Classic smoke and mirrors techniques to get the project off the ground and worry about the rest later. HART knew this if not from day 1, they knew it on day 2. They go into these projects understanding this and knowing the problems that they will face. They have pre-planned contingencies for how to address issues when they arise. Very little is a true surprise.
The wheels were properly greased from the start so once the project started there was no stopping it. The Feds aren't going to do a damn thing either. Big business is not going to give a damn what any of us think and no oversight entity is going to resist the machine that is budgeted in the billions. Everyone is going to play ball, one way or another and money talks. The only way is if someone gets pissed off, or if their piece of the pie is lacking.
For this price tag, we could have had everything in the City, all infrastructure, roads, sewers, electric, parks, schools, etc, completely overhauled and had money left over. We can't provide air conditioned classrooms, but can pay for this pig of a project?
Also the phase "throwing good money after bad" comes to mind. We are going to be carrying the burdens of annual operating costs, long after we have been fleeced from the construction costs. AND they are purposely keeping the public in the dark as to what it will cost annually to operate. Guess who is going to pay for it? Yes they will have to break the news to the public sooner or later, but again it will be too late. They are going to hand each and every one of us a shit sandwich and you will have to eat it.
We seriously need an overhaul and anyone who cannot see this, is just as much a part of the problem as the Fat Cats in business and the politicians who are getting rich on it. The difference is they are getting rich and eating filet mignon and you are getting poorer and getting a shit sandwich to chew on.
Eat up.