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Audit would have averted housing scam

Mayor Harris is wrong to say that a city auditor isn't needed because the City Council can authorize audits.

Although he, too, can authorize audits, the failure to stop the Ewa Villages scam sooner and not to audit the Liquor Commission in 20 years both illustrate the need for a city auditor

When Councilman Bainum chaired the budget committee, he did not give a hearing to Resolution 95-259, which I introduced on July 12, 1995. It was the first to call for a full performance audit of the housing department, including an investigation of the Ewa Villages project. This was two years before Bainum questioned Ewa Villages in 1997.

My audit specifically called for investigating the "effectiveness and adequacy of management controls for all city housing construction projects."

Bainum also required that my resolution pass two committees instead of one, which was the usual. After the housing committee passed it, however, Bainum had it referred to his budget committee, which stopped the resolution by never hearing it.

My resolution died in Bainum's committee on July 12, 1996. Had it passed in 1995, or had Harris audited it, Ewa Villages could have been uncovered in mid-course -- before taxpayers lost $5.6 million from 1993-97.

Andy Mirikitani
Honolulu City Councilman

Foley didn't deserve governor's pardon

Governor Cayetano's pardon of Tom Foley is just another example of how corrupt our justice system is, and how arrogant and abusive our politicians are. Foley was pardoned because he was a good ol' boy, a loyal Democrat and a fellow lawyer.

Foley's accident was not due to mechanical failure or a wrong maneuver. He knew that he had a drinking problem as well as a don't-give-a-damn-about-others attitude of recklessness.

He and his supporters have the gall to expect us to actually feel sorry for him because he must start all over. Does Ho Pin Tsai get a chance to start all over? Hell, no! Regardless of the fact that the victim's family has forgiven him, Foley deserved severe punishment as do all who cause accidents while impaired.

Two and a half years for what he did is nothing but a slap on the wrist. People in possession of drugs get more jail time than that. And they don't have victims.

Gordon Banner

Quotables "I won't be a fugitive all my life." Sukamto Sia ASIAN BUSINESSMAN AND FORMER HAWAII RESIDENT Indicted by a federal grand jury for bankruptcy fraud and ordered to spend the Labor Day weekend in a holding cell "I'm still optimistic. We're on track. We're on time." Daniel K. Akaka U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII After contentious public hearings on a bill that would set up a government-to-government relationship between Hawaiians and the United States "If you keep still, we won't hurt you anymore." Momoye Sakata 82-YEAR-OLD KAILUA WIDOW Testifying what one of her two assailants said to her after breaking into her house, handcuffing her and robbing her

Contributions would help suspended officer

An account has been established to benefit the family of a Big Island police officer, Tanny Cazimero. Since June 9 he has been suspended from the Hawaii County Police Department for no stated reason, without pay or benefits. His suspension follows his complaint to the Hawaii County Police Commission questioning the ability of Chief Wayne Carvalho to lead the police department.

Officer Cazimero is married with two children. Because the county still technically employs him, he and his family are not eligible for public assistance.

An account has been opened that will accept direct contributions for their benefit. Checks, made payable to the Cazimero Family Benefit Account #990 6600, may be sent to the Kamuela Community Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 446, Kamuela, HI 96743.

Contributions, not tax deductible, will be used solely for necessary family expenses and will not be utilized as campaign contributions in Cazimero's recently announced candidacy for Hawaii County Council.

Jack Brunton
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Hero of 'little guy' drives around in a limo

I find Lt. Governor Mazie Hirono's recent pronouncements about the Democrats being the party of the "little guy" to be a bit disingenuous.

I attended a recent community meeting at the Ewa Beach Library where Hirono was to be guest speaker. Most of us "little guys" had already arrived by bus, bike and old beat-up cars when we saw a brand-new black Lincoln Town Car pull into the parking lot.

We thought it must be a movie star or visiting Japanese dignitary. But, when the driver got out and ran to open the back door, out came Hirono.

While she likes to speak as if she and the Democrats are the champions of the people, her actions by arriving in a state-supplied, chauffeur-driven limousine show that she and her party don't know us at all.

Joan Gumm
Ewa Beach

Consumers should shun altered food

Food manufacturers are using genetically modified ingredients in the foods they produce. As an environmentally responsible and health-conscious consumer, I believe use of these genetically engineered ingredients in food products must stop.

Many scientists and ecologists have warned the public about the possible long-term health and environmental dangers of GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Many manufacturers already have eliminated some or all GMOs from their food products:

Gerber, which makes baby foods, has removed all GMOs from its foods.
Frito-Lay has stopped using genetically engineered corn for its snack chips.
McDonald's has stopped using genetically mutated potatoes for its French fries.

In Europe, of course, most food manufacturers have eliminated GMOs altogether. Surely, the people of the United States deserve the same level of concern.

Yasmin E. Taguba
Ewa Beach

Bakery should sell its malassadas on mainland

I enjoyed your Aug. 23 article about Leonard's Bakery. It made me homesick and hungry for their malassadas. Too bad they don't have a bakery on the mainland.

Here where I work at Temple University, the students and staffers would really like them. How great it would be to have one of those Leonard's trucks selling malassadas on our campus.

Dolores Treffeisen
Philadelphia

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