Phew! I'm glad to see the judge's deeper feelings on this. Makes me more confident that the PBA won't get it back on the books. Thanks for your committed coverage of this, Matt.

My faith in our justice system is restored.

Nick Fish said repeatedly during his campaign that he would oppose the sit/lie law if the evidence showed it was being used to target specific populations. The data is there and so is the legal ruling but Nick is still mum. He's a wus or a liar. Take your pick. Perhaps the fundraising appeals issued on his behalf by the Portland Business Alliance and all Nick's developer friends already are being cashed in. I miss Erik Sten.

"the constitution is worth protecting. It's not something, as a free society, that we take for granted."

sweeeeet!

ps. Matt, you rock.

this is happy news indeed... a great way to start a weekend.
and you are right Rabblevox, Matt does rock!

Reese dangerously distorts the term proactive. I've been arrested several times in Portland by officers being proactive--all I did was show up at then-Senator Smith's office building front door and I went to jail five times for that. The ONE time that my friends challenged it by pleading not guilty and taking it all the way through trial they won. We need to continue to take away so-called proactive arresting power by any nonviolent means at our command if we value our freedom. Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard on this for so long!!! You did it!!!

As a busker for a living, I'm glad to see the portion of the ordinance regulating my profession kicked to the curb. Street entertainment is not begging, it is a long-storied art form using the subtle vibrations of air to stir peoples' hearts to open their wallets (or whatever) and toss a bill, coin, or place a lit candle as a recognition of the joy such acts bring to all concerned. Now the streets are once again free of the mean spirited attacks of the like I've personally experienced in spite of my decades of experience and college degree(s). I only wish I'd see more skiffling (street artist drawing with chalk--where coins, etc. are placed in similar recognition of the artform.

The most annoying thing about downtown is not the street kids, but all those charity workers trying to shake your hand at every intersection!

Wait, so the judge ruled a ordinance unconstitutional at a hearing that the city was present as a party at and the city lost? And then the city acted like a whiny baby and asked for and got a special hearing for a second crack at it? No wonder Bushong smacked them down again. They think they are so special that they don't understand they straight up lost the issue. It is pathetic. Damn straight it's not the judges job to help them fix their precious unconstitutional ordinance. The city should be embarrassed for even asking and wasting the courts time. I hope he made them pay the court costs.