HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0943.001 2014-2016 a43
Murashige, Laura
From: Sara Steiner <pahoatoday@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday,August 12, 2016 2:47 PM
To: Council Testimony; letters@hawaiitribune-herald.com;wht@aloha.net; Mayor's Internet
email; copsysop; Pros Atty- Hilo (hilopros@hawaiicounty.gov);
letters@staradvertiser.com
Subject: Testimony for 8-17-2016 Bill 224 Amending Budget re Meth --
Regarding Bill 224 Amending the Operating Budget
The Hawaii County Council is going to be considering accepting a High Intensity Impact Grant of$40,425.00
this coming Wednesday, August 17th in Kona. This money is supposed to be used by the police department to
train officers to combat methamphetamine drug problems. Good. If that is what they really use the money for.
If you remember back to 2008, the overwhelming majority of residents on the Big Island voted to end Green
Harvest- meaning stop flying helicopters around wasting time and money. The County Council is not supposed
to be taking money to fund that program, but they have been, and it is obvious from the grants accepted each
year that Reefer Madness is alive and well in Hawaii.
It is painfully obvious to everyone who lives here that the cops would rather count plants and collect buds than
deal with the meth problem, and this is condoned by the mayor and county council. Don't you think police and
prosecutors should be concentrating on real crimes like murder, rape, burglary, thefts and domestic violence
brought on by the use of meth?
I know it is scary, but we need to audit the Hawaii County Police Department and the Office of the Prosecuting
Attorney regarding grants received, what the money was used for, and who got what from forfeiture monies
immediately. We may find that it is really not in our best interests to take whatever bribes the feds are handing
us.
How much money was spent in the last weeks flying around compliance checking medical cannabis grows?
How much since 2008? How can that possibly be more important than just about any other crime on our
books? There is not enough money or detectives to solve violent crimes but we can act like we are making safe
by weeding peoples gardens? GM?J ,
Comm: No.
Ref. To: P I COW
)..f. Date AUG 1_7-2nip
Please correct your priorities! Know what is being done with grant money, and stop funding and allowing
unnecessary and wasteful programs like flying over my house all the time to count plants.
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Thank you,
Sara Steiner
P.O. Box 2011
Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
808-936-9546
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