Last week’s $4 million award to a former Queen’s Medical Center whistleblower nurse was unsettling for the racism it revealed. Nurse Ellen Harris claimed she faced harassment and discrimination after telling management of her suspicion that another nurse was stealing narcotics intended for patients; two other nurses later reported the same suspicions. But for Harris, first came a racist note in her mailbox, then weeks later, a disturbing image of a noose taped to her locker. Harris is African-American.

Queen’s intends to appeal the verdict. Juries are not always right, of course, but the fact that all 12 jurors voted to award Harris $630,000 in general damages and a whopping $3.2 million in punitive damages sends a strong message.

Two carrots and a stick for sprinkler systems

The Honolulu City Council has taken modest but worthwhile steps to encourage more of the city’s residential high-rise buildings to install automated sprinkler systems. Two measures passed by the Council provide the carrots: a property tax credit of up to $2,000 to defray installation costs, and waiver of fees related to installation. A third measure — the stick — would require owners of about 150 towers to install at least common-area systems. That bill remains tied up in committee.

The systems — expensive as they are — remain the most effective way to stop another Marco Polo fire. Let’s hope the carrots are big enough to get more of them hooked up.