Spare Change for the Better

MAYOR SAM ADAMS is seeking feedback on elements of a new
sidewalk management plan, which will replace the city’s defunct and
unconstitutional sit-lie law. Adams and City Commissioner Nick Fish
told business leaders two weeks ago that they planned a new kind of
sidewalk management package instead of another iteration of the sit-lie
[“We Mean it This Time,” News, Sept 17].

The new draft plan, posted on the mayor’s website on Thursday,
September 17, plans to align all city codes affecting sidewalk use in
the same place, create a criminal zero-tolerance approach to illegal
activity like offensive littering and harassment, improve homeless
services, designate sidewalk through zones, establish a downtown retail
strategy, and increase the number of restrooms available on the
street.

“Portland has 4,804 miles of sidewalks, including 37,744 street
corners; the Westside of downtown Portland alone comprises 152 miles of
sidewalks and 1,778 corners,” says Adams’ website, explaining that a
multitude of uses “must all share a sidewalk between five- and 15-feet
wide.”

So far, reactions among homeless advocates and those who have
watch-dogged these issues since the city last passed a sit-lie law in
2007 have been mixed.

“If it’s going to be something that’s fair to everybody and used
equally, then I’m okay with it,” says Patrick Nolen from activist group
Soapbox Under the Bridge. “The city needs to govern such things. My
problem with the old law was it was used unequally against people
experiencing homelessness.”

Others are more skeptical.

“I think they’re still grasping at straws, trying to find some way
of telling people they can’t sit, lie, or stand on a given area of the
sidewalk,” says Copwatch activist Dan Handelman. “They’re trying to
paint a happy face on what they’ve done before, but I doubt it will be
enforced fairly.”

The mayor hopes to have the new package approved by December at the
latest.