HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0122.007 2018-2020 TO:County Council Date: 3/12/19 ti.
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County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni St.Hilo HI - -►
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FROM:Judi Houle ~r
Hawaiian Paradise Park, Keaau HI - ~ fir,
RE:Testimony to Support Resolution 65-19; Urging an Increase of Funding for Additional Pole
Presence in the District of Puna to Account for Population Growth
Aloha my name is Judi Houle. I have lived in Hawaiian Paradise Park in Puna for almost 30 years.
I am the Puna Neighborhood Watch Coordinator and the Hawaiian Paradise Park
Neighborhood Watch President.
I am here today to support Resolution 65-19 to increase funds for additional police in Puna and
to thank Councilman Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder.
Most of the facts and statistics are covered in the Resolution referring to Puna's large size,
booming population,thousands of calls, ratio of 1.78 officers to 10,000 residents, poor roads
and infrastructure, and a growing need at businesses and parks.
What I'd like to highlight is the increase in violent crimes and dangerous situations on our
streets.There is a drug epidemic and use of firearms to intimidate and threaten our residents.
Criminals have moved into Foreclosures, Foreclosed, and Abandoned homes where they remain
for many years. Police are called and putting themselves in very dangerous situations to protect
and serve neighbors.Traffic stops have become lethal encounters.
Yes we need more police officers on the streets, equipped and protected from dangerous
automatic,semi-automatic weapons, unstable and drugged-out persons.
We also need to address the prevention,, detox, and treatment of drug addiction.
Most of our communities in Puna are private and we pay Association fees for our roads.So our
County Property taxes and GET are not paying for our roads. We would like a percentage of our
County taxes to go towards the safety and security issues in our Puna communities.
Hawaiian Paradise Park has nearly 18,000 people with only 8 officers to cover all of Puna. We
alone could keep 2 officers busy all day.
Please vote to approve an increase in funds for more Puna Police Officers!
Mahalo for your efforts to help improve the safety and security in Puna and the Big Island.
Comm. N 1211
Ref. To: Yi F50
Ref. Date MAR 12 2019