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From: Alexia Akbay
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2023 9:44 AM CD.
To: Council Testimony --l •
Subject: County board and commission meetings (Resolution 287-23) �—
W
Aloha members of our Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee,
Thank you for allowing me to testify.
I am urging the Mayor's administration to ensure virtual access for all County board and commission meetings, as
outlined in Resolution 287-23.
Currently, some boards and commissions have reverted to in-person meetings only since the pandemic ended.This
forces residents to travel to Hilo or Kona to testify,which is impractical and inequitable, considering the modern options
available to facilitate broader community participation.
An unfortunate example is Kauai,where Zoom meetings and online testimonies have been eliminated as options,
limiting access for people across the board after COVID restrictions lifted.This misuse of power suppresses and
marginalizes the people of Hawai'i.We should be enhancing, not restricting, resident involvement.
I request your support in championing the voices of our residents. Please encourage the Mayor's administration to
establish virtual access for all County board and commission meetings, making Zoom participation a standard practice by
law.
Mahalo
Alexia Akbay
Kailua-Kona, 96740
Alexia Akbay
Chief Executive Officer
Symbrosia Inc
Symbrosia
+1 808 865 1328
alexia@symbrosia.co
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