Recently, we have following laws targeting homeless persons — laws that could apply to a wide range of conduct but enforced only against this one group. San Francisco has now joined this group with a law barring people from sitting or lying on public sidewalks from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. This is why the two men on the San Francisco seal are shown standing. There were three but one made the mistake of sitting down.
Obviously, many people sit or lie on public sidewalks, but officials insist that police will only enforce the law against the homeless — a problematic claim allowing arbitrary enforcement.
Mayor Gavin Newsom and Police Chief George Gascon pushed for the law over the objections of civil libertarians. We have also recently seen other normally liberal city councils rejecting civil libertarian objections to pass laws curtailing free speech.
I was just in Haight-Ashbury last month and I can only imagine how the police will enforce this law. It is a dangerous practice to give police the power to pick and choose between citizens to arrest for common conduct.
Yet, that appears precisely what residents want. Kathleen Shanahan explains “There’s a difference between an individual that’s contributing to the society and being part of the cultural fabric of a neighborhood, versus an individual that is sitting on the street with their very scary dog, to the point that I am scared to walk down the Haight with my family.” Note to self, leave scary dog at home next time in San Fran. You should also leave your Happy Meal in the car.
Source: Bay Citizen
Jonathan Turley
as far as your logic goes, here is a song you might like;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WVrA7QqynI
here are the lyrics:
If you ain`t wrong, you`re right
If it ain`t day, it`s night
If you ain`t sure, you might
Gotta be this or that
If it ain`t dry, it`s wet
If you ain“t got, you get
If it ain`t gross, it`s net
Gotta be this or that
If it ain`t sis, you can`t miss
It`s got to be your brother
Can`t you see it`s gotta be
One way or the other
If it ain`t full, it`s blank
If you don`t spend, you bank
If it ain`t Dee, it`s Frank
Gotta be this or that
Gyges:
Why blame Joe Dimaggio, he was just bangin MM. No sin there. Now if he was bangin San Fran Nanny I might agree.
“Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you.”
Paul Simon
does that mean a person having an epileptic attack falling to the ground will now be arrested?
WOW, only from 7a.m. to 11 p.m. I suppose that escapes the patrons of bars that pass out on the street…makes sense…not
Maybe they could also ban economic downturns and crises…
These morons ought to be ashamed of themselves.
Let’s see if I’ve got this right. San Francisco, a water-locked city that absolutely has no way to expand in any direction; the second most densely populated city in the nation with an eye-popping 17,000 humans per square mile; shouts to all the world their sanctuary status.
“Come on up!”
But don’t even think about sitting down.
I don’t know why the city council would bother with the trouble of a referendum in the first place. Why not just wait til 2020, when no living creature will have room to sit down. Problem solved.
yep, benny’s been “puttin on the ritz” for a bit to long
Eddie,
Personally, I blame Joe DiMaggio.
I also think it’s safe to say that Benny Goodman’s to blame for Colorado’s budget crisis.
Eddie: Dallas enforces anti loitering and anti solicitation laws. It is not San Francisco. I don’t about the other cities you mention.
Swarthmore Mom:
Well then in San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso, Amarillo, Lubbock or Midland?
“Bad guys like arbitrary laws.”
Didn’t they just ban advertising for happy meals as well? Free speech now freedom of assembly, what is next?
Funny how San Francisco is making all these anti-constitutional laws. Isn’t Nancy Pelosi from there?
Eddie: I think the municipalities set the policies not the states.
Do they have laws like that in Texas and other Red States?
Good post pete.
““…try to remember there’s a good chance that piece of scum you want to scrape off your shoe fought for that flag you wear on your lapel.” -pete”
Having gone to the VA for a check up,you look around and everyone is equal and nameless but you feel like every one knows everyone.
Some carry the scars of battle and a lot carry scars that are not visible to the eye.
“…try to remember there’s a good chance that piece of scum you want to scrape off your shoe fought for that flag you wear on your lapel.” -pete
And I’ve worked with a lot of them. It’s heartbreaking.
for those thinking this is a liberal issue because it involves San Fransisco, is it ok to sleep on a sidewalk in Muskogee Oklahoma?
try to remember there’s a good chance that piece of scum you want to scrape off your shoe fought for that flag you wear on your lapel
Buckeye,
The “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of it will come out over time…
(I wrote the responses to your questions very quickly — I hadn’t planned to post them right away,if at all, but hit the wrong key and submitted the comment inadvertently.)
Buckeye,
Other examples of “the vulnerable” would be some of those who are homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes, alcoholics — those with little-to-no leverage or credibility…
Buckeye,
My response to yours posted prematurely…
Regarding:
#5 How high does it go?
High.
It all sounds “crazy” — I’ll be the first to admit it — but it isn’t. It’s well-designed, I’ll give “them” that.
At some point, “the truth will out.”