2024-10-29 Naomi Melamed Testimony Bill 194

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From:Naomi Melamed To:WPCtestimony Subject:Support #8 @ 11/1/24 WPC Meeting Date:Tuesday, October 29, 2024 12:51:22 PM Attachments:Comparison between Bill 194 and Planning Bill .docx Aloha Committee Members, Mahalo for your dedication on this committee and your thorough investigation into a Pono solution for wireless infrastructure on the Big Island. My name is Naomi Melamed and I am an Hawaii Island leader for Safe Tech Hawaii. A 100% volunteer group, serving statewide for several years. We educate, support, empower, and engage with the legislative process to ensure the balance of connectivity and safety is met for Hawaii. None of our work involves monetary compensation or personal promotion. We are composed of thousands of members across the state that care deeply for the protection of the clean air space of Hawaii. You may know that the frequencies emitted from cellular infrastructure are called “electromagnetic” or “EMF”, which is categorized as an air pollutant by all major insurance companies by legal framework. This point is crucial in understanding a vital difference between bill 194 and the directors ordinance: The right for a contested case and need for a special use permit vs. “streamlined” process. If we are considering an air pollutant, we must realize that involuntary exposure will be commonplace nearly everywhere with the proliferation of this technology. The least we can do ethically is outlined in Bill 194. People must be informed, especially those living nearby (reference cancer study within 500 ft. of a cell tower), awareness of such a construction beforehand, and there must be a venue for their voices to be heard. A use permit and contested case hearing are important elements to preserve. I appreciate that your branch of the planning department requested to view council member Cindy Evan’s Bill 194, which had already been introduced on the county council level, when the planning director originally introduced his version of an ordinance relating to the same topic to Windward Planning. As I testified at that time, I hold that Bill 194 is a superior legislation as it accordingly reflects the will of the residents of this island over the desires of telecommunications and development industries. The Big Island is in great need to a bill of this sort to protect the beauty, safety, well- being, and property values of all who live on or frequent our islands.