Leilani residents give council an earful

[Rob Tucker]

I was at the council chambers this morning and Council member O'Hara had arrange for lower Puna residents to testify to council on the ongoing situation. Council got an earful. A lot of emotional testimony and none of it happy with Civil Defence and their handling of the lava situation. Some of it was tearful. A common theme was that a stressful situation was made worse by they was residents were treated and are still treated.

A new thread was an ask for the CoH to abate property taxes for Pahoa and Volcano Village businesses who are struggling to survive. A lot of residential properties are now valued at zero. A lot of Pahoa and Volcano Village businesses have business down 80% or more. Lack of lava viewing opportunities are to blame.

They were all grateful to Eileen O'Hara for the opportunity to vent. The council mostly seemed attentive and empathetic nut what comes of it will remain to be seen.

There was so much testimony I couldn't wait any loinger to see what happened with the Bill 160 (truth) vote... but Leilani folks were complaining about wrong and bad information being at the root of their complaints.