Honolulu moved one step closer Monday to raising taxes to pay for a
rail transit system. But it could still be derailed by public
opposition. Honolulu's general excise tax would go up by 1 percent --
to 5 percent.
Don't count on much public support if shoppers' opinions are any gauge.
Raising the excise tax by 1 percent would bring in an estimated $300
million a year -- first to build a transit system and then to run it.
Asked if he is willing to pay an extra 1 percent, Joseph Antone says,
"No because we paying already plenty; everybody suffering."
"I think it stinks because we already have to pay such high prices on
everything and we don't need any increase in taxes," says Astrid
Hildegard.
A state House committee Monday tentatively OK'd the new tax, with
support from Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. Rep. Neil Abercrombie wants
to see the rail system run from Kapolei to downtown.
"How the hell are you going to have the second city if you're not going
to have the transit line right there... I believe it would've passed
before if we had taken the thing and made the commitment to go out to
Ewa," testified Abercrombie.
Honolulu's rail system got derailed 13 years ago because it failed by a
single vote in the Honolulu City Council, for many of the same
objections people have now.
"We won't have any benefit from it until when -- 20 years from now?
It's not necessary," says Hildegard.
Even some Waianae coast residents doubt they would ride it.
"It's not going to help me that much; if I'm going to get on an express
bus I'm just going to stay on the express bus and I'll get into town
probably quicker that way," says Makaha resident Mark Suiso.
An environmentalist says a rail system would encourage overdevelopment.
"Are you going to put a rail right by Waimea and up to Sunset Beach so
people can get to Pipeline and maybe double-deck it or triple-deck it
so people can get there efficiently?" asked Henry Curtis of Life of the
Land.
The tax increase proposal still faces approval by several more
legislative committees.
