Brittany Anderson

Environment / Energy Improve water delivery methods: Improve water delivery infrastructure to ensure every resident can access clean and safe water. Environment / Energy We need to protect our oceans and streams from wastewater contamination. Every family on the Big Island deserves safe and clean drinking water. Environment / Energy Repair water treatment facilities: Two out of the four EPA-sanctioned wastewater treatment facilities in Hawaii County are located in District 1. Despite an annual allocation for maintenance in the county's budget, the condition of these facilities continues to worsen. EPA inspectors have described our facilities as the worst they've ever encountered. It's high time we hold the responsible parties accountable and take immediate action to repair our wastewater system, preventing further sewage discharge into our waterways. Environment / Energy Support catchment testing: Supporting catchment water testing programs to guarantee the safety of non-municipal water sources, particularly in rural areas. Economy Increase access to animal processing-Increasing access to animal processing facilities ensures that locally-raised, high-quality meat is readily available, maintaining higher standards of quality and sustainability. Economy Fostering food hubs- Fostering food hubs consolidates locally produced goods, streamlining distribution and access for consumers while supporting small-scale producers. Economy Brittany is a farmer who believes that investing in local food systems strengthens community resilience, supports local farmers, and enhances the economy by keeping food production and consumption local. When elected to represent District 1 in the County Council, Brittany aims to draft bills that prioritize Hāmākua farmers and promote food security. Infrastructure / Transportation Brittany is committed to promoting an equitable distribution of infrastructure investments to ensure all communities, especially rural ones, receive the attention they need. Infrastructure / Transportation Let the keiki play: By working closely with communities in District 1, we can understand and meet the evolving needs of our neighborhoods, ensuring that everyone has access to beautiful, functional recreational spaces. Infrastructure / Transportation Functional facilities: In order to reduce vehicle traffic Public Transit will be expanded to include all public parks on the island, and facilities will be maintained to be in good working order. Infrastructure / Transportation Repairing and maintaining infrastructure- Rural infrastructure is crumbling which makes it harder for producers to get their product to market. Unpaved or closed roads and condemned bridges are a significant barrier to building farm infrastructure. Infrastructure / Transportation Advocate for paving all District 1 physical roads in limbo. Infrastructure / Transportation Investing in parks and rec staff: Hawaii County will invest in a significant expansion of public park infrastructure as well as the people who maintain it. Infrastructure / Transportation Initiatives to repair condemned bridges, safeguard vital connections within our communities, and enhance the safety of the Hāmākua Coast. Infrastructure / Transportation Commitment to pave rural roads, providing safer and more reliable access for residents and emergency services. Housing Approve Alternative Housing: Develop standards for trailers, tiny homes, camper vans, RVs, and yurts. These standards will promote safety while allowing owners to live as they choose. Housing Revise the Building Code: Review the existing building code collaboratively, involving licensed contractors, architects, and builders. This inclusive approach will ensure that the revised code considers our unique climate and removes as many unnecessary requirements as possible. By working together, we can create a code that is more practical, efficient, and responsive to the needs of our community. Housing Brittany will push for a permit amnesty program to bring unpermitted additions and improvements into permit status without penalty, addressing the regressive and punitive nature of the current permitting process. Housing Obtaining a permit for additions or building new houses can take months and sometimes years. Nearly every major industry struggles to find workers because housing costs have driven the living wage to unsustainable levels. We need to overhaul the system to make it work better for everyone. Housing 30-Day Permit Guarantee: The Planning and Building departments will have 30 working days to process permit applications. If a permit is submitted by a licensed architect or general contractor and is not fully processed in 30 working days the permitting will be automatically approved. Housing Luxury houses keep going up, and affordable family homes are disappearing. Hawaii County needs to refocus on prioritizing local families. Housing Codify Privacy and Private Property Protections: Provide clarity to county staff that both renters and property owners have a right to privacy in their own home. Further guarantee private landowners the right to live as they choose without fearing government persecution. Housing According to the University of Hawaii Economic and Research Organization, 58% of the cost of new housing is driven by regulation. That means a 600,000 home would cost 252,000 if it weren't for the planning and permitting process. The planning department needs to be guided in gutting its permitting process, which will bring the cost of new homes down immediately. Housing We plan to freeze property taxes for kūpuna on a fixed income. At 65, the taxes kūpuna homeowners pay on their primary residence will remain the same for life. This will not affect the county's budget but will help stabilize our community.