State of Hawaii and and Honolulu City officials worked together this morning to clear sidewalks and parks used by homeless in the Kakaako neighborhood. The sidewalks fall under city jurisdiction while parks and parking lots belong to the state. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs also had officials on hand, since some homeless campers have moved onto private land owned by that agency. Under City Council Bill 7 (2013), city workers are now allowed to remove any item deemed as a sidewalk nuisance. A sidewalk nuisance is defined in the new 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." People may retrieve these items if they pay a $200 fee. The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii argues that Bill 7 criminalizes homelessness and their right to free speech.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 7-18-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
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