HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0595.031 2020-2022 i
From: David Girbino
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2022 9:49 PM
To: Council Testimony
Aloha County Council Member,
My name is David Girbino, and I am a Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate student
at UH Hilo.
I am testifying against Bill 112 and Bill 115. I do not support the passing of this bill.
This development clearly supports the continuation of increasing tourism, transient residents and offshore investors
when our community is voicing concern over tourism issues, natural resource concerns and the extreme lack of
affordable housing. This rezoning would increase water usage by over a million gallons a month& over 200,000
gallons per day in a very dry and hot location. As an environmental scientist I can say unequivocally that this will be a
damaging development for the community, increasing fire risk in an already endangered part of the island.
This rezoning fails to protect the community and the environment, and it also doesn't address our affordable housing
crisis affecting our lower and middle class residents. It continues to foster plans that further initiate negative cultural
and environmental impact.
The real red flag is the trade off mentality of"grant me this rezoning, and I will donate this much to charity". An
estimated $45 million dollars towards a charitable foundation that Waikoloa Land Company created naturally benefits
as a tax deduction through their own Waikoloa Foundation. The Hawaiian trails and anchialine ponds need to be
protected by law and it is their Kuleana to uphold this sacred area they have developed on or near.
Please reject this rezoning. If you need to profit from this land, consider employing sustainable, climate-s ' ble
agroforestry practices, solar farming, or literally anything else that might benefit the community and" ote
environment.
CD
Mahalo for your time. - t 7,
David Girbino m
96781 .mZ
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David Girbinoh hi
{ e1 m), Graduate Assistant & M.S. Student
Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES)
University of Hawaii at Hilo
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