HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.071 2018-2020 Murashige, Laura
From: Andrew Odell <agode11808@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2019 8:49 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Resolution 233-19 -- Opposition
Attachments: Resolution 233 Testimony.pdf
Attached is testimony in opposition to Council Resolution 233-19
Regards,
Andrew
Andrew G. Odell
afzode11808(c gmail.com
AA
4.
Comm. No.
Ref. To:
1 Ref. Date—JUL 31. 2019
To: Hawaii County Council
From: Andrew G. Odell
Re: Opposition to Resolution 233-19
Aloha,
My name is Andrew Odell,and I oppose County Council Resolution 233-19.
I am a proud graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, employee of the W. M. Keck
Observatory, and supporter of astronomy on Maunakea. Additionally, I support the Hawaiian struggle
for self-determination and the struggle to correct a system that,since the since at least the overthrow of
the monarchy,systematically impaired Hawaiians' socio-economic status.
Resolution 233-19 does not benefit the Hawaiian community,astronomy supporters, or the Hawaii
island population as a whole. Resolution 233-19 benefits no one because it is a pause without a plan.
The Thirty Meter Telescope project has been in the planning stages and litigation for the last ten years.
Further,the dispute has been front and center for all Hawai'i island residents for the last four years.
During this time,this Council has failed to propose any plan that would lead our community forward
through this dispute.
The proposed sixty-day moratorium again fails to move our community forward. It provides no plan to
aid our Hawaiian community and fails to address astronomy's positive impacts. As currently proposed,
at the end of a sixty-day moratorium,there will be no progress, only further entrenchment into the
ongoing dispute. Accordingly, I cannot support Resolution 233-19 without a real, comprehensive plan
from this Council to resolve the underlying dispute and move all facets of our community forward.
I encourage this Council to demonstrate true leadership by voting against Resolution 233-19 and
engaging with the entire community to design a path forward.
Thank you,
Andrew G. Odell
Kamuela