| The Palo Alto History Project |
| The Sit-Lie Ban University Avenue |
| 2006 |
| The Sit-Lie Ban: A City Divided The hyper-controversial “sit-lie ban” may have been the most divisive issue in the politics of 1990's Palo Alto. It signified a city at odds with itself over its attitude toward the homeless. Passed in March 1997 by a 7-2 vote after a long public debate in the media, opposition to the ban was heartfelt and angry. On the night Council finally took up the question, more than 50 people signed up to speak against the ban and only 20 had finished before the meeting was adjourned due to the late hour. Defenders of the poor said the law was designed as an end-run around anti-panhandling laws, which have yet to be ruled constitutional---and to keep the homeless from tarnishing Palo Alto's well-to-do image. The Police and Chamber of Commerce said it was an issue of public safety. They argued that University Avenue had become increasingly crowded, and teens and homeless sitting on the sidewalks were creating safety hazards, particularly for senior citizens. Homeless advocates countered frequently that the police could not cite a single documented incident of anyone tripping on another person downtown. For the record, the law bans sitting or lying on a seven block stretch on University Avenue sidewalks between High and Cowper Streets from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The sidewalk next to Lytton Plaza at University and Emerson Street was designated as an exception area to allow for any First Amendment speech activities involving sitting or lying. Homeless advocates were incensed at what they believed was a disingenuous attempt by Gary Fazzino and the other council members to get rid of “human grunge” on University. The majority insisted that they were targeting a specific behavior, not a specific group of people. The timing of the measure may have contributed to the minority’s doubts---the "sit-lie ban" closely followed the incident when council member Micki Schneider was attacked by a homeless man outside Noah's Bagels---as well as attempts by business owners to clear smokers (and some claimed the homeless) from outside their businesses . Following the vote, a group of homeless and activists --- the rather directly-named Citizens Against Legislated Meanness --- tried, but failed, to get enough signatures to get a referendum on the sit-lie ban on the ballot. On the night the ordinance went into effect, more than 200 people participated in a peaceful demonstration that resulted in bad publicity for Palo Alto on regional television news broadcasts. The sit-lie ban forced the public to confront its attitude about homelessness and panhandling. A Palo Alto/Stanford survey in the weeks following the adoption of the sit-lie ban found a city divided. 37 percent said they either strongly agreed or agreed with the law. At the same time 31 percent said they either strongly disagreed or disagreed with the ban, while 31 percent said they neither agreed nor disagreed with the law. To this day those divisions have not healed. -Matt Bowling |
| Palo Alto: Then & Now |
| University Avenue |
| 2007 |
| circa 1948 |
| The map below shows the University Avenue West area |
| University Avenue near the half century mark from the Alma Street overpass. Appliance stores sit on both ends bookending University Avenue. A small sign indicates the way to Alma Avenue at right. University Avenue was two lanes all the way down at the time. |
| A bar and German restaurant now occupy the space at left, while construction awaits at right. A new sign indicates the way to Alma Street and the street has become largely one-lane with the exception of a few turn lanes such as the one to the right. Trees are now spread throughout. |
| Joe Baldwin, president of the board of the Urban Ministry fought hard against the sit-lie ban (PA Weekly) |
| Lynne Johnson---assistant chief of police at the time--- she supported the ban (PA Weekly) |
| Larry Duncan started the homeless group CALM (Citizens Against Legislated Meanness). (PA Weekly) |
| Executive director of the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce Susan Frank. (PA Weekly) |
| A rare sit-lie ban violator in 2007 |
| Sources: Palo Alto Times, Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Historical Association |