Editorials
Thursday, August 7, 1997STUDIES have shown that an appearance of disorder creates an atmosphere for crime, so efforts to clean up Honolulu's neighborhoods can lead to crime reduction. The way to achieve this is to step up enforcement of laws against vandalism and graffiti. The way not to achieve this is to punish victims for being slow about restoring their homes or businesses after hooligans have wreaked havoc. Honolulu should fight
crime like New YorkHonolulu City Councilwoman Rene Mansho introduced an ill-conceived bill ordering property owners to get rid of graffiti within two weeks after two weeks' notice. Failure to do so would have resulted in the owner paying the expense of the city cleaning up the mess. Fortunately, Mansho backed away from her proposal after hearing opposition from:
1) Property owners, who resented being twice victimized.
2) A civil rights group defending free speech.
3) City Building Superintendent Randall Fujiki, who said his department has no time to enforce such an ordinance.
That doesn't mean the City Council should accept graffiti and other "minor" crimes as facts of life that will continue to exist. Instead, it should take a look at an anti-disorder campaign that has significantly reduced crime in New York City, now one of the safest cities in the country.
The New York campaign began with transit police arresting, fingerprinting and interrogating people caught jumping turnstiles, spraying graffiti or committing other misdemeanors. Within months, crime in the subways was down by 75 percent and graffiti had disappeared.
After Rudolph Giuliani became mayor in 1993, the same principles were applied throughout the city, with similar success. Felonies in New York are down by 50 percent from three years ago, and homicides are at their lowest levels since the 1960s.
The New York strategy involved pursuing perpetrators of crimes that for too long had been tolerated, not punishing those who didn't promptly clean up after being victimized. To take a bite out of Honolulu's crime, the Council should follow the lead of the Big Apple.
MAYBE it's because he's up for re-election in 1998. Maybe it's because he wants to bond with the little people. Whatever the motivation, residents of Hawaii should make it a point to attend at least one of Governor Cayetano's seven "town hall meetings," the first of which was held Tuesday night at Kapalama Elementary School. Town hall meetings
THE military retains an important presence in Hawaii even after the end of the Cold War, and the state should continue to accommodate its needs by assuring its continued operations here. The military remains a major employer in Hawaii, thanks largely to the efforts of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who regularly reminds Congress of the state's strategic location for large forces. In accommodating the needs of the military, Hawaii is expected to provide sites for military training. Makua Beach landing
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
