Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan has vetoed the Assembly's vote to repeal a sidewalk ordinance that limits sitting or lying on sidewalks.
The Assembly, in a 7-4 vote, repealed the ordinance at Tuesday's Assembly meeting.
In a statement, Sullivan says, "The code is a very narrowly tailored law aimed at conduct, not speech." He cites a similar law passed in Seattle, which was upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1996.
Sullivan also says the law is not an attack on the homeless. He cites his record of commitment to providing services for homeless people, "while protecting our public spaces for the benefit of all residents."
The Assembly initially passed the ordinance in November of 2011.
The body needs eight votes to override the mayor's veto.
Contact Kortnie Horazdovsky
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