Waikiki Sidewalk Bills Approved by Honolulu City Council

There are many Waikiki business leaders, residents and tourists who have become increasingly frustrated with the growing homeless population in their community.  Andrew Kawano, the executive vice president of Food Pantry Ltd. stated, "They go through our trash cans; they pull out anything that looks edible, like uneaten fruit. They eat it and they toss it on the ground. They panhandle and eat whatever they can get nearby the entrance. They defecate and they wipe their feces on the side of our building. They harass customers and use foul language. They walk through our store, making our customers uneasy and afraid."

In response, members of the Honolulu City Council have approved the following bills, which will now move to the mayor's desk for his signature: Bill 42 will ban people from sitting or lying on sidewalks in Waikiki.  Bill 43 will ban people from urinating or defecating in public places in Waikiki.  Bill 46 will impose a ban on urinating and defecating in public throughout the island of Oahu.  Violating these bills would be considered to be petty misdemeanors that could be punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Opponents of these bills feel that they are unfairly targeting and criminalizing the homeless.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-11-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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