2025-01-16 Kevin Hill - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Akuakea To: WPCtestimonv; LPCtestimonv Subject: General Plan Written Testimony. Comments on"Stakeholder"defention Date: Thursday,January 16,2025 6:25:38 PM January 16, 2025 Aloha planning commissioners—thank you for your service! As a follow up to testimony today I wanted to affirm the vitality of this body and exhort and empower you to see yourselves as the source of the greatest influence, because you are closest to the people. Lawful governance is at the lowest level, not from the CEO down, but from the people up—and you are hearing the people speak loud and clear. The jury in our culture has been weakened by attorneys playing word games; you will hear our courts reference 'Jury Trial' but that is a different structure than 'Trial by Jury'! Sounds the same but in law they are dramatically different. The 7th amendment refers to the latter. A jury, formed by ones peers, not restricted by a judge or opposing attorney for language or information they want to strike —the Jury is tasked, as lay- people -normal every day Peers—to decide on what is TRUE. And to quote the 7th amendment, '...and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the Unites States, than according to the rules of common law'. That means that when we the people speak, the Supreme Court can't over-rule it! I share that simply to illustrate the power of this body, closest to the people and since we are now being sworn in your role as JURY is emphasized. Further, of the hundreds of testifiers; virtually all are saying the same thing. Push PAUSE and give the people REAL say on the document that will affect our next 20 years more than any other. Your task, as Jurists is to uphold the law and represent the people. The LAW is the highest law of the land and the law of conscience— not some statute, code or ordinance—they are NOT laws and only have the force of law with the informed consent of the people. I don't consent to being governed by codes and policies especially when the contradict the highest law of the land, let alone that of the Creator. Your task, as honored volunteers— sincerely I appreciate you, is to discover, beyond a reasonable doubt whether or not this document: 1. Represents the will of those who will be affected by it. 2. Is consistent with the laws of the land and the laws of conscience. Seems pretty self-evident from the couple hundred testimonies I've heard that that answer is a resounding 'NO"! I don't understand the policies that may seem to limit your actions; Mr Darrow inferred that the process cannot be stopped, only 'RECOMMENDATIONS' can given to the County Council. What I want, what I believe the island wants is for you to not make recommendations, that may or may not be honored by our council, but to make systemic changes to the spirit and foundation of the document. Much of the progress in development of this plan happened during a time of government created lock-downs, limitations on meeting, and travel. We are aware now, the public is finally getting to read the document (Only since July!). Its grass roots awakening to the content of this most important document; not the County. Nobody got a direct mailing or a note with their property tax bill -which could have happened for the same postage stamp - so lets give it the time to be a document that represents us and our needs. We're here, maybe later than hoped but let us create the plan we can thrive with!