View Point
Friday, December 24, 1999
THE City Council majority is attempting to silence those who would question the policies of the Harris administration. They've labeled differences in points of view and candor from Council members Donna Mercado Kim and myself as "personality" and "style," and stymied any attempts to question the expenditure of public money. So who’s
representing
the people?An open debate on the direction of our community, particularly involving laws and goals set by government, is the hallmark of a democracy.
Citizens and lawmakers alike must have an opportunity to air their views in a public forum to find solutions and serve the broadest needs of our community. Debate is the only acceptable process to resolve conflicts in an open society.
The actions of the Council majority would make you think otherwise.
The Harris administration has proposed building a $1-billion transit system. The centerpieces are an electric tram system linking the Middle Sreet area with the University of Hawaii and Waikiki and a tunnel under the Honolulu Harbor channel at Fort Armstrong.
The City Council voted on Dec. 1 to support a resolution endorsing the Harris administration's plans to complete a combination investment and environmental impact study for this system. I supported the proposal because I believe, in principle at least, that traffic-choked Oahu desperately needs an improved, expanded public transportation network.
As an aside, the resolution was referred by Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura to the Policy Committee, rather than to the appropriate subject-matter Transportation Committee, which I headed at the time.
The Policy Committee hearing on the resolution was orchestrated to present the proposal in only positive terms.
Curious, I decided to give state officials, maritime industry representatives, and other stakeholders such as Oahu Transportation Services head Jim Cowen an opportunity to offer their views at an informational workshop. Much to the chagrin of Mayor Harris and then-Policy Committee Chairman Duke Bainum, they all raised concerns on various aspects of the proposal.
When the resolution came before the full Council for a final vote, I directed some of these concerns to city transportation head Cheryl Soon. However, the Council majority felt that my questions were "premature."
On the same day of the vote the Council majority decided among themselves to remove me entirely from the Transportation Committee and subsquently, without notifying me directly, from the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OMPO). OMPO is a body made up of city, state and federal representatives and is important because it determines the use of federal transportation funds awarded to Hawaii.
Certain Council members have since said they objected to the manner in which I questioned the administration at the Dec. 1 meeting.
If you watched the proceedings on cable television, you saw Soon's reluctance to answer fundamental questions on a project requiring huge sums of taxpayer dollars, a reluctance that was far more objectionable than the questions themselves.
Coincidentally, my colleagues removed me as Council chairman earlier this year after I raised doubts about the Harris administration's budget, which included an increase in government spending, property tax rates and certain fees.
DESPITE these efforts to silence me, I will continue to be outspoken in representing my constituents, in questioning government proposals, and scrutinizing city operations and projects to prevent foolish and wasteful spending.
As legislators, we have an obligation to ask the difficult questions, inform the public and scrutinize the expenditure of public money. Given their actions, it is obvious that many of the Council members do not share my conviction or are reluctant to publicly question the Harris administration on the scope and cost of its scheme until the plans are under way.
Instead, they have accused me of being confrontational.
I firmly believe the people who elect us want us to ask questions and debate important issues on their behalf. If in the minds of my Council colleagues, seeking truthful answers and timely information is confrontational, then so be it.
Mufi Hannemann is a member of the Honolulu City Council.