HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2021-51COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTY OF KAUA'I
~esolutton No. 2021-51
RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING THE INCREASING SCOURGE OF
DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGING HEIGHTENED
ENFORCEMENT WITHIN DRUG-FREE ZONES
WHEREAS, various County of Kaua'i departments and other partners have
undertaken to address the mounting hazards posed by activities relating to illicit
drugs in our community; and
WHEREAS, nationwide, law enforcement agencies and other groups have
raised concerns regarding the prevalence of increasingly deadlier substances, most
recently the synthetic opioid fentanyl; and
WHEREAS, fentanyl in particular is an extremely potent and deadly
substance; and
WHEREAS, drug use overall has become more frequent since the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, emergency service provider American Medical Response and the
Kaua'i Police Department have administered the anti-opioid medication Narcan on
at least twenty-three (23) occasions on Kaua'i to individuals suspected of suffering
from fentanyl overdoses since September 2021; and
WHEREAS, four (4) Kaua'i residents have died due to synthetic opioid
overdoses in 2021; and
WHEREAS, the injury or passing of any person due to drugs affects not only
that person directly, and not only his or her family and friends, but also the
community at large, including bystanders, first responders, or others who may
witness or hear of drug-related occurrences; and
WHEREAS, recent drug-related incidents on Kaua'i have occurred in and
around areas where our keiki-the most vulnerable and impressionable members of
our society-gather to learn and play; and
WHEREAS, designated areas are commonly identified as requiring special
protection, with heightened penalties for noncompliance, such as speeding in a school
zone or construction area (see Hawai'i Revised Statutes Section 291C-104); and
WHEREAS, Hawai'i Revised Statutes Section 712-1249.6 (Promoting a
controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, or public
housing projects or complexes) provides harsher punishments for those convicted of
specified drug-related distribution, possession with intent to distribute, or
manufacturing activities occurring in these sensitive public places; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF KAUA'I,
STATE OF HAWAI'I, that the Council seeks to continue collaboration with the Office
of the Mayor, Kaua'i Police Department, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Kaua'i
Fire Department, other law enforcement agencies and first responders, and partners
such as the State of Hawai'i Department of Education, to address this deadly threat.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council joins these partners in
seeking to raise awareness of this issue with the goal of shielding our youth from both
the dangers of direct drug use and the indirect emotional and social effects of being
exposed to drug activities in public places where they are entitled to feel especially
safe.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council reminds the public that
drug-related activities will not be tolerated, and heightened enforcement will be
sought for applicable offenses that occur in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public
parks, or public housing projects or complexes.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be sent to
Governor David Y. Ige, Senate President Ronald Kouchi, Representative Daynette
"Dee" Morikawa, Representative Nadine K. Nakamura, Representative James
Kunane Tokioka, Hawai'i County Council and Mayor Mitch Roth, Honolulu City
Council and Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Maui County Council and
Mayor Michael P. Victorino, County of Kaua'i Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, and
Hawai'i Department of Education Kaua'i Complex Area Superintendent Paul Zina.
Introduced by:
ALHO, JR.
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BILL DECOSTA
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Cert if itatt er ab option
We berebp certifp tbat l\esolution 1Fl,o. 2021-51
was abopteb hp tbe qrouncil of tbe qrountp of J!aua'i, ~tate of
1!,ab:lai'i, Jlibu'e, J!aua'i, 1!,ab:lai'i, on December 15, 2021.
1!lateb December 15,