We do have a serious ass homeless person problem in this city, but I don't think beating them down because they're trying to catch a nap is the right thing to do.

How are they going to enforce this "law", anyway? Fine them? You can't get blood from a turnip... Also, I think that if they used the money they plan to spend on enforcing this "law", which includes : paying police checks, throwing people in jail, etc on homeless shelters instead, we wouldn't need such a law in the first place... Right?

Lame

Is it possible that the sit/lie ordinance can be stopped?

Sit, lie, squat, stand, sleep, eat, fuck, dance, stumble, smile, shit, laugh, puke, frown...we all do it. All people have a right to exist on this planet. All of this "sit-lie" crap is about the PBA drones serving the monied elite who have a single minded interest in expanding their equity at the expense of human beings who want a little patch of mother earth to exist on. Come on guys and gals who support this kind of thing...just say it! You don't like the smelly scary street people. We are smarter than this and we can do much better. It's not all about making things nice and pretty just so we can help some rich ass wipes make a couple hundred extra a square foot on their real estate. Do you think people who live on the street in the rain and cold give a rats ass about a couple of shitty benches? Stick your fucking benches up your ass and leave these poor bastards alone.

Usual Kevin, like usual, Kevin, you've hit on the truth of the matter--the sit-lie ordinance isn't really about the "homeless problem," it's about the perception. I've yet to hear any figures about anyone sitting or lying on the sidewalk actually leading to problems for public safety. In reality, "vagrants" making use of public right of ways scare away potential consumers (I have to imagine that it's not consumers from Portland, who understand what an urban environment actually means), and that is a real problem for people like the PBA. Heaven forbid individuals' rights get in the way of business interests.

I spend a lot of time downtown, and I've never once come even remotely close to a problem with anyone who's homeless or sitting-lying on the sidewalk. But I can imagine that businesses might see these "undesirables" as scaring off their suburban consumers. Sucks for them, but that doesn't mean we get to suspend the basic rights of other people to accommodate them.

And NW, YES! Of course there's a way you can stop it. Call all of the commissioners and tell them what you think. Here's a quick link to all of their contact info Tell them I sent you.

There was a protest at the convention center during the PBA's annual breakfast were many activist got arrested for fighting for homeless rights. For speaking out against the commercial interest and profit in putting bars under bridges. More benches=More graffiti, More shelter beds=Just as many not being able to sleep on em'. I think Its great that homeless people are going out on a limb to speak for themselves and not have people speak for them. I was there handing out over 289 of those flyers and had majority of the people who got the flyers interested about this Sit-lie ordinance. Homeless pose no threat except to the people who are more caring about their business profits than real issues that occur in the world.
In the struggle
-Anonymous class war soldier

Scott, weren't you saying "don't blog drunk" the other day? You're sounding pretty revolutionary there...and I know you went to Progressive Happy Hour last night. Come on, 'fess up...

You can't bring up the don't blog drunk thing with the election fresh in our memories.

I never said "don't blog with insomnia."

I actually think that it's become such a fiasco that if people hit them with a wave of calls saying they don't feel threatened by people sitting on sidewalks - city council may listen - especially Sten and the Mayor's office who are closest to this stuff.

I never said "don't blog with insomnia."

I think insomnia is a requirement for good blogging.

me too. i can never sleep at 03:02 PM. goddamn you insomnia!

nice echo chamber. f the man! man.

Have you ever thought that we need to do things to protect our economy as well as the homeless? There are too many people on our street due to drugs, mental illness, and bad choices. Everyone wants to blame the PBA, but at least they are doing something to improve the city they live in. Maybe this is the push that some of these people need to get them off the street. The last thing they need are more enablers. I have yet to hear any other productive ideas, only ideas to protest and trying to beat down other attempts at making Portland a better place to work and live.

I am apart of the portland street youth and one of the few organizers of the protest which has already taken place it went well and the sit/lie is not being put into action,,,,yet thier renameing it and saying they have and are going to add benches so far they have seven,??? anyone who lives in portland knows seven fucking benches will NOT help thiers to many people/squatters and thier all outside of downtown downtown, thye'er planing on creating a day center for homeless service but they question still stand where will we sleep?! and its to help feed so spangeing is not necessary but not everyone is spare changing for food hell when i want a beer i want a beer and one person at the protest my friend asked the rep. who is paying for this, reply the tax payers, my friend say's i am a tax payer and why would i pay for benches when i already payed for the sidewalk! the point i have is, this will solve nothing but atleast for now nothing is in order!