Everett council to consider extending 'no sit, no lie' law
EVERETT — The Everett City Council is set to consider whether it should renew a controversial law that criminalizes sitting or lying down on public property in certain parts of the city.
The law, colloquially referred to as “no sit, no lie,” prohibits people from sitting or lying down in much of the city’s downtown core and bans individuals from giving out food, water or supplies to others in those areas without a permit.
Those areas, known as buffer zones, were put into place to address concerns over homelessness and help connect individuals with needed services, Everett staff have previously said. When the law was put into place, it received backlash from some homeless people and local nonprofits but garnered support from some business owners.
City leaders argue the buffer zones are a tool for law enforcement and city social workers to address homelessness while also meeting the needs of nearby business owners and other residents in Everett. The city has also said it focuses on education over enforcement and uses buffer zones to connect individuals with services via outreach efforts.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-council-to-consider-extending-no-sit-no-lie-law/