"If lawmakers refuse, Caldwell says, the city will be forced to raise taxes or cut services."

THis guy is hilarious!  No, Mr "I promise the rail will be on time and on budget" Mayor, not "the city," YOU will have to finally come before the people of Oahu and tell them you will need to cut services or raise taxes to keep the gravy flowing to you patrons.

This business of only talking to developers and construction interests and trying to get the legislature to do your dirty work for you needs to stop one way or another anyway.  It's too bad the most powerful members of the ​state legislature are as owned by developers and construction interests as you are.