Shawnee "No Sit, No Lie" ordinance working to a degree

A new "No Sit, No Lie" ordinance went into effect in Shawnee in January, over concerns that the homeless population was hurting business downtown.

SHAWNEE, Okla. (KFOR) — A new "No Sit, No Lie" ordinance went into effect in Shawnee in January, over concerns that the homeless population was hurting business downtown.

However, some were worried it would put a target on people who were already struggling.

The ordinance has been in effect for two months and downtown business owners say they're seeing a huge difference.

Although, it's not clear if Shawnee is solving the homeless problem, or just pushing it somewhere else.

"This has been going on for about a year, a year and a half, and it [homeless population in downtown] got continually worse," Virgina Brendle, Owner of Virginia's Home Furnishings, said.

A large issue in Shawnee is homeless people filling up the sidewalks of downtown.

"You would see men and women and they would be pushing shopping carts full of stuff," Brendle said. "They would lie on the sidewalk, sit on the sidewalk. I've even had them sit in front of my store—and this is terrible to say—but defecate in front of my store."

City leaders brainstormed ideas about how to clean up downtown, ultimately deciding on implementing a "No Sit, No Lie" ordinance.

"The desire to implement this ordinance was always to create an inviting downtown environment conducive for our community as well as visitors," Andrew Weckmueller-Behringer, Shawnee City Manager, said.

The ordinance only applies to the area inside Highland, 7th, Harrison and Kickapoo Streets. Shawnee police officers patrol the area day and night.

Shawnee police say so far, no one has been fined, just given verbal warnings. Business owners say the change has been day and night.

"To come to work this morning and to not see them lying in front of your doorway, hunched up against a building, just laying down on the concrete, that's a blessing," Brendle said.

While it may be solving a problem downtown, the city admits so far, it's really just moved it to different parts of the city.

"It is funny you ask that because trespassing calls, they tend to shift around the city," Weckmueller-Behringer said. "We found that with the implementation of this ordinance, these trespassing calls for assistance by police have also shifted just a little bit."

She adds that they are looking into a city-wide solution as well.