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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0117.017 2018-2020 warcial • COUNTY CLERK bill g° COUNTY OF HAWAII J RECEIVED,0A, Time I:15prt By o1(J• From: )an Marshall �� To: Council Testimony Date //��r[I(b/1 p I Cc: Kim,Harry Subject: MAKING HAWAII A PLACE OF JOY INSTEAD OF DISPAIR Date: Tuesday,April 16,2019 4:34:35 AM Dear Council Members, It would be wonderful to see smiling faces of Kapoho owners returning to their lava locked properties and rebuilding. There is no more powerful marketing message that you can project to potential tourists than videos of people returning to their lava lost properties and making them bloom again. Focusing on the rejuvenating sight of a wasteland being restored by caring people, nightly rains and daily sunshine will encourage tourism. It will reinforce the Aloha image and ensure that potential tourists know—it is safe to visit Hawaii . Please vote for funding to restore Rt. 137 where the majority of the homes were lost and all the other roads that need rebuilt—vote for new beginnings and for economic revival for Puna. Conversely, if American tax payers are left feeling that the monies they have contributed failed to reach victims in a timely manner, or worse yet, are diverted—that is also a powerful message and one that could be harmful. Hawaii will have disasters in the future. It is important that Hawaii is seen as using disaster funds to promptly restore normalcy for all victims. When the national press comes to report on restoration 1 year after the event—they are not going to see much progress and they will see suffering, as a result. Hawaii might appear to be a dangerous, uncaring place. Clearly defined budgets for restoration will help. Many of us who lost homes off of Route 137 live in despair. We cannot plan our futures nearly one year after we lost our homes. As you vote on the County budget—I hope you vote to very specifically restore each and every lost roadway ASAP and project the best possible image for the island while bringing hope to your constituents and economic vibrancy to Puna. Sincerely,Jan Marshall (Kapoho Vacationland property owner) Comm. No. ( l' (� Ref.To: P IS,P• rG Ref. Dote APR 1 6 2019