Homeless Sweeps Or Sanitation Activities? Advocates Say There’s No Difference … Honolulu’s mayor promised to end sweeps of homeless encampments, but his administration says it still needs to clear the “sidewalks, streets and parks.”
On the campaign trail, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi promised to end homeless sweeps, saying the tactic known as “compassionate disruption” failed to address the root causes of the problem.
The sweeps – which were conducted by the Honolulu Police Department and city clean-up teams – were a common fixture of former Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s two terms in office. They targeted the many homeless encampments on Oahu, enforced park closure laws and forced people into shelters.
Critics, including Blangiardi the candidate, said the approach “simply moves our homeless around our communities.”
