HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0728.007 2022-2024 P/FC
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From: Hartley Phillips
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2024 11:01 AM
To: Council Testimony
Cc: letters@ hawaiitribune-herald.com; Roth, Mitch D
Subject: Resolution 432-24- Recovery Grants
Aloha Council Members!
The Kapoho Community was the hardest hit of any by the 2018 lava flow after years of building a vibrant community
(ie. roads,water, mail boxes,tidepool access for the public, etc)without government assistance or support. It was truly
heartbreaking after all of our work! Now, 6 years after our destruction,the County has yet to meaningfully help us
recover. All of our grant requests(except 1 small one in the first phase) have been denied by a selection team composed
of the"Disaster Recovery Officer", Douglas Le and two of his staff. The ill-conceived buyout program is excessively
rewarding some,and denying help to others,while creating an unplanned mix of County and private parcels (all while
County staff are patting themselves on their backs for doing well!).
While the community has been trying to recover,the County has been our biggest obstacle....first by being slow to
provide access via Highway 137(and even preventing us to access our properties over the lava prior to 137 to construct
roads).... second by denying significant grant support from the huge amount of federal and state funds allotted for victim
assistance,and third, by not thinking creatively about how to help (ie. requiring grading plans/fees when we try to put
roads into their previous locations, not allowing lot consolidations without fees so that the bought-out lots can be used
productively for agriculture/consolidated utilities, modifying building requirements/waiving all fees,etc,etc, etc).
What I am asking is that the County start representing its constituents who are trying to reestablish their lives. Please
learn to say"yes"to our requests, or at least"let's see how we can work together to meet your needs" rather than
"no"or(quietly/behind closed doors) "let's put up barriers to Kapoho's success".
Sadly, Hartley Phillips
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Comm. No.___ T
Ref. To:
Ref. Date I 2 0 2024
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