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The Chico City Council votes to allow its sit-and-lie ordinance to go into effect.
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The Chico City Council renewed its sit-and-lie ordinance at Tuesday’s meeting. People who sit or lie down on sidewalks next to businesses between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m will face significant fines.
Most of the 10 people who spoke about the issue at the council meeting opposed the measure because of its possible effects on homeless people. Others supported the ordinance because of their concerns about personal safety.
“There’s already a code section about obstructing sidewalks,” said concerned citizen Patrick Newman. “That’s in the law right now. What are we adding this other one for?”
The council renewed the ordinance despite a recent 9th Circuit federal court ruling.
“As long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property, on the false premise they had a choice in the matter,” the court ruled.
-- Orlando Colbert