In a Friday Op-Ed for the Star Advertiser, Honolulu’s Transportation Services department slams Bill 58, arguing that the proposal is “puzzling” in view of deficits the city faces.

The measure would allow senior citizens, disabled riders and Medicare cardholders to ride the Bus for free.

Excerpts from the commentary:

The central question: How should Honolulu draw up a new plan for financing the system that residents need, since the current scheme is clearly not covering it? …

The correct impulse would be to assemble varied sources that give the system budgetary stability, not turn off one of the revenue spigots.

…

Nobody wants to call it what it is — an unaffordable expansion of an already generous program — for fear of offending seniors.

But it’s not necessary to pander to them like this, either.

The bill, which passed its first reading Wednesday, now heads to the Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee. 

Many of those testifying the bill at the Wednesday meeting agreed with its intentions but doubted its feasibility.

Courtesy of janineomg via Flickr.

— Alia Wong