HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0193.014 2008-2010
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LA
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Murashige, Laura
From: shannon taylor [shannontaylor5679@msn.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 11:08 PM
To: Donald Ikeda, donishi@co.hawaii.hi.us; Emily Naeole; jyoshimotOQ4;g:ia~aii.Fii.iis;'
counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us; Dominic Yagong; genriques@co.hawaii.hi.us;
kgreenwell@co.hawaii.hi.us; Pete Hoffman; cohmayor@co.hawaii.hi.us; Cyndie davis; Brenda Ford
Subject: 2% land fund
Aloha Council Members,
I would like to submit this testimony for the meeting concerning the 2% land fund that we voters
backed, supported, and voted for just this last November.
It is really unfortunate that this fund is even being considered to be recombined into the general
fund while the county struggles to cover its' budgets. The big island is such a beautiful place.
This fund was long over due to initiate preservation of lands that should be part of the heritage of
the citizens that live here. Too many of our rare beach areas have been lost to over development
especially on the west side where there are few parks or places left open for recreation and
simple quiet enjoyment. Now over the wishes of the community, the county is deciding to take
away the possibility to begin preserving some of Hawaii for the Hawaiians.
Although we understand that the county has to meet its' obligations and cover the costs
somehow, this fund is not the best choice of how to help accomplish that. Most of us feel that the
county could cut some of its' expenses, or get more creative now that federal money is available
to augment public works across the country. Have our county leaders even applied for any of the
federal money? If not, will the citizens here miss out on everything available but paying
our "share" without ever even getting a share. Has the county gone over the departmental
budgets with the idea in mind that the 2% fund can not be included, or is this 2% fund just the
"low hanging fruit" and an easy way to not do the hard work, or make hard decisions of cutting
waste and abuse (i.e. county vehicles being taken home for private use by employees) (the
endless repainting/redesigning of the markings on the roads) (the overuse of traffic lights in
Kona) the possibilities that come to mind are numerous?
Before you all get hasty in your decision, I would like to appeal to your sense of integrity by
asking you to delay this decision until such time as all other possibilities have been exhausted,
including staff position (deadwood) . To not do that will leave us all with the feeling that the local
government is failing us just as the State and Federal governments are and have. We Hawaiian
citizens need to know that we have a say in determining what is important and not when it comes
to our public funds. We expect during these troubled times that the county be sensitive to the
citizens whom they represent. There has to be more palatable ways to make the budget
shortfall. Going against something we just voted on is going to alienate many of us who like to
think that our government works for us.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Shannon Taylor Monkowski
Comm. No.1 3.14
Ref. To: erusenf C.,
Ref. Date ~MAR 17 2609
3/16/2009