An advocate for Penticton's homeless is speaking out against the city's controversial sidewalk bylaw.
Earlier this week, city council moved to outlaw sitting and lying down on downtown sidewalks through the spring and summer months.
The ammendment to city's "good neighbour" bylaw blatantly targets homeless people, according to Katrina McKeown with the Penticton Access Centre.
"I really doubt that the bylaw officers are going to go after the momma and her kids that are sitting on the sidewalk" said McKeown. "but if there's a street-entrenched person sitting on the sidewalk, that person is going to get a ticket"
Violation of the bylaw comes with a $100 fine. Councillor Jake Kimberley, who voted in favour of the amendment, admitted many of the people targeted by the bylaw will likely be unable to pay.
A matter of further frustration for McKeown is what she sees as a lack of fore-thought on the part of the city.
"There was no mention of where these people should be going. So if they're not allowed to be sitting on the sidewalk, then where are they going?"