Controversial Sit-Lie Ordinance Withdrawn Before Final Council Vote

The Indianapolis City-County Council Monday night was scheduled to take a final vote on an ordinance meant to address aggressive panhandling. But it was withdrawn from the agenda and will not be considered.

The so-called sit-lie ordinance would have prohibited sitting and lying down in the downtown area for most of the day.

It was met with significant protest at council and committee meetings, where many argued it effectively criminalized homelessness.

Republican Minority Leader Michael McQuillen, who authored the ordinance, voted to take it off the agenda. No one on the council objected.

During the sit-lie ordinance's trip through the Council, McQuillen shifted focus to a bipartisan effort from the mayor’s office to finance homeless housing programs and increase IMPD’s police presence downtown.

He says the mayor's proposal, and the unpopularity of his own, convinced him not to have "another bloody vote."