Public Comment
All Board the Stand Up for the Right to Sit Down Coalition!
Merchant window space is priceless. Shoppers need to see interesting and enticing items to buy, such as the puppies in the Macys window at holiday time. And political endorsements can backfire for a merchant, costing sales. Which is why it is so impressive that so many businesses have stepped out against the proposed “Civil Sidewalks” law, which would criminalize peaceful sidewalk sitting.
The businesses and organizations listed below have gone on the record opposing the mean-spirited and expensive effort to target homeless people in commercial districts being put on the ballot this fall by a majority of the Berkeley City Council (opposed by Max Anderson, Jesse Arreguin, and Kriss Worthington).
If you agree that it’s time to recognize that we can’t police our way out of homelessness and joblessness, you are not alone. Take your shopping and make donations to these supportive businesses and organizations, which agree with you. Thank them for making a common sense stand against the criminalization of homelessness.
And if you’re a progressive merchant, organization, or resident fed up with scapegoating the homeless, bad policy, and absent leadership, join us at standup4righttositdown@gmail.com . Because the chairapillar is on its way!
Annaher Grocery (at Dwight & San Pablo)
Art House Gallery
Ashkenaz
Autumn Press
Bear Basics
Blondies Pizza
Café Valparaiso
Design Action Collective
East Bay Media Center
Free Radio Berkeley
Helly Welly Lamps
Hippie Gypsy Café
La Pena
PM Press
Rasputin Records
Revolution Books
Starry Plough
Subway Guitars
Urban Ore
Youth Spirit Artworks
On Board- Organizations:
AFSC Street Spirit
Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers
Berkeley Food and Housing Project
Berkeley Law Chapter of the National Lawyers' Guild (contact: Eve Weissman)
Berkeley Society of Friends
Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency
CopWatch
East Bay Community Law Center
Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute
National Lawyers Guild SF Bay Area Chapter
Peace and Justice Commission
Youth Engagement, Advocacy & Housing (YEAH)