HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0021.178 2014-2016Murashige, Laura
From: Kapono Pa <c.kaponopa@gmail.com, ,l„i nCr ( 7 Oi 9: 55
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 20141:53 PM Z
To: Council Testimony
Subject: OPPOSE Resolution 22-14 and any Motion to Appeal the Legal Ruling which Invalidated
Ordinance 13-121
To All Hawaii County Council Members,
I, Kapono Pa, born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, urge you to OPPOSE Resolution 22-14 and ANY motion to
APPEAL U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren's decision to invalidate Hawaii County Ordinance 13-121.
The day before Thanksgiving, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren invalidated Ordinance 13-121 In reaching his decision,
Judge Kurren found that the County's Ordinance: "is preempted by Hawaii state law", "is, in part, expressly preempted
by the federal Plant Protection Act", and "therefore ... is invalid."
Key Paints to Remember:
- Bill 113 crippled farmers' current and future ability to farm GE crops, imposed extreme burdens on local agriculture
and violated Federal and Hawaii law.
- How much money shall Hawaii County spend on a bad law that only hurts farmers and divides our community? We
have other issues that we can spend another $40,000+on1
This belongs at the State and Federal level not the County.
- Let Farmers go back to farming and feeding Hawaii, Stop fighting them and support their efforts.
- We (the Plaintiffs in the mentioned lawsuit) choose to not sue for damages; additionally we did not seek our attorney
fee's; However we could have; Why? Because this has already cost Hawaii County enough resources; Let's begin positive
conversations around food and farming with facts not fear.
I humbly ask you to please SUPPORT all Farmers and OPPOSE ANY motion to APPEAL the ruling to invalidate Ordinance
13-121. By opposing the appeal, you will help to ensure that Hawaii County's agricultural lands will continue to be
cultivated by local farmers growing food and flowers for local consumption, and preserving the integrity of Hawai'i's
communities and resources for our future generations.
Mahalo,
Kapono Pa
Kea'au, HI 96749
Cou,m No 21. 17"
Fof. To.
Rui. our. C 17 2014