HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

124

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING HAWAII TEVEVISION, RADIO AND PRINT MEDIA OUTLETS TO ADDRESS THE "NOT IN MY BACK YARD" (NIMBY) ATTITUDE IN HAWAII.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, homelessness is one of the State's most pressing problems; and

    

     WHEREAS, there are currently over 7,000 homeless individuals in the islands; and

 

     WHEREAS, the cost to Hawaii for homelessness is quite high, particularly for the chronically homeless and mentally ill. Because they have no regular place to stay, people who are homeless use a variety of public systems in an inefficient and costly manner. Preventing a homeless episode or ensuring a speedy transition into stable permanent housing can result in more positive outcomes and significant cost savings; and

 

     WHEREAS, 38% of all public costs for those who are unsheltered are healthcare costs. A study of hospital admissions of homeless people in Hawaii revealed that 1,751 adults were responsible for 564 hospitalizations and $4 million in admission costs. Their rate of psychiatric hospitalization was over 100 times their non-homeless cohort. It is estimated that the excess cost for treating these homeless individuals was $3.5 million or about $2,000 per person; and

    

     WHEREAS, these exorbitant costs affect all Hawaii taxpayers; and

 

     WHEREAS, until our economy improves, there will not be adequate affordable housing; and substance abuse treatment facilities are costly, thus we need housing for the chronically homeless, homeless shelters, homeless "safe zones" and homeless night-time parking lots; and

 

     WHEREAS, many times non-profit organizations and government agencies have proposed effective solutions for homelessness, such as mini-shelters, "safe zone" park camping, homeless parking lots, etc. only to be thwarted by neighbors of the proposed facilities; and

 

     WHEREAS, currently in Chinatown homeless people are sleeping in shop doorways and, because there are no public toilets, they are defecating on the sidewalk; and

     WHEREAS, in 2010 non-profits and lawmakers secured $10.6 million for a "housing first' project in Honolulu's Chinatown. However, over 200 Chinatown residents rallied against, and successfully stopped the project; and

 

     WHEREAS, the "housing first" project would actually have made the neighborhood cleaner and more respectable; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is currently a deleterious societal value of NIMBY (not in my backyard); and

    

     WHEREAS, oftentimes there are already homeless in a neighborhood, and the programs will eliminate any neighborhood problems, yet due to fear, neighbors resist effective programs; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaiian culture supports Ohana; and

    

     WHEREAS, it is a Hawaiian cultural value to accept all into one's Ohana; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is a Hawaiian value to see one's family as extended beyond the nuclear family; and

 

     WHEREAS, homelessness touches all of our lives, be it from loss of public services due to decline in state revenues, increased medical costs, or from our connection as a member of the larger Hawaii Ohana; and

 

     WHEREAS, media, including television, radio and newspapers are highly effective in changing social mores and outcomes; and

 

     WHEREAS, the media, through in-depth reporting, has brought many social issues to the forefront for community education and governmental action; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, urging Hawaii media to run PSAs and articles encouraging the people of Hawaii to recognize that the homeless are also part of our Ohana; and that properly run facilities should be allowed in all neighborhoods; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Honorable Neil Abercrombie, Governor; Mayors and Council Members of the four counties; Marc Alexander, Governor's Homeless Coordinator,

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the following television stations, requesting them to air anti-NIMBY PSAs: HAWAII NEWS NOW (KGMB TV/KHNL KFIVE), KHET, KHON TV, KITV; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to editors of the following newspapers, requesting them to air anti-NIMBY PSAs: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Maui News, The Garden Isle Newspaper, Hawaii Tribune Herald, Honolulu Weekly, Maui Weekly, Maui Time Weekly, West Hawaii Today, Fil-Am Courier, Hawaii Herald, Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, Ka Leo (UHM), Pacific Business News, Haleakala Times, Hawaii Island Journal, Lahaina News, Lana`i  Times, Maui Bulletin and Molokai Advertiser News.

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the following radio stations, requesting them to air anti-NIMBY PSAs:  Hawaii Public Radio, KAIM AM & FM, KCCN Radio, KDNN Radio, KHBZ Radio, KHNR Radio, KHVH Radio, KIKI Radio, KINE Radio, KNDI Radio, KRTR Radio, KSSK Radio, KUMU Radio, KZOO Radio, KAOI Radio Group, KPOA Radio Group, KNUI Radio and KKBG Radio

 

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Urging elimination of NIMBY