Tourist-centered ‘sit-lie’ law follows reports of higher petty crime

This week Police Chief George Gascon proposed a new anti-loitering ordinance that would make it illegal to sit or lie on a public sidewalk. Dubbed by the local press a “sit-lie” law, the plan was criticized by opinion writer Thomas Wong in the San Francisco Chronicle, who called the plan an effort to displace the city’s large transient population. A reporter for ABC 7, Carolyn Tyler, said on Monday that the proposal was aimed at making the streets in areas like Haight Ashbury “less confrontational.”

 

On Monday, the Associated Press reported that petty crimes were on the rise in San Francisco, adding that “quality-of-life” crackdowns are happening all across the country. New York, Washington and Chicago have joined in. With a reported homeless population of 6,514 in 2009, San Francisco has big problem.

See Also:

San Francisco supervisors debate anti-loitering ordinance in Haight
abclocal.go.com –  3/1/10

Rise in petty crime even making San Francisco bristle
philly.com – 3/1/10

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Other big stories this week:

Civics

Cameras keep an eye on crime in Oakland Chinatown
cbs5.com – 3/3/10

City Hall reeling after news of layoffs
abclocal.go.com – 3/3/10

Ban proposed for CA sex offenders on social sites
cbs5.com – 3/2/10

SF supes approve changes to end ‘pension spiking’
cbs5.com – 3/2/10

Streetscape

Muni riders just say no
nbcbayarea.com – 3/1/10

Reminder: save Muni summit tomorrow
Sf.streetsblog.org – 3/5/10

Safety

S.F. Police Commission rejects tasers
SFgate.com – 3/4/10

Schools

College credit for 9th-grade ethnic studies
SFgate.com – 3/1/10

Education funding demanded in ‘Day of Action’
insidebayarea.com – 3/4/10

UC Santa Cruz students shut down campus
insidebayarea.com – 3/4/10

Green

What S.F. calls compost, activists call ‘toxic sludge’
abclocal.go.com – 3/4/10

Economy

Bay Area hiring plans uneven
insidebayarea.com – 3/4/10