by The Associated Press
PORTLAND - In a proposal that goes against Portland’s liberal image, the city is considering an anti-loitering law that would make it illegal to sit on a public bench if police think it interferes with “the public use or enjoyment” of the seat.
Another proposed law would make it illegal for people to sit, stand or lie on a sidewalk if it forces pedestrians to move around them.
Retail leaders have been lobbying the city to crack down on street people who take up space on sidewalks. But civil-rights advocates are attacking the proposals as unconstitutional.
A similar fight accompanied Seattle’s adoption of such “civility laws” and became an issue in the recent mayoral race between Greg Nickels, the winner, and Mark Sidran, an advocate for the laws while city attorney.
“If Portland wants to make it illegal to sit on the sidewalk, that’s something that needs to be debated, and many views need to be heard on it,” said Paul Levy, chief attorney in the Metropolitan Public Defender’s misdemeanor section.
Levy joined attorneys Marc Jolin of the Oregon Law Center and Andrea Meyer of the American Civil Liberties Union in a letter sent last week to City Commissioner Erik Sten raising questions about the rewrite of Portland’s police code. Sten said he shared their concerns.
Advocates for the poor said they had raised the issues because they had expected the changes to go to the council early next month. But the mayor’s office said the council wouldn’t get the changes until May.
Sam Adams, of Mayor Vera Katz’s chief of staff, said the mayor had not taken a position.
Tim Greve of Carl Greve Jewelers in downtown Portland, said he didn’t know the specifics of the proposed changes. But Greve said he thinks changes are needed.
“Everybody wants a safe feeling in downtown, and right now a lot of people don’t have it,” he said. “It’s hindering business. It’s hindering people wanting to move downtown and live here.”