Action Alert:

Aloha, everyone.  The Honolulu Charter Commission will be taking action on Proposed Charter Amendment 17, which eliminates the popular Clean Water Natural Lands Fund.  (The same proposal also eliminates the Affordable Housing Fund and the Grants In Aid Fund).  The meeting agenda and Proposal 17 are attached.

Please save the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund - created by the people for the people! Please testify in opposition to Proposal 17 in person if you can or submit brief written testimony opposing Proposed Charter Amendment 17.

Talking points are below.  We need to defeat this proposal before it gets to the general election ballot in November.  Neighbor islanders, please feel free to kokua us on O‘ahu.  Please share this far and wide, and share with the affordable housing advocates too.  Mahalo nui loa!

Honolulu Charter Commission Meeting:
Monday, January 25, 2016 3:30 pm
Committee Room, Honolulu Hale

Where to Find Charter Proposals

<http://www.honoluluchartercommission.org/submitted-proposals>

Register to Testify

Persons wishing to testify are requested to register as follows:
a.  By 12 noon on the day of the meeting, emailing to <cclcharter@honolulu.gov> your name, phone number, and the agenda items; or
b.  By filling out the registration form in person at the meeting.

Written Testimony

Written testimony may be emailed by 12:00 noon of the day of the meeting to <cclcharter@honolulu.gov> for distribution at the meeting to members of the Charter Commission.

Talking Points

• I oppose Proposed Charter Amendment 17, which eliminates the Clean Water Natural Lands Fund and Affordable Housing Fund.
• The people overwhelmingly approved the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund by charter amendment in 2006.
• This popular fund has protected thousands of acres of undeveloped land on O‘ahu, including watersheds, forests, beaches, coastal areas, agricultural lands, outdoor recreation and education lands, properties of historic or cultural significance, habitats and ecosystems, buffer zones, land necessary to reduce erosion, floods, landslides, and runoff, and public access to public land and open space.
• Community groups, nonprofit organizations, agencies, and others may apply for funding for land acquisitions or conservation easements
• The CWNL Fund is supported by half a percent of the city property tax – less than one-tenth of one precent of the entire city budget.
• The fund has leveraged millions of federal, state, and private dollars for land acquisitions that otherwise may not have been possible.
• Some of the special wahi pana and other undeveloped lands protected or proposed to be protected by the CWNL Fund include:

*  ‘Aina Haina Nature Preserve
*  Hakipu‘u Lo‘i Kalo
*  Hawea Heiau Complex and Keawawa Wetland
*  Helemano Wilderness Recreation Area
*  Ka Iwi Coast Mauka Lands
*  Kalauao Valley
*  Kanewai Spring
*  Kukaniloko
*  Maunawila Heiau in Hau‘ula
*  Paiko Ridge
*  Papahana Kuaola in He‘eia
*  Pu‘ukua, Waimea Valley
*  Turtle Bay and Turtle Bay Mauka
*  Kahuku Golf Course area
*  Kahuku Mauka Agricultural Lands
*  Sunset Ranch
*  Whitmore Agricultural Lands