Mayor's plans
for city put gov
run in question

Observers say he doesn't sound like
someone who's about to run for governor

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Mayor Jeremy Harris does not sound like a man about to run for governor.

That's the consensus around Honolulu Hale following his State-of-the-City speech yesterday, in which he outlined proposals ranging from a trolley system to overhauling the structure of city government.

Harris made no mention of his political future during the 50-minute speech, despite speculation during the past year that he may resign to challenge Gov. Ben Cayetano.

And he refused to answer reporters' queries on the issue afterward, reiterating that he will announce his decision at the end of the month.

Observers pointed to two elements in his speech that seemed to indicate Harris would not resign to run against Cayetano:

An ambitious agenda for the city that would make Harris look foolish if he chose to abandon it for a gubernatorial bid.

A somewhat lighter tone when he spoke of state issues, in comparison to his speech last year which was highlighted by salvos aimed at the State Capitol.

"I thought it was more the speech of a guy who's going to stick around," said Councilman Steve Holmes.

"He pretty well stuck to city-type issues," Holmes said.

"I don't see him coming up with such a detailed and ambitious program and then leaving the scene abruptly," said Council Vice Chairman John Henry Felix.

"It sure sounded to me like a man who wants to stay around City Hall and finish his term," said Councilman Mufi Hannemann.

Hannemann, who has been mentioned as a potential mayoral candidate should Harris bolt, said he wished the mayor had stated his intentions and sealed his commitment to stay with the city.

Hannemann said that waffling on the issue could hinder the city's efforts to lobby for funding before the state Legislature, which opens its session next week.

Harris expressed a willingness to work more closely with Cayetano and the state despite strained relations during the last two years.

"The state and city must . . . work together to rebuild our economy," he said. "The goal is to work together."

But he said the state is proposing several plans he believes are "abhorrent." Among them are a hike in excise taxes and a reduction of the city's share of hotel room tax collections.

"We're going to fight to the death on those things, but there are things where we can work together, and we're not going to get things done unless we're supportive of each other," he said.

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Some major projects
on mayor's wish list

Key proposals of Mayor Jeremy Harris' state-of-the-city address:

A 15-mile "light rail" trolley transit system from the university area to Aloha Stadium. The first portion would go from Middle Street to King Street, downtown, Kapiolani Boulevard, Waikiki and the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus.

A new Sand Island Boulevard and a tunnel beneath Honolulu Harbor to divert traffic away from Nimitz Highway in the downtown area. The new thoroughfare would connect with Ala Moana.

A water taxi system, backed by a large parking facility at Sand Island, to ferry people across the harbor to downtown as a further diversion of downtown traffic.

A tax incentive exempting real property taxes on new construction for seven years. Both businesses and private owners would be eligible for the plan, provided construction is completed within three years.

Revamping the way city government is structured. Harris plans to reveal details later, but emphasized that "radical solutions" involving City Charter amendments must be done to maintain services in the face of declining revenues.

Prohibition of parking at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve; incorporating the facility into a nature learning center along with Koko Head and the former Jobs Corps site in the vicinity.

Joint development of the Waikiki block bounded by Kalakaua Avenue, Lewers Street, Kuhio Avenue and Kalaimoku Street to include underground parking, museum and theater space, and practice/performing space for hula halau.

Freezing key agricultural properties in areas susceptible to urban rezoning to fight inflated prices caused by land speculation.

Full text of the 1998 State-of-the-City speech