HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.191 2022-2024From: kanaloaleohano
Sent: Saturday, July 6, 2024 5:35 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: TESTIMONY: Bills 121, 122 and 123
Dear Council Member,
As with so many similar Bills, I have a STRONG SUSPICION that they are originally written by the Hotel Industry.
Those in that Industry MAY ALSO offer YOU campaign contributions. Please STAND HONORABLE: and do not
succumb to such "persuasion,"
PLEASE OPPOSE BILLS 121, 122, 123!
These three bills will harm small farmers by constricting the labor pool, by
REDUCING CHANCES FOR OTHERS TO LEARN ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FARM
PRACTICES, and by eliminating supplemental income that ALLOWS farming AT ALL,
so that farmers do not have to go to work at the resorts!!!!!!
Bill 121 -Transient accommodations
This bill makes all visitors "Transients" with new definitions. All visitors would be
called Transients, which (in one farmer's opinion) is a derogatoryterm. It is
insulting to the purpose of what a WOOFer means. World Wide Opportunities
on Organic Farms brings in much -needed laborfor smallfarmers and helps
keep our locally produced food affordable and available. Restrictions on the
labor pool harms the small farmers on our island and forces many to lose their
business. Some small farmers depend on the supplemental income that rentals
bring in. There are loopholes but also steep fines and extra fees to be in compliance.
Bill 122 -no more Bed and Breakfasts
Repealingthe permits for Bed and Breakfasts is a wrong approach to an obvious
problem — affordable housingjor locals. The problem is: as a region grows, the
property values and property taxes go up. The cost of affordable housing goes up as
well. Rising cost of living makes it difficult to keep up and to live here. Bringing in
more wealthy people that can afford the rising cost only mal<es it
worse. This bill is biased to the wealthy. The solutions are several but
limiting bed and breakfasts and STVRs is the worst solution. This solution
has negative side effects and damages our tourist -dependent economy, especially
AgTourism. Ag Tourism for workshops, and visitors for bed and
breakfasts and retreats, brings the types of customers that
account for a fourth of the local farm economy at the buy -local
00 CD
farmers markets. AgTourism and its shoppers allows farmers and the midd9m N
class to exist financially. This bill promotes poverty, not affordalaitity, on our islandT0: I
z Ref. mate ' UL
Bill 123 - no more Ohana dwelling
Changing the word "Ohana" dwelling to "Accessory"
dwelling must not pass. Ohana is a friendly word that means
trust and family closeness. An "accessory" is someone who aided or
contributed to the commission or concealment of a crime!!!! That would be a
HORRIBLE change!!!! KEEP HAWAN HAWAVI