HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-04 Testimony Jason de Bruyn�5b tS 1A J h 5
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My name is Jason de Bruyn and I OPPOSE BILL 121.
Hosted short term rentals bring in such a massive amount of tax revenue, employ so many
people, help support local economies outside of hotel infested areas, and have such an
incredibly low complaint rate, it is of my opinion that if such a program had been conceived of
my the co-authors of this bill, I have no doubt they would be running for reelection based on its
overwhelming success.
But as we all know, it is far more difficult to create something than destroy it. And so, the Bill
they have written is not one of creation or solution but rather, one of destruction.
It will not create jobs. It will destroy them. It will not create housing or solve the housing crisis,
it will threaten homes. It will not bring in more tax revenue but rather massively decrease it. It
will not create sustainable financial security in hard times, but it will erase just that for many -
just as it won't help local businesses but rather only increase their struggles.
How rare it is to have something in the world of economics exist in such perfect symbiosis. A
traveller doesn't have the money for a fancy, overpriced hotel room, and I have a small Ohana
on my land or an extra room. I welcome them in, they pay me money and they have a
wonderful time. I pay my taxes to Hawaii. My guest spends their money in local grocery stores
and markets, in restaurants, in coffee shops, at the gas station. I too spend my money in these
places. The money comes from the outside and stays here. It is invested back into this island
we call home, and all want the best for.
My guests win. The local economy wins. My family wins. Hawaii wins.
We are a review based industry, we do not require any more regulation than that. If our rentals
are not up to par, unsafe, receive complaints, and so on, we get bad reviews. If we get bad
reviews, we don't get business. If we don't get business, we go out of business. It is quite
simple. And furthermore, if we receive horrible reviews, a platform such as AirBnB will kick us
off entirely. It is in their best interest as well that guests, communities, and hosts alike are all
satisfied. We are all working towards the same objective.
Do we really need a task force with the threat of outrageous, unaffordable fines, criminal
charges and new rules? Rules that could change yet once again at the whim of the next
ambitious, out of touch politician to come along? I can't risk my children's future under those
conditions.
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What Kilauea could not do. What the pandemic and travel bans could not do. What inflation
and 5 dollar gas prices could not do, BILL 121 will succeed at if passed into law. It will force us
to shut down. It will force so many families and individuals to shut down. Perhaps even leave.
That would be the true lasting legacy of BILL 121 and anyone that votes in support of it.
We all know the old saying, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Well this bill won't fix anything,
it will just make more hard. working. people. broke.
But you can stop it.
Thank you for your time.
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