Dominic Anthony Walsh/Houston Public Media

After city officials expanded the so-called civility ordinance in mid-July, effectively banning homeless people from sidewalks in certain parts of Houston, law enforcement officers also ramped up enforcement of a separate, citywide rule prohibiting more general sidewalk obstructions.

The enforcement of the more general rule calls into question the necessity of the civility ordinance. The data, first reported by Houston Public Media , comes as Houston Mayor John Whitmire urges the city council to approve another expansion of the civility ordinance to cover the Greater East End .

Breaking down the data

Separate from the civility ordinance — which prohibits sitting, lying down or placing personal possessions on sidewalks in 10 areas of th

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