A day after a lawsuit was filed to stop sweeps at homeless encampments, a city maintenance crew cleared personal belongings from a Kakaako block Thursday.
Despite the challenge to city ordinances allowing removal and destruction of personal property, Thursday’s sweep will be followed by another “enforcement action” in Kakaako next week, said Ross Sasamura, director of the city Department of Facility Maintenance. He said the date was not confirmed, and added that the city will move through the Kakaako encampment block by block to clear the area that, at one point, nearly 300 people called home.
On Wednesday the American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit alleging the city violates the U.S. Constitution by destroying personal property in its sweeps.
Thursday’s was the second planned enforcement of the city’s sidewalk nuisance and stored property ordinances, and advance notice was given each time.
Signs posted in several languages in Kakaako say the city is cleaning up the area over the next several weeks. The sweeps are being done in phases makai of Ala Moana Boulevard, from Forrest Avenue to the Diamond Head end of Ilalo Street.
In the first cleanup on Sept. 8 on Ohe and Cooke streets, between Ala Moana Boulevard and Ilalo Street, the city removed 1.56 tons of left-behind property, trash and debris.
No information was available on the amount collected Thursday, but only three tents remained on Ilalo Street when cleaning crews arrived at about 11 a.m. The sidewalk, however, was littered with personal items — including a chaise lounge, wagon, chairs and a car battery.
Sgt. Deric Valoroso of the district’s Community Policing Team said about eight people were living on the block about a week ago, but five left before Thursday.
Jun Yang, executive director of the city housing office, said two people from the area went to the Lighthouse Outreach Center shelter in Waipahu on Wednesday. He said so far, 78 people have moved out of the homeless encampment, either into shelters or other housing.
Workers spent about two hours cleaning up the sidewalk between Forrest Avenue and Keawe Street on Thursday.
One structure that was removed resembled a tiny house with a plywood roof and walls and a small wooden door. One tent contained a metal shelf and a houseplant. Maintenance workers carefully emptied out bags, looking for important documents, valuables and medications to hold for the owners at no charge.
Some of the nearby homeless campers might have been confused and thought they were being targeted in the sweep.
Jason Drozdowski, 46, packed up a cart and pushed his belongings down Keawe Street toward Ala Moana Boulevard, saying he planned to stay around the corner until city crews left, then move back.
“It doesn’t bother me that much,” he said. “I don’t contribute anything to society, so I really can’t complain.”
Drozdowski said he, his girlfriend and two other people live on the Diamond Head side of Keawe Street, mauka of Ilalo Street.
Sasamura said crews would clean up to the Ewa side of Keawe Street on Thursday.
Sasamura said city crews return to cleared areas daily and talk to any new campers, who usually pack up and leave. On Thursday afternoon the recently cleared areas of Cooke and Ohe streets, mauka of Ilalo Street, remained clear of structures.
