I get where Sarah's coming from with this, but mr. v and sj have pretty good points.

That being said, why the fuck would you want to sit on the sidewalk all night to pay extra for a "limited edition" pair of shoes? I hope these guys get to have sex with like five girls at once for this cause otherwise I just don't get it.

The issue here doesn't have to do with whether or not these guys were causing a problem, but the fact that they did not get in trouble for breaking a law that unfairly targets others (ie. the sit/lie ordinance and the affected houseless population). If a law is going to be enforced, it has to be enforced all around; if not, it is a discriminatory law. Yes, every circumstance is different, and I am not proposing that what these guys did was wrong; however, for the sake of those who ARE targeted by this law, it is something that needs to be recognized and dealt with accordingly.

As a socialist, I'm inclined to bash these idiots waiting in line for shoes and say they should be prosecuted. However, I'm also a citizen, and, apprently, according to the commenter citing code there (if it's correct), those guys were within legal bounds.

However. That doesn't mean the law shouldn't be changed. The sit/lie law is complete crap. And, really, having moved here from San Francisco, I can say that the worst harassment I've receive at the hands of a homeless person in Portland doesn't about to 1/10th of the shit I went through every day in SF. For the most part, the homeless here do their best to be courteous to others.

Seriously Go stay in a hotel in the Union Square area in SF for a week. Go walk around in the Tenderloin for a couple hours a day. I dare you to come back here and say with a straight face that the homeless here are a problem. I fucking dare you.

Will,
I agree. as someone who has been homeless while living in Portland, I was shocked the first time I went to SF. We were down there visiting allies with offices in the mission and the tenderloin. I was amazed at how many people would spange you while walking down the street. that being said, I did meet a man while there who was convinced that I was Elvis... (if you have seen me, that is not much in the realm of posibility)
thanks
Patrick

The difference is that we don't try to sleep in the same store every night, and unlike homeless people we give the people more business, not diminish it. By the way I'm the guy in the picture with the pink blanket. To those who call us "idiots" for camping out. I suggest you do some homework. the shoes we bought were $215 and have tripled in face value in less than a week. Sounds like a smart investment to me. If its ok for people to camp out for the new iphone, concert tickets, or even blazer tickets. why is it stupid for us to make money on our hobby?

Enjoy your hipster beanie babies, I'm sure the "investment" will provide well for you late in life.