Proposed Trump tax cuts will overwhelmingly benefit the top 1 percent
As millions of Americans file their taxes this April, both the U.S. House and Senate have passed budget resolutions that open the pathway for a massive tax giveaway for the wealthiest people in the country.
Hawaiʻi should close tax loopholes for multinational corporations
Multinational corporations make huge profits from the business activity they conduct in Hawaiʻi, while dodging the taxes they should be paying to support our state.
A mix of progress and missed opportunities: affordable housing efforts at the 2024 legislature
As Hawaiʻi continues to grapple with the complex dynamics of housing affordability and availability, it is clear that a more balanced approach that incorporates both supply- and demand-side measures, is essential.
Honolulu council should take time, consider whether Bill 45 is a good investment
While the stated purpose of Bill 45 is to promote economic growth, there is no way to show that providing the additional incentives in Bill 45 would be a cost-effective use of the city’s funds.
Hawaiʻi’s missed opportunity to invest in working families
The legislature chose to prioritize protecting businesses from tax increases, rather than investing in working families who were struggling long before the onset of the pandemic.
Our tax system increases inequity
Our tax system plays a big role in the widening gap between those who are wealthy and those who are struggling to get by—a gap that is exponentially greater in Black, brown and indigenous communities.
What’s included in the new federal coronavirus aid and what was left out?
The $900 billion COVID relief agreement provides urgently-needed relief to Hawaiʻi’s families, but the short timeline is worrisome and several important items were left out of the final deal.
Keeping Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing units affordable
Not only are we not building enough affordable homes to begin with, but we are also failing to maintain the affordability of many of the for-sale homes which were created.
What the Kawainui project tells us about Hawaiʻi’s affordable housing problems
Affordable housing needs to be integrated with market-priced housing, and we must maintain the supply of affordable housing even in owner-occupied units.
We need a visitor recreation fee to benefit Hawaiʻi
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our dependency on tourism, and the need to create a more sustainable and less exploitative version of the industry.
Counties may need to fill gaps left in state coronavirus response
Some 35,000 additional households could fall into poverty or financial insecurity by the end of the year unless these gaps in state funding are addressed.
Hawaiʻi’s job losses are increasing economic inequity
Because of the way Hawaiʻi’s economy is structured, those who were already struggling to earn enough before COVID-19 are also the most likely to lose a job.