HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.362 2022-2024From: tsj3917
Sent: Saturday, July 6, 2024 8:58 PM
To: Council Testimony -
Subject: OPPOSE BILLS 121, 122, 1231 `: -'
Aloha Hawaii County Council, -'
Please Vote NO on Bills 121, 122, and 123.
These three bills will harm small.f .rmers by constricting the labor pool and eir bo#tom line. This
will also affect all other sectors of our econom
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 derogatory term. It is insulting to the purpose of what a WOOFer means. World
Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms brings in much needed labor for small farmers and helps keep our
locally produced food affordable and available. By placing restrictions on the labor pool harms the small
farmers on our island and forces many to lose their business. There are other compliance issues to be
considered as 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
Repealing the permits for Bed and Breakfasts is a wrong approach to an obvious problem — affordable
housing for 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. Raising the 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 makes 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 Ag Tourism. Ag Tourism for workshops and visitors for bed and breakfasts and retreats
takes away the types of customers that account for a fourth of the local farm economy at the buy local
farmers markets. Ag Tourism and shoppers satisfies the need of the farmers and the middle class to exist
financially. This bill along promotes poverty not affordability on our island.
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. But it does not mean responsibility for your Ohana or friends when a
crime is committed. An accessory is someone who aided or contributed to the commission or
concealment of a crime. Such as renting in a manner of not being compliant with the stricter STVR laws.
Please do not pass these bills. They will hurt the residents and workers on Hawaii island, and the visitors
who come here. This will cause great harm to our economy and food prices and availability.
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Thank you for your diligence and service to our people.
Mahalo nui loa,
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