HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.136 2022-2024 From: Adrian S
Sent: Monday,January 22, 2024 11:45 AM o
CDC
To: Council Testimony ,
Subject: Written Testimony: Bill 121
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My name is Adrian Soucek and I am writing to testify against Bill 121/TAR for the following seasons:
1. Economic Impact: This bill would impose unnecessary restrictions on short-term vacation rentals
which would have a negative impact on the local economy that is already struggling. Many
homeowners (especially our kupuna) rely on the income generated from these rentals to supplement
their income. Knee-capping their ability to rent out their properties prevents locals from participating in
Hawaii's largest industry - tourism. When I visit other islands, I choose to stay in vacation rentals to
support our people over large corporate hotels. Local hosts share their Aloha in a way that no Hilton
handbook can replace.
2. Property Rights: The bill infringes on homeowner's property rights, plain and simple. Locals
should have the freedom to decide how they want to utilize their properties, including the option to
rent them out on a short-term basis regardless of their zoning. We should be looking at increasing
agro-tourism, not limiting it without the option to change things in the future. It's incredibly short
sighted. Imposing strict regulations limits people's ability to make use of their properties as they see
fit.
3. Monitoring Challenges: Implementing the proposed regulations (which is still in draft form!) would
require increased monitoring and enforcement efforts which would likely strain already limited
resources. It would be challenging to accurately track and ensure compliance with the new
regulations, leading to potential inefficiencies and allocation of unnecessary funds.
Please vote against this measure. It does not help our economy or change our housing situation in
any significant way.
With aloha,
Adrian Soucek
Hawi, HI
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Ref. To:
1 Ref. note JAN 2 3 2024