Question: Is there a way to find out ahead of time whether/where the city is doing homeless sweeps?
Answer: Yes, you can find out what enforcement is planned the day before it is due to occur, although Honolulu’s municipal government describes its actions as enforcement of the sidewalk nuisance and stored property ordinances, intended to keep public property accessible to all, not as homeless sweeps.
Check 808ne.ws/ 1RHDBU5, which is where the city posts the time and location of planned enforcement. The information is supposed to be posted by 3 p.m. the day before, per a recent limited pact between the city and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, which is suing the city over its enforcement of the two laws.
The SNO/SPO Stipulation Notice also is emailed to the ACLU, which shares it through Twitter and Facebook. You can follow the hashtag #aclusweeptweet to be notified by the legal organization.
Per the lawsuit’s amended stipulation, the city is supposed to publicize each SNO/SPO enforcement “it reasonably believes will take place the following day” and to generally hold off on enforcement unless it does so. However, the city is not required to give notice when the property in question poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the public, or to the orderly management of public property.
Enforcement was scheduled for today in Waikiki and Iwilei, according to the city’s website.
Q: My adult son has been receiving food stamp benefits for several years. Each year, I have helped him complete the eligibility review form as required. His form was sent in by the deadline. He received an approval letter. However, he did not receive his February SNAP benefits. I tried calling the Pohulani Processing Center. Their voicemail box is always full, and I cannot leave a callback number. He really needs his benefits. Can you help him?
A: Kokua Line tried calling the telephone number you provided, and was able to get through and leave a detailed message on your behalf. A Department of Human Services employee promptly responded to you directly. Your son was able to complete his Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment, and his benefits were available Friday, only a few days after you contacted Kokua Line.
You said that the processing center employee explained that what your son had interpreted as an “approval letter” actually was an intermediate step. The letter had instructed him to visit the benefits office or have a phone interview to finish up the process. After he did so, the benefits were approved.
What’s still a mystery is the initial trouble you had getting through by phone to the food stamp processing center. Kokua Line got through on the first try, and listened to a detailed voice message that offered options 1 through 8 for callbacks. We chose the “active cases” option and left a message, to which DHS promptly responded (to you). We figured you had chosen “general message” (the last option) and simply encountered a full voice mailbox. However, when we called the same number later, we couldn’t get through, either. A generic voicemail did not identify the number as being affiliated with the food stamp processing center, and we could not leave a message. We’re sure we did not misdial, as were you.
We’re not sure whether the message system operates differently after hours or on weekends and holidays, or whether that particular line was malfunctioning. We’ll follow up with DHS on that aspect, but in the meantime we’re pleased that your son’s problem has been resolved.
Mahalo
I want to say thanks to the Honolulu Police Department. I called 911 to say that a pretty large guy with dirty clothing, a shirt for a bandanna and two pairs of shoes was standing on the sidewalk near my home hitting a tree with an 18-inch machete. An officer called me back within 10 minutes to say he was on his way, and within the next five minutes he was talking to the machete guy. All ended peacefully. I am sure glad that we the public have officers like him to take care of situations like this. I’m even more glad that I didn’t have to confront Mr. Machete like the officer did. — Kaneohe resident
Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
