Investigate the political corruption, fraud, and abuse involving the Honolulu Rail project
Investigate the political corruption, fraud, and abuse involving the Honolulu Rail project
The Issue
The largest scam in our Hawaii State history is still in full swing. Federal and Hawaii taxpayers are being scammed by local and national level politicians in what is an obvious - pay to play - financially out of control RAIL project. The purpose of this petition is two-fold:
1. To request Federal assistance in "immediately halting" future payments to the State and City and County of Honolulu, for this specific project. Halt this project before our lower and middle-class citizens are crushed under the weight of repeated demands for additional tax money.... instead of this project being run with the intent for it to be self-sustaining... it is being run like a perpetual white elephant insider slush fund...
2. To request that a National level independent entity conduct an investigation and put a spotlight on... into the fraud, corruption, waste, and abuse associated with this project, specifically:
A. Fraud is defined as the deliberate deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain. In 2005, the Mayor of Honolulu, asked for the State legislature to get local taxpayers to pay for a RAIL system, that then was quoted at a price of 3 Billion dollars. Given that the project is heading over 10 Billion, what we are observing is the project turning into a "Bait and Switch" fraud. Contrary to what local politicians would have you think, the taxpayers in 2008, DID NOT approve or authorize a 10 Billion dollar RAIL project.
Author: Ken Chang, Kaneohe, Honolulu Advertiser, 3 November 2016
B. Out of control financial plan and local taxpayers are bearing the burden..... Statistical models done by the firm tasked with management oversight of Honolulu’s rail project show that a 20-mile line from East Kapolei to Ala Moana could cost as much as $10.79 billion.
Out of Control - Financial Plan - No Accountability
Author: Gordon Pang, Honolulu Advertiser, 23 June 2016
C. Political Corruption and Financial Conflicts of Interests... Honolulu Ethics Commission ruled that key City Council votes enabling the projects should not be overturned…. Kioni Dudley argued that City Council members should have disclosed campaign contributions that they received from developers and others — who stood to profit from the projects — as potential conflicts of interest prior to voting on bills that extended the rail tax surcharge and gave zoning approval to the master- planned housing project in Ewa that’s being developed by D.R. Horton.
Honolulu Ethics Commission Refuses to Clean up the Mess
Author: Sophie Cocke, Honolulu Advertiser, 22 December 2016
D. Misleading the public into thinking RAIL is energy efficient.... (= Fraud)... While the Final EIS makes blanket statements about rail being energy efficient and even gives energy usage data, it contains no evidence that it has done anything other than pull numbers out of the air. The only reference is to the Air Quality and Energy Use Technical Memorandum but that is no better in providing sources. If the City had proof that its rail line would be more energy efficient then automobiles, their arguments would be well documented; they are not.
Misleading the Public into thinking RAIL is energy efficient
Author: Unknown, Honolulu Traffic.com
E. After the recent resignation of the HART board chair, and then the HART executive chair resignation (with his golden parachute intact).. the real person who promised the Hawaii taxpayers that the project would remain "on time and on budget" is still barely holding on to power... and should be removed from office.. for mismanagement and incompetence.
Caldwell ran for mayor promising the project would be built “on time and on budget.”
But the project is running over a billion dollars over budget, having swelled from a total anticipated price tag of $5.2 billion in 2012 to $6.6 billion this year. Only 16 percent of voters feel good about the project, according to a recent Civil Beat poll.
Mismanagement and Incompetence
Author: Anita Hofschneider, Honolulu Civil Beat, 29 February 2016
F. Outdated technology, out of control financial plan, and a waste of taxpayer dollars.... "HART Acting Director Brennon Morioka said the $9.5 billion figure was developed over the past few months as the agency put together the draft plan and that it had not been released to the public before"
Author: Unknown, West Hawaii Today, 4 December 2016
G. Quality of materials, safety, and workmanship questionable by experts... Now more than 2,100 shims are showing cracks. More than 100,000 will be needed along the built line so far, and about half are already in place.
Expect that the problems we see now with RAIL - are ONLY the TIP of the iceberg
Author: Gina Mangieri, KHON 2 News, 29 September 2016
H. Waste and ineffective use of resources (at 3 Billion dollars)... now 10 Billion plus and rising... taxpayers to "continue" taking it squarely on the chin... Rail was a bad idea at a cost of 3 Billion. Now that the likely cost is three times higher, the choice is clear.
Author: Dr. Panos Prevedouros, Hawaii Reporter, 30 August 2016
I. Failure of local government transparency with hidden agendas (squeeze more money out of the local taxpayers):
Closed Door Sessions = Hidden Agendas = Bad for Taxpayers
Author: Nick Grub, Civil Beat, 24 February 2015
J. Abuse of local taxpayers... by those with a financial interest in the game... = Pay to Play... unjust, corrupt, or wrongful practice or custom.
The construction industry that lobbied so hard and manipulated the last mayoral election, is making out like a bandit.
Construction Industry profiting on the backs and expense of average citizens
Author: Joseph W. Turban, Makakilo
K. Falsification or improper preparation of Environmental Impact Statements... a State endangered bird, the Pueo, and it's habitat, are being bulldozed over... RAIL and Hoopili developers claim (according to EIS) that the “State Endangered Pueo (short-haired Owl) DOES NOT exist on the Ewa Plain. While we have clear evidence to the contrary.... State continues to drag their feet in providing protection while more Pueo and Pueo habitat are destroyed.... to the point of NO recovery... this is totally unacceptable and culturally insensitive to Hawaiians who consider the Pueo, a family Aumakua (deity or protector).
STOP destroying the Pueo and Pueo habitat.. The Smoking Gun
Author: Tom Berg, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, 7 October 2016
L. Total ignorance of the local "elected" community leaders concerns.... against RAIL, against Ho'opili, against the Ewa Development Plan... Ignorance of the local community desire in protecting the State Endangered Bird, the Pueo.... is anyone listening ? ... Obviously NOT...
Kapolei-Makakilo Neighborhood Board Passes Resolutions Opposing Ho’opili and Ewa Development Plan
Politicians ignorant of the local elected community leaders concerns
Author: Kalani Capelouto, 13 September 2013
M. Politicians and government entities ignored the Hawaii State Constitution (legal) requirement to protect Important Agriculture Lands (IAL)... in exchange for political favors and political contributions.... = corruption.... and these actions to destroy this valuable Ag land make the people MORE dependent on unions (ocean vessels and containerships), to bring in more food from the US mainland, which is totally contrary to making the people in Hawaii self-sustainable.
If we missed any other major points, feel free to let us know, and we can tack them on here at the end... Respectfully, Citizens Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (CAFWA).
475
The Issue
The largest scam in our Hawaii State history is still in full swing. Federal and Hawaii taxpayers are being scammed by local and national level politicians in what is an obvious - pay to play - financially out of control RAIL project. The purpose of this petition is two-fold:
1. To request Federal assistance in "immediately halting" future payments to the State and City and County of Honolulu, for this specific project. Halt this project before our lower and middle-class citizens are crushed under the weight of repeated demands for additional tax money.... instead of this project being run with the intent for it to be self-sustaining... it is being run like a perpetual white elephant insider slush fund...
2. To request that a National level independent entity conduct an investigation and put a spotlight on... into the fraud, corruption, waste, and abuse associated with this project, specifically:
A. Fraud is defined as the deliberate deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain. In 2005, the Mayor of Honolulu, asked for the State legislature to get local taxpayers to pay for a RAIL system, that then was quoted at a price of 3 Billion dollars. Given that the project is heading over 10 Billion, what we are observing is the project turning into a "Bait and Switch" fraud. Contrary to what local politicians would have you think, the taxpayers in 2008, DID NOT approve or authorize a 10 Billion dollar RAIL project.
Author: Ken Chang, Kaneohe, Honolulu Advertiser, 3 November 2016
B. Out of control financial plan and local taxpayers are bearing the burden..... Statistical models done by the firm tasked with management oversight of Honolulu’s rail project show that a 20-mile line from East Kapolei to Ala Moana could cost as much as $10.79 billion.
Out of Control - Financial Plan - No Accountability
Author: Gordon Pang, Honolulu Advertiser, 23 June 2016
C. Political Corruption and Financial Conflicts of Interests... Honolulu Ethics Commission ruled that key City Council votes enabling the projects should not be overturned…. Kioni Dudley argued that City Council members should have disclosed campaign contributions that they received from developers and others — who stood to profit from the projects — as potential conflicts of interest prior to voting on bills that extended the rail tax surcharge and gave zoning approval to the master- planned housing project in Ewa that’s being developed by D.R. Horton.
Honolulu Ethics Commission Refuses to Clean up the Mess
Author: Sophie Cocke, Honolulu Advertiser, 22 December 2016
D. Misleading the public into thinking RAIL is energy efficient.... (= Fraud)... While the Final EIS makes blanket statements about rail being energy efficient and even gives energy usage data, it contains no evidence that it has done anything other than pull numbers out of the air. The only reference is to the Air Quality and Energy Use Technical Memorandum but that is no better in providing sources. If the City had proof that its rail line would be more energy efficient then automobiles, their arguments would be well documented; they are not.
Misleading the Public into thinking RAIL is energy efficient
Author: Unknown, Honolulu Traffic.com
E. After the recent resignation of the HART board chair, and then the HART executive chair resignation (with his golden parachute intact).. the real person who promised the Hawaii taxpayers that the project would remain "on time and on budget" is still barely holding on to power... and should be removed from office.. for mismanagement and incompetence.
Caldwell ran for mayor promising the project would be built “on time and on budget.”
But the project is running over a billion dollars over budget, having swelled from a total anticipated price tag of $5.2 billion in 2012 to $6.6 billion this year. Only 16 percent of voters feel good about the project, according to a recent Civil Beat poll.
Mismanagement and Incompetence
Author: Anita Hofschneider, Honolulu Civil Beat, 29 February 2016
F. Outdated technology, out of control financial plan, and a waste of taxpayer dollars.... "HART Acting Director Brennon Morioka said the $9.5 billion figure was developed over the past few months as the agency put together the draft plan and that it had not been released to the public before"
Author: Unknown, West Hawaii Today, 4 December 2016
G. Quality of materials, safety, and workmanship questionable by experts... Now more than 2,100 shims are showing cracks. More than 100,000 will be needed along the built line so far, and about half are already in place.
Expect that the problems we see now with RAIL - are ONLY the TIP of the iceberg
Author: Gina Mangieri, KHON 2 News, 29 September 2016
H. Waste and ineffective use of resources (at 3 Billion dollars)... now 10 Billion plus and rising... taxpayers to "continue" taking it squarely on the chin... Rail was a bad idea at a cost of 3 Billion. Now that the likely cost is three times higher, the choice is clear.
Author: Dr. Panos Prevedouros, Hawaii Reporter, 30 August 2016
I. Failure of local government transparency with hidden agendas (squeeze more money out of the local taxpayers):
Closed Door Sessions = Hidden Agendas = Bad for Taxpayers
Author: Nick Grub, Civil Beat, 24 February 2015
J. Abuse of local taxpayers... by those with a financial interest in the game... = Pay to Play... unjust, corrupt, or wrongful practice or custom.
The construction industry that lobbied so hard and manipulated the last mayoral election, is making out like a bandit.
Construction Industry profiting on the backs and expense of average citizens
Author: Joseph W. Turban, Makakilo
K. Falsification or improper preparation of Environmental Impact Statements... a State endangered bird, the Pueo, and it's habitat, are being bulldozed over... RAIL and Hoopili developers claim (according to EIS) that the “State Endangered Pueo (short-haired Owl) DOES NOT exist on the Ewa Plain. While we have clear evidence to the contrary.... State continues to drag their feet in providing protection while more Pueo and Pueo habitat are destroyed.... to the point of NO recovery... this is totally unacceptable and culturally insensitive to Hawaiians who consider the Pueo, a family Aumakua (deity or protector).
STOP destroying the Pueo and Pueo habitat.. The Smoking Gun
Author: Tom Berg, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, 7 October 2016
L. Total ignorance of the local "elected" community leaders concerns.... against RAIL, against Ho'opili, against the Ewa Development Plan... Ignorance of the local community desire in protecting the State Endangered Bird, the Pueo.... is anyone listening ? ... Obviously NOT...
Kapolei-Makakilo Neighborhood Board Passes Resolutions Opposing Ho’opili and Ewa Development Plan
Politicians ignorant of the local elected community leaders concerns
Author: Kalani Capelouto, 13 September 2013
M. Politicians and government entities ignored the Hawaii State Constitution (legal) requirement to protect Important Agriculture Lands (IAL)... in exchange for political favors and political contributions.... = corruption.... and these actions to destroy this valuable Ag land make the people MORE dependent on unions (ocean vessels and containerships), to bring in more food from the US mainland, which is totally contrary to making the people in Hawaii self-sustainable.
If we missed any other major points, feel free to let us know, and we can tack them on here at the end... Respectfully, Citizens Against Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (CAFWA).
475
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Petition created on December 26, 2016