MAYOR APPLAUDS FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS

FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRANSPORTATION   

Mayor Mufi Hannemann said today he is grateful to see federal stimulus funds coming into Hawaii as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. 

“President Obama’s economic stimulus plan has been set in motion, and we have plans to use these initial installments to keep our City safe and for our city’s public transportation infrastructure,” Mayor Hannemann said.

The City & County of Honolulu will receive nearly $3.5 million dollars for anti-crime initiative.  “These funds will go a long way to supplementing our Honolulu Police Department’s efforts to keep our streets safe,” Mayor Hannemann said. “The money will be used to fight crime, including drug and gang violence, and to prevent domestic abuse.”

Mayor Hannemann also noted that the federal government will make available nearly $41 million dollars for public transportation investments for Honolulu.

Honolulu’s share will be used for the purchase of 60-foot articulated hybrid buses for the city fleet, improvements to the Middle Street Intermodal Transit Facility, construction of a new transit facility in Wahiawa and improvements to a facility in Pearl City, and additional bus stop pads along city streets. 

“The beauty of the stimulus funds is that they not only help us create and save jobs, they also help us with the infrastructure needs of our city,” Mayor Hannemann said. “I want to thank our congressional delegation, especially Senator Daniel Inouye and Senator Daniel Akaka, for looking out for the needs of the people of Hawaii and for helping to secure this funding for Honolulu.”

Media contact: Bill Brennan, Mayor’s Office, 527-6928.