Legislation Aims to Keep Sidewalks Clear of Obstruction

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That’s what House Bill 1660 calls for. Specifically:

Specifies that the offense of obstructing includes providing less than one meter of space for passage on any paved public sidewalk, except as authorized by law.

The bill, set for a hearing today, does not specifically identify homeless people and their belongings as possible “obstructions.”

But, given that the bill’s four sponsors —Reps. Karl Rhoads, Tom “Sledgehammer” Brower, Scott Nishimoto and Scott Saiki — represent urban Honolulu districts with large homeless populations, HB 1660 would make it awfully difficult to occupy a sidewalk.

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Photo: Stadium Park circa 2011. (Civil Beat)

—Chad Blair

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