HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0898.073 2020-2022 P/Counc<<
bill19Ll
COMM. 898
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From: Topher Dean
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2023 3:40 AM o (^)Z11 C:
To: Council Testimony Vic-.
Subject: Bill 194 K� .
Dear County Councilmembers,
I'm asking that you override the Mayor's veto of Bill 194. I know you're
under pressure to streamline the permitting process and in some cases, that
would be a wonderful thing to do. When permitting a structure in an
existing subdivision or commercial property in a town, it would be fine, but
we can't have a broad sweeping streamlining of the entire process for big
developers.
Truly, this problem is more daunting and intractable than even the climate
crisis. Habitat loss is the number one driver of the mass extinction event
we're experiencing. Everyday, 200 species of animals go extinct, mostly due
to habitat loss, then hunting. Already 70% of the world's animal habitat has
been developed. Agriculture is the biggest destroyer of animal habitat, then
structural development. It's hard to admit that humanity has taken
everything, as if this planet is ours to do with what we please and all the
other inhabitants can drop dead, but that's exactly what we need to do, or
else we're going to drop dead. We can not survive without nature, nor would
we want to.
Hawaii is an island, and Earth is a island. We can see the fate of all life
on Earth right here in Hawaii. Can we protect the natural beauty of these
islands from the inexorable consumption of capitalism? Can I-lawaii show
the world that we can survive in harmony with nature and stop the expansion
of humanity's footprint? I don't know. I don't know if capitalism can
continue on an island, or even Earth, which is a finite sphere floating in a sea
of death. I do know that we won't continue without the beauty and sanctity
of nature.
If we do have free will, a premise that is up for debate, then we had better
exercise it right now. Any bill that comes before any political body that
Comm. Ne. (at*--D
1 Ref.To: PI COUnU.i
Ref. Date PR 1 9 2023
streamlines the ability for development of raw land needs to be
stopped. The public needs to be widely informed about any plans to develop
any money
land, BEFORE exchangeddeveloper
is and BEFORE a deve
purchases raw land. Developers need to know for certain what the rules and
regulations are for developing land and that before they purchase anything,
the public needs a lot of time to be informed of their plans and to discuss
their plans in an open and public forum. They need to know that the public
decides if they can or can't develop the property they're looking at.
It's going to take a lot of courage and resolve to hold fast here, I know
that. People with a lot of money think they're the most powerful people and
that they deserve to be, but you're more powerful, because you're the
instrument of the people and the community is greater than any individual or
corporation.
Fight with aloha,
Topher Dean
Founder Clean The Pacific
Board Member Recycle Hawaii
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