HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.010 2018-2020 ""m
COUNTY CLERK ,•t `���
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
From: Thayne Currie Time By
To: Council Testimony Date
Subject: opposition to resolution 233: no moratorium!
Date: Tuesday,July 23,2019 11:32:47 AM
Aloha council members:
I believe that taking up and voting on(let alone approving) the resolution to suggest a
moratorium for TMT's construction is an absolutely terrible idea.
For good or ill, we must respect the process that the law lays out before us. The *process* in
2015 invalidated TMT's permit. The same *process* in 2018 upheld it's permit before the
Hawaii Supreme Court and led to significant compromises, including the removal of 5 older
telescopes. The legal process has run its course and MUST be respected.
Supporting this resolution greatly undermines significant efforts now being made by Mayor
Harry Kim to broker a deal with the protesters.
The timing of the moratorium also runs periliously close to the deadline for TMT to start
construction. Effectively, this moratorium, if enacted, would seek to drive TMT away from
the island.
TMT has gone through a decade of legal proceedings, two contested case hearings, and three
Supreme Court hearings. TMT is supported by 75% of Hawai'i, including the majority of
Native Hawaiians. If there is further compromise needed, let our mayor and governor lead
them. I do not believe it is the council's place, nor the legislature's, nor anyone else's to
interfere at this time.
Best wishes,
Thayne
Thayne Currie
Research Astrophysicist,NASA/Ames,Research Center
Research Associate,NAOJ/Subaru Telescope
650 N. Aohoku Pl., Hilo, HI 96720
857 998 9771
http://subarutelescol2e.org/staf`f/currie/
Comm. No.
Ref. To: P JanU
Ref. Dote J U L 2 3 2019