Will Berkeley Abolish the Human Rights of the Poor?

http://www.thestreetspirit.org/will-berkeley-abolish-the-human-rights-of-the-poor/

Large cities all over the country have been passing sitting bans that criminalize poor and homeless people, and now Berkeley, thought of as one of the most progressive cities in California, is following this questionable trend.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and his allies on the City Council have put a proposed sitting ban on the November 6 ballot for Berkeley residents. If passed, Measure S would make it illegal for anyone to sit on the sidewalks in Berkeley’s commercial districts from the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

While Mayor Bates and many business and merchant groups are saying Measure S is a way to help struggling local businesses, a large number of homeless and youth service providers, homeless advocates and three members of the Berkeley City Council are calling it an unwarranted attack on the most vulnerable part of our population.