A feature article in the East Bay Express alternative newsweekly on a proposed sit/lie ordinance in the City of Berkeley has aroused the ire of low-income advocates. 

The long free-form op-ed by music/cultural writer Rachel Swan was titled "Unfounded Fears: Why the controversy over a Berkeley measure that would would ban sitting on sidewalks is overblown".

Homeless advocates point to the extensive quotations from John Caner, CEO of the Berkeley Downtown Association, the portrayal of homelessness as a recreational activity pursued by choice by "crazy" people, and the lack of contextualization including economic framing of the increased poverty and desperation in America over the past few years and references to the track records of similar ordinances in 2 CA beach towns, Santa Monica and Santa Cruz rather then the ordinance recently passed across the Bay in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, which is generally acknowledged to have been ineffective.

The piece also provides some questionable quotes without verification of the contents including a quote from Dr. Davida Coady of Options Recovery arguing that the City of Berkeley has the resources, and the largesse, to assist each homeless resident, an assertion somewhat belied by the fact that the city has no shelter facilities open during the day at all whatsoever.

 Here's the link to the article. Comments follow.