Still Legal To Sit On Portland Sidewalks (For Now)

"Questions arose about the possible enforcement of the ordinance that would prohibit sitting or lying down on sidewalks and in other public spaces. That’s because measures designed to protect Portlanders from harassment under the proffered law – benches, public restrooms and a daytime refuge – have not yet been installed, making it more difficult for the homeless and street kids, in particular, to comply with the ordinance."

"'This was all supposed to work together as a package, and that package should be enacted all at once,' Commissioner Erik Sten said in an interview."

"Sten at first tried inserting a clause into the ordinance to say the law would not become effective until all the pieces were in place."

"Earlier versions of the sit-lie ordinance had been struck down in court challenges for being discriminatory or overly broad."