HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0589.008 2020-2022 i
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Patricia SextonLnVm, "b?"Cl
227 Haili Street, #E7
Hilo,HI 96720
(808) 366-6972
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February 7,2022 r
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TO: Hawaii County Council
Finance Committee
FROM. Pat Se on
BILI.,NO. 111; AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19,ARTICLE 11,
SECTION 19-90, OF THE HAWATI COU NTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION,AS
ENDED), RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TAXES.
I write today in support of Bill No. 111, a bill which would earmark a percentage of a luxury tax on
second homes for county-sponsored homeless programs for a period of five years. This would be a
bold move and would insure that programs started today would not be arbitrarily closed down for lack
of funding. It would begin to show people that you do care about this population by putting real money
behind the solutions.
Such fiends could allow for jobs programming,public works projects,mental health services,food and
sanitation facilities being available in a coordinated effort. Housing solutions such as the tiny homes
out at NAS,though erected in response to covid, can be reopened and used for transition housing. We
have many vacant lots here in Hilo and more small houses could be erected and settled.
As I head down Haili street each morning at 6:30am,I, and many other citizens of Hilo town, see the
same people. There is the lady with a lame foot, dragging herself up the street,the woman who sleeps
on the cold concrete at the base of Haili,the man who sleeps at Kinoole and Marno,the older woman
who solicits change at the corner of Kinoole and Ponahawai,the guy who sleeps on the ledge of the
bookstore and the older woman who sits all day on a stoop near Bear's. I drive by the Bayfront Park,
which has been recently cleaned up in response to a letter to the editor,but which will undoubtedly
return to a homeless encampment over time. No nope,no programs,no bathrooms,no shelter,no food,
no jobs,no place to be each day.
Because we are a small town, it is not so easy to pretend you don't somehow know someone you pass
sleeping on the street everyday for over two years. The target population is small enough that there
may be a real chance to offer substantive help. Sources of funding like those proposed for this project,
are not often available. The programs should be audited in an effort to ensure that most funds go to the
target population. Most of all,we cannot squander the opportunity to try because nobody likes the way
it is now.
cc: Mitch Roth, Mayor Ccma . o. W e
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