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UID:Indybay-18717026
SEQUENCE:18813341
CREATED:20120706T173100Z
DESCRIPTION:The Berkeley community beat back the tank, now it's time to do the same 
 with the proposed sit/lie ordinance - an antagonistic proposal, which does 
 nothing to solve the issues behind social/economic inequality.\n\nThe 
 proposal claims one of the fundamental "goals and principles of the 
 ordinance would be a desire to see changed behavior rather than citations 
 and fines".  However, the proposal at it's heart is an infraction, with 
 "subsequent violations [being] misdemeanors".\n\nThe proposal claims to be 
 in support of business owners, but not all businesses support the motion of 
 a sit/lie ordinance.  Businesses cannot opt out of the ordinance.  Business 
 would be forced to apply for permits for chairs/benches, and those permits 
 may not necessarily be granted.  A granted permit costs a fee, and there 
 would also be the actual cost of buying, installing, and maintaining the 
 outdoor furniture.\n\nThe city used to have metal, painted green, benches 
 along Telegraph Avenue.  The majority of them were removed, even though 
 they were used by everyone and seemingly indestructible, stayed in great 
 condition.  Wooden benches on Shattuck and Center were removed.  
 Constitution Square still has benches, but they are for shoppers, as there 
 is a no-loitering sign by the benches.\n\nThere is NO NEW PARK SPACE in 
 Berkeley.  While the new corporate buildings go up, and the taller, more 
 expensive apartment complexes go up, there has been no progression towards 
 a new open space.  Using eminent domain, the city could take Rasputin 
 Records empty lot and turn it into a small park, with benches and plants.  
 Creating small parks on unused lots in commercial areas would alleviate 
 overcrowding on the sidewalks, and provide a break from the commercial 
 monotony.  \n\nWith no open space to go to, the ordinance pushes people 
 into already overcrowded parks or into residential zones, creating tensions 
 with owners/renters.  Commercial areas are general thought to be the public 
 commons, out of respect to private residency.  There could be far more 
 social tension when street camps are moved into residential neighborhoods 
 adjacent to commercial areas.  If the ordinance passes, there could also be 
 an unintended rise in squatting; if sitting on a commercial sidewalk is a 
 sure bet to a misdemeanor.  And while squatting should be promoted as a 
 means to shelter, it shouldn't be done strictly as a resort to fear of 
 conservative sidewalk laws.\n\n\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/07/06/18717026.php
SUMMARY:No Sit/Lie Law in Berkeley
LOCATION:Berkeley City Council Meeting\n2134 MLK (MLK and Center)\n(meetings take a 
 while, can last up til 11/midnight)
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/07/06/18717026.php
DTSTART:20120711T020000Z
DTEND:20120711T060000Z
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