HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0091.048 2016-2018 OUNTY CLERIC
Testimony to the Hawaii County Council 5/18/2017 COUNTY AECEEI AAWAII=
VED
First Reading for FY 2017-18 Operating BudgTime9'+ .
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Date 6//ev/
Aloha County Councilors,
My name is Judi Houle and have lived in lower Puna for over 28 years.I have volunteered for Neighborhood Watch
for many years,and I'm now the Hawaiian Paradise Park Neighborhood Watch President and the Puna
Neighborhood Watch Coordinator.
Puna Neighborhood Watch is a united group of representatives from over 20 subdivisions and communities.We
are here today to support our police department and the importance of increasing their budget.
Puna is estimated to have the largest and fastest growing population in the State. By the year 2020 it's estimated
to surpass the population of Hilo.Yet by comparison,Hilo has twice as many CPOs and more police officers than
Puna.Puna's dispatch receives 5,339 calls for service per year which requires police to prioritize and respond to an
enormous amount of calls to cover a district the size of Oahu.
The Puna district is comprised of many private communities paying association road fees and county property
taxes.The county property taxes are 59.5%of county revenue with the highest percent increase for the proposed
budget.The district of Puna should proportionately have an increased share of the county services such as;police,
fire,ambulances,roads,and infrastructure.
The budget is not just about money,it's also about saving lives!The County and State need to provide more patrol
officers,technologies,and equipment to support public safety.
We need to all work together to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our legal system.
Currently the police arrest repeat offenders just to see them quickly released and back on the streets committing
crimes again and again and again.
Our legislators need to increase the penalties and sentencing for dangerous and habitual criminals.
Our court system needs to enforce the laws and also protect the rights of the victims and the law abiding citizens.
Lastly,the increasing meth epidemic is destroying lives and communities.We need prevention and treatment
programs to stop the dangerous criminal behavior and deaths.
We don't want our citizens to live in fear or to feel like they have to carry guns to protect themselves and their
families.We need to support the police and back them up with resources and a more effective court system.
This is National Police Week and I'd like to take a moment to honor our fallen police officers and thank those who
risk their lives to serve and protect us.
Thank you,
Judi Houle
Puna Neighborhood Watch Coordinator .itsg
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