Take a Stand Against S.F.'s Anti Sit/Lie Law

Despite advocates marching on San Francisco a month ago to raise awareness of issues affecting the homeless, the City by the Bay is currently considering a measure to outlaw sitting and/or lying on the famed Haight Street sidewalks. Or, possibly, any and all sidewalks citywide. In an unfortunate development, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that he will personally introduce an ordinance to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

Proponents complain about a new breed of "street punks," "thugs" or "road warriors" antagonizing citizens with especially disruptive, menacing misbehavior and unlawful acts. Unfortunately, as is too often the case, these are being equated with "the homeless" more generally, despite reports acknowledging that there have been very few problems from homeless individuals in the past. So who are all these problem people -- and what's really the problem? Or the solution?

I know first-hand that while some of the culprits are homeless, that sure doesn't mean they all are. These are individuals misbehaving in specific ways at certain locations. And many are known to be travelers and transients, not San Francisco residents. So it's a mistake to frame this as a "homeless problem" or to react with undeserved and undue regulations stripping longstanding rights and freedoms from law-abiding residents, homeless or not. Just last month, it was reported that police efforts to enforce existing laws have been getting the desired results.

The supervisor for the Haight (district 5), Ross Mirkarimi, has so far sagely balked at a new law, while continuing to push for enforcement of current codes and even stepping up efforts with more foot patrols. But some citizen and business groups, such as the Haight Ashbury Improvement Association and the Building Owners and Managers Association, which recently issued an "action alert," are rallying to outlaw particular bodily postures on sidewalks. Plus, new San Francisco chief of police George Gascón is said to be "a big supporter of this type of law" and may see this as a chance to gain some political capital and public favor.

Newsom is down-playing the homeless insinuations, but too many of us know from experience that once the police get unleashed with laws like this, actual street-level enforcements are mostly left to them. There's a long and continuing history of these types of laws being wielded oppressively and specifically against homeless persons.

Action IS called for now -- action to turn the misguided initiative on its head. Tell Mayor Newsom and the Board of Supervisors not to pass a discriminatory sit/lie ordinance.

Photo credit: highrise78