HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0067.041 2006-2008
Jennifer Shibuya testimony. Bill 345
TESTIMONY- BII,L 345
My name is Jennifer Shibuya and I am testifying in opposition to Bill 345. I agree
there is a need for treatment facilities. I believe the whole community would benefit from
more treatment services, but in order for that to happen it would be prudent for a bill to
be passed that fully addressed the issue not just aband-aid fix.
There aze too many holes in Bill 345. If we are going to fill the need for treatment
facilities on this island we should do it right. This should involve soliciting community
input about how to make this happen and creating some sort of master plan that addresses
the needs of all affected parties. Telling people many of whom have lived in their
residential neighborhood for yeazs, which was most likely by choice and many years of
hard work, that you are going to have a business as your neighbor and if you don't like it
too bad. Would these facilities be used as an alternative for person who might otherwise
be sentenced to prison? There are many unanswered questions. These are issues that
could potentially break apart a community, not bring it together.
Part of the bill states "not more than eight unrelated persons, plus any program
staff'. Exactly how many people are appropriate as staff? Is one staff member sufficient
for eight people? Would it be okay for 10 program staff to live in the house too? The bill
also states nothing about how many people can reside in one bedroom, how much
personal space each person is entitled to, how many bedrooms and bathrooms the home
should have. Is this bill stating that eight unrelated people living together in a one-
bedroom one-bath home is okay? If I had a loved one who needed treatment I would
want fewer not more people living in the house and I would want to have peace of mind
knowing that they were in a therapeutic environment. I would also want regulations in
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Jennifer Shibuya testimony. Bill 345
place that addressed quality of life issues (like personal space) and staff ratios. The
current proposal may have financial benefits but I am having trouble finding any
therapeutic value.
My husband and I chose to move our family to the Big Island to get away from
the crowds and dense population on Oahu. We chose to live in a subdivision of
residential homes to live amongst familie~ not businesses to raise our children.
Essentially this bill is asking me if I want a business as my next-door neighbor. I don't
think it is unreasonable to want to live in a neighborhood of families. I have no problem
if a generous and kind person wanted to take in persons in need of help to live with their
family and provide them with a therapeutic environment. I do have a problem with a
business moving next door and having people come to the house for their shift of work
with no actual permanent residents living in the home and having no say in the matter.
This of course is assuming that the persons receiving treatment will get better and only
live in the house temporarily.
Vaguely worded laws would seem to subject the county to unnecessary lawsuits,
which would cost the county money not save money. Please consider the ramifications of
the open-ended wording of this proposal and consider soliciting community input for a
more comprehensive plan to tr~ersons in need of treatment.
This is my second time testifying before the Council. I found it interesting to read
the very specific rules of conduct when testifying in front of the Council. So I was very
disappointed when a council member in support of Bi11345 referred to opponents as
crybabies. I think this environment may be very intimidating for many people and
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Jennifer Shibuya testimony. Bi11345
comments like this seem to violate rules of conduct and may also prevent people from
sharing their views and opinions.
ly.
_ Thank you for your time.
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