HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.035 2018-2020 Cow. Sgt)
From: Sue Grose
To: Poindexter,Valerie; Eoff,Karen;Chung,Aaron; Lee Loy,Sue; Eileen.OharaCo hawaiicounty.00v; Kualii.Jennifer;
David,Maile; Dru.KanuhaCla hawaiicountygov; Richards.Tim;Council Testimony; Baez,Wendy
Subject: TMT construction moratorium on Wednesday council agenda
Date: Tuesday,July 23,2019 7:58:24 AM
Aloha Council Members,
I was appalled when I saw this headline. Yes the protesters have a well orchestrated PR effort but
that does not change the fact that this issue has been discussed and litigated for years.Their
minority viewpoint while intense has lost in the courts and does not reflect either the will of the
people or the best interests of the county or state.The attempt to delay by 60 days is a thinly
disguised effort to kill the project by dragging things out to end of the CDUP mandated deadline. ry
Please don't get sucked up in this bad decision. I include below 2 letters from today's WHT on
Kahele's call for a 60 day moratorium for further comments.
Sue Grose
TMT relocation would be blow to state
State Sen. Kai Kahele's recent actions haven't helped the ongoing Thirty Meter Telescope impasse on
Maunakea. Firstly, he posts on social media that the TMT's conservation district use permit expires
on Sept. 26, 2019.This revelation has given the protesters additional reason to stonewall this project
until then, which doesn't help law enforcement, or the protesters,for that matter.
Sen. Kahele has also advocated for a moratorium, or "cooling off period," of 60 days on the start of
construction.This moratorium would expire uncomfortably close to the two-year end of the CDUP
mandated start of construction. It shouldn't be surprising though, as he is strongly opposed to
astronomy on Maunakea. He'd rather let the Canary Islands get this telescope, which will slowly kill
astronomy on Maunakea.
The backers of the Thirty Meter Telescope have been more than patient during the past 10 years.
They've successful fended off all legal challenges thus far.The courts have ultimately given their
authorization that construction can begin, but instead we have a repeat the 2015 protests over
again. In addition, we have state senator on a mission to destroy astronomy as we know it on
Maunakea.
Sen. Kahele, Hawaii needs good, high paying,jobs.The telescopes on Maunakea provide those jobs,
and a much-needed economic boost to the state totaling in the millions of dollars. Hawaii
desperately needs that economic balance, especially when we we're so dependent on tourism,
construction, and military.
If the backers of the Thirty Meter Telescope decide to relocate to the Canary Islands because of
these ongoing protests, it will be devastating blow to astronomy on Maunakea, and to the State of
Hawaii.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
Respect the rule of law
With care, I read and reread Sen. Kai Kahele's comments as reported in Friday's West Hawaii Today.
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Sen. Kahele is pointblank telling us that the state should abdicate its rule of law, its due process, and
its judicial system to the demands of a small, angry and passionate minority.That way lies anarchy.
There is no rational basis to believe that another 60 days of delay, as suggested by Sen. Kahele, will
result in any change whatsoever in the protesters' positions.They have made that clear.They will
most certainly not "cool off."They will instead celebrate any concession, accept it as proof that their
tactics are effective, and will double-down on those very same tactics.
Perhaps, though,the most baffling of the would-be Congressman's comments was "I think it's time
to have meaningful conversations ... . "What? Has he not followed the multiple hearings and
meetings over the years inviting public comments on everything from the mountain's management
to the permit conditions?Were those not "meaningful?" What about all the repeated modifications
made to those plans, including de-commissioning of five existing telescopes and changes to,the
TMT's design? He dismisses all those efforts? Not "meaningful" enough for him?
We get that the senator personally opposes the construction of the TMT on Maunakea.The last time
I checked,though, he—just like everyone else here — is bound to respect our rule of law. He and
the protesters may most certainly express their opinions, and we should listen with respect. But
neither he nor the protesters may require that the rest of us submit, especially not after the lengthy
processes approving this project have ground to their fair conclusions. At some point, perhaps the
senator and the protesters might consider listening with respect to what our courts, our process,
and our majority have to say.
Daniel F. Knox
Kailua-Kona