By now, most Honolulu residents are aware that Mayor Mufi Hannemann purchased more than $20,000 worth of newspaper advertisements under the heading, “Getting Real on Rail.” The ads contained accusations and mischaracterizations of me, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and a number of those who question the financial and environmental viability of the mayor’s rail plan.

First, it is important to know what prompted such an expensive personal attack from the mayor. In June, I wrote a letter to the editor clarifying some aspects of the recent Brookings Institution study on carbon emissions, which did not produce evidence as favorable towards rail as the mayor claimed. Since then, a mostly civil debate has taken place between both supporters and opponents of the proposed train.

Yet rather than use his advertisement to respond to the factual criticisms raised by the Grassroot Institute and others, Mr. Hannemann chose to demagogue those of us who refuse to blindly follow his plan.

First, Mr. Hannemann claimed that “far from representing thousands of people from many diverse groups,” the rail questioners are simply “four people using smoke and mirrors.” That’s funny, since nearly 30,000 people have signed the petition calling for rail to be placed on the November ballot.

The ad also implied that we are part of a vast conspiracy of organizations that “support the automobile, bus, highway construction, urban sprawl development and petroleum industries.” But the Grassroot Institute’s skepticism of rail has nothing to do with an affinity for cars or urban sprawl. Rather, we represent taxpayers who are concerned about the use of $6 billion—upwards of $6000 per Oahu resident, riding or not—for a train that has no promise of reducing traffic or energy usage.

Excluding New York City (which is a uniquely dense metropolis with ten times the population of Oahu), no rail system in the country carries as many passengers as even a single lane of highway. Rail is one of the least effective—and most expensive—means of reducing traffic congestion.

Mr. Hannemann then went on to attack my former employer, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, using quotes that are nearly a decade old. Since he broached the subject, let’s talk about the Texas experience with rail. Last December, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit announced that it had underestimated by nearly $1 billion the cost of its expansion to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. Local politicians are pressuring the legislature to increase the region’s sales tax rate to 9.25 percent – one of the highest in the country – with the extra penny going solely toward passenger rail.

Austin’s first commuter rail line is scheduled to begin service later this year. For $100 million, Capital Metro is converting one of its freight lines to allow passenger service for an estimated 1,700 riders per day. The agency will have to purchase additional cars if daily passenger demand exceeds 2,000 riders—a mere 0.5 percent of daily commutes. Even this minimal project has soaked up so much of Capital Metro's budget that it had to postpone a proposed November election on further expansion until local leaders can find some other governmental entity to borrow the money.

And Houston’s 7.4-mile MetroRail line has earned the nickname the “Wham Bam Tram” as the result of 129 auto/train collisions in its first 30 months of operation.

Cost overruns, dismal ridership numbers, and negative cash flow have plagued rail systems in Texas and elsewhere. It’s baffling why Mayor Hannemann insists on emulating some of our country’s biggest boondoggles.

On a good note, at least Mayor Hannemann did not use taxpayer money to fund the advertisement against myself and fellow taxpayers. However, one should question his motive for producing and funding such a piece. If a well-intentioned citizen ignites such a response by stating a few facts and asking some questions, is the mayor trying to stifle all meaningful discussion that might run counter to his plans? And while the mayor paid for the ad using campaign funds, who contributed the funds in the first place?

As for the nonpartisan Grassroot Institute, we will continue to fight for limited, accountable government for the people of Hawaii. Maybe on the next major issue facing our community, the mayor and I will agree.

-GIR-

Jamie Story is President of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

GRASSROOT PERSPECTIVE

Thanking Milton Friedman
By the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

Have you thanked Milton Friedman lately? That’s the question PBS asked audiences two years ago, while promoting its retrospective on the life of this hero of freedom. It’s a question we should keep asking. Friedman may have passed away in November of 2006, but our debt to him has not. To help us all remember what Friedman has given us, The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is leading the celebration of Milton Friedman Day in Hawaii on July 31, Friedman’s birthday. Along with other organizations sponsoring events across the country, we want to keep Friedman’s legacy alive and help others learn about this patriot.

(To read more, click here.)

FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii created the Fresh Perspective column exclusively to publish the work of high school and college students. In addition to work appearing on GRIH’s website, their work is also submitted to Hawaii Reporter.  Submissions are welcome from any interested young adult, and we will publish work that is clearly written and grammatically sound. For earlier Fresh Perspectives please click here. Contact tom@grassrootinstitute.org for more info.

Leave Us Alone by Grover Norquist
Reviewed by Jeremy Hicks

The new book by Grover Norquist, President of Americans For Tax Reform (and member of GRIH's Board of Advisors),  is an invitation of sorts to the many different shades of people--from gun-rights advocates to business owners to home schoolers to religious types--who inhabit the conservative demographic. It is to Norquist's credit that he has made the movement not only welcoming, but also large enough to accommodate the various ranks that comprise the 'Leave Us Alone Coalition'.

Norquist's book arrives at a very crucial time, not only during an election cycle, but also during a period of growing citizen frustration. There is a sense of dissatisfaction openly voiced by conservatives towards Republican leadership. This discontentment could serve to foster revision and restoration, setting the stage for a new course or restoring a formerly forgotten one.  

(To read more, click here.)

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE LAUNCHES ONLINE TV STATION
Videos, Comments and More at New YouTube Website

The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii has a new communications tool aimed at helping educate and inform its members and Hawaii voters. "Grassroot TV" is a new area on the popular YouTube.com  web site which features videos relating to public issues in Hawaii and beyond, as well as statements from the Institute on various concerns facing our communities.

"It's an exciting new tool for us to use to help keep our members and the community at large informed about what our government is or is not doing," explained Communications Director Tom McAuliffe. "Video is one of the most effective communications mediums available today, and the Grassroot Institute intends to use it to help educate, inform and - who knows - maybe even entertain!"

Many new videos have recently been added to the library at the online TV station. McAuliffe is also looking for more videos and ideas for the new site.  Please visit 'Grassroot TV' at www.youtube.com/user/GrassrootHawaii.

-GIR-

GRASSROOT INSTITUTE PODCASTS
'Grassroot Insight' Audio Interviews

GIR readers and visitors to the GRIH website are now able to enjoy 'Grassroot Insight', a periodic podcast hosted by the Institute’s Director of Communications, Tom McAuliffe. The audio interviews with community leaders and special guests at GRIH's monthly meetings are available for download to your iPod or for listening via the Internet. McAuliffe is a former major market on-air radio personality.

The latest 'Grassroot Insight' podcast features an interview with Hawaii State Senator and the President of Small Business Hawaii Sam Slom. Click here to hear the interview with Sen. Slom.

Please check out our other recent podcasts with:

• Dr. Ken Conklin, the author of the new book Hawaiian Apartheid - Racial Separatism and Ethnic Nationalism in the Aloha State
• Hawaii State Representative Marcus Oshiro on the state's transparency efforts
• Dr. Mark Skousen on his new book Econopower and state constitutions
• GRIH President Emeritus Dick Rowland on how GRIH was founded and more
• GRIH President Jamie Story on her new goals and plans for GRIH

We hope you'll give 'Grassroot Insight' a listen, and if you have any ideas for the show please let Tom know at tom@grassrootinstitute.org.

-GIR-

UPCOMING GRASSROOT EVENTS
Information on the Institute’s events, research publication dates and speaking engagements are always available and updated via our website.