HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0255.011 2006-2008
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
SUBJECT: BILL N0. 74
~Qed. Afternoon, Mr. Pete Hoffman, Chair; and Members of the County Council,
My name is Tom Shiroma. I thank you for this opportunity to speak before you I am
here in support of Mr. Jon Gomes and Bill No. 74.
May I give you a brief background of what Mr. Gomes did----I believe it was back
around 1995---following the State Highway Division, Department of Transportation's
design-plan for the Puainako Street improvement, the then-existing center-island on
Puainako was removed for a Left-turn into Kekela Street and a KTA entrance. Because
of Firestone and Tesoro businesses, a larger water pipeline was installed from the center
of Puainako Street. Kekela Street was widened from 40 feet to 60 feet wide and a
concrete sidewalk was installed. Because of all this construction being done, Kekela
Street and Puainako Street had to be repaved and new striping put on. All this improve-
ments cost over $640,000.00 and Mr. Gomes financed this himself -and not the
taxpayers' money.
Firestone and Tesoro have created lazge tax revenues to Hawaii rezoned from
agriculture to commercial. They have also created many employment and they are
meeting the community needs.
Let me show you a different scenazio---imagine, if you will---What if there are no
cars, no traffic at all; no Safeway, no Longs' Drugs, no Wal-Mart, no KTA, no
Prince Kuhio Plaza---it could only mean that we have no jobs, no employment---
thatmeans, no money to pay taxes--that means no tax money to pay the Firemen,
our Police; no tax revenue to support our hospitals, our education system, and so
forth. Do you want drat to happen?
Once again, the Deveioper_, Ivlr. Jost Gomes, will be investing a very Targe amount of
money into this Project. I am sure it will be aquality-development like Tesoro and
Firestone, something that the community needs.
I ask for your kokua m approving this Project. Thank you very much.
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