Council OKs probe
of Harris book

The City Council has authorized its Budget Committee to investigate whether it was appropriate to use taxpayer funds to publish former Mayor Jeremy Harris' book, "The Renaissance of Honolulu."

A resolution approved by the Council yesterday gives the committee approval to conduct the formal inquiry.

Councilman Charles Djou said he supports the inquiry but asked that it be put on hold while the city Corporation Counsel's Office conducts its investigation. The city Ethics Commission is also looking into the matter.

Djou, who asked city attorneys to investigate the procurement of the book, said that the Budget Committee should step in only if the administration does not perform after allowing for a reasonable time for officials to investigate.

Councilman Rod Tam, who introduced the measure, said the book was merely Harris' way of "grandstanding" and that the Council did not budget for such a book.

About 5,000 copies of the 224-page book were printed at a cost of $19.95. Members of the Harris administration first said that the book cost $75,000 to produce but later said the cost was actually more than $108,000.