For our island community to function in the most resilient manner possible, it’s critical that we keep our roadways, sidewalks and other public areas open for their intended use.

That’s why the picture in a recent article about the city and state suspending the enforcement of public nuisance laws is so telling (“City and state to suspend homeless sweeps during annual census,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 7). In the photo, two women are seen walking on the roadway on busy South King Street because the sidewalk is completely obstructed with personal property, making it impassable.

This is unacceptably dangerous and it’s why my administration will continue the policy of “compassionate disruption” on a complaint-driven basis.

True compassion means moving people off our streets, where studies show the average life-span is cut short by 20 or more years.

The goal is to get people into shelters where they can be put on a path toward permanent supportive housing.

Kirk Caldwell

Mayor of Honolulu

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