HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0903.016 2008-2010Murashige, Laura ()MM. 00_? /i32TLL 2Y-3
From: Tiffany Edwards Hunt [newswoman @mac.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2010 5:54 PM
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us �
Subject: testimony re: Sunshine Law attack/Woodland Center rezoning time eXtii}isitNO�
Aloha, Hawaii County Council members:
Looks like you will be taking up two VERY IMPORTANT matters in Kona on Aug. 17:
Greenwell's attack on the Sunshine Law
Woodland Center's rezoning time extension request
Mahalo.
Tiffany Edwards Hunt
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Unfortunately I'm not surprised that you should be taking up a Puna issue in Kona. Note
that I'm going to try and find the means and time to get over to Kona to testify in
person, because I'm not confident you are going to get the message that I want to deliver
to you if I testify via video conferencing.
Both Greenwell's attack on the Sunshine Law and Woodland Center's rezoning time extension
request are issues that are matters of grave concern to me.
To summarize, I totally oppose Greenwell's attempt to explore the Hawaii County Council
being exempt from the Sunshine Law. The fact that you are elected by and for the people
should make you know better than to try and interfere with the public's right to know.
Perhaps a history lesson on how the Sunshine Law came to be is in order. Please see Hugh
Clark's commentary posted on my website at www.bigislandchronicle.com .
Also, regarding Woodland Center, I understand that the rezoning has been expired for one
year and was expired when the man took the fatal fall from the rooftop of the Longs Drugs
construction site. I urge you to look at this rezoning time extension request very
seriously and do not allow occupancy of Woodland Center until intersection improvements
are complete. The intersection is already notorious to be the most dangerous in the
state. I have been in a car crash there, and I have had a friend lose a leg in a car
crash there. It is dangerous, and this is before any occupancy at Woodland Center. The
only to mitigate the increased traffic in that area is to open the road fronting Woodland
Center out onto Highway 130. You must do a site visit. You must see this area for
yourself.
I understand laisez faire capitalism and free enterprise. I understand the landowner has
a right to develop. That is not the point. The point is ensuring the health and safety of
citizens of Puna, and you will be putting people in harm's way by allowing occupancy
before intersection improvements are made. If anyone is killed or seriously injured at
this intersection should you allow occupancy before the intersection improvements, blood
should be on your hands. You should be culpable.
Every bit of your deliberation and other issues related to public business needs to be on
the public record. That is the virtue of the Sunshine Law. Please respect the law that
ensures the public's right to know, and please think very seriously of the consequences of
your actions should you allow occupancy of Woodland Center prior to any intersection
improvements.
Contra No. 4 7a3 ./ (o
Ref. To
Rte Date AUU 17 2010