Ewa Villages association
petitioning for Harris recall

The petition accuses the mayor of 'fiduciary
mismanagement' for selling lots to Unity House
at costs lower than prices offered
to association members

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Members of the Old Ewa Villages Community Association have started a petition seeking an election to remove Mayor Jeremy Harris from office.

The recall petition charges that the mayor is guilty of "fiduciary mismanagement" for selling Ewa Villages lots to Unity House Inc. at costs lower than were offered to association members.

Most association members are former workers of Oahu Sugar Co.

City spokeswoman Carol Costa said Harris had no comment on the petition.

Board member Richard Wasson said the group is seeking to garner 40,000 signatures from registered voters. The City Charter requires that for a recall, a petition must be signed by at least 10 percent of the total voters registered for the 1996 mayoral election.

Wasson said the association's calculations show 38,655 signatures are needed.

"We're going to let them sign until they get tired," Wasson said.

"We're pretty confident he's made some pretty bad decisions, and 10 percent's going to be nothing."

Wasson said members of the United Public Workers and other groups have agreed to circulate the petition and help the association's cause.

Critics of the Unity House deal say the union organization is purchasing 96 lots at about $17,000 each, factoring in $7.3 million in federal community development block-grant money the city is allowing to be used for the purchase.

Wasson said the retired plantation workers who could afford them paid $65,000 or more for their lots. Renovated homes in Tenney Village, including the $65,000 lot price, have been going for $155,000 to $205,000.

Unity House chief Tony Rutledge has stated his organization plans to spend $150,000 to develop the homes and sell them for $160,000 each.

"If people can't buy renovated homes out there, how are they going to afford these?" asked Louis Maria, president of the Old Ewa Villages Community Association.

The city has confirmed that it received $1.9 million from Unity House on Friday to purchase the 96 lots as promised by Rutledge.

Early last week, Councilwoman Donna Mercado Kim criticized the administration and Unity House for coming up with only $50,000 when it closed escrow on the lots.

Rutledge, in response to the criticism, said he would pay the money by Friday even though it was not due until the end of the month.