2 10 12 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/f971ea6b710191ca0673c958b2e89575.pdf 61629606d0ed268d029888b31b6a944a PDF Text Text (BoY from badeed vendor ONLY!] by Steve Lansky and Mike Henson The Southgate House hosted an unprecedented mix of music and music lovers at an artists·· benefit for the homeless last Saturday night in Newport. Over 700 people; young and old, came out in support of the Drop Inn Center the Over-the-Rhine homeless . ' shelter threatened with demolition by mainstream arts organizations and their officials, headed by Cincinnati POPS conductor Erich Kunzel. The Newport venue's event, entitled "Not in Our Name," was part celebration, part fundraiser. It featured eight bands and five singer-songwriters running the gamut from folk to punk. Action was on two fronts--the main ballroom (with a comfortably packed balcony) and the wood-paneled library style room on the second-floor which filled and emptied several times as the acts transitioned smoothly throughout Denise, Bonnie, and Paulette on stage Tracy Walker the night. Rockers The Simpletons fa9ed their largest crowd ever. Their first CD will be released at the Southgate House February 19. Headliners Ray's Music Exchange were broadcast live on WAIF 88.3 FM thanks to Al Ringhauser and crew. Other performers who donated their services were rockers Thistle, blues singer Tracy Walker with her band Sprawl, Chris Treter's Savory Mull, Norah Salmon's Hemline punk "grll" band, Ginny Frazier's Native American and Appalachian band Circles and Arrows, and folks from Paulette Meier's Carry It On. Singer-songwriter Todd Ethan hosted the stage upstairs with Mike Landis, Rebecca Vie, Mad Frog, Savory Mull, Thistle, and Eric Gray. Bob Donovan of Big Bang Productions, who practices medicine for the city health department's Health Care Cincinnati City Council targets immigrant workers Lady Liberty, move over a little more ... by Sonny Williams Two city o rdinances were just proposed by Councilperson Todd Portune and former Councilperson Ty_rone Yates: that employers in Cincinnati be criminally prosecuted for hiring undocumented workers and that the Department of Buildings and Inspections have a new ordinance that would allow the department to cite property owners and landlords for housing undocumented workers. The ordinances were introduced to try and stop employers from abusing undocumented workers; but advocates fear it may have the opposite effect. On Tuesday afternoon, at the Law and Public Safety Committee meeting, several opponents of the two proposed ordinances spoke against them. I believe that our appearance at that co mmittee delayed a vot e on the ordinances because the ordinances were indefinitely delayed. Speaking at the Committee meeting were Sonny Williams , from Prisoners Rights Advocacy Network; Mary Merrill, with the Central American Task Force, and Margaret Sanger, a representative of the Latino Community in Cincinnati. For further information on this issue, contact the office of Todd Portune at City Hall: 352-3000 �ST REE TV I BES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES The Tri - State ' s Homeless Grapevine Streetvibes, the Tri-State's Home­ less Grapevine, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless, social justice and poverty related issues. It is published once a month, 12 issues a year, by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Vendors buy the paper for 20 cents (to cover printing costs) and then sell the paper for a dollar donation. The vendor keeps the profits. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low­ income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes vendor badge. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. Director Administrative Coordinator Streetvibes Editor Assistant Editor Editorial Intern Vendor Support Homeless Civil Rights Warren Perkins, Tenant Organizing Rapid Exit Program Melissa Samhan, Susan Knight, Tom Billman, John Halpin Jess Ballew Ron Carter, Writers Mike Henson Tree Mosolf Steve Lansky John Halpin Warren Perkins Berta Lambert Tom Billman Sonny Williams Lynn Williams Rodney Sutton Te'troAmaru Pat Mitchell Joan Rohrer Carl Walker ...... and more ........... . Graphics Photographs by Jimmy Heath and Berta Lambert, Sketches and Cartoons by 0. Jackson Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graph­ ics, photos.... We will print everything we have room for, giving preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Please send all material to the following address: Streetvibes c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 (513)421-7803 fax(S13)421-7813; e~mail: streetvibes@juno.com (text-only) or homecoal@primax.net ( attached files) 'Mlbpage: http://cinci.com/gcch City Plants Replacement for Community Council Imagine there were a group of people who were created to bypass advocates for the poor. This same group of people are planning to displace poor people and tear down buildings, and want to make Over the Rhine a neighborhood where 80% of the people are middle income. This group re­ ceives huge amounts of funding to sustain it even when it falters. Unfortunately, this is not some bad dream, it's a reality. This group of people exists, and th~y're called the Over the Rhine Coalition. Recently the City Council agenda revealed that Council is trying to find $6 million to fun 2 or 3 special mega housing projects in Over the Rhine to try to rehab 30-70 vacant buildings. This doesn't sound too bad. Not yet, at least. It gets more disturbing when you find out more about it. City documents explain that 60 percent of the city's funding for hous­ ing in Over the Rhine goes to "unrestricted" units, also known as middle income market rate units. While this might be enough reason to be concerned, the document goes on to state that the city is partnering with the Over the Rhine Coalition to develop a Master Plan for Over the Rhine. "Wait a minute," you might be saying. "I thought the Over the Rhine Community Council is the representative link between our neighborhood and City Hall." Or perhaps you have never heard of the OTR Coalition. Who is the OTR Coalition? Who is the ULI? The OTR coalition was founded following the visit of a think tank called the Urban Land Institute (ULI) in 1996. The basic goal of the ULI was to give the city direction in "revitalizing" Over the Rhine. Unfortunately, they saw OTR not as a neighborhood where low income people live but as a resource to be exploited by developers for the city. When they visited, they barely spoke with any low income residents of the neighborhood at-all, but instead spoke with middle income people and developers. When reading the ULI report, one can surmise from the language used what they had in mind for the neighborhood. Regarding social services, ULI says that they should promote "self sufficiency, reducing low self esteem and dependency." Are they implying that social services have been promoting dependency and low self esteem all along? When one considers the underlying motives of the ULI, it sounds as if they are saying that the people who need social services in OTR should be gotten out of the way so their plans for the neighborhood can proceed . They sound rather naive, as if they have never worked with poor, minority, mentally ill or homeless people. The ideology of the writers of the ULI report is further revealed when they write that OTR needs to be developed as a "community of choices." By this they mean a choice of income levels, a choice of housing cost. Apparently though, they didn't mean choice for low income people, who would have no choice but to move out when prices rise. In fact Ult openly discusses displacement and how to "manage" it. Here's a quote: "Guiding criteria no. 6: Ensure that a plan accompany each proposal, outlining developer's method r . ,, 1 • • 0 t ,. \ o t -t ~ l • • ·' 0 • \ • I • ,..I Page 2 by Patrick "Tree" Mosolf of moving tenants out of his or her existing buildings with minimum disruption to their lives. Displacement hardships must be minimized. " Another of the bold strokes of the ULI report is its proposal to tear down buildings in order to create more parking. In the drawings in the ULI report, almost 1/2 of an entire block· is destroyed to make room for parking. Not only would this reduce the potential for low income housing, but it is not consistent with the architectural design of the neighborhood. It is also not sound environmentally. The original design gives residents a more ecologi­ cally sound limit on the number of parking spaces, but the ULl's proposal makes OTR more like a suburban neighborhood with a low population density. Finally, the ULI proposed the creation of the Over the Rhine Coalition to overcome what they see as fragmented leadership. The stated goal for such an organization was to promote collaboration, but the circumstances would prove to make this very difficult. The report did not mention that the Coalition would supplant the Community Council as the legitimate voice of the community. How could they expect to get collaboration if their very starting point was to snub the Community Council? In general, the ULI report has a utopian flare, with wording designed to sound good to city bureaucrats impatient to turn OTR into a jewel for middle incQme taxpayers. But the motives and values of the panelmembers invariably limit the vision presented. In fact, excluded from the utopian vision are any significant plans to help low income people. Thus, when viewed from the perspective of the whole city, the ULI report involved the rather dystopian idea of pushing the poor out of sight, out of mind. The reality is, any plan to redevelop OTR which does not specifically provide for preserving low income housing will probably damage and eventually displace the low income community. What has the OTR Coalition Done? Admhtedly, the author of this article does not know too muct1 about what has happened with the OTR Coalition. But a brief overview of events since ULI left town follows. Even without much information, it becomes clear that in the three years since ULI left town, The OTR Coalition has not accomplished very much. Yet it still continues to get city backing as the group which will create a Master Plan for Over the Rhine. Immediately after the ULI left town, Damon Lynch held five picnics in OTR to promote the Coalition, which were described in an OTR Community Coundl document as very disorganized. Soon afterward the city and DCI (Downtown Cincinnati, Inc.) hired another consultant to come in. Following this there were talks held between all the parties involved, including the Community Council and the Chamber of Commerce. However these talks failed when DCI representatives stated that they would have the ultimate decision making authority (not any groups located in the neighborhood.) In 1997 the city gave the OTR Coalition. $150,000 in funding, which truly reveals the city's role in propping up this institution. This 0 • �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 3 Drop Inn Center (continued from page one) for the Homeless, presented an incredible state-of the-art light show in the ballroom featuring powerful civil rights movement related video. Master of Ceremonies Michael . Burnham spoke eloquently about the homeless struggle, reading from works by Robert Bly and other poets, as he did on WAIF FM in 1977. The audience represented all ages, from seven to seventy with a range of social backgrounds as well. There were men with long hair wearing black leather coats, women in overalls and T-shirts, one man with a bold mohawk, women with . platform shoes, and even men in traditional suits and ties. As gatherings go, it was peaceful and energetic, with dancing on both floors: clogging upstairs and pogoing downstairs. The happening was in part a celebration because on January 7, the school board announced that the effort to move the region's largest homeless shelter was no longer a part of plans for an arts academy. Drop Inn Center representatives were pleased with the news, but concerned. "We are cautiously optimistic about it," Center coordinator Pat Clifford told the Post. "But it still has to go to the full board and there's a chance these recommendations may not be accepted. If it is accepted then we would be pleased but still cautious because there are a lot of details that need to be worked out. We want to be sure the community is involved as it goes forward ." Artists for the Drop Inn Center was formed in May 1ggg in response to the January announcement by a group headed by Kunzel of plans to develop a new, kindergarten through high school arts campus that would replace the current School for the Creative and Performing Arts. City Plants (from page 2) funding came despite the fact that at that time the Coalition did not have bylaws and wasn't incorporated. To give this amount of money to an organization with no track record and no accomplishments.to speak of is highly irregu­ lar. Certainly, no neighborhood group which has acted on behalf of the poor has ever received this kind of liberal funding. Around this time, the Coalition tried to get involvement from the Community Council by offering an advisory position on a board to choose a consultant to conduct the OTR Master Plan. The Community Council respectfully declined. The Coalition also went through a period of disorganization and conflict, center­ ing on its ineffective director Linda Kirkland. Kirkland apparently alienated almost everyone involved in the Coalition before she was fired, so that the organization was barely a shell when she was dismissed. Even after it was restarted there was still a great deal of conflict over bylaws and the structure of the organiza­ tion. Despite efforts to get participation form low income community residents, it was and Second Floor Crowd, Southgate House, Artists for the Drop Inn benefit concert SCPA is currently housed in the old Woodward High School at 13th and Sycamore, which some claim is dilapidated and inadequate. The proposed arts academy would provide state-of-the-art studios and performance space for an expanded student body. The proposal called for placing the new campus near Music Hall and the WCETstudios. And , in some versions, it called for demolishing the site currently occupied by the Drop Inn Center. Naturally, homeless activists were concerned. But they were not the only ones. Three artists--a videographer, an actress, and a dancer--issued a call to musicians, artists, writers, performers, and arts workers to take a stand against displacing the homeless in the name of arts education. Videographer Barbara Wolf said she taped the Christ Church Forum discussion about the Kunzel plan from the Drop Inn Center's perspective. Wolf was behind the video camera listening to a broad base of comments. Current residents of the Drop Inn Center spoke about how their lives had has been overwhelmingly dominated by professional elites and "big players". Thl;JS, it has failed to get collaboration from all groups or to build broad based support. A letter from the Coalition from June of '99 states, "Since May, after a period of organizational setbacks, the first order of business was to rebuild the OTR Coalition Board with broad based community repre­ sentation pursuant to the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute." Thus, the Coalition is continuing with its mission as decreed by the uu. rn fact, it hopes to produce the OTR Master Plan by December of this year with the help of city employees. Yes, despite its problems and lack of accom­ plishments, the OTR Coalition is still trying to get something done. What Should We Do? We should do something about this situation in order to stop this group from getting its way in our neighborhood. Here are some suggested actic;ms: 1. Speak out about the Coalition­ People need to spread the word about what the Coalition is doing and what its objectives been changed by .the support they had received at the Center. "They mentioned recovery from alcohol in a deeply personal way," Wolf said. "They wondered how artists could do this to them. I thought, I must say as an artist I cotJldn't agree with Kunzel." Thus the group, Artists forthe Drop Inn Center was formed. The "Not In Our Name" concert was conceived as a way of showing that artists throughout the area stand in solidarity with the homeless. Some of the top bands and musicians in Cincinnati were there to show it loud and clear. The concert was supported by The Citizen, AMP Alert e-zine, City Beat, WARM 98/MoJo's Brian Ewing, Capital Coverage News Service, CincyRing.com , Ethanonics, Vindu Indian Restaurant, Sitwell's Coffeehouse, DNN, Blue Jordan Records, and WAIF 88.3 FM. Earthsave Cincinnati, the Welfare Rights Coalition, and Greater Cincinnati Mumia Committee staffed tables at the hall to help broaden.the ooo night's political outreach. are. The motives and makeup of this group need to be revealed for the residents of OTR and the public to see. 2. Petition the city to take back the Coalition's authority- The city gave the Coalition its power by making them the agent producing the OTR Master Plan and by giving them funding. OTR residents should approach City Hall and ask them to return the power to the Community Council. 3. Create our own vision and Master Plan for the neigh­ borhood- We cannot be put into the position of reacting negatively to every plan put for­ ward. The flip side of criticism of the Coalition is the preparation of our own vision and dream for the neighborhood. Our Master Plan can be used to challenge the legitimacy of the Coalition's plan and state our view in a positive way. To get involved with this or other issues relating to the neighborhood, call the Over the Rhine Community Council at 381-2956, visit the Council at 1713 Vine St., or come to the Community Council meeting which is held on the last Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. •- • • • - - . 0 . - - .Cl • 0 �ST REE TV I BES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine THE PURPLE TURTLE Page 4 Berta Lambert Save Over-the-Rhine... from Kunzel's Nightmare (the so-called Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center) Painting a more complete picture of Over-the-Rhine: I) The central issue has never been saving the Drop-Inn-Center, but the protection of the neighborhood and in saving Over-the­ Rhine. The Drop-Inn-Center is protected. II) O ver-the-Rhine population is 7,000­ 9,000 people, 70 % African-American and another 70% below the poverty level. Over­ the-Rhine is small in land area with its largest public open space being Washington Park. A $ 100 million dollar project which will grow in the coming years will have an enormous negative impact on a small poverty ridden community. Ill) At its base, the purpose of all the interlocki ng proposals for Over-the-Rhine are to remove African-Americans and others in poverty as part of Kunzel's Nightmare to open the possibility of two new arts auditoriums: expansion of Memorial Hall, and a new Nightmare Performing Arts Center at 12th and Elm Street. IV) Early press discussion of Kunzel's scheme included the American Classical Music Hall of Fame, now temporarily housed on West Fourth Street. Music Hall is still being discussed as a site. It seems not unreasonable to expect a classical music museum to be no smaller than C leveland's Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. For O ver-the-Rhine, this means ­ more land taken, more displacement of residents, higher prices and more traffic. Rhine, downtown gobbles up the area, making DCI so happy. VI) The so far unsuccessful redevelopment of Findlay Market wishes to play a role in this "social cleansing" process. It appears to have two physical objectives: A) Expansion of the marketarea l ) to Liberty, 2) to Vine Street, and 3) to Central Parkway. B) Acquire through city purchase the Zone Economic Empowerment Center (ZEC) by buying from Hamilton County the building in which Our Daily Bread is located . (there goes the soup kitchen) ....Thereby giving a long­ term home to city planners and bureaucrats. Non-r~sident Damon Lynch ill, who through his New Prospect Baptist Church played handmaiden to the creation of the illegitimate ULI Coalition (the so-called Over-the-Rhine Coalition which the late buddy gray fought so hard), is now being rewarded by the location of a much ballyhooed Busken Bakery in one (1) of his church's seven (7) empty building. The so-called Coalition was formalized in 1997 to usurp the function of the 30-year-old Over-the-Rhine Community Council (ORCC). By early 1999 all the Coalition's resident board members had resigned (seeing outside business interests dominated its agenda). However, through the efforts of John Hauck, more resident quislings were brought in, and now city planners are trying to_use this group to develop a new neighborhood plan instead of ORCC playing the lead roll as it was done in the past and is done by all the other fifty-one (5 1) community councils in Cincinnati. Vlll) A few more details: l )Police are proposing a fence around Washington Park. 2) Over $2 mm ion has been spent over the last I 0 years at the current SCPA site, and there is plenty of room for adjacent expansion. 3)Parking and traffic problems would become very large indeed with a new performing arts auditorium, school 5 days a week, special events, tourists and ongoing Music Hall events. 4)Cincinnati public schools need to spend the proposed $26 million on fixing up schools and not on elitist private -projects! 5)The Drop-Inn-Center and Tender Mercies would eventually be isolated and those they serve would no longer feel comfortable in the area, a slow agonizing death for DIC and V) An important part of this effort to "steal the neighborhood" is the ending of low mcome Section 8 \. housing in Over-the-Rhine. \ \ In the past, owners of bui !dings could choose to sig n for 5 add itional years. Now, they are only able to sign for 1 year at a time. Every year a landlord seeing "changes in the community" can switch to higher rents, pricing minorities out of Over-the-Rhine. VI.) Meanwhile, Kroger is underwriting the rehab of Emery Theatre (n low income folks up stairs and is likely to bui ld a super store at I 21h and Vin (when " low income residents" are replaced by "market rate residents" in the nearby West End). If Kroger acts as an anchor, then, along with the other proposals for Over-the- Tender Mercies! IX) And given this picture .... death to the present Over-the-Rhine Community. In stopping Kunzel's Nightmare, all the other projects listed above and those not yet made public can be either stopped, modified or assimilated by the Over-the-Rhine community or by the so-called market forces. The unspoken elements driving Kunzel's Nightmare are greed and racism. (Continued Next Column) �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine US Army School of the Americas Grad Arrested for Murder of Guatemalan Bishop CLEVELAND: (Courtesy ofSOA Watch) Homeless win ban on arrests By Martha Grevatt Cleveland PURPLE TURTLE Continued Social cleansing is its name! POSTSCRIPT: Kunzel's Board met Monday, Jan. 31. Following standard meeting business, including the approval of the Minutes of their last meeting of May 4, a treasurer's report was given: ASSETS: Bank Accounts (1) l ,739, 2) $163. DEPTS: 1) $8 1,000, 2) $14,000, and 3) $ 1,200 - All thi s after four years. They are not in good shape. Care was taken to introduce Mr. Kunzel, and emphasize he would introduce a resolution with four parts supporting a personal letter he sent to the Cincinnati Public School Board (CPS). The context suggested a conflict among the insiders of his Board on the 1si part of his resolution: a commitment to have SCPA remain a public School rather than a charter school. A division of the resolution was made. All passed. On part three(3) a cornmjtment to raise matching funds for CPS's $26 million, several questions arose: A) Raise how much money? 26, 46, or 60 million dollars ? B) Which of the four Kunzel Nightmare plans would be used? C) What is the relationship of these monies to the closing of the three remaining elementary schools in Over-the-Rhine. Board members representing the interests ofOver-the-Rhine voted against part 3. A motion was made which in essence prevented Kunzel's people from seeking Drop Inn Center properties in any phase of this nightmare. It failed to pass, with an 8 to 8 tie (3 abstentions). In summary: The Kunzel board seems to be on its last gasp. Political advisors have suggested to them that their only chance of survival is to focus exclusively, for now, on a new SCPA. (Seems is a key word). From where is a group which has less than 2,000 and is in debt for nearly $ 100,000 going to get money to hire a firm to rai ~ ·- ,...,. 60 r1... •; - · . dollars in the next 6 months? Hidden Assets? Page 5 New York is not the only city where it is a crime to be homeless. Just in time for the busy holiday shopping season, the city of Cleveland instituted a policy of arresting homeless people caught sleeping on the streets or "panhandling." After five people were arrested, homeless advocacy groups began orga­ nizing to defeat the ordinance.The North­ east Ohio Coalition for the Homeless demonstrated and packed City Council chambers. On Dec. 22, the coldest day of the year, Food Not Bombs erected a tent shelter on Public Square in front ofTower City shopping mall. The group, which has been feeding homeless people every Sunday for the past four years, served hot meals and distributed blankets and cloth­ ing. At 7 p.m., city officials informed demonstrators that they were in violation of the law, but there was no order to disperse. It was not until 3 a.m., when the streets · were empty and the media were inacces- ·: sible, that police surrounded Public Square. Eyewitnesses state that dozens of police cars, a fire truck, and an ambulance arrived on the scene. Cops tore down the shelter and confiscated food .blankets and all other provisions that had been left for the homeless. Five people were arrested while Mayor Michael White watched from above in a cozy Renaissance hotel room. Home­ less people and their supporters were arrested. They have since been released. Despite the arrests, the protest was tremendously effective. On the same day as the demonstration, the American Civil Liberties Union issued a letter to the mayor expressing its intent to sue the city to block the unconstitutional arrests. Lawyers for the ACLU offered not to file the suit ifthe sweeps were halted, but the city refused. The victory came when Federal District Judge Paul Malia issued a tempo­ rary restraining order stopping the arrests of the homeless. While feeling good about the victory, homeless people and their advocates will not rest until the ordinance is overturned. * WASHINGTON, DC ­ SOA-trained Guatemalan Col. Byron Disrael Lima Estrada was arrested, along with his son, January 21 for the 1998 murder ofRoman Catholic Bishop Juan Gerardi. According to a declassified US Defense Intelligence Agency biographic sketch, Lima Estrada took Military Police training at the US Army School ofthe Americas (SOA) now located at Ft. Benning, GA. Lima Estrada went on to head the infamous D-2 (G-2) Military Intelligence agency at the height ofthe genocide campaign in Guatemala's civil war. Bishop Gerardi was bludgeoned to death in his home two days after he released a human rights report that implicated the D-2 in human rights atrocities committed during the war. The report, "Guatemala: Never Again," based on thousands of testimonies collected by the archbishop's office, provided a chilling catalog of the mechanisms of violence. In a chapter titled "D-2: The Very Name of Fear," the report severely criticizes the military intelligence agency headed by Lima Estrada from 1983-85. It cited the D-2 for playing a "central role in the conduct of military operations, in massacres, extra-judicial executions, forced disappearances and torture." The arrest of Lima Estrada will add to the mounting evidence against the US Army School ofthe Americas. The SOA bas come under increasing criticism by groups in the United States and Latin America who cite numerous human rights reports and US State Department reports that link SOA graduates to atrocities in Latin America. The 78,000-member Leadership Conference ofCatholic nuns and the 13-million member AFL-CIO are two of the spectrum of organizations that have called for the closing of the infamous US Army school. In commemoration ofanother SOA-linked assassination in El Salvador, over 10,000 human rights activists gathered to protest the Ft. Benning combat training school last November. Twenty­ three now face six month prison sentences for their nonviolent protest. In July 1999 the US Congress voted 230-197 to cut funds to the SOA. The measure failed in the conference committee, but another vote is expected this year. Rep. Joseph Moaldey (MA) and Sen. Richard Durbin (IL) have introduced companion bills calling for the SOA's closing. The arrest in Guatemala will bolster their efforts and counter Pentagon and Congressional supporters who argue that SOA atrocities are a thing ofthe past. For more information, contact Carol Richardson, SOA Watch, (202) 234-3440. �( .. ST REE TV I BE 5 The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 6 Center Helps Drug Users in · Nepal Find Hope hyJohnHalpin Nepal is the world's only Hindu kingdom, a small country of 22 million people nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, between India and Tibet (China). I had the opportunity to live for three months in this nation, the home of Mt. Everest and some of the world's other highest mountains. The physical beauty of this land is unsurpassed. I saw breathtaking sunrises, snow-capped mountains reflecting the setting sun, and rainbows arching over the earth's deepest valley. In the midst of all of this beauty, stands something equally beautiful, the indomitable spirit of many of the Nepali people with whom I became friends. This was demonstrated to me by a small group of men recovering from drug addictions. Nepal, unlike most of its other South Asian neighbors, was never colonized, and its borders remained closed to foreigners until the 1950's. Westerners often speculated that the mysterious Kathmandu Valley was "Shangri-la," or the land of paradise. This proved not to be the case, but I believe that life was in some ways better in this country of isolation than it is now, afterthe recent influx of foreign aid, Western culture, and the many social problems associated with the West. Perhaps one of the most tragic results of this meeting of cultures was the birth drug use among Nepali youth. Historically, drugs such as marijuana had always been available in Nepal but were only used by wandering ascetics, older men who had left their material lives to roam the country in search of religious enlightenment. This changed in the 1960's when young American hippies came to Nepal in search of these inexpensive and legal drugs, settling along a street in Kathmandu that became known as Freak Street. In the 1970's, several years after the hippies had been living in Kathmandu, the king outlawed drugs and sent them back to America. Their visit left a legacy, however.. Influenced by these Americans, Nepali youth began to experiment with drug use. Other reasons may have contributed to this rise of drug use, but most experts agree that the Freak Street residents had a profound impact on the development of drug use in Nepal. Today there are countless Nepali youths addicted to drugs, in a country that has virtually no support services to fight this problem. The only drug rehabilitation center in the country is a residential home for men called the Freedom Center. Located just south ofthe capital Kathmandu, the center was started in the 1970's by an American Jesuit from Cleveland, Father Tom Gafney. Established shortly after king outlawed drug use, the facility was always controversial. Father Gafney's outspokenness was a main source of this controversy as he became a loud critic of corruption in the police force. The police know who the drug addicts are and will often stop them, take their drugs, and either use them or sell them for profit. Gafney also aroused suspicion that other powerful people were behind the Nepali drug trade. The priest's activism on behalf of the countless men he treated cost him his life. In December, 1997, he was found murdered in his small apartment. The murder has never been solved, most likely because those investigating simply c;io not want to find those responsible, if they already do not know who they are. Despite this tragedy, Fr. Gafney's work has continued. The Freedom Center today continues to treat Nepali men from all ov~r the country. The two most deadly drugs present in Nepal are brown sugar (a distilled form of heroin) and tidigesic, a highly addictive painkiller that was once legally available. Drug users inject both of these drugs intravenously. Clean needles are expensive, so needles are often shared. About one-half of the men at Freedom Center have contracted HIV this way. For three months last fall, I had the opportunity to study in Nepal along with 12 other Xavier University students. Part of our academic program was a class in service learning. Through this class, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Freedom Center and to meet some very remarkable people. Recovering from an addiction is difficult no matter where you live, but the social conditions of Nepal make recovery much more difficult here. Only a small fraction of Nepali drug users get the chance for rehabilitation at this center, the only one of its kind in the nation. When they return to their homes, they are spread out all of the country. There are virtually no support systems for them to tum to. There is no Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous. Unless they are from Kathmandu or Pokhara, the two largest cities, there probably are no other. recovering addicts in their area. They are on their own, oftentimes with untrusting families. In the communities in which they live, they have been labeled drug addicts, a label that sticks. Sometimes, the only friends they have to turn to are their friends who are still doing drugs. Coupled with HIV/AIDS, one's situation is even harder. The social stigma of this disease is great, treatment is too expensive, and there are not even any facilities to care for people in the last stages of the disease. It is not an easy life, and the men and boys at Freedom Center know that. Yet in their faces, I see a lot of hope. There is Reuban, a resident for six months, who returned home to take care of his terminally ill father. Their relationship had never been a good one, but Reuban's commitment to staying clean and his father's illness has brought them together. Every morning he goes to college, hoping to get a degree in advertising. He wants to educate people in Nepal about drugs and HIV and other social issues that they are often un-infonned about. There is Subaas, always with a smile, with whom we spent hours talking on the sunny front porch. Unable to get a conclusive HIV test, he does not even know if he is really positive for the virus. He faced this agonizing situation with courage, though. His dreams were of starting a business, maybe even going to America. There is Suraas, who at twenty­ seven kicked a drug habit that controlled him since his teenage years. Meeting many HIV-positive men at the Freedom Center has inspired him to make plans to open a home for people in the last stages of AIDS. He wants to provide them with a place where they can really be loved, even as they are dying. The list could go on and on. Sharan hopes to visit Tibet this autumn and go to school afterwards. Peruj reads his philosophy and religion books in his spare time. They are all tiny examples of people building a life out of hope, even in the midst ofgreat suffering and obstacles. The guys at Freedom Center struggle every day with their addictions, but they courageously build lives upon their dreams of a better future. That is a lesson for all of us. Never give up hope ... you can build a marvelous life with it. Food For Thought Don't down the one that's down today but cheer him in his sorrow For this old world is a funny old world and we may be down tomorrow ... .Pat Mitchell lf four cars pulled up to an intersection All at the same time, And there was no traffic cop or light, Which car should go through the intersection first? · Give up? Welt, ...The one that feels the luckiest! �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 7 PROVERBS 14:20 One quarter that's all they ask for But sometimes I have it but look in their eyes and say no. Can you give me two dollars so I can get something to eat? How I know you don't just want something to drink? I know you have it hard out here on the streets But Westaff is hiring and they pay every week. They are the homeless. But why do we make them the helpless? Walk down the street and see the food less, but restaurants like Mc'donald's and Burger King throw food away like they're foolish, and we do the same because we're heartless or maybe we're Godless. Living witho_ut God is the true definition of homeless I use to be homeless but now my st)elter is God. WINTERWOOD E. Joan Rohrer Winterwood is all good. A tree's energy goes within To make way for leaves in spring. Baren though the tree may seem, It's much like me with my dream .. . Which hibernates within my soul .. . To blossom forth in time. WORD SCRAMBLE RMOST ONATORO NRHUCIRAE LHIA WSON LADZBZIR OHTPONY ETLES (answers on page 19) He's my protection in good time and when it gets hard. God love's a cheerful giver and the homeless is a good start. Let's get them off the streets the right way, that's by everyone having a giving heart. On Sunday, February 20,2000, TENDER the acclaimed Back to Broadway group will stage a production benefiting Tender Mercies. Founded in 1979, by Mary Jo and Al Katona, Back to Broadway was designed as an MERCIES event to ~rovide funds to local non-profit organizations. This year's production of Back to Broadway will include songs form Guys and Dolls. Annie Get Your Gun, My Fair Lady, Chorus Line, Miss Saigon, The Phantom of the Opera, and Saturday Night Fever. SPIRIT OF 2000 in Over the Rhine. ...... Carl A. Walker ,12111199 By Sonny Williams THOUGHTS ON MUTUAL AND · MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION Black, Latino, White 12th Street, Drop Inn Center is the people's right Erich Kunzel's plan failed to shut it down; The Homeless United in Cincy-Town. In the theme and spirit ofwhat one thoughtful soul said with "If I can't dance, <ion't invite me to your re>.1olution" ­ Ifwe can!t iaugh Of cry and have you and others listen to ~ur.jokes, stories and whatever else we may have to say, don't bother invitjng us to your meetings or conferences or caus.e s and expect us to listen to.your jokes, stories or speeches. · BACK TO BROADWAY PRODUCTION TO BENEFIT TENDER MERCIES Letters of support from N.Y.C., Cleveland, Marion Ohio. Spirit of Soweto is the national call, It's right to rebel. Down with Displacement, A Victory for the Homeless! Ron Bohmer is scheduled to appear with the cast of Back to Broadway at this show. Mr. Bohmer most recently starred as the lead in the Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton musical The Scarlet Pimpernel on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre. He has also starred in lead roles in national tours of Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, and The Phantom of the Opera and enjoyed a two-year Broadway engagement as "Enj olras" in Les Miserables. Proceeds from the show will benefit Tender Mercies, a non-profit corporation that provides housing and supportive services to mentally ill homeless persons. Tender Mercies currently houses 150 permanent and sixteen transitional residents in seven buildings in Over-The-Rhine. The show will be held at the College of Mount St. Joseph Auditorium , 5701 Delhi Road, Cincinnati. The show starts at 4:00 p.m ., with a reception at 2:45 p.m. Tickets are $20 for the show only, $35 for the show and reception. To order tickets, call Tender Mercies at 639-7054. �ST REE TV I BES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page B Street Corner PolitiX Poetry in Motion From the minds of many gathered in discussion on topics dropping from this to that, we intellectually and respectfully converse and debate life in it's essence... frequently questioning che Devilz methods ofmadness that often prevents our own peoples happiness as we dwell daily through earth's hell with the belief of a heaven to come (in which no one has seen or known ofanyone to return from). Now whose the dumb ones? Those who require to acquire heaven on earth or the so-called 'Christians' insisting we all turn the other cheek in che face of cheir devilishness in return for che promise land in che life hereafter. The frequent glances from chose who drive by only stopping for red lights hear our language as 'ebonic' mumbo-jumbo while thinking chat it's simply irrelevant nonsense without ever having the patience to listen and thoroughly comprehend the rhetoric's relevance. Then they say, "Let us help ..." infiltrating our administration under che guise ofdesegregation in a covert effort to annihilate and/or assimilate ... "Let us help" is what's said, but "Lee's help ourselves" is what's meant As a fe:w (growing to many) of you mislead-wanting-to-gee-ahead Niggas char figure chat they'll place their crust within the Devilz foolishness. "Not I", says Te'tro! Eicher I stand with my peoples or I die alone. Because ifl don't have love to show love who will? You ... Your God above? The one whose son you portray with the blond hair and blue eyes, who supposedly gave his life for our lives? And whose truth you hide within your bible's lies to maintain chat we continue to 'Try' while never succeeding in actuality? Your smiling faces doesn't displace your hatred. I know the truth. The truth of how you systematically backwards teach our youth, devastate and separate our athletes through divide and conquer techniques which leave us to believe chat we must put our trust in you for your donations of financial funds. But our take is a mere fraction ofwhat you make on the backs of our God-given talents. And as if chat is not enough, you hit us below the belts with your no ass (now-a-days a little plump) big titty, duck sucking, and forever ready to f_k ... hillbilly co-co loving whores - better known as your mothers and daughters. by Te'tro Amaru And fo r those of us who lust the flesh we get caught-up in the Devilz quest to have us forget, neglect, and even disrespect the women who became our mothers, loving us steadfast regardless. But never the less, Black Amerikkka's thinking has us sinking as we are misled to believe that the deeds ofsome speak for the beliefs of everyone. But please try to understand: It's like when a snake bites your child. You don't run wild l~oking around for the snake with blood on it's mouth? Any old snake will do! Any old snake will do! Indeed it's a puzzle to unravel when contemplating exactly who we can trust, but with time all things are revealed and in time o~y can we tell??? Now pass the heat in the brown paper bag - caking control of our minds while warming the soul in these trying times ­ Yet I'm not a drinker. I am a thinker with God-sent rhetoric reaching the minds ofmen teaching each of them to beware of the consequences ofour actions. Since every cause has an effect I affect the cause to project the flaws in man's laws to force him to chink, rethink, and chink again of che dialect I inject which transforms boys to men. Justice or 'Just-Us' leave us the victims pleading the perpetrators for fairness as we're told to pray and turn the other cheek and that God will hear our plea? All awhile, we continue to be profiled racially, held back institutionally, and systematically taught to hate ourselves through Amerikkka's education while dam near facing extinction at the hands of ourselves and assisted by Amerikkka's police brutality. Now rotate the dungee to the left. Inhale deeply to propel swiftly through che Devilz hell? Food for che ffiindzeye that transcends man's chinking far beyond che visions of money and women. Still .. . I catch wreck from the second-hand smoke as the Kings toke until they choke inhaling to exhale the remedies ofAmerikkka's foul society as we ignite to rewrite 'His-story' of our 'History'. In essence Street Corner PolitiX is simply what you fail to see or perceive to be ghetto nonsense. But yet, it's purely us in abundance. So as you pass by with a smile while silently voicing a snicker of'Nigger'. My peoples continue to strive through the strugg~e to survive with the pride of being a 'Real N igga'! �STREETVIBES Prison The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page g News A DEATH-ROW INMATE TELLS HIS OWN LIFE STORY lnterviewbyDavidlsay and Stacy Abramson Dear Sonny, Thank you for your letter and the full page editorial from "Streetvibes" concerning O .S.P. Upon receipt of your letter and the notification of John Perotti ' s heart attack, I called O.S.P. in ho p es of prying information out of them. I was pleased to learn he was released and back at O.S.P. I have since received a letter from John but I want to than you for bringing his heart attack to my attention. The conditions·described at O.S.P. sound horrifying in addition to unconstitutional. Sonny, I'm curious as to know if the Northeast Regional Director has ever interviewed prisoners at O.S.P., do you have any idea? Do you receive copies of any complaints from priSoners at O.S.P. I guess I'm asking if you receive actual documentation that would give someone "a leg to stand on In pursuing human rights violations. I can ask the next time I write him, also. Society has no idea what truly occurs behind the wire and that is one of my missions (one of many), upon my release, that I'd like to address. One in five families have or know someone who is incarcerated and that number is growing every day. It infuriates me to know that society believes we are "well kept" by the state and that we are treated "as we should be" treated when, in fact socity obliterates any thoughts of wrong doing on behalf the state because of fifty plus years of "brainwashing" ideas such as "get tough on crime," "lock em up and throw away the key", or the lie of the century, "'ODRC rehabilitates." There has to be a "prison beat" in major newspapers to expose major atrocities, as described in the editorial placed in "Streetvibes." I'm convinced that once one major newspaper picks up a "prison beat", others would follow, if for no other reason than competition. If you can't tell, the media disgusts me with their half-truths and blatant lies. The worst part is, Sonny -- society believes it to be the gospel. 1plan to attack the media and be heard. 1won't stop until I succeed! Poor "them"! I've taken up enough of your time so I'm going to close for now. 1 wish you a wonderful New Year and many more to come. John Lamb was the Bl'h death-row inmate executed this year, and the 587'h since the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty in 1976. On November 10 he was interviewed at the Ellis Unit, a state prison near Huntsville, Tex., one week before his execution. I was born in San Jose, California. Been unhappy from the time I was born. Never had a moment of happiness in my life. I was raised by my stepfather and my mother. My stepfather was abusive. He built R.V.'s. Very hard worker, very succesful. I respect him for raising two kids th~t weren't his, but he was under a lot of pressure and he was violent. He would get mad and hit and then get madder as he hit, and if I cried, he'd hit me more, so after a while I learned not to cry and pretty much just toughed it out. When I was a kid I didn't talk to nobody. Didn't talk at all. I attempted suicide when I was nine years old - as much as a nine-year­ old can, right? I took a whole bottle of Excedrin headache tablets, mixed in a cup of water and drank it. I just didn't want to live no more. But I don't blame my stepfather. Anybody that blames their crime on somebody else - on child abuse or anything like that ­ that's just an excuse. N I left home when I was 15 and-a-half and stayed on my own until I was twenty-five, when I was arrested for this crime. I shot a man and killed him. In Greenville, Texas, off Interstate 30. I've never denied it. I had just gotten out of jail in Arkansas - 100 days for receiving staler) property. Detective in Arkansas drove me to the county line, told me to get out and don't come back. No wallet, no ID. So it's getting near dark, and I'm walking down Interstate 30. I see this .shed-type thing and I say, 'Tm going to go in there and sleep." I go in, and they had an arsenal - shotguns, handguns. I grabbed me two handguns and I walked down the road . I started talking ot this guy standing out fron of this Ramada Inn. He says "Where you headed?" I said, "Dallas." He said, "All right." He was in the process of moving and had to get his things into the car. So we got into his motel room and the guy come over and put his hand on my leg. And I told him, "I don't go for that crap." So he got mad and told me to get out. I don't remember pulling the gun out of my pocket but I know I did - there's no doubt about that . I reme m ber he was t ryrng · to hand me his wallet. I knocked the wallet out of his hand and said, "I don't want that." And I started shooting. There wasn't no blood, but he lay down and he died. Shot punctured his lung and he drowned in his blood. I don't know why I shot the guy. I could have beat him uphe was half my size. It was almost as if I was shooting my bad luck or something. All I had witnesses, no fi ngerprints. But I took his car and stayed in it. Didn't sleep for days. Used the guy's credit card to buy beer and stayed up drinking. Got caught in Florida seven days later. They sent me back to Texas, and the district attorney.offered me 40 years. I turned it down - thought I could do better. This is my fourth execution date. Had three in my first three years and then didn't have any for 14 years. They told me about the execution four months ago. It's kind of shocking because you go on and go on and years go by and you hear nothing. Then all the sudden, bam, they tell you in four months they'll kill you. I'm supposed to be executed Wednesday, I believe at six· o'clock at night. I believe I have until then. I have a minister, Father Walsh , who's going to be there. He's a friar, Fransiscan. Known him for a long time. He's helped me with my burial, funeral - whatever it is. Tuesday night I'm going to be rebaptized over again by him, given my last rites and all that. Noon Wednesday they'll come take me over to the Walls [the prison in Huntsville where executions take place] where I'll have my last meal. What happens after that I don't want to think about. I don't like needles, so that's the worst part. I wish they'd just take me over there and use a guillotine - something quick and painless. I'm not afraid of dying, I'm just afraid of the process. I don't think the man's parents are going to be there, so I'll probably just tell everyobdy that I've known that I'm sorry that I didn't live up to their expectations. Then I'll probably tell God that I'm sorry for disrupting his world. I'm not sorry to society, though. I feel bad about the man that died, and if my death could bring him back, I'm all for it. But as far as society goes, how can I feel bad? I mean, all these people say, "Go ahead and kill him" are no different from the people that. knew my stepfather was whipping the hell out of me and my brother and my mother, and they didn't have guts to step up and say anything about that, yet they got enough guts to say go ahead and kill me now. So that's how I look at it. Then I'm going to be cremated,. My mom's going to get my ashes and that'll be the end of it. You're going to die someday anyway, so it's too late to cry about it now. guess I've been lucky to last this long. That's one way of looking at it. John Michael Lamb received a lethal injection at 6:13 P.M. on November 17, 1999. He w as pronounced dead six minutes later. His last words were: " I'm sorry - I wish I could bring him back. I can't. Goodbye. Do it." · •.. , , ,. .. ,,.,, ,.. ,.. , , , -~ ~ .....................................tq .P.P. !.~.~~.l~..~~~Y.i J~§l!'~,~ IL ~~~~~ ~~~ ,_flq ~· ... .... ~ -- .. !.~~~~!~~~ . - ~-~?~ndportraits.org .. .. . ....... ......... ... . .......... �, STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine The Death Penalty Taken from December, 1999 "Issue Paper," by permission of /JPC. Indeed, signs of hope, countering the growing number of executions, can be found . Over a dozen states have considered legislation regarding either moratoriums or abolition. Since the US Supreme Court decision in 1976, thirty­ eight states have re-installed the death penalty. This year, Michigan, Maine,. . Massachusetts, and Iowa considered bills tht would have adopted the death penalty; but all failed . During the discussion in Massachusetts, State Senator Greem spoke out against pro-exiectuion Governor Paul Cellucci. "I believe that when a government of the people engages itself in murder, whatever the rationale, we do not deter crime but in fact desensitize our people to its horror and contribute to its p~rrnissibility. " (Boston Globe 3/23/99) A frequently quoted Gallup Poll found 71 % of Americans supporting the death· penalty. Yet other studies suggest that given the choice of an alternative to the death penalty (life imprisonment without parole) the public support falls to 44%. These percentages are not divided down religious lines, but rather seem to be related to education and awareness of the issue. Most perceptions and myths used to foster support of the death penalty can be easily argued with proper information. Is it fair? The death penalty is applied rather arbitrarily throughout the United States. It seems that the most important variables which send 1% of convicted murderers to death row each year include race, economics, education and community pressure. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall found "[it] is evident that the burden of capital punishment falls on the poor, the ignorant, and the underprivileged members of society. " Does it save taxpayers dollars? No. A recent study from Duke University concluded, "the extra cost of adjudicating murder cases capitally outweighs the savings in imprisonment costs. As it is currently implemented, the death penalty cannot be justified soley on grounds of economy." In fact, incarcerating a person for life costs a fraction of the e·xpense of capital cases. Is it legal? Cruel and unusual punishment violates the 8th Amendment of the US Constitution. Additionally, the death penalty is in.opposition to the United Nations International Covenant on C1vil and Political Rights. Does it save future lives? No. A 1988 United Nations report stated, "[research on deterrence) failed to provide scientific proof that execution have a greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment." In 1997 the average murder rate per 100,000 population was 6.6 in death penalty states; 3.5 in non-death penalty states. (Amnesty International) Will we execute the innocent? In 1999 the College of Social and Behavior Science Center for Survey Research at Ohio State University found 68% of Ohioans think wrongful executions are likely to occur compared to 32% who found it unlikely. Since the re-instatement of the death penalty in Illinois, eleven people have been executed; interestingly, the same number have been exonerated. Across the country for every seven executions one prisoner on death row has been found innocent. (US News & World Report 11 /9/ 98) Do we execute juveniles? Yes. Since 1976 juvenile offenders (at the time of the crime) have been executed in seven different states. Of the 13 juveniles executed, 7 were executed in Texas. (source: V. Streib, "The Juvenile Death Penalty Today") How do the mentally ill fare? Poorly. In violation with international standards (and UN recommendation), the US ~xecutes mentally ill and mentally retarded persons. Justice Thurgood Marshall said, "It is no less abhorrent today than it has been for centuries to exact in penance the life of one whose mental illness prevents him from comprehending the reasons for the penalty or its implications." (1986) Is race a factor? It is a fact - blacks convicted of killing whites are more likely to receive the death p~nalty than any other group. In a 1990 report, the US General Accounting Office found , "a pattern of evidence indicating racial disparities in the chargin, sentencing, and imposition of the death penalty." The 1993 Keil and Vito sutdy (KY) found , "the data indicating that blacks who kill wh ites are singled out by the capital sentencing process ... were l.ikely to be charged with a capital offense and receive a death penalty." Page 10 Prison Rights Activists Investigate Lucasville Uprising . For the pas~two years, Alice and Staughton Lynd have bee.n investigating the Lucasville uprising ofApril 1993. In an effort to summarize the results of their investigation and to present them to the public, they plan to produce a docudrama ' that presents the facts in the form of a play. The text of the docudnima will, to t he greatest ex;tenr: possible, consists of ·dialogue that was actually spoken during the rebellion or at trial. Footnotes will iden.dfy the exact source of the spoken words. A transcript ofchis docudrama to be critiqued by interested individuals is being offeted. The Lynds want to hear from readers as to whether you understand what is presenre~ whether there are still questions in your mind wh.en you finish reading, whether you have ideas about how to present the material more effectively. In other words, what you receive in the mail should be understood as a drafr, still capable of revision after you make your input. To receive these transcripts send your name and addr~ss to George Skatres Supporters,, P.O. Box 1591, Marion, OH 44301-1591. (The lyn'ds are veteran workers ofthe Civil Rights and An~ Vietnam \\'tar movements. As lawyers they have fought for the rights of workers and their families who were locked out oftheir jobs with the plant closings in Youngstown, Ohio. · As historians they havepublished many books ofbenefit to working class people. They help edit IMPACT, the monthly Rank and File Newsletter. As prisoner rights activists, they organize to expose the horrors associated with the new "Supermax"prison in Youngstown arid Ohio's new private-for­ profitprison~Y .So how ought we to encourage signs of hope in the midst of prosecutors who scurry to execute? How can we voice a no against state legitimated homicde? Before we can do any of this we must learn to heal and forgive as individuals and as a community. We can learn much from Mary Nell Verret, the sister of Ja,mes Byrd, "Our family has no use for destructive hate .... Will we ever forgive the men who did this? Forgiveness is when you le tgo of resentment. We resent now. But when you carry resentment inside, it tears a way at you. You become sick. You become a victim all over again. It can keep you from sleeping, eating, and thinking straight. It can keep you from going forward . One day we won't resent anymore." (USA Weekend, July, 1998) . lntercommunity Justice and Peace Center has many educational · resources on the death penalty. Call 513-579-8547 to borrow. Sl1l&1VIB£S Prisoners News contains the writings ofpersons incarcerated in our nation's jails and prisons. Subscribers within the walls receive Streetvibes free. If you want to support us - in this effort, please sponsor someone.on the inside by sending us $12 for a year's subscription Sendyour comments anii questions to streetvibes@juno.com mail : STREETVJBES, 7506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 452 70 �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine In Memory of ''Little Rock Reed'' Today, January 15,2000 is a day of great sadness. We received word today that Timothy "Little Rock" Reed, our friend and.brother, who was also a longtime activist for prisoners rights, was killed last night in a car crash. It happened in New Mexico. ''Little Rock" will be forever missed, but n~ver forgotten. ...... Sonny Williams PAN - Ohio - Cincinnati ...... .Jackie Bowers, Ron Bowers PAN - Ohio- Marian 'Little Rock' Reed killed in auto accident Reprinted from an article in the Columbus Dispatch/A.P. Timothy "Little Rock" Reed, who crusaded in Ohio for Ame1i can Indjan prisoners he said were being abused, died yesterday morning at a New Mexico hospital of injuries he suffered in a car accident. Greg Johnston, spokesman for the Umversity of New Mexico Health Sciences center in Albuquerque, said Reed, 39, died at 4:35 a.m. while being treated in the intensive-care unit. Reed rear-ended the vehicle in front of him, which caused his sport-utility vehicle to roll over and the vehicle in front of him to crash into a southbound vehicle, Patrolman Max Miranda said yesterday. Several people were injured, but Reed was the only fatality. Drugs also were found in Reed's car, Miranda said. Reed's attorney, Stevan Douglas Looney, said he was informed of the accident yewsterday by Reed's wife, Leanna Brownlee-Reed of · Albuquerque. He said Reed 's mother, Nancy Scull of Cincinnati, was on her way to New Mexico. "He was in my office just hours before the acddent. He dropped off a tape of hi s music with about eight or nine songs that were to be turned into CDs," said Looney, who had represented Reed in federal courts. Looney said Reed 's music reflected his human rights and advocacy experiences. "He was a compassionate person who was interested in justice for everyone and saw little of it in his own life," Looney said. Reed, who had said Ohio authorities wanted to silence him for speaking out agajnst alleged abuses oflndian prisoners, fought for five years to prevent being extradited from New Mexico to Ohio. He had served a decade in prison in Ohio for armed robberies and drug theft, and became an activist for inmates. Six weeks Page 11 before his parole would have ended in 1993, he fl ed to New Mexico. He was picked up in Taos, N.M., in 1994. But a New Mexico judge ruled he had fled Ohio "under duress and under a reasonable fear for his safety and life," and released him. That state's Supreme Court agreed in 1997, calling him a "refugee fr9m injustice." However, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Reed returned to Ohio. Ohio officials could have sent him back to prison for 15 years, but they let him finish out the six weeks of parole living with a relative in Cincinnati. He 3was freed in March. Cary Cooper, a lawyer in Toledo, represented Reed in Ohio. Reed had a civil­ rights case pending in federal court in Columbus, Cooper said. "He went to prison as a confused guy, but while he was there he decided to do the best he could in terms of developing his education and setting goals for himself," Coooper said. Brownlee-' Reed was preparing memorial arrangements for her husband yesterday. The two were separated and have a son, Jasper Col.e Reed, 2. "I think he would love the fact that his service (was) held Monday - on the same day people recognize.the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," Brownlee-Reed said. She described Reed as a devoted father who enjoyed the outdoors. "This is very sad. I have a lot of fond and loving memories. Little Rock loved humanity. In spite of all his turmoil in pris·o n, he was very optimistic and always trying new challenges." ,. PAN-OHIO Prisoners Advocacy Network A Victory for Human Rights in Cincinnati contact (513)241-8014 ••• by Berta Lambert In 1996 Cincinnati activists Mac Mccrackin, buddy gray, Sonny Williams and I raised our voices in protest against Phil Heimlich sponsored "banning law" for Over-the-Rhine. Mr. Heimlich has pushed for an anti-panhandler ordinance (ruled unconstitutional) and advised the use of $25,000 "spy cameras" in public areas. On January 20, U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Diott.granted a motion for summary judgment by two plaintiffs, Patricia Johnson and Michael Au France. The city law banned from Over-the-Rhine , for 90 days, anyone arrested for prostitution or drug charges. If convicted, the ban was extended to a year. If anyone banned was found in the area, they were charged with criminal trespass, which carries a maximum fine of $250 and 90 days in jail. In 1997 Mr. Heimlich sponsored a similar anti-gay ordinance for sex-related offences in Mt. .Airy Forest and Burnet Woods. Thursday's ruling will also spell the death of this ordinance. Under the Over-the-Rhine ban Patricia Johnson was prohibited from caring for her grandchildren or visiting double jeopardy as a second punishment for her daughter. She was arrested March 18, 1998 the same offense. and banned March 24 on charges of trafficking Judge Diott's ruling may result in the marijuana. A grand jury refused to indict her and reversal of hundreds of drug convictions and the city may be forced to pay ACLU's legal the charge was dropped but not the 90 -day ban. On April 8, 1998 she was arrested for violating the fees and compensation to anyone held on ~harges of violating the ban . a a a ban. The charge was later dismissed. Michael Au France is a homeless man. After being convicted of a drug related crime in the AFDIC Benefit Concert October 1998 he was banned. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ­ He spent more than 100 days in jail for repeatedly violating the law which prevented him from seeking food, clothing, shelter and visiting his lawyer (Bernard Wong the lead ACLU lawyer in this case). in Over-the-Rhine. Through the efforts of Scott Greenwood, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and Mr. Wong, human rights in our nation have been strengthened. U.S. District Judge Susan J. Diott ruled that city COL!nsel can not usur'f) court powers and the Bill of Rights , grants substantial protection to . freedom of association, espe­ cially from government interfer­ ences; and there should be no .:r �ST REE TV I BES 1ne Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 12 Welfare News WEEK OF WELFARE AWARENESS by Lynn Williams, Cincinnati Welfare Rights Coalition The Week of Welfare Awareness was held on the UC Campus by UC People Inter­ ested in Social Transformation (PIST), in conjunction with the Cincinnati Welfare Coali­ tion. A week of information tables and an art display of children affected by Ohio's three year time limit occurred at Tangemann Hall Student Center. On Tuesday of the week a forum featured recipients, former recipients, and a former employee of the Ohio Depart­ ment of Human Services. According to the panelists, welfare reform clearly is not working, citing the puni­ tive nature of sanctions, time limits, and lack of educational opportunities. The ever present t.hreat of fraud investigators intimidating innocent people is also punitive. Donna from Pike County, east of Cincin­ nati, spoke about the effects of sanctions on her children. She was sanctioned erroneously by a caseworker who lacked understanding of the law. The Pike County woman is surviving only by leaning on her relatives, people who cannot afford to help out. She stated, "It's very humitiating to ask my people to help me, because they're barely making it themselves. But now I have nothing for my family to live on." Charmaign, another panelist, shared her bad experience. "I was investigated by the fraud investigative unit. I had done nothing wrong to my knowledge , carefully reporting every change in my income. I've held down jobs that lasted for a time, but I was back on assistance again , either because the unem­ ployment compensation ran out or the job didn't offer any. Well, the fraud investigator claimed I had not turned in an unemployment form from way back, more than five years ago or so . I happened to see it in the edge of the folder & pulled it out for the investigator. Then she started interrogating me about details from ten years ago! After that, she claimed I was overpaid and never reported it, but I d idn't know what I was supposed to be receiving after the earned income disregard was counted in . All that was very confusing to me. Well, to make it short, they now claim I frauded the system even though the case­ worker made the mistake of miscalculating my benefit check. Where is the justice in this?!!! " Linda Howell-Perrin, a staff member at Bethany House, told her story. "I was able to get a four year degree while I was on public assistance. This isn't allowed now. I was fortunate . Ohio's three year time limit does not allow women time to get a four year degree so they can get a livable wage job. They won't be able to make it on minimum wage jobs. What is needed is to give these women time to get a good education and learn job skills. You need adequate time to get a livable wage job. Welfare reform should be about women getting livable wage jobs, not sinking further into poverty." "Because I'm working at a homeless shelter for women and their children I'm seeing the numbers of families who 'need shelter in Cincinnati. Many are coming to us who cannot even get public assistance. That's a point that is not often brought out: how hard it is to get back on assistance once you're off. We are seeing women who've been laid off from fast food, seasonal and temporary jobs. They often can't get public assistance because the former employers won't fill out and sign the lengthy employer verification forms. Without these forms turned in, these women cannot get help they badly need to provide for their families. They end up at Bethany House with zero income. " Emphatically she stated, "The fastest growing numbers of homeless people in America right n.ow are children! Welfare reform is the main reason we are seeing this tragedy happen!" For more information call the Cincin­ nati Welfare Rights Coalition at 513/381­ 4242 or PIST at 542-2819. WELFARE REFORM: Pain with no ga.i n ldon'tknowthestatisrics. Andlhaven't done a survey. At best, myknowledge aboutWelfare Reform is from my personal experience.... standing in line at Food Pantries, listening to the complaints ofseniorcitll.ens like myself. ....through conversation at the welfarewith working mothers (which affects my kids and grand kids.) The issues ofthe seniors are numerous. But most important are their issues about Medical andFood. Ifthey buymedicine, they can't buy food. Or ifthey (like myself) are given medical spend-downs, this means no medical at all. · Personally, I was employed 20-years in the samejob. Now I am disabled and struggle to survive on a small amount ofmoney..Yet I receive only 10 dollars monthly for food. Most seniors have to pay for their medicine, glasses, and food, in some instances. They have to pay for medical, which is taken out of their monthly check. So they are forced to stand in line at the Food Pantries. Then there are the mothers trying to raise their children and work, relying on childcare provided byWelfare Reform; and they have to pay their earnings for daycare, along with their vouchers. This iswhere my kids come in. In almost all cases, you hear (caseworkers say), "You make too much money''. So then you are denied food stamps. And then there are those mothers struggling on welfare. Most ofthem are never going to succeed because there is always some barrier. Like 3 years maximum on welfare. Working for minimum wages. Poor Housing, etc. Yes, there are success stories. But we never hear about the ones thatweren' t successful because everyone doesn'thave survivalskills. I could go on and on. But who will listen or hear me. And who will care. I sometimes wish I could help all these people I hear crying for help. How long must we rely on such unfair systems? .. ..Or maybeI'm misinformed. 0 . . ... ... .PatMitcheU. Subscribe to Streetvibes Subscriptions to Streetvibes c.an be purchased for $12 per year. (Get 'em now before the rate goes up!) Just send a check to the below address and the paper will be mailed to you each month Streetvibes, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 4521 O Please make checks payable to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless If you have any questions, call 421-7803. If you have subscribed, but are not receiving your Streetvibes, Please let us know. Our dog (Streetvibes computer) ate some addresses during a recent crash . ... �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine News from Across the River Struggles as a Homeless Person in Covington ....... byMARKP. Hi! my name is Mark and I have been living homeless on the streets off and on now for the past 6 years. It was suggested that I write something to be published in your paper. We as a group of homeless people have been meeting over at Goeble Park every Sunday for the past 4 or 5 weeks. We all have been discussing the attitude and actions that we are encounter­ ing from the Kenton County Library and the Covington Police Department. I mostly have hung around Covington because I am a member of AA and have been sober for 6 years now and an AA clubhouse was there to hang out at. They are in the process of moving to another building and the AA meetings have moved but I still go over there because most of the people I know in AA hang out there. So I am not the stereo-type alcoholic you would see laying drunk in the street. I am usually somewhat clea n and well groomed other: than the beard I choose not to lose, but even that I keep trimmed. Most of the guys in the street that know me also know I have been sober for the past 6 years which is a testimony to the power of God and the love in Alcoholics Anonymous. I really had no problem with the library officials or the cops till the old library direc­ tor Mike Olberdick stepped down and a Mary Ann Mongam took his place, from there she made my business hers to a degree and any change of policy that would change concerning use of their computer system I was the first to be told, and in no way a kind way either. I had her come over and in a very nasty way one day tell me that "You only get 2 hours!" I wasn't even quite sure of what she was referring to and her attitude towards me prompted me to start asking some questions about this new policy that they had not bit of which in writing. A police officer heard our discussion and Brady has a reputation of zero tolerance of anything so I was ar­ rested for trying to iron out the new policy they had established. I wanted a jury trial and not surprisingly Officer Brady had insufficient evidence to convict me so another case dismissed was on my record. I had another encounter with Covington Police years before when I was told to leave an AA meeting sober, when I refused I was arrested. A week after I had an altercation with some fellow that lives and alternative lifestyle. Officer Brady and I have had a few other meetings before this incident at the library. Seems that there was a fellow who thought he could take a threaten me with a ball bat after a little name calling and when he did not like what I called him after the threats he went over and told Brady I was prejudice. Brady threw us both out of the library that day. That same black fellow had taken a swing at me outside a soup kitchen over the same thing, the black guy would get smart and nasty and the name calling would begin. One day I was walking through an alley and look who comes walking through but the same black guy. All I said was what's up? We passed each other but as I walked on I saw a rock hit on the street next to me. The black guy started picking up chunks of asphalt and throwing them. I got away and called 911, Officer Brady shows up and says "You called?" I said, "That's right, I have rights too!" Brady said anything that happened between me and a black man I brought on myself that I was a racist and a bigot. I told him that I didn't want to hear it and he went ballistic. Got out of his car screaming that I was going to hear it and arrested me for disor­ derly conduct. I am handcuffed and up against the car not struggling and he maces one of my eyes. Brady failed to show up in court that next day so the judge said that the state was not going to go forward with thecharges. Just this September I walked into the Kenton County Library and had a off duty police officer, Dan Jackson the one who is in charge of security at the library, came over and grabbed my arm and started dragging me out the door telling me that I had been terrorizing and menacing chil­ dren. I spun around and called him a liar, he called for back up and another police officer showed up. I was not going to leave that library, I had done nothing wrong. They took me out to the parking lot and started torturing me. They threw me in the cop car, took me out by my neck, almost dislocated my shoul­ ders when one took my handcuffed hands and held them over my head for his own sadistic pleasure. I was then told that if I did not get back in the car I was going to be maced. One officer mad the comment, no let me show him a ninja move. That officer put his fingers in the hollows of my ears and then drug me into the car. I never once resisted, but as the law books state, passive resis­ tance is not punishable. So if they told me to do something I did nothing. Again the case was dismissed in the court room , I wonder where these children are that I was accused of doing these things are? They could not show up because the incident never hap­ pened. Lt. Jackson shows up in court the day the case was dismissed and had the director Wayne Onkst there with him. They told the judge they did not want me back in their library. The judge said that it was not by his power that they cou ld kept me out and that the police and officials had talked it over with their lawyers and found a way. I am still trying to find out if they have a court order to keep me out but I will not rest till I am treated like every other citizen of ~ovington . I am also in fear of my life after all the threat and torture that I went through in that parking lot in Covington, and the sad thing is it is not from crack heads and hoods, but from police officers. Those people put in charge of protecting all, including me. Page 13 Public Spaces in Covington Not for Use of Homeless Article by Gary: I am writing to tell of my ordeal with the Covington Police. I was sitting at the Point sitting area (corner of Washington and Pike St.) and three cops came over to me and said I had to leave. I told them that there was no sign saying I had to leave. With that, they got me down and arrested me for disorderly conduct. I told them I had a metal rod in my leg. With that, they twisted my leg more. I ended up doing four days in jail. After I got out of jail, I went back to the Point sitting area again. I was with six other people and the cops showed up again and said we had to leave and this time we all did. I would like to put a lawsuit against the Covington Police for harass­ ment. Sleeping is a Crime for Some of Us by Rev. Rick Dalton: (December 7, 1999): After having coffee at the Jacobs Well, I went down to the Kenton County Public library in Covington and I sat down to read my Bible on the south side of the building in front of the bay windows. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. After reading a few chapters, I began to warm up and happen to drift off to sleep. It wasn 't long until the library guard (Covington Police Officer) was shaking me to wake up. Once I woke up I said I was sorry. Without a second going by the guard said I would have to leave. In the past I have noticed other people dressed in nice clothes, not dirty or layered, who had fallen asleep just as I have and nothing was done about it. But, I was asked to leave, which I did. Even though I felt degraded and my rights had been violated. I have noticed in the past other Home­ less people were asked to leave and they, like myself, were only reading, not causing any problems. We the homeless pay taxes, read newspapers, books, use computers, go to church and if we could wash and wear clean clothes everyday we would. (December 13, 1999): I'm now back in the Kenton County library writing this articles and there is a couple using the copier who are talking very loudly and making quite a lot of noise but no one is warning them or asking them to leave. I asked these people if they would mind holding it down so I could read my bible. Once aga in.. .I was asked to leave. Right or wrong, I was heard this time by everyone in the library. The Security officer walked over to me and started to put his hands on me and I strongly advised him that wouldn't be a good idea. He backed up and said he would call for more police if needed. I asked him to step outside where we could take care of this matter between us and the security officer declined. All I can do is pray. 0 0 0 �.­ STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 14 · Street Scopes Letters By Alanna Maloney The Urban Astrolo2er Happy Birthday Aquarius! Dear Mr. Kunzel, I'm writing this.letter publicly to ~pplaud you on your vision. It Syems you've really struck Why do I get the feeling that you have been reading this paper backwards or upside down? This February, don't become trapped by your own talents. Are you over or undere mployed? When will you have the time to pursue your creative . bliss? pay dirt with your dream for a· new ARTS The Big Picture: We are at the ve'ry nexus EDUCATION CENTER, a place where the youth can gro·w and learn about esoteric l ife and bow to kick a man in the teeth when he's lost his vision. A place where your youth can enjoy the scores of Bach and .Beethoven while ignoring the sc ores of c h ildre n who s uffer from dysfu nctional situations. Let them enj oy the paintings of the Renaissance and tum their backs on the signs "HOMELESS PLEAS E HELP", painted by a man who is part of life's canvas. Yes, let's teach them all ab011t how to build a set of tenement slums for a production of "WEST SIDE STORY", whi le eliminating the homes of hundreds who partiaHy due to inadequate systems and waivering politicians don' t have a chance at adequate housing. Let's not forget the bru nches and lunches that wrn be held to pat on the back all those concerned for their contributions to the Arts. while some wayward teen goes to jail for i;hoplifting since ifs the only way he and his younger siblings will eat djnner. Wasn ' t it Spencer Tracey in the roll of Father Flanagan in "BOYSTOWN", who said THERE A RE NO BAD BOYS". see even the homeless enjoy the arts. of Uranus' travel through its native sign, Aquarius. In the coming years there will be unprecedented changes in the fields ofhistory, social activism, science, technology, and, of course, the "I-word" . You may find yourself attracted to your friends these days. Your home life may feel like work this year. You may be having a freeze with a parent or spouse. Many delays are possible in home-improvement projects. Work on the foundation and bide your Hey Eric how about letting us use the gold plated shovel that you will be usi.ng for the ground breadking to bury one of the homeless vets who passed away with no one but those here at the DROP INN CENTER to call family, or the little child killed in a random act of street violence "OOPS, ~ONG PLACE, WRONG TIME", since her school was closed. Seems you've been shovelfog a long ti me, old pal;. It's amazing, Mr. Kunzel, how progress just ro lls along, yes it just steamrolls rightover what once was homes, businesses and peoples livelihoods. I once sayw progress in action and it was amazing, yes the.KILLING FIELDS were amazingly vile. For one who says they lov·e the arts and ·then proposes to commit such. an unforg ivable ac t ~gain st ·one of GODS GREATEST iytASTERPIECES, "MAN", is a gross contradiction ... So consider yourself on notice, Mr. K un zel from one of GOD ' S MASTERPIECES in the OVER-THE-RHINE area. What you 're considering is very ugly and GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY, Homeless Veteran never afraid, Kevin L. Deal you. Seize opportu nities to socialize, start new projects, and assert yourself overall: Take pho tos, write screenplays, and stop worrying that you are too weird. Express all that · rebellious c r e ativity which is lo o king for an o u tlet. Watch your fe et a nd a nkles . Aries The Big Pictur e: You can effect profound change in this peribd ofyour life by focusing on its deeper meaning. Education, philosophy, and travel are good investments at this time. The go, go, go - ofnew ventures and socializing will be cooling down soon enough. Continue to seize the day­ especiaJly opportunities from mentors and benefactors. Setbacks in finance and creative areas are part of a greater lesson. Don 't get depressed! Realize that throughout this year - aspects of your structure will be lying fallow like a field in winter. Things die so that new life may later flomish. This Month: W hile you may be time. This Month: Focus on your dreams by expressin g your id eas in unique and surprising ways. You may fee l motivated · to buy, sell, or build­ fin a nciall y, arti s tica lty, and spiritu ally . You may enjoy a short trip with friends or a visit with your siblings . You are in a position to take the lead in many forms of communication. Your career and reput.a tion in t he community may be a secret source ot shame for you. Now is a good time to process th e se feelings by s ha ring the m with a friend or lover. You may also enjoy rene\ ving your connection with the earth and your body in a spiritual way such as Reiki or Yoga . 1 Pisces The Big Picture: You may have found it difficult to stabilize your career in recent years. Profound changes may be occmring in eve1y field you pursue. Try to go with the flow and focus on education, travel, and spirituality. You have been experiencing a feeling of restriction in communication, and sibling-type relationsh ips. Your car may also be acting up. Some of these limitations will end up blossoming after this period of delay. If relationships are suffering, look beneath the surface for drama related to your parental dynamics. Expect continued expansion in areas of finance and growing projects. These ventures may never be :finished, but grab yow- chances while they last. This Month: Your acquaintance network, g ro u p s., a nd lon g- term goal s w ill be h ea ting up. Spending t i me wi th , meeting a mate t h rou gh one of these areas may be sat isfying. Yo u will be making appearances. You m ay find yours._e lf more m otivated than usu al to remake some things about your look or how peo ple see or experiencing setbacks financially, you could make important career connections this· month. You might also find love or friendship at work. Communications regarding your social groups, acquaintance network, or goals are important now. Expect radical change and upheaval to continue. Get thee on the web! Beware of buried anger or sexual issues smfacing. The best cure is something spirirual and intangible like meditation, Reiki, or prayer. Taurus The Bi g Pi ctu re : Saturn has transited your sun, and you have been exp eriencing crisis in identity and career during parts of the past year. You might have made multiple starts and stops and a(e perhaps feelin g especially thwarted by n ew ventures and perso nal appearan ce. Big daddy Sat urn is taking you tG task and will c'ontinue to do so fo r the rest of the year. be patie n t. Saturn de lays; he doesn't de ny. Guard your self-esteem and plot for t he days ahead when all your res olve will be rewarded! This.Month: You may find your career an d rep utati o n under fi re. You need to integr ate t he newest tech nologies wisely into y our f u t ure pl a n s . State y our o verall c aree r go a l s n ow . Gemini The Big Picture: You are in a long period · w h e re re lations hip a nd partners hip a r e o u t to chan ge y ou profoundly. Weeding out childhood blocks to YOU! spirit a nd your dream s should become ·a long-term goal starting now. �STREETVIBES This Month: Enjoy exciti ng developments in your acquaintance network. Nourish yo ur intellectual goals, a nd technological aspirations at this time. Education and travel are also important factors to consider. Now is the time for you to shine in all things philosophical. If you can do your taxes this month, your return may be bigger than you expected. Let upheaval and change become par for the course. Your physical energy may be low this. month, but brainpower is high. Cancer The Big Picture: Work is where you find the most profound change during this period in your life. You may experiment with many different gigs or volunteering opportunities. Many could have educational or travel related benefits. This period is the perfect time to pursue healing work- explore being healed by alternative earth-based medicine. Embrace radical change in your psychological approach and spiritual outlook. This year brings opportunity for expansion and growth in your career especially through mentors and friends ofthe family. This Month: Please do your taxes correctly. Be cautious of business or insurance deals that seem too good to be true. Be wary while making investments with other people's money. Take a class or pursue a martial art. Leo The Big Picture: You will make major changes The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine This month: Now is a good time for romance and self-expression through the arts or your work. You may qave been having a hard time ·stabilizing your dreams in areas concerning work or health. You may experience revolt or upheaval on the job or a stress-related illness. Communicate your unique ideas. Assess any anger in relationships and find ways to be more active with your mate or best friend. j Libra The Big Picture: It is essential that you use this period to communicate, write, and take short journeys. Work to repair relationships with siblings. Your thoughts can have profound and lasting impact on your generation. Romance and self-expression may be rocky and filled with change these days. Again, I implore you to communicate your unique genius at_this time. While the last year has been filled with opportunities for love, friendship, and even marriage; beware of too many buds spoiling the soup. Also beware of burdensome investments and overly limiting financial partnerships. Delays will become gains in this area as this year comes to a close. This month: Like Cancers, you also have to take pains to do your taxes correctly. It's a good time to beautify your home or find a good home. Try to repair relationships with family. in your approach to self-expression, attitudes toward children, and creative output. You very likely will renew a bond with a favorite sport or physical activity. Travel and educational goals are vital yet burgeoning The Big Picture: This period brings themes during the next twenty years of your life. The slow but radical changes to the way you erratic is becoming every-day in your relationships. approach your finances as well as your self-esteem. Think of something like Stay open to the changes being wrought. Scorpio architecture or ceramics as a kind of This Month: Take the extra time you need to occupational therapy. Write love letters. communicate with partner and friends. You may find Submit that book you have hidden under a job you love or find a love on the job. Suddenly, your bed to a publisher this month. At you may feel a need for spiritual or psychological the very least, read it to somebody self-exploration. Allow time to discover yourself special. Upheavals in home and family through self-help, counsel, or occult study. Travel and may not be settling down soon, but by education keep coming up. You may already have now you must be getting used to the seen lucky opportunities in these areas. They may unexpected. well materialize into solid career openings soon. Yet, This month: Now is a good time to talk career may have you stumped just now. It may be all about it all. I need to stress that it about waiting for the right moment. Work on is essential for you to be working with maintaining self-esteem while you wait for your work computers at this time. If you don't have to bring harvest. one at home yet, think about how you can acquire one or get access to one-be resourceful. Assert yourself romantically Virgo and creatively. Don't forgo a ny The Big Picture: You are undergoing opportunity to exercise or play a sport! profound and long-term changes in your Luck is on its way to rescue your poor, sense of roots, home, and family. Before beleaguered relationships. If friendship this period is up, you may need to seek and love have seemed slowed this year counsel regarding a parent's hypocritical its 'cause they are! Work on building attitudes during your childhood. Stay something worthwhile in partnership but on top of the latest developments in expect delays. health and social work, or science and technology. Be aware ofjob opportunities in these areas. A year of looking deeper into your psyche and soul will soon culminate in educational or travel .opportunities. At the moment however, development in these areas may feel unnecessarily stalled. Be patient. Sagittarius The Big Picture: Youareina long period of deep, slow changes in your appearance and approach to projects. Others may feel threatened by the psychic and/or sexual power that you are emanating. Practice .meditation, martial arts, or some other method to channel this energy. Luck is on its way to save you on the job front. The last year or so you have really tried to buckle down and it's really Page 15 trying you. During this delay at work think of future expansion and possibly incorporating more travel into your job. \ This Month: Luck is with you in money and the arts. Communicate, write, communicate-especially regarding techno logy and social reform. Turn everything that you are doing backwards and maybe it will turnout right at long last. Beware of anger and accidents on the road or on the Internet. Go swimming or start a home improvement project. If you feel a sudden urge to move try Feng Shui or a psychic house blessing first. Capricorn The Big Picture: You are in a period of deep change d ealing with your unconscious and spiritual approach to life. Counsel or self­ help may help bring shadows safely to the surface. After a time of restriction in this area, gear up for expansion in romance, creativity, and matters to do with children. This Month: You are looking great and finding new love or friends at a party or in a new environment. But whoah! What's going on with your.finances? It is just one upset after another in all your carefully laid plans. During this period expect the unexpected and pegin to pursue your most far-out dreams. In fact this month you could begin to map out all those dreams. Watch out for flaming with siblings, on the road, or on the Internet. Strive to find out what you are really angry about before trouble starts. Squeeze that Horoscope 'til it yelps! Often we complain that Horoscopes are generalized. This is because they are! Each of us has at least 36 variables that make our astrological profile (birth chart) unique. Newspaper horoscopes can only cover 3 of these variables at most. You can, however, use a horoscope more to your advantage and bring that variable number much higher if you know your chart. If you have an interest in using horoscopes to your best advantage learn your rising (ascendant sign) and your moon sign from an astrologer, book, computa' program, or the Internet. Then read those signs every month. This will give you a more personalized horoscope. Example: if your sign is Taurus, your moon sign is Pisces, and your rising sign is Leo; then you read Taurus to learn about your self- expression (sun). Pisces for your emotional life (moon), and Leo (rising) for your social expression. This will help to make horoscopes make more sense and bring meaning. Readings with Alanna: I do Tarot consultations at SitwelJ's Coffee House 404 Ludlow Ave. from 9pm to Midnight on Tuesdays. Astrology and Tarot are available by appointment at the Occult Shop471-5200orby E-mail at psi_chic@hQtmail.com. �ST REE TV I BES Action Alert The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine 142416th St. NW, Ste 404 Washington, D.C. 20036, Ph: (202) 328-0002, Fax (202) 462-2183, e-mail: nirsnet@nirs.org, http://www. nirs.org Nuclear Information & Resource Service Your Action Needed Now More Than Ever to Stop Mobile Chernobyl and the Yucca Mountain Dump! For the past several years while I still lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I regularly heard my U.S. Representative Fred Upton-sponsor of the Mobile Chernobyl bill in the U.S. House - claim that Yucca Mountain is the perfect place to store high-level nuclear wastes because it's bone dry and located in an uninhabited desert wasteland. Well, last week on my tour deep within the tunnels of Yucca Mountain, imagine my surprise to see drips from the ceiling and puddles of water on the floor: an experiment to see what the high temperatures of nuclear waste would do to the rock of Yucca Mountain. It is forcing out water trapped in pores and fissures; it then forms condensation, drips and puddles. While standing atop the mountain, a Nevada geologist pointed out how rainwater sometimes vanishes instantly into the ground, flowing downward. Looking out to the horizon, I could see Amargosa Valley not far away, a farming community d irectly downstream that will receive radioactive contamination via the groundwater. Guess Yucca Mountain is not a bone dry, uninhabited wasteland after all. Loo.king out at all the solar powered instruments atop Yucca Mountain (yes, this is the world's first solar powered nuclear waste dump!) - seismograph.s measuring earthquake activity, weather stations recording which way the wind will blow the radioactive gases that will inevitably escape, the global positioning satellite antenna studying how quickly the Earth's crust is expanding (which could mean there's a magma pocket beneath), I can't fathom how the nudearestablishment could do anything but disqualify the site from further consideration. Yet, moves are on within the U.S. Congress and the Department of Energy (DOE) to lock-in the proposed high-level atomic waste dump at Yucca Mountain, Nevada - and thus launch tens ofthousands of truck and train shipments through 43 states in the years and decades to come . NIRS has been instrumental in fending off this nuclear madness for 6 years thanks to help from supporters like you, and we need your help again right now. Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) is Chairman of the Energy and Naturai Resources Committee and the nuclear industry's point man in the U.S. Senate. He has publicly announced that his 'Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2000' is his highest priority in this new session of Congress. Murkowski's bill, S. 1287, would gut environmental standards at Yucca Mountain, doom the underground aquifer to radioactive contamination, condemn 1 in 1,000 exposed downwinders (down­ streamers) to fatal cancer, make the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rather than the Environmental Protection Agency guardian of public health (talk about the fox guarding the hen house!) and loc~-in the site even before its suitability has been officially determined. Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who decides the Senate's calendar, has indicated that S . 1287 is high on his list. Rumors in D.C. are that this bill may be one of the first to hit the Senate Floor in the new session, requiring our immediate action. Our job is to make sure that we hold on to the 34 votes in the Senate needed to sustain President Clinton's promised veto - or, even better yet, we could head off a vote from happening at all. Now is the time to contact YOUR Senators and Rep. and urge them to vote NO on S . 1287 and H.R. 45. Tell them about the faults mentioned above, and that these Mobile Chernobyl bills would needlessly endanger over 50 million Americans living within half a mile of high-level atomic waste transport routes by senselessly rushing tens of thousands of tons of atomic wastes to a site that the DOE's own studies show will almost certainly leak. These wastes are so deadly we must be sure that our moving them around actually im proves the situation, not make it worse! Phone calls and simple, concise hand-written letters are most effective. Members of Congress always Page 16 WORD FROM THE EVANGELIST... This t ime last year I was em p loyed at VIP Bakery o n State Avenue w hile building a foundation for A.W.O.L. M inistries., however, VIP Bak ery closed its do ors o n check their phone log and file of letters received before their votes, so your action now can make a big difference on S. 1287 and H.R. 45. White House: Phone 202-456-1414, Fax: 202-456­ 2461 and 202-456-2883. Phone the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be patched • through to your U.S. Senators and Representatives. For addressing letters: To Your Senators: The Honorable [full name] United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator {last name): 19, 1999 l eaving hundreds unemployed. Simultan eously I w as about to February become h o m el ess on ce again, bur by the grac1 of G od I had been offered a position as a l ive· in Personal Caregi ver prior to this closing;; sc simply w alked through the door which Goad h ad open ed . Many of m y co-workers were n so fortunate. R ecently I talk ed w ith o ne o f m y former coworkers, who had put, twen ty-five years in at VIP Bakery, and she is now employed with Sp auldi ng L ighti ng; but the rep ort sh e gave o n m an y o thers w as not as To Your Representative: The Honorable [full name] United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 p rom ising. One coupl e h as married and attend church regularly. I applaud them. Another young woman lost her husband co a Dear Representative (last name): h eart accack. H e w as under forty. Sh e is no~ Be sure to tell your Members of Congress: middle aged woman has chosen to retire, living off of his soci al security. Yee another •Vote NO on S. 1287 (Senators)/H.R. 45 (House Rep.) *Support EPA, not NRC, as the stand.ard setterfor Yucca Mountain. • NRC is not independent, and would be the fox guarding the hen house. • Protect groundwater at Yucca Mountain and all nuclear sites. * Radiation standards should protect the most vulnerable exposed persons - the unborn children. * 10,000 years' compliance is not enough; these wastes remain deadly for hundreds of thousands of years. * These bills would needlessly endanger over 50 million Americans living within half a mile of atomic waste transport routes. The DOE's deadline for public comment on its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Yucca Mountain dump - and Mobile Chernobyls by the thousands that go hand in hand with it - is fast approaching. Public comments need to be in to DOE by February 9th, 2000. Your comments can be submitted in writing, via the Internet. or by fax. Written comments should be sent to: Ms. Wendy R. Dixon EIS Program Manager Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management U.S. Department of Energy P.O. Box 30307, M/S 010 North Las Vegas, NV 89036-0307 Written comments can also be faxed to 1-800-967­ 0739. Be sure to include 'Yucca Mountain Draft EIS' as an identifier on all written comments. Comments can also be submitted via the Internet at http://www.ymp.gov. Click the 'Environmental Impact Statement' on the left hand side selection bar. Then select 'Submit a Comment on the Draft EIS.' because h er limited skills do not provide man opportunities. M any others I am sorry co say h ave drawn their unemploy m ent, and are eith still unemployed o r in low-p aying j obs. The sad fact is many of these men an• w omen do no t have a personal relationship with God , and therefore do n o t know that ti. way of life is above to the wise, that he may departfrom heel beneath (Proverbs 15:24). I uied to b e a living w itness w hile I worked at VIP Bakery, and altho ugh there were scoffers, there were also those w h o were mindful of their conversatio n and actions in m y presence n eedless to say th at w as not enough. For scripture says that th e fear (respect) of the Loi is only the beginning ofknowledge (wisd om ) If these m en and w o m en h ad gone beyond their respect of m e as a man of G od, and sought after understanding then possibly they could h ave escap ed the h eel they are presently exp erien cing; b ecause G od i s faithful and a rew arder of those w h o diligently seek Him. T herefore I challenge you to put G od to the test. Seek Him search o ut His will for you and be obed ient to H is word , and watch h ow H e w ill open doors in you r life. I am presently forming a B ible Study G roup w h ich (God willing) will begin m eetiJ in M arch . If you are interested in b eing a par of this group wri te A.WO.L. Post Office Bo 36065, C incinnati, Ohio 454236 . Include your n am e, address, telephone number, best time and d ay for you to attend, and name of y our local congregation if applicable. The purpose o f this group i s to strengthen God's p eop l e with prayer, fellow ship, and the study Thank you for your actions to fend off efforts within Congress and the DOE to launch high-level atomic wastes onto our highways and railways, to dump them in a leaking hole in the ground. Together, we've stopped this nuclear madness for many years, and togetherwe can continue to defend present and future generations against the deadly wastes ofthe nuclear industry. of the w ord . All are w elcome. Altho ugh the holiday season is past A.W.0.L. Ministri es is still in need of don ations w h ich w ill assist indiv iduals and fam ili es in their way ofli fe. Please call 2 10­ 4 181 for pick-up o f food and clothing item s and mail contr ibutions to the above address. If you need any assistance, contact Kevin Kamps atN IRS: ph. 202-328-0002, or kevin@igc.org Prepared by Kevin Kamps on Thursday, Jan. 20th, 2000. In H is Service, Rodney L. Sutton, Sr. The Evangelist �.... STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Street C·orner PolitiX A Glimpse of Te'tro DELIVERANCE #1 A quarter through life and I entered the new millennium wondering could my life become any more hectic, acknowledging that only fools fall in love, and questioning whether or not my recent misfortunes of life has anything to do with a warped sense of humor from God? Life up to this point has been sort of a rollicoaster ride filled with various highs and lows with the occasional loop-to-loop here and there. My childhood, fr~m what I've failed to erase from my memory (due to my biological mother disowning me in 1992) was pretry much pleasant and consumed with happiness, which was primarily due in part to my dad who transcended beyond a father figure the moment I took my first breath and as yet to cease being my mentor, . advisor/counselor, and best friend. When I think back long and hard of those childhood days, I can vividly remember my biological mother and I having our apartment robbed by this Jamaican guy that she was messing with (after her and my dad divorced) and, more importantly, my father coming to the rescue. I sit back and laugh whenever I recall the time my biological rµother chased me around our apartment dinning room table until she was exhausted because she was anempting to whip my backside for taking my big-wheel out in the snow. I also recollect my older cousin, Beverly, lening me puff on a cigarette when I was only two years old and that being the last time that my father ever allowed her to baby-sit me again! Or, the various episodes of fun-loving-near-death adventures that my cousins (Littles, Mike, Babe Rick, and Ronnie) th.at my cousins (Littles, Mike, Babe Rick, and Ronnie) and I got ourselves into, more frequently than Audry Townsell Does Reno, Nevada? Amaru .. with thoughts on life, love, and God . . . • • • by Te'tro Amaru Although memories like these and numerous others, such as doing back-flips on a dirty mattress in a vacant lot, may not appear as fond as vacationing on a cruise ship during the summer months (or whatever it is that that people with a much higher financial status experience within their childhood), I'll go out on a limb and say that both experiences probably equates the same level of joy. From what I can recall I've always lived with my father for most of my life, except when he was hospitalized for a bout six months (although at the time it seemed like two years). My father uprooted me from Philadelphia and into the Maryland suburbs in an effort to better my life with the abundan~ of opportunities as well as placing me within a better environment in which to elevate my thinking. Still, as a very mischievous youngster, the newly found comforts within the suburbs of Maryland had nothing on the treasures found within Philly's ghetto heaven. So to his dismay, he allowed me to return to Philadelphia to live with my biological mother in the sixth grade on the condition that I kept my grades up (honor­ roll and nothing less) and that I stayed out of trouble. However, these arrangements only lasted for about two months before I almost found myself six feet under green grass for attempting suicide. As I've stated and written of previously, I was a spoiled brat use to my biological mother being a friend rather than the disciplinarian who had now began enforcing a sense of responsibility, among many other things that were not to my liking. .And confused about Ehe fables of the bible, I found myself in a hospital bed with an I-V­ needle in my arm and a tube that ~an from one of my nostrils through my throat and into my Page 17 stomach (in which I was fed chalk to force me ro vomit m.y younger biological sister's asthma pills that I had attempted to overdose on). I remember laying in the hospital for about four or five days, in unbelievable pain, not ready to die, and begging for God's mercy - for God's help and not receiving any reply. And then the night that changed my life, my focus, and my thinking came to me in a dream wherein the EKG meter that I was attached to flat-lined ... Where was God's love as He watched his misled/confused child die? Couldn't He hear me yelling and screaming in agony as I fought for my life? 'Tm sorry! Lord, please forgive me . . . please help me Lord!" And still nothing . . . until I, Te'tro Amaru, decided that if He's like f_k me, than I'm f_i5, Him too! And from that point, I stopped asking for help and began helping myself I was able to use the bathroom after about three days of nothing, my fever finally broke, and the tube running through one of my nostrils and into my stomach was removed. Everything was looking better (my outlook on life) and I began feeling an awful lot better as well. .My father came to my rescue and transported me back to Maryland where I underwent psychiatric sessions for about four months until my dad realized that his firs~-born wasn't crazy but just thoroughly confused. It was fun while it lasted! I quickly realized that although my psychiatrist said that anything and everything we discussed would be completely confidential, that he told my father about whatever we talked about (~ajor or minor issues). So naturally, me being the mischievous child that I was, I decided to use this to my advantage. And let me tell you, I could have urinated on his favorite suit (d,µr ing that period only), and he would have somehow found an explan:\tion that did not put me at fault! Those were the days!! ........... . ......... To Be Continued ........ • Mount Auburn's Glencoe Apartlllents go through restructuring ... Warren Perkins, Tenant Organizer As many people know, HUD (department of Housing and Urban Development) helps low­ income individuals and families afford housing with subsi.dies given co private landlords for housing. HUD oversees these with the intent of providing safe decent and affordable housing to those who would not ordinarily have access to such. The contracts that HUD signed with property owners in the past tended to inflate the value of the apartment units. Tha.t meant that many building owners enjoyed added income that they would not have received at a normal market rent. Recent budget concerns in Congress have pushed HUD ro make changes in the way it makes contracts with owners. Now HUD employs people in each state who determine the value of the property and how much rent should be paid. The inspectors who visit the projects also hold meetings with tenants to get their insight. One such meeting happened at January 21, 2000 at Glencoe apartments in Mount Auburn. The Buildings at the sight ¥e 137 years old and have many problems associated with age. The Drug traffic on the corner is brisk and many residents are afraid. Despite this and maybe because of it many people assumed that the residence would not be interested in working to better the environment. Many people assumed that tenants at Glencoe would rather find other places to live than to work to better this one. They were wrong. The meeting starred at 10:30 with several residents of Glencoe waiting outside in the cold for HUD inspecrors and tenant organizers to open doors and ser up. The number tenantS who came ro the meeting out number the HUD officials and ocher guest. This is a rare occurrence since the HUD officials and guest tend to number around 15 people. Approximately 25-30 residents were in attendance. The meeting was held in an empty apartment, which gave non-residents the chance ro see the condition of an actual apartment. The Apartment had high ceilings with tall windows over looking an empty lot in the back and the street from the front. Steps led up from the foyer ro the living room space. More steps led from rhe first level ro the two bedrooms and bathroom. With the chairs setup in the living room area, people took seats and the meeting was called ro order. The HUD representative went over some basic facts about tenants housing and then started to ask tenants about conditions. The tenants were very forthright with answers to the question. The main areas of concern seem to be the lack of a working play area for children and heating. le seems that many residents are forced turn on . their srove and open them for heat. Residents say that the furnace does not properly heat the building. The temperatu re inside their apartments often does nor feel that much warmer than the outside. Another concern is the lack of proper playground for the children. The sire currently has two play areas designated. One site is made up of a platform with stairs and has wood planks leaning up against it. The other sire has no recognizable playground equipmenc. The Residents also expressed concern with overzealous police. The police are accused of covering their badges when they tell residents to go back into their homes. They also say that the police are quick to draw guns and that they once pulled guns on a person with an orange colored water gun. One resident said, "I don't know what is worse the drugs or the police?" The Residents also expressed positive things about their community. Many people find that access ro area attractions and services are a plus. Many parks are in walking distance of the apartments. Kroger's, Walgreen's, and Blockbuster are minutes away. Churches of all faiths are in the neighborhood also. The biggest draw is that residents live in the shadow of Christ hospital. Overall residents said that they wanted the problems with their homes fixed so that they could enjoy the large apartments and access to neighborhood resources. Other meetings will be held when HUD and the owner come to an agreement rent cost. �STREETVIBES COLERAIN CONNECTOR · MONSTER REAPPEARS Proposed Colerain Conne~tor, Northside Neighborhood destroyer, may not be dead after all. Certain unnamed political figures in Hamilton County and ODOT are trying to resur­ rect a portion of the Viaduct ( bottom of Colerain Ave.) at the last minute, trying to spoil the two-year community effort to incorporate these lands for neighborhood use. If you are interested in helping us defeat this monster, contact Mike McCleese, Coalition Against the Colerain Connector, 542-8609 DONALD WHITEHEAD RESIGNS as Director of the Greater Cincin­ nati Coalition for the Homeless?? Yep! Gone to the greener pastures of Goodwill, Inc., Gone to rustle up some Jobs for people. All of us at GCCH are going to miss him alot (though he still pops in from time to time) You can reach him at his GoodwilJ office: 421-4501, ...... and resumes for Direetor of GCCH are being accepted by our Coordinating Commit­ tee. Call 421-7803 for more information The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine ~~~ ~ II .Fund Page 18 Calendar of Events • liomeleaa,Children'• DON'T MISS THE 34th Annual "Children's Faces Without Places" BENEFIT on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000 ­ We are seeking donations ofany value. T he benefit will be held on. All donations will be recognized at the benefit and are fully tax deductible. Over 1000 invitations will be senc and the benefit will be well publicized. The Project Connect Homeless Children's F und was created to support Project Connect, which endeavors to provide educational opportunities for homeless children and youth. Project Connect provides a strong voice ofadvocacy paired with specialized educational services as well as life-style edu cation ah enrichment opportuni ties for children who have neither a voice nor a choice in being homeless. Project connect is the only program in our area exclusively serving homeless children. Since its inception in 1996, the program has served over 5,000 children. Project Connect is me sole beneficiary of funds. In response, Project Connect Homeless Children's Fund offers scholarships to homeless children for a variety ofreasons, including music, art and spores. Questions, call 513-357-5720 Project Connect Ho~eless Children's Fund P.O. Box 23300, Cincinnati, Oh 45223 Ph: (513) 588-8754. Fax: (5 13) 559-0449 Streetvibes VENDORS' NEWS Canvas Bags for Streetvibes vendors will soon be_available. Come by to give us your ideas on design changes. There are presently three sites where vendors are specifically invited to sell papers - Bellarman Chapel at Xavier University, Ursuline Academy in Blue Ash, and now, First Unitarian Church on Reading in Avondale. Usually two vendors are chosen to sell at these events. Ifyou are interested in the opportunity, please let us know. The times of the month for these events vary somewhat, so come in and find out for sure. Currently, vendors receive 25 extra papers for selling 100 within any particular week (7-day period), and 100 extra papers for selling over 500 papers during the month (issue to issue). Don't forget, you can get free papers for submitting stories, poetry, art work, or photography that is used in Streetvibes, the number subjectively dependent upon how much the editor ne~ds your stuff at the moment. (usually anywhere from 10 to 100 papers[for a major story]) Free papers also given for tips leading to stories. If you want to tack a shot at photojournalism, you can obtain a one-time-use camera at the - Homeless. Coalition office.... . ..... - - - ­ This month Srreervibes is starting a calendar ofevents to keep you informed ofhappenings ar(Jund the Greater Cincinnati area. Please callus ifyou have an item to list. Any submission is welcome: local community council meetings. and programs, socialjustice forums or protests, community festivals, art shows, etc. ~ hope it can serve as a resourcefor those wanti,ng to get involved in their. communities. Ifyou would like to add your organization's events to Streervibes' Calendar, please contact john, ]£ss, or Tom at 421-7803, fax us at 421-7813, or e-mail at streetvibes@juno.com. FEBRUARY 2 Spruce Up Grant Park meeting 12:00 pm, Contact Center, 1641 Vine St. 381-4242 3 Welfare Rights Coalition meeting (potluck) 12:00 pm, Contact Cenrer, 1641 Vin 38 1-4242 4 Safety Committee meeting 1:30 pm, Contacc Center, 1641 Vine St. 381-4242 5 Statewide Ohio Empowerment Coalition meeting, 11:00 am, First Old Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bryden Rd., Columbus (for cransportarion call the Contact Center, 38 1-4242) 8 Organizing Over-the-Rhine, full group meeting 12:00 pm, Contact Center, 1641 Vine Sr. 381-4242 10 Save Our Schools meeting 5:30 pm, Peaslee Neighborhood Cence~, 215 E. 14'h St. 381-4242 16 Park & Recreation Com~ittee meeting 12: 15 pm, Contact Center, 1641 Vine 381-4242 . 17 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless membership meeting 1:30 pm, Drop Inn Center, 217 W. 12th . St. 421-7803 28 Over-the-Rhine Community Council , meeting, 5:00 pm ,, Nast Trinity UMC, 1310 Race St. Looking Ahead... APRIL 14- 14 Statewide Welfare Conference, sponsored by the Ohio Empowerment Coalition Francis Fox Piven, Keynote Speaker Lenox Inn, Reynoldsburg (Q �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 19 Homeless Civil Rights VISTA position ~till open Streetvibes TV covers news on poverty, homelessness and related issues. If you would like to be a part of the audience, or if you have ideas for future shows, call us at 421-7803 Streetvibes Live Radio Hour ADVIRTISI IN STRllTVIBIS Tune in to WAIF 88.3 fm! on the second Saturday of each month at 12:00 noon for The c: CD ce > Help a good cause while promoting yourself to over 5,000 concerned people each month. _ Homeless Coalition's live radio program. c: The show is co-hosted by Mary Burke, Donald Whitehead and other monthly guest hosts. The show mixes talk focusing on the stories in this paper and eclectic musical selections. Business Card Size <¢, ~ 2" x 3 1/2" $10 per month ~Two Business Card Size 4"x31/2" $20 per month Larger Adds also available ANSWERS TO WOR D SCRAMBLE Bl h zar~ , ' . Storm Typhoon Tor na do S lee t Hu rri cane Thunder S now Hai I If you ·need assistance in designing your ad or have any other questions, call us at 421 -7803. Please send your add by the 20th of preceeding month, accompanied by your check I money order, to Streetvibes, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45210 (See Front Page article, January Streetvibes) Gina Miller, former Rapid Exit housing specialist at the Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless, has decided not to .take this GCCH Cincinnati-based position, So ---It's still available! Qualifications: Education: Bachelor's Degree preferred. Experience: Organizing skills, expe­ rience with homeless people or desire to work with fragile populations., acministrative experience, fund raising experience, leadership qulaities. A strong desire to work on constructing a project to protect the rights of homeless people. Skills: Basic computer skills in word processing and/or data processing helpful, and communication skills are important. Worki ng Hours: 40 hours/week. No more than one weekend per month; no more th<:m two evenings per week. Project ends one year after start date. Second year possible. Compensation: About $728 per month+ Medical insurance: and $4,700 education award --or smaller cash stipend --after a year of service in VISTA. Apply to: NEOCH, 2012 West 25th ST. #717 Cleveland, Ohio 44113, FAX 241 -1047 For information or an application, call 241 -1104 We reserve the right to deny any ad, especially those which promote alcohol or tobacco products. You will receive a full refund should your ad be denied. Streetvibes accepts Classified Ads for items such. as Help Wanted, Items for Sale, Apartments for Rent and other non-personal items. The rate is only $1 per line, approximately ten words per line. · People below the poverty level will be given five free lines for six months to advertise their skills or products to our readers. Call 421-7803 for more information :J/(aleup, :J/(ash, 7/ccessories j9.J c:Sprins 9 r ot1e, Y!t1e. Ginc ir111a!t; Mail the ad copy, or deliver, to: GCCH, 1506 Elm Str~et, Cincinnati , OH 4521 O or fax it to 421-781 3, or e-mail to streetvibes@juno.com Oliio 4S22J Sl!J-S4/ -MOJ Caren '!Jou119 -- ....._ r Rapid Exit , assists families and individuals Coming Soon: in moving rapidly from homelessness to permanent housing T he Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Calendar, featuring the incomparable photography of Jimmy Heath. for more information contact The Greater Cincinnati Coalition For The Homeless : 42 1-7803 and ask for Melissa Samhan ~ es:. . ~\. ~ .•. ·. ¥' ~ .... ANOTHER CLASS PRODUCTION ,. Disc-Jockey Service ~s~ CLIFFORD JONES Stayed tuned to find Ol;lt how to get your very own! (513) 761-3464 e-mail: jonesacp@tbol.net ~ \... •-. • • t .. # # . . . .,, # • • . , . . . . . . . ._. . . . . ~ ,,.. . . . .. . . . _.. . . . . . . . . . . . , •• ~• • • . , . . . . . . . . . , ! . . ., • • -- --....----- ..... . .. ------.. - - . - ... - . - ...... ,.--...--- ..-- ,..--. .... .. ...... - .. - -----.. - -- - ... . ~ ~ ~ �ST REE TV I BES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES TV Schedule Check us out, We 're on TV! The Streetvlbes TV Soow is produced at the facilities of Media Bridges (Cincinnati · Community Video), 2114 Reading Road, Cincinnati Ohio. If you would like to be a part of our live studio audience please call the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 421-7803 for more information. February Schedule Broadca~t Dates for January's Show on Channel 24: (Please check your schedule) Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 10 PM Saturday, Feb. 19th, at 5 PM Tuesday, Feb: 22nd, at 10AM Thursday, Mar. 2, at 1OAM . Broadcast schedules are subject to change - consult your local TV directory. StreeMbesVendor code Volunteers Needed! Each vendor has to sign the following code to be able to sell the paper. 1. StreeMbes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. I agree .not to ask for dona­ tions more than $1. t also understand that l will be al>le to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. li'uture Issues of Streetvibes will be purchased from : the Homeless Coalition for 20 cents. 2. I agree that I will never distribute StreetVibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 3. l agree that I will not ask for donations after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect. I will not use abusive l~age or force someone to give a donation. I will not gtve a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 5 . .J agree that I will not suppty copies of 'Streetvibe~ to persons ·who are not regts(ered ~ Page 20 Streetvibes is looking for volunteer writers, reporters, photographers, etc. interested in serving on the Streetvibes Editorial Board. For more information, please call the office at 421-7803 6. I agree not to deCetve the pub]c by saying that I am co'Uec;ttng for a not-for-profil chartty or that I am collecting for the "homeless" ln general I will be honest In s~ that all the profilskom the saleof Streetvi.beswill go to the individual vendor. 7. I agree that I will not contest terrttorteswlth other - ~ 8. I ungerstand l:hatSlreet.uibes st:rtves tobe a self­ supporlingpaper created by peoplewho are homeless or formerly homeless. To help In thi$ effort. I will try to spread the word and wrtfe stortesJf po8§ihle. 9. I undCrStand thatfailure to c.OinP1Y With:aey of tlieaboveStatements wtllresulf in meno longer being able to distribute StmetvlheS. Wish Lis't Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on· a shoe-string budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. We depend heavily on the goodwill of many volunteers and donors. If you can help out with some of the items or our wish list, please.give us a call ... o Supplies for vendor's lounge (coffee, cups, paper towels, cream and sugar, etc.) O Photography Help of all sorts for Streetvibes- photographers, film, developing , {a digital camera?) o Advertisers and Subscribers o Computers/components (monitors, hard drives, etc.) for story-writing, editing, research, and future home­ less computer lab- Streetvibes has a minimal overhead costs so that the vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. If you can help!, contact us at: Streetvibes, clc Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 1506 Elm Street If anyone selling Streetvibes claims to be collecting for a. private charity, please call our office at 421-7803. Cincinnati, OH 4521'0 ph: (513) 421-7803, fax (513) 421-7813 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com Thanksforyoursupp~rt. Need Help or Want to Help? If for some reason you· find yourself homeless, contact a Coalition Member Agency for Shelter, Treatment, Housing or .S ervices. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Womens Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) !-888-872-9259 YWCA Transitional Living Prog. 281-5770 557-2873 Bethany House 762-5660 431-871 7 Salvation ArmY, Welcome House SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission Garden Street House Joseph House (Veterans) St. Francis- St. Joseph House Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of America SHELTER: Both Caracole (A IDS) Chabad House Drop Inn Center (Singles) Friars Club Haven House (Hamilton) Interfa ith Hospitality Netwoi:t< •• -:· :i'"" 4 • • • • ",:' .: ... • .,,.. • - .; .... .. ·_ 241-5525 241-0490 241-2965 381-4941 661-4620 381 -1954 761 -1480 821-5100 721-0643 381-5432 863-8866 244-7226 ~ - AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241 -2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Genter 381-4242 Emanuel Community· Center 241-2563 Freestore/Foodbank 241-1064 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Hamilton Co.Mental Health Bd. 621 -7149 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Resource Center 357 -4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assistance Ctr. 271-5501 721 -4811 ­ Mary Magdalen House Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John's Temporary Housing 651-6446 HOUSING CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTR Housing Network ReSTOC Tender Mercies Tom Geiger House TREATMENT: Women O.D.A .A.T First Step Home TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House Prospect House Starting Over TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline A.A . Hotline C.C.A.T. Talbert House Transitions, Inc. VA Domiciliary OTHER SERVICES .. -. . ~. ~. I, . 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 3'81-0954 639-7056 961-4555 241-7343 961 -4663 784-1853 921-1613 751-3260 Oral Health Council Our Daily Bread Peaslee Neighborhood Center Travelers Aid 820-2947 861-9966 381 -6660 684-7956 491-4435 559-5011 United Way VA Homeless Program Women's Crisis Center Women Helping Women . ... . ~ ··---~. ~ .. ·;,;.. -~ ... • - l' - 621-02~8 621-6364 621-5514 721-7660 721-7900 572-6226 491-3335 872-9259 � 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 2000 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 2000 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Artists Rally and Jam in Support of the Drop Inn Center Pg 2: City Plants Replacement for Community Council Pg 3: Drop Inn Center Continued Pg 4: The Purple Turtle: Save Over-the-Rhine…from the Kunzel’s Nightmare Pg 5: National News Pg 6: Center Helps Drug Users in Nepal Find Hope Pg 7: Arts & Poetry Pg 8: Arts & Poetry Continued: Street Corner PolitiX Pg 9: Prison News Pg 10: Prison News Continued: The Death Penalty Pg 11: Prison News Continued: In Memory of “Little Rock Reed” A victory for Human Rights Pg 12: Welfare News Pg 13: News from Across the River Pg 14: Editorials & Letters Street Scopes Pg 15: Street Scopes Continued 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 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Susan Knight Tom Billman John Halpin Jess Ballew Ron Carter Warren Perkins Melissa Samhan Jimmy Heath Berta Lambert D. Jackson Mike Henson Steve Lansky Warren Perkins Lynn Williams Te’tro Amaru Joan Rohrer Tree Mosolf John Halpin Berta Lambert Sonny Williams Rodney Sutton Pat Mitchell Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Artists Arts & Poetry Berta Lambert Carl Walker community council Covington Death Penalty Drop Inn Center Editorials & Letters Human Rights Joan Rohrer John Halpin Lemuel Israel Lynn Williams Mike Henson nationwide news Over-the-Rhine Pat Mitchell prisoners news Rodney Sutton Sonny Williams Steve Lansky Te' Tro Amaru the broken city The Traveler Tom Billman Tree Mosolf Warren Perkins welfare news https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/3dc48dfbf1dfd44f0fcd926a5e756020.pdf f5e5b482c368e3e455d5d6aa6d030634 PDF Text Text January 2000 National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project Collles to Cincinnati In response ro increasing civil rights abuses, Th e Nation al Coalition for the H o meless is coordinating a locally-based national movement to protect the civ'il rights of people who are homeless. N CH has chosen C incinnati as one of the sites for this narional project. A Vista Position has been created for the local project, which is working out of the office of GCCH, the Greater Cincinnati C oalition for the Homeless, and working closely with NEOCH, the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (Cleveland). Gina Miller, who up till the first of me year was G C CH's Rapid Exit ho using specialist, will now be directing h~r efforts roward developing a program to: end d iscrimination against homeless people, prevenr rhe misguided policy of using existing laws to target homeless people, and reduce the n umber of hate crimes directed a t homeless and very low income individuals. ROOTS OF THIS NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT: By definition, people who are homeless live in public. A lack of housing forces them to do in public what everyone prefers to do in private. T his indignity is one of many reasons we seek to end homelessness. Unfortunately, it has also become the battleground for the most fundamental defense of people who happen to be homeless: the right to exist. The Criminalization of Homelessness In cities with an admitted lack of day shelters and few jobs chat pay a .living wage, people who are homeless sometimes rest at bus stops or on sidewalks. Tucson, Arizona, has made it unlawful co be at a bus stop for more the 30 minutes. Police in Seattle, Washington, have been instructed co fine or arrest people who are homeless for sitting on ·che sidewalk. In cities with an admitted lack of affordable housing, people who are homeless a.re forced to carry their worldly goods with them wherever they go. In Beverly Hills, California, ic is crime punishable by a fine or jail time co set baggage down on the sidewalks. In Georgetown, a trendy part of Washington, DC, an archaic pare of rhe Discricr Code is being applied to fine or arrest people for storing property (including people themselves) in doorways. T here is an esrimaced 24 million people on the waiting list for public housing in this country. Despite this acknowledgment of insufficient housing options, the city mothers and fathers of Dallas, Texas, and many ocher cities across chis country (including Phoenix, · Jacksonville, Columbus, Boston, Austin, New Orleans, Long Beach , Virginia Beach, Adanra, Sacram ento, Tulsa, M iami, and Buffalo) have made it· ilJegal to camp or sleep in a park. The flaws in chis effort to criminalize homelessness are as numero u~ as they are obvious. T hough no one should ever have to sleep in a park or beg fo r food, making chose acts inco criminal offenses does not help the people d riven by desperatio n ro commit them. T hese city ordinances (and similar stare statues) are misguided because they seek to hide homeless people; not end homelessn ess. They are unjust because they seek co punish people for being poor. Because people who are homeless don\ have the option not ro sleep in public, walk through parking lots, set down baggage, etc. these 'laws are illogical. We have laws against arson because we each have the choice of nor burning down buildings. People who are forced to live on the streets don'c have options - if they did, they wouldn't be there. Though it is easier for cities ro attack homeless people than to attack the root causes of homelessness, it wastes scarce resources and human cime, energy, and dignity. It cosrs much much less to secure permanent housing than to p ut people in jail and prison-even shelters (still more expensive th an permanent housing in the long run) cost less than incarceration. Thousands of citations have been issued nationwide. Police continuously misapply and selectively enforce existing laws in order to harass people who are homeless and move them from parks co neighborhoods to alleys and back into parks. This strategy demonizes poor people and feeds negative public sentiment to target people who experience homelessness, rather than the root causes of homelessness itself. In addition to its other effects, the criminalization efforts rear our focus away from long term, permanent solutions in order to fight for the right of people who are homeless to simply exist. Our greatest victories in combating these new civil rights attacks will only secure an already inhumane status quo. With this in mind, we must build a locaHy-based national movement to protect t~e civil rights of people who are homeless that can seamlessly-even simultaneously-work to end homelessness once chese discriminatory threats are eliminated. .Our Response Our plan co prevent and combat the violation of homeless people's civil rights fo cuses on linking homeless individuals and families, and the grassroots effons chat they lead, inro a national nerwork in order forti fy those local efforrs and to snengthep cooperation. This plan will result in a coordinated sharing of srrategies, a greater ability ro fighr effectively, and increased public awareness ­ all geared coward abolishing discrimination against people who are homeless.. The National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Projecr (NHCROP) will have seven regional organizing posts in different regions of che country: Ease, Midwest, Soucheasc, Northwest and Sourhwest, plus a nacional office in Washingron, DC. Proposed field offices include Arlan ta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Pordand, San Francisco, and Washingt0n D C. Scaff people ac each location will work ro bring together the efforrs of all local homeless advocacy groups and to fortify efforcs in communities that are resource-poor. People who are or were homeless will be hired to fill all-field staff and AmeriCorps*VISTA positions created by NHCRO P. It is roo ofren the case that rhe harshest anci-homel~ss attacks occur in those communities chat lack the resources co organize an immediate, effective response. N HCROP will n-:ak.! ir much easier for such locales to hook into th e knowledge, experiences and resources of ocher 'c ivil rights efforts in order co improve their ability to best protect the civil rights of people who are homeless. One of the primary ·goals of the organizing project is to collect and . use video documentation of police and private security guard abuse of homeless people, along with interviews of individuals who are victims of such abuses. Hundreds of hours of videotape have already been shoe, and che abuses continue to stack up. Commun ities that presently document civil rights violations on tape (e.g., San Francisco, Aclanra and New York StreetWatch programs) find chat having abuses on tape acts as both a deterrent co future abuse and a powerful advocacy and educational tool. Taking rhese functions further still, NHCROP will combine the footage co AJ show- the similarities between tactics used by different local governments, BJ organize a well-planned counter-campaign against existing or proposed anti-homeless laws, and CJsupport groups attempting to set up or expand documentation efforts. Finally, we can use this information as a springboard co pointing out th e contradictions in blaming the victim and the lack of appropriate policies for ending homelessness. At chat point we will be able to articulate more proactive, cooperative community initiatives and organize for their adoption and implementation. Focused on the civil righcs of all people, CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, Continuedonpage 2 �· STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine STREETVIBES The Tri-State ' s Homeless Grapevine Streetvibes, the Tri-State's Home­ less Grapevine, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless, social justice and poverty related issues. It is published once a month, 12 issues a year, by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Vendors buy the paper for 20 cents (to cover printing costs) and then sell the paper for a dollar donation. The vendor keeps the profits. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low­ income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes vendor badge. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. Staff Donald Whitehead, Director Susan Knight, Administrative Coordinator Streetvibes Editor Tom Billman, Ron Carter, Vendor Support Gina Miller, Homeless Civil Rights Warreri Perkins, Tenant Organizing Melissa Samhan, Rapid Exit Program Writers Donald Whitehead Mike Weiman Tom Billman John Chetuck Lynn Williams Rodney Sutton Azariah Israel Alexandra Rae el-Katib ...... and more ........... . Graphics Sketches and Cartoons by D. Jackson, Howard Dease, T. Billman...... Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, photos.... We will print everything we have room for, giving preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Please send all material to the following address: Streetvibes c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 (513)421-7803 fax (513) 421-7813; e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com (text-only) or homecoal@primax.net ( attached files) 1/1/eb page: http://cinci.com/gcch The Streetvibes Newspaper Planning Committee is about to resume its monthly planning meetings. Ifyou are interested in giving us a hand, please call 427-7803. CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, Continuedfrompage 7 NHCROP seeks to address discriminacion nor only through our organizing, bur also in che way we are organized. Our membership is open and is as inclusive as possjble. Moreover, we actively encourage those service providers and housed advocaces involved ro engage people who are or were homeless in chis effort. lt is our expeccation char the bulk of our leadership and membership and all of our new staff will be people who are or were homeless. Ir is in this way char we seek to consistently address the issues of racism, sexism, and classism char can - if we are not vigi lant - create incongruities in our values and an imbalance between our incernal structure and rhe outward manifestation of our organizing. People who have no choice but to be homeless have no choice but to be public. To punish them for this heaps injustice on top of indignity. As one Santa Monica woman who is homeless wondered, "When does it stop? Are we going to push homeless people off the face of the earth? l do have a right ro .exjsc. I have the righc to food, clotlling and shelter because r live." GOALS OF THE HOMELESS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT: • To develop a model "'bill of rights" for customers of shelters and homeless social service organizations, which can be used throughout the State. Page 2 Homeless Protected Class Resolution to be presented to U.S. Congress The Protected Class Resolution for the Indigent Homeless Population calls for Protected Class status for homeless and low-income people earni ng I00 percent or less of the Federal Poverty guidelines. Approved by the National Coalition for the Homeless' Civil Rights Work Group and its Board of Directors in April 1998, it is the vehicle the National Homeless Civil Rights Organi zing Project (NHCROP) will use to guarantee homeless people's civil rights in it attempts to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include the indigent homeless population. Based upon the United States government's 'state party status' to the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Habitat Agenda - which guarantee basic econom ic, social, and cultural rights, and protection against discrimination - the resolution is the homeless person's bill of rights and calls for protection from: laws against sleeping in public, acts or laws interfering with their right to travel, unfair wages, laws that disregard personal property, violence and hate crimes, and being characterized and treated as non-citizens. NHCROP, in coordination with other national civil rights organizations, will soon begin a national campaign to introduce this resolution as civil .rights legislation to the US Congress. NCH's Protected Class Resolution Where As, the United States government has adopted ~<fl is pai:ty to the United Nations'. • Io organize a steering committee of . · docuirie.ilt reflirenced "aS.iJ1e Univer~at" ~ : homeless people in cities tlrn?ughout Ohio to. implement the goals of rhe Americorp VlSTA Decla.r:ation pf Human Rights, which '·confers program. This committee will work with on every member of society a right to basic traditional civil rights organizations in each economic, social and cultural e ntitlements that community to raise awareness of the civil rights every (nation) state should recognize: serve, needs of homeless people. and protect, of which food, clothing, medical * To develop a training program for care, and housing are definitive components of security personnel, businesses and police forces to the right to a minimum standard of living and sensitize organizacions to the special needs of dignity," and homeless people iri che community in which they· reside. * To work with local Coalitions and service providers to assure that homeless people know their rights and have an effective mechanism for reporting violacions. * To develop a training program for homeless journaljsts to increase awareness and communication on the sueets. This will allow some members in the horyieless community to develop skills that could lead co fucure employment. * To coordinate a public awareness can:paign of the violations of human rights of homeless people and the need for empowering and nurturing services to assisc homeless people. * To create a database within Ohio that not only documents local efforts co criminalize homelessness, bur also documents effective policies that move the mosc noticeable and hard to serve members of the homeless commtmity into stable housing. Where As 1 the United. States Goyemment bas adopted, and is party to the United Nations document; the Habitat Agenda, which calJs for certai n actions that include but are not limited to: protection against discrimination, legal security of tenure and equal access to land including for women and 'the poor; and effective protection from illegal forced evictions, "taking human rights into consideration, bearing in mind that liomeless people should not be penalized for their status; by adopting policies aimed at making housing habitable, affordable and accessible, including those who are unable to secure adequate housi ng through their own means", and Where As, the United Nations document: Habitat Agenda, calls for the "Effective monitoring and evaluation of housing conditions, including the extent of homelessness and inadequate housing and in consultation with the affected population, formulating and adopting appropriate housing policies and implementing effective strategies and plans to address those problems," and The Homeless Civil Rights project begins in Where As, there is a shortage of affOJdable Cincinnati on January 24. Find out what you housing stock nati onwide, and can do to help prevent and combat the Where As, the national minimum wage is an violation of homeless people's civil rights. Call Gina Miller at 421-7803 continuednextcolumn �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine insufficient amount of money to secure safe, decent, affordable housing even at the most basic financial level, and Where As, more than the minimum wage is required in every state to be able to afford even a one bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent, as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Where As, the combined effect of these and other circumstances create a group of people that have no alternatives to living on the streets of our nation, and Where As, it is estimated that nationwide, there are at least 760,000 persons living without a permanent, fixed, individual residence on any given night, and Where As, at least 40% of our nations homeless population are United States Veterans, and Where As, approximately 25% of the single · adult homeless population suffers from some fo rm of severe mental illness, and Where As, the fastest growing segment of our nation's homeless population is women with children, and Where As, 36.5 million men, women, and children of all ages are living in poverty of whom are already homeless), and (ma~y Where As, there has been a collective, concerted governmental effort at city and county levels to devise laws and ordinances that find homeless people guilty of having committed a crime for simple acts such as sleeping in public, and Where As, there are certain life sustaining acts such as eating, breathing and sleeping that must be conducted by all persons including those that are.homeless who must conduct these acts in public, and Where As, these laws and ordinances are designed to criminalize and sweep these homeless persons from our nation 's streets and imprison them, without regard for their personal safety or care for their personal belongings, for no reason other than they are lacking housing and as a result, are characterized as non-citizens, and are deprived of their basic human rights, and Page 3 such circumstances constitute cruel and unusual punishment and impinge upon these persons access to travel, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that persons without a fixed , permanent, individual place of residence, and those that are earning 100% of Federal Poverty Guidelines or less, are sufficient in number, characteristics, and vulnerability to comprise a distinct class of people, and as a result, shall hence forth constitute a Protected Class with all rights and protections afforded under such a designation. Here in after, this Protected Class will be referred to as the Indigent Homeless Population. AND FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED, that as a J:>rotected Class they will be protected: -from laws against sleeping in public, -from acts or laws interfering with their right to Where As, these impoverished persons are travel, targeted and often made victims of malicious hate crimes and selective enforcement of these laws and ordinances, and -from wages that are so low that they are Where As, camping, sleeping and other anti­ homeless laws are being enforced at a time when emergency housing shelters are consistently full and no housing alternatives remain available, and denied access to housing, -from laws or practices that disregard their rights of ownership, and protections for their personal belongings, -from being made targets of hate crimes, and -from being characterized and treated as noncitizens. Where As, the enforcement of such laws under The New Callousness .........Arianna Buffington Judge Judy, the doyenne ofsyndicated self-righteousness, solidified chat preeminence two weeks ago at a literary luncheon in Brisbane, Australia. On tour to promote her new book, "Beauty Fades, Dumb Is Forever," she suggested that instead ofattempting to control AIDS and hepatitis by providing clean needles to drug adldicts we should "give them all dirty needles and let them die." Instead ofresulting in universal derision (and, even more justly, a lightning bolt from the sky) this stunning proposal evoked cheers from her fans in the audience. But it got not a mention from the U.S. press (indeed, if it weren't for the people at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, I never would have heard about it). Granted, Judge Judy isn't William Rehnquist, but the sharp-tongued, dull-witted jurist's opinions - doled out on her top-rated 1V show - are heard by millions more people than the ChiefJustice's. Worse, her views reflect a disturbing trend in our culture coward getting the "love" out of rough love. Call it the New Callousness: . turning an indifferent shoulder to anyone ­ drug adclicts, the homeless, those behind bars - who hasn't had the good sense to become a bull-market rider. After all, they're getting in the way of the Panglossian message chat all is well "in this best of all possible worlds." Evidence of chis cold spot on the national heart is all around us. In New York, Mayor Rudy (rhymes with Judge Judy) rang in the holiday season by ordering the (http://www.ariannaonline.com) NYPD to step up its efforrs to sweep the city's streets of homeless people by arresting them for so-called "quality-of-life" crimes. Declaring that rhe city has not been strict enough in rousting people "who don't belong there," Giuliani claimed char the right to sleep on the streets "doesn't exist anywhere. The founding fathers never put that in the Constitution." He doesn't seem too keen on the homeless living in city shelters either: He recently announced that anyone wanting to stay in one would have to work or face expul-sion - mental illness or not. Apparently, he prefers sending chem to jail, where mental-health-unit beds cost $91,000 annually. It costs $20,000 for a bed in a shelter and $12,000 for the supervised apartments char remain woefully underfunded, even though they have proven the most effective in dealing with chronic homelessness."There were times," Mayor Rudy said, "in which we romanticized this to such an extent that we invited people to do it." Ah, yes, the romance of sleeping under the scars in a cardboard box in the dead of winter. Proving that heartlessness cues across party lines, Willie Brown, San Francisco's liberal mayor, is overseeing his own crackdown on the homeless - just in time for his upcoming runoffelection against even-r,nore-liberal rival Tom Ammiano. Brown is clearly reveling in this rare chance to stake our the "conservative" position in the race - going so far as to arrest homeless advocates for handing out soup and sandwiches to the poor. "Advocate types claim I'm the most hostile" to the homeless, said Brown. "That's not true. I'm not the most generous. I'm not the most hostile. But I am the most firm." Call Tony Bennett, it's time for a rewrite: "I lost my heart in San Francisco." In fact, more and more of our cities are using the police to enforce arcane laws - such as sanitation statures that make it illegal to leave cardboard !?oxes in a public place - to get the homeless off the streets, including many homeless veterans who risked their lives for their country. In Los Angeles, Ted Hayes, who has devoted his life to working with the homeless, calls the coast-to-coast crackdown "status cleansing." "For us to turn to outlawing our homeless citizens," he told m e, "is a betrayal of the promise ofAmerica· 'Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me.' Perhaps the Statue of Liberty should be turned around ro face this country." Transforming human beings into nuisances - problems chat must be eradicated - is a dangerous step along the deadly path of dehumanization. It takes very little to end a life that has been stripped ofits humanity. Which is exactly what is happening in D enver, where this fall seven homeless men have been bludgeoned to death, two of the victims beheaded. Is this the logical endgame for a culture so intent on celebrating its "winners" chat it has no room left for life's losers? �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 4 Brief History of American Holneless Society The history of the Am erican Homeless sociery begins in a small Texas rown, where poverty and racism had me nailed since birth. My parenrs had eight children, while chey worked long and hard in restaurants, cafes and bars, ro pay the bills. The good news was that they brought home plency of leftovers to eat, and the bad news is chat rhey would usually come home drwik and fighting, moth and nail. l was rheir fifth child, and hardly knew chem. They loved us, bur by sunrise, I would hie the streets or go fishing, co avoid the daily warfare in om home. In the first grade, l only knew Spanish, and had no shoes co wear at school. My careered clothes were baggy hand-me-downs from my older brothers, and we had no hoc water for showers, or hearing in the house. M y first bicycle had no cites or rubes, just rims which rolled me noisily co school. Withottt brakes, I ran inro a car or rwo, but 1 had to have a bicycle like my peers. The only thing 1 undersrood rhe first year of school was "the bell," e.g., when to eat, recess and go home. Jn my second year, I kind of figured our how tbe English language worked, so I could ralk ro the White and Black people, but unril then, f just copied what studenrs around me did, and turned ir lrl. In the third grade, che shadowy racism against "Mexicans" that permeated the small Texas town hit me hard, and by the sixth grade, I was ready to qufr school. I could learn English, but J could not change my ethnicity or color of ski'n. Fortunately, the music reacher asked me to join his band in the seventh grade, and I jumped ar the opportunity. My interest in the band sustained me through high school, and I even planned to go ro college, to become a band director, roo. l wor~ed my way through high school as a fry cook. Du(ing my senior year, however, my family moved to California, where my father gor a job as a cook, too. I tried to stay in my hometown by myself-to at least graduate from high school with my lifelong friends-but r missed my fam ily coo much. I j umped on a bus in January, 1995-to be reunited wirh my family-and I graduated from a California high school rhac year among rotal strang­ ers. ln my fo rlorn srace, I lose interest in music, and joined rhe Marines, after all. After boor camp and infantry training, I was stationed wirh the Marine Corps Band ar Parris Island (SC), and then wirh che Firsr Marine Division By Ruben Botello, Founder Band near Danang, in 1968. We were overrun in 1969, and some of my musician Marine friends were killed and wounded during the battle. I lose other friends in Vietnam, and I was put on an airplane home a few weeks later, more dazed, confused and bitter rhan ever. I tried college on the GI Bill for awhile, but qi1it to work full-rime, so I could rent my own place to live. Unforrunarely, I was soon living in my care, driving aimlessly along the Pacific Coast Highway, and unable to hold a job. In 1970, I returned to college, and starred ro understand how racism, poverry and Vietnam had affected my life. I decided co become a lawyer, to change rbe world, but I soon dropped our, and was homeless, again. In 197 1, I again returned to college, fell in love and hitchhiked to our wedding in 1972. My wife and I concinued our higher education, and earned our bachelor degrees in 1975. We had two sons by the rime 1 finished law school in 1980, and I worked full-cime as an administrator for various crime prevention programs in Southern California from 1976-82. I taught at the college and university level for four years, and all seemed quite well, until 1982, when my wife abandoned our rwo sons and l, ro live and travel with her multimillionaire employer. Our sons were then ages rwo and five, and we were devastated , to say the least. We wound up homeless from Corpus Christi to Searrle th.at tumulruous year, rolling from ciry ro city in hope and prayer che nighcmare would end . Like a roulecte ball on a wheel, we went around and around from rown to town, as I looked for work and a sense of belonging. By Christmas, 1982, we were back in California, homeless, broke and dejected. We again sl ipped and slid into homelessness in 1987-all rhe way from Los Angeles to Wash­ ingron DC, Erie PA, Salt Lake Ciry, and in so many cities in berween. As the roulerre wheel slowed, we again landed in Californ ia, thoroughly hungry, broke and exhausted from our cross­ coumry homeless rrek. I founded che American H omeless Sociery in 1987, to help ocher homeless and ourselves gee anchored in co a communiry of neighborly love. I decided the lease I could do as a poverty-stricken single parenr was to give my -sons a "hometown," and I did. Nevertheless. the wheel kept rurning againsc us, and ir is still turning coday, as we struggle daily ro sray on our fcec. We scill live on wheels, and ( sananda@northcoast.com) local folks do nor want us around, but we have no place else co go. I was honorably discharged from rhe Marines in 1969, and I have never been arrested, charged or c~nv icced of any crime. 1 worked my way through high school and college, bur now I have to musrcr all rhe rime, energy and resources I have, co deal wich rhe post-trauma stress disorder of the divorce, povecry, racism, homelessness and Vietnam experience that knocked my sons and I out of mainstream sociery in rhe first place. These major barriers and obstacles are like a brick wall that keeps us down and ouc, no macrer how long and hard we struggle to overcome it. I help other homeless with my legal education, but I also have scoliosis, arthritis, a slipped disc and ocher chronic health problems. I am on "GR," and live in an old RV chat has to be moved, periodically. Somecimes it runs, and sometimes it is registered, bur it always leaks, and rhe ro·o f is caving in. If ic gees rowed, I will lose it, altogether. I found my best homeless friend dead .in his van. I certainly do not want co go char way, but I do not believe it is up to me, anymore. 1 do nor dru1k, take drugs, panhandle or steal, because I still believe in chc ren commandments and rhe boy scout mono. I help everyone I can, rich or poor, in their time of need, and it does come back co me now and then. However, whar I see more of in this decade is a great hatred and conrempr for the homeless, and this grieves me very much. There are very real solurions co America's homeless problem, but unril sociery and govern­ ment are willing ro accept us as fellow human beings, we will never 'be created in such a way rhat rhe prob[em can be resolved. Our priorities and ways of life are different from chose of mai nstream America, because we have co make chese adjust­ ments in order to survive. If we fighc our homelessness, we are accused of aberrant, antisocial and even criminal behavior. If we surrender ro our lot, we are branded as lazy worthless bwns. Anyone can slip or slide inro homelessness, regardless of race, color, nationality, religion or creed. Whether it is due to hard times or a narural disaster, all Americans would be wise to remember the next person you see sleeping under a bridge may be you. .........R uben Botelw, Homeless in Eureka Report paints m ost comprehensive picture ever of H omelessness in America A landmark study reports that most people who become homeless have suffered severe hardships - including physical and sexual abuse, dilchxx::t trauma,poverty, a!XXl"ed.Jcaticrl, disability and disease - b'u t are successful in escaping home~ when they get help from federal and other prcigrams. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomoreleased the report,which is the rriost comprehensive study everof homelessness in America_The report i$ titled "Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve," and is filled with revealing statistics that tell the story of people around the nation vvho have fallen thrbugh the social safety net into homelessness. The report said the top priority of homeless people it surveyed was toget ajob-the first step to self-sufficiency. It said 44% of homeless people surveyed worked at leastpart­ time during the past month. • incomeof$348, andhomeless families reported a mean income of$475. In addiOOn, 4C1'A>of raneless people surveyed went without food one or more The report also said that when homeless days in the previous month because they couldn't afford food, compared with 3% of other poor people gethousingassistance and needed services - such as healthcare, substance Americans. * Health and disability problems are abuse treatrrent, mental health services, educ:atim andjob training - 76% of those living in families · common among homeless people. When survey participants were asked about theirhealth and 600/0 of those living alone end their homeless status and move to an improved living situation in the previousmonth, 46%saidtheyhad achronic. ',. health problem such as arthritis or cancer, 3 9% aftercompletion of the assistanceprogram. reported amental health problem, 38%.reported The studyshoVvS homelessness is associated with an alcohol problem, and 2 6% reported a drug problem. 55% said they had no medical insurance. abroad range ofproblems. Itfound that * Homeless people have low educational * Serious problems since childhcxx:I are common levels. The survey found that 38% of.homeless · among homeless people, with 25%report]ng childhoocl physical orsexual abuse, people have less than a high school diploma, 33%reporting rurring 'iJtNa'jfrom horne, and 27% compared with 18%ofthe overall population. This saying they lived in foster care, a group home or makes it harderfor homelesspeople to getjobs. other institution as achild. Formore information or to read the report * Homeless people are among the poorest in on-line, visit the HUD USER the nation, with incomesaveraging half thefederal website athttp://www.hxi.Jser.org/ poverty level. In the 30 days before they were pubfteations/homelehtml• surveyed, single homeless people reported amean • �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 5 the men have begun to paint murals. One gentleman, Yamamura-san, can be seen from time co rime standing in the shadows directing the painting. H e mikes che seance ofa Japanese masret· Standing strait, INTERNATIONAL NEWS Down and Out in Tokyo Text and Photographs by] ward Hills boxes in lace January. Please underscand." As wacer cannons srood by, metropolitan security guards and from url=(0057Jhltp://www.webcom.com/whills/ Japan/Homeless/E-lomeless.html In addition to being che busiest and rhe police officers, watched as 50 bystanders, surrounded the homeless and their supporters, who then scarred to scuffle wich police. Three people were arrested for obstructing the police. A Japanese civic group submicted a lecrer co rhe Prime Minister's Office citing that "The Japanese government has approved a United Nations human rights commission resolution that says forcible eviction of homeless people is a human rights violation," the letter continued "The national government bears liveliest train station in Japan, and maybe the world, Shinjuku station has another side has emerged recently bur is not calked about in polite Japanese society. The West side of the scation is known in the tourist guide books as the home of the tall buildings and the City offices of Tokyo representing the powerful economic empire of Japan. But below chese modern monolithic skyscrapers are men who slipped through the cracks of the rising economy and are now living in card board boxes. On the West side of Shinjuku Station live the homeless people. The Japanese economy is well known for cradle to grave employment and support. To be laid-off or fired is almost unheard of; or at least was unriJ the great buqble economy of the 80's bursr. Dedining proflrs, banking crises and inflation ail conspired to force Japanese corporations to violate che long held agreement oflife long security with some of rhe less productive em ployees. Wichouc any social safe[}' nee many fo rmer salary men ended up no longer sitting at rheir desks bur racber on rhe srreet. O ver o ne weekend las r January (1995), merropoliran officials. backed by 350 police officers and security guards, handed an "ultimarum" co abour 200 resid enrs of "cardboard houses" alo ng an underground passageway siruaced at the West side of rhe srarion "This is not a place to sleep; ir's for pedestrians.'' a merropoliran official cold rhe residents wirh a bullhorn Saturday nighr. "The merropol ican government will remove rhe cardboard moral responsibility co demand chat rhe merropoliran governmenr abandon its plan ro construct the moving walkway, which is to be built using taxpayer's money. " According to members of rhe civic group, the Prime Minster's office agreed chat, rhe resol ution should be respected . However, the foreign office said rhe Japanese nation and the UN "are in no posirion" to judge ch e matter, which falls under the jurisdiction of the local government. The homeless were moved our of rhe station. Less rhen a year lacer, chey have reclaimed che srarion. They simply moved down the way a bit and sec up rheir boxes again. T his time rhey have rhe arrenrion of some med ia and a few sim ple phocos dis plays showing rhe bacon and shield equipped police pushing rhem our of their old boxes. ln from of rhe display is a .donarion box. Abour three m onrh s afrer rhe evict ion mosr, or at least the same number. of rhe men have rerurned. Like com munities everywhere chey have raken to decoracing their homes an d sunoundi.ngs. O n the sides of their cardboard houses hands clasped behind his back watching his student attentively, but withouc encouragement. Ac the same time, proud of his art, and ashamed of where be practices it he has supervised the decorating ofa few dozen of the box homes. A few cimes a week the Hari-Krishna come down to the srarion co feed the men. Most of the men line up for a second or third helping of the rice curry. Ir is one of those contrasting images so common in Asia. T he sound oflndian tambourines and voices chancing 'Hari-Krishna' accompanjes the homeless lining up for food while Japanese businessmen walk past in Italian suits and kids pass by in school uniforms. One of the Hari­ Krishna girls chanting has a E nglish Mother and Indian Farher, she grew up as a missionary ro Japan. Sh e is very polite bm does not miss the chance ro hand me a map co the next prayer meeting. The problem of the homeless is nor really addressed much in rhe Japanese p opu lar media or Government. In rhe Japanese language home and family are almost synonymous. With~ou r family co help them chere are few ocher srructure~ in Japan ro lend aide. And even if there were some means of assistance for these men some are so angry at th e society rhey would rather be an nuisance just to make t roubl e. Sti ll o che rs are simply mentally ill and cannor fie into the expectations of the Japanese sociecy. The people of busiest train sratioo in the world all taking part in rhe great Japanese economic miracle; some in silk sufrs some in leather jackets and some in cardboard boxes. Send mail to whills@webcom.com URL: http://www. webcom. comlwhills!]apanl Homeless/Homeless. html Ohio OH99·SOO Cincinnati\Hamilton County (Ohio) Coe Franciscan Home Development, Inc ....................... ............................ . c ::J :c SHP $249,900 Over the Rhine Housing Network ...................................................... . SHPR $168,111 Center for Independent Living Options, Inc.......................................... . SHPR $167,189 City of Cincinnati ............. :................................................................ . SPCR $2,450,340 AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, Inc........................................................ . SHPR $85,050 Hamilton County Dept. of Human Services ............................................ SH PR $366,628 Mr. Justice Watch ............................................................................ . SHPR $183,621 Joseph House, Inc...................................................................... ..... . SHPR $322,983 The Salvation Army Cincinnati, OH ................................................... . SHP $826,980 AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, Inc ......................................... .-............... SHP $157,500 Chabad House of Cincinnati ................................................................ . SHPR $506,041 Franciscan Home Development, Inc..................................................... . SHP $391 ,104 COC Total: ..................................... .. ... .... ................. ........ .. .. .............................. . State Total: $5.875,447 $42.475,359 �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine WORD ON THE STREET / '/ We Need Your Creativity! '\ Send your poetry, writings or artwork to Streetvibes, c/o GCCH (Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless), 1506 Elm St., Cincinnati 4521 O Phone - 513-421-7803, E-mail (text): to streetvibes@juno.com, E-mail (attached files, graphics): to homecoal@primax.net Unfinished Business Will the new advances in technology that herald the new millenium bring with them greater understanding? [Did the Microwave oven herald the end ofworld hunger? Have they found a pill that will uplift the human heart?] No, the miracle char always saves mankind is the one described in the miracle of the loaves and fishes from rhe Bible. In these times when greed is, indeed, nor only justified, but celebrated, it is even a greater miracle when people find it in their hearts to share. In chose times, we discover that our true wealth is our heart, our center, which, when we open up, we find, is limitless. Arts and Poetry HOPE Life is becoming s hort and hard, nights are cold and long. No where to go, no where to sleep, I'm feeling death beneath me. Crying out for help, but no one's around .. .Sad and alone.I feel like going home. Will someone Hear, Listen, Open up their Heart Cause living on the streets is tearing me apart. Finally I hear a Voice come from Above, Telling me to Stay positive and that I'm Loved!!! Reaching out for his Hand, right then, I have to take a stand. Before I sleep I say my Prayer, Hold my head up high: I Pray to God to let Me live because I 've got to stay positive I Pray to God to let me Stay S!rong, Ask for forgiveness for what I've done wrong. I Pray to God for Better Days, cause now I see the Err of my Ways. Look Up, Stay Focused, Be Strong and of Good Courage!!! Blessings and Peace be upon You and All People You Reach. I hope this puts a smile on your face I hope that you are well and safe. Our love will withstand the test of time, Forever yours, forever mine For lonely days or darkest night, It's you I love with all my might. ...... .Azariah Israel Have you ever watched kids On a merry-go-round Or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight Or gazed at the sun into the fading night? You better slow down D on't dance so fast Time is short The music won't lase. Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, Do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores Running through your head? You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast Time is short The music won't last. Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die 'Cause you never had time To call and say "Hi"? You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast Time is short The music won't last. The Spirit of the fountain dies not. It is called the Mysterious Feminine The doorway of the Mysterious Feminine Lingering like gossamer, it has only a hint of existence; And yet when you draw upon it, it is inexhaustible ...from the Tao Teh Ching ..... Tom Billman SLOW DANCE Troy Pitts & Michelle Whyte Is called the Root of Heaven-and-Earth. And our true poverty, is, certainly, our endless clutching at those things which will always disappear before our very eyes, those things which, at the time of our last breath, will reveal themselves as being, truly, without substance. Page 6 When you run so fast to get somewhere You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away... Life is not a race. Do take it slower Hear the music Before the song is over. hpn@aspin.asu.edu (Sent out by a child dying ofcancer:-­ a message to the world) �STREETVIBES A LTERNATIVE MEDICINE a briefexploration ofthe history, philosophy andpractice ofthe many healing arts that have beun to gain popularity as people lose the1· trust in synthetic drugs and high-tech machines The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine & Hey, Mookie, is this what Ufe have in store for me fortheyear2,000? Don't think about it like that; think about it like this: A poor man with no money is a rich man at heart ~p Page 7 Hey·, man: there's still one thing you do have: the power to change. Garlic A few notes on Allium Sativum ...."pharmacologists in the west... fell into the error of suposing that they were better chemists than Mother Nature who, besides creating compunds coo numerous co mention, also synthesized the aforesaid chemisrs and pharmacologists." (Robert de Ropp) Luckily, researchers have be loking back to the garden lately and discovering chat this socially maligned member of the lily family s a valuable medicine. · ~ fhe Sanskrit word or garlic means "slayer of monsters." Ayurvedic herbalisits oflndia use it fr H ysteria, flatulence, sciatica, learrburn, Asthma, diphtheria, typhoid fever, skin disorders... T he ancient Romans used garlic as a conic for enduring extreme :emperatues while working in the fields. Pliny, the Roman naturalist, recommended ~arlic for respiratory ailments, gastro-inresrinal liso.rders, infections and wounds. . Dur ing the 1721 Palgue in Marseilles, a band )f theives who immunized themselves with garlic, nade great profits robbing the bodies of plague victims. Many cultures have hailed garlic as a potent aphrodisiac. Culpepper, the famous and popular English herblisr, recommended it as a n amidore for herbal poisons such as henbane, hemJock and wolfsbane, as well as a cure fo r the effects of drinking polluted water. Poultices of crushed garlic may relieve che effects of Poison Ivy. Garlic oil can cure athletes foot. Recent clinical evidence suggests that consumng 1-3 cloves of raw garlic per day sign ificandy lowers blood cholesteraol levels and can prevent (or even help cure) arteriosclerosis. Russia;1 scie;1 t~t& ~a\le isolarnd "allicin" from the garlic, which, they say, kills only specific bact~ria, leaving natural helarhy bacteria u~touched. Perhaps the reason it .really works is chat chewing garlic k~eps aw~y all the peop.le who care more about the way you smel than the way you feel, and leaves you with only your true frien ds .... .. ......... TB. Donald Whitehead, with Santa Claus and members ofthe Aiken High School Leadership Team. Donald was there to accept gifts donated to children in shelters by students and faculty theirHoliday Gift Tree Project.... (see The Book ofGarlic, byLloyd J. Harris) .Life on the streets .... by john Chetuck The ocher day a friend asked me co explain what life on the screecs was like. At first I was tempted to answer sarcascically, then I cook a moment co think about it. I mean, here was a chance co dispel some of the misconceptions the public has about homeless people and homelessness. There are a great many misconceptions abouc homeless people; for instance, many rimes I've heard people say char homeless people are all alcoholics, druggies or thieves, or that they are jusc coo lazy co work for a living. I'm here co cell you they're wrong! A long time ago 1 believed the same misconceptions; then I found out the reality when l myself became homeless. Homeless people are far from lazy; indeed rhey have co work harder co survive than many do at cheir jobs. They have ro struggle to get shelter, food, money co gee che things they need, a nd even more so co be neared like a human being. Too often, people fail co realize chat not all homeless people ask for money, or are out for a free ride. Since l ended up on che screecs, I have found that many of my homeless peers work everyday ch rough day labor companies, or do odd jobs, some even collect scrap metal, to make ends meet and get .the things they need co survive, just like cl10se who .aren't homeless, rhe difference being char when rhey gee off work their day is just beginning. I guess che best way to explain what I mean is co share with you my routine after work. Wlie11 J geL home, I have LO go collect wood and cue ic so I can have a fire for warmth and so I can have something co ear, chen I have co go gee warer ro clean my d ishes and cook with, and clean myself up, so I can be prepared for rhe day co come. You see, homeless people have to work harder co get rhe things they need, like a hot shower or a home cooked meal, or even just to have water handy so chey can have something co drink if they wake up rhirsc, the licde things char mosc rake -for granted, like a kind word or a friendly smile can make a world of difference. I uuly feel chat most could learn a few lessons from the homeless community about self-sufficiency and compassion, for I have fou nd char among the homeless popula­ cion there is a sense of community like I've never felt anywhere else. So next rime you see a homeless individual, instead of turning your head or crossing rhe street to avoid chem, perhaps you should try talking to chem or perhaps extend a kind word, or even spend some time with them. You might £nd char you both are the better for it. • • • �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Prison News Page B \ ~~; ' .. ~.. ., "Freedom." To the Citizens ofthe United States ofAmerica: The United States ofAmerica, a country founded on the principal that all men are created equal. A country founded by immigrants from all over the world. A place founded for the purpose of political and religious freedom! Let us look at the definition of"Freedom'': The state ofbeing · free and independent. How can the United States claim to be a country of freedom? When they hold men as hostages in our jails and prisons. They are held just because they are not United States citizens. What kind of freedom is this? I thought that all men were equal. Men are incarcerated after being allowed to come to this country who have established a family, jobs and their life. Men who have paid tax.es and ar.e trying hard to learn the American way of life and tradition. Then they are told to leave their families and return to their original countries. Nobody told our ancestors they had to leave, and most of them were criminals from their native countries. These immigrants are held in jail without bail and then deported and taken away from their lived ones and everything rhey ever worked for. This is injustice, the definition of which is: "Violation of ones rights". Do these people not have the right to live with their families? Do they not have the right to become "Americans". What ever happened to "Liberty and justice for all?" . ' ~ . t· - - --·-·-·······-·· ----- ·-···- · - ----- - - ---:- - ---,.,.----·- -- ­ divorced. On )uly 23, 1999 the INS came into his restaurant and arrested him and he has This is written on behalfof.Mahmoud­ El-Khatib and his children: Alexandra Rae, Hanna Marie, Said El-Khatib Mahmoud Hussein and daughter Alexis Hussein, Samuel McKeKonnen andfamily, Samiri Ismail and family..... Please contact your president, Vice President, Janet Reno~ Senators, Governors, 'Newspaper and. TV stations. Please demana the release of·the immigrants held at DHRC in Dayton~ Ohio and all over this country! Please Help us free the immigrants and send them home to their.families today. Thank you and God Bless You. Mahmoud Hussein was born on September lO'h in Egypt. He has been in the United States since 1983. He has always worked and paid his taxes in this country. Mahmoud was married to an American Woman and they share a daughter together named Alexis born January 24, l 997 . Things didn't work our for \ ) bee~ in custody s.ince this·time. He was arrested for a non-violent crime that happened many years ago, for which he did his time and paid for his mistake. (After he found out about the death ofhis mother he was so depressed that he received a couple ofDUis, and this is all that they have on him.) Mahmo~d has been separated from his daughter since the INS arrested him. This man truly loves his daughter and it is breaking his heart being kept away from her. Alexis is sure a daddy's girl; she thinks the world of him. They have a very close relationship. Alexis just started talking, but you can sure make ,o ut "D ada" . for a crime for which he has already paid. This just isn't fair to either of them. Supposedly, in this country you can not be tded for the same crime twice; so why is he being treated any different that the American citizens? Is it because he is an Immigrant? If so, this is discrimination and this is against the law in America - right? Mahmoud needs his daughter just as much as she needs him, if not more so. Alexis is his reason for living and if the.INS deports her father, they will be breaking the hearts of this family. We can't let the INS keep destroying the lives of these men just because they were not born in this country. We must demand the release ofthese Immigrants and send them home, to be part of their ~hildren's lives and support their families. Please help us fight ·the INS and release these men so we can have the jail space to lock up the real criminals. You must write to you Congressmen, Senators, and the President. We must demand chat they Abolish the 1996 Law that President Clinton passed; it has really hurt a lot of families. I pray that these men can be home with their family for the New Year. Please help us, write to abolish the law of 1996. Thank you and God Bless you. You can forward your support to this e-ma# address: eh_bjmarshall@yahoo.com �STREETVIBES Streecvibes/Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Sr., Cincinnati, Oh45210 D ear Editor: After reading the December l, 1999 article "Prison Package Ban Revisited" (written by re­ porter Tom Beyerlein, Dayton Daily News,), I would like a chance to respond and bring a few points tO view from "The Other Side of Prison Packages". "Pr.ison Package Ban Revisited", was writ­ ten about the benefits of a new rule chat would allow 'state-approved' vendor catalogs to be used by all prisons in an effort to curtail, if not end, sundry and food packages sent to prisoners from family members. The goal is to cue down on con­ traband such as drugs and weapons being con­ veyed into the 31 Ohio prisons. In this article, Mr. Arbogast, the Assis­ tant Chief Inspector for prisons, commented that people are becoming more sophisticated in con­ cealing contraband in food and sundries. But these packages arc sent through a fluo­ roscope x-ray machine such as Lebanon Correc­ tional Insticucion and other institutions now use. This machine is of the same type, only smaller, as those used in airports and other high security in­ scallacions. Each one of che prison fluoroscope machines is backed up by a thorough eyeball and hands-on physical search that includes che open­ ~ng of each and every item in any package sent to inmates. Prison officials said, "The new rule isn't meant to be punitive". Certainly it's noc, because it's nor the inmates who would be punished. Any item (except drugs) found unacceptable inside food-sundry or vendor packages, results in three options for inmates: l) Mail the item back to their family; 2) Donate it to the state; 3) De­ stroy jt. Few items are actually destroyed; che majority of prisoners mail the offending item back home. Many unacceptable items are "donated" at the time of receipt co the state, which, presum­ ably, gives chose donated items co charitable orga­ nizations. However, I do not kJ:iow of anyone ­ inmate or otherwise - who has seen or heard of any letters of appreciation from chose quarters. Arbogast says, six Ohio prisons now ban pack­ ages from home and mentions there are few com­ plaints from inmates in chose prisons, using a ven­ dor catalog system. Well, what's co complai n about if that's all there is? Mr. Arbogast also denies the prison system will profit from vendor sales to inmates. Catalog vendors buy seconds from name-brand suppliers and dump those sec­ onds into prisons by che thousands. The Bureau of Corrections does not operate for free, nor does it do anything for free. You can bet che bureau for Ohio's prisons will be compensated from each vendor, and call it the "price of being allowed to do business with Ohio's inmates." An example: money orders sent co pris­ oners from family members. Money orders are credited co inmate's commissary accounts. What che interviewer did not know, or simply refused to inquire about, is the practice (used by any eco­ nomic entity) of collecting interest from che nor­ mal float of idle funds awaiting transfer., in this example, via the Correction Bureaus.prisoner bank­ ing process. Mr. Arbogast was correct when lie said, "We're not making a dime off of chis." The Correction Bureau will not make just ONE dime. The Bureau will make ten thousand dimes rimes cen, from collected interest based on the sheer volume of money orders sent, each day, to prison­ ers around the state. This does nor include a fee for processing all those up and coming scare-ap­ proved vendor catalog sales, and everyone knows graft is never confused with profit. The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine It's crue; some vendor catalog prices are comparable to siores. Though based on che ar­ ticle I read, if a survey of 177 sund ry packages indicating 79% of inmaces co uld ha,ve saved money buying from a vendor, while another 21 % would have spent more - was true, chen maybe Mr. Arbogast could explain, whac does 79% of one and 2 1% of another have to do with Family . members who purchase items for their incarcer­ ated and are themselves not incarcerated? How many of our non-imprisoned citizens are willing to let local police/fire/corrections departments/ mayors come into their homes, in person or by electronic means and suggest ~r even dictate when, where, w~y and how they can spend moneys worked for and claimed as their own? Both item and allowable price limits are clearly seated on inmate food-sundry package lists. A legally sanctioned method allowing the control of a prisoner's family members may be the latitude our prison officials are seeking. Or ' per­ haps, our Department of Rehabilitation and Cor­ rections' ulterior motive is to permanently end visits by inmate's family members so "prison officials" can claim inmate fam ily members arc throwing drugs, contraband and weapons over the fence? As the article stated, "This time, they're (prison officials) armed with statistics designed to bolster their claims...""end quote. I put this question to the reporter who wrote the article. ""H ave you ever nouced . how elusive "they" are? Next time, could you please check with che 31 local courc houses of Ohio's prisons and see for yourself how many (prisoner's families vs. ~orrectional staff} have been charged for convey­ mg drugs, contraband and weapons into chose prisons. Few inmates are foolish enough to have contraband mailed to them inside packages or brought in via visitors and risk severing che last link they have with their families. Perhaps, Mr. Arbogast, or Mr. Joe Andrews, Prison Spokesman, might have been asked Why so many correctional staff are permitted to resign, yer nor fired and formally charged with bringing contraband into state prisons"? That is one way "they" jigger their contraband and spending statistics! Many of these people are never indicted, never see jail time, and are never "slammed" by Mr. Arbogast. "They" are permitted co resign! What better environment for the criminally intent to work in! The numbers discovered may belie any of the srariscics produced by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Finally, believing an all-vendor receipt number system will seem rhe flow of contraband into prisons is basically irrational. I agree, some · Corrections staff have proven to be staunchly honest and unshakable. Yee one muse consider the fact that corrupt people are always found at both ends of any spectrum. As in this case, some wear the clothes of employees looking to make some quick cash, while ochers wear the clothes of corrections staff, looking for the same quick cash. Paying higher wages will nor stop corruption in prisons because the real lolita for many who are correctional staff is corruption! Page g Packages from home are a lifeline for prisoners I respond co the article "Ban affects family ties, relatives say" jn the Dec. 7 Dispatch. Perhaps the most viable rehabilita­ tive tool available co me in the 11 years I've been in prison has been receiving sundry items and food packages from home. Twice a year, I am remembered with genuine love, above che demoralizing anonymity of prison life. Contrary co prison ufficials' claim of curbing the flow ofdrugs and contraband by prohibiting family-sent packages, it is common knowledge within the prisons chat drugs and contraband are smuggied in by some prison staff members. Likewise, the $553,384 officials say they will save annually by reducing the hours prison employees spend searching packages is exaggerated. Prison employees who process packages are assigned that duty based on an average nine-hour shift. If they are not processing packages, they would be given ocher assignments within che prison, and the $553,384 would still be a pare of their regular salary. . The use ofscace-approved vendors could benefit prison officials with possible kickbacks. Inmates have seen the reality of such collaboration in the contracts prisons developed with phone companies. M illions are made yearly from inmates who make collect phone calls to maintain family ties. Prison officials and legislators have depleted and gutted many rehabilitative incentives in prisons. The obvious next move is total alienation from society. . ... .. .Lee A Walker, inmate, Mansfield CorrectionalInstitution r PAN-OHIO Prisoners Advocacy Network Meets ~ext at Old Presbyterian Church, corner of Bryden and Ohio Avenues.Columbus, Ohio, on Jan 30, 2000 For further information, contact (51 3)241 -8014 STffET\HS Prisoners News contains the writings ofpersons incarcerated in our nation's jails and prisons. Signed, f wcui.pose Columbus Subscribers within t he walls receive >treetvibes free. If you want to support us in this effort, please >POnsor someone on the inside by sending us $12 for a year's subscription Sendyour comments and questions to streetvibes@juno.com mail : STREETVIBES, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45210 �----- - - STREETVIBES ---------~------- The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 10 Welfare News STOP THE CLOCK CAMPAIGN -- UPDATE by Lynn Williams, Ohio Empowerment Coalition Ifyour group has not yet endorsed, please endorse by sending the endorsem ent form below to the Contact Canter, 164 1 Vine St., C incinnati, OH 45210 or fax to 513/381-4022. In the meantime, please call yorn O hio House In November, mem bers th e Oh io Empowerment Coalition m et with O hio H ouse Representative D ale Miler (Cleveland) about introducing a bill that would extend Ohio's three yeai- time limit fo r receiving cash assistance to five co nsecutive years (or what is allowable by the Federal government. In addition to the time lim it changes, Rep. Miller agreed to include changes t0 sanctions in the same bill. T he bill will restore the adult's portion of food stamps to a sanctioned householo, or, in other words, not cut the family's food scamp allotment. T he bill will also include policy that ends a san~cion upon compliance, by issuing a pro-rated benefit check co the sanctioned household. Rep. Catherine Barrett (Cincinnati) also has drafted legislation to extend the tree years to five consecunve years. The Ohio Em powe rm ent Coa lition is encouraging organizations and grassroots groups to endorse these policy changes co rime limits and sanctions in the "Stop the Clock Campaign." Representative or Senator and ask them to support extendi ng O hio's time limit to the five consecutive years (or what the Feds allow) . Some points you may wane to keep in mind when makingyour call to legislators: u Ohio is one of only 8 states char have a time limit ofless than che 60 months allowable under the Federal government. u In addition to th e 60 months, some states are not rime lim iting the children's por(ion of the benefits. Other states are providing vouchers for the families chat have reached the Federal limit. (California, Indian, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas). Michigan does not have a time Limit; it will use state funds co provide cash assistance to families after they reach the Federal Lirnit. • u Official unemploymem rates may be low across our nation on average, but for certain demographic populations ofour society chey are quite high. The unemployment rate for a high sch~ol graduate wich no additional education is 11.5% for age group 18-25 yr. Olds. The unemployment rate for Black males in chis age and education group 8s 22.3%. For Black ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • OHIO EMPOWERMENT COAUTION •• (CEC) "Stop the Clock: End Welfare lime Limits" Endorsement Form Ogaizatm~~~~~~~~~~ _, •• Aci:tes.5.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ •• •• Oty~~~~~~~~• • • • • Ft'o"le.~~~~~~~~~~~Fax~~~~~~~~~- • • • • _ _ _ Yes, my organization endorses the Stop the ClockCampaign • • Please put our name on the endorsement list _ _ _ Yes, Iindividually endorse the Stop the Clock Campaign Please put my name on the endorsement lis t - ReaseretunthsfamtotheCmta::tCenter, 1641 VreStreet, Cn:irJati, (J-145210, afaxitto(57 3) 387-4022 • females it is 20%. Hispanic females face a 13.4% unemployment race and Hispanic m ales in the 18-25 yr. group a rate of 10.5%. u Some coumies of Ohio, especially northeasr and southeast councies ofthe scare, have "official" h igh unemployment rates as their average rates. And yet, Ohio's rime limit will cue these families offstarting October 1,2000 regardless ofwhether or nor they have fo und jobs! These ai-e families with child ren, often rimes very small children. Children are the ones who are going co be directly harmed and punished by Ohio's mean-spirited law. The C hildren's Defense Fund -Ohio estimates that 55,000 children wilJ be cut off statewide starting O ctober 1,2000. Is chis what che citizens of Ohio really. want? The O h io Empowerment Coalition has fait h that chis punitive law will be changed, but not without a struggle. ·Corporate Welfare for Weapons Makers :J ~ • ~ .? lu-' - ,I I (' J The. Hidden Costs of Spending on Defense and Foreign Aid by William D. Hartung, President's Fellow at the World Policy Institute. The defense and foreign aid budgets are the largest single source of government funding for private corporations. More than haJf of U.S. weapons sales are now bei11g financed by taxpayers instead of foreign arms purchasers . During fi scal Executive Summary: year I 996 (the last year for which full statistics are available), the government spent more than $7.9.billion to help U.S. companies secure • just over $ 12 billion in agreements for new international arms sales . The annual $7.9 billion in subsidies includes taxpayer-backed loans, grants, and government promotional activities that help U.S. weapons makers sell their products to foreign cu$tomers. Also, the provision o f low-cost facilit ies and extensive subsidies for research and development and mergers and acquisitions to major contractors fosters a " risk-free" environme nt in which weapon!> makers have li ttle economic incentive to produce e ffective systems at affordable prices. Furthermore. a portion of the $ 120 bil ljon the Pentagon spends each year on contracts with U.S. defense contractors is being wasted on defense pork- that is, redundant or unneeded weapons systems. Such subsidies and spending for defense pork can ime rfere. with the fulfillment of legitimate security needs . In concordance with a recommendation made by the •Presidential Advisory Board on Arms Proliferation, govern'ment subsidies for arms exports should be phased out. Federal subsidies to • corporations in the national security sphere shou ld be the excep1i011 rather than the rule . Tbe executi ve branch and Congress should establish an independent commission to conduct an annual review of corporate-targeted contracts, tax breaks, and price subsidies contained in the militaiy and foreign aid budgets. Only those subsidies fulfilling important national security objectives 1ha1 could not be accomplished witho111 government assistance should be maintained. The overall review should be supplemented by a separate pane l. modeled on the Defense Department's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) panel, which would put forward an annual list of pork-barrel mi litary procurement projects that should be terminated. To limit '"horse­ trading," the list of unnecessary projects would have to be voted up or down in its entirety-much like BRAC procedure for military. base c losures. • • ••• • •••••••••• • •••••••••• • •• • • • • • •• • ••• • •• • • • • • •• (http://www.cato. org/pubslpaslpa-350es.html ) �-STREETVIBES ---------- The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine WORDS FROM THE EVANGELIST..... I was very excired rhe morning of ovember I, 1999 as I arrived ar chc Word of Deliverance church co meet my traveling companions. When we were loaded in the airporr limousine ic became evidenr char only a few of us were morning people, however, once we arrived ar che airporc our group came alive. The Aighr co Miami was unevenrful save for che ceasing ofo ur firsc-cime Ayer. As I boarded the cruise ship Ecstasy I looked back ar Miami and wich a conscious efforc l cleared my chough(S of all I had lefc behind in Cincinnaci, because uncil this very moment l had nor released myself from my life and responsibilicics ac home. Yee I knew char chis could only become a spiritual retreac if I lee go and b God, so as I went ch rough che check-in procedure I began to praise God for just having chis opporruni ry to ger away : co have a "real vacarion" as invisioned and experienced by mosc middle and upperclass Americans. A luxury many homeless and impoverished do nor experience. The expression of praise released a peace upon me. My retreat had begun. As defined by webster a retreat is the retirement oftroops before an enemy, the act ofgoing back or withdrawing from n position; a pince ofprivacy 1111d safety, a home for nervous and i11snne persons, a period of withdrawing from worldly nffeirs and spending time in prayer and meditation, the net ofwithdrawing from an unpleasant situation, or a bugk call sotmded immediately after sunset. In chis instance l am referring co the withdrawal from worldly affairs and spending rime in prayer and medication. The firsc day aboard ship I merely explored its vastness. I learned that it housed 2700 people including guests and sraff. And as l explored che ship God allowed me co withdraw from my position in chis life: my position as.father, estranged husband, self-employed healthcare provider, brother, son, man of God and friend co many. H e led me to a withdrawal ofall that is cemporal, and cook me on a journey of chat which is eternal. To a place of peace and cranquility. Do not gee me wrong. l am not comparing my cruise experience to Heaven, but I wane co assure you chat once I forgot the cares of chis world (Marc. 13:22), and began co seek out His will (Matr. 6:33) l began co have an experience like no ocher in this life. l got a taste ofHeaven. The first evening ar dinner l ordered the cornish hen encree. It was excellent. After dinner was a time of wandering around the ship, becoming acquainced wich irs eleven decks and getting ro know my traveling companions. There were cen in our group, two men and eighc women; and "we were all Christians leering our light shine. We were in the world, but not of the world. Our first pore was Key West, Florida and all the stories I had h~ard did nothing co prepare me for the beauty of the island itself. Pare ofour cruise package included a free trolley tour of historic Key West , and though our cour guide was young he was very knowledgeable. As he drove che crolley he expounded on the island's tale ofshipwreck co riches. The extravagance ofthe homes were astonishing, but the shopping for tourist was very reasonable. I picked up several gifts and souvenirs, and scrolled the cobblcscone streets under a blazing sun. Back on ship I took a guided tour of the Beauty Salon, Aerobics Room and the Naucica Spa & Gym. Rerurning to my cabin I found my bed made and fresh rowels in the bathroom. I showered and prepared for dinner. Our waiter was from Hong Kong, and he truly entertained us with his surprising wit and quick practical jokes. The first evening he recognized me as a connoisseur of fine food, so on this evening he recommended the prime rib as he gave me the menu. Glancing quickly at the menu I agreed, but after cascing someone's lobscer I order an additional encree. This chen became our practice; when I arrived ac dinner our waiter would give me his suggestion and I would order a second dish as well. I mean, why nor, you only live once; so I showed my appreciation for rhe Rodney Sutton fine cooking each evening by earing cwo meals. · Each evening after dinner there was a variety of things co do ,such as: go dancing in Stripes Disco, watching che showgirls in the Blue Sapphire Room, trying your luck in the casino, or just sitting o n deck watching rhe waves.Our group just peaked in on a lot of rhe entertainment, although we did sir in and cacch a couple of good shows. The one l remember in particular is che nighc afcer our 'day ar sea'. This was guest calenr show nighc, and there were two performances which were spi ricual char jusc cook control of all present; saved and unsaved alike. A nucleus of our group from che very firsc nighc found ourselves drawn together in what was labeled "The Card Room". On che second night we renamed ir che "Praise Room" and upon our arrival thereafter che ' Private Party' sign was placed at the door.We would just gravicace roward this room and review our day's adventure with praise and worship. Giving rescimony after cescimony of His goodness, especially when several of che group was hie wirh seasickness, and our various cours of Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Mexico curned our co be a bir more adventurous than planned. We would go from this room co the midnight buffer or 24 hour piua bar. AJI the while fellowshipping and enjoying the goodness of the Lord. On our lasr nighc we ministered co a young lady whom we had met, and watched the glory ofthe Lord revealed when her and her husband were on the same Aight from Miami co Cincinnati. I cannoc speak for the others, bur for me ic was like Paul's crip to the third heaven (ll Cor. 12:2). I will nor say I received any special revelations, but I can cell you that for four days the cares of chis world were not mine. I got a tastt ofHeaven. Then on the fifth day we docked in Miami, grabbed our luggage and ran for the tour bus. We embarked on a cour ofSouth Beach, Miami. Such things were pointed out co us as: AJ Capone's house, an island where Oprah and Will Smith have homes. Then we were out sightseeing on our own. We found hamburgers for $7 in one restaurant, and then l went co the beach.· On the beach, with his collapsable chair propped againsc a wall and his duffie beside him, I mer Wale. Wale was homeless. Wair had come from New York several months previous, and without a job he now spent his days on the sands ofSouth Beach. Talking co Wair brought me back down co earth. The Lord had allowed me four days of bliss, but here in Miami He was leering me know the recrear was over. The days spent in prayer and meditation had brought forth rhe answer to many a question, and now as a soldier in che army of the Lord I was prepared to engage che enemy. le had been a good trip. The goodbyes were hard. Especially as one member of our group would be moving to another state the day after our return. Nonetheless, a spiritual bond has been formed, so ic is certain our pachs shall cross again. If the cares of this world are weighing you down, cell the Lord you need to recreac. Your recreac may not be as mine, but He will honor your request and you will recurn a soldier prepared for battle. We are at the close ofanother year, the ending of the millennium, che celebration of Christ's birth; which can get lost in commercialism and Y2k media hype. My cruise experience gives me a very fresh raste ofGod's grace, and so I encourage you all this holiday season and New Year to get a taste ofHtnvm. I have experienced some cechnical problems with my PC, so if you could not connect ro my web page or I missed your e-mail I apologize. I should be back on-line by the new year. So come visit: www.geocities.com/Athens/Sparta/7907/ or send me an e-mail awol@goodnews. net, and you can still leave prayer requests ar 21 0-4 I8 l. Page 11 ............ Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; and renew a righr spirit within me. (Psalms 51: IO) The new year brings with it new resolutions to quit chis or do one thing or another. We make resolutions because we are noc happy or satisfied with who we are or che srare ofour lives. We want to change some things. Yer many of these resolutions we have made, year after.year, after year. Noc co say we have nor cried valiantly co carry our our resolucions, but often simple willpower is nor enough. Thar is why King David in Psalm 51 pours our nis prayer and confession to God, because he knows only rrue and lascing change can come from God. David presenced chis psalm to God afcer he had sinned by commirting adultery wich Bachsheba. God lacer blessed rheir marriage with a son whom rhey called Solomon. Therefore, if it is change you seek, rurn co the one who is unchanging; for scriprure says " ... presenr your bodies.a living sacrifice, ....And be nor conformed to chis world; bur be ye cransformed by the renewing ofyour mind ..." (Romans 12: 1,2). So we have chree simple keys co fulfilling chis year's resolutions: a) presenc your bodies a living sacrifice b) be not conformed co this world c) be cransformed by the renewing of your mind d) Some may argue char chese keys are nor so simple, and co them l say: "Give Jesus a cry." The presenration of ourselves co God as a living sacrifice is our debr ro Him who gave us life. H e is not asking anything unreasonable ofus, especially when compared to whar this world and chose in ic ask of us. Things we find absolutely, and undeniably, unreasonable. God also promises a healthy recurn on our investment. This world promises nothing. Since most often we find ourselves not liking the world around us anyway, it should be simple nor co conform to it, because then we become chat which we d islike. Therefore, let us be transformed by the renewing ofour minds. This cransformation cakes place when we regularly read and hear God's word. Out minds are renewed because the regular input ofGod's word allows us to know what God's good, and acceptable, and perfect will is for us. This knowledge is the key co presencing ourselves as a living sacrifice, nor conforming to this world, and being totally transformed. Nevercheless, some will ask, " How does chis help me keep my resolucions?" The answer is simple. The transforming power (the knowledge received with the reading or hearing) ofgod's word will motivate you co change those things in your life which need changing, because you will learn God's dislike for those things equals your own and you will find the strength to do all things chrough Christ (Philippians 4: 13) I present my own life as a living example ofwhat I say. If you review the nine columns I wrote last year, you will find the three above keys in action. You may recall my mention of crial and tribulation, but chere is always the promised reward to follow; because God is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11 :6) My computer went down in November, so I apologize for any e-mail I may have failed to respond to, not being in the char room, and failing co updace my web page. Pray with me rhac A WAY OF LIFE MINISTRIES will be back on-line soon. Our volunteer list is growing. but we can always u.~e many more; so ple:1Se oil 2 10-4181 and ask how you can help. You can also leave prayer reques(S at chis number. This is a new year, therefore, my speaking calendar still has many openings; so give me a call and schedule a talk with your youch group, singles ministry, men's ministry, general congregation, school, and community group, etc. In His Service, Rodney L. S11tto11,Sr. The Evangelist Subscribe to Streetvibes Subscriptions to Streetvibes can be purchased for $12 per year. (Get 'em now before the rate goes up!) Just send a check to the below address and the paper will be mailed to you each month Streecvibes, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45210 Please make checks payable to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless If you bave any questions, call 421-7803. If you have subscribed, but are not receiving your Streecvibes, Please let us know. Our ~og (Streetvibes computer) ate some addresses during a recent crash. �--- STREETVIBES ----- -- - The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Letters letters are still coming in concerning the Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center boardplan to relocate the Drop inn Center. To support the Drop Inn Centers' right to not be moved, Write to: Erich Kunzel, 1241 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45210, Send Copies ofyour Letter to: Drop Inn Center Attn: Pat Clifford, 217 West 12th St. Cincinnati; Ohio 45210, and to Streetvibes Contact Us, Write Us! We welcome input from our readers. Sendyour letters and editorial comments to: STREETVIBES: 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45~ - Fax: Attention Streetvib1 (513)421-7813 Email: streetvibes@juno.com ~-~-- Page 12 To the Editor of the Cincinnati. Enquirer: I suppose if I could believe the media's portrayal of homeless people in movies, television .and sound bites, I would believe that solutions like those proposed by New York by Mayor Guiliani and Cleveland's Mayor White are the answers. The thought that homelessness is as simple as getting people into jobs is extremely shortsighted. According to a recent study done by several Federal agencies including HUD, HHS and the department of Labor, over 40% of h_ome­ less people in this country work everyday at least part-time. In Cleveland approximately 900 shelter beds exist for 3000 people. Mayor White believes that rounding up the \ '\ ..~~ .~ ~j i r ;~ "1J,. national Symposium on Homelessness Research has shown us that receipt of affordable housing is the single greatest predictor of formerly homeless persons' ability to remain in that housing. The major­ ity of homeless persons who receive subsi­ dized housing remain in that housing. homeless and placing them in jail is the Villainizing the homeless allows politi­ answer. The supportive Housing network in cians to avoid real solutions and may ulti­ New York estimates that in New York City, in mately have darker consequences. In 1999, 29 homeless individuals died as a result of 1998, it cost $40,000 per year to jail some­ one compared with just $12,500 to provide hate crimes committed against them simply affordable housing and a variety of support­ because they were homeless. The mur­ ders occurred in 11 different cities, including ive services. Criminalization is quite frankly a way to hide homeless people from the Anchorage, Ch icago, Dallas, Denver, general public. While issu~s like substance Jeffersonville Indiana, Los Angeles, Portland, abuse and criminal history are a part of the Rapid City (SD), Richmond (VA), San story, they are far from the whole story. In Francisco, and Seattle. The victims' ages ranged form 4 months old to 62 years. our society we are saturated with the dis- . While the individuals that committed these ease of addiction and crime. The truth is the homeless are portrayed ~s moral-degen- · . crimes have the ultimate responsibility, part of the blame also lies in the hand of those erates, when homelessness is not a moral issue; it is an economic issue .. When one who choose to paint an unrealistic picture of looks at solutions that have worked in the the homeless in the media. As in so many . . . effort to effectively battle homelessness, . other cases, society is refusing to share the affordable housing combined with supportive responsibility for the growing number of services is the real solution. The newly people who have been forcectJ0-live Cinder released multi-agency federal study done by brid§es~in--abanctoneaca;=;-and in shelters. the Urban Institute, reported that when The next time people want to blame the homeless people get housing assistance homeless for their situation and tell others it and needed services - such as healthcare, is a choice, remember that women and substance abuse treatment, me~ta l health children continue to be the largest growing services, education and job training, a sector of the homeless population. Certainly whopping 76% of those living in families and the 4-month-old child who lost her life in a 60% of those living alone end their homeless transitional house that was firebombed in status and move to an improved living Jeffersonville Indiana did not have a choice. condition after completion of the program. Additional research gathered at the 1998 ...............Donald Whitehead CLIMATE CONTROL -· <-­ I ---7__j ! ..._~~~--~___.I I E-MAIL STREETVIBES: L._,__ . streetvibes@juno. com I �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 13 A ONE PAGE RANT ON POVERTY The stock marker is at an all time high. Mergers, acquisitions, encrepreneures, science, high-tech, bu2z, wired, E-commerce, creacive license, success, prosperity; we wanted a global economy and now we have it. Technology expands but also limits. There has been a major shifc in ch.e global distribution of wealrh. Never in the history of our country or the world has rhe cliche been truer that the rich get richer and the poor gee poorer. Fifreen years ago $6 miliion qualified you as the richest man in the world while today $40 million only gets you in r.he ballpark. The three richest people in the United Scares have more wealth than the coral gross national product of 25 countries, other than America, combined. How much money makes you rich? I guess it's all relative ro how much you don't have. Statistics say char the rojddle class isn't shrinking. Statistics l·ie. Unemployment is at an all time low bur jobs pay less. The middle class in this country maintains it's status only because two people in rhe household must work full-rime co support a family. There's been a dramatic increase in the cost of renr and housing which has outpaced the minimum wage. There is a direcr correlation between the increase in affordable housing and the simultaneous increase in poverty. Now we have a new class in rhis country with the catchy name called the working poor that crosses all demographic lines viol~nce, Vier Nam Vets or just plain uneducated. And don't get me started on an education, an entirely different problem, graduating a dispropor­ tionate amoum of unskilled labor for low paying jobs. Don't start with chat give the01 a fish or give them a fishing pole and teach them how co flsh. Give me a break. If handouts help co promote a liberal philosophy so does a free fishing pole. People are hungry now. In our currenr political climate less public sector help is available and the privare secror has picked up some of the slack but the problern is enormous and the solution is complex. Some like to say that the homeless must show an obligation to society. But I say that since the ground rules have changed the converse is true. If we can afford tax breaks for the rich, corporate welfare and subsidies we can afford to help our poor. A very smart man once cold me chat che essence of successful management is the vision ro manage change. He also said to never begin to believe that you are smart instead of lucky. The next time ·someone asks you for help, give it to him or her. It may be selfish but you always ger back more cha.n you give. The next rime a person on the street asks you for spare change at lease look them in the eyes and reaffirm their sense of dignio/. and even includes some people in che military. There's been revolution in the health care industry. There are more cures available now than ever before, there's a piU for every malady but fewer people can afford to cake advantage of them. And gee this; educated doctors once considered pare of che elire have joined rhe middle class. Managed health care foJce doctors t:o crank out a patiem eve1y seven seconds co meet a quota for smaller paymenrs. Many of our working poor, when faced with not even a catastrophic illness are forced to make choice to die instead of maimain the basic economic necessities of food , clothing and shelter. And sometimes they gee to graduate to rhe hungry, cold, and homeless poor. There are now so many homeless we can't ignore them so we demonize them as lazy, drunks, bums and dope fiends. 0 yeah? 40% of the homeless are children. Some cities :have made the decision co for~e the homeless into hospitals, shelters, or treatment. Within a monch gee a job or you're out and the foster care system keeps your kids! What? Is trus response co homelessness practical or political? Do we need police solving our prob­ lem of poverty? Thankfully the outcry of some decent citizens has slowed this flawed progi:am. Do we actually believe that homeless people enjoy their horrible situation? Sure some are. addicted but many are mentally ill, physi­ cally handicapped, old, victims of domestic ....Mike Weiman, Dec.13, 1999 t'i"\ .. \.c.. t > ~":,.\\,... C,..._.) ......~ -.. ...........~~ -\'v-.o. ~ "--\-C..~'(' ~ A r 41t. . ~,~''- «. ~""·~ ~ ,..,.\d ; •\-;,\,).\,.\ ~ ' "'""')., ii;t,~<t.. ................., r.... .. "1-o<.,. , ,1.,.._ \.'-­ \>t.:,.~ ,. A.v e. \:>'!? ~ .,, - ~«::......, \ . ,....._.._ C-~ \' ~·"'-w...... 1'tR11.~.t hnM-tt.A~Q. ~~ ~v·\. -'\.:, ~"'-"- " '""'"I~ ~v\ ~\.M&'... 't \>\ ~Q.,.· ~ ........... . ...... ~ ~~ ..1 "-ll"l . t'"'(.q "'!.> . C-.,.\.t l.,( ~ ' ·~>~' O P •< ')' f."':'-.. i\:>~<..,.-<• ~"f~>e:---"\V-,._ ..,... .,..,r..,..t... 'I 4;_\.,A...\ \Ve; i.:.r<:> f>\" .:> \,'-'t. <,• ~ """:",.._.. • ..,*? -(ot~;n~C'(" (' '°':... "~" "" ·~ ·,~\.. ·~«::lt."' C ~"" ".~ • ·~ e...,...,.~Ac~ c 'o<l..\\e~ .• -Mfordable Housing Jobs Available RuraJ Opportunities, Inc. (ROI) is seeking qualified applicants for two positions based in Alliance. Ohio. ROI is a regional non-profit organization founded in L969 to .address the critical needs of farmworkers and other low-income families. Applicants for the positions below should submit resumes via mail > fax or e-mail ASAP. I ' . . Housing Director ROI seeks a ski lled professional to lead jts Ohio affordable housing development program includjng rental and for-sale housing development, bo rne ownership and neighborhood revitalization programs. Requires a BA plus at least 6 years experience in housing development or housing program administration, knowledge of state and federal housing assistance programs. excellent communications skills, supervisory experience .. and computer competency. Salary to mid $40s plus excellent benefits. . . \\. ' Housing Develop~r ' ' Responsible for undertaking the develop~nent and rehabilitation of affordable rental and for-sale· hol!sjrig L~ O'hio. .kequires at least 3 years experience in housing developmenl,.knowledge of state and federal housing assistance programs, ~xcellynt communications skills and computer competency. ·, · · Send letters of-interest and resumes to: ..._ .:· Rural Opportunities, Inc._, Attn: ]. Wiltse 400 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607 FAX 716-340-3337 E-mail jwiltse@ruralinc.org �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine No Permanent Abode •••• S.M. Miller REPRINTED FROM TlKKUN. Bi­ monthly Jewish Critique of Politics, Culture & Society (S. M. Miller is seniorfellow and director ofthe Project on Inequality and Poverty at the Common­ wealth foundation and Research Professor ofSociology at Boston College.) ...... ~- Some years ago, while visiting Dublin, Ireland, I discovered that I had been homeless as a child in Brool<lyn. I was consulting with Focus Point, a newly established Irish organiza­ tion that deals wich housing problems. In the course of questioning the staff in order ro clarify ics goals and activities, I used the cerm "home­ less." The staff pointedly corrected me; they djd not use that word. Their phrase was people with "no permanent abode." That definition extended beyond people in temporary shelters or "living rough" on the street. Included were chose who lived doubled-up with ochers and chose who had co shift from one indoor sleeping place ro another. Suddenly, I realized chat by this definition I coo had been " homeless," with " no permanent a bo de. " I was overwhelmed , close co rears, ac chis naming of char terrible experience when I was cen. Immediately, I way char time in an even more terrifying light chan I had ever permitted myself co acknowledge. During the depression of the 1930's we were living in Philadelphia where I was born. Family economic conditions worsened co the point that our electricity was turned off and we lived in the dark. My parents decided finally to seek help with my mo ther's sisters in Brool<lyn, aunts whom I scarcely knew. One sister cook my mother, father, and me to live with her husband and three sons in a c rowded aparcment. My two sisters, considerably older than I, lived with other aunts. After several months of chis strained, divided exjscence, my parents were chrown out summarily by my irascible uncle who found our presence (and my withdrawn shyness and school success) disturb­ ing. Another aunt cook us in for a while during the hoc summer and my parents and I shared a bed in a tiny room with an exceedingly small window opening on a shaft. Another relative whom I did nor know at all, appalled I believe by the three of us sharing a bed, cook me co stay with his fam ily. T his went on for some period until my parents found jobs chat enabled us co rent our own small apartment and reunite the family. My sisters and I never discussed this episode with each ocher and certainly noc wich our parents. When I did chink about ic in lacer years, I would focus on my pain and isolation. le was only after Dublin, many years lacer, that I could discuss char rime with my surviving sister and realize how damaging char period was for her and muse have been for my parents, especially for my mother, a proud, energetic and effective woman. My Dublin-based recall was highlighted recently because of my role as a social scientist concerned about poverty and inequality. I learneq of an arcicle by Bruce G. Link and his colleagues at Columbia University's School of public Health that moved beyond che usual practice of counting as homeless only those who were living in shelters or on the street on a given day. Using what was, in effect, the definition of "no permanent abode," they asked a national sample if they had ever been homeless. (The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is beginning co use chis broader understanding of homelessness.) By using the broader definition and by asking about lifetime experience, chis study differed from the usual councs of the numbers of home­ less people. Through this method, the count of the homeless swelled from perhaps 400,000 who o n a given night were living rough or in a temporary shelter to 26 million adults who at some time during their lives lacked a permanent abode. Asking for lifetime exeerience makes a great deal of sense. A one-night reporting of the homeless is an under-count of what happened co people during the year or over a lifetime (just as unemployment rates cell only ofwhat happened in a parcicular week rather than how m any people and households experienced some sizable unemploy­ ment and loss of income during a year) The lifetime rate is important because living with "no permanent abode" scars p~ople. Gaining a reliable residence.does not wipe out the troubles that lacking a reliable home produces. In my case, I have enormous difficulty in asking for a favor despite enjoying the privileged position of providing many favors co others. Yes, I learned from D.H. Lawrence's The Man Who Died that just as there is a greed in taking without giving, there is a greed in giving without taking. None­ theless, I recoil (as does my sister) at the idea of asking for a favor, even from those I have helped. When I do, it cakes enormous willpower to overcome that sense ofshame and fear of rebuff in having to ask for aid. I trace this reluctance and m any other fai lings and disturbing feelings to that period of "no permanent abode." Homelessness is a deeper continuing experience than the passing loss of a bed to call your own. It is a wound chat never fully heals. Streetvibes VENDORS ' NEWS There are presently three sites where vendors are specifically invited to sell papers - Bellarman Chapel at Xavier University, Ursuline Academy in Blue Ash, and now First Unitarian Church on Reading in Corryville. ' Usually two vendors are chosen to sell at these events. If you are interested in the opportunity, please let us know. The times of the month for these events vary somewhat, so come in and find out for sure. Currently, vendors receive 25 extra papers for selling 100 within any particular week (7-day period), and 100 extra papers for selling over 500 papers during the month (issue to issue). Papers sold at special scheduled events such as Bellarman Chapel and Ursuline Academy are not included in this count. Don't forget, you can get free papers for submitting stories, poetry, art work, .or photography that is used in Streetvibes, the number subjectively dependent upon how much the editor needs your stuff at the moment. (usually anywhere from 10 to 100 papers[for a major story]) Free papers also given for tips leading to stories. If you want to tack a shot at photojournalism, you can obtain a one-time-use camera at the Homeless Coalition office........................ . Page 14 DIVORCE/SINGLE PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS BEECH ACRES Mediation Center H elping C hildren Cope with Divorce Single Parent Services 6881 Beechmont Ave., C incinnati OH 45230, (5 13)23 1-6630 Free Single Parent Groups! .. .... a safe place to share the joys and frustrations of raising kids alone. Tbe group blends education and discussion of single parent issues. AVONDALE/CORRYVILLE Single Parent Group 2"d & 4•h Tues., 6:30-8 p.m. Beech Acres' Family Center 512 Maxwell GREENHILLS/FOREST PARK Single Parent Group 2"d & 4•h Mon., 6:30 - 8 p.m. Our' Lady of the Rosary School Library 17 Farragut Road LINCOLN H EIGHTS Single Parent Group l .. & 3n1 Thurs. , 6:30-8 p.m. H aven House of Lincoln H eights Baptist Church ~O Gr.aneview Avenue BLUE ASH Single Parent G ro up Tuesdays, 12:30 - 1:330 p.m. Raymond Walters College 9555 Plainfild Road For RWC Students Only DOWNTOWN Single Parent Group Saturdays, 12:30 1:30 P.M. New Prospect Baptise C hurch 1829 Elm Street KENNEDY HEIGHTS Single Parent Group Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Ke;nnedy Heights Presbyterian 6312 Kennedy Avenue MT. WASHINGTON Single Parent Group Mondays, 7-8:30 p.m. Beech Acres' Hall Cottage 688 1 Beechmont Ave. WESTWOOD Single Parent Group Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. Westwood First Presbyterian 3011 H arrison Avenue Child Care is provided. Call 231-7205, ext. 798 to register �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Live Studio Audience Wanted for STREETVIBES TV SHOW ~"\)(S Media Bridges (CCV), 2114 Reading Road, rr,ti... '1,~eo'li-~f~"" ~~ o$'1 °~" '((\o'(\ At'-" e"e'<'I from 7 :00 to 8 PM. Streetvibes TV covers news on poverty, homelessness and related issues. If you would like to be a part of the audience, or if you have ideas for future shows, call us at 421-7803 Streetvi bes Live Radio Hour ADVERTISE IN STREETVIBES Tune in to WAIF 88.3 fm! Help a good cause while promoting yourself to over 5,000 concerned people each month. on the second Saturday of each month at 12:00 noon for The Homeless Coalition's live radio program. The show is co-hosted by Mary Burke, Donald Whitehead and other monthly giuest hosts. The show mixes talk focusing on the stories in this paper and eclectic musical selections. NEXT SHOW DATES: Saturday, January 9th Saturday, February 12th Business Card Size ~ /:: 2" x 3 1/2" $10 per month Two Business Card Size 4" x 3 1/2" $20 per month Larger Adds also available If you need assisrance in designing your ad or STREETVIBES Classified Band Re-organizing. The Streetvibes band is itching to get back together. Musicians, unite.' ..Call 421-7803. · have any other questions, call us ac 421-7803. Please send your add by the 20th of preceeding monch, accompanied by your check I money order, ro Screetvibes, 1506 Elm Street,Cincinnati, OH 45210 ~ reserve the right to deny any a4, especially those which promote alcohol or tobacco products. You will receive a full refund should your ad be denied POSlTION WANTED in Non-Profit Envi.ronmenl. Have 26 years of diversified national and international marketing experience. Recognized creative innovator with strong interpersonal and communicative skills. Would like to work in quality, value-enhanced program with like-minded people of integrity dedicated to service . .... Michael A. Weiman, 2581 Montchateau Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244,(5 13) 231-2853, Office (5 13) 232-459 1. Fax (513) 232-1837, mwalvin @aol.com Page 15 JOBS in COMMUNITY ORGANIZING wirn WORKING IN NEIGHBORHOODS (WIN) 1) Recycling & Energy Educator Full rime position available educating residents in cwo low and moderate-income neighborhoods about their opportunities to recycle and save energy. Position involves door­ to-doo r education, prese n tations co neighborhood, church,.senior and youth groups and developing group projects around recycling. Requirements : able to relate ro people of different economic, racial and religious backgrounds; self-motivated, and able to rake superv1s1on . 2) Community H ealth Educator/Organizer Full time posirion educating seniors in Hamilton County about Medicare + Choice plans (H MOs), How to save on prescription drugs, and o ther programs which can help low income seniors reduce cheir our-of-pocket health costs. The poisition alos includ es training existing leaders and recru~ring new members for a Seior Accion Coalition. Position involves: pres<;!ntacions to senior groups, conducting research about senior issues, training leaders, and helping seniors plan meetings and develop an action plan to adress senior issues. Requirements: able to relate ro seniors ofdifferent backgrounds, self-motivated, and able to take supervision. Training is available. Send resumes to Personnel Committee, Working in Neighborhoods, 3726 Llevellyn Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45223. 513-541-4 109 Streetvibes accepts C lassified Ads for icems such as H elp Wanted , Items for Sale, Apartments for Rent and other non-personal items. The rate is only $1 per line, approximately ten words per line. People below the poverty level will be given five free lines for six months to advertise their skills or products to our readers. Call 421-7803 for more information Mail the ad copy, or deliver, to: GCCH, 1506 Elm Street,Cincinnati, OH 45210 or fax it to 421-7813, or e-mail to streetvibes@juno.com Rapid Exit assists families and individuals in moving rapidly from homelessness to permanent housing for more information contact The Greater Cincinnati Coalition For The Homeless: 421-7803 and ask for Melissa Samhan ANOTHER CLASS PRODUCTION Comin11 Soon: The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Calendar, featuring the incomparable photography of Jimmy Heath. Disc-Jockey Service CLIFFORD JONES (513) 761-3464 e-mail: jonesacp@tbol.net. Stayed tuned to find out how to get your very own! (513) 230-6353 �STREETVIBES The Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine Page 16 '\ STREETVIBES TV Schedule Check us out, We're on TV! The Streetvibes TV Show is produced at the -facilities of Media Bridges (Cincinnati Community Video), 2114 Reading Road , Cincinnati Ohio. If y ou would like to be a part of our live studio audience please call the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 421-7803 for more information. January Schedule some Broadcast Dates for December's Show on Channel 24: (Please check your schedule) Saturday, January 1~th , at 5 PM Tuesday, January 18th, at 10 AM Thursday, Feb 3 at 10 AM Broadcast schedules are subject to change - consult your local TV directory. Streetvibes Vendor · code Each vendor has to sign the following code to be able to·sell the paper. 1 . Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for dona­ tions more than $1 . I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents. of each dollar collected. Future issues of Streetvibes will be purchased from the Homeless Coalition for 20 cents. 2. I agree that I will never distribute Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect. I will not use abusive language or force someone to give a donation. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. S. I agree that I will not supply copies of Streetvibes to persons who are not registered distributors. 6. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I am collecting for the "homeless" in genera). I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes will go to the individual vendor. 7. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. 8. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self-supporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this effort. I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. 9. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in me no longer · being able to distribute ~treetvibes. Volunteers Needed! Streetvibes is looking for volunteer writers, reporters, photographers, etc. interested in serving on the Streetvibes Editorial Board. For more information, please call the office at 421-7803 ' ~ Wish List Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe-string budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. We depend heavily on the goodwill of many volunteers and donors. If you can help out with some of the items on our wish list, please give us a call ... 0 Supplies for vendor's lounge (coffee, cups, paper towels, cream and sugar, etc.) 0 PhotograP4tleb~ of all sorts for Streetvibes­ photographers, film, deve opin~<a.iligital camera?) ~ ' 0 Advenisers and Subscribers Streetvibes h.,,;3....--­ . imaf-over ead costs ~~~!a<.1.JLU:L--t_s-::~t o :h~a~t7.the vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. If anyone selling Streetvibes claims to be collecting f or a private charity, please call our office at421-7803. Thanks for your support. Need elp o Want to Help? If for some reason you find yourself homeless, contact a Coalition Member Agency for Shelter, Treatment, Kousing or Services. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. -- .. If you can help!, contact us at: Streeroibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalidon for che Homeless, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 ph: (5 13) 421-7803, fax (513) 421-7813 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Womens Shelter 872-9259 !-888-872-9259 (Toll Free) YWCA Transitional Living Prog. 281-5770 557-2873 Bethany House 762-5660 Salvation Army 431-8717 Welcome House SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission Garden Street House Joseph House (Veterans) St. Francis- St. Joseph House Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of America 241-5525 241-0490 241-2965 381-4941 661-4620 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Caracole (AIDS) Chabad House Drop Inn Center (Singles) Friars Club Haven House (Hamilton) 761-1480 821-5100" 721-0643 381-5432 863-8866 244-7226 Interfaith ·Hospitality Network 961-4080 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 651-6446 St. John's Temporary Housing HOUSING CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTR Housing Network ReSTOC Tender Mercies Tom Geiger House TREATMENT: Women O.D.A.A.T First Step Home TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House Prospect House Starting Over TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline A.A. Hotline C.C.A.T. Talbert House Transitions, Inc. VA Domiciliary 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 381-0954 639-7056 961-4555 24.1-7343 961-4663 784-1853 921-1613 751-3260 820-2947 861-9966 381-6660 684-7956 491-4435 559-5011 OTHER SERVICES 421-2437 AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options Churches Active in Northside Cincinnati Health Network Community Acti<?n Agency Contact Center Emanuel Community Center Freestore/Foodbank Goodwill Industries Hamilton Co.Mental. Health Bd. Hamilton Co. TB Control Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van House of Refuge Mission Legal Aid Society Madisonville Ed. & Assistance Ctr. Mary Magdalen House Oral Health Council Our Daily Bread Peaslee Neighborhood Center Travelers Aid United Way VA Homeless Program Women's Crisis Center 241-2600 591-2246 961-0600 569-1840 381-4242 241-2563 241-1064 771-4800 621-7149 632-7186 357-4602 352-2902 221-3619 241-9400 271-5501 721-4811 621-0248 621-6364 621-551 4 721-7660 721 -7900 572-6226 491°3335 � 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 2000 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 2000 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project Comes to Cincinnati Pg 2: Civil Rights Project Continued Pg 3: The New Callousness Pg 4: Brief History of American Homeless Society Pg 5: International News Pg 6: Arts & Poetry Pg 7: Alternative Medicine Life on the Streets Pg 8: Prisoner’s News Pg 9: Prisoner’s News Continued: Packages from Home are a Lifeline for Prisoners Pg 10: Welfare News Pg 11: Words from the Evangelist Pg 12: Editorials & Letters Pg 13: A One Page Rant on Poverty Pg 14: No Permanent Abode 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 2000 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Donald Whitehead Susan Knight Tom Billman Ron Carter Gina Miller Warren Perkins Melissa Samhan D. Jackson Howard Dease Lynn Williams Azariah Israel Mike Weiman John Chetuck Rodney Sutton Alexandra Rae el-Katib Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alexandra Rae el-Katib Arts & Poetry Azariah Israel Cincinnati Cincinnati Enquirer civil rights Donald Whitehead Editorials & Letters Evangelists Freedom Gina Miller John Chetuck Lynn Williams Medicine Mike Weiman nationwide news poverty prisoners news Rodney Sutton Ron Carter Susan Knight the broken city The Traveler Tokyo Tom Billman Warren Perkins welfare welfare news