HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-02-18 Letter to Rosalyn H. Baker and Stanley Chang SB 2474, SD1 Relating to Little Fire Ants JMvv;os p,• Roy Takemoto
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Harry Kim `•iN ��•
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County of Hawaii
Office of the Mayor
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February 18, 2020
Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair
Senator Stanley Chang, Vice Chair
Committee on Commerce, Consumber Protection and Health
Dear Chair Baker, Vice Chair Chang, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 2474, SD1 Relating to Little Fire Ants
The little fire ant, to those who have experienced it, is a horrific species. It
causes great pain in humans and has been reported to cause blindness in pets and
horses. It has proliferated so widely that some have given up on eradication, and may
even be ready to throw in the towel on control efforts. That is not acceptable. We must
fight back, and that is why I appreciate the opportunity to testify on SB 2474, SD1.
I do not have the expertise to judge the most effective way to treat this menace,
but it seems reasonable to have the DOA in conjunction with the Hawai'i Ant Lab
working together to identify best practices, and to make those best practices known to a
wide audience.
More broadly, whether you pass this bill or not, I ask that you please provide as
much funding for an anti-LFA initiative as you can justify in your budget
recommendations for the coming fiscal year. In that way, government efforts to control,
and even eliminate, LFA from Hawaii can be maximized. The threat is great and
warrants your much-appreciated attention.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.