HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-15 Letter to Clarence Nishihara & Mike Gabbard re HB 478 HD 1 Relating to Public Safety rp??' ^ '-•:yy Wil Okabe
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Harry Kim •' '• '
Mayor Barbara J.Kossow
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25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
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March 15, 2017
Senator Clarence K. Nishihara, Chair
Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental
& Military Affairs
Hawai'i State Capitol
Honolulu, HI 96813
Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair
Committee on Agriculture & Environment
Hawai'i State Capitol
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chairs Nishihara, Gabbard, and Committee Members:
RE: HB 478, HD1
Relating to Public Safety
Thank you for this opportunity to support an agricultural program at the Kulani
Correctional Facility, HB 478, HD1.
Although Corrections is the kuleana of the State, I have long believed that the
County should take an active interest in the treatment of, and opportunities afforded to,
individuals who have been incarcerated. For that reason, in my first term as Mayor, I
recruited State and community partners and established the Going Home program,
which continues to operate informally today.
It is in everyone's interest that inmates return to their communities, after serving
their time, as well prepared as possible to be productive members of society. The kind
of training that a robust agricultural program could provide at Kulani would seem to be a
perfect fit.
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Nishihara/Gabbard
March 15, 2017
Page 2
I encourage passage of HB 478 with adequate funding to give the program a
chance to prove its value.
Resp ctfully submitted,
Harry Kim
Mayor
County of Hawaii
County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.