News Release from www.FixOahuNow.com

By now many of you have received my fundraising letter. If not, please read it on FixOahuNow.com.

The math is very simple. In 2010 we garnered 19% of the vote after having a vibrant campaign with less than $100,000 for advertising. But if each of our 38,439 voters had contributed ten bucks we would have had the funds for competitive advertising and we could be mayor now!

In order to launch a 2012 campaign we need to raise funds that would allow us to win. This is where you come in. I need you to contribute what you can now and have your ohana contribute as well. Pass them this email and ask them to join our friends list and contribute when they can.

The alternative is that we’ll have to stay in the side lines. Potholes, water main breaks and sewer spills will fester for four more years given the current mayor’s single project focus. (Not to mention his appetite for new taxes.)

I recognize that family budgets are tight and that there are many worthy causes. What I offer you is an honest mayor who knows how to fix Oahu’s problems. What's it worth to you? Mahalo for giving it a thought.

If you have decided to contribute, please follow this LINK. If you prefer to send us a check, the address is as follows: Panos for Progress, PO Box 2504, Ewa Beach, HI 96706.

Onward now with the AIKEA for HONOLULU news!

We conclude that increased provision of roads or public transit is unlikely to relieve congestion. (University of Toronto Research for the U.S.) Their conclusion is spot on.  Subsidized public transit and free highways do not address traffic congestion.  Only "priced" roads such as HOT lanes with a congestion fee and incentives for carpooling and express buses relieve congestion.

Another installment of ... I am from the Government and I am here to help: EPA: 946 Pages to Regulate 0.5% of the Problem, LINK

Here is the local version of ... I am from the Government and I am here to help: Price of Rail Environmental Study Doubled! As exposed in Hawaii Reporter.

At the TEA Party 2011 I spoke of the fact that every place has problems. Problems are not the issue; they are part of life. The issue is developing sensible affordable solutions. Without such solutions, a problem becomes a PROBLEM... Which is the case with traffic congestion, road quality, sewers and water mains on Oahu. My 5 minute spiel is on YouTube.

Hawaii Reporter / KHVH NewsMakers: Rick Hamada asks 5 Questions of UH Professor Panos Prevedouros, YouTube soundtrack.

Construction crews are working on the rail project near Waipahu High School. Many think that construction for the city’s proposed elevated rail project has started but it’s not true as I explain in "Rail Still Facing Key Hurdles" in the Filipino Chronicle (page 8).

This ancient quote gives special meaning to History Repeating Itself: "The budget should be balanced. The treasury should be refilled. Public debt should be reduced. The arrogance of officialdom should be controlled. And the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." (Cicero, 55 BC)

If you own or work for a small business you ought to stay in touch with Smart Business Hawaii. Sign up for their informative weekly newsletter.

Channel 2 News report by Andrew Pereira: Transportation Committee Chairman Breene Harimoto has raised concerns about the ever evolving blue print that outlines how the city will pay for the $5.3 billion project. “I have a feeling public support for this project is waning,” said Harimoto.

Rich Ubersax, a retired executive from DuPont said: “What the city fails to point out is that there are 10 time periods under 5%, and 8 time periods under 3.5%.” “To select an annual growth rate of 7.3% in tax collections violates every principle of applied statistics, and based on history will just not happen.”

Council’s budget chairman Ernie Martin said that “It does seem pretty optimistic in terms of the annual GET projections.”

Councilmember Ikaika Anderson predicted it would be extremely difficult to convince a majority of the 76 lawmakers in the state House and Senate to extend the surcharge several more years.

But time and again, Harimoto, Martin and Anderson vote 'YES' to the ongoing waste of money and effort for the rail! Is their plan to sink enough money in order to reach a point of no return?

With my best wishes for the King Kamehameha long weekend.

Aloha!

Panos

PS—Garbage poll? The May 26 poll by Pacific Business News “Anti-rail sentiment dominates poll results” had the pro-rail lobby extremely worried. The City approved another $24,000 chunk of taxpayer money for a “proper” poll. The PB Americas poll “revealed” that 57% support rail. Here is why this survey is garbage:

• · In order for a survey to worth something, it needs to be representative of the population.
• · The gender split on Oahu is about 50-50 male/female.
• · The PB survey says that women support rail 52 to 48 percent; that’s 52% yes, 48% no.
• · The PB survey says that males do not support rail 49 to 51 percent; that’s 49% yes, 51% no.
• · If males and females were polled 50-50, then the result would be 50.5% yes, 49.5% no; a statistical dead heat.
• · I guess they included enough females in the poll until they got a number they liked!

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