HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0489.698 2018-2020 From: Mark Crawford •
To: Council Testimony
Subject: I Oppose Bill 101
Date: Monday,January 06,2020 12:06:15 PM
Aloha Chair Chung, Vice-Chair Eoff, and members of the Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to testify in opposition to this measure.
I oppose this bill because the results will be detrimental to public health, conservation efforts,
and ultimately, to agriculture, since although it currently exempts agriculture, the bill, if
passed, will undoubtedly use the same misguided rationale to ban herbicides in farming and
ranching. r•
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I am also very concerned about my safety since roadways quickly become overgrown with - -:
weeds, causing blind spots for motorists and pedestrians that can result in devastating s =
accidents. As farmers and ranchers who rely upon our precious watersheds, we are concerned`
that those areas will be taken over by the many introduced invasive plant species, like
miconia, that reduce the rainwater that seeps into the watershed, if effective herbicides are
prohibited. °"F'
If weeds are not adequately controlled on County property, these areas will become perfect
habitat and breeding areas for destructive pests and diseases that will impact Hawaii's farmers
(and others) and risk the continued viability of our farms and ranches. -
Please oppose Bill 101.
Thank you for taking our concerns and comments into consideration.
Mahalo,
[Mark K. Crawford
[Captain Cook, HI]
[crawfordohana@icloud.com
Comm. riot 4ibil'`O `%
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Ref. Dote JAN - 8 2020