HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0383.085 2018-2020 Murashige, Laura
From: Riley Smith <rsmith@lanihau.net>
Sent: Tuesday,July 23, 2019 2:07 PM
To: Chung, Aaron; Council Testimony
Cc: Eoff, Karen; David, Maile; Lee Loy, Sue; Richards,Tim; Poindexter, Valerie; Kierkiewicz,
Ashley; Villegas, Rebecca; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt
Subject: Testimony from Riley W. Smith, PE, in opposition to Council Resolution 233-19 for
Moratorium
Attachments: testimony from riley smith pe in opposition to council moratorium on tmt 072319.pdf
Aloha Chair Chung... ..My testimony in opposition to the proposed Resolution.
Mahalo
Riley Smith
3
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Ref. To:
Ref. nate JUL 3'1 2019
Lanihau Properties, LLC
O. 13x2,9032
hailira-Wong,JCI 96745
!Phone: (808)9,36-17129 9 Ea,, (808)329-8044
Ernad rsmiCfi@caniruu.net
July 23, 2019
Aaron Chung, Chair
County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Via email; counciltestimonyCcr7,hawaiicounty.gov
Re: Testimony in Opposition to Resolution 233-19
Relating to a Moratorium on the Construction of the Thirty Meter
Telescope
Chair Chung and County Council Members. My name is Riley W. Smith, P.E.
I am a native Hawaiian, graduate of the Kamehameha Schools and a resident
of the District of South Kohala and work in Kailua-Kona. I am testifying in
opposition to Resolution 233-19, for the following reasons:
a. TMT has followed all the rules, has all their permits in place.
b. Their project will bring economic opportunities and continued diversity to
our island community.
c. The astronomy community has minimal impact on our island. They take
pictures, study them, draw conclusions on the origins of our universe.
They send their children to our schools, engage in community service,
buy homes here, spend their salaries in our islands (that originates from
elsewhere). They do not send money out of the State, they bring it in.
Econ 101 requires that a healthy economy brings in more revenue than
it sends offshore. That's exactly what the astronomy community does.
d. Think about the message that this moratorium will send to those that
may want to invest in Hawaii. It will reinforce that our island and State is
"anti-business". A reputation we already have and deserve by
demanding that investors do more than just "follow the rules".
e. Yes, the "protectors" are "peaceful". However, they are breaking the
law. They have blocked Mauna Kea Access Road for over a week.
This impacts the livelihood of the employees of the existing telescopes,
the support services at Hale Pohaku, as well as the segments of the
tourism industry that view our skies from Mauna Kea.
f. If I broke the law, but was able to rally a lot of friends to support me,
would that be acceptable?
g. What would a moratorium solve? The "protectors" will still protest, sixty-
one days from now. They believe in their mission. However, their
methods are unlawful. There needs to be consequences for breaking
the law.
h. Many of the "protectors" are my close friends. We just look at the same
situation, very differently. I know they are your friends too. It's okay to
"agree to disagree".
i. Remember, if Kamehameha Ekahi were alive today, he would likely
embrace technology and take advantage of the opportunities it provides,
rather than oppose it. How did the Hawaiians get here anyway; they
explored their universe and sailed further than they could see.
I ask that you do the right thing, support our economy and vote in opposition to
this proposed resolution.
Very truly yours,
01
Riley W. Smith, P.E.
President/Chief Executive Officer
Cc: Aaron Chung
Karen Eoff
Maile David
Sue Leeloy
Tim Richards
Val Poindexter
Ashley Kierkiewicz
Rebecca Villegas
Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder