The Honolulu City Council today approved a request to spend $400,000 more defending the city against the lawsuit challenging the rail project’s compliance with federal environmental laws. That brings the total approved amount to $1 million to date.

The resolution passed despite objections from Tom Berg, who raised MagLev technology, and Ann Kobayashi, who said the spending is “out of control.”

Cliff Slater, one of the lead plaintiffs in the case, accused the city of intentionally delaying the case and characterized the defense’s efforts so far as ”time-wasting, money-wasting motions” rather than a discussion of the merits of the case. (That’s him on the left in the photo above, standing next to California-based attorney Nicholas Yost outside of court.)

Slater complained the government is now asking him to sign an affidavit proving that he has a compelling reason to be part of the case. Earlier this month, the parties agreed on a schedule for the lawsuit, approved by Judge A. Wallace Tashima, that included the affidavit requirements. Romy Cachola lectured Slater for griping about the affidavits.

(Photo by Michael Levine/Civil Beat)