The O’s Anna Griffin recounts her visit to the Julia West House, a homeless day access center downtown, in today’s paper. The center has been paid for in part by the Portland Business Alliance, and not just “Portland taxpayers,” as the piece suggests, in exchange for a Sit/Lie ordinance. It’s an interesting read, focusing on a 46-year-old recovering alcoholic. It ends:

Still, there’s no hard sell: If they want to be left alone, guests can take their free pastry and coffee and, like Johnson, enjoy the quiet without worrying about whether a police officer will ask them to move.

For people on the street, even that can be a luxury.

And why is that a luxury, Anna? Why? Because of a law paid for by business people giving police a license to sweep the streets. In my opinion you do the man a disservice by failing to shine a spotlight on the political interests that want him there. No offense to you, but to your editors? I say they’re wimps.