"Sit - Lie" causes people to stand and fight

Tempers flared over the controversial "Sit-Lie" Ordinance which was adopted by the Chico City Council at the Nov. 5, meeting. The ordinance makes it illegal to sit or lie down on the sidewalk in front of any Chico business. 

I'm not sure which one of them started it, but two men sitting next to me at the meeting almost came to blows.

"I aught to kick your ass," said the owner of a local business.

"Well if you're feeling froggy, then jump," said a man who supported the homeless.

"You're lucky I don't have my gun," said the business owner.

"You gonna shoot me?" said the homeless supporter.

"I aught to slap you," said the business owner.

"You ain't big enough to slap me," said the man who supported the homeless.

After the meeting, they were chin to chin at the end of the isle. 

"Are you threatening me in a public place?" said the homeless supporter, loud for everyone to hear.

"Go fuck yourself," said the business owner, as he walked away.

Other comments were made during the meeting as residents voiced their opinions on the matter. When a homeless man named Tim Brennan struggled to ask the Council why it was illegal to sleep outside, a man from the crowd said, "Smoke another one."

When Doug Gillian, owner of Crush, went over his allotted time, a man yelled, "Don't interrupt the capitalist!"