HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.287 2018-2020 ,OGINTY CLERK_
OIJ1 TY OF FlAWA 11
From: Michelle Suber
To: Council Testimony cif i9 OCT 5 I 8; 09
Subject: Bill 101 Lki
Date: Tuesday,October 08,2019 3:06:45 PM
Aloha council members,
I write with support of Bill 101 to be introduced next Tuesday, October 1'6 by Rebecca Shute-
Villegas.
I have been working with Parks and Recreation for the past two and a half years, overseeing
and coordinating the Friends of Honoka'a Park. Community volunteers have spent over a
thousand hours supporting the maintenance of this herbicide free park. Most recently, county
P&R leader Hercules Lee has committed to maintaining the park grounds without toxic
herbicides. Our group will continue to have twice yearly work days to remain in close
collaboration and support these efforts.
I speak about this community involvement because I want you to know how important it is to
us to have a safe, clean, green place for our children to play and grow. This is not only true in
our parks,but for our whole island. The health of humans, other animals, ecosystems, and our
fragile ocean environment urgently requires us to stop the use of all toxic chemicals.
In addition to volunteering for Parks and Rec, I have been practicing as a Hawai'i licensed
naturopathic physician for the past 21 years. I have seen the effects of toxic burden in my
patients and it is painful and life altering. We need to be responsible for our parts, and this is
one piece of the picture that we can relatively easily change.
I recognize that it can seem like a battle,with issues around funding the human power it takes
to manage parks and roads without toxic spray. If we step back,however, and examine the
issue from a systems perspective,we will see that we need to overhaul our approach
completely. With the help of Beyond Pesticides and other committed groups,we can certainly
accomplish this over the next four years.
Thank you for considering my testimony. Please support the passage of Bill 101.
Sincerely,
Michelle Suber
Hamakua coast
Dr.Michelle Suber
Naturopathic Physician
Ha'ina Cottage
65-1235 A Opelo Road#6
Kamuela,HI 96743
Comm. No. 91
Ref. To: P lAWM446
Ref..Date ,OCT152019