Sidewalk Nuisance Law Enforced

City employees have started to enforce a new law, Bill 7, which allows items blocking sidewalks and deemed to be a nuisance to be seized and removed.  Under the Bill, people would have 30 days to retrieve any items taken provided that they pay a $200 fine.  A sidewalk nuisance is defined by the law as "any object or collection of objects constructed, erected, installed, maintained, kept or operated on or over any sidewalk, including but not limited to stalls, stands, tents, furniture, and containers, and of their contents or attachments."  According to city spokesman Jay Parasco, members of the city's maintenance crew went to several locations where sidewalk nuisances have been a problem in the past.  Campers were given 15 minutes to move their personal belongs or have them seized.  People were allowed to take with them whatever they were able to carry.  The rest of their belongings were taken to a storage facility in Halawa.  Campers were also given the option of having their belongs that they did not want to be disposed of and destroyed.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and (de)Occupy Honolulu both oppose Bill 7 and argue that it criminalizes the homeless and goes against free speech.  Spokeswoman for (de)Occupy, Sugar Russell, stated, "We think it is disgusting that the city has legalized theft.  The city needs to be focusing on real solutions."  Russell added that the city's actions were "a waste of money" and that the new law was "immoral and unethical".  (de)Occupy Honolulu is considering if they will be challenging Bill 7 in court.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-2-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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