[lebanon_tn]

The library my spouse worked at was terrified of being sued (happened to a neighboring city) and they aren't allowed to touch unattended belongings.

[learc83]

Why are they so afraid of being sued? There are plenty of other public spaces that don't have a problem removing people for similar behavior.

Most people maintaining public spaces view unattended bags as a public safety threat.

[ethbro]

Exactly. Coordinate with police and enforce the rules. Public spaces are created and maintained by enforcing liberal rules of access, not no rules of access.

[jmcgough]

Police have been so defanged in the bay that homeless people do whatever they want with impunity.

[emodendroket]

It says right in the post why they were afraid of being sued.

[learc83]

And yet it doesn't make sense.

[emodendroket]

What doesn't make sense? Someone else got sued for doing something similar and even if they ultimately prevailed it probably cost them a lot of money.