HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-31 Naomi Melamed Updated Testimony From: Naomi Melamed
To: WPCtestimonv
Subject: Re:Support#8 @ 11/1/24 WPC Meeting
Date: Thursday,October 31,2024 12:26:50 PM
Aloha, This is an update to my previous testimony. I had confused some of the language of
"Special Use Permit" and "Plan Approval" used in the discussion of the agenda item#8.
Mahalo, Naomi Melamed
My corrected testimony:
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"EME",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:A rigorously considered
plan approval that supports the needs of local residents vs. a"streamlined"process for plan approval that sides too strongly
with big,outsourced,business ventures.
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 to prevent undue exposure and still ensure connectivity is outlined in
Bill 194.People must be informed,especially those living nearby(reference cancer study within 500 ft.of a cell
tower:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/SO013935122011781),awareness of such a construction
beforehand,and there must be a venue for their voices to be heard within the framework of a plan approval.This plan
approval must reflect the will of the Hawaii Island residents above those of Big Tech and outside developers.
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 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.Council member Cindy Evans recognized this need and her bill should be commended for its
response to a need that has been legally required for the county for over a decade,in relation to HRS 46-89.
Bill 194 was in the works for about a year.It has been crafted with careful consideration taken from a wide-range of
community members and groups.Even the planning director was approached for collaboration,but chose to take another
path.Our group was pleased to offer our expertise where appropriate.
Mahalo for your time and consideration,
Naomi Melamed
Safe Tech Hawaii,Hawaii Island Leader
Sent with Proton Mail secure email.
On Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 at 8:21 PM, Naomi Melamed
<hinaomi@protonmail.com>wrote:
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 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.
Bill 194 was in the works for about a year. It has been crafted
with careful consideration taken from a wide-range of
community members and groups. Even the planning director was
approached for collaboration, but chose to take another path. Our
group was pleased to offer our expertise where appropriate.
I have looked further into a side-by-side analysis of the two bills
and will attach the information to this email, which I found to be
very helpful. I believe that you will also be receiving
this document from CM Evan's office.
Mahalo for your time and consideration,
Naomi Melamed
Safe Tech Hawaii, Hawaii Island Leader