Stand Against Sit Lie

Mayor Newsom puts Sit/Lie on the November ballot. Click on image to download PDF.

So on the last possible day, Mayor Newsom has introduced a sit/lie ordinance for the November ballot.  Here it is if you’d like to read it over.

It’s very similar to the ordinance he introduced to the Board of Supervisors and which was defeated 8-3 on June 8.

This version includes an exception for Pavements to Parks projects and a very vague mention of a “neighborhood outreach plan.”

“The City shall maintain a neighborhood outreach plan to provide the social services needed by those who chronically sit or lie down on a public sidewalk. The plan will include, but not be limited to, health care and social service capacity, evaluation of service delivery and identification of areas for improved service delivery.”

The San Francisco Chronicle published a story today on the mayors’ submission of the ordinance.

Here’s an excerpt:

“I know that some people don’t like to see that other people do, in fact, live on the street,” said Emily Mills, 27, a substance abuse counselor and Haight-Ashbury resident. “I don’t see this as a public safety issue. That’s a handy way to couch it and make some people feel better about their biases about street people.”