Honolulu Belongings Ban Signed Into Law, But Questions Remain
By Michael Levine 12/09/2011
Mayor Carlisle signed Bill 54 into law Friday afternoon. It takes effect immediately, and Carlisle said enforcement will begin "as soon as practical." City attorneys are working out the language of the notice that will be posted on abandoned or stored items in city parks and on city sidewalks.
Proponents of the measure have repeatedly said it was designed to clear public spaces so that the public at large could enjoy them. But it's been criticized as an attack on the homeless who are the most likely to leave belongings on a sidewalk or set up camp in a park. The ban may also have the effect of forcing out the Occupy Honolulu protesters who have taken over part of Thomas Square, at the corner of Beretania and Ward.
The basic mechanics of what happens next — what Carlisle called the "nuts and bolts" — are clear enough.
City officials will need to document when they come across items that are stored or abandoned in a public place. After 24 hours, those items become illegal, and the city will post or furnish notice of the violation. After another 24 hours, the city can confiscate the belongings. And then the city would need to give at least 30 days warning before disposing of the items.
http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/12/09/14179-belongings-ban-signed-into-law-but-questions-remain/