| The city spent $13.6 million on buses for the new Country Express route out in Waianae. The buses were purchased from a Canadian company, New Flyer Industries. To kick off the new service, the city threw a big luau at Waianae District Park and requested that New Flyer pick up the $9,000 tab for the food. There were accusations that Jeremy used the event and city money as part of his re-election campaign and that the $9,000 "donation" from New Flyer was illegal. According to Bob Watada, director of the Campaign Spending Commission, "Jeremy is a master at skirting the campaign spending laws." The luau was the first of many such events all scheduled before the election. Honolulu Weekly cartoon 5-10-2000 |