Bill bans Chinatown peddlers
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Peddlers selling fruits, vegetables and other commodities at Kekaulike Mall and other parts of Chinatown would face fines and even jail time under a bill approved unanimously by the City Council yesterday.
The bill was prompted by Chinatown merchants who said the unlicensed peddlers unfairly were taking away business and creating safety concerns for pedestrians by clogging sidewalks and the mall.
Kekaulike has grown increasingly congested. Not only has the number of outside peddlers risen, but businesses have begun selling goods outside their stores in an effort to deal with the competition.
Under the bill, a first-time violator would be fined $100. A second violation within two years would result in a $250 fine, while someone with additional repeat offenses would be hit with a fine of between $500 and $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail.
The bill is expected to take effect upon Mayor Jeremy Harris' signature. Harris has until Aug. 22 to act on it.
Peddlers would be banned, but merchants in Chinatown would be allowed to sell their goods on the sidewalk or mall abutting their establishments — protruding 18 inches out from their storefronts on sidewalks, 48 inches from their storefronts on malls.
The bill would apply not just to the geographic area known as the Chinatown Special District, but to nearby College Walk Mall and Sun Yat Sen Mall as well.
Lynne Matusow, chairwoman of the Downtown Neighborhood Board, thanked Councilman Rod Tam, who represents the area, for moving the bill forward.
"We still have problems," Matusow said, noting that in recent days she has seen one peddler coughing while selling fruit and another selling bananas next to trash containers.
But O'ahu resident Wendell Lum said that he liked "the ambience and prices" the sidewalk vendors brought to Chinatown.
Lum suggested that the city simply place controls on the vendors or look at providing other avenues in the area for them.
Supporters of the bill said that another option is in place in the form of the city's open market program.
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.
