HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0701.020 2018-2020 COUNTY CLE P/COVACA
II( 'JI
COUNTY O A.I e I
RECEIVED M.1O1
Time J
Date 00'ZI
January 21, 2020
Aaron Chung, Chairman
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Suite 1402
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Council Chair Chung and members of the County Council,
I would like to submit this letter of written testimony in support of Bill 131 that AMENDS
ORDINANCE NO. 19-74,AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND FINANCING
THEREOF FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2019 TO JUNE 30, 2020.
The essence and intent of this measure is to provide much needed transportation services to a
portion of our community that is severely limited and under served with respect to many resources and
services.
As the Co-Chair of the Community Action Network, a steering committee of the Community First
Non-Profit founded by the late Barry Taniguchi, I have been engaged in stakeholder meetings involving
health care and social service providers in East Hawaii regarding our health care crisis. Over the past
two years, participating care providers and case workers have shared firsthand accounts of the
hardships and challenges their clients face with accessing services due to a lack of transportation. It is
very evident both locally as well as nationally that non-medical or social factors such as transportation
have a significant impact and role with health outcomes.
These "Social Determinants of Health"that include transportation, housing, and nutrition to
name a few, if addressed can have an immediate and lasting impact on physical and mental health and
improve the quality of life. As proposed in Bill 131,the establishment of a Mass Transit Hub and Spoke
project would provide much needed resources to the Pahoa and regional Puna area and provide options
and opportunities for members of our community to access services that currently are not readily
available.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on this measure and I strongly encourage
your support for this bill. Please consider this concept as a model or template for other communities
across our island.
Sincerely,
Darryl Oliveira
Co-Chair Community Action Network
Comm. No. tu S-
Ref. To; P( ndt
Ref. Date JAN 2 2 2020