Ethics case dismissed but not the point

The city won a legal victory over Abigail Kawananakoa, who filed a lawsuit challenging votes by certain City Council members on the rail transit project.

She claimed the votes should be invalidated because the Council members allegedly failed to disclose receiving free rounds of golf from those who benefited from the votes.

Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall dismissed the case. But what should not be dismissed is the fact that Council members have no business accepting such favors in the first place, even if it’s legal and fully disclosed. Such cozy relationships undermine confidence in our elected officials and in government as a whole.