Portland, shame on you. City Council is likely to pass the controversial sit/lie ordinance this afternoon, despite having failed in its mission to provide day access space for 150 people before doing so—and the reason it can get away with it, is because Portland doesn’t care enough about the rights of its homeless to stick up for them.

If you’re interested in the ordinance and in who who will be enforcing it, read these two articles for starters.

Perhaps one of the most depressing things, for me, about this ordinance is that Portlanders—so-called liberals—aren’t exactly up in arms about it. In fact, the number of times I’ve heard homeless people described as “unsightly” or worse, that they should “take some responsibility,” and get off the streets, I mean, really, that ain’t so liberal.

When enough of us stay quiet on the issue, other people can answer the big questions. Such as:

Should we really have a law targeting homeless people when there is nowhere for them to go? It seems we should…

Are we comfortable that the Portland Business Alliance has stumped up $150,000 on the condition that the ordinance passes? It seems we are….

If you’re okay with that, well, okay then. I guess there are more important things to worry about than whether our city is really following due process to look out for its neediest citizens. Like, er…