Assisted Sun Chong, grocery store owner to call HPD on 3 women illegally peddling on the sidewalk fronting 160. N. Hotel St. (entrance to Maunakea Marketplace). Met HPD Officer Sai who arrived in minutes, two (Chinese, according to the owner of Sun Chong) peddlers immediately packed up and left while the third, Maria Nguyen*(Vietnamese) continued to conduct her peddling. This morning, Maria had two carts peddling avocados, coconut and bananas as well as a clothing rack (of used women clothes) on the public sidewalk.
(*) Over the last several YEARS, Maria Nguyen has been warned, cited and moved around the sidewalks of Chinatown, yet she continues to peddle with NO regards to her personal safety from someone taking her money or illegally selling things. She told HPD and another witness, Kim (Caucasian lady) that she was carrying $172 at that time. Besides it is also illegal to take a part of the the public sidewalk to sell goods; yet everyday there’s people doing it.
The small Chinatown business owners who legitimately pay rent and taxes are fed up with peddlers. HPD hardly cites only asks the peddlers to leave within a few minutes. I believe that No statement, No report, just warning doesn’t make it on the crime stats.