Day laborers link sit-lie to Arizona crackdown

04.22.10 - 3:37 pm | Steven T. Jones |

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The SF Day Labor Program program last month targeted U-Haul, and now it's going after the sit-lie ordinance

Steven T. Jones

After another overwhelming vote against it last night, the sit-lie ordinance (banning sitting or lying on SF sidewalks) proposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom and Police Chief George Gascon is probably toast. But just to make sure, the activists at Stand Against Sit Lie are holding another day of creative protests on sidewalks around the city this Saturday, 4/24.

Among the 13 events scheduled so far will be immigrant day laborers sitting along Cesar Chavez Street between Mission and San Van Ness streets to protest both sit-lie and another legislative attack on immigrants, the controversial Arizona measure that essentially bans undocumented immigrants and encourages police to arrest them using racial profiling techniques.

The SF Day Labor Program is organizing the protest and today sent out a statement linking the two measures, noting that the sit-lie ordinance criminalizing otherwise lawful behavior and targets marginalized populations. Last night at the DCCC meeting, Sup. David Campos also made the point that day laborers who stand on street corners all day seeking work sometimes need to rest.

"Day laborers in San Francisco have to sit down once in awhile when they're out on street corners waiting for work," Jose Ramirez, a day laborer and coordinator of the SF Day Labor Program, said in today’s statement. "Taking us to jail for sitting down in San Francisco is the same as immigrants being targeted by police for simply being Latino."

After the Planning Commission early this month voted 6-1 to recommend against the sit-lie ordinance – finding that it violated a number of city goals and policies – the measure is awaiting consideration by the Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee, possibly on May 3.

Comments

Get a life

I saw a progressive molesting a child in the city today and when someone tried to stop them, they said that their civil rights were been broken, bla, bla.bla, bla.

Sam: get a life!!!!!!!

Posted by I saw on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 5:30 pm

It's interesting how this went from

upset citizens in the Haight, to this being a conspiracy against illegal aliens and who knows what else?

The paranoid mind of the left marches on.

Posted by glen matlock on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 5:46 pm

British Nation Party

Similar, even if it be at the opposite ends of the Spectrum, the tactics used by the Progressives, scare and run, scare and run, oh wait, we got a reaction, every one move over there and chant!

Posted by BNP on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 7:09 pm

Glen, I think you missed a step...

about the city implementing a law that would make it illegal for any person to sit on the sidewalk, which would obviously have a major effect on Day Laborers who often sit on the sidewalk.

Posted by Guest on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 7:33 pm

heh - guest

This went from a debate about thugs harassing people to all this free association complaining.

If the progressives supervisors had addressed this issue years ago, even months ago, it wouldn't have come up now. Instead of addressing the concerns of the people in their district the supes were busy doing foreign policy and whatnot. After the neglect of Merkerimi, the people in his district were upset and that idiot Newsom saw a way to one up the self appointed moralist progressives. Progressive are so good at following orders, the supes who neglected their districts and the journalist/advocates/activists are now whipping the idiots up into a free association frenzy.

This very grass roots, get the thugs off my block movement, has picked up some steam, the progresso bots are wanting a do over, "lets just enforce the laws that we already have" is the sad whine we hear from howling whiners like do nothing David Campos.

Posted by glen matlock on Apr. 23, 2010 @ 7:14 am

Wrong Again

This started because the Chronicle and Chamber of Commerce after careful messaging decided that the best way to enforce a sit lie law/ create a wedge issue for the November election was to whip up hysteria about thugs and bullies who were somehow attacking people and spitting on babies while sitting or lying down. Legitimate neighborhood concerns should be dealt with. I don't think anyone is against that on any side of the issue.

However preventing the public from sitting or lying down in the commons because of a small group of people who usually aren't sitting (and are most volatile when standing or walking) is laughable on its face and upon closer inspection.

Posted by Guest on Apr. 23, 2010 @ 8:34 am

ah no

It started from a Chronicle columnist reporting on a meeting in the Haight.

Nice try though, blame the conspiracy.

I know people in the district who have sent E-mails to Mirkarimi and went to meetings where people asked him to address the issue in the Haight.

As another example, I know at the neighborhood meeting by my house people asked Campos to address the champions at 21 and SVN. In the Mission Local linked to the Chronicle a few weeks ago, Campos said the laws that already exist should address these situations. This was well after the meeting where he was quizzed on the subject.

So no, our progressives don't really think these issues should be addressed, "put up with the quality of life issues, we have foreign policy to look after."

On this subject you "progressives" remind me of this guy I worked with years ago who would complain when people asked him to do his job, meaning not spend his day napstering, it was a huge shock when he got fired.

Posted by glen matlock on Apr. 23, 2010 @ 2:53 pm

Guest who posted at 7.33PM

No you missed the point, the day labors are not bothering anyone.

But keep up the scare tactics to get your way, they are very effective!

Posted by Guest on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 8:25 pm

Not understanding this

I drive by ceaser chavz (spelt correct?) and the guys do not lie or sit, they stand and wave at you if you drive by in pick up truck.

What sort of reporting is this?

Posted by Guest on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 8:28 pm

Troll Alert.

Hola. Don't feed the trolls who are trying to "bait" people and get a rise/reaction out of people.

I have been following the disgusting crackdown in Arizona on the Español language network Univisión (Noticias). What's going on in Arizona is pathetic! I try not to look at that piece of trash sheriff they have---what's his name?....Arpaio...that redneck. His tie tack is an image of a gun. Anyone notice that? Sigh. Can one get anymore redneck than that? I guess there wasn't a tie tack of the US Constitution or the Statue of Liberty available, but then he wouldn't know what to do with either one.

No human being is "illegal" or an "alien" (I read that language on other forums too often) and I thank all immigrants for their many contributions to this nation, whether they are undocumented or documented. Muchísimas Gracias.

Posted by Sam on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 8:38 pm

Sit/Lie and AZ: I Don't Think So

I doubt the day laborers will take part in this demonstration. They are too intent on trying to get jobs.

However, the Day Labor Program employees and administrators, a politically-motivated gang of thugs who take city money, WILL make this an issue and harass people trying to get in their way.

A few years back, we tried to get the men a day labor center big enough to get them off the street, out of the rain etc and some sort of dignified way of getting jobs. The day labor program fought against it and is now in a tiny place on Cesar Chavez St.

The men on the street do indeed sit on the sidewalk. A lot. Both on CC and on 26th Street.

I doubt that there is any relation between Arizona and Sit/Lie in SF.

Posted by CRS on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 11:41 pm

Day Laborers and Arizona: No Connection

I doubt the day laborers will take part in this demonstration. They are too intent on trying to get jobs.

However, the Day Labor Program employees and administrators, a politically-motivated gang of thugs who take city money, WILL make this an issue and harass people trying to get in their way.

The men on the street do indeed sit on the sidewalk. A lot. Both on CC and on 26th Street.

I also doubt that there is any relation between Arizona and Sit/Lie in SF.

Posted by CRS on Apr. 22, 2010 @ 11:46 pm

Hi SAM

I was a bar last week and wanted to talk to this beautful girl, but she didn't want to talk to me, ALERT, ALERT, she must have been a TROLL

I then went to MacDonalds, but the meal I wanted was $6.56 and I only had $6.00, ALERT, ALERT that guy behind the counter must have been a TROLL.

I was driving the other day trying to merge into traffic, and this guy in a white car would not let me out, ALERT, ALERT, he must have been a TROLL.

LMFAO

Posted by Guest on Apr. 23, 2010 @ 6:05 am