Let’s say the Thirty Meter Telescope is not built here, and the developers are forced to build it in the Canary Islands. I’m sure TMT would turn around and sue the state and maybe the county for $1 billion.

Then TMT will be built in the Canary Islands, on the backs of Hawaii’s taxpayers.

That money would probably come from the state retirement fund, all University of Hawaii programs and every state department, including the departments of Education, Health, Human Services, Hawaiian Home Lands, Land and Natural Resources and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, just to name a handful.

Also, from future pay raises and taxes. One way or another, TMT will be forever connected to Hawaii.

You can thank your lucky stars, or all the protectors, for it.

Brian Heidenfeldt

Hilo

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