Homeless people aren't forced to live specifically on sidewalks. For whatever reason, they choose to. Personally, I would take a blanket on a soft patch of leaves over a cold slab of concrete any day. So, why are they there on the sidewalk? And why do some of them go out of their way to block people from getting where they need to go? Should we just let anybody who has a need to block a sidewalk do so?

Am I reading the numbers correctly? Is that 13 warnings and 1 citation in a 60 day period?

Are there any other citations or warnings issued which are not included in that count?

As we understand it, officers are required to give a verbal warning, then issue an official written warning, and then a citation.

The number of verbal warnings is thought to be at a higher volume, but there's really no way to track this.

The 13 are written warnings.

I feel it is important to note that although Sisters Of The Road sits on the SAFE Oversight Committee to help give voice to the community that both Street Roots and Sisters represent, we have on many occasions, including several times in front of city council, mentioned our feeling that a sit/lie type law is not needed. Both Genny Nelson and myself have made it very clear what Sisters stance is on this. Everything from the fact that it targets a specific group to the fact that the money and man-hours spent policing it could be spent watching for crimes being committed, to the fact that there are already laws on the books that prohibit these activities they mention...
As a person who spent 8 years without housing, I can tell you that there are much better ways to get people off the sidewalk, everything from giving them a chance at affordable housing to asking them if they would mind moving a bit so you could get by.
thank you
Patrick

In response to "Logan 5":

Have you ever really seen a homeless person block a sidewalk?

Personally myself living and working downtown (where all this stuff happens) I've never had a homeless person block the sidewalk and prevent my from going anywhere.

"Have you ever really seen a homeless person block a sidewalk?"

I can't always tell who is truly homeless and who is just "hanging around" but yes, quite a few times over the two years I worked in the downtown area. One particular guy liked to specifically block the side bar entrance to Dragonfish and wouldn't move for the employees who asked him nicely. There's no reason to be laying down or sleeping on the sidewalks. Zero.

And although I never caught the responsible party, on several occasions I had nice big piles of shit dead center of the door entrance to my office across from Fox tower. To me, that's blocking my way. I don't like skidding on shit.

It's funny that you ask this because I was about to start carrying my camera with me to counter the ridiculous argument that nobody blocks sidewalks around downtown (and that nobody does it specifically for the reason of annoying people). I guess we all see what we want to.

Also in response to Logan 5:
I have often seen people sleeping on sidewalks because there are overhangs to keep the rain off and sometimes warm air vents blowing from people's laundry pipes or heating units. That is the reason some people sleep on sidewalks instead of cold wet grass.

Maybe some people deserve to skid in shit if the city can't provide enough public restrooms.

"Maybe some people need to skid in shit..."

Nobody who has skud in shit first thing in the morning with coffe and a bagel in hand would say that.

And I think it's safe to say that if these people can't find a more appropriate place to defecate now, they probably won't with public toilets around either. Even my cat had the courtesy to find a potted plant when I forgot to put out his box.

Logan 5,
if you actually did a bit of research on this matter you might be dangerous.
in 1978 the HUD budget was 83 BILLION dollars, by 1983 that had dropped to 18 billion, it has not been over 30 billion since... (according to a nifty doccument that I downloaded from a previous post by Matt) maybe you think the population of the United States has shrunk? if you want people to stop sleeping on the streets give them an option, whether it be low income housing, physical or mental healthcare facilities, etc. even the Police, who think in bandaids rather than solutions know that people need a place to sleep if you dont want them on the sidewalk.
as far as shitting on the sidewalk, consider it a statement if you will, you shit on me, I shit on your sidewalk! there is exactly _1_ public restroom open 24 hours a day, ONE, UNO, LESS THAN TWO, if you want someone to fricking use the restroom at 2 am give them a viable choice. I dont know about you, but I dont think it reasonable to ask someone to walk 10 blocks to use a restroom at 2am.