Tag Archives: tax

Strength of Ohana

Smoke on the water

What was once a quaint, historic town on the Western coast of Maui, Lahaina is now flattened to ash.  In the aftermath of the crushing wildfires in Maui that displaced residents living in Lahaina and left over 115 people dead and hundreds still missing, Maui County has filed legal action against Hawaiian Electric.  The utility company’s alleged negligence is pinned as the cause of the blaze.  Maui is suing for civil damages, to recover lost tax revenue and the destruction of infrastructure and roads.  The lawsuit is described as a cost recovery action that will benefit taxpayers. 

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Building Opposition

Protestors aim for the top

For over a year, a portion of Center City Philadelphia residents who fear an interruption to neighboring Chinatown have battled against the $1.3 billion proposed construction of a new 76ers arena.  While the residential criticism has remained consistent, a new revitalization effort has sparked additional scrutiny.  In the beginning of August, 76 Devcorp disclosed the plan to construct next to the arena a high-rise building, which would offer multiple functions and a section for housing.  Of the 395 units projected, about 20% of them would be marketed as affordable to the community. 

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Up in Smoke: NY Sues UPS Over Cigarette Tax

When there’s smoke, there’s fire.

The latest courtroom battle about cigarettes has nothing to do with damaged lungs, but rather a hole in the wallet. It recently came to light that shipping giant UPS failed to properly adhere to tax laws in New York City and State. This has resulted in 78,500 shipments of untaxed cigarettes being transported in and out of New York for about 4 years. UPS has denied these allegations, citing their past experience in the shipping industry and adherence to any and all state laws. The lawsuit was filed in New York by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Counsel Zachary Carter and is seeking about $180M in damages. Outright accusations of lying and cheating have been thrown out by both sides, understandable considering the hefty price tag attached. Read more