In May, when Portland City Council extended the Sit/Lie ordinance for 5 months in order to hold community dialogues around the issues raised by the Streets Access For Everyone (SAFE) committee, Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish promised discussions in many neighborhoods over the five month period. So far, it looks like there will be only two meetings, being held three days apart, on July 18 and July 21.
From Sisters of the Road:
When you heard from us last, a Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge ruled that Sit/Lie unconstitutionally exceeds the city’s authority, as it conflicts with and is preempted by state law. After this ruling, the enforcement of Sit/Lie was suspended. This doesn’t mean that Sit/Lie is gone, so we still have work to do to ensure that the City takes it off the books.
Please show your support and come to the following community meetings that Commissioners Fritz and Fish are organizing:
Saturday, July 18th from 10am-12:00pm
Kaiser Town Hall
3704 N. Interstate, Portland
Tuesday July 21st from 7pm-9pm
First Unitarian Church
1011 SW 12th Ave, Portland
Our understanding is that these community meetings are not just focused on Sit/Lie but rather on Sit/Lie, the various services associated with the Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) oversight committee, and how we all as Portlanders can come together and discuss opportunities to make our city friendly for everyone.
Show up and get active on this important issue!
Came across this entry while browsing through An Oregon Almanac: A Handbook of Fact and Fancy (1940), a fascinating pamphlet produced as a WPA project of The Oregon Writer’s Project. The booklet provides humorous anecdotes and random bits of Oregon History for every day of the calendar year. Considering the city’s ongoing dilemma on how to approach homelessness in Portland, it struck me with particular relevance…
I have been thinking for a while that I don’t agree with Portland’s Sit/ Lie Ordinance. I have mostly kept these thoughts inside my head. But recently, it has become hard to ignore the sweeps, the issuing of tickets and the outright harassment by police of those on the streets.
For those unaware, the Sit/ Lie is a law that was passed two years ago, granting police authority to cite anyone sitting or lying in a public space. Championed by the Portland Business Alliance, the law has been overwhelmingly targeted at homeless people.
On Wednesday City Council voted, as anticipated, 4-1 to extend the Sit/ Lie another six months, so that council can hold a series of community hearings (even though the homeless community has signed petitions, gave lengthy testimonials and camped out on the steps of City Hall in opposition).
Then yesterday I witnessed an unmarked van pull the wrong way down a one-way street in Old Town. Six undercover cops stepped out, guns drawn. They were stopping a homeless man for jaywalking. “Do you remember the last time we caught you on this street?” questioned one officer, “We had to taser you”. He was issued a $97 ticket.
Is it just me or is anyone else angered with the way Sam Adams is running the show? I voted for the guy but he’s been disappointing in both his public and private life. I think its time the artist community organize themsleves and hold our elected officials accountable. If anyone is inetresting in working on a campaign to challange city policy on the sit/ lie over the next six months, drop me a line.
In May, when Portland City Council extended the Sit/Lie ordinance for 5 months in order to hold community dialogues around the issues raised by the Streets Access For Everyone (SAFE) committee, Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Nick Fish promised discussions in many neighborhoods over the five month period. So far, it looks like there will be only two meetings, being held three days apart, on July 18 and July 21.