Caldwell signs bills banning sleeping on sidewalks
HONOLULU — Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed into law two measures banning obstructing and sleeping on public sidewalks.
Caldwell said the bills signed Thursday aim to keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians, but opponents claim the measures unfairly target homeless people.
Under the first bill, it is illegal to “create, cause or maintain” an obstruction on a public sidewalk if it blocks people from passing freely during daytime hours. People found in violation could be fined up to $100.
Under the second bill, “to lodge” on a sidewalk or in other public places is a petty misdemeanor. The measure’s definition of “to lodge” includes sleeping and “to occupy a place temporarily.” Officers must verify if shelter space is available within a reasonable distance and then offer to take the person there before they can issue a citation.
The Honolulu City Council approved the measures earlier this month. The council inserted a stipulation into both bills requiring Caldwell’s administration to first submit a report detailing how the city is addressing homelessness before the laws can go into effect.
The city Department of Community Services is expected to submit the report in the coming days, but it must be approved by the council before the measures are implemented.
Caldwell said that signing the bills without being able to implement them is “not taking action.” He said the measures aim to “take back our public spaces and our sidewalks.”
Man sentenced in sex assaults of 2 women, child
LIHUE, Kauai — A man convicted of sexually assaulting two women and a child was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Jesse Korn, 27, was sentenced Wednesday after he pleaded no contest to kidnapping and three sexual assault charges.
Korn entered three residences at an affordable housing complex in Koloa, Kauai, attacking a victim inside each unit in December 2017, prosecutors said.
In one of the apartments, he raped a woman whose young child was in the next room. She gave a statement to the court that was read by Second Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like.
Like told the court the victim is now afraid to do things she previously enjoyed because she doesn’t like to be alone. She also gets flashbacks and had to move from that apartment.
Korn’s attorney, John Murphy, told the court that his client smoked methamphetamine and an unknown black substance that day. The drug combination caused Korn to have no memory of the assaults, he said.
Korn apologized for his actions in court, saying his life is good now that he’s behind bars. He will be required to register as a sex offender.