HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.008 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK Comm W)
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
From: Morgan Bonnet Time 12-400M By DV
To: Council Testimony ny/ryg/�q
Subject: Please Support TMT Date V r f� 1
Date: Tuesday,July 23,2019 11:38:58 AM
Dear Chair Chung, Vice Chair Eoff, and Council Members,
Please consider the thoughts of Luca Rizzi below when making a decision on this. I wouldn't
be able to say it better but it reflects my own thoughts exactly:
"Just so we are clear, the battle being waged here is not about a telescope but about the future of an entire
industry. An endevour that has tried as enthusiastically as possible to be a good neighbor.
If the tart isn't built, the message will be that astronomy in Hawaii in decline.This is not me talking; it is experts in
the fields. It will get harder and harder to attract professionals and funding, Who would want to invest in a declining
enterprise?
So here it is:while more and more high rises are going up in kakaako in the hands of rich investors,with hotels
built on historic grounds,with an increasing dependence on tourism,with declining wages and increasing
inequality,with one of the worse education systems in the country,with a rampant homeless problems,
disproportionately affecting native Hawaiians,we have decided that the enemy is astronomy.
-t int has accepted every request imposed on it: it has compromised on everything. 5 telescope removed from the
mountain to allow for this one, 1 million$ in rent a year, 80%going to stewardship of the mountain,the rest going
to 01-lA, 1 million $donated to the community to promote scholarships and a better education system.
j.Nhich other industry has behaved this way?
What is the worst thing about astronomy? Sadly, it has to be done on a mountain. It needs to be a tall one,
isolated, with clear skies and clear weather.
So eventually astronomy will leave, UH will suffer,the Mauna Kea access road will fall in disrepair(it is maintained
by astronomy),the rangers will be gone, together with the visitor center and the bathrooms. No more imiloa
rnuseunr,with its workshops on traditional Hawaiian navigation, no more journey through the universe, no more
classrooms visits, public outreach talks. We have so many requests on a daily basis that we can only fulfill a
fraction of them, sadly.
Maybe that's perfectly fine, maybe that's what a lot of people want, but just to be clear, that is what is going to
happen.
Arty I completely and blissfully unaware of the issues affecting the Hawaiian community?Am i unaware of the
wrongs of the past? If you are really my friend, I don't have to answer that.
Do i think that the protesters havc chosen the ribht enemy?No.Thee have chosen a symbolic one.and onc,ti0)o cannot dclCoki
itsell. that India is ri partner% it would be the first time that an eme-rgine,cou,ltl-V Who,is underreJVCti:uted
kr cw'ncc has finally access to a world class facility,"
i henk:`ou for vour coils lderapoil,
kion-'all Borluet
Comm. No ✓�v
Ref. To: P and
Ref. Date JUL 2 3 2019