ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ

The largest and most expensive infrastructure project in the history of our state has cost the state billions so far, and may require billions more to finish.

As years have gone by, the community has seen a project with much promise and optimism falter and at times fall short.

The 2017 legislative session saw time after time Mayor Kirk Caldwell and other city officials flock to the Capitol to ask the state government for more funds to offset the massive shortfall.

A similar picture can be painted of the global financial crisis of 2008. We as Americans witnessed big banking executives flocking to the federal government with the help of then Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Congress as they hoped to get a bailout.

Watching on the television we witnessed arguments from both sides of the issue, railing against or in support of the bailouts. Many supported the bailouts because they felt if the big banks on Wall Street fell it would lead to an overall loss for the national and even global economy. The big, bloated banks became too big to fail.

As we pivot back to the infrastructure project in our state, we must ask ourselves, are we in the same situation?

Throughout the 2016 Honolulu mayor’s race we saw many residents supporting Caldwell, not because they wholeheartedly support rail, but because they felt that we have gotten this far so we might as well keep going.

Even though the project consistently incurs delays, and even though the price of the project only goes higher and higher, are we as citizens saying that we are willing to pay whatever and wait for whenever just to finish this project?

When we choose to increase taxes on everyone — not just the privileged few, but every citizen — we must ask ourselves if it is worth it. With the proposal given to us by the mayor, a millionaire will pay the same tax and amount for a loaf of bread as a single mother with three jobs.

Is this great state of Hawaii still a hub for progressivism if we stand for a project that is too big to fail, just like the big banks in Wall Street?

Are we really willing to pay whatever and do whatever to finish this project?

When you look to see who is benefitting from this project, you see contractors who might as well line their pockets with gold. These are the people with the most to gain in this situation because they are the ones that receive the tax money constantly shoveled to them.

Is this who we should be thinking of, or should we start to think about the poor who are suffering and continue to suffer through more taxes?

We as voters always hear the talking points about wanting to fix homelessness, build affordable housing and improve education, but all we see public is money being thrown toward a project that will continue to need more money until it is finished.

Another issue to think about is the constant costs it will take for maintenance of these facilities once they are finished. This may be a continual money struggle that we will continue to see as time goes on.

If this project is truly going to succeed, all stakeholders need to work together in good faith to secure its completion.

This means the Honolulu City Council will need to put more “skin in the game.” The state will have to plan to help offset the shortfall while minimizing harm to those at the bottom in our community.

Nothing should ever be too big to fail, because we as human beings should come up with solutions and ideas to combat a system that only benefits the few at the top. Are we really willing to pay whatever and do whatever to finish this project?