HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0281.002 2016-2018 PIgtDc.
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Murashige, Laura
From: HedrickHNECA@aol.com
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2017 10:18 AM
To: Council Testimony 0;o,
Cc: hedrickhneca@aol.com; mhapai@aol.com; pintoian@gmail.com; Ohara, en; es,
Jennifer
Subject: Testimony in Support of Resolution 205-17,Tuesday, May 1, 1:00 .
Testimony in SUPPORT of Resolution 205-17 "
—
Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee
Tuesday, May 1, 1:00 PM
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in SUPPORT of Resolution 205-17, "Acknowledging Ruling from Office of Civil
Rights dated September 28, 2000."
I have hesitated to call attention to the lack of Puna infrastructure as a Civil Right violation, but activities in the Fern Forest
and Eden Roc subdivisions may need that kind of"wake up" call to acknowledge that road barriers constructed by past
and current roads board members are flagrant civil rights violations. This applies not only to the low-income and Native
Hawaiian communities, but also for residents in general who need reasonable access to job, education, health care
services, and other amenities readily available in Hilo.
The inter-subdivision connectivity components of the Puna Community Development Plan, adopted as ordinance in 2008,
were reiterated in the connectivity subcommittee report adopted by the County Council in August 2016.The relative lack of
implementation of the PCDP to date attests to the historical inequities and continued demographic disparities.
Regardless of whether or not Resolution 205-17 is passed, members of the Connectivity Action Team respectfully
ask for the assistance of all Council members and Council departments in getting the Fern Forest and Eden Roc
boards to remove the barriers at lower Kaleponi (Fern Forest) and Punahele (Road 17, Eden Roc).
This action would not require expenditure of resources except those required to remove the barriers. "Road Connectivity"
is currently the PCDP Action Committee's"Priority 2." Physical connectivity between Fern Forest and Eden Roc is
essential
(1)to resident civil rights, including access to their property;
(2)to resident health and safety, including access to police and fire services,
(3)to sustainability,
(4) to individual, emergency, and public transportation,
(5) to cooperative Safety and Surveillance Systems, and
(6)to successful area events, such as farmers' markets, swap meets, etc..
I understand that the General Plan Comprehensive Review by members of the Long Range Planning Division will "lift up"
the connectivity components of the PCDP. The Connectivity Action Team will continue to work with and through the PCDP
AC and the General Plan revisions.
We have requested assistance specifically in developing a Grassroots Inter-subdivision Connectivity Model at the
connectivity location linking Fern Forest with Eden Roc.
Comm No g.lif)
1 Ref. To: C'A 617L
Ref,, Date MAY 1 t 2U.17
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Whether or not Jon Olson submits a letter pointing out that the State, County, and other entities continue to deprive Puna
and Ka'u residents of their Civil Rights, Connectivity Action Team members as for assistance from Civil Defense, Public
Works, police and fire departments, and other relevant agencies, in .removing
the illegally constructed barriers to block the existing road connecting the sub-divisions at Kaleponi and Punahele (Road
17).
These barriers clearly violate general access rights, as well as the rights of people with disabilities. At the May 6 meeting
of the Fern Forest"roads" board, residents again asked the board to remove the rusty debris and overturned van the
board moved to block the road after it was cleared by more than 100 hours of volunteer work. Efforts of the Connectivity
Action Team to talk about the Civil Rights complaint, Frank De Marco's (Public Works) Puna Connectivity Plan,
foundational documents citing the existence of a road connecting Fern Forest and Eden Roc, etc, were stifled. No
documentation was provided supporting Bill Watkins' continued claim that"corp counsel"told him the FFCA has the
authority to close an existing road.
Bill Watkins' reaction to efforts to involve the FFCA Board in connectivity discussions have consisted primarily of repeated
demands that the"County" agree to open and maintain not only the connectivity location, but all or part of Kaleponi. The
Board will not discuss any alternatives to the same kind of support provided to Hawaiian Acres/Ainaloa in response to the
lava flow, in spite of the obvious differences.
Connectivity Action Team members have removed enough junk by hand to provide a visual representation of the open
road and the prospective "linear park." We are attempting to identify collaborators in our efforts to implement connectivity
components of the PCDP.
Seeking Funds To Create an Inter-subdivision Gathering Place
Community and Fire Truck Building(s)
* Emergency shelter
* Computers for adult business enterprises, youth homework, recreation
* Space for cross-generational activities, including special programs for children and seniors
* Inter-subdivision meetings to create an Upper Puna Emergency Response Plan, a Safety and
Surveillance System (connecting with the systems of local residents)
(See documents developed or distributed by Judi Houle, HPP Neighborhood Watch, Puna Watch)
Mass Transit Spoke/Bus Stop
Rural Resource Center
*Community Garden
* Local Market, Swap Meet
Internet, Ham/CB radio operators tower
The Connectivity Action Team continues to identify relevant stakeholders (Citizens' Corps, CERT, CD, Volunteer Fire
Department, NW, Upper Puna subdivision RESIDENTS and community organizations, PCDP AC, Public Works, Army
Corps of Engineers, DLNR, etc)to contact about uniting around creating a model linear park at this site.
Thank you for your attention to these specific details reflecting how disregard to basic civil rights at the State
and County levels is used at the local "grassroots" level to disregard not only the PCDP, but past and
current requests to stop blocking reasonable access.
Hannah Hedrick
Fern Forest
Connectivity Action Team Coordinator
808 968-7013
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