Everett council approves extension of 'no sit, no lie' law

EVERETT — Everett City Council members voted Wednesday to extend a contentious law that bans sitting or lying down on public property in certain areas of the city.

A 2023 law that gave the city power to enact buffer zones — areas of the city that prohibit people from sitting or lying down, and ban individuals from giving food, water or supplies without a permit to people sitting or lying down — was set to expire at the end of the year unless the council extended it. Since the law, known as “no sit, no lie,” was approved, the measure has been met with controversy, with some arguing it’s been an effective tool against nuisance crimes while others say the law unfairly targets homeless people.

The city first approved a “no sit, no lie” law in 2021, limited to a 10-block area east of Broadway. It then expanded the law in 2023, allowing the mayor to create new buffer zones in areas that are impacted by a number of “qualifying events,” which can include trespassing, theft, offensive littering, assault, drug-related offenses or public camping, among others.

The 2023 expansion was set to expire at the end of this year unless the council re-approved it. After Wednesday’s vote, the law will be in place until the end of 2027. It also includes a new clause requiring the city to provide annual reports on the buffer zones.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-council-approves-extension-of-no-sit-no-lie-law/