2024-10-30 Naomi Melamed Testimony Corrected Bill 194

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From:Naomi Melamed To:WPCtestimony Subject:Re: Support #8 @ 11/1/24 WPC Meeting Date:Wednesday, October 30, 2024 8:21:32 PM Aloha, Apologies, I have read through my testimony and found an error in my earlier email. Would it be possible for me to please provide a corrected written testimony for the Nov. 1st meeting? Mahalo, Naomi Melamed Sent with Proton Mail secure email. On Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 at 12:49 PM, Naomi Melamed <hinaomi@protonmail.com> wrote: 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