Hawaii would be better off without Harris

Mayor Jeremy Harris has finally done something in the best interests of the state -- closed his gubernatorial campaign office. Let's just hope it stays that way.

Harris, who thwarted Mufi Hannemann's attempt to unseat him in the last mayoral race, has made it clear he actually had no intention of serving the whole term for which taxpayers elected him. Staying in the mayor's office was merely a political necessity to hang onto his springboard until he could enter the governor's race.

The cost -- direct and indirect -- of electing a new mayor is no small matter, even in a good economy. Harris obviously didn't care about that when he asked Honolulu voters to keep him in office.

But Harris has been in the governor's race for a long time now and the state Constitution is clear in its resign-to-run amendment.

Harris is honesty-challenged in many ways -- misleading voters, running suspicious campaign fund-raising operations and controlling the news out of his own office and city departments in a style reminiscent of the old Chicago and New York political machines.

If Harris fails to revive his campaign for the governor's office, it is likely that his career in Hawaii politics is over. That would be a good thing for Hawaii's citizens, who truly don't need any more plantation-style political bosses.

Ken Armstrong
Grants Pass, Ore. Former Hawaii resident

[Quotables] "The day that Brandon and I were attacked, all of that time, dollars and love went down the drain." Virgil I. Stinnett Blind Oahu resident, telling state lawmakers why he supports legislation that would make it a crime to injure or kill a guide dog, signal dog or service animal. Stinnett and his guide dog were attacked by other dogs near a park. Brandon, the guide dog, was so traumatized he had to be replaced. The dog's training had taken two years and $65,000. The owners of the dogs who attacked them were fined $20 each. "Oh, that's so me." Evan Morimoto Aina Haina resident, while gazing adoringly at a white Audi TT Roadster at the 2002 International Auto Show at the Hawaii Convention Center. The show continues today from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Drivers, pedestrians, cyclists share roads

Roadways are for people, not the machines they use. The former Texan (Letters, March 9) who asserts that "cars and trucks are king" and "roads are for cars" is the one who needs to be educated about this.

Roads are public ways and people use them in cars, on bicycles and on their own two feet. All three uses of the roadways are legitimate, legal and protected by law.

The problem is that some drivers are offended that others who share the public ways, or who cross the public ways, occasionally cause a car driver to slow down. What a shame.

As drivers, pedestrians or cyclists, we all have a public duty to know the rules of the road, to follow those rules, to be considerate and to watch out for our friends and neighbors with whom we share the road. But the motor vehicle is the principle weapon of destruction, so the driver has the greatest obligation to avoid harm to others.

It's a fact that the more people get out of their cars and bike or walk to their destinations, the better off we all are -- less pollution, less congestion and better public health in general. I can't think of a better affirmation of that fact than to have some guy from Texas contend that we in Hawaii should make the car king, so we could be more like Houston or Dallas.

Come on, pardner, get out of your car and try your own two feet for a change. It might help your outlook.

J. Goody

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