Hawaii
The city clerk says “no” to a citizen’s petition drive trying to block the $4 billion city rail transit plan.
The decision yesterday afternoon from City Clerk Denise De Costa means she will not put the issue on the November ballot, regardless of whether Stop Rail Now receives enough signatures.
De Costa says the City Charter prohibits a special initiative issue from being placed on the ballot within 180 days of an election.
Referring to opponents of voter initiative on the rail project as “enemies of democracy,” Stop Rail Now’s volunteer campaign manager Eric Ryan lashed out at high-ranking members of the local political scene for attempting to thwart the will of Oahu voters by intentionally undermining the petition process.