Harris is taking credit
for Fasi’s achievements

Jeremy Harris' Hitler-type propaganda machine is still working overtime. Once again, he repeats the big lie that he was the one "who went toe-to-toe with the T-shirt vendors and assembled the legal team that defeated them." Enough already!

The facts are:

When I drove the T-shirt tables off of Waikiki sidewalks and replaced them with potted plants, Harris learned about that raid the next day by reading the newspapers.

I assembled the legal team and Harris was never involved.

I ordered the appeal of the late federal Judge Harold Fong's decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and announced when the legal fight started that we would fight the T-shirt vendors up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The lawsuit in Fong's court on appeal was against myself (as mayor) and Police Chief Michael Nakamura, both as city officials and personally.

Attorney Dan Foley, who represented the T-shirt vendors in the federal courts, says flatly, "If it weren't for Mayor Fasi, my clients would still be selling T-shirts in Waikiki."

Harris has gotten away with a string of lies about a record of accomplishments he had nothing to do with. When will the media challenge Harris to tell the truth?

Frank F. Fasi
Former Mayor
City & County of Honolulu

Cayetano shouldn’t forget
the dire danger of rabies

Regarding the shortened quarantine of dogs and cats, I hope that Governor Cayetano will remember what Calvin Lum, state veterinarian, said on Jan. 24: "The incubation time for rabies may range from a few weeks to a year."

I hope that Governor Cayetano will remember what veterinarians and other professionals said in recent hearings: "The 120-day quarantine is necessary to keep Hawaii rabies-free."

Olga Waterhouse
Kailua

Takeover bid is foreboding
for local tourism industry

Hilton Hotels Corp. has launched a takeover bid of rival ITT Corp. They both own and operate many hotels in Hawaii, especially in Waikiki. Together they own 30 casinos worldwide. If the takeover is successful, they will dominate the hotel and convention market business in the islands.

Among others, there are two significant matters to watch for in the Legislature. First, whether casino gambling will be legalized in Hawaii. Second, whether there will be an increase in the hotel room tax. The hotel industry will aggressively lobby for casino gambling and strongly oppose any increase in the room tax.

Concerned individuals, business and churches must resist casino gambling in Hawaii. Its adverse effects on the low-income group, on businesses outside of the casinos, and on crime have been well-documented.

Legislators should increase the hotel room tax by at least 2 percent. We have the lowest room tax in the nation. The increased revenue will partially relieve the tight financial condition of the state. Use this hike to finance the budget of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and other tourist-related expenditures.

H.T. Chang

Matsunaga is champion
against domestic abuse

I am moved to write a letter in support of state Sen. Matt Matsunaga in response to the one you printed from Grandy Perry (Dec. 27), criticizing the senator for his stance on same-sex marriage/domestic partnerships.

Senator Matsunaga has been a blessing to the movement to end domestic violence in Hawaii. He understands the plight of battered women, the complex dynamics of domestic violence in a family, and sees domestic violence as a crime and a problem that belongs to all of us, rather than as an individual family problem.

He will be an excellent co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

Carol C. Lee
Executive Director
Hawaii State Coalition
Against Domestic Violence

---

Same-sex archive