April 28, 2021

Councilmember Alice Lee, Chair
Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Vice Chair
Maui County Council
200 S. High Street, 8th Floor
Wailuku, HI 96793

Re: STATEMENT OF THE ILWU LOCAL 142 ON THE MAUl COUNTY PROPOSED 2022
REAL PROPERTY TAX RATES & BUDGET

Dear Council Member Lee and Council Member Rawlins-Fernandez:

The ILWU Local142 represents over 7,000 hard working men and women in the hospitality industry
throughout Maui County and the employers in the hospitality industry that our members work for
provide great benefits such as health care and retirement and offer good wages.

These jobs allow our members and other workers to stay afloat, provide for their families and live a
good quality life. It is because of these jobs the economy was strong on Maui but unfortunately due
to the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis, these jobs have been temporarily and permanently lost. Some
of these jobs will return but others may take months or even years until the hotel industry is back to
full employment. In the meantime, we must do all we can to encourage job growth to lessen the
economic pain many working families are currently experiencing.

This means, we cannot overly tax the hotel industry which is also economically suffering. For nearly
12 months, many of the hotels were shut down on Maui and are just now reopening but it will take
years for the industry to heal. At one point, Maui County had a staggering 37 percent unemployment
rate and today the number is still above 10 percent. Workers are still struggling, and we need to do
all we can to get workers back to work and heal the economy.

And to be clear, we are not opposed to economic diversification, but we also want to make it clear
other industries on Maui simply cannot employ the magnitude of workers the hotel industry can.
When the time is ready, workers will need to go back to work. We need to stabilize the economy and
work our way out of an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression. Overly taxing the hotel
industry sends a wrong message and could keep workers further unemployed causing additional
economic pain.

We are asking for the tax rate on hotels to be at $9.37 to help stimulate our local economy and
ensure workers are able to return. At this time, we must do all we can to encourage job growth.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Sincerely,

Roberto Andrion
Division Director
ILWU Local142, Maui Division

TESTIMONY

By David DeLeon
April 28, 2021

Re: Opposition to a Proposed Budget Item for $150,000 of Additional Funding to the Maui County Charter Commission

Thank you for this opportunity to testify in opposition to the proposed $150,000 in additional funding for the Charter Commission in the proposed 2021-22 budget. The only thing that is worse than the waste of the taxpayers’ money, is the use of county funding for obvious political purposes. This proposed appropriation is either one or the other.

BACKGROUND: I am David DeLeon (335 Waiama Way, Haiku) and a member of the 2021-22 Charter Commission. This testimony is offered as a Citizen of the County and does not represent the Commission or anyone besides myself. I was also a member of the 2011-12 Charter Commission; staffed the 2001-02 Charter Commission for the then-Mayor; and was the appointments-to-boards-and-commissions manager for 12 years for two Maui mayors. My experience with Maui County started in 1979 – as a news reporter, and continued as executive staff to two mayors, and as the Government Affairs Director for the Realtors Association of Maui. In all my 42 years of experience with Maui County I have never seen a county board or commission as remotely political as the current Charter Commission. It apparently reflects the reality that the concept of the County being a non-partisan government has been displaced by a new, very political model.

A WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS: One possibility explanation for the “Community Engagement” element of this appropriation is that it is based on a naïve belief that one can diligently wring the mana’o out of the community. The proposal calls for a very deep inter-action with the “community” by a professional or an agency representing the Charter Commission. The depth of the work proposed is on par with Maui Economic Development Board’s Focus Maui Nui project (late 1990s) or the Maui Island Plan engagement process. Both took years and the work of numerous professionals to achieve the type of community input that this effort proposes to achieve in six months. (Actually, the Maui Island Plan took 13 years.) After such a proposal would clear procurement, the Commission would have at most nine months to make use of the services offered. The chances that the general, non-political community would engage are remote at best: most residents will not spend their precious time and energy on something that seems so nerdy, obscure, and that has to them no obvious impact on their daily lives. So good luck, creating a major community-wide debate on even the most salient charter issues.

This proposal is for $100,000 to set up and run this elaborate community engagement scheme. What the Commission actually does need is a media specialist to get out press releases on important issues that the Commission is addressing; someone who will be objective and not a partisan; and capable of explaining how citizens can bring their mana’o to the Commission. This would not be a full-time position, and I can not imagine this service costing more than $25,000. No previous Charter Commission has had such a media/public relations compacity, let alone what is being proposed in this appropriation. I filled in some of those press release chores for the 2011-12 Commission, while serving as a commission member.

To give you an idea of how out of whack this proposal is: The Commission has accepted the services of renown Legal Scholar and UH Law Professor Sherry Broder to act as the Commission’s Legal Analyst. Her requested compensation: $25,000. When the Commission sat for its first meeting, it was informed that its budget for all of its work would be $100,000.

One more thought on this line of reasoning: who actually is going to manage this individual/agency’s work? The Commission? A group of 11 volunteers who meet twice a month? Corporation Counsel? What could go wrong?

OR THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO USE COUNTY FUNDS TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION OUTCOME OF PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENTS

That’s a bold statement to make, but it is entirely conceivable given the bright political line dividing this Commission. From the start the Commission’s majority – appointed by the ruling majority of the County Council – have voted in almost lock step. And they appear to be absolutely aligned with Council majority’s charter ambitions. This is an abandonment of non-partisanship in favor of a power play and is absolutely different than normal County Commissions – including past Charter Commissions – in which a collection of talented citizens nominated by the Mayor and approved by the Council gather together to discuss ways to improve the function of the County. There has never been a political fault line before: just citizens gathering to do their civic duty.

As noted above, this proposal does not match reality and is not anywhere near realistic, even without the time constrains. The Commission’s majority does not appear concerned that proposal won’t work as described. These are six akamai citizens who know what they are doing. Their vote on this matter has remained locked and, to me, it seemed clear that the decision on this matter had been made before the Commission met on it.

Actually, the majority may not be that interested in the front end of the program, in any case. The proposal states “maximize citizen engagement throughout the Commission’s duration and through amendment ratification on the November 2022 ballot.” This suggests the actual purpose of this program and appropriation is to create a constituency and advocacy for whatever proposals the Commission generates. Given the Commission’s clear majority – representing the interests of the political entity (political party?) both the Council’s majority and Commission’s majority belong to -- those charter proposals can be expected to favor the Council majority and their party. They may be narrowly approved by the Commission and if so, will likely need help surviving the election. That help could come from anywhere, but it should not come from the County itself. But that is the scenario this proposal sets up: Maui County taxpayer funds used to benefit a political party’s charter goals. Is that legal? I don’t know, but I do know that it is not a righteous use of taxpayers’ dollars.

FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A LEGAL DUEL OVER WHAT?
In these tough times, there are a lot of hurting residents. Think of all the good you could do with $50,000. Wasting it on a legal duke-out over some obscure legal question is not wise use of the County’s resources and a waste of time. And time is ticking for this Commission. There have been legitimate interesting issues already raised by the public that the Commission could commence working on now, including those from the Council. Instead we seem focused on legal parlor games. Please reject this appropriation, so we can get down to our actual business.

Mahalo for your attention to this statement.

Cc: Mayor Michael Victorino
The State Attorney General
The Maui News
Honolulu Civic Beat
Maui County Charter Commission

Testimony received from BFED Committee.

Maui Ohana Gardens

Aloha,

I'm writing to express enthusiasm and gratitude towards Maui Ohana Gardens. Their educational webinars regarding food islands for medicine and most importantly food security are amazing. The speaker, Jenny Pell, as well as other members have helped me so much.

Mahalo,

Michael Hemmat

Please fund Ohana Gardens

Aloha,

I wanted to reach out personally and ask that the County of Maui continue to fund Ohana Gardens. Recently I was able to see their work in action and learn from them.

Ohana Gardens has taught me how to grow an island garden to maintain food security for myself and my domestic partner. Their work in our community needs to be continued and expanded.

The work they are doing is imperative for our community and sustainability. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Warmest Mahalo,

Jill Mayo
808.250.8772
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. ~ Helen Keller

Maui 'Ohana Gardens Projects

To whom this may concern,

I am writing to you today to urge you to continue to support Maui 'Ohana Project who has been working with our local community to increase food security here on Maui. I have participated in their virtual online workshops, which offer a plethora of wonderful information and have supported me greatly in creating a garden from which I can grow my own food and share with others. Even though I have done this on a small scale I am excited to continue my journey with them and learn as much as I can.

They are truly a blessing for the community and I hope that the county continues to support them in creating a food secure Maui.

An enthusiastic and grateful community member.

Suzy Medios