HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0663.020 2002-2004 Guo~ ~u~ zs ~r~ e
July 22, 2004
To Council Chairman James Arakaki and
Members of the Hawaii County Council
Re' Resolution Number 203-04
t am here today to testify on behalf of the above Resolution as I was on July 9a'. Many issues and
questions were brought up at the Finance Committee hearing on this Resolution and our
responses to those issues have been or will be addressed by others. I wish to address an aspect
regarding this Resolution that was not touched on at that meeting-Weed & Seed.
As all of you are aware, Pahoa has been designated as this county's first Weed & Seed site at the
county and the state level. We will soon know whether or not we will receive Federal
designation.
When we first went before the Weed & Seed selection committee we were one of several there
making our presentation. The fact that Pahoa was chosen in no way lessens the need for this
program to be implemented in many areas around our island. The fight against the ICE epidemic
on our island is paramount for our island's total well being.
As we've worked toward federal designation one tact has been made eminently clear over and
over again-without economic redevelopment our chances of loosening the drug hold on our
citizens is lost. We have to be able to give them hope through jobs, good schools, and a better
way of life.
On our application to the federal government, you will find a long list of names of those who
support our receiving designation and agree to work towards the goals of Weed & Seed. Named
in that list for this county are: Mayor Harry Kim, the Prosecuting Attorney, the Chief of Police,
the Department of Research & Development and our own Gary Safarik as our councilperson.
'Those names that you won't find on that list are all of the rest of you or even just the words "The
Hawaii Island County C'ouncil.° Gary's name only guarantees that he will work with us and for
us to the best of his abilities, which he is. But he cannot speak for you nor can he vote for you
and he can't put your names on that list.
Comm. No. 1~3
Ref. To: te~ert~d
Ref. Uote JUL 3 100
Paramount to Pahoa's economic revitalization is the Akebono Parking Lot. Without the
guarantee that the lot will remain, for generations to come, dedicated to parking as it has been
since the last Puna Sugar truck hauled its last load out of there, we are doomed to failure and
Weed & Seed on the Big Island will be doomed also for the simple reason that if you don't care
about the economic stability oti this island why should the Federal Government.
As long as that land is privately owned there is no guaranteed parking. Only your willingness to
vote for the Resolution before you to condemn the property by right of eminent domain can give
us that. Without parking there is no shopping; without shopping there is no economic
revitalization.
ICE. is not an exclusive Pahoa problem. Economic stagnation is not a problem exclusive to Puna
either. It pervades every aspect of our communities in every village and district on the island. But
Weed & Seed is a way to start the war against both. It is here. It has finally gotten off Oahu and
has reached the Big Island and it needs to stay here. And as long as Pahoa was chosen as the tirst
site that's where the war needs to start. But the war can only be fought in Pahoa or anywhere else
across this island if you, as the highest legislative body in our county government, are willing to
let the federal government know that you too are willing to join the fight against drugs and
poverty by voting for Resolution 203-04 and adding the name of the "Hawaii County Council" to
the list supporting Weed & Seed.
In conclusion [offer this thought for your reflection: All the ships in the harbor rise and sink at
the same time depending upon the tide.
You, gentlemen, are the tide. "The ships, our island way of life and our economic growth, depend
upon whether you're willing to come in and raise them or go out and let us sink.
Thank you for Your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Denyse Lynn Temple
Editor/Publisher
Puna News