Inside Honolulu: April 11
This week at City Hall, the big focus is spending. The City Council has two special budget meetings, plus a full council meeting to urge state lawmakers not to dip into the city’s rail savings. All this, while companies that lost in their bid for a lucrative rail contract with the city are putting up a fight. Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.
UPDATED 4/14/11 3:21 p.m.
Correction: An earlier version of this story inaccurately referred to the Ansaldo Honolulu proposal as worth $1.2 billion. The contract would guarantee Ansaldo $1.1 billion.
Bombardier Files Protest, Too
4:28 p.m.
The mayor’s press secretary, Louise Kim McCoy confirmed that Bombardier also filed a protest of the city’s decision to award a $1.1 billion core systems contract to Ansaldo Honolulu.
“The city has received the protests,” McCoy said. “The protests will be reviewed according to procurement law, and there is no further comment at this time.”
Sumitomo Files Protest
11:35 a.m.
Sumitomo Corporation of America today filed a protest of the city’s decision to award a $1.1 billion rail contract to another company, Ansaldo Honolulu.
鈥淥ur concerns have only intensified following our debriefing meeting with the City last Monday and as we thoroughly reviewed the documents that were made available to us,” wrote Gino Antoniello in a statement Monday. “The failure of the City to recognize and properly take into account the cost of the project over its total life-cycle will leave the Honolulu taxpayers with the burden of paying as much as $900 million more to operate and maintain the system.鈥
The other company not selected, Bombardier, also complained about the city’s commitment to “price realism.” Bombardier has until tomorrow to file a formal protest.
City Council Calls Special Meeting
10:05 a.m.
City Council members are planning to meet on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in a special full council meeting, to discuss the state’s management of city rail funds.
On : A resolution to urge the state not to take more than it needs from the city to process Honolulu’s GET surcharge. The tax increase was passed to help pay for the city’s proposed rail line.
City Council member Tom Berg to determine how much the state actually needs to process the tax collection. He and other City Council members have said the state is robbing the city by taking more than is necessary.
A press release issued by Berg’s office says the council member is “lashing out” in a bipartisan way, and hurling “verbal firebombs across Punchbowl Street from City Hall to the State Capitol.”
Wednesday morning’s special meeting promises to be a colorful one.
Senate Race Ripple Effect Could Reach City Hall
7:22 a.m.
Now that the race for Sen. Dan Akaka‘s seat is officially on 鈥斅燗kaka announced he is retiring in 2012, and Ed Case yesterday announced he’s running 鈥 a series of political decisions has been set into motion. Case’s candidacy also raises all kinds of questions.
When will Mufi Hannemann announce he’s running? Does former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle have her sights set on Washington?
Will Congresswoman Mazie Hirono throw her hat into the ring? If she does, will former Honolulu Managing Director and failed mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell run for her congressional seat? And what will that mean for the 2012 mayoral election?
Stay tuned.
Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu
April 8, 2011: City Council member Ernie Martin taps IBEW business manager for HART; Peter Carlisle distant from Big Island, Kauai mayors; Government leaders attend prayer breakfast.
April 7, 2011: Hawaii mayors issue joint response on tentative HGEA deal; Was Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle cut out of labor bargaining? U.S. Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood chats about Honolulu’s “light rail.”
April 6, 2011: City, state and other Hawaii counties agree to deal with HGEA; Council grows capital spending; City Council member asks for legal fees to fight administration.
April 5, 2011: Council member Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo says her deployment to Afghanistan is unlikely; HART nominees still not official; City cites $1.4 billion for Ansaldo contract.
April 4, 2011: Todd Apo and Don Horner surface as mayor’s possible picks for transit authority; Tom Berg nominates Panos Prevedouros for transit authority; State awaits results on more dengue cases; Losing rail bidders set for debriefs.
April 1, 2011: Gov. Neil Abercrombie taps former City Council candidate; GOP wants Nestor Garcia ethics investigation; Budget Chairman Ernie Martin schedules two special budget meetings.
