Column: With crime putting Chinatown at risk, police patrols needed now

Over the last two years, the intersection of Maunakea and Pauahi streets has become a vortex for drug dealing, public drinking, street sex, street brawls, stabbings and murders.

This dramatic and sustained spike in crime was an unfortunate result of the city’s well-intentioned effort to provide social services to mentally ill, substance-abusing and homeless citizens. As part of this plan, a free public hygiene center with showers and bathrooms was put into the same building on Pauahi Street.

Unfortunately, this location is on a block where drugs and sex can easily be obtained, and the facilities are right between two cheap liquor stores that also sell drug paraphernalia.

The influx of social service and hygiene clients expanded the market for illegal activity and produced a dramatic increase in aberrant and dangerous behavior. The street has since spiraled out of control, as if someone poured gasoline on fire.

The challenges our Chinatown community face each day are real. Businesses are moving out, and drug dealers and gangs are moving in. Keiki and kupuna are in real danger.

I’ve been punched, spat on, attacked by dogs and am a victim of attempted robbery. My building has been repeatedly vandalized and my car, in the city parking lot on Pauahi Street, broken into. I cornered the thief, and fortunately, he dropped his knife. For safety, we installed security cameras and during the software tutorial, someone sold and smoked crack with his customers right by the hygiene center.

City planners just spent over $1 million on bulb-outs, a controversial traffic experiment “for the safety of pedestrians in Chinatown.” But instead of safer streets, we feel more and more unsafe. What we really need is funding for a team of 24/7 foot patrolmen who could ensure the public’s safety.

The City Council recently decided to declare Chinatown a slum. Chinatown is not a slum; it is a vital and historic live-work community with kids, grandparents, business people and a healthy and diverse range of businesses. Unfortunately, the current conditions are creating a severe risk for those of us who live, work, shop and play in Chinatown.

This would not be tolerated in Manoa. So why is it OK in Chinatown?

However, all is not without hope. Over the last few months, a group of business owners and residents have come together to try and take back Chinatown. We founded an organization, ChinatownWatch.com, to work with the police and social service providers to try and take the street back. We’re just few weeks in and have had mixed results.

The Honolulu Police Department has committed to re-normalizing the neighborhood by enforcing all laws. It has had a big effect, and we are most thankful. They are engaged, responsive and responsible.

The soup kitchen guests now understand that loitering during non-meal hours is inappropriate. The city has stepped up efforts to keep the streets clean and has shut down the drug-dealing homeless colony in front of its own building. This has helped create a safer street.

The city’s hygiene center is still a magnet for illegal activity and is proving difficult to control. People still gather in front of the facility to deal drugs, drink and sell sex in the shower. Shutting it down for maintenance, like the city does with the parks, would be a simple solution.

Another logical solution would be to implement a community-based policing model with officers on the street all day, every day.

The police need more resources to start foot patrols. To get the resources for 24/7 foot patrols, we all need to call 911 whenever we see something. The more 911 calls, the more attention, and the more attention, the more police.

Help us all take back Chinatown. Please call 911, early and often.

Oren Schlieman is president/ creative director of Info Grafik, a design firm that has been in Chinatown for 30 years.