I take it you've never owned a home in area with sidewalks...
The property owner does own the sidewalks and is forced to pay for them to be put in, and for their replacement when they get old and crack.
They are built in a public right of way. That means that people have the right to cross your property on that sidewalk. It's not public property, it's private property on which a right of way is given for a specific purpose to the public.
That purpose is not to hang out and harass the property owners and their guests. The hotel is within it's rights to ask the reporter to move along, and if they don't call the police and have them arrested for trespassing if they refuse to move along.
You don't understand property.
The surface rights in the dedicated road right of way are public property. The ajacent land owner owns the "Fee" but not the use of the surface. The maintenance of the hardscape is a separate matter, usually defined in the "Streets and Highways Code." If the owner wishes to do anything WRT his hardscape, he is obligated to first obtain an "Encroachment Permit" from the appropriate agency under the direction of the "Road Commissioner."
Do you kno what you are talking about or are you just making stuff up?