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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.032 2018-2020 comm . COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAI°I RECEIVED Time rZ,OOpM By July 23, 2019 Date l Aloha Kakou: I am not a Native Hawaiian so I can't pretend to fully understand the sensitivity of the cultural issues behind the TMT. However, I am a tax paying,voting US Citizen and have been a resident in Hilo since 2006. My wife and I call Hilo our home, we have raised our two kids here and we believe in being active members of the community to provide better opportunities for future generations. Ever since we moved here in 2006 we heard about the TMT and were fascinated by the possibility of this island housing the most advanced telescope on the planet,we thought(and still do)that it fits perfectly with the Hawaiian navigation culture. We are a society that works under law and order,with a judicial system responsible for ensuring that due process is followed and that the laws are applied and enforced in an unbiased manner.The laws apply equally to everyone regardless of nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion or cultural beliefs,that is the beauty about the system,we are all equal in the eyes of the law. That does not mean we have to like or agree with the laws, so there are processes in place to change the laws. It does not mean either that we have to agree with the decisions reached by the courts,so there are processes to contest those decisions as well. But at the end of the day,we must ensure that those decisions are respected and enforced, otherwise the due process will be pointless and the society will lose. For the past 10 years TMT has been done everything according to the law,they have followed the due process and done everything they've been asked to do. Courts have ruled in their favor. If we don't uphold this decision, it will set a precedent that can seriously affect the whole State in the future.This can set a precedent of"cultural objection". So if Puna Geothermal is approved to resume operations, what will prevent opponents of the project to block it based on cultural objection. If the site for a new boat ramp is selected and some people object to its location,what will prevent them from blocking the project based on cultural objection. If the opponents of TMT are allowed to get away with blocking the project,there is no telling what will happen then, protesters can move and block the access to Pohakuloa,there is no end to this. The question is, how important and valuable is due process? and how important is it to protect and enforce the decisions reached by the courts? Do the laws apply to everyone equally? Protesters have every right to peacefully gather and protest, however,the right to protest does not give them the right to unlawfully block public roads.An illegal act does not have to be violent in order to be illegal. By blocking the road they are breaking the law and affecting the astronomy industry and the tour guide industry that goes to the summit, directly affecting families and members of this community that is still trying to recover from last year's eruption financial effects on the zone. Comm. No. �• Ref. To: p nG Ref. note . .J U L 2 3 2019 Imagine this scenario:what if the courts had ruled against the construction of TMT, but all of those who support the project had taken up to the mountain and blocked the access road to the summit demanding TMT to be built, how do you think that would've gone? For the past 10 years through the THINK fund initiative TMT has been putting$1M/yr into the island of Hawai'i education system. 65 native Hawaiians have benefited from grants and scholarships funded by TMT so they can continue with their higher education studies. TMT has agreed to pay$1M/yr for the land use on Mauna Kea. It seems to me that TMT is the only telescope that is doing things right, so instead of attacking it,why aren't we asking the other telescopes to follow the lead. TMT will not solve all the injustices that have been made to the Hawaiian people, nor will it solve the unemployment,crime and drug problems of Hawaii, but it will contribute towards the betterment of the community. I do know that not building TMT is not going to solve any of those problems either. As elected officials,yourself, House Representatives,Senators, Hawai'i County Mayor and Council Members have an obligation towards all of your constituents, not just those who voted for you or those with whom you share opinions with, but those with whom you disagree with and those who did not vote for you as well.Your obligation is to take an unbiased position and see that laws are followed and decisions made by the courts respected and enforced. I know this is a very sensitive issue, and one that goes back many generations, but the TMT is being victimized unfairly and the judicial due processed being ignored. Thank you for taking your time to read through these comments. With much aloha and respect. 4 Rodrigo Romo, as a Private Citizen 1445 Waianuenue Ave Hilo, HI rfvromo@gmail.com