HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0675.397 2022-2024From: Dale Mcculley
Sent: Monday, July 8, 2024 4:55 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Rills 121, 122, and 123
To whom it may concern,
am writing concerning today to say I OPPOSE BILLS 121, 122, 1231
These three bills will harm small farmers by constricting labor pool and their bottom
line economy.
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
comm, No
Ref. To:
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 STVIR laws.
I hope you will do what is right for all the Small Farmers and Locals/Natives who could
be seriously affected by these new bills.
Yours in Aloha,
Dale McCulley