HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-30 Letter to Richard P. Creagan and Lynn DeCoite HB 2189, Relating to Agriculture (2)
County of Hawai‘i
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Roy Takemoto
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
January 30, 2020
Representative Richard P. Creagan, Chair
Representative Lynn DeCoite, Vice Chair
Committee on Agriculture
Dear Chair Creagan, Vice Chair De Coite, and Committee Members:
RE: HB 2189, Relating to Agriculture
HB 2189 does not have a preamble, but its contents reflect the vulnerabilities
agriculture has to theft and vandalism. Our news media has documented farmers who
have gone out of business because of their losses, and the problem seems to get worse
year by year.
The Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has had an investigator working
on agricultural crimes, and we have received positive comments from the agriculture
community about his work. We therefore believe that a statewide program is warranted,
based on the results achieved on the Big Island. As to whether a new program needs
to be established within the Department of Agriculture, or could more efficiently be
funded by the Department of Agriculture contracting county prosecutors, I defer to the
wisdom of this Committee.
Whichever your decision, we support the idea of a statewide, state-funded, anti-
theft program, and urge favorable consideration of HB 2189.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR
For