. As you have agreed to do since the beginning. My name is Melissa Niemeyer. I am a land owner in Malama'Ki Farm Lots. I was evacuated May, 3rd 2018. To this day I am still waiting to be able to go home. This land that I acquired in 2002 and have been taking care of for nearly 20 years, is still not accessible by car since the 2018 eruption. I have at least 10 neighbors who are also waiting on our road to get back to our properties in that area. The land in this area of Puna has some of the best soil on the entire island. I am a tax paying citizen and still I am unable to access my land by car that I have been paying taxes on for nearly 20 years. My goal is to farm the land in order to create more local food production in Hawaii. In the future I would like to make it available for under privileged children and single moms who need help and support.Through gardening and Yoga. Spending time connecting to the earth. The children are our future. We must care for them and show them how loved and important they are.Teach them to grow food in harmony with the land around them. Inspire them to do great things and cherish the amazing beauty that surrounds them here in Hawaii. We all know that the county received a very large sum of money from the Federal Government. This money was given in order to help the people of Lower Puna. The money was given to help our local government in order to put the infrastructure back in. This money was given to help the people of lower Puna get home and back to our lives and dreams! How can you all justify using those U.S. dollars that were specifically given to help our recovery down here for other parts of this Island? Can you answer this one question? I am not sure you can. Might I remind you in recovery, in a community where people live and work. In all places in this Country, It all starts with the roads! Many, like me were evacuated on May 3rd 2018. We still cannot drive home. These funds were allocated for helping lower Puna recover fully.That is exactly what it was given for right? It must only be used for that please. How otherwise can the people of lower Puna recover fully?We are Lower Puna Rising and we beseech you to please put that money where it was intended for. Not to improve the golf course in Hilo, or make improvements in HPP at Shipman's Beach etc. C m m. e Ref. o: Ref. Pete NAV 1 7 202i S 3I I I I Neither of these, help lower Puna. You all see that right? We see it very clearly. Not only that, we feel it like a stab in the back. I must state this one more time: f The reason the State of Hawaii was given extremely large sums of money by our federal Government was because of the 2018 eruption. We all suffered though travesties down here. Some who lived down here may want a buy out and we understand that. It should not be the top priority. Others of us, we have no other home. i There is no other place we would rather be. Still! That is saying something in my opinion of how special the land is down here, as well as the communities that care for this land and reside here. For generations might I add. Therefore, I ask you humbly today as a very concerned citizen. Please consider all I have presented here. Ask yourselves where these allocated funds can in the best way help all of the people living, working and flourishing in lower Puna prior to that day none of us will ever forget of May 3rd. 2018. These dollars were given kindly by our Federal Government by way of FEMA. In order to give relief to the residents of Lower Puna. We are ready to Rise! Please do right by us! Please do right by those who allocated these funds. Please do right by yourselves and do the right thing!To do what is right one will always be benefited as we are truly all connected. LIVE WITH ALOHA! When we try to do the right thing by our own accord it comes back 10-fold. Sometimes more and all are provided for. Lastly, I want to thank you all for of the service you give to the people of the State of Hawaii. We always need good representation! Please give us that. We are your constituents that live and love our home here in Lower Puna. We trust you will do the right thing! Sincerely, Melissa Niemeyer Land owner in Malama'Ki Fram Lots since 2002. Permanent Resident of the State of Hawaii since 2016. 1 run and operate a small business selling goods at the local markets. I am currently renting in Kalapana Seaview Estates. Waiting on our roads that have been promised. Please help us return home! Mahalo Nui Loa!