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Page 1 of 1 <br /> Murashige, Laura <br /> From: Archibald & Johanson [andy-Barbara@hawaii.rr.com] <br /> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 5:19 PM <br /> To: Higa, Stacy; Isbell, Virginia; Arakaki, James; Hoffmann, Pete; Holschuh, Fred; Safarik, Gary; Pilago, <br /> K. Angel; Ikeda, Donald; Jacobson, Bob <br /> Cc: Hawaii County Testimony <br /> Subject: Puaa Development <br /> <br /> Aloha Hawaii County Council members and staff <br /> <br /> As I am unable to drive to Hilo to support Brian Cook and Suffolk Investments, I am emailing you and asking for <br /> your support for the only affordable housing project currently being proposed in West Hawaii. <br /> I attended the meeting you hosted in Kona at The King Kamehameha Hotel on 12 April 2005. <br /> I saw the same thing you did, as the majority of almost 150 people attended to oppose this development. I was <br /> struck by three observations. 1) the protestors were unanimous that there was a traffic problem in West Hawaii, <br /> so a moratorium on new developments should be enacted. 2) they all whined about delays of 20-30 minutes in <br /> their commutes to perform their chores and commitments. 3) I have seen none of these people at the meetings of <br /> the Burial Council or other County Planning meetings when Realtors and business people begged the County to <br /> build and connect roads in West Hawaii. <br /> Unless affordable housing is provided in West Hawaii, where will the workers live and establish their families? <br /> The good decent wage earners in West Hawaii drive up to two hours each way from home to work and back <br /> again because they can not afford to live in the area they work. Since a major portion of this County's income is <br /> based on West Hawaii's taxes and fees, we must all support the maids, dish washers, maintenance workers, and <br /> construction workers. It is no small coincidence that every retail establishment, restaurant, and fast food <br /> franchise has help wanted signs in every window of Kona. These establishments can not pay enough money for <br /> the workers to live here. The offered pay is also not enough to attract workers who would have to drive more than <br /> an hour each way to work. <br /> Now that the State Legislature intends to increase GE taxes by a whopping 12 1/2% (which is four times the rate <br /> of current inflation), working people are going to be squeezed even more. I have spoken to several of you and <br /> listened carefully when you express concern that our Island people are not being drawn together but are being <br /> separated by the expense of up scale developments which drive working class people away from Kona. It is no <br /> wonder that there are not enough police officers or teachers. It is within your power to stop this trend and begin to <br /> provide affordable housing for the workers who drive our economy. <br /> p.s. <br /> You could build a few connecting roads too! <br /> Andy Archibald <br /> Chairman, Kona Board of Realtors Government Affairs Committee <br /> Member, Hawaii Association of Realtors State Legislative Committee <br /> Secretary and Lay Speaker, Kona United Methodist Church <br /> Member of Boards of Directors, Kona Pacific, Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff, Hualalai Colony, and Bayview Estates. <br /> ?ob• 3g <br /> Comm. No._ <br /> Ref. To: L <br /> Ref. Date A <br /> 5/3/2005 <br /> <br />