Still Legal To Sit On Portland Sidewalks (For Now)

Passage of an ordinance making it illegal to sit or lie on sidewalks in Portland, Oregon, has been delayed by the city's mayor until more benches and public restrooms have been installed.

1 minute read

January 26, 2007, 5:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

"Questions arose about the possible enforcement of the ordinance that would prohibit sitting or lying down on sidewalks and in other public spaces. That's because measures designed to protect Portlanders from harassment under the proffered law – benches, public restrooms and a daytime refuge – have not yet been installed, making it more difficult for the homeless and street kids, in particular, to comply with the ordinance."

"'This was all supposed to work together as a package, and that package should be enacted all at once,' Commissioner Erik Sten said in an interview."

"Sten at first tried inserting a clause into the ordinance to say the law would not become effective until all the pieces were in place."

"Earlier versions of the sit-lie ordinance had been struck down in court challenges for being discriminatory or overly broad."

FULL STORY: Mayor unexpectedly postpones passage of newest sit-lie ordinance

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 in The Portland Tribune

Infrastructure Social / Demographics Oregon

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