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