HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-15 Letter to Joy A. San Buenaventura, Nadine K. Nakamura, Tom Brower and Scot Z. Matayoshi SB 1131, SD2 Relating to Ohana Zones (2)
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
March 15, 2019
Representative Joy A. San Buenaventura, Chair
Representative Nadine K. Nakamura, Vice Chair
Committee on Human Services and Homelessness
Representative Tom Brower, Chair
Representative Scot Z. Matayoshi, Vice Chair
Committee on Housing
Dear Chairs San Buenaventura and Brower, Vice Chairs Nakamura and Matayoshi, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 1131, SD2 Relating to Ohana Zones
Two bills dealing with Ohana Zones are still alive this legislative session. SB 1131, SD2 is the one
before you today. The other is a bill passed by the House earlier, HB 257, HD2.
SB 1131, SD2 is positive in that it broadens the scope of the Ohana Zones Pilot Program by increasing
the number of zones and extending the implementation period.
But HB 257, HD2 has an added provision that would allow for partnerships on private land, which is
critical flexibility that likely would provide an opportunity to expedite the construction of appropriate housing for
individuals experiencing homelessness. The Sacred Hearts and Hale Iki emergency housing projects on the
Island of Hawaiʻi are a direct result of two separate government and private sector partnerships that led to the
creation of thirty temporary housing solutions for survivors of the recent Kilauea eruptions.
I hope you will add the best features of HB 257, HD2 to a new draft of SB 1131. Increased flexibility
would be a positive way of implementing the pilot project and maximizing its potential for success.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR