Rail

...Transit’s Precipitous Decline....

... we found $1.595B being siphoned off of Rail for non-rail purposes ....

.... CITYLAB --formerly Atlantic Cities-- covers the Honolulu rail boondoggle ....

...VIDEO: Grassroot Institute writer discusses audit of rail fiasco....

...Full Text: Letter to HART Boardmembers, Mayor and County Councilmembers from John Henry Felix....

... HART's current cost overrun is 93.4%, of which 1% is due to the two lawsuits ....

...City officials were accused of certifying financial statements in 2002 and 2003 that were false because they failed to disclose that the city was purposely underfunding....

...rail is like the cousin who is always hitting you up for money....

...rail leaders want to put $350 million on the city’s “credit card” to fund the project....

...HART stunned critics by cancelling a special audit that would have examined past cost overruns....

“It’s not my intent to muck around in the past.”

...a number of allegedly flagrant violations of the law including the following....

• July 14-- Capitol Auditorium

...‘We made a screwy stupid decision back then.’ And I think going forward, that’s what I would like to do, unless there’s some critical issue where we suspect there’s like fraud or embezzlement or something....

...Either Anderson did not understand how the GE Tax works, or he pretended not to....

...things could have turned out differently....

We hope that the Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General will be moved to mount a comprehensive fiscal and engineering audit of Honolulu rail ....

...Blood bank sues over city push to take land for rail.... 

... understated costs, overstated ridership, why it would be an environmental disaster, why it will use far more energy than cars, let alone buses ....

To what or whom should we be looking for leadership to get us out of this mess?

... this week, the rail board cancelled a special audit designed to show taxpayers why the costs have ballooned so high ....

...there has never been a full independent audit investigating the rail for fraud, waste and abuse....

...no specific dates have been set for the special session and no rail funding mechanism has been agreed upon....

Stuck in traffic? Panos Prevedouros will share traffic solutions that will free up our state's gridlock and get traffic flowing again....

...Representative Cynthia Thielen (H District 50 Kailua, Kaneohe Bay) assistant Minority Floor Leader, discusses the Honolulu rail project with Randall W. Roth, JD,LLM....

...McDermott calls for Special Session....

...it's something we should have done a long time ago....

...Tax Foundation of Hawaii v. State of Hawaii on Thursday, July 6, 2017, at 11:15 AM at the Supreme Court Courtroom....

...Hawaii Legislators pledge to Keep Shoveling Money to Silicon Valley Billionaires like Elon Musk....

...boom over, Honolulu down 300 jobs....

...Law professor Randy Roth, who has a long history advocating for the public good, appears on E Hana Kakou with Dr. Akina to discuss why it is time to hold our government leaders responsible for the progress of the Rail....

But signs in the media, the Legislature and the governor’s office all point to a special session this summer where the tax hikes are likely to materialize....

“During the time that Ember served as managing director, she oversaw the city’s capital budget and program – billions of dollars of construction projects...."

...To perpetuate the legacy (Railroad) of the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye....

Today's Star-Adv Labels what many consider a sensible decision as an “Epic Fail” in screaming all-caps....

...Shut up or we’ll make you pay for rail too....

...the Senate remains open to negotiate an agreement with the House to ensure adequate financing to complete the project, yet minimize the impact on the most vulnerable citizens of the community....

...the lack of dissent allows tax-and-spend policies to move smoothly through the Hawaii Legislature...until....

...Construction employment in Urban Honolulu dropped 4% from 28,400 in March, 2016 to 27,200 in March, 2017 for a net loss of 1,200 jobs....

...Shifting Burden to Hotels Will Hurt Tourism and Employment....

...the Final Environmental Impact Statement concluded that rail would reduce traffic congestion by less than 2% and that “traffic congestion will be worse in the future with rail than what it is today....

...Caldwell introduces bill authorizing city to extend GET surcharge to pay for rail construction....

...an additional $1.2 billion funding package for the City’s financially troubled rail project....

“This shows that the city is committed to funding and completing the rail project,” said Mayor Caldwell....

...city officials feel they have been given the green light to get the project finished, whatever the eventual cost might be....

...this project started with a rock solid $5.3 billion projection cost....

...the Honolulu rail boondoggle, Hoopili traffic impacts, smart city street intersections and rapid transit with Panos Prevedouros....

“Due to the at-risk private capital, Public-Private Partnerships often result in lower costs, less risk, and faster delivery....