Roth Joins County Mayors in Honolulu Calling on Ige to Veto Bail Reform Bill

Mayor Mitch Roth joined his fellow county mayors in Honolulu on Wednesday, June 8, to urge the governor to veto a controversial bail reform measure, Hawai‘i News Now reported.

“This bill doesn’t help us. It hurts us,” said Hawai‘i County Mayor Mitch Roth at the news conference at Mission Memorial Auditorium. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi added, “I was shocked when it got passed.”

The bill would allow non-violent offenders to be released from custody without having to post bail.

According to HNN, the proposal has generated a significant amount of public discussion and opposition over the last several weeks.

House Judiciary Vice-Chair Scot Matayoshi introduced the bill but dropped support for it after its passage ― when law enforcement agencies that didn’t weigh in during the legislative session came out to oppose it.

“Given the opposition to the bill, I myself changed my mind and requested that the governor veto the bill,” Matayoshi told HNN.

Matayoshi said the bill was an attempt to prevent harmless people from being stuck in jail for lack of bail money.

But critics called it a “get out of jail free card” that comes as Hawaii grapples with a worrisome spike in crime.

While admitting the bill was too broad, Matayoshi says many in the public overlooked provisions to protect public safety.

At this time, it’s unknown if Gov. David Ige will veto the measure, HNN reports. The governor has until June 25 to make a decision.