1 10 24 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/64484cfcc69013082b0635b590d5f555.pdf 33c0f088f15d553ea1643bc21e15032c PDF Text Text April 18th - M ay 2th 2019 | Vo l . 23 Issue 8 (No. 405) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. How To Bury A Story Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 218 - N v 19,2,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April - oMay 405 From The Editor: No Autonomy: Eugenics and Abortion GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief A bortion law and reproductive rights have always been a hot topic in the United States, but recently there has been a push of multiple different conservative bills around the country. On April 11, one of the most dangerously limiting abortion bills in the U.S. was passed in Ohio by governor Mike DeWine. Once a medical professional can detect a fetal heartbeat, an abortion is no longer legal. That can be around 6 weeks into a pregnancy, about the same average amount of time a person takes to realize they are pregnant. I say person and not woman because within the rhetoric of abortion and reproductive rights many people get ignored. Non-bianary folks and trans men don’t often get a mention in this conversation, which only does the cause a disservice. There is no point in excluding people when these restrictions clearly affect them as well. Anyone who can get pregnant has to be included in the conversation. Not only cisgendered women can get pregnant, and not all cisgendered women have the ability to get pregnant. It is not the job of anyone with a uterus to be an incubator and reproduce on command. For that and many other reasons, though this is largely a women’s rights issue, it also is an over all human rights issue. Reproductive rights in the United States have always been used to attack and control people. Today we need to remember that reproductive issues have white supremacist roots. While there are bills trying to stop abortions, at the same time women of color are more likely to be pushed by doctors to use birth control. This is todays residual affects from Americas racist and sexist past. In 1909, California passed eugenics laws, which would later inspire the German Nazis. According to the L.A. Times, Adolf Hitler once wrote “There is today one state in which at least weak beginnings toward a better conception [of citizenship] are noticeable. Of course, it is not our model German Republic, but the United States.” With a foundation like this, we cannot ignore how race plays a factor in reproductive rights. According to PBS news, “used as a means of controlling “undesirable” populations – immigrants, people of color, poor people, unmarried mothers, the disabled, the mentally ill – federally-funded sterilization programs took place in 32 states throughout the 20th century.”The Huffington Post reminded us that by 1970, toward the “end” of the eugenics movement, over 60,000 U.S. citizens were sterilized. This is right around the time that abortion was made legal in 1973. If today, those who were fighting for “the rights of unborn children” were truly pro-life, they would be fighting for the lives of the 15 million children who are experiencing poverty right now. They would be fighting for the black children who are victims of police brutality. They would be fighting for the lives of the 5,800 undocumented children who were sexually abused in U.S. immigration detention centers and under U.S. custody. The conversation in government has always been about what uteruses are allowed to have children, and which are to be forced to have children. Over a century later after the start of the eugenics movement in the United States, citizens and residents are still fighting for the right for marginalized and oppressed bodies to have control over our own lives. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Josh Spring, Helen Hill, Kieran Gulibert, Michael Taylor, Joey Williams, Dr. Mark Mussman, Seth Weber, Timothy Bay, Willa Denise Jones, Kim Green, , June Alexander ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, Pngtree.com ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 3 |-N ov 2 2, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April 18 May | No. 405 COALITION 3 Wade Street and Central Avenue Tenants Release New Statement JOSH SPRING Executive Director A pril 9th, we, FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United stated publicly our demand that Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati cease trying to displace us from our homes and instead publicly commit to not putting us out of our homes, re-start regular maintenance of the properties and meet with our group no later than April 16th. This was communicated widely through media outlets and a letter signed by us explaining this was sent directly to Jeff Berding. Mark Mallory, on behalf of FC Cincinnati has stated that FC Cincinnati called together Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Council on Aging, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority and Iris Roley of Black United Front to meet this Friday morning at 10 AM to assist with making plans to move Ms. Mary Page from her home. This is Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati’s attempt to make it appear like they care and are doing something good. There are several problems with this disingenuous attempt by Jeff Berding: • Ms. Mary Page has made it abundantly clear that she does not want to leave her home. She likes her home and greatly values her nearby support system of neighbors, friends, family and health caretakers. • This attempt by FC Cincinnati would do nothing positive for the rest of us, from whom, Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati are also trying to steal our homes. • Our organization, FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United are a unified body with a singular list of demands, primary of which is to not displace us from our homes. • As of now, Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati have not responded to our issued demands and have not responded to us to schedule a meeting with our group. Because of our intention to remain in our homes, our group directly reached out to these organizations. We asked them to support our position, and in support of us to work directly with us and not through FC Cincinnati. As a result, our Tenants United group has met directly today with some of these organizations and is planning future meetings with all of these organizations as we work in pursuit of our demands. Jeniece Jones, HOME Executive Director, says, “HOME’s primary responsibility is to people facing problems with fair housing. We have learned that tenants living in properties owned by FC Cincinnati would like for us to meet with them in order to better understand their fair housing rights. This is our most pressing obligation.” Iris Roley of Black United Front expressed that she will not be attending a meeting with FC Cincinnati because she stands with the Tenant group’s position that they not be forced from their homes and she understands that they have called for a meeting with FC Cincinnati to be held on their own timing and terms. As FightBack Cincinnati: Wade Street & Central Avenue Tenants United we remain steadfast in our demands issued yesterday: Jeff Berding and FC Cincinnati, do not steal our homes. We are looking forward to Jeff directly responding to us to schedule a meeting with us. Appalachian Cincinnati: How Is This City's Appalachian Community Faring Today? BILL WOODS Board Member B eginning in the 1940s, Cincinnati became the destination for thousands of individuals and families migrating from rural Appalachia, and over the years a distinct urban Appalachian community developed here. How is this community faring today? At the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral on April 4th, Michael E. Maloney, a longtime urban Appalachian leader and scholar, and Maureen Sullivan, former Director of the Urban Appalachian Council, provided some answers to this question. The recent book, "Hillbilly Elegy," noted Maloney, has brought a lot of attention to Appalachians, both rural and urban. J. D. Vance's story of growing up as a child of a drug addicted mother who had migrated from rural Appalachia goes beyond his personal experience by offering some negative stereotypes about Appalachian culture in general. In fact, Maloney is one of the contributors to a newly published book of essays, "Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy." The message of Maloney and the other authors of this book challenges Vance's generalizations about lazy hillbillies and white welfare queens, and it portrays a much more diverse population and culture. This greater diversity and more complex culture were also portrayed in a poem read by Maureen Sullivan at the beginning of the Forum. The poem represents a compilation of statements by Oyler School students of Appalachian descent. Sullivan and Maloney emphasized that today's urban Appalachians are diverse and can't be labeled with any simple stereotypes. Maloney, who is also an urban demographer, went on to describe how Greater Cincinnati's current Appalachian population is spread throughout the region, with over half the people living in towns and suburbs beyond the inner city. In Cincinnati itself, neighborhoods where Appalachians live have changed over the years. Over-the-Rhine became a major residence for Appalachians in the 1950s and 1960s, but by the 1980s, Lower Price Hill emerged as their primary neighborhood. In terms of numbers, Maloney noted that approximately half a million people of Appalachian background live in the Greater Cincinnati region. Economic hardship remains a problem for a large number of Appalachians. He estimated that 8,000 families in this area are below the poverty line, and this number translates into about 30,000 people. Hit hard by the 2008 recession, many Appalachians have never completely recovered from this severe economic downturn. Neighborhoods like Lower Price Hill, explained Maloney, are in worse shape today than they were twenty years ago. One problem that has always confronted urban Appalachians is the unwillingness of governments and other institutions to recognize them as a distinct group. A current example, cited by Maloney, is the initial failure of leaders of the Child Poverty Collaborative to include Appalachians in their planning. For this reason, leaders like Maloney and Maureen Sullivan strive to make themselves part THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED of major initiatives to improve the lives of Cincinnatians. For instance, Sullivan and Maloney are involved in the Equity Coalition, a recent effort to deal with income inequality and the continued growth of poverty in the city. When asked whether urban Appalachians are losing their identity after one or two generations away from the region, Maloney and Sullivan replied that the answer is both yes and no. For some, they confessed, the identity has become blurred or ceased to have relevance. Others remain staunch upholders of their roots. Maloney pointed to the interest shown by public school students in Lower Price Hill and college student he has worked with in recent years. Ironically, he noted, a new pride of identity has emerged in the rural Appalachian region. Both Sullivan and Maloney are concerned about creating a new generation of leaders who will replace them as Appalachian spokespersons. They recently created a leadership project, and they are working to strengthen the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition. �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 2 18 - N-o May v 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 405 �No. 3918 3 | -NMay ov 2 - 2, No v 19,| 2 0 18405 April 2019 No. 5 U.S. NEWS Life on the Streets: Sick with nowhere to go Photo by Brittany Colette on Unsplash HELEN HILL Street Roots F or those who are housed, feeling the first tinges of a winter cold or flu means settling in on the couch with hot tea and soup, a warm comforter and a list of Netflix movies to watch. Rest, fluids and access to a warm shower and a clean toilet let the immune system eventually kick in, and after a week or two, or even a few days, most are healthy again and ready to return to work, the garden and the family. For those who are living on the streets, a common cold can develop into a potentially life threatening illness. This year, serious cases of flu and pneumonia have been rampant among the Street Roots community and have landed several in the hospital. The seasonal cold, rain, wind and snow this February and March have taken a toll. We talked to some of our vendors about what it’s like being sick and on the streets. “I stay healthy as long as I stay out on the streets,” vendor John Smith said. “I get sick whenever I use the emergency shelters in extreme weather because we are all crowded in there, but when the nightly shelters don’t open, that’s hard too.” John agreed that chest colds that progress into pneumonia are the most dangerous illness on the streets. When I asked him what he does when he feels he is coming down with a cold, he said: “I just try to find a spot where I can curl up and rest during the day. If you go to the day shelter, it’s a madhouse and you can’t rest there. You can nod off, but you’re not safe; you have to hold onto your bag. Yeah, it’s tough being sick out there.” A vendor who wished to remain anonymous said his secret weapon is iodized salt. “I flush my nostrils with iodized saltwater,” he said. “If I have a cough or a scratchy throat, that helps me not get pneumonia and flushes out the bacteria. It doesn’t allow the bacteria to enter the lungs.” He also addressed the danger of open wounds: “Cuts take longer to heal outside. If I cut myself recycling or if I have an open wound, it takes a long time to heal. Normally it might take a few days for a wound to heal, but on the streets, it can take weeks or months, and it can get infected. I use iodized salt on wounds. It’s easy to get. I learned it from my grandmother. She put me in a bathtub with iodized salt when I got bit by a cat when I was a kid.” Mark Herinek was blunt. “I am 59 years old,” he said. “I spent three months on the street and got pneumonia.” Mark was in a coma while his body healed. “You’ll die eventually if you don’t get housing or get off the streets,” he said. “Now I’m in the missions.” Brian Lane said he hasn’t been well since he “got caught out in the rain.” “You just have to suck it up,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do if you don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is important. It gives you a mental and physical morale boost. I’m usually so tired I can’t tell if I’m sick or not.” Brian recently went to the hospital after waking up on the streets vomiting violently. He called an ambulance and was treated for flu at a local hospital. When he was released at 2am, he had nowhere to go. “I was dog tired. I went down under the pier out of the wind to sleep. When I woke up, my new boots were gone,” he said. Brian eventually made it back to Street Roots, where another vendor gave him an extra pair of shoes from his storage unit. Mark Rodriguez knows exactly when he got sick. “I had to sleep in the snow. It was freezing. Thankfully they had the Portland Rescue Mission open all the next day, and I could sleep inside in a chair where it was warm,” he said. “You just do what you can do. Sleep is the main thing. I would just like to rest right now, but I have to keep moving, sell papers, make money.” Jason Scheer agreed that the worst part of staying healthy is lack of sleep. “To find somewhere to rest takes skilled planning. You can stay in an unused doorway or inside some churches, but you have to know where it’s safe to go. Some pastors let you sleep inside,” he said. Rex has frequent bouts with diarrhea due to a pancreatic condition. “I will always have problems,” Rex said. “I crap my pants all the time, and my self-esteem is so bad. That’s why I come here to Street Roots, because I can use the bathroom. “People in stores look at you when you need to use the bathroom like you’re going to steal something. Places where they feed you don’t have bathrooms, and we have trouble washing our hands. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Look at my hands; would you eat with these?” Rex asked. “If you go to a mission for a clean pair of pants, they borderline humiliate you. I have had to sit in my shit for 12 hours. I was told they don’t give out pants till 9 a.m.,” he said. “A lot of people like me, we shouldn’t have to be humiliated to take care of our own health. They make you feel like you’re not human if you have health problems. “There’s a five-minute limit on most bathrooms, but a lot of times you have to clean it before you use it, and that takes up practically the whole time,” he said. “Yesterday I was at McDonald’s, and one of the employees was trying to film me through the cracks in the door to see if I was shooting up in there.” Vendor George McCarthy was resting in the office with an obvious fever. “There’s a psychological aspect to being sick,” he said. “You feel vulnerable, nervous and depressed. If you get a horrible flu, you have nowhere to go; you have nowhere to be. You have to keep going around here or there, get on a bus, get off. It brings into focus a lot of things about homelessness. You are depressed already. You’re outside in the cold. It’s noisy. Inside, you’re always in an institutional environment with no ability to have influence over that environment. You are sick, vomiting, and you are well aware you have nowhere to go, no way to get well. It’s wretched. You feel like any social bond you had with society is broken." Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 N o v 2 -18 No 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 April - vMay | oNo. 405 Ahead of LGBT+ crackdown, fleeing Bruneians fear for friends back home MICHAEL TAYLOR Reuters As a transgender woman growing up in Brunei, Zoe [not pictured] saw the country's slide towards conservatism from an early age, so plans to introduce strict new Islamic laws this week came as no surprise. The 19-year-old, who was born male but identified as female from early childhood, is now awaiting the outcome of her asylum application in Canada after fleeing her country late last year. "Even before Sharia law, LGBT+ people could be prosecuted under civil law," Zoe told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which is identifying her by only one name for her protection. "I've always been scared of living my life openly in Brunei. I still am. I still think about how I present myself, because I was conditioned to survive." Brunei, a Muslim-majority former British protectorate with a population of about 400,000, is due to implement Sharia laws from 3 April, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty, and theft with amputation. The laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014, could see LGBT+ people whipped or stoned to death for same-sex activity. Some aspects of the laws will apply to non-Muslims. "I knew it was going to happen," said Zoe, who hopes to one day undergo hormone therapy and formally change her name to the one she sometimes goes by. "Our oil reserves were dwindling and the sultan needed a way to control the economy once he started to enforce taxes and reduce the high subsidies." The Brunei Prime Minister's Department did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Brunei does not hold elections and any discontent is assuaged with generous government polices including zero taxes, subsidized housing, and free healthcare and education. Zoe, who is worried that her LGBT+ friends back in Brunei do not fully appreciate how dangerous the situation will soon become, faces an uncertain future. "If I get sent back to Brunei, I will confess who I am and what I believe in to the Bruneian authorities," she said. "I'd rather die being true to myself than resenting a long life. I wish that Muslims who want Sharia law just keep it with themselves and God. Not enforce it onto other people." Asia’s silence Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 72, is A woman walks in front of a poster of Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's richest men, in Bandar Seri Begawan, April 11, 2015. The royal wedding ceremony of Brunei's Prince Abdul Malik and his bride Dayangku Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah will be held at the Nurul Iman Palace in Brunei's capital on Sunday. REUTERS/Olivia Harris the world's second-longest-reigning monarch and prime minister of oil-rich Brunei. He ranks as one of the world's wealthiest people. Since details of the new laws were announced, actor George Clooney and musician Elton John are among celebrities who have called for a boycott of hotels owned by the governmentowned Brunei Investment Agency. Britain, Australia, New Zealand and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have all called on Brunei to abandon changes to its penal code. "It is seriously regrettable that Brunei's decision contravenes a number of international norms on human rights," New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement. Matthew Woolfe, founder of human rights group The Brunei Project, said it was now very unlikely that Brunei would backtrack, but diplomatic pressure from Asian countries could help ensure the laws were not enforced fully. "We want to see more Asian governments coming out and speaking out on this. They have been too quiet," said the Australia-based campaigner. Socially conservative attitudes prevail across Asia, with Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore banning sexual relationships between men, while Indonesia has seen an increase in raids targeting LGBT+ people in recent years. Members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, which did not respond to requests for a comment, have a principle of non-interference in each others' domestic affairs. "I'm not aware of any Asian country having come out and said anything about these laws," said Woolfe. ‘Barbaric laws’ Brunei, which neighbours two Malaysian states on Borneo island, already enforces Islamic teachings more strictly than Malaysia and Indonesia, the other majority Muslim countries in Southeast Asia. Previously homosexuality was illegal in Brunei and punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, while the sale of alcohol is banned and evangelism by other religions is forbidden. Ging Cristobal, project coordinator at OutRight Action International in Manila, urged other Muslim countries in the region to put pressure on Brunei. "In reality, Brunei will not succumb to pressure from countries that are not Muslim-majority countries," said Cristobal. "Brunei might say that other regions are imposing on Asia, so it would be good to see other Asian nations condemn these barbaric laws." Better to leave Shahiransheriffuddin bin Shahrani Muhammad is a gay man who fled Brunei last year after being charged with sedition for a Facebook post that was critical of the government. Now seeking asylum in Canada, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the 40-year-old was surprised at the speed with which the new Sharia laws were being implemented. "I expected it to happen, just not so soon," he said. "I thought there would be more time for people like me in Brunei to realize that it's better to leave." Many people in Brunei back the Sharia laws because of rising unemployment and crime, he said. The death penalty has rarely been used in Brunei and the burden of proof needed to secure a conviction for samesex activities is very high, he added. Nonetheless, for LGBT+ people, the prospect of going to trial is terrifying, carrying the risk of being the first person to be stoned, he added. Even if exonerated, they face being stigmatized for the rest of their lives Cristobal said the new laws gave licence "for other people to see LGBTIQ (people) as criminals and commit violence and abuse towards them". Khairul, 19, is a gay Muslim man living in Brunei who now fears for his future. "With the added laws that affect the LGBTQ+ community, I am scared," said Khairul, who asked not to be identified by his real name for fear of reprisals. "My life here will become more complicated and hard. "The fear of dying has become a reality, while the hope of being accepted by family is now just a dream." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �N o. 39 18 3 |N 2 - 2, N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18405 April - ov May No. GLOBAL 7 Without papers, Uighurs fear for their future in Turkey KIERAN GUILBERT Reuters Without work or residency permits in Turkey and unable to renew their Chinese passports, Qurbanjan Nourmuhammed and his family live in uncertainty in Istanbul, cut off from their son who returned to Xinjiang three years ago. Nourmuhammed, his wife and five children came to Turkey in 2015, facing increased pressure from China to abandon Islamic practices such as wearing a headscarf, growing a beard and closing their restaurant for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. China has faced growing international criticism for setting up facilities that United Nations experts describe as detention centres holding more than one million Uighurs and other Muslims. Beijing says it needs the measures to stem the threat of Islamist militancy, and calls them vocational training centres. Ismail Cengiz, founding secretary general of the Istanbul-based East Turkestan National Center, said that some 35,000 Uighurs live in Turkey, which has been a safe haven for them since the 1960s. Turkey is the only Muslim country that has regularly expressed concern about the situation in Xinjiang, due to its close cultural links with the Uighurs who speak a Turkic language. While Uighurs had no problems in Turkey until three or four years ago, Ankara's security concerns and stronger ties with Beijing reversed that trend, said Seyit Tumturk, president of a rights organisation called the National Assembly of East Turkestan, the name A masked Uighur boy takes part in a protest against China, at the courtyard of Fatih Mosque, a common meeting place for pro-Islamist demonstrators in Istanbul, Turkey, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Murad Sezer that Uighur exiles use for Xinjiang. Perceptions of Uighurs suffered after some went to fight with jihadists against President Bashar alAssad's forces, because of the Syrian government's close ties with Beijing, Tumturk said, adding China has ramped up pressure since then. Nourmuhammed has not heard from his son Pakzat since he went back to Xinjiang in 2016 to visit his grandparents. A friend of Pakzat's told Nourmuhammed that Pakzat was detained upon arrival at the airport in Urumchi. He believes the government Gulgine Mahmut holds a placard with a picture of her son Pakzat at her home in Istanbul, Turkey, December 12, 2018. Pakzat is believed to be at one of the facilities that United Nations experts describe as detention centres and the Chinese government calls vocational training centres. Pakzat went back to Xinjiang in 2016 to visit his grandparents. A friend of Pakzat's told her husband, Qurbanjan Nourmuhammed, that Pakzat was detained upon arrival at the airport in Urumchi. "When my son was arrested, he was only a 16-year-old kid. His younger siblings ask us constantly when they'll be united with their older brother," Mahmut said. REUTERS/Murad Sezer accuses him of having links with extreme Islamists. The Xinjiang government did not respond to a request for comment. The family regularly attends protests around Turkey in the hopes of having their voices heard. "When my son was arrested, he was only a 16-year-old kid. His younger siblings ask us constantly when they'll be united with their older brother," Pakzat's mother Gulgine Mahmut said. "I don't believe he was involved in a crime; I think he was falsely accused." Nourmuhammed is unemployed as he waits for a residency permit he applied for in 2017 to be approved. Gulgine and their four children have been issued with permits, which risks tearing the family apart if Nourmuhammed is deported. Nourmuhammed said his family also lost touch with relatives in Xinjiang, who asked not to be contacted due to fears that the government will associate them with jihadists. Uighurs also cannot renew their Chinese passports at the local embassy when they expire and they are only given a document that will allow them to return to China, said Munevver Ozuygur, President of the East Turkestan Nuzugum Culture and Family Foundation. Some 15 Uighurs said they expect Turkey to pay more attention to their plight and give them the permits to THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED allow them to work and benefit from the healthcare system. After a gunman, believed to be an Uzbek national, killed 39 people in a popular Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day 2017, Turkey took a more careful approach to people from central Asia, tightening the vetting process for new arrivals, Tumturk said. "Not all of the people whose passports have been labelled as risky... are problematic people," he said. "People who can't retrieve a required document from China can experience the same issue." Cengiz said many Uighurs had begun to fear they may be sent back to China. "Turkey was seen as the only country that could stand up to China. In the past year, they have been fearing for their existence in Turkey," he said. However, some hope has returned after Turkey took a harder stance against China at a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting last month, where Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticised Beijing for the alleged mistreatment of Uighurs and called for authorities to protect the freedom of religion. "There is a positive development in the favour of East Turkestan," Ozuygur said. "Turkey started to give China the message that it is aware of the oppressions that Uighurs experience in a proper way with a diplomatic attitude." Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 How to Bury a Story DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer T he old adage in news broadcasting, “if it bleeds, it leads,” helps create the belief that the world is more dangerous than it really is. Violent crime is at its lowest point in generations, yet people still believe that the world is more dangerous today than ever before. While mass shootings have become commonplace, the likelihood that a random act of violence will affect you are slim to none. The vast majority of crime occurs between people who are connected in some way. Rape and molestation are more common among family members, acquaintances, friends, and social groups than the random person on the street. Yet, we start early with “stranger danger” which may lull children into the false belief that their family and friend group are safe from harming them. Our limited, and perhaps distorted, worldview can be more harmful when we believe falsehoods touted by media. Currently, community groups, including the Homeless Coalition, are in a media battle surrounding residential displacement in the West End. The soccer company, FC Cincinnati, has bought several buildings in the West End, and they are currently trying to remove the long-term residents, including 99 year-old Ms. Mary Page. The optics on this are pretty astounding, as Ms. Mary is bedridden and seeing her, hearing her story, is compelling. Yet, local news media is attempting to bury the story to protect the wealthy elite who own the soccer business. This is the type of story that should be running nationwide by now, yet, it is barely making rounds on local news sites. While Ms. Mary is just one of many, (FC Cincinnati’s own housing study, to be released the summer, shows that more than half of the residents of the West End, not including public housing, are at risk of losing their homes in the next 3-5 years), the stress of displacement may not just result in homelessness, it could also end her life. One of the ways corporate media tries to bury the story is through oversimplification. Media may try to frame things as only two sides, and that each side has only their own interests at heart. In the case of the soccer stadium, it is presented as the soccer stadium is just trying to be built, you know, for the economic development, or progress. This viewpoint does not take in the months of organizing against the stadium, the residents who almost unanimously tried to stop the stadium from coming to their community, the land-swap deal with Cincinnati Public Schools, the many variances and zoning changes that were brought to City Council, research that shows that stadiums are economic wastes, and the whole history of the Bengals’ stadium deal - which we are still paying for in the county. Trying to simplify the issues also leads to a forgone conclusion, such as we saw in the news this week, which FC Cincinnati CEO and Owner Carl Lindner III FC Cincinnati Owner and Negotiator Jeff Berding claimed that the residents must move for the stadium. Not only does this ignore the promises made by Jeff Berding of FC Cincinnati to “not displace anyone” it also defies logic - they do not need to move, but the business interests don’t value their lives because they are not in the targeted demographic for the stadium or the newspaper. Another typical tactic used to bury a story is discredit the sources, those who are affected, and those who are helping to organize and amplify voices. Discrediting is seen in the titles assigned to people involved: community leader becomes “activist;” community organizer becomes “advocate;” community member becomes “bystander.” We see this time and time again, and it’s written into the history as well. Somehow, without having political aspirations at all, we at the Homeless Coalition are accused of staging the fight against displacement “for political gain.” I have yet to figure out what that gain is. How do we gain politically when we are aligning ourselves with the people who are thought to have the least amount of power? If we wanted political gain, wouldn’t we align ourselves with the most powerful? This kind of logical fallacy is prevalent in the media as it attempts to discredit the hard work that organizing entails. Other ways that sources have been discredited this week, include statements regarding Ms. Mary’s caregiver and family member, who lives in Mt. Auburn, that claim that she’s not worried about losing her own housing. What does that have to do with THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED this issue? Unless we are talking about multi-neighborhood gentrification, it’s irrelevant. We should all be worried about displacement, and it should not be down-played by the media. But the goal here was to say that it doesn’t really affect the caregiver, so why is she even speaking about it? Even more egregious than the previous examples, is when the news media clearly side with the oppressor, or agitator. In the case with FC Cincinnati, media outlets were quick to cite false information provided by FC Cincinnati, including that they were working directly with Ms. Mary (and others) to help them through this transition. FC Cincinnati was attempting to hide their new ownership of the buildings, and they were not at all in contact with the residents being displaced, other than notices to vacate the building. By repeating lies over and over, that FC Cincinnati is being altruistic, trying to help, when they have not even had a phone call or meeting with the residents, is a clear example of bad journalism. But beyond bad journalism, or what might be called fake news, it also shows how eager the media is to take what the powerful and wealthy have to say and run with it. It should have never been in print without verifying the facts. There have been other false statements made by FC Cincinnati over the years, including that no one would be displaced, and without a critical media to analyze these false messages, we are left with a mouthpiece for the soccer business. Distracting the reader/viewer is �FEATURE No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 April 405 FC Cincinnati Owner Chris Lindner also done to ensure that the whole picture isn’t received. A promotional video for the proposed soccer stadium ran on top of a recent article about the community members who FC Cincinnati is attempting to displace from their homes. The video, with its upbeat and driven music, shows fancy sketches of the possible stadium, comparisons with existing buildings in the area, including the football stadium, and glamorizes the stadium site. The video itself is overpowering, and I even watched the video thinking it was going to be about the victims, but it turned out to be a promotional video provided by FC Cincinnati. I watched the entire video before realizing that it didn’t even relate to the content of the article. The video itself is so hype that I was exhausted after watching it and I didn’t even read the article. Hours later, after realizing that I missed the content, I had to go back to the news site skip the video, and read the article. To distract us from tragic displacement, I also noticed non-story news popping on the front page of corporate media sites. For example, stories about the 7 Hills student who died in his van last year, and failures of the 9-1-1 system somehow became news again. Lists of hole-in-the-wall restaurants started popping up on corporate media’s social media. The story will be buried through distraction and oversaturation of nonnews. Sports plays a specific role in distracting the public from inequalities and inequities that negatively affect our community’s quality of life. Finally, the use of logical fallacies is prevalent in the reporting around the displacement of the low-income, mostly Black, residents in the West End. An Operation Vortex style blitz is being touted by the Cincinnati Police Department as a solution to the crime of the West End. These type of activities only serve to displace crime to another part of the city. The notion that everyone in the community is a criminal is not only harmful, but serves specific interests, including that of FC Cincinnati and land speculators. When Media Cameras Record on Wade Street but Reporters and Media Distort THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 social media pointed this out last year, the Cincinnati Police Department fired back by claiming this is what they do every year. So, every year, they label an entire neighborhood as criminal and become aggressive with them. Does anyone else see this as a problem? We cannot simply compare FC Cincinnati, with its unlimited monetary resources, with the low-income community it is attempting to control. These are not equal comparisons, and should not be treated as such. We should be mindful of the tactics used to bury the story: oversimplification, forgone conclusions, discredit and deny, siding with the oppressor, distracting the community, using promotional materials as news, using blanket statements that vilify entire communities, and pretending that the villain the victim have the same amount of power. Like rape and sexual assualt, the attempt by FC Cincinnati and its corporate partners to take the West End for their own use, is about power and control. FC Cincinnati, with the blessing of Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati City Council, and the Hamilton County Commissioners has the power to do many things, but they cannot erase the power of the people who are organized and unified with a single demand: to remain in their safe and affordable housing, ultimately, to not be removed from their own community. �10 LOCAL N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 3rd of Main JOEY WILLIAMS Contributing Writer B eing on the third floor of the Main library branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County brings back memories. The memories exist here together as if all of time were crammed in one place. I can even sense the memories that haven’t happened yet. It’s difficult to grapple with sitting here in this place that has experienced so many iterations of me and been the backdrop for so many moments. Some were determined, ambitious moments but there have been many aimless ones too. Here I have been depressed, inspired, hopeful, and occasionally incredibly skeeved out. But no matter how you spin it, this place is one of life, community, and connection. At nearly this exact desk probably a good seven years ago, I studied for my undergraduate classes. My focus was on international nuclear security and I was feeling especially motivated that morning. It wasn’t long though before a friendly man, dressed in a dapper but slightly too large suit, from the next desk over made contact. Michael was talkative in the way that always seems a bit strange in such a guarded world but I liked him and I liked his energy. I chattered excitedly about nuclear security in a way that probably seemed too talkative for such a guarded world but he didn’t mind. He pulled out a picture of his daughter for me to see, and with the most exquisite confidence told me he believed in me that I would keep the world safe for her. I’m not sure if I really believed I could make the world a safe place for anyone’s daughter but it mattered to me that someone truly believed I could. I’m not a religious person but when Michael invited me to his church, I knew I would go. At his church that summer I swayed and fanned myself as music played, women cried, and men writhed in the aisles in a transcendent communal experience of pure spirituality. I’m still not religious but to this day I look back with amazement and joy on the experience that sprang to life on the third floor of the public library. “Are you a social worker or something,” a man asked only minutes after my conversation with Michael. I definitely was not (although his guess turned out to be a lot more accurate years down the road than I ever would have imagined). He was bleary-eyed and seemed defeated. I wasn’t a social worker but I have felt as defeated as he looked. I asked him to have a seat at the desk where Michael had just been. He smelled like alcohol, stale and fresh, but I think tears would have welled in his eyes regardless as he spoke about how much he loved his daughter and how much he wanted to be the best he could be for her. I can’t even recall what else we talked about but his distress slowly seeped away. We smiled and laughed and when he asked if it would be okay if he got a hug, I didn’t hesitate. In that third floor library conversation and that hug I’d like to think I passed the encouraging energy from a man who believed I would protect his daughter to a man who just wanted to be better for his own daughter. Years later I would be in that same room on the third floor on a weekend night after the library had closed for the evening. It was an annual Staff Association party, a fantastic gettogether for library employees. I’d worked for the library two years by that point but that particular Staff Association dinner would be my first and last. I had given my notice weeks earlier and the following Monday would be my very last day. It felt cosmic and meaningful to wrap up my tenure at the library with a giant party with free food, alcohol, cupcakes, and music while surrounded by all the amazing friends I’d made while working at the library. I soaked it all in, fully aware of its significance in the moment. I stayed until everyone else had left except my inner circle (comprised of people I’d grown to really love) and one very inspiring unabashedly drunk coworker from another branch. It was the perfect way to close such an important chapter. As I sit here now six months later, I find myself still struggling to navigate life changes set into motion all those months ago. Some of the people I spent that evening with are still in my life; many are not, a reality that has been especially difficult to navigate. But as I sit here now on the third floor of Main, I feel all the moments that have been and all the moments that have yet to come. And while all the variations of “hey girl, where’s your boyfriend” and “I like the colors in your hair” that I have received here today aren’t quite the sense of community I was looking for, they have been exactly the reminder I needed that life is still happening, people are still connecting, and there’s still a world out here waiting for me to reach out and connect. Trans Marxism: The Music of the Future TIMOTHY BAY ContributingWriter T rans Marxism is a term that is being discussed with increasing frequency in socialist spaces. As queer individuals turn to the revolutionary movement, we are seeking ways to make our mark, to adapt the traditional methods and ideas of the left to our particular experiences, and to use the theoretical tools we encounter to theorize our lives. But what does it mean to have a Trans Marxism? Not simply in the descriptive sense that the present author is both a non-binary person and a Marxist, but in the more general sense of how the emerging Trans Marxism can act as a distinct theoretical paradigm within the Marxist project. To a certain degree this theoretical project is tied to identity, to the creation of trans affirming spaces in the socialist movement and the understanding of how the hegemonic transphobia of bourgeois society has impacted revolutionary movements and organizations, and to the development of trans and non-binary cadres to fight against oppression and for human liberation. On another level, Trans Marxism means the application of the theoretical tools developed by Marxism— historical materialism, dialectical philosophy, and Marxist economic theory—to the history of the queer community, the experience of being trans in capitalist society, and the structure of transphobic oppression in the context of class exploitation. One thing we desperately need as a queer revolutionary movement is a thoroughgoing historical materialist examination of trans history —and liberal attempts to theorize transphobic oppression always fall short because of their inability to offer the kind of class analysis that Marxism provides. Furthermore, it is reasonable to suggest that dialectical materialism becomes an extremely intuitive philosophy precisely when the question of trans and nonbinary individuals is brought to the fore (with the slogans "beyond binaries” and “no binaries” that are being raised in regards to gender being excellent summaries of dialectical thinking even to comrades who have never read a word of Marx or Hegel). It’s also worth pointing out that Marxist dialectical philosophy is simply incompatible with the existence of a rigid gender binary; the existence of such would disprove essential Marxist precepts and the very existence of trans, non-binary, and agender people validates the dialectical method of thought. Beyond that however, something that doesn’t get discussed as often is Trans Marxism signifying the understanding that Marxism itself is a project of transition. In his preface to Finance Capital, Rudolf Hilferding suggested a division between Marxism as a scientific method of understanding the world and socialism/communism as a political movement. This view de facto prevailed throughout the 2nd International, where it was largely taken for granted by the ‘orthodox’ leadership that Marxism was simply a question of philosophical ideas set in stone and could be separated from the practical work of building up the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED party and trade union apparatuses, advocating for social reforms, and conducting electoral campaigns. Understanding Marxism as being in process of transition, as constantly testing its own validity through the revolutionary process and as existing as a product of a certain historical moment (namely of the proletarian class struggle to overthrow capitalism), means a total break that view. A Trans Marxism is a Marxism that cannot be separated from the political movement, that can truly exist only in the course of struggle, and is a realized in terms of concrete socialist organizing more than it terms of a set of abstract beliefs. In that sense, Trans Marxism is the rightful successor of Rosa Luxemburg’s and V.I. Lenin’s efforts to unify socialist theory with socialist practice, of Trotsky’s permanent revolution and transitional program, and of Marx’s famous declaration in the Theses On Feuerbach that “the philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point is to change it.” �No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 April 405 11 LOCAL Escaping Eviction in Cincinnati SETH WEBER I Contributing Writer magine this: you’re injured, out of work and can’t afford to pay your bills. Your pipes are leaking, leading to high utility costs, and your landlord won’t fix them. You’re scheduled to be in eviction court and without an attorney, you’ll most likely have an eviction filing on your record. This seems like a pretty hopeless situation where no one – not even the justice system – is willing to help you. Agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati out there looking out for the city’s most vulnerable, however. City council passed an ordinance in January that will appropriate $227,000 to eviction prevention. An agency has yet to be chosen as a recipient, as progress on a request for proposal (RFP) has been slow but steady, said Vanessa White, chief of staff for council member Greg Landsman. An RFP will be sent out by July 1. That amount of cash may sound like a lot, but it’s small compared to what social service agencies in Hamilton County spend on eviction prevention alone. St. Vincent spent $700,000 on eviction prevention in 2017. Strategies to End Homelessness (STEH), Cincinnati’s Unified Funding Agency for homelessness, spent more than $920,000 on eviction prevention in 2017, according to their 2017 IRS forms. Even still, Mary Reid, St. Vincent’s social services director, and STEH President and CEO Kevin Finn have expressed this is just a drop in the bucket in the face of the problem. STEH’s eviction prevention fund was just 4 percent of the $22.2 million it spent in 2017. The rest went to keeping people experiencing homelessness off the street and in shelters. Most of the eviction prevention funding comes from state and local governments, while the federal government funds homelessness programs, Finn said. Hundreds of dollars more on average are spent keeping individuals off the street than are spent on aid with rent or utilities, Finn said. Little public spending goes towards eviction prevention, however, because officials don’t want it to be “wasted” on people who aren’t going to end up experiencing homelessness if they are evicted. Low-income residents who aren’t getting help often pay up to half their income on rent, said Nick DiNardo, managing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. This is corroborated by a 2017 housing affordability report authored by the Community Building Institute at Xavier University. The report states a third of households in Hamilton County are paying more than 30 percent of their income on housing, which is considered a cost burden. “Throughout Hamilton County this is particularly pronounced among extremely low income households,” the report states. “Three quarters of these households spend more than 30 percent, or more than 50 percent, of their income on housing, making it difficult to pay for other essential expenses.” The housing market is not looking hopeful for these folks, as Hamilton County’s poverty rate has risen from 13 to 18 percent since 2000 and there are 500 fewer subsidized housing units since that time. Forty thousand more subsidized housing units are needed to meet demand, the Xavier University report states. Until the demand is met, those living in unaffordable housing often have to rely on the aid on agencies like St. Vincent. About 100 to 150 applications for assistance come through St. Vincent a week, said Claire Palmer, a client advocate. Out of those, about a dozen or so are chosen by a team of three or four people who look through the applications and debate who should be given aid. With an average of $300 to $400 given to each applicant, Claire says they need to be selective to stay within budget. Palmer and a few others on staff sat around a table, reciting the stories of people seeking help. Those they heard from range from a single mother trying to keep a roof over her children’s heads, to an elderly couple behind on utilities. The group asked each other questions in an attempt to narrow down the applicants. What is this family’s income? Why did that woman lose her job? For many applicants, the only income consists of government benefits. Some are out of work due to an injury. The process is quite subjective, Palmer said, and deciding who needs help the most is left up to their best judgement. “That’s the good thing about St. Vincent de Paul: we have guidelines, but you can go with your heart here,” Palmer said. “We’ve had different people come through here who say this should be more scientific. It never works because the human part always comes through.” After applicants are chosen, they come into the West End office where they talk about what trouble they’re facing. One couple, Kimberly Newman and David Bertke, applied for help because they were out of work. Newman’s contract at Duke Energy had ended and Bertke lost employment after injuring his knee on a forklift. They were seeking help for their water bill, for which they owed $900. The couple and Palmer agreed the skyhigh bill was likely due to a leaking pipe. They were also paying out of pocket to keep cockroaches at bay which had been infesting the house since they’d moved in. Bertke said they don’t want to pay for fixes the landlord should be making, but they don’t want to pay for another security deposit, either. “We’re caught in a Catch-22,” he said. “Do we pay into [the landlord’s] money trap or do I pay to move?” On top of everything, they were behind on rent and struck a deal with the landlord that has them paying $500 a week. The next day they had to be in eviction court. Newman said she already had evictions on her record, which as DiNardo says, can make finding decent housing challenging. “Once you have one eviction filed against you, you enter a different world of rental housing,” DiNardo said. “You have the regular housing, and then you have the sub-world of rental housing.” In this “sub-world” where tenants pay the same rate for worse housing, DiNardo says landlords tend to ignore problems like Newman and Bertke were facing and often retaliate against complaining tenants by seeking eviction. It’s difficult to prove such retaliation, he says, especially when one does not have proper representation. Tianna Henry came to St. Vincent looking for help on a Duke Energy bill of more than $1000. She wasn’t dealing with a vindictive landlord, but did have to deal with poor living conditions. It was the dead of winter and the Section 8 unit’s heating wasn’t working properly. Henry said she may have considered braving the cold if she were alone, but she wasn’t willing to subject her four young children to such conditions. Later, she couldn’t come back if she wanted to because the unit failed an inspection. Palmer seemed frustrated and confused with the apparent lack of care such landlords show. “[Some landlords] don’t really care about fixing things, especially if they don’t live close,” she said. “They’re getting the full amount of rent, so why can’t they run it like a proper business?” Thanks to Duke Energy’s “winter rule,” tenants can pay a steep discount to have their energy reconnected. In this instance, $175 was needed, and Palmer was quick to write the check for Henry. Ever since the children’s father died, Henry said it’s been difficult to make ends meet. “If it wasn’t just me, it might not be so hard,” she said. “I’m just walking on the edge right now.” After writing the checks, Palmer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED took the time to talk with everyone about budgeting, as she finds budgeting skills to be vital to keeping one’s head above water. Try as they may, workers at St. Vincent have a hard time keeping up with those they help. Palmer says she and others will call them to check up, but often don’t hear back once the person walks out the door. If you can’t find help to pay off your rent or utilities, you face an even tougher challenge: Ohio’s justice system. In Ohio, the court is not required to provide tenants with representation, leading to 98 percent of tenants facing court without an attorney, said Rob Wall, director of the Hamilton County Municipal Court Help Center. Often the only legal assistance tenants get is the free advice provided by the team at the help center. Wall said they often see dozens of people a day, though such a resource is rare in Ohio; Franklin and Hamilton Counties are the only places in Ohio which provide such a service. If Wall and his team think a case can be taken on, they pass it along to the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, who represent tenants free of charge. The team at Legal Aid is small, and can only take a select few eviction cases a month out of the thousands which go through the Hamilton County courthouse. Eviction cases are heard in a small room in the courthouse’s first floor. Blink and you’d miss a case during the proceeding which tend to fly by in seconds. If the tenant comes to defend themselves or are represented by Legal Aid, it could last a little longer – maybe a couple minutes. To those like Nick DiNardo, the managing attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, the basic human need for a roof over one’s head is of such vital importance that tenants ought to have court-appointed representation. “It seems to me if you have a right to an attorney for spending one night in jail, I think you can make a pretty strong argument that the public should have some sort of right to appointment of council,” he said. New York City began appointing lawyers to tenants in 2017 and according to a 2018 report by New York City’s Human Resources Administration, $77 million was spent on tenant legal services, assisting 33,000 households. “Eighty-four percent of households represented in court by lawyers were able to remain in their homes, not only saving thousands of tenancies, but also promoting the preservation of affordable housing and neighborhood stability,” the report states. �12 STREETVOICE N o v 218 - N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 April - May 2,22019 No. 405 Witches T here they were "throned" on my front porch; every summer; shelling peas, snapping beans; All Knowing… They give birth, life, and call down sweet chariot while gently singing the dying into that River.All There they were in bright the while their chairs-big dresses: yellows, reds, their thrones--rocking blues, purples, oranges, sorrow away and giving greens; rhythm to joy. Dresses dancing around With each moment of life overly large, abundant calling up and gathering baby producing hips. up the song comes the shout! Dresses rocking, molding and cradling the curves It starts with a lap or an of breasts made to feed apron full of peas leaping nations into the atmosphere. Bowls overturned, clanging their There they were sitting on symphonic introduction my front porch preparing in existence. for winter, preparing for harvest, preparing for And in unison with the whatever storm was going freedom of the peas, to come.. the women dance their souls out of their bodies Beautiful, radiant, women like rainbow whales on with raisin and coco skins- emerald seas. -reds and purples dancing around their cheeks and Free! Free! from the eyes.. bondage society can hold. They laugh watching the many children dodge the bees, skin their knees, and grin at each other trying so hard to please Overlapping choruses of “How I got over,” “Nobody knows,” and “Amazing Grace drummed out on the wooden plank porch. A symphony of aged bare They sit on the porch... feet; a ballet of earthy Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, round bodies painting and Spirit...keeping the God’s grace. world turning, growing, cleansing. and just being. They think of the times when there were no peas, One day I too will be a no beans, no food to share.. praying witch. They remember when they I too can say to God in could not own their own confidence and strength.. houses, their own lives, their own bodies or even “You promised…” their own dreams. I want my big flowing And the screams, the dress, my rocker, my wailings crescendo into large bag for healing and an opera of “Thank you, concealing the emptiness Jesus,” “Lord, have mercy,” that brings apathy and war. and “Glory! I want to use the fat of my body to draw out and hold Glory! chaos and poisons and Glory! Hallelujah!” gently return them, cleans and whole as flowers and One day, One very Holy trees. day, if I am blessed and awakened; resurrected and I want my body filled taken..I too will sit with with every creature, light the Five wise women...the and dark, I want to sit... witches. to sit on a porch and see my children; my children Slowly, I’m reaching that filled so full of love they porch so high; that porch can’t help but to walk almost level with the sky. justice, eat justice, breath justice, teach justice and Where “Old” is beautiful give peace. and “Fat” means harvest and wolves and pigs are I want to be that witch, that both in Vogue. woman, that elder, that wise crone filled with all One day, if I keep my my colors. Sitting on that broom handy; ready to porch, rocking with the clean my would-a-should- white painted clap boards a-could-haves; making as my halo; shelling peas my hearth a place for all; and snapping beans to feed, comfort, and teach share. many nations; laugh to the storms and cry after the JUNE ALEXANDER sun; nurse the moon with Contributing Writer my own eternal light... Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 ov 2 2, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 April 183 -| N May 2019 | No. 405 Intoxication Intoxication is being drunk if only for a little while Intoxication can become a bad habit with a crooked smile On Securing His Base Being high and drunk all alone really makes no sense Being homeless, a panhandler and a drunk can be a bad defense The fear of not knowing what your next move can possibly be Can be intoxicating without a drink, please believe me The fear of failure constantly day in and day out Can be a eye opener to a drunk to make a change, no doubt Once you realize that there is another way to live everyday To work, maintain your money and eventually find a place to Trump loves to rant about law and order When he Tweets about the southern border. He's busy creating new Hispanic scapegoats, As the way he keeps his anti-immigrant votes. At all his rallies you can be certain he caters To his adoring base of right-wing haters. stay Things start to fall in order for you surely but slowly As you start to make a change in your life ever so boldly Intoxicating thoughts will no longer be able to hold you back BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Understanding that with the help of God you can get your life on track So don’t stay intoxicated by the fears of the world today Go to church, read the bible and get on your knees and pray! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer The Sorrow of Tomorrow The sorrow of tomorrow Is here today The future looks Dim and gray The Earth has been Polluted Children in the world Are starving and crying Many animals are now extinct But this doesn't affect the way The killers of them think Their motives are furious And notorious Wash your hands Rinse your food These are the basic rules Our waters are polluted Ozone layer's almost gone A whole lot of viruses People are dying and crying Farm land unreliable People are getting killed Mankind is dying The sorrow of tomorrow is here today! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 103 Across 1. Set of rules, principles or laws 5. Concentrate 10. Money 14. Overt 15. Entertain 16. Having the capacity to do something 17. Baseball glove 18. First public appearance 19. Juicy fruit 20. Unable to move or resist motion 22. Orderly 23. Receive something given 24. Breakfast food 26. Plant with pea or bean seedpod 28. Smell 31. Sense organ 32. Immense 35. Having a sharp biting taste 37. Fatigued 41. In the past 42. Crane framework 44. Owed and payable immediately 45. Taut 47. Dark shade of blue 48. Bard 49. Flow back 51. Property rental contract 53. Bowl-shaped depression 56. Approximately average 60. Melt 61. Untamed 64. Snapshot 65. Sharpen 66. Separate 68. Affirm 69. Impulse 70. Happen again 71. Coniferous tree 72. Something done 73. Foe 74. Oracle PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #102 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19,2, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 2019 405 Down 1. Standup comedian 2. Speak up without fear or hesitation 3. Dissuade 4. Beseech 5. Craze 6. Portent 7. Raise to the third power 8. Common 9. A small sofa 10. Removal of an opponent's piece in chess 11. At right angles to the length of a ship 12. Quench 13. In this place 21. Seafarer 25. Fail to win 27. Look with amazement 29. Between dawn and noon 30. Pertaining to hearing or the ear 32. Large open vessel for storing liquids 33. Historic period 34. Male offspring 36. Rend 38. Fuss 39. Regret 40. Up to the present time 42. Amount owed 43. Bluish shade of green 46. Wrack 48. Maybe 50. Be cautious about 52. Soak through 53. Disagreeable task 54. Scope 55. Mature 57. Motion picture 58. Expiate 59. Depress 60. Heavy dull sound 62. Delicate woven fabric 63. Percussion instrument 67. Attempt SODOKU PUZZLE NO 394 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 393- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 3918 3 |-NMay ov 2 -2, N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April | No. 405 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 2 18 - N-oMay v 19, 2, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 405 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 18-May 2, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: No Autonomy Pg 3: Wade street and Central Avenue Tenants Release New Statement Appalachian Cincinnati Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Life on the Streets Pg 6: Ahead of LGBT+ Crackdown, Fleeing Brunelans Fear for Friends Back Home Pg 7: Without Papers, Uighurs Fear for their Future in Turkey Pg 8: How to Bury a Story Pg 9: How to Bury a Story Continued Pg 10: 3rd of Main Trans Marxism Pg 11: Escaping eviction in Cincinnati Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Pet Horoscopes Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 18-May 2, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Josh Spring Helen Hill Kieran Gulibert Michael Taylor Joey Williams Dr. Mark Mussman Seth Weber Timothy Bay Willa Denise Jones Kim Green June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Pngtree.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Abortion Appalachian Bill Woods Canva.com Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Evictions Gabriela Godinez Helen Hill INSP.com Joey Williams Josh Spring June Alexander Kieran Gulibert Kim Green LGBTQ+ Michael Taylor Pngtree.com Seth Weber Timothy Bay Trans Marxism Turkey Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/957fbcd9739da8619c5f438e1cb8fb38.pdf f7d490725352f59eba4747545b12c5a2 PDF Text Text April 4th -April 18th 2019 | Vo l . 23 Issue7 (No. 404) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Disappearing Communities Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 24--April N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 April 18,2 02019 404 From The Editor: A Dying Planet GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief W e all know that we are continuously hurting the planet. The Intercontinental Panel for Climate Change came out with a new report with data from over 6,000 scientific studies According to the IPCC, “global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate.” This will result in “higher climate related risks” and we will continue to see an increase in extreme weather patterns. Eventually we will reach a state where we will not be able to exist on this planet, if we don’t do anything about it. At 1.5°C, severe polar icecap melting will allow sea levels can rise up to 2.5ft and destroy habitat for many arctic wildlife. This is estimated to affect 69 million people. As ocean water increase, a world 1.5 degrees hotter means fresh water will become more scares, affecting about 30 million people. If nothing changes, we will reach the irreversible affects of 2°C global warming resulting in 150,000,000 premature human deaths, not including the deaths that will be caused by heat wave, drought and famine. Many of us think that our part to play is to recycle. While that is important, it makes a very small dent, and most of us are doing it wrong which hurts more than it helps. In a recent Vox video, they explain how most Americans don’t actually know how to recycle properly. If we contaminate anything in our recycling bins, facilities often have to dispose of entire batches of once recyclable goods. Many experts say because of this, unless you are completely sure without a doubt in your mind, do not recycle it. Pizza boxes for example, contrary to popular belief, cannot be recycled because of the grease contamination. Milk and juice cartons as well as cans need to be cleaned out or else a similar issue will occur. In Cincinnati, we use single stream recycling for the most part, which means that citizens put glass, metals, and paper products into the same recycling bin. However, this allows for a higher rate of contamination. When we as the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition went to Blue Ash Elementary to speak about homelessness to students, we saw that they were not using the single stream system. This is a fantastic way to teach children what can and cannot be recycled with a lower contamination rate because separate bins clearly state what can go inside. One more thing you can do to help our planet and our neighbors survive is to eat less meat. You don’t have to become a vegan, thought that would drastically lower your carbon footprint. Simply voting with our money can help lower gas emissions. If we eat less meat, and therefor lower the demand and production of meats, we can help a lot. Live stock release CH4, a gas that is 25 times more intense than CO2. It also takes about 1 billion tons of grain to feed these current livestock, resulting in high uses of fresh water, land, pesticides, and fertilizer. However, individual change is not enough. The global accords signed in the Paris Agreement will not be enough. According to the ICPP, we will not be living in the inhabitable planet we know if we do not reduce CO2 emissions drastically. We will have to switch completely from fossil fuel to renewable energy. It is extremely frustrating to know that the bulk of this issue cannot be solved by recycling or bicycling to work more. Those are things you should still do to help, but the winning lap will have to be run by corporations. We as citizens need to pressure our governments to make stricter laws on production for companies that directly and indirectly hurt the planet. Whatever America does will affect the world, and vice versa. We cannot sit idly and allow ourselves to be exterminated by greed and ignorance. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: D R . V EE R AB H A D R A N R A MA N A TH A N "MOST OF THE POLLUTION COMES FROM THE WEALTHIEST 1 BILLION, THE WORST CONSEQUENCES WILL BE FOR THE POOREST 3 BILLION" Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Maged Srour, Bill Joiner, Kieran Gulibert, Mervyn Horgan, Edith Wilson, Dr. Mark Mussman, Liz Triestle, Madison Brit, Willa Denise Jones, Kim Green, James Brown, June Alexander ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 | Nov 218, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April 43-April | No. 404 COALITION 3 A Letter of Thanks BILL JOINER Board Member R ecently the Coalition has received a couple of anonymous gifts to help us support our work. Because these gifts were anonymous, we cannot send the donors a note to express our appreciation. We hope the donors read Streetvibes, and if they do, they will accept this as our thank you, and our expression of that appreciation. Some anonymous donations come from persons who have funds at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and we also wish to thank GCF for supplying this mechanism for giving anonymously. Bit whether you give anonymously or with your name attached, your gifts are appreciated and necessary for the Coalition to carry on its work. The Coalition takes no funds from government agencies, ensuring our independence to speak on behalf of homeless persons, without possible intimidation over the loss of operating funds. This makes our budgets tight, and is a limitation on our ability to do everything possible to overcome homelessness. This is especially true now as we pursue new efforts to assist persons in low-income complexes, to improve what often can be dangerous and unacceptable living conditions. These complexes are often owned by outof-state exploitive entities, with the sole objective of extracting money rather than providing decent housing for people in need. With 40,000 lowincome resident units short of the need in Hamilton County, residents in these complexes often put up with terrible conditions because of the fear that their individual complaint could result in their eviction. This is a fear that is especially present if a family with young children is involved, as is often the case. Recent action by the Coalition has been to organize tenants, creating a governance structure in each complex, with rules and officers, who can now represent them collectively, and weaken the power of retaliation by an exploitive landlord. If conditions warrant it, this gives an organization standing if legal action is needed to force an exploitive landlord into corrective actions. The Coalition, working with Legal Aid and the City of Cincinnati, has used this to save the Alms Hotel and other low-income complexes owned by an exploitive New Jersey owner, and put these properties in receivership while remedial measures are underway to make the properties livable, This year we added an additional full-time staff member to aid our executive director in this work. But that is a new cost on a budget that has often had a yearly shortfall. We are very appreciative of any help, however small, from any donor. But even more than the practical need we have for donations, is the willingness of individuals to express their belief that homelessness is wrong. It ruins lives, especially of children, who get behind, and often fail to catch up with the education of their peers, and usually subjects them to adult lives in poverty. Last year we received an impressive collective donation from the children of an elementary school in Blue Ash. It was mostly in the form of coins, representing the wealth of small children and their want to help other children in need. That donation was more meaningful to me personally than any other donation we received last year, because those children were making personal sacrifices and expressing an empathy sometimes lost, as we get older. Again, thanks to all you who have been donors, anonymous and not anonymous, your generosity and sense of caring means a lot. Bill Joiner Board Member Greater Cincinnati's Affordable Housing Crisis: Lisc Takes Up The Challenge BILL WOODS Board Member G reater Cincinnati finds itself in the midst of an affordable housing crisis of major proportions. An organization that has both documented this crisis and promoted initiatives to address it is The Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky (LISC). At the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral on March 21st, Paola Garrido Estevez, Special Projects Associate for LISC, reviewed LISC's research, initiatives, and current effort to promote an affordable housing strategy for Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The fact that Cincinnati and Hamilton County combined have an affordable housing deficit of 40,000 units was announced in a LISC study in 2017. A follow up project, "100-Percent Housing," collected information about thousands of vacant units in Greater Cincinnati in an effort to use these vacancies as one way to decrease the affordable housing gap. Currently, LISC has taken up the cause of advocating for an affordable housing strategy for the city and county. Using a power point presentation, Estevez discussed these efforts. Besides coming out with the shocking number of 40,000 units of affordable units needed, LISC's 2017 study, "Housing Affordability in Hamilton County," researched the complex factors creating this crisis. The poverty rate, noted Estevez, has increased markedly, while available affordable units continued to decrease. Since 2000, the number of Hamilton County Households in poverty grew by 40-percent. The Federal Government through HUD has long been the major source of funding for housing for families and individuals in poverty, but at the same time that area poverty grew, money for all types of subsidized housing shrank dramatically. Cincinnati and Hamilton County now have 500 fewer federally subsidized units than they did fifteen years ago. Meanwhile, the bulk of private construction both in new housing and rehabs has primarily been for more expensive developments. Thus, for every 100 of the lowest income households in Greater Cincinnati, only 28 units of affordable units are available. The 2017 LISC study could be characterized as "the bad news report," but Estevez went on to describe the organization's effort a year later to examine how thousands of vacant units in Cincinnati and Hamilton County could be utilized to close the affordable housing deficit. This initiative, "100-Percent Housing," initially used a team of four surveyors to confirm actual vacancies and to examine housing conditions. This twelve week effort found 5,161 vacant units in Cincinnati and 1,352 in the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED rest of Hamilton County. A majority of these units were also in good condition. The next task, Estevez declared, was to bring together housing stakeholders in the city and county to plan initiatives that would turn these vacancies into available affordable housing. This work continues. Establishing an affordable housing strategy for Cincinnati/ Hamilton County is LISC's new priority. With a housing crisis of this magnitude, emphasized Estevez, City and County Governments, plus the other major housing stakeholders, must buy into a long-range strategy to seriously address it. LISC has convened two meetings with various groups to collaborate on what should go into such a strategy, but it now plans to do more background work and research before holding further sessions. Estevez said that LISC seeks to collaborate with other neighborhood and housing partners in all its initiatives. �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N ov 2 4 - -April N o v 19,18, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 April | oNo. 404 �No. 3943 -April | Nov 2 18, - N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18404 April No. GLOBAL 5 Climate Strike: Hundreds of Thousands Unite for the Planet’s Future MAGED SROUR Inter Press Service F riday 15 March saw hundreds of thousands of young people across the world take to the streets to join the climate strike. “We are demonstrating today for our planet and for our future. This is the place where we and those who come after us will live,” said Jennifer, a 16-year-old girl from Rome, the Italian capital, who opted to join the protests. The climate strike has become a symbol of the global movement that aims to urge governments and institutions to take serious steps to implement the Paris Agreement and save the planet. It is a unique voice that united over 125 countries in more than 2,000 places around the world. Protestors want to ensure that actions—which include reducing CO2 emissions, eliminating the use of plastics, promoting more sustainable agriculture—are wisely managed within the United Nations deadline of 2030. In a nutshell: take concrete action today to save the world of tomorrow. Jennifer was following the example of Greta Thunberg, the Swedish 16-yearold girl who, without realising it, gave birth to a global movement. Indeed, this wave of youth activism began in August when Thunberg camped outside the Swedish parliament. She accused politicians of failing to uphold their commitments to fight climate change as agreed to under the Paris climate accord. In a short time, word of her civic engagement spread worldwide and the young Swedish teenager became an international celebrity who was invited to speak to climate negotiators in Poland in December, as well as to the global elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Thunberg has become an example for many young people across the world who have begun to organise themselves to promote similar initiatives. Her name has even been proposed to the Nobel Committee as a candidate for the Peace Prize. “We have nominated Greta because the climate threat may be one of the most important causes of war and conflict,” parliamentary representative Freddy Andre Oevstegaard said. “The mass movement that she has triggered is a very contribution to peace.” Not only a responsibility of the youth Although it was an event mostly organised by young people, some did not like the fact that adults are seemingly handing over the responsibility of caring for the planet to the youth. “Thanks to the efficiency of healthcare, those who are 60 years old today could still live for another 20 or 30 years. So it is not true that the future is ‘ours alone’. The future belongs to all of us,” another young protester in Rome said. Politics was not exempt from criticism. “I think that this global ‘climate strike’ is important for the whole community because the environmental problem has a strong political component in it. If it is true that a lot is in the hands of individual initiatives and in the commitment of each of us, it is also true that there are mechanisms which are very complex and that can only be managed by politics,” said Matteo Cappello, a naturalist from Sapienza University in Rome, specialising in environmental sciences and sustainable development. “Not only ordinary young people and not only ordinary adults: responsibility must be universally shared and it obviously must include those who manage the decision-making processes,” he added. The climate strike was embraced by a wide and varied audience in Rome. Among the mass of people, there were large numbers of teenagers and also university students, young workers, families and the elderly. Lodovica Cattani, a graduate in Political Science who has been specialising in Arctic studies and sustainability, participated in the event not just as a citizen but also as a worker who aims to deal with these issues in her professional life. “I am 28 years old and have been volunteering with the organisation Climate Reality Leaders for six years now, precisely because when I was in high school I could already see that global warming was becoming a problem and that we were going to see the results in the next decades to come. I felt there was need to be informed and take action,” she said. “The youth who have the power to succeed” “In my opinion, the Earth has a spirit that occasionally manifests itself when it really cannot bear any more. This time it manifested itself in the form of Greta and of these thousands of young people,” said Sandro, a 60-yearold farmer who came from Tarquinia, a town 100 km away from Rome, to demonstrate in the capital city. “I really hope that these young people will go ahead and continue to pursue their dream because it is truly in their hands. My generation is responsible for many of today’s environmental disasters and often has no open-mindedness or ability to reverse this course. It is young people who have all the potential to succeed.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo Thousands of youth gather in Rome on Friday, Mar. 15, to join the climate strike, a global movement that aims to make governments and institutions aware of taking serious steps to implement the Paris Agreements and save the planet. Credit: Maged Srour/IPS THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �GLOBAL 6 N ov 2 4 - N o v 19,18, 2 02019 18 | N| oNo. . 393 April -April 404 Washrooms for customers only: Peeing with dignity in the city MERVYN HORGAN AND EDITH WILSON The Conversation E veryone needs to use washrooms, but public washrooms are hard to find. Just ask anyone with colitis, or who has ever cared for a child who really needs to go. Toronto, for example, has only one free and public washroom for every 9,213 residents. So, where do we go, when we really need to go? Whether or not we like to admit it, many have probably managed to sneak in to use a washroom that is designated with a sign as “Washrooms for Customers Only” (W4CO) when we have not been customers. Last year, in a well-publicized incident at a British Columbia Tim Hortons, a woman was denied washroom access; she defecated on the floor and threw the faeces at employees. While the ick-factor might distract us, there’s an important issue of human dignity at play here, both for all of us who need washroom access, and for the often minimum-wage workers on the frontlines in managing access to this most basic and essential resource. Employees allow washroom access despite rules Surprisingly, there’s very little research on “Washrooms for Customers Only” rules and their enforcement. We decided to address this and designed an exploratory study to figure out the prevalence of W4CO rules, and how they are enforced. The results were not what we expected. In North America, it seems that W4CO signs are everywhere. After visiting 202 cafés and restaurants along a sample of five of Toronto’s busiest strips, we were surprised to discover that just over one-third of these businesses had W4CO signs. Almost half of all chain businesses had W4CO signs, while only one in five independent businesses did. These numbers paint only a partial picture. To follow up on this basic count, Edith observed interactions between staff and prospective washroom users in both independent and chain coffee shops. Across all 92 interactions observed, there was not one single instance of anyone being denied access to a washroom, despite the presence of W4CO signs. Management might put rules restricting washroom access in place, but employees consistently use their discretion in defence of basic human dignity. To get a better understanding of how discretion works, Edith Photo by Olivier Collet on Unsplash interviewed 15 frontline café and restaurant staff charged with managing washroom access. Participants shared that denying access to a washroom was rare, reserved for times when they felt they had to. Some workers said that they would deny access if someone was aggressive or erratic or showing signs of substance abuse, but they tended to feel bad about the possibility of misjudging someone. Others said they denied access to people who were rude. All but one interviewee stressed that denying access to the washroom was rare. Some discussed purposely subverting management policy by supporting unrestricted access to washrooms. Many participants brought up Toronto’s lack of public washrooms. There did not appear to be a city guide for bathrooms, and so Edith made a complete list and accompanying map of all public access washrooms in Toronto. MAP EMBED CODE: <iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/ embed?mid=1waDSZxNxLTWNSG MTaLq7WWknm3BLd3ZA&hl=en" width="640" height="480"></iframe> How people dealt with difficult situations, though, was based mainly on the volume of traffic that they had to deal with at their workplace and the frequency of upsetting incidents. Workers in bustling locations where mental health issues, substance abuse, and homelessness are visibly present were more willing to call the police when they felt it was necessary. In less busy shops, especially independent ones, some interviewees said they would instead handle whatever situation came up themselves. Police, they said, were just as inexperienced and unable to deal with mental health and addictions crises as they were. Possible dire consequences for the person going through the crisis if the police got involved made these interviewees more willing to take on that labour themselves. In Toronto, the memory of the killing by police of Sammy Yatim, who was struggling with mental health issues, still looms large. Overall, for most staff, W4CO rules are not regularly applied. They seem to exist as a shield to be used if workers felt like they needed to deny someone access for safety reasons. In short, workers use W4CO rules as an imperfect solution to a difficult problem. Much more than places to pee Besides the obvious, what happens in these washrooms? In interviews with café and restaurant workers, over half of the participants talked about working in businesses where they dealt with used needles in the washroom. Two participants reported that someone had overdosed in the washroom at their place of work. One discussed finding someone who needed emergency medical assistance at least once a month. Almost all workers had dealt with hazardous waste (including blood, faeces and vomit) at their workplace. Participants felt that the lack of services for Toronto’s most vulnerable populations results in a downloading of crisis-management labour onto THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the city’s minimum-wage café and restaurant workers. When asked for policy solutions, workers emphasized more supervised injection sites (Toronto currently has only three); more public washrooms; and the extension of housing-first projects. Housing first is an approach that considers a stable place to live as an essential human right and as a necessary foundation to other care like addictions counselling. Toronto currently has one successful pilot. But there are still over 5,000 people experiencing homelessness in the city. Overall, this initial research points to an unforeseen consequence of not providing essential aid for people living with homelessness, mental health issues or substance abuse problems. As long as we fail to provide comprehensive services that address these needs, low-wage workers throughout the city will continue to deal with difficult and sometimes frightening incidents in their daily work lives. Mervyn Horgan is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Guelph, and a visiting fellow of the department of sociology at Yale University Edith Wilson is a master of sociology whose research specialises in washrooms for customer only use in Toronto Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �No. 394 3 -April | Nov 2 18, - N o2019 v 19, |2No. 0 18404 April GLOBAL 7 Migrant workers face abuse, slavery threat in post-Brexit Britain KIERAN GUILBERT Reuters M igrant workers coming to Britain after Brexit for temporary jobs in farming, construction and cleaning risk being exploited and falling into modern slavery under government plans to minimise labour shortages, according to labour rights experts. The two schemes - one for migrants from non-European Union nations to work on Britain's farms for six months and another for workers from "lowrisk" countries to stay for a year - could create expendable workforces prey to abuse, campaigners said. From farms to hotels, European workers are key to the British economy, and the government is scrambling to ensure businesses have enough workers to fill the gap once Britain leaves the European Union and free movement of people ends. While the nature and date of Britain's departure is up in the air, charities and activists say that the interior ministry and anti-slavery agency may struggle to protect migrant workers. Upfront visa and travel costs under the two schemes could leave shortterm migrant workers vulnerable to debt bondage, while a lack of access to public funds could trap them in abusive workplaces, said Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX). "There is a clear contradiction between Britain's efforts to tackle modern slavery and its rush to bring in workers post-Brexit," said Caroline Robinson, director of the charity. "These short-term, rapid solutions will do massive damage to the government's claim of being the world leader in tackling modern slavery," she said. Without access to housing and unemployment benefits, migrant workers arriving under the schemes could struggle to leave abusive employers, or end up destitute and homeless, increasing their risk of being trafficked, FLEX said in a recent report. The two schemes could fuel a "continuous churn of low waged workers with limited access to support or rights," it said. The government has acknowledged the risk of abuses under the farm scheme - a pilot that will see 2,500 workers from Moldova, Russia and Ukraine arrive in the coming months - but activists said it has not outlined Migrant workers pick grapes at a vineyard in Aylesford, Kent, Britain, October 5, 2018. Picture taken October 5, 2018. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez how it would address these concerns. A spokesman for the Home Office (interior ministry) said it would continue to work closely with stakeholders across the country on the future "skills-based immigration system". "This includes consideration of how we will best protect against exploitation and other safeguarding issues," he said, without giving any further details. Despite being hailed as a global leader in the anti-slavery drive, Britain is undergoing a review of its landmark 2015 law amid criticism that it is not being used fully to jail traffickers, drive firms to stop forced labour or help victims. Brexit could hamper Britain's anti-trafficking efforts in myriad ways - from European law enforcement cooperation to child trafficking from France - according to the police and activists. Stretched Britain's Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the nation's anti-slavery agency, said it was working with labour providers to address growing concerns about staff shortages. About 15 per cent of low-skilled workers in Britain come from EU nations, at least 500,000 people, according to a 2018 report by the Migration Observatory at Oxford University. Farmers have raised alarm over a lack of workers to harvest fruit and vegetables and say crops are rotting in the fields, while hospitality companies have voiced concerns about a staffing crunch with little interest from British job seekers. "Brexit will potentially present some challenges in terms of there being more scope for labour exploitation," said Michael Rich, head of the GLAA, which gained police-style powers in 2017 and a wider remit to probe labour offences across the economy. "So we need to be more on our guard," he said, adding that the GLAA was looking closely at the seasonal farm workers pilot. Charities including FLEX have called for measures such as a hotline for temporary migrant workers to report abuse, bilateral labour rights agreements with sending nations, and the licensing of labour providers to be extended beyond just agriculture. Yet the GLAA's broader scope and focus on tackling the most egregious cases of modern slavery has stretched THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the agency thin as the threat posed to temporary migrant workers by Brexit draws near, said Cindy Berman of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). "I'm worried that the GLAA will have less time and resources to work on prevention," said Berman of the ETI, a coalition of trade unions, companies and charities promoting workers' rights. "We need beefed up labour inspections to ensure minimum wages, decent working hours and health and safety regulation," she added, while also calling on businesses to improve their due diligence as they face growing scrutiny over labour practices. Britain is home to at least 136,000 modern slaves, according to the Global Slavery Index by rights group Walk Free Foundation - a figure 10 times higher than a government estimate from 2013. At least 7,000 suspected victims of slavery were uncovered in Britain last year, up a third on 2017, according to data that activists said last month raised concerns about the government's ability to support a growing number of survivors. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 2 4- -April N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April 18, | No. 404 Disappearing Communities DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer O ver the years, Over-theRhine has been changed by outside forces. People who live in the rich, white neighborhoods, have come into our small neighborhood and stood for one thing: displacement. Their explicit goals: to displace corner stores, to displace crime, to displace our institutions, to supplant their version of public goods onto our assets. We have lost so many of our neighbors over the last few years, that we know at least 2400 units of housing have been lost to gentrification, never to return. But let’s not confuse progress with the status quo. As I’ve written before, the changes happening in Over-theRhine are not progress, as they are just the wealthy making decisions for everyone who has less resources. This is not progress. This is the status quo. The Cincinnati Recreation Commission has been at the center of many of the losses we have succumbed in the neighborhood. The loss of our public pool at Ziegler Park, the potential loss of Imagination Alley, the potential loss of Findlay Playground. There has been a makeshift fence around Findlay Playground for months now - displacing the normal patterns of residents who utilized the park for years, perhaps even decades. The alley, Goose Alley, which borders Findlay Playground has been sold or leased to private owners on the west side of the alley. This prevents the public from taking in the murals that are along the wall there - a public art project that many will never get to enjoy, due to privatization. Larger questions of ownership of Findlay Playground have been discussed in my articles before, but it brings into the light how vulnerable our public assets are due to gentrification. It’s easy to understand gentrification if you understand the word displacement. Gentrification is displacement. The story of Over-the-Rhine goes back a long time, and it wasn’t some sort of German utopia - even if that’s what current developers claim as they fetishize our history. The Adena, Hopewell, Osage, and other Native Americans were killed and pushed back by the colonizers who arrived at the Ohio river shore. They were displaced, yet their story is never considered as part of the history of Cincinnati. The displacement that is occurring today is the fall-out from the Great Depression, and the federal policies that resulted from the depression. The Federal Government desired to create social economic policies to uplift the populace out of poverty. However well intended, African American people were systematically cut out from that plan. Moreover, African Americans were labeled “vermin” by the same government that is meant to represent them. The Home Owners’ Loan Act (HOLA) was part of the New Deal, and it prioritized white people and communities over people of color. It is regarded as one of the greatest tools that Public Art Now Inaccessible on Goose Alley THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED created generational wealth that white families have today. Black people were denied participation in the program, so much so, that over 98% of the loans went to white people. Black people, even if they could participate economically, had the door shut in their faces. Today, the wealth gap persists between Black and white communities, largely because of the discrimination that was legal at the time, (yet still persists today.) What does this have to do with Findlay Playground? Well, following the money available, approximately 120 billion dollars (1930-1970 dollars), the white people who participated in HOLA, used the federal money to create white-only communities, which we affectionately call the “suburbs” today. Racial segregation policies, such as restrictive covenants and straight up “Whites Only” ordinances, were not found to be unfair until 1968, after the HOLA program ceased giving out the low interest, fixed rate, mortgages. White wealth was created through home ownership, and Black families �No. 3943-April | Nov 218, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18404 April No. FEATURE Findlay Playground Remains Fenced Off Until Income Generating Plan is Released were shut out of both the opportunity to participate in HOLA through redlining, and they were shut out from communities of wealth through legally supported racist housing policies. So what were their options? Black families were forced to live in areas centrally located to the cities, which have seen the most disinvestment and the most loss of wealth. From the 1960’s to the early 2000’s, these inner city neighborhoods were vilified, strangled by disinvestment, and told to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Meanwhile, the federal government infiltrated movements to improve the conditions in Black neighborhoods, while simultaneously destroying them with an influx of illicit drugs and the eve of mass incarceration. The police continued their legacy from the “slave catching” days and separated as many families as possible to create chaos in Black communities. So, what do Black communities have left, when the City has abandoned them, the wealthy Whites have created their own separtist communities, and the grip of racism keeps them from getting “out of poverty” even though they do all the things that they are told to do? Cincinnati still has no possibility of upward mobility for African American residents to this day. Our only assets then, besides our neighbors, are our public assets. Most of the buildings in Over-the-Rhine are massive, owned by out-of-state landlords, or local white people, who are out to make a buck. Fortunately, the Over-the-Rhine Peoples’ Movement was able to acquire buildings, because without those, we would have very little control over housing in Over-theRhine. But, for the most part, the only assets that we share together are our parks, our playgrounds, our schools, our sidewalks, alleys, streets. 3CDC took aim at each of these public assets and has worked to privatize them and force out the existing residents for new, whiter, wealthier, ones. This has been totally at the expense of low-income Black residents and moderate to low income white residents, who enjoyed the first wave of gentrification and are now being forced out for the next wave of wealthier white people with generational wealth. Today, the police have become such a fixture in our neighborhood, that it’s not uncommon seeing them driving the wrong way up Republic Street, or sneaking around corners in their cruisers, creating an atmosphere of distrust and hostility. The main role of the police is to split families up, not keep them together. The main role of 3CDC is to displace poverty to another location, not uplift people out of poverty. The main role of the CRC should be recreation, but it’s becoming more clear that their bottom line is No Irony Lost on Colonial Fencing Blocking Goose Alley THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 a financial consideration. So, as they strive to make Findlay Playground “income generating” they are literally siding with wealthy over our neighbors who find themselves being squeezed out of their own neighborhood by generational white wealth. I wonder if the Director of the CRC, who is making the decisions behind the sale and lease of our public lands, knows the specific history of Over-theRhine. I wonder if he understands the important role of public assets and the current attack upon them. I believe that if he understood the pain and anguish that we experience when we lose our public spaces, that he would work harder to defend them, rather than look at them as ways to make money. The CRC Director is not a Cincinnati native, which follows the trend of hiring outside of our own community. His view of Cincinnati started in 2016 when we arrived to start as the Director of Recreation. His understanding is not the same as someone who grew up “Down da Way,” and who spent their youth on the basketball courts that have been lost now. He doesn’t see the city from our perspective, and his interactions at our community council meetings show that he is only concerned about the almighty dollar, not about the enrichment of the youth and community who are the true owners of the public assets on which he sits. His position is not one from unencumbered racism and class warfare. Cincinnati has a specific history, which didn’t start, nor end, with the German immigrants, but which is a rich cultural tapestry of many immigrants and migrants who deserve to access our public assets. �10 LOCAL N o v 2 4- -April N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April 18, | No. 404 All Saints School donates over 3,400 books to Literacy Network LIZ PRIESTLE Contributing Writer A ll Saints School donated over 3,400 books to the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati (LNGC). Students and employees at All Saints School took part in a book drive from March 19-March 29, 2019. Students at All Saints School were encouraged to bring in their gently used children’s books to donate to the Literacy Network. This is the fourth year for the All Saints Book Drive. Collectively All Saints has donated 11,447 books to the Literacy Network for their literacy programs! The Literacy Network was grateful to have a group of volunteers from United Parcel Service (UPS) assisting with this generous donation. The UPS team joined the Literacy Network to load, transport, and sort this mammoth book donation. The Literacy Network participates in numerous book drives throughout the year with partners from various schools and companies. They then distribute the books to over 50 Little Free Libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, local elementary schools and to LNGC volunteers to give to the students they tutor. Literacy Network President Michelle Otten Guenther stated, “I am deeply grateful to the families, students and staff at All Saints and the incredible team at UPS for their generous support of our mission. Today was a wonderful example of the great things that can happen when our community pulls together.” About The Literacy Network The Literacy Network champions the development of literacy in the individual, the family, the workplace, the school and the community by raising awareness, improving access and serving as a catalyst for literacy efforts. The Literacy Network is also the home of Winners Walk Tall, a character UPS workers & All Saints Students loading over 3,400 books donated to the Literacy Network programs. building program for youth. All of the programs offered to adults and children are free and funded from private grants, donations and fundraising efforts. Racists Go Home MADISON BRITT Contributing Writer S ince 2016, the idea of a wall at the U.S México border has been endlessly contested across countless platforms. It has been the subject of national debate, caused a government shutdown, and, most recently, lead Donald Trump to declare a national state of emergency to secure funding in hopes that he would be able to fulfill his campaign promise at long last. The wall’s detractors certainly have good reason; according to research published by the ACLU, a border wall could inflict serious cultural, economic, and environmental damage on border communities. Furthermore, the research suggests that the “overall number of people attempting to cross into the United States without authorization remains unaffected by walls and other enforcement measures,” and has been in steady decline for years. Existing segments of border fencing have forced migrants to take increasingly dangerous routes through the Arizona-Sonora desert. Neither the border fencing nor the harsh desert has deterred migration to the United States. These strict border policies have been linked to an increase in migrant deaths, and an in-depth look at policy outcomes conducted by Princeton University’s Douglas S. Massey indicates that such policies have largely backfired, and in fact created a self perpetuating cycle of migration. Despite the evidence that a border wall will not be an effective immigration or border control policy, many are still in favor of Trump’s proposed wall at the border and are increasingly frustrated with the government’s unwillingness or inability to fund it. This frustration is manifesting here in Cincinnati, a city where Cincinnati Compass estimates 12.3% of area residents are foreignborn, a number which is growing rapidly. On Tuesday, the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza hosted an “Ohio Town Hall” entitled “We Build the Wall”, lead by conservative pundit Steve Bannon, former chairman of Breitbart news and chief strategist in Trump’s White House. The meeting also featured Brian Kolfage, who started a GoFundMe to pay for a border wall, Kris Kobach, former Kansas Secretary of State, along with other conservative pundits and politicians. This meeting was, as one might expect, an outpouring of hateful, dangerous, and non-factual rhetoric about Mexicans, immigrants, and sanctuary cities. According from detailed notes and recordings Cincinnati activists obtained at the event, much of the discourse at the event blamed immigrants for human trafficking, increased presence of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, and criminal and gang activity in the states. The speakers directly recommended a privately funded and controlled border wall to combat the government’s inefficiency, “[literal]... push back against the government, and even “devise a plan to go after and dismantle and destroy Mexican cartels and their networks,”. In face of this alarming rhetoric, it is pivotal to consider Cincinnati’s positionality as a Sanctuary City, meaning. This, in its most basic sense, that the city won’t aid ICE in deportations, but the concept of sanctuary means much more than this. According to an analysis of present day Sanctuary by Myrna Orozco and others, the designation of a place or city as “sanctuary” indicates that it is a place of refuge, safety, and respect. Cincinnati’s sanctuary status is admittedly complicated, as a City Beat THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED article by Nick Swartswell explains, but the pushback against the sanctuary movement by Bannon and the like is clear - at the We Build the Wall event frequently labelled the sanctuary movement as unlawful and in defiance of U.S sovereignty. Despite these complications, Cincinnati has committed on paper to being a Sanctuary City. Activists in the city are attempting day by day to create cities and neighborhoods that are equitable for all Cincinnati residents, and a small crowd gathered outside of the Hilton in downtown Cincinnati to protest the event, and loudly tell its participants and attendees to “Go home”, to unequivocally state “you and your wall are not welcome here,”. As a city, we should follow their example. When we proclaim ourselves to exist as a safe space for immigrants and refugees, we dedicate ourselves to keeping racist and dangerous rhetoric about immigration out of our home. We should protest events like “We Build the Wall” to let those proponents of unethical and ineffectual walls that they are not welcome here, complain to the venues that host them, and show our immigrant neighbors, brothers, and sisters that we stand with them in solidarity. �No. 3943-April | Nov 218, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18404 April No. STREETVOICE 11 How I Came Into My Own JUNE ALEXANDER I Contributing Writer was standing outside of myself in a dream. Whispers from ancient feminine wisdom bombed my ears with, “listen, watch, feel, and be.” Art Deco geometrics and jewel tones dripping from the opulence of the decor in the train car. The sounds of train wheels clacking over miles of wealth and greed; furs and gems, while the alluring comfort beckoned, come stay and see. Women, older than time; fat, brown-Black in their maid’s and caretaker’s uniforms conversing about the One they were preparing for the throne. A scene reminiscent of old Hollywood movies. The darkened Mammies adoring and adorning the white beauty was all--and is all--too familiar in movies and in life. But this “dressing” was different!. After all of the idolizing and goddesfying the silken veil fell from the mirrors and the women (in chorus) sang “Look,” Their hands like a great raging river pulling their jetsam to a great body, stood proud, hopefully beaming in their own radiance. They trumpeted once more, “LOOK!” My spectator self moved forward with the woman. Slowing time, we walked towards the trinity of mirrors and saw. We saw--no! I saw Me. And so begin my spiritual conception: The prayers which would call forth this Great Body. This conception was violent, hateful, and curel. Unspeakable acts done to a young girl at the hands of the men who were supposed to educate and protect her. Men whose skin color mimicked her own. Touching, taking, keeping her in her place as their slave masters did to them. But somehow this was worse-they looked like and were supposed to be, her--my fathers and uncles; my brothers. They were supposed to be my shield from the racist, from the white privilege hell bent on systematic corruption of my mind, body, and spirit--but my brothers got there first. And the betrayal of my mothers and my aunts and my sisters--”men will be men." ; “boys will be boys” was the only answers slaves could give. So now I had to be Diana, hunting alone, The prize..myself. A lone warrior, fighting the battles inside and outside my house. No allies, I prayed to the great parents, “Hear me. Send one to stand with me.” And the prayer was answer. Not just one took up the call, but many. Not just human, but packs, prides, flocks, and hordes. Even a murder of crows lead by Bastet paved the way for Her. At first, I was afraid of Her. She coiled around me, she slithered beside my bed, she whispered, “First, stop listening to your oppressors. You belong to all that’s Holy! Be uplifted, we have not forsaken you .Isis will guide you with all the creature-spirits sent long before to make way for your birthing. And my sister, Athena will give you knowledge of the ancients.” And so begin my spiritual conception: “Sheba, hold your head up. Stay awake. Before the truth was ever spoken to a human it’s seeds were planted in the Earth; Pangea we so affectionately call her. The Venus herself both safe and dangerous, joyful and sorrowful. You are fire and air; water and earth. Yin and Yang. Winter and Summer; Spring and Fall; Life and Death; Love and Balance. Only in your sacrifices will you be born whole!” And with that, my fate was sealed. As ordered by the great Mother, death and birth comes hand in hand. During the time when the ancestral mothers were gathering; coming with my own mother’s sweet chariot my mother taught me lessons she was too afraid to teach while in here own slavery. Now, freed of society, she and all my ancestors guided me to my chrysalis, my next womb, my sarcophagus. So it is done! Time flooded me with images of my rape, my exile, bullying, mental illness, homelessness and the new threat of malicious women and molesting men trying to turn my soul as septic as my illness turned my body. And my nightmares which traveled with me from shelter to shelter. Screaming night terrors of children running from monsters and demons. And my desperate attempt to save these children ...to save me. Saving me from the racism, the sexism, the sizeism, the homophobia, others’ phobia of my being humane even to my enemies; the classism and the invisible and just plain unwanted; the you too black, you ain't black enough; to hide your talents under a bushel because it makes the men uncomfortable, it scares the white people, it angers the black women, it blasphemes the religious, or why live the truth when living a lie will make you rich. And finally, the passing and masking until there is no color left in your Soul. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Stop, stop. Stop, stop! “ Please, I don’t want this. Don’t make me in your image. I want to only love the neighbors I agree with. I want a religion that supports my hate. Drench me in apathy. At least teach me to hate myself.” Prayer not answered. Infact, every breath I took ushered in the voices, the prayers of the forgotten. Spirits of dead babies and the enslavement of their minds reaching out to me like hollowed shells of misery beggin me not to forget them. While stranger after stranger spoke to me. ”You run from God.” “Don’t hide sister, tell the truth. Walk the truth. Live the truth.” Numbness Guite surrender Next, the fire of dragons warmed my bath. The birds dipped me in this new and inviting womb. All the while, from north, south, east, and west; high and low and beyond the soldiers of wolves vowed to protect me. The She, the pig presided over my wrapping, she spoke of my body being made for healing. You are to carry the ancestors voices into a new Eden She answered questions I had pondered so long. “Why?” she read from my soul.“You cry”, she said, “because others can’t. You feast because others can’t.You love because others won’t. You are the presence of all color. Only drums could beat this drowning; this sounding. I thought I had felt pain before. Nothing is as painful as seeing your own transgressions and their consequences. Now, couple that pain with Empathy. Every growing inch of my wings silently screamed with horrifying stories of our hatred for each other. I could feel the painful annihilation of our children’s minds, bodies and spirits. Stripped over and over by monopolies’ and tyrants’ greedy nationalism. I was tortured by the people’s mistrust and despair. Betrayed by those they elected to protect and to serve. Betrayed by religious leaders who made God in their image.The image of selfishness, elitism and only their pursuit of happiness. I said this was how I came into myself...I should have said how I am coming into myself. My wings are not yet strong enough. Once I am fully impassioned with all the hopes of my peoples...all of my peoples and even the creatures’ pains will be my amour!l And when at last , I am called forth from this cocoon Babylon will fall! Wth the songs of multitudes Babylon’s days are numbered in these words ”I am proud to free slaves, I am proud to be “sick and tired”, I am proud to be called sister, mother, daughter, child, wife, lover, healer, visionary, crazy, truth teller, advocate, preacher, protector of the innocent, teacher, wisdom, witch… I am proud to be called Woman! �12 Believe It STREETVOICE The Gate Believe it when you see someone bundle up sleeping in the street Believe it when you see someone looking in the garbage for food to eat Believe it cause all of these things are real and none are made up Believe that there are many men, women and children who are down on their luck Believe that with the economy all twisted and headed straight to hell Believe that there are many who just give up, commit suicide or take leave for a jail cell Believe that to the homeless, jail with three hot meals, cell buddies for friends and a cot Believe to some may mean nothing but to the homeless means one hell of a lot Believe with faith all things are possible for all including you and me Believe in God, have faith, and pray then change will come all you have to do is believe N o v 24 --April N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 April 18,22019 No. 404 The gate is open It isn't locked there are no locks on the gate You must decide to enter or not There is no turning back one you enter the gatee Baffled and unsure yet wanting to continue the gate is straight ahead open the door enter if possible tell me what you see at the place Where no one Needs a key KIM GREEN WILLA DENISE JONES Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov 218, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 April 4 3-April | No. 404 THE WATERED DOWN MUELLER REPORT MOTHER GOOSE Dear old Mother Magee Went and turned on her TV, To find out Mueller's conclusion. But A.G. Barr's brief, four pager Both upset and enraged her, Especially the words "no collusion." 13 Life on Life's Terms I’ve been selling Streetvibes since May 7th, 2009, the old and new school Streetvibes. But the new people got to know how to sell papers, Everyone has their “pitch,” Mine starts with “Good morning” “Have a good afternoon” “Have a good evening!” In my position, you have to deal with the people. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer You have to deal with attitudes and everything else. I always sell papers at Reds Opening Day, right on vine and Central Parkway by the Kroger building. In dealing with the people coming down from the suburbs or different neighborhoods for Reds’ Opening Day, I have to deal with people who are dumbfounded when they see me. They look at me like a nobody. I get motivated. I don’t mess with Duracell but I mess with Everready batteries all day every day. The bunny is back. I’m from up north, from Detroit. I been down here since July 2002. I came down here the year after the riot. My mother said we all the same color but when I came down here I had to deal with a bunch of racist motherfuckers. I don’t mess with the KKK, I will bring the Black Panthers in here and we’ll occupy Cincinnati. I’m trying to bring the Homeless Congress back and I need some sponsors. JAMES BROWN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 102 Across 1. At that time 5. Slide without control 9. Singing voice 13. An actor's portrayal 14. Internal 16. Prevaricator 17. Translucent mineral 18. Female relative 19. Edible flatfish 20. Taut or rigid 22. Brass instrument 24. Peculiar 26. Group of three singers 27. Amiable 30. Male feline 35. Mongrel 36. Delicacy 39. Flashlight 40. Charter 42. Religious doctrine 44. Whittle 45. Embellish 47. Commence 49. Liveliness 50. Panic 52. Sent via the postal service 54. Bird shelter 57. An argument in favor of 58. Selecting what seems best of various styles or ideas 62. Bird of prey 66. Certain 67. Excluded from use or mention 69. Stomped heavily 70. Region 71. Edible bulb 72. Female red deer 73. Garment 74. A meeting arranged in advance 75. Jittery PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #101 Down 1. A slow pace of running 2. Be optimistic 3. Zeal 4. Wrestling hold, can be half or full 5. Transgression 6. Create with needles and wool 7. Torpid 8. Interior layout and furnishings 9. In addition 10. Large predatory feline 11. Story 12. Metal-bearing mineral 15. Send money in payment 21. Redact 23. Item of footwear 25. Move with sudden speed 27. Usher 28. Mistake 29. Fermentation sediment of an alcoholic beverage 31. Swab 32. Have a great desire for 33. Strong and sharp 34. Those people 35. Informal conversation 37. Colony insect 38. Squad 41. Wander from a direct course 43. Snare 46. Not any 48. Become fatigued 51. Right-hand page 53. Abhor 55. Support or foundation 56. Shinbone 58. Monetary unit 59. Ship's company 60. Containing little excess 61. Water hen 63. Power system 64. Yearn 65. Miniature whirlpool 66. Droop 68. Single person or thing N ov 2 o v 19,4,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Mar 21- N -April 403 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 393 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 392- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 | Nov 2 4, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Mar 213 -April | No. 403 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 2 4- -April N o v 19,18, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 April | No. 404 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 4-April 18, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: A Dying Planet Pg 3: A Letter of Thanks Greater Cincinnati’s Affordable Housing Crisis Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Climate Strike Pg 6: Washrooms for Customers Only Pg 7: Migrant Workers Face Abuse, Slavery Threat in Post-Brexit Britain Pg 8: Disappearing Communities Pg 9: Disappearing Communities Continued Pg 10: All Saints School Donates Over 3,400 Books to Literacy Network Racists Go Home Pg 11: How I Came into My Own Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Pet Horoscopes Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 4-April 18, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Maged Srour Bill Joiner Kieran Gulibert Mervyn Horgan Edith Wilson Dr. Mark Mussman Liz Triestle Madison Brit Willa Denise Jones Kim Green James Brown June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Joiner Bill Woods Brexit Britain Canva.com Climate Change Dr. Mark Mussman Edith Wilson education Findlay Playground Gabriela Godinez INSP.com James Brown June Alexander Kieran Gulibert Kim Green Liz Triestle Madison Brit Maged Srour Mervyn Horgan Migrants protest Slavery Strike Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/63002a5e8e058053809cdb6d6100078c.pdf 876160ed03a535a1f1cf7fd1f0549802 PDF Text Text A u g u s t 2 2 t h - S e p t e m b e r 5 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 7 ( N o . 4 1 4 ) advo cating justice | building communit y R e jec ting Title X Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Editorial On Page 2 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Aug 22- -NSept 5,22019 No. 414 From The Editor: Rejecting Title X Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief I n February, the Trump administration announced a change in Title X policy. Title X is a grant program that allocates federal money to organizations on the basis of providing the public with information surrounding family planning and preventive health services. Planned Parenthood was the largest organization that receives Title X funding until August of 2019 when the organization refused the funding. This refusal is in response to the changes made in the policy, which is being referred to as a “gag rule.” Organizations receiving Title X funding will now be required to restrict the information they give individuals regarding abortions. They are no longer allowed to give referrals to doctors that preform abortions and are only allowed to ambiguously refer doctors that may or may not preform the medical procedures. According to the New York Times, Planned Parenthood receives about “$60 million annually through the federal program.” They have done so since the 70’s when the program was created. According to PBS News Hour, “more than 1.5 million low income women rely on Planned Parenthood for reproductive health services.” This sort of care varies from birth control to STI screenings, not only abortion information and counseling. The New York Times also reported that the Department of Health and Human Services made a statement where they accuse Planned Parenthood and other organizations refusing Title X funding of “blaming the government for their own actions…They are abandoning their obligations to serve their patients under the program.” However, these organizations don’t see themselves as abandoning their patients, instead they feel quite the opposite. Organizations like the American Medical Association say this new restriction negatively affects their work as medical professionals. They see that they, instead of providing health care, would have to ignore all of the options available to pregnant folks. Alexis Mcgill Johnson, the Acting President of Planned Parenthood, stated, “I want our patients to know: while the Trump administration may have given up on you, Planned Parenthood never will. Our doors are open today, and our doors will be open tomorrow. Our patients come to us because they expect the best information and health care available. But the gag rule would make it impossible for us to uphold that commitment.” Other organizations are now walking away from the Title X program feeling the same way. Maine Family Planning is also rejecting the program stating, “ the Domestic Gag Rule… would fundamentally compromise the relationship our patients have with us as trusted providers of this most personal and private health care. It is simply wrong to deny patients accurate information about access to abortion care.” Now all of these organizations are going to have to find funding from other donors. Though we have already seen these organizations such as Planned Parenthood have a surge in donations, it will be interesting to see how sustainable this will be. We don’t know yet how this will affect these organizations with the lack of federal funding, but we can be sure the care provided will be filled with accurate information with the patient’s well being coming first above all. S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Lacy Wallace, Peter Y. Sussman, Felix Winternitz, Nick Brown Dr. Mark Mussman, Anuradha Nagaraj, Roli Srivasta, Carey L Biron, Willa D. Jones, Bobby Morris, Kim Green ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: , Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, , ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 25, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 223 -| Sept 2019 | No. 414 3 HOMELESSNESS Homeless in Trump’s America Peter Y. Sussman Street Spirit A man who lives at taxpayer expense in luxurious public housing in Washington, D.C. has started a campaign against those who aren't so lucky. There’s something that repels him about homeless people, and in two appearances in recent months, the president began to clarify what it is. Speaking in Iowa in June, Donald Trump took a double shot at immigrants and the homeless (whom he sometimes equates), saying, “You see what’s happening in California. ...The Democratic-run cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco—do you see what’s happening to those cities? Can you even believe it, what’s going on there? People are getting sick just by walking down the street. They’re getting actually sick, including police officers, who are incredible, the job our law enforcement does is incredible.” OK, so the problem is not primarily that people are being forced by economic, medical or social circumstances to live on the streets; it’s that other pedestrians—especially incredible police officers, for some reason—are repelled by their presence on our shared sidewalks. He mentioned the smell, and he mentioned needles, as he often does. In the fusillades of ridicule and rhetoric that President Trump has fired against various classes of American citizens, it would be easy to overlook any one of his many targets, but noticing and remembering are hallmarks of a thriving conscience. So before they slip from our collective memory entirely, let's consider Trump's words in early July on homelessness and consider what they represent. After Trump returned from Japan that month, he reported back to his base at Fox News that, as one fawning moderator put it, “the cities are clean. There’s no graffiti. No one going to the bathroom on the street. You don’t see junkies.” Trump took the bait and ran with it. “It’s very nice, isn’t it?” he said. There are addicts, of course, all over this country and abroad, with perhaps a higher concentration recently in America's rural white areas, but how very nice the president finds it not to see them on the sidewalks. American rural addicts are perceived as someone's more sympathetic relatives, unlike the more visible addicts who annoy him so much on "Democratic" city streets. Indeed, the very fact that addicts are visible makes them more useful for his political purposes. They're valuable, anonymous props that he can point to with theatrical horror and disgust. Egged on by his Fox cheerleader, Trump said it was “very sad” what was happening in “some of our cities. ...New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, they’ve got a major problem with… filth.” By “filth,” he meant homeless people and he meant excrement, as soon became clearer. As with many other fastidious and insecure people of outsized privilege, germs or excrement are particularly repulsive to the president. Areas that aren’t gold-plated to his taste are not simply unfamiliar or vaguely uncomfortable; they are “shitholes,” to use Trump’s inelegant term for vast, impoverished areas of the world. In a fleeting concession to conscience, Trump said that “...some of them have mental problems where they don’t even know they’re living that way.” He quickly discarded the notion that unhoused people might be the victims of circumstances beyond their control, saying, “In fact, perhaps they like living that way. They can’t do that.” Do you see what happened there? The president quickly switched from unsupported speculation to the assumption that people enjoyed living in poverty and squalor—and then he chastised them for the motivation he himself had just ascribed to them: They liked “living that way,” and “They can’t do that.” Climbing further out on a speculative limb, Trump began parading his historical ignorance and promising to take action—of some kind—on a problem he clearly didn’t begin to understand. “It’s a phenomena [sic] that started two years ago,” he said, with all the assurance of presidential authority. (That suggests that homelessness began with the start of his administration. It’s not what he intended to remind his audience, but his autonomous mouth frequently betrays him in that way.) Then, speaking as the nation’s leader, the preacher of our common values, he declared, as he so often does, “It’s disgraceful.” Trump returned later in the interview to his determination that “something” must maybe be done: “So we’re looking at it very seriously. We may intercede. We may do something to get that whole thing cleaned up. It’s inappropriate. Now, we have to take the people and do something. We have to do something.” In short, stand by for “some other things … important things.” The silver lining is that in the past this president has generally forgotten the important things his rudderless mouth had promised. And in significant ways, Trump’s ends are served by raising the spectre of a threat and then leaving it unresolved. He gives his THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED aroused “base” a common target for righteous indignation without going to the detailed, time-consuming and collaborative trouble of fixing the problem he’s identified and leaving his base content. Their arousal is his greatest strength, so he must leave them aroused. This president’s most dangerous impact is in identifying “the issue” for his followers. Granted, his policies have destroyed stable institutions, societal norms, and years of legislative consensus, but even more important are the ways he’s poisoning public values by reframing our perceptions. In the process, problems, to the extent that they are problems, become more intractable, more difficult to resolve. You can't legislate your way out of a fantasy. At another point in his July diatribe on Fox News, Trump betrays more of his motivation: “I own property in San Francisco. … [Y]ou take a look at what’s going on with San Francisco, it’s terrible.” With people like Trump, it’s always personal, often in ways only a psychotherapist could unearth. The implications of Trump’s mindset are clear. It is not that social dislocation and despair exist; it’s that he (or tourists, property owners or police officers) must see the homeless or smell them as they walk down the street; that it’s happening in areas where he himself has property. If you've spent your life with no greater ambition than to be at least one socioeconomic rung above the next person (a Queens guy dreaming of Manhattan status), then the higher you get, the more vulnerable you feel. Sadly, history has shown us that such fragile people often resolve their grandiose inner turmoil by imposing destructive forms of order on others, usually at the expense of easy targets on the lowest social and economic rungs. Even more sadly, this particular Queens guy is a rich professional brander who has persuaded many of his socially insecure followers that their own grievances are his. We've heard it again and again from diehards at his rallies: "He's one of us." We have paid, and for some time will continue to pay, a heavy price for this deeply troubled man's insecurity, and as usual, the first ones to pay that price will be those who don’t have the financial resources or inherited influence to buy their way into the corridors of privilege and power where the governing values of a country are articulated and its rules are forged. Courtesy of Street Spirit / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT Tours focus on the historical and contemporary struggles and successes of the Overthe-Rhine Peoples' Movement. Learn what gentrification looks like and how displacement affects community members. NAug o v 2 22 - N-oSept v 19,5, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 2019 414 Social Justice Walking Tours Cost: $80/Group (max 20 in each group). Sign up today: https://cincihomeless.org/ please-register-youreducation-event-here/ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |-NSept ov 2 -5, N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 22 | No. 414 5 U.S NEWS Could a national buyback program reduce gun violence in America? Lacey Wallace The Conversation A mericans own nearly half of the world’s guns, with approximately 120 firearms for every 100 U.S. residents. Gun control policies may someday restrict new gun sales. But what impact can they have when Americans already own millions of guns? Some have pointed to gun buybacks as a potential solution to this problem. I have spent years studying American attitudes toward guns and gun policies, including smart guns and open carry. I know that gun owners feel strongly about their identities as gun owners, making it difficult to create a strategy for taking guns off the streets. US gun stock The sheer number of guns is part of the challenge. The United States has the largest civilian-owned stock of guns in the world. At the end of 2017, the Small Arms Survey reported that there were an estimated 393 million firearms in the United States – and that’s not even counting guns owned by the police and military. That represents 45.8% per cent of the world’s civilian-owned guns. Yemen has the second-highest rate of gun ownership per person in the world, with just 52.8 firearms per 100 residents. More than 40 per cent of U.S. adults live in a household with at least one gun. About half of all civilianowned guns in the U.S. are owned by just three per cent of U.S. adults. These gun owners have an average of 17 guns each. Most other gun owners average about three guns at home. Reducing numbers Gun buyback programs are designed to reduce the number of firearms by purchasing guns from private owners, and typically destroying them. Gun buyback programs are not new. Following a mass shooting in 1996, Australia banned automatic and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and instituted a national gun buyback program. In a year, Australia purchased about 650,000 firearms from private residents, estimated to represent about 20 per cent of the country’s privately owned guns. Research evaluating the effects of the buyback found a 42 per cent decrease in homicide rates and a 57 per cent decrease in suicide rates in the seven years after the legislation passed. But some researchers are still uncertain whether this decrease was due to the buyback, or whether it was simply part of an existing downward trend. U.S. cities have experimented with buybacks on a much smaller scale, even though the Pew Research Center reports that more than 70 per cent of gun owners say they could never imagine themselves not owning some sort of firearm. One of the earliest examples occurred in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1974, Baltimore police paid residents US$50 per firearm, collecting roughly 13,500 over a two-month period. Rather than reduce crime, homicides and assaults spiked during the buyback. It is unclear why, but two months is a short time period for a clear pattern to emerge and crime rates in cities across the country were increasing through much of the 1970s. Baltimore is not unique. A 2008 crime and in youth violence. If the goal is to reduce crime, getting shotguns or broken firearms off the street will likely have little effect. Guns obtained through a 1994 to 1996 buyback in Milwaukee also differed from those typically used in suicide and homicide. The Boston Police Department tried again in 2006. Learning from their past mistakes, the police offered a $200 gift card for each handgun – but no cash or gift card for rifles or shotguns. At the conclusion of the program, the Boston Police Department reported that more than 85% of submitted firearms were handguns, closely matching the types of guns used in crime. to submit them to law enforcement. Gun buybacks are financed by taxpayer dollars and are generally paid for by local agencies rather than through state or federal funding. A local jurisdiction’s budget will limit the amount of firearms it can purchase and destroy, reducing the likelihood that a gun buyback will have an observable impact on local crime rates. Law enforcement involvement Typically, gun buyback programs are run by law enforcement. Understandably, criminal offenders may be hesitant to come to the local police station or interact with law enforcement – even if they are promised exemption from prosecution A man walks with his firearm during a community gun buy-back program in White Plains, New York, U.S., April 13, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton review of the existing research by Matthew Makarios and Travis Pratt in the journal Crime & Delinquency found that gun buyback programs have generally been ineffective in reducing crime in the U.S. Challenges include the types of guns purchased, the involvement of law enforcement, and the costs involved. Types of guns purchased Gun buyback programs often place no restrictions on the types of guns that can be purchased. Civilians frequently bring in old firearms, guns in disrepair, rifles, or shotguns. Sacramento, California, implemented a gun buyback program in 1993. Nearly a quarter of all guns submitted were not in working order. The Boston Police Department also attempted a gun buyback program in 1993 without a restriction for weapon type. Only about half of submitted firearms were handguns. That’s significant because we know from existing crime data that although some mass shooters use more powerful weapons, handguns are the type of firearm most often used in violent The number of shootings decreased by 14% in Boston in the year after the buyback and continued to decrease through 2010. Other jurisdictions followed Boston’s example. In 2015, 13 police departments in Massachusetts instituted a buyback program with higher amounts paid for types of firearms more frequently used in crime. As a result, they were able to collect more handguns. But three out of five people who sold their guns said they still had one or more guns at home. Cost and profit Experience shows that some people will attempt to profit from gun buybacks by submitting inexpensive or broken firearms worth less than the cash incentive offered through the buyback. In Baltimore, one buyback participant claimed she was going to use the buyback money to purchase a larger weapon. In Oregon, private citizens waited outside the gun buyback locations to purchase firearms and ammunition from owners before they could go inside THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for weapon possession. Boston attempted to address this concern in 2006 by designating sites like churches as drop-off locations. Other jurisdictions have held gun buybacks run by nonprofit groups, but law enforcement officials are frequently on-hand as security, or to help take the guns to be destroyed after the buyback. No sizeable US impact So far, gun buybacks in the United States have been a community-based, grassroots endeavor with limited impact. Their feasibility on a state or nationwide scale is unclear. Cost alone may be a prohibiting factor. Assuming a $50 per firearm incentive, reducing the U.S. gun stock by one per cent would cost $196.5 million. Inevitably, only some of the guns purchased would have been used in future crimes. Lacey Wallace is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Pennsylvania State University. Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �LOCAL 6 NAug o v 2 22 - N-oSept v 19, 5, 2 02019 18 | |NNo. o . 393 414 A Deadly Disruption: The Invasion of Electric Scooters Felix Winternitz Contributing Writer T he streets of OTR can be dangerous, but perhaps not for the reason you might think. I've been nearly side-swiped – twice, yet – by the electric motor scooters that are so prevalent. As a pedestrian, I find the influx of these devil's spawns most alarming. Once, the scooter culprit who almost mowed me down was just 14 years old; he'd borrowed his mother's VISA card to achieve his audacious adventure, cruising the sidewalks without a driver's license. Like many riders, he wore no safety helmet. Think about it: These demonic, forrent devices can apparently be obtained with no confirmation that the drivers are schooled in the rules of the road. Or in the rules of the sidewalk, for that matter. They can reach a cruising speed of 15 mph. Some are evidenced being driven in a damaged condition. My first near miss occurred at the entrance of A Taste of Belgium restaurant. My favorite waiter could only shake his head and bemoan the state of the streets. By way of anecdotal evidence, the waiter offered sympathy while bemoaning "We hear complaints sometimes from our customers. Sometimes, these folks are driving with earplugs while listening to their music." The scooters roar by on the sidewalks or along streets, careening notably Vine and its connecting crossings. Some of the drivers can be seen exiting from the plethora of bars along Vine, combining with alcoholic intoxication to inflate the haywire mix. Adding injury to insult is that these sidewalk road warriors can often be seen absurdly checking their e-mails and social media accounts, even as they cruise along wildly. There seems to be no confirmation system to guarantee the driver on this motorized vehicle is insured, in event of a crash with an unwary walker. Is there any Cincinnati council person who represents the interests of Cincinnati's pedestrian population? Who regulates this overnight industry locally? There were 39 Cincinnati pedestrians struck by some kind of vehicle, just in February. All this comes on the heels of news reports that the number of pedestrian deaths in America has reach a 30year high. In fairness, the reports also blames smart-phone distraction and the increasing prevalence of SUVs. The Governors Highway Safety Association white-paper shows pedestrian traffic fatalities have soared, with more than 6,000 deaths in 2018. A frightening statistic. Pedestrian deaths now account for 16 percent of motor-vehicle crash deaths, up from 12 percent just a decade ago. "We're killing way too many pedestrians. This has got to be a top priority," observes Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the non-profit Highway Safety Association, which monitors stats from state and local police agencies and commissioned this report. Yes, many of these deaths have occurred as pedestrians cross at intersections on crosswalks, at their own risk. But many among the stunning body count are simply innocent walkers strolling along metro sidewalks, victims obscenely slammed to the concrete. "It's very bleak," comments Richard Retting, who wrote the report. "We're seeing a complete reversal of the progress that had been made in the 1980s." Retting's report notes fatalities have risen 45 percent since 2009. "Drivers need to keep in mind [that they] have a machine and capability to kill someone else." As the Enquirer recently noted: "They're here: The electric scooters so loved – and so hated – in other cities. Seemingly overnight, Bird, a vehiclesharing company, dropped off its electric scooters on Cincinnati streets. Want-to-be riders can download the Bird app and rent a ride to scoot around town. ... The rental process is quick – you'll need a credit card and a driver's license." Rides are $1 initially plus 15 cents per minute. The maximum charge is $100 for 24 hours. The company claims no responsibility for enforcing insurance coverage. According to the Bird terms of service: "All applicable laws (including, without limitation, those applicable to traffic, pedestrians, parking, charging and electric vehicles) must be obeyed, including any helmet laws in your area. ... Rider represents and certifies that he/ she is familiar with the operation of the vehicle, and is reasonably competent and physically fit to ride the vehicle. By choosing to ride a vehicle, rider assumes all responsibilities and risks for any injuries or medical conditions. You are responsible for determining whether conditions, including, without limitation, rain, fog, snow, hail, ice, heat or electrical storms, make it dangerous to operate a vehicle. You are advised to adjust your riding behavior and braking distance to suit the weather, visibility, surrounding environment, and traffic conditions." Bird says it recommends against operation of a vehicle while carrying or holding a briefcase, backpack, bag, or other item that can alter balance or impair safe operation. "If you choose to use such an item, Bird recommends that you ensure the item fits snugly to your body and does not impede your ability to operate the vehicle safely." Ha! Words of assurance can be cheap. These scooters are dockless, meaning riders can blithely leave them wherever they happen to stop. I've seen scooters lying sideways on the sidewalk, blocking passers-by, or leaned against doorways and against storefront businesses. Once, an abandoned scooter blocked a wheelchair ramp. A few times, I've even seen two riders piggy-backing along in tandem on one single scooters (both were carrying backpacks, yet another potential hazard to safe steering). And along with the e-scooter backlash have come the lawsuits. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Perhaps the most high-profile case was filed last October, when Bird and Lime, along with two manufacturers of the vehicles they use, Segway and Xiaomi, became the subject of a punitive classaction suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Nine plaintiffs accused the companies of “indiscriminate, negligent, grossly negligent and/or unlawful ‘deployment’ … of fleets of defective” scooters in that city. The web site CityLab recently queried: "The rise of the rented e-scooter has brought safety fears and injury-related lawsuits. What happens when a new mobility mode meets the American legal system?" In other words, who gets blamed when something goes wrong? Back to the Queen City: "It's unclear what notice, if any, Cincinnati officials had prior to Bird's arrival" according to a recent Enquirer story. In other words, local public servants were blind-sided. After introduction of emergency interim rules, Cincinnati City Council’s Law and Public Safety Committee last September approved an ordinance that would change the city’s municipal code to specifically ban scooters on sidewalks. Currently, it's a general ban against riding any “powered means of transportation” on sidewalks. It’s a $100 fine for the first offense. For my part, I'm not seeing any riders getting a ticket. Councilman David Mann thinks Bird should be on the hook. “Because otherwise, they don’t have any real incentive to make sure this stuff doesn’t happen,” Mann told the newspaper. “I’ve been saying to myself, it’s just a matter of time before we have a serious injury. ... Bird is a profitmaking activity which has landed here for one purpose, to make money for someone,” Mann stated. “Profit is fine, but the damage inflicted by any enterprise must be assumed by the business, not an innocent public." Let's hear it for that. As Mann astutely observes: "It’s equally clear people are flouting those rules, and the company seems to be shrugging that off." Mann reports he sees people on a daily basis barreling down the sidewalks, blowing through red lights and going the wrong way down one-way streets. He’s also not sure the 18-and-up policy is being properly enforced. “I’m approaching it as a lawyer,” he said. “How can Bird be required to assume serious responsibility that will cause them to take serious steps? I’m all for having fun, but let’s understand that the sidewalks are a shared space.” The electric scooter industry is on a collision course with the rights of pedestrians. Here's hoping for, if you'll excuse the expression, a concrete resolution. �LOCAL NAug o. 3922 3 |-NSept ov 2 -5, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18414 7 Cincinnati History in Perspective, Part 1 Dr. Mark Mussman I Staff Writer t has been said that Cincinnati has always been a city of immigrants, but perhaps it should be rewritten as a city of homelessness. Going back 40,000 years, people have always lived among these 7 hills. The Hopewell, Shawnee, Adena, and Osage were just some of the people who lived here before the invasion. There were major earthwork mounds and other features that were created over the span of tens of thousands of years. In a matter of a hundred years, we destroyed all the evidence in the downtown basin. The Cincinnati Tablet was found near the Shelterhouse’s new location, on Mound Street, but all the other evidence has been removed. Even Bald Knob, which I believe was a sacred place, was removed for infill of Union Terminal. To the south, the Cherokee and Chickasaw, among others, lived in the hills of Kentucky before removal. The French and Indian War ended in 1763, and the removal process started shortly after that. In 1788, Cincinnati was originally known as Losantiville, which combined several languages to mean “the city across from the Licking River.” 200 years ago this year, Cincinnati officially became the city’s name, named after a Roman general and farmer, and the society that bares its name. For many years, Cincinnati was geographically smaller than downtown today. With Fort Washington near the location of the Taft Museum, all the area to the north was known as “Indian Territory” and it was considered unsafe to travel, as Native Americans were being attacked, killed, homes destroyed, and captured, in order for the invaders to take the land, which would eventually become Cincinnati. Our policies have always pushed people into homelessness. In 1804, Ohio enacted the Black Code, which required all Black people to register with the local magistrate, have two white people vouch for them, and pay a hefty sum, just to live in Ohio. Ohio used that money to build and create systems of oppression for Black people that continue to exacerbate homelessness. Ohio was literally built upon the backs of Black people as these laws were in effect until 1849, just one year after the mass migration out of Europe began. In 1848 a social movement in Europe began. Seeking our First and Second Amendment rights, the Forty Eighters left Europe for North and South America, as well as Australia. More than 30,000 Germans settled here in Over-the-Rhine (before it was called that), and built the buildings we still have today. Over-the-Rhine has the largest collection of German Italianate architecture anywhere in the their idea of “native” had nothing to do with Native Americans, they pretended that they were more worthy of the land here. Many laws preventing Catholics from building and owning land were created by lumping them in with Native Americans and Black people, who were barred from owning land or even protection through the courts. There was even an election day conflict that involved shooting a cannon over the canal. Eventually, the Germans became “white” and were able to fully participate and benefit from societal advantages. Up until World War I, schools, newspapers, books and other minimum wage kept up with inflation - the cost of living - the hourly rate would be over $22 today. Contrasting that with the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which Kentucky follows, it’s clear to see that the minimum wage needs to become a livable wage. But there’s one thing that came out of the Great Depression that’s not so obvious, and that’s the home ownership program that created the suburbs that we know today. Most housing in Cincinnati was built before housing discrimination (based upon race) was still very much legal and practiced widely. The federal home ownership program was notoriously racist, as International delegation takes walking tour with Dr. Mark Mussman world because the World Wars largely destroyed the German buildings in Germany. The Germans came here, homeless, with little wealth, but many trade skills. Candle and rope making, beer and wine producing, masonry and woodworking, were some of the opportunities that the immigrants had. There was great conflict between the “Nativist” and immigrants. The white Nativists felt superior, even though Over-the-Rhine People's Movement Public Walking Tour August 2019 publications were in the German language. Many schools were bilingual, German and English. During the War, street names were changed (Bremen became Republic, Frankfort became Connecticut, Berlin became Woodrow, Hamburg became Stonewall, Hanover became Yukon, etc.), people were deported, and it is said that it became “illegal to speak German” in Cincinnati. After the War, the US weathered the Great Depression, and Cincinnati’s location along the river helped us stay afloat with cheap transportation. When it comes to housing the Great Depression has shaped the United States more than almost anything else. The Cincinnati that we know today was a result of Great Depression programs and post-war efforts. Even today, you can find WPA stamps on bridges, roads, playgrounds, schools, and other important developments. The Great Depression also set a minimum wage (except for tipped employees, incarcerated individuals, and people with developmental differences), which was supposed to be enough to buy a home, send your children to school, and put food on the table. If THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Black people were called “vermin” in our government documents. The resulting Redlining shaped our city and country. From 1934-1970, the federal government gave out $120 billion in low-interest, fixed-rate loans to build the suburbs. Over 98% of the loans went exclusively to white people to build generational wealth. Even though there was a generally level playing field after the Great Depression since no one had money, Black people were excluded from the home ownership program, denying them the opportunity to create generational wealth, or even housing stability. Today, we continue to feel the effects of this discriminatory practice as Black people are more likely to experience homelessness and have overall much less family wealth. Coupled with contemporary racism, Black people in Cincinnati face many barriers and obstacles. If you’d like to learn more about the history and contemporary issues facing Cincinnati, please schedule a Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement Walking Tour through our website: cincihomeless.org �FEATURED 8 El Paso attack upends white normalization plan Jeff Schoep, former chairman of the National Socialist Movement, speaks during a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S., November 10, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart Nick Brown Reuters T wo years ago, America’s white nationalist movement stunned the country. NeoNazi demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, had turned deadly when a far-right protester drove a car through a crowd, killing one and injuring dozens. Some movement leaders regrouped. Instead of stoking outrage, they set out to build support with another tack: Looking normal. The larger goal was what many white nationalists call “Phase 2” — gaining mainstream acceptance for far-right ideas widely rejected as repugnant and getting white nationalists into positions of influence. The normalization effort included softened rhetoric and social gatherings that, for many groups, would increasingly replace confrontational rallies. “The strategy is internally focused now — having families get together,” said alt-right blogger Brad Griffin, a self-avowed white nationalist from Montgomery, Alabama. He fondly recalled a river-tubing trip he organized in 2018 for friends who had attended a local white nationalist conference. The goal of such low-key gatherings, he said, is to spread far-right ideology away from the public spectacle of a public protest. “It’s a lot more fun to do that than to go out and tangle with Antifa” — members of America’s farleft “anti-fascist” movement — “and get hit with piss balloons in the street.” Griffin spoke in an interview before last weekend’s massacre in El Paso, Texas — an event that has scrambled the calculus for the movement’s aspiring normalizers. On Saturday, authorities say, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius shot and killed 22 people and wounded two dozen more shortly after a manifesto appeared online explaining his motivation and decrying a “Hispanic invasion” of the United States. The El Paso attack has also put new pressure on a man some white nationalists praise as helping advance their movement: Donald Trump. The U.S. president has come under sustained criticism for his racially incendiary rhetoric since launching his candidacy in 2015 — including his repeated use of the word “invasion” to describe immigration along the U.S.Mexico border. On Monday, Trump issued his most forceful disavowal of white supremacism to date. “In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry N o v 222 - N v 19,5,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Aug - oSept 414 nationalist and white supremacy,” Trump said in response to the weekend’s shootings. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated.” After Charlottesville, the lie-low approach was seen as a necessity by some in the movement. Many white nationalist groups were sued and lost access to social media, which has caused them to avoid public confrontations, said Heidi Beirich, who studies farright groups for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization that tracks extremists. “We haven’t seen many rallies since Charlottesville,” she said. The combination of bad press, prosecutions and lost access to social media, has “depressed people in the movement” and created a sense that “maybe the softer approach is the way to go.” The shootings, and Trump’s repudiation, leave the normalizers in a difficult, perhaps impossible spot. Their gambit was always a stretch. A Reuters photojournalist has observed the approach up close — at a children’s nursery in a “church” run by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK); a restaurant-and-bar that caters to white supremacists in Georgia; a barbecue held in Arkansas by the ShieldWall Network, a self-avowed neo-Nazi group with dozens of members. Even as they described their hopes of mainstreaming, many members of these and other groups also voiced the violent tropes that animate the movement. One is the so-called Great Replacement conspiracy theory, common in white nationalist circles, Members of the ShieldWall Network hold up balloons decorated as the face of Adolf Hitler and give a white-power hand signal as they celebrate the German fascist's birthday outside Atkins, Arkansas, U.S., April 20, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 5, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 22 Sept | No. 414 9 FEATURED Members of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, burn a swastika and cross during a party outside Atkins, Arkansas, U.S., March 9, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart which holds that leftist elites are engineering the replacement of white majorities globally through policies that encourage mass migrations as white birth rates decline. The manifesto tied to the El Paso shooting referenced the replacement theory in explaining why the shooter chose to kill Hispanic people. Asked in a May interview how whites could regain demographic dominance, ShieldWall’s leader, Billy Roper, told Reuters that promoting a higher birth rate among white people is helpful, but “bullets” would be faster. Roper said his organization doesn’t advocate anything illegal but that he “couldn’t disagree” with the goals of the mass shooter who murdered 51 people at two Muslim mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. That killer, too, had cited the replacement theory as a motive. In a phone interview after the Texas massacre, Roper said he didn’t support the killings. But the victims, Roper said, “were just pawns in the Jewish game of demographic replacement of whites,” adding that such “cultural conflicts” are an “unfortunate fact of modern life” in an increasingly diverse nation moving closer to racial “balkanization.” The strategy of trying to couch such extreme views in mainstream rhetoric is not new. One of the highestprofile examples of the normalization tack is that of David Duke, a former KKK grand wizard who traded the klan’s signature white robes and pointy hats for a business suit, adopted more mainstream conservative talking points, and made the runoff election for Louisiana governor in 1991. Duke lost by a wide margin but drew support from about half the state’s white voters. The normalization effort is also not universal. Some far-right groups are still known for confrontation, including the Proud Boys, who last October fought with people protesting a Republican Club event in New York City. In Draketown, Georgia, Pat Lanzo runs a restaurant-and-bar that white supremacists have claimed as their own. Lanzo insists the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar is merely a celebration of free speech. “We’re not racist,” he said. “We hate everyone equally.” The decor inside his bar is filled with the kind of racist tropes that remain a hard sell with mainstream America. His menus feature a drawing of a Klan member relaxing on a hammock made of two lynched black corpses tied together at the feet. And Lanzo has rented his property to neoNazis and klan members for cross burnings, a traditional show of force by the KKK in the American South. The image-scrubbing by today’s white nationalists belies a long history of violence by far-right ideologues. In the ten years ending in 2018, murderers motivated by far-right ideology took the lives of 124 people in 62 incidents, according to the U.S. Extremist Crime Database, a collaboration of criminal justice researchers from multiple universities. The statistics include white supremacists but also those with other far-right agendas that are not focused on race, such as anti-government militants. Thomas Robb, the national director of The Knights Party, a group formerly named the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, said the movement should think beyond confrontations and rallies. “When the rally’s over, what do you do?” said Robb in an interview before the El Paso shootings. “Our goal isn’t so much to get membership, but influence. When people come to our website, they see responsible people who aren’t using the ‘N word’ in every sentence.” Instead, Robb said, the aim is to “speak like Corporate America” as a way to make far-right ideas more palatable to a broader audience. White nationalists have always debated whether putting “reasonable clothing” on their movement would get them further than street clashes and violence, said Mike German, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, a left-leaning policy institute. But the approach appears to have gained momentum under Trump in part because of the president’s racially divisive rhetoric, said German, who previously spent years undercover with white nationalists as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “Before, white nationalists were trying to shove their way into the mainstream,” German said. “Now, they’re being invited in.” It’s far from clear whether many true believers are ready for life in the mainstream. This past April in Russellville, Arkansas, a lakeside college town, three members of the ShieldWall Network gathered to rent a houseboat and cruise around Lake Dardanelle. A Reuters photojournalist went with them. Moods were light; they toasted one another with Fireball whiskey shots, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED laughed when one of them dropped his phone in the lake and cooed as another cuddled with his pregnant wife. Later that night, the group would initiate a new recruit, Nicholas Holloway, and burn wooden swastikas. Two months later, in June, Holloway and two other ShieldWall members on the boat that day — Julian Calfy and John Carollo — were arrested for allegedly beating a gay man and holding a gun to his head after luring him to Calfy’s home with a false dating advertisement, according to police reports. Calfy remains in jail, while the other two members are free on bail, according to a spokesman for the Pope County, Arkansas, Sheriff ’s Office. Each is charged with thirddegree battery, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree criminal mischief in connection with the attack. Neither the defendants nor their attorneys could be reached for comment. Griffin, the alt-right blogger, condemned the El Paso shooting in stronger terms than other extremists who spoke to Reuters, calling it and other mass shootings by avowed white nationalists “insane tragedies.” At the same time, Griffin said he supported resegregation of the races, echoing one of the core principles of the manifesto that authorities tied to the Texas shooter. The continuing violence, he said, undermines any attempt by the movement to gain more mainstream acceptance. At this point, he said, most white nationalists would rather just “stay out of the debate.” Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �10 GLOBAL N o v 222 - N v 19,5,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Aug - oSept 414 Freedom, money, babies: Indian women rescued from slavery count their losses Anuradha Nagaraj and Roli Srivastava F Reuters ive months into her pregnancy, Soniya was still carrying heavy sacks up steps at the rice mill in south India where she was forced to work to pay off a family debt. By the time she was rescued, her baby had died. Soniya spent four years in debt bondage, the most prevalent form of slavery in India, to pay off a family loan of 50,000 Indian rupees ($725). Like many women in her situation, she had no access to health care. Her rescuers said she appeared malnourished, frail and on the point of collapse, had her hands wrapped around her stomach and refused to speak. "Health checks are not mandated after a rescue, but the lost expression in her eyes suggested that something was amiss," said Megraj Kasim, the local officer in charge of rescue and rehabilitation of bonded workers. "We rushed her to a hospital, but it was too late," he said, from Vellore district in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. A series of rescues this year have highlighted the plight of the hundreds of pregnant and lactating women working in brick kilns, rice mills and on farms across India, often to pay off debts they did not incur. "The women are silenced into submission by threats, which is why their trauma is often unheard," said Helen Barnabas, a counsellor with the International Justice Mission, an antitrafficking charity. "In almost every rescue, there is at least one pregnant woman or one nursing a newborn, who have been denied medical access, forced to work and gone through trauma that they are rarely able to articulate. The cruelty is unimaginable." India's labour ministry did not respond to emails or calls from the Thomson Reuters Foundation on the issue. ‘Heartbreaking’ stories India identified more than 135,000 bonded workers in its 2011 census despite banning the practice in 1976. It says more than 300,000 people have been pulled out of slavery since 1976 and has committed to rescue and rehabilitate more than 10 million bonded labourers by 2030. Kasim said the testimonies of women who had lost their children were the toughest to record, but gave the "true picture of the extent of exploitation". "The women don't speak easily and we work very hard on gaining their trust," he said. "But when they trust you enough to speak, their accounts are heartbreaking. Even the toughest officials are moved by their suffering, especially if they lose a child." Kasim has now mandated health checks in all rescues in his region, a move the Tamil Nadu government is looking to enforce across the state in the future. Barnabas said women from tribal areas were often told to treat themselves like their grandmothers did using traditional herbs, depriving them of access to modern medicine," "But the tragedy is that when they lose their child, they often don't blame the mill owners but themselves and say they have angered their gods and goddesses," she said. "It takes them years to understand that it was not their fault." Born into bondage Ashtama Devi, 35, spent the last trimester of her pregnancy in the searing heat of a brick kiln in the northern state of Haryana. She went back to work within 15 days of her delivery, leaving her baby boy in the care of her seven-year-old son in their tin roofed hut next to the brick kiln. When they were rescued six months later, the child had blisters all over his body that Devi attributed to the intense heat he was exposed to from birth. "I baked bricks and worked 14 hours every day (during my pregnancy)," said Devi by phone from Delhi after she was rescued last month. "My employer would beat up my husband when he asked for permission to take me to the doctor." She recalled how during her two earlier pregnancies, health workers in her home village ensured she had nutritional supplements and she also received 1,400 rupees cash from the government when she delivered. In bondage, she had no such care and gave birth to an underweight baby. "My baby weighed 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) when he was born. He is really weak," she said. Devi, who was lured into bondage with an advance payment of 15,000 rupees and the promise of a better life, was among 80 people rescued last month, 32 of whom were children. Nirmal Gorana, convener of the National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour - a network of campaigners - said Devi's baby was severely malnourished when he was rescued and his condition is still critical. "The children when we reached the site were all visibly weak, had skin diseases and none of them had any clothes on. They were living in the searing heat next to brick kiln under a tin roof shed," Gorana said. Manki Devi, who was among those rescued from Haryana, gave birth earlier this month to a baby that died within an hour. For Soniya, who still believes she is pregnant and is undergoing counselling, the days ahead will be tough, Barnabas said. "We find that they go through long spells of depression before they really understand what happened," she said. "And then the sadness will be replaced by rage." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo A girl carries bricks to be baked in a kiln at a brickyard on the outskirts of Karad in Satara district, about 396km (246 miles) south of Mumbai February 13, 2012. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 5, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 22 Sept | No. 414 GLOBAL 11 'We will become homeless': U.S. residents fear housing rule change could force them out of homes Carey L. Biron Reuters F ears are mounting across the United States over a proposal by President Donald Trump's administration that would force tens of thousands of families to choose between splitting up or being homeless together. The proposed rule change, on which a national public comment period ended in July, would deny public housing assistance for "mixedstatus" households — those in which at least one member is an undocumented immigrant. Housing secretary Ben Carson said in May - when the change was first proposed - that it was a necessary move to reduce long wait times for housing assistance. But housing researchers and advocates say the proposal would not have the desired effect and would instead lead to higher rates of homelessness. Analysis from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said the rule change would affect more than 108,000 people. That includes 55,000 children, many of whom are American citizens with an undocumented parent, according to the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), a national nonprofit focusing on affordable housing. That is the situation facing Cari Torres in Los Angeles, California. The single mother from Jalisco, Mexico, is undocumented, but her son was born in the United States. "If the rule goes on, we will be homeless, my son and I," she said, noting that rental rates in Los Angeles are very high and affordable housing largely unavailable. Torres, 37, said she and her son would probably be forced to stay with friends: "I don't know, and, honestly, I can't imagine how bad this could be." She added that many other people she knows are in a similar situation and are "afraid of what could happen". Like many U.S. cities, Los Angeles is already dealing with an acute housing crisis. The city's homelessness rate rose by 16 per cent in the past year alone, according to government figures released in June. "There are over 50,000 people in the county experiencing homelessness, and we're going to add something like 20 per cent more through this policy," said Bill Przylucki of People Organized for Westside Renewal, a community development group in Los Angeles. "And the people who would be added are folks who are even more vulnerable because they would face challenges to employment and accessing benefits because of this status issue," he said. U.S. taxpayers do not subsidise housing for undocumented immigrants under current policy; rather, subsidy rates are prorated depending on the number of eligible members in a household. The rule change would do away with that prorating, instead making the entire household ineligible if a single member is undocumented. In a May meeting with lawmakers, Carson said he sees the prorating process as "giving aid and assistance to people who are here illegally". He also noted that residents who lose housing assistance under the The sun sets on a public housing project in Brooklyn known as the "Pink Houses", where Akai Gurley was killed by what the New York Police Department is saying could be an accidental discharge in New York November 21, 2014. A New York City officer shot and killed an unarmed man in a dimly lit stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project, in what may have been an accidental discharge of his weapon, the police commissioner said on Friday. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED new rule could get deferrals of up to 18 months to give them time to find somewhere else to live. The housing department did not respond to a request for additional comment. The proposal brought in more than 30,000 responses during the recent two-month comment period, which Przylucki characterised as unusually large for a housing policy. He also said 90 per cent of those comments - which were publically available - were negative. Several pending legislative changes from Democratic lawmakers, floated since the proposal was made public, would bar the housing department from implementing the change. For now, community advocates like Przylucki are pushing back against what he said is a wave of fear and misinformation, explaining to residents that the proposal may not go forward, while planning for people to remain housed if it does. "Fear has been effectively instilled on this and, of course, housing authorities are very concerned about that," said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the CLPHA, whose members manage about 40 per cent of U.S. public housing. "I think we've reached universal consensus that we have a (housing) crisis. And the scarcity of resources is what is making the waiting list so long — not mixed family status," she said. As with any U.S. regulatory change, the housing department is required to go through and respond to all submissions received during the public comment period before it decides on its next step. Zaterman and others said that process would typically take several months. "A lot of costs in the public sector are related to housing instability and homelessness, and to have a policy that clearly would result in exacerbating that problem is contrary to everything we stand for," said Zaterman. On Monday the Trump administration also announced that starting in October, it intends to make it more difficult for legal immigrants to become U.S. citizens or get residency if they have used public benefits, including housing assistance. "If implemented, the rule will grant immigration officers the authority to punish immigrants for accessing services legally," said Ali Noorani, executive director of advocacy group the National Immigration Forum, in a statement. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �12 Finding Courage STREETVOICE Having been in a state of fear for most of my adult life, I have struggled with “Finding Courage.” I looked for courage from others. My parents mainly. I looked for courage in drugs & alcohol, in pretending to be someone other than myself. What I found out recently, is my courage has to come from within. This is not a new revelation, it's just finally hit home or finally got through my thick skull. To be more clear about what I mean about “Find Courage,” I got my first apartment and began living on my own 9 months ago. May not sound like a big deal, but you have to understand, I'm 56 years old and I'm doing this. Imagine the embarrassment, the fear, the pride that's involved in this. It's been a struggle I must admit. I fell back into my old habits and have fallen on hard times. This is where the "Finding Courage" comes into play. I found the courage to not stay stuck. I've been doing what I can to seek help. I've swallowed my pride and gone out and told people, “hey I'm in trouble, help!" Never before would I have done this. Not doing it 100%, I'm still fearful of some hurdles I have to climb over, but I'm working on it. They call it "Fear of the Unknown" or "Anxiety.” I've reached out for help with that. My courage has come from within and my prayers to God. I have been praying daily for his help. He has been there for me. He has put people in my path to give me help and support and I have been open to accept it. One thing I must say is that I'm so afraid to give up what I have, but right now I can't keep the things I have if I don't get into action. I ruined my opportunity at this. Not saying I can't rebuild again, just have to have the Courage and Patience to start over. At times I forget that patience is another key component me "Finding Courage.” It's not going to happen in an instant, it's going to take some time. Also making a decision and sticking to it is another thing I have to be conscious of. Making good decisions. I haven't had much luck with that in the past, but at least I'm aware of it. So today I take a leap of faith and open up to get over the hurdle that is causing me sleepless nights. Realizing that it's me that is the biggest hurdle that I must climb over is the one that is the toughest. I have to get out of my own way in order to get back on track. N o v 22 2 - -NSept o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 414 393 Aug 5, 22019 I have to say that nothing is impossible in my life today. I can do the things that I have been so scared to face. I have the Courage I have been looking for and I have the confidence in myself to see it thru til the end. To bring this to a close, I just want to say to anybody like myself who have found themselves in a situation in life that seems unbearable. Breathe and relax. If I can do it so can you. It will take some swallowing of Pride which was hard for me to do, but it has been worth the temporary pain that I was having. I can sleep today, I can hold my head up and look myself in the mirror and see a man who is not the person he once was. I am a new man. A man who has " Found Courage!!" Bobby Morris Contributing Writer The Birds Your Birds are amazing Dear Lord What a wonderful Sound to hear Your birds singing their beautiful songs from all around They all join in with their little tweets and churks The older birds work hard to help the little ones learn to grow teaching them how to join in on the songs The baby birds grow So many different types of birds Some red robins Some hummingbirds Some baby sparrows Some wild Some loud each bird is so precious with its own different style The birds learn to fly and soar high Kim Green ContributingWriter Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 25, - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0 414 18 Aug 223-|Sept | No. A New Beginning STREETVOICE God is good, not some of the time but all the time 24/7 I believe that be the reason we live on earth and god lives 13 Reality Tv Or Fantasy Land? What has become known as "Reality TV," Is quite far from the realities of you and me. in heaven You see beautiful women vying for a hubby, Looking back on my life and the so many changes that i And rich housewives who rarely are tubby. The show, The Apprentice, was quite unreal. went through Learning from repeated mistakes good and bad until i It turned a failed realtor into a very big deal. A more accurate label would be "Fantasy TV," With "distortion-warnings" for you and me. learned what to do Realizing today knowing what to do and how to do it plus BILL WOODS the method to use Contributing Writer I see now that having knowledge doesn't determine the route we choose I know now that everyday above ground is a day to take heed and learn I know now that my choices will determine whether i live with god or i burn When Trump read his teleprompter speech about the Dayton and El Paso tragedies, did you wonder why he mentioned Toledo? Today, knowing, understanding with the realization that yesterday is pasted Praying and hoping my words will linger in your memory making a change to last If you haven't paid attention to your life may you look back and see That a new beginning is what's up for the politicians and that includes you and me Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Poll Question By Bill Woods THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 107 Across 1. Passport endorsement 5. Take notice of 9. Bitter quarrel 13. Golf club 14. Notion 15. Pointer 17. Young male horse 18. Grime 19. Tenet 20. Heavy block where hot metals are shaped 22. Prejudice 24. Notable achievement 25. Cereal grass seed 26. Not in use 28. Pastry item 30. Color 31. Animal coat 32. Travel a route regularly 35. Modernize 38. Charter 39. Regret 40. Narrow secluded valley 41. Part of a journey 42. Scintilla 43. On the sheltered side 44. Something intended to deceive 46. Small storeroom for food 48. High-pitched bark 49. Peculiar 50. Pack of cards 51. Append 52. Conceited 53. Small fruit seed 56. Endure 59. Slender 61. Evade 63. Theatrical performer 65. In addition 67. Region 68. Musical instrument 69. Without speed 70. Approach 71. Sketched 72. Rational 73. Small wooded hollow PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #107 Down 1. Clergyman 2. Satire 3. Figure out 4. Not in favor of 5. Concealed 6. Comestible 7. Spooky 8. Information 9. Craze 10. Wear away 11. Exhort 12. Concave shape 16. Batch 21. Rhythmicity 23. Incite or stimulate 27. Scheduled to arrive 29. Anger 30. Prohibit 31. Mediterranean fruit 32. Poke 33. Stringed instrument 34. Period of time 35. Horrible 36. Supplication 37. Unfathomable 38. Jinx 41. Boy or man 42. Irritate 44. Brick carrier 45. Betting ratio 46. Hawaiian garland 47. Skin condition 50. Sweet dark purple plum 51. Make amends 52. Country house in ancient Rome 53. Food processed in a blender 54. Paragon 55. Sometimes found in an oyster 56. Circuit 57. Turns litmus paper red 58. Celestial body 60. Young girl 62. Bring ashore 64. Angry dispute 66. Be indebted to N o v 222 - N v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Aug - oSept 5,22019 No. 414 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 2- EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 1- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 ov 2 5, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 223 -| N Sept | No. 414 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NAug o v 222 - N- oSept v 19,5, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 2019 414 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 22-September 5, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Rejecting Title X Pg 3: Homeless in Trump’s America Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Could a National Buyback Program Reduce Gun Violence in America? Pg 6: A Deadly Disruption Pg 7: Cincinnati History in Perspective, Part I Pg 8: El Paso Attack Upends White Nationalist Normalization Plan Pg 9: El Paso Attack Upends White Nationalist Normalization Plan Continued Pg 10: Freedom, Money, Babies Pg 11: ‘We Will Become Homeless’ Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 22-September 5, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Lacy Wallace Peter Y. Sussman Felix Winternitz Nick Brown Dr. Mark Mussman Anuradha Nagaraj Roli Srivasta Carey L Biron Willa D. Jones Bobby Morris Kim Green INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Anuradha Nagaraj Bill Woods Bobby Morris Carey L Biron Cincinnati Donald Trump Dr. Mark Mussman El Paso Electric Scooters Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Gun Violence India INSP.com Kim Green Lacy Wallace Nick Brown Peter Y. Sussman Roli Srivasta Slavery Title X White Supremacy Willa D. Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/2b8492c1cdd5c7cbea6eab079b7bd687.pdf 11043f2a04646aac25b2984e2cb7c957 PDF Text Text A u g u s t 8 t h - A u g u s t 2 2 n d 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 6 ( N o . 4 1 3 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 413 393 Aug 8 -- NAug 22, 22019 From The Editor: White Supremacy and Gun Violence Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief O n August 3rd, 2019 a 21 year old white supremacy terrorist opened fire in El Paso, Texas killing 22 people and injuring several others. Since we as a country know this story far too well we started the cycle. A rush of fear as we read the news that soon becomes a prolonged simmering anxiety followed by “thoughts and prayers” posts on social media. The news commentators fight with other commentators about whether or not gun control is an appropriate topic to discuss so soon after a shooting. As a society our nerves are heightened, as individuals we sink deeper into our political ideology. But before we could move on to whatever our next phase in the cycle might be, we wake up to news of another shooting in Dayton, Ohio. Not a full day later, we are forced to mourn 9 more people killed by a violence obsessed man who shot 41 bullets in 30 seconds. Now with our fear doubled we must continue the following days hearing debates that we’ve heard before. Some debates we shouldn’t even be having anymore such as “is it too soon to talk about this?” This deadly weekend helped answer that question relatively quickly given the fact that it is obvious there isn’t enough time between massacres to “mourn and give thoughts and prayers.” On July 27th there was a shooting at a Brooklyn festival where according to NBC news “gunfire killed one person and wounded 11 others at a community festival” There was another shooting in July 29th in a Wisconsin neighborhood that ABC News reported left, “five people dead — including the suspected shooter — and two others injured.” We don’t have time between shootings to fully mourn as a country or as a society. Candice Keller, an Ohio Representative from the Republican Party was quick to voice her opinion on her personal Facebook page after the Dayton shooting. Keller, from Middletown Ohio (a 33 minute drive from Dayton), accused “the liberals” of playing the “blame game” after a shooting occurs. She claimed to know exactly the causes of these shootings, including the lgbtq community, peaceful protestors, immigrants, and anyone who isn’t a straight white red white and blue blooded American. In one swoop she offended practically every marginalized group and blamed them for crimes committed by white male americans. Keller is not a violence obsessed armed gunman, and because of her statements and her lack of physical violence she shows us a very important truth about America. White supremacy is not a radical ideology in the United States, it is as common and as American as apple pie. That is the problem. These aren’t uncommon ideas. We need a dramatic social shift, but that takes a lot of work between community members, and it takes a lot of time. This is why we simultaneously need gun control policy now. Like the Dayton community members said to the Ohio Governor, “do something.” We can’t sit through debates about who is to blame or what is wrong, we can do that as a community and as a society, what we need our elected officials to debate is what is going to go into the new policies. We need our local government to do something, our state government to do more, and our federal government to follow suit. We can’t stop the Candice Kellers of the world from spewing ignorant hateful ideology, but we can stop the 21 year olds that want to drive 9 hours to kill Latinos. With all this said, there is another conversation that needs to be had that seems inappropriate to have. When we see so much hate and violence every day we can start to deteriorate mentaly, but paradoxically trying to take time to take care of ourselves can seem selfish. We need to take care of ourselves as activists, as members of our community, and simply as human beings. In New York City on the night of August 6th, a dirt bike backfiring sent the entirety of Times Square in a panic. The pedestrians thought that there was an active shooter among them and they ran for their lives. There was no shooter, but as the New York Times put it: “the panic was still real.” This is evidence that America is traumatized. We need to acknowledge that even if we aren’t personally affected, it is normal to feel afraid. We, unfortunately, have every reason to be afraid. Hopefully our work to change policy will also ease our fear but we cannot do so if we ourselves are emotionally drained. We need to take time to take care of our well being so that we can keep fighting for a better America. Be kind to yourself, be kind to your neighbor, and try to find peace however you can. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Carey L. Biron, Rachel Savage, Rebecca Rosman, Nadia Kanji, Dr. Mark Mussman, Vassilis Triandafyllou, Lisa Mauch, Angela Hursh, Willa D. Jones, Kenneth Weartz, Andy Shenk, Kim Green ------------------------------------------- S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Photography/ Artwork: , Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 | Nov 22, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 8 3- Aug 2019 | No. 413 HOMELESSNESS 3 'Medical Respite' Offers A Place To Rest In U.s. Cities Battling Homelessness Carey L. Biron Reuters H enry Jones had been living on the streets of Washington, D.C. for more than a decade when his health finally started failing. Sick, suffering from alcoholism, and increasingly unable to walk, he sought to check into an emergency room in the US capital — but intake workers there refused to admit him, he said, because he did not have an acute condition. He was at risk of falling through a major hole in the social safety net. A case worker told him he could go to a shelter, where he could at least get a bed for a few nights. Or he could try another option: a small organisation that offered medical services to the homeless, as well as a place to simply rest. Jones went with the second option, an organisation called Christ House that gave him medical care and a bed to sleep in. Later, it helped him stop drinking, get a permanent home — and even a job. "Being on the street, people look down on you, thinking that's the way you're going to live the rest of your life," said Jones, who now works at Christ House. "And that's what makes Christ House much different from any other place: The people help you get back up on your feet," he said, sitting next to the showers that he oversees for use by homeless people. Founded in 1985, Christ House was one of the first places in the country to offer a service that is increasingly being embraced in cities nationwide: medical respite, or recuperative care, which seeks to fill a gap between what emergency rooms and shelters can provide. "This is a grey area: If you're housed, you'd be discharged from a hospital and given instructions to stay off your feet," said Julia Dobbins of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) umbrella group, which published standards on the issue in 2016. "But people without homes don't have a safe, clean place to recover, and that's a gap in care," she added. While homeless shelters exist across the United States, these typically close during the daytime, Dobbins said: "We criminalise homelessness in this country, so people can't lay around — they have to be up and moving." Respite facilities offer rest and recuperation, but also give workers a chance to see what support patients A medical worker checks out a resident at Christ House in Washington, D.C., in March 2019. Handout photo courtesy of Vincent Hunter photography might qualify for, connect them to other services, and generally offer them "time to think about what is the next step in their life," she said. Complicated cases Christ House said it is an unusually expansive operation, offering 24-hour medical care, housing and more. Medical director and co-founder Janelle Goetcheus recalled one resident last year who before coming to the centre had been living on a park bench near a local hospital — and going back and forth for cancer radiation treatment. Christ House gave the man a place to stay during his treatment and facilitated his trips to the hospital. Some patients' needs are straightforward, said Goetcheus: for instance, a woman has surgery on her leg and needs a place to mend for a few weeks, the type of rest she would not be able to get at a shelter or on the street. Other cases are far more complicated, involving multiple acute and chronic illnesses and mental health problems, often exacerbated by years of sleeping rough, substance abuse and lack of medical attention. Goetcheus said that since the early days when Henry Jones came to the organisation, the health problems plaguing Washington's homeless population have worsened. This is particularly true for the increasing numbers of homeless elderly people, those with mental health problems and undocumented migrants, for whom complex medical care is often impossible, she added. "For the hospitals, there is a lot of pressure to have very discreet (specific) admissions for acute medical needs and then get people discharged," she said. "So more people are ending up on the street. Struggle for funding Medical respite programmes have grown by about a third since 2012, going from 60 to 80 initiatives nationwide, according to the NHCHC. Yet nationally, programmes vary widely, with little agreement even on what medical respite means, although that is starting to change. But there is growing consensus among researchers that the approach appears to offer significant cost savings for hospital systems and public coffers. In one 2018 study, researchers with Brandeis University in Massachusetts found that respite programmes could save several thousands of dollars per hospital patient by cutting down on expensive readmissions. As yet, however, long-term funding remains the single biggest obstacle for respite programmes, according to health and homelessness experts. Most respite projects have an THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED average of three funders, said Dobbins, and the vast majority of respite centres are unable to bill the federal government as medical providers, so they depend on philanthropy and a patchwork of public and other funding sources. Sean Barry, a spokesman for the American Hospital Association, said the industry group does not have a public stance on medical respite, but noted it has referenced "improved care transitions and reduced readmissions" as two benefits of such programmes. The federal government does support respite programmes, to some extent. A spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said that although respite programmes are not covered as a matter of course, states can apply for federal assistance under Medicaid - a joint federal and state health program for the poor - on a case-by-case basis. ‘Really difficult place’ Interest in respite is growing significantly, said Dobbins, whose office oversees a respite network of more than 1,000 members, up from 840 in 2015. A respite initiative at Portland's Central City Concern, a non-profit, will soon include a specific focus on mental health — a factor that is largely missing among respite programmes, Dobbins said. Central City Concern, which has been running a respite care project since 2005, will seek to take in patients who have been newly discharged from psychiatric hospitals. But a coordinator stressed that mental health inevitably underpins their work anyway. "Anywhere there's homelessness, we should be expecting there is need for mental health support," said Jordan Wilhelms, a programme manager with Central City Concern. The vast majority of the organisation's patients have mental health issues, often undiagnosed, Wilhelms said. "We're looking to catch folks at a really difficult place in their life" and help them start to make progress toward their own goals, he added, which are usually finding housing, treatment and a community. "And without a layer of access to mental health support, those things are pretty well undercut," Wilhelms said. Ultimately, he said, the new mental health focus will be another opportunity to make connections with people who do not have many in their lives. "That's part of the magic" of the respite approach, he said. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT Tours focus on the historical and contemporary struggles and successes of the Overthe-Rhine Peoples' Movement. Learn what gentrification looks like and how displacement affects community members. NAug ov 28 - -NAug o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 22,2 2019 413 Social Justice Walking Tours Cost: $80/Group (max 20 in each group). Sign up today: https://cincihomeless.org/ please-register-youreducation-event-here/ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 3983-|Aug Nov 222, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug | No. 413 U.S NEWS 5 Lgbt+ Women Footballers Score As Male Players Fear To Come Out Rachel Savage and Rebecca Rosman W Reuters hen 'The Gay Footballer' tweeted, "I am a proud gay man" in early July, it seemed the 29-year wait for a top tier male player to come out publicly would soon be over. But the @FootballerGay account, which amassed 50,000 followers, was deleted last week after its anonymous owner, who claimed to be a Championship player - English football's second division - tweeted, "I'm not strong enough to do this." Real or not, the episode stood in stark contrast to the dozens of openly lesbian and bisexual female players who took to the pitch during the Women's World Cup, led proudly by the United States' winning captain Megan Rapinoe. After the team's 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final this month, Rapinoe tweeted, "Science is science. Gays rule," alongside a photo of her celebrating with teammates Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, who are engaged to each other. "I think homophobia comes from sexism," said Joanna Lohman, who played nine times for the U.S. women's national team. "Gay men have the stereotype of being more effeminate so ... (that) goes against the stereotype (of) what a male athlete should be. "Sportswomen are already viewed as more masculine," said Lohman, 37, who is openly lesbian and retired from professional football earlier this year. "So coming out as gay as a woman isn't necessarily going against the stereotype of gender roles." Discrimination People involved in men's football said it has never been more ready for a high profile player to come out. Justin Fashanu, England's first - and only openly gay player, went public about his sexuality in 1990. He died by suicide in 1998. In June, Andy Brennan became Australia's first professional male footballer to come out while still playing, after now-retired U.S. trailblazer Robbie Rogers did so in 2013. In Germany, Thomas Hitzlsperger, now VfB Stuttgart's head of sport, was the first star to come out, one year after retiring. "Homosexuality in football is something that continues to really bother people," said Yoann Lemaire who was physically attacked and received death threats as the first openly gay player in his French amateur football league back in 2003. "(Professional football players) are advised to avoid talking about homosexuality," said Lemaire, who in 2017 founded Football Ensemble, a group that works with students across France to break down stereotypes about gay people. The support shown for 'The Gay Footballer' was a positive development, whether he was real or not, said Eric Najib, manager of Stonewall FC, an LGBT+ club founded in 1991. "(But) if this is a genuine footballer who wanted to come out and felt at women's after transitioning gender. "There's a lot more emphasis on the social side in the women's game," Hamilton said. "Whereas in the men's game, it's so focused on winning I feel like that takes over everything." But Jim Hearson, a player with LGBT-friendly team London Titans, said men's football is becoming more accepting. "In terms of players, I don't think in the men's game, when evidence suggests they are "overwhelmingly supportive," said Rory Magrath, an expert on football at England's Solent University. But homophobic abuse can still be heard in stadiums around Europe. In March, France's Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu expressed shock after hearing multiple such chants during a game between Paris Saint- Keegan, 8, who identifies as gender creative, drag name Kween-Kee-Kee, poses for a photograph after completing his first drag performance during the Austin International Drag Festival 2018 near Austin, Texas, U.S., November, 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amanda Voisard the last minute unable to do so, for whatever reason, it's an indictment of where the national game is," he said. A spokesman for England's governing Football Association (FA) said it is committed to tackling all forms of discrimination and "to help create a safe and comfortable environment for any player to come out, if they wish." Sexism Female players said going against gender stereotypes by playing a traditionally male sport fosters a more inclusive atmosphere among women. "All women of my generation, and earlier, who play football have had to be brave in learning to defy sexism and what others in society think of them," said Becca Hirst, 23, who plays for London's Leyton Orient. "That creates a sense of solidarity and perhaps ... a more understanding culture around not subscribing to traditional prejudices about sexuality." Blair Hamilton started out playing for Aberdeen University's men's football team, and switched to the it's a dressing room issue at all these days," he said. Bigger problems, he said, are the larger financial stakes and public spotlight at the top of the game, as well as the perception that club chairmen and owners from countries with homophobic laws may take issue with an LGBT+ player, meaning an openly gay footballer may have more to lose by coming out. FIFA, which runs the World Cup, has come under fire for awarding the 2018 men's competition to Russia - where it is illegal to spread "gay propaganda" to children - and to Qatar, where gay sex is outlawed, for 2022. "FIFA is committed to ensuring that everyone will be welcome, to building bridges of cultural understanding and to creating an inclusive experience for all participants ... including from the LGBTI+ community," a spokesman said by email. Chants Football fans are often "treated as a scapegoat" for anti-LGBT+ sentiment THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Germain and Marseille. The French Football League issued a 50,000 euro ($55,700) fine against second division club Lens in May after its fans made homophobic chants against a rival team. LGBT+ female players are not safe from bigotry either. "I seem to offend people by the way I look, presenting as a masculine woman with a mohawk," said the U.S.'s Lohman. But the confidence of the openly lesbian and bisexual players at the Women's World Cup appears to herald change. "I was absolutely buzzing," said Hirst of Leyton Orient. "Growing up, we are starved of LGBT+ representation and seek it out where we can for validation and comfort. So to feel as if you belong naturally in a space is so important." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation �GLOBAL 6 NAug ov 2 8 - -NAug o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 22,2 02019 413 Hidden In Plain Sight: Sex Trafficking In Canada Nadia Kanji Inter Press Service H uman trafficking for sexual exploitation has been steadily increasing in Canada. The most recent statistics indicate that 2016 had the highest recorded rate of human trafficking, with one police-reported incident for every 100,000 people in Canada. Despite these staggering numbers, reported cases make up just a small part of a larger, secretive industry where most incidents of sex trafficking fall under the radar. The effects of this are relatable for Rhonelle Bruder who, after facing discrimination and bullying in her small hometown outside of Toronto, Ontario, decided to drop out of high school and move to the city. When she ran out of money, she started living in youth shelters and was later on introduced to a man who would become her trafficker. Bruder explained that initially he was kind and attentive, and provided her with a sense of belonging. When the conversation came up about how she could make money to get back on her feet, he told her she would be able to buy a condo and travel if she danced for just a couple of months. “He was pitching a dream; a dream I was desperate to believe because the reality of my life was unbearable. I was willing to believe almost anything he said because he provided me with both a sense of belonging and was a protective figure in my life,” she said. Once women are trafficked, pimps typically enforce a debt trap, telling girls and women that they need to pay off their debt to them for things like entering the country or paying for motels. This was true for Timea Nagy, another survivor of this industry. At the young age of 20, while living in poverty in Hungary and facing a large amount of debt, Nagy responded to an advertisement in the newspaper to work as a babysitter in Canada. What looked like a legitimate recruitment agency was, in fact, a way to lure her into the sex industry against her consent. “We were starved, sleep deprived, and threatened constantly,” she states in her newly-released memoir Out of The Shadows. Nagy also states that she was frequently sexually assaulted until she managed to escape with the help of two people at the club where she worked. Her trafficker was eventually charged with sexual assault but was found not guilty. Law Enforcement Nagy, now a social advocate who works to bring about changes in the Canadian Justice System around human trafficking, says that law enforcement is more lax in Canada compared to the United States. Convicted traffickers in the US are given 155-year sentences, whereas in Canada, traffickers will get an eight-year sentence at the most for the same crime. Human trafficking is currently the third-largest crime in the world. Both Nagy and Bruder state that there is too much of a focus on law MeetMe are new recruiting grounds for traffickers. “Young people post everything about their lives online, so it’s not hard for traffickers to identify the most vulnerable victims and begin the grooming process,” she said. First Nations Women and Girls This is especially true for Indigenous youth in Canada, where there exists a colonial legacy of separating First Nations children from their families they make up only four percent of the population. “The focus needs to be on accessible services for Indigenous women and girls, with Indigenous-led community services,” Finestone said. “We cannot forget the feminisation and radicalisation of poverty [and how it intersects with this issue]. People need more choices to earn an income.” Other efforts have focused on providing resources to front line service Photo by Dmitry Schemelev on Unsplash enforcement to deal with this issue, and not enough on preventative measures and reforming services in vulnerable communities. “A lot of the focus is on helping survivors which is important. But we also need to be educating young people so that they aren’t vulnerable to traffickers,” said Bruder. “Had there been someone to talk to, or if I had guidance, maybe I wouldn’t have left home. There needs to be interventions in young people’s lives before they go down these paths.” Many pointed to the child welfare system as being one of the most targeted places for sex traffickers. “The child welfare system is a trafficker’s Costco,” said Nagy told. “They know where the group homes are and that children don’t feel welcome. No one reaches out to them the way pimps do.” Traffickers typically wait outside of youth shelters and target them as soon as they age out of the child welfare system, knowing that they are often vulnerable. Seventy-two per cent of trafficked victims in Canada are under the age of 25, and 51 per cent of trafficked girls have been involved in the child welfare system. Bruder added that social media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat, and and placing them in residential schools to forcibly assimilate them into a settler culture. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged and apologised for this cultural genocide, but a closer look reveals that this has taken on a new form. “There are currently more Indigenous children in the welfare system than there were in residential schools,” said Elana Finestone of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. “These are the intergenerational effects of residential schools, [basically] colonialism passed on through generations,” she said. Traffickers target First Nations youth in this way, by waiting outside shelters and nearby bus stops. Finestone added that First Nations’ communities are often over policed and under protected. “If women report physical violence, the police might not take it seriously, assuming they are homeless and alone and no one cares.” Canada’s National Inquiry to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women was released this past June and demonstrates the disproportionate impact of human trafficking on Indigenous youth. In 2016, nearly half of the trafficking victims were Indigenous women and girls, although THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED providers. The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking launched a multilingual hotline for trafficking victims across Canada this past May. The centre’s CEO Barbara Gosse said law enforcement is currently maxed out on this issue and underresourced, which needs to change. The hotline, which is strictly confidential, was created to collect data on the incidence of human trafficking in Canada and assist victims and survivors with a localised response. Moving Forward Through therapy, meditation, and mindfulness, Bruder says she is finally able to speak out about her experience. She is the founder of a grassroots organisation called the RISE Initiative which supports at-risk youth. Nagy worked as a mobile care worker for six years with Walk With Me Canada Victim Services to help law enforcement approach victims. She left that position and is now focused on rehabilitation of survivors through a social enterprise called Timea’s Cause. She believes there needs to be a national trauma-informed employment program for survivors. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �NAug o. 398 3 -| Aug Nov 222, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 413 GLOBAL 7 A Year Since Greece's Deadliest Wildfire, Wounds Remain Open Vassilis Triandafyllou Reuters A year since Greece's deadliest wildfire tore through coastal towns near Athens, killing 102 people, the road to normalcy for its survivors is long and dotted with burned down homes and barren land. On the side of one street, a giant white cross rises among black and wilting pine trees. "In memoriam 23-718," it reads. The resort town of Mati, a wooded area overlooking the sparkling sea east of the capital, was popular with pensioners and children at summer camps. On 23 July, 2018, a fire tore through it, killing people in their homes or cars and forcing others to jump off cliffs or into the sea. On the first anniversary of the disaster, it resembles a ghost town. A seaside cafe once humming with beach-goers is now empty, its charred tables and chairs long cleared away. A dry, golden thistle bush has grown outside a home where, a year ago, fresh flowers hung in memory of those who died there. Elsewhere, one house has a new roof and freshly painted walls, but stands desolate on a patch of scorched land. "It was hell. We couldn't do anything," Panagiotis Fragos, a Mati resident, said during a memorial service for the victims, recalling the night of the blaze. "I cry all the time since then. It would have been better if I had also died, if I had come to an end," he said. Across Mati, what used to be a pine forest has been reduced to tall piles of charred tree trunks. A plot of land where 26 people were found dead, some locked in a tight embrace as the flames closed in, has been cleared of any semblance of life. "It is very difficult to go on, day by day," said Giorgos Kariris, whose wife died in the fire. "It is very difficult for me and for others to wake up in the morning and not have the person you existed with in life - your child, your mother, your father - to embrace, to kiss," he said. "It cannot be described." Twenty people, including former and current regional and local officials, have been charged over the wildfire, including with involuntary manslaughter and causing bodily harm due to neglect. The previous government attributed the fire to arson and dismissed accusations it failed to evacuate residents in time. The newlyelected government has announced a series of relief-measures for the survivors. At the memorial on Sunday, where white roses were tossed into the sea, survivors said they were still waiting for permits and compensation to begin rebuilding their lives. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo A combination picture shows a burnt slope following a wildfire that killed 102 people in 2018, July 24, 2018 (L) and the same slope a year later in the village of Mati, near Athens, Greece, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis A combination picture shows an electricity pole standing among burnt trees following a wildfire that killed 102 people in 2018, July 25, 2018 (L), and newly grown bushes on the same slope in Neos Voutzas, near Athens, Greece, July 22, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �FEATURED 8 NAug o v 28- -N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 Aug 22,22019 No. 413 Double Stadards Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer T hrough phrases like “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” and “Treat others how you would want to be treated,” we may be taught at an early age that judging people is wrong. When it comes to homelessness and poverty, the judgements are often part of mainstream American culture as well. Stereotypes of laziness, dirty, drug addicted, mentally ill, and uneducated people are often weaponized against people in poverty, as well as people from particular neighborhoods or regions. Appalachian people are characterized as poor even though their labor and resources continue to be exploited. Black communities are at a decidedly large disadvantage and portrayed as lazy and incapable, even before birth, yet our country’s wealth was literally built from the labor of Black people who were enslaved for hundreds of years. The stereotypes not only mischaracterize whole groups of people, but they say more about the people who hold them in their heads than anything else. The Homeless Coalition’s Education Program offers a series of events and activities to break down stereotypes and to instill an understanding of homelessness. We do this because a better informed public is more able and willing to fight injustice, such as the criminalization of homelessness, with the information and experience they gain through our programs. We have been working with schools, community groups, churches, and others to help gain a firm understanding of the issues facing the people experiencing are equipped with a pitch and they are able to go into the streets to try to distribute the paper. As a controlled panhandling experience, participants homelssness and our responsibility as active citizens. The issue of Double Standards came up again last week, and it is worth examining it further. During a Streetvibes Shadow Activity, where a Streetvibes Distributor (in this case, Lee McCoy) tells the group witness many things, including people ignoring them as they walk by. Last week, one of the youth was convinced that a businessman, who said he had no money to donate, was lying to him. As the youth was telling the story, he quickly said, “but it’s ok, because he homelessness who fly a sign and panhandle, who, by and large, are accused of lying about their need, their use of the money received, even if they are actually experiencing homelessness. The student quickly excused the businessman for lying, so why do we hold other people to a higher standard, especially when they have less resources to uphold the standard? Hearing from our Speakers, like Cleo, Sam, Willa, and Melissa, you can see how double standards created difficult circumstances in their lives. When you are being put in a box by society even when you try so hard to break out, the notion of becoming your true authentic self is challenged by people around you that are judging you for your past, rather than your current work. The work ethic of each of the Speakers during their homelessness was far greater than what someone who inherits their wealth is likely to pursue. Just trying to figure out where to sleep, bath, eat, or get work requires a severely high level of commitment and hustle. Yet, people experiencing homelessess are routinely judged as lazy, even though most men experiencing homelessness have a job - the wages are too low to sustain a high standard of living. On our walking tours, we see Double Standards in action where fancy restaurants are able to take half of the sidewalk for outdoor seating. The permanent barriers are required for alcohol sales and consumption on the sidewalk. A person works a hard day about themselves, Streetvibes, the program’s values, and the City’s AntiSolicitation Ordinance, participants was in a hurry anyway,” which made me question the double standard that we have regarding people experiencing and then wants to relax with a beer, if they can afford to do it in their home or get a craft brew at a fancy restaurant, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 Nov 2 - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 83- |Aug 22, | No. 413 they can do it on the sidewalk. But if they are experiencing homelessness and sitting on a stoop, they could be criminalized for that. The same double standard is seen in Washington Park, which has a liquor license and several craft beers from which to choose. If you bring in a bagged beer from the store, you may be hassled or fined for bringing it into the park. Is this Double Standard fair and just? People often wrongly believe that drug addiction and mental illness are the main causes of homelessness. This FEATURED enables us to feel better about society’s failures, and our desire to not help people. What is even worse is that drug addiction and mental illness are not the fault of the individual who is suffering, so even if these were the causes of homelessness, more compassion, not a turned back are what would be needed. Since homelessness is a result of policy decision about housing, wages, and civil rights, we need to seek justice in these areas, rather than focusing on what an individual experiencing homelessness can do to change their current condition. Drug addiction and mental illness are often caused by homelessness, so we need to expand our rapid rehousing programs along with affordable housing, livable wages, and housing protections to reduce homelessness in our region. While it may be easy for us to judge in our society, we must remember to move past the Golden Rule, which I cited above, and move to the Platinum Rule: "Do unto others as they would have you do unto them, not as you would have them do unto you." We THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 can’t just rely on our own values to craft how we interact with the world we must ascertain and use the wishes and values of others to create a world in which everyone is valued, regardless of our own personal worldview. In that world, the Double Standards fade to the back, and we are able to see people as who they are, not what they represent to us. If you are interested in participating in any of our education programs, or if you’d like more information, please visit our webpage: cincihomeless.org �10 Aug 8 - Aug 22, 2019 | No. 413 LOCAL Community Action Agency Partner With Library N o v 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 | N o . 393 Lisa Mauch Angela Hursh C Contributing Writer incinnati and Hamilton County are in the midst of an eviction crisis. There are more than 12,000 evictions a year in Hamilton County, a rate of eviction 34 percent higher than the national average. Legal Aid and Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency have created a new program designed to mitigate this crisis. The goal is to keep families stable in their homes by preventing evictions. The Eviction Prevention Assistance Program is conducting a series of information sessions on renters’ rights and options. The first of these information sessions takes place 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at the Miami Township Library, 8 North Miami Ave., Cleves. The next session is 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the Norwood YMCA, 2039 Sherman Ave. Advocates from Legal Aid and Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency help low-income renters, who are worried about potential eviction, understand and access the resources available to them. Through the Eviction Prevention Assistance Program, eligible renters, who are behind on their rent but are able to pay the rent going forward, may receive emergency cash assistance to bring them current. Renters may also be eligible for free legal representation by Legal Aid. ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY Founded in 1964 by the late Theodore Berry, Sr., CAA is a private non- profit organization that offers various services to low-income individuals and families. The organization was created as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s historic “War on Poverty.” For more information, call us at 513-516-1966 or visit www.cincy-caa.org ABOUT THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF GREATER CINCINNATI Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, and affiliates, are nonprofit law firms dedicated to reducing poverty and ensuring family stability through civil legal assistance. They assist lowincome families and individuals in seven Southwest Ohio counties: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland and Warren. Legal Aid is located at the Donald P. Klekamp Community Law Center Building at 215 E. Ninth Street, Suite 200, Cincinnati, OH, 45202. Visit www.LAScinti.org or call 513-241-9400. ABOUT THE YMCA OF GREATER CINCINNATI is one of the area’s leading nonprofits focused on engaging individuals and families in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The YMCA ensures these opportunities are available to everyone no matter their ability to pay, with generous support from community partners and donors. The Y strives to help members achieve goals, make friends and find a true place of belonging. The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati operates 13 membership branches, the Melrose Impact Center, an overnight camp and 80 early childhood learning centers across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. For more information, visit MyY.org. Photographs From Protest Against Concentration Camps on the Border Kenneth Weartz Contributing Photographer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 Nov 2 - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 83- |Aug 22, | No. 413 11 LOCAL Compiling A Laundry List Of Critical Issues Bill Woods Contributing Writer A ugust is here, and it's all too easy to succumb to the summer doldrums. One way to shock oneself from falling prey to this lull is to compile a list of critical problems that need to be addressed. Here then is a laundry list of important issues that continue to confront us locally and nationally. The issue that haunts groups such as Advocates for Affordable Housing and the Homeless Coalition is the affordable housing shortage of 40,000 units that exists in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. This shortage has expanded over the years due to major cuts in the budget for federal housing programs and trends such as displacing low-income residents from gentrified neighborhoods. AHA and the Coalition developed a plan for an affordable housing trust fund and then convinced Council last year to establish it, but at this juncture it lacks an adequate funding base. The next step in the coming months is securing a large and steady source of revenue either through legislation or a grassroots ballot initiative. Related issues are growing poverty, insufficient wages for many individuals and families that keep them on the edge of poverty, and the extreme income inequality that now exists locally and nationally. The slow and steady shredding of safety net programs and services by Congress and the Ohio General Assembly over the years is one major cause for these human dilemmas. The current Administration continues this trend with efforts to cut thousands of people off the Food Stamp rolls, while it touts the huge corporate tax cuts that were enacted over a year ago. Activists need to continue to fight these cuts and advocate for creative new assistance measures. Protecting the environment looms as an issue that needs immediate attention, but the monumental impact of global climate change often causes us to just throw up our hands in despair. Furthermore, the Trump Administration continues to weaken environmental regulations dealing with air, water, and land pollution, while it slowly dismantles the Environmental Protection Agency. Beyond striving to encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to do what it can to stop this Administrative assault, it is difficult to pinpoint the best immediate steps for citizens to take. A conversation with David Altman, a noted environmental attorney, reveals that there are some steps that can be taken locally. He noted that City Council passed an ordinance several years ago aimed at protecting neighborhoods from various forms of pollution, but that this law has never been implemented or funded. This area's Sierra Club also needs members and supporters as it takes on polluters that create health hazards for citizens living in various communities. This same grassroots vigilance is needed to fight anti-environmental legislation proposed by the Ohio General Assembly. The emergence of virulent racism and the plight of immigrant families and individuals also call out for public involvement. Individual participation is probably most effective when people become involved with local organizations and coalitions that are already working on these issues. For instance, the Greater Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center is a good contact for someone concerned about immigrant rights. A topic that must be included in this laundry list is political reform. A major reason why so many critical issues confront us today is the fact that government at all levels isn't functioning very well. This unhealthy state of our democracy can be directly linked to practices that the economic and political establishment utilize to control the system such as gerrymandered districts and huge campaign contributions. "Big money" has become more and more of a driving force in our political process, and it leaves average citizens believing that their voices aren't heard and that elections are bought. Reformers at the local, state, and national levels must coalesce and work doubly hard to take back the system. Although in Ohio and several other states progress has been made in curbing gerrymandering, the Supreme Court has made reform extremely difficult especially in terms of addressing the crisis of big money in political campaigns. By equating campaign contributions with free speech, the Court has weakened the voices of average citizens while making dominate the speech of wealthy contributors. Campaign reform initiatives are daunting, but activists need to work with groups like Common Cause and the League of Women Voters in order to make government again work for "we the people." One issue that has recently been added to the laundry lists of a number of activists is the problem of how to make local governments more involved in the crises such as poverty that exist in their communities. Many of the current safety net issues and the affordable housing crisis stem from the loss of state and especially federal funds. City governments have been accustomed over the years to expect the federal government to pay for these programs and services. Thus they have focused on basic services like police and fire while emphasizing local tax cuts or tax abatements to developers. Most current public policy assessments would warn not to expect a sudden turn around in federal domestic spending. If this is the case, then it behooves activists to convince local elected officials to begin taking on some of the local issues that they have formerly left as the responsibility of federal agencies. Such advocacy will also require helping these officials get beyond the mantra of "no new taxes." Here in Cincinnati, the first battle in this campaign is winning adequate funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This article represents a first crack at putting together a laundry list of critical issues. Obviously other important issues exist and deserve our attention. Nevertheless, this list should prevent us from succumbing to the summer doldrums. Why SORTA Needs To Put Metro On The Ballot Andy Shenk Contributing Writer O n Tuesday, September 17, SORTA (Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority), which oversees Metro bus service, will vote on whether or not to pursue a transit levy in 2020. This decision has been a long time coming. Cincinnati has not gone to the polls for transit since the ill-fated Metro Moves campaign in 2002 and has never approved a ballot measure for transit since bus service became a public enterprise in the early 1970s. Despite tremendous cuts to service and fare increases in recent decades, there has been almost no effort from elected or civic leaders to address the city’s lackluster public transportation. The Better Bus Coalition, founded in spring 2017, has worked hard to address that apathy. We have shown up to public SORTA board meetings, built benches for bus riders, introduced a bus-only lane downtown and helped ensure regular media coverage of SORTA’s chronic (and growing) budget shortfalls. Riding the bus in Cincinnati is not easy. My partner and I and now our one-year old rely almost exclusively on the bus to get around, as do thousands of other households in the city and county. Too often, buses are late, run infrequently, or simply suspend service on the weekends. There are no all-night buses for people who work late (or very early). Bus stops, even in the heart of the city, rarely feature benches or shelters and we know how fickle Cincinnati weather can be. A few days ago, I wanted to take my son on a little excursion on the 21. Waiting at a stop downtown (Race and 4th) with two other people, the bus inexplicably blew past us, turning left on Race before circling around to Elm via 3rd. We never had a chance to board. These are the types of things that happen far too often, making Cincinnatians late to work, school, daycare, and all of the important things we do on a daily basis. Everyone who rides the bus has a dozen stories or more just like this one. Why? Because Cincinnati has a long legacy of neglecting public transportation. Let me be clear, the Better Bus Coalition staunchly supports the bus drivers and hard-working employees that keep our patchwork system stitched together. When I missed the 21, the driver was almost certainly following instructions from a dispatcher. The oversight was not sending someone out earlier to tape a notice that the stop had been moved (at least temporarily). These are the kinds of mistakes that happen when you fail to provide proper funding for a bus system. Positions go unfilled, buses break down, and riders are left stranded on hot summer afternoons. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Fixing a bus system is not easy. It takes hard work from advocates to keep the pressure on our elected officials and a shift in civic thinking to stop treating buses as a necessary evil and instead respect them as an asset in the effort to build an equitable, accessible, and thriving city. The SORTA Board meeting on September 17 is an important step in this process. The Board, which features seven city appointees and six county appointees, has been notoriously reluctant to put a tax measure on the ballot, even as deficits balloon. If SORTA doesn’t act now, the entire system could collapse due to higher fares and further reduced service. The meeting is at 6:00 pm, September 17 in the SORTA offices at 602 Main St, 11th Floor. The Better Bus Coalition encourages everyone who is able to attend and voice your support for public transportation and the thousands of Cincinnatians who rely on the bus every day. �12 Deep Sea There's a story to be told about the Deep Sea and the Ocean's Roar Many treasures were lost in the sea far down below the Ocean's floor where there is no Sun just water below the surface of the ground But traveling Deeper STREETVOICE Nov 2 N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 413 393 Aug 8 -- Aug 22, 22019 in is Green and Brown If youlisten to the underground Below you can hear the waves as they roll Are their Mermaids in the Ocean's Sea or maybe an Old wise tale let not to go free You have to travel Deep when you're in the Sea Just be Prepared for what you might see Kim Green ContributingWriter Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov22, 2 - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0413 18 Aug 8 -3 Aug | No. REMEMBERING Do you ever think of the days of the past? Do you ever think those being the good days, why they couldn’t last? Remembering when we were children doing everything our elders said THE RACIST TWEETS MOTHER GOOSE Citizen Simon met a newsman Who asked him for his views. Said citizen Simon to the newsman: "Trump's tweets give me the blues. Remembering eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and even He uses them to defame and bully, But now they've sunk to the basest. what time it was for bed As time passed some of us traded going to church for drinking beer and wine Some of us grew up and changed so fast that we just Trump's recent words show us fully, Our President is a racist." BILL WOODS Contributing Writer simply ignored the signs As time passed everything changed all the rules even people, places and things But time goes on carrying us with it, and we know it can’t end until the fat lady sings! So we keep going on trying to keep up with time and loosing our sense of being free Today we never forget to lock all door, windows and try When you listened to Robert Mueller Testify before congress, did you think to yourself “this guy is too fair and decent to be a civil servant in the Trump era?” never to go out alone, you see! So much robbing, backstabbing, shortchanging and all of the senseless killings I love to let my mind drift to the past because the present is so hard dealing! So for me taking my memories back as far as I can Keep me in tune and my eyes open to the future as I pray for people all over God’s land! Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Poll Question By Bill Woods THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 107 Across Down 1. Stalk 1. Male red deer 5. Possessed 2. Long hollow cylinder 8. Scorch 3. Panache 12. Bulbous plant 4. Stingy hoarder 14. Female animal 5. Part of a shoe 15. Desire 6. Veneration 16. Humiliate 7. Style of glazed 17. Snakelike fish earthenware 18. Building offering lodging 8. Black bird and meals 9. Detest 19. High ranking officer 10. Report or maintain 21. Ornate manner of speaking 11. Depend 23. Relieve from 13. Danger 24. Rapid active commotion 15. Part of a song 25. Mediterranean fruit tree 20. Worship 28. Deposit of valuable ore 22. Illuminated 30. Disorderly fighting 24. Sultry 35. Part of the eye 25. Number one 37. Let for money 26. Very angry 39. Beauty shop 27. Presumption 40. Rant 29. Depression in a surface 41. Come after 31. Grains of rock or coral 43. Small semi-aquatic 32. Slumber salamander 33. Further down 44. Warhorse 34. Way in 46. Change direction 36. Outstanding tournament 47. Cervid player 48. Bid 38. Divot 50. A great distance 42. Represent as if in 52. Inquire in a meddlesome a play way 45. Ten years 53. A small compartment 49. Color 55. Crib 51. Cook by dry heat 57. Bluster in an oven 61. Steadfast 54. Venue 65. Speedy 56. Private instructor 66. Actor's prompt 57. Boast 68. Took without consent 58. Complain bitterly 69. Part of a church 59. Part of a church 70. Employ 60. Despicable 71. Sum 61. Ooze 72. Mirth 62. Short letter 73. Deplete 63. Group related by 74. Rip blood or marriage N o v 28--N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Aug Aug 22,22019 No. 413 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 2- EASY 64. Contained 67. Country, initially PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #107 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 1- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 83- |Aug 22, 2019 | No. 413 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NAug o v 2 8- -NAug o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 22,22019 413 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 8-August 22, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: White Supremacy and Gun Violence Pg 3: ‘Medical Respite’ Offers a Place to Rest in U.S. Cities Battling Homelessness Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: LGBT+ Women Footballers Score as Male Players Fear to Come Out Pg 6: Hidden in Plain Sight Pg 7: A Year Since Greece’s Deadliest Wildfire, Wounds Remain Open Pg 8: Double Standards Pg 9: Double Standard Continued Pg 10: Community Action Agency Partner with Library Pg 11: Compiling a Laundry List of Critical Issues Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 8-August 22, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Carey L. Biron Rachel Savage Rebecca Rosman Nadia Kanji Dr. Mark Mussman Vassilis Triandafyllou Lisa Mauch Angela Hursh Willa D. Jones Kenneth Weartz Andy Shenk INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Shenk Angela Hursh Bill Woods Canada Carey L. Biron Concentration Camps Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez Greece Gun Violence INSP.com Kenneth Weartz LGBTQ+ Lisa Mauch Metro Nadia Kanji Photography Protests Rachel Savage Rebecca Rosman Sex Trafficking Vassilis Triandafyllou White Supremacy Willa D. Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/befa66a5da07a5cb4dbe96ed158fd24e.pdf a2dcc39eeb738117ace9f061a9b4caa2 PDF Text Text D e c e m b e r 1 2 t h - D e c e m b e r 2 6 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 2 4 ( N o . 4 2 2 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. LOOK BACK AT 2019 Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 12 2 - -NDec o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Dec 26,22019 No. 422 From The Editor: Articles Of Impeachment Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief O n Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the house judiciary committee presented two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump. The articles called for President Trump to be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. The first article states, “Donald J. Trump has abused the power of the presidency,” specifically stating, “ using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States presidential election.” Before the first article comes to a close it goes on to say, “ where for President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law.“ The second article goes on to accuse the president of “obstruction of congress”. It states, “Donald J. Trump has directed the unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by the house of representatives pursuant to its ‘sole power of impeachment.’” The second article continues by saying, “In response, without lawful cars or excuse, President Trump directed executive branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President Trump thus interpose the powers of the presidency against lawful subpoenas of the house of representatives and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to exercise of the “sole power of impeachment” vested by the constitution in the House of Representatives. in response, without lawful cars or excuse, President Trump directed executive branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President Trump thus interposed the powers of the presidency against lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the ‘sole power of impeachment’ vested by the constitution in the House of Representatives.” The articles end by saying, “ President Trump does warrant impeachment and trial, removal of authors, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States. Now President Trump is headed to the third step of impeachment: the house of representatives vote. Hear the house of representatives will vote to impeach the president; if the vote is “yes“ with a simple majority, then the president is officially impeached. However, this does not mean that his term is finished. The last and final step is the Senate trial, where there is a supermajority vote (67% vote yes) needed to convict and remove the president from office. The Senate will act as a jury and listen to evidence and cases presented by those in favor of removal and those defending the president. The Senate has never in the history of the United States voted to remove a sitting president. For historical references, President Andrew Johnson and President Clinton both were impeached by the House of Representatives but were acquitted by the Senate. President Nixon resigned before the Senate could even vote. President Johnson had 11 articles against him, President Nixon had 3, and President Clinton had 4. At the announcement of the articles of impeachment Representative Adam Schiff said, “Despite everything we have uncovered the president’s misconduct continues to this day unapologetically and right now.” The reason that there are only two articles of impeachment against President Trump is because the House Judiciary Committee suggested that these were the only two with enough solid evidence backing them up that it is very difficult to seriously dispute them. At the announcement, Schiff said, “For the members of Congress, this is not a question of facts because the facts are not seriously contested. It is rather a question of duty. The president's oath of office appears to mean very little to him but the articles put forward today will give us a chance to show that we will defend the Constitution and that our oath means something to us.” Representative Gerald Nadler said while announcing the articles of impeachment, “A president who declares himself above accountability, above the American people, and above Congress’s power of impeachment, which is meant to protect against threats to a democratic institution, is a president who sees himself as above the law. We must be clear: no one is above the law.” S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Samira Sadeque, Rina Chandran, Dr. Mark Mussman, Magali Druscovich, Willa Denise Jones, June Alexander, Kim Greene, Kiara Clark ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Blake Burrell ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123-|Dec 26, 2019 | No. 422 3 HOMELESSNESS Rent Subsidies, Mental Health Care Tied To Housing Stability For Homeless Reuters staff Reuters M entally ill adults e x p er i enc i ng homelessness may have an easier time finding and keeping stable housing when they receive rent supplements and mental health support services, a Canadian study suggests. Researchers focused on the effectiveness of Housing First, a program in Toronto that’s different from traditional approaches to housing for adults with mental illness that require aid recipients to achieve sobriety and or undergo psychiatric treatment. Housing First provides immediate access to housing and mental health services without any preconditions. All 575 participants in the current study did not have homes and were mentally ill, and some of them also had substance use disorders. Researchers randomly assigned them to receive Housing First services with community treatment or with intensive case management, or to a control group that only received access to more traditional support programs. Over the first year of the study, people assisted by Housing First spent 70-72 per cent of their days in stable housing, whereas people who received traditional support services conditioned on sobriety and psychiatric treatment spent 23-30 per cent of their days in stable housing, the study found. And by the sixth year of the study, people assisted by Housing First spent 86-88 per cent of their days in stable housing, compared with 60-78 per cent of days in stable housing for individuals who received traditional support services. Much of this difference might be due to the higher likelihood of unmet needs among adults experiencing homelessness who received traditional support services instead of immediate assistance through Housing First, lead study author Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto and colleagues write in Lancet Psychiatry. “Participants with high support needs in the TAU group maintained persistent low levels of housing stability during the study period, exposing persisting access barriers to appropriate services for this population,” Stergiopoulos and colleagues write. “These findings highlight the unmet needs of homeless adults with mental illness and high support needs, even within a resource rich service delivery context, and the limited effectiveness of usual services in supporting housing stability for this population,” the authors write. The study is the first to suggest that Housing First is associated with lasting increases in the number of days adults experiencing homelessness spend in stable housing, especially for individuals with more severe mental health needs, the study team notes. Housing First wasn’t associated with improvements in quality of life, reductions in the severity of substance abuse problems, or better functioning in the community, the study found. But the program didn’t make any of these outcomes worse, either. It’s also not yet clear what specific aspects of Housing First might have had the most positive impact on the lives of adults experiencing homelessness, or how easily a program like this might be replicated. Even so, the results add to the evidence suggesting that the Housing First program does meet the needs of many adults it serves, Emmy Tiderington of the Rutgers School of Social Work in New Brunswick, New Jersey, writes in an editorial accompanying the study. “This study adds to an extensive body of literature that has already demonstrated the positive effect of Housing First on housing stability over time,” Tiderington writes. “The major contribution of this particular study is the documentation of the effect of the intervention over a six-year period, which is the longest follow-up to date.” Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo A man experiencing homelessness sits on a grate venting warm air in a steady snowfall in Toronto's downtown financial district. REUTERS/Andy Clark THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED NDec o v 212 - N v 19, 18 | N o . 393 - oDec 26,2 02019 | No. 422 �N o. 39 ov 226, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18422 Dec 123 -| N Dec 5 U.S NEWS A Tale Of Two Proclamations Jaqueline Keeler and Desiree Kane S Street Roots ince 1990, Native American Heritage Month (or a similar variant) has been acknowledged in presidential proclamations every November and issued every year on the same day: 31 October. But this year is different. Trump did honor the tradition but also declared the month of November ‘National American History and Founders Month’, a celebration of America’s “dedication to promoting liberty and justice.” That proclamation and others signed that day were immediately available for viewing on the White House website, but not the one honoring Native Americans. The White House, five days late, on 5 November, unceremoniously posted a presidential proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month. Trump’s National American History and Founders Month proclamation, given priority posting on the White House website, clearly indicates where his priorities are. It could be just an oversight. Still, given the president’s predilection for petty and public battles, even with celebrities on Twitter, we cannot rule out the possibility it was meant to be a slight against Native citizens. In any event, the fact the proclamation was not posted and not noticed for five days, is evidence yet again of the near-absolute invisibility Native people labor under in terms of recognition. And I would go beyond that to say it is a preemptive move to block the fight for rights (rights to land, rights to safety) on every front that Native people are waging in this country. And no matter what Native American Heritage Month proclamation written by his staff Trump affixes his signature to, it cannot mask his true position vis a vis Indian Country. His legacy will be remembered as one that upholds the suppressive, abusive, colonizer narrative that harms Native people and the sovereignty of Tribal Nations of the United States. The Indigenous nations that the U.S. is People gather at the Oceti Sakowin camp in September 2016 near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota. The Oceti Sakowin camp was formed by groups protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. [Credit: Desiree Kane] supposed to employ a nation-to-nation relationship with respectfully. But then, is anyone surprised? This is America, after all. Genuinely honoring National American History and Founders Month would mean dealing severe blows to the story United States citizens are taught about America’s “promotion of liberty and justice.” Let’s not forget the opening salvo of his administration, which included a flurry of executive orders beginning in January 2017 that led to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline and went on through that year to include an order that reduced Bears Ears National Monument by 85%. He then ushered in the opening of previously protected and sacred sites for drilling and mining. These actions reveal his true feelings and, in total, compose his actual proclamation of policy toward Native people. This “oversight” then should be correctly read as part of a continuum of aggression against our respective sovereign Indigenous Nations from a “domestically oppressive” (read colonial) political regime. Yes, we just People participate in one of many community prayer walks up to the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site in 2016. [Credit: Desiree Kane] turned the phrase Chief Justice John Marshall used in 1831 to deny our full sovereignty calling us “domestic dependent nations” on its head. Yet, we should also take heart and see these aggressions as a response by the “leader of the free world” to the undeniable rising power of Indigenous people. Because the reality is: Indigenous power is real. The fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline struck a significant (if not final) blow against the oligarchs who put Trump in power and who keep him there. The movement, if we include the reported successes of the divestment campaign, cost them upwards of $11 billion. Yes, they built their pipeline, and now we must monitor it to protect our water and our future. But united, we brought together a power based on kinship, on our traditions and our cultural understanding of the world, and we lead with our hearts, canté, and it is powerful. He knows it, and we know it. The National American History and Founders Month proclamation reads: “This month, we acknowledge the tremendous strides we have made as a people and recognize that our democracy’s survival is dependent upon a well-informed electorate. To ensure the success of our future generations, we pledge to continue to build a more educated citizenry. We heed the warning of President Ronald Reagan that ‘freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.’” So as California burns, Trump threatens to cut off funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, scribbles proclamations for tired ideas, erasing Native people, and he cannot escape the immovable truth. A new world is rising out of the ashes and the smoke. The camp we held together in the snow at Standing Rock is not gone. They can dismantle it, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED but it lives on in our hearts. The Oceti Sakowin, the seven campfires of the Lakota/Dakota people, still lights the way for us all in this troubling time. We are committed to creating a world where Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls and two-spirit relatives go missing no longer. We are led by Native women in Congress and state legislatures, and are everywhere they said we could not be. So as Native women, men, two-spirits, children and elders take on the energy companies, their man camps, prevent the mining of our homelands for their profit, we are opposed by Trump, who invests in these schemes against us. We have taken them on and won. And we will win again, presidential proclamations or not. This is an undeniably true fact in a time of Trump’s rampant fake-newsmaking. So, even if the man in office slights us and tries to turn our victories against depredations into oil and uranium dust, ultimately, we know he recognizes us. We also know he cannot reconcile our collective power based not in colonial takings but in Indigenous concepts of kinship to one another and the land, our Mother. “We ARE power,” as the Dakota poet and leader John Trudell said. We are pollen. We are all the things he and the global 1% can never be: Indigenous, connected to this land, and the true children of our mother, this land, this world. Jaqueline Keeler is a Diné/ Ihanktonwan writer and the executive editor of Pollen Nation, a Native-led and edited magazine dedicated to issues affecting Indigenous people. Before being published in Street Roots, this article was originally published in Pollen Nation. Read more at pollennationmagazine.com Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �LOCAL 6 NDec o v 212 - N v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 - oDec 26, | No. 422 Local Government vs. Federal Priorities Bill Woods ContributingWriter A s 2019 winds down, at least one must priority comes to mind for activists seeking to make a difference in 2020. Groups such as the Homeless Coalition and Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) need to convince the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to start funding critical services and programs that they previously relied on the federal government to pay for. Local government's failure to respond to decades of federal budget cuts have led to crises such as the 40,000 affordable housing unit shortage in Greater Cincinnati. One problem exists in making the case for local action. The federal cutbacks didn't happen overnight. They have added up over a forty year period. This fact alone makes the story less dramatic, but what has evolved is every bit as devastating for those impacted by the cuts. The loss of federal money for a range of diverse programs began in the Carter Administration in the late 1970s, and the cuts intensified in the Reagan years. In 1978, approximately twentyfive cents of every City of Cincinnati budget dollar can be traced to federal funding. Slowly but surely funding for everything from health services to employment programs began to dry up in this period, and this trend has continued until today. Homelessness as a major urban problem did not emerge until the mid1980s when the initial cuts in various housing programs and other services for low-income families and individuals took effect. When Applied Information released Its study of homelessness in Greater Cincinnati in 1987, it reported that housing related issues ranked first as the cause of homelessness among families. It also acknowledged the local loss of federal dollars for federal housing programs as a factor. By the time AIR researched its second homeless report in 1993, it included a section on the lack of affordable housing as a major reason for the further growth of homelessness in Cincinnati. "There are numerous factors involved in the housing crisis confronting the homeless," reads the report, "but most of these factors relate to the clients lack of income and the absence of affordable units." The report cited that federal funding for publicly assisted housing programs shrank from $30-billion in 1981 to $8-billion in 1987. It noted that in Cincinnati alone, less than 30-percent of the households that qualified for some form of federal housing assistance received it. With some ups and downs over the years, federal cuts in affordable housing program and other safety net services have continued to this day. Although even activists have become somewhat numb due to the evolutionary nature of this trend, it is not surprising that poverty and homelessness have increased rather than lessened and that Cincinnati and Hamilton County have a 40,000 unit affordable housing deficit. Local officials must absorb these facts in order to convince them that they must assume some responsibility for this crisis. Cincinnati like most cities across the country has used a variety of policies such as tax abatements to lure business and to promote development. This approach that also dates back to the 1980s has succeeded to a large degree in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Dallas. Recent research shows that these cities have secured a lot of high paying businesses and upper-income residential development. The flip side of this picture, however, is that the highest degree of income inequality now exists in these cities. Low-income residents have failed to benefit from this wealthy urban development. In fact, they are usually the losers who are displaced from gentrifying neighborhoods. Over-the-Rhine and downtown Cincinnati are examples of this development trend. While gentrification has gone forward in housing and business in OTR, thousands of affordable housing units have disappeared from the area. Downtown is currently going through a burst of condo development, but it is all aimed at affluent clients. Very few apartments still exist for the working poor. Thus, city governments such as Cincinnati's have long catered to this high-end development, while they primarily denied any responsibility for their low-income citizenry. The parallel trend of the federal government's retreat from supporting and funding services for people in need of assistance have created the perfect storm for local income inequality and a hand to mouth existence for a large percentage of urban populations. These facts must be part of their argument when activists state their case that Cincinnati and Hamilton County Governments assume greater responsibility for the current crises brought about by these trends. It will not be an easy struggle in this era where politicians fear that voters will oppose any tax increase. It may require a grassroots campaign that ends up as a tax levy on the ballot in order to wake up the general public and elected officials to the necessity of adequately responding to long neglected problems. Region’s Largest Universities Join Cincinnati 2030 District Elizabeth Rojas. Green Umbrella G reater Cincinnati’s three largest universities – University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Northern Kentucky University – have officially joined the Cincinnati 2030 District as regional members. The collective commitment of the universities – 152 buildings with approximately 17.1 million square feet – increases the District’s total footprint to over 24 million square feet across the region. “These institutions symbolize the benefits of setting goals that help achieve higher levels of innovation,” says Elizabeth Rojas, new 2030 District Director, “The relationship between our universities and the 2030 District is mutually reinforcing: ensuring our largest institutions continue to uphold their role in the community as they simultaneously foster our future innovators.” By joining the District, each university commits to the 2030 member goals of 50% reductions in energy and water consumption and transportation emissions. For all three universities, the commitment is part of larger long-term sustainability efforts. “Joining the 2030 District shows NKU’s support for sustainability and that we are dedicated to our commitment to being carbon neutral by 2050,” says Tiffany Budd, NKU’s Sustainability Operations Coordinator. “Being a member of the District will provide NKU with external partnerships and resources that will allow us to more readily advance our sustainability goals while in turn contributing back to the group with our own resources.” Beyond working with each university’s building portfolios, the 2030 District will gain valuable access to a robust research base for collaboration across district members and partners. “The 2030 District is THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED a flexible, long-term framework for addressing the environmental impact of the built environment in our �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 26, - No v 19,| 2 0 18422 Dec 12 Dec 2019 No. community,” says Dr. Amanda Webb, Assistant Professor at UC’s Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering & Construction Management whose research informed the District’s initial phase focused on benchmarking LOCAL energy and water consumption data in downtown Cincinnati’s commercial buildings. All three institutions agree that the greatest opportunity of membership is the educational engagement opportunities for students. “It is a particularly important statement to our students and the greater Cincinnati community that all three major institutions of higher education have joined the District initiative,” says Dr. James Buchanan, XU Professor and Executive Director of The Brueggeman Center for Dialogue. In its inaugural year, the Cincinnati 2030 District has accepted twentysix members including developers, commercial building owners and tenants working to advance the bold sustainability goals of the 2030 Network. There are also opportunities to become 7 financial sponsors and professional and community partners. “We have a variety of professional partners who provide a wide range of expertise,” says Rojas. “They work collectively across the community, demonstrating why Greater Cincinnati is a destination where talented professionals and innovative businesses can thrive.” To learn more about becoming part of the solution to decrease our region’s carbon emissions and secure a sustainable future for all our community members, visit 2030districts.org/ cincinnati or email Elizabeth Rojas. Ayanna Pressley on Ending Homelessness Adam Sennott ContributingWriter A yanna Pressley remembers running for reelection to the Boston City Council in 2011, when a constituent asked her what she was going to do about the homeless people who were sleeping on park benches. “They used some other term that was very derogatory,” Pressley recounted in a recent interview with Real Change News. “They said, ‘what is your plan to make our parks safe?’” Pressley responded that her plan was “to end homelessness.” Now a U.S. congresswoman, Pressley said she has a plan that will not only help accomplish that, but will also transform the criminal justice and legal system, which she said perpetuates homelessness. On Nov. 14, Pressley unveiled a resolution titled “The People’s Justice Guarantee,” which “lays out a bold, new vision for justice in the American criminal legal system,” according to a press release issued by her office. The plan’s priorities include eliminating life sentences without parole, abolishing the death penalty, private prisons and solitary confinement, and decriminalizing sex work and other low-level offenses, “which are byproducts of poverty, homelessness, discrimination and/or addiction,” according to the release. The plan is based on five principles: shared power, freedom, equality, safety and dignity. Pressley said the status quo of the current criminal legal system is “fundamentally flawed” and that a new vision is needed. “It is xenophobic and racist, and just tinkering at the edges with legislative reforms is not going to be enough,” Pressley said. “We need to do something bold and transformative.” She said that by prioritizing decarceration, it is possible to cut the prison population by 80 percent or more. To accomplish this goal, Pressley said we need to stop punishing poor people for being poor. “In order to reduce our incarcerated population by the 80 percent plus that we believe is possible, it means that we need to decriminalize poverty, and that means decriminalizing those that are experiencing homelessness,” Pressley said. “That means decriminalizing fareevasion,” she said. “There are so many people experiencing homelessness who do evade fares [on] public transit just to get to [a] shelter before curfew, or to try to be gainfully employed,” Pressley said. “And they just don’t have the money, and they should not be arrested and experience punitive consequences simply for trying to get on a better path.” Another key aspect to her plan, Pressley said, is access to housing. “The People’s Justice Guarantee will invest $1 trillion in the modernization and expansion of social housing stock throughout the country,” Pressley said. “It guarantees housing for survivors of crime and, again, it decriminalizes homelessness, which we know eliminates reinceration for individuals who failed to secure housing.” And many who are released from prison currently do fail to secure housing, Pressley said. “In Massachusetts, I think at one point, 30 percent of those being released from correctional facilities were being released directly to shelter,” Pressley said. “That is not a recipe to support formerly incarcerated men and women in getting on a pathway to gainful employment [and] self-sufficiency. “In fact, housing is such a critical determinant ... that when people don’t have that, we know that it contributes to recidivism,” Pressley said. “So it is really disingenuous to say, ‘OK, now you’ve received maybe some training behind the wall ...’ and then to say, ‘now go into the world and make a legitimate contribution and make your best contribution’ when people are experiencing housing discrimination, employment discrimination and, again many are being released directly to shelter.” Too often, people will see those experiencing homelessness as the other and will marginalize them instead of seeing them as members of the community, Pressley said. “I think that often because most people are disconnected from their own reality, which is that many people are a life disruption away from experiencing homelessness,” Pressley said. “They are one government shutdown away, one illness, one layoff, one defaulted student loan away from experiencing homelessness.” As a child growing up in Chicago, she experienced firsthand the impact incarceration can have on families, as her father, who battled substance abuse THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED disorder, was often incarcerated. Pressley spoke about her father’s struggle during a congressional hearing earlier this year. She said that while her father was incarcerated and in the throes of addiction, “our entire family was serving with him.” “My father was in and out of the criminal justice system because of crimes he committed while battling a substance abuse disorder. I know intimately the destabilization, the stigma, the social shame and isolation of having a loved one who is incarcerated,” she said. Her father was later able to “do incredible things,” Pressley said, including obtaining two advanced degrees, becoming a college journalism professor and a published author. “I’m very proud of him,” Pressley said. When asked about her experience growing up, Pressley said that her story “is one of millions.” “I think my job as a legislator is not just to take up space, but it’s to create space,” Pressley said. “That’s something that we put into practice in the developing of every legislation that we have offered, which is to create space and to bring a seat to the table for those who are closest to the hurt and the pain who have been directly impacted. “And we know by staying acutely uncomfortable and listening to those stories, it ensures that we never grow complacent in the work,” Pressley said. “But it’s also by being in the proximity to the hurt and by actively listening and leaning in where we find the best solutions.” �FEATURED 8 N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec 12- -NDec 26,2 02019 422 Look Back At 2019 Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer A t the end of every calendar year, we like to look back at the year and see what we’ve accomplished. In the Education Program, we have developed a training module around homelessness that has been successful in different settings. The training includes people experiencing homelessness, and gives the audience an opportunity to ask questions and reflect on their own experiences. It also provides a thorough background and history of homelessness in America. In addition to the training we provided this year, we also had success in our Speaker’s Bureau, Walking Tours, Streetvibes Shadow, and Alternative Breaks. Reflecting on our program gives us power to make changes to enhance the program for 2020. Winter 2019 We continued our Speakers’ Bureau engagements this winter, speaking to small and large groups alike. We had the honor of speaking at the Terrace Park Women’s Club, a group of women who care deeply about their community and helping their neighbors in need. They help to run a program in nearby Batavia, making sure the residents of a local housing community are stably housed. We shared the floor with our member organization, the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Anderson, who is exploring becoming part of IHN. This was a powerful discussion because IHN was able to provide details, while our speaker was able to provide a first-hand account of staying in shelters, and the care that is needed. We also spoke with students through the Tau House and St. Vincent de Paul. Our speakers made an impact on students at Loveland, Gamble Montessori, Deer Park, Mercy McAuley, and Roger Bacon High Schools. Our speakers hope to instill empathy into the listener, but also a realism that helps people to understand that policy change is needed to end homelessness. This was especially true at the Urban League, where we spoke with a group of Black entrepreneurs, who struggled with their understanding of what homelessness actually means, and how their experience with homelessness affects their worldview. It was a positive event for the speaker, Melissa, as the entrepreneurs reached out to support her beyond the speaking engagement. Melissa remains in contact with members of the group even today. Our Alternative Break program, the Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE), was in full swing this March as we hosted Central Michigan University and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) for the first time. We also hosted the University of Vermont, who has participated in CUE in years past. Each of the trips went smoothly Melissa at Ursuline Shantytown and gave the participants a new view into homelessness, poverty, hunger, gentrification, and displacement. The amount of learning participants receive over the week can’t really be summarized here. We are fortunate to work so closely with our member organizations who make the experience so fulfilling. CUE participants interact and learn from the Interfaith Workers’ Center, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, St. Joseph St. Francis Catholic Worker House, St. Francis Seraph Ministries, and Streetvibes. They hear Willa takes a silly picture with Bishop Fenwick after her Talk THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED from community speakers, such as Over-the-Rhine Community Council Board members, and leaders from Mass Action for Black Liberation. They complete each of our educational programs, from the walking tours, to Streetvibes’ Shadow, and our Speakers’ Bureau. They attended a City Council meeting, many for the first time. They experience Lunch on Food Stamps at Findlay Market, where they develop strategies to deal with situations of need. One participant summed up their experience: “I deeply admire all of the work you’ve done for Cincinnati and how much effort you put into making this week amazing for us. I really feel like I got to know the city, homelessness, and gentrification, on a personal level. Thanks.” Spring 2020 We started off the season with a set of tours for a national Rabbi Conference being hosted in Cincinnati. It was a great opportunity for people who had been away from Cincinnati, or who had never been here, to get acquainted with the area. It was a powerful group of individuals who understood the complex nature of gentrification and the pain and suffering that the neighborhood has experienced over the years. We also did tours for Aiken High School, Dayton’s middle school Clubhouse program, Camp Ernst counselors and staff, Over-the-Rhine Community Church, and University of Cincinnati Medical students. Our Speakers’ Bureau had the opportunity to speak to the entire DePaul Christo Rey student body at an end-of-the-year assembly. Hundreds of students listened intently to Willa Jones as she told her story using her book of poetry. Dozens of students surrounded Willa to give her hugs and �9 FEATURED No. 39 Nov 226, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123 -| Dec | No. 422 Sam Speaks to St. Barnabas Summer Program thanks her for telling her story. We then spoke with a smaller classroom about gentrification specifically, and students expressed their concerns about being displaced from the West End and Overthe-Rhine. We spoke about historical and contemporary issues that lead and sustain homelessness. One student passed along her grandparents’ names so that our Advocacy Team could look into their property. Our speakers, Deedee, Cleo, Willa, and Melissa also spoke with groups from: All Saints 1st Grade, McNicholas, Aiken, and Moeller High Schools, First Unitarian Church, Ameri*corps West End, local students from the St. Vincent dePaul summer program, and non-local groups at the Tau House. Summer 2020 Our relationship with the Tau House remained strong as we spoke with groups from various locations and backgrounds. At the Tau House, our speakers engaged with groups from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington State, as well as groups from Centerville, Grove City, Mason, and Cincinnati, Ohio. In general, the groups at the Tau House show compassion and are starting to understand the underlying causes of homelessness. Over the course of a week, we worked closely with St. Barnabas in Montgomery, bolstering their summer youth camp. We went to the Church to speak with the youth as an introduction to the week on Monday, then on Tuesday we took them on a Over-theRhine People’s Movement walking tour to help them gain historical perspective and see what is currently happening in Over-the-Rhine. The next day, Wednesday, they participated in a Streetvibes Shadow with Lee McCoy which proved to be eye-opening as many of them have had interactions with people panhandling, but didn’t know how to respond. Finally, on Thursday we went back to the Church Dayton Clubhouse after Walking Tour THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED with another speaker and wrapped up the week. The participants remarked that they have seen things with a new perspective, with hopefulness. Our Autumn program has included the Xavier University Alternative Break Program, which I wrote about a few weeks ago. We also supported several schools who participated in Shantytown. It has been a productive and rewarding year so far. If you are interested in hearing from one of our speakers, or participating in our education program, please sign up at cincihomeless.org/education/ Training at Central Clinic �10 GLOBAL N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec 12- -NDec 26,2 02019 422 The Story Behind The Gambia’s Lawsuit Against Myanmar Over The Rohingya Genocide Samira Sadeque Inter Press Service O n 11 November, the Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice for the southeast Asian country’s atrocities against the Rohingya population. Over the past years, hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh for refuge, sparking one of the more dire refugee crises of the decade. They continue to remain in camps in Bangladesh, where they are vulnerable to human trafficking and other forms of violence. Even though the crisis has been ongoing for decades, it’s a crucial time for the lawsuit to be filed, advocates say. And the Rohingya people’s continuing refusal to go back is only testament to the lack of security for them in Myanmar. “No one has been held accountable,” said Akila Radhakrishnan, President of Global Justice Center (GJC). “It’s the same forces [that] remain in Rakhine state, they remain kind of [as a] part of the military with no punishment. There’s no feeling that there’s safety and security to go back to Myanmar.” Radhakrishnan pointed out that even though the lawsuit may be “far away” from when the crisis began, the continued fear of Rohingyas to return to their home shows how deeply the crisis persists. “I think there’s a recognition of the impossibility of the return of the Rohingya, a solution to the humanitarian crisis,” she said, adding that the lawsuit will push for the Myanmar government to take actions that focus on changing the laws and policies that enabled the genocide. The lawsuit by the Gambia is supported in large part by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and is being led by Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Gambia Abubacarr M Tambadou, who decided to pursue actions after a recent visit to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, a region where about 900,000 Rohingya refugees are living in camps in that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has termed the world’s biggest refugee camp. Tambadou, who also worked to bring justice for the case of the Rwandan genocide, immediately recognised a similar pattern and was moved to take action, he said during an event held during U.N. General Assembly in September. One of the key things being asked in the lawsuit is the request for provisional measures that would require the Myanmar government, on a basis of “extreme urgency”, to set a hearing date for Myanmar government to “restrain certain conduct” by Myanmar that’s enabling the genocide, Paul Reichler, head of Foley Hoag, the law firm leading the lawsuit, explained. “When you file a suit, you want to make sure the very object of the suit is not destroyed while the case is pending in court,” he explained. “The Gambia will be asking the court to order Myanmar to cease all acts of genocide against the Rohingya.” But a challenge remains here: how can Myanmar stop actions they don’t acknowledge as genocide denial? “The court may wish to define what kind of acts should be stopped so the order makes clear what Myanmar is prohibited from doing,” Reichler said. “[The] main thing we’re asking for is final judgment…in the interim to prevent further irreparable harm.” In case Myanmar does not comply with the requirements of the lawsuit, Reichler says the court can take further actions or the international community “can react with political measures”. Within a few days of the lawsuit being filed by the Gambia, a lawsuit was filed by Argentina against leaders in Myanmar, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the first Nobel peace laureate to face such legal charges. Suu Kyi, however, has not budged from her position. She continues to justify the torture of Rohingyas while branding them as “terrorists” owing to a 2017 attack that sparked the most recent exodus. In the aftermath of the lawsuit, her government has set up a legal unit while she aims to lead the country’s defence at the ICJ, with a hearing expected on 10 December. “Aung San Suu Kyi and the civilian government failed to act against genocide in Rakhine State with any level of urgency and have taken no steps to hold the military to account,” Radhakrishnan said in a statement for Suu Kyi’s announcement. “Now, they are going to defend the military and government’s genocidal actions on one of the world’s largest and most influential stages. The international community should no longer have illusions where Suu Kyi and the civilian government stand and must act to support the Gambia and take other measures to hold Myanmar accountable.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo Rohingya after they fled Myanmar in 2017 arrive at Shahparir Dip in Teknaf, Bangladesh. On Nov. 11, the Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice for the southeast asian country’s atrocities against the Rohingya population. Credit: IPS THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 226, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123 -| Dec | No. 422 11 GLOBAL Afghan Women Brave Rockets For Rights I Rina Chandran Reuters n the decade since launching a radio station in northern Afghanistan, Sediqa Sherzai has braved mines and rocket attacks as the Taliban seeks to silence her. But she has kept going. Fawzia Koofi, the country's first female deputy of the lower house of parliament, has survived assassination and kidnap attempts. Last year, she was banned from running for re-election so she set up her own party. Women have made huge strides in the conservative country since a ban during Taliban rule of 1996 to 2001 from school, work, politics and going outside without a male relative. While growing numbers of women now complete education and work in previously male bastions, they continue to face harassment and hurdles, human rights activists say. "Women are half the population, and should have the same rights and opportunities as men in this country," said Sheila Qayumi, a programme coordinator at Equality for Peace and Democracy, which advocates for more women in politics. "But women are still denied education, forced to marry young, kept from working, and treated no better than animals in the provinces," she said. Four decades of war, from occupation to internal fighting, have destroyed the economy, rendering it among the poorest in the world, with few jobs for a mostly young population. Women occupy a particularly precarious place, as they face cultural barriers and hostility - not just from conservative family members, but also hardline Islamist groups - for pursuing financial independence and greater equality, Qayumi said. Open minds Nearly half of Afghan women would rather leave their wartorn country permanently if they could, citing poverty and limited opportunities, according to a Gallup poll in September. On her radio broadcasts in Kunduz, Sherzai discusses issues from education to independence, domestic violence, inheritance rights and women's right to vote - and stand for elections. Most women are not aware of their rights, or are too scared to exercise them, said Sherzai, whose staff are mostly women. "My goal is to educate women on their rights, and open their minds," she said, speaking through a translator. "I want to convince families to let their daughters study, to not marry them off young, and to respect their choices." Funding for the station is uncertain, and her family fears for her safety, but she has never thought about quitting, she said, even when she had to broadcast from home after the station was attacked and her equipment stolen. "My dream is that Afghan women can be safe and free to do what they wish to do, without men stopping them," Sherzai said in an interview on a visit to the capital. She asked that her picture not be taken for safety reasons. Across the country, efforts are underway to make public spaces safer and more open to women. While Afghan women lag on many measures, a quota that reserves 68 of 250 seats in the lower house of parliament gives them a higher representation than the global average of 24%. The quota makes it easier for women to enter politics, but they lack money and run greater security risks, said Koofi. "Being a female politician is hard everywhere - we are scrutinised for our looks and our clothing, and we are not taken seriously," she said in an interview in her office. "In Afghanistan, men don't accept An Afghan woman carries flowers as she celebrates Valentine's Day in Kabul, Afghanistan February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED women in the public sphere, and our views are not respected even in parliament." Mayor, de-miners An international aid effort that arrived with foreign forces in 2001 prioritised girls' education and women's empowerment. From a female de-mining team in Bamiyan province to street singers in Kabul, women have since won more independence. But there are fears that a final withdrawal of U.S. troops, the winding down of international engagement and the re-emergence of the Taliban may reverse gains. Turnout of women voters in September's presidential election was low amid security threats and concerns over facial recognition technology. In the provinces, the challenges are still greater. Zarifa Ghafari, 26, mayor of Maidan Shahr in restive Wardak province, has said she expects to be assassinated. She was recently named on BBC's list of 100 women of 2019. Khadija Ahmadi is the only other female mayor in the country, in the city of Nili in the remote Daykundi province. It has taken her a while to assert authority locally and to get federal authorities in Kabul to allocate resources. "The men would not listen to me at first. Many have come around after they realised I am persistent and can get the work done," she said. Yet women are constantly thwarted. Last year, Koofi was one of several members of parliament disqualified from contesting the elections for allegedly running private armed militias and possessing illegal weapons - charges she denied and challenged. Koofi recently set up a political party, Movement of Change for Afghanistan, becoming the first Afghan woman to do so. The 44-year-old also took part in so-called intra-Afghan talks aimed at bringing together Taliban representatives and other Afghans to find a way to end the war. Women were also included for the first time in the Taliban delegation at the peace talks, as the militant group projects a more moderate image. "Women have been the worst victims of the war, so we must have a say in the future of this country," Koofi said. "It's not enough to just fill a quota; we have to bring women to the forefront of politics, to leadership positions, and be a part of national decision making," she said. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �12 I Am STREETVOICE N o v 12 2 --N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Dec Dec 26,22019 No. 422 Too Comfortable Have you ever had days where everything seems to be alright I am alive and hopeful I wonder if Cincinnati has turned into an alcoholic city Have you ever had days where your last problem seemed our of sight Have you ever had days where you thought you were at your I hear hope and fear very best I see good and bad And in that same day you felt a wet mop slap you back into a I want to keep improving my health mess Those are the days that I be mindful of everyday and all of I am alive and full of hope the time I’ve learned that with the good days I must not forget the bad I pretend to sometimes not be disgusted with our city days they’re all mine! For me I believe that the luxury of living and being able to I feel hopeful make a conscience choice I touch a person To know right from wrong, to make decisions and to take I worry about the economy heed to God’s voice Keeps me in tune to the understanding that living life can be I cry for the world very good I am hopeful And in past experiences I’ve been blessed so I try to live life as I should I understand the coalition is headed in the right direction I’ve come into the understanding of what living life should be all about I’ve learned to believe in miracles, believe in blessings and and Advocating justice God’s love no doubt! Just take the time to think about these words while you’re I say don't give up hope looking for that lucky day I dream of a place Consider these words that the good and bad days are what I hope God stays merciful with us I am alive and full of life Kim Green Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor you make them Just remember that I pray!!!! Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 26, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123- |Dec 2019 | No. 422 STREETVOICE Declaration of Independence How can you know my mind, my heart or my soul? You do not even acknowledge your very presense causes a toll. How can you say you can sympathize and understand? You have not even helped during the times I have asked for your hand. How do you see yourself in the mirror today I wonder? THE YULETIDE SEASON 2019 We just survived Thanksgiving, And now great merciful heaven, All the banal Christmas songs Come at us twenty-four-seven. Meanwhile multiple candidates Continue to orate on the stump, That they possess the chutzpah To defeat The Donald Trump. We best get on with Christmas, Shopping till we drop at a mall, And telling everyone we meet: "Glad tidings to us all!" Now that you have allowed your life to go asunder. Know this much about me today as I look upon myself. No longer will my needs or desires be put upon hold nor a BILL WOODS Contributing Writer shelf. Know it is not a broken shell I see in the mirror today. It is a stronger, fused sould that has learned to pray! Know there are moments of extreme doubt and feelings of being forsaken; Yet if you believe my foundation is broken then you are sadly mistaken! Know these last several years of torment and pain. They have not accomplished your desire to drive me insane. Know I have absorbed every single ounce of the devastation and pain. Know I am no longer going to feed you my tears from the strain. Today I reclaim my life for my benefit and my dreams. Hopefully, you will understand I will defend this by any means! Carolyn Cupp Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 109 Across 1. Exchange 5. Curved masonary structure 9. Hold firmly 14. Present location 15. Commercial transaction 16. Artery 17. Fury 18. Leg joint 19. Promise solemnly 20. Start abruptly 22. Sodium chloride 24. Challenge 25. Staining substance 26. Heavy metallic element 28. Beam 30. Oval fruit 31. Snakelike fish 32. Consumed 35. Thoroughfare 38. Run away quickly 39. At this time 40. Support 41. Subdued 42. Shrivelled 43. Lubricant 44. At any time 46. Brief period of precipitation 48. Digit 49. Line 50. Water hen 51. Floor covering 52. Exchange goods for money 53. A quick short straight punch 56. Not in favor of 59. Malevolent 61. Musical composition 63. Tied 65. Shaft 67. Public violence 68. Boredom 69. Male red deer 70. Unit of area 71. Taunt 72. Novice 73. Rind Down 1. Small piece of cloth or paper PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #108 2. Fatigued 3. Debate 4. A secret look 5. Request 6. Payment for the release of someone 7. Remove unwanted substances from 8. Part of a shoe 9. Fuel 10. Raucous 11. Length by width 12. Principal actor 13. Trim 21. Roofing material 23. Large woody plant 27. Furrow 29. Beer 30. Liveliness and energy 31. Tree 32. Afresh 33. Ripped 34. Pitcher 35. Blemish 36. Group of three 37. Theatrical part 38. Conifer 41. Condensation 42. Chronic drinker 44. Historic period 45. Referendum 46. Ancient Roman god 47. Cavity 50. Storage space where wines are stored 51. Arithmetic operation 52. Value of Roman numerals LX 53. Liquid extracted from fruit or vegetables 54. Worship 55. Asian pepper plant 56. Assist in wrongdoing 57. Not any 58. Large marine food and game fish 60. Immense 62. Snare 64. Perish 66. Self N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec 12- -NDec 26,22019 422 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 5- EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 4- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 226, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123-| Dec | No. 422 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 212 - N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec - Dec 26,2 02019 422 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 12-December 26, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Articles of Impeachment Pg 3: Rent Subsidies, Mental Health Care Tied to Housing Stability for Homeless Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: A Tale of Two Proclamations Pg 6: Local Government vs. Federal Priorities Region’s Largest Universities Join Cincinnati 2030 District Pg 7: Ayanna Pressley on Ending Homelessness Pg 8: Look Back at 2019 Pg 9: Look Back at 2019 Continued Pg 10: The Story Behind the Gambia’s Lawsuit Against Myanmar Over the Rohingya Genocide Pg 11: Afghan Women Brave Rockets for Rights Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 12-December 26, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Samira Sadeque Rina Chandran Dr. Mark Mussman Magali Druscovich Willa Denise Jones June Alexander Kim Greene Kiara Clark INSP.com Blake Burrell Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Afghanistan Ayanna Pressley Bill Woods Blake Burrell Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez Genocide Impeachment INSP.com June Alexander Kiara Clark Kim Greene Magali Druscovich mental health Myanmar Rina Chandran Rohingya Samira Sadeque University of Cincinnati Willa Denise Jones Women Rights https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/be8372b849f38b87c540dd324456a6d6.pdf ca2e09dd658ab411d4d2c302da65d6ad PDF Text Text D e c e m b e r 2 6 t h - J a n ua r y 9 t h 2 0 2 0 | Vo l . 2 4 I s s u e 1 ( N o . 4 2 3 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Impeachment Coverage on Pages 2 & 6 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION NDec o v 226 - N v 19, 2 0 18 || No. N o . 423 393 - oJan 9, 2020 From The Editor: When the Truth Doesn’t Matter Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief P resident Donald Trump is officially the 3rd President of the United States to be impeached. While this doesn’t come as a surprise for those in the U.S. who don’t like Trump, it looks like a witch-hunt for his supporters. Many of his supporters refuse to believe he committed any corruption-based crime. This might be because of their blind loyalty to their political party, or because of the bias media they consume. The Republican Party is very good at reaching their voter base through their preferred sensationalized media to spread misinformation, and when they engage with mainstream media, journalists can’t always keep up with all the lies being spread to fact check all of them in time for every consumer to hear it. This perfect storm then creates a different conflicting narrative that makes the truth sound like a lie. It doesn’t matter what the details and facts are, because the Republican Party is united today in their stance that the President did nothing wrong, and they are eager to show their loyalty to their party. In 1999, during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, Representative Lindsey Graham said, “you don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job in this constitutional republic…impeachment is about cleansing the office.” This is the same Lindsey Graham that said that he would do everything in his power to make the impeachment process “die quickly” when it came to Donald Trump. This is just one example of how our leaders are working through partisanship rather than to protect the role of president and our democracy. This might be frustrating, but it is not surprising. This should be incredibly troubling to the American people and we need to learn from this and act now, though we seem to be exhausted by the current presidential term. Our leaders are blatant liars, in all branches, and while the focus today is on republicans we should still be paying attention to democrats. This is what we get for being a majority dual party country, instead of thinking of them as “the most fatal disease” as Alexander Hamilton once called them. Is there a remedy for such bias in our leadership? Probably, but it would have to start with the people. We have to hold our leaders to a higher standard than simply choosing the lesser of two evils when voting. We cannot be blindly partisan as our leaders currently are, and we cannot allow ourselves to just roll our eyes at lies. We should not be voting for habitual liars simply because they fit into the party we identify with. No one should have a party be part of their identity; American should be their identity. Unfortunately that is not the reality we live in. We are a painfully divided country and it seems like it is only going to get worse before it might get better. The American people have a very intense distrust of mainstream media, which causes us to end up looking for facts and figures in other places that aren’t trust worthy. Yellow journalism is a term for American press that shows minimal research and instead uses sensationalism and exaggeration to increase profit. This term can be used today almost equally with Fake News, though it has less of a modern political connotation. We need to reject journalism that is being used primarily for driving up revenue, and support independent and well-researched media. It is not reasonable to expect that all Americans will be able to put in the time and effort to read the reports that come directly from the government. Therefore we need to support journalists who do their job well for the sake of the truth not for the sake of a paycheck. We are getting to a place in our nation where we dangerously don’t care about facts. We are beginning to live on very different planes of reality, depending on what we believe to be true. What matters now is not if Trump gets removed from office, because he won’t. Mitch McConnell made it clear when he said that he would be working closely with the White House on this matter. What matters is how we educate ourselves, that we hold our leaders accountable to tell the truth, and how we vote. The founding fathers were afraid of a corrupt president and put in place the impeachment process, but they couldn’t have guessed it would come at a time where facts didn’t matter to the party in power. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Jonathan, Emily Green, Bill Woods, Amanda Baker, Casey Miller, Sarah Shearman, Eloisa Lopez, Dr. Mark Mussman, Willa Denise Jones, June Alexander, Kim Greene, ------------------------------------------- Impeached March 3, 1867 S Impeached Dec. 19, 1998 Impeached Dec. 18, 2019 treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Photography/ Artwork: Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Blake Burrell ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 N o v 19, 2 0423 18 Dec 26 Jan 9,- 2020 | No. 3 HOMELESSNESS Criminalization Hitting The Fan At National Level Under Trump Appointment Of Robert Marbut To Usiach Jonathan W.R.A.P. T he president threats are becoming a reality, the new head of the USICH Robert Marbut (News Article Link: How A Traveling Consultant Helps America Hide The Homeless). “We don’t use the term shelter,” Marbut says. “We use the term transformational campus.” Marbut does not believe in Housing First but instead believes all individuals experiencing homeless have to be “fixed” before they deserve housing. The “Velvet Hammer, approach” Marbut offers the same basic advice to most cities: Cut the goodies and build a shelter like jails facilities. Pending final approval at a U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness meeting on December 10, Robert Marbut has been appointed Executive Director of the USICH. Before receiving this appointment, Marbut worked as a Texas-based consultant advising cities on how to decrease the size of their homeless communities. Marbut rejects the widely accepted and proven method of housing first, telling Huffpost “I believe in Housing Fourth.” Instead, Marbut follows a set of methods he developed himself, called “The Seven Guiding Principles of Transformation.” Marbut’s approach can be understood by looking at these principles and how he has applied them across the country. The first two principles, “Move to a Culture of Transformation” and “Colocation and Virtual E-integration of as Many Services as Possible” require houseless people to live in close proximity under heavy supervision. He regularly pushes for large shelters, instead of permanent housing. This is in-line with failed approaches from the 1980s. His first major project, Haven for Hope, opened in 2010 with an annual budget of $15,000,000 and room for 1,500 people. Five hundred of those people are required to sleep in an outside courtyard. Haven for Hope also has 550 closed-circuit television cameras and a staff of 40 security guards. Principles four and five are “Reward Positive Behavior” and “Consequences for Negative Behavior,” which Diane Yentel, president of the National LowIncome Housing Coalition, accurately described as “paternalistic, patronizing, filled with poverty blaming/shaming.” These principles fail to account for the structural issues that created the contemporary homeless crisis and instead fixate on blaming poor people for homelessness. The Pinellas Safe Harbor in Florida, which Marbut also helped to design, shows what those principles look like in practice. The shelter is operated by the County Sheriff ’s office out of an old jail, and houseless people are required to sleep on the floor before “earning” a bed with good behaviour. The Pinellas Safe Harbor was described in a 2014 report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture as a “cruel, inhuman, and degrading” choice for homeless people there. In order to make people actually use these shelter-jails, Marbut advised cities to make living on the streets as difficult as possible for houseless people. His sixth and seventh principles are “External Activities Must be Redirected or Stopped” and “Panhandling Enables the Homeless and Must Be Stopped.” Early criticism of Marbut came in 2014, after the city of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida arrested 90-year-old Arnold Abbott and Food Not Bombs volunteers for sharing food outside the downtown library. Said Marbut, “If you give food on the street, you end up preventing people from going into 24/7 programming.” Sheriff ’s department data from the Pinellas shelter indicated that just 7% of those leaving the facility found permanent housing. Marbut employs methods that have been proven not only ineffective but harmful to the very people he is now being tasked with helping. We're no fools! Gentrification harms everybody! Image from Western Regional Advocacy Project. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N Dec o v 2 26 - N-oJan v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 9,22020 No. 423 �NDec o. 3926 3 | -NJan ov 2 9, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 2020 | No. 423 U.S NEWS 5 Environmentalist Carol Van Strum: “Do not believe anything they tell you” Emily Green Street Roots C arol Van Strum, 78, still lives in the forest she fought to protect. She moved with her family to Five Rivers in Oregon’s Siuslaw National Forest in the 1970s, and soon after, her farm was sprayed from overhead with a compound found in Agent Orange. Her family got sick, and animals in the area were dying. Along with other residents in Lincoln County, she sued the U.S. Forest Service, winning an injunction to stop the aerial spraying of federal forests with toxic herbicides. Thus began her lifetime of environmental activism that continues today with the effort to ban aerial spraying on private timberlands in Lincoln County. During the course of several lawsuits against federal agencies and chemical companies such as Dow and Monsanto, Van Strum obtained an arsenal of documentation – nearly three tons of paper – revealing massive, coordinated cover-ups and fraud among government regulators and the companies they were responsible for watchdogging. The Bioscience Resource Project and the Center for Media and Democracy have digitized her collection and have made it available online to the public. The Poison Papers Project, as it’s called, has served as a resource for attorneys suing Monsanto. It contains documents spanning back to the 1920s and, as a whole, demonstrates how both the chemical industry and its regulators understood and worked to conceal the dangerous toxicity of many products that were approved for use – and in some cases still widely used today. Van Strum chronicled the efforts of herself and her fellow activists in the award-winning book “A Bitter Fog.” Ultimately, her research and activism contributed to the adoption of more sustainable national forest policies still used today. She has also written several other books, and her articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and USA Today. In 2018, Van Strum was awarded the prestigious international David Brower Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding environmental and social justice work. Street Roots: What’s the most difficult lesson you learned in your activism? Carol Van Strum: I think the most difficult lesson was finding out that our entire system of government, of protecting the environment or human health, is a fraud and that you can’t believe anything that they say. And, it really is a massive fraud. The Environmental Protection Agency’s very name is a lie. And, you know, President Nixon knew that when he established it. He created it to be a buffer between the chemical industry and the people who were getting affected by the chemicals and starting to find out about it, thanks to Rachel Carson (author of Silent Spring). I guess we were naive. This was 40 years ago, and the Forest Service was spraying us with Agent Orange. We were getting sick, and we were finding dead animals and deformed animals, and we thought if we just told them about it, they’d stop. (She laughs.) And we found out otherwise, so that was a real hard lesson at that time. In a way, that kind of set the whole systemized, institutionalized lying that now the government, at the very top, indulges in. It’s become so commonplace people don’t even get upset. Well, I got upset. I don’t like “If you can keep laughing at the absurdity and insanity of what you’re fighting, it really makes all the difference in the world.” Carol Van Strum -- Credit: Peggy webster being lied to. What kept you going at times when winning seemed impossible? Well, I guess the opposite of that is, what’s the alternative? Do you do nothing while the things you love are dying? You can’t. Or at least I can’t. So the alternative was always worse than the battle. I have to say, you can’t look at the big picture all the time. You have to take what I call “a wicked glee” in causing some bureaucrat to crap his pants. You have to look for those moments and celebrate them and laugh. That’s so important, I can’t emphasize that enough. What do you think young environmental activists today are doing right? Oh, God, I love them! They’re doing wonderful things that I see. They’re finding their strength in numbers, which is so important. No one person can do this alone. I still feel kind of weird for being singled out as this so-called activist when I was only part of something that was a large group of people. I wrote about it, so I kind of became the point person, but the activism – if you want to call it that – it was a group of people, of really unrelated people. There were loggers, there were tree planters, there were doctors, there were nurses and there were housewives that came together for a common cause. That’s so important, and I see the young people doing that, and I love it! The way they are banding together behind Greta Thunberg, joining classaction lawsuits to force their elders to accept that they’re changing the climate. They’re not accepting the word or the authority of elders bent on destroying the world that they will inherit. I just applaud them. I can’t say that enough. I love them. I’m really proud of them all being able to call bullshit on all of the lies. What are they doing wrong? I can’t really think of anything they’re doing wrong. I think they’re using what they have – that we didn’t have – things like the internet and social media. They’re connecting with more and more people. I think they’re already achieving far beyond what we did, and that’s wonderful. What advice would you offer young activists today? Some of it is what they’re already doing; they’re not being afraid to care. That sounds kind of hokey, doesn’t it? But you have to care. You have to care about something. It doesn’t matter what it is. Once you start caring, then you want to protect, then you become the cornered badger; you’re going to fight, and you’re going to join with others. And that’s what they’re doing. My advice would be: Don’t ever, ever accept the platitudes, the euphemisms, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the lies of their elders and those who say it can’t be done or say, “You don’t understand; you’re too young to know.” That’s baloney, and they should never, ever listen to it. The other thing is: Demand proof of every statement coming out of government or industry, or whatever they’re fighting. Whether they’re tracking or spraying or nuclear waste, it doesn’t matter. Demand their data. Don’t take their word for anything. And above all, have fun. Humor is the strongest weapon we have, and you burn out without it. Believe me, I’ve seen too many people fall by the wayside; they just can’t handle it anymore. But if you can keep laughing at the absurdity and insanity of what you’re fighting, it really makes all the difference in the world. Look at Randy Rainbow or the Trump Blimp. Any way you can to point out the nonsense that you’re fighting is so much more effective than any other weapon that you have. So I would say, keep laughing. When you can make people laugh, then you’ve really reached them; they understand. When you look back over your years of activism, can you describe a moment that you feel defined your legacy? For me, after 40 years of feeling, at times, like a voice in the wilderness, proving information to people all over the globe, really, but not seeing much progress. But then this little group comes together in my own county (Lincoln County Community Rights) to stop the aerial spraying of poisons by timber companies. It was so beautiful and so simple, and they won it; the voters voted it through. Then, of course, industry challenged it in court, and I think the most touching moment for me was when Lincoln County Community Rights asked me to be the voice of the ecosystem, the trees, the river, in court. It was such a beautiful thing. I felt like I was standing there with the Lorax or Justice William O. Douglas – he actually was a voice in the Supreme Court for giving nature rights to exist – and to me, that was my proudest moment, being asked to do that. It’s giving a voice to the voiceless. That’s what it’s all about. And I feel very proud that they asked me to do that. I still kind of tear up thinking about it. (Since our interview with Van Strum, a Lincoln County judge overturned the voter-approved ban on aerial spraying within the county, ruling that the state law trumped the local law. Lincoln County Community Rights said it is preparing an appeal. The deadline to appeal was 19 December) Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �LOCAL 6 N oDec v 2 26 - N -o vJan 19,9,22020 0 18 | |N o . 393 No. 423 Putting Impeachment In Perspective Bill Woods Board Member A s I write this article, the House of Representatives has just voted to impeach President Donald Trump. Lined up on rigid party lines, the proimpeachment Democrats and antiimpeachment Republicans sound like they are living in different worlds. This major Constitutional decision whether to remove a sitting President from office starkly reveals how polarized U.S. politics is today. In reviewing our political history over the past sixty years, this country appears to be experiencing a low point in terms of government effectiveness as well as public trust. Although Trump currently looms as a bigger than life problem or the elephant in the room, his election in 2016 was the result of negative trends that had already weakened our democratic process. Although numerous factors caused this decline, two trends stand out. Over this period "big money" has become more and more dominant in political campaigns at all levels. At the same time, the constituencies of both major parties have changed dramatically. In the 1960s and 70s, both major parties had liberal, conservative, and moderate wings. While the Democrats elected liberals such as Hubert Humphrey or John Kennedy, they also possessed a full slate of elected Senators and Congressmen from the South. Likewise, one can point to GOP-conservatives such a Robert Taft or Barry Goldwater and liberals like Mark Hatfield or Nelson Rockefeller. Moderates from both parties could also be cited. A typical criticism of that era was that the two major parties were too similar in makeup and views. In retrospect, however, the strength of this situation meant that even within the parties, compromise was necessary. Furthermore, temporary coalitions could be formed among the factions of the Democrats and Republicans to support legislation. Without such inter-party coalitions, it is doubtful that the major Civil Rights Laws would have passed. With this kind of political flexibility prompting working across the aisles, much positive legislative action occurred, and bills usually did not get lost in ideological stand offs between the two parties. With today's rigid, uncompromising political atmosphere, little can get through Congress that requires more than one party's support, and then a veto by an erratic President may have to be overcome. The current impeachment process is a case in point. The Affordable Care Act offers another example. Passed with strictly Democrat votes, once the Republicans took over Congress in 2010, they have spent a huge amount of energy weakening this law and trying to repeal it. It took a number of years to get to today's partisan stalemate. Under President Lyndon Johnson, the Democratic Party was blamed for Civil Rights legislation such as the Voting Rights Act, and the once solid South began to shift to the Republican Party. Barry Goldwater's nomination signaled another conservative shift for the GOP. However, the emergence of Ronald Reagan and his election as President in 1980 and reelection in 1984 brought about the real conservative take over of this once diverse Party. Meanwhile stripped of the South, the Democratic Party became the political home for liberals and moderates. The other force that gradually took hold of both major parties from the 1970s onward is influence of "big money" on elections and the legislative process. Because of an emerging reliance on public relations and TV ads, both parties were beginning to spend much more money on campaigns by the 1970s, and reformers began pushing for limits on all the unregulated big contributions to candidates. From the start, the Supreme Court created legal obstacles with cases such as Buckley v. Valeo that equated campaign donations to free speech. Much later in 2010, the Court put even greater limits on reformers by ruling that corporations were people with the same free speech rights to spend money on campaigns. Although reforms such as contribution limits and the public financing of campaigns have had some success in states and cities that adopted them, "big money" has grown more and more dominant in the political process. Average citizens realize that they have less and less influence on public decision-making, and many people have become disillusioned with government. In part, Trump is a result of voters opting for a loud outsider who promised to "make America great again." This analysis takes us back to the present and the implications of impeachment and the 2020 Presidential campaign. Certainly Trump is a danger to everything positive that this country has ever stood for, and a top priority must be removing him from office. However, this would only be a first step. A lot of thought and energy will be required to put in place the reforms necessary to truly make this country great again. Homelessness Report Amanda Barker Staff Writer E arlier this month, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) issued their most recent report on the criminalization of homelessness. The NLCHP is one of our partners, and the only organization dedicated to studying how the power of law can be applied toward preventing and ending homelessness, and protecting the rights of those individuals who are experiencing homelessness. The report, titled "Housing Not Handcuffs", is the first report released since 2016, and it tracks the growth of criminalization laws across 187 US cities including Cincinnati. It also describes how criminalization policies are ineffective and illegal, and discusses more humane and productive alternative strategies for ending homelessness. The equitable solution is neither criminalization, nor allowing a stratified society where some people are displaced onto the sidewalk, a camp, or their vehicles. Rather, the solution is more and greater access to subsidized and affordable housing. In August 2018, I spent some time in Budapest, Hungary. I was traveling to a youth development project in Csikszereda, Romania. In Budapest, I met with a doctoral student who studies foreign policy at a university in Antalya, Turkey. One day while walking across Ferenc Square, he commented on the “homeless crisis in Budapest” when he saw five men sleeping outside along edges of the buildings. This led to a deep cross-cultural discussion about the issue of housing, the growing wealth gap, and American social service policies. He was shocked to hear that in a nation as wealthy as the United States, many people including families with children and those who work full-time, are not able to find safe and stable housing. He assured me that in Turkey, “everyone has a place to live.” I have not studied housing data in Turkey, but it was interesting to hear his perception of American domestic social service policies. He had never been to the U.S., and was only familiar with U.S./Turkish trade relations. He now probably knows more about U.S. class differences and access to food, housing, and transportation than he had ever intended. The Housing Not Handcuffs report lists what they call a “Hall of Shame,” which are city, or state, wide policies passed since the 2016 report that only serve to sustain the cycle of poverty and homelessness. One example is Kansas City, Missouri, who passed food sharing regulations and then brutally enforced them. In November, 2018, the Kansas City organization Free Hot Soup was sharing food at a weekly gathering in a public park. According to the Washington Post, the city Health Department responded by collecting the chili, soup, and sandwiches being offered to the needy, and poured bleach on the food, stating that the event was not “properly permitted.” Another city on the list is Sacramento, California. I lived in Sacramento for more than 5 years and during that time I helped with food sharing through FnB and the Occupy movement. I also collaborated with an organization that was attempting to secure a location for solar-powered tiny homes designated to house people experiencing homelessness. I witnessed the exponentially skyrocketing rents as the downtown and midtown neighborhoods underwent their gentrification processes. I saw the growing numbers of folks displaced from safe housing to live in camps along the Sacramento or American rivers, or in the parking lot at the corner of C and 16th streets. The City of Sacramento made the “Hall of Shame” list for their THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED repeated aggressive sweeps of the camps, which resulted in the seizure and destruction of personal property and in some instances, even caused injury. One such sweep in May 2019 ended with 30 arrests of people living along the American River Parkway bike trail, as reported by the Sacramento Bee. A misinformed attitude at the Federal level doesn’t help matters on the ground. In September 2019, the Trump Administration’s Council of Economic Advisors released a statement claiming that people who experience homelessness are “too comfortable” to change their circumstances, and that policing is the best tool for moving people off the street. These ruthless and inhumane tactics are not effective at ending the poverty that causes people to experience homelessness. The NLCHP has the data to influence action more inspired than further criminalization. One such solution is called Housing First. Housing First is a model “premised on the idea that pairing people with immediate access to their own apartments- without barriers and without mandated compliance with services- is the best way to sustainably end their homelessness.” Through Housing First, the communities of �NDec o. 3926 3 |N ov 2 9, - N2020 o v 19, 2 0 18 - Jan | No. 423 Bergen County, New Jersey; Rockford, Illinois; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and the jurisdictions in the Southwest Minnesota Continuum of Care have all effectively ended chronic homelessness. Additionally, through Permanent Supportive Housing, Charlotte, North Carolina, saw an 82% decrease in arrests; and Los Angeles County saved $6.5 million in its second year of implementation while also reporting a 70% reduction in the number of emergency room visits from among people experiencing homelessness. In another win as recently as December 16, LOCAL 2019, the 9th Circuit of the US Supreme Court ruled that people experiencing homelessness can’t be punished for sleeping outside when they don’t have anywhere else to go. Pebble by pebble, we are building a more equitable and just society. Here in Cincinnati, we didn’t make the “Hall of Shame” list, but we have a long journey ahead of us. We still face an affordable housing shortage of at least 18,000 units, even though there are almost 29,000 vacant market-rate units currently available. However, our market rate is so high that anyone who 7 works a full-time job at minimum wage won’t be able to afford rent. The Housing Not Handcuffs report documents how in Cincinnati, it is illegal to sit or lie down in some public places; to lodge, live, or sleep in vehicles; to get caught loitering or loafing anywhere in the city; and to beg or panhandle anywhere in the city. We know that further criminalization is not the answer. The Coalition and its partners are actively working to secure a revenue stream in 2020 for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This fund will increase resources for affordable housing through creating and preserving housing that meets the income needs of low and extremely low income people. It will also provide housing investments to revitalize neighborhoods that are experiencing de-investment or displacements. Social change can happen, when enough of us are willing to take a stand and demand that governments redistribute wealth to meet the basic human rights of healthy food, safe housing, warm clothing, and clean water. You’ve Got Mail Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer C ommonly, an experience with homelessness is often marked by a sense of disconnection. Having a mailbox can change that. Although the Homeless Coalition is an advocacy organization, we do provide a few direct services that enable people to stay connected to family, friends, government, and social service organizations. With the exception of a few holidays, the Homeless Coalition’s lobby is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm. Our lobby is a place people come to get warm in winter, cool down in the summer, to get a drink of water and commune. Our friendly front desk staff helps people get connected to resources such as the Mary Magdalene House (the shower house), the PATH Team, the Shelterhouse, and housing resources. Even more, people are able to connect to the world at large through a mailbox. More than 3,000 people receive mail at the Homeless Coalition. On a daily basis, more than 100 people come through the door to check whether they received mail or packages. The process is simple, as people who are experiencing homelessness just need to start using our address to receive mail here. They do not need to do a change of address, in fact, that process is blocked for our address because one time someone did a change of address and received everyone’s mail! Once someone has received and retrieved their mail, they will be assigned a mailbox number, which is important to remember. When someone comes back in for mail, they need to let the front desk staff know of their name and box number. Keeping it simple speeds up the process. The importance of having a place to receive mail cannot be overstated. In Ohio, to receive or renew your ID, you must have it sent to a physical address. Although the State of Ohio allows a park bench to be an address for voting, how do you receive mail at a park bench? This makes correspondence impossible without a mailbox. Hamilton County Jobs and Family Services sends SNAP EBT cards through the mail, as well as important documents that demand immediate responses. The Social Security Administration needs to send checks and important judgements through the mail. This is why it is important for people to be able to readily access their mail – it may literally be what determines if someone is able to eat today. If you don’t have an address, you don’t have a connection to services that are needed to survive. Building and maintaining a system for mail has been a monumental task. Through the years, patterns have developed to ensure that the mail is processed and accessed quickly and accurately. This week we have seen the biggest change in the mail system in at least 4 years. Several students from Central Michigan University chose to spend part of their winter break with us in Cincinnati. Typically, Alternative Break trips at the Homeless Coalition involve spending time learning from people in the community. We spend time hearing about the history of Overthe-Rhine from people who have lived here for decades. We talk to affordable housing developers and community activists. Normally, we do some service at soup kitchens and shelters, but this trip is different. The program from Central Michigan University prefers student groups to do projects that are in direct benefit to the community. We thought that revamping the mailroom – in fact, making a mailroom, would help create a better, and more efficient experience. When asked about why the students came on the trip, the responses varied from having gone on a trip before; wanting to learn about an issue they hadn’t learned about; getting exposed to the city-life and homelessness on a larger scale; to gaining a new perspective on the issues of hunger and homelessness. Collectively, the participants had participated in trips in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arkansas, and North Carolina, on food justice, preservation of public lands, arts in urban schools, and rural poverty. Packaging food, documenting botany, delivering food, demolishing work, planting and harvesting organic crops were just some of the skills the students had learned through these alternative breaks. This project-based trip would hopefully give them skills in office management, construction, design, and problem-solving. The group was charged with making the mail system more userfriendly and organized. Part of that included moving the mailroom from the conference into a dedicated room. But before that could be accomplished, the group needed to determine ways in which the mailroom would be easier for the front desk staff to operate. When you are dealing with thousands of names and hundreds of physical boxes, it can become mentally taxing very quickly. Misfiled letters may result in someone losing access to benefits, so it is essential that the mail system be organized and easily accessible. The students generated strategies to make the mailroom more efficient, such as larger mailbox numbers, color coding box rows, rebuilding and fixing the frame, reorganizing overflow mail, and creating a dedicated mailroom by cleaning out an office behind the front desk. On the second day, we created a temporary mail system, removed the old structure, cleaned, repaired, and primed it. It was a natural wood color, but the participants’ desire to color-code the boxes meant that we needed to prime the mailboxes. There were several issues with the dividers between the boxes that were repaired. Using a circular saw, the participants were also able to create a back for the mailboxes, so that mail isn’t able to fall behind them. This required measuring and cutting several pieces of wood and fastening them to the back of the boxes with screws. The process resulted in a stronger, more organized mailbox structure. As unexpected issues arose, the group worked collectively and quickly to respond and solve the problem. On the third day, they began to paint the boxes to color code them. The color coding will help the front desk staff feel confident that they are in the right area, and give people picking up their mail another way to remember their box number. The group also created large laminated letters to mark each mailbox row. Finally, the group created some tools to help newly received mail get filed accordingly. In the end, the mailroom has become a reality and it will help people receive their mail in a more efficient manner. We are thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity to work collaboratively to solve issues that were impeding the mailroom. People experiencing homelessness will be able to benefit from the work the students accomplished this week. Central Michigan University nearing completion of the mail project. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �FEATURED 8 NDec o v 2 26 - N-oJan v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 423 393 9, 22020 At The Crossroads Of Art And Social Justice Casey Miller Street Roots R icardo Levins Morales describes himself as a “healer and trickster organizer disguised as an artist.” Morales was born in Puerto Rico during the anti-colonial movement and spent his teenage years delving into the world of organized activism and protests in Chicago with such visionary groups as the Young Lords and the Black Panthers. He sees his art as “medicinal”; a way to address trauma individually, collectively and historically. Morales’ current organizing efforts beyond the art studio include workshops on trauma and resilience for organizers, creative and strategic training for organizing sustainable activism and mentoring young activists both in his community and nationally. The social justice artist is celebrating 50 years of artistry and activism and he visited Portland in November to attend Portland Jobs With Justice’s annual dinner as the keynote speaker. Street Roots spoke to him about his decades of dedication to both his artistic craft and activism. Street Roots: What do you believe makes a social protest effective and how is this seen in your artwork? Ricardo Levins Morales: It really depends. What are the conditions? What’s the balance of power for a protest in a concentration camp? It’s a lot different than a protest in a workplace. It depends on how much leeway you have and how much organization you have. So there’s no single answer to that. It’s like saying asking what kind of medicine is most effective. What’s the condition of the patient, you know? What artists and activists have influenced you over the years? I learned to do art by copying art. I dropped out of high school, so I never had any formal education in it. One of the main influences on me was one of the Puerto Rican screen printing masters. Screen printing is a highly advanced art in Puerto Rico, where I’m from. So, he was a major influence there. Also cartoon artists and caricature artists, because I started out doing a lot of political caricatures. In terms of activism, there’s a long line of political ancestors. My parents were both involved in the anti-colonial movement in Puerto Rico. When we moved to the States, when I was an adolescent, a major influence was Fred Hampton, who was the leader of the local chapter of the Black Panther Party. We did very creative coalition-building work across racial boundaries. That has still left an imprint on how I think about organizing. Did these two activities cross when you were younger—activism and art? Had you met people like yourself who purposely made art about social justice issues that they were passionate about? When I was young in Puerto Rico, I wasn’t really much aware of other artists. It was drawing: it was just something I did as a little kid and about making up stories. I didn’t really have anything that you could call media access up in the mountains—no TV or magazines. I think the real key for me is not that I [purposely] connect the two, but more that I’ve always drawn what’s important to me. And when I was 5 years old, that was chickens; when I was 8, it was pilots. Now, it’s resilience in the face of oppression. But there was never a moment where I said, “Well, I’m going to connect these two separate things.” It just came up through the roots, the things I cared about at different times in my life. So that’s what’s reflected in my art. Self portrait THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Can you describe your first real encounter with social justice movements? Was it when you moved to Chicago? In Puerto Rico when I was young, we would sometimes go to protests and nationalist events and things like that. As I wasn’t directly exposed to organizing or protest building there, I would have to say yes, it was probably when we moved to the States. That was in 1967, to Chicago. There was a lot going on and a lot of protests, whether it was antiwar, second-wave feminism, the black power movement—and especially the Panthers gaining a presence. There was a Puerto Rican version called the Young Lords organization active in Chicago. It was really an environment of turmoil. How has activism changed since you were younger and first started to participate in social justice causes? A number of ways. I mean, certainly the technology has changed for the better and for worse. When I was first organizing movements, our version of the internet was telephones, leaflets, handouts, papers and bulletin boards. Now, of course, you have various social media networks, though most of them are controlled by hostile corporations, so it’s a little bit vulnerable. Another way [is that] my initial experiences in organizing were with people engaged in a lot of different kinds of organizing work, but they all considered it to be part of one current called “The Movement.” Nowadays, it’s more about people considering themselves part of the immigrant rights movement or civil rights movement or gay rights movement; they’re thought of as different movements. And that’s probably the legacy of 40 years of a nonprofit system that really funds people according to rather narrow definitions of their needs rather than a broad narrative of social change. So, that’s one of the major differences. Another more positive [difference] is that I see young activists coming into movements as they emerge through engaging in art and creativity, like having art builds—where everyone gets together and makes signs or banners or whatever it is that they need. In earlier periods, it was a real battle to get organizers to understand how useful art could be. So you’d say that protesting has become a lot more creative? I’d say that the importance of creativity is a lot more widely accepted. You host workshops on trauma and resilience for organizers. How does grouping with others help solve individual traumas? A lot depends on the health of the organizing effort. If you just sort �NDec o. 3926 3 |-NJan ov 29, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 2020 | No. 423 of step back and look at what a social movement is, the purpose of it really is to restore power to people whose power has been taken away. And that’s also kind of your elevator definition of trauma healing, because trauma is about the loss of power and you need to restore that and restore a healthy narrative about what your experience meant, which gets scrambled when you become traumatized. That’s also the process of an entire people reclaiming their identity and reclaiming their history. They’re really essentially the same process but happening on different scales. Can you explain why you call your art “medicinal”? If I am involved with, say, a local or community group or some group that is trying to organize, the first question— kind of my doctor question, my diagnostic question—is what is keeping this group of people feeling powerless? [What is keeping them] from tapping in and understanding how powerful they are? Not what is the external force that they’re facing, but what’s internal? What is it that people believe that keeps them 9 FEATURED from understanding how powerful they really are? Because the enemies of justice are very well aware of how much power poor people and working people have. We ourselves tend to forget it, right? So then the art that I create is meant to counter whatever that story is, which is as widely varied as any kind of cultural identity can be. Organizing is really a question of shifting people’s stories. And what is your story about yourself? That’s something you can see very clearly with the current president. For example, the way he tries to achieve policies is to first SR_Ricardo Levins Morales_2 convince people about stories. If he can convince people that immigrants are dangerous, then the policies follow that. And that’s equally true with struggling for justice. You need to create a narrative that really allows people to organize and gain support. For example, if everybody in the community believes that schoolteachers are lazy, apathetic, greedy and don’t care about kids, [then] you’re going to have a hard time when you need good contracts for teachers. My basic mantra with organizing is that the soil is more important than the seeds. The stories that people believe is what determines whether your organizing seeds [and] your projects— your initiatives—are going to take root. Can you tell me about the process of creating your art, from conception to final touches? Conception can really come from any place. Inspiration can be that I run across a quote or I want to depict a certain issue or there’s a story that feels compelling that I want people to know about in terms of history. Or I feel like, “Oh, I haven’t used charcoal or I haven’t done crosshatch for a while.” So the spark can come from all kinds of different directions. When I’ve decided to make a piece, then it comes down to sketching initially, or researching if it’s something that requires historical or cultural accuracy. Then I look up the information that I need in order to make it recognizable to the people most directly affected by it so that it feels authentic. The material I use is called scratch board, which is a clay surface on a wood backing. I brush onto it with ink, with black ink usually, scrape it with knife plates to get the textures, and then add watercolor over that. I come out of a printmaking tradition and my art really has that aesthetic to it, but it’s not actually printmaking form. Finally, do you have a favorite piece, and why? Um, no. [laughs] I just finished opening an exhibit of 50 years of my work. The first pieces I had were done as a teenager and, looking at that range, there are posters that were just perfect for a particular moment but really don’t necessarily have much relevance now except as a piece of history. But they’re all my children. They were right for what they were. There’s some that I use more than others. There’s some that I frequently use in organizing workshops, but the posters are really only meant for a small group: it’s only a small group of people that they’re going to be meaningful to. But to them, they’re going to be very meaningful. Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo Lose Our Fear Training at Central Clinic THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 GLOBAL NDec o v 2 26 - N-oJan v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 423 393 9, 22020 Death And Debt: Ethical Companies Find Ways To Tackle Funeral Poverty Sarah Shearman Reuters W ith average funeral costs edging toward 4,000 pounds ($5,100), dying in Britain has become an expensive proposition - at least for those left behind to pay the bills. When Laura Cunningham's brother died this year, she was still paying for her mother's funeral from more than two years earlier, and had no idea how she would afford another one. Cunningham's story is not uncommon. Even a simple service such as her mother's can cost more than 3,000 pounds. But social enterprises have begun springing up to tackle "funeral poverty", often brought on by upselling of products and services such as flowers and cars that can send grieving families deep into debt. "We didn't have any savings," Cunningham said. "We just work month to month to pay our bills and live basically. We didn't have any money at all." Cunningham did not qualify for government support because she works as a cleaner. But a non-profit funeral director helped Cunningham through with a simple, cut-price cremation for her brother. Glasgow-based Caledonia Cremation is just one social enterprise exploring alternative business models to traditional funeral providers, which are sometimes accused of profiteering. Similar businesses have sprung up in Canada and Australia, including community-owned businesses and funeral services for the people experience homelessness. Poverty With the average cost of a basic funeral at an all-time high of 3,785 pounds, nearly one in eight people in Britain go into debt to bury or cremate loved ones, according to a 2019 study by insurer Royal London. The average debt is almost 2,000 pounds and pushes many into poverty, the annual study found. "It's a nightmare scenario ... with a long-lasting impact," said Paul McColgan, who founded Caledonia Cremation in 2018 after seeing his sister struggle to pay for her husband's funeral. "It's not just a normal grieving process of losing a loved one," he said. "You're dealing with all of that and you are dealing with the worry and torment of not knowing how you are going to pay for it." Caledonia Cremation has carried out about 250 direct cremations, which are carried out without a funeral service and with no mourners in attendance. At a flat 995 pounds with no deposit, it offers a safety net for those who cannot afford a more expensive funeral. Still, about half its customers are not struggling financially. As a social enterprise, Caledonia Cremation will reinvest profits into its mission of preventing funeral poverty, although so far McColgan said it has only just broken even. The cost of a funeral has risen 6% a year – double the rate of inflation – for more than a decade due to rising crematorium fees, a lack of burial plots and the practice of upselling, and Britain's competition watchdog is A woman walks through an old graveyard in London January 30, 2013. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED investigating the industry. It has accused some funeral directors of not being transparent about pricing and of taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable, with grieving customers less likely to shop around. The profit margins of the largest industry players such as Dignity are high by international standards, the watchdog said. Dignity said that since 2016 it has offered more options and price ranges to meet growing demand for lower-cost funerals, including a direct cremation service. Last taboo Compounding the difficulties wrought by funeral poverty is a reticence to even speak of its two main components - death and money. "It's the last great taboo," said Liz Rothschild, co-founder of Westmill Woodland Burial Ground, a natural burial ground in the south of England. "And they come together really poisonously, when you put when you put death and money together," she added. Like Caledonia Cremation, Westmill is registered as a community interest company, a type of social enterprise that reinvests or donates profits and must demonstrate its service to the community – a detail customers appreciate, Rothschild said. Westmill suggests ways for its customers to reduce costs, such as carrying and lowering coffins themselves, but Rothschild said that the business has recently had to raise prices as margins were so tight. Lucy Coulbert, who runs the Individual Funeral Company, said the squeeze was felt across the industry regardless of social enterprise status. While she says big companies that seek to maximise profits are "industrialising funerals", Coulbert does not believe that the social enterprise model is necessarily the solution,calling instead for more government support. Currently it takes weeks for the government to assess and award funeral cost benefits, but Coulbert suggested paying before the funeral could be a simple way to prevent people going into debt. "The market does not need disrupting," she said. "What the market needs is for people to stop thinking that we are here to get money out of people - we're not. "What we're here to do is support somebody, be as transparent and as ethical as we possibly can and let people make their own decisions." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �NDec o. 3926 3 |-NJan ov 29, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 2020 | No. 423 11 GLOBAL Rising Seas Threaten Early End For Sinking Village In Philippines Eloisa Lopez Reuters D anica Martinez, 16, grew up in a house that grows taller every few years. Her father raises the stilts of their bamboo hut so water from the sea doesn't reach the floor. They live in Sitio Pariahan, a coastal village in the Philippines that was once an island, and is now without land. Sitio Pariahan, about 17 kilometres (10.5 miles) north of Manila, is sinking about four centimetres (1.5 inches) every year, owing largely to land subsidence from the population's overuse of groundwater, according to experts. Now rising sea levels caused by global warming could soon make this village unliveable, a problem faced by other countries in Asia, where the poorest communities are worst hit. A deep well is the only source of water, and residents use it to bathe, clean, cook and, sometimes, even to drink. Solar panels are installed on many rooftops for electricity, mostly to watch television that's shared between neighbours. On days that power is low, residents pass the time by gambling. Martinez remembers that their village wasn't always like this. She recalls basketball tournaments and grand feasts that their community once held, so popular that visitors from nearby towns would flock to watch performances, and celebrate mass at the church. The court is now fully submerged, and the church that was once filled with devotees is stained with moss. Much of the destruction happened when Typhoon Nesat struck in 2011, bringing waves Martinez said were as big as houses. She saw how the huts were pulled into the sea, one by one, as she and her siblings held onto bamboo poles. Their school was also destroyed, and left only with walls. More than 50 families left and never returned. Now, Martinez and her siblings take a 30-minute boat ride to school, sometimes with uniforms drenched by big waves. "It seems scary to look at, but you get used to living like this," she said. "It's difficult, but also fun." Her parents rely on their boat to make a living. "Without a boat, you are paralysed," said her mother Mary Jane Martinez, who sells crabs her husband catches to the town's market. She said life in the village was getting harder day by day, but she still preferred it to the city. "If you work hard here, you will survive. You only have to jump on the sea to catch food. In land, you can work hard and still not have enough," she said. Her husband, Domingo, said leaving was not an option, because there is nowhere to go. They once tried to rent an apartment in a nearby town, but moved back shortly after. "Our livelihood is here," he said. "If we are asked to move inland, it would be difficult to make a living. What if we become beggars there?" Fernando Siringan, a climate change expert, has studied Sitio Pariahan closely and said some delta areas north of Manila were changing rapidly because land was subsiding and water levels rising at the same time. "What is being projected 50 years from now or 100 years from now for many parts of the globe is actually happening right now at even faster rates," he said. With wildfires plaguing parts of the United States and Australia, and severe flooding in Europe all being linked to global warming, public pressure is rising on cost-conscious governments to find urgent solutions. Danica sees no future in living permanently in what has become like a scene from Waterworld, the 1995 film starring Kevin Costner, where postapocalyptic tribes live on boats and rafts. "Someday I also want to leave and experience what it's like to live inland," she said. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo Nancy Manalaysay, 54, a church caretaker, cleans a crucifix in a partly submerged church in the coastal village Sitio Pariahan, Bulakan Bulacan, north of Manila, Philippines, November 26, 2019. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez The Martinez family spend time together on the roof of their bamboo hut, which is risen on stilts, in the submerged coastal village Sitio Pariahan, Bulakan, Bulacan, north of Manila, Philippines, November 25, 2019. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Domingo Martinez, 40, drives his daughters Danica, 16, and Cindy, 14, to school on his boat, in a nearby town in Bulakan, Bulacan, north of Manila, Philippines, November 25, 2019. REUTERS/ Eloisa Lopez A bamboo hut sits on top of concrete structures in the submerged coastal village Sitio Pariahan, Bulakan, Bulacan, north of Manila, Philippines, on November 25, 2019. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 Goodbye Saying Goodbye is such a hard thing to do It's like taking a Rock and breaking glass You Can't fix it It's too shattered It's too broken Shattered pieces of glass everywhere unfixable tiny pieces remaining If you try to pick up the pieces of Glass You may cut yourself Goodbye and So Long STREETVOICE N ov 2 o v 19, 2 0 18 ||No. N o .423 393 Dec 26- N - Jan 9, 2020 SANTA CLAUS Today while watching the news I heard that Santa Claus arrived in a helicopter They also talked about tax cuts and how the politicians were eating out at Red Lobsters What happened to the days when the bells rang for Santa Claus, his reindeer and sled? What happened to the belief in miracles and all the little children went to bed Waiting for that glorious morning to open all the presents that Santa left under the tree Asking questions about how he brought all the gifts down the smoke filled chimney Waiting day and night, trying to be good all for Christmas so we'd be granted the ultimate blessing Looking back and understanding that as a child I was tricked, Santa in a helicopter that's a new lesson to the glass that got broke and is now shattered Without the holiday's Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Goodbye is the final song thankful for Jesus birth just to name a few To the broken glass that became the Goodbye Song Kim Green Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor what else is there to really look forward too Without giving thanks for so many blessings and being So for me Christmas has somehow lost the true spirit and has been misunderstood by all We must always remember God's blessings, don't forget to give thanks and bring back Rudolph the red nose reindeer driving Santa Claus!!!! Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 Nov 2 N o v 19, 2 0423 18 Dec 263 -| Jan 9,- 2020 | No. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like DECK THE HALLS Hypocrisy Once again the Christmas trees are decorated and lit; the smell of sweets and baked goods are in the air and churches post, “Put Christ back in Christmas!” Maybe, just maybe somebody should put Christ (a.k.a. Jesus) into the hearts and minds of those Christians who did not learn Christ was not a bigot or capitalist! Deck the halls with green, soft money, Fa-la-la-la-la - attack ads too. It's a campaign's milk and honey, Fa-la-la-la-la - attack ads too. Now our polls opinions measure, Fa-la-la-la-la-la - attack ads too. While we hustle campaign treasure, Fa-la-la-la-la - attack ads too. Maybe I got it wrong. Let’s see Jesus (Christ) was a Jewish baby; who was a person of color; whose family was BILL WOODS Contributing Writer homeless; whose mother was pregnant before she got married; and who had to escape into Egypt as refugees--that Jesus (Christ) you say is the reason for the season? Although that is a very simplistic account of events, there was also something about serving the least of these. As a Christian who went to Sunday School quite often as a young person I am confused. We still have no “room” for children; no mercy for the poor; no compassion for those who are marginalized, and no love for each other. And that command’ “Love each other as I have Loved you,” is just sarcastic hypocrisy floating in the air like smog, choking the life out of Hope. Are you sure you ever had Christ in your Christmas? June Alexander Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 109 Across 1. Exchange 5. Curved masonary structure 9. Hold firmly 14. Present location 15. Commercial transaction 16. Artery 17. Fury 18. Leg joint 19. Promise solemnly 20. Start abruptly 22. Sodium chloride 24. Challenge 25. Staining substance 26. Heavy metallic element 28. Beam 30. Oval fruit 31. Snakelike fish 32. Consumed 35. Thoroughfare 38. Run away quickly 39. At this time 40. Support 41. Subdued 42. Shrivelled 43. Lubricant 44. At any time 46. Brief period of precipitation 48. Digit 49. Line 50. Water hen 51. Floor covering 52. Exchange goods for money 53. A quick short straight punch 56. Not in favor of 59. Malevolent 61. Musical composition 63. Tied 65. Shaft 67. Public violence 68. Boredom 69. Male red deer 70. Unit of area 71. Taunt 72. Novice 73. Rind Down 1. Small piece of cloth or paper PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #108 2. Fatigued 3. Debate 4. A secret look 5. Request 6. Payment for the release of someone 7. Remove unwanted substances from 8. Part of a shoe 9. Fuel 10. Raucous 11. Length by width 12. Principal actor 13. Trim 21. Roofing material 23. Large woody plant 27. Furrow 29. Beer 30. Liveliness and energy 31. Tree 32. Afresh 33. Ripped 34. Pitcher 35. Blemish 36. Group of three 37. Theatrical part 38. Conifer 41. Condensation 42. Chronic drinker 44. Historic period 45. Referendum 46. Ancient Roman god 47. Cavity 50. Storage space where wines are stored 51. Arithmetic operation 52. Value of Roman numerals LX 53. Liquid extracted from fruit or vegetables 54. Worship 55. Asian pepper plant 56. Assist in wrongdoing 57. Not any 58. Large marine food and game fish 60. Immense 62. Snare 64. Perish 66. Self NDec o v 226 - N-oJan v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 423 393 9, 22020 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 5- EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 4- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |-NJan ov 29, - 2020 N o v 19, 2 0 423 18 Dec 26 | No. Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NDec o v 2 26 - N-oJan v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 9,22020 No. 423 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 26, 2019-January 9, 2020 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: When the Truth Doesn’t Matter Pg 3: Criminalization Hitting the Fan at National Level Under Trump Appointment of Robert Marbut to Usiach Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Environmentalist Carol Van Strum Pg 6: Putting Impeachment in Perspective Homelessness Report Pg 7: You’ve Got Mail Pg 8: At the Crossroads of Art and Social Justice Pg 9: At the Crossroads of Art and Social Justice Continued Pg 10: Death and Debt Pg 11: Rising Seas Threaten Early and for Sinking Village in Philippines Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 26, 2019-January 9, 2020 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Jonathan Emily Green Bill Woods Amanda Baker Casey Miller Sarah Shearman Eloisa Lopez Dr. Mark Mussman Willa Denise Jones June Alexander Kim Greene INSP.com Blake Burrell Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Amanda Baker Bill Woods Blake Burrell Carol Van Strum Casey Miller Donald Trump Dr. Mark Mussman Eloisa Lopez Emily Green Environmentalist Gabriela Godinez Impeachment INSP.com Jonathan June Alexander Kim Greene Philippines Sarah Shearman Social Justice Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/76d26bae37374821b5f46bb15d745d7f.pdf e6034159406b27a1ce27535f28e13ead PDF Text Text Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. BLACK HISTORY MONTH Special Edition This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 21-March 2 - N o v 19,7,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 401 From The Director: History Isn’t a Series of Stories Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Josh Spring giving a speech. Credit:Amanda Meet JOSH SPRING Executive Director W hen we talk about history, we tend to discuss particular individuals, groups or campaigns that were covered in abundance by the press and that accomplished specific changes. Or we look at history as a series of highlighted stories through decades. These parts of history are very important and certainly can serve as inspiration for our work continuing. But not looking at the whole picture and instead seeing history as a limited number if inspirational stories can make systemic change seem unobtainable. Take for example the “Civil Rights Movement”. We learn about “Brown v. Board of Education”, “Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott”, the “Little Rock Nine”, the “Lunch Counter Sit-Ins”, “Ruby Bridges”, “Freedom Riders”, “Marches, Dogs, Hoses and Bombs in Birmingham”, the “March on Washington”, “I Have a Dream”, the “Civil Rights Act”, the “March to Montgomery”, the “Poor Peoples’ Campaign” and the assassination of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I list each of these in quotations because the way history is taught and discussed, these actions have in many ways been made into products that sell books, movies and are used by corporations to fain care. For many they have become stories of the past you hear about, with larger than life characters who had some genius ideas, unfettered focus and through these this limited list of events, accomplished major changes. What do most people think about this information? They feel uplifted and thankful. What does history told in this way lead most people to do? You might say to yourself, “Well, I can’t have that unfettered focus because I have to go to work, I have to feed my kids, I have to pay the rent” or “I have to find a home, I have to avoid harassment by the police, I have to deal with family issues, I have to play with my children…”. Or perhaps, “Well, I don’t have any genius ideas”, “I’m not good at giving speeches”, “I don’t know how to lead a march or organize a boycott.” So then we say, “I really wish we had a ‘Martin Luther King’ today, we really need a strong leader.” But here’s the thing, history, systemic change and over-throw of systems don’t actually happen in a series of stories led by fearless, other-worldly strategic geniuses with nothing else going on in their lives. No, changing systems and creating and implementing new systems are accomplished by the hard work of many people, with different sets of strengths and limitations and with lots going on in their lives. The larger than life characters in these stories were not larger than life. They struggled, screwed up, got distracted at times, had other close people to care for, got confused and were not isolated islands spitting out perfect ideas and plans. These stories are not story-book at all. They all involve people going to long meetings, arguing about tactics, trying to agree on goals, planning actions and then having to reschedule them, implementing plans that work and plans that don’t. People didn’t one day just decide to make some major move that would have long-lasting impact. People planned, evaluated, fed their kids, attended marches, went to school, gave speeches, cleaned their dishes, cried, looked for employment, clapped, struggled to pay the rent, felt scared but supported each other, read, led, followed and everything else humans have to do both to live and force change. The gathering of people created support systems that allowed this to be possible. We learn about all of these stories that from the tell of it seemed to achieve major accomplishments through a limited number of wonderful actions. We don’t learn about all of the many, many more other actions, both successful and unsuccessful. We don’t learn about the many boycotts in small towns, the neighborhood marches to stop displacement, the workers gathering to demand fair wages, the many lawsuits to challenge inhumane municipal laws, the disruption of discriminatory meetings, the rallies against red-lining, the establishment of neighborhood-serving organizations, the sit-ins at public offices, etc. We don’t learn about the hours, days, months and years of knocking on doors, streetcorner conversations, hanging flyers, making phone calls, cooking meals for gatherings, documenting evidence, honing statements and crafting demands. People and organizations behind current inhumane systems want us to think that movements are the result of one or a few special people. In fact, they, themselves, want to believe that too, because, for them the reality that movement and the topple of injustice is led by small groups of regular people who build into larger and larger groups of regular people, is much scarier. We have the power. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Patricia Patton, William Schomberg, Simon Daveson, Alessandro Jedlowski, Felix Winternitz, Key Beck, Dr. Mark Mussman, Bill Woods, Janiah Miller, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, Janiah Miller, June Alexander, Ricardo Taylor, Mo Poetry Phillps ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, Amanda Meek ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 7, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 21-March | No. 401 3 COALITION Segregation Then, Segregation Now DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer T he Cincinnati region is home to segregated neighborhoods and schools. The typical American mantra is that we have overcome segregation and with that, we’ve created a level playing field. Recently, I wrote about how little has changed in Cincinnati over the past couple of decades, and I mentioned that schools are more segregated now than ever, especially when it comes to income segregation. As an educator, I wanted to dig deeper into racial segregation in our schools. There is considerable educational research that shows that educational success is only linked to two indicators: family income and school expenditures on curricular materials. In Ohio, these two things are intricately linked, as school funding is dependent on property taxes. In a few rare cases, there are some communities who are able to offset their residential property taxes with commercial property taxes, but for the most part, if a neighborhood has expensive homes, the schools in the neighborhood will be able to spend more per student. The school that spends the most in Ohio, spends nearly $40,000 per student on their education. In Hamilton County, Indian Hill spends the most per student; in 2016 that number was nearly $20,000. These amounts dwarf the $10,000 spent on each student in Cincinnati Public Schools. As my work brings me in and out of schools on a constant basis, I am always surprised when I visit a non-segregated school. It is rare, but it does happen. I wondered what this would look like, on a statistical level, so I began doing a data search. The State of Ohio keeps records on public schools, but does not provide information on charter, private, or religious schools. Since the segregation in the Catholic Schools in Cincinnati seems to be anecdotely related to racism: as my family members have vocally said they will send their children to Catholic schools because there are “too many Black people” in the public schools, I can readily and wholeheartedly say that the push for a Catholic school education comes more out of racism than their adherence to Catholic beliefs. However, the Catholic schools in Cincinnati aren’t completely white, as many schools are completely Black, especially at the elementary level. An example of this is in East Walnut Hills, where St. Francis de Sales Elementary is almost entirely African American, and Mercy Montessori, just a few blocks away is mostly white. Until the demographic information is made available, we can just go from our experience, and know the Black Catholic schools and the white Catholic schools. Focusing on the public schools has the benefit of also thinking deeper into the racial dynamics of the neighborhood, or municipality, in which the schools operate. In my research, I am including the demographic data from 49 local schools. I was unable to get Ohio data from Dater, Gamble, Taft, and Seven Hills School, which I suspect are each racially segregated. I also had to use Mason Middle School data, as the high school data wasn’t on the state’s page. Finally, Harrison High School data was not available. However, the data I did collect represents more than 50,000 students in the Cincinnati region, in Ohio. I did not include Northern Kentucky, although recents reports put that region near the top of the most economically segregated schools in America. When school desegregation efforts were in full swing in the 1970’s, the definition of segregation was a school with 70% or more of one race or ethnic group. This is the standard that I am using here. The results below show that most students in Cincinnati go to a segregated school. The level of segregation would be shocking, if we didn’t expect this to be the case. Of the 50,274 students in the 49 local schools, 34,814 students attended racially segregated schools. Far more than half of the attendees. 9 schools have less than 10 African American students in attendance: Ross, Claremont-Eastern, BethelTate, New Richmond, Goshen, Taylor, Mariemont, Batavia, and Madeira. The total population of these schools is 5,237 students. Less than 90 students total, in all of these schools, are African American. Ross High School has the distinct honor of the most white, at 98%. Other schools that are 90% or more white include: Amelia, Loveland, Turpin, Anderson, Oak Hills, Milford, and Little Miami Local School District. Schools in the 80-89% white category include Lebanon, Kings, Reading, Monroe, and Indian Hill. Schools that are 70-79% white include: Wyoming, Lakota, Deer Park, and Norwood. This leaves Sycamore on the border at 67% with a 8% African American population. It should be noted, that these levels of segregation are not natural, and that segregation comes from decades of racism in housing, education, employment, transportation, health care, etc. None of this “just happens” but rather it is a concerted effort by banks, real estate professionals, racist policies, and policing. Many of these communities were “Whites Only” communities, through redlining, restrictive covenants, and other concerted efforts to exclude people of color from settling there. This is also not some historical issue, if it was, then we wouldn’t continue to have severely segregated schools. There’s another side to this, where schools are segregated at more than 70% African American. The most segregated Black school is Woodward, (again Taft data wasn’t available, which I suspect is very highly segregated as well), with 94% African American, and 1% white. Shroder comes in second at 93% African American, followed by Hughes at 90%, Aiken at 86%, Withrow at 83%, North College Hill at 81%, Western Hills at 78%, Mount Healthy at 74%, and Virtual High at 70% African American. Other than North College Hill and Mount Healthy, these are Cincinnati Public Schools. Generational poverty creates a more expensive remedy for these schools, as schools are forced to pick up more slack, even serving two or three meals a day, ramping up wrap-around services such as medical care, and providing familybased education options. Schools that are majority white have less additional expenses because of the generational wealth that our public policies granted them over the last generations. There are some schools that aren’t so severely segregated, but I might argue are still segregated, but they have a larger Hispanic or Asian population, which tilts the numbers into 3 boxes, instead of two: African American and white. This includes Princeton, which is 23% white, 46% African American, and 21% Hispanic. While no one is a majority alone, it reaches segregation levels while including Asian and Pacific Islander as well. Also, I would put Mason City Schools into this category as well, with 61% white, but less than 4% African American. There is a large Asian population in Mason schools, at 24% of the student body. Winton Woods also fits in this category with 27% of the students of Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial identity. A discussion about the socalled “model minority” in education, what that means for other minorities, and how this dilutes race-based measures, will need to be saved for another article, but it’s an important consideration when looking at the statistics. We are left with 11,120 students who attend desegregated schools, based upon the formula I discussed above (70% threshold). Each of the following 10 schools have less than 70% of a single race or minority grouping. The percentage of African American and white students total in each school is between 80 and 88 percent. While these numbers may not accurately portray the community within which the school resides, as there are other schools, such as charter and religious schools, it may make a statement about the school’s commitment to creating a social system that enables students to make informed decisions on their exposure to people of different ethnicities. Four of the schools, Clark Montessori, Oyler, SCPA, and Walnut Hills are Cincinnati public schools, while the other six are mostly suburban schools: Colerain, Fairfield, Finneytown, Lockland, Northwest, and St. Bernard/Elmwood Place. Only one school, SCPA is more than 50% African American, at 53%. These numbers don’t get to deeper issues of representation. What does it matter if a school’s student population is desegregated if there are no African American teachers or administrators? How are Black students treated differently when it comes to punishments, or even advance courses such as AP? What is the graduation rate for African American students? What is the level of police presence in each school? How are the relationships different between students and staff, including detention guards and so-called School Resource Officers? But what we can gleam from this data is that we are still in an active mode of segregation when the vast majority of our students attend extremely segregated schools, live in segregated neighborhoods, and ultimately, live segregated lives. Graph Shows that most students attend segregated schools, with the vast majority of white students attending segregated schools. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 221-March - N o v 19, 7, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 Feb. | No. 401 �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 - 7, No v 19,| 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March 2019 No. 5 U.S. NEWS Reflections On African-Americans And Politics - 1963-2019 BILL WOODS ContributingWriter H ow have AfricanAmericans fared in the political process in the last five and a half decades? This period covers the flowering of the Civil Rights Movement and the election of the first African-American President. It's a time frame that produced major advancements, but also left large problems and issues to be addressed. When Streetvibes editor Gabriela Godinez-Feregrino decided to dedicate this issue to Black History Month, she asked me to do a piece on AfricanAmericans and politics. As an aging white man, I took on this assignment with trepidation. Nevertheless, I determined to offer my observations on this theme beginning with the year I graduated from college in 1963. Much of the South was still legally segregated in the early 1960s, and I graduated from a Midwestern college that still accepted national fraternities on campus that prohibited AfricanAmericans from membership. During the summer after graduation in 1963, I landed a temporary job writing press releases for the City Charter Committee, Cincinnati's reform political party. It was a Council election year, and Charter was determined to reelect Theodore M. Berry, an African-American attorney, to that body. Under the PR-voting system (proportional representation), Berry had been elected to Council by large margins, but the voters abolished PR in 1957. Political observers at the time attribute the successful effort to eliminate proportional representation to a whispering campaign that Berry was getting too powerful and might eventually become mayor. That summer was also the backdrop for the March on Washington, where thousands of African-Americans rallied for Civil Rights. I remember on that August afternoon, Forest Frank, the Director of the Charter Committee, called me into his office to watch this event on a small television set. In that setting, I heard Martin Luther King give his "I have a dream" speech. It was impossible not to be moved by his powerful words, and I think I unconsciously thought that this was an historic moment. From August onward, Dr. King became one of the key figures in the Civil Rights movement, and more and more effective, peaceful protests took place throughout the South. Meanwhile here in Cincinnati that November, Theodore Berry won back a seat on Council. In the next few years, the movement moved forward on a number of fronts throughout the country. For instance in Washington, D.C., a flurry of activity took place. Lyndon Johnson became an activist President after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and he was able to move legislation along that had been bogged down for a long time. One of the major Civil Rights laws that passed during this period was the Voting Rights Act, an act that for years helped eliminate state laws designed to prevent African- Americans from voting and participating in the political process. President Johnson also launched what he called "The War on Poverty," a plan that brought about urban projects such as the Community Action Program, Model Cities, and additional funding for housing and job training. These initiative weren't sufficient to eliminate poverty, but they did provide needed assistance to inner city Black neighborhoods. These Civil Rights advances caused several backlashes in the country. Politicians such as Alabama Governor George Wallace made his reputation by defying the new federal laws, and the once solid Democratic South began its shift to the Republican Party. The urban riots that took place in cities across the nation from 1966-1968 were in part due to Black inner city residents feeling that all the fanfare about Civil Rights and desegregation had not done much to improve their lives. Meanwhile more AfricanAmericans were elected to public office. Changing urban demographics made this possible, and when Carl Stokes was elected Mayor of Cleveland in 1967, he became the first African-American mayor of a major U.S. city. When I was teaching at Wilmington College in 1969, I interviewed the Mayor when he received an honorary degree at the College's graduation ceremonies. This trend continued. Not only were more and more AfricanAmericans selected as mayors, but also a number of them were elected to Congress from cities such as Detroit, Cleveland, and New York City. In fact, Lewis Stokes, Carl Stokes' brother, was elected to Congress from a Cleveland area district, and he served for years as an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus. A precursor to Barack Obama's successful campaign for President in 2008 was the Rev. Jesse Jackson's credible bid for the Democratic nomination for that office in 1988. In short, the progress of AfricanAmericans winning public office has gone forward to the present day. Finally, Barack Obama was elected to the nation's highest office for two terms. At the moment, at least two African-Americans are vying for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020. Nevertheless, several major problems plague our political system today that makes life difficult for millions of African- Americans. The influence of "big money" in political campaigns at all levels gives way too much influence to wealthy interest groups. Little attention in recent times has been paid to growing poverty and income inequality, and a large percentage of low-income families and individuals are African-American. The safety net of programs and services for people in need has been gutted over the last three decades. Reforms must put in place that will make average Americans, and especially people in need, the focus of attention of our elected representatives. A second problem for AfricanAmericans is their minimal influence on the Republican Party. In the last fifty years, the Party of Lincoln has become the white man's party, and Republican officials tend to ignore Civil Rights issues or issues of urban poverty. This fact makes the Democratic Party the only political outlet for AfricanAmericans. In summary, African-Americans have had a lot of progress politically over the last half-century, and that fact should be celebrated. However, it must not be ignored that the U.S. is at turning point in dealing with some critical economic, social, and political issues. We all must make some adequate public responses to them or accept a steady decline. Racial Analysis within Homelessness PATRICIA PATTON Contributing Writer I t was a chilly crisp morning as I walked to the bus stop on my way to work. Almost daily after I arrive and secure my space to wait, I am confronted by a frumpily dressed white male asking for money to buy him a cup of coffee. My feelings are mixed: should I give him something or should I, as so many others do, dismiss him? Should I reply with the standard response, “why don’t you get a job?” While I often comply by giving them a dollar or two, long after my act of generosity the questions in my head remain. Why am I helping a white male? I mean, given their gender and race, they run the world; the sky’s the limit. I wonder do they know the power they possess? The question inspired me to look further into the challenges this population faces, so I did some research and found that according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness there are currently 10,095 homeless people across the state of Ohio. In addition, Take Away, a public radio program, states that African Americans comprise 12.6 percent of the population, yet 40 percent are classified as homeless. Furthermore, Dr. Marion Moser Jones, a professor with the University of Maryland School of Public Health who has studied the homeless from 1985-2015, states that the causes of homelessness between the two races differ. For blacks discrimination, social isolation, and drug abuse could factor. While for whites homelessness is usually due to or is the result of mental illness, disability, and alcohol abuse. Also factor in a limited availability of housing for blacks and economic inequalities in general. While both races share the devastating reality of homelessness the reasons and or causes of the condition veer. Black woman who become homeless are usually more likely to have THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED experienced sexual abuse, while white women are more likely to be victims of physical abuse. Blacks are more likely to have experienced poverty in childhood, while white homeless adults experienced varying forms of abuse coming up. In conclusion, these studies suggests that non-profit agencies designed to help the homeless should not only think about providing housing for them, but look into the array of cultural differences, and needs that contribute to this chronic condition. I believe that with this in mind we will inspire long lasting change and hence diminish the chance of homelessness from recurring again and again. �GLOBAL 6 N o v 221-March - N o v 19, 7, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 Feb. | oNo. 401 African churches boom in London's backstreets Members of the eternal sacred order of cherubim & seraphim church parade through the street to celebrate their annual thanksgiving in elephant and castle, london, britain, july 29, 2018. the church was founded by moses orimolade tunolase in 1925 in nigeria and is attended by worshippers of nigerian descent who come from all over the country for services. reuters/simon dawson WILLIAM SCHOMBERG & SIMON DAWESON Reuters O n a cold, grey Sunday morning, in a street lined with shuttered builders' yards and storage units, songs of prayer in the West African language of Yoruba ring out from a former warehouse that is now a church. The congregation, almost entirely dressed in white robes, steadily grows to around 70 people as musicians playing drums, a keyboard and a guitar pick up the pace of the hymns. Some women prostrate themselves on the floor in prayer. In the sparse formerly industrial building, its interior brightened by touches of gold paint, a speaker reminds the group of a list of banned activities -no smoking, no drinking of alcohol, no practicing of black magic. In a street outside, a pastor flicks holy water over the car of a woman who wants a blessing to ward off the risk of accidents. The busy scene at the Celestial Church of Christ is repeated at a half a dozen other African Christian temples on the same drab street and in the adjacent roads - one corner of the thriving African church community in south London. Around 250 black majority churches are believed to operate in the borough of Southwark, where 16 per cent of the population identifies as having African ethnicity. Southwark represents the biggest concentration of African Christians in the world outside the continent with an estimated 20,000 congregants attending churches each Sunday, according to researchers at the University of Roehampton. Reflecting the different waves of migration to Britain in the 20th Century, Caribbean churches began to appear in the late 1940s and 1950s as workers and their families arrived from Jamaica and other former British colonies. African churches opened their doors in London from the 1960s, followed by a second wave in the 1980s. Migrants, many of them from Nigeria and Ghana, sought to build communities and maintain cultural connections with their home countries by founding their own churches, often founded in private homes, schools and office spaces. As the communities grew, the churches moved into bigger spaces in bingo halls, cinemas and warehouses, gathering congregations of up to 500 people where services are streamed online by volunteers with video cameras. There is a striking contrast with the empty pews at many traditional Church of England churches where congregations have dwindled for years. "We pray for this country," said Abosede Ajibade, a 54-year-old Nigerian who moved to Britain in 2002 and works for an office maintenance company. "People here brought Christianity to Africa but it doesn't feel like they serve Jesus Christ anymore." Anyone travelling around south London on a Sunday morning will see worshippers, often dressed in dazzlingly coloured African clothes, making their way to churches, each with their different styles of worship. Hymns are sung only in African languages in some temples, or only in English at others. Some pastors take worshippers for full immersion baptisms in the cold of the English Channel. Others believe that when congregants suddenly start speaking in unknown languages it marks the presence of the Holy Spirit. But the researchers from the University of Roehampton found things that many churches have in common, including a drive for professional advancement, a commitment to spend three hours or more at Sunday service and typically very loud worship. “That is how we express our joy and gratitude to God," Andrew Adeleke, a senior pastor at the House of Praise, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED one of the biggest African churches in Southwark, in a former theatre. “The church is not supposed to be a graveyard," Adeleke said. "It is supposed to be a temple of celebration and worship and the beauty is to be able to express our love to God, even when things are not perfect in our lives." For some, the noise from amplified services is a problem, leading to complaints to local authorities from residents. But many churches face bigger challenges than unhappy neighbours: Some provide food for people struggling to make ends meet, or work with young people at risk of recruitment by gangs. Andrew Rogers, who led the University of Roehampton researchers, said pastors had to juggle retaining the churches' African identity while appealing to children of first generation immigrants, many of whom have never lived outside Britain. They typically have a more liberal world view which can be hard to reconcile with conservative Pentecostal teachings. Rogers recalled speaking to one pastor who lamented he was unable to talk about religious miracles to his children. "If the church doesn't adapt, then they are going to leave and look elsewhere," Rogers said. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL N o. 39 3 | Nov 2 - 7, N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March No. 7 Netflix and Nollywood: What the streaming giant’s involvement in Nigeria’s massive film industry means ALESSANDRO JEDLOWSKI Reuters G lobal streaming service Netflix set its eyes a few years ago on Nigeria’s film industry, better known as Nollywood. Distribution of Nigerian movies on Netflix started around 2015. At the time the American giant bought the rights of blockbusters such as Kunle Afolayan’s October 1st, Biyi Bandele’s Fifty and several others, after they had already been distributed in Nigerian cinemas. During the Toronto International Film Festival 2018, Netflix announced the acquisition of worldwide exclusive distribution rights for Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaji’s debut film as director, the comedy Lionheart. The film marked the first Netflix original film from Nigeria. Many saw this as the beginning of a new era in the relationship between one of the world largest streaming platforms and Africa’s most prolific film industry. But, is this actually true? Is Netflix going to transform Nollywood? And how significant will its impact on the Nigerian film industry be? Difficult questions These are not easy questions to answer. Nollywood’s economy and modes of production are unlike those of most other film industries. Over the past 20 years, Nigerian films have circulated mostly on videotapes and Video Compact Discs (VCDs). This distribution system made the industry widely popular across Africa and its diaspora. But it prevented Nollywood from consolidating its economy and raising the quality of film production. Piracy dramatically eroded distribution revenues and producers had trouble monetising the distribution of their films. Nollywood prioritised straight-to-video distribution because cinema theatres had almost disappeared in the country (as in most other parts of Africa) as a result of the catastrophic economic crisis that affected Nigeria in the 1980s. New multiplexes have emerged since the beginning of the 2000s. However, today there are only about 150 widescreens for a population of almost two hundred million people. The cinemas that exist are often too expensive for most of the population that used to buy and watch Nollywood films when they were distributed on tapes. Within this context, many in the industry thought that streaming could be the best solution to the industry’s problems with distribution. However, a closer look to the history of what has been labelled the “Nigerian Netflix” (iROKO.tv, the leading streaming platform for Nigerian contents) shows that the reality is more complicated. When the company decided to move its headquarters from Manhattan to Lagos it encountered countless difficulties. They were mainly connected to the costs of infrastructure development in Nigeria and to the hostility of local distributors who controlled Nollywood’s economy since its creation. Weak internet Internet connection in Nigeria is still too weak and expensive to guarantee easy access to streaming platforms. As a result, Nollywood content distributed by iROKO.tv and Netflix circulates mostly in the diaspora. Netflix is aware of this problem and is investing in infrastructures to secure a better connection for its Nigerian audiences. But larger investments seem to be necessary to produce a significant impact on audiences’ behaviour. Accessing Nollywood films via piracy or local screening venues will continue to be, at least in my view, the key strategy adopted by the largest percentage of Nigerian viewers. Netflix could have better chances in across Africa through its Africa Magic channels, has reacted nervously to Netflix’s increased interest in African markets. MultiChoice wants Netflix to be more closely regulated. These two aren’t the only telecommunication “superpowers” in the field. France’s Canal Plus and the Chinese StarTimes have also made a few investments in Nollywood over the past few years. The competition among all these actors will probably have a positive impact for viewers across Nigeria and the continent. It could bring lower subscription fees for streaming and TV content packages. There are also likely to be new investments in content production and infrastructures. And there’s larger continental and global exposure for Nollywood films in the offing. Foreign investments It remains to be seen how good these developments will be for Nollywood producers. Until now, foreign investments in Nollywood have mostly translated into “more of the same” content. Working conditions for crews and actors have remained the same – basically, low budgets and quick shooting schedules. in production budgets. Rather, they invest in better structuring distribution networks to extract as much profit as possible from the Nigerian industry. And most African audiences are indeed happy with how Nollywood is, even if they tend to complain regularly about the low quality and the repetition of film contents and aesthetics. The fact that Nollywood as it is keeps on attracting audiences makes investors reluctant to change the scale of their production budgets. There are a few bigger productions, with higher production standards, that have emerged over the past few years in Nollywood. But they have hardly been the result of investments made by foreign firms like Netflix, Canal Plus or MultiChoice. Nigerian producers are those who are mostly concerned about raising the quality of Nollywood films. They want to give better content to their audiences and reach global screens. In most cases, the people investing money in these kinds of projects have been independent producers or groups of investors related to the new business of multiplexes in Nigeria. In my view, the question is: will these people benefit from Netflix, so as to continue investing in higher quality A boy is seen through a camera monitor as he acts in a scene during the making of "Ake", a film based on the childhood memoirs of Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, in Abeokuta, southwest Nigeria July 16, 2013. Nigeria's movie business, often known as Nollywood, is one of the biggest in the world. Most films are produced in local languages - Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo among them - while many others are made in English. Nollywood also has a growing audience among Africans living abroad, keen for a taste of home, whether watched in south London hairdressers or rented from Texas video stores. Nigeria shot its first film, "Palaver" (Trouble), in 1904. Picture taken July 16, 2013. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye penetrating the country’s elite market, as richer people in Nigeria and across Africa have easier access to reliable power supply and internet. This might be the reason why MultiChoice, the South African telecommunication giant controlling much of Nollywood distribution In fact, big investors seem to be mainly interested in Nollywood’s already established popularity with African audiences. Making Nollywood more palatable for international audiences doesn’t seem to feature. This means that in most cases they are not ready to invest bigger money THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED content? Or will Netflix and other international companies end up taking over the industry to make it only a bit more of the same? Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 221-March - N o v 19,7, 2 02019 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 401 Sidewalk Smart FELIX WINTERNITZ Contributing Writer R on English is busy dodging delivery vans and the odd streetcar when we first meet at the corner of 12th and Vine. It seems fated we’ll cross paths almost immediately three more times, once as he’s displaying his chalk art along Main Street during a Final Friday, then later on the crowded avenue outside the Pendleton Art Center, and finally sharing the Metro bus to Madisonville (on Jan. 20, 2019) where English is busy preparing to premiere his showing of paintings at the neighborhood’s community center. “On the street outside” is a phrase that probably best describes this Picasso of the sidewalk set. He’s a longtime outsider looking inside the Cincinnati art world from a distance, a bad boy who inhabits the streets and corner stoops of OTR rather than the posh galleries of, say, a Mount Adams or Hyde Park. “Hey, I know you!” English shouts at our last random meeting. It’s seems like karma has come calling, fateful crossings which demand a story on this outgoing street personality. English, for his part, is happy to converse about painting: “My hand just starts to move, and I don’t know if I’m in control of it,” says English of his creative process. “It’s more like a dream.” In a sit-down interview, Ron Ron English, Over-the-rhine street artist, posing with original work. Photo Credit: Felix Winternitz English appears animated and enthusiastic, prone to bold statements. English, in fact, is likely Over-therhine’s most visible street artist. His meandering home base can be found along Main and Vine adjoining the Liberty strip; his colorful chalk-on- cardboard canvas, however, proves universal … “I want to believe in myself so that I can leave my legacy behind,” English remarks. “I want to live a life of honesty, righteousness, and in peace. … I have a dream of happiness and spiritual blessings, of a poor man’s honor, to achieve and thrive for growth, to form myself to be a very unique person.” Ron English’s medium is plainly cardboard, chalk and colored pencils. He’s a vendor for the street-corner shoppers, selling his wares to make a living. His gallery is somewhere between the Brewery District in “NoLi” (North of Liberty) and the Gateway Quarter in “SoLi” (South of Liberty). English artfully crosses between these two districts, two distinct realms of Liberty that are worlds apart. “I say you should be around people because you love them for who they are and not what they have,” states this artist, advocating – without any prompt – his unusual lifestyle; he gladly elaborates on his perceptions. “Love is the true power.” Local artist Ellen Stedtefeld prizes the three English originals she owns: “I like the vibrancy of his pastels, but I like the precision of the colored pencils. Both have a great sense of energy and life. “For my birthday, my sister and her boyfriend bought me three original artworks by Ron English,” continues THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Stedtefeld. “As I understand, English considers himself as an outsider artist as he has little to no formal training, but a strong desire to create. “Like many outsider artists, he makes his work out of humble materials –cardboard, colored pencils and chalk pastels – and he sells them on the streets in downtown Cincinnati,” explains Stedtefeld of her fondness for the sidewalk art. “As the resident art expert in the family, I am often asked ‘Is that really art?’ and in the case of Ron English, I give a resounding YES.” For an outsider, Ron English certainly has his fans. The Prairie Art Collective recently showed a selection of English’s pastel drawings on cardboard as well as a site-specific mural. As the reception announcement put it, “A well-known street artist, he’s seen showing his work on doorsteps and street-corners. English produces Cubist pastel drawings ‘inspired by the Lord.’ ” The ebth.com web sales site currently lists this English original for $35: “An original triptych of marker and crayon drawings on found cardboard by contemporary Cincinnati artist English, (who) mainly produces Cubist figural drawings. These images depict stunning minimalistic abstracted portraits of three men drawn in black ink with subtle blue crayon accents. The pieces are titled Man, Man, and Lincoln.” �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 -7, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March English even attracted the attention of well-known muralist Jan Brown Checco as part of a community project entitled the “Murals and Can-paign” project. The themes and images consisted of temporary murals created for the Vine Street corridor between Central Parkway and Liberty Street. The inspiration came from the hearts and minds of young people living in Over the Rhine. The workshop engaged 60 participants during five months at Peaslee Neighborhood Center, a convocation teaching the teens “to be more aware of the importance of public art and its responsibility to uplift life on the streets.” Finally, there are these observations from the Intu Outsider Art web site, produced by a tag-team of area artists: “We drove down to Main Street bustling with the activities of the monthly Final Friday. We knew our destination. We FEATURE saw Ronald English sitting on the stoop [and] was conversing with passers-by and had cardboard and his colored pencils. He waved excitedly and raised a framed piece as a flag. “We parked and by the time we had gotten to the storefronts of Shadeau and Envoi, he had already made his way down the street. [English] said he had heard about ‘this website’ and said he wanted to sell the drawing he had done of a personality from American Idol. He said ‘it looks just like her ... it's Susan Boyle.’ “We purchased the work and began to pursue answers regarding his (recent) absence. He explained that he had been in the hospital for months recovering from the amputation of six more toes. He had previously had three removed, results of gangrene. “We spoke about the direct or obvious transference of Ronald’s mood to the tone of the work. Choices in subject, tone, color, fragmentation, all appear as parallel.” Ronald Leroy English was born in Cumminsville in 1955. He attended school here, won school spelling bees and excelled in sports, particularly basketball as a center. He mentions that he has a “bunch” of brothers and sisters as well as half-brothers and sisters. English says he served in the Army National Guard, according to one online artist’s biography. During the time he was away in National Guard service, his mother was murdered. English says he returned to discover he had no remaining possessions or a home. He’s since lived on the streets, experiencing the desperation associated with substance abuse. English has participated in art projects sponsored by behavioral services associated with mental disease. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 His various projects have linked him with Visionaries and Voices, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, and Our Daily Bread. English says he actually began drawing in the late 1990s. He was staying in a room with the door open and he woke up to see paint cans in the hallway. It’s exactly as one onlooker observed, amid the crowd at the Pendleton Art Center: “That was his moment of discernment, his lightningbolt flash of percipient insight.” (Cincinnati’s English, by the way, is not to be confused with the betterknown artist Ron English, a nationally known figure who coined the term “POPaganda” to describe a trademark fusion of high and low imagery, mixing superheroes and comic strips with art history iconography in a prolific output of paintings, billboards and sculptures.) �10 STREETVOICE N o v 221-March - N o v 19,7, 2 02019 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 401 Street Life: Our Reality RICARDO TAYLOR Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer F or those of us who are invested in the life of the streets, there are never moments of mirage. Times when we thought/ believed those instances where we saw or imagined relief from our selfimposed plight in life. It is always the same, that reflexive appearance, like our reflex ion in a mirror. Our reality, existing momentarily in hopes and dreams of a presupposition of what life is supposed to be, only having to return to the reality of our true existence! How easy is it to see that relief from the immediate sufferings, which we often find ourselves with promises of tomorrow? “Well I know that Friday is payday, so I can spend what I have and then take care of my bills on Friday!” Only to find that when Friday comes my bills have doubled! So, often we find that our intent is not so much a reflection of our ability or our being, but better stated a mirage of our desires. Our experiences tell us that the reality we perceive is unreal, yet we continue to commit ourselves to acts that we know are non-beneficial towards our welfare or well-being. A mirage! Our image suffers the reflection of ourselves, and we hardly see ourselves in reflection and instead see ourselves in an arena of whom we’d want or try to be! The self becomes lost in a sort of fantasy, losing the way we view the world, and of course our true selfimage. We often start to lose hope, that most fundamental grasp of sanity! We become that mirage of self, and we know from experience, that when hope dies, we prey instead of pray and our lives spin out of control! That oh, so, miserable feeling of self-image becomes the mirage of our longings in such that we find ourselves in the mirage of whom we’d like to be; allowing our reality to become the stage of that thin line between reality and the wishes we have for our wellbeing. That no man’s world where only hopes and dreams exist: Our Reality. Roots June Alexander Contributing Writer W hen you asked us about our roots the first thing in my mind was my hair. Instantly, the smell of heat and grease came to mind. Roots conjured up images of a child’s straw bottomed chair and family voices. When I was young my hair was long and my mother washed it every Saturday night to ready for Sunday and the school week to come. In some strange adult way this was entertainment to my daddy. He would come into the kitchen and tease me. It hurt to have my mother comb out my hair. “Sit still,” mamma yelled. “Hold your ear so I don’t burn it!” All this and Daddy’s teasing made me cry harder. He didn’t have to go through this girl torture! “Stop it!” I screamed!” That only lead my grandmother to chime in, “Make sure you get deep down to her roots! Make sure those roots are good and straight! Years later Black Pride, Dr. King, power signs and our roots personified by the Afro.. Unfortunately the afro was not meant for me. The afro became another symbol of my “roots” awakening. The afro was proud like the black power sign. It stood high, which was more than I could say for my hair. It just curled up or fell back down to my shoulders. On a good day I managed to look like an electrocuted porcupine. Of course, well- meaning elders explained, “You can’t do that. You got good hair.” Many years later I was in college away from my mother’s hot combs, so I decided to have a relaxer put into my hair. Against wise counsel, I went to a beauty parlor and got me a relaxer. After all I was paying for it with my own money. And it was with more of my money I had to pay a doctor to tell me why my hair fell out. My roots landed me at the white beauty shop. In her deep southern accent the hairdresser asked carefully, “Baby, who your people…who your folks…” At first I didn’t understand; or better yet, I suddenly developed that great American disease…denial! She made a shield with her body against the other patrons and held my face in her hands. As discreetly and as compassionately as she could she asked, “Baby, how much white people in you?” All I could do was laugh. I replied, “ According to my great-great aunts our family didn’t get black until 1952.” She mellowed and continued to treat my scalp and left-over hair. All the while she keep talking about how I couldn’t do my hair like other black girls and it ain’t how light the skin is that always tells the mixture, it’s other things…and so on and so forth. Her account of black and white mixing and back in the day when people were passing faded into another awakening. It turn in to my grandfather who looked like an old version of Sean Connery and my grandmother’s dark skin. My granddaddy’s pain of not being neither here nor there; his pain of knowing his white cousins lived just across the street and it couldn’t be acknowledged until after death tornadoed into his painful discovery about his brother being taken from the family because his brother’s skin was too dark. My grandmother’s constant battle with self-image because she came from slaves and field hands with dark skin and coarse hair. My grandmother’s every moment trying to prove she was just as good as the more educated, light skinned upper class relatives on my grandfather’s side of the family. My grandmother's self-hatred turned into poison. Watching a once loving woman become evil and bitter because she looked and loved more like Hattie McDaniels than Halle Berry break my granddaddy’s heart knowing there was nothing he could do to change the world—gave me pain. Roots!? How dare you ask me about my roots. Is this your idea of some cruel and twisted joke? You know about my roots. You took them from us. Just like that hot comb, your heated disdain and hatred for us burned and destroyed my roots. My soul, my light, and my compass-- you took from me. My aunts and my mothers tried to hide me because we were witches and healers like our ancestors. Just like the torture of straighten my hair was to make me more comfortable to white THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED people. Straightened out or white out my roots. You took our art, music, and even our religion away from us. And if that way enslaving enough you lied about Egypt, the Bible, classical music even art. We were all there. From the very beginning, we were there! You took my soul. You took our souls and then you want to know why we act the way we do. What did you expect? We would all become black Ken and Barbies? And integration, the same lie you sold the Native Americans and the Aborigines. You didn’t want to integrate you wanted to annihilate. But it didn’t take. It can’t take…and so here we are all living in niggerdom. You striped us of everything that made us human. Our healers, our teachers, our witches, our religions, and our earth. And you wonder why we are living in niggerdom. But the joke is on you, look at your own children killing themselves to achieve an unnatural standard of beauty, life and success. All the while killing your own with a religion filled with hate and bigotry. Deciding who can love and who is worthy to pursue happiness. No! The joke is on you because now your children are all living in niggerdom. We are all wondering around with addictions, medications, gentrification, and anlationtion. With no hope of being human or humane again we are all now living in niggerdom. I’m not the only one whose roots have been straightened. �STREETVOICE Black History Month: The What, The Why, The How No. 39 3 | Nov 2 -7, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18401 Feb. 21-March KEY BECK Contributing Writer B lack History Month can be a time of celebration, activism, or even remembrance. It can also cause some to have confusion as to what we are celebrating. Is it black people, black accomplishments, or maybe black excellence. In short, it is all of those things. Black History Month was created to highlight the impact the black Diaspora had on the world from inventions to cultural events. It has a strong history of gaining a deeper understanding of all the contributions black people have made throughout history. Black History Month started out as “Negro History Week,” and it was imagined by Carter G. Woodson and other African-Americans, such as minister Jesse E. Moorland. It is important to note that in our current climate and point in time, the use of the word “negro” is pejoritve and an “in-group” term, meaning folx who do not identify as black should not voluntarily use it. Same can be said for other “N-Words,” that are often used against people of the Black Diaspora. Black history month started out as merely a cultural holiday celebrated by individual black people, church groups, and community organizations. It wasn’t fully realized until 1976, when the month of February was officially designated as Black History Month. Black History Month (or also sometimes called African-American History Month in the United States) isn't just an American celebration, there are months devoted to celebrating black history all over the world. The United Kingdom first celebrated Black History Month in 1987 thanks to the organized leadership of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo. In Canada, Black History Month was officially recognized in December of 1995, following a motion introduced by the first black Cana- dian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable[sic] Jean Augustine, MP of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. (Fun fact: Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.). There are many reasons why Black History Month should be important for everyone. It not only educates people about the numerous contributions that black people have helped create, but it also uplifts all people by educating them about a culture full of innovation, resilience, and inspiration. For black folx, learning about their culture helps them to understand how their culture has impacted the world. It also gives them hope that adversity can be challenged and defeated. It should also be noted that it illuminates the many barriers that still exist such as racism and white supremacy. So while we celebrated these accomplishments, we must remain vigilant and never become complacent. We need to engage 11 our communities in the fight for racial equity. We must break the silos and start collaborating together with other marginalized communities. We must also educate ourselves on the folx who came before us like Sarah Goode (Folding Cabinet Bed), Granville T. Woods (Multiplex Telegraph) and Charles Richard Drew (Blood Cells Separation). We must support our inner-city public schools and black organizations. We must insist that our kids curriculum contain the history of black people (as well as other marginalized groups). It is important to recognize and celebrate all the accomplishments of the Black Diaspora. It starts with recognition, recognition leads to acknowledgement and acknowledgement results in celebration. Celebrating Black History Month is something that makes all of us better people because it teaches us to value history and the people who create it. Gentrification: The Destruction of the Poor JANIAH MILLER I Contributing Writer grew up in Newport, Kentucky, but I still had connections to Cincinnati because of my family, they live across the 52 neighborhoods, there are a few to name, Amberly Village, Madisonville, Walnut Hills, and Evanston. Although a family member told me that Cincinnati was not safe in some areas and to always be cautious, I overlooked that notion. I started thinking about why it got that reputation and came to find out it was because people had been predisposition to believing that a bunch of poor, black, and brown people lived there that wasn’t necessarily the whole case anymore. Sure, there were poor black and brown people who lived their but with a growing gentrified Over-theRhine that had begun to change. When I say “change” it was not because the people who lived there got the help and resources they needed, it was because they were being ousted from their own community. Places that were near and dear to the Over-the-Rhine community like the Drop-Inn Center were pushed to the outskirts of Cincinnati, out of sight out of mind. As this displacement continues to happen these community members continue to fight to have a voice and stand their ground for the community that they have held and loved so near and dear to their hearts. With its struggles, they still love it because it’s a place called home, not like wealthy “non-profits” in disguise to turn a profit off the poor to build some posh new building. They disguise themselves to the public by saying they are making Over-the-Rhine an “up and coming” place, a renaissance, but really, they are pushing out the community to make room for affluent individuals while overlooking that the 53% of children in poverty that live in Cincinnati are not going to go away with a fancy new building. Instead they are helping speed the process up of intergenerational poverty through econcide, the urbanization and removal of certain groups through economic opportunities. I came to learn that certain neighborhoods would get these labels cast on them— society is predisposed to stigmatizing the poor, and people of color, we are bad because of our zip code THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED and then disposable when found that something we had was valuable, i.e, our neighborhoods. Therefore, everything is not what it seems to be, sure people in OTR might be poor and are people of color but why? What circumstances led this neighborhood to get this way? What’s their story? Bonnie Neumeier, long time Over-the-Rhine community advocate says, “Often the institution looks at poor people as if they are just looking for a handout, lazy, no good work ethic when these people have led some of the greatest under talked about social movements that have happened in history—our people aren’t sitting on our laurels waiting for a handout. We organized a movement that tried, still tries, to figure out community-based solutions to uses facing us.” My vision for OTR is to be a city that does good for the community and not just people who can bring a profit. There doesn’t need to be gentrification to beautify and revitalize a community. Let’s start giving equitable resources to communities that are already being displaced as if they are cattle. It will become easier to “other” problems of housing inequality because they will feel individualized since everyone is being spread out to different places, it will be harder to pinpoint areas that need the most resources. Gentrification is the destruction of the poor; it doesn’t give them a place. �12 Can You STREETVOICE Can You shut em down? Does the world believe that this is the worlds solution Can you shut em down? Keeping factory’s open with no work, now that’s pollution Can you shut em down? The free clinics, people homeless, no more Drop Inn Center Can you shut em down? Washington Park, the sanitation workers, I can’t help but litter Can you shut em down? Over the rhine was white then it was black, I thought we were all together Can you shut em down? I’m confused so tell congress I really thought they knew better Can you believe in your heart that the decisions of our country are either republican or democratic? Can you believe that out of all the people in the world two simple parties be worthy of so much static? Can you close your eyes to the reality of the fear that has such a tight grip on our nation today? Can you keep living shut down and shut up? I’m baffled but not lost for words I can honestly say For me, learning to live without doubt or fear in my life and keeping God so close to my heart I have no doubt that without God’s blessings this world is doomed to fall completely apart With much faith and without any reguards for the republicans or democratics controlling my being Without any doubt what so ever today I know that almighty God is the only real thing So can you shut em down? Now slow down and take the time to think,what do you really understand? You need to come back into the days of Adam and Eve and remember when only God ruled the land! WILLA DENISE JONES N o v 21-March 2 - N o v 19,7,22019 0 18 || N o . 393 Feb. No. 401 Homelessness Homelessness is a place that, has a lot of drought Homelessness is cold with wet nights, Homelessness is a cardboard box that a person calls their home To receive a blanket or a kind word means a lot to a person, sleeping on the curb If you open your eyes tell me what you see That person experiencing homelessness on the street one day could be you or me! KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 21-March 39 3 | Nov 2 7, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 2019 | No. 401 STREETVOICE Presidents' Day 2019 Did this year's Presidents' Day Cause you sadness and dismay? A yearning to turn back the clock, And feeling nostalgia for Barack. Would you even replace Donald With a Prez known as Ronald? And who could ever call it daft, To prefer an Adams, Tyler or Taft? BILL WOODS Contributing Writer 13 I Don't Want to be Black I don't want to be black, Those are the words that my ten year old son told me with tears in his eyes. He is tired of being viewed as a threat. 5'1, 130 pounds, broad shouldersEasily mistaken for a man, A man who is black, Another black man, who could easily be shot in the back. Seen as having a weapon, Even when he is empty-handed. Seen as resisting arrest, Because he doesn't understand why he is arrested. Seen as obstructing when what is obstructed is his liberty, Not wanting to be black, Because there's too many things he is taught not to be. Not wanting to be black, Even though his black role models are hard-working, Educated examples of who to be. Not wanting to be black, Because it's hard to be black, and feel free. Warned that when in the presence of police don't move, Don't turn, never run, Don't grab or hold onto anything, That they can say is a gun. Watch who you hang with, What is seen is not always what is perceived. Warned over and over, So I won't be the nextBlack mother left to grieve. Told to never become irate, Even if he is falsely blamed or accused. That " Hands up, don't shoot," Really means don't move! Because " I was in fear for my life," Is the excuse they will use, And even when there is evidence, That is not the truth, Justice is refused. MO POETRY PHILLIPS Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLE 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 200 Across 1. Intense adverse criticism 5. Skewer 9. Stitches 13. Racing sled 14. Overwhelming fear and anxiety 16. Ellipse 17. Assist in wrongdoing 18. Assuage 19. Abnegate 20. Trials 22. Trader 24. Record of events on a voyage 26. Story 27. Incantations 30. Conundrum 35. Actor's prompt 36. Dig 39. Worthless material 40. Deficiency 42. Mythological water nymph 44. Stable gear joining two draft animals 45. Be of use to 47. Virtue 49. Annoy 50. Relating to the mind 52. Not moving as quickly 54. Taxis 57. Prevarication 58. Preside over 62. Young animals 66. Mature 67. Pal 69. Stolen goods 70. Examination by word of mouth 71. Vast multitude 72. Group of three musicians 73. Water source 74. Bird shelter 75. Assist PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #189 Down 1. Musical notation 2. Part of the ear 3. Historic periods 4. Large hemispherical drum 5. Health resort 6. Part of the hand 7. Recess 8. Jewelled headdress 9. Soft drink 10. Tied 11. Have need of 12. Cunning 15. Oscillation 21. Exchanged for money 23. Chickens 25. Narrow secluded valley 27. Smooth in manner 28. Smooth brown oval nut 29. Close violently 31. Frozen 32. Orchard 33. Manufacturer 34. Peak 35. Marine mollusk 37. Compete for something 38. Corn spikes 41. Tools for a specified purpose 43. Aromatic herb 46. Decorative fabric 48. Work hard 51. Coniferous tree 53. Riches 55. Nobleman 56. Keep aside for future use 58. Morass 59. Opaque gem 60. Small wooded hollow 61. Concludes 63. To a greater extent 64. Painful sore 65. Halt 66. Angry dispute 68. Up to the present time Nov 2 - N o v 19,7, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Feb. 21-March 2019 401 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 391 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 391- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 3 | Nov 2 -7,N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 21-March | No. 401 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N ov 2 - N o v 19, 7, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 Feb. 21-March | No. 401 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource February 21-March 7, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Segregation Then, Segregation Now Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Reflections on African-American and Politics Racial Analysis Within Homelessness Pg 6: African Churches Boom in London’s Backstreets Pg 7: Netflix and Nollywood Pg 8: Sidewalk Smart Pg 9: Sidewalk Smart Continued Pg 10: Street Life Roots Pg 11: Black History Month Gentrification Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 21-March 7, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Patricia Patton William Schomberg Simon Daveson Alessandro Jedlowski Felix Winternitz Key Beck Dr. Mark Mussman Bill Woods Janiah Miller Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Janiah Miller June Alexander Ricardo Taylor Mo Poetry Phillps Homeless Coalition Canva.com Gabriela Godinez Amanda Meek Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alessandro Jedlowski Amanda Meek Art Bill Woods Black History Month Canva.com Dr. Mark Mussman Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Gentrification Homeless Coalition Janiah Miller Josh Spring June Alexander Key Beck Kim Green London Mo Poetry Phillps Netflix Nigeria Patricia Patton politics Ricardo Taylor Segregation Simon Daveson Street Life Willa Denise Jones William Schomberg https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/53661ad19eef5e7b4a30527f1f110dc9.pdf fcb84e824733936f2ff12487d6dacc09 PDF Text Text F e b r ua r y 7 t h - F e b r ua r y 2 1 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 3 ( N o . 4 0 0 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 400 393 Feb. 7 -- NFeb. 21,22019 From The Director: Soccer, Sound, Symphonies and Displacement Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Josh Spring giving a speech. Credit:Amanda Meet Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino JOSH SPRING Executive Director F C Cincinnati has petitioned the City of Cincinnati to make a significant zoning change to the area of the West End they want to build a stadium. Council Members are saying that before they vote on this change, they need to see a completed study that shows how noise from the stadium will adversely affect functions at Music Hall. As this discussion occurs, we are struck by the fact that the topic of housing and displacement is largely absent. The weak community benefits agreement signed by FC Cincinnati on which the city council vote last year regarding stadium funding hinged, included that a study of affordable housing and adverse effects would be complete. This study, being done by an out-of-town firm is not due to be finished until June. However, the preliminary research shows that likely thousands of people’s housing would be threatened. The preliminary research mirrors what our organization has been saying since last year. FC Cincinnati said they would not displace anyone. While we have said, even if that is true, the stadium will lead to development Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson prospecting, gentrification, increased rents and displacement. However, true to form, FC Cincinnati has already displaced neighborhood small businesses and residents. Why is it that city council is saying that before they vote on this zoning change, they must first be able to read the report on the negative affects the sound from a stadium would have on Music Hall, yet they have not required that the report on housing and displacement be completed first? Both common sense and the preliminary findings of the study indicate thousands of people could be displaced from their homes through a significant loss of affordable housing and rising costs to people who own their homes. We, of course, believe that spending millions of dollars, especially public dollars to benefit the billionaire owners of FC Cincinnati is wrong. Not investing very large sums into digging our way out of our current housing crisis (40,000 homes short, 28,000 in the City) is wrong. Not having necessary protections against unjust evictions and displacement for profit is wrong. We are working to get the city to establish significant, annual revenue sources for the newly established Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which passed last year after more than a year of our advocacy. We are working to get legislation that would actively protect people’s right to not unjustly be put of their homes. But come on, shouldn’t it be widely accepted that the ability for individuals and families to stay in their housing and neighborhood and not experience homelessness is more important than the quality of sound at Music Hall? Shouldn’t it be on the tips of the tongues of all city council members that certainly a study regarding housing loss would get at least the same deference as a study about sound affecting symphonies, ballets and operas? Please take the time to email city council at citycouncil@cincinnatioh.gov and tell them not to vote on anything for a soccer stadium without having been able to thoroughly consider the completed housing study. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Humberto Marquez, Amanda Becker, Kris Janssens, Robert Park, Adeshola Ore, Andres Martinez Casares, Dr. Mark Mussman, Bill Woods, Key Beck, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, Mariela Jara, emilio Godoy, Felix Winternitz, ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, pngtree. com, Gabriela Godinez, wraphome.org, Amanda Meek ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 | Nov 21, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 7 3- Feb. 2019 | No. 400 3 COALITION Wholly Unrecognizable DR. MARK MUSSMAN I Staff Writer recently attended a college reunion where a couple people used the same term to describe Cincinnati today: wholly unrecognizable. I listened to them say that Over-theRhine has changed so much that they couldn’t even believe it was the same place when we graduated school nearly 20 years ago, in 2001. I heard them talk about restaurants and bars that they uncritically visited while on vacation or with family. I realized then that the optics of the City had changed so much, but nothing else substantial has changed, especially when it comes to poverty, homelessness, and civil rights. Recent reports put the ethnic diversity of Cincinnati around 1950’s United States. We are mostly just Black and white, with a sprinkle of other ethnic identities. And by a sprinkle, I mean less than 5%. African American people are routinely denied healthcare, education, transportation, housing, and other basic necessities. Redlining continues to this day. Schools are more segregated now than ever, as more than half of our schools are 90% (or more) one ethnicity. Most students in public schools (82%) are economically disadvantaged. Home ownership rates among Black families (34%) are less than half of that for white families (74%). Other objective measures show that Black and white Cincinnatians live in two separate cities. Median household income comparisons show a stark reality: Black median household income at $24,272, compared to white median household income at $57,481. When applied to housing standards of affordability, it becomes clear that Black families are being priced out of their own neighborhoods. For example, a recent developer received preferred developer status on a Vine Street property in Over-the-Rhine through a City RFP process. This developer came to the Over-the-Rhine Community Council meeting in January seeking a letter of approval. Since the Community Council has prioritized affordable housing, the developer claims that 1 of 4 units will be affordable at 60% AMI. At 60% AMI, this means that most people in Cincinnati (59.99%) cannot afford this apartment. And when you take in the great disparity between Black and white resident income, this essentially removes any likelihood that a Black person or family would be able to move into this apartment. I often hear claims that crime has decreased due to investment in Over-the-Rhine and other inner core neighborhoods. But the reality is that crime may actually increase throughout the region due to instability. When people are forced from their neighborhood into other neighborhoods, there are turf issues and issues of representation. According to Census data, at least 25% of all people in Cincinnati moved within the last year, but certainly for some groups this number is higher. Cincinnati crime stats mimic national trends of decreasing incidents of violent crime; however, in 2002 Cincinnati saw 64 murders, and in 2017 there were 70. This is a slight increase, but meaningful when thinking about how things have or haven’t changed. Overall, Cincinnati is classified as having more crime than 95% of American cities. Larger looming issues, such as representation in the police force, have remained unchanged. 68.1% of sworn police officers in Cincinnati are white, while the white population in Cincinnati is less than 50%. One police officer as the LGBTQAI liason. One police officer as the Homelessness liaison. Shouldn’t all officers be trained to deal with LGBTQAI and individuals who are experiencing homelessness? Also deeply concerning is the disparate way African Americans are treated within the criminal justice system. While African Americans only represent 12.5% of Ohio’s population, they are 45% of incarcerated Ohioans. While Justice is purportedly Blind, people of color are more likely to be sentenced to death for killing a while person than killing a person of color in Ohio. A white body is seen as infinitely more valuable than a person of color. Your zip code affects your sentencing as well. And neighborhoods in Cincinnati remain so segregated, that our region is #5 in racial segregation. Economic segregation in our region is also near the top of the charts. And your zip code could add, or remove, 20 years to your life expectancy. In terms of homelessness, we know that systemic and interpersonal racism continue to decrease the housing stability of people of color. African Americans are overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness because of Slavery, Jim Crow, Redlining, Urban Renewal, Mass Incarceration, and Gentrification. Without the generational wealth that white people were handed by the federal government, people of color have no level playing field. Areas that were once deemed “white only” continue to be almost all white. Inner city neighborhoods that were economically neglected since the 1930s, where Black families were forced to live for many generations (because they were legally denied entry to other neighborhoods until the Fair Housing Act in 1968) are now being displaced by white generational wealth. Black families cannot compete with that. African American wealth is predicted to be $0 by 2050, meaning that generational wealth is still exclusively a white policy benefit. Today, the shelters are still full. We are still short 40,000 units of affordable housing in Hamilton County (35,000 in Cincinnati). While obvious visual changes may have occurred, structurally we are still the same Cincinnati. We continue to criminalize homelessness while privatizing public resources. Our education, transportation, healthcare, public services, etc., are still segregated. Some things have changed: neighborhoods such as Overthe-Rhine, Mt. Auburn, and Walnut Hills have each lost thousands of Black residents since 2001. Between 2000 and 2010 the City of Cincinnati as a whole lost more than 9,000 Black residents. Our neighbors are being forced out by white generational wealth, and we have no mechanism focused on equity. The wealth and income gap between Black and white Cincinnatians has grown, and without a determined focus on affordable housing, living wages, and housing protections, we will continue to see two separate Cincinnatis: one for Black people, and one for white people. A Day Devoted To Community Organizing BILL WOODS ContributingWriter A re you concerned that citizens are often overlooked in public decisions in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Washington, D.C.? On Saturday February 23rd, the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation is holding day long forum on citizen organizing. With the title "The Power of Organizing - Finding Your Community's Voice," the forum will feature panels and discussion groups on everything from basic neighborhood organizing to building coalitions in order to pass ballot initiatives. Karen Hobart Flynn, the President of Common Cause, will be the event's keynote speaker. Flynn has a wealth of experience in organizing to bring about political reform. Before joining Common Cause's staff in Washington, D.C., she chaired Common Cause in Connecticut. She led a grassroots movement in the state that successfully brought about the public financing of election campaigns. When she first came to Washington, she was a regional director of a number of states including Ohio. As national president, she supports state chapters that are organizing to protect voting rights or to bring about redistricting reform. A number of local organizers will be sharing their expertise and experiences as members of panels and as group discussion leaders. Josh Spring, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Jennifer Summers, Director of the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, Michelle Dillingham, Director of Community Shares, Alice Schneider of Applied Information Resources, and Catherine Turcer, Director of Common Cause/ Ohio are a few of the people involved in the day. Other local organizations taking part are CUFA, the Sierra Club, Bold New Democracy, One Westwood, Invest in Neighborhoods, and the Woman's City Club. After Karen Hobart Flynn's keynote address, a panel led by Liz Blume of the Seasongood Board will explore common roadblocks that often get in the way of community problem solving and organizing. Following this panel, attendees will meet in discussion groups dealing with ways to organize around diverse issues that range from neighborhood concerns to the promotion of citywide policies. A luncheon discussion will deal with the question of why citizen organizing is critical at this moment in U.S. public life, and an afternoon panel will focus on some local organizing activities that are currently underway. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Next, Jeff Blevins, Chair of Journalism at the University of Cincinnati, will give a brief presentation on the role of the news media in community life and the ways grassroots movements can cultivate news coverage for their actions. Finally, a wrap up session will allow attendees to talk about, "where do we go from here?" Since promoting good government is the goal of the Seasongood Foundation, it believes that citizen involvement in public decisions is critical to achieving that end. The Seasongood Board hopes that the Forum on February 23rd will stimulate some projects for future Foundation funding. This event will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Cincinnati from 9:00 to 4:00. For further information about attending, call (513)721-2180. �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED NFeb. ov 27 - -NFeb. o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 21,2 02019 400 �N o. 3973-|Feb. Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. | No. 400 5 U.S. NEWS Deb Haaland becomes one of first two Native American congresswomen AMANDA BECKER Reuters T he day before Deb Haaland was sworn in last week as a freshman lawmaker in the most diverse U.S. House of Representatives class in history, she said the weight of being one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress had not yet fully hit her. Haaland, 58, had just conducted a brief staff meeting and was sitting in her new office on Capitol Hill as staffers got phones working and solved logistical problems like wrestling a printer through a narrow doorway. The first-time elected official represents New Mexico's 1st Congressional District and is a member of the state's Laguna Pueblo tribe. "Congress has never heard a voice like mine," the Democrat said. "As the first Native American woman in Congress, I know that there will be an expectation on me by tribes across the country to be somebody that can move their issues forward," Haaland said. "That's absolutely something I feel optimistic that I will be able to do." She said there is an "epidemic" of missing and murdered indigenous women, and Haaland would like Congress to hold additional oversight hearings on the issue and make sure tribal justice systems have the resources they need to conduct proper investigations. Also at the top of her list is combating climate change, which threatens fragile tribal lands. "If you're not scared to death right now about climate change, you're not reading the Deb Haaland works in her office at the U.S. Capitol before being sworn in as one of the two first Native American women in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2019. REUTERS/Brian Snyder news," she said. Haaland is one of a recordbreaking 102 women who will serve in the 435-seat House during the 20192020 session. There are many firsts among them. Haaland and Sharice Davids of Kansas, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, are the first Native American women. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan are the first Muslim women. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Jahana Hayes of Connecticut are the first black women to represent their states. All are Democrats. When Haaland was born in 1960, Native Americans did not have the right to vote in New Mexico - despite being granted full U.S. citizenship by the federal government in 1924. They got it in 1962, making the Southwestern state the last in the nation to extend it. On Thursday, Haaland welcomed her new constituents to an open house at her congressional office before being sworn in on the House floor. She wore traditional tribal garments to the ceremony, including a pomegranate blossom necklace of silver and turquoise, signifying protection and strength, made by a Laguna artist. After raising her hand to take the oath of office with her peers, the consequence of the milestone sunk in. Overcome with emotion, Haaland turned to embrace Davids, borrowing the edge of her new colleague's scarf to dab away her tears. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo Who Shut down the shutdown? ROBERT PARK Contributing Writer W ho ended the shutdown? The Democrats? Nancy Pelosi? Mitch McConnell? None of the above. The shutdown got shut down when workers took Laguardia Airport off-line on Friday, January 25. A rolling disaster of massive commercial disruption was about to unfold for capitalist America and that pushed the GOP over the edge. Disgusted and outraged employees – TSA security and FAA air traffic controllers – did what their unions should have done at least two weeks ago. We don’t know what positive role IF ANY their national union leadership played here. More likely, as with all great accomplishments for workers rights, the real leadership probably came from the bottom, from the workers collectively voting with their feet. In past momentous worker actions (like getting the 8 hour day) what typically happened was some outrage finally broke the camel’s back and thousands of workers hit the streets, with their leadership frantically racing to catchup with the members. We’ll have to watch and see if the current union leadership at the top even bothers to get out and walk quickly, let alone run; to acknowledge the profound lesson we just learned, again. What happens in three weeks? Maybe the next shutdown should be pre-empted by a strong credible threat: next time it won’t take three weeks to stop it, we’ll stop it on day two. The federal unions should sign on to a pledge: “You want shutdown, you’ll get shutdown, motherfucker.” They could even toss out the idea of a general strike so that the rest of us can get involved in determining our future. It’s about time the labor movement showed the Democratic Party for what it is: why didn’t THEY call for a walkout and promise protection? This would have been a great opportunity to encourage a lot of Trump’s base to re-think their world view. The federal THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED unions that should have immediately responded to the shutdown include: the American Federation of Government Employees (TSA, IRS, Social Security, Homeland Security, CDC..), National Treasury Employees Union, National Air Traffic Controllers Association. And of course the AFL-CIO - the American FEDERATION of Labor – itself should have been there instead of doing nothing like they did when Reagan fired our air traffic controllers years ago (1981). This isn’t just about Trump or the GOP, or even the pathetic Dems; the labor movement needs house-cleaning, redemption and resurrection. They could set the agenda for America if they wanted to. �GLOBAL 6 NFeb. ov 2 7 - -NFeb. o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 21,2 02019 400 40 Years Since the Khmer Rouge Regime Came to an End in Cambodia A tourist peers at photographs of people who died in Khmer Rouge custody Credit: Robert Carmichael/IPS KRIS JANSSENS Inter Press Service T he anniversary is not actually celebrated. After all these years, talking about the Khmer Rouge is still controversial. This is partly because the genocide came ‘from within’. Almost every family has a feud that goes back to this dark history in the seventies. How could this have happened? The Marxist guerrilla movement was able to grow with support from North Vietnam. The Cambodian General Lon Nol, who came to power in 1970 after a coup, wanted to fight these communists and was backed by the United States – at the time involved in the Vietnam war. American bombings hit many civilians, who started to dislike the government and welcomed the Khmer Rouge soldiers when they marched into capital city Phnom Penh in 1975. But euphoria soon turned into fear. You were in danger if you were considered to be ‘intellectual’. Being able to read, speaking foreign languages or even wearing glasses could be fatal. In the documentary Iron Legs, by filmmaker Vanna Hem, San Sovan explains how she escaped death. “They asked me to write something”, she recalls. She is left-handed, but used her right hand and produced some barely readable words. She could walk out freely - being labelled ‘illiterate’. Starvation and torture Guerrilla leader Pol Pot wanted an agrarian society, without external interference. People had to leave the cities and were forced to work on the field. Many died from starvation, exhaustion or sickness. The regime was very suspicious and every possible enemy was tortured and killed. The ‘Tuol Sleng’ or ‘S21prison’ in Phnom Penh, where these executions took place, gives a clear impression of this violence. As it is a former school building, you can still see the classrooms that were later turned into torture chambers. The building remained untouched since the seventies. I visit this genocide museum with Toby, a young Thai man who comes to Cambodia’s capital for the first time. As we walk through the building, Toby becomes very quiet. “Shall we go now?” he asks after a while. When he learns about Khmer Rouge soldiers killing children, he’s done with the visit. The regime figured that children would only take revenge once they’d find out their parents were murdered. Judgment In a scarce interview, with American journalist Nate Thayer, Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot would later say “his conscious is clear”. He acknowledges he killed enemies of the movement, but “we had to defend ourselves. To say that millions died is too much”. The interview took place in Anlong Veng, close to the Thai border, where Pol Pot survived for over 20 years after his regime collapsed. He died in 1998 and was never brought to justice. The same goes for most of the other leaders of the movement. There is, however, a Khmer Rouge tribunal. In November last year, the court gave its final verdict, after twenty years of investigations. Two senior leaders, Nuon Chea (92) and Khieu Samphan (87), were both sentenced to life imprisonment. One was ‘Pol Pot’s right hand’, the other one ‘head of state’. Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch (76), had been sentenced to life before. He was the chief commander of the S21 prison. These are the only convictions made by the “Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia” (ECCC) since it came to existence in 1997 in collaboration with the UN. The total cost of the court is about $300 million. Barely taught I discuss the result of the court with some young Cambodians. “Thanks to the trial, people are at least talking about this difficult period”, someone says. “In my school there was very little information about the Khmer Rouge during history class, although the regime lasted almost four years.” Just think how European schools teach intensively about the empowerment and the consequences of the Nazi-regime - comparable to Khmer Rouge when it comes to atrocities and number of victims. Immediately after the Second World War, the Nuremberg trials helped to cope with the traumas. Controversial Prime Minister Why did it take so long in Cambodia, only to sentence three people? THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED “If they would dig deeper, they will inevitably arrive at the responsibility of today’s politicians,” someone says, “… thus of Hun Sen,” he whispers immediately after. I’m getting used to Cambodians lowering their voice when they talk about their prime minister. Not out of respect, but out of fear to get into trouble. The current prime minister Hun Sen was a troop commander under the Khmer Rouge regime. But he always denies he played an active role in the genocide. In 1977 he defected to Vietnam. The Vietnamese, who invaded Cambodia two years later, made him part of the new Cambodian government. In 1985 he became the prime minister, which he still is today. Future Hun Sen did indeed oppose the idea of finding more perpetrators, “as this could cause a civil war”. It is one of his favourite statements to defend his policy - which is a factual dictatorship. He refers to the peace and stability his governance brought during the last fifteen years. This is a popular message among the generation of Khmer Rouge survivors. But this country has a very young population, almost two-thirds of them being under the age of 30. This generation was born after the civil war and did not grow up in fear. These are young, ambitious people with dreams and hopes for the future. Lots of them don’t need a tribunal to give their verdict on the current politicians who clearly have their roots in this dark past of the Khmer Rouge. �NFeb. o. 397 3 -| Feb. Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 400 GLOBAL 7 Bullets Against Pots and Pans in the Crackdown on Venezuela’s Protests HUMBERTO MÁRQUEZ Inter Press Service T he protests in Venezuela demanding an end to the presidency of Nicolás Maduro in the last 10 days of January, whose soundtrack was the sound of banging on pots and pans in working-class neighbourhoods, had a high human cost: more than 40 deaths, dozens wounded and about a thousand detainees, including 100 women and 90 children under 18. In Catia, a working-class neighbourhood west of Caracas, a number of young people were shot dead between 21 and 25 January, while National Police and military National Guard commandos demolished improvised roadblocks and barricades made with trash, managing to quash the protests. “They managed to do it. The local residents say that in the streets where several of these boys fell, silence and solitude have prevailed after 6pm. The pots and pans have not returned,” said sociologist Rafael Uzcátegui, head of Provea, an organisation that has been recording human rights violations in the country for decades. These protests have two special elements: they are taking place in neighbourhoods and sectors that until recently formed part of the government’s social base, reflecting the anger felt by the poor in the face of the country’s socioeconomic collapse, which has turned their protests into “mini-Caracazos,” recalling the violent protests given that name in February 1989, which resulted in hundreds of deaths. Furthermore, they have been submerged in the institutional crisis that has had the country in its grip since January and which has put Venezuela at the forefront of world geopolitics, with a struggle for power that is also playing out between the governments of the United States and other countries of the Americas and European countries, on the one hand, and China, Russia and Turkey, on the other. Maduro, 56, who governed the country from 2013 to 2019, was sworn in on 10 January for a second term after winning an election in May 2018, the results of which were not recognised by the legislature or by most of the opposition or the governments of the Americas and Europe. The election was called outside the legal timeframe by a National Constituent Assembly composed solely of government supporters, the electoral authority banned the main opposition parties and leaders, and a cloud of irregularities enveloped the campaign and the voting day itself, according to complaints from local and international organisations. The opposition-controlled National Assembly refused to recognise Maduro’s re-election and the president of the legislature, Juan Guaidó, 35, declared himself acting president on 23 January, before a crowd in Caracas, while mass opposition demonstrations were held in some 50 cities. Since 21 January, when 27 members of the National Guard mutinied in a barracks in the neighborhood of Cotiza, north of Caracas, refusing to recognise the re-election of Maduro, “cacerolazos” – pots-and-pans protests – spread, and groups of local residents in poor neighborhoods of the capital and cities in the provinces improvised barricades and clashed with the security forces and irregular civil groups of sympathisers of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Looting of shops also broke out in several cities in the provinces. The 21-25 January crackdown left 35 people dead, dozens injured by bullets or plastic pellets, and 850 arrested. “On 23 January alone, 696 people were arrested – the largest number in a single day of protests in 20 years,” said lawyer Alfredo Romero, director of the Penal Forum, an organisation that follows the question of those detained for political or social reasons. The Forum counted 12,480 arbitrary detentions from February 2014 – the year of the first mass protests against Maduro – to October 2018, classifying 1,551 people as political prisoners, of whom 236 were still in prison when the report was produced. The list has now grown with those arrested so far this year. Since Maduro first took office in 2013, Provea and other human rights groups have reported that at least 250 people have died in street protests. Romero said the state uses a “revolving door” strategy: when political detainees are released, usually on parole, another group is arrested for similar reasons. In January, “the order the security forces received was to arrest protesters. It is clear that the government decided to assume the cost of stopping the protest in the poorer areas, which in the past were ‘Chavista’ but have now turned against Chavismo,” he said. Chavismo was the political movement of Hugo Chavez, president from 1999 until his death in 2013. Demonstrators clash with security forces during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins For two decades, the urban poor and working-class supported Chavismo, but they have now increasingly turned against Maduro, exasperated by the high food prices, the collapse of services such as water, electricity, health and transport, and the increasingly acute shortage of medicines or cooking gas. Rupert Colville, a spokesman for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in Geneva on 29 January that “just over 40 people have been killed” and of these “at least 26 were allegedly shot dead by security forces or progovernment armed groups during the demonstrations.” Provea contends that at least eight people were killed in extrajudicial executions in Caracas and two provincial cities when members of the National Police’s elite FAES squad entered their homes. “FAES receives training for lethal action, against extortion or kidnapping. It is not trained to handle public order situations. Its codes and weapons, which are highly lethal, are not in proportion to the rules of proportional and gradual use of force applicable in situations of popular protest,” said Uzcátegui. The arrests, which included 100 women and at least 90 children and adolescents, “have been carried out in indiscriminate sweeps, to spread fear and discourage protests,” Romero said. One such case is that of Jickson Rodriguez, 14, who is epileptic as a result of an old head injury. He and his young friends were banging on pots and pans near his family’s barbershop on the night of 22 January in Villa Bahia, which is located in Puerto Ordaz, an industrial city on the banks of the Orinoco River, 500 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED kilometres southeast of Caracas, when National Guard units captured him and six others and took him to a barracks that guards a steel plant. “Since I wasn’t crying, I was the one who received the most blows. I told the guards, ‘Why are you beating us when we’ve already been arrested?’ and they slapped me. They gave me blows to the head. I told them ‘you can’t hit me on the head, I have epilepsy, and they told me: ‘Shut up, you’re a detainee’,” he told his family and journalists a few days later. “I found him, handcuffed, after searching for him in various places where they were holding people, the afternoon of the following day,” said his mother Rosmelys Guilarte, 39, a hairdresser who also has three daughters. “He was beaten on the soles of his feet, so there would be no visible bruises. He had a convulsion while he was in detention, which is why he was handed over to me two days later.” Jickson “was accused by the judicial police of participating in looting that took place miles from where we were banging on pots and pans that night – something that was impossible. He has orders to report to the authorities every 30 days. I try to get him to rest a lot, this has been really hard on him,” she said from her home. For Uzcátegui, “the government’s strategy has three components: repression in the face of the discontent shared by most of the population, betting that the current political conflict will wane, and attempts to limit the visibility of the crisis by going after the media and journalists.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. 11- -NJan. 25,2 02019 398 Haitians abandon forgotten town, isolated for over a decade (Top Left) Anita bathes his son Romenson Exalus at their house in Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, April 10, 2018. (Top Right) Boys walk along a trail, that was used in the past by terrain vehicles connecting with Bois Negresse, on the outskirts of Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, October 10, 2018. (Bottom Left) Children attend a class at the school at a Baptist church in Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, October 10, 2018. (Bottom Right) Residents dance at a bar in Boucan Ferdinand, Haiti, April 8, 2018. Sunday evening is the only time when the bar is open and residents gather there to socialise and dance. Credit: REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES Reuters N ear the bottom of the island of Hispaniola in southeast Haiti is a forgotten village, cut off from its own country, and slowly emptying as its residents leave for the neighbouring Dominican Republic. Without health services, electricity, or paved roads, Boucan Ferdinand lost its only road to the nearest Haitian town, Bois Negresse, in devastating floods back in 2004. Some of its residents have left for the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and others cling on to a precarious life. Many have crossed illegally into the more prosperous Dominican Republic. "They do not have access to basic social services, this situation is at the root of the mass migration to the Dominican Republic," said Jean Gilles Viola, mayor of the municipality that governs Boucan Ferdinand and around 20 other villages. Those who remain live in thatch and stick hovels, collecting rainwater to drink and at constant risk of infectious diseases. Some children, in impeccable blue uniforms, walk to a school in the town of Chapotin - a trip that takes an hour and a half over a narrow path, impassable in the rainy season. In the village are two makeshift classrooms, run by the Baptist and Catholic chapels. "This year my children will not go to school," said village farmer Wilber Jean in October, as his children played nearby. "Here you pay a ton. There," pointing across the border, "the president pays." Children collect firewood or graze small flocks of goats and sheep to help their parents. During planting time, many skip school in order to help on the farms, earning less than $2 a day. In the mornings, the village smells of burning firewood brought by the children as the women make breakfast: sometimes there is pasta, but more likely coffee and a piece of bread. Often there is rice and beans. Meat, a luxury. Haiti, which according to the World Bank is the poorest country in the Americas, has not recovered from a powerful earthquake that hit it on 12 January 2010, leaving more than 200,000 dead. The countryside has been emptying out. Less than half of Haitians live in rural communities compared to 84 per cent in 1960, World Bank data shows. Boucan Ferdinand seems to have THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED fallen off the map. Radios mainly capture Dominican signals. "I'm tired of looking for stations in Haiti," complained Polo, a 64-yearold man who returned here with his wife and one of his grandchildren after spending more than 40 years in the Dominican Republic. Aurana Augustin 'Timatant' sold bread and sweets until a few months ago when the left half of her body was paralyzed. Today, the grandmother spends her days lying in bed. The nearest Haitian health centre is across a mountain, so she has been crossing the border on a mule to seek care in the Dominican town of Duverge. The local government wants to rebuild the road taken out by the floods but lacks the financial means, said the mayor. �N o. 39 Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 73- |Feb. | No. 400 FEATURE 9 What's in a name? Everything, say Australia's indigenous people ADESHOLA ORE Reuters T he north bank of Melbourne's Yarra River is dotted with a series of Aboriginal-made art installations. The eel-shaped winding paths, the metal shields and the message sticks are a reminder of the original inhabitants of this part of Australia. The riverside area, Birrarung Marr, is one of the locations that a local heritage trust takes visitors to on its indigenous-led guided walking tours so they can learn about the area's First People. That includes their names for various sites. For the Wurundjeri People, the river's name is not the Yarra but the 'Birrarung' – which means 'river of mists'. "Having the river recognised as the Birrarung can be really important," said Rob Hyatt, education manager for the Koorie Heritage Trust, and leader on some of the tours. "It's not just a name. It is actually a cultural site." Although 'Yarra' is an Aboriginal word that means 'flowing river', Hyatt said, the waterway was mistakenly given that name by one of the city's early founders. To the Wurundjeri People, the river remains the Birrarung, said Hyatt, which is why the Wurundjeri Council has pushed to have the name restored. National debate Indigenous Australians trace their lineage back 60,000 years, and across the country a growing number of groups - from Aboriginal-led organisations to grassroots movements and politicians - want Aboriginal names used for geographic landmarks rather than the names given by settlers. The debate about the country's colonial history reignited in January after the federal government proposed ordering local governments to conduct citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day – 26 January, which marks the arrival of the first fleet of British settlers in 1788. Several local councils have stopped holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day because of concerns the date is insulting to Aboriginal people. For many indigenous Australians, 26 January is "Invasion Day", the start of Britain's colonisation of Aboriginal lands and their brutal subjugation. The government's proposal was seen by many as offensive. The country's 700,000 or so indigenous people track near the bottom of its 25 million citizens in almost every economic and social indicator. Jonathan Richards, a fellow at the University of Queensland's School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Aboriginal elder Max Eulo performs a smoking ceremony during an official function on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, Australia, November 27, 2013. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on February 10, 2016 said that the government was failing to meet a number of goals aimed at improving the lot of its embattled aboriginal population as he released its tenth annual report card on indigenous issues. Just two of seven targets in the 2016 Closing the Gap report, which outlines the government's record in meeting its own targets on issues such as infant mortality, life expectancy and economic performance, are on track to be met. Picture taken November 27, 2013. REUTERS/David Gray said some place names - such as The Leap and Murdering Creek - reflect frontier violence against indigenous people. "There are also names of places that commemorate individuals who are known to have been violent towards Aboriginal people. It's right across Australia," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "This is Aboriginal country, every single part of it. To use the Aboriginal names is a really good way to remind people of the truth." In some places that has happened: the globally recognised sandstone landmark Uluru was known as Ayers Rock until 1993, when the Aboriginal name Uluru was included in its dual name. Many Australians now refer to it simply as Uluru. And in June 2018, the Electoral Commission agreed to change the name of the federal seat of Batman in Melbourne's inner-north to Cooper in recognition of indigenous activist William Cooper. John Batman, considered one of Melbourne's founding fathers, was accused of involvement in the massacre of Aboriginal people in Tasmania during the early 1800s. The inner-city Melbourne council of Darebin wants Batman's name removed from a park in its area, part of a wider effort to rename places associated with him. Susan Rennie, mayor of Darebin, said the move was very well accepted locally, though there was some back- lash from people living "well outside of Darebin". "We did receive some negative and at times very angry feedback from people who aren't part of our community who felt as though we weren't acknowledging history and the role of Batman in Australia," she said. Darebin's experience also shows that the process does not always run smoothly: its bid to rename the park Gumbri, in honour of a Wurundjeri elder, was rejected by the Geographic Names Victoria office in June after family members of the late elder opposed the use of the name. Rennie said the council was working with indigenous groups such as the Wurundjeri Council in considering new options. "The history of John Batman and his treatment of Aboriginal people was seen as being really problematic in terms of having a local park named after him," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone. "It's important for Wurundjeri People to see their language and their names and places recognised in writing, but it's equally important for Australians who aren't First Nations people to understand and see that connection in everyday things." Broadly positive In the north-east state of Queensland, two mountains considered sacred to the native Darumbal People were renamed in May: Mount Jim Crow and Mount Wheeler reverted back to their indigenous names of Baga THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED and Gai-i respectively. The renaming followed the award of native title for the region to the Darumbal people in June 2016. Such title legally recognises indigenous groups as the traditional owners of a tract of land. Nyoka Hatfield, an elder of the Darumbal People, said the name Jim Crow was "akin to apartheid" in South Africa. "Jim Crow is the name of the racist system that they had in the United States of America. A lot of people associated the words Jim Crow with that racist system," Hatfield said. And although some letters to local newspapers and comments on social media had criticised the name reversal, the positive responses had outweighed the negative. "People say it's wonderful. They are speaking the traditional language and getting to know the traditional language," she said. It is not the only recent change in Queensland: in 2017, the state government restored the name for the Fraser Island part of the Great Sandy National Park to K'gari, which for the local Butchulla People means 'paradise'. Hatfield, who teaches the Darumbal language and culture in schools, said she hoped that renaming places would lead to a wider understanding of the country's indigenous past. "Whatever part of Australia you live in, you should know its history." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �10 GLOBAL NFeb. o v 27- -N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 Feb. 21,22019 No. 400 Mexico’s Forests, Both Victim of and Solution to Climate Change EMILIO GODOY Inter Press Service " I dream of a healthy, sustainable, well-managed forest,” says Rogelio Ruiz, a silviculturist from southern Mexico, who insists that “we have to clean it up, take advantage of the wood, and reforest.” These activities are essential for the ecosystem, especially to adapt to the impacts of climate change, said the president of the La Trinidad Communal Lands Commissariat, in the municipality of Ixtlán de Juárez, in the state of Oaxaca, some 840 km south of Mexico City. Forest habitats are precisely one of the best natural mechanisms for mitigating climatic change, but at the same time they face the consequences, such as rising temperatures, variations in rainfall regimes and the spread of pests. The ecoregion where La Trinidad is located, the Sierra Juárez mountains, is well aware of this. Since 2017 it has been facing an outbreak of the pine sawfly, which eats the needles of the pine tree, the most common species in this area of central Oaxaca. Local organisations estimate that some 10,000 hectares are at risk from this pest. Ruíz explained that 106 of his community’s 805 hectares have been damaged. La Trinidad has a traditional Mexican system of government for collectively-owned and worked land, which is different from an “eijido” because the land here cannot be sold. In September, “we applied aerial fumigation” of a biopesticide and now “we will use handpumps,” said the community leader, one of those attending the celebration in Ixtlan this month of the 35 years of struggle against the private forest concessions that were once predominant here. The struggle gave rise to community- 2014. These undertakings exemplify the development of Mexican community forestry, considered a global model, for its success in generating social, economic and environmental benefits. In 2016, Mexico, the secondlargest country in Latin America, with 1.96 million square kilometres (196 million hectares), had 20.3 million hectares of temperate forest, 850,000 hectares of mesophilic mountain forest, 50.2 million hectares of scrubland, 7.9 million hectares of grasslands, 11.5 million hectares of rainforest and 1.4 million hectares of other vegetation, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. he non-governmental Mexican Civil Council for Sustainable Forestry lists 4,886 forest communities and ejidos, of which some 2,100 commercially exploit the forests. But only seven million hectares, in the hands of some 600 communities, operate with a management and conservation plan, a requirement for obtaining approval for the harvesting programmes promoted by the state-run National Forestry Commission. Mexico’s timber production totals seven million cubic metres annually, of which Oaxaca in the south contributes just under seven per cent. Forest ecosystems provide water to urban areas, regulate the water cycle, provide food, and capture carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas responsible for global warming, among other ecological services, according to scientific studies. As a result, in the face of the threats posed by climate change, forests require public policies that generate better economic incentives, offer legal certainty about land tenure, expand markets and increase productivity, say silviculture organisations and experts. Ixtlan, which means “place of threads or fibres” in the Zapotec language and where 600 hectares have Workers from the forest community of Ixtl·n de Ju·rez inspect seedlings to be planted in the forest they manage within the municipality of the same name, in the southern state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Their plan is to build a seed orchard to generate pine species more resistant to climate change. Credit: Emilio Godoy/IPS managed forests like this one. La Trinidad, made up of 291 community members and their families, has a permit to annually extract 5,000 cubic metres of wood during an eightyear management plan, in effect since been damaged, has undertaken the fight against pests by experimenting with five species of pine in the community nursery. “In November and December, we do seed selection. We want fastergrowing, pest-resistant species. We are The Sierra Ju·rez forest in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but at the same time it can help fight the phenomenon. Credit: Emilio Godoy/IPS confident that the new species will be more resistant,” explained Sergio Ruiz, forestry advisor for the community enterprise Santo Tomás Ixtlán Forest Union. The community of Ixtlán, also in the municipality of the same name, owns 19,125 hectares, of which 30 per cent is used for forestry. Its activities also include ecotourism, a gas station, a shop, a furniture factory and a water bottling plant. In 2018, the community nursery provided 360,000 seedlings, 100,000 of which went to reforestation while the other 260,000 were donated to nearby communities. The hope is to create a seed orchard. A study under preparation by the state-run Technical University of Sierra Juárez analyses climatic factors such as temperature, moisture and soil conditions in Ixtlán. In 2015, Mexico emitted 683 million tons of CO2, making it the second largest polluter in the region after Brazil. Of that total, 20 million tons came from the loss of forest lands. This Latin American country adopted its own goal of zero deforestation by 2030, a real challenge when average annual logging represents 200,867 hectares lost between 2011 and 2016, according to estimates by the Superior Audit of the Federation, the Mexican government comptroller’s office. Other sites in the Sierra Juarez mountains are also exposed to climate change, although their height above sea level temporarily protects them from insects. Such is the case in the municipality of San Juan Evangelista, where silviculturists are preparing to adapt their forests to the phenomenon. “It is important to clean up the forest, because it takes away combustion power and the risk of pests. In addition, managed forests allow more carbon sequestration than unmanaged forests. They can help prevent climate change from accelerating,” said Filemón Manzano, technical adviser to the forestry community in that municipality. Analco, which means “on the other side of the river” in Nahuatl, consists of THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 150 community members, the owners of 1,600 hectares, of which 1,000 are covered by forests and 430 of which are exploited. The community operates a nursery for 3,000 seedlings. Manzano and academics from the state-run Postgraduate College of Agricultural Sciences are preparing research on CO2 absorption by managed forests, estimated at five tons per year per managed hectare. Under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Mexico pledged to reduce, by 2030, up to 14 million tons of annual CO2 emissions from land use, land use change and forestry, by promoting sustainable forest management, increasing productivity in forests and jungles and promoting forest plantations. But the outlays needed to implement mitigation measures would total 11.789 billion dollars up to that year, at a cost of 53 dollars per ton of CO2. Zero deforestation would require 7.923 billion dollars and sustainable forest management would require 3.861 billion dollars. In July, the Mexican forestry sector proposed a long-term policy, greater investment, an adequate legal framework, strengthening community forest management, community participation in the design of measures and a link to climate change, as part of the “Forests with people, forests forever” campaign. Rogelio Ruiz called for more support to better care for the ecosystem and thus reap more benefits. The study “Toward a Global Baseline of Carbon Storage in Collective Lands”, published in September by the Rights and Resources Initiative, a Washington-based global network of 15 partners, estimated that Mexican community forests trap 2.8 million tons of CO2. Manzano called for more forest management. “We want to show how managed forests contribute to the conservation of the planet. It’s going to be important to have more resistant species and create a good mix of species,” he said. Courtesy of Inter Press Service/ NSP.ngo �N o. 39 Nov 221, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 73- |Feb. | No. 400 11 GLOBAL Shedding Light on Forced Child Pregnancy and Motherhood in Latin America MARIELA JARA Inter Press Service R esearch and campaigns by women’s rights advocates are beginning to focus on the problem of Latin American girls under the age of 14 who are forced to bear the children of their rapists, with the lifelong implications that entails and without the protection of public policies guaranteeing their human rights. The Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defence of Women’s Rights (Cladem) addressed the issue of teenage girls who fell pregnant as a result of rape, in a 2016 study in 14 countries of the region, to remove the cloak of invisibility. Julia Escalante, a Mexican lawyer and Cladem regional coordinator, said that it was the case of Paraguayan girl Mainunbuy (not her real name) that motivated them to delve deeper into the issue. The girl became pregnant in 2015 after she was raped by her stepfather and was not allowed to have an abortion. Cladem and Equality Now turned to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in May of that year, which urged the Paraguayan state to protect the Paraguayan girl’s life and rights. But that did not happen, and since then similar cases have arisen in the South American country, the last one in November. “The case of Mainunbuy led us to ask what is happening in other countries of the region. We found a lack of policies to prevent pregnancy and childbearing among children, and to protect the rights of girls,” she said. A study published this year by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that this is the second region in the world, after Sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest teenage pregnancy rate, with 66.5 births per thousand girls and adolescents, compared to a global rate of 46. In addition, of the 7.3 million births to adolescents under the age of 18 that occur each year in the region, more than two million are to girls under the age of 15, and if the trend continues that figure will reach three million by 2030. Cladem’s study of 14 countries, Child Mothers. Forced Child Pregnancy A group of girls from the Amazon region of Peru, the region with the highest teen pregnancy rate, including girls under 14. Latin America is the second region in the world in terms of teen pregnancy, only behind sub-Saharan Africa. Credit: Mariela Jara/IPS and Motherhood in Latin America and the Caribbean, underscores that according to the laws in this region, all births to girls under the age of 14 are legally the result of rape or statutory rape. Organisations that defend women’s rights in the region say that a forced child pregnancy occurs when a girl under the age of 14 becomes pregnant without having sought or desired it and faces obstacles that keep her from having an abortion if she so wishes. Cladem’s data on births to girls under 15 reveal that in 2015 there were 122 in Uruguay, 1,432 in Peru, 1,444 in El Salvador, 1,600 in Nicaragua, 2,787 in Argentina, 6,045 in Colombia, 10,277 in Mexico, 13,332 in Bolivia and 26,700 in Brazil. This Lima-based regional network that is active in 15 countries is carrying out the campaign “Child Pregnancy is Torture”, which has contributed to raising awareness about this silenced issue in the international community. Escalante emphasises the responsibility of governments, which it called upon to gather specific, brokendown statistics on pregnancies and childbirths to girls under 14 years of age. It also called for prevention Some 14,000 girls have been raped in the last six years,î reads the poster on the left during a demonstration in Lima on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is celebrated Nov. 25. Rape is the cause of child pregnancy and forced motherhood in Peru, as in other Latin American countries. Credit: Mariela Jara/IPS measures through comprehensive sex education with a gender perspective from early childhood onwards, the inclusion of such content in the media, and a halt to the sexualisation of girls in the media. At the same time, it demanded that States remove the normative, legal and cultural obstacles that prevent access to abortion for pregnant girls, and thus avoid irreparable damage to their physical and mental health. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been sounding the alert on the steady rise in teen pregnancy and motherhood in Latin America and the Caribbean. In a 2014 report, it noted that 20 per cent of pregnancies to girls under the age of 18 involved girls under the age of 15 who had been raped. Speaking to IPS, Olga Isaza of Colombia, Unicef ’s deputy representative in Peru, first specified the figures for child motherhood in the country, which serves as an example of the phenomenon in the region. She said that between 2011 and 2017, the public health system attended 14,325 births to girls under 15. In addition, in 2015 the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status registered 1,538 newborns to mothers between the ages of 11 and 14 years. “In 71 per cent of the cases, the fathers of these newborns were older than 18, which confirms the sexual abuse underlying these pregnancies,” Isaza said. The annual teen pregnancy rate in Peru is 13 per cent of all pregnancies – a percentage that rises as high as 30 per cent in Amazon jungle regions such as Loreto. “The group of girls under 14 is the one that worries us most because there is a relationship of submission and power that leads to girls having children, girls whose rights to be protected against all forms of violence and to live according THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED to their age and to grow up are violated,” said the U.N. official. Isaza mentioned five policy recommendations to ensure the rights of adolescents and young people presented in Peru by the United Nations agencies, led by UNICEF and UNFPA (the U.N. Population Fund), and which can be adopted in other countries. For example, the design of comprehensive policy packages to address the development aspect of children under 14 and access to friendly health services at appropriate times of the day and with specially trained personnel, as well as comprehensive sex education and making such information available to the girls’ families. “It is about the home and school being safe spaces for every child and adolescent, for them to have health, education, protection against all forms of violence, and participation in their communities,” Isaza said. He added that priority should be given to the areas of greatest risk in each country and that, in order to be effective, these measures of comprehensive action by the State must be culturally appropriate, including personnel trained and qualified to provide quality services, and a sufficient budget to be implemented efficiently. Isaza noted that 13 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which make up the Development Agenda 2030, are directly associated with children and adolescents, in order to reach that year with this generation in better conditions in terms of health, education, justice, protection and gender equality. “And the only way to do that is to make the SDGs a commitment of the States and for each segment of society to assume its role and live up to it, to agree on a broad social consensus,” she stressed. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �12 What’s Going On STREETVOICE What’s going on ask singer Marvin Gaye What’s going on in our world of today Stealing from each other, killing one another Lying, cheating and still calling each other brother Disillusioned by what our lives should really be Misunderstanding that we’re all born in sin, you and me Forgetting each day to let live and let love Forgetting to give all praises due to God up above Everyone needs to take time out to pray And ask God to forgive our sins each and everyday To replace hate with peace and love where ever we can Only then can we see what’s going on all over the land So for me this is what’s really going on We as a people must come together before all life is gone!!! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Nov 2 N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 400 393 Feb. 7 -- Feb. 21, 22019 Homelessness Homelessness is a place that, has a lot of drought Homelessness is cold with wet nights, Homelessness is a cardboard box that a person calls their home To receive a blanket or a kind word means a lot to a person, sleeping on the curb If you open your eyes tell me what you see That person experiencing homelessness on the street one day could be you or me! KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov21, 2 - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0400 18 Feb. 7 -3 Feb. | No. A Succinct Analysis Of The Recent Federal Shutdown Things in D.C. got really chancy, But holding firm was Speaker Nancy. Trump had tantrums to get his way, Homelessness Sidewalk people. Street smart. Ron English, a diva in chalk. Sebastian, the sombrero-clad bicyclist. Memories surround Carl at the old Carl’s Bar. Raymond Thunder-Sky, adorned in a hard- But Speaker Nancy refused to play. hat helmet; Now we are in a three week break, green wig. And grownups better negotiate. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer 13 Fifi Taft Rockefeller, feisty in sequins and They are all Mayors of 12th Street. Screen doors. Slammed shut. Suddenly open. Nickels. Dimes. A Gateway Quarter brawl. Corner dealer. Cops stop. They smile. All once farmland here. Long before the Drop. Rows corn. Holstein cows. Dairy airs. Hillbilly feuds. Zombie Amish. Jammed cicada jelly. Accidental empires. Cobble-stone alleys of the Rhine. A hungry legend. Perhaps apocryphal tale. Batavia’s lost gold ingots, buried. What lies beneath. Somewhere hidden. A secret under our 12th Street rubble. Gold-miners still dig here. Like fierce gerbils. Welcome to 12th Street. FELIX WINTERNITZ Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLE Pet Horoscopes by Dusty Changepurse N o v 27--N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Feb. Feb. 21,22019 No. 400 Leo (Ace of Coins) - I know you think your bird is a birdbrain, but look who’s chirping. I kid. For you bird lovers, this is the time for you to learn something new about your pet. Birds need to be stimulated, not just locked in a cage and forgotten.Try a new snack, a new toy, or a new activity. Maybe even a new friend? Your Leo pet needs something Aquarius ( Three of Swords) - Training is prob not going new in their life. Sadly, they may have some issues related to well and trust me when I say both you and your pet are their feathers this month, so keep an eye on that. frustrated. Be careful of your tone and attitude with your pet right now. Aquarius pets are in their feelings this month. Positive reinforcement is what your pet needs now. You may Virgo (Three of Coins) - You and your pet need to work on think your you are calm and assertive, but your pet hears a routine. Sure, you are doing your best, but right now that routine is what is lacking. This is the month that you both stern and demanding. need to double down on your hard work. Working hard together may bring you closer than you think. If you just Pisces (Seven of Cups) - If you are a repetile parent, hooray! got a new pet and are feeling overwhelmed, surprise,l this Your scaly friends are having a good month, but beware is what you signed up for. All Virgo pets, and their owners, of things relating to water. Water bowls, dehydration, need to focus on working hard now so that it is easy later. swimming, etc. Meaning, make sure your pet has enough, but not too much. Also, check to see they aren’t having any skin issues. Feel free to give them a neat treat this month Libra (Knight of Swords) - You and your furry friend (and because they have a vet appointment and they will not be snakes) have been at each others necks. You have been feeling the struggle, and your pet notices it. Please don’t happy. think it has to be you or them. This is the month that you both need to work on patience. I promise you that if you Aries (Ace of Wands) - You and your pet have been playing stick it through the squeeze, you will leave the experience mind games with each other. Where is that mystery pee feeling more knowledgeable. smell coming from? Can I trust them not to knock over my plants? Your pet is having boundary issues. Heck, we all are right now. You may need to use empathy to find out what is Scorpio (Knight of Coins) - Scorpio pets are pretty chill really the problem. Maybe they are under-stimulated or they this month. It is all about spoiling them this month. Your miss you. Boundaries is the name of the game this month. scorpio pet would love some sort of grooming. They are feeling themselves and not everyone can give themselves Asserting those boundaries now will pay off, trust me. a purrrfect cleaning. It is time to make your pet shine and smells good. Also, the cards didn’t say this, but feel free to Taurus (The Tower) - The old regime has fallen. You may add a new outfit to their closet. They could use the self-care think you have things under control, but when you put those day. Just saying. two pets together, something always seems to go wrong. Your pets are needing more autonomy, and sadly you may have to give it to them. Think about expanding the area your Sagittarius (Six of Cups) - Cha-Ching! If you have wanted furry friends can visit. A trip to a park, or pet daycare, may an exotic fish, get it. Exotic fish are having a particularly good month. If you are already up to your gills in fish, then be what you need to nip the behavior in the bud. add more? Your water-living friends will feel like a monarch under the sea for a while. You may have noticed them being Gemini (The Emperor) - Who is running the house, you extra social already. You may as well splurge on them, or them? And yes, that is what your pet is asking, not you. because they will bring luck with them. Sidenote: If you just Gemini pets love to rule the roost. Why else would they perch lost a pet, this may be the month to consider adding another on the back of the sofa, or hid in the top of the closet? Even friend to join the family. Moving on can be painful, but you though you feel like you don’t know shih-tzu, know that you may be surprised once you open your heart again. are, in fact, a great fur parent. Your gemini pet must learn that both of you can rule in this kingdom. Wait. What? Capricorn (The Empress) - Um, is your pet-a-preg-nent? Yay, and congrat! If not, then check on them. Some pets may be Cancer (The Devil) - Um Sorry? The Devil card doesn’t mean dealing with digestive issues this month. Trust me when I your pet is evil, although when you come home to house full say, Capricorn pets are going through it this month. Your of ripped cushions, shredded toilet paper, and garbage amiss pet family may see some growth this month. You may need you question that assertion. This card means your Cancer to consider how many pets is too many pets. Also, I sense pet has been suppressing some things and they are bound to some pets will deal with leg issues this month. So take care burst out. This could be an injury, a sickness, or some form during play. of trauma. Search for the root cause of the erratic behavior before thinking they are a lost cause. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Feb. 73- |Feb. 21, 2019 | No. 400 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NFeb. o v 2 7- -NFeb. o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 21,2 2019 400 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource February 7-February 21, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Wholly Unrecognizable Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Deb Haaland Becomes One of First Two Native American Congresswomen Who Shut Down the Shutdown? Pg 6: 40 Years Since the Khmer Rouge Regime Came to an End in Cambodia Pg 7: Bullets against Pots and Pans in the Crackdown on Venezuela’s Protests Pg 8: Haitians Abandon Forgotten Town, Isolated for Over a Decade Pg 9: What’s in a Name? Pg 10: Mexico’s Forests, Both victim of and Solution to Climate Change Pg 11: Shedding Light on Forced Child Pregnancy and Motherhood in Latin America Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 7-February 21, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Humberto Marquez Amanda Becker Kris Janssens Robert Park Adeshola Ore Andres Martinez Casares Dr. Mark Mussman Bill Woods Key Beck Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Mariela Jara Emilio Godoy Felix Winternitz Homeless Coalition Pngtree.com Gabriela Godinez Wraphome.org Amanda Meek Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Adeshola Ore Amanda Becker Amanda Meek Andres Martinez Casares Australia Bill Woods Cambodia Child Pregnancy Climate Change Deb Haaland Dr. Mark Mussman Emilio Godoy Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Haiti Homeless Coalition Humberto Marquez Indigenous People Josh Spring Key Beck Kim Green Kris Janssens Latin America Mariela Jara Mexico Motherhood Native American Pngtree.com Protests Robert Park Venezuela Willa Denise Jones Wraphome.org https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/ab3de947bdd825e108df5c91d23a3a2b.pdf b83266fdf36937487c6fc08fd33f12de PDF Text Text J a n ua r y 2 5 t h - F e b r ua r y 8 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 2 6 ( N o . 3 9 9 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Keep An Eye On... Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. By Dr. Mark Mussman Article on page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Jan. 25- -NFeb. 8, 22019 No. 399 From The Director: Are Niceties the Cost of True Niceness? Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Gabriela Godinez Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Josh Spring giving a speech. Credit:Amanda Meet Layout: Gabriela Godinez JOSH SPRING Executive Director O ften people in Cincinnati have this sense that one should always act both nicely and politely. For example, at times we have been criticized after gatherings and meetings for continuing to press questions, saying things that make some uncomfortable, questioning motivations, etc. Often these criticisms haven’t necessarily been of the content of what we were saying, just simply the fact that we were forcefully speaking or acting; that we were not being nice. Now, of course there is nothing generally wrong with being nice. However, not all situations call for niceties. Some issues call for being direct and truthful. Well all situations call for being truthful, but the truth often isn’t nice. That is a part of what is interesting about this prescription to be polite and nice. How often is it truthful and how often is it a cover for what is really going on? How often are we choosing to ignore real problems and not stop or change the systems that are causing them or take on the people at the helm of those systems? We live in a city where the life expectancy of a person can twenty years less depending upon which side of a particular street they live on. In Hamilton County over 56,000 households are trying to fit into less than 16,000 homes they can afford because we are short 40,000 affordable homes. As a result, on an average day in 2018, nearly 90 percent of families with children who sought shelter, were turned away, because there wasn’t room. If you are Black in Cincinnati you are more likely to be evicted from your home, be displaced so that someone who is white with more money can move in and more likely to die at a younger than average age. In the last 15 years we have spent at least a couple billion dollars on housing, yet homelessness is the worst it has ever been, because we have built luxury housing for people who already had homes at the expense of housing people with lower incomes can afford. We play host to some of the largest corporations in this country and even the world, yet there is no requirement that people be paid a living wage. In 2018 more than 109 people died with their lives cut short by homelessness. The thing is, none of this is nice or polite. Of course, when we are criticized, these are the truths we are speaking or the motivation for what we are saying or doing, but when I say, ‘none of this is nice or polite’, I’m not referring to the important reason’s to not be nice when confronting systems that cause these major problems and deaths. I mean literally these systemic problems are not nice or polite. In a town where politeness and niceties socially are championed, why don’t we choose these for those things that matter the most like the opportunity for a healthy life, with housing you can afford and income that covers needs? I think the reason is because as a community we end up putting more value on the superficial acts of being nice and polite. Holding corporations, legislators, developers, etc. accountable and forcefully making change as united People isn’t polite and nice. Our community often chooses the niceties of social interaction over the true niceness and politeness that would mean equal access to needs; conversational respect over respect of human life. Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Ashley Archibald, Zachary Headings, Tharanga Yakupitiyage,Riham Alkousaa, Danielle Engolo, Dr. Mark Mussman , Bill Woods, Birgit Müller, Maurice Golsby, Willa Denise Jones, Zy’auna Crawford, Kimore Gover, ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, Freeimage. com, Gabriela Godinez, Street Sense, Inter Press Service, Hinz& Kunzt, Reuters, Amanda Meek ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 28, - N o v 19, 2 0 399 18 Jan. 253 -| Feb. 2019 | No. 3 U.S. NEWS Microsoft loans $500 million to address the county’s housing crisis ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Real Change M icrosoft’s leaders announced 16 January that the company would forward $500 million in loans and grants to spur the construction of affordable housing throughout King County, Washington [which includes county seat Seattle], in an effort to lessen the twin crises of housing affordability and homelessness in its home region. The company will invest $225 million at lower-than-market-rate returns targeted at subsidizing the preservation and construction of middle-income housing on the east end of the county as well as $250 million at market-rate returns to support lowincome housing throughout the county. The remaining $25 million will be doled out in grants to address homelessness, according to a blog post by President Brad Smith and Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood. The first $10 million of that money will go to boost existing efforts, including the Home Base program, which helps people avoid eviction and funding the new joint agency between Seattle and King County to combat homelessness. To put the scale of the investment in perspective, Mayor Jenny Durkan wrote that the city of Seattle and other partners have invested $710 million in affordable housing over the past two years, which they anticipate will create 4,000 new affordable homes by 2022. According to the post, the company spent eight months designing the plan in partnership with real estate site Zillow, the Boston Consulting Group and Challenge Seattle, an alliance of leaders from the region’s 18 largest employers. The infusion of funds is important, but it’s only the beginning, Smith and Hood wrote. “Even more capital will be required. And more critical still is the need for public policy changes to make it easier and more attractive to build affordable housing,” the post reads. The gap between the number of jobs created and the number of housing units is vast. Microsoft found that since 2011, the number of jobs has spiked 21 per cent while the number of housing units constructed rose by only 13 per cent. The result is a severe pinch in supply that caused housing prices to rise 96 per cent in just eight years. The increase in prices has a direct impact on homelessness. An oftcited study found that for every $100 increase in rent, homelessness jumped up by 15 per cent. Despite significant improvements in the number of households exiting homelessness, the overall homeless population continues to grow year on year. Elected officials celebrated the announcement but acknowledged that the new investments were just part of a regional solution and that more help was needed from all levels of government and the private sector. “The problem is tremendous. This investment is a wedge of the pie chart that is a solution but just a wedge,” said King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci. “I hope this will motivate and challenge the rest of us, in government and the private sector to fill out the rest of that pie. We need workforce housing, affordable housing, assisted living, housing for people experiencing homelessness, senior housing, all of it.” Funding to build and preserve housing is one critical piece of the solution, but the political will to get it built — sometimes in the face of severe public opposition — is another. Seattle is in the midst of a fight over its Mandatory Housing Affordability policy, which opponents believe will disrupt the character of their neighborhoods and potentially result in more displacement of households that are hanging on by a thread. “That is one of our big challenges, that’s a rock we have to push up the hill,” Balducci said. Balducci represents the east side of King County, and lives in a neighborhood that was developed to house workers being reintegrated into communities after the wars of the mid20th century. There was opposition then too, she said. “People who lived there before my single-family neighborhood was built used to charmingly refer to it as ‘the monstrosity up the hill,’” Balducci said. She argues that creating new housing for low- and middle-income households will make for a healthier community by providing access to high-opportunity areas that are aligned with upward mobility and success. “That’s what we should be all about,” Balducci said. “We should be all about opportunity.” Courtesy of Real Change / INSP. ngo Serving up food and literature ZACHARY HEADINGS Street Sense A t the corner of 15th and Irving NW in Washington D.C., on a cold November morning, a man stands beside a cart laden with granola bars, fruit, bottles of water, and books. As people hurry by on their morning commute, he calls out, “Good morning! Free books! Free food!”. His name is Christopher Stewart and he tries to do this every month. Stewart is the librarian at Bell High School/Columbia Heights Education Campus, which serves 1,400 students in grades 6 - 12. He started offering food and books at that corner when he was first hired last year. The “brunch” that he offers is a continuation of a program that Stewart implemented when he worked at the Bellevue Public Library in Anacostia. He says that the brunch is an opportunity to recognize the epidemic of homelessness in the District and to encourage others to think about how they can help. “When people feel like they want to tackle homelessness, it becomes such a big issue that they draw back and say, ‘I can’t do anything about it. It’s too big’,” Stewart says. “In the grand scheme, [the brunch] is small. But it could brighten someone’s day.” More than 20 people stop at Stewart’s table during his hour on the corner. CHEC students make up most of Stewart’s patrons, but they are not his only focus. “It’s not necessarily targeted specifically at people who are homeless, because we want to build community,” Stewart explains. “I want people who are homeless, people who have homes, students, teachers, and everyone to just come and eat together and to discuss a great book and see how many similarities they have, as opposed to differences.” Frederick Carter, who lives nearby, strikes up a conversation with Stewart on his way past the table to catch a bus. While he does not take a book, Carter is appreciative of the offer of both books and food. “It’s always good to see a blessing first thing in the morning,” he says. Stewart describes having books on the street, free to pick up, as “liberating.” Anyone walking by on the street is welcome to stop and chat, grab some food, and take a book. Even if they do not have time to read, Stewart encourages public transit users to take a book and leave it on the seat. “It makes all the difference,” he says. Not long after Carter continued on his commute, several CHEC students hurried by Stewart’s table. The bell had rung and they were facing detentions, according to Stewart. “Did you all have breakfast?” he asked. “You’re already late. You may as well have something to eat.” Some of the students grabbed granola bars and water and hurried to class; others stayed for a few moments to talk about books they had read. A few students listed their interests and asked Stewart which book they should take. Some people don’t feel comfortable going to public libraries, according to Stewart. A common feeling of being overwhelmed by the contents of a library or insecure about one’s own research abilities while in a library has been labeled as “Library Anxiety ” in recent years. However, Stewart is more concerned about people avoiding public libraries due to their associations with government. For example, a 2017 essay published by Time magazine outlined discrimination against undocumented people in libraries and the organization Libraries Everywhere published a detailed report about concern over immigration enforcement in libraries. It is not all about the books, however. The food is an important aspect, too. “It’s amazing how things can happen and trickle into something else,” Stewart says. “You know, ‘I didn’t eat this morning, so I’m going to go THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED into work mad, so I’m not going to give great service, so I’m going to get fired from work. So now I can’t pay my bills. So something as small as feeding [people] is huge.” Right now, the brunch is a local event. The books were either donated by the American University radio station, WAMU, or purchased by Stewart at a thrift store. He purchases the food from local grocery stores. In the future, Stewart wants to scale it up. “I want to offer this each month, in each ward,” Stewart tells me. “[I want to have] an actual table set up with books and food. No formalities, just [the] community coming together for five seconds or five minutes to grab a bite to eat, pick up a book, and/or discuss a great read.” He plans to start offering the brunch in every ward next summer. Stewart’s eventual goal — or “hopeful dream,” as he puts it — is to open a small café that “empowers readership and has great food.” He wants it to be a pay-what-you-will establishment, where those that pay nothing are treated the same as those that pay a lot. “Community, hospitality, and a safe space is the goal,” Stewart says. “[That’s] where relationships are cultivated and where strangers become family.” Courtesy of Street Sense / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED NJan. o v 225 - N v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 - oFeb. 8,22019 399 �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 8, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 25 Feb. | No. 399 5 GLOBAL Eat Plants, Save the Planet A plantain farm on the outskirts of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Current food production is among the largest sources of environmental degradation across the world. Credit: Friday Phiri/IPS THARANGA YAKUPITIYAGE Inter Press Service W hile the modern agricultural system has helped stave off famines and feed the world’s 7 billion residents, the way we eat and produce food is posing a threat to future populations’ food security. With an expected increase in population to 10 billion by 2050, ensuring food security is more important than ever. However, current food production is among the largest sources of environmental degradation across the world. If such production and consumption patterns continue, we will soon exceed our planetary boundaries needed to survive and thrive. “It was quite dramatic to see how much those planetary boundaries would be exceeded if we don’t do anything,” said Marco Springmann, one of the authors of a report examining the impact of the food system on the environment. “The food system puts pressure on land management, in particular deforestation. If you knock down too many forests, you basically really mess up the regulating system of the ecosystem because forests store carbon dioxide but they also are habitats for wild species and biodiversity reservoirs,” he added. Over 40 per cent of the world’s land has been converted or set aside for agriculture alone. This has resulted in the loss of more than half of the world’s forests. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) notes that commercial agriculture is a key driver, especially the production of beef, soy beans, and palm oil. This can be seen in the Amazon where trees have been cut down and land converted to make way for agricultural activities such as cattle ranching and soy cultivation, much of which is used as animal feed rather than for human consumption. In fact, half of the planet’s usable land surface is devoted to livestock or the growing of feed for those animals, an area equivalent to North and South America combined. The intensive use of fertilisers has further diminished land productivity, leading to degradation and even desertification. Moreover, such actions have contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). According to the “Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits” report, published in the Nature journal, the food system emitted over 5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2010 alone. The study also estimates that the environmental effects of the food system could increase by 50-90 per cent without any targeted measures, beyond the “safe operating space for humanity.” Springmann pointed to three ambitious measures that are necessary in order to stay within environmental limits including technological improvements which can increase sustainable food production and thus decrease the demand for more cropland. Another measure seems to be even more daunting: shifting to a plantbased diet. “If you go even more plantbased that would be even better for greenhouse gas emissions, and also it is more well-balanced and better for your health. The estimates are such that we would reduce the pressure on land use if we changed our diets,” Springmann said. The Nature report found that dietary changes towards healthier diets could help reduce GHG emissions and other environmental impacts by almost 30 per cent. A new report from the EAT-Lancet Commission also highlighted the need for dietary changes for environmental sustainability and public health. “The food we eat and how we produce it determines the health of people and the planet, and we are currently getting this seriously wrong,” says one of the commission authors Tim Lang. “We need a significant overhaul, changing the global food system on a scale not seen before in ways appropriate to each country’s circumstances. While this is unchartered policy territory and these problems are not easily fixed, this goal is within reach.…the scientific targets we have devised for a healthy, sustainable diet are an important foundation which will underpin and drive this change,” he added. EAT-Lancet Commission’s recommended planetary health diet requires the consumption of red meat to be cut by half, while vegetables, fruit, and nuts must double. North America has one of the highest meat consumption rates in the world. In 2018, American meat consumption hit a record high as the average consumer ate over 222 pounds of red meat and poultry. If they are to follow the planetary health guidelines, North Americas would have to cut their consumption of red meat by 84 percent and eat six times more beans and lentils. While plant-based diets have THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED gained popularity in the region, seen through the success of the Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger companies, Springmann noted that information alone may not be enough to promote dietary changes. “Of course everyone can change their diet and it would be great if they can do that. But if it is not made easy for the average consumer to do that, then many people won’t do it,” he said. Springmann suggested changing the prices of food products to include health and environmental impacts. Beef for example would need to cost 40 per cent more on average due to its contribution to GHG emissions. This provides governments with potential revenue to invest in other areas such as the subsidisation of healthier products. In addition to dietary changes, the EAT-Lancet Commission state that zero loss biodiversity, net zero expansion of agricultural land into natural ecosystems, and improvements in fertiliser and water use efficient are needed. “The transformation that this Commission calls for is not superficial or simple, and requires a focus on complex systems, incentives, and regulations, with communities and governments at multiple levels having a part to play in redefining how we eat,” said The Lancet’s Editor-in-Chief Richard Horton. “Our connection with nature holds the answer, and if we can eat in a way that works for our planet as well as our bodies, the natural balance of the planet’s resources will be restored. The very nature that is disappearing holds the key to human and planetary survival,” he added. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 NJan. o v 2 25 - N-oFeb. v 19,8, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 2019 399 With clubs and churches, Berlin becomes home for migrants RIHAM ALKOUSAA Reuters A li Mohammad Rezaie does not celebrate his birthday because his Afghan parents never noted the date he was born. Yet he knows exactly when he arrived in Berlin to seek asylum: 15 October, 2015. That day changed his life. "It wasn't a special day. I was tired and had been on the road for two months," he said of his overland journey through the Balkans. Since then he's sung in a choir and done internships and temporary work at a nursing home, a bakery, hotels and restaurants. It is a far cry from the village of his birth 26 years ago. More than one million people have come to Germany as migrants since 2015 under Chancellor Angela Merkel's open door policy. Since then, migration has divided Europe and helped propel a rise of far right parties. Rezaie is among those doing their best to make Germany home, but integration is a journey with many highs and lows and it requires more than simply finding a job and learning German. One woman who helped him is Chris Wachholz. They met at the choir and she later invited him to cook and practice German at the home she shares with her husband. A common interest in motorbikes deepened their friendship. "Meeting this family was like being given an opportunity for my birthday. They are like my ... mother and father," he said. But his immigration status prevents him taking further steps. His Syrian migrant Haidar Darwish performs during a show at Silverfuture club in Berlin, Germany, July 8, 2018. REUTERS/Alessia Cocca asylum application was rejected and he can only stay on as a 'tolerated person', which means he will not be deported but lacks secure status. As a result, it is unlikely the temporary job he has found preparing food and cleaning at the Lufthansa lounge at Berlin's Tegel airport will be made permanent. "I have an apartment here. I know many nice people. If they deport me I'll lose everything," he said. His fear is exacerbated because his Afghan ethnic group, the Hazaras, have faced attacks from militants in Afghanistan. Many migrants say they are welcomed by Germans but others say they have experienced hostility. At the same time, a handful of militant attacks by migrants have enabled some politicians to argue they represent a threat to German society. For some, though, the move to Germany has meant new freedom. Haidar Darwish was dancing in Schwuz, one of Berlin's oldest gay clubs, last year when Israeli student and drag queen Judy La Divana approached him and asked him to perform in her show. He had never danced on stage in his homeland Syria, but La Divana convinced him to try. "Now, many people ask me when and where my performances take place so they can come. Not to brag about it," he said. Syrian migrant Haidar Darwish performs during a show at Silverfuture club in Berlin, Germany, July 8, 2018. REUTERS/Alessia Cocca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED To supplement this income, he works at Bruno’s, a fashion and erotic shop that targets gay men. "I found out that the store manager ... had come to my shows many times and we'd even danced together once," he said. Sexual freedom was not the main reason he left Syria in 2016 - the country is at war, after all - but it represents a discovery he would not trade. For others, the quest for freedom has been fraught. Joseph Saliba was nine when his father sent him to work for a friend in Damascus who restored wood and mosaics. He slowly fell in love with the craft and later become a wood restorer. His business was booming when war broke out in 2011. Scared of being drafted into the Syrian army, he decided to flee to Europe three years ago. His German language class went on a field trip to Berlin Cathedral and immediately he felt a connection. He offered to volunteer in restoration work at the church using tools he had made himself. A year later, the church offered him a paid job. The church became a home but not Germany. Authorities refused to give him a refugee travel document and referred him to the Syrian embassy in Berlin. Saliba said he did not want to enter the embassy of the government from which he had fled and he is suing the German government to get a refugee passport. "I fled the lack of freedom to get freedom here," he said. "I didn't find this freedom here." Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �NJan. o. 3925 3 |-NFeb. ov 2 -8, N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 399 GLOBAL 7 Morocco’s Migrant Workers Struggle to Send Money Home Last year, global diaspora remittances totalled 650 billion dollars, three times the amount of foreign aid given to developing countries. Credit: Kristin Palitza/IPS DANIELLE ENGOLO Inter Press Service M orocco may have hosted the United Nation’s historic Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) conference. But when it comes to remittances— migrant employees, entrepreneurs and business owners all face the same challenge in Morocco: sending money legally to their home countries. Remittances is an all-important issue for migrants and their families left in the land of their origin, and one of the compact’s 23 objectives. However, Moroccan legislation limits money transfers abroad, in effect preventing migrant workers supporting their families or investing in their home countries. “I have been working for more than four years now in Morocco, but I have never been able to invest in my home country,” says Esther, a Congolese migrant working as a journalist in Morocco. “I cannot help my family, because Moroccan money cannot be sent abroad.” Last year, global diaspora remittances totalled 650 billion dollars, three times the amount of foreign aid given to developing countries. This continual familial fiscal flow significantly helps reduce poverty, by providing funds for health, education, and the launching of businesses. Morocco’s own diaspora plays a significant part in its own economy. Money transfers from the Moroccan diaspora reached more than 60 billion dollars in 2015, representing six per cent of the country’s GDP, according to a 2017 World Bank report. Nevertheless, if Morocco is aware of the importance of its diaspora’s role in its economy, that isn’t reflected in its financial policy that does not allow the country’s migrant workers to also contribute to the development of their home countries. Like most migrant workers in Morocco—the majority of whom come from sub-Saharan countries—Esther fell back on informal money transfer networks to sustain her family, giving money to an agent in Morocco. “Several times I sent some money to my family through these informal networks, but I was never at ease because it is risky,” Esther says. “Most of the time you don’t know the person you are negotiating with. He or she might steal your money.” She recalls that two years ago, her cousin, also living in Morocco, fell victim to a dishonest money transfer network that he had used before. “My cousin used to make money transfers with a friend of his. But one day, he gave his friend 17,000 dirhams ($1,900) to transfer to his family. The guy vanished.” Due to such risks, some migrants adopt other strategies, such as annual fiscal pilgrimages, taking the money limit permitted by Moroccan customs. Emilie, a Congolese hairdresser in Casablanca, travels back to her home country every six months to buy merchandise and deposit earnings in a Congo account. “I have no choice, I have to travel regularly in order to save my earnings at home, knowing that I cannot leave Morocco with a big amount of money,” Emilie says. But while this option allows migrants to subvert money transfer barriers and the risks of dishonest brokers, it costs much more because of the flight, which for many migrant workers is unaffordable and hence makes the strategy unfeasible. Unbeknownst to most migrants, a Moroccan law actually does allow people to send a set amount per year— 10 000 dirhams (1,050 dollars)—to each member of a person’s immediate family. But this method requires lots of paperwork and proofs of identity. Also, members of the same family must have the same name and if not the case—a common occurrence among families in sub-Saharan families—the bank will reject a transfer demand or demand additional papers legalized at the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED embassy. Often banks simply decline to assist. Observers note how it’s not just migrant workers who are negatively impacted by tight money transfer rules in countries like Morocco that drive people to use illegal money transfer networks: government exchequers lose out on the likes of fees and taxes generated by legal transfer systems. “Despite these constraints, I think it is a step [in the right direction] to be able to send money, even if it is only for family support,” says Esther, while noting how investment remains a challenge. “I thought about buying an apartment in my country, but it is not possible to send a big amount of money.” Objective 22 of the GCM’s cooperative framework aims to “Establish mechanisms for the portability of social security entitlements and earned benefits.” Whether that proves good enough for migrant workers in Morocco remains to be seen, now that the compact has officially been adopted as of the morning of 10 December. “If I leave Morocco today and return back to my home country, there will be nothing there for me,” Esther says. “It is really a pity after so many years of work.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 225 - N o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. - Feb. 8,22019 399 Keep an Eye On… DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer T he new year always brings a renewed interest. People head in droves to the gym for the first, attendance at Church spikes, and people’s resolutions stay on their mind. In a year, a great deal of things change. This year, we need to be vocal about things that have a disparate impact on people experiencing homelessness, as well as, those who are on the edge of homelessness. The following are a few things that we need to stay on top of this year. Pricey Policies For your housing to be considered “affordable,” you should be spending no more than 30% of your income on your housing, including utilities. Last year, Duke Energy raised everyone’s bill by $200, spread over the course of the year. This rate hike was approved by the Ohio Legislature, and there was literally fees and tickets that people who park in the residential parking spots may be able to cover some of the program costs, but what is the psychological effect on people who get parking tickets when visiting the neighborhood? The eventual fall out of this program may force the City to scrap the program, or to extend it north of Liberty. It is a new cost that we all need to keep our eyes on. Privatization of Public Space Privatization is a perennial issue that affects us all. In the past, I have written on neoliberalism, and the quest to turn public wealth into private riches. We are seeing a robust movement of privatization in Cincinnati, and across the country, which is draining our collective wealth in exchange for individual riches. For example, over the past two years, we lost Ziegler Park to 3CDC, who now controls who is able to use the park, when, and how. They provide private security to force people who are experiencing homelessness away from the park. Others have see the concerted effort put in place to remove people from the park. This loss of public space continues in other ways as well. Looking up and down the sidewalk, you will see more restaurant and bars stumbling out into public space. The loss of sidewalk space represents a serious loss of our community. When bars get seating space on the sidewalk, they create a permanent barrier so that people will be allowed to drink alcohol on the sidewalk. While this represents a double standard, as people who are experiencing homelessness are criminalized for the same behavior, it also means that people with disabilities, families with strollers, and large families, are obstructed on the sidewalk. Ultimately, this means that we are pushed out from our usual spaces. Forced to find new routes. Renaming to Own The so-called Over-the-Rhine Brewery District plans to have a banner year in 2019. The Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Permit Parking Signage in Over-the-Rhine nothing that we could do to stop it. This year, we are looking at higher food prices, higher cable and internet prices, and higher parking costs. In Over-theRhine, south of Liberty, all on-street parking will now be either metered or permit only. The cost to park in Overthe-Rhine has increased dramatically recently, and it is the most expensive outside of the Central Business District. Whether you will be paying at the meter, or for the parking permit, you will be spending more time looking for parking, and more time walking from your parking spot. The residential parking program needs to over-sell the spots to be successful. By using my basic math skills, I’ve found that at full price, the City must sell 1250 parking spots to break even. (There are projected program costs of around $75,000, and the permits cost $60 each. An unlimited number of permits will be sold.) There are only 500 parking spots, so each spot will have been, at least, double sold. The complained that the 3CDC workers have “banned” them from park bathrooms. 3CDC has leased out the park decades from the City, but they should still maintain their public status. Unfortunately, many people feel that the park is private now. In 2019, we are looking at the privatization of Findlay Playground. Model Group, a large developer, has plans to lease the alleyway next to the park. Last week, I noticed a fence around the alleyway, which to me, confirms that Model was successful with their privatization. Currently, there is a fence around Findlay Playground, and local organizers are trying to collect the stories of those who frequent the park. I have written extensively about how the police and the City team up to create a hostile environment in their quest for gentrification of Overthe-Rhine. Check out the police lights set up around Findlay Park, watch the increased patrols, and you will clearly Corporation (BDCURC) is getting ready to unveil their own wayfinding signs north of Liberty. You may have already seen medallions in the sidewalk, but have you seen the giant signs that are blocking the sidewalks in some places? The Brewery District’s Master Plan’s mission clearly shows a lack of inclusion of low-income residents: “To envision investment and development opportunities for businesses and real estate developers that will be supported by the neighborhood, and that will help guide efforts for physical public improvements to accommodate such development.” By renaming the part of the neighborhood, the Brewery District is trying to remodel the neighborhood into a false vision of the past, which is only inclusive of white, rich, and alcohol guzzling tourists. Look out for other things being renamed, including streets, so-called “Districts,” and other public spaces. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Housing Protections and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund In Ohio, renters have very few protections. Your landlord can refuse taking your rent, then evict you for non-payment of rent. This practice is a threat to stable housing. While change in Ohio may take long, we are looking to push forward housing protections that would stop this type of deceitful practice. Along with the local Affordable Housing Trust Fund, housing protections such as these will ensure people will be able to stay in their homes. Unfortunately, the Trust Fund isn’t funded yet, so we will be working this year to ensure funding for affordable housing. The Homeless Coalition is currently fighting for the right of selfdetermination in federal court. If we are successful, we will have prevented the stripping of many Constitutional Amendments, including Freedom of Speech and protections against cruel and unusual punishment and the seizure of personal property. This lawsuit will have a large regional impact, and is definitely something to watch this year. Special Improvement District (SID) Another thing to keep your eye on this year is the proposed Special Improvement District (SID) for southern Over-the-Rhine. A SID has existed downtown for a couple decades, which funds Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI). DCI employs people as Downtown Ambassadors who spend the days and night sweeping up the sidewalks and gutters. They are also available for people who have questions. As I have written before, 3CDC, Urban Sites, and the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, are planning on hoisting a SID on the southern part of Over-the-Rhine. They are using scare tactics to pressure residents at the Community Council to accept the tax plan. Only 60% of the property owners (based upon the linear footage) need to vote for the SID to impose a tax on all of the properties in the proposed SID. In the end, this will cause rents to raise, and will increase homelessness in our area. It will also create a force to police the streets, pushing people who are experiencing homelessness into the shadows. When SIDs are created, laws criminalizing homelessness are likely to follow. When people are forced into the shadows, they are more likely to be victims of violent crime. Each of these issues negatively impacts the lives of those who are experiencing homelessness and those who are on the edge of homelessness. Without the efforts of the Homeless Coalition, our member organizations, and our supporters, many of these changes would go by without note, and the voices of those who are affected would be lost. �N o. 39 ov 28, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 253 -| N Feb. 2019 | No. 399 FEATURE (Top Left) Large Sidewalk Medallion for Brewery. (Middle Left) Sidewalk Seating for Local Bar. (Top Right) Findlay Playground Fenced Off. (Middle Right) Permit Parking Signs Go Up in 2019. (Bottom Left) Sidewalk Blockage for Brewery District. (Bottom Right) Large Signage at Grant Park. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 �10 GLOBAL N o v 225 - N o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. - Feb. 8,22019 399 Rescuing People At Sea Is A Sailor’s Responsibility BIRGIT MÜLLER I Hinz&Kunzt t was a full-blown distress call that the German Shipowners’ Association issued to politicians. Between 2014 and 2016, more and more commercial ships were rescuing drowning refugees in the Mediterranean – and it was leaving the German Shipowners’ Association feeling overwhelmed. One ship owner from Hamburg was – and continues to be – particularly hard hit. Christopher E.O. Opielok supplies oil and gas rigs off the Libyan coast. “Our crew members are seeing people die; they are drowning in front of our eyes,” he told German tv channel n-tv in 2015. His crews succeeded in saving the lives of 1,500 refugees during this period. A lot has happened since the height of the crisis. The ship owners’ SOS was heard, and both the EU and German Navy have since sent ships to help – periodically, at least. They are supposed to put a stop to people smuggling, “but they have also saved the lives of refugees,” says Ralf Nagel, Chief Executive Officer of the German Shipowners’ Association. There are a number of aid organisations who go out on special ships to rescue refugees, he adds: “That has been a big help for commercial shipping.” It is a good thing because, unlike aid organisations’ ships, most commercial ships are not suited to rescuing dozens, let alone hundreds, of people at sea. “Cargo ships are built for the quick transportation of goods, so they normally have high sides,” one captain told Hinz&Kunzt. This means that rescuing people at sea is a major technical challenge, he added. Using a pilot ladder is only a possibility for a few, strong people and life boats can usually only take a few people. In addition, there is often too little food, water and life-saving equipment, including blankets, on board – let alone facilities for adequately accommodating cold and dehydrated people and providing medical care. “Some refugees freeze to death within minutes [of being brought] on board after we have pulled them out of the water,” ship owner Opielok told n-tv. The psychological strain on the crew members was – and is – huge as a result. “Many crews are traumatised,” Opielok continued, “and many people are have looked for another job.” For ship owners, such rescue operations are also commercially disadvantageous. “But insurance covers many of the costs,” says Nagel, the German Shipowners’ Association CEO. It reimburses the costs for fuel, supplies and life-saving equipment. “The biggest burden is borne by people working at sea,” he says. Every shipping company and captain would, of course, pick up refugees if they were asked for help. “Rescuing people at sea goes without saying,” Nagel says. “Every sailor knows how dangerous it can be at sea. And an overloaded dingy with 150 people on board is always an emergency situation.” Rescuing people at sea is not just a matter of honour for sailors: it is also governed by international law. “The only time when it’s a matter of discretion is when the rescue would put the lives of the crew at risk,” Nagel clarifies; for example, if a ship needed to approach a burning oil platform to help people. “Then the captain can decide to keep a [safe] distance because the risk of explosion,” Nagel explains. “But if I see a sinking dinghy, fundamentally, there’s no room for discretion.” In practice, ships are ordered to the scene of an accident by the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC), which knows where every ship is at any given time. Captains must obey the orders of the MRCC, whether or not they can then continue on their delayed journey. “We can’t evade our responsibility or simply pass by – that’s not on,” Nagel says. “Any captain who doesn’t follow an order can face criminal prosecution, including retrospective prosecution.” Those saving lives can also face problems. In June, Italy refused the Danish container ship Alexander Maersk permission to enter an Italian port. This was not despite, but because, of the face that the ship had 100 rescued migrants on board. “If a German ship had been affected, we would have put pressure on politicians,” Nagel says. And that is what the Danish government and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) did: Italy eventually allowed the Alexander Maersk to enter the port of Pozzallo, after days of waiting. Translated from German by Holly Bickerton Courtesy of Hinz&Kunzt / INSP. ngo Helpers from Sea-Watch spotted an overloaded dingy at the end of May in the middle of the Mediterranean. The refugees were able to be saved and brought ashore. Mitten auf dem Mittelmeer entdecken Helfer der Sea-Watch Ende Mai ein ¸berf¸lltes Schlauchboot. Die Fl¸chtlinge konnten gerettet und an Land gebracht werden. Credit: CHRIS GRODOTZKI / SEA-WATCH.ORG THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 8, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 2019 | No. 399 STREETVOICE 11 Commissioner Driehaus, Councilman Mann, and County Issues in 2019 Commissioner driehaus and councilman mann reflect on issues confronting county and city government in 2019 at the first community issues forum of the new year. Image from Freeimages.com BILL WOODS Contributing Writer W hat are the important issues confronting City Council and the Hamilton County Commission in 2019 and beyond? Councilman David Mann and County Commissioner Denise Driehaus addressed this question as well as assessing how they see local government's role in future developments and plans at the first Community Issues Forum of the new year. Instead of speaking separately, the two elected officials informally talked in tandem and responded to the many questions of Forum attendees. Budget issues, according to both Mann and Driehaus, are the first big hurdles facing both the City and the County. Driehaus explained that the County confronted a $28-million deficit that must be dealt with. At the moment a hiring freeze is in place, and cuts have been made to basic services. She indicated that a hike in the sales tax might well be necessary. Although the projected City deficit is not as high as the County's, It still adds up to millions of dollars. Traditionally, noted Mann, the Police and Fire budgets are held harmless, and these services take a huge percentage of the City's revenue. That means that other services and departments must absorb the cuts. Mann, who chairs the Finance Committee, was critical that too much revenue has been lost in recent years due to the City's cutting of a large portion of its share of the property tax. Driehaus and Mann talked about the negative impacts on their budgets due to the major loss of money from the State Local Government Fund. They told Forum attendees to tell Governor DeWine that this funding needs to be restored. Both implied that the long-standing mantra of "no new taxes" is making government at all levels unworkable. Several members of the audience asked the speakers about tax abatements and their impacts on revenue for public services. They questioned whether these abatements were really needed to bring in businesses and spur development. Mann defended tax abatements as a tool that had been necessary to broker developments that had improved the city's economic climate. However, he said that the City's abatement policies were under review, and that stiffer requirements were now being written into abatement agreements. He mentioned a proposal being considered by Council to require major housing projects to include a percentage of affordable units in their developments in order to qualify for abatement. Staying with the theme of housing, Mann said the City has established a fund to help tenants who are evicted from housing to survive the crisis of suddenly having no place to live. Citing the book, "Evicted," he acknowledged that evictions create a myriad of problems including homelessness. Mann also noted his support for the recent establishment of an affordable housing trust fund, but he admitted that this fund still lacked a funding base. Attendees pressed Driehaus about the Sheriff 's cooperation with ICE in terms of contacting ICE officials when the County is holding an undocumented immigrant. This policy, they declared, has brought about some tragic deportations. Driehaus agreed to meet with advocates of immigrant rights to further discuss this ongoing issue. Both Driehaus and Mann voiced their support for improving the declining bus service. They said that SORTA needed to put forward a plan with an adequate tax proposal, and they mentioned growing grassroots support for having a public transit system that connects city residents with the suburban job base. Mann and Driehaus told Forum attendees they had enjoyed this informal give and take with them. They promised to come back in the fall. The Forum on January 31st will feature Josh Spring, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, providing an update on homelessness in Greater Cincinnati. HIV Services in Cincinnati MAURICE GOLSBY I Contributing Writer t’s important that people are aware of what’s going on with HIV services. It happened to me, it can happen to anyone. No one is exempt from HIV. I came across these services when I was in jail. They told me where to go, and the Northern Kentucky Health Department asked me if I wanted to be a part of a support group. I said yes, and that’s how I heard about Positive Souls. We have a group called Positive Souls for HIV positive men and a group called Girlfriend to Girlfriend for HIV positive women. There’s another support group called Neamans and Caracole has a support group as well. Only men of color are in Positive Souls and only women of color are in Girlfriend to Girlfriend. Positive Souls is the oldest support group, around since 1999. They’re like family to me now. We lost a lot of members, people who founded the group. Some of them died from HIV/AIDS, cancer, one got killed. Caracole offers you case management and house management. Once you get a case manager, she’ll do anything you ask her, within reason. She’ll take you to a doctor if you’d like her to. Housing manager will call a furniture place to get your furniture. It’s called New Life Furniture. The case workers keep track of what I’m doing and not doing. I can’t lie to her. She has it all right in front of her and says, “Maurice, this is what you need to do.” I moved in on a Tuesday, by Friday they delivered my furniture. I was fully furnished, bed and everything. I always slept on the floor before and later came up with a bed. I only had to sleep on the floor for two nights this time! If you live in northern Kentucky, there’s the Northern Kentucky Health Department. They have HIV/AIDS THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED support services. I get a $20 gift card for groceries from them. I got a lot of donations from friends, like pots and pans, and a church called Higher Faith. They also donated a bed when I was living in Mt. Washington. Pots, pans, dishes, the whole nine yards. If anyone needs to know anything with support groups, come talk to me. I have no problem telling people about it. I have no problem sitting down and talking to people. Someone said, “You have HIV? You don’t look like it.” Well, I do. It’s safe to be around me. We look like everyone else. �12 STREETVOICE Girls Writing Circle Peaslee Neighborhood Center has a continued partnership with Rothenberg Preparatory Academy, conducing the Girls Writing Circle in the after school program. Our circle creates an open and safe space for girls to express themselves, and be heard and validated by their peers. Our hope is to give our girls an opportunity to discover and display their creativity, opinions, and voices through a process that is grounded in respect and an appreciation for each girls’ unique gifts. Blossoming I love when the flowers are blossoming. They smell delicious And are pretty. When they are blossoming, I think of when my hands Are opening and closing. I like when the flowers Are blossoming Because they open As slow as a turtle. ZY’AUNA CRAWFORD Junior Writer N o v 25 2 - -NFeb. o v 19, 2 0 18 || No. N o . 399 393 Jan. 8, 2019 Creeping Thistle A woman that I am very close with Is my mama. We are very alike, But we’re also different. I love her with all my heart, And I know she loves me. Me and my mama have fun times, Sometimes we have bad times. But when all that’s done, I know that my mama is the person That I can turn to, And I know she will always Have my back, No matter the situationIf I’m wrong, Or if I’m right. I just love my mama With all my heart. I love her smile, Her laugh, The way she talks, The advice she gives me. She is my whole heart, And I love her And I always will. I am blessed to call her my Mama. KIMORE GOVER Junior Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 Nov 28,- 2019 N o v 19, 2 0 399 18 Jan. 253- |Feb. | No. The Federal Government Shutdown Mother Goose 13 A Wall Did you ever think about a wall ? Or the meaning of it to us all ? Pussy cat, pussy cat, why the big frown? "I'm upset by the government shutdown. So many services unavailable to us all, So Trump can rant about his stupid wall!" BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Today we have several walls Walls between the rich and the poor Walls that define prejudice what a eye sore Walls that stop the people from having voices Walls that deny people to have choices So what are our lives worth or living for If we as a people don’t come together to open the door To the realization we are being controlled And without the faith in God our souls we sold I believe we have enough walls in our lives Why pay for another wall we already have strife We as people must come to understand That only threw God grace will we live in this land WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLE 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 188 Across Down 1. Annoying person 1. Optical device 5. Accumulate 2. Ahead of time 10. Hymenopterous insect 3. Abrade 14. Speed contest 4. Stress 15. Highest part in choral music 5. Perform 16. Friendly nation 6. Post 17. Metallic element 7. Not in favor of 18. Largest satellite of Saturn 8. Celestial bodies 19. Bellow 9. Form of musical 20. Parially melted snow composition 22. Former currency of Italy 10. Hawkish 23. Stringed instrument 11. With relatively 24. Large indefinite number high volume 26. Pace 12. Roofing material 28. Speak up 13. Funeral mound of wood 31. Diving bird 21. Chance event 32. Chess piece 25. Cut into cubes 35. Fossil fuel 27. Artifice 37. Tennis stroke 29. Average 41. Lyric poem 30. Part of a roof 42. Act of help or assistance 32. Cooking vessel 44. Lubricant 33. Fuss 45. Add up 34. Sodden 47. Net 36. Roster 48. Quantity of paper 38. Fish eggs 49. Railway vehicle 39. By way of 51. No longer new 40. Type of wood 53. Pronouncement 42. Spline 56. Devastate 43. Scorch 60. Bill of fare 46. Charge of wrongdoing 61. Oaf 48. Change to the contrary 64. Asian pepper plant 50. Measuring sticks 65. Concludes 52. Research workplace, 66. Bordered in short 68. Memorization by repetition 53. Impenetrable 69. Continent 54. Country 70. Pass along 55. Good example 71. Self-satisfied 57. Particles 72. Kind of duck 58. Garb 73. Sludge 59. Lament 74. Catch sight of 60. Food product NJan. o v 225 - N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 - Feb. 8,22019 No. 399 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 391 - MEDIUM 62. Large sweet juicy fruit 63. Squad 67. Staining substance PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #188 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 390- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 ov 2 8, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 253 -| N Feb. 2019 | No. 399 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 211 - N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. - Jan. 25,2 02019 398 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource January 25-February 8, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Microsoft Loans $500 Million to Address the County’s Housing Crisis Serving Up Food and Literature Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Eat Plants, Save the Planet Pg 6: With Clubs and Churches, Berlin Becomes Home for Migrants Pg 7: Morocco’s Migrant Workers Struggle to Send Money Home Pg 8: Keep an Eye On… Pg 9: Feature Pg 10: Rescuing People at Sea is a Sailor’s responsibility Pg 11: Commissioner Driehaus, Councilman Mann, and County Issues IN 2019 HIV Services in Cincinnati Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 25-February 8, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Ashley Archibald Zachary Headings Tharanga Yakupitiyage Riham Alkousaa Danielle Engolo Dr. Mark Mussman Bill Woods Birgit Müller Maurice Golsby Willa Denise Jones Zy’auna Crawford Kimore Gover Homeless Coalition Freeimage.com Gabriela Godinez Street Sense Inter Press Service Hinz & Kunzt Reuters Amanda Meek Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Amanda Meek Ashley Archibald Berlin Bill Woods Birgit Müller Cincinnati city council Danielle Engolo David Mann Dr. Mark Mussman Freeimage.com Gabriela Godinez Hinz & Kunzt HIV Homeless Coalition Inter Press Service Josh Spring Kimore Gover Maurice Golsby Microsoft Migrants Morocco Reuters Riham Alkousaa Street Sense Tharanga Yakupitiyage Willa Denise Jones Zachary Headings Zy’auna Crawford https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/ca0c77979a08fdbfbf87f660b545edb6.pdf d97a88adc3e3084ab83ab388da14ea42 PDF Text Text J u l y 2 5 t h - A u g u s t 1 s t 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 5 ( N o . 4 1 2 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. The Big Squeeze Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 412 393 July 25- -NAug 1, 22019 From The Editor: HUD Changes, Who Benefits? Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief In May there was a proposed rule change within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The proposed rule change would require households of mixed citizenship status to verify said status in order to continue receiving assistance. This means that if a household contains a family member that is not of legal status, this household will be in jeopardy. According to a letter written by Megan Hustings, the managing director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, this proposed change would put many undocumented immigrants as well as legal citizens in harms way. She writes, “the proposed rule would force families legally accessing housing assistance to lose their homes, needing help from an already overwhelmed homeless assistance sector.” Hustings wrote this letter to condemn the proposed changes and argues it will only hurt, not help anyone. In a household with an undocumented head of household but with U.S. citizen children, this household will most likely stop attempting to receive assistance. This will then increase the likelihood of the household to experience homelessness. Hustings writes, “Since 70% of mixed status families currently receiving HUD assistance are composed of eligible children and at least one ineligible parent, it is likely that these families will forgo the subsidies to avoid separation.” This is only going to increase the population of people who experience homelessness living within our borders. The argument for a long time has been that people without legal documentation are a burden on our society. People who subscribe to this belief might use this proposed rule change to show how undocumented citizens receive benefits from the United States without actually contributing to it. This is rhetoric echoed by President Trump. It is also a lie. In an article for Vox, journalist Alexia Fernandez Campbell writes, “Millions of undocumented immigrants file tax returns each year, and they are paying taxes for many benefits they can’t even use.” Furthermore, according to data gathered by the IRS, individuals without a social security number paid $23.6 billion in income tax in 2015. This is not an argument about whether or not we allow people of unknown status keep receiving “benefits,” this is an argument for how we want to treat the people living within our borders. What type of America do we want to live in? What type of home are we trying to create? This proposed rule change says that we want to live in a country that leaves people behind, ignores the root of the issues, and wants all of our neighbors to look, talk, and act exactly the same as we do. Even though this is an obvious attack on undocumented folks, those are not the only people who would be harmed by this new rule. The rule requires multiple steps to prove documentation. Hustings writes 25% of the African American population doesn’t own a photo I.D. as well as 18% of citizens over the age of 65, and 12% of citizens making less than $25,000 a year don’t own proof of citizenship. When we attack one vulnerable population, we attack all of our vulnerable populations. So again I ask, what type of America do we want to live in? I want to live in one that helps uplift vulnerable and marginalized populations. I want an America that doesn’t allow assistance programs to decide who is worthy of receiving assistance. This proposal is saying that in this America, you prove that you are worthy of help, and if you can’t prove it then you aren’t worth our work. That is not the America I want to live in. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper “Through four decades of public education, community organizing and policy advocacy, we have come to understand that widespread poverty and homelessness is not caused by personal failing, as most stereotypes lead us to believe. Rather, we see clearly that extreme poverty and homelessness have been caused directly by Federal, state and local policies that fail to invest in health and wellbeing of the entire community.” ------------------------------------------- -MEGAN HUSTINGS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS ------------------------------------------- S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Kate Ryan, Daniel Trotta, David Barnett, Thomas Peter, Dr. Mark Mussman, Farah Master, Lisa Mauch, Angela Hursh, Willa D. Jones, Ashley Archibald, Depthstroke the Cypher, Kim Green Photography/ Artwork: , Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 21, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 July 253 -| Aug 2019 | No. 412 3 HOMELESSNESS Endless Kiddie Tunes To Spikes In Doorways – Eight Insidious Ways Cities Shun People Experiencing Homelessness Kate Ryan Reuters W hile homeless people are among the most vulnerable to the kind of ferocious heat that scorched Europe in June and is blasting U.S. cities this month, officials have adopted some novel approaches to pushing them out. Although some cities have made strides for homeless populations, others concerned with public health, tourism and image have taken steps to drive away or criminalize people living on the street, who make up about 25 per cent of the world’s urban population, according to the United Nations. Here are eight ways cities and urban businesses shun the homeless. 1. The West Palm Beach, Florida parks department has put a new spin on playing music, hoping to deter loitering by playing children’s songs all night long to keep people from sleeping by a park pavilion until trespassing laws can be enforced. 2. Cities across Europe, from London to Hamburg, are seeing more so-called ‘hostile architecture’, such as arm rests dividing benches and metal spikes placed in doorways to discourage sleeping. 3. Cape Town, South Africa has seen an increase in complaints about fines issued to homeless people this summer owing to enforcement of a 2007 by-law that prohibits bathing or urinating in public, erecting a shelter or starting a fire in an unauthorized area or blocking pedestrian traffic. 4. In 2018, a car park in a wealthy Paris neighbourhood raised eyebrows when cold water was sprayed on anyone without a resident’s permit to prevent the homeless from seeking shelter. A bookstore in New York City, a luxury auction house in California and a salon in Britain also drew public outcry for using sprinklers to deter sidewalk sleepers. 5. Parliament approved a law in 2018 banning sleeping in public streets in Hungary, increasing the penalty from a fine to an arrest and confiscation of property for those who refuse a shelter or work programs. 6. Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur has banned soup kitchens within two miles of the city centre, where more than 1,000 people are homeless and others who live in poverty rely on kitchens for daily meals. 7. An “urban camping” ban in Denver, Colorado in the United States bars homeless people from using tents, sleeping bags, bed-rolls and blankets to protect themselves from the elements. 8. In 2018, towns in Sweden banned begging, following the leads of Greece and Romania. Sources: Reuters, European Parliament, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, European Federation of National Associations Working with the Homeless Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo Tents and tarps erected by homeless people are shown along sidewalks and streets in the skid row area of downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 28, 2019. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon News that the popular but irritating ‘Baby Shark’, and other twee kids’ songs, are being used to move on homeless people taking shelter in certain areas of Florida beachfront is not surprising – cities have been using insidious tactics to shun their homeless populations for decades. To highlight this, Reuters picked out some of the most egregious examples. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT Tours focus on the historical and contemporary struggles and successes of the Overthe-Rhine Peoples' Movement. Learn what gentrification looks like and how displacement affects community members. NJuly o v 2 25 - N-oAug v 19,1, 2 2019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 412 Social Justice Walking Tours Cost: $80/Group (max 20 in each group). Sign up today: https://cincihomeless.org/ please-register-youreducation-event-here/ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �NJuly o. 39 3 |-NAug ov 2 1, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 25 | No. 412 5 U.S NEWS Nine-year-old helps teach educators about queer youth Daniel Trotta Reuters W hen a third-grade teacher from Texas asked her mostly 8-year-old students what they wanted to be when they grow up, one of them wrote on the white board: "drag queen." That response came from Keegan, now 9, a "gender creative" kid, in his mother's words, illustrating just one of the challenges facing educators as they accommodate the range of gender identities that students might express. In order to protect them from potential harassment, the family and school, at their request, have not been fully identified. Educators who for centuries have divided students into boys and girls are now figuring out better ways to address students who are non-binary, gender fluid and gender nonconforming, in addition to transgender kids, whose gender identity differs from the one they were assigned at birth. By one survey nearly three per cent of youth in Minnesota fall under these categories, identifying with neither gender, or both, or trans, or just defying a traditional male/female binary option. Some school districts in the United States are using more genderneutral language, addressing students by their preferred pronouns, which can be "they," "them," "theirs" for an individual, or the invented "zie," "zir," "zirs," which are used as a substitute. Some schools also allow students to easily change their preferred name or gender identity. The degree of acceptance for such students can literally be a matter of life and death, experts say. A national survey of 34,000 LGBTQ youth aged 13 to 24 released last week found 39 per cent seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, as did more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth, according to the Trevor Project, a pro-LGBTQ group focused on suicide prevention. Another study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2018 and based on a cohort study of 129 trans and gender nonconforming youth aged 15 to 21, found that suicide attempts plummet 65 per cent and depression symptoms fall 71 per cent if they are allowed to use their chosen name at school, home, and work, and with friends. The issue comes up long before adolescence as gender identity typically manifests itself in children by kindergarten. "What's at stake is nothing less than the future lives of these children and own health as a society," said Eliza Byard, executive director of GLSEN, a national advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students. Texas, his mother said. "We expected a lot of pushback from the school and we expected some intolerance, but we've been very with a photographer on this project, he said he was gay. Minneapolis Public Schools in Minnesota offer some of the most Keegan, 8, who identifies as gender creative, drag name Kween-Kee-Kee, poses for a photograph after completing his first drag performance during the Austin International Drag Festival 2018 near Austin, Texas, U.S., November, 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amanda Voisard "We still live in a world where the most marginalized are not receiving the support and affirmation that they need in order to achieve academically and thrive personally. And we all will benefit when that is true," Byard said. Transgender rights have risen to the fore in recent years and LGBTQ people have just marked the 50th anniversary since the Stonewall uprising of 28 June, 1969. The protests by patrons of a New York City gay bar, who fought back against police harassment, is considered the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement. Keegan is one student who has benefited from the Stonewall legacy. He plays soccer and video games and also likes to dress as a girl, using the name Kween-Kee-Kee when in drag, his parents say. Among his mentors are a pair of real-life adult drag queens. He usually goes by the pronouns "he," "him" and "his." Keegan has found acceptance and support at his school in a conservative, Christian suburb outside of Austin, surprised," said Keegan's mother. Keegan's teacher paid close attention during the lesson on financial literacy, when other students aspired to be doctors and dentists and Keegan wrote "drag queen." "One of the students asked, 'What's that?' and Keegan kind of said 'I don't know' and moved past it," said his teacher. "But I do see little, like, hints of him trying to make people aware that this is something that he is, something that he does." Neither Keegan's teacher nor his principal said they received any formal training on educating gender nonconforming students and have worked with intuition and observation. The teacher wants to let Keegan bring up the subject "at his own pace." His parents, too, have wanted to "let Keegan be himself " and not impose any norms on him. They said they were surprised on Friday when, five years after he first started wearing dresses and a full year after they began cooperating THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED extensive guidelines for teachers, students and parents as part of its Out4Good program supporting LGBTQ children, outlining polices developed over 20 years on names and pronouns, gendered activities and facilities, and safety and bullying, said Jason Bucklin, the Out4Good coordinator. Some 2.7 per cent of Minnesota high school students identify as transgender or gender nonconforming, according to a 2017 University of Minnesota study. A gender-inclusive curriculum can prevent the kind of bullying that typically begins in grade school and can evolve into homophobia by middle school and sexual harassment or dating violence by high school, Bucklin said. "It isn't just about the transgender students," Bucklin said. "It is about bringing everybody into the classroom and having the ability to feel successful." Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 NJuly o v 2 25 - N-oAug v 19,1, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 2019 412 The man from Bradford who was essential to Australia’s role in the Moon landings David Barnett Big Issue North When he was growing up in Bradford in the 1940s, Mike Dinn’s father was a wool salesman, travelling around the area with his samples from the local mills. Perhaps that’s what fired the young boy’s interest in engineering and electrics. “We had the benefit of a car,” says Mike, now 86, from his home near Canberra, Australia. “Because of my father’s job, and that was unusual in those days. So I used to take an interest in that and how it worked.” Or perhaps it was the Meccano set, the venerable construction toy beloved of generations of children, that the young Mike found under the tree one Christmas morning at the family home in the city’s Little Horton area. Or maybe the electric train set he received on another occasion. “To be honest, I’m not sure what it was that started it all off,” says Mike. “Certainly, my parents had no background in that sort of thing. But somehow I got an enthusiasm for the topic, and I was away.” Whatever fired Mike’s interest in electrical engineering, it was to set him off on a rather amazing journey which would see him on the front-line of history. Everyone has seen the footage of Neil Armstrong taking his first step on to the surface of the moon in the early hours of 21 July, 1969. Millions watched it all around the world as it happened. And that was all thanks to Mike Dinn, the lad from Bradford who ended up playing a pivotal role in NASA’s epoch-making Apollo 11 moon landing half a century ago. When Armstrong made his giant leap for mankind, Mike was working as the deputy director of the Honeysuckle Creek tracking station near Canberra, a facility boasting an 85-foot dish turned to the heavens. Mike had been there since 1967 and the site was part of NASA’s manned spaceflight network. Together with similar tracking stations in Madrid and California, Honeysuckle Creek was part of a network that offered continuous, over-lapping contact with the Apollo 11 mission. No matter how the Earth turned or where the moon was in its orbit or at what point on its flight Apollo 11 was, at least one of the three stations would have a direct link with the mission. And when Armstrong put his boot into the lunar dust of the Sea of Tranquility at 2.56am GMT on 21 July, it happened on Mike’s watch. Mike rather disarmingly calls it “very pleasing… the highlight of my Mike Dinn career.” But while the world was holding its breath as the pictures from the moon were relayed across the world from Mike’s control suite, he and his team of 25 couldn’t just sit back and enjoy the spectacle. Now 86, he recalls, “One had to keep one’s eye on the ball and focus on the job at hand. We had a big team all operating specialist equipment, and though we all knew we were playing a vital part in the mission everyone had to concentrate on their own part so we didn’t really have the luxury of stepping back and watching the show.” Throughout the mission, Mike’s team were responsible for sending communications up to Apollo 11 and receiving data back down, and relaying it all to mission control in Houston. They would patch through voice comms and send instructions to the spacecraft’s systems, and receive telemetry on how the craft was bearing up to the rigours of space, and biomedical data on the astronauts themselves. It’s often said that today’s mobile phones have more computing power than was used to send Apollo 11 to the moon, but Mike Dinn had no actual computers to help with the job at Honeysuckle Creek. “We had a bank of lights and meters showing us what was happening,” he says. “Everything was analog – switches and dials, not computers, and we had to have several back-up systems… plans B to D at least, in case Plan A went wrong.” Mike’s journey from small boy studying his father’s car to key role in the moon landing really began at Bradford Technical College, where he studied for an electrical engineering degree from 1951 to 1955. After graduating, he took a job with EMI Electronics in Hayes, where he did an apprenticeship working on airborne radar. In 1959 he returned to Bradford. He had married a local girl, Trudy Walsh, and took up a position at English Electric’s Aircraft Equipment Division in Thornbury. He’d barely been there a year when he was offered a temporary contract working with the Australian Air Force on aircraft testing. It was a big move for Mike, his wife Trudy, and their two small children, but they decided to do it for the three-year duration of the contract. From there he was offered the job at the Tidbinbilla tracking station, and though he admits he was “dropped in the deep end” with this new discipline, by the following year he had made deputy director at the Honeysuckle Creek station… right as the race for the moon stepped up in earnest. “It was a hugely exciting time for space travel, but I was in my mid thirties and I took things as they came,” says Mike. “The Apollo missions were just getting going and the first one I was involved with was Apollo 7, which was the first test of a command module in orbit, then Apollo 8 was a quite dramatic mission as it was the first test THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED of a module actually circling the moon. That was the mission we at Honeysuckle Creek really came into our own, and then, of course, the next logical step was to quickly move towards getting a manned mission to land on the moon.” Mike’s association with the Apollo programme didn’t end with the career highlight of the moon landing, though. He was also in the hot seat for the illfated Apollo 13 mission, which had to be aborted when an oxygen tank exploded on the spacecraft. He was preparing for his shift as Honeysuckle Creek came online to take over the comms with the mission when he heard the fateful words issue over the speakers: “Houston, we have a problem.” He says, “We provided the comms for the next eight-to-ten hours, and that was a hugely challenging day.” Mike retired in 1994, and was awarded Public Service Medals by NASA in recognition of his contributions. He lives with Trudy and their ever-growing wider family near Canberra. Mike Dinn might have come a long way since playing with his first Meccano set as a boy in Bradford, and been at the forefront of the most historic moments in space exploration history, but he knows that giant leaps for mankind do not happen at the hands of individuals. He says, “I was the leader and the orchestrator of what we did, but everything was a team effort.” Courtesy of Big Issue North / INSP.ngo �NJuly o. 3925 3 |-NAug ov 2 -1, N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 412 GLOBAL 7 Frustration Of Surviving Pricey Hong Kong Stirs Protest Anger Thomas Peter and Farah Master Y Reuters oung people in Hong Kong have been at the forefront of violent protests over a proposed extradition law that have shaken the city and angered Beijing. At the root of the protests is concern over what many people see as school teacher, sitting on rainbowcoloured sheets in her 7.4 square metre (80 square feet) bedroom explained how Hong Kong people felt stifled by Beijing: "They control people more and give us less freedom." But Wai said other problems made life increasingly difficult, in particular what she said was an unfair housing policy that only seemed to make the rich richer. China denies interfering in Hong Kong and warned this week that the violent protests over the proposed legislation allowing extraditions to mainland China were an "undisguised challenge" to the formula under which it is ruled. Fung Cheng, a 25-year-old graphic designer living with his parents and brother, vented his frustration at a system that he believes has robbed next year. But the protesters want it scrapped and have called for Lam to step down. Michael Ho, a bespectacled 24-year-old graduate who also lives with his parents, said the protests were also about unjust circumstances that prevent young people living their dreams. "It's just hopeless for young people to grow, to develop their career because A combination picture shows native Hong Kong resident Fung Cheng, 25, a graphic designer, who lives in a flat with his parents and brother, posing for a picture in his five square metre bedroom of his family's apartment in Hong Kong, China, June 27, 2019 and residential apartment blocks in Hong Kong, China, June 29, 2019. Cheng vented his frustration at a system that he believes has robbed him of the chance to ever have his own home. He said Hong Kong's Beijing-backed governor Carrie Lam, who was chosen as leader in 2017 in a vote by an electoral college approved by Beijing, just didn't listen to the people. "It's the system's problem ... they don't need a vote to be the government, there is no democracy," he said. REUTERS/Thomas Peter A combination picture shows native Hong Kong resident Eunice Wai, 30, a primary school teacher, who lives with her parents and a brother, posing for a picture in her 7.4 sq metre bedroom of her family's apartment in Hong Kong, China, June 25, 2019 and laundry hanging out to dry in a residential apartment complex in Hong Kong, China, June 27, 2019. Wai explained how Hong Kong people felt stifled by Beijing: "They control people more and give us less freedom." But she said other problems made life increasingly difficult, in particular what she said was an unfair housing policy that only seemed to make the rich richer. "Housing is one of the most important ones. We have so little room in Hong Kong and people find it hard to buy a flat. The property companies control the market." REUTERS/Thomas Peter the inexorable erosion of civil liberties and the city's autonomy by an evermeddling Beijing, that refuses to grant full democracy in the former British colony. But many young people in one of the world's most densely populated and expensive cities are also infuriated by sky-high living costs, and a feeling that a home of one's own is just a dream. Reuters spoke to 11 young people in their tiny bedrooms in their parents' homes about their political concerns and frustrations about life in the Chinese-ruled city. Eunice Wai, a 30-year-old primary "Housing is one of the most important ones. We have so little room in Hong Kong and people find it hard to buy a flat. The property companies control the market." The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" formula that allows freedoms not enjoyed in the mainland, including freedom to protest and an independent judiciary. But many in Hong Kong resent what they see as Beijing's creeping control and its refusal to let its residents directly elect their leader. him of the chance to ever have his own home. Cheng, perched on his bunk above a white desk in his five square metre (54 square foot) bedroom, said Hong Kong's Beijing-backed governor Carrie Lam, who was chosen as leader in 2017 in a vote by an electoral college approved by Beijing, just didn't listen to the people. “It's the system's problem ... they don't need a vote to be the government, there is no democracy," he said. Lam has suspended the hated extradition bill and said it would lapse THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED of the pricing problem," Ho said. On average, people seeking public housing in the city of 7.4 million people have to wait 5.5 years. The average living space is 40 square metres (430 square feet). Roy Lam, who lives with his mother and four sisters, said young people were determined to stand up for what they deserved but it was hard to stay positive. "We do also sometimes think 'let's just give up, let's just move to someplace else'." Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �FEATURED 8 NJuly o v 225 - N v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 - oAug 1,22019 No. 412 The Big Squeeze Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer I s all development good? This question comes up time and again during discussions, community meetings, and city-wide proceedings. There are some individuals who believe that $1 of investment is worth it, no matter what. With this attitude, there is no consideration for the current residents, the residents who are being displaced, workers, the built environment, or the natural environment. From my perspective, it is a dangerous viewpoint, as we are in a changing world that requires extra care and thought when doing development. So then, how can development be quantified and measured to ensure that it doesn’t have an adverse effect on the community? Fortunately, Peaslee Neighborhood Center has been studying this issue for a long time, and they recently put together the Equitable Development Rubric. (If you’re not familiar with a rubric, you can think of it as a checklist with subcategories.) After doing their research, Peaslee is making recommendations on development in several areas, including: Housing Affordability, Jobs and Labor, Community Input, and Community Footprint. Just for good measure, they have an Extra Credit section that includes Diversity and Inclusion, Public Space and Infrastructure, Natural Environment, Community Organizations and Programs, and Local Enterprise. According to the Rubric, the hope is that developers and the community will “prioritize goals of equity around class and race; increase knowledge and transparency of important public processes; facilitate is being squeezed in on all sides. These geographic considerations, coupled with lifestyle trends and decades of public neglect, have made Over-the- creative, empowering work across neighborhoods; and create a framework that equips citizens to organize for meaningful change in our local policies and practices.” We are currently feeling a real “squeeze” (as I describe it) in Over-theRhine. This is not a comfortable hug- Rhine a desirable, yet nearly unlivable, place to call home. The loss of affordable housing in the neighborhood has been significant. Across the country, over the past ten years, the United States has lost most, more than 60%, of all affordable housing. The percentage lost in exclusively market-rate, then you will receive no points. This is most likely due to the fact that we are more than 40,000 units short county-wide of affordable housing for our neighbors with the lowest incomes, yet we have more than enough housing above the area median income. To receive all four points, your project must include 65% of the units affordable at 60% AMI or less, or at least 30% of the units are affordable at 30% AMI or less. AMI means area median income. AMI can be calculated using the Neighborhood (lowest), City (middle), or County (highest) AMI, which are different from each other. The Rubric makes note of this, and shows affordable housing rents at 30% and 60% of the County AMI. When it comes to the labor put into the development, to score highly, you must abide by Cincinnati’s Wage Theft Ordinance and all labor laws, as well as meet Ohio Prevailing Wage Contractor Responsibilities, and pay all adult employees a local living wage and meet the criteria for federal Section 3 Business Concerns, which ensure that individuals who are local, and have low incomes, are included. According to the Rubric, the highest scores can only be attained by “projects that will generate a significant number of new, post-construction jobs.” While these items may seem onerous, the fact is they represent a model that does not exploit workers, particularly lowincome workers, who deserve to have a living wage and protections from Wage Theft. type-squeeze, but more of a painful and unending squeeze. With downtown to the south, hemmed in by highways to the East and West, and the hillside with the University of Cincinnati and the hospitals to the north, Over-the-Rhine Over-the-Rhine continues to grow as developers claim that they must move to market-rate housing to survive. The Rubric’s point system gives a clear way to score projects, including on housing affordability. If your project is Whenever a development is proposed, it should include community input beyond an announcement of the project at a single community council meeting. To even get a single score, a developer must go beyond a community THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 1, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 July 25 Aug 2019 | No. 412 9 FEATURED council meeting and hold an accessible public input session, take the input and rework their plans to include feedback from the public. This new plan must be re-presented at a community council. and strengthen the use and quality of the community benefit. While this tends to lean towards the preservation of actual physical spaces, to receive the full points a development must also To receive the full points, the project must do everything already discussed and local, low-income residents must hold at least 20% of positions within the project’s governing board. Included in the intermediary points is “support from a majority of non-profit organizations in the neighborhood that primarily serve a low-income population.” These community input protocols are designed to ensure that the community has a voice in the development. The final standalone category covers the community footprint, which includes recreation, green, and social gathering spaces, as well as, small, neighborhood-serving business, social services, housing, trees and vegetation. The goal of this section is to preserve financially contribute “to further the positive impact of the asset(s).” The recent development on Race/15th/ Pleasant is perhaps a good example of a development that did not follow this directive, as the “Field of Greens” playspace was destroyed for a gravel parking lot for construction materials. In order for a project to be eligible for Extra Credit, they must have scored at least 50% on the previous sections. The Extra Credit will be added to the total score, opening a possible additional 20 points. In terms of Diversity and Inclusion, the City’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program criteria must be met to receive a single point, and to receive the full points the 7 principles of universal design must be meaningfully incorporated, and the project must provide space available for use by the general public. For Public Space and Infrastructure there must be contributions to public funds, redevelopment of public space, be welcoming to people of all income levels, and be located in a primarily low-income area. The Natural Environment category is based upon LEED certification. To receive full points in Community Organizations and Programs, the project must be “owned and occupied by a non-profit or community based organization with the primary purpose of meeting an established community need... and low-income residents will be directly served.” The last category, Local Enterprise, awards a highest score to THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED projects that “provide commercial space to a worker-owned cooperative.” Peaslee aims at getting developers, community councils, and eventually the City, to use the Rubric when considering development in every neighborhood. The first steps have been to educate the public about the Rubric and demonstrate the need for each community. If these criterion were adopted city-wide, and used to determine where public subsidies were granted, even in cases of tax abatement, the City would be actively working towards a more equitable future. As we experience the squeeze in Over-theRhine, it would be more than beneficial to fully adopt and regulate development to ensure that our neighbors have a future here, in their home. �10 LOCAL NJuly o v 225 - N v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 - oAug 1,22019 No. 412 Honor Book Collection From Library Available at OhioMeansJobs Center Lisa Mauch Angela Hursh T Contributing Writer he Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is committed to supporting residents looking for work or aspiring to a better, more financially and emotionally fulfilling career. To this end, the Library is in a longstanding partnership with OhioMeansJobs (OMJ). Starting July 17, the Library expanded this partnership to a new place: the OhioMeansJobs Center at 1916 Central Parkway. For the past year, a dedicated member of the OMJ team, Cindy Frietch, stocked the lobby at the Center with books for clients of all ages to enjoy. Thanks to the support of The Friends of the Public Library, an honor book collection of donated materials is now located at the OMJ Center. Clients can now take books home and enjoy them. “Every day we serve parents who are trying to make their lives and the lives of their children better by finding a new job—but often they need to bring their children with them,” said Frietch. “Reading is such an important part of lifelong success. I wanted the families that are here waiting for service to be able to enjoy a book, as well as to take a book home with them.” When Paula Brehm-Heeger, the Library’s Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director and board member of the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board (SWORWIB), heard of Frietch’s efforts during the SWORWIB SuperAwards ceremony, she knew a new way the Library could help. “Books and making connections that better serve our community are part and parcel of what makes the Library special,” said Brehm-Heeger. “Creating an honor book collection at OhioMeansJobs is another way we can help connect people with the world of ideas and information.” ABOUT SWORWIB & OHIOMEANSJOBS (OMJ) CENTER: SWORWIB procures the service provider for OMJ/Cincinnati– Hamilton County that works every day to connect job seekers and employers. By bringing together business, government and the community into a collaborative unit, the OMJ Center is able to create a more skilled and better- trained workforce. The collaboration results in more successful employers, increased tax revenues generated by new or better jobs for previously unemployed or underemployed individuals, and improved social services through reduced reliance on public assistance. THE Remembering Marian Spencer - A Model For Reformers To Keep On Getting On Bill Woods Contributing Writer When originally planned, the aim of this article was to review the current status of political reform locally, in Ohio, and in the U.S. in general. Then one of Cincinnati's leading, longtime reformers died. Marian Spencer, known for her major Civil Rights achievements in the Queen City, passed away on July 9th. Although we need to celebrate Marian Spencer's Civil Rights' victories such as the integration of Coney Island, we also must remember how she vigorously championed political reform throughout her life. Proportional Representation (PR) stood out as her particular reform cause, but she also supported a wide range of other political reforms. For instance, she became involved in the successful campaign in 2001 to pass a City Charter Amendment that addressed "big money" in Council and mayoral elections. Spencer, the first AfricanAmerican woman to serve on City Council, saw a direct link between Civil Rights and political reform. She saw that protecting the vote for everyone is a key to protecting other rights. Her dedication to Proportional Representation stemmed from the fact that this system of voting usually insures that a significant minority can elect a representative to office. Cincinnati used PR to elect Council members from 1925 to 1957, and several African-Americans won seats under this system. In fact, the local referendum to eliminate PR in 1957 succeeded because of a racist campaign that warned that Councilman Theodore M. Berry was gaining too much influence and might become mayor. As a young Civil Rights leader during that period, Spencer would have felt the sting of that campaign and its results. She threw herself into the unsuccessful campaigns to bring back PR, and as a Charter Committee board member she taught this reform Party that Proportional Representation was every bit as important as the City Manager System that was also adopted in 1925. When several younger Charter leaders wanted to oppose the 2008 Charter Amendment proposal to readopt PR, Spencer, then in her eighties, helped rally enough board members to insure Charter's endorsement. Ever the optimist, she was buoyed by the close results of that fall's campaign. A month before Marian Spencer's death, reformers in Ohio and across the country were disheartened by the Supreme Court's decision that it was not the role of the federal courts to intervene in how states draw districts for elective office. This five to four decision marked a major setback for the movement to end the worst forms of gerrymandering in the U.S. Here in Ohio, the decision of the U.S. Federal Court of Southern Ohio that new districts must be drawn before the 2020 election is now void. Remembering Marian Spencer's lifelong commitment to keep working for Civil Rights and reform even when confronting huge obstacles should provide current reform activists with a model for going forward. Even if Ohio won't have un-gerrymandered districts in 2020, the Constitutional THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Amendments passed by the voters in 2015 and 2018 will insure fairer redistricting processes in this state after the completion of the 2020 Census. Although frustrated about the Supreme Court decision, Catherine Turcer, Executive Director of Common Cause Ohio takes the position of needing to move ahead on educating citizens about this state's new Redistricting Amendments as well as advocating other needed critical political reforms. Thus, if we wish to honor Marian Spencer's life, we need to move ahead in pursuing her goal of eliminating all the obstacles that often block or make it difficult for many citizens to vote. Further, we must take on the dominance of "big money" in elections that is warping democracy and making average people feel that their voices aren't heard. Spencer's words say it all: "I didn't accept a 'no' when it was wrong. It has been my responsibility to change things." �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 1, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 July 25 Aug 2019 | No. 412 11 U.S. NEWS Queencare Empowers Black Women While Fighting Gentrification Ashley Archibald Real Change M onika Mathews opened the squat, cylindrical container, scooped out a bit of lavender-scented cream and rubbed it into my hand. She instructed me to cup my hands near my face and breathe in… 1,2,3,4,5 … and breathe out. The cream — not lotion, she emphasized — is meant to nourish the skin. The scent is meant to nourish the soul. Mathews is the founder of QueenCare, an organic skincare line that’s run out of a boutique in Columbia City. The storefront is small, with products lined up on shelves, and the office area where she met this reporter is up a treacherous spiral staircase. “We create a new product every month,” Mathews said. QueenCare is the profit-making arm of the growing empire that Mathews founded almost two decades ago — an empire that stakes a claim for Black people in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood and empowers young Black women and men to do the same. Mathews has already created a nonprofit that seeks to create Mathews said. Sixteen years ago, Mathews incorporated the Life Enrichment Group (LEG), a nonprofit that went into local schools and worked with students to provide academic support. “I saw a need and started volunteering to fill that need,” Mathews said. Stereotypes against children of color are numerous. Mathews wanted to disrupt that cycle and bring culturally relevant help to the students in her neighborhood. It was meant to provide academic support, but the project grew into more. Mathews founded the Young Queens group, which operates out of South Shore PK-8, Garfield High School and Cleveland High School. There, young Black women and other young women of color work to build community and skills in a world that devalues them. She also secured funding to run a program that brings high school students to colleges for visits and tours, an attempt to get young people who might not think that college is for them to envision themselves as students in higher education. From that point, it was a natural evolution to offer the internships, Mathews said. Monika Mathews, the owner of Queencare, right, shows Jamillah Goodrich one of the products sold in her new store in the Columbia City neighborhood of Seattle. community and promote healing for Black girls and women. Now she’s expanding, offering six internships to Black women in sales, administration and retail management. It’s all part of a long-term strategy to build capacity within the community not just through professional skills, but through selfcare, Mathews said. “It’s a self-love revolution,” On Niya Thomas’ first day as a retail management intern, Real Change was there to interview her. She was on break from Virginia State University, a historically Black university, where she was studying business management. Thomas was no stranger to customer service. She’d been working at her father’s Philly cheesesteak shop since she was Kiana Green, 17, shows a customer one of the skin care products at QueenCareís new storefront in Columbia City. Green is a participant in the Life Enrichment Groupís Young Queens Youth in Business program. young. But this was her first chance to get a look behind the curtain. The experience is about more than learning how business works, she said. “It’s self-care, self-love, sisterhood,” Thomas said. At QueenCare, she has a chance to Durkan announced that 8 December, 2018, was QueenCare’s day, in honor of acquiring their own retail space. Success hasn’t slowed Mathews down in the least. She wants to expand from working in schools to founding one and establishing a transitional Terri Hendrix 15, is a participant in the Life Enrichment Groupís Young Queens Youth in Business program. learn about the pricing and marketing that goes on behind the scenes of most shops. Mathews’ product and project has attracted support from local government and funders who see the value of investing in local organizations. United Way of King County awarded LEG a grant through its Youth in Business program, and Mayor Jenny THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED housing facility for young people. She has plans to grow QueenCare and found outlets in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and even Nairobi, Kenya. “This is my legacy,” Mathews said. Courtesy of Real Change / INSP. ngo �12 THE LETTER WRITING CHALLENGE STREETVOICE I am sending out a “Writing Letter Challenge”. The letter can be written by hand or typed. Let us step away from the computer or any other electronic devices and convey messages through written expression. So get the pen or something to write on. You do not have to be a poet or someone with vocal talent. Your thoughts can sing on pages. Your words could be the poetry that someone needs to read. The challenge is to get your feelings out without using emojis or clicking buttons. WRITE TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT WRITE TO SOMEONE YOU MISSED WRITE TO SOMEONE YOU HURT The Chessmaster Chessmaster who has many puts them years of dedication in Checkmate and determination with vigorous training to strive for excellence Concentration and focus Has paid off Chess WRITE TO SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES YOU is a game WRITE ABOUT WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND The purpose of this challenge is to explore complete thoughts, getting feeling out both positive and negative and to keep the Postman employed besides someone receiving a bill. Then, get the physical address as well as a stamp and mail the letter to the person you were writing to. You can challenge the person to whom you are writing by suggesting that they writing you back and suggest that they write someone else as well. The challenge also helps to enhance patience. WHO WILL ANSWER THE CALL OF THIS CHALLENGE? Now that will be fun!!! PLEASE HELP PASS THE WORD... Be the hero in your story… Be the change that you want to see… Be grateful… Be humble… Be the greatness that you are destined to be… D. C. wuz hear…. Depthstroke the Cypher Contributing Writer When the The Chessmaster WRITE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS HURT YOU WRITE ABOUT WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING N o v 25 2 - -NAug o v 19, 2 0 18 || No. N o . 412 393 July 1, 2019 where your mind is the tool It's over Game Locked What can they do When the Chessmaster brings out his tools Game Over It's BAM The Chessmaster Rules Each piece has a special move Tick Tock Tick Tock Sometimes its played with a Speed Clock Kim Green ContributingWriter Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREETVOICE No. 39 Nov 21,- 2019 N o v 19, 2 0412 18 July 253-|Aug | No. BANASUN VACATION It was a I often wonder if I had never experienced homelessness would I have met people I know now Such as the Off The Street Program, Cincinnati Homeless Coalition an Findlay Market WOW LITTLE BOY BLUE REACTS TO TRUMP'S MILITARY PARADE Remember Little Boy Blue Wore red, white, and blue To honor the 4th of July. Up to date the Homeless Coalition an Findlay Market But Trump's D.C. charade, With many tanks on parade, allows me to sale this paper With Street Vibes in my life on Findlay Market I met so Caused Boy Blue to cry. many people I need a napper One day I come to the Market an I see somebody setting BILL WOODS Contributing Writer up something different an new I wondered what can it be ? Ice cream I was SHOCKED to find out my Vacation was due After watching the blending of so many different fruits an juices I was ready for a taste SHOCKED the flavor an taste is one that made me understand just what a Slushy is no waste So come on try this VACATION, relaxing with all of us on O.T.R. at Findlay Market downtown Come outside on your VACATION looking for something cool relaxation that's close around Try a SLUSHI I've tried it an I feel BANASUN is the one for me On Findlay Market looking for a SLUSHI BANASUN that's where I'll be Willa D. Jones Thank you Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 107 Across Down 1. Stalk 1. Male red deer 5. Possessed 2. Long hollow cylinder 8. Scorch 3. Panache 12. Bulbous plant 4. Stingy hoarder 14. Female animal 5. Part of a shoe 15. Desire 6. Veneration 16. Humiliate 7. Style of glazed 17. Snakelike fish earthenware 18. Building offering lodging 8. Black bird and meals 9. Detest 19. High ranking officer 10. Report or maintain 21. Ornate manner of speaking 11. Depend 23. Relieve from 13. Danger 24. Rapid active commotion 15. Part of a song 25. Mediterranean fruit tree 20. Worship 28. Deposit of valuable ore 22. Illuminated 30. Disorderly fighting 24. Sultry 35. Part of the eye 25. Number one 37. Let for money 26. Very angry 39. Beauty shop 27. Presumption 40. Rant 29. Depression in a surface 41. Come after 31. Grains of rock or coral 43. Small semi-aquatic 32. Slumber salamander 33. Further down 44. Warhorse 34. Way in 46. Change direction 36. Outstanding tournament 47. Cervid player 48. Bid 38. Divot 50. A great distance 42. Represent as if in 52. Inquire in a meddlesome a play way 45. Ten years 53. A small compartment 49. Color 55. Crib 51. Cook by dry heat 57. Bluster in an oven 61. Steadfast 54. Venue 65. Speedy 56. Private instructor 66. Actor's prompt 57. Boast 68. Took without consent 58. Complain bitterly 69. Part of a church 59. Part of a church 70. Employ 60. Despicable 71. Sum 61. Ooze 72. Mirth 62. Short letter 73. Deplete 63. Group related by 74. Rip blood or marriage NJuly o v 225 - N v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 - oAug 1,22019 No. 412 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 2- EASY 64. Contained 67. Country, initially PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #107 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 1- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 ov 2 1, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 July 253 -| N Aug 2019 | No. 412 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NJuly o v 225 - N- oAug v 19,1,22019 0 18 | |N o . 393 No. 412 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource July 25-August 1, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: HUD Changes, Who Benefits? Pg 3: Endless Kiddie Tunes to Spikes in Doorways Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Nine-Year-Old Helps Teach Educators About Queer Youth Pg 6: The Man from Bradford Who was Essential to Australia’s Role in the Moon Landings Pg 7: Frustration of Surviving Pricey Hong Kong Stirs Protest Anger Pg 8: The Big Squeeze Pg 9: The big Squeeze Continued Pg 10: Honor Book Collection from Library Available at Ohio Means Jobs Center Remembering Marian Spencer Pg 11: Queencare Empowers Black Women While fighting Gentrification Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 25-August 1, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Kate Ryan Daniel Trotta David Barnett Thomas Peter Dr. Mark Mussman Farah Master Lisa Mauch Angela Hursh Willa D. Jones Ashley Archibald Depthstroke the Cypher Kim Green INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Angela Hursh Ashley Archibald Australia Bill Woods Black Women Bradford Daniel Trotta David Barnett Depthstroke the Cypher Dr. Mark Mussman education Farah Master Gabriela Godinez Gentrification Hong Kong HUD INSP.com Kate Ryan Kim Green Lisa Mauch Marian Spencer Moon Landing protest Queencare Thomas Peter Willa D. Jones