I just came across this Street Roots editorial from December 2006, about the SAFE committee’s attempts to ban sitting or lying on the sidewalk. It’s ironic that 6 months later, we appear to be in the exact same place.

“There will be a temptation by some to see this as a way to target our homeless, or remove unwelcome groups from high-visibility areas,” says Mayor Tom Potter in his Dec. 11 press release. “Instead, what these reforms will do is ensure that our city remains a diverse, urban environment by not forcing anyone to leave its sidewalks or streets.”

But that’s not really the case. The High Pedestrian Traffic Area ordinance prohibits anyone from sitting or lying on a public sidewalk from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in defined high pedestrian areas. Violators will be warned, and would receive a non-criminal citation in community court with the possibility of fines up to $250.

And this:

Street Roots is not arguing against a vibrant downtown. We believe a healthy city needs a bustling nightlife, density, and thriving small businesses. But it’s troubling that the current city government has allowed curfews in parks that clearly target a certain group of individuals, and banned sitting and lying on a sidewalk — all in exchange for direct services.

Asking us to cheerlead for philosophies that are neither new nor innovative is asking us to continue to spin our wheels. In short, banning people from sitting or lying on a sidewalk is wrong and unconstitutional.It’s that simple.

Read Mercury news editor Scott Moore’s account of why the sit/lie law is not only wrong, but unconstitutional, here.