HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0710.122 2010-2012 Aage 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura � -7fc
From: Jane Lowe [jane_lowe @yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 9:24 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: fblas @co.hawaii.hi.us; cohmayor @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: please do NOT override vetoes of Bills 256 and 257
Mayor Kenoi was right to veto these bills. I live in Puna and I believe these funds should
continue to be used for parks or to get rid of fire ants, albizia, etc.
If people bought their homes after the plant was there, then that was their choice and they should
not be rewarded by being able to sell their house at 30% above market value, when the rest of us
are underwater and can't even get market value! What a scam! Are we going to pay to relocate
people who live near oil burning plants, or landfills, or near the new biofuel places (even though
the zoning was there when they bought)?And what about all those folks that live downwind of
the volcano? While we're at it, let's through in the tsunami zone people and homes on busy roads.
I have fire ants on my property and the county has done nothing to stop this! Soon my property
value will be greatly reduced. I would like the county to buy it from me now for 30% more than
what it's worth, but that will never happen! With an offer of 30% over market value (hell, in this
economy, with a market value offer), even people who don't mind the geothermal plant will
suddenly be in desperate need of relocation!
If it turns out we don't have an evacuation plan, then sure, make one. We have staff on hand, so
that shouldn't cost anything. If it does cost money, then we should talk about who should fund it.
I can see maybe a health study, but it seems like there should be alternate funding available for
that as well (dept. of health). We already pay for our own roads, water, sewage, etc. out
here...now we have to fund our own air quality studies and evacuation routes? Ridiculous!
Personally, I believe geothermal is the gift of Pele and that funding should be used to protect the
aina(body of Pele) and to benefit the children of Pele (if not programs directly benefitting
Hawaiians then something that they at least share equally in, such as parks), NOT to give give
money to new residents who bought with full knowledge of the plant's existence.
I feel these bills were introduced by Yagong as part of his mayoral push. As a council member,
his constituents don't live here and it's none of his business. I would think council members from
other districts would get pretty annoyed if Blas started butting into their districts and trying to
redirect funding from valuable community projects into the pockets of select individuals. I'm
very disappointed that other council members got on the bandwagon, but I can't vote them out.
Fred Blas represents this district and he voted against it. Billy Kenoi is from this district and he
vetoed it. Just let these bills die. If the county wants to order a health study, then order one and
pay for it the same way you would if it was in a different district.
Comm. No. -7 1° • 1 ZZ
Ref. To:
Ref. Date AUG 0 1
7/30/2012