VIDEO: Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell discusses details of his ‘stay at home, work from home’ order
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Department of Emergency Management Director Hiro Toiya spoke at today’s news conference at the Honolulu Hale atrium.
UPDATE, 5:30 p.m.
The mayor said the city is looking into ways to provide relief for those who are having difficulties.
Mayor Caldwell said: “We’re not going to turn off anyone’s water or sewer. We’re not going to kick someone out of their property if they haven’t paid their property taxes.”
The mayor said he has received criticism for the closure of all parks, including beach parks and their restrooms, but people would still have a right to access the ocean.
There are ways to get to the beach without crossing through beach parks, he said.
The city has no control over the “wash of the waves, but anything below the wash of the waves is controlled by the State of Hawaii.”
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As for the issue of homelessness, the city’s homeless czar, Marc Alexander, said that despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to leave park bathrooms open, they will remain closed.
He said the city is looking at ways to set up portable hygiene stations near homeless encampments and pointed to the few shelters it runs.
He acknowledged that there may be unintended consequences of this order.
Whether people are using the ocean as a place to relieve themselves or whether the homeless are being encouraged to congregate near the few hygiene stations it plans to set up, the city’s plans may create other problems.
He also acknowledged that there are not enough homeless shelters to accommodate the 2,400 unsheltered people on Oahu.
The city is seeking federal funding, which may be used to pay for more hygiene stations or portable toilets and handwashing stations.
But the city is not waiting for any such funding, and is working on finding a solution.
UPDATE, 2:35 p.m.
The city has created a website, email and phone line to answer questions about Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s stay at home, work from home order.
The website is oneoahu.org and lists frequently asked questions. The call center’s number is 768-CITY and the email is covidresponse@honolulu.gov.
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Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell answered questions surrounding his “stay at home, work from home” emergency order, which he issued Sunday as local governments in Hawaii struggle to contain the spread of the new coronavirus in the islands.
Caldwell was joined by city Department of Emergency Management Director Hiro Toiya at today’s news conference at the Honolulu Hale atrium.
Watch the news conference below.
