Oregon Public Broadcasting

Homeless activists and their allies continue to press Portland city leaders to get rid of a loitering ordinance. For several years, Portland has ticketed people sitting or lying on the sidewalks in three central city neighborhoods.

Business owners have been pleased with the so-called "sit-lie ordinance", but people living on the streets and some of their advocates call it unfair.

Shelby Spencer gives her address as Washington Park.

Shelby Spencer  "I've had a few different citations. One of them was because I'm epileptic. I had a seizure in the middle of a sidewalk. They were convinced I was drunk and passed out. I don't drink."

Commissioner Nick Fish says he knows people are frustrated with delays in opening a new daytime service center.

Funding for the center is tied up in an unrelated legal battle, but Fish says he's hoping the city can break ground on it in the fall.

In the meantime, Council voted for a five-month extension of the sit-lie ordinance. During that period, Commissioners Fish and Amanda Fritz promise several public meetings to discuss the options.