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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0722.048 2016-2018P) couwcrL CSM M. 122 F1 IvA 11 wotZoa L Koval February 20, 2018 — Public Hearing on Bill 102 (Draft _,* Testimony of Dean Au — Field Representative, Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters Aloha Chair Poindexter and members of the- Hawaii County Council, The Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters stands in strong support of Bill 102 draft 2. As the field representative of local 745 in Hilo, I am proud to represent my fellow brothers and sisters of the Hawaii Carpenters Union who have joined me to support this bill today. We support the surcharge because it will bring much needed revenue, a third of it from tourist, towards our island's transportation needs. While we are grateful for Oahu's hand-me-down old busses, they are not reliable enough and less than half the fleet is operational according the county. We really deserve our own busses, and they should be fuel efficient and comfortable for the long commutes we have. The cost of registering and insuring a car can be so expensive and many living pay check to pay check can't afford it. It is the job of government to provide a reliable bus system so that working people who can't afford a car can still have an affordable way to get to and from work. The Carpenters Union has always been a staunch supporter of public transportation, complete streets, as well as traffic calming and safety engineering initiatives. And while some folks may wonder why we are here to support something that has no real need for carpenters, we are here because accepting this surcharge that the Legislature has offered it is the right thing to do for the island's working people - and will provide value beyond money and beyond jobs. It's equity, it's fair, and it's our island's turn to invest in our transportation needs, just like the other counties have done. Finally, I have submitted with my testimony a petition of Hilo carpenters who could not be here today but have signed on to show their support for this bill. Thank you for allowing us to express support for this bill. COMM. No. Ref. Tov Co— Ref. Ref. Date FEB 21 2917.__ .