The Honolulu City Council's Public Safety and Economic Development Committee has given their approval on a bill which will make lying down on city sidewalks illegal. Under Bill 59, "no person shall lie down on a public sidewalk, or on a tarp, towel, sheet, blanket, sleeping bag, bedding, chair, bench, tent floor or any other object or material located on a public sidewalk." Special exceptions are made in the law for medical emergencies and for those who have attempted but failed to make overnight accommodation from a homeless shelter on the day a citation or arrest is to take place. Advocates of the homeless feel that the bill is unjust. Michael Daly, a homeless advocate, stated, "The idea behind it seems to be to harass homeless people so they go to shelters." Daly added that many homeless avoid shelters because "they are inadequate, demoralizing and inhumane."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 10-4-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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