A bill to allow the removal of personal property stored on city sidewalks was signed into law this afternoon, and takes effect immediately.
Bill 54 allows the city to confiscate items left for more than 24 hours. among those most affected -- Honolulu's homeless and the occupy Honolulu protest encampment.
Some of Honolulu's homeless say they try to keep their belongings only to what they can carry with them.
"The public has a right to use this park just like we do and we don't have a right to impede them from being here or where they're walking, where they want to go," says a homeless person.
But others make use of public property to store their belongings and makeshift shelters.
"When encampments are allowed to develop they start becoming like their own little villages. And then people start to think we've been here for a number of weeks, a number of months, why can't we stay here," says Marc Alexander, state homeless coordinator.
As of today, any personal belongings left on public city areas must be removed within 24 hours of notice from city officials.
"This is hopefully for voluntary compliance, and if not we move in to impound and then ultimately dispose of if it's not claimed," says Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle.
Property will be tagged with a warning, or a warning provided to owners, who then have one day to remove it.
If they don't city facility maintenance crews will take it away.
"I think it sucks, why? These people ain't got nothing and they try to have something, but they're never here to watch it," says Robert Grulvs, homeless.
When asked about the Occupy Honolulu protest camp at Thomas Square...
"If it fits the law, we will enforce the law against everybody, indiscriminately," says Honolulu Mayor Carlisle.
"These organizations have better things to do to help homeless people and protect human rights and stand up for the dignity of human rights including free speech than to come down here and post notices on our tents," says Michael Daly, Occupy Honolulu.
Any items removed will be stored at one of the city's maintenance baseyards in Pearl City, Halawa, Kailua, Kaneohe, Wahiawa, Waialua or Laie. If not claimed in 30 days it will be sold, donated, auctioned if above 1000 dollars in value, or disposed of.
