Heard them discussing this on NPR (or maybe it was on HNN) this morning.  Something about how the rail will boost overall tourism to Hawaii and that will translate to more visitors to neighbor islands.  But that's also not quite how funds are distributed.

I was unaware people travel to vacation spots just to ride public transportation.  Japanese visitors already get plenty of that in their country.   

Heard them discussing this on NPR (or maybe it was on HNN) this morning.  Something about how the rail will boost overall tourism to Hawaii and that will translate to more visitors to neighbor islands.  But that's also not quite how funds are distributed.

Who the hell is going to fly 2,500 miles or more just to ride/see a rail system that is only 20 miles long? It's not even good for sightseeing. It is more likely they will go to Disneyland to ride the monorail. Our rail system is not an amusement park ride.

More lies.

Would anyone here fly all the way to Oakland just to ride BART? Or even better fly all the way to NYC just to ride the subway?

Stupid asses.

Who the hell is going to fly 2,500 miles or more just to ride/see a rail system that is only 20 miles long? It's not even good for sightseeing. It is more likely they will go to Disneyland to ride the monorail. Our rail system is not an amusement park ride.

More lies.

Would anyone here fly all the way to Oakland just to ride BART? Or even better fly all the way to NYC just to ride the subway?

Stupid asses.

To be clear (just in case and not really for you), I was more laughing at the discussion than anything else. 

I think they were trying to justify or rationalize via some sort of trickle effect.  Rail makes transportation more efficient, people are happier, spend more money, then attract more development, then better resorts, etc. 

I admit that I did seek a tour out in Japan that included the Shinkansen (bullet train).  And that was just because I had previous experience related to the bullet train, so I wanted to ride on it.  Though I wouldn't have rode the Shinkansen just to ride it.  It was on the return trip from a tour to Mt. Fuji.   

Local BI liberal POS rag had this today.  Are they so insane as to try this shit?

http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/looking-neighbor-islands-rail-money

IIRC, the people of Oahu did not want this crap, and now they want to tax other islands?

What next, have us subsidize the health care for Honolulu homeless?

What next, have us subsidize the health care for Honolulu homeless?

No need subsidize. We'll just send 'em over to you!!! 

What next, have us subsidize the health care for Honolulu homeless?

I'm pretty sure if you pay any state or federal taxes you are already doing that. Millions of dollars a year in uncompensated and Medicaid use by the homeless at just a few Oahu hospitals, etc.

News said there are 17,000 Micronesian people getting medical services in Hawaii, mandated by Federal law and Hawaii not being reimbursed by the Feds.  Millions of dollars and Ige and the Dumocrats want more people by making Hawaii a sanctuary.  The extent of their stupidity is mind boggling. 

News said there are 17,000 Micronesian people getting medical services in Hawaii, mandated by Federal law and Hawaii not being reimbursed by the Feds.  Millions of dollars and Ige and the Dumocrats want more people by making Hawaii a sanctuary.  The extent of their stupidity is mind boggling.

wow. that's some macro-level numbers
I'm guessing the main reason for trying to be a sanctuary city is to defy President Trump. The Democrats of this State offer no solutions just anti-Trump conjecture. That's all. What pisses me off is that that is not what my tax dollars pay for. I don't want a whiney kid in Congress. I want solutions no matter how you feel about the other party. Go to work

17,000?  I thought it was way more than that.  I'll have to see if a friend that works at IHS has numbers.

That was the number mentioned by Howard Dicus on HNN yesterday morning.

The legislative special session committee hearing on RAIL (basically the question is: "How are we going to tax these poor slob citizens to death in a way that they won't tar and feather us for lying to them about the rail project all these years while lining the pockets of our cronies?") will be this coming Monday morning August 14, at 10 AM. Given the 24 hour prior to the hearing deadline for submitting testimony, RIGHT NOW might be a good time to do it if you haven't already.

Testimony must be submitted 24 hours prior to the start of the hearing. Testimony must be submitted via email to the Senate Committee of Transportation and Energy at: TRETestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

I do not support rail, and never have supported the building of rail.  I knew from the start that this would be a scam for the people of this island, it would have never been any solution for traffic, and it would inevitably go WAY over budget.







DO NOT raise taxes for this disaster of a project.




I DO NOT wish to pay for this criminal enterprise, and I DO NOT want my children, grandchildren, nor great grandchildren paying for this for the rest of time.







DO NOT TAX FOR RAIL







Heavies




VOTER

Ewa Beach, Hawaii

it's sad to see how our elected officials could care less about what we think 
http://www.kitv.com/story/36215158/governor-and-lawmakers-react-to-new-rail-funding-ideas

"Will all the neighbor islands going to be happy, probably not. Will the hotel industry be happy, probably not. Are taxpayers happy the 1 or 2 percent extended another three years, probably not," Ron Kouchi, senate President said.

Was talking about this and how much a friend and I hate politics. They (well vast majority) only seem to serve themselves or whatever benefits them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

it's sad to see how our elected officials could care less about what we think 
http://www.kitv.com/story/36215158/governor-and-lawmakers-react-to-new-rail-funding-ideas

"Will all the neighbor islands going to be happy, probably not. Will the hotel industry be happy, probably not. Are taxpayers happy the 1 or 2 percent extended another three years, probably not," Ron Kouchi, senate President said.

Note the Schatz quote: "This was not easy and it is not done," Sen. Brian Schatz said.

He's previewing the NEXT urgent emergency legislative super special hearings to raise even more money in the near future, because, well, as we'll be told shortly "We just need more money... sorry about that. Oh, and just in case we didn't mention it, and you didn't know, fuck you."

Submit testimony by 3 PM TODAY (Sunday, August 27, 2017).

From the Republican Party email:

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means has announced their hearing for this coming Monday, August 28th, the time was originally set for 11am, however it has been changed to 3:00 pm!
 
There was also a change to the bill number; originally SB1 changed (good idea for those of you who remember SB1 (Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013)) to SB4 (Relating to Government). [http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indivSS.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=4&year=2017a to see .gov info]. Additionally SB4 only deals with the GET extension (Bill text here), which most likely means the House will propose another bill to address the TAT increase and distribution.  SB4 key points include:

Establishes Mass Transit Special Fund
State skim cut from 10% to 1%.
GET extended to 2030.
Calls for an annual audit by the State Auditor.
HART must provide a Certification Statement to the State Comptroller before release of any funds.
Four new full time hires by the State Finance Director.
Gives State Comptroller authority to contract with outside agencies to effectuate the purpose of SB4.
Testimony for the Senate Committee on Ways and Means hearing may be submitted up to 24 hours prior to the start of the hearing (which would be by 3:00pm tomorrow Sunday, August 27th). Persons wishing to testify should submit testimony in one of the following ways:

     Email:

WAM-WrittenOnly@capitol.hawaii.gov if you are ONLY submitting written comments and will NOT be testifying in person;

WAM-InPerson@capitol.hawaii.gov if you are ALSO going to testify at the hearing in person;

     In person: Deliver 1 copy of your testimony to the committee clerk, Room 208, State Capitol.

     Via Fax: Testimony may be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to 586-6951 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands).

Submit testimony by 3 PM TODAY (Sunday, August 27, 2017).

From the Republican Party email:

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means has announced their hearing for this coming Monday, August 28th, the time was originally set for 11am, however it has been changed to 3:00 pm!
 
There was also a change to the bill number; originally SB1 changed (good idea for those of you who remember SB1 (Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013)) to SB4 (Relating to Government). [http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indivSS.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=4&year=2017a to see .gov info]. Additionally SB4 only deals with the GET extension (Bill text here), which most likely means the House will propose another bill to address the TAT increase and distribution.  SB4 key points include:

Establishes Mass Transit Special Fund
State skim cut from 10% to 1%.
GET extended to 2030.
Calls for an annual audit by the State Auditor.
HART must provide a Certification Statement to the State Comptroller before release of any funds.
Four new full time hires by the State Finance Director.
Gives State Comptroller authority to contract with outside agencies to effectuate the purpose of SB4.
Testimony for the Senate Committee on Ways and Means hearing may be submitted up to 24 hours prior to the start of the hearing (which would be by 3:00pm tomorrow Sunday, August 27th). Persons wishing to testify should submit testimony in one of the following ways:

     Email:

WAM-WrittenOnly@capitol.hawaii.gov if you are ONLY submitting written comments and will NOT be testifying in person;

WAM-InPerson@capitol.hawaii.gov if you are ALSO going to testify at the hearing in person;

     In person: Deliver 1 copy of your testimony to the committee clerk, Room 208, State Capitol.

     Via Fax: Testimony may be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to 586-6951 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands).

Done and shared

I DO NOT support any tax increase, extention, nor further funding for the failed and corrupt rail project. 


Furthermore, I DEMAND an investigation on this debacle, and all parties involved prosecuted, to the fullest extent of the law, for criminal fraud of the taxpaying citizens of the city and county, and this state.


This project was a scam from the start, of NO practical use for the citizens of this city, and a complete fraudulent waste of tax dollars.


(Heavies)

Ewa Beach

Taxpayer and VOTER

I wonder if ANY of these politicians would ride the rail to commute.

This is what happens when people don't vote.

Let's talk about fixing it once some high level people are behind bars.

I wonder if ANY of these politicians would ride the rail to commute.

This is what happens when people don't vote.

They won't because the train doesn't go to Hawaii Kai, Kailua, and Lanikai.

Let's talk about fixing it once some high level people are behind bars.

See, we can and do agree on some things.