HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0349.718 2006-2008 Page 1 of 2
Murashige, Laura
From: maggie mcgervey (imaedgewalker@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 9:12 PM C~L~ ~iJi~ 2~ Fjl~ ~ 1 ~
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: protection of Punalu'u/ SUPPORT of resolution 169-07 ~.^i.,,,
Hello Council members,
My name is Maggie McGervey and I live in Ocean View. My background is in sustainable agriculture
and social work (MSW). I azn currently blessed to enjoy beautiful Kau every day as I am homeschooling
my five-year-old. I azn writing in strong su ort of resolution 169-07. I attended the Public meeting on
JiJNE 4TH and was greatly heartened by the obvious interest in keeping Punalu'u both public and
preserved. My son and I aze in deep awe every time we spend a day fishing, swimming, nature-
adventuring at Punalu'u. We are recharged, inspired and connected to the wonderful circle of life. My
son Aidan insists that the area not be developed as "the rock and plant wizazds live there."
What I would like to briefly address is the opponents/developer's position that we need this
resort/development to bring jobs into Kau and bolster the depressed economy. As a social worker who
has worked for economic justice and provision of resources/support for the "poverty"/working class for
seventeen years I am appalled and offended by the off-the cuff comments about Kau being in dire need
of Sea Mountain's assistance. As you all know, Hawaiians and working class families are leaving the
islands in exodus because they can no longer afford the cost of living in Hawaii. I can assure you that
the service-type jobs that will accompany this resort will be low-paying and inadequate for survival in
Hawaii, particulary as the area becomes gentrified.
Several of us have stazted a Food Baz>Ic in ocean view. The response has been overwhelming. More than
120 families have signed up within two months. Many of these good men and women have multiple
low-paying jobs and still fall well below the federal poverty level. Many get by on several hundred
dollars each month due to disabilities. They are certainly in need of services and support but I guazantee
you that they would be unable to work (inspite of their poverty) and that Sea Mountain would not hire
them on the basis of their appearance alone. And even were our "welfare" (sic) district and citizens to
get the jobs offered by Sea Mountain they would be in no better boat than they aze in now. The struggle
and discouragement would continue as families fall farther and farther behind the incoming flux of
wealth. Please do not listen to the assertion that development is the only chance for boosting our
economy. This is the same old lie that has been told by every big developer who really has NO practical
idea about what it is like to survive paycheck to paycheck.
Please know that without the public protection of Punalu'u, though Sea Mountain may bring in a small
number of jobs, for the majority of Kau's citizens this will widen rather than close the already increasing
class divide.
Thank you for voting for proposal 169-07. The people and the land will thank you for this in perpetuity
and with will bless you and generations to come with great abundance.
Sincerely, Maggie McGervey
Comm. No. .3 .7
6/20/2007 Rt}. Dafs,_tL1N 22 2001
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6/20/2007