Debate on proposed San Francisco Anti-Homeless Sit/Lie Law

I'll be talking on the KQED-Radio tomorrow (3-3) at 9 AM on Michael Krassney's Forum show on the subject of the proposed anti-homeless Sit/Lie law being pushed by police and conservative residents in the Haight-Ashbury district.

For those interested, you can hear the live stream at http://www.kqed.org/radio/listen/ .

The call-in number (toll free) is 866-733-6786. The station guy tells me that they start taking calls at 9:30 AM, though they may announce it earlier on the air. I think there are local stations that may carry forum6.

The host is apparently interested in the Santa Cruz experience with its own Sitting Ban, as I call MC 9.50.022, which reads as follows:

9.50.012 SITTING DOWN ON SIDEWALKS IN DESIGNATED CITY ZONES.

In the C-C community commercial, C-N neighborhood commercial, C-B commercial beach, CBD central business district, and R-T tourist residential zoning districts, no person shall sit upon the following enumerated portions of a public sidewalk:
(a) At any bus stop;
(b) Within fourteen feet of any building. Where any portion of a building is recessed from the public sidewalk, the fourteen feet shall be measured from the point at which the building abuts the sidewalk;
(c) Within fifty feet of any ATM machine or cash disbursal machine, or any other outdoor machine or device which disburses or accepts coins or paper currency except parking meters and newspaper vending machines;
(d) Within fourteen feet of any fence that abuts a public sidewalk;
(e) Within fourteen feet of any drinking fountain, public telephone, public bench, public trash compactor, information or directory/map sign, sculpture or artwork displayed on public property, or vending cart;
(f) Within fourteen feet of any street corner or intersection;
(g) Within fourteen feet of any open air dining area or cafe extension; or
(h) Within fourteen feet of any kiosk.

That law passed in earlier form in 1994, was made worse in 2002, and even worse in 2009. Citations cost more than $100 per pop. 2 in 30 days can be charged as a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and/or $1000 fine

Portland, OR overturned its Sit/Lie Ban last summer: See http://streetroots.wordpress.com/2009/08/08/discuss-sit-lie-at-street-roots-blog/ and http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/08/portland_police_seek_new_tacti.html

I've already done some blogging about the proposed San Francisco ordinance: http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/bruce/2009/12/editorial_sitting_on_the_sidew.html

More recent comments can be found at: http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2010/02/haight_realestate_does_fine_wi.html