It was seven days ago that I published my story about Ben Cayetano‘s claims that spending on rail was driving the city to cut important public safety programs from its budget.

That day, Mayor Peter Carlisle called a press conference of his own to point out that rail has a separate funding source and thus had no bearing on the budgets for other departments.

Now, a week later, Carlisle felt the need to take some more shots at Cayetano. A press release put out this afternoon titled “PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS NOT AT RISK” states that the Honolulu Fire Department, Honolulu Police Department and Emergency Services Department are happy with their budget appropriations, which “have not been jeopardized in any way due to the rail project.”

Here are the quotes:

• HFD Chief Kenneth Silva: “The City administration has supported the HFD’s CIP budget requests and allotted appropriate funding. The HFD CIP budget is part of a six-year planning and budgeting cycle. Any changes that have occurred in HFD’s CIP budget are a result of planning changes. HFD’s CIP funding is currently adequate to address agency needs and to sustain its ability to keep the community safe.”
• HPD Deputy Chief Dave Kajihiro: “HPD has not seen major decreases to its CIP budget. Fluctuations have resulted from adjustments made in plans for upcoming projects. Necessary projects continue to be funded.”
• Emergency Services Director Dr. Jim Ireland: “Under Mayor Carlisle, EMS services have actually increased for Oahu. While EMS services are funded by the state, the City decided to expand services in Waipio and the downtown Honolulu area in 2011 with savings achieved through management efficiencies, particularly reducing overtime expenses. As for our Ocean Safety Division, we also expanded lifeguarding services in 2011 with the addition of a rescue ski unit on the North Shore of Oahu.”

Last week, I could have said post hoc ergo propter hoc to Cayetano. Tonight, Carlisle doth protest too much, methinks.