14 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/7dea3fc106838ba75b21cbfc3e82b314.pdf 0711f540bf775be16bce0f3d411d85c5 PDF Text Text Men Fight, Women Suffer Page 8 Politics as Punishment Page 3 Artists as Activists Page 16 STREETVIBES $1 N o v. 1 5 - 3 0 , 2 0 0 9 • A d v o c a t i n g J u s t i c e , B u i l d i n g C o m m u n i t y • I s s u e 1 6 5 Metropole Tenants Tell 3CDC:Hell No,We Won’t Go Residents vow to resist displacement By GreGory Flannery Editor are the ones upholding the law. To­ day it’s a different story. How does it feel to have the power?” enants at the Metropole Blocking tenants’ advocates from Apartments downtown the earlier meeting is part of a com­ took over a Nov. 5 meeting plaint filed with HUD by the Legal called by the Cincinnati Center City Aid Society of Cincinnati. The com­ Development Corp. (3CDC), which plaint accuses 3CDC of housing dis­ has bought the building and plans to crimination, deception and other force them out. violations of law. The takeover, or­ The Homeless ganized by the staff “They’re trying to kick you out Coalition has been of the Greater Cin­ organizing tenants because of who you are. cinnati Coalition for three months, They don’t need for the Homeless warning them that another hotel downtown. and the Metropole 3CDC planned to They think you don’t fit.” Tenants Associa­ buy the building - Rickell L. Howard, tion, came one day and convert it to Legal Aid attorney after Cincinnati a boutique hotel. Police officers pre­ 3CDC – a non­ vented the Homeless Coalition from profit development group partly attending a 3CDC meeting with ten­ funded by the city of Cincinnati – ants. acquired the property last week for Because the Metropole houses $6.25 million. low-income people under a con­ “3CDC has purchased your home tract with the U.S. Department of and they desire to make your home Housing and Urban Development into hotel rooms for tourists,” Spring (HUD), tenants have a right to have said. “They think you don’t fit in with advocates present at meetings with the entertainment district. For three landlords, according to Josh Spring, months they asked us not to talk to executive director of the Homeless you, but we did.” Coalition. “Yesterday the police department ‘How would you like it?’ kept the advocates and the lawyers out,” Spring told the tenants. “The 3CDC had called a tenants’ meet­ tenants have taken over the meet­ ing for 4 p.m. Nov. 5. But at 3 p.m. the ing now. The truth is you have a legal right to have advocates here, so we See Metropole, p. 4 T The Metropole Apartments are located across from the Aronoff Center on Walnut Street. Developers want to turn the building into a boutique hotel, displacing the 200 low-income tenants who live in the building. Photo by Bill Haigh. Women Have the Right to Safety Immigration status shouldn’t allow abuse to continue By Samantha Groark Contributing WritEr velop resources entirely in Spanish for Cincinnati’s growing Hispanic population. ienes derechos y proThe number of Hispanic residents tección,” writer Lorena is growing at an incredible rate, more Mora-Mowry told the than doubling since 1990 and now audience Nov. 5 at totaling 30,000 to a screening of Do40,000, accord­ mestic Violence in “Tienes derechos y protección.” ing to Su Casa, a the Hispanic ComCatholic Chari­ - Lorena Mora-Mowry munity, presented ties organization. by the Alliance for The numbers are Immigrant Women. expected to climb even higher over “You have rights and protection.” the next five years. The film examines the problem of Theresa Singleton, the protection domestic violence and the commu- from abuse director at YWCA of Cin­ nity resources available to those who cinnati, said the movie was created have been affected by it. Presented to raise awareness about domestic in Spanish with English subtitles, the film is part of a campaign to deSee Women, p. 6 “T Lorena Mora-Mowry spoke at the screening of Domestic Violence in the Hispanic Community. Photo by Natalie Hager. �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 1 in 5 the ratio of African Americans executed after being tried by all-white juries (see page 11). 5 the age of some of the 27 million slaves in the world (see page 11). 3 the number of governors who have vetoed single-payer health plans in their states (see page 10). 40 million the number of new customers insurance companies will have if the Senate’s health-care plan becomes law (see page 9). 40,000 the estimated Hispanic population in Greater Cincinnati (see page 1). 6 the number of Cincinnati Police officers at the site of the Metropole Apartments during a tenants’ meeting (see page 1). 51,000 the number of prisoners held by the state of Ohio (see page 3). 130,000 the number of refugees in camps in Darfur, Sudan (see page 8). 3 the number of endorsed Democrats elected Nov. 3 to Cincinnati City Council (see page 2). 1 the number of formerly endorsed Democrats elected (see page 2). STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 StreetWise By GreGory Flannery Editor West Bank? Over-the-Rhine? What’s the Difference? Oppression of poor people in one part of the world often bears a remarkable similarity to op­ pression of poor people in other parts of the world. That’s the insightful conclusion that Nancy Paraskevopoulos reached after touring Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Viewing the settlements, she thought something seemed familiar: Why, yes, the settlements reminded her of 3CDC, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. Paraskevopoulos wrote her ac­ count for the University of Cincinnati’s News Record, an article headlined, “Expansion Abroad Similar to 3CDC.” Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine are a complex issue, but even its ally, the United States, agrees that they are an impediment to the peace process. Less complicated is 3CDC’s plan to throw out more low-income residents to make room for upscale developments (see story on page 1). Here is what Paraskevopoulos had to say: “The first (settlement) we saw was Nof Zion, which reminded me of gentrified townhouses in my city’s neighborhood, Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine. The settlement, built by and adver­ tised to wealthy Jewish internationals, illustrates a clear view of Jerusalem, the City of David and Mount Zion. Similarly, prefabricated communities in Over-the- Rhine are built by and ad­ vertised to wealthy, white suburbanites. Cincinnati Center City Development Corp.’s projects here, the ones with 3CDC signs out front, like Nof Zion, boast of development, historical sig­ nificance and security. “More importantly, they both lack even simple recognition of the communities they are overtaking and ousting. A block away from the aforementioned Over-the-Rhine complex is a predominantly black ghetto. The valley across which residents of Nof Zion might view impor­ tant cultural and religious sites houses a Palestinian community, which Nof Zion cuts off from other Palestinian communities in the West Bank. As my ICAHD representative put it, these de­ velopment industries “manipulate the view to create this myopia. You see what you want to.” Council Elections Presage Struggle for Fairness If you thought it’s been hard to get the city of Cincinnati to adequately support human ser­ vices in recent years, you haven’t seen anything yet. The Nov. 3 election for city council returned Charterite Chris Bortz to office; he’s the mastermind behind council’s plan to use zoning regu­ lations to limit social-services agencies in Over-the-Rhine. Also re-elected was Jeff Berding, whom the Democrats had endorsed, then un-endorsed because of his refusal to support the demand for budget concessions from the Fraternal Order of Police. Perhaps most troubling of all, however, is the return of former Councilman Charlie Winburn, a member of the troglodyte wing of the Republican Party. When the votes were tallied, the winners were four Democrats – or three, depending on whether Berding qualifies: Cecil Thomas, Laure Quinlivan and Laketa Cole. Quinlivan, a for­ mer TV news reporter, took the seat of the progressive Democrat Greg Harris. The Republicans have three members on council: Winburn, Chris Monzel and Leslie Ghiz. The Charter Party has two members: Bortz and Roxanne Qualls, who scored the most votes. That kind of lineup makes it all the more important to pass a charter amendment requiring the city to allocate 1.5 percent of its general fund to human services. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless hopes to launch that initiative soon. Faced with a well financed campaign supported by virtually every politician in town, voters denied themselves the opportunity to vote on the streetcar plan. The defeated charter amend­ ment was a grassroots effort by the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Association of Colored People and other groups to impede the Streetcars That Will Save Our City. Cincinnati plans to spend about $200 million on a six-mile streetcar line, certain that streetcars are just what people are waiting for before moving to Over-the-Rhine. City council members convinced vot­ ers that letting them decide on such a boondoggle really wasn’t in their best interest. The election results weren’t without good news. The tax levy for the Public Library of Cincin­ nati and Hamilton County won approval. So did levies for the Hamilton County Department of Developmental Disabilities and the Cincinnati Public Schools. Voters also approved a measure, backed by Cincinnati Progressive Action – that will require a referendum before city council can sell the Cincinnati Water Works. Oh, yeah. Mayor Mark Mallory won re-election, beating Republican challenger Dr. Brad Wenstrup, perhaps best remembered for saying he felt safer in Iraq than in Cincinnati. While serving with U.S. occupation forces in Iraq, he worked at Abu Ghraib prison, notorious for the torture of Iraqi prisoners. Wenstrup was never implicated in those atrocities. Can’t Decide How to Help? Oh, Pshaw! Winter rapidly approaches. For homeless people, that means increased risk of sickness and death. Tala’s Distant Treasures, in Crestview Hills Mall is planning to help. The store an­ nounced last week that it will donate to the Homeless Coalition 5 percent of its revenue from the sale of shawls. Furthermore, anyone who donates a used shawl at the store will receive a $5 discount off the cost of a new one. Tala’s will then donate the used shawls for distribution to homeless people. Here’s a holiday shoppint tip: Buy a shawl at Tala’s. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Lew Moores, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Kelissa Hieber, Dan Rozier, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Keara Anita Mullen, Ariana Shahandeh, Larry Gross, Steven Paul Lansky Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams, Bill Haigh, Clarissa Peppers Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremey Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are members of: �STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Local News The Politics of Punishment 3 Too many prisoners? Try changing the laws By Jeremy Flannery Contributing WritEr P aroled convicts in Ohio aren’t guaranteed the right to appeal wrongful convictions through DNA tests. That right is guaran­ teed only to people who are still incarcerated, ac­ cording to Mark Godsey, director of the Ohio Inno­ cence Project. That is the reason Robert McClendon avoided parole while serving 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, Godsey says: McClendon wanted DNA testing to exonerate him – and to do that, he had to stay behind bars. McClendon was released last year after being officially exonerated by the state. The Ohio Inno­ cence Project has helped exonerate seven other people from wrongful convictions since starting in 2005, Godsey says. Preventing wrongful convictions was one of the three issues at a Nov. 4 forum on reforming Ohio’s correctional policies. Representatives of the Ohio Innocence Project, the Ohio Justice and Policy Center and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio proposed solutions to prevent wrongful con­ victions, provide employment opportunities to re­ leased convicts and reduce the number of incarcer­ ated low-level offenders. The Urban League of Greater Cincinnait hosted a forum on “Lock ‘em Up Politics.” Photo by Clarissa Peppers. who cannot find employment are more likely to commit other crimes in order to survive, JohnsonGrove said. “One of the things to reduce excessive expendi­ ture with locking people up and policing – because we have so many people just cycling through the justice system – is to interrupt that cycle with some form of productive work,” he said. OJPC also proposes that prisons issue a “certifi­ cate of good conduct” to show that a former inmate ‘Interrupt the cycle’ is recommended for consideration of employment due to good conduct and hard work. OJPC also pro­ Godsey proposed changes in policing and use of poses that Ohio establish an “employment access evidence to prevent wrongful convictions. Seventy- certificate” to remove state laws prohibiting people five percent of wrongful convictions in Ohio arise with certain criminal records from obtaining jobs from eyewitness misidentifi­ with the state or licenses to work cations, he said. Police should in certain types of businesses. change suspect lineups for eye­ “This great democracy of ours “We’re trying to crack open the witnesses to sequential displays, incarcerates more people than door so people can have a shot,” showing one suspect at a time, any other nation in the world.” JohnsonGrove said. instead of showing all suspects OJPC also proposes new in­ - Gary Daniels, ACLU of Ohio at once, he said says. The offi­ centives to private companies cer involved in lineups shouldn’t for hiring released convicts. The know who the suspects are or the crime they’re sus­ incentives include statutory protection from negli­ pected of; that would prevent them from prejudic­ gent-hiring lawsuits for hiring people with criminal ing the witnesses, according to Godsey. records, coupled with regulation of business-insur­ Police should videotape arrests for homicide ance premiums to ensure businesses are not finan­ and sexual assault from the reading of the Miranda cially penalized for hiring such people, Johnsonrights until the end of interrogations in order to Grove said. The state could also establish bonds to prevent false confessions, Godsey said. protect employers from damages incurred by such The state of Ohio should store all DNA obtained employees and offer business tax credits for hiring from suspects and convicts, he said. Ohio has no released felons, he said. laws requiring the preservation of DNA samples used in court, which can lead to the destruction ‘Smart on crime’ of DNA samples once prisoners are released. This eliminates the opportunity for released convicts to Gary Daniels, associate director of the American exonerate themselves and help the state find the Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, proposed diversion actual offenders, Godsey said. programs as an alternative to incarceration for lowSteven JohnsonGrove of the Ohio Justice and level offenses. He urged support for Senate Bill 22, Policy Center (OJPC) addressed the employment which would: needs of released prisoners. OJPC wants the state • increase the number of days prisoners can earn to establish a “certificate of rehabilitation” for re­ toward early release, leased convicts to have the right to obtain state jobs • reduce the disparities between penalties for and to provide more incentives to private compa­ crack and powder cocaine, nies to hire former offenders. Released prisoners • eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for Gary Daniels, Stephen JohnsonGrove and Mark Godsey want reform of Ohio criminal laws. Photo by Clarissa Peppers. many low-level drug crimes, increase the use of diversion programs for lowlevel drug offenders and nonpayment of child support and • raise the threshold for incarceration for theft, vandalism or corrupt activity from $750 to $1,000. “We need to figure out who we’re mad at and who really needs to be locked up,” Daniels said. “Right now we continue to lock up too many people we’re just mad at.” Incarcerating people for nonpayment of child support harms the offender, the custodial parent and the children, according to Daniels. If a person is incarcerated for nonpayment of child support, not only can he or she no longer earn an income while incarcerated, the offender faces the stigma from a conviction when applying for work after be­ ing released, he said. The disparity of punishment between crackcocaine and powder-cocaine infractions is an Ohio version of Jim Crow laws, Daniels said. While there is no chemical disparity between the two physical forms of cocaine, Ohio law demands higher pun­ ishments for crack-cocaine infractions. Daniels said crack cocaine is more widely used by Ameri­ cans with dark skin, while Americans with light skin tend to use powder cocaine. Daniels noted that the United States holds over 2 million people in prison, while China has over 1 million prisoners. Politicians and the public should work toward being “smart on crime” instead of be­ ing “tough on crime” before policing and prison budget needs bankrupt the state’s 2010 budget, Daniels said. “This great democracy of ours incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world,” he said. “In Ohio, we just can’t afford to do that anymore, because if we continue to do so, we are going to end up with a state budget that deals only with Medic­ aid, education and prisons.” Terry Collins, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC), says he supports Senate Bill 22 as a good first step toward stabilizing and reducing the prison population in Ohio. Over 50 percent of incarcerated offenders serve less than 12 months, he says. Eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing for low-level of­ fenders would give judges more leeway to divert such offenders into community programs instead of being incarcerated, he says. “We believe that if some people are given the op­ portunity to keep their families together or are un­ employed, rather than taking them out of the com­ munity, let’s make them active citizens so they’re working and paying taxes into the community in­ stead of being a tax burden on the state by sitting in prison,” Collins says. The state of Ohio currently imprisons about 51,000 people in a system designed to incarcerate 38,665, according to ODRC. The department esti­ mates the prison population will increase by about 600 every year through 2018 unless more diversion programs are instituted. • �4 Local News STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Metropole: Hell No,We Won’t Go Continued from page 1 Homeless Coalition and the Metro- Asked if he worked for 3CDC, he pole Tenants Association carefully again said, “No.” Spring later in­ executed a pre-emptive strike. House troduced – or outed – him as Adam rules allow visitors in the Metropole Gelter, development director for only by invitation of residents. Jeff 3CDC. Eaton, a member of the tenants’ asso­ When the man stalked off, Spring ciation, told the addressed the desk clerk that tenants. he had seven “The tenants have taken over the “They want visitors: Spring; meeting now. The truth is you have to take your Rob Goeller, a legal right to have advocates here, home and turn civil-rights co­ it into a hotel so we are the ones upholding the ordinator for law. Today it’s a different story. How for tourists,” the Homeless he said. “They does it feel to have the power?” Coalition; Bon­ - Josh Spring, homeless coalition didn’t ask you. nie Neumeier, Some of you director of the have lived here Peaslee Neigh­ over 20 years. borhood Center; three journalists; Do you think that you are cattle to and a Legal Aid lawyer. be herded around the city?” The group went to the Metropole The crowd answered, “No!” ballroom, where the activists posted “So what are you going to do signs listing their demands and ar­ about it?” Spring said. “Are you go­ ranged chairs in a circle. Dozens of ing to fight for your housing?” residents began filing into the ball­ “Yes!” the tenants answered. room – a full hour before 3CDC’s Several tenants then spoke. scheduled meeting, an indication “If we don’t stick up for our­ that the takeover had been planned selves, it’s going to affect our lives in advance. and other people’s lives,” said Rob­ As the meeting was about to start, a ert Wavra. “A lot of people have man huddled with Spring and Goeller used this building to get started or and asked them to let 3CDC proceed re-started because it didn’t charge a with its own meeting. lot for rent.” “We’ll tell them the information Wavra introduced an argument they do need,” the man said. that would be repeated by Spring Spring refused to back down. and the Legal Aid attorneys: 3CDC “You’ve had plenty of opportunity,” wants to evict the residents because Spring said. “You low-income people haven’t talked don’t fit into 3CDC’s to the tenants. “This is legal advice: Don’t plans for the down­ This is a tenants’ town entertainment move. If you move, you won’t meeting now. You district. get what you’re entitled to. If should take the you give in to the lies and false “They don’t think low seat and hear you deserve to be promises of the new owners, what the tenants close to the bus you’re going to get ripped off. have to say.” What the owners of this building routes,” Wavra said. “Fine,” the “They don’t think are trying to do is cleanse man said. “Then you deserve to be downtown of people like you. we won’t have a close to Fountain They want rich white people.” meeting.” Square. We’ve got - John Schrider, The man to stand up for ourLegal Aid attorney walked away. selves and for the When a reporter people coming beasked for his name, the man said, hind us. If we let this go, it’s gone for “No.” Asked if he were with Metropole good.” management, the man said, “No.” Another resident, Tracy Hall, said Adam Gelter of 3CDC at first denied he worked for 3CDC. Photos by Clarissa Peppers. the federally subsidized apartments in a jacket came to you and said, ‘You at the Metropole helped have to move and we’ve her change her life. been planning it for “For 12 years I was “They don’t think you months,’ ” Hall said. homeless,” she said. “If it deserve to be close The Brickstone repre­ wasn’t for the Metropole, I sentative replied, “We’re to the bus routes. would not have had a sec­ They don’t think you not putting anyone out ond chance. Yes, there are deserve to be close on the streets. I’m just some stains on the carpet to Fountain Square. here to do a job.” and some things need to Like Gelter – the We’ve got to stand be repainted, but big deal. 3CDC employee who up for ourselves By moving in here, I’ve denied that he was with and for the people been able to attend col­ coming behind us. 3CDC – the woman lege and get a job and get If we let this go, it’s wouldn’t give her name. a second chance.” A Cincinnati Police gone for good.” Hall addressed a wom­ officer entered the ball- Robert Wavra, an from Brickstone Proproom but didn’t inter­ Metropole tenant erties, the management fere with the meeting. company hired by 3CDC Three police officers to help residents find other housing. “How would you like it if someone See Metropole, p. 5 Residents joining the Metropole Tenants Association to save their homes from being converted into a boutique hotel. Photos by Clarissa Peppers. �STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 5 Local News Metropole: Hell No,We Won’t Go Continued from page 1 with Brickstone or 3CDC while the HUD complaint is pend­ were stationed in the lobby and two cops on horse­ ing. No residents can be forced back were in front of the Metropole during the to move for the next year, the meeting, according to Lynne Ausman, administra­ homeless advocates said. tive coordinator for the Homeless Coalition. “This is legal advice: Don’t “3CDC and Brickstone have called the police,” move,” Schrider said. “If you Spring told the tenants. “They’re afraid of you.” move, you won’t get what you’re entitled to. If you give in to the ‘You don’t fit’ lies and false promises of the new owners, you’re going to get In the ballroom, the Metropole Tenants Associa­ ripped off. What the owners of tion posted a list of demands for 3CDC: this building are trying to do “1. Renovate our homes here to the same level as is cleanse downtown of people your condos. like you. They want rich white “2. We will stay a community. people.” “3. Metropole must stay affordable housing. Schrider’s colleague at Legal “4. Laws must be made to prevent this (loss of af­ Aid, Rickell L. Howard, echoed fordable housing).” his assertion: 3CDC wants poor HUD regulations require relocation assistance people out of the downtown from 3CDC now that it has purchased the Metro- entertainment district. pole. But Spring, Goeller and John Schrider, attor­ “They’re trying to kick you ney with the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati, urged out because of who you are,” tenants not to move and not to sign any agreements Howard said. “They don’t need another hotel downtown. They John Schrider of the Legal Aid Society represents the Metropole think you don’t Tenants Association. Legal Aid filed a complaint with the U.S. fit.” Department of Housing and Urban Development claiming that 3CDC After nearly has violated federal fair housing laws. two hours Spring introduced Gelter of 3CDC and Steve Smith of the Mod­ he said. “We don’t want anyone to sign anything.” el Group – parent company of Brick“You did yesterday!” a man in the crowd yelled. stone Properties – to the tenants. Other members of the crowd demanded that “Adam Gelter’s here,” Spring said. Gelter and Smith stand in the center of the room “He’s the one who said he didn’t want so all tenants could hear them. The two men com­ to listen to you.” plied. Gelter apologized for “the confu­ “We intend to work within the rules,” Smith said. sion of the letter” 3CDC had earlier “We will do things as HUD stipulates they must be sent tenants. done.” “We don’t want anyone to move,” But if there were any doubts about 3CDC’s inten­ tions, Smith made them clear, ignoring the demand that the tenants be allowed to stay. He instead told the tenants some­ thing that was never in dispute: The ten­ ants can move whenever they want. “If people want to move out of the Metropole, that’s their right,” Smith said. “Our job is to make sure people don’t fall through the cracks and become home­ less.” That was a curious assertion by the very company whose job it is to rid the Metropole of its low-income tenants. Throughout the meeting Bonnie Neumeier, a longtime advocate for homeless people, led tenants in updated versions of traditional civil-rights songs: “The Metropole’s our home. We shall not be moved. … Tenants united, we shall not be moved.” 3CDC called a tenant meeting after it purchased the Metropole Apartments on Walnut Street. Residents, along No one from 3CDC sang along. with advocates and the Legal Aid Society, organized prior to the meeting to tell 3CDC that they will not be removed from their homes. Photos by Clarissa Peppers. Mary Only purchase Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the paper. aFFordaBle rateS etvibes? tre nS STREETVIBES Vendor rested in Advert Inte isin gi many SizeS (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) Black & White and color availaBle diScountS For nonproFitS Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. �6 Local News STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Women Have the Right to Safety Continued from page 1 violence and reach out to Latin American women who believe they have no rights because of their im­ migration status. The makers of the movie hope to help Latin American women understand they are entitled under law to get help, that everyone has the right to feel safe whether they are “illegal” or not. ‘End the fear’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” One in three women suffers from domestic violence, acOne in three women cording to the Latino Alliance to Eliminate Domestic Vio­ suffers from domestic violence, according to the lence. Additionally, the fear Latino Alliance to Eliminate of being deported is a barrier faced by 64 percent of Latinas Domestic Violence. Additionally, the fear of being when seeking help. “The main barriers faced by deported is a barrier faced Latin American women suf­ by 64 percent of Latinas fering from domestic violence The audience learned about the prevelance of domestic violence in Latin American families. when seeking help. Photo by Natalie Hager. are language and fear of po­ lice and immigration,” Mora- Mowry said. “They are afraid that, if they accuse their husband or partner, they might be deported.” judicial process, according to Laboy. The other 90 percent become There are many reasons why battered women are afraid to call for afraid during the process and withdraw, ultimately recommitting to help, but Latin American women face unique barriers once they de­ a continual cycle of abuse. cide they can no longer handle the abuse. “We have to end the fear,” said Padre Jorge Ochoa, pastor of San You aren’t alone Carlos Borromeo Hispanic Church. “We have to break down the bar­ riers – for example, not knowing the language, being unable to com­ Hispanic women suffering abuse, whether physical or verbal, municate.” should keep in mind that support is available from churches, organi­ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 6: “Everyone has the zations that offer shelter and the Alliance of Immigrant Women. right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.” “One thing that Latina women need to know is that they are not “In the United States, we, as citizens and whoever lives here, alone,” Mora-Mowry said. “There are peo­ whether we are citizens or not, have papers or not, we have many le­ ple who will help you.” gal rights. …We have the right to live in peace, to live and to be safe Many Latin American women have “We are not immigration. We in our home, not to have to suffer violence, for example,” said Adolfo found protection with various groups don’t care about your papers. Olivas, a member of the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio. throughout Cincinnati, such as the YWCA If you are being physically or He advised Latin American women who are being abused to “call Battered Women’s Shelter. verbally abused, you should the police, because the laws in the U.S.A. are made in such a way that “I had a great opportunity there,” one call the police and we will people who are victims of abuse, if they call the police, will have pro­ woman said at the film screening. “They assist you. Victims don’t ever tection. They will not be deported.” helped a great deal. It’s a wonderful place, need papers.” Cincinnati Police Officer Jose Laboy spoke about his experience a safe place for battered women. … They - Officer Jose Laboy working with domestic violence calls in the Hispanic community. never abandoned me.” “We are not immigration,” he said. “We don’t care about your pa­ Recovering from physical and psycho­ pers. If you are being physically or verbally abused, you should call logical abuse, she stayed at the shelter with her two children while the police and we will assist you. Victims don’t ever need papers.” the YWCA helped her find a place to stay and a job. They also helped Laboy said that, in the case of undocumented offenders, deporta­ with her immigration status and referred her to free legal counsel. She tion becomes a possibility if charges are filed. For many Latin Ameri­ ultimately got legal residency for herself and her children. She said can women, the fear of their spouses being deported is often more many women are often afraid to make the decision to leave an abu­ terrifying than being deported themselves. The loss of their husbands sive relationship. presents a whole new level of abuse: poverty, homelessness, depres­ “There are women who have given up on their lives,” she said. sion, isolation, loneliness. They could essentially be left with nothing Many Latin Americans grow up familiar with domestic violence. to provide for themselves or for their children. There have also been The goal of the organizations presenting the movie is a new age of cases where deported spouses have returned to harass them or have respect in the family and community. Domestic violence does not just harassed their families in their native country. occur in the Hispanic community; it is a reality faced by women of all Only 10 percent of victims carry charges all the way through the races. Persons who want to show Domestic Violence in the Hispanic Community to their community or organization can call Sophia Kostoff, coordinator for the Alliance for Immi­ grant Women, at 513-361-2150. Persons who need help dealing with domestic violence can contact: • • • • Cincinnati Police Officer Jose Laboy (left) and Padre Jorge Ochoa, pastor of San Carlos Borromeo Hispanic Church, spoke with the audience about their experiences working with victims of domestic violence. the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter at 513-872-9259 or (toll-free) 888)-872-9259; Women Helping Women, which offers court and law enforcement advocacy and support groups, at 513­ 361-5610; Su Casa, which offers information and referral, health promotion and literacy education, at 513 761-1588; and the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, which of­ fers help securing protection orders, resolving custody disputes, representation in divorce proceeding and as­ sisting battered women in working toward legal resi­ dency. The number is 513-241-9400 or (toll-free) 800­ 582-2682. �STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Sports Bengals Are for Real This Time 7 Ignore the skeptic behind the curtain By B. cliFton Burke Contributing WritEr fense is a new blueprint for Marvin Lewis’s Bengals,” they all agreed. team, but it’s starting to cash in. This year’s That is the underlying reason why the roster is made up of men who are only con­ Vegas wizard and everyone else can’t, or eep within a bunker under a non­ cerned about the meetings, practices and won’t, believe in them; they first must prove descript casino in Las Vegas, an games of today – not about the graveyard they can handle winning. The term “men­ old sports wizard scans his yel­ of the past or the big tal toughness” is used low, glassy eyes across dozens of television stage of the future. They when defining the screens and creates point spreads based on appear disciplined and Some fans grumble about the intangibles that are what he sees. Apparently, he wasn't all that prepared on game days, believed to make up conservative stubbornness of impressed from Cincinnati's first seven and the coaches have championship teams, Marvin and his staff, but the games and declared the Bengals a three- etched out and stuck man’s unwavering determination and a pervasive doubt point home underdog against the Ravens in with game plans that to manage the team his way has exists in the minds of Week 9. This despite the fact that Cincinnati work. many football freaks created a sense of consistency owned a better record, was coming off of a Some fans grumble that Cincinnati has and routine for the players. bye week after dismantling Chicago and al­ about the conservative what it takes upstairs. ready beat Baltimore once in the season. stubbornness of Mar­ This too is simply in­ “Same old Bengals,” he murmured to vin and his staff, but the man’s unwavering correct. himself and squashed another cigarette determination to manage the team his way Look at what they have already over­ butt into his ashtray. has created a sense of consistency and rou­ come: a fluke loss to Denver to open the This man, like the rest of the sports tine for the players. As a result, this group season, four straight come-from-behind world, is wrong about that and has been all goes about their business like daily laborers wins, a tsunami in Samoa and the death of season. rather than well-paid superstars. It’s exactly Mike Zimmer’s wife, Vikki. They have been Once again the Bengals proved it by shov­ how Marvin wants it; you come to work ev­ doubted in nearly every step of the way this ing Baltimore out of town bruised and beat­ ery day just like everyone else. season, yet people remain surprised when en. After the win, NFL Network anchorman Bengal teams of the past had issues deal­ they achieve any success at all. Rich Eisen asked Deon ing with success. In 2005 I don’t expect the skeptics to be swayed Sanders why the Bengals no one was used to them until the Bengals win the Super Bowl. Even are so good all of a sudden. I don’t expect the skeptics to winning; the fans, the me­ the notion of that possibility causes the All of a sudden? Cincinnati be swayed until the Bengals dia and the players them­ wizard to roll his old eyes and snigger. wouldn’t have a 6-2 record selves all hopped on the “That’ll be the day,” he says to the tele­ win the Super Bowl. if wins and success were super-bandwagon. Noth­ vision screen that displays the score of an­ any kind of recent devel­ ing seemed impossible in other Bengals win. “I might have to find a opment. those days; every week was magical. Then new job if that happens.” No, sir, the Bengals are for real and it’s life reminded us yet again that there is no Las Vegas is now accepting resumes for about time the world starts seeing them such thing as magic and obliterated Carson an open sports-wizard position. that way. The old formula of winning the Palmer’s knee to prove the point. The world Visit mojokong.blogspot.com. AFC North with rushing yards and run de­ looked around and shrugged, “Same old D If you experience... Poor sleep Irritability High Energy Racing Thoughts Mood Swings and/or Periods of Depression You might be eligible to receive an FDA-approved medication and MRI scan as part of a research study at the University of Cincinnati. Please contact Michelle at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine at (513)558-5393 Participants will be compensated for time and travel ~ All inquiries will be kept confidential ~ �8 Issues STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Men Fight, and the Women Suffer War is an equal-opportunity destroyer By vicky c. mcdonald Contributing WritEr W omen are the forgot­ ten victims of war: That was the theme of an Oct. 28 forum at Xavier Univer­ sity. The program, part of the Xavi­ er University Women’s Center’s weekly “Thinking Outside the LunchBox” series, featured Vince Costello of the American Red Cross and International Commit­ tee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Costello showed Women Fleeing War, a film about how differ­ ent women have been affected by conflict in various parts of the world. The movie discussed wom­ en in cities, in refugee camps and in villages. Women have fled to the capi­ tal city of Bogotá, Colombia, as a result of that country’s decadeslong civil war. Many women, who feel it is not safe to go back to their farms, have family members who are missing. ICRC gives ba­ sic needs to help assist these dis­ A displaced woman uses a water pump to fill her containers at the water point in Zam Zam IDP camp in Al Fasher, placed women, but unfortunately northern Darfur March 12, 2009. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra (SUDAN SOCIETY). their resources are limited. The women get assistance to buy ba­ sic essentials instead of working the land to get what they need. These women live the crops, their husbands. Women in these camps assistant to care for her nine children. She wants to in fear because they are alone, many with young rely on aid organizations. Every 30-35 days food make sure her children are educated to guarantee children and limited skills to obtain a job. aid arrives. Some women must sell what’s given to their safety and have them work in offices. The village of Gorlu, Liberia, has also been suf- them for other essentials. “Women are taking on roles that are not normal­ fering from civil war. Families that Due to the vast numbers of refu- ly a part of their culture,” Costello said. at one time lived close together gees, women in Darfur are forced to Costello said that if people want to help, it can have been separated by the conDisplacement camps in go outside the safety of the camps be something as simple as holding forums such as flict. Food is exchanged for labor, Darfur, Sudan, hold up to to collect wood, and in the process the one at the Women’s Center. Educated about the but some families do not have men many have been raped and accosted. plight of these women, people can then choose to 130,000 people. to do this exchange. The ICRC supDue to social stigma, women often be involved by donating time or money to the Red plies food for men working to build do not reveal when this happens be- Cross, he said. houses for the widowed women. cause their culture believes that they should have For more information about the “Thinking OutDisplacement camps in Darfur, Sudan, hold up somehow been able to prevent rape. side the LunchBox” series, visit xavier.edu/women­ to 130,000 people. Women who live there have self“Women without escorts are targeted because scenter. made tents to hold families. Many have fled to these they are looked at as being vulnerable within their “The lunch box series is an informal structure camps because their villages have been attacked. population,” Costello said. “Oppression occurs be- where anything is up for discussion and dialogue,” Many times these women don’t know which armed cause women are not allowed to be educated.” said student assistant Tara Immel. groups had attacked them. A former housewife in the film, whose husband Everything they knew is gone; their way of life, was killed, has been forced to work as a builder’s Letter to the Editor To the editor: I read your paper through and through every issue. It has become a really fascinat­ ing publication, as it speaks of a wide variety of subjects and (I hope) views. I’m a newly located mer­ chant on Vine Street, although the Little Mahatma is going into its 21st year in business. In the 1970s I was a public- health nurse on 12th Street for the Cincinnati Health De­ partment. I’m a modest but loyal supporter of the Drop Inn Center. I am white, I don’t want the streetcars and many would consider me as one of those “gentrifiers.” An old local resident came in today and said, “Thank God people are taking care of this area. It’s about time.” I’m saying all this because ! ? t a h W the “us and them” philosophy gets no one what they want. Historically, it is the premise on which all wars have been fought. Can’t we evolve to al­ low everyone to be what they are? Jim Tarbell is no saint (see “Gigantic Insult? Towering Tribute?” in edition of Nov. 1-14). Do you know any? But he has worked his butt off for this city and the only elected official to stand amid the cha­ os of the riots. Buddy Gray worked tire­ lessly for a just cause and of­ ten threw the baby out with the bath water. He was so an­ gry he bit the hand of those trying to help him often. He probably has a special place in heaven for champions of just causes. I was interviewed twice by the Miami students and was really surprised by the loaded questions. It was not unbi­ ased at all. It was a real “us and them” survey. I am very interested in all that goes on around me in Over-the-Rhine. It’s a wonderful, soulful place, and I’ve risked everything I own to be part of it. With all best wishes, keep up the good work -Gloria McConnaghy Peace, in the sense of absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. – The Dalai Lama y a S _____________________ �STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Film Review Race Can Be a Big Hairy Deal Chris Rock takes on the root of the problem By vicky c. mcdonald Contributing WritEr G ood Hair is a docu­ mentary that ex­ plores the relation­ ship of the African-American woman’s identity and her hair and the multi-billion dollar industry that surrounds it. Chris Rock takes on this task when his young daugh­ ter asks him why she doesn’t have good hair. Rock’s world­ wide journey to discovering the answers about AfricanAmerican women’s hair starts in Atlanta, where the Bron­ ner Brothers Hair Show is taking place. This big event is the cornerstone for black women’s hair, with vendors of top-of-the-line hair prod­ ucts marketed for the Afri­ can-American community, capped off with an elaborate hairstyling competition. At the event, Rock finds that a vast majority of the booths at the hair show are Asian- run and white-owned, sup­ plying products while only two rows among a vast ware­ house of booths are owned by African-American entrepre­ neurs. Rock questions who really owns the market for black women’s hair and why black women feel it is so im­ portant to maintain a certain look. Rock runs across tales of women who would sooner pay thousands of dollars for a weave than pay rent. With the constant deluge of mar­ keting strategies taking place, it might come as no surprise that Americans, in general, spend beyond their means to maintain a high level of beauty as defined by those marketing strategies. However, Good Hair goes beyond everyday media and suggests that black women endeavor to be more like white women and use hair as a means to achieve this goal. It is suggested that AfricanAmerican women want their hair to be straight, flowing and bouncy with a look of the lighter the better, as would be found on a white woman’s head. It’s more than just a mar­ keting campaign that plac­ es these thoughts into the minds of black women. Un­ fortunately, the dichotomy of race is prevalent even in a time when an African-Ameri­ can man is president. Society forces black women to appear a certain way so that they will be accepted into a career or relationship with other races. In the film, comedian Paul Mooney is quoted, “If your hair is relaxed, then white people are relaxed. If your hair is nappy, then they’re not happy.” Hair is just one of many social stigmas facing AfricanAmerican women, starting at an early age as women con­ tact their pediatricians to see if it is OK to place a chemi­ cal known to burn the scalp on a 2-year-old child’s head. Even teens of the same cul­ tural background implore a peer to change her hair so as to become more socially ac­ ceptable. On the surface, the film seems to spend too much time on the battle of the hairstylist. However, if the audience gets to the root of the battle, we see that it has become less about the hair and more about the flair. The competition becomes diluted, as showmanship is what brings about the winner – and not so much about how hair is cut. It has played into America’s technique of marketing, where the idea of hair has become more im­ portant than hair itself. The 9 film is enlightening to those who might not understand African-American culture. It is witty, insightful and for all ethnicities, genders and ages. Humana: Inhumane? Reform rally decries insurance abuses By katy heinS Contributing WritEr A crowd of 30 supporters of health-care reform gathered Oct. 20 in front of Humana Inc. offices in Cincinnati. With signs saying, “Big Insurance, Sick of It” and “Health Care for America Now,” supporters sought to make the point that large insurance companies, such as Humana, are using premiums to pay for lobbying efforts to stop health-care reform. “Humana denied basic care for my daughter,” Kristen Barker told the crowd. “My daughter began having seizures when she was 3 years old,” Barker said. “These seizures caused her to lose developmental abilities. Her doctors said she needed a variety of therapies, including physical therapy. At that time I thought I was lucky. These basic therapies were covered in my Humana plan. But then Humana denied her physical therapy. During this trying time of working for answers to my daughter’s seizures, I had to fight their denials. I even won their own grievance process to cover her physical therapy. But to this day Humana has never paid.” Big insurance companies have a lot to gain from the version of health-care re- most conservative healthform passed last month by care plan proposed by the the Senate Finance Commit- Senate Finance Committee. That bill would mandate tee as not good enough all Americans for insur­ to get insurance com­ ance coverage During this trying time of panies. The through prir e p o r t ’s working for answers to vate insurance my daughter’s seizures, I m e t h o d ­ c o m p a n i e s had to fight their denials. ology was – but without quickly adequate afdiscred­ fordability measures. That ited and the report was would mean a total of 40 mil- regarded as the industry’s lion new customers for insur- attempt to pressure Con­ ance companies. The legis- gress to do their will. lation would also establish Proponents of health­ fines for citizens who don’t care reform were angered buy insurance. by this latest move by inAnother speaker at the ral- surance companies to in­ ly, Pam Franklin of the AMOS fluence the debate – not Project, spoke about the de- for the good of all, but for nial of health-care coverage their own financial gain. due to her pre-existing condiAs a senior citizen cov­ tion, high blood pressure. She ered by Humana, Mary said that it is interesting that Causey of the Contact many African Americans are Center spoke about the unable to get health insur- company’s bureaucracy. ance, as nearly 50 percent of She said she is confused African Americans have high by the different co-pays for blood pressure. doctor visits, hospital visits “Being African American and prescriptions. seems to be a pre-existing “The United States is the condition,” Franklin said. richest country in the world, “Where will they stop? Next but still doesn’t provide health they’ll say, ‘You’re ugly - de- care for its citizens,” Causey nied!’ ” said. “I’ve worked all my life The insurance compa- and paid my dues. No one nies’ lobbying arm, American should be denied the peace Health Insurance Plans, came of mind of health coverage.” out earlier last month with a Pastor Troy Jackson of the report that decried even the AMOS Project compared the Kristen Barker. Photo by Katy Heins. state of health care to a car with its “Check Engine” light on and spewing smoke. “Health care has had its ‘Check Engine’ light on since the ’70’s,” he said. “It’s been emitting smoke for the last few decades. It is time to get health care fixed.” Franklin summed up the feeling of the crowd. “We want Rep. Driehaus to side with us, the people, and not with Big Insurance and their greed,” she said. After the rally, a small del­ egation visited Congressman Steve Driehaus’s office and asked his staff to not let the insurance company drive a wedge between him and his constituents. Those gathered reiterated their support for a public health-insurance plan and asked that Driehaus vote for a plan that includes a ro­ bust public option. �10 STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Local News After the Health Insurance Bill? Single-payer activists promise to continue their fight By Suhith Wickrema Contributing WritEr T he U.S. House of Representatives passed a historic health-insurance reform bill Nov. 7. In anticipation of the bill’s passage, about 30 people interested in health-care re­ form gathered Oct. 27 at First Unitarian Church in Avondale for a forum sponsored by Cincinnati Progressive Ac­ tion, the Single Payer Action Network, the Intercommu­ nity Justice and Peace Center and the Cincinnati Beacon. The featured speaker was Milton Fisk, professor emeri­ tus of philosophy at Indiana University. Fisk gave an analysis of the hazards relying on for-profit health insurance companies to provide for health care. He pointed to the “coincidence of interest between insurance companies and providers to increase premiums” and rates. Most insurance compa­ nies invest the premiums, be­ cause premiums are not used right away. The more money an insurance company has, the more money it has to in­ vest. Health-care providers want to charge more for their ser­ vices so they can expand and have a larger percentage of the market, according to Fisk. In return, insurance compa­ nies increase their premiums. This cycle contributes to the high cost of health care. Fisk called health care a “public good – a public good being something that every­ body wants for everybody else in the society.” Other ex­ amples of a public good are fire stations, schools and po­ lice departments. The health-insurance re­ form bill passed by the U.S. House will keep the for-profit insurance companies intact, not solving the problem of the high cost of health insur­ ance. “What do we do the day af­ ter Obama signs that health­ care bill?” Fisk asked. Bob Park, a member of the Single Payer Action Network, reminded the audience that the state legislatures of Cali­ fornia, Massachusetts and Vermont passed single-payer health-care bills, but the gov­ ernors of those states vetoed them. Another forum participant, who introduced himself as Nathan, reminded the audi­ ence that Medicare is a singlepayer system and Medicare’s overhead cost is only three percent. The overhead cost of for-profit insurance compa­ nies runs about 15 percent. Most of the questions and comments from the audience were about how to get a sin­ gle-payer health-care system implemented. Fisk pointed out that single-payer health­ care advocacy has been going on since the Roosevelt admin­ istration. He urged the audi­ ence to work with renewed energy to continue health­ care reform the day after the president signs a bill. Milton Fisk says health care shouldn't rely on for-profit insurance companies. Photo by Doris Burton. For more information about the single player campaign in Ohio, visit spanohio.org. “Here’s to Our Health” Happy Hour Art Beyond BoundAries GAllery 1410 Main Street Thursday, December 3, 2009 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Meet some of Community Shares’ healthcare groups Sip some wine and grab a snack $5 suggested donation at the door will support the mission of Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati. If you have questions please contact Mary Beth King at 513-475-0475 or king@cintishares.org Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati is a partnership of 27 local nonprofit organizations building social and economic equity and a health environment in Greater Cincinnati. YPShares is for young professionals who strive to engage and inspire the next generation of community supporters to become passionately committed to causes that promote social and economic equity and a healthy environment. 103 William H. Taft Road • PH: 513-475-0475 • FAX: 513-487-4262 • www.cintishares.org Call 513-421-7803 x11 to learn about Streetvibes subscriptions �STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 11 Issues Capital Punishment: A Race Issue Race figures predominantly in the death penalty By Samantha Groark Contributing WritEr P eople are executed in the United States because of race. Decades of investigation point to a strong link between racism and the cruelest form of punishment: the death sen­ tence. Such a relationship suggests that racism, one of America’s oldest traits, still has the ability to determine a person’s life or death. Even before the birth of the United States, Af­ rican slaves in the newly founded colonies were struggling for justice. And even when slavery was eventually abolished in 1865, African Americans continued to face racial discrimination. While slav­ ery is no longer authorized and many more African Americans enjoy some of the same privileges as whites, it is clear that African Americans still suffer from the pains of racism – and this is most obvious in the criminal-justice system. “There is no question about how much the race of the victim influences the decision to sentence death,” said the Rev. Carroll Pickett at an Oct. 25 fo­ rum at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church. Pickett, who spent 15 years as a death house chaplain in Texas, is the acclaimed author of With­ in these Walls, a memoir about the dark world of Death Row. The color of death Dozens of death-penalty opponents gathered to hear Pickett speak. The event was part of the Day of Witness Against the Death Penalty sponsored by Presbyterian Action Against the Death Penalty. The Presbyterian Church, along with every other major religious sector, has declared its opposition to the death penalty, according to Pickett. His talk focused on the racial discrimination prevalent in death-penalty cases and how often this leads to innocent people being put to death. His most powerful claim is that racial inequity vali­ dates the often irregular and muddled delivery of capital punishment. “The capital punishment system, when it comes to race, doesn’t so much deal with the race of the defendant as much as the race of the victim,” Pick­ ett said. “People who have killed one or more white people and are charged with a capital crime are more likely to be sentenced to death than those whose victims are black.” A variety of factors, including the defendant’s race, the victim’s race and the race of the jury typi­ cally determine who receives a death sentence, he said. At least one in five African Americans executed in the United States since 1976 were tried in front of Rev. Carroll Pickett says he knew innocent men who were executed in Texas. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. all-white juries, according to Amnesty Internation­ al. In addition, over 80 percent of people executed since 1976 were convicted of killing white victims, while people of color make up more than half of all homicide victims. In Ohio, Andrew Welsh-Huggins, an Associated Press journalist, has spent years doing extensive social and statistical analysis on the role of race in capital sentencing. His findings were consistent with decades of similar research around the coun­ try that suggest that the death penalty is riddled with class and racial bias. In his book, No Winners Here Tonight, Welsh-Huggins describes the results. “Under Ohio’s 1981 capital punishment law, of­ fenders facing a death-penalty charge for killing a white person were twice as likely to go to Death Row than if they had killed a black victim,” he wrote. “In 1,081 cases in which the victim or victims were white, 193 offenders, or 17.9 percent, were sentenced to death. In 800 cases where the victim or victims were black, 68 offenders, or 8.5 percent, were sentenced to death. Moreover, in 693 cases where the victim or victims were white and the of­ fender was white, 127 offenders, or 18.3 percent, were sentenced to death. By contrast, in 752 cases where the victim or victims were black and the of­ fender was black, 63 offenders, or 8.4 percent, were sentenced to death.” Rev. Carroll Pickett with Sister Alice Gerdeman spoke about the death penlty at an Oct. 25 forum at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. Innocents executed Throughout his talk, Pickett referred to Death Row inmates with whom he had formed rich friendships. He spoke of Charlie and Leonel and of the many who, he had become convinced were not only innocent but had rehabilitated and recovered from their previous ills. “Most of these men were uneducated and im­ mature,” Pickett said. “The majority had around a seventh-grade education. They were into drugs and alcohol and didn’t have a loving support system. In prison, with the help of counselors and seasoned inmates, I watched them mature as men. I have no doubt that many of them were mentally restored before being killed.” One of Pickett’s other concerns is the number of innocent people who have been put to death or who are now awaiting death. “Our former governor, George W. Bush, has said that no innocent person in Texas has been sent to death row,” Pickett said. “I simply cannot accept this. I know there have been innocent men who have been killed.” The people who are executed aren’t the only vic­ tims of capital punishment. “There are so many victims besides the man dy­ ing,” Pickett said. “I have seen inmates, families of the executed, families of the victims, wardens, Death Row staff, district attorneys, counselors, ac­ tivists and more affected by the constant pain of putting people to death. I have seen many have nervous breakdowns and/or walk out on their jobs and even more taking heavy anti-depressants just to be able to continue work. None of this is natu­ ral.” For support in the Cincinnati area, there are many passionate individuals dedicated to help­ ing prisoners and their families suffering from the gloom of Death Row. Families that Matter, a group organized through the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, is a support group for people whose loved ones are on Ohio’s Death Row. In addition, Ohioans to Stop Executions, a statewide coalition, is studying alternatives and working for a morato­ rium on the death penalty. In No Winners Here Tonight, Welsh-Huggins quotes former State Sen. Richard Finan, who helped create Ohio’s death-penalty law, saying the law is “the spinach the state has to eat” and Gov. Ted Strickland calling the death penalty “the law of the land.” If Pickett is right and the capital-punishment system is a product of racism, does this mean that by accepting the death penalty, we accept racism? Is racism legal in America? �12 Short Story STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Riley and the Poet By Steven paul lanSky Contributing WritEr He had no interest in agents, shows, exhibits. “Life and painting is all I have time for,” he said that night as they walked out of Ronald’s. iley and the poet were sitting in Mullane’s Café having WallingThe artist had had his coffee and roll-ups. They had talked again about ford coffee. Riley’s beard was neatly trimmed and light enough synchronicity. His fingernails were brown with the resin of synchronicity. to show a slight tobacco stain at his upper lip. The poet drank His gait was even as the police cruisers’ motors. They walked eight blocks his coffee with cream, savoring the buzz, the fragrance, the bean juice up Main Street laughing large at the joke they were playing on society. that seeded his thoughts, conversation, even making his Camel bullets “We’re the real artists, poet!” Riley shouted to the boarded up buildings. and Galouise unfiltered black tobacco sing within him like a message “It’s our city, our night.” from somewhere beyond coincidence. The welfare artist, Riley, smoked The sidewalks were dry. Fall eased into winter. Arjuna, the poet, puffed Tops and Bugler roll-ups, which gave the fingers another activity between at tobacco and stumbled a bit slower. He’d had a few draughts to celebrate sips of black coffee filled with white cane sugar. Both were dressed for the leaves coming down. He envied Stone the teaching gig at Harvard and conversation, cords and shirts with collars. They shared the need for two the film deal on Can’t Stop the Rain. Arjuna had no concept of the work he brands. had yet to produce to write, publish and profit. He walked the free walk “I was rounded up once,” said the artist with the well-kept beard. of a poet in the city. What do poets think of as they walk the dirty night The poet started to reply, to ask, to mutter streets of the ghetto with their friends? They think of girls. As they age, it’s a “Huh,” but the artist was just beginning and women, man … it’s women. “We’re the real artists, the whites of his eyes grew around his lenses. “I wish I had a honey that would give me some money, money ain’t fun­ poet!” Riley shouted to the He had a small spiral flip pad and he flipped ny, and playboy bunny,” rattled the artist. The poet scowled, “Rhyme is no good, man.” boarded-up buildings. “It’s page after page of today’s drawings of stick figures, key words, street signs, names of other “I ain’t got no money, I ain’t got no honey. Where’s the bunny?” Riley our city, our night.” people he’d seen today, snippets of conversa­ made big faces showing gaps in his teeth. “I got bad teeth and no mon­ tion, where he’d seen police cruisers and van­ ey.” ity plates that had caught his attention as he had walked. Arjuna stumbled quiet and still, smoking a Galouise, dangling from a “I was picked up by the cops when I accused them of ferreting crime. long hand. See, it’s illegal for them to ferret crime.” Riley aggressively poked a finger “This is the richest country in the world,” he said as they walked past at the black vinyl table-top, spilling a little coffee. block after block of boarded up storefronts, brown pressboard unpainted The younger man was scared a bit by the artist’s anger, emphasis and but for graffiti: ROSA SHE MY LIFE! jolting finger. The jolt caused him to push back in his seat, look around the A police cruiser rolled past slow and silent. The traffic lights flashed yel­ restaurant to see if anyone had noticed the other heating up. The waitron low on a pulse. Empty 40-ouncers, dead soldiers stood on each storefront was idling at the back, the cook locked doorsill. A sad forlorn was sorting spinach for washing honking echoed over 14th Street and the busser was smoking a as Arjuna and Riley walked by the filtered ready-made and hav­ blind vacant alley, broken green ing a beer with her. It was midglass glittered on the cobbles. afternoon and there were only “That graffiti says it all, man. two other occupied tables and She my life,” said Arjuna. And Riley and the poet were there in he thought back to college when the ether, invisible and inexo­ there were young girls, pretty rably present. The odor of their and nice, and clean. brands lingered as they did. “I have a wife, and without a “Cops are allowed to stop you life. I wrote four letters to my son or check you out if you’re break­ this week,” said Riley. ing the law. I was walking across They passed Arjuna’s home. the Suspension Bridge from “The poet’s building! Yes, Covington at 4 in the morning. that’s where the Over-the-Rhine I’d been painting then gone for poet lives!” shouted Riley to the a walk. … I had my canvas on street, silent for now except for my shoulder, palette and paint the clicking of the electric traffic box on my arm. I smoked and signal boxes making their me­ walked. From their car window, chanical buzz. they asked what I was doing, Arjuna had not known the old­ and I kept walking. They fol­ er man had a family. “Come home with me,” said lowed me. I kept walking. They Riley. stopped. They asked me to stop. And they walked across Liber­ I said, ‘What for?’ and they said, “Bridge.” Painting and photo by Steven Paul Lansky. ty against the flashing red “Don’t ‘When a police officer asks you Walk” message. Both enjoyed the to stop, you stop.’ I kept walking. dark river of street ribboning away from them in the night. Well, they arrested me.” Through an exterior door that Riley quickly keyed, down an alley, over “What for?” “They searched me, illegally, and found a little weed. But they didn’t a wooden frame, up a creaking stair two flights, breathlessly; on one land­ take me to the station. I argued all the way, and they took me to University ing a round stained glass porthole, for a moment it felt like a ship, wood­ en and creaking with age. Riley’s apartment was warm, brightly lit, light Hospital and put me in Rollman’s in restraints. The doctor there, the fuck­ brown, almost yellow carpet, wood furniture, table and chairs matching ing shrink put me on some medicine.” ladder backs. An orange striped tabby leapt onto the kitchen table chasing He spat the word out with venom. “Navane.” The younger man listened and reasoned with himself. This man was a brown cockroach playfully. “Tea? Toast? I’m making eggs and bacon,” said the artist, flipping on the on the fringe of society. He had not worked at a job in years. The poet had gas stove, opening the 50s-style refrigerator with a heavy clunk. seen the way bartenders treated his friend. No dignity for the welfare art­ “Toast and tea sound OK,” said the poet, trying to decide where to sit. ist. One tender had insisted that the man should get a job. Reading his body language, Riley offered, “Sit where you want … but “He’s a leech on society,” Ned, the tender at Ronald's, had said. think about it.” They had coffee in silence for a moment. He began a sort of lesson for the younger man on body language; and “I take medicine,” said the poet. in the stoned mindset the poet became anxious, felt unwelcome, fear and The poet did not have his ponytail yet. He had dropped out of the uni­ versity after three tries. During the third try he worked at the university as a uncertainty in this man’s home annoyed him vaguely, then more so. He clerk for free tuition. After dropping out, he had quit his job. Unemployed pulled back the chair opposite the icebox, in front of the white kitchen but without welfare, he divided time between the library, research with sink. Above the water taps was a wall mural of bright swirling oranges, yel­ the welfare artist … studying him, walking with him in the wee morning lows, browns; the artist had created abstract paintings right on the walls hours, sucking weed, lounging in bars and coffeehouses. One night they of his apartment. Riley’s lessons were intimidating to Arjuna as he was danced around the novel Children of Light while a copy of it sat on a chair never sure if he was learning or just being put through some agonizing in Ronald's Bar & Grill. Three fiddles, accordion, voices raised to beauty, test. He was reminded of his own father, who had often lectured, but had not been lost in the wildness of creativity like this man. The poet’s father to loving night and hedonism. This was their answer. The poet of Over-the-Rhine spent time writing his novel and learning to had attempted always to analyze and quantify creative work, as if creative use a Macintosh taking the early drafts of A Razor, A House & A Wife—The writing was a science. Arjuna avoided contact with his father. Something Three Hardest Things to Hold, from his first novel and typing them one about elders displaced Arjuna’s confidence and shook him to his core. He modern page at a time. Riley was his contemporary but painfully without distrusted his father deeply. Arjuna imposed his larger, younger body on the room and he felt his recognition. power, his superiority over Riley. At the same time he allowed himself to “When they come to me I’ll already be discovered,” said the welfare art­ become the visitor on a friend’s turf. He struggled with superior and in­ ist. R �STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Short Story Riley and the Poet 13 ferior polarity and thought about talking to Riley about it then tucked it but one another. back in his mind to save for the therapist. Talking about the binary nature “Too angry,” said Riley. “You won’t attract any honey with that.” of the unconscious smacked of duality, which the spiritual knowledge Arjuna took a breath and wanted to bark at the older man. from the therapist seemed to undermine. Riley had no car. “I feel pity for the numb fuck who takes the piss,” said Riley. “Some of “Where are your wife and son?” Arjuna asked. these do resemble van Gogh. “The boy’s with his mother and the girl. They live in the deep South.” Why did you stop painting?” He volunteered almost nothing about them. “It’s too painful a process,” Arjuna had run across the bearded man “I’ve been sending him letters about the miracle of the universe. It Arjuna whispered. at each of these monuments on several opens up like a flower and dances down the street.” The older man came over occasions day and night. The poet was Riley’s voice took a singsong drama to it and he moved to and from the and reached a hand to the podrawn to the fountain like a moth to a poet in the kitchen with large gestures. When he grinned, his face was et’s face. His dry touch was un- flame, a convert to a temple, a seeker to huge. welcome. Arjuna pulled away. a guru, or a writer to the page. In Riley’s living room an easel stood in the center. The floor was black “You had better go now,” he with stars painted in different sizes, swirls of color led to the bathroom said loudly. and up the walls. A storage area he had built held 60 or more canvases. “OK, OK,” said Riley. “This is for you.” On the mantle was a black and white rendering of the Probasco fountain He handed Arjuna two joints. Arjuna managed a half smile. Arjuna on Fountain Square. Riley, as it turned out, had painted over 16 differ­ walked Riley to the door, followed him down the two flights of stairs and ent versions of the Probasco fountain, a stately Cincinnati icon on the locked the deadbolt behind the welfare artist. central square, and the beardless Lincoln Back in the apartment the poet lit up statue in Lytle Park standing in front of and quickly inhaled the marijuana. He the Taft Museum. Arjuna had run across felt horny, dizzy and sleepy. He went into the bearded man at each of these monu­ the tiny cramped bathroom to brush his ments on several occasions day and night. teeth. As he ran the cold water over his The poet was drawn to the fountain like a brush, he thought about Riley and shud­ moth to a flame, a convert to a temple, a dered. He wanted a woman, not this man. seeker to a guru, or a writer to the page. He spat the white-green paste into the ba­ The barefoot Riley, his dirty white socks sin. A bit of blood from his gums swelled sitting on gym shoes tucked beneath a in the sink and a very shiny, dark-brown bench, brush in hand, wide thumb held cockroach appeared in the sink. For a mo­ to the sky, measured out Lincoln with a ment Arjuna imagined he bled roaches purpose both haphazard and deliberate. from his gums. “Why are you drawn to the monu­ It was afternoon and breezy, turning ments?” asked the poet. cold. In Piatt Park the leaves were down “They have been here,” said Riley, paus­ on the walk and the green park benches. ing, then walking back from palette box to Pigeons swept away from their feet chuck­ easel. ling. “How long have you been here tonight?” “Funny thing,” said Riley. “Last election asked the spirited poet. day I ate lunch in Hyde Park at a Wool­ “I arrived, sat for awhile. As it came to worth’s lunch counter.” night, I began. I don’t wear a watch. It’s They were walking on Eighth Street to­ been several hours. Art takes time.” ward Mullane’s Café. “You have the head. … What is that on “Cheap laugh, Riley,” Arjuna interrupt­ the hill?” ed. “The monastery in Mt. Adams,” said Ri­ “No, no. Serious,” said Riley. “I was buy­ ley with a rapturous look. ing groceries next door, had borrowed the “His feet are enormous.” “Senor Tane.” Painting and photo by Steven Paul Lansky. neighbor’s car, and I walked into Wool­ Riley stopped painting, rolled a Bugler. worth’s, and there he sat. The shrink. The The poet sat on the bench and pulled a shrink who put me on that gunk.” Camel bullet from the pack, lit both men’s fags off a wooden match, flar­ “Shrink?” asked the poet. ing sulfur odor. The tobacco soothed them. The poet took off his shoes “Fucking shrink I told you about. When they arrested me that night on and socks. The street was quiet, lit with glowing globes. the bridge.” Riley rubbed his well-trimmed beard with his large dry hand, then “Woolworth’s?” touched his yellow sweater. “In a shirt and tie with loafers on. Eating soup.” They were in Arjuna’s apartment looking at his artwork. The papers “Eating soup?” were spread at their feet on the green shag rug. “Yeah, soup.” “Here’s a poem about the drawings,” said the poet. He went to a note­ “Same one?” book and riffled through sheaves of worn pages and began to read: “He didn’t recognize me at first.” “Not at first.” Ashen sky blue faces peer forsaken through “No.” wired glass only ten inches square “I watched him for a minute. Walked up slow, sat down at his elbow. He fixed stolidly in massive steel looked up.” “They searched me, illegally, painted yellow with a cool silvery “He looked up?” brushed “From his big wide bowl of steaming hot soup.” and found a little weed. But aluminum handle on the outside. “Could have been gazpacho.” they didn’t take me to the “Hot soup.” station. I argued all the way, Piss in a cold steel vessel “Oh.” and they took me to University and hand it angrily to a steely­ “Then he went back to eating soup.” Hospital and put me in eyed psychiatric technician “Did he speak?” Rollman’s in restraints.” or nurse over a narrow space of “No.” open door when the quiet room “Eating soup?” bed is changed, quickly Riley looked over. He stopped at the curb. They crossed Race Street. antiseptic and lonely Mullane’s was empty and they sat at the corner table. Riley tipped a handThis is where my artwork rolled jacket out of his tobacco wrap. The vinyl table-top was dirty. flowered with beige, gray, black, white, “So?” asked Arjuna. then titanium white, cobalt blue, lavender, Riley flared a wooden match and a bit of tobacco flamed, dropped to and all the myriad colors within me; ash on the table. The busser came over, left a tin ashtray, cleared, then artist’s crayons, watercolors, wiped the table. brushed dipped heavily in leftover coffee “What’ll it be?” asked the busser. from the breakfast tray because coffee “Coffee,” said Riley. in here only stirs me up. “Same,” said Arjuna. “Cream?” I become Vincent van Gogh for several “Yes.” days and shout at any footsteps I Before the coffee was served, the older man leaned over, mouth to the hear. I was gone for a very long time. poet’s ear. Look at my product. “I put one hand on the back of his head and before he could jerk his head I pushed his face bang into the bowl. Then I said, ‘Don’t ever do that Arjuna finished reading, paused in the middle of the room, under the again.’ He was sputtering.” bright incandescent lights. At 2:30 in the morning they disturbed no one �14 Annual Dinner STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 �STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 557-2873 681-2365 FreeStore/FoodBank 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Treatment: Men 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 721-0643 921-1613 DIC Live In Program Prospect House 241-5525 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-2256 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Treatment: Women Mt. Airy Shelter First Step Home 961-4663 961-4080 761-1480 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 351-0422 381-6672 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 721-8666 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky 721-4700 421-7803 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 381-0111 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Housing: Tender Mercies 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 621-5514 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 241-2600 241-2563 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both AA Hotline CCAT 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 661-4620 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 Other Resources 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Shelter: Both 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 458-6670 977-4489 NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach Peaslee Neighborhood Center 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 558-8888 981-5800 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 Shelter: Men 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 381-2247 Crossroad Health Center 621-6364 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 859-491-8303 Brighton Center 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 621-1868 Center for Respite Care 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 535-2719 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless Poetry Corner J.O.B. I Am I Am By anonymouS By thomaS harriS By d. Have you ever heard of J.O.B.? Boy he’s hard to for me to see Every time I go where he’s supposed to be He’s always gone just ahead of me I thought I was being smart and catching him at lunch So I went to Frisch’s on a hunch But it was just like before By the time I got off the bus he was out the door Some people say he left town I don’t believe that he’s somewhere around I feel like I am on the right track I know he feels me breathing down his back So don’t be surprised if you see me And I found J.O.B. It might be hard because he moves fast But sooner or later I’ll catch his ass. I am forgiven To be a part of Those that are Forgiven and Loved Because God is Good and He has The power to forgive Let Him judge I am forgiven And I believe there Is a place in heaven For those who forgive And are forgiven Because heaven is Made of love and forgiveness I am forgiven Because I’ve built My foundation upon my Rock Who God is, not Mankind I am mankind Mankind can be forgiven I believe mankind is Not a Rock that I Believe I believe that mankind must be forgiven I am forgiven Because I believe God made me Good but I haven’t Always been good But I want to be. Forgive me my wrongs I am forgiven I am a son Of the Forgiver Who we must be strong in our belief I am Forgiven I am determined and special I wonder what is my purpose I hear the thunder from my storm I see also the rainbow I want to know my ending I am determined and special I pretend not to be worried I feel like a cloud I touch like the wind I worry about my past calling up I cry about my situation I am determined and special I understand that chances are gifts I say live life to the fullest I dream about my past I try to be my best I hope to make a difference I am determined and special �16 Column STREETVIBES November 15 - 30, 2009 Kymber Henson:The Art of Rescue Gives voice and hope to abused children “I count my blessings every day because I am an artist”, says Kymber Henson. “I was given the ability and the will to create and express myself. Art is an intimate part of my life, essential for my well-being. It is like air; it helps me breathe, expand my lungs; also exhale and get the bad things out.” Henson, a Cincinnati artist, knew from an early age that she was good at drawing and that she wanted to be an artist; she also knew that she wanted to help people. She graduated from Edgecliff College with a major in fine arts and a minor in sociology, worked as a waitress for a while, then started her own business creating handmade clothing. Her clothes were initially fashion and designoriented, later edgier incorporating painting. In 1999 she made a jacket that proved to mean more than just esthetics. It had painted scenes from nightmares she had as a kid, including skulls, devils, snakes, scary and desolate images. It made her realize that subconsciously she was moving to a place where she had more to say. As a child, Henson had lived with abuse that she had silenced all along but also had known not to be right. Her childhood events were simmering, incubating inside her, and fi­ nally were getting out. Her art from there on became self-expres­ sion, cathartic, also geared to help others. In her artwork Henson always seeks a strong esthetic quality. Beauty is her way to draw viewers in, to get them closer to no­ tice the thought-provoking and somewhat sinister content of her themes. When she discovered batik painting on egg shells, she used the technique to create an attractive but also a frag­ mented world that often included – at first glance hidden – words reflect­ ing her concerns, feelings as and emotions. Her pieces deceive by their beauty, heavy in meaning and By Saad GhoSn messages when scrutiContributing WritEr nized. Usually triggered by an issue or a problem she has, they often end up taking a universal, larger than personal, quality. I Surrender, for instance, a 3D construction piece, started from a personal situation in which she felt no recourse and having to give up. The completed piece, however, identified easily with a large proportion of individuals who, during the Bush administra- A rtists ctivists “I Surrender” by Kymber Henson. Photo by Saad Ghosn. Kymber Henson. Photo by Saad Ghosn. tion, did not stand a chance and were helpless, powerless and mar­ ginalized. The piece consists of a naked child covered with fragmented white egg shells, implying innocence and vulnerability. The child holds in its hand a flag made of colored broken eggshells display­ ing the words, “I surrender”, and stands inside a box carpeted with batiked egg shells with the same words written everywhere, under­ lining entrapment and the inability to escape. Henson outlined the box with a soft green fabric trim, creating the feeling of a theatri­ cal stage, thus alluding to the then prevailing oppressive social and political conditions. Loving Arms Lift Me Up, another piece made using eggshells, depicts a standing little girl, her arms up, waiting for good people to lift her up and save her. It was triggered by Henson’s personal experience and her feeling of abandonment, but also by the hope she wanted to communicate not only to the abused children of the world but to all individuals who are trodden upon because of pov­ erty, racism, prejudice or politics. The theme of child abuse recurs often in Henson’s work. “I want to raise awareness about it” she says, “but also give hope that, despite all the bad, there is always light and good at the end; otherwise one cannot live on.” On one occasion she received a gift box with a Plexiglas lid; it served as a metaphor for all she was keeping inside her and that needed to get out. It opened new horizons and gave her energy and courage to connect more directly to her problems, to her sense of loss and isolation, and to reach a hopeful closure. She bought eight additional boxes, used each of them to tell a particular story from her past events and closed with the last one on a happy note. It was her personal statement but also her reaching out to others who might be dealing with similar issues. Henson’s art is also a reflection of her life with its happy and tormented moments. Using batiked eggs that she painted one a day, she created, for instance, a complete 12-month calendar. The painted images became her journal, telling the stories of moments that touched her, of unexpected events she encountered, of reflec­ tive and meditative connections she established with herself. Getting once very angry at someone she loved, she painted on canvas a series of birds, linking each to a feeling she had. In ad­ dition, she painted each bird on an egg that she encaged and dis­ played next to the canvas; it was her way to neutralize her own negative feelings, to get rid of them. Social issues have always interested Henson. The best of her is usually drawn out by people she meets who are kind, generous, compassionate and who view the world in an equal and inclusive way. They resonate with her and incite her to actively perpetuate their values through what she does. She then volunteers her time for various causes, working on social, political and environmental campaigns, hoping to make a difference. These concerns and be­ liefs usually find their way into her art. Art allows Henson to get in touch with herself, also to make a statement about who she is and what she believes in. It is also her means to reach out to others, to provide the light and the hope that might be needed on certain darkened days. “Art is my rescue,” she says. “I do not want it, however, to end with me. I hope it can also serve as a rescue to others.” Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2009 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 November 15-30, 2009 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Metropole Tenants Tell 3CDC: Hell No, We Won’t Go Women Have the Right to Safety Pg 2: The Vibe Pg 3: The Politics of Punishment Pg 4: Metropole: Hell No, We Won’t Go Continued Pg 5: Metropole: Hell No, We Won’t Go Continued Pg 6: Women Have the Right to Safety Pg 7: Bengals Are for Real This Time Pg 8: Men Fight, and the Women Suffer Pg 9: Race Can Be a Big Hairy Deal Pg 10: After the Health Insurance Bill? Pg 11: Capital Punishment: A race Issue Pg 12: Riley and the Poet Pg 13: Riley and the Poet Pg 14: Annual Dinner Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Kymber Henson: The Art of Rescue 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 November 15-30, 2009 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Jeni Jenkins Lew Moores Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Kelissa Hieber Dan Rozier Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Keara Anita Mullen Ariana Shahandeh Larry Gross Steven Paul Lansky Aimie Willhoite Jeni Jenkins Anthony Williams Bill Haigh, larissa Peppers Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremey Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF 3CDC Activists Aimie Willhoite Annual Dinner Anthony Williams Ariana Shahandeh Bengals Bill Haigh Chris Rock Dan Rozier David Heitfield Death Penalty Gregory Flannery Health Insurance Bill Humana immigration Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremey Flannery Jeremy Flannery Keara Anita Mullen Kelissa Hieber Kymber Henson larissa Peppers Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Metropole Michael Henson Paul Kopp politics Race reform Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Stephanie Dunlap Steven Paul Lansky War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/18b0f06650eefd6c536a841092244733.pdf a52b4eb6dd9175014286bdcf8b437811 PDF Text Text The Men Who Stare at Goats Film Review Youth Outreach Page 8 Page 5 Artists as Activists Page 16 STREETVIBES $1 Dec. 1-14, 2009 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 166 Hope for Chronically Homeless Jimmy Heath House starts with ‘housing first’ By Keara anita Mullen Contributing Writer O ver-the-Rhine Com­ munity Housing (OTRCH) celebrated the groundbreaking Nov. 12 of Jimmy Heath House, Cincinna­ ti’s first permanent supportivehousing project. Named in honor of the late former editor of Streetvibes, Jim­ my Heath House introduces the nationally recognized “Housing First” model as part of OTRCH’s efforts and mission to “build and sustain a diverse neighbor­ hood that values and benefits low-income residents.” About 1,685 chronically homeless people live in Hamil­ ton County, according to 2008 statistics from the Hamilton County Homeless Management Information System. Studies See Homeless, p. 7 The architectural sketch of Jimmy Heath House on Odeon Street in Over-the-Rhine. Jimmy Heath House is set to open in September 2010. Drawing courtesy of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing. Cincinnati Oracle Appears in India Buddhist guru visits new monastery By GreGory Flannery editor cate Shar Gaden Monastery, made up of monks who left the larger monastery in order to continue honoring Dorje uten Lama, head of a Tibetan Shugden. A wall separates the two insti­ Buddhist monastery in Cincin­ tutions. nati and leader Kuten Lama, abbot of of a lineage at odds with Gaden Samdrupling Mon­ the Dalai Lama, last Kuten lama is an oracle, astery in Colerain Town­ month helped inaugu­ ship, led a group of about channeling the spirit of rate a breakaway monas­ a dozen U.S. followers to Dorje Shugden, a deity tery in south India. the dedication ceremony. banned by the Dalai Kuten Lama is an ora­ Lama. Devotees believe While there he performed cle, channeling the spirit an invocation. Tibetan Dorje Shugden is a of Dorje Shugden, a de­ Buddhists believe that, “wisdom Buddha” and ity banned by the Dalai protector, while the Dalai during an invocation, Lama. Devotees believe Lama has declared him Dorje Shugden takes over Dorje Shugden is a “wis­ Kuten Lama’s body, using an evil spirit. dom Buddha” and pro­ him to convey enlightened tector, while the Dalai instruction. Lama has declared him an evil spirit. Though the practice is ancient, the Following the Dalai Lama’s ban, Gaden monks who preserve it are not without Shartse Monastery in Mundgod, India, or­ media savvy. Shar Gaden Monastery has dered its monks to sign pledges renounc­ a Facebook page and posted a photo­ ing Dorje Shugden. Monks who refused graph of the invocation. were shunned and denied food and other During the trance, Kuten Lama wield­ necessities – a policy enforced in Tibetan ed a sword, symbolizing the “wrathful Buddhist monasteries throughout India. compassion” of Dorje Shugden, severing Last month Kuten Lama helped dedi­ ignorance and egoism. K Kuten Lama performs an invocation in India. Photo by Shar Gaden Monastery. �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 11,000 the number of women and girls helped by Talbert House every year (see page 3) 18th the century in which Goya created a painting that inspired Matt Reed (see page 16) 1861 the year the city of Wyoming was founded (see page 13) 25 the number of housing units that will make up Jimmy Heath House (see page 1) $80 billion the estimated loss to the U.S. economy if employment of undocumented workers were further restricted (see page 6) $775,000 the annual cost per soldier of the U.S. war on Afghanistan (see page 13) 96 the age of Over-the- Rhine Kitchen’s longest serving volunteer (see page 11) 4 the height, in stories, of the Jim Tarbell mural at Vine Street and Central Parkway (see page 9) 1,162 the number of homeless people served by street outreach programs in Hamilton County (see page 5) 1 the number of times the head of the Army’s Intelligence and Security tried to run through a wall (see page 12) StreetWise By GreGory Flannery editor Remember the Suffering of Prisoners While many of us gathered for family feasts on Thanksgiving, many others were unable, some because they have no homes or no food. Others were unable to celebrate with loved ones because they were held in cages. Streetvibes recently received a letter from a woman at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. She asked that her name not be used. “There is so much food that gets thrown away,” she wrote. “We are not allowed to opt out of something being put on our tray. Another thing is the rule here that we cannot take anything from our tray back to our room. Often this place pays a (corrections officer). to check our pockets; and if we do try to take a piece of bread back to our rooms and they check us, the C.O.s make us throw the food away and may punish us. I realize rules are rules but that’s a dumb rule that costs taxpayers money.” Health Care is a Matter of Justice Most faith traditions urge people to be generous toward the poor and suffering at this time of year. But charity is just one expression of faith. A more useful one is solidarity in the cause of justice. People of Faith United for Health Care Reform marched Nov. 24 to the Cincinnati office of U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), presenting an open letter calling for health-care reform. “As people of faith, we want to assure that 1 in 6 children and non-elderly adults will no lon­ ger have to live sicker and risk dying younger because they cannot get needed health care,” the letter said. “Medical care will no longer be the cause of financial ruin for families, institu­ tions, businesses and governments. All people must have the health care they need regardless of their income or the state of their health. “The 45,000 annual deaths due to lack of needed health care, as noted in the recent Harvard report, are a profound reminder about how important it is to make comprehensive and com­ passionate reform happen this year. This tragic and needless loss of human life is evidence that we as a nation have lost our moral courage and our faith-inspired call to care for everyone as a brother and sister.” Among the people signing the letter were the Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., the Rev. Thomas E. Bre­ identhal, the Rev. Sharon Dittmar, the Rev. Paula Jackson, Dean James A. Diamond, the Rev. Elmer Martin, Bishop E. Lynn Brown and the Rev. Joanna Leiserson. Tell Strickland to Stop Killing People Distressing though it is that in 2009 tens of millions of Americans lack access to health care, even more disturbing is the purposes to which some medical technology is put – namely, the deliberate killing of human beings. After a series of botched executions, the state of Ohio is now set to try a new method for poisoning condemned prisoners. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio is asking citizens to contact Gov. Ted Strickland and urge him to stop state-sanctioned murder. “In light of overwhelming problems with past executions, the state announced new lethal in­ jection procedures … (that) have never been used in any other state and are largely untested,” the ACLU says. “The state plans to implement these unproven procedures as soon as possible. There are currently seven men scheduled to be executed in the next seven months, with the first date rapidly approaching on Dec. 8. “By rushing to implement these experimental new procedures, the risk is greater than ever that something may go wrong in the execution chamber. These procedures do little to remedy the problems Romell Broom experienced during his botched execution. Also, they do not ad­ dress the reality that Ohio’s execution team is ill-equipped and unqualified to perform these complex medical procedures.” While you’re shopping and decorating for the holidays, please take a few minutes to contact Strickland at 614-466-3555 with this message: “Ohio's death penalty system is fundamentally broken. Please put a halt to all executions now.” Sweeping the Poor from Their Homes Not all government activity is quite so pernicious. Some is just silly, except when seen in the context of its larger goals. Thus the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is accepting registration for the 2010 Fountain Square Broomball League. Yes, your tax dollars at work. It’s worth remembering that, while 3CDC is turning Fountain Square into a playground, less than two blocks away it’s preparing to force out 200 low-income residents of the Metropole Apartments. The city-subsidized 3CDC wants to convert the building into a boutique hotel. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless urges people to contact Steve Leeper, CEO of 3CDC, and urge him to back off. Write sleeper@3cdc.org and tell him to let the residents of the Metropole keep their homes. STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Lew Moores, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Kelissa Hieber, Dan Rozier, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Keara Anita Mullen, Ariana Shahandeh, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams, Bill Haigh, Clarissa Peppers Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are members of: �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 8 By MarGo Pierce Contributing Writer A n addiction is an addiction and so all we need to do is get people into treatment when they hit rock bottom and they will get clean or sober. Right? Wrong. Women in particular must deal with a myriad of issues that could easily be dismissed as extraneous by a program that focuses only on getting the drugs out of a person’s system and teaching her to, “Just say no.” At Talbert House, this means assisting women in a variety of settings with getting the necessities of life for them and their children – shelter, food, mental-health services – so they can focus on overcoming their addiction for good. Cathy Jo Veroni, Talbert House’s director of Women’s and Court Services, oversees a halfway house for women; Pathways, a communitybased treatment program for women with misdemeanor or felony convictions; and a jailbased chemical-dependency program. The Rewards Jail Intervention program uses “gender-responsive techniques” to assess and treat female addicts, including education and intensive discharge planning that addresses chemical dependency, mental health, prostitution and other criminal behavior. These are proven drug rehabilitation methods that respond to the specific needs of women; it isn’t a men’s program with pink paperwork. “We know that women are very relational,” Veroni says. “In other words, relationships are really important to them, and the kinds of relationships that they’re in dictate a lot of the behaviors and the choices that they make. The other thing about women that’s really different about men in treatment is women are very verbal. They need to talk, and they need to talk about their feelings. Men tend to need to talk about how they think. They’ll continue to talk with you, they’ll debate with you. They’re there with you as long as you’re there with them … and on their side.” During that talking, lots of issues arise because women aren’t solely defined by their 3 Column M I N U T E S O pe ni ng a D o o r For female addicts out in the cold, Talbert House opens a door addiction, Veroni says. “The other thing that we have to touch on is the fact that most of them are parents,” she says. “When they walk in the front door, they want somebody to know that they’re worried about their kids. They want to tell somebody what it is they need to do for their children. “Financially, most of our women are living at a poverty level, so housing and food are major concerns that we need to address right away.” Most of the women Ve­ roni works with come to her through the legal system. Fre­ quently they have a charge of possession or using drugs and maybe something else related to their addiction that supports their habit, such as theft or prostitution. “Typically our women have been through trauma at some point in their life – many of them physical or sexual abuse as children by family mem­ bers; women are typically abused by family members, people they know,” Veroni says. “If you’ve been abused by someone in a trusted rela­ tionship, it’s more emotionally damaging, so we get a lot of mental illness symptoms as a result of that. “Consequently, the rela­ tionship choices they make aren’t healthy; they get into adult relationships that are also abusive. Almost all wom­ en who’ve engaged in prostitution have received some form of abuse.” In the midst of all that turmoil and dealing with what society has deemed inappropriate, these women live, love, laugh and really aren’t all that different from anyone else. “It’s the humanness in them that I find very easy to relate to,” Veroni says. “I don’t have a drug addiction. I’ve never been arrested … but just the way they view the world, their experiences, their spot in the community, is real close to mine. “They don’t love their children any less than I love my children. They don’t love their parents any less. Their friends are just as important to them. They’re just as sensitive – their feelings are hurt just as easily as mine are.” Unfortunately, most people see the addiction without bothering to acknowledge the person. Cathy Jo Veroni, Talbert House’s director of Women’s and Court Services, oversees a halfway house for women. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. “It’s gotten better over the years, but I certainly think that something all drug addicts deal with is the stigma associated with, ‘They’re bad people,’ ‘There’s something wrong with them.’ Women deal with that a bit more because women are supposed to be at home taking care of their children,” Veroni says. “They’re supposed to be the homemaker; and when they’re not, it’s looked upon with more shame than men.” A significant part of transforming that way of seeing themselves and their old behaviors is a cognitive-therapy approach called Truthought. It’s a way to help women identify thinking barriers, such as a refusal to admit fears as a way to avoid embarrassment, and provides examples of how to replace them with “responsible thinking steps,” such as admitting fears and trusting others to help. The Truthought pocket-sized bro- chure resides in many wallets and purses throughout Hamilton County, serving as a quick reminder, according to Veroni. Meeting women where they’re at with their fear, worry and addiction is what these female-centric programs are about, with absolutely no judgmentalism allowed. “It’s really an unconditional regard,” Veroni says. “We don’t want them to feel ‘less than’ even if they’ve made bad choices before they got to us or after they’ve left us. Not everybody gets it the first time. “Our intention is to always be there for them, for there to be an open door,” she says. “That’s our main message to the women – even if they’re not ready for treatment, and some of them are court-ordered … if we can just have a positive relationship with them, when they are ready, they’ll remember, ‘Oh, (this person) was nice to me even when I wasn’t in a good place.’ And so when they come back, we welcome them with open arms.” In 2008, Pathways served 350 women, and approxi­ mately 450 women were served through Rewards Jail Intervention. Talbert House assists approximately 11,000 women and girls every year with outpatient services, adolescents’ programs, com­ munity groups and welfareto-work job readiness assis­ tance. The newest initiative is a mentoring program for women recovering from addiction. For emergency care, call the crisis hotline at 513-281-2273. If you think you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or alcohol, call Adult Services at 513-641-4300 or Adolescent Outpatient at 513321-8286 so they can receive unconditional support. Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in the Queen City. “Eight Minutes” is an opportunity to learn who those people are and what motivates them to be a positive influence. �4 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News Demanding Justice from Chiquita Company convicted of funding right-wing terror group By SaMantha GroarK Contributing Writer of dollars to the United SelfDefense Forces of Colombia, known by the Spanish acro­ hen investors nym AUC. George Washingarrived Nov. 16 ton University’s National Sefor a meeting at curity Archive describes AUC Chiquita, protesters stood as an “illegal right-wing antioutside company headquar- guerrilla group tied to many ters downtown in defense of of the country’s most noto­ those who have been affected rious civilian massacres.” by the company’s support of The U.S. State Department right-wing terrordeclared the AUC a ists in Colombia. terrorist organizaTwo human “We are here tion in 2001. rights groups – because Chiquita The protesters 8th Day Center gathered to demand has committed for Justice and justice for Colombihuman rights Witness for Peace ans who have been violations” – protested in - Sam Pettinichi harmed by Chiq­ an effort to hold uita’s economic and executives acpolitical policies, countable for the company’s according to Candice Cama­ payments to terrorist groups, rgo, an organizer for Witness payments the groups say led for Peace. to the murders of thousands Union leader Gerrardo of poor laborers in the re- Tajamarca, who has witgion. nessed terrorist activity allegChiquita is the only U.S. edly tied to Chiquita, spoke to corporation ever to plead the protesters. guilty to violating the U.S. “We are here so people can Anti-Terrorism Act. Carl H. see the truth about who got Lindner Jr., the billionaire rich off these murders,” he Cincinnati businessman, was said. “Chiquita does not reCEO of Chiquita from 1984 gret making these payments to 2001. During his leader- and refuses to give compenship, Chiquita executives sation to its victims. Chiquita paid hundreds of thousands does not regret paying terror- W Protestors gathered to demand justice for Colombians who have been harmed by Chiquita’s economic and political policies. Photo by Clarissa Peppers. ists to threaten its workers and their communities. They are still guilty.” In March 2007, Chiquita pleaded guilty to paying the AUC more than $1.7 million during a six-year period, from 1997-2004. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Chiquita will pay a $25 million criminal fine to the U.S. government over five years. In accepting the fines, the prosecution agreed not to name or prosecute the executives involved in ordering the payments. None of the money will go to victims or their families. In addition to 8th Day Center for Justice and Witness for Peace activists, several Xavier University students attended. “We are here because Chiquita has committed human rights violations,” said Sam Pettinichi, president of Xavier University Students for Economic Justice. “This is particularly important to us as students at Xavier because former CEO Carl Lindner has been a major donor to our university.” Art and Culture of Over-the-Rhine SCPA students explore neighborhood in pictures and words By olivia haMilton Contributing Writer ates art-education programs for youth and adults designed to foster community engage­ eginning in Au- ment. gust, 21 juniors and SCPA students began seniors from the the New Voices program by School for Creative and Per- learning basic photographic forming Arts engaged in a composition and technique. photography and The class met with writing program community leadthat sought to The dialogue that ers such as Bonnie connect them to resulted gave Neumeier of the the community of SCPA and the Peaslee Neighbor­ Over-the-Rhine in Drop Inn Center hood Center , Kelly new and meaningLeon of 3CDC and the chance ful ways. Jeni Jenkins of the to develop Students were Cincin­ cross-cultural Greater encouraged to understanding nati Coalition for form and express the Homeless to that could their own opinhave a positive gather information ions about issues impact on the about the comaffecting the comcommunity of munity that they munity as they un- Over-the-Rhine. could incorporate dertook a variety of into their art. Stuphotography and dents also toured writing assignments. Working Washington Park and learned with diverse institutions such about the history of the area. as the Drop Inn Center and Finally, students went out the Cincinnati Center City into the neighborhood and Development Corp. (3CDC), began photographing. students sought to broaden After touring the Drop Inn their understanding of the Center and learning about its community in which their mission, students began to new school will be located as work collaboratively with the of fall 2010. residents of the center who The class, called “New were involved in an ongoing Voices,” is produced by Prai- creative-writing group. The rie Inc., a non-profit organi- students began by listening zation in Northside that cre- to the residents read some B An image created by a student in the New Voices program. Photo by Asia. of their writing and in turn shared their photography with the residents. In later weeks students produced portraits of residents, and both groups engaged one another in an artistic collaboration using writing and photographic images. “We are: What this world has made us. What made me different in life. No better than what we think ourselves to be,” wrote Adrian, an SCPA student, and Calvin, a resident. The dialogue that resulted gave SCPA and the Drop Inn Center the chance to develop cross-cultural understanding that could have a positive impact on the community of Over-the-Rhine. Images and writing from the program can be viewed on the New Voices Web site, cincinnatinewvoices.com. The opening reception of the New Voices work will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the Miami University Center for Community Engagement, 1300 Vine St. The show will remain open from 2-5 p.m. the remainder of that week and through the following week. �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News To Get Youth Off the Streets 5 Youth outreach workers distribute necessities and offer hope By valerie FeSSler Contributing Writer T hree times a week Lea Drury and Nelson Troché drive a beige van marked “Lighthouse Youth Services” through the city of Cincinnati, passing out basic essentials such as food and water to homeless young adults. They are outreach and caseworkers for Anthony House, a dropin center for people, especially those who are homeless, ages 18­ 24. Anthony House provides food, clothing, showers, basic medi­ cal care, laundry facilities, social-service referrals, anonymous HIV testing, pregnancy testing, birth certificates and identifica­ tion, mail service, Internet access and housing assistance. But rather than wait for homeless youth to come to Anthony House, Drury, 31, and Troché, 32, go in search of them. They pass out sandwiches, water, condoms and harm-reduction kits, hop­ ing to make homeless youth safer in their life decisions. It is un­ realistic to believe prostitution will disappear from the city in the near future or that all drug use will cease, but educating homeless youth and giving them the tools to be safe is one step in the right direction. Troché and Drury approach people on the street when distrib­ uting items, asking, “Do you know anyone that is homeless who needs help?” Many often respond by saying, “Yeah, that’s me” or “I know someone who is.” Troché says they use this approach in order to not offend anyone and because sometimes it is difficult to distinguish who is homeless. Over time, the outreach workers learn where various homeless youth hang out, such as on the banks of the Ohio River. Drury began volunteering for Lighthouse Youth Services because she is interested in social justice and wanted to be a full-time case­ worker. She has been working full-time with Lighthouse for three years. Troché has been working as a full-time caseworker for more Anthony House is a daytime, drop-in shelter for homeless youth. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. Leah Drury and Nelson Troché, outreach workers at Lighthouse Youth Services, offer help and necessities to homeless youth hanging out at the library. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. than a year. He has a background in HIV work and community work with lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. Many young adults face homelessness because they are booted out of the foster-care system at age 18 with no place to go, no job skills, no rental history for landlords and sometimes with no highschool diploma. Others are raised in broken homes where violence and drugs might be all they know. Some suffer from mental illness and end up on the streets. “The most challenging part of my job is that they are just kids,” Troché says. “At the end of the day, I do good work by helping to give them the basics.” The youth who visit Anthony House are greeted with open arms. Caseworkers build relationships with their clients in order to teach homeless young adults the basic necessities of life. Through the transitional-living program, casework­ ers help homeless young adults move from the streets into apartments and help them find jobs. During a recent van ride, Drury and Troché stopped at a Kroger store to pick up fried chicken and side dishes in order to feed the youth at Anthony House. The first level of Anthony House contains several comput­ ers, a couch, a kitchen, tables, a shower and laundry facili­ ties. The next level holds office space and desks for outreach and caseworkers, along with a nurse’s station. The upper­ most level serves as a pantry for food and storage of donated clothes for the homeless. Drury says she has learned the necessity of knowing when to stop working. “I have learned not to bring my work home,” she says. “It is not helpful to my clients to be up all night worrying, because I am ineffective the next day.” In Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 1,162 men, women and children were served by street outreach programs in 2008, according to the Homeless Management Information System’s annual report. Anthony House recently extended its operation from 10 hours per week to five hours per day. It is now open from 1-6 p.m. weekdays. The outreach and caseworkers hope that one day Anthony House will be a 24-hour facility where beds and overnight services will be available. 1128 Walnut St Pizza by the Slice Become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook Tues and Thurs Buffet($7.00)-11AM-2PM Wed-Thur-Fri-Sat 9PM-3AM http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati �6 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News Wage Theft:The Forgotten Crime Workers organizing; new law proposed By eli Braun Contributing Writer L ow-wage workers and supporters gathered Nov. 19 in loca­ tions across Cincinnati to condemn wage theft – the illegal underpayment or non-payment of wages. The events organized by the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers’ Cen­ ter were replicated in over 40 cities across the country to commem­ orate the National Day of Action to Stop Wage Theft. Wage theft is a national crime wave robbing millions of workers of billions of dollars. On busy intersections, activists passed out educational fliers and held signs saying, “Thou shall not steal. Stop wage theft now.” The group could be seen at 5 a.m. in Walnut Hills, 1 p.m. in Carthage and 4 p.m. downtown. ‘End the robbery’ “The goal is to draw attention to wage theft in our communi­ ties,” said organizer Dan Moore of the Cincinnati Interfaith Work­ ers’ Center. “We need to connect workers to resources to end the robbery of working families and educate Cincinnatians that these violations cannot stand.” Low-wage workers are cheated of an aver­ age $51 per week out of $339 in weekly earn­ 1 in 4 were paid less ings, according to a recent study of workers in than the legally required New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The minimum wage, and 3 out report, “Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers: of 4 who worked overtime Violations of Employment and Labor Laws in America’s Cities,” was authored by scholars at hours were not paid the legally required overtime. several university and non-profit institutions. Among the workers surveyed, 1 in 4 were More than 2 out of 3 experienced at least one paid less than the legally required minimum pay-related violation in the wage, and 3 out of 4 who worked overtime hours were not paid the legally required over­ week before the study. time. More than 2 out of 3 experienced at least one pay-related violation in the week before the study. “We estimate that workers lose an average of $2,634 annually due to workplace violations, out of total earnings of $17,616,” the authors concluded. Employers were creative in stealing workers’ wages: promising higher wages but paying only the minimum, paying less than mini­ mum wage, not paying for all hours worked, misclassifying workers as exempt from overtime pay, deducting transportation or equip­ ment “fees,” stealing tips, misclassifying workers as independent contractors or simply not paying workers at all. Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune has formed a new Wage Theft and Worker Misclassification Task Force, which will attempt to quantify the impact of these violations. These violations impact not only the workers themselves, but every taxpayer as well. As many as 92,500 Ohio workers were mis­ classified in 2005, according to the county resolution authorizing the new task force. Misclassifications ultimately deprived the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation of $103 million in premiums and the Department of Revenue of $36 million in lost taxes. Legislation is moving at the state level to help rectify abuses. In Pedro Alverado speaks during a press conference to mark the Na­ tional Day of Action to Stop Wage Theft. Photo by Dan Moore. November, State Sen. Sue Morano introduced the Wage Protec­ tion Act (S.B. 212), which would empower the state commerce de­ partment to investigate complaints beyond minimum wage. Ohio is one of only five states that does not investigate disputes when workers have already received the minimum. On the national level, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Cal.) intro­ duced the Wage Theft Prevention Act (H.R. 3303), which begins the statute of limitations from the date an employer is notified of an investigation instead of the date of the alleged theft. Under current law, delays in pursuing lost wages, often at no fault of the workers, can result in permanent loss of back pay. Workers’ victories Client-based advocacy happens daily at the Cincinnati Inter­ faith Workers’ Center (CIWC), headquartered in Over-the-Rhine. Since its founding in 2005, the small organization has taken over 500 wage-theft reports and helped recover over $500,000 in unpaid wages. Last month CIWC assisted a group of 357 mostly AfricanAmerican day laborers win a $75,000 settlement against Laborworks and Schwans/Red Baron Pizza. The settlement will pay workers’ wages that were never paid or were decep­ tively withheld for “transportation fees.” CIWC assists in numerous individual cases, including, for example, a Cincinnati landscaper who was robbed of $30,000 when his employer refused to pay overtime wages. The land­ scaper had worked a year’s worth of 80-hour weeks, which of­ ten kept him away from his wife and children. Cincinnati resident Frazier Kidd spoke at the CIWC press conference marking the National Day of Action to Stop Wage Theft. He explained his struggle after being cheated of prom­ ised wages and CIWC intervention. “I had to make decisions on whether to pay rent or buy food,” he said. Day laborers and the CIWC recently succeeded in raising wages from below minimum wage to $10.90 an hour for near­ ly 50 trash-sorters at Rumpke Recycling. “This change allowed hard-working employees to move out of shelters,” says CIWC Executive Director Don Sherman. “CIWC is devoted to empowering workers to challenge dan­ gerous working conditions and to protect their hard-earned pay. Immigrant and low-wage workers are standing up against Activists gather at 5 a.m. in Walnut Hills to reach out to immigrant and low-wage employers that unfairly make their money on the backs of workers. Photo by Dan Moore. working people.” �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News Hope for Chronically Homeless continued FroM PaGe 7 1 show that chronically homeless people are often caught in a cycle that keeps them alternating between the streets and shelters, with jails and hospitals usually not far behind – an expensive and de­ structive cycle for the individuals themselves as well as the com­ munity. The Housing First model creates structured, supportive housing that gives homeless people a permanent residence. The approach is a rapid re-housing method that serves as an alternative to emer­ gency shelters and transitional living arrangements, decreasing the time that individuals remain homeless. Housing First is based on the belief that people are more responsive to in­ terventions and social services after they are in their Housing First is own housing, rather than in a temporary or transi­ based on the belief tional limbo. With permanent residency established, oncethat people are more responsive to homeless people can begin to reclaim their lives and confidence, which is often lost in the seemingly endinterventions and social services after less cycle that traps many individuals. With a focus on they are in their own self-reliance, Housing First residences provide crisis housing, rather than intervention to address immediate needs in order to in a temporary or transition people to stability. In addition to housing, transitional limbo. the model includes an individualized and structured plan of action and a support system, building skills to keep people in housing. Jimmy Heath House will actually consist of six buildings on Odeon Street. The 25-unit residence will be monitored, with only one entry to the facility and a front-desk staff with surveillance, but OTRCH encourages a balance of making sure that residents will have freedom to move toward independence. The hope is that common areas will draw residents out of their private rooms and into interpersonal relationships with other tenants. This peer-sup­ port network can be beneficial to creating a healthy community and encouraging positive steps toward larger goals. Residents will have access to a part-time clinician, a case man­ ager and a service coordinator, though they are not required to use these services. Each resident will have a case manager and will be encouraged to utilize supportive services, but as long as house rules are followed and rent is paid, the residents will be responsible for their own decision-making. Jimmy Heath House will partner with neighborhood services such as the Elm Street Heath Clinic, the Alcoholism Council of the Cincinnati Area, the Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Service, Health Care for the Homeless, the FreeStore FoodBank’s direct rent program, Consumer Credit Counseling Services and the Homeless Individuals Partnership Program. These services, as well as many other resources in the community, will provide the resi­ dents with a support system intended to help them achieve their goals, end the cycle of homelessness and support capable, contrib­ uting citizens in the community. Jimmy Heath House is scheduled to open in autumn 2010. Each resident will be screened, with help from organizations such as the Drop Inn Center. Residents will not have to leave the facility if they follow the house rules, but can work with caseworkers to find their own future housing if that is what they want. Heath, a photographer and community activist, died in 2007. He Jimmy Heath was the editor of Streetvibes until his death in December 2007. Photo by Jim Montgomery arrived homeless in Over-the-Rhine in 1995, eventually finding his way to the Drop Inn Center. He wrote that there he found hope and recovery, a new direction for his life and inspiration for his photography. After Heath graduated from the Drop Inn Center's Live-in Recovery Program, the late Buddy Gray – leader of the movement to create solutions These services, as well as many for homelessness in Cincinnati other resources in the community, – encouraged his involvement will provide the residents with a in the Over-the-Rhine commusupport system intended to help them nity and his use of the camera as achieve their goals, end the cycle of a tool for documentation. homelessness and support capable, Heath attempted to dispel contributing citizens in the community. myths and negative stereotypes associated with Over-the-Rhine. He depicted everyday life in an affirming way, showing the beauty of the people and places in his community, while at the same time documenting the struggles and the reality that many, such as the future residents of the house named after him, face on a daily ba­ sis. Don’t Grow Your Playoff Beard Yet Bengals relaxed against the easy foe By B. cliFton BurKe Contributing Writer I n Week 10, the Cincin­ nati Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second time in 2009 and the golden-brick road to the Playoffs opened up before them. Fans and pundits fi­ nally opened their eyes and agreed that, despite a dismal team history, the Bengals were a contender this season after all. The team was proud and the city elated. Then Cincinnati lost to the Oakland Raiders the following week and instantly fell back to the ranks of mere mortals yet again. If pressed to find a weak­ ness on this Bengal team, one might point to the pattern of letdown efforts they have produced following landmark wins this season. The first example of this trend came in an overtime win to the Cleveland Browns after Cincinnati's first win against Pittsburgh. A win is a win, but the game should not have come down to a field goal in the final seconds of overtime – a kick that some believed never actually went through the uprights. Then the Houston Texans caught Cincinnati by surprise and beat them in Week 6 after the emotional win against the Ravens in Baltimore. Most re­ cently, the Bengals handed Oakland a win by coughing up two fourth-quarter fumbles in a late-game meltdown. It's easy to forget that these teams are made up of human beings who are bound to ex­ perience stretches of physi­ cal fatigue and adrenaline dumps, but not even that excuse holds up in the NFL. Marvin Lewis likes to point out to his team that whoever they play that week gets paid to win football games, too, and if his team is unable to take the task seriously, they will fail. The situation was ripe for a setback. After five straight divisional wins and gaining a foothold atop the AFC North, the upcoming stretch of Oak­ land on the road, followed by two home games against the Browns and Detroit Lions, must have seemed like ap­ proaching the intersection of Easy Street and Playoff Way for the Bengals. Had they cruised through those three games, the people of Cincin­ nati could have comfortably begun to grow their playoff beards. But after the Oakland debacle, the razor remains on the sink. Letting up against lesser opposition isn't the worst characteristic a team can posses, but it's something the great ones have learned to avoid. The Bengals are a dis­ ciplined, well-coached team that out-muscles the toughest but relaxes against the softest of foes. The conundrum is proof that the coaches have a few more lessons to pound into the players' heads before January. The Raiders provid­ ed the valuable lesson that stresses: If you keep a team in the game long enough, they will fight back and put them­ selves into a position to beat you. Carson Palmer has said that his team is not yet good enough to win the Super Bowl; if they can learn to take their competition seriously, no matter what the record, they will be that much closer to doing just that. �8 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Issues Immigration Benefits Americans The road to poverty is paved with good interventions By denniS nicholS Contributing Writer T he past three decades in America have seen pretty near a consensus emerge that immigration is a drag on the economy, especially illegal immigration. That consensus is mostly wrong, according to a recent study by a well-known foundation. Various advocates have compiled data to buttress their ar­ guments that illegals are a pox on society and toxic to prosper­ ity, never mind that the influx coincided with record national prosperity and ended when jobs became scarce. A Google search Nov. 14 on the terms “illegal” and “immi­ gration” and “costs” turned up 3.06 million hits. The first three were these: • “Illegal Immigration Costs California $10.5 Bil­ lion Annually” (http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/ Latin American demonstrators at the U.S. Capitol. REUTERS/Jose Luis Magana. immigrationnaturalizatio/a/caillegals.htm). Excerpt: “A new study from the Federation for American Im­ migration Reform (FAIR) examines the costs of educa­ tion, health care and incarceration of illegal aliens and concludes that counters that allege costs of more than $800 billion resulting from il­ the costs to Californians is $10.5 billion per year.” legal immigration. It looks like Bill O’Reilly sounds. The introduction • “Cost of Illegal Immigrants” (FactCheck.org). Excerpt: “Q: Do illegal runs to more than 2,500 words, and its paragraphs average 364 words. immigrants cost $338.3 billion dollars a year? More than the Iraq war? A: A chain e-mail that makes this claim is loaded with errors and mis­ Fear wins votes leading assertions. Published studies vary widely but put the cost to government at a small fraction of that total. … The Urban Institute put Move down the list of hits, and you can find a few dissenting views, but the the net national cost at $1.9 billion in 1992; a Rice University professor, pattern is clear. The people posting this material are generally agreed: Immi­ whose work the Urban Institute criticized, said it was $19.3 billion in gration hurts. 1993.” Are they right? Or is the general agreement that immigrants are a burden • “Immigration Counters.com – Live Counters, News, Resources, Facts” one of those things that everybody knows, but just isn’t so? Excerpt? Not going to try. The Web site’s sulfurous home page features One reason we have so little objective information about the effects of im­ seven flashing links in red text and 12 – count them, 12 – numeric migration is that there’s so little demand for good research. Illegal immigrants aren’t a voting constituency, and candidates for office can usually do bet­ ter by raising fears than by suggesting contrary notions. And neither can­ didates nor bigots need research studies to talk like Lou Dobbs. Xenopho­ bia has been a winning tactic since at least the time of Xenophon. But some useful research is available. Much of it is advocacy, similar to economic studies done for hire at the University of Cincinnati, such as the one telling Cincinnatians what a great investment the stadiums would be. But even the advocacy studies can be useful, and some of the work is honest research by first-rate scholars. A pair of recent reports cast some light on the subject. The Immigration Policy Center has published “New Americans in The Buckeye State: The Political and Economic Power of Immigrants, Latinos and Asians in Ohio.” It falls into the category of advocacy. The Immigra­ tion Policy Center is part of the American Immigration Council, which supports the interests of immigrants. That’s fine, but it’s not impartial. This brief report summarizes the growing importance of immigrants, legal and illegal, in Ohio’s economy and civil life. It notes, for example, that “39.6 percent of Ohio’s foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor’s or higher degree in 2007, compared to 23.3 percent of native- HOLIDAY SALE!!! See Immigration, p. 10 Refurbished G3 Mac Computers for only $39 through December! (regular price $64) Proceeds benefit Media Bridges Your local nonprofit media center Visit www.mediabridges.org or call 513-651-4171 for details, or stop by 1100 Race St. to pick one up today. Say ! ? t a h W “If the lower classes are strong enough, or, in other words, if the lower classes can cause enough disruption in the society, the elites and more affluent may be wiling to give them concessions in order to remove this threat to the overall status quo.” - Harold R. Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality _________ �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Reader’s Input ‘Just Another Brick in the Wall’ 9 We don’t need no gen-tri-fi-ca-tion By GreGory Flannery editor R esidents of Over-the-Rhine and Streetvibes readers have plenty to say about the four-story mural of Jim Tarbell at Vine Street and Central Parkway. More than 100 people have submitted cartoon “balloons” voicing what they imagine the humongous Tarbell would be saying. Artworks, a non-profit arts organization, placed the mural of the former vice mayor at a key entry point to Over-the-Rhine without soliciting input from the neighborhood. In a joint community engagement project, Streetvibes joined students from Miami University, Northern Kentucky University and Chatfield College in circulating photos of the mural with cartoon bubbles for residents and readers to fill in. Most of the comments received so far allude to Tarbell’s support for the kind of economic development that equates with gentrification – displacing poor people to make room for wealthier people; his opposition to the Drop Inn Center; and his disdain for the late Buddy Gray, its founder. Some comments refer to Tarbell’s costume, reminiscent of the late “Peanut Jim,” an elderly man famous for selling peanuts in downtown Cincinnati. Some of the comments are reproduced here. The college students hope to present all the cartoon bubbles in a public exhibit. ? m ? s y i c lit t? ust ul a “This way to the “R qua men . J utif e ce at a ethnic cleansing.” n I pla th s be ” s ind hi e. i D m f t ur t , o c r y l e d ve al it d e u !” N at rch B , ad k a y o e b lo H “ my t o g e’s n o e e h m t o “S carry ’s to e man t i h .” w n e d bur “For I wi my next ll ma ke a trick, home ll th less peop e disa le ppe ar!” “I am kind of a big “Welcom thee to deal.” that caRhine, a pl Overfor ace n be pean bought uts.” r u o d y is n i e m all th .” “H l p ey, Bu eo es, way p u box o a ddy, o c y a n g you sp “If ndow ould wi rty w us mo are re e v o p Vine? ” “Gentrif ication i s a myt Lalalala. h. I can’t hear yo u.” “Ec abs on here o o s s m a Inn lute ic m who p , have a l l a “I don’t hate poor “May osper nd help Ce ly. B ix? r p , e a nte ut Y thriv od time o the people. Just take d o o g t r w th es, really fellow man incinnati.” C mo ill h e D your problems your less b d o r G ve.” ave op . same elsewhere.” to �10 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 National Issues Immigration Benefits Americans continued FroM PaGe 8 • born persons age 25 and older.” That’s interesting, and it’s important, but it does not refer to Mexi­ can drywall installers and lawn-care workers. The Immigration Policy Center has other, more extensive research data and reports available. Nevertheless, the organization has a mis­ sion, and we can reasonably expect its beliefs and commitments to inform its priorities and its conclusions. Remember this: The most profound bias in any research is not the slant, but the choice of what to study. Legalization helps everyone The Cato Institute has published a research report titled, “Restric­ tion or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigra­ tion Reform.” The Cato Institute is what most “The past three decades in America have people will call conser­ vative – very conserva­ seen pretty near a consensus emerge that tive – although the insti­ immigration is a drag on the economy, especially illegal immigration. That consensus tute disputes the term. Its Web site explana­ is mostly wrong.” tion leans towards the term “libertarianism” or “market liberalism.” Not everybody likes the Cato Institute, but it’s a respected founda­ tion. Here’s the center-left Wikipedia on Cato: “The Cato Institute is a pro-free market, right wing think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. … The Cato Institute is non-partisan, and its scholars’ views are not consistently aligned with either major political party. … During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Cato scholars criticized both ma­ jor-party candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama.” The last phrase was for Wikipedia users who forgot who ran for president last year. Cato commissioned Australian academics Peter B. Dixon and Maureen T. Rimmer to conduct the study. “Peter Dixon is the Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor and Maureen Rimmer is a Se­ nior Research Fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies at Monash Uni­ versity in Australia,” the report says. It explains their research model in more detail than most lay readers would require. (See www.cato. org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10438/print.) Dixon and Rimmer calculated the effect on the U.S. economy of seven different policy approaches. The scenarios were: 1. Tighter border enforcement. 2. Tighter internal enforcement. 3. Liberalized entry, assuming no change in immigrant char­ acteristics. 4. Liberalized entry with increased worker mix. 5. Liberalized entry with increased worker skills. 6. Liberalized entry with visa charge to neutralize immigration change. 7. Liberalized entry with visa charge to maximize economic benefits. They calculated six effects of the policies: • Direct effect: The change in U.S. gross domestic output di­ rectly attributable to illegal immigrants or guest workers, minus the change in the cost to the economy of employing them. • Occupation-mix effect: Restricting immigration opens up opportunities for U.S. workers in low-skill, low pay jobs, but at the same time makes the economy smaller, curtailing higher-skilled occupations with higher pay. Capital effect: Changes in the supply of labor affect capital formation and its ownership, foreign or domestic. • U.S. employment effect: Equilibrium unemployment is higher in low-skill jobs, so changes in the occupation mix will change long-term aggregate employment beyond that quantified in the occupation-mix effect for the current pe­ riod. • Public-expenditure effect: The change in the cost of schools, hospitals, police services and other public services. • Macro-price effect: The change in domestic and foreigntrade prices that would result from the change in the labor supply. • Here is the meat of their conclusions: • Border enforcement hurts average households. Approach 1, tighter border enforcement, would significantly dam­ age the economic interests of U.S. households. The loss to the U.S. economy to effect a 28.6 percent reduction in the employment of illegals by 2019 is forecast at 0.55 percent of GDP, or $80 billion an­ nually in today’s economy. One class benefiting from tighter border security would be the il­ legal immigrants who remained, as the worker shortage would drive up their wages, according to the study. According to the report, employment of illegal immigrants would grow from about 7.3 million in the base year of 2005 to about 12.4 million in 2019, a growth rate of 3.8 percent annually. Restricting growth to about 1 percent would result in a 2019 figure of about 8.8 million, a 28.6 percent decrease. With liberalized entry, workers could enter a broader range of occu­ pations, and they would be more stable and more apt to seek train­ ing for higher-level skills, according to Dixon and Rimmer. • Liberalized entry means more for everybody. The assumption of liberalized entry with increased worker skills yielded a forecast of 1.19 percent increase in GDP, or $170 billion an­ nually at today’s level. Computations with a visa tax produced simi­ lar results. The weakest forecast us­ ing a policy of liberalized “One reason we have so little objective entry was still an increase information about the effects of immigration in GDP of 0.57 percent, a is that there’s so little demand for good change about the same research. Illegal immigrants aren’t a voting size as with tighter border constituency, and candidates for office can security, but in the oppousually do better by raising fears.” site direction. The report says that public expenditures rise with immigration, legal or illegal, but that accounting does not consider taxes paid by the immigrants, produc­ tive output in the economy and increases accruing to U.S. house­ holds. “This study finds that increased enforcement and reduced lowskilled immigration have a significant negative impact on the income of U.S. households. Modest savings in public expenditures would be more than offset by losses in economic output and job opportuni­ ties for more-skilled American workers,” the report says. “Our anal­ ysis shows that the major ingredient in good policy is legalization. This would eliminate smugglers’ fees and other costs faced by ille­ gal immigrants. It would also allow immigrants (now guest workers rather than illegals) to have higher productivity. Both effects create a surplus gain for the economy by raising the value of immigrant labor relative to the wage necessary to attract it. This surplus can then be extracted for the benefit of U.S. households.” Dennis Nichols is an old journalist who has lived in Cincinnati since FDR was president. A Christian, conservative and Republican, he wrote this article because the editor of Streetvibes asked him to. Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this holiday season. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! Please use my tax-deductible contribution to purchase books and distribute them to children who need them most. $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book - Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 11 Community News Happy 96th Birthday to ‘Mr. Bill’ Still volunteering after 33 years 1 By vicKy c. Mcdonald Contributing Writer father said the man whom police killed in Chicago was not his son, claiming the gangster had undergone cosmetic surgery. incinnati’s oldest soup kitchen Nov. Kenny recalls when Over-the-Rhine was a 15 celebrated the birthday of a vol­ quiet area and the biggest problem was unteer who has given more than bootlegging. three decades of dedicated service. Dave Angevine, former manager of William M. Kenny, affectionate­ Over-the-Rhine Kitchen, ly known as Mr. Bill, celebrated his where he worked for five years, 96th birthday at Over-the-Rhine says Kenny is a great friend and Kenny recalls Kitchen, where he has volunteered very dedicated. Kenny volun­ when Over-thefor 33 years. Kenny says he doesn’t Rhine was a quiet teers even on days when there believe in retirement; he believes is heavy snow, according to area and the it’s not healthy. Angevine. Two years ago, when biggest problem “We sit down, we get stiff,” he was bootlegging. there was a snowstorm so bad says. that the city all but shut down, Therefore, when it was time Kenny showed up to work. for him to retire in 1976, Kenny began volun­ Over-the-Rhine Kitchen was the only soup teering at the Over-the-Rhine Kitchen, which kitchen serving that day, and people were opened that same year. grateful through the next week. “He’s the inspiration that gets us up every­ “Mr. Bill is an inspiration,” says Melody day,” says Executive Director Patricia Wakim. Byrom, who runs Walnut Hill Kitchen Pan­ Kenny has always had her back, Wakim try, which is affiliated with Over-the-Rhine says, even when she first started nine years Kitchen. “He keeps us going everyday. He ago and was “greener than grass.” The culture giggles at me all the time because not ev­ of the soup kitchen was different from what erything will go well.” she was used to, and Kenny was instrumental Kenny was born Nov. 18, 1913, the sec­ in guiding her, Wakim says. ond child in a family of 10 brothers and Kenny is a humble man, according to his sisters in Paris, Ky. He was married and has friend, Gwen Angevine, who says he has a two daughters. Before volunteering at the “wealth of knowledge, though (it’s) hard to soup kitchen he worked in tobacco fields, pull it out of him.” breaking horses, was a hotel valet, served Kenny sometimes reminisces about the as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1941­ days of notorious mobsters. He recalls seeing 46 and was a car finisher. He resides at the Al Capone and remembers that John Dillinger’s YMCA. C William Kenny, 96, has volunteered at Over-the-Rhine Kitchen for 33 years. Photo by Maria Campolongo. STREETVIBES Vendor Mary Only purchase Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the paper. aFFordaBle rateS etvibes? tre nS rested in Advert Inte isin gi Many SizeS (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) BlacK & White and color availaBle diScountS For nonProFitS Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. �12 Film Review STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Being All That They Can Believe “I do not believe that the free press is free anymore. It’s very expensive.” -Ret. Gen. Albert Stubblebine III By david heitField Contributing Writer W hat motivates you to get up in the morning when you no longer have anything to believe in? That's the question facing Bob Wilton, the fo­ cal character of The Men Who Stare at Goats, a journalist in Ann Arbor, Mich., whose wife has left him for the paper's one-armed editor. His answer is to go to Kuwait to become a combat journalist, looking for a way into Iraq. “I was on a mission even if I didn't know what kind of mission it was,” he says. Ultimately, what he finds isn’t what he was looking for, but hell, it's better than believing in nothing. Men Who Stare, as it was abbreviated at the multiplex, is a surprisingly topical fiction that winks upfront: “More of this is true than you The New Age philosophy would believe.” Again, isn’t a fringe philosophy, with the beliefs. In Kulimited to its place and time. wait, Wilton (Ewan McGregor) meets Lyn It’s the pervasive view of the Cassady (George Clooney), whom he sees American mainstream. as his ticket into Iraq. Cassady, a self-de­ scribed Jedi warrior, breaks up clouds with his mind as he drives through the desert, telling Wilton the back story of the creation of “psychic spies” – who could, among other mind games, stop a goat's heart by staring at it -- known as the New Earth Army. You see, the Russians had heard a rumor started by the French that the Americans were doing psychic research, so the Russians started doing psychic research, so now the Americans had to pre­ vent a psychic research gap. As ponytailed new-ager Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) sells the idea of the New Earth Army, “We'll be the first superpower to have superpowers!” As the movie points out, this all came down during the Ronald Reagan Highway era, be­ cause he believed in Star Wars and astrology and a strong military and, of course, American Exceptionalism. Men Who Stare shifts between flashbacks of the founding of the New Earth Army and its ultimate, demythologized version led by non-believer Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey) in Iraq in 2003, who is trying to find a way to win the unconventional war on terror. The movie is hilarious, and the performances are perfectly dead­ pan, with perhaps the exception of McGregor, who, as a veteran of the bad Star Wars movies, seems mostly to have been cast for the innate joke on Jedi warriors. It was “inspired” by Jon Ronson's 2004 nonfiction book of the same name, which also inspired a BBC documentary about those crazy American Army people. It’s too easy to watch this as a very broad satire of what happens when you let a group of hippie New Age freaks into the military. Satire is at its best when it reflects not on its target so much as its context. And that’s where I think Men Who Stare works better than most recent “satires.” And that’s because the New Age philosophy isn’t a fringe philosophy, limited to its place and time. It’s the per­ vasive view of the American mainstream. At one point Clooney asks McGregor if he’s always felt different or as an out­ sider – such was proof that he was a Jedi. It’s too easy to watch this as After returning home from watching a very broad satire of what this movie, I lazily happened upon Joel happens when you let a group of Osteen, telling his megachurch that, if hippie New Age freaks into the they feel like they don't have a meaning, military. Satire is at its best when well, you can manifest your meaning it reflects not on its target so and its subsequent success by coming much as its context. to God. As I watched Clooney breaking up clouds with his mind, I wondered how this was different from any Oprah episode or PBS fundraiser telling well-educated middle-class people that they can manifest their desires simply by focusing on them. The question isn’t whether you believe the bullshit. The question is to what degree you believe it. In a post­ modern world where the truth is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is what you believe. The Creation Museum is not the story of Christian paleontology; it’s a shining monument to postmodernism. And how is the story in Men Who Stare so much more fantastic than asking our boys in the volunteer army, who mostly have high school diplomas and have not exactly been exposed to the best social skills, to con­ duct a counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, where they are tasked with changing an entire culture or three? We train them to be soldiers, and then ask them to act like Richard Leakey on a mission from God? If you choose to believe that the psychic arts were first looked into by the Soviets – and there is at least some evidence that they used subliminal messages on their own troops to cut down on drunkenness – then you must also be struck by when these techniques were em­ ployed: during their losing war with Afghanistan. Ronson talks to Ret. Maj. Gen. Albert Stubblebine in the book (who’s quoted at the top of this article), who reportedly did try to run through his wall at least once, in 1983 (the movie begins with a fictional major gener­ al trying to run through a wall). A West Point graduate, Stubblebine was the head of the Army’s Intelligence and Security from 1981-84 and is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. He seems to have his biggest following now with the 9/11 conspiracy theorists, as he insists there is no evidence that a plane crashed into the Pentagon on that day. See Believe, p. 13 �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 13 Guest Column Suburbs Have Their Own Problems A meditation on the dark side of apparent tranquility By Paul KoPP Contributing Writer have received overwhelming support from residents who say their punishment was too ast month four Wyo- harsh and that they should be ming city employ- reinstated. ees lost their jobs for I grew up in Wyoming, drinking alcohol while work- and since I left, I haven’t ofing at city events. The Cincin- ten looked back on the time I nati Enquirer reported that spent there. I might not have in August the even read this workers drank story except while working It is supposed to be safer for the fact that at a drive-in than a big city, have better it happened in movie, a teen schools, fewer people, big Wyoming. It dance and a houses with pristinely cut made me think staff appreabout the way front lawns, etc. ciation party, things work in all of which suburbs. were at the city‘s pool and The idea of a suburban recreation center. town always seemed simple Several off-duty underage enough to me: It is supposed lifeguards were also suspect- to be safer than a big city, ed of drinking at a staff ap- have better schools, fewpreciation party but the city er people, big houses with was unable to identify them. pristinely cut front lawns, etc. Three of the ex-employees In what ways does a small city have filed a lawsuit against like Wyoming strive for such Wyoming, alleging that, perfection? In order to propamong other things, City erly construct a perspective Manager Bob Harrison has to further discuss the issue condoned and participated of the fired city workers, it is in city events where drink- necessary to provide a brief ing took place. At various city summary of the city‘s begincouncil meetings since the nings and demographics. incident, the ex-employees Wyoming has been around L for a while. Its roots go all the way back to 1861, when it was founded by Robert Reily, a prominent local resident of the area and a former infantryman in the Civil War. Wyoming’s current population is just over 8,000 people, and its total area is just over three miles. The population is about 87 percent white, with just over 9 percent AfricanAmerican, 1 percent Asian, 1 percent Hispanic and 1 percent other races. Wyoming’s sense of community seems more deeply engrained than in other suburbs I have visited. Other suburbs feel like a collection of upper-middle-class families lucky enough to have good homes but not necessarily a town-specific mentality. Growing up in Wyoming, it sometimes felt the city was surrounded by an imaginary force field, that nobody knew where anywhere else was. But no one wanted to go anywhere else, because this was the best place you could be. Though the city tries to protect itself from such negative elements as drugs and All They Believe continued FroM PaGe 12 And, apparently, there is a Lt. Col. Jim Channon, who originally proposed the First Earth Battalion, to use yoga and meditation and pri­ mal screaming to achieve battle readiness. Channon envisioned an army that an­ swered to the planet over the nation-state. Channon’s ideas were well received in part be­ cause of our failure in Viet­ nam and Channon’s obser­ vation that our soldiers were basically good people who did not want to kill anyone (a line also noted in the movie). It was through his grandiose optimism that Channon al­ legedly came up with the underage drinking, it can- right to fire someone who not eradicate them entirely. exhibits inappropriate beInstead there is a subculture havior, but not if the same created. Denial that it exists behavior is accepted among can become more harmful to other individuals within the everyone involved. same circle. Wyoming Every city seems to base has problems its identity on Growing up in Wyoming, unique to itexcellence in it sometimes felt the city self. Of course, education, was surrounded by an someone who public safety, lives in Overimaginary force field, and landscap- that nobody knew where the-Rhine has ing. Due to anywhere else was. But to worry about its small size, different things no one wanted to go the collec- anywhere else, because than a person tive mindset this was the best place in Wyoming. amongst longThe problems you could be. time residents of the inner is insular. Excelcity are more lence can mean many things, immediate, in the sense that but in Wyoming it sometimes they exist in plain view. Crime seems based on the image of a and poverty directly influence place so squeaky clean that it the well-being of the people. exists separately from the rest Though the ideological issues of the region. One result is an of a small suburban town are intensified focus on smaller not so immediate, they are infractions by members of worthy of examination due to the community – in this case, the subtlety with which they employees of the city of Wyo- reflect the problems of their ming. community. When the city employees were caught drinking, the incident threatened to tarnish the city’s image. It might be To the Editor To the editor: most popular marketing slo­ gan in the Army’s history: “Be all that you can be.” You can find out much more on the Internet. For example, if you take the words “stare” and “goats,” you'll come up with “Stargate” with the “OS” left over, which stands for the Occult Sciences division of the CIA, which reportedly in­ vestigated “remote viewing” from the mid-’70s through the 1990s. That’s why the fictional approach of Men Who Stare works so perfectly. The truth is irrelevant today. In a cul­ ture where most everyone feels somewhat disenfran­ chised, you too might be a Jedi warrior, or find success through Christ, or manifest your dreams, or even elect Sarah Palin president. All that matters is what you are will­ ing to believe. Don't believe me? The two long commercials before this anti-war satire were from the U.S. Air Force (where play­ ing with satellites in the sky looks a lot like playing a video game) and the National Guard (where "hero" was sung as people in camouflage car­ ried muddy people around). We've shot past irony and moved straight into stupid. Recently I saw the video, Rethink Afghanistan, where I learned that it costs us taxpayers $775,000 per year for each soldier. Here’s another statistic to blow your mind: So far we have spent more than $231 billion in Afghanistan alone. We are all concerned about the carnage in both Afghani­ stan and Iraq. Many of us are guiltily aware that we need to do something. So let me ask you: If you were in charge, is this how you would spend our tax dollars? In the past, many non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) have been working to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan. They do so by helping to build schools, hiring and training teachers, building clinics and staffing them. Unemployment is at 40 percent in Afghanistan, and many Afghans join the Taliban so as to have an income. NGO’s can help create jobs. Wouldn’t it be better to spend our money in humane, peaceful ways than through war? It’s time for all of us to accept the role we play in war when we do nothing. We all need to contact our president and mem­ bers of Congress and let them know that we do not support the destruction wrought by war. If peaceful demonstrations are what is needed, then we must demonstrate. In Cincinnati, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center is organizing for peace. They can be reached at 513-579-8547and www.ijpc-cincinnati.org. We are Americans. We are kind, humane, generous. Let’s start to act that way once again. Judy Cirillo, member of Women in Black To the editor: In response to Gloria McConnaghy’s letter to the editor (is­ sue of Nov. 15-30), I was born in Over-the-Rhine and lived there for 50 years and was a patient at the 12th Street Clinic. I was a friend of Buddy (Gray) and fought against the wealthy displacing the poor from low-income housing in Over-theRhine, standing side by side with Buddy, Bonnie (Neumeier) and others. My God is a loving God, not one that takes housing from the poor for a high-end shop for greed of the almighty dollar. Sonny Williams Clifton �14 Annual Dinner STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 681-2365 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Treatment: Men 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men DIC Live In Program Prospect House 241-5525 961-2256 Treatment: Women First Step Home 961-4663 961-4080 761-1480 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky Advocacy 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Housing: Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Tender Mercies 381-0111 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 AA Hotline CCAT 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 621-5514 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 661-4620 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Drop Inn Center Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center Peaslee Neighborhood Center Shelter: Both Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 458-6670 977-4489 Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 558-8888 981-5800 784-1853 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 562-8841 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless Brighton Center 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 721-4700 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 535-2719 Poetry Corner The Ground You Rest On By liSa Marie carBert Dirt on your cheeks, lint in your pockets, hunger in your belly, shame in your mind. A day’s beg for coins to the dollar. Thirsty for life, hungry for change, your circumstance is un-guiding. Eyes pass you, minds pretend you aren't there, the week lingers on you, your path is clear. A meal for today and maybe not one for tomorrow, nothing to claim but what you hold in your pockets. The ground you occupy is America's, but they say you’re homeless. Grateful for a quarter, blessed for a bill, you feel you're at your rope’s end. You’re a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a friend. The mistakes you've made coincide with your condition, or maybe life has just dealt you bad cards, the world, full of your kin, turn their cheeks the other way, and I ask... If we all believe that we derive from Adam and Eve, then why are we so easily deceived into believing the contrary? Aren't our brothers and sisters our responsi­ bility? You have a growling pain in this great land of opportunities, we can lift buildings and build dreams, but you’re falling with nothing but the pave­ ment to catch you. You rely on catchy cardboard words, but pressed white collars and fancy heels don’t always acknowledge worn jeans, I see it every day. But God has connected me with you. From sun up to sun down our bellies are empty simultaneously. Humbling for me, we are the same. Your hope is spooned to you everyday out of the pots and pans of those giving bless­ ings. When the thirst of the summer heat is urging me to drink up all of my nutritional opportu­ nities, I think of you. Where will your next meal come from? Does the world really care? Homeless... laid off, Homeless... divorced, Homeless... run away, Homeless... abused, Homeless... mentally incapable. Homeless... not heartless. God has inspired me to not forget our ances­ tries, the same earthly womb bore us all, and our creator planted the seeds that rooted you and I, the same. So I'll give my change, smiles, blessings, non­ perishables, and time. Not forgetting you are a part of I, The ground you rest on is America's, but they say you’re homeless, I say you're God's! �16 Column STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Reason Awakens from Deep Sleep Matt Reed uses art to teach ethics A s a child, Matt Reed was very much into com­ ic books. His parents would buy them for him before he could even read. He would draw from them again and again. They were his first intro­ duction to art, also his first love in art. Born in Toledo, Reed, a visual artist, moved to Cin­ cinnati in his senior year of high school. He attended Columbus College of Art and Design and majored in illustration. He soon realized, however, that his real love was teaching; he enrolled at the University of Cin­ cinnati, obtained a teaching certificate and since then has taught art in high school and middle school. Reed has also been doing his own art all along, mostly detailed drawings influenced by his illustra­ tion training. His art usually expresses his interests and concerns, his political views and his obsessions, all mixed and mashed together. “It is a blend,” he says, “one that comes from within and finds its way out. Art is also my escape from reality into a newly imagined world. It helps me communi­ cate and make a statement.” Reed has been political all his life, growing up in a family where both parents were politically minded Matt Reed. Photo by Saad Ghosn. and where politics was regularly discussed. Different from his fa­ ther, who is conservative tion.” right-wing, Reed is pro­ At the bottom of his drawing, several silhouettes mimic an evo­ gressive and leftist, influ­ lution scene and progress from a caveman into increasingly refined enced early on by the po­ gunmen. The message is that we’re evolving into more sophisticat­ litical messages of punk ed and more efficient killers. In the middle, a mound of skulls is as rock bands. Social and surrounded by comic book-inspired panels depicting explosions; political issues concern and at the top, a soldier standing on a tank is approached by a sui­ him and transpire into cide bomber who blows up everything. The drawing links increases By Saad GhoSn his art. His satirical draw- in violence to current politics to death and questions the wisdom Contributing Writer ing You Will Be Recycled, and rationale of waging unending wars in the pursuit of peace. for instance, is about the His pen and ink drawing, Reason Is Still Sleeping, is a take on The environment and people Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, in which Goya reacts to the vio­ who refuse to recycle. Reed ironically points out that the Earth will lent events of the late 18th century – wars, the Spanish Inquisition, recycle them whether they like it or not. etc.. The drawing represents, in the midst of explosions and de­ There Is No Peace in Retreat is based on a direct quotation of struction, a woman smiling happily, embracing in her arms a large then-President George W. Bush regarding the Iraq War. Reed found bomb, her young child standing by her. It was Reed’s assertion that the statement arrogant; it reflected in his mind how the adminis­ mankind’s reason is lacking, also his expression of outrage at the tration was conducting its foreign policy relying mainly on might Iraq war, a war in he sees as based on greed and lies. and war, rarely conducive to peace. In addition to his personal art, Reed also uses his teaching to “As a strategy, retreat does not necessarily equal defeat or cow­ convey his values and beliefs and to trigger thinking in the fresh ardice” Reed says, “Sometimes withdrawal is simply the best op- and avid minds of his students; he does this, however, always cau­ tious not to impose his own views. Teaching is for him a type of activism in which one shows students how to interact with others, treat others with respect and tolerance, react appropriately to a difficult situation, develop social skills, appreciate the diversity of things. Reed thus does not only teach the techniques and skills of art but also works on building the character of his students, opening their minds and hearts to various important issues. He uses recycling paper in the classroom as a model and a trigger for environmental concerns. Discussing and deciding with his students what is ac­ ceptable and what is not when it comes to conduct, he helps them set ethical norms for their own behavior. Exploring the social or political content of artists’ work, he leads students into reflecting about the issues addressed, at the same time challenging them and empowering them to use their creativity and art to express their own concerns and beliefs. He recently used Keith Haring’s works as a trigger for a class show, Haring’s art being simple, straightforward and still full of messages. Not infrequently, in addition to visual art, Reed resorts to poems, texts, stories and events to interpellate his students and open their eyes. With the changes brought by the new administration, Reed’s outlook on the world is more hopeful. He is still concerned, how­ ever, by the persistent and powerful control big businesses exert over politics, often at the expense of the people. He will continue to use his own art and his teaching to address big issues such as war, environment, equality, freedom, choices in life, etc. but he would like to do it now in a more positive way, to be able to offer viable alternatives instead of simply being critical. “Art is a very important tool for change” Reed says, “It uses and triggers imagination, which is unfortunately undervalued in our so­ ciety. Imagination, however, is badly needed to recreate the world. The world does not have to be the way it is. We have to imagine something better; focus on something new for the good of every­ one and the survival of our planet.” A rtists ctivists There Is No Peace in Retreat, ink drawing by Matt Reed. Photo by Matt Reed. Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2009 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 1-14, 2009 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Hope for Chronically Homeless Cincinnati Oracle Appears in India Pg 2: The Vibe Pg 3: Eight Minutes Opening a Door Pg 4: Demanding Justice form Chiquita Art and Culture of Over-the-Rhine Pg 5: To Get Youth Off the Streets Pg 6: Wage Theft: The Forgotten Crime Pg 7: Hope for Chronically Homeless Pg 8: Immigration Benefits Americans Pg 9: ‘Just Another Brick in the Wall’ Pg 10: Immigration Benefits Americans Pg 11: Happy 96th Birthday to ‘Mr. Bill’ Pg 12: Being All That They Can Believe Pg 13: Suburbs Have Their Own Problems Pg 14: Annual Dinner Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Reason Awakens from Deep Sleep Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 1-14, 2009 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Jeni Jenkins Lew Moores Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Kelissa Hieber Dan Rozier Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Keara Anita Mullen Ariana Shahandeh Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite Jeni Jenkins Anthony Williams Bill Haigh Clarissa Peppers Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF addiction Aimie Willhoite Annual Dinner Anthony Williams Ariana Shahandeh Bengals Bill Haigh Chiuita Cincinnati Clarissa Peppers Dan Rozier David Heitfield Eli Braun Gentrification immigration India Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Jimmy Heath Keara Anita Mullen Kelissa Hieber Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Matt Reed Meditation Michael Henson Mr. Bill Over-the-Rhine Paul Kopp poverty Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark SCPA Stephanie Dunlap Suburbs Tags Gregory Flannery Talbert House Wages Youth https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/20ea533eb460aeae4137d2c1af65d2c6.pdf 431654441a07cddb52fa2f6275224845 PDF Text Text Life on the Bloody Edge Page 12 School of the Americas Protest Page 9 STREETVIBES $1 Dec. 15-31, 2009 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 167 Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Bob Dylan’s Christmas CD to benefit food pantries By Bill Flanagan Street News Service Exclusive to the International Network of Street Papers. B Bob Dylan plays the harmonica at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans. REUTERS/Lee Celano. Homeless Crimes Laws and policies make necessities illegal By Vicky C. McDonald Contributing Writer A small group of Miami University students joined together Dec. 1 at Fountain Square to raise their voices against laws targeting homeless people. Legislation makes it illegal to sleep, sit or store personal belongings in public spaces in many cities where people are forced to live, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. In Ohio, an “open container” law prevents people from possessing an open container of beer or liquor on public property. Public-in- decency laws prevent people let, a simple necessity that from urinating or defecating those who have homes take for granted. Those without in public. homes must “(It’s) important for sometimes It costs $65 per bed per people to go in public, day in the county jail in know homewhich violessness is comparison to an average lates the law. out there and of $30 a day for permanent After the first it’s not necoffense, the supportive housing. essarily their penalties in- Greater Cincinnati fault,” said Coalition for the Homeless crease with each subBrent Eysensequent ofbach, spokesman for the students. “People fense. Eysenbach said that, in are being locked up for doing everyday things we do at quasi-public places such as fast-food restaurants, homehome.” Eysenbach was referring to things such as using a toiSee Crime, p. 8 ob Dylan has at variBF: Did you take him serious times revolu- ously? tionized folk, rock, BD: Well, sure I took him country and gospel music. seriously. However, any Dylan fan who BF: But it didn’t happen. says he was not surprised How come? that Bob has reBD: He wasn’t leased an album specific. Besides, of traditional Dylan has donated there was always Christmas songs a glut of records all of his proceeds is pulling your out around that from the record, leg. Christmas time of year, and in perpetuity, to in The Heart is organizations around I didn’t see how another surprisone by me could the world to help ing move by an make any differwith hunger and artist famous ence. homelessness. for surprises. Yet BF: What was when you hear Christmas like Dylan's direct and obviously around your town when you sincere readings of “O Come were growing up? All Ye Faithful,” “Little Town BD: Well, you know, plenty Of Bethlehem” and “The First of snow, jingle bells, ChristNoel,” this unlikely exercise mas carolers going from seems of a piece with the rest house to house, sleighs in the of Dylan's work. streets, town bells ringing, From the very first, this Nativity plays – that sort of was an artist who made us thing. look at the familiar with new BF: Your family was Jewish. eyes and ears. While some As a kid did you ever feel left critics tie themselves into out of the Christmas exciteknots analyzing Dylan's mo- ment? tives, it has usually turned BD: No, not at all. out that Bob Dylan means exBF: What’s your idea of a actly what he says. Featuring good Christmas dinner? members of his touring band BD: Mashed potatoes and along with Los Lobos' David gravy, roast turkey and colHidalgo and Chess Records lard greens, turnip greens, vet Phil Upchurch, Christmas biscuit dressing, corn bread in The Heart is Dylan's cel- and cranberry sauce. ebration of family, communiBF: Have you spent any ty, faith and shared memory. Christmases overseas and And a timely celebration it is. been struck by how the holiRecognizing the worldwide day is celebrated in other problem of hunger, Dylan has countries? donated all of his proceeds BD: I was in Mexico City from the record, in perpetu- once, and they do a lot of reity, to organizations around enactment scenes of Joseph the world to help with hunger and Mary looking for a place and homelessness. to stay. BF: How do you like to spend We sat down to talk in the Waterfront Plaza Hotel in the week between Christmas Oakland on a rainy, windy, and New Year’s? BD: Doing nothing – mayOctober day. Bill Flanagan: Is recording be reflecting on things. BF: Why do you think a Christmas album something you’ve had on your mind for a Christmas has better songs than other holidays? while? BD: I don’t know. That’s a Bob Dylan: Yeah, every so often it has crossed my mind. good question. Maybe beThe idea was first brought to cause it’s so worldwide and me by Walter Yetnikoff, back everybody can relate to it in when he was President of CoSee Dylan, p. 4 lumbia Records. �2 Editorial Quite a Year for ‘Streetvibes’ By The Numbers 15 Growth, awards and occasional rejection the age of a boy serving as a drug dealer’s lookout in the woodcut, The Sentinel (see page 16) Seventh the edition of For a Better World 2010 set for publication in February 2010 (see page 7) STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 By Gregory Flannery Editor I was standing outside the office when a man in a U.S. flag shirt said he planned to kill himself on Christmas Eve unless his girlfriend got out of jail within two days. She was locked up on a charge of domestic violence. A few hours later a man told me he’d gotten a job, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society had given him a voucher for a pair of work boots. He offered to buy me a sweater, thanking me for giving him some small encouragement and bus fare before his fortunes improved. That is the kind of year Streetvibes had in 2009 – some heartaches, some victories. 10 • the age at which Jacob started smoking (see page 11) Zero the number of times Bob Dylan has been to Christmas Island (see page 1) 50 the cost, in pennies, of a cup of coffee and two refills at a downtown café (see page 12) 3 the number of Streetvibes contributors who published books this year (see page 2) 6.57 the number, in millions, of people around the world who own slaves (see page 7) 150 the amount, in dollars, an abusive husband makes each week playing guitar at a club (see page 10) 173,000 the average number of workers for which a wage-theft investigator with the U.S. Labor Department is responsible (see page 6) 2…7…5 the highway St. Nick traversed while collecting bedbugs (see page 14) • • • • • • • • • • • • We were sad to see Andy Freeze leave at the start of the year. As education coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, he managed the Streetvibes vendor program and laid out each edition of the paper. But that loss was also a gain for Streetvibes and for dozens of other street papers across the country. As the first-ever executive director of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA), Freeze is working hard to help street papers grow and improve. When Freeze moved on, Lynne Ausman - administrative coordinator of the Homeless Coalition – began laying out each edition. She’s so good at it that I asked her to be our art director. This involved no extra pay and lots of extra work, especially after the Homeless Coalition decided to begin publishing Streetvibes bi-weekly. No extra pay – in fact, no pay at all – is what our writers, photographers and proofreaders got this year. All year long they have donated their work for free. They’re an amazing, diverse lot. Some are college students, some are homeless people, some are social workers, some are professional writers. Three of our regular contributors have published books this year: Michael Henson (They All Asked About You); Margo Pierce (Your Wills, Estates and Trusts Easily Explained); and Larry Gross (Living Out Loud). When Andy Freeze left, Jeni Jenkins took over as education coordinator and manager of the vendor program, bringing her own creativity and energy to the task. Josh Spring, executive director of the Homeless Coalition, has been very supportive. We’ve sold all copies of many editions of Streetvibes this year, thanks to the generosity of our readers and the hard work of our vendors. With the onset of cold weather, when sales usually decline, we’ve now adjusted our circulation to 3,500 every two weeks, which is about three times what we were selling in early 2008. The Street News Service has circulated worldwide several stories that first appeared in Streetvibes. We’ve introduced new columns (“Artists as Activists” and a sports column) and enjoyed continuing long-standing columns (“Hammered” and “Eight Minutes”). Twice this year Streetvibes has won awards for an article called, “We Are Their Slaves.” NASNA and the International Network of Street Papers named it the Best Feature Story of the Year. When the Denver Voice reprinted the story, its vendors were barred by a grocery chain affiliated with the issues covered in the story. Closer to home, a religious organization asked Streetvibes vendors to stay away from its annual festival because of an article it disapproved. Both articles were carried worldwide by the Street News Service, a prescient reminder that making a mark can help some people while upsetting others. Some of our vendors have been arrested for urinating in alleys at night. Wouldn’t it be nice if once – just once – a judge would tell a homeless person where she should go at night, when the public library is closed and restaurants don’t want homeless people coming in to take a piss. Public urination is a crime, all right, but the perpetrator is society at large, prosecuting poor people for doing what nature requires. One of our vendors was arrested for sleeping in an abandoned building. This, too, is a crime. Every night hundreds of people in Greater Cincinnati have to sleep in cars, on benches, on friends’ couches, on the Ohio River bank, under highway overpasses, in overcrowded shelters, in alcoves at the library, the courthouse, the cathedral, at City Hall. The crime is homelessness – not what homeless people do to stay alive. We have been fortunate to have students from Miami University, Northern Kentucky University, Xavier University, Ohio University and the College of Mount Saint Joseph contribute photography and articles to Streetvibes. A student contributor recently expressed some reservation about an assignment in Over-theRhine. Like me, she was raised to believe that Over-the-Rhine is a dangerous place, an area to be avoided. This is not an uncommon view, but nor is it insuperable. I took the student on a brief walking tour of Over-the-Rhine and tried to share what I have seen: Over-the-Rhine is a neighborhood, a place where people look out for each other. It is under assault by city policies aimed at driving out the poor and those who help them. It is under assault by people who use guns at night – cowards, all of them! In the end, I don’t know if I changed the student’s view. But that kind of thing is what I believe an editor should do. That kind of thing goes to the heart of what Streetvibes and the Homeless Coalition are about: breaking down barriers, advocating on behalf of homeless people in a society that can be in turns compassionate and cruel. For this final edition of 2009, we’re offering fewer news stories and more poems and short stories. It’s in keeping with the season when we celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, Tsongkhapa Day and Eid ul-Fitr. You, our readers, have been very kind to us this year. Thank you. In 2010 may we see a world more just, more kind, more peaceful. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Lew Moores, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Kelissa Hieber, Dan Rozier, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Keara Anita Mullen, Steven Paul Lansky, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams, Bill Haigh, Clarissa Peppers Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are members of: �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 3 Local News Hamilton County Hidden Treasures Integration works when neighbors work at it By Jill Span Contributing Writer West End became known as the first ghetto in Hamilton County, housing most of Cinor the past 30 years cinnati’s African Americans cities in Hamilton because they could not find County have been housing elsewhere, accordworking toward neighbor- ing to Leininger. hood integration. A Human As Cincinnati made an efResource event Nov. 21 cele- fort to replace slum housing brated those neighborhoods. in the 1930s and ’40s, a large The event began with a number of African Ameriwelcome and introduction by cans were displaced from Cheryl Meadows their homes. By of the Cincinnati the 1950s the Human Relations “A lot of this is about city was lookCommission, ing for ways to partnership and who identified build more pubbringing everyone the successfully to the table. It’s not lic housing, but integrated comneighborhoods about government munities as “hidwere still very changing den treasures.” segregated by communities, or “Whenever we race, Leininger politics; it’s about get an opportusaid. everyone in the nity to celebrate community stepping With the Fair what’s been acHousing Act of up. Be the change complished, I 1968, discrimiyou want to see.” think it’s wonnation based on -Kathy Garrison derful,” Meadows race in the sale, said. rental and fiThere were 25 communi- nancing of housing was proties recognized at the pro- hibited, which became the gram, with the honor of “gold first real step toward change. medal” status awarded to After 1970 came a sharp Riverfront/Downtown, Cor- change in the racial stability ryville and Madisonville for of integrated neighborhoods, 30 years of integrated neigh- but “as late as the early ’90s, borhoods. there were still some landCharles F. Casey Leininger lords that were openly and of the Department of History explicitly discriminating on at the University of Cincin- the basis of race,” Leininger nati led a segment on the his- said. tory of segregation in HamilToday old fears of integratton County. ed neighborhoods are far less “It’s clear to me that over prevalent than in the past, at the last 30 to 40 years there’s least in some neighborhoods, been a shift in the way people he said. think about their communi“We found that not only are ties – a positive shift,” said those traditionally integrated Leininger, who attributed the neighborhoods stabilized, progress to a change in at- but others as well,” Leininger titudes among younger gen- said. Success is about having a erations. However, “the fact that we healthy mix of racial diversity live in a society that is large- as well as socio-economic ly segregated on the basis of diversity, according to Elizabeth Brown, executive direcrace is no accident,” he said. In the late 19th century the tor of Housing Opportunities F Charles F. Casey-Leininger (seated) and Elizabeth Brown speak about the success of integrated neighborhoods. Photo by Maria Campolongo. Made Equal. “The fact is we are all welcome to live wherever we choose for whatever reason we choose,” she said. The second half of the “Hidden Treasures” program began with a short documentary on one Pennsylvania community’s quest toward a vibrant integrated neighborhood, followed by a panel on trend-setting with representatives from some of Hamilton County’s stabilized integrated neighborhoods. Tim Jeckering, president of the Northside Community Council, represented that neighborhood at the event. Northside earned a silver medal for being integrated since 1980. “If you can do pro-active things in your community that involve all people, you’ll have much more success with integration,” he said. One way Northside does this is by having an annual Fourth of July parade, Jeckering said. Maria Kreppel, chair of District A Board of Directors, spoke on behalf of the Pleasant Ridge Heights and Kennedy Heights communities. Kreppel said she and her husband moved to the edge of Pleasant Ridge in the 1970s and found it to be a wonderful place to raise their family. “Today, looking over my shoulder, our wonderful family experience was because of human geography – not physical geography,” Kreppel said. District A includes neighborhoods that have committed themselves to working in the arts, including everything from architecture to welding, she said. District A is not an ordinary arts district because artists not only work there, but also raise their families there, as well, Kreppel said. Kathy Garrison, another panel member, has lived in Madisonville for the past 48 years. She said the key to integrating neighborhoods is recognizing the importance of reaching out and latching on to those who want to get involved. “A lot of this is about partnership and bringing everyone to the table,” Garrison said. “It’s not about government changing communities, or politics; it’s about everyone in the community stepping up. Be the change you want to see.” Proclamations from Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and the Hamilton County Commissioners declared Nov. 21 “Hidden Treasures Day.” Religious March for Health Care Faith leaders want Congress to act By Donald Washington Contributing Writer M ore than 50 “People of Faith United for Health Care Reform” gathered Nov. 24 on the steps of Christ Church Cathedral downtown to rally for health-care reform, now reaching a critical stage in Congress. The U.S. Senate began debate following its Thanksgiving break. The rally engaged people across many religious denominations. The Rev. Paula Jackson of Church of Our Saviour, Rabbi Sigma Coran of Rockdale Temple, the Rev. Elmer Martin of Brown Chapel A.M.E. and Canon Joanna Leiserson of Christ Church denied that blessing because Cathedral provided testimo- of lack of health coverage.” An open letter ny of the need for from faith leaders health-care reform. to elected officials The Rev. Damon “We have a Lynch Jr. of New moral obligation was signed by perJerusalem Baptist to families who sons of faith from Church closed out Greater Cincinare denied the rally with a fiery (health care).” nati and was made speech that chalavailable to the rally lenged the participarticipants to sign. pants to take action now to Participants marched with banners and placards to the support health care reform. “As families prepare to Cincinnati office of U.S. Sen. share a Thanksgiving meal George Voinovich to deliver this week, it is important to the letter. It was a remarkable recognize that our health is scene that generated many one of the most important on lookers from the lunchthings we say ‘thanks’ for,” time crowd downtown. This was the first action said one faith leader in attendance. “We have a moral taken by the People of Faith, obligation to families who are but more activity is to follow Religious leaders spoke out in support of health care reform Nov. 24. to secure health-care reform for individuals, families and society as a whole during this critical month. These religious leaders are partner- ing with Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, a statewide organization building a consumer voice for health-care reform. �4 Exclusive Interview STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Bob Dylan has just completed his first Christmas CD. The profits will benefit the hungry. Photo courtesy of Columbia Records. Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door continued from page 1 ing through the window at the congregation, hear their version of “Hey Jude.” wishing he were in there. Did any of these BF: The way you do “Winter Wonderland” their own kind of way. songs surprise you when you heard them makes me think of Gene Autry and Roy RodBF: Very often when contemporary art- played back? gers, the singing cowboys in the old movies. ists do Christmas records, they look for a BD: No, they were pretty much the same Even in John Wayne films, there’d always be new angle. John Fahey did instrumental folk going in as going out. You can already hear a scene back at the fort where an Irish band variations on holiday songs, Billy Idol did a them in your head before was playing, or the Sons of rock and roll Christmas album, Phil Specter you begin. the Pioneers were singing. “I love rhyming for rhyming put the Wall of Sound around the Christmas BF: Any Christmas Did you have a favorite sake. I think that’s an tree and the Roches did kind of a kooky left- songs you like but you did cowboy singer as a kid? field collection. You played this right down not think you could do? incredible art form.” BD: Yeah, Tex Ritter. the middle, doing classic holiday songs in BD: Not really. There BF: What about Gene - Bob Dylan traditional arrangements. Did you know go- were ones I didn’t want and Roy? ing in you wanted to play it straight? to do, but not any that I BD: Yeah, they were BD: Oh sure, there wasn’t any other way didn’t think I could do. The idea was to re- OK, but Tex Ritter was my favorite. He was to play it. These songs are part of my life, cord the best known ones. way more heavy. There was more gravity to just like folk songs. You have to play them BF: “Christmas Blues” is an old Dean Mar- him. straight, too. tin song. What attracted you to that? BF: Have you heard “Christmas on Death BF: There’s something new that hapBD: It’s just a beautiful song. Row,” the rap Christmas record? pens when your voice goes up against the BF: Stan Lynch once told me about you BD: No, I don’t think so. very smooth background singers and old- and him slipping out of a rehearsal with the BF: Do you listen to rap music? fashioned arrangements. It adds a new fla- Heartbreakers to go see Dean, Sinatra and BD: I don’t listen to rap radio stations and vor to the mix. When you do “I’ll Be Home Sammy Davis. What appealed to you about I don’t play rap songs on the jukebox, and I for Christmas,” it sounds really forlorn, like those guys? don’t go to rap shows, so, no, I guess I don’t you’re singing the song in jail and this is BD: I don’t know, maybe the camarade- listen to rap music all that much. your one phone call. Do you ever approach rie. On the other hand, I wasn’t much into BF: What do you think of rap music? singing a song like an actor? that whole scene, actually. It left a lot of BD: I love rhyming for rhyming sake. I BD: Not any more then Willie or Nat King people out. think that’s an incredible art form. Cole would. The songs BF: “Must Be Santa” is BF: There’s a lonely quality in the way you don’t require much acting. a real jumping polka. Did do “Silver Bells.” You were a young man when They kind of play them“I don’t know what my you hear a lot of polka you moved from Minnesota to New York City. selves. grandchildren think of any of bands growing up? Was Christmas very different in New York? BF: Do you try to go for BD: Yeah, I heard a few. BD: Christmas was pretty much the same my records. I don’t know if different emotions on difBF: I never heard that in New York, only more so. they’ve even heard them.” ferent takes? BF: Did it make you homesick? song before. Where did you - Bob Dylan BD: Not really. The emoBD: Not really. I didn’t think about it that hear it? tions would pretty much BD: I first heard that much. I didn’t bring the past with me when be the same on any singular take. The in- song years ago on one of those “Sing Along I came to New York. Nothing back there flections would maybe differ if we changed with Mitch” records. But this version comes would play any part in where I was going. BF: Hearing you sing “Adeste Fidelis” rethe key, and sometimes that might affect from a band called Brave Combo. Somethe emotional resonance. body sent their record to us for our radio minds me of being an altar boy at Midnight BF: When I hear your version of “Hark! show. They’re a regional band out of Texas Mass. The priests all had to lead the singing, The Herald Angels Sing,” it makes me think that takes regular songs and changes the See Dylan, p. 5 of a lonely fellow outside the church, look- way you think about them. You ought to �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 Exclusive Interview 5 Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door continued from page 4 you sure deliver that song like a true believer. BD: Well, I am a true believer. and it didn’t matter if they were singers or not – they belted it out. Have you BF: You know, some people will think that Bob Dylan doing a Christmas ever sung in a foreign language before? album is meant to be ironic or a put-on. This sounds to me like one of the BD: I’ve sung in French, Italian and Spanish. Over the years Columbia most sincere records you’ve ever made. Did anybody at your record comhas asked me to do records in those languages, and I recorded stuff here pany or management resist the idea? and there. None of the tracks have been released, though. It’s hard decidBD: No, it was my record company who compelled me to do it. ing whether to do a translation of one of my own songs or an original BF: Why now? song in one of those languages, which I’m BD: Well, it just came my way now, at this time. Actually, I don’t think I actually more partial to. I’ve always wanted would have been experienced enough earlier anyway. “Isn’t there enough to do some Edith Piaf songs. BF: Some critics don’t seem to know what to make of this record. irreverence in the world? BF: “La Vie en Rose”? Bloomberg News said, “Some of the songs sound ironic. Does he really BD: Yeah. That one and a couple of oth- mean “have yourself a merry little Christmas?” Is there any ironic content Who would need more? Especially at Christmas time.” ers: “Sous Le Ciel de Paris, “Pour Moi Tout in these songs? Seule” and maybe one or two more. BD: No, not at all. Critics like that are on the outside looking in. They - Bob Dylan BF: What stopped you? are definitely not fans or the audience that I play to. They would have no BD: Well, I can hear myself doing them in gut level understanding of me and my work, what I can and can’t do – the my head, but I’d need written arrangements to pull it off, and I’m not sure scope of it all. Even at this point in time they still don’t know what to make who could do that. of me. BF: Which singers do you BF: Derek Barker in the associate with Christmas? Independent compared this BD: Johnny Mathis and record with the shock of you Nat King Cole. Doris Day. going electric. So many artBF: What about Bing ists have released Christmas Crosby? records, from Bing Crosby to BD: Sure, “White ChristHuey Piano Smith. Why is it mas” was always a big a shock if you do it? song. BD: You’ll have to ask BF: I always get choked them. up at the end of “Going My BF: The Chicago Tribune Way” when the old priest’s felt this record needed more mother comes walking toirreverence. Doesn’t that ward him on Christmas miss the point? Eve and Bing watches from BD: Well, sure it does. the door of the church, then That’s an irresponsible statement anyway. Isn’t picks up his suitcase and there enough irreverence in walks off into the snow – the world? Who would need “Tura, Lura Lura” playing more? Especially at Christin the background. You can’t mas time. get any more Christmassy BF: The profits from this than that. Did movies have album are going to buy a big effect on how you saw Christmas dinners for folks the world growing up? who are having a hard time BD: I think so. I lived in financially. When I heard a small town, and movthat, I thought of the Woody ies were a window into the Guthrie song, “Pretty Boy outside world. Floyd”: “Here’s a Christmas BF: “Christmas Island” is dinner for the families on a wacky song! Santa’s going relief.” to sail in with your presents BD: Exactly, “Pretty Boy in a canoe. Where did that Bob Dylan’s Christmas CD. Photo courtesy of Columbia Records. Floyd.” “Pretty Boy grabbed come from? You ever been to the log chain and the depChristmas Island? uty grabbed his gun.” Did BD: No, I’ve never been you ever notice how Pretty there. I have no idea where Boy Floyd looks exactly like babe Ruth? the song comes from, who wrote or even if there is such a place. BF: Yeah, I have. BF: Your song, “Three Angels,” always reminds me of the holidays. Did BD: Did you ever think it could be the same guy? you ever sit down to write a Christmas song? BF: Maybe they’re interchangeable? BD: I have never done that. It’s something to think about, though. BD: Yeah, in the real world Pretty Boy would be batting clean up for the BF: You have grandchildren. What do you think they’ll make of this record? Did it occur to you making this record that years from now your Yankees and Babe Ruth would be robbing banks. BF: Yeah, and they’re both legends. grandchildren will play this album for their own kids? BD: Right. BD: I don’t know what my grandchildren think of any of my records. I BF: Why did you pick Feeding America, Crisis UK and The World Food don’t know if they’ve even heard them. Maybe the older ones. BF: You’re a lot more loyal to these melodies than you are to the melo- Programme to give the proceeds of this record to? BD: Because they get food straight to the people – no military orgadies of the songs you’ve written. Do you figure these tunes can’t be messed nization, no bureaucracy, no governments to with? deal with. BD: If you want to get to the heart of them, they can’t be, no. "I’ve sung in French, Italian BF: Do you still send out Christmas cards? BF: Your version of “The Christmas Song” is right in the pocket. You slide and Spanish. Over the BD: I haven’t for a while. into that song like you’ve been singing it all your life. You also sing the intro BF: Do you have a favorite Christmas al- years Columbia has asked (“All through the year we waited …”), which most people leave out. I don’t bum? think Nat King Cole used that intro. Why did you bring it back? me to do records in those BD: Maybe the Louvin Brothers. I like all languages, and I recorded BD: Well, I figured the guy who wrote it put it in there deliberately. It definitely creates ten- the religious Christmas albums – the ones in stuff here and there. None “I didn’t bring the past with sion, predicts what you are about to hear. Latin, the songs I sang as a kid. of the tracks have been BF: A lot of people like the secular ones. BF: I think you did drop the “goodies” on the me when I came to New released, though." BD: Religion isn’t meant for everybody. York. Nothing back there sleigh. Did something about that bother you? - Bob Dylan BF: What sort of gifts do you like to give? BD: No, not really. I don’t think I thought of would play any part in BD: I try to match the person with the gift. it until you mentioned it. I try my best to be where I was going.” BF: Are you a last-minute shopper? exact, but sometimes things just fall away. We - Bob Dylan BD: Always. probably recorded the song, got the feel right BF: Do you drop any hints about what you hope to get from your famand moved on. Most likely we didn’t even listen back, just moved on to something else. I don’t think that’s something ily? BD: Nope. Their well-being – that’s enough of a gift for me. I would have noticed anyway. BF: I know we’re out of time but I have to ask: What’s the best Christmas BF: You really give a heroic performance of “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.” The way you do it reminds me a little of an Irish rebel song. There’s gift you ever got? BD: Let me think. Oh yeah, I think it was a sled. something almost defiant in the way you sing, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I don’t want to put you on the spot, but �6 STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Local News Just as Bad as Highway Robbery Wage theft is a nationwide problem Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center (CIWC). The nonprofit organization, formed in 2005, works to educate and advocate for workers’ rights. CIWC is affiliated with the By Kelissa Hieber national network, Interfaith Contributing Writer Worker Justice, which as a whole recovered over $2 milage theft is a lion dollars in unpaid wages crime that oc- in 2008. curs all across the CIWC addresses the probcountry and affects many dif- lem of wage theft by directly ferent individuals. Wage theft confronting businesses or is the illegal practice of not employers that have cheated paying workers or not paying workers out of the wages they their proper are due. The wages. organization The ways Undocumented workers are also works that wage on lawsuits often the targets of wage theft is caragainst emtheft, because employers ried out in- believe they can easily avoid ployers or clude payindividuals paying these workers. ing less than who are parminimum ticipating in wage, no payment or im- these illegal practices. proper payment for overtime The U.S. Department of Laand incomplete paychecks or bor is supposed to make sure no paychecks at all. No one that all workers get their deis immune to the possibility served wages. Unfortunately of being a wage-theft victim, the Labor Department doesn’t but certain groups are affect- have the staffing to make sure ed far more than others. Im- that no workers fall through migrants, African-American the cracks. Wage and hour workers, temporary workers investigators are responsible and low-wage workers feel for ensuring workers receive the impact of this crime the their proper pay, but in 2008 most. there was only around one Many community groups investigator for every 173,000 across the nation have workers covered under the worked to educate and fight Fair Labor Standards Act. for the rights of these workThe CIWC press conferers. Nov. 19 was the National ence began with the stories Day of Action to Stop Wage of two workers who had been Theft (see “Wage Theft: The victims of wage theft. PeForgotten crime,” issue of dro Alverado had worked for Dec. 1-14). People in 40 cit- the same employer for three ies across the nation partici- years, but on his last job he pated in this day to educate ran into problems with his and discuss what has been boss. His employer wouldn’t done and what still needs to pay him for his last job and be done on this issue. claimed he wasn’t responIn Cincinnati, the obser- sible for Alverado’s problems. vation ended with a press Alverado went to CIWC for conference hosted by the help. W Activists gather in Walnut Hills to protest wage theft. Photo by Dan Moore. “I’m here today to get justice for so many others like me,” he said. One concern discussed at the press conference is how is that legislation alone isn’t enough; adequate personnel are needed to enforce these laws. Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune was unable to attend the press conference but an assistant spoke about Portune’s work on the issue. Last month Portune created the Hamilton County Wage Theft and Worker Misclassification Task Force. Its mission is to gather information about businesses and employers who are practicing wage theft. The task force will inform local governments and the Labor Department on their findings. Once they have this comprehensive data, they can work to bring these individuals and companies to justice and work to return the wages to the workers. The next speaker at the press conference said this is not just a state-by-state issue but also a national one. Dave Solhultz, general counsel of the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, discussed the steps that agency is taking to combat these illegal practices. Solhultz said his team is aggressively working to find employers that are committing these crimes, and then works to bring them to justice. The Kentucky Labor Cabinet recently retrieved $600,000 of unpaid wages for non-documented workers in Louisville. Undocumented workers are often the targets of wage theft, because employers believe they can easily avoid paying these workers. Immigrants often work in temporary jobs and contend with language barriers, making them easy targets for opportunistic employers. Many immigrants work as day labors and answer to contractors or sub-contractors. Often these workers are paid minimum wage or less, in violation of the Davis-Bacon Act, which states these workers are entitled to the prevailing wage – a rate higher than the minimum wage, established by local government. “Our stated commitment is that your immigration status does not matter,” Solhultz said. “You are still a worker covered under out national labor laws and therefore entitled to proper pay.” Often the workers whose wages are stolen have to decide between being able to eat or having a place to sleep. About $51 is stolen from lowwage workers across the nation per week, according to some studies. Green, Angry Works for Bengals But being the Incredible Hulk might not be enough By B. Clifton Burke Contributing Writer The Bengals are steadfast in their identity. They've found a look and lifestyle that they’re comfortable with and now they can't imagine living any other way. The problem is they've made themselves into something that resembles the Incredible Hulk: a big and strong team that often appears simpleminded and predictable in its attack. Last season they were still just plain old Bruce Banner: a below-average entity unable to make a difference in the world. They got angry with all the losing and turned green. This year they came out of nowhere and slammed their way into first place and are now a near lock to make the postseason. The physi- roll the other two at home, cal domination has worked; and the same mortar-andbut as the season extends, pestle style that turned them the foes come equipped with into winners now appears too cooler superpowers and fan- routine, too mundane for the critics. They cier weapsay that, if onry, and the Bengals the BenAs frost mounts in the deep gals will freeze of winter and each win are to succeed in the have to becomes more paramount, playoffs, quickly Cincinnati will learn if simply learn how being the more brawny team they must show the to counter is enough to end up on top. world now them. that they can The concern for Cincinnati's inability win in more dynamic ways. Losing wide receiver Chris to score points and move the ball more efficiently through Henry for the year with a brothe air was heightened dur- ken forearm has had more ing the struggles the team fallout than some expected. experienced against bottom- Expensive free-agent acquifeeders Oakland, Cleveland sition, Laveranues Coles, still and Detroit. doesn't appear to have an Cincinnati lost in Oakland established role on the team; and didn't necessarily steam- and second-year receiver, Andre Caldwell, has seen his production slowed after a tremendous start of the season. The only legitimate threat in the passing game these days is Chad Ochocinco who has kept the aerial assault alive nearly single-handedly. But with Chad double-teamed so often, it's become imperative that someone else rise to the occasion and be a viable secondary option for Carson Palmer when he drops back to throw. As of late, that hasn't happened. Losing Henry hasn't been the only limitation to the offense brought on by injury. Rookie running back Bernard Scott has shown genuine flashes of becoming the quintessential change-ofpace back that the best running teams in the NFL em- ploy. With his patient running style and field vision, Scott contrasts nicely with the bruising power-backs, Cedric Benson and Larry Johnson. Since his turf-toe injury, however, the Bengals without him have resorted almost exclusively to running more basic plays up the middle, even in the face of defensive schemes set out to stop exactly that kind of play. Sitting on opposing teams and waiting for them to yell “Uncle” will work against the dregs of the league, but against the premium heavy-hitters, the Bengals will eventually be forced to catch someone by surprise and have to win with some creativity. I expect to see a slight shift See Green, p. 7 �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 Guest Column Time to End Slavery; I Can Help 7 Chocolate bars and conversation can build a movement By Joanna Pogue Guest Columnist I bat slavery, we will never know what they could have done for the world, instead of making its clothes or chocolate perhaps. Of course, the most important reason for the combat of slavery all over the world is the feeling of empathy for our human neighbors. If we take a second and imagine the suffering of those in slavery, it is hard to not want to do something to stop it. If we put ourselves in their shoes, being beaten so much that the sores on your back cannot heal for they are being reopened everyday by a whip, we shudder at the thought. This should cause an uproar in our minds and t’s everywhere. When we get dressed, when we make lunch, when we drive to the store. It is 27 million people being used, and 6.57 million people as the users. What is this incredible force? Slavery. In the words of a former slave, slavery is “a complete hell.” It is violent, abusive, exhausting, inhumane and degrading. For all of these reasons, and because we are all humans in the world tothey like. Slavery steals life gether, it is of utter imporaway from them and replaces tance that we combat slavery it with hopes of death. around the world and in the We must begin to combat United States of America. slavery all over the world, As a human, there are so for so many reasons about many opportunities in the its inhumane style. But also world for you, and slavery because slaves have an unabolishes all hope of those. quenchable desire for freeSlaves lose basic rights that dom. If they fight for it and get everyone in the world beaten for it, then we, too, is born with. They are should fight for their freestopped from having dom. It is so important that Everyone loves chocolate, but freedom of movement, nobody knows that the blood and no one in this world misses which everyone should sweat of many hardworking slaves out on the basic right to a have, freedom of educa- went into the bar they are eating. life. It is important that we tion and a real job, and send a message to all the freedom of curiosity, people in the world that are which is the basis of all hu- in our hearts to start doing involved with buying, using man thinking. something to stop the slavery. and selling slaves. This mesCuriosity allows progress If we cannot even imagine be- sage needs to say that slavery in the world. It creates new ing in their shoes, then why will not be accepted, that evinventions and new ways should they have to be there ery single slave will be found of thinking. Through it, the in reality? They shouldn’t. and freed. People deserve economy, the government If that description does not more than a life as a slave. and the people all experience move you to start fighting This message should be sent growth in some way. When against slavery, then perhaps from every country of the slavery suppresses the curi- the thought of young kids, world, from every member of osity of 27 million individual even younger than 5 years the world community. These slaves are our people, thinkers, it is damaging the old, being enslaved will. When growth of the people of the children grow up in slavery, they were parts of our country world. One of those slaves live in slavery and die in slav- and we need to return them could have the potential to ery, they have not lived a life. to the lives they once knew. be a great scientist or a great Everyone born into the world The number of slaves today musician. If we do not com- should be able to live any way is 27 million people, higher A Call to Greater Cincinnati Poets Write for ‘For a Better World 2010’ It’s time to get your verse on. SOS Art, the annual exhibit of art on themes of peace and justice, publishes a collection of poetry each year. Saad Ghosn, who organizes SOS Art and writes the “Artists as Activists” column for Streetvibes, is now collecting submissions for For a Better World 2010, the seventh edition to date. Any poet from or connected to Greater Cincinnati may submit up to three poems related to themes of peace and justice. All submissions will be considered. The editors will be looking for quality, inclusiveness and appropriateness to the themes of peace and justice. If space becomes limited, priority will go to poets not published in previous books. The poems selected for publication will be illustrated in black and white by Greater Cincinnati artists. Poets included in the book will be invited to read their poems at SOS Art 2010. For a Better World 2010 will be released in May 2010. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2010. Send submissions as “Word” attachments or in full text By e-mail to saad.ghosn@uc.edu or On a CD to Saad Ghosn, 216 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. than the number of slaves during the transatlantic slave trade from Africa. As neighbors, as friends and as humans we need to take a stand against slavery before the number grows even higher. Even though I am a mere senior in high school, leaving me little authority in my local community, there are many things I can do. To start, I can do the easiest thing for me, talk with my friends and parents about the movie I just watched and ask them to watch it, too. This will build a following of the issue through chain reactions of telling my friends, who tell their friends and so on. By simply doing this I have built some awareness of the issue of slavery which has until now seemed to be forgotten. Besides doing that, as a student I can begin posting signs around the school just to raise more awareness. Also in school bringing in a speaker, possibly a former slave or active member of Free the People to the school would make a huge impression. Parents would be invited to hear the speaker, while students are required to go. To follow on the presentation a new club could be formed to raise awareness, and begin involvement in the Free the People campaign. Once the club has a solid group of members, we can begin drafting letters or setting up talks with important figures in our community. For instance, the Cincinnati Art Museum or the Contemporary Art Museum could have a display of work done about slavery, which would promote awareness to a broader range of people than we could have reached through our school. Another simple and barely noticeable task that could promote much awareness of slavery is dealing with chocolate bars. Chocolate bars could be bought or made and little slips of paper with facts about slavery still in the world today could be sold at grocery stores, movie theatres, on the street, anywhere. Everyone loves chocolate, but nobody knows that the blood and sweat of many hardworking slaves went into the bar they are eating. If people knew how their chocolate was made, maybe they would make a big deal and start raising awareness of slavery themselves. The goal would be to start making a chain reaction, where I start informing people about slavery, who then inform others, who inform others, etc. This would cause so much uproar that a movement against slavery would be hard to ignore. Excerpted from the winning entry in a high-school essay contest sponsored by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. A student at Summit Country Day High School at the time of the contest, Pogue is now a student at Ohio State University. Green and Angry Continued from page 6 in the team's offensive philosophy for the last quarter of the regular season. It's been known that in the past the Bengals have reevaluated their strategy every four games. From the outside, the changes are sometimes detectable; other times they're too subtle or simply don't materialize as they were planned. The theory makes sense: Occasionally install new plays and shift the paradigm to keep the opposition on their toes; but Marvin Lewis and his men have been a stubborn lot, especially this season, and he might not feel compelled to stray from what has clearly worked for him. Yet the next two games at Minnesota and at San Diego feature opponents that score plenty of points; and if the offense can't keep up, they may end up learning this lesson the hard way. Still, they might not have to score much after all. The defense remains the team's inner core and has been difficult to criticize all year. After Week 13, they ranked first in scoring defense, second against the run and fourth in overall yards allowed. Coordinator Mike Zimmer collected discarded pieces from the flotsam and jetsam of the NFL this off-season, and has since composed a group that works diligently and efficiently but rarely ever looks good doing it. The strong play of the cornerback tandem of Johnathon Joseph and Leon Hall has allowed Zimmer to focus on stopping the run first, and has also resulted in a handful of timely coverage sacks. They truly are a group who are far more concerned with their numbers than their names. So as frost mounts in the deep freeze of winter and each win becomes more paramount, Cincinnati will learn if simply being the more brawny team is enough to end up on top. If the passing game can somehow spring to life, then most would agree that the Bengals could match up well against anyone. As it is now, they'll have to win by being green and angry. �8 STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Local Issues Homeless Crimes continued from page 1 ing needs to be clean and safe and perceived that way.” less people are arrested for trespassHis remark merely perpetuated the ing and police are called when they idea that those without a home are just want to wash up. dangerous – even though the courtBeing caught with an open flask house provides a sense of safety for or urinating in an alley is a misde- the homeless. meanor. But homeless people with The Miami university students criminal records find distributed literature it difficult to obtain and stickers that said, employment or hous- “(It’s) important for people “I support people ing. without a home.” The to know homelessness The city should statement was creis out there and it’s not recognize the fact ated so that people necessarily their fault. that social services would not perceive People are being locked are at maximum cathose without a home up for doing everyday pacity, according to as a label, which the things we do at home.” Eysenbach. More serterm “homeless” rep- Brent Eysenbach vices, along with afresents. fordable housing, are Tom Dutton – an needed, he said. architecture professor, director of The goal for the students was to go the Miami University Center for Civic to a public place, where the home- Engagement in Over-the-Rhine and less are not allowed to sell items such a longtime advocate for poor people as Streetvibes, and spread the word – said people must take a look at the about these laws. City ordinances nature of our economy. The homeless prohibit vendors from selling Street- are turned into criminals, largely due vibes on Fountain Square. to ignorance. The city’s punitive meaEysenbach said many see homeless sures come from a deep misunderpeople as “them” or “others.” They are standing of the nature of homelessnot seen as people and therefore are ness, he said. brushed aside. In May 2007 the Greater Cincinnati Last summer the Cincinnati En- Coalition for the Homeless produced quirer reported on homeless people a study of public records that revealed sleeping – and urinating – outside the that it would actually cost the city Hamilton County Courthouse. Coun- less to create permanent supportive ty Commissioner David Pepper told housing than it would to place homethe paper, “It’s clearly unacceptable less people in jail. It costs $65 per bed for it to be used this way. The build- per day in the county jail in com- HOLIDAY SALE!!! Miami University students passed out literature and spoke with the community about the criminalization of homelessness. Photo by Ryan Wellinghoff. parison to an average of $30 a day for permanent supportive housing, the report said. “Because our system doesn’t make sure everybody has the human right of Say housing, people are forced to do their living outside, in front of everyone else, and therefore they’re criminalized,” said GCCH Executive Director Josh Spring. ! ? t a h W “If the lower classes are strong enough, or, in other words, if the lower classes can cause enough disruption in the society, the elites and more affluent may be wiling to give them concessions in order to remove this threat to the overall status quo.” - Harold R. Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality Refurbished G3 Mac Computers for only $39 through December! (regular price $64) Proceeds benefit Media Bridges Your local nonprofit media center Visit www.mediabridges.org or call 513-651-4171 for details, or stop by 1100 Race St. to pick one up today. _________ �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 9 National News School of Assassins Tens of thousands want end to Torture U By Samantha Groark Contributing Writer E very third week in November, thousands of students, clergy, celebrities, politicians, human rights defenders, torture survivors, veterans and citizens gather outside the gates of Ft. Benning, Ga., to protest at the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA). Renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001, SOA is a 63-year-old combat-training school for soldiers in Latin America. Each year about 20,000 people gather at the gates to protest SOA’s history and its ongoing work, making it one of the longest-standing non-violent protest movements in American history. The School of the Americas has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. SOA graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own peoples, often resulting in massacres of entire villages, according to School of the Americas Watch, the organization that coordinates the annual protest. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders and others who work for the rights of the poor in Latin American countries. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refuge by SOA graduates, according to SOA Watch and other organizations. Initially established in Panama in 1946, the School of the Americas was kicked out of that country in 1984 by former Panamanian President Jorge Illueca, who said the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” Since then graduates from SOA, dubbed by critics the “School of Assassins,” have been involved in political coups, massacres and assassinations in every country where they have returned after their training. The first protest in 1990 came after the Nov. 16, 1989, massacre of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her teenage daughter in El Salvador. A U.S. Congressional Task Force reported that those responsible were trained at the SOA. In 1990, SOA Watch began in a tiny apartment outside the main gate of Ft. Benning with the help of the Rev. Roy Bourgeois. SOA Watch has Protesters marched outside the gates of Ft. Benning, Georgia. Photo by Angela Gray. Protesters carry crosses at a protest against the School of the Americas. Photo by John Rehak. two goals: first, to close the School of the Americas; second, by educating the public, lobbying Congress and participating in creative, nonviolent resistance, to change U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. Nearly 300 SOA Watch protesters have collectively spent over 100 years in prison as the result of illegally “crossing the line” onto the base at Ft. Benning. This year four people committed acts “It is up to us to hold those of civil disobedience by trespassing onto Ft. responsible accountable and Benning. to push for the closing of the “This is something I feel like I have to do School of the Americas and a to stand for human rights,” said the Rev. change in US foreign policy.” Louis Vitale the night before he crossed the - The Rev. Roy Bourgeois line. Five individuals were arrested for similar acts of civil disobedience at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., where the torture manuals used at the SOA were created. Since 1995 the Ignatian Solidarity Network has presented the annual Ignatian Family Teach-In near the gates of Ft. Benning. Jesuits, former Jesuits and lay pastoral leaders have gathered to call for the closure of the School of the Americas and to commemorate the deaths of the Jesuit martyrs and other victims of civil war and bloodshed tied to the SOA. The Teach-In includes a variety of sessions focusing on issues ranging from nonviolent strategy, successful lobbying and workshops on other social-justice and environmental issues. “It’s really great to be able to connect with people from around the country who are concerned about the same issues as I am,” said a Cincinnati woman who attended this year’s teach-in. “It’s amazing how many of us are concerned about the same things, but often have felt isolated and alone in our convictions.” Protesters from Cincinnati included high-school and university students and the Sisters of Charity. Next year the Ignatian Family Teach-In will move to Washington, D.C. The move is a change in strategy that the Ignatian Solidarity Network hopes will increase awareness and political pressure. SOA Watch says the campaign to close the School of the Americas is in a crucial phase. Despite promising comments from President Obama during his 2008 election campaign, the institution is still in operation. SOA Watch says the United States is pouring millions into failing military solutions to combat the drug problems in Mexico, and the Pentagon is moving forward with plans to use seven Colombian military bases in Colombia for offensive U.S. military operations. “It is up to us to hold those responsible accountable and to push for the closing of the School of the Americas and a change in US foreign policy,” Bourgeois said. “Too many have died and continue to suffer at the hands of graduates of this notorious institute.” Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this holiday season. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! Please use my tax-deductible contribution to purchase books and distribute them to children who need them most. $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �10 Creative Writing STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Postcards to America By Michael Henson America, I’m writing from a very far place called America, One of us is in the wrong place. America, I’m steering an eight-cylinder Conestoga down the Trail of Tears. There are no exits. America, It’s all very confusing. I’m blind and deaf and my heart is breaking but if I touch the hem of your garment, I might win the Lottery. America, The view from here is very strange. The eyes of the abandoned factories stare at me. The walls are slathered with graffiti. I can’t read a word of it, But I don’t think the news is good. Photo by Maria Campolongo. America, What’s up with these angry waves of grain? These toppled mountain majesties? These out-sourced fruited plains? America, I think the suburbs Are very close to hell. America, I can’t argue anymore. When I hear the blonde men bicker on the radio, I just want to go someplace and die. America, The rich get richer, the poor get AIDS. How does this happen? America, I don’t think I can bear the weight of your sins any longer. I’m letting Barabbas carry this cross. America, It’s all mixed up. Have you seen the pythons in the Everglades? America, You can tell the Sanhedrin Senate I’ve gone home to America. America, Is it me? Each part of you looks the same. Your elbow looks exactly like your elbow. America, You can tell the pin-stripe Goliaths I’m out in the yard with David, counting stones. Prisons Within, Prisons Without Not all have bars on the windows By Mike Henson Contributing Writer H e had known all along she was leaving – Debbie, his cousin. Even before she packed her borrowed bag and stole like a deer out of the before-dawn house and walked the dark mile out to the highway, he could see her, heavy handbag in hand, waiting at the crossing where she knew the bus’s lights would catch her, with the dew-filled wind pressing her jacket against her. And she would wave “They train these guards to use her arm slowly to stop the bus when those judo chops, to guard the its lights wrapped around her. And she would climb the steps and mumble to prisoners. And so he give her the driver where she wanted to go. And one of those judo chops right to the neck. Knocked her clean she would count out her money to him. She would hold her face down in the into the wall and she still can’t turn her head without it hurtin.” hollow of her collar. Her bruises were not yet healed. For a week he had watched her try to hide from him her plum-colored eye and her thick lip baked open like the top of a biscuit. She only talked to Granny, but he saw how she spoke without moving her bread-thick lips and he heard, without hearing what she said, the whispered, half-lisped way she puffed out her words, as if talking straight would hurt her. He had tried once to ask, “Granny, why … ” But he got a look that told him that this was one thing he was yet too young to ask. And he never would know but that he heard Granny tell the story. “She’s back with her man now,” she was telling the neighbor woman. The women were sitting, each of them, in one of the lawn chairs of the sunspilt yard. “I don’t see how she stands it. He’ll buy a little for the two younguns, milk and juice and so on, but if it weren’t for what folks give her, she wouldn't have nothin. And he goes to Athens, Ohio three nights a week to play at these clubs – they’re not just a bar, they’re regular clubs. He can pick up any old instrument and play on it.” The boy remembered the reunion at the church on the ridge: How Debbie had a way of leaning forward to people, then pulling back, on smiling, then unsmiling. Her man picked up a guitar that was leaning against a tree, passed one expert lick down the neck of it, then put it down. “She says he makes a hundred and fifty a week just off of that. But what he does with his money she don’t know, for she never sees nary a penny of it. And he makes good money at his job besides. He’s a guard, you know, at the prison in Lucasville, and he makes good money there.” Granny knew he had snuck up beside her chair, but she did not turn. She did not stop her story. “Well she tried to leave him, but he told her, if she ever did, he’d sue for takin his children from him. Well, her folks tried to get her to come home with them. They’d been givin her food and clothes for the kids, and she was studyin on comin home. But then he come home one night and accused her of havin a man in the house. “And you see, they train these guards to use those judo chops, to guard the prisoners. And so he give her one of those judo chops right to the neck. Knocked her clean into the wall and she still can’t turn her head without it hurtin. Well, after that, she was afraid to leave. Afraid he’d kill em all. “But she was afraid to stay. So she come here. Left them kids and come here. He’d beat her up and he’d run her out that night. And always before when he’d run her out, he’d let her back in. But she told herself, ‘I ain't goin back in. Not this time.’ And she run off to a friend, and they fixed her up some clothes in a bag and she come down here, where he wouldn’t think to look for her.” Granny was still face to face with the neighbor woman, but her eye had turned so that by now he knew For a week he had watched her try to hide from him her plum-colored that she was really talking to him. “He’s just the same way when he’s eye and her thick lip baked open like a guard. They give him a billy club the top of a biscuit. and even a gun and one of them electric cattle-loadin sticks – they’re illegal to use 'em on cattle but they do it – and he has to guard the big fence around the prison. And any one of them don’t like, he’ll stick ’em with that stick. Especially the colored ones.” She looked out to the line of hills where the wind was spinning a hawk. “And they all hate him. And they'll get him one day.” She shook her head and looked back to the neighbor woman. “I reckon it was bad to leave them children like that. But what could she do? She worried over ’em the whole time she was here. It was ever other word she spoke.” But he had known she would go back. In that last dark hour before daybreak, when he heard her footstep crack the warp in the floorboard outside his door, he knew it was Debbie, that she had packed her heavy bag, that she would soon be waiting with the highway wind and dew on her bruises. Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 11 Short Story Church Bells, a Pea Coat & a Light Jacob finds something different By Larry Gross Contributing Writer He woke up to the church bells. He counted them out loud: “One. . . two. . .three. . .four. . .five. . .six. . . seven. . . eight.” It was 8 o’clock in the morning. He didn’t know what day it was. Jacob was lying beside him on the church steps opposite Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine. He shook Jacob, shook him and shook him, but Jacob was out like a light. This was typical Jacob – always making things more difficult than they needed to be. Why couldn’t he simply wake up and get on things, behave like a normal person? Standing up, he told himself he would check on Jacob later. Looking across the street to Washington Park, he saw there was frost on the ground. It was a cold, cloudy winter morning. Suddenly, he took notice of what he was wearing. The ragged old coat that he found last month in a doorway had been replaced by a pea coat, almost exactly like the one he wore when he was a kid, back then he was 10 years old. It was navy-colored with broad lapels and a double-breasted front. The wool was heavy and it felt warm. He walked across the street to the park and sat down on one of the benches. He thought about how this could have happened. Why would someone give him a new coat? Along with Jacob, he had gotten pretty wasted the night before. They had a bottle they shared, trying to warm themselves up with alcohol before the night and its coldness set in. Maybe he had passed out. Maybe someone passing by saw he needed a better coat. Maybe someone was trying to be generous. Maybe some people are still nice. He doesn’t meet a lot of nice people anymore. Since losing everything almost 10 years ago, because of too much drinking or too many women or too much gambling or a combination of any of those three demons, people don’t respect him anymore. They ignore him when he asks for a little change. Passengers move to other seats when he rides on the bus. People look down on him because he doesn’t have a home to go to. Most don’t want to help a homeless person. Looking at the pea coat, he remembered back to his days as a kid – actually back to when he was 10. He remembered that pea coat he always wore in the winter months. Memories, distant memories filled his head. He remembered throwing snowballs with his friends at some girls while wearing his favorite winter coat. He almost laughed sitting there on that bench thinking about how those girls screamed. His hands were cold. He put them in the pockets of the pea coat. A smile came to his face when he realized gloves were inside. In the right pocket, he Washington Park. Photo by Maria Campolongo. felt something else. He pulled out a pack of Winston cigarettes. He also found a book of matches. Grateful for the luck he was having, he opened the pack of cigarettes, pulled one out and lit it. He then put on his gloves. Sitting there smoking, he liked the idea of not having to beg for cigarettes. On this day, he had his own. The church bells were ringing again. He counted. “One. . . two. . .three. . .four. . .five. . .six. . .seven. . .eight. . .nine.” The library was now open. He could use one of their restrooms, throw some cold water in his face and start the day. Starting to make his way toward downtown, he looked over at Jacob again. He was still asleep on the church steps. He would have to make his trip to the library quick. While he didn’t like Jacob all that much anymore, he knew him too well and didn’t want a cop to pick him up for loitering. He took another cigarette out of his pack and lit it. Wintons. He hadn’t smoked them since he was a kid. He had wanted to grow up early and started smoking on his 10th birthday. Walking to the library, he couldn’t help but notice people were friendlier to him, making eye contact, some saying good morning. The world seemed like a better place on this morning and while not understanding it, he was thankful for it. When he got to the library, the first thing he did was look at himself in the restroom mirror to check out his left eye. A few nights earlier, while trying to find a place to sleep; a couple guys jumped him, hit him in the eye a couple times and took off with the few bucks he had managed to beg on the street. Yesterday the eye was black and blue and badly swollen. But on this morning, the eye seemed fine. He looked to see if there were still any swelling. There wasn’t. It looked perfectly normal, as if nothing had happened. He splashed cold water in his face while remembering Jacob. Something inside told him he needed to get back to those church steps quickly. He looked at himself one last time in the mirror, mostly looking at the pea coat he was wearing. A feeling came over him, a feeling not of sadness, worry or despair but one of happiness. Walking back to Over-the-Rhine, he felt each step to be lighter than normal. People were smiling at him. One of the women who did looked almost like his mother. As he walked, he thought he could somehow put all the bad decisions and wrong turns behind him. Somehow he knew things were going to change. He heard those church bells again. “One. . . two. . .three. . .four. . .five. . .six. . .seven. . .eight. . . nine. . . ten.” As he approached Washington Park, the sun quickly came out from behind the clouds. He looked over to the church steps where Jacob had been sleeping. In front of the church, he saw an ambulance and two police cars. Two Hamilton County deputies were putting Jacob in a body bag. He again looked at the coat he was wearing, suddenly realizing the meaning of the church bells. The sun started shining brightly over the church. Picking up his pace, he was filled with excitement. He ran as quickly as he could to the light. He looked up to the heavens, knowing he was heading to a better place. Looking for the perfect gift for someone? Why not give a donation to Streetvibes in a loved one’s name? What about a Streetvibes subscription? Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors this holiday season. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �12 Short Story STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Life on the Bloody Edge By Steven Paul Lansky Contributing Writer ‘Arjuna.’ Painting and photo by Steven Paul Lansky. 1982 A wandering buck stands on the shoulder of a two-lane highway in Texas. The sun is rising behind him. Along the road a grass field stretches as far as the horizon. A chest highbarbwire fence separates the road and the acreage. Holsteins are standing in the field. Some of the cows are lying down. They are getting up, though, one or two at a time, mooing and lowing. The young man extends his thumb to the road. A brown pack rests on his shoulder. A car passes with the rubber-onfreeway sound. The man can smell the dust. Across the road are railroad tracks. Redwing blackbirds chatter behind him along the fence wire. The young man looks back on the road, swings around walking east, shielding his face from the sun with the thumbing hand, listening for another car behind. He can smell the dew on the grass. As he walks he thinks about women. What else do lonely men think about while they walk highways. 1996 A pony-tailed man walks with a woman to a restaurant downtown. She wanted to sit and sip a cola. He suggested Mullane’s Café because he can get coffee and two refills for 50 cents. She walks slowly in small steps, stops to light a cigarette from a trembling hand holding a lighter. He feels his heavy wing tips on the concrete sidewalk; thinks of walking when he was leaner, poorer, more scared. The woman is older than he is. She would gravitate to fast-food restaurants with free refills on soda. She complains about the black teenagers at the bus stops and in the fast-food places. She has been knocked down. Her friends have had purses snatched. He wants her to improve her social standing by going to the café where there is a fortune teller in the late afternoon, where there is sidewalk seating, where the mayor sometimes comes for dinner. He believes she will be safer and more secure at Mullane’s than at the fast-food restaurants. He finds it difficult to explain this to the woman. She takes pride in her participation in the mayor’s campaign. The man is trying to covertly encourage her. They sit at an outdoor table. They order beverages. He pours cream in his coffee, enjoys it. She has a cola over ice and asks him if he remembers when they first met. He is worried that she might think this is a date. A thin black man with a little facial hair approaches the table with a sketchpad. He asks if either of them would like to be sketched, a portrait, for a donation: “Say five dollars?” “Are you an artist, too?” asks the man. “My girlfriend is an artist,” he confesses, trying to hide his reserve. “Go ahead,” says the woman to the artist. “She won’t mind,” she says to her Social Worker. “I don’t know,” he says. “You don’t have to show it to her,” says the woman. There is an awkward silence. He observes that the artist is missing the temple on one side of his eyeglasses. He needs the money. “OK.” “Good,” she says and sips cola. The artist uses two different pencils. The Social Worker tries to watch him work, but knows this is distracting to the artist. When he is finished, the woman likes the sketch at once. The Social Worker observes that it is a good likeness except for the nose, which resembles the woman’s more than his own. He withholds comment, pays the fellow. After he has walked her back to the hotel, he hides the sketch in the trunk of his car. He is never able to find the sketch again. ***** Arjuna enters a downtown residential hotel across the street from the new arts center. He signs in at the desk. He goes to see one of his clients. He is a Social Worker at the same agency as his therapist. He thinks about his life. Once he needed the system to heal him. Now he needs the system for a job. He gives to others who need healing. He gets in the elevator. He walks the carpeted hallway. The day is warm and the man is dressed in khaki shorts, short sleeves and running shoes. He set the timer on his chronometer as he left the car to time the parking meter. His client is on the fifth floor. He stands in the narrow hall knocking on her door. He is impatient when she does not answer. Perhaps she is sleeping. Possibly she has gone out. He was expecting to help her straighten up for her room inspection next week. It is the last day of May, a Friday early afternoon. He does not give up easily. At the front desk he uses the telephone. Her line is busy. He returns to the elevator. He goes up to floor five. He walks the corridor with more urgency. Again he knocks. No answer. He shouts her name. Now he knows something is wrong. She would respond if she were on the phone. He goes back to the desk in the lobby. He requests assistance in opening the door to her room. Fourteen years ago to the day he had returned to Cincinnati on his bicycle to restart his life. He does not think about that. He is fully occupied with getting the maintenance man to open her room. His patience is beginning to annoy him. The door is keyed and he can see that the carpet is dirty. The security chain is on the door. The maintenance man radios on the walkie-talkie for a bolt cutter. The other maintenance man is there. They both wear gray shirts with their names on them. The man with the sandy beard reaches through the gap in the door with a screwdriver and unscrews the chain. There were two screws. Time hung on the chain. The muscles in the man's neck stand out as he unscrews. She is on the bed bleeding. The man with the walkie-talkie has the desk clerk call 911. “She's alive,” he thinks, very relieved. He can see her breathing. She is alive. Fourteen years ago he was penniless. The bicycle tires were flat. He had ridden from Columbus to Cincinnati, over 100 miles. Overnight. Just after the hitch to Santa Fe. Fourteen years and a month ago he stood on that highway, watching cows. Listening. He hangs up the phone. It rings. The police and life squad are coming. He calls his supervisor. She is distressed. Blood red and blood brown. The footprints are everywhere. She’s a pacer. She had walked that room after she had cut the crook of her elbow with a 14-inch blade. Footprints. He had paced the edge of the road 14 years before. Looking for love. The cow-herding girl. The gopis. The bathroom tile blood-red strewn. The knife lay on the edge of the blood-filled tub. The empty pill bottles lined up on the top edge of the refrigerator like fence posts. On the table the emergency sheet with the therapist’s name and doctor’s name and parents’. Her face streaked with crusted black blood. The bedding red, soaked, red, deep gashed arm at elbow the blood of paint drip depression and the fear of fear of her luck in folding the arm up to breast in bloody night clothes, unconscious, breathing, rapidly, breathing but not wakeable with a shout. Life Squad comes in. Two men. At first they seem to think that someone had done this to her. “How old is she?” See Edge, p. 13 �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 Stort Story Life on the Bloody Edge continued from page 12 The young worker will never meet with the woman at Mullane’s Café. Fifty-one. She is fifty-one. Fourteen years ago she was 37. I am 38 now. Fourteen years ago I was 24. After the medics come the constabulary. Two mounted officers, one male, one female. Two officers from their high-tech cruisers, again both genders. Arjuna is interviewed as she is moved onto a stretcher, the gash wrapped tightly. A blond woman with blue pools for eyes that open into tomorrow; good clean fingers hold a tiny note pad and a yellow No. 2 pencil. Some questions … the pill bottles are examined for dosage, number, dates. Arjuna is lost in the eyes of this Miss and answers willingly, wantingly. The redhead from the mounted division has spurs on her boots and a sense of humor. Arjuna is impressed with his desire to keep his eyes in the pools. He reflects on how mystifying her presence is in the room where he had sat previously on the brown sofa, or at the tiny kitchen table, the lingering odor of cigarette smoke in his nostrils more pungent than the dust on the highway those 14 years ago. The uniforms are so blue, collars so white, pins of brass, and black shoes, boots with spurs; always back to the pools with the dilated black open pupils. The voice calm, reassuring, melodic. Arjuna wants to linger with these uniforms, feels comfort in their pacing, so much more secure than those of the missing client. His own pacing somewhere between the officious and the bloody unsteady footprints. He walks the corridor with more urgency. Again he knocks. No answer. He shouts her name. Now he knows something is wrong. ***** Sunday morning at the hospital Arjuna went to her bedside. Machines with lights and numbers flanked her. The room was glass and curtains. She opened swollen eyelids, a tube on her tongue and several in each arm. Her head looked puffed, inflated then partially let down; one eye stared off and didn’t track, the other bloodshot and milky looked at him with a flicker of recognition. She reached for his hand with hers and squeezed weakly. 13 “Do you recognize me?” “Arjuna,” she slurred, nodded once, a small gesture. He stood at the steel bed rail and watched her breathe. Black dried blood streaked her enlarged head, matted dark hair. They hadn’t had a chance to clean her up in two days. He felt very bad and very relieved. His pulse ran in his ears. He talked to her a little, He wants her to improve her said her name, glad to see her and scared. social standing by going to the Then he stood waiting for a thought or the café where there is a fortune moment to end; listened to her gurgling teller in the late afternoon, breath. When he left, he thought about where there is sidewalk other things. seating, where the mayor Arjuna meets her at the crisis center in sometimes comes for dinner. the city, but not downtown, where she is staying after the hospital before moving back to her fifth-floor room. A chaotic place, there are many ill clients sitting, smoking, milling. The doorways are wide to admit wheelchairs. Arjuna speaks privately with a staff member about her, both before and after he meets with her. Arjuna wants her in group housing. Not likely to happen. “I’ll never pull a stunt like that again,” she says. They walk to a fast-food restaurant, less scary perhaps because they are not “downtown.” He orders orange juice at the counter and she follows. They sit to talk under the bright lights in the seats that don’t move because they are attached to the tables and the floor. She cries, readily, freely grieving her father, a loss of long standing. She thanks Arjuna for finding her. He is nervous, curious about how it felt to be “gone,” near death. He doesn’t dare ask her but he wants to know. The knife edge of life can be explored among the living when life is that miserable. She suggests they walk. They make their way slowly around a large block, nearly half-a-mile, taking small steps. She cries; misses her father. “He was told he was schizophrenic just before he died.” The Social Worker, Arjuna, is glad she is alive. He is finished visiting her. Steven Paul Lansky teaches creative writing at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Lansky’s published works include ‘The Citizen,’ ‘Jack Acid’ and ‘Main St.’ Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go ahead. Ask. �14 Poetry Page STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 What Happens When We Die? Pacifist Question By Spencer Ledyard By Jeremy Flannery Let's come right out and say it, Dispense with all the ironies and say, “I have always been able to depend on the unkindness of strangers.” I don't need to blanch the truth. Their underpinnings of unpleasantness are lifebreath; Their cantilevers of demure distaste hang Cartoon pianos by frayed roping, And the smallest comment by an outsider can act as a knife. I hear Mason Jennings crying in his song, “The Field.” It is written from the perspective of a parent Whose son died in the desert – at war for what, he asks. He sings, "”I don't want no victory/ I just want you back.” He chants this, his voice rising into the ethereal insanity of song. The leaves shake at the crescendo. I shiver at the wind. Where is there no animosity for the unknown Besides in the fantasy world of the idealist? Where are the valleys and mountaintops Festooned with wreaths of people holding hands, Black to white to Indian to Pakistani, To every racial dissenter to every community deserter; Where are the speeches of the King? Where are the lovers of life, unabashed by its universality? John imagined there were no countries; he asked if I could. About national boundaries, Vonnegut opined, “I can't believe that they mark the end Or the beginning of anything of real concern to the human soul. Virtues and vices, pleasures and pains Cross boundaries at will.” Is there somewhere the pacifist who, in the radiation of heart, melts The lead of bullets, emits enough heat to beat swords into plowshares? The trees are black and red today. The ants are battling And the streetlight haloes the autumn maple leaves against the night. For Greg Flannery We see God as omnipotent, caritas plena, Yet abuse "His Word" to condemn whom we despise? How did religions become conventions for hate and self-righteousness to be justified? Is there a Heaven that's so exclusive? Whose mortal insinuations engaged us to start this fight? If faith is hope, why are spirits so broken? ...a belligerent concept that begs the question: why? Isn’t it a tragic waste of life to fight over what happens when we die? Believing out of fear of the afterlife is no faith I accept to live by. But with guidance under, yes I do wonder if there is judgment waiting for me when I die. But life is a gift and I'm focusing efforts upon Earth. Who truly knows if we live a second time? So much violence inflicted upon “infidels”: Crusades and Jihads preach blasphemy cries, claiming throughout history that faith is just cause to commit unjust acts upon Humankind! No perfect theism. No “holy glory.” A selfish, vengeful god is a fool's conjured lie. If God is Love, why fear She will destroy us? Is it a sin to stop and question why? Happy Christmas to All By Adeline Rose 'Twas the night before Christmas, and St. Nick was pissed So Skyline came off of his long Christmas list St. Nick he wanted more soup for the poor A 3-way, a 5-way some chili, no more. For the hungry of 'Nati, the poor and the weak The homeless, the lonely who live on the streets So St. Nick made other plans this fine year And called on his reindeer to get up to gear. “Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!" Sacks full of specials he put on his sleigh Photo by Maria Campolongo. And hazmat containers a suit and array To do this most specialist job of the year A job, Oh so special, he grinned ear-to-ear. The creepies he carried avenging the crime CEO sacks of the nastiest kind He made the loop round the 2..7..5 Piled to the ceiling, he lined up the sacks Dropping presents and candies and goodies inside Ready to go to attack, to attack. He ate the cookies and the milk that was left Collecting the creepies he everywhere met. He opened the sacks and they ran with a jitter Trillions and zillions of brown, creepy critters You know the creepies that crawl in your bed He thought the bags empty and then there were That wait till you sleep, then it's time to be fed more That munch on your skin and you never can find Bed bugs and bed bugs and bed bugs galore. Well, Nick found them now and it's Skyline time! From Cincy and Colerain and Blue Ash they're Kev's the last stop, St. Nick did he climb yours Up and down trips of the one thousand kind From Indy and Eastgate and Newport and more Through soot, dust and ashes, the awfulest trips From Norwood, Wyoming and too Lincoln Heights For someone as old and as mad as St. Nick. Communally we have been in one big fight. The bugs filled the stockings and then ate the mouse Creatures now stirring, Oh filling the house They covered the children and buried their beds They ate off their feet and the locks on their heads. Then there's Ma in her 'kerchief and Kev in his cap,' Throw a bushel on them for a fine midnight snack Too sleepy to waken, too sleepy to find The creepiest critters, the awfulest kind. So Cincy be grateful, so Cincy be glad All of your bed bugs are now stored at Kev's You serve the hungry and you serve the poor In thanksgiving for St. Nick and bed bugs no more. You see, bed bugs and hunger are not unalike Both are sure a community's fight So Loveland, and Beechmont, Mt. Healthy it's yours Mt. Lookout, and Clifton and Reading and more. Nick laying his finger aside of his nose He flicked off a bed bug, up the chimney he rose He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a tug And thought about those that he once dearly loved. St. Nick did return to that cold, old North Pole He cooked up some Skyline, a lonely old soul But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight: “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good bite!” Check out the Streetvibes blog @ streetvibes.wordpress.com �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Treatment: Men 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men DIC Live In Program Prospect House 241-5525 961-2256 Treatment: Women First Step Home 961-4663 961-4080 761-1480 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky Advocacy 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry Brighton Center 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 535-2719 Poetry Corner Christmas, Inner City By Murray Bodo, OFM It’s the night before Christmas And police patrol cars are Keeping their slow watch by night. A teenage mother cradles Her baby against the cold. The streets are silent and dark When suddenly three angels Break through the dark, their voices High and sweet with “Silent Night,” Their parents hovering near. The young mother stops and listens, The small angels sing bravely. Suddenly light illumines Our inner city lot where All is still, patrol cars stop, And God’s a baby again. People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Housing: Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Tender Mercies 381-0111 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 AA Hotline CCAT 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 621-5514 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 661-4620 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Drop Inn Center Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center Peaslee Neighborhood Center Shelter: Both Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 458-6670 977-4489 Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 558-8888 981-5800 784-1853 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 562-8841 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center Photo by Maria Campolongo. Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 �16 Column STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 From Malcolm X to Mountain Dew Thom Shaw’s woodcuts depict urban life’s hopes and hazards T hom Shaw took interest in making art in second grade when he was 6 years old. He overheard conversations among his teachers about two of his classmates gifted at drawing and who were given tuition for art school. He wanted to emulate them and started drawing. He soon proved very good at it and was sent as well to art school – initially the art museum, then Walnut Hills High School’s summer program. In college, he attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) and graduated, majoring in printmaking. The immediacy of woodcuts, close in many ways to drawing, and the boldness of black and white prints interested him from the start; this medium later became his artistic signature. As a child, Shaw’s drawings were innocent, based mainly on what he would watch on TV, heroes like Batman and Superman. At AAC he learned to draw from what he saw; his drawings were academic, often based on the human body. Social commentaries first appeared in his works during his senior year in college, triggered then by the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Tom Shaw. Photo by Saad Ghosn. After graduating from AAC, Shaw worked for a while as a graphic designer for Cincinnati Bell. His work during that period was non-representational, corporate-like, abstract large-scale The prints he made then led to a series he titled the “Malcolm X collage assemblages and color paintings. Even though it sold well, it Paradox.” They were exhibited in 1991 downtown Cincinnati. To his was not filling the void in surprise, they were very well received, finding an immediate echo in his soul and did not feel Over-the-Rhine residents who strongly identified with them. Shaw honest. had carved a gang icon which, irrespective of ethnicity or color, repreIn 1986 he became sented the many ills of society, the broken down family, the loneliness acquainted with Ger- of youth, the addiction to drugs as an escape, the resort to violence to man Expressionism and prove oneself. as the works of Kathe KollHis images were quite graphic, showing killings, prostitution and witz, Leonard Baskin and drug dependence. In one, a pregnant woman with a baby stroller is on George Grosz. Influenced her knees performing fellatio on a wealthy man in order to get money By Saad Ghosn by their imagery and its and buy drugs. Many dealt with drive-by shootings, often resulting in Contributing Writer content, he started mak- accidental injuries such as children being killed, in the name of busiing large woodcuts with ness as usual. One depicted a man at a bus stop shot just for his gym social themes that incor- shoes to be used as a trophy and proof of gang loyalty. porated the ills of his community. At the same time he happened to The Sentinel, a woodcut from the series, portrays a 15-year-old boy witness a gang fight, the members of which were wearing T-shirts de- serving as a watchdog, looking out to make sure no intruder was appicting the late Malcolm X. He found the association intriguing, Mal- proaching the gang’s headquarters hideout. The boy, however, is encolm X in his mind being a promoter of unity and good relationship, tirely oblivious of the danger awaiting him, portrayed in the print by a and not of destructive fighting. pistol behind him, and that could terminate his life. His pride at being Shaw decided to learn more about gang life, its roots and how it assigned the responsibility overshadowed his concern for death; he reflected the problems of society. He embarked on interviewing gang would do anything for his new gang family, one that makes him feel members, inquiring about their life and thinking, collecting at the valuable and trusted. same time a visual repertory of their stories for his own work. Shaw’s work at the time was often criticized as being derogatory to the black man, confirming the media notion that he was a menace to society. Shaw disagrees. “If at any time my images had negroid features, it was specifically to depict the negative effects society imparted on African-American males with whom I identify,” he says. “I wanted to show the black man as a victim, a target of the many societal ills; I wanted to raise awareness about his condition.” In 1994 Shaw was asked to show his enlarging Malcolm X Paradox series at the studio museum of Harlem in New York City and a year later at the Cincinnati Art Museum. In 1995 he also had a show at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, titled, “Hegemony: the Hidden Fury.” It consisted of woodcuts, murals and videos, all dealing with domestic violence. Social commentaries kept abounding in his works. His series “Zombies,” for instance, dealt with the lack of education and the illiteracy of youth. It pointed to family challenges, to kids not being fed properly before going to school, to kids lacking parental guidance and supervision; it was meant as a call to action for a serious and threatening problem facing society. In the past few years Shaw’s works focused more on himself and his health problems. He had suffered for many years from diabetes that affected severely his heart and kidneys, resulting in various surgeries and hospitalizations. He incorporated his health issues with his other concerns, wanting to share them visually with those who might be experiencing the same. His woodcut Stress Test represents Shaw with testing wires connected to his skin and heart, also with a Mountain Dew can, a forbidden drink in view of his condition. It alludes metaphorically to the bad choices he had made and to their serious health ramifications. Art is life for Shaw. It keeps him young and challenges him; it allows him also to challenge and sometimes confront the viewer. “Artwork can be controversial,” he says, “but we artists are ambassadors of truth, ambassadors of the human experience. We try to ‘The Sentinel,’ woodcut print by Thom Shaw. make sense of a world gone astray, and thus have an impact on people Photo by Saad Ghosn. whether we intend it or not.” A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2009 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 15-31, 2009 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Pg 2: Quite a Year for ‘Streetvibes’ Pg 3: Hamilton County Hidden Treasures Pg 4: Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Continued Pg 5: Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Continued Pg 6: Just as Bad as Highway Robbery Pg 7: Time to End Slavery; I Can Help Pg 8: Homeless Crimes Pg 9: School of Assassins Pg 10: Arts & Poetry Pg 11: Church Bells, a Pea Coat & a Light Pg 12: Life on the Bloody Edge Pg 13: Life on the Bloody Edge Continued Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: From Malcolm X to Mountain Dew Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 15-31, 2009 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Jeni Jenkins Lew Moores Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Kelissa Hieber Dan Rozier Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Keara Anita Mullen Steven Paul Lansky Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite Jeni Jenkins Anthony Williams Bill Haigh Clarissa Peppers Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Anthony Williams Arts & Poetry Bengals Bill Haigh Bob Dylan Clarissa Peppers Congress Dan Rozier David Heitfield Eli Braun Food Pantry Gregory Flannery Hamilton County Hate Crimes health care Homeless Crimes Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Keara Anita Mullen Kelissa Hieber Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Malcom X Margo Pierce Michael Henson Paul Kopp Prison Protests Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Slavery SOA Stephanie Dunlap Steven Paul Lansky Thom Shaw Wage https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/8b69206eb00c6ddfb2393869a5423308.pdf cee429c8d2873a449d5d9f6b3a568921 PDF Text Text Underground Rappers Cecil Thomas serves Page 6 dinner, Page 13 Membership Drive Page 14 STREETVIBES $1 Jan. 1 - 15, 2010 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 168 May They Finally Rest in Peace Remembering homeless people who died in 2009 Albert Ollie John Graham By Paul KoPP Contributing Writer David “Peaches” Bryant James Arnold H “Gary” Ken McClure Derek Gibson Fanni Edwards Daniel Byrum Joseph Wright Ken Tucker George Cannon Scott Wheeler Eddie Seamon Matthew Harmeyer Bob Carle Jessie Frank Frank Roper Rodney Sosby Eric Smothers Eugene Burgess the unknown and the unnamed Photo by Aimie Willhoite. Dorris Dawson Anthony Wright... rate the individuals who lost their lives, those attending the ceremony were given a chance to say a few omelessness often car­ words about those who died. ries a stigma in main­ Rob Goeller, civil-rights out­ stream culture. It seems reach coordinator for the Homethat those who are homeless have less Coalition, compiled a list of lost their voice in society. Though the homeless or formerly homeless they suffer from people who died problems simi­ last year: lar to those who It seems that those who are Ken McClure: homeless have lost their judge them, they In addition to liv­ are ridiculed for voice in society. Though ing in the neigh­ their mistakes and they suffer from problems borhood, McClure viewed as a lesser similar to those who judge worked in main­ class. them, they are ridiculed for tenance for Over­ The differences their mistakes and viewed the-Rhine Combetween an avermunity Housing as a lesser class. age middle-class (OTRCH) for a person and a number of years. homeless person are sometimes He died of complications from few. It is sometimes a matter of cancer, with his family by his side. chance, luck, family history, un­ “He was a great guy,” says Amy foreseen health conditions, etc. Silver, a social worker for OTRCH. The element of choice and free “He was friendly, warm, reliable, will, things we can control, might laid back and patient. He was older seem to debase this argument but and he lived a really long life. He one must remember that one bad worked up right up until before he choice can carry massive repercus­ died.” sions. Many homeless lives end in Fanni Edwards came to Cincintragedy, tragedies that most never nati from Kentucky when she was know about. 17 and was “on her own and feisty The Greater Cincinnati Coali- ever since,” Silver says. tion for the Homeless held its anA long-time resident of Over­ nual observance Dec. 21 in Wash- the-Rhine Community Housing, ington Park for homeless people she was in her early 90s. When her who died in 2009. A fire inside a health failed, she moved to a nurs­ trash bin symbolized the struggle ing home. that homeless people go through “She was always fighting, always to keep themselves warm in the staying alive,” Silver says. “She cold winter months. Following a moment of silence to commemoSee Peace, p. 5 Metropole Tenants Gain Support But what went wrong at the ‘alternative’ newspaper? By GreGory Flannery editor L ow-income tenants who want to keep their homes in the Metropole Apartments downtown have support from an impressive array of progressive organizations. The Cincinnati Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People passed resolutions Dec. 17 supporting the Metropole Tenants Association and condemning the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), which has pur­ chased the building. 3CDC is forcing residents to move so it can turn the Metropole into a boutique hotel. The Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cin­ cinnati has written the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), supporting the tenant association’s complaint alleging See Metropole, p. 5 Robert Wavra from the Metropole Tenants Association. Tenants have been working to build community support to save their homes. NAACP pledged its support on Dec. 17, 2009. Photo by Clarissa Peppers. �2 Editorial By The Numbers 8th Cincinnati’s ranking in a list of most segregated urban areas in the United States (see page 1). 1943 StreetWise By GreGory Flannery editor Bad Words are a Matter of Perspective The parishioners at St. Mary Church in Hyde Park have been generous toward Streetvibes over the years. But we have apparently offended one of them, and now our vendors will pay the price. The parish last month sent a letter saying our vendor may no longer stand on the church steps with the pastor after Mass. Nor will the pastor urge parishioners to buy Streetvibes. the year that women successfully used non­ violence to save Jews from the Nazis (see page 2). This is because a single parishioner complained of “coarse language” in Streetvibes and “the political nature of the content,” saying he wouldn’t want his young children to read such material. 4,452 We love children. We hope there are always children and that each of them is happy, healthy and loved. But no, Streetvibes isn’t written for children. Homelessness, poverty, oppression, racism and war are beyond the ken of children. May it ever be so! We remain grateful to adults – Catholics, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Wiccans, atheists and ag­ nostics – who buy Streetvibes and support our homeless and formerly homeless vendors. If our language is sometimes coarse, that’s a reflection of the fact that life can be coarse. the number of people reached by the speakers bureau of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (see page 10). 25 the cost, in dollars, of a membership in Affordable Housing Advocates (see page 14). 350 the number of guests who enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (see page 13). 3 to 4 the servings, measured in “fairly hungry bellies,” created by a recipe for Chipotle Veggie Philly (see page 8). 3 the age at which a child named Precious first endured her father’s sexual abuse (see page 9). 29 the percentage of people tested by Stop AIDS who are infected by hepatitis C (see page 4). 08-4499 the file number of a case in which federal judges supported prisoners’ rights (see page 3). Language is inevitably political, reflecting the values of those who use it. Consider the article that Cliff Radel wrote about a Hamilton County assistant prosecutor in the Nov. 27 edition of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The story, which led that day’s edition, told of the tenac­ ity with which Anita Vizedom advocates on behalf of crime victims. Her zeal, Radel wrote, stems from the fact that Vizedom and her family experienced the trauma of violent crime when three of her relatives were stabbed to death. One cannot read the article without be­ ing moved by the tragic loss that Vizedom’s family endured or admiring her determination to protect others from experiencing the same suffering. But Radel’s tribute goes beyond empathy and admiration. His paean to the pursuit of justice perverts the meaning of the concept. Radel works himself into a lather, describing Vizedom “as she gets ready to question a piece of evil on the witness stand.” A piece of evil? Reporters have access to many words to describe someone who is on trial: “defendant,” “accused,” “suspect,” “prisoner.” Piece of evil? The presumption of innocence for a person charged with a crime is a hallmark of demo­ cratic governance, an essential principle that is too easily and too often laid aside as we struggle to deal with crime. The Enquirer’s blithe disregard for this principle is more than mere pandering to the crowd; it is patently anti-democratic. Whether the language is too coarse for children, persons more religious than we will have to decide. But we think “the political nature of the content” is coarse and offensive. Obama Should Look to Indianapolis The conservatives who blasted the choice of President Barrack Obama as recipient of the Nobel Peace prize were wrong – until he proved them right. Obama’s election gave hope that the people of the United States had rejected the Bush regime’s aggressive military poli­ cies. Then Obama shamed the prize by using his acceptance speech to defend escalation of the U.S. war on Afghanistan. The ill-begotten war, launched eight years ago against a country that had not attacked the United States, will grow still more bloody with Obama’s decision to send another 30,000 troops. Steve Sunderland, whose inspiring column returns to Streetvibes with this edition after a year’s absence, contrasts Obama’s embrace of aggres­ sive war with the non-violent message of earlier Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. (see page 7.) Perhaps most unfortunate is Obama’s reference to the Nazi terror as proof that some­ times war is justified and violence is a moral act. Adolf Hitler is the quintessential historical example cited by people who insist that good people sometimes must take up arms. But what Obama and others ignore is the fact that non-violence, did, in fact stop the Nazis on the few occasions it was tried. In 1943, at the height of the Holocaust, the SS seized Ger­ man Jews who were married to non-Jewish German women in Berlin. The wives gathered outside the building and mounted a non-violent protest that grew for the course of a week, yelling, “Murderers!” at the SS and police. Hitler capitulated, ordering more than 1,700 im­ prisoned Jews released. He even ordered the release of 35 who were already in Auschwitz. The men survived to the end of the war. STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Lew Moores, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Kelissa Hieber, Jeni Jenkins, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Lynne Ausman, Steven Paul Lansky, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams, Bill Haigh, Clarissa Peppers Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are members of: Non-violence works, and Obama need not have looked back 65 years for evidence. Con­ sider the case of Angela Montez, a clerk at a check-cashing business in Indianapolis who was confronted by an armed robber in late October last year. A security camera caught the crime on tape, and for a few days it captivated the nation. Terrified, Montez managed to reason with the robber, getting him to talk about his motivation. (Unemployed, broke, his family was facing eviction). She got him to lay down his gun and even to kneel with her in prayer. After half an hour in the presence of this gentle, clear-headed woman, the robber left the scene, leaving Montez unharmed and eventually surrendering to police. That is the kind of behavior that the Nobel Peace Prize was meant to honor. �STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 8 Column 3 M I N U T E S in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals A law student argues in federal court – and wins By MarGo Pierce Contributing Writer T he question addressed: To what extent must the Ohio Depart­ ment of Rehabilitation and Cor­ rections (ODRC) protect inmates from each other? The partial answer: Already established is the fact that a “These people are credible death threat requires prison officials to take steps human beings. to protect an inmate who is at There’s no court in the United States or risk. But a new ruling clarifies Ohio that, because the threshold for what defines someone is put into a credible threat and reduces the “gray area” for making a de­ prison, says we throw away the key cision. The significance of the rul­ and whatever they ing: “It doesn’t stand for some do to each other novel change in the law, but is fine. It doesn’t’ mean that they are it does push the envelope of deliberate indifference,” says animals. It doesn’t mean that they don’t Brett Renzenbrink, a law stu­ dent who on Aug. 6, 2009, suc­ deserve the same protection under the cessfully argued case number 08-4499 before the U.S. Sixth law that the rest of Circuit of Appeals. us would expect.” After George Hamilton re­ - Brett Renzenbrink ceived a death threat in 2004 and requested protective cus­ tody (keeping an inmate out of the gen­ eral population), an ODRC employee named Jack Bendolph made the deci­ sion to transfer him to the Warren Cor­ rectional Institute and put him in the general population. As an inmate there, he was beaten so severely by a group of inmates who belonged to the Aryan Brotherhood that he almost died. Ac­ cording to some accounts, he flat-lined before reaching the hospital. “The right at issue here is the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, which among other things requires prison officials to ‘take reasonable measures to guarantee the safety of the inmates,’ ” the Sixth Circuit ruled. “Bendolph testified he knew that the Aryan Brotherhood exists throughout the Ohio prison system and that their ‘hits’ could follow a prisoner from one prison to another. A jury could certainly find, therefore, that Bendolph was aware of facts from which he could have inferred that Hamilton faced a In addition to helping prisoners defend their rights, Ohio Justice and Policy Center offers the Second Chance Clinic, helping hundreds of first-time, non-violent offenders expunge old criminal records so they can move on with their lives. A weekly clinic meets in Over-the-Rhine, three monthly clinics are in other neighborhoods and clinics also meet at colleges, businesses, churches and community events. If you or someone you know needs help with a legal matter, contact the Ohio Justice and Policy Center at 513-421-1108. substantial risk of serious harm.” The court ruled that, by ignoring the fact of Ham­ ilton’s situation, Bendolph acted with deliberate in­ difference, resulting in the beating that left him with mental-health problems, irreparable damage to his sight and hearing and loss of the ability to taste. While it’s true that some­ one who commits a crime forfeits some rights when s/ he goes to prison, there are other basic human rights that aren’t suspended. For a system of justice to work, these fundamental rights must be protected, and that’s why Renzenbrink is proud of his involvement with Hamilton’s case. “It’s about taking care of and preserving the system of justice as it was designed to be. … In the end, that’s what I feel should be pro­ tected – what the system was built on,” Renzenbrink says. “I think the system should work the way it was theoretically designed; and when it messes up, there should be consequences. “These people are human beings. There’s no court in the United States or Ohio that, because someone is Brett Renzenbrink. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. put into prison, says we throw away the key and whatever they confined to his home as a result of postdo to each other is fine. But that also traumatic stress disorder – he can’t be in doesn’t mean that people who have been a public place “without thinking some­ convicted of any offense – from a petty one is going to attack him” – and some theft, a DUI to a sex offense or murder form of restitution will serve as a recog­ – doesn’t’ mean that they are animals. It nition that that prison system messed doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve the up. same protection under the law that the “I don’t think for a minute that giv­ rest of us would expect.” ing him money is going to change what A senior in the Salmon P. Chase Col­ he has become,” Renzenbrink says. “He lege of Law at Northern Kentucky Uni­ wants to make sure that, if anything versity, Renzenbrink was a member of happens to him, that his grandkids are the Constitutional Law Clinic with the taken care of.” Ohio Justice and Policy Center (www. As for Renzenbrink, the months of ojpc.org) when he argued Hamilton’s preparation, arguing before the court case in front of the Sixth Circuit Court. and the outcomes will have a lasting im­ He has also served as co-counsel with pact on his future career. the Commonwealth Attorney's Office “I do feel like it was something that’s in Kenton County and assisted with two important, and it’s something that’s go­ felony convictions. ing to serve as a catalyst for the rest of “When it comes to the criminal jus­ what I do in my career,” he says. tice system … it shouldn’t be treated as “I have no problem with certain pris­ though it’s a high-school rivalry,” Ren­ on officials/positions having discretion zenbrink says. “The only way to have any – that is important. At some point you sort of progress in these systems – and have to have humans there to make a this is the way it was originally designed human call about these decisions, espe­ – is a sense of compromise, both ideally cially in the case now in the Ohio prison and practically.” system, where prisons are 150 to 200 Denied a review of the ruling by the percent overcrowded. Those decisions entire Sixth Circuit Court, the Ohio At­ become a lot more difficult. But when torney General’s office is now in the it comes to a point where you have a midst of negotiating a settlement with death threat … I think that changes the Hamilton. Renzenbrink says Hamilton is game.” Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in the Queen City. “Eight Minutes” is an opportunity to learn who those people are and what motivates them to be a positive influence. �4 STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Local News Prickly Issue: Needle Exchange Health agency tries to gauge possible benefits By JereMy Flannery Contributing Writer S top AIDS of Cincinnati is seeking information about whether the community would benefit from a syringe-exchange pro­ gram to prevent the spread of AIDS and hepatitis C. Contaminated syringes account for about 36 percent of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in the United States, accord­ ing to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Stop AIDS says about 70 to 90 percent of injection-drug users are infected with hepatitis C. Formerly known as AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, Stop AIDS is working to prevent the spread of these diseases while offering medical services to people already infected. Amy McMahon, the agency’s CEO, says Stop AIDS provides free testing for HIV and hepatitis C. Clients have the option of anonymous or confidential testing. For people who test positive, case managers coordinate education, counseling and medical services. Housing assistance is also provided to eligible clients. Stop AIDS currently assists about 1,000 clients with case management, McMahon says. All of their services are provided free of charge. From 2006 to 2008, about 29 percent of people tested by Stop AIDS were infected with the hepatitis C virus, according to Adam Reilly, a Stop AIDS educator. An estimated 200,000 Ohioans statewide are in­ fected. A needle exchange program might improve public health, according to Adam Would a needle-exchange program stop the spread of the disease? Reilly and Amy McMahon of Stop AIDS. Photos by Aimie Willhoite. “We’re just trying to get a handle on the local situation to see how effective it would be,” McMahon says. “It’s a politically charged issue be­ such as disinfectant sprays, he says. Reilly wants to educate users that cause people will argue you’re enabling drug use. I understand this argu­ bleach is the effective way to clean syringes before use and that a sharps ment, but I don’t agree with it. It’s not a drug issue as much as a public- container is the safest way to dispose of used syringes. But many partici­ safety issue. You don’t want kids finding these syringes or people in public pants within the focus groups laughed at the suggestion of using sharps picking them up and using them.” containers, he says. Current and former injection-drug users are completing surveys for “They recognize that that’s the best way to go with it, but they just don’t Stop AIDS to offer information about how they obtain, clean and discard see that option available in the public area,” Reilly says. their syringes, Reilly says. Sixty surveys have been completed, and the Stop AIDS employs 26 full-time and one part-time staff and has about agency hopes to get 20 to 30 more, he says. 400 volunteers, McMahon says. The total hours donated by over 200 ac­ Health professionals, police officers and injection drug users are par­ tive volunteers was equivalent to 13 full-time staff positions last year, she ticipating in focus groups hosted by Stop AIDS to provide information says. and discussion about the issue, McMahon says. Thirty focus groups have Congress passed an appropriations bill in December that includes a met, and Stop AIDS aims to conduct 20 more. Reilly estimates it will take provision ending the ban against federal funds being used for needletwo more months to obtain the rest of the surveys and host the other exchange programs. The provision allows state and local governments to focus groups. decide if federal funds can be used for such programs. “When you get regular participation In Ohio, State Rep. Tyrone Yates (D-Cin­ from police officers and medical profes­ cinnati) last year introduced House Bill 274. sionals – and these are beat cops who have If the bill becomes law, it will “provide an a great idea of what’s going on in the area – affirmative defense to certain offenses in­ then we really get an idea of the local situ­ volving a hypodermic or syringe that the ation and a better collaboration and coor­ person is 18 years of age or older and pos­ dination of services,” McMahon says. sesses or otherwise obtains the hypodermic The organization will make the data or syringe for the purpose of having a clean available to the public once the collection needle to avoid HIV exposure and to per­ and analysis is completed, Reilly says. mit an authorized person to sell or furnish “Instead of just showing up and talk­ a hypodermic without a prescription to a ing, most of them have been eager to look person who is 18 years of age or older who up drug courts’ and probation courts’ re­ wishes to obtain it for that purpose.” cords to provide statistics with their own The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleve­ encounters,” Reilly says. land currently is the only clinic in Ohio that The majority of injection-drug users provides a syringe-exchange program. who participated in the focus groups said For more information about Stop AIDS’ they found syringes in public places, ac­ services or volunteer options, call 513-421­ cording to Reilly. Users often clean the sy­ 2437 or visit www.stopaidscincinnati.org. ringes with water or household chemicals Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this holiday season. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! Please use my tax-deductible contribution to purchase books and distribute them to children who need them most. $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Local News May They Finally Rest in Peace continued FroM PaGe 1 Friends and family gather around a barrel in Washington Park to remember homeless and formerly homeless individuals who passed away in 2009. A candle for each person was lit in their honor and memory. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. was on a liquid diet before she pasted away. She tried to sneak a solid meal; and when she was caught, she cussed out the nurses. She died later that day.” Derek Gibson, who was in his 50s, died of congestive heart failure. “He was getting back on his feet,” Silver says. “He helped his sister out at her hair salon. He was really close with his family. He was housed with us before he passed away. We were happy about that. He didn’t die homeless.” Frank Roper was taken off life support by his family af­ ter suffering a major heart at­ tack. He was in his 50s. “Frank was a good guy,” says Valerie Dowell, an advocate with the Health Care for the Homeless program. “He was a real mild-mannered person. I saw him maybe a week before he died. I had known him in the past. He went to the Drop Inn Center drug and alcohol program. He just couldn’t get it together. About a week be­ fore he passed, I saw him sit­ ting outside. I talked to him and let him know he didn’t have to do this. I told him if he ever needed any help, he could call me.” Rodney Sosby, who was in his 40s, died from an over­ dose of pain medication while staying at the Drop Inn Center. Dowell says he spoke often about his family and how he wanted to get himself together. “He complained about his knees and his legs hurting a lot,” Dowell says. “The day before he took the pills, I was talking to him about trying to get housing. It kind of shook me when I heard he died, be­ cause we had just been talk­ ing the day before.” Eric Smothers, who was in his 30s, died when medica­ tion prescribed for an infec­ tion sent him into cardiac arrest. He was a longtime res­ ident of the Drop Inn Center. “He had a beautiful spirit,” Dowell says. “His death took me for a loop also. It was really hard to get him into housing. When he got into housing, he showed me his keys.” Eugene Burgess, who was in his 50s, was a longtime resident of Over-the-Rhine who had a long criminal his­ tory with drugs and alcohol. He suffered from leg ulcers; and because of his drug use, he didn’t take care of himself. He had stayed at the Drop Inn Center and Respite Care Cen­ ter until Dowell helped him find permanent housing. “He had been in housing 5 for six months,” she says. “I gave him a referral for a guy who rents rooms, and that’s where he was living.” Anthony Wright, a long­ time resident of Over-theRhine, died from a heart at­ tack while incarcerated for drug charges. He had high blood pressure and a long history of drug abuse. “He went to the peniten­ tiary, and two days before he was supposed to be released, he had a heart attack and passed away,” Dowell says. Joseph Wright, who was in his late 50s, died after a long bout with cancer. A Navy vet­ eran, he worked to become sober at Joseph House, which serves homeless veterans, according to Calvin Wooten, associate director and treat­ ment coordinator for the agency. Ken Tucker was also a vic­ tim of cancer. An Air Force veteran, he worked with Jo­ seph House to overcome his addictions before his death. Others who passed away in 2009 include James Arnold, David “Peaches” Bryant, Bob Carle, Dorris Dawson, Jessie Frank, John Graham, Mat­ thew Harmeyer, Albert Ol­ lie, Eddie Seamon and Scott Wheeler. Metropole Tenants Gain Support continued FroM PaGe 1 Perhaps most disappointing was the uncritical way that the article repeats 3CDC’s characterization of the role played by the Greater Cincinnati Coali­ tion for the Homeless, which publishes Streetvibes. “The corporation believes the relocation actu­ ally will leave tenants with better homes and that the Homeless Coalition is intentionally stoking fear among tenants in an effort to generate controver­ sy,” CityBeat reported. Lay aside, if you will, the paper’s failure to ques­ tion the premise that opposing the loss of low-in­ come housing is motivated by a desire to “generate controversy.” housing discrimination by 3CDC. A statement by the religious group says the forced displacement of the residents is immoral: “It is morally wrong to forcibly move a people from their homes for capital gain.” Support for the HUD complaint also comes from Affordable Housing Advocates. Elizabeth Brown, president of the organization, wrote HUD, saying 3CDC’s plan will adversely affect racial integration in Cincinnati. “Removal of these residents from the neighbor­ hood clearly does not ‘affirmative­ ly further fair housing,’ ” Brown wrote. “Rather, it furthers the de­ struction of an integrated com­ munity and creation of another racially segregated neighborhood in the Cincinnati area, the eighth most segregated urban area in the United States.” Progressives who back the ten­ ants were, however, surprised by a Dec. 9 report on the issue in a once reliably progressive newspaper, CityBeat. The article’s language casts the controversy in terms that are sometimes deceptive and that at other times seem calculated to make the case for 3CDC. The subhead for the article, for example, says, “Metropole’s con­ version sparks tenant relocation,” as if the tenants have a choice in the matter. A more accurate, if un­ intended, description comes from the article’s quotation of 3CDC President Stephen Leeper: “We lit­ erally drive people to other build­ The Metropole Apartments are located on Walnut Street. ings,” he told CityBeat. Photo by Clarissa Peppers. The article’s major failing is in CityBeat’s own in­ stitutional memory. Reporting 3CDC’s claim that eviction will leave Metropole tenants “with better homes,” the paper seems ignorant of its own re­ porting on previous 3CDC promises. In 2006 CityBeat recounted the corporation’s takeover of a low-income boarding house on Race Street in Over-the-Rhine, quoting a 3CDC official saying, “We worked with the landlord to find alter­ native housing for residents.” That assertion evoked a quick rejoinder from a pastor who said 3CDC’s as­ sistance wasn’t worth much and led, as CityBeat re­ ported, to at least one resident having to take shel­ ter at the Drop Inn Center. Back issues of CityBeat aren’t the only documents worthy of ref­ erence as Metropole tenants fight to save their homes. Rob Goeller, civil-rights outreach coordinator for the Homeless Coalition, points to 3CDC’s own articles of organiza­ tion as a non-profit corporation. The documents say 3CDC is committed “to combat commu­ nity deterioration, provide relief to the poor and distressed (and) eliminate discrimination and prej­ udice.” Whether the corporation’s take­ over of the Metropole qualifies as providing “relief to the poor” is now a matter that HUD will have to adjudicate. Meanwhile filmmaker Barbara Wolf has given tenants the oppor­ tunity to have their own say in The Metropole is Our Home. The film can be viewed at http://www.vi­ meo.com/8127941. �6 Music STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 New Voices of the Voiceless Underground rappers restore empathy and originality in Hip Hop By ariana Shahandeh Contributing Writer F ifteen years ago a man wrote a song using a woman he loved as a metaphor for something else that broke his heart. The woman was soulful and independent. Her creativ­ ity was penetrating. The man wrote that he met her when he was 10 years old and he anticipated her always being there for him in the future. They grew up together on the East Coast. He shared his lyr­ ics with her and they connected over a mutual appreciation for authenticity “If you keep feeding people and music. Then she moved to Los Angeles. She the same meal over and over got into show business. She changed again, eventually they’re gonna want something else. her clothes, her friends, her purity. And I think we’re at the point Drugs and sadness consumed her. The songwriter was rapper Common. And in Hip Hop where people at the end of the song, he exposes who want something else.” she really is: "Who I'm talking ‘bout y'all - Jasiri X is Hip Hop." Common's song, "I Used to Love H.E.R (Hip hop in its Essence is Real)," was about his experience with disillusionment. He watched something he loved and respected be­ come something ugly. But he stayed in the game as a Hip Hop art­ ist, similar to how someone might stay in an unhealthy relationship, hoping for change. He used a woman as a metaphor for the industry to illustrate the pain of watching love change. He loved Hip Hop. It was hijacked by influences outside himself, and the original charac­ ter was lost. It has become a timeless parallel. ‘It’s just shocking’ Jasiri X (right) gives an interview about homelessness in Pittsburgh. Today the metaphor is remixed by an emerging Hip Hop artist from evant to many people because it defined moments and attitudes of strug­ Brooklyn NY, Radiant Amar, with a short lyrical video series he collec­ gle, discontent and hope for something better. But what was thought to tively titles, “I Still Love H.E.R.” It's Amar's way of re-inspiring hope in the be empathy was actually just sincerity. He was rapping about his own music we once called the voice of the voiceless. experiences; they just happen to be familiar with many others’. Now that “I still love Hip Hop in its original form,” he says. “I’m just trying to his experiences have narrowed, so has his pool of inspiration. What start­ revolutionize it and take it to a different place.” ed out as a strength for Jay Z is now his greatest lacking. In his full song, “Piece of the Pie,” Amar writes, An artist attempting to give voice to those who can’t “I could write a verse about the cars and clothes, speak for themselves must be able to form a connec­ the bank rolls and hoes/How every night the weed “A friend of mine sister’s boyfriend tion to them. Coming from a background of violence smoke's flowing out of my nose/Platinum plaques shot his mother over some kind and struggle, Radiant Amar attempts to reach out and coming out of these flows.” In an industry where of dispute. And if there weren’t affect his audience’s experiences, playing for charity these topics rule the airwaves, Amar follows with a guns all throughout the street, that fundraisers and organizing community programs. more authentic admission: “When in reality I hardly In collaboration with his brother and mainstream wouldn’t have happened.” get shows/I'm not hard to provoke/'Cause where I’m rapper TI’s KINGS organization, Amar designed a - Radiant Amar from you might get scarred or get choked/Or both, “Turn in Your Gun Day” at Texas Southern University. by street entrepreneurs that's out for C-notes.../Hope Anyone could come and turn in any guns, registered that you’re a friend and not a foe when I’m hungry/But it’s funny ’cause or unregistered, without legal repercussions. even friends are foes when it comes down to money.” “A friend of mine sister’s boyfriend shot his mother over some kind While Amar addresses the ugliness surrounding money in his environ­ of dispute.” Amar says. “And if there weren’t guns all throughout the ment, most mainstream material paints a different picture. street, that wouldn’t have happened. So we decided something had to be “Ninety percent of what’s on the radio is indifference,” says under­ done.” ground rapper Jasiri X. “Think about all the songs that are still being With an upcoming campaign to get their music played on local sta­ played (about) how much jewelry and how much ice and how much tions across the country, and consistently positive support on Youtube, money is being thrown in the air – and we’re in one of the worst economic Amar’s and Jasiri’s success, despite not having support of a major label, recessions.” demonstrates the level of support in Hip Hop audiences for a more com­ Jasiri X further comments on the disconnect between mainstream art­ plete genre. ists and their audiences in his song, “Silent Night,” in which he draws “If you keep feeding people the same meal over and over again, even­ attention to the lack of social commentary on many mainstream rap al­ tually they’re gonna want something else,” Jasiri says. “And I think we’re bums: “I ain't talkin TI's wife or Keisha Cole's Mama/I'm talkin none of at the point in Hip Hop where people want something else. That’s why us voting one year after Obama/I ain't talkin bout Chris Brown and how you see artists like Lil Wayne coming out with rock, and Kid Cudi making he put his fist down/I'm talkin bout tea parties that lie about big crowds/ some fusion (music). They’re just trying to be different than the same old All these media distractions have a crushing effect/A burning house al­ “Shake ya booty, we’re going to drink a whole bunch of champagne.” ways takes out the ones who slept.” Radiant Amar and Jasiri X both rap about their experiences, but that is When asked if he thought such commentary was an obligation, Jasiri not where their expression stops. In Jay Z’s 15-track album, Blueprint 3, said, “At a time when there is so much upheaval in the world politically the words “I” (including contractions) and “me” appear approximately – the economy, so many people are suffering – it’s just shocking that you 450 times. Another mainstream rapper, Drake, used those words nearly can come out with an album and not (comment).” 375 times on his seven-track mix tape, So Far Gone. Artists like Amar and Jasiri have written complete songs using those words only a handful of Getting H.E.R. back times, if at all. Beyond sincerity, a Hip Hop artist needs to be above self-centeredness. Jay Z, a popular mainstream rap/hip hop artist, has been most criti­ Empathy is a resource artists can utilize forever. There will always be ma­ cized for the lack of social commentary on his latest album, Blueprint terial if you are capable of being inspired by others’ experiences – if you 3. Now that he is among the most successful musical entertainers in the are capable of feeling their pain, hoping with them, loving with them, world, what will he write about that people can relate to? Jay Z dug a cre­ crying with them, being too prideful for their own good with them, be­ ative hole for himself by limiting his material to one source: his experi­ ing insecure with them, omitting the truth with them, finding God with ences. them, losing God with them. When Hip Hop becomes less of an “I and When he was first rising from a life of drug dealing, his music was rel­ Me” – and more of an us, we and you – genre, we may have H.E.R back. If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes. �STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Guest Column 7 Obama Wrong about Non-violence His thesis is dangerous and misinformed By Steve Sunderland Contributing Writer A s a peace educator, I look at the pres­ ident's recent speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize with sadness. I had wanted the president to add his “teach­ ings” to history's heroes of peace – Gandhi, Mandela and King – and celebrate their deep wisdom about promoting peace precisely at a time when violence and terrorism were gain­ ing favor. I had wanted to read and hear the president acknowledge that the fable of vio­ lence has to be understood and rejected. The fable goes something like this: Violence is the reality of the world and must be met with violence or otherwise the evil forces of the world will see weakness and make more violence. The logic of the fable is that stra­ tegic violence can prevent both limited and broad-scale violence by showing the makers Former South African President Nelson Mandela. REUTERS/David Gray. of violence that their actions will never be tol­ erated. Gandhi and Mandela that non-violence can What is so wrong about these examples is I wanted President Obama to reject this be achieved as a part of governance, and he that people might use Obama's statements to fable as having little sway as his guiding prin­ has learned from King that non-violence is a skip over the complicated history of the role ciples, just as it had no philosophical or politi­ productive seed for the future. of resistance and non-violence in fighting cal weight for Gandhi, Mandela and King. The Tragedy, because so many people have Hitler and Al Qaeda. Moreover, it ignores the violence of the soldier, being a killer and being bought into the fable of violence as the answer history of successful civil rights movement killed, as acts of service were no long tolerable and justify the destruction of people by many against terrorism in America and Mandela’s as the central way of governing, I had longed violent means. The United States is fighting repudiation of violence in successfully chang­ to hear him say. I wanted the president to turn two wars within the confines of the fable. It ing the brutal South African government. the rationale for violence on is tragic that “reality” is only Non-violent methods, while usually not as its head and instead make represented as empowering dramatic as bombs and gunfire, have had and clear that a new day in diplo­ The president must know the violent tendencies in in­ are having a steady positive effect on all forms macy will be tried, that a hier­ of coercion. that every tyrant has used dividuals and countries. archy of peaceful efforts will Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize To speak at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony the language of justice to be made, and that violence acceptance speech, instead of of the limited effectiveness of non-violence in justify acts of brutality, and lethal sacrifice would be being a brief for peace, is an recent history continues a mind-set of exclud­ used only as a last straw, only eloquent defense of violence. ing non-violent approaches as a basis for real in defense and only with great caution. It is wrong. Violence, dressed up as “just war,” politics or an effective response to conflict The 21st century, I hoped he would say, is a way of justifying actions that cannot be and turns advocates of non-violence into na­ cannot go any further along the path of filling acceptable to those of us who are committed ive and romantic people. The belief that “real” governments and leaders cannot dare use cemeteries with “enemies” and “heroes” and to peace. I say, “dressed up,” because con­ structive peace, peace with justice and digni­ non-violence if their attempts at policy and expect that these results will stop violence. I listened for him to say this is a new day ty, cannot rest on violence, either threatened personal conflict reduction are to be taken se­ riously is a dangerous rewriting of history. of hope and tragedy. Hope because nations, or actual. Sadly, Obama has mistakenly chosen to use The president must know that every tyrant communities and individuals believe that we the heroes of peace – Gandhi, King and Man­ has used the language of justice to justify acts can resolve conflicts with compassion, dis­ dela – as people different from him, people of brutality, whether the “justice” arises from a cussion, compromise, innovation and recon­ ciliation; and the United States will be going who were not heads of governments that had phony reading of a law or the “justice” springs down this path, opening discussions, crossing obligations to protect their lands. Even more from a manipulated religious principle or the borders with respect, discussing taboo areas tragically, Obama has used the examples of promotion of a bogus sense of national char­ acter. of history and meaning and working even Hitler and Al Qaeda as case studies in the in­ The reality is that non-violence is both a harder for justice through non-violence. As a ability of non-violence to stop state violence tough-minded concept and a tough behavior leader of a major nation, he has learned from and local terrorism. to live in policy and personal life. Choosing to have checks and balances, or deciding to al­ low all voices in major decisions, including dissenting ones, or resisting arbitrary uses of religious and secular laws, or encouraging participation by previously held-back groups, or making room for different standards and people in places and experiences, or seeking counseling for temptations to violence, or al­ lowing alternative ways of solving conflict to flourish, are all actions that require a muscu­ lar approach to human relations. Resisting violence in word and deed forc­ es the compassionate person to look deeply into how shallow or profound are his own concepts. The greatness of Gandhi, King and Mandela was in their capacity to look at vio­ lence and reject it in any form even if it meant jail, brutality and torture. Their reality was, unlike President Obama, created in a lifetime of struggling with acts of personal and po­ litical violence. The threats of brutality were realized as oppressive governments and in­ dividuals seized on their tenacious hold on non-violence. This history of courage, wis­ dom and love has yet to be fully shared with our culture in ways that change the weight of The grave of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. REUTERS/Tami Chappell. compassion to the greater strength. �8 Recipe Veggie Philly Steak “Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me All Night Long” STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Chipotle Veggie Philly Brian’s Specialty Chipotle Mayo • 1 up mayo (or vegenaise) • 3 chipotle chilies in adobo sauce (available in ethnic-food section of grocery store) • In a food processor, combine mayo and chilies, and blend until smooth. It’s OK to have a few chunks of chilies. • Cover and refrigerate. Sandwich • 1.5 tablespoons olive oil • 1 large white onion, sliced into rings • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1-2 Anaheim chilies, cut into ¼-inch strips • 1-2 red sweet peppers, cut into ¼-inch strips • (Mix and match different kinds of peppers of your choosing) • 1 package baby bella mushrooms, sliced, with stems removed • 3-4 whole wheat hoagie rolls (or your preferred vegan bread) • 8 oz. Provolone cheese (or no cheese for vegans) • Salt and pepper to taste Photo by Jeni Jenkins. By Jeni JenKinS Staff Writer T his quotation is from the 1986 film, Little Shop of Horrors, in which a plant-keeper must meet the demands of a ravenous plant that feeds on humans. Instead of plants that feed on people, this col­ umn is for people who feed on plants! I love food. I especially en­ joy sampling and preparing new and exotic veggie cui­ sine from all over the world. Since converting to vegetari­ anism three years ago I’ve struggled preparing certain recipes from my own meat­ and-potatoes background, so I have taken up re-creat­ ing traditional dishes that call for meat and re-invent­ ing them with a vegetarian twist. I hope you enjoy them as much as I. Before I became a vegetar­ ian I used to love to go to one particular street vendor who served up one of the best tasting Philly cheese-steak sandwiches on the curb in my hometown. Here is my veggie twist on this tantaliz­ ing fave. Serving size: Completely dependent on the number of bellies or the size of the bel­ lies, but I would say 3-4 fairly hungry bellies. (Created with the help of my good friend, Brian For­ sythe). Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in skillet or wok over medium low heat. Sauté veggies, adding them to the pan in this order: 1. Onions and garlic, 3-4 minutes until the onions turn translucent 2. Add peppers, cook approximately 1 min 30 seconds 3. Turn the heat up slightly to medium-high, add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown. Remove from heat. Lightly coat the back of each hoagie with the left-over olive oil, using a basting brush Bake the hoagies on a baking pan, oil side up, at 350 for 3-5 minutes. Remove from oven, flip and place face-up on baking pan. Divide the sautéed veggie mixture onto the hoagies. Top with cheese. Heat sandwiches until cheese is melted or slightly browned. Remove from oven and spread each roll with chipotle mayo. Feed! Artwork by Anthony Williams Alone by david graham I am a broken bridge between generations past, and those yet unsung. I am a mountain of old ideals, standing above a valley of budding dreams. I am a blind bird in flight, seeking familiar voices to guide me home. I am alone. I am a visionary within vision, shaking my fist at an unshakeable God. I am a boy at heart, trying to make sense of a crumbling world. I am society’s hope, of living carefree in a wilderness of peace. I am alone. I am yesterday and today, the future, an untraveled path. I am a faulty compass, mapping out uncharted desire. I am old and young, newly born, and dying of a broken heart. I am alone. ! ? t ha W y Sa ___________________ “One’s struggle against oppression is meaningless ... unless it is connected to the oppression of others.” -- Alice Walker, Now Is the Time to Open Your Heart: A Novel �STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Film Review Not a ‘Precious’ Happy Ending “Sometimes I wish I was not alive. But I don’t know how to die. Ain’ no plug to pull out. ‘N no matter how bad I feel my heart don’t stop beating and my eyes open in the morning.” ~ Precious in Push by Sapphire. By lynne auSMan Staff Writer P recious is based on Sapphire’s book Push. At 16, Claireece Precious Jones (played by Gabby Sidibe) has sur­ vived hardships most of us luckily will never have to experience. Precious is physically abused by her mother, raped by her father and tormented at school. She is illiterate, poor and without support. It seems that the odds are stacked against her – and they are, but Precious still carries on. Set in 1987 Harlem, Precious is surrounded by poverty, drug dealers, addicts and hopelessness. Mo’Nique breaks from her usual comedic roles and gives an astounding performance as Mary, the abusive and demanding mother with the right amount love masked by jeal­ ously and anger. Precious has one child and is pregnant with a second by her own father. Mary knows but does not stop the abuse. In one clip, we see her father descending on Precious as her mother peeks in the room while walking down the hall. Precious, 16, is in junior high school. Be­ cause of this and her size, the other students torment her. When Precious is called to the counselor’s office, she is asked to talk about her home life and pregnancy. When she refus­ es to talk, she is discharged from the school. Regardless of Precious’s dislike of the school counselor, the counselor proves to be the first of several advocates on her side. She tells Pre­ cious about an alternative school, Each One Teach One, which can help Precious prepare cious has the opportunity to continue attendfor and earn a GED. ing school to earn her GED, care for her child Throughout the movie, Precious is asked to and build her own life. She begins to heal and speak about the incest she endures, her home move on with her life through the support of life and her mother’s abuse of the social-wel- her new friends and counselors. fare system. Each time Precious flashes into Just when things seem to be improving for an alternate reality, where she is an entertain- Precious, Mary visits to tell her that her fament star with a seemingly perfect life. She ther has died. Precious takes the news with has an attractive “light-skinned” boyfriend, the same blank stare that has been her hallfashionable clothes and is the center of at- mark throughout the movie. It wasn’t until tention for a mass of adoring fans and pho- her mother gave her the news that her father tographers. had AIDS that Precious reacts with some At Each One Teach One, Precious finds emotion. She is in obvious disbelief yet still friendship, support, compassion and Ms. stoic and tells her mother to get tested. She Rain (played by Pauspeaks nothing of her la Patton). Although own status, but her the role is somewhat In an amazing display of strength and knowledge of her fupreachy and melo- perseverance, Precious silently stands ture clearly shows on dramatic, Ms. Rain her face. She is terriup and leaves the room, leaves her becomes more than fied, angry, shocked. mother with a counselor who says Precious’s teacher. She But she maintains nothing and just stares in disbelief. encourages Precious to Mary continues to try to explain, justify, her stoicism until her write in a journal daily mother leaves and she babble but it all falls on deaf ears. and responds with adis back in Ms. Rain’s Precious is long gone, moving on. vice and guidance. The classroom. journal serves as PrePrecious stares at cious’s sounding board but also allows her to “Why me?” written on the top of her page. In develop her reading and writing skills. a spontaneous confession, she reveals that Soon after starting at Each One Teach One, she is HIV-positive. After watching Precious Precious goes into labor and has a healthy endure and move past the physical and sexbaby boy. She stays in the hospital for a few ual abuse that has identified her, if the viewer days and then returns to her mother’s home. has any amount of hope left, it is all dashed Upon her arrival, Mary beats Precious so se- away in this moment. I struggled to fight off verely that she flees and becomes homeless. the tears. Not tears of pity or sympathy, but Ms. Rain spends the entire next day on the tears of hopelessness, despair, defeat. phone looking for a place for Precious. She I had read Push several weeks prior to seefinds a bed at a halfway house, where Pre- ing Precious. I was aware what was about to happen, aware that the audience was still to hear Mary’s horrifying confession and attempt at justifying the abuse. Confession that Precious’s father began abusing her when she was just 3 years old. Confession that she was jealous of and angry with Precious because he seemed to desire Precious more than Mary. That Mary blamed Precious for her ter­ rible life. In an amazing display of strength and per­ severance, Precious silently stands up and leaves the room, leaves her mother with a counselor who says nothing and just stares in disbelief. Mary continues to try to explain, justify, babble but it all falls on deaf ears. Pre­ cious is long gone, moving on. We all know that the trials of Precious’s life are far from over. At the end, she is still in pre­ GED prep classes at Each One Teach One, still living in the halfway house, still a 17-year-old mother of two, still HIV-positive. The message of Precious is not overcoming the past; it is building the future despite the past. In an odd way, it’s refreshing to see a movie in which the main character doesn’t achieve some loosely plausible success. We all know that people can overcome insurmountable hurdles and find housing, success, new lives. But the reality is that it doesn’t happen very often. Not every person on the street is a Chris Gardener (In Pursuit of Happyness) or a Liz Murray (Homeless to Harvard). It’s the seemingly small successes that we must cel­ ebrate – that someone enrolled in a GED program, that someone developed the strength to leave a bad situation, that someone has entered transitional housing. 9 �10 STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Local News Homeless Coalition Marks 25 Years Annual dinner looks back, then forward By GreGory Flannery editor L iz Carter used to think she knew why some people in Cincinnati are homeless or hungry. As the keynote speaker at the annual dinner of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, held Dec. 17 at the Cintas Center at Xavier Uni­ versity, she explained what she thought she knew. “I’ll give you a confession,” Carter said. “Ten years ago I was one of those people who thought that, in Cincinnati, if you’re not making it, it’s prob­ ably because you’re not trying hard enough.” Then she went on a visit with a social worker from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the agency she now serves as executive director. Carter and the social work­ er waited as their beneficiary, an elderly woman, traipsed down three flights of stairs, then led them up to her tworoom apartment. One room contained only a mattress, Carter said. In the other room were a couch, a coffee table, a sink and a cabinet – but no refrigerator. The woman needed help to pay for her utilities. Asked if she also needed food, the woman said no, and showed them her stock of supplies: three cans of applesauce. “I came away a different person,” Carter said. “My heart was touched, and my life was changed by her. And I didn’t ever again think that, if a person is struggling, it’s their fault.” The theme of the Homeless Coalition’s annual dinner was “25 Years: Fighting for Today, Building Our Tomorrow.” The theme captured the sense of celebration and consterna­ tion that marks the coalition’s continued existence, accord­ ing to Josh Spring, its execu­ tive director. “Our founders, some of whom are in this room, did not expect we would need to be a homeless coalition 25 years later,” he said. “They though the establishment of such a coalition would actu­ ally ensure the end of home­ lessness and that therefore we would be temporary. … We are still fighting the same battles we have been fight­ ing for 25 years. We just keep struggling.” Spring enumerated the struggles off 2009: • Resisting city council’s effort to use zoning regulations to restrict human-servic­ es agencies in Over-theRhine, the subject of a law­ suit in federal court by the Homeless Coalition against the city of Cincinnati; • Successfully lobbying city council to keep funding for human services in the city’s budget, though still below the 1.5 percent that had for many years been the city’s minimum standard; • Convincing council not to eliminate homelessness as a priority in human-servic­ es funding; • Beating back a city council­ man’s proposal to tax the proceeds of panhandling; • Keeping the city’s cold shel­ ter open after the city con­ sidered closing it. “We knew, if that happened, people will die,” Spring said. “We’re frankly not OK with people freezing to death.” The coalition also worked in 2009 to change attitudes in the future, Spring said. Its speakers bureau made presentations at 119 events, reaching 4,452 people, he said. Streetvibes, published by the Homeless Coalition, sold more than 58,000 copies. “We are for sure sparking dinner conversations and inspiring future revolution­ aries,” Spring said. “You and I are part of a grand move­ ment, absolutely founded to absolutely end homelessness. We are strong, and we are re­ lentless.” The coalition honored some of its most relentless al­ lies. Terry Ranson received the Jimmy Heath Streetvibes Ven­ dor of the Year Award. The Jerry Render Award went to Theresa Portis, Clark Roper, Darrel Portis and Dar­ ius Portis, a once homeless family who now volunteers to help other homeless families. Their determination, mutual support in the face of adver­ sity and commitment to help others embody “the very best of family. Leading by example, the family continues to in­ spire all of us at the Interfaith Hospitality Network,” said Georgine Getty, the agency’s executive director. Bruce Hill of the Cincinnati Health Network received the Julie Martin Provider of the Year Award for his work help­ ing homeless people who are HIV-positive or have AIDS. Linda Seiter, executive director of Caracole, which provides housing and sup­ port services to people living with HIV/AIDS, received the Buddy Gray Lifetime Achieve­ ment Award. It was Seiter who best summed up the spirit of the annual dinner. “There is nothing in this world,” she said, “that I would rather be doing with my life than what I’m doing right now.” Fighting for today, building our tomorrow. (Clockwise from top left) Linda Seiter, Buddy Gray Lifetime Achievement Award; Terry Ranson, Jimmy Heath Streetvibes Vendor of the Year; Georgine Getty, accepting the Jimmy Render Award on behalf of the Portis- Roper Family; Liz Carter, keynote speaker; Bruce Hill, Julie Martin Service Provider of the Year Award; Josh Spring, executive director, Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Photos by Jeanene Kaht. �STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 11 Local News Helping Hamid and Understanding Fundraiser for injured taxi driver unites community By Steven Paul lanSKy Contributing Writer rently he is in the hospital on a feeding tube. Steph Carson, a photograany people open pher and friend of Kerdough­ their hearts, wal­ eli, is on the microphone de­ lets, pocketbooks, scribing his condition. The purses and minds at Sitwell’s restaurant is noisy, people Coffeehouse in Clifton on a ordering food and drinks, cold Thursday baristas running night in Decem­ blenders and ber. Hamid Kerdougheli, milk steamers Hamid Ker- is a Ron’s Taxi driver and doing dishdougheli, (who es. The room is who was shot in bears a striking the neck in the late warm, conver­ resemblance to afternoon of Nov. 28. sations are ani­ the famous pho­ mated, some not tographer, Man in English. Many Ray) is a Ron’s Taxi driver who students are preparing for exwas shot in the neck in the ams; teachers celebrate the late afternoon of Nov. 28. Ker- end of a quarter or semester. dougheli, an Algerian-Amer- Carson is wearing a Berber ican is a regular at Sitwell’s. dress given to her in Algeria; This is a place that is its own it is colorful with detailed destination. Algerians, both embroidery. She talks about Berbers and Arabs, visit daily the circumstances surroundfor espresso demitasses, con­ ing it. She poses questions versation, the good food, and about Algeria for prizes. atmosphere. Young women in sweaters On this bitter night, over and scarves lift their heads a hundred friends – young, from books, shout answers old, men, women, all races – after raising their hands. gather to raise money for Ker- Then comes the raffle. Sybilka dougheli’s family’s living and Storie, a former model, manmedical expenses. Kerdough­ ager of Sitwell’s and daugh­ eli had surgery on his larynx ter of Lisa Storie, the shop’s and will need speech therapy owner, has a brown paper bag once he can eat again. Cur- from which she pulls a ticket. M Hamid Kerdougheli. Photo by StephCarson Photography. Around the room red tickets are strewn across the tables. The tables at Sitwell’s are mis­ matched, as are the chairs; there is a pleasant chaotic freedom to the place. As the raffle happens, the servers bring steaming plates of authentic Algerian food from a special menu ar­ ranged for the event. Menad Amrouchi, a friend of Ker­ dougheli, and others have been cooking since Wednes­ day night. The raffle items were generously donated by over 25 businesses in Clifton and Northside. Between the raffles, Alge­ rian music plays. The food is hot, hearty, and flavorful. What did I learn? Algeria is the second-largest country in Africa, second to Sudan. The Sahara desert takes up much of Algeria. I already knew that Algerians are social, gener­ ous, giving, hard working and love the coffeehouse culture as much as I do. Their flag is red, green and white. Alge­ rians love football (soccer.) They won their indepen­ dence from the French in 1962. There is something very right about people coming together out of gratitude and in the spirit of giving. To donate your support, visit sitwellscoffeehouse.com/ hamid or stephcarson.com/hamid. The Bengals’ Unexpected Weapon Cincinnati has to hope it didn’t peak too soon By B. cliFton BurKe Contributing Writer A t the top, life is good but it damn sure ain’t easy. As the Bengals trudge along toward earning a playoff spot, they continue to learn more about themselves as a team and as human beings. After beating the Steel­ ers for the second time of the season, the Bengals felt great – and why not? They owned a 7-2 record, had deci­ sively vanquished each mem­ ber of the AFC North and re­ ally looked comfortable in their new skin as a running team. Since then they have lost three out of their past five games, lost their playoff mo­ mentum and more impor­ tant, lost one of their team­ mates with the death of Chris Henry. At this point enough has been written about Henry’s STREETVIBES Vendor Mary untimely passing. We at Streetvibes are saddened by such an unfortunate event and our condolences and best wishes go out to his re­ maining family, but anything beyond that is an internal af­ fair and, in turn, none of our business. What is our business, how­ ever, are the games, and the two worlds of emotional grief and football merged during Week 15 in San Diego. The result was an inspired effort Only purchase Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the paper. against a Charger team who many feel are part of the NFL elite, but still came up one play short and lost by a field goal in the last few seconds. It was a sad and frustrating week for the Bengals, and each among them is likely changed in some way because of it; but the loss in San Diego, and the one before it in Min­ nesota, has shown the world that Cincinnati can certainly compete in the post-season, but will remain the underdog against the other divisional winners. This time it makes sense: Earlier in the season, the Bengals were rarely favored against any decent team for flimsy analytical reasons; many refused to take Cincin­ nati seriously just because of their past. But after visiting two playoff-like scenarios and failing each time, it ap­ pears our boys simply don’t measure up as well to the real heavy hitters. I’m nervous that they peaked too soon, that they need to repair a few things before moving for­ ward, but there’s no time for that; into the labyrinth they go. Yet we are not without hope. The fact of the matter is that, even in the face in of so much emotional hardship, this team and its city has en­ joyed a season of rare suc­ cess. This is by no means a bad team, and anything can happen in the playoffs. After all, the Bengals did play San Diego well. Take back a 20­ yard loss on a bizarre fumble (or the soft coverage along the sideline by Leon Hall), and they might have won that game. They also demonstrated against the Chargers that they can pass after all: Carson Palmer threw for more than 300 yards in what seemed like forever. Laveranues Coles was demoted from the start­ ing lineup and had his most impressive day since joining the Bengals. J.P. Foschi inex­ plicably became a weapon. Crazy things happen to this team. Some of it has been lots of fun, and some of it has been incredibly sad, but al­ most all of it has been unex­ pected; and that could be the most dangerous weapon on this team: the unexpected. First, they must officially clinch the division and earn their spot, and only then we can all allow our imagina­ tions to go silly with thoughts of the Bengals in February. Enjoy what's coming, Cincin­ nati, whatever that might be. �12 Film Review STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 On the Streets, Not ‘Up in the Air’ Too bad there’s no Oscar for best corporate crap By david heitField Contributing Writer dreams, he explains. Daddy has been working a crappy job, so his kids don’t look up predict Up in the Air to daddy. Now’s a good time will win a bunch of Os- to go back to his old dream of cars: Best picture; best cooking in a restaurant, beadapted screenplay; best ac- cause his kids will love him tor for George Clooney; and for following his dreams, and best supporting actor for apparently restaurants are American lining up to Airlines. hire Social Not beThe plot is simple enough: Security­ cause it's a eligible ap­ Clooney plays an asshole good pic- (which he does so well) who p r e n t i c e ture; it's flies around the country firing cooks. Dad filled with people. His singular goal in looked like a the paper huge weight life is to amass 10 million prototypes had been frequent-flier miles. that Hollylifted off his wood limshoulders. ousine liberals love, the stuff The most offensive parts of that gives lefties a bad name the movie, though, come in – for instance, Crash (2006 the bookends, the parts Mr. Best Picture). Rather, Up In Rich felt to be so genuine: the Air is to its topic du jour, successive cameos of people corporate downsizing and a learning they are getting laid contracting job market, as off – and they are hostile. They Driving Miss Daisy (1989 Best cuss a lot. They call people Picture) was to racism. It feels names. They are completely false and hollow, despite its self-centered and cry and attempt to be The Movie Iron- bitch and moan about how ically Titled Because It’s Re- unfair life is and, in one case ally About Those Little People later in the movie, threaten to Down on the Ground. jump off a bridge. Now, many After Frank Rich wrote a of these are supposed to be column in the New York Times “real” people who were laid a couple weeks ago declar- off and the lines not “scripting this movie to be required ed,” which I guess means it’s viewing for its frank and hon- not supposed to look as maest portrayal of people suffer- nipulative and opportunistic ing in this economy, I couldn't as it is. wait to put on one of my LexSo, yes, the movie pissed isNexis shirts (we got T-shirts me off from the opening instead of, say, bonuses) and scene. Because it’s completehead down to the multiplex. ly false. You see, before my former Sure, one or two might employer cut my job, I had behave that way, but overthe wonderful experience of whelmingly the way people laying off 30 or so of my re- react to such bad news as the ports during the nine years loss of their livelihood is far I worked there, around 25 of more human: Their egos are them coming during one spe- crushed, their future is uncial Christmas season. certain, the pain of rejection The plot is simple enough: is almost unbearable, and yet Clooney plays an asshole they try, as best they can, to (which he does so well) who salvage some shred of human flies around the country fir- dignity from the situation, ing people. His singular goal because that's all they’ve got in life is to amass 10 million left. frequent-flier miles. He also It overwhelmed me when delivers corporate motiva- I had to lay off half my team. tional speeches, using a back- We worked from a script, of pack as a metaphor, the mes- course; and as Clooney says sage being you'll be happier in the movie, you never, ever and more successful in life if say you are sorry or apoloyou don't carry around a lot gize – legal won’t allow it. of baggage. Commitments What blew me away was how are for suckers, you see; and many people told me they that's why Clooney not only were sorry for me. They didn’t enjoys his work, but he takes want to be a bother. If they pride in what he does. had a question, most of them In one sad scene of pathos, would precede it with “if I'm Clooney is firing a man who not asking for too much,” and pulls out pictures of his kids if no answer was immediately and says, “What am I sup- available, they’d apologize posed to tell them?” for asking the question in the Never mind the ex-em- first place. ployee looks like he’s 65 and Of course they are hurt, his kids are barely past the surprised, angry, anxious – teething stage, Clooney asks but in that moment of truth, the man why kids look up to there is an overpowering sports figures. Because sports need to seek simple human figures are following their dignity, the need to preserve I something that they might one of the people she fires in not even understand. I liken a most unbelievable fashion. it to Flannery O'Connor’s un- Unbelievable because, like derstanding of a moment of most people in HR departgrace in her short stories. No ments that she represents, matter how bad the situation, there’s nothing in her characthe desire to rise above it in ter to indicate that she is even almost any way you can plays capable of empathy, let alone into her guiding concept of acting on it. mystery and manners; and, In the end, she did get a for her, how that speaks to the nice letter of recommendapossibility of the divine. tion from Clooney, so she The first person I ever fired could get a much better job, came back to work the next as she was hired on sight afmorning. He had stuff to fin- ter the boss read the letter. Of ish up, you see. I still have the eight people I reported to fond memories of that guy. in nine years, one quit in disThe editor of this rag gust, one was demoted, and you are readthe other ing, whom I’m six were laid proud to call a Yes, the movie pissed off. Maybe friend, when me off from the opening I should’ve told he had to asked Clooscene. Because it’s lay off a staff ney for a letcompletely false. member, inter, too. And stead decided not that anyto lay off himself. Dignity? one even reads those things Grace? I’m not one to say, but any more, let alone hires it sure was cool, and it’s those someone based on one letkind of stories that give one ter. Really, this downsizing hope and faith in the human climate runs deep. Someone condition. should make a movie about This movie will have none it. of that dignity crap, though. There are so many direcThe closest instance also tions this movie could have rings false: The very young, dared to go; but, as the movie naive and annoying corpo- suggests is inevitable, instead rate robot with a minor in it “settled.” There is nothing psychology who doesn’t want about what we euphemistito “settle” in life, ignoring cally called O&O, for “offthe obvious point that she shoring and outsourcing.” sold her soul the minute she Nothing about the macrosigned up for her gig. While economics driving the loss of her character comes off pretty jobs. Nothing about a culture well as one of those emotion- that names its sports stadiums ally empty drones who tend and college bowl games and to populate human-resources research departments after departments, she reacts to an corporations and how much extreme act of selfishness by its incipient corporate values might be fornicating the way we interact with one anoth­ er. Nothing about how one makes decisions about whom to lay off – in our case, we did what was expedient for the legal department, something calculated to limit lawsuits. Keep the best and get rid of the marginal? My ass. By not even giving token lip service to any of these “human” issues, what you have left is a movie about a bunch of assholes rolling that boul­ der up the hill and watching it roll back down again – what in the hell is a poor asshole to do? Well, of course, it’s make a commitment. That’s the obvious lesson for the guy who lectures about the joys of an empty backpack, as well as the “salvation” for those jobless at the back bookend of the movie, who, instead of cussing, now speak of how they learned their family and friends are what’s really im­ portant in life. Commitment. Like Hilton Hotels and American Airlines committed to providing location shots for the movie in exchange for many, many placement ads. You see, the real message of the movie – besides that people who fly a lot are beautiful and have hot sex – is seen several times throughout the movie, usually on a large wall sign posted behind the characters as they mug through the empty dia­ logue: American Airlines values your loyalty. �STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 13 Local News A Feast for Behavioral Health Services Volunteers help agency fete mentally ill clients By andrea Paul-taylor Contributing Writer Greater Cincinnati Behav­ ioral Health Services (GCB) held its 11th annual Thanks­ giving feast for clients Nov. 25, the first at its new location in East Walnut Hills. About 350 clients enjoyed a holiday meal served by vol­ unteers, including Cincin­ nati City Council members Roxanne Qualls, Laketa Cole and Cecil Thomas; Hamil­ ton County Common Pleas Judge Pat DeWine; and U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Miami Township). The feast was a traditional Thanksgiving meal with tur­ key, trimmings and pumpkin pie. But the new Welcome Center where the clients were served is somewhat smaller, and there was concern about possible space issues. “We asked clients to come at two different seatings, noon and 1 p.m., in order to keep any delays to a minimum,” says Kelly Smith-Trondle, access team supervisor for Greater Cincinnati Behav­ ioral Health Services. “For the most part, all went smoothly. It worked better than we had even hoped.” The feast is a joint venture between GCB and IKRON, which provides employment services and counseling to mentally ill persons. Each year staff and volun­ teers work together to prepare the meal with food provided by Frisch’s and the Kroger Co. Girl Scout Troop 4444 from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Westwood has volunteered since the feast was first es­ tablished; many of the adult women who started as young scouts still come back to help out. “It is important that our clients have somewhere meaningful to celebrate this holiday and that they don’t have to be alone,” says Tony Dattilo, CEO of GCB. “Many have been sharing Thanks­ giving with us for years.” Greater Cincinnati Behav­ ioral Health Services is the most comprehensive mentalhealth agency in Hamilton County serving adults with severe mental illness. Its mis­ sion is to assist persons with mental illness to lead produc­ tive and fulfilling lives. City Councilman Cecil Thomas was a volunteer server at a Thanksgiving feast. Photo courtesy of Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services. Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go ahead. Ask. �14 STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Italics An ‘AHA!’ Moment in Cincinnati Why should I join Affordable Housing Advocates? 1 By Michelle dillinGhaM Contributing Writer A ffordable Housing Advocates (AHA) is a group of housing providers, advocates and consumers dedicated to the goal of ensuring good, safe, accessible, af­ fordable housing for all people in Southwest Ohio. Our focus is on meeting the hous­ ing needs of individuals and families with very low, low and moderate in­ comes. This group formed to share the expertise and information gath­ ered by its members over decades of service to Greater Cincinnati in the area of affordable housing and to ini­ tiate and support plans of action that will further the creation, retention and accessibility of affordable hous­ ing in our community. We are a diverse group An advocacy organization’s of advocates, spanning the grassroots, faithrole is to help make your based development and advocacy efficient and planning communities. effective. A successful As we enter into the advocacy organization recognizes the challenges 2010 Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) Mem­ of its individual members bership Drive, I ponder and helps facilitate the group’s advocacy so that, the question: What is advocacy, and why should as a whole, it is effectual and reaches the right ears. we support it? When we say we “advocate,” what do we mean? Let’s begin with the etymological meaning as my father instructed me, invoking the words of Charles Olsen: “Go to the root”. The word “advocate” is from the Latin, advocatus, for “one called to aid,” from ad ("to") plus vocare (“to call”), related to vocem (“voice”). So, the root meaning of ad­ vocacy is a response to a call for help, providing a call to action and a voice. What is intriguing about being a member of an advocacy group? For me it is the action. It is the purpose­ ful transformation of injustice, anger and frustration into an argument for change. It is being part of a greater call to action. It is knowing I am part of meaningful change. The most compelling thing about advocacy is (drum roll, please) it works. This was made ardently clear to me as I worked on the “other” side (the listening side) of advocacy work­ ing at City Hall. There is no greater influence on policy makers than a group of well prepared advocates speaking on behalf of large numbers of constituents standing together. But that is the very thing that chal­ lenges us, isn’t it? To take action takes time. There are so many causes to support that it can be overwhelming. I personally have at least four issues I am interested in and am on someone’s list. The volume of e-mails, newslet­ ters and updates from just those four are many. By the time I scan through them all (inner thoughts: “Hmm, that article looks interesting. … I should download and sign that petition. … I should really go to that meeting and help testify.”), I could throw my mail in a pile, close the e-mail messages and turn on a mindless television show. So much to fight for – but where to start? And I have to make dinner, do laundry, run the kids around (you fill in the blank). Can you relate? One role of AHA as an advocacy or­ ganization is to help make your advo­ cacy efficient and effective. A success­ ful advocacy organization recognizes the challenges of its individual mem­ bers and helps facilitate the group’s advocacy so that, as a whole, it is ef­ fectual and reaches the right ears. The AHA Board will retreat in Janu­ ary to decide how to best fulfill its mission in 2010. We will contemplate how to focus our advocacy and prior­ itize our action agenda. Fortunately, the AHA Board is made up of mem­ bers who together possess an impres­ sive array of knowledge of the local housing landscape. Their leadership on affordable housing issues will help set the stage for our efforts for 2010. Effective advocacy is an art – it is more than a group of individuals writ­ ing an e-mail to their elected officials. Organized advocacy typically starts with an action agenda that covers both incremental and fundamental goals. It identifies who has the great­ est impact on policy decisions; it for­ mulates the evidence, makes the case for policy change on multiple levels and holds policy-makers account­ able. The broader the base of our in­ dividual membership, the better we can engage in organized advocacy. I have always felt strongly about advocating for affordable housing. A few of my reasons include: First, through the years working as a case manager in the field, the search for affordable, accessible, ad­ equate housing took up at least 75 percent of my time, even though it was not the primary intervention I was supposed to be offering (i.e., mental health, sub­ stance abuse, etc.). Second, living in adequate hous­ ing is a basic need, fundamental to one’s well-being on all levels – mental, emotional, physical. Third, affordable, accessible, and adequate housing is a social justice issue-there are real, systemic barriers to housing for people who make low to moderate incomes that need to be changed. Advocacy is the act of pleading Advocacy is the act of pleading for, supporting or for, supporting or recommending; recommending; the act of advocating or speaking the act of advo­ or writing in support of something. cating or speak­ ing or writing in support of something. Your membership dues will go to help implement our mission, which is “to initiate and support plans of action that will further the creation, retention and accessibility of afford­ able housing in our community.” The Affordable Your dues will help fund the “plead­ Housing ing, supporting, and recommending” Advocates of affordable-housing policies. (AHA) envision But we are not only interested in the Cincinnati the $25 that comes with an individual area as a place membership. We look forward to your where all people involvement in what you feel most have good, compelled about related to housing. safe, accessible More than 25 percent of Cincinna­ affordable tians live below the federal poverty housing. As line, and many more are barely liv­ the premier ing above it. We are in an economic housing advocate recession of historic significance – at in a region least 10 percent of us are not working; successfully and the state of the economy has im­ meeting the pacted the availability of affordable needs of its housing on multiple levels. Needless people, AHA to say, there are many issues ahead of will serve as a us that will require our advocacy. model for like Please consider joining AHA. Help organizations across the us help you to be an effective hous­ nation. For more ing advocate. Call me if you are inter­ information visit ested in signing up at 513-602-4260, or e-mail me at mdmswlsw@hotmail. www.ahacincy. com. org Looking for the perfect gift for someone? Why not give a donation to Streetvibes in a loved one’s name? What about a Streetvibes subscription? Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors this holiday season. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Churches Active in Northside 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 681-2365 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Charlie’s 3/4 House 661-4620 Crossroad Health Center 241-1064 Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 562-8841 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 DIC Live In Program Prospect House 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 784-1853 721-0643 921-1613 961-2256 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 961-4080 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 961-4663 First Step Home 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 351-0422 381-6672 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 721-8666 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 621-6364 535-2719 Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 I want to thank you for your current article about the Lighthouse Youth Out­ reach Team (see “To Get Youth Off the Streets,” issue of Dec. 1-14). I must say, the quality of your articles is just outstanding. I have been read­ ing Streetvibes for years, but over the last year or two I have noticed an unprec­ edented improvement in the quality and professionalism of your writers. So thank you for the terrific article and congratulations on putting out such a qual­ ity product. Bob Mecum President and CEO Lighthouse Youth Services Have something on your mind? Let us know by sending a letter to: 1 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvibes2@yahoo.com 859-491-8303 721-4700 421-7803 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Center for Respite Care To the editor: 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 799 Ann St. Newport, KY Health Letter to the Editor 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women Brighton Center 381-0111 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 AA Hotline CCAT 241-2600 241-2563 621-5514 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both 558-8888 981-5800 Other Resources 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment: Women 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 458-6670 977-4489 NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach Peaslee Neighborhood Center Shelter: Both Anthony House (Youth) 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 872-9259 241-5525 591-2246 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Treatment: Men Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter FreeStore/FoodBank 762-5660 Shelter: Men City Gospel Mission 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 A Call to Greater Cincinnati Poets Write for ‘For a Better World 2010’ It’s time to get your verse on. SOS Art, the annual exhibit of art on themes of peace and justice, pub­ lishes a collection of poetry each year. Saad Ghosn, who organizes SOS Art and writes the “Artists as Activists” column for Streetvibes, is now col­ lecting submissions for For a Better World 2010, the seventh edition to date. Any poet from or connected to Greater Cincinnati may submit up to three poems related to themes of peace and justice. All submissions will be considered. The editors will be looking for quality, inclusiveness and appropriateness to the themes of peace and justice. If space becomes limited, priority will go to poets not published in previ­ ous books. The poems selected for publication will be illustrated in black and white by Greater Cincinnati artists. Poets included in the book will be invited to read their poems at SOS Art 2010. For a Better World 2010 will be released in May 2010. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2010. Send submissions as “Word” attachments or in full text By e-mail to saad.ghosn@uc.edu or On a CD to Saad Ghosn, 216 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES January 1 - 15, 2010 Compassion is a Natural Resource Mary Ann Lederer promotes peace M ary Ann Lederer’s first use of art for politi­ cal purposes was at age 20, during the civil rights movement, designing posters and picket signs. Influenced by the Rev. Maurice McCrack­ en, whom she had met when volunteering at a neigh­ borhood day camp, she actively participated in the desegregation campaign of the early 1960s. With oth­ ers in the city who were trained in Gandhi’s methods of non-violence – negotiations, picketing, occasionally sit-ins – she helped integrate Cincinnati’s restaurants, stores and theatres. Lederer grew up in North Avondale in a Jewish home surrounded by art and music. Her father was a Repub­ lican, her mother a Democrat; though fond of both, she sided politically with her liberal, more compas­ sionate mother. She did not study art per se. In college, she took only one drawing course and majored in soci­ ology. She worked for several years as a social worker, then returned to the University of Cincinnati (UC) to pursue a master’s degree in community planning. Not long after Lederer graduated, she was shot in the back by an intruder in her home. As a result, she be­ came a paraplegic. “When I woke up, I realized I could not move my legs Mary Ann Lederer. Photo by Bill Howes. any more,” she says. “It felt like half my body was filled with cement; yet somehow I knew I wanted to paint.” Lederer underwent rehabilitation, unable to continue arduous physical activity. An alternative vegetar­ then became active in the ian doctor, however, helped her heal by teaching her how to use food disability movement. She to turn her health around. As her health revived, she became active in set up a handicap pro­ Earthsave, an organization that promotes a plant-based diet for the gram at UC and started health of individuals, a clean environment for the health of the earth as a wheelchair basketball and the compassionate treatment of animals. She has been active in team. The team became the local chapter of Earthsave for many years, and its values have in­ the subject of several of fluenced her painting. By Saad GhoSn her early paintings. “I consider myself a philosopher-painter,” Lederer says. “I paint the Contributing Writer Other paintings ad­ world I’d love to live in, a multi-ethnic world of freedom, equality and dressed various disability healthfulness, where the air is clean, water pure, plants wild or or­ issues. One, for instance, ganically grown, animals free – a sustainable natural world.” showed two world-class wheel-chaired athletes wheeling across Her painting, An Intentional Community, represents people in a America to raise money for wheelchair sports. Others depicted a vividly colored world of rivers, trees and animals; some people are wheel-chaired Santa Claus and a wheel-chaired Cupid for Valentine’s gardening, some are coming together at a vegetable market. A Peace Day. Many represented disabled individuals in varied living activities. Village depicts ethnically diverse individuals living together in har­ It was her way of raising awareness about their condition and iden­ mony with animals and the earth. Bicycle City shows a community tity. with no cars – only bicycles, windmills, solar panels, a clean environ­ As the years passed, Lederer developed health problems and was ment where people are able to communicate more closely with one another. It reflected her hopes for many such future communities. Lederer started the painting, A Vegetable Garden in Every Yard, the day after the last presidential election and completed it on Inaugura­ tion Day. It shows the First Family on the White House lawn, which has been transformed into an idyllic community vegetable garden. It was her vision for a healthier, “back-to-the-earth” America. Posters of the painting are now available with the words, “A vegetable garden in every yard.” She hopes it will encourage more people to grow their own food. Lederer was pleased to learn that Michelle Obama has indeed re­ cently started such a garden. She is convinced that what people eat affects not only their health but also their minds, their hearts and their behaviors, that a plant-based diet is preferable to one based on cruelty to animals, and that gardening and organic farming promote communication, community building and a healthy and peaceful so­ ciety. Lederer also uses her art to express her political views. Though aware of the violence in the world, she says, “We have an untapped natural resource in compassion. We need to nurture it. Our educa­ tional system unfortunately is more head than heart and prepares individuals to be competitive sometimes at the expense of a better world for everyone.” A recent painting about the Iraq War shows individuals of differ­ ent ethnicities wearing different costumes, forming a circle, holding hands. The Wall shows Jews and Arabs working together for peace while writing in their own languages on the wall intended to divide them. “My painting is a plea to the peoples of the world to appreciate each other’s cultures and differences, to come together and communicate. Compassionate communication, for example, a system designed by Marshall Rosenberg, teaches people how to listen to each other and feel each others feelings. It works. We can get along with each other.” Lederer’s dream is now to help start organic gardens all over the city, ensure compassionate treatment of animals, promote a vegan A Vegetable Garden in Every Yard, painting by Mary Ann diet and pay respect to mother earth. Her art will continue to reflect Lederer. Photo by Mary Ann Lederer. her vision of a vibrant, natural, diverse and peaceful world. A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2010 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 1-15, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: May They Finally Rest in Peace Metropole Tenants Gain Support Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: 8 Minutes in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Pg 4: Prickly Issue: Needle Exchange Pg 5: May They Finally Rest in Peace Metropole Tenants Gain Support Continued Pg 6: New Voices of the Voiceless Pg 7: Obama Wrong About Non-Violence Pg 8: Veggie Philly Steak Pg 9: Not A ‘Precious’ Happy Ending Pg 10: Homeless Coalition Marks 25 Years Pg 11: Helping Hamid and Understand The Bengals’ Unexpected Weapon Pg 12: On the Streets, Not ‘Up in the Air’ Pg 13: A Feast for Behavioral Health Services Pg 14: An ‘AHA!’ Moment in Cincinnati Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Compassion is a Natural Resource 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 1-15, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Jeni Jenkins Lew Moores Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Kelissa Hieber Jeni Jenkins Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Lynne Ausman Steven Paul Lansky Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite, Anthony Williams Bill Haigh Clarissa Peppers Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Advocates Aimie Willhoite Annual Dinner Anthony Williams Barack Obama Behavioral Health Services Bengals Bill Haigh Cincinnati Clarissa Peppers David Heitfield Eli Braun GCCH Gregory Flannery Hip-Hop Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Kelissa Hieber Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Mary Ann mental illness Metropole Michael Henson Paul Kopp Precious Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Stephanie Dunlap Steven Paul Lansky https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/296cdb205d5917621b2aaae7194c4119.pdf 8b68f393224d0344a6a5e5789e421e0f PDF Text Text Artists as Activists Page 16 Profs and Prophets of Non-Violence Page 6 Vendors Celebrate Page 12 STREETVIBES $1 Jan. 15 - 31, 2010 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 169 Set Afire, Homeless Man Feels Burned by Police Says skeptical detective accuses him of lying By GreGory Flannery Editor The next day, when Smock saw the Rev. Fred Cook, the minister called police. Smock ou can’t blame peo­ told the officer that he didn’t ple who live on the want to pursue the matter. streets for being less When Smock lived in a camp than comfort­ along the Ohio able with law River a few years enforcement; ago, his camp “They attacked some of their ex­ mate was killed. Mr. Smock simply periences with Because the per­ because he is police officers petrator has nev­ homeless. They have been less er been caught, believed that, than pleasant. because Mr. Smock Smock says, he Thus when is homeless, he had little hope George Smock is not human and that his assault was set on fire therefore they could would be treated during the night viciously attack him as important. of Dec. 27, 2009, “My friend – and possibly he didn’t call po­ they called him murder him.” lice. Stringbean – got - Josh Spring “I didn’t fill beat to death,” out a police Smock says. report that night, which I “Nothing ever came of that. should have done, but I’ve got They’re going to make me a to live down here,” he says. “I priority?” don’t want to be made out as When Josh Spring, execu­ a snitch.” tive director of the Greater Y George Smock says four youths set him on fire Dec. 27. Photo by Gregory Flannery. Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, heard about the attack on Smock, he urged Smock to cooperate with po­ lice. “I told him that the people who set him on fire might try to do it to one of his friends,” Spring says. That argument convinced Smock. But now he’s having second thoughts. Residents Only: New Policy at the Drop Inn Center Shelter restructures, emphasizes helping homeless people By Jeremy Flannery Contributing WritEr T he general public may no longer stop by for a meal, relax and watch television at the Drop Inn Center. Since its founding until re­ cently, anyone could go to the homeless shelter. People who are unemployed or mentally ill were welcome, whether homeless or not. The change in policy is part of a restructuring meant to focus the Drop Inn Cen­ ter’s resources on meeting the needs of homeless people, ac­ cording to Executive Director Pat Clifford. “Residents-only is the big­ gest policy change,” he says. “Services once provided to the general community are now restricted to residents. In terms of our funding and making sure the homeless get what they need, we want to be clear that that is our main goal – to help them find per­ manent housing.” The Drop Inn Center reor­ ganized its programming last July. When people arrive at the center, placement specialists now meet with them to eval­ uate their needs beyond im­ mediate shelter so they can find and maintain perma­ nent housing, Clifford says. The majority of people who go to the Drop Inn Center See Policy, p. 11 ‘Trying to survive’ The night of Dec. 27, Smock was at the corner of Main and Court streets, near the Ham- See Burned, p. 4 Read the Streetvibes blog for stories between issues at http://streetvibes. wordpress.com Follow us on Twitter (StreetvibesNews) and Facebook (StreetvibesCincinnati) E-mail us at streetvibes2 @yahoo.com Pat Clifford, Drop Inn Center executive director. Photo by Andrew Anderson. �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 18 billion The quantity of toxic wastewater, measured in gallons, that Chevron Corp. has allegedly dumped in the Amazon forest (see page 5). 25 The percentage of Cincinnatians who fall under the federal poverty level (see page 7). 96-1 The vote in the U.S. Senate to subsidize airlines after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (see page 9). 222 The number of beds at the Drop Inn Center (see page 1). 50 StreetWise By GreGory Flannery Editor Dealing Death in Our Names Aren’t we proud, Ohioans? Having made national headlines by botching yet another execu­ tion last September – the governor called it off after state guards labored for two hours to kill a man, repeatedly jabbing him with needles – we succeeded Jan. 7 in poisoning another condemned man in just nine minutes. The new execution protocol, used to kill 37-year-old Vernon Smith, disproved the conservative hypothesis that government can do nothing efficiently. In this time of state budgets, isn’t it comforting to know that Ohio can at least kill well? Put aside, if you must, the moral question of whether the state ought to be involved in the business of dealing death. Another problem is the ultimate punishment is applied when ulti­ mate certainty is not possible. Consider the case of Kevin Keith, who has been caged on Ohio’s Death Row for 15 years. Last month the Ohio Supreme Court declined his motion to present new evidence of his innocence. Keith was convicted of killing three people in Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1994. But the case against him is deeply flawed, according to his attorney, Assistant State Public Defender Rachel Troutman. “We are deeply troubled by the Ohio Supreme Court’s failure to allow Kevin Keith to present newly discovered evidence that overwhelmingly proves his innocence and identifies the true perpetrator,” Troutman says. “The Supreme Court’s denial means that no jury will ever hear that the state of Ohio failed to disclose evidence implicating the person who committed the crime for which Kevin stands to be executed. Now, instead of getting the new trial he is consti­ tutionally entitled to, an innocent man faces execution. “Kevin has maintained his innocence from the time of his wrongful arrest and conviction and throughout the 15 years he has sat on Ohio’s Death Row. He has an alibi for the time of the shootings supported by four witnesses. There is no forensic evidence that links Kevin to the crime. As newly discovered evidence shows, the state suppressed evidence identifying the true perpetrator and fabricated evidence in an attempt to bolster the legitimacy of the tainted eye­ witness identification used to wrongfully convict him. The execution of an innocent person, especially one who has not been given a fair hearing, is the gravest injustice that no Ohioan can support. We appeal to the state of Ohio to prevent the execution of an innocent man.” Search Warrants Needed for Cell Phones The number of years the United States has made progress in racial equality (see page 10). The state’s high court did issue one recent decision that deserves credit. It ruled last month that law enforcement must have a warrant in order to search the contents of a suspect’s cell phone seized during an arrest. The decision – the first time a state supreme court in the United States has ruled that warrants are needed to search cell phones – applies constitutional prin­ ciples to modern technology, according to Carrie Davis, staff counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio. 13 “Even with changes in technology, we do not sacrifice our core civil liberties,” she says. “Oftentimes the law fails to keep up with the fast pace of technology, but this decision lays the groundwork for greater privacy protections as the digital age advances.” The age at which Mark Schmieder was hit with a hose by a priest (see page 3). 56-55-1 The Bengals’ record under Coach Marvin Lewis (see page 11). 27th The night in December on which four youths set George Smock on fire (see page 1). 54,027 The number of copies of Streetvibes sold by vendors in 2009 (see page 12). $2,344 The cost of a liquor license for a casino in Ohio (see page 10). Kindness Unbowed by Cold or by Nazis Kindness to homeless people is always to be noted and celebrated, especially given the bru­ tality that they so often experience (see “Set Afire,” page 1.) The arctic blast that has frozen much of the nation led the Cincinnati Health Dept. to open the city’s Winter Shelter for 11 of the first 12 nights of the new year. This prompted people in the community to offer food, clothing, blankets and other donations, according to Rocky Merz, spokesman for the health depart­ ment. Unfortunately, however, the shelter isn’t able to handle the donations, he says. People who wish to donate items to help homeless people can call Josh Spring, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, at 513-421-7803, ext. 13. The Winter Shelter, housed at the Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center, 1715 Republic St., also opened twice in December. The shelter has averaged 109 persons per night. Anyone – not just homeless people – can stay at the Winter Shelter when it opens. The city opens the shelter when the temperature is 10 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Kindness of a much higher order lost one of its greatest practitioners this week with the death of Miep Gies at age 100. When the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, Gies helped shelter Jews being hunted for slaughter. Her most famous beneficiary was Anne Frank and her family. They were later captured, and Frank died in a concentration camp at age 16. Her diary, pre­ served by Gies, is perhaps the best known book about the Holocaust, The Diary of a Young Girl. University of Cincinnati Professor Steve Sunderland, a contributing writer for Streetvibes, knew Gies and counted her a friend. “Miep and I met during one of my visits to the Netherlands as part of my work with the Anne Frank Foundation,” Sunderland says. “She and I shared many talks and tears and an abun­ dance of chocolate. When I first met her, her husband, Jan, was still alive and joined in our discussions of what it was like to feed families in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Both were lowkey peace activists, not wanting to brag or judge others. But it was clear that they both felt that the number of people involved in the resistance was way too small. I last saw Miep when she visited Cincinnati under the wing of her good friend, Cor Suijk.” STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Kelissa Hieber, Jeni Jenkins, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Lynne Ausman, Steven Paul Lansky, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams, Bill Haigh, Clarissa Peppers Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are members of: �STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 3 Community News A Priest to Prisoners and the Poor A minister who served others By Vickie cimprich Contributing WritEr M The Rev. Mark Schmieder was known for his work in Over-theRhine. Photo by Clarissa Peppers. ‘God’s saint in this community’ By JeFF hillard Contributing WritEr O n only the second time I ever walked into the Hamilton County Justice Center, about three years ago, as a member of the county's Jail Chaplaincy Team, I met Fr. Mark Schmie­ der in our chaplain's office on level 3. I had no idea who he was. He sat at a desk across from Bob Barbara, another long-termer on the chaplaincy team and a very close friend of Fr. Mark’s. Bob's mis­ sion is to supply inmate requests for complimentary reading glasses. Very, very few county jails in the country – if any – allow such a minis­ try, which made my proximity to these two wise men extremely spe­ cial. Bob said, nodding to Fr. Mark, “Jeff, this is the main man.” I think Fr. Mark blushed, and I know he chuckled. “That's what he thinks,” Mark said. I said, “I've heard about you, Fr. Mark.” He said, “That’s not a good sign.” He chuckled some more. That impression immediately stuck: hu­ mility, sweet spirit, deflection of any kind of “authority” he might have had, absolute humor and goodwill and encouragement. He encour­ aged me, gave me a few pointers, what maybe I didn’t learn fully in chaplaincy training. He soon put on his fisherman's cap, he gave me a hug, and he and Bob, finished, headed to B&G Restaurant for lunch around the corner. He was usually always there at the Justice Center on Friday, with Bob, morning until noon. It didn’t take me long, either, to fathom his brilliance. How could he run St. Francis-St. Joseph Catholic Worker House, too? In the times I saw him after that, I realized that he was God’s saint in this community in the world. Making calls until the very end of his life, with tired, cracked voice, he was never really tired and he was always the voice of the voiceless. ark Schmieder's body was not at the front of the middle aisle, head to the altar, and feet to the congregation. How­ ever, something was parked out of the way by the back east wall in a pine box. Inside was something long, waxened ice blue. The first thought was, “What is a miraculously semi-preserved relic doing in St. Francis Seraph Church in Over-the Rhine? “My God,” I said. “Is that Mark?” Maybe it was not embalmed. Some logistic snafu with the authorities had held it up. That would fit with Mark. No myrrh in no Gilead. It had in fact been on ice from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 so he could die with family in Washington State, and then be with all his loved ones in the Ohio Valley. But everybody enjoyed a photo of him in his teens in the seminary, chubby faced, beardless. The story of his birth was told. He looked dead at his emergence, and they laid him on a table out of the way so everyone could work on saving his mother's life. When they got her stabilized, somebody noticed that Mark was alive. Cold and unattended for some time, with a broken leg. One of his many personal conversions came when he remembered having been hit with a hose by a priest when he was about 13. Then he was part of one more fellowship: Survivors of Priest Abuse. All along he has been aiding and abetting survivors of many sorts. A while back he'd laughed and said maybe nine priests would show up at his funeral. So many turned out they overflowed their assigned seating. The church was packed. Chairos men sang their song around the body during the final commendation. Archbishop Dennis Schnurr was there. The day after The Enquirer announced Schnurr's purchase of a really expensive house in Anderson Township, Mark had stormed into the Chancery: You can't do this. I joked with Glenn Miller that there might be salvation for Schnurr after all: When the real estate market recovers, Schnurr sells at a big profit and gives the money to the poor. The past two years Mark canoed in Paddlefest. He'd sold the canoe he'd rescued Gordon Lightfoot in to Ken Palasin, who glided down the Ohio with Vickie Cimprich, next to Mark and Mary Repaske in 2008. Seems Mark was on one of many Canadian rivers when he came upon this dude stuck on a rock. The next Lightfoot concert in Cincinnati, Mark received two tickets. At least one resident of St. Francis-St. Joseph Catholic Worker House, which Mark had led for some time, was at the reception. This man has lost his family and career to alcoholism. He's working his program now. Likes to read in the house library and work out at the neighbor­ hood gym. He said St. F-St. J was the five-star homeless shelter of Cin­ cinnati. He stayed till the reception was over and worked with Mark's lay Catholic community, Anawim, until all was cleaned up. These workers operated sort of psychically: no one told anybody what needed to be done; all knew. Judy Tensing had gone out to Washington to be with Mark when he died; the catering group she had helped found served a fine feed for all. Judy worked the whole reception and cleanup. Mark had pancreatic cancer; so had Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. Mark's was diagnosed about last March, feast of the Annunciation, about nine months before Christmas. Mark is Epiphany's supernova, his colors awhirl in any ether, any's far sight. The Stable (For the Rev. Mark Schmieder) By Vickie cimprich The shepherd with the antalgic gait was the first to arrive. A swaddling mild autism over all protected. A young girl had been left behind with the flock and the sick man who was going to die soon. The shepherd who loved men held Joseph, each chosen by angels. One teenager passed the placenta and slept well into the next day. All were strong, all were bright. �4 STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Local News Man Feels Burned by Police Continued from page 1 ilton County Department of Jobs and Family Services. Four African-American teenagers doused him with charcoal lighter fluid and threw a match on him, he says. His coat lit on fire. “These four young boys walked up to me,” Smock says. “It was dark. They had a square can that you start your charcoal with, and they threw a match at me. My coat caught on fire. They said, ‘Now we got you, motherfucker.’ Everything hap­ pened so fast.” Smock says he had a can of Gatorade and doused the fire. He was uninjured. Now Smock feels threatened by police investigators. “They’re trying to turn it around,” he says. “They said they’re going to arrest me for making a false report. The detec­ tive said, ‘We can’t find any residue on the coat.’ ” Smock says he took investigators to his current campsite – a location he declines to identify – and turned over the coat. “I went back and got the coat and gave it to him,” he says. “I’m trying to do the right thing here. I was willing to let it go. If I did set myself on fire, why would I take him where the coat was? The coat’s been out there for two weeks in the rain and everything else. That’s why there’s no residue. I’m the victim in this and they’re trying to Fighting hate crimes make me out to be the one who did it.” A longtime family friend gave Smock the coat, he says. Smock says he has long familiarity with discrimination against “My new Carhartt coat that I got for Christmas – why would I homeless people. He has been cited in the past for drinking in pub­ burn my own coat?” lic, he says. A police investigator told Smock that he suspects Smock ignited “I’ve sat in the Salvation Army lot and watched college students a cigarette lighter in the coat pocket, causing it to burn. walk up and down the street drinking,” he says. “Just because “I don’t even smoke,” Smock says. “I don’t have a lighter. I chew they have money, they’re better than me? You’ve got these people tobacco.” drinking at tailgate parties. It’s OK for them to do it. But if I take a Last week Smock might have made his own legal situation – and 40-ounce (beer) down there, I’m hit in the mouth. It’s an old ex­ the investigation of the assault – more complicated. He says that, pression: It means I’m screwed.” in his exasperation, he gave a new ac­ Smock has agreed to speak at a fo­ count of the incident to a detective. rum on hate crimes being organized by Smock says he told a detective that The workshop/forum on hate crimes will meet the Homeless Coalition, according to he had been on riverbank and leaned Spring. from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. against something that ignited the “They attacked Mr. Smock sim­ Scheduled speakers include Michael Stoops coat. ply because he is homeless,” Spring of the National Coalition for the Homeless “He was browbeating me,” Smock says. “They believed that, because Mr. and Brian Davis of the Northeast Ohio says. “I gave in to it.” Smock is homeless, he is not human Coalition for the Homeless. At this point, however, bristling at and therefore they could viciously at­ the suggestion that he started the fire, tack him and possibly murder him. The Smock says he’ll fight in court any charge filed against him. Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) condemns “I’m not trying to get anything out of this,” he says. “They’ll nev­ this hate crime and all hate crimes. GCCH encourages all people er find these guys but I’ll be damned if I’m going to be accused of who are homeless to be especially cautious, especially at night, and lying about this. I fly a (panhandling) sign. I don’t rob anybody. But to keep watch for one another.” they want to do this to me. I think it’s wrong. I’m just out here try­ The workshop/forum on hate crimes will meet from 1:30 p.m. ing to survive.” to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29. Contact Rob Goeller (robgoeller@cinci­ Smock says he doesn’t remember the detective’s name. Spring homeless.org) at 513-421-7803 x15 for further details. Scheduled says a contact in the police department told him that the detective speakers include Michael Stoops of the National Coalition for the might be using an investigative technique, testing Smock’s ability Homeless and Brian Davis of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the to withstand cross-examination if the assailants are caught and go Homeless. to trial. Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Local News The Good Justice News of 2009 5 Progress on workers’ rights and the environment By kristen Barker Contributing WritEr W e seek to start the new year with a look back at hardfought victories in 2009, in order to look forward to 2010 with energy and wisdom: Cadbury goes fair trade Visit www.globalexchange.org An iconic UK candy company became the first mainstream producer of Fair Trade sweets in July. Cadbury will sell its Fair Trade­ certified chocolate bar at no extra cost, a move expected to triple the volume of Fair Trade co­ coa sourced from Ghana. Student pressure leads to factory re-opening in Honduras Congrats to United Students Against Sweatshops for their vic­ tory against Russell Athletics, which closed its factory in Hondu­ ras after workers there tried to form a union nearly one year ago. Students at 96 universities persuaded their schools to suspend or sever ties with Russell Athletics, a major supplier of college spiritwear. In late December, Russell announced that it plans to re-open the factory and re-hire all 1,200 workers. Just say no to bovine growth hormone In February, Yoplait and Dannon announced they would no longer purchase milk from dairies injecting their cows with Mon­ santo's controversial genetically engineered synthetic hormone, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Another Fair Food movement victory! Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Bon Appétit Management Co. built an innovative new model for fair labor stan­ dards in Florida's tomato fields. Bon Appétit ManVisit agement Company becomes the first food-service www.ciw-online.org company to establish game-changing fair labor requirements that integrate minimum fair wages, worker empowerment stipulations and incentives to growers who exceed minimum requirements of the agreement. The first Latina justice Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina and the third female U.S. Supreme Court justice – a historic moment for the country and an especially important moment for Latinos. Toledo Public Schools ban ASVAB After four years of organizing efforts led by Learning Not Recruit­ ing, the Toledo School Board, by unanimous vote, passed a revision to its entire policy manual on military recruitment. Toledo has be­ come the first district in the country to ban the Armed Service Vo­ cational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB), the military entrance test, from being given in any high school in the district. Bye bye, missile defense In September, the Obama administration eradicated Bush-era plans to deploy missile-defense components in Poland and the Czech Republic. Climate change Tens of thousands of people from around the world took to the streets of Copenhagen to call for meaningful action to address cli­ mate change, despite continuous attempts to squelch it. Inside Co­ penhagen's meeting halls, indigenous peoples from small island nations and the Himalayas spoke powerfully about their rights and their needs. Corporations are not people Visit www.yes.org Three towns in Maine – Shapleigh, Newman and Wells – have passed ordinances that strip corporations of the rights of “personhood,” a legal concept that allows companies to claim the same rights as individual citizens. New coal plants cancelled According to Green America, the No­ vember cancellation of the proposed 960-megawatt coal plant in Meigs County, Ohio, was the 101st new coal plant to be canceled since 2002. Visit www.greenamericatoday.org www.ohiocitizen.org Kimberly Clark, emerging leader in sustainability In August, after years of pressure from GreenPeace and others, Kimberly-Clark, the company that makes Kleenex, Scott and Cot­ tonelle, announced a new policy that places it among the industry leaders in sustainability. Kimberly-Clark set a goal of obtaining 100 perVisit cent of the wood fiber for its products from en- http://www.kleercut.net/en/ vironmentally responsible sources. By the end of 2011 the company will no longer use any pulp from the Boreal Forest unless it is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified. The policy also prevents the company from cutting endangered forests and increases its use of FSC-certified pulp and recycled fiber globally. U.S. commits to limit greenhouse gas emissions In June, the U.S. House of Representatives’ passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which marked the first U.S. nation­ al commitment to limiting greenhouse gas emissions. Tiny town sends multinational packing A six-year campaign by McCloud, Calif., residents forced Nestle to abandon its plan for a mega water-bottling plant. Visit http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/ Community garden bonanza in Cleveland Access to open land in Cleveland has incited a community-gar­ den explosion. By various counts, more than 200 community gar­ dens – neighborhood grow-your-own collaborations – have sprung up on empty lots. Taking back the land – responding to foreclosures in Miami A grassroots initiative through the organization Take Back the Land is finding temporary housing for homeless families in Miami, Fla. Homeless families are matched with houses that have been foreclosed on and are owned by the local government or a bank. The hope is that, by allowing homeless families to live in vacant homes, they will be given the opportunity to conserve their re­ sources and find permanent housing of their own. Most significant conservation victory in 15 years Two million acres of wildness in nine states will receive new pro­ tection under a bill signed into law March 30 by President Obama. The measure has been called the most significant conservation victory in the last 15 years. Hawaii will be 40 percent powered by renewable energy The state of Hawaii and Hawaiian electric companies have al­ lied to dramatically expand renewable energy. Their agreement re­ quires that 40 percent of the island be pow­ ered by renewables. A Victory for indigenous Ecuadorians Visit www.yesmagazine.org Ecuadorian indigenous tribes have won a ruling against Chevron Corp., which owns Texaco. Their 16-year­ old, $27.3-billion liability suit concerns Texaco’s nearly three de­ cades of activity in the Lago Agria area of the Amazon, during which, plaintiffs say, the company dumped 18 billion gallons of toxic wastewater into the rainforest. Excerpted from the newsletter of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center. Missed an Issue? Check out the Streetvibes archive at www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes �6 Local News STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Profs and Prophets of Non-Violence Laughter is one way to become one By aimie Willhoite Contributing WritEr W hat is violence? Surprisingly, today most would define vio­ lence solely as a physical action or force that causes bodily harm. We cannot ignore evidence, though, that violence is more than just brute force. Mental, emotional and spiritual violence exist as counterparts to this physical expression. And if we devote more time understanding the complex layers of violence, it will ultimately lead to deeper dis­ cussions, which can be dedicated to the idea of non-violence. What is non-violence, and how might we actually be able to practice it within our own lives? I am a student at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) where I re­ cently finished an intense course, “Prophets of Non-Violence,” taught by Professor Patrick Murphy Welage. I have been a part-time student for many years and I truly feel that no other course has affected me as strongly as this one. The content was gripping and the overall experi­ ence life-changing. At Xavier University and NKU, Welage teaches theology and philos­ ophy with an emphasis on social justice and non-violence. He is also a certified laughter yoga teacher. We found out what laughter yoga is when one of our classes was turned into a laughter-yoga-body-mind experience. It was definitely awkward at first, forcing ourselves to laugh without any prompting, without any comedy. It was a matter of faking the laughter until it finally became real and natural. By the end of the class, hilarity was echoing from person to person. The lesson was to use laughter as a practice of non-violence, be­ cause laughter is non-political, non-religious, non-racial and non­ threatening. Like music and art, laughter is a universal language that can transcend many barriers: language, age, gender, race and social class. It enhances our personal relationships and connections with one another. Laughter can suspend or remove divisions between peo­ ple, showing a way to a more peaceful existence together. Patrick Welage teaches laughter yoga and non-violence. Welage is the type of teacher who makes things interesting and wit­ Photo by Aimie Willhoite. ty, although his objective through it all is to have his students thought­ fully examine theories and practices associated with violence and non-violence. We spent a significant amount of time trying to understand apart­ growth and revelation. Our autobiographies would also be based upon heid in South Africa. We were inundated with facts about unspeakable the writings and practices of one of the prophets of non-violence we acts of oppression, torture and violence perpetrated toward blacks at had learned about. How had our life experiences shaped our views on the hands of a white supremacist government. Many turned a blind non-violence? What changes could we make in our lives to soar from eye to what was going on. Apathy is an all too familiar response to hor­ theory alone to a daily practice of being peacekeepers? rendous violations against human freedoms. Each student made a presentation before the class. Nothing could We read A Human Being Died That Night: A Story of Forgiveness by have prepared us for what we were about to share and experience Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela and Priest and Partisan with one another. We each had a story to tell. Our ini­ by Michael Worsnip, hoping to gain some insight into tial reservations about opening our lives to a room­ some of the root causes of this violence in South Africa Apathy is an all too ful of strangers were gone. Something had occurred and how the country would ever recover from it. The throughout the duration of the semester. familiar response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission was formed so One by one we shared our stories and memories: horrendous violations that the country could shift toward truth, reconcilia­ against human freedoms. drug addiction, rape, violence, domestic abuse, al­ tion and most important, forgiveness. coholism, loss of loved ones, serious illnesses, child Forgiveness, faith, redemption and spirituality abuse, divorce, affairs, single parents, depression, sui­ were at the center of many of our discussions. We each had our own cidal thoughts and attempts. It was almost unbelievable, the gravity of unique frame of reference and life experiences to pull from. Our class what we were doing in this small class setting. Their pain became my was made up of Christians from many denominations, Muslims, Bud­ pain, and my pain became their pain. dhists, atheists and agnostics. It was also a sweet mixture of gender, I am convinced that, unless you face the truth, the truth cannot age, race and social class. It was an amazing little community our set you free. Facing ourselves takes courage, let alone facing others. classroom had turned into. Healing and recovery begins with dialogue. I was able to make the cor­ Over the course of the semester we worked on writing a research- relation between what the professor had been teaching us and what based spiritual autobiography. It was to be a deeply personal account we were doing for one another as a class. In the very speaking of “un­ of our own spiritual journey, sharing our own stories of joy, pain, speakable acts,” a person, family, community or nation can begin to heal. Dialogue is purgative medicine for an ailing world. Even if it takes a lifetime, we must encourage one another toward forgiveness when we have been emotionally, spiritually or physically harmed. Pumla Gododo-Madikizela, who described her personal ex­ perience with the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commis­ sion, wrote about the effects of forgiveness she witnessed in others. “Some societies are finding it more constructive to focus on discov­ ering and nurturing the conditions that make forgiveness first con­ ceivable, then ultimately possible,” she wrote. Forgiveness is a form of non-violence. We need to nurture it within our corner of the world. The final moment of enlightenment came for me as I listened to a young Muslim student discuss what this class had meant to him. He was able to articulate what the majority of us also felt. We were all proud of one another for having the bravery to share our stories. We put ourselves in a very vulnerable position, and yet what we found was that no one judged us or rejected us. We respected one another’s individuality. No one’s faith, beliefs or race were attacked. We simply listened to one another and learned from one another. We accepted our differences. One has to wonder how different the world might be if what hap­ pened within the classroom could happen outside it. We all have the Former South African President Nelson Mandela. REUTERS/David Gray. potential to be prophets – advocates for non-violence. �STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Housing Issues Cramped Affordable Housing 7 Many cannot afford adequate room, subsidies are insufficient By michelle dillinGham Contributing WritEr P eople who live in affordable housing tend to be young families, senior citizens, single parents, people with dis­ abilities, recently unemployed, low- to moderate-income workers and the formerly homeless. This covers, well, just about all of us at one point or another in our lives. There is an additional layer of us who need affordable housing, but who have issues that exclude us from even being considered as tenants. These issues in­ clude poor credit, conviction record, or eviction history. Housing is considered “affordable” when total housing costs consume less than 30 percent of a family’s income. In 2009 the federal poverty level for a family of four was an annual income of $22,050 or less. For this family’s rent to be “affordable,” they will have to find housing that costs no more than $550 per month, and this includes the cost of utilities. Most landlords now require ten­ ants to pay utilities. I took a quick glance at the rentals advertised in the local paper under “Three Bedroom Apartments.” I did not find ANY three-bed­ room apartments advertised for $550 or less. There are some twobedroom apartments for that price, but a two-bedroom apartment is inadequate for almost any combination of a family of four: single mother, a 3-year-old, 5-year-old and a 13-year-old? No, especially given the floor plans of most two-bedroom apartments: not a lot of room. Two parents, a 12-year-old boy, and a 15-year-old girl? Not ideal. Remember, a full 25 percent of Cincinnatians fall under the fed­ eral poverty level. So a full quarter of our city’s residents cannot afford adequate housing, and adequate in this case is simply being large enough to accommoIn 2009 the federal date family size. Overcrowding and doublingpoverty level for a family up is all too common. Since this family cannot afford any of the of four was an annual income of $22,050 or less. three-bedroom rentals, there are two choices. For this family’s rent to be The first choice is to seek out housing subsidy “affordable,” they will have programs they can qualify for. They will be told to find housing that costs there are none available right now. Their second choice is to take a rental that is inadequate no more than $550 per month, and this includes to accommodate their family size, so they will have to hide how many children they have so the cost of utilities. they won’t be denied housing. This touches on fair housing issues, as landlords cannot legally restrict the number of people in an apartment to less than two per bedroom, regardless of age or sex. Below is a list of the affordable housing subsidy programs that exist. At first glance it appears lengthy and seems like a lot of pro­ grams. In reality, many are either not being adequately utilized, or they are sorely underfunded for the housing needs that exist in our city. Each of these subsidies has a set of policies. Policies are similar to laws: They exist because people weren’t doing what was right, so other people made a policy so that people would do the right thing. Therefore social justice is often preceded by a mandate. There are opportunities for local advocacy for each of these pro­ grams to be utilized and supported. When an affordable-housing development is proposed, there are opponents who write letters and testify at City Hall asking city council members not to approve the subsidy. A recent example was the opposition to a Section 202 project (senior housing) planned for College Hill. Neighborhood resistance blocked it. It is crucial that supporters of affordable housing be informed and vocal so that our city’s families will be able to access these subsidies and have a better chance at afford­ able, accessible and adequate housing. Primer on housing subsidies (Excerpted from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “Meeting the Housing Needs of Families”) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): Created in 1974, the CDBG program passes money to states, some urban counties and cities with populations above 50,000. Municipalities typically use a portion of these funds for housing development – such as home rehabilitation and the acquisition, rehabilitation and resale of vacant properties – and for economic development, including commercial areas. Section 8: Rental assistance to very-low-income tenants. Section 8 tenants pay up to 30 percent of their incomes for rent; the federal government pays the difference between that and a HUD-deter­ mined fair-market rent charged by the property owner. There are two kinds of Section 8 programs. Housing certificates or vouchers are tied to the tenant, for use wherever the tenant lives. The second type, called Section 8 project-based housing, is tied to the apart­ ment unit, so that anyone who moves there receives the subsidy. Low Income Housing Tax Credits: In 1986 Congress created this credit, which is now the most important mechanism for promoting the development of affordable rental units. … Tax-paying develop­ ers receive a tax credit for a portion of the costs of developing af­ fordable rental housing. HOME: HOME funds go to eligible communities for affordablehousing development, including homeownership counseling and local tenant rental assistance. Empowerment Zones: The federal government designated many low-income areas throughout urban and rural America as empow­ erment zones, eligible for roughly $100 million per zone in federal grants and other incentives. Housing is not a central thrust of the Empowerment Zone process—it is fundamentally geared toward business development, job creation and job retention, and often is used for various kinds of commercial and industrial development – but most empowerment zones have some housing elements in their plans. Section 202: This federal program of financing housing for the elderly was created for non-profit developers. It is a deep source of subsidy, providing capital advances and project-based rental as­ sistance for elderly tenants. Section 811: Provides both capital advances and project-based rental assistance to persons with disabilities. HOPE VI: Congress created HOPE VI to revitalize distressed public-housing communities. Any public housing authority (PHA) that operates public housing units is eligible to apply for HOPE VI funds. It encourages PHAs to seek new partnerships with private entities to create mixed-finance and mixed-income affordable housing that is radically different from traditional public housing “projects.” Continuum of Care Funds: These funds can be A full quarter of used for temporary and permanent housing and for our city’s residents supportive services. cannot afford Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG): ESG funds can adequate housing, be used to convert buildings into shelters or to reand adequate in this habilitate existing shelters. The funds also can be case is simply being used for homelessness prevention activities, social large enough to services and operating costs. accommodate family Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS: size. Overcrowding These funds can be used for a variety of purposes, and doubling-up is all including acquisition, leasing or rehabilitation of too common. buildings; supportive services; and rental assis­ tance. Housing Trust Funds: Perhaps the fastest growing new sources of government subsidies are housing trust funds created by local and state governments. These funds take dedicated revenue sourc­ es, such as real estate transfer fees, and commit them to subsidize the development of low-income housing. One way to help advocate for local affordable housing is to join the efforts of Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA). Contact Mi­ chelle Dillingham at mdmswlsw@hotmail.com if you are interest­ ed in joining AHA. If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes. �8 Recipe Veggie Stir-Fry “Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me All Night Long” STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Cheap and Easy Veggie Stir-Fry 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large white onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 packages ramen noodles 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce (or make your own) 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce 1 cup veggie broth or 1 cup water and 1 tsp veggie bul­ lion 1 package frozen mixed veggies (depending on prefer­ ence, I prefer a mix of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, baby corn, snow peas and red peppers) In a stir-fry pan or skillet on medium low heat, sauté onions and garlic in 1 tbsp oil until the onions turn translucent. Push the onions and garlic slightly to the side, add the oth­ er tbsp oil and heat for 30 seconds, then carefully add the package of frozen veggies, mixing in the onions and garlic. Cook on medium heat until tender, about 4 minutes In a bowl mix together the veggie broth, chili sauce and teriyaki sauce. Add mixture to veggies and bring to a boil. Photo by Jeni Jenkins. By Jeni Jenkins Staff WritEr T his quotation is tak­ en from the 1986 film Little Shop of Hor­ rors, in which a plant keeper must meet the demands of a ravenous plant that feeds on humans. Instead of plants that feed on people, this col­ umn is for people who feed on plants. Sometimes when I get home from a long day at work, the last thing I want to do is go to the grocery store and then spend hours in the kitchen cooking dinner. This recipe is one that I concocted with things I had in my kitch­ en when I wasn’t feeling Suzie Homemaker-ish. Serving Size: 3-4 fairly hun­ gry bellies. Break ramen noodles in half and mix into the veggies. Cook on medium heat about 4 minutes or until noodles are tender. Artwork by Anthony Williams Cleo’s Joke Corner A cat died and went to heaven. He complained that he had to work too much. Then a mouse went by on roller skates. St. Peter said, “See? Meals on Wheels!” ! ? t a h W “Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and creatively with reality and discover how to participate in the transformation of their world.” - Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed Say___________________ �STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Guest Column Stop Bleating, Start Barking 9 Nationalize the airlines and stop the whining By daVid heitField Contributing WritEr “I 'd rather be sniffed by a dog than endure a whole body scan by a man,” a woman said this morning on the Diane Rehm Show. At first I thought, Freud's eternal question, “What do women want?” had finally been answered. My mind engorged with thoughts of a certain librarian I know teaching this old dog some new tricks. But further listening revealed the talk-show caller’s statement The only critiques I've was simply more annoying read against the taxpayer yelping about how we should deal with potential terrorist bailout of the airline attacks on airlines. industry after 9/11 came It's annoying because I from the likes of American don't hear anyone talking Heritage magazine. about the crux of the prob­ lem: The half-assed Christmas bombing attempt of Delta's Northwest Flight 253 by a lonely and unstable young man wearing women's underwear is yet another example of the failure of our corporate welfare state. Delta CEO Richard Anderson bemoaned the near tragedy, making the point that a for-profit company is in no way responsible for providing a safe and re­ liable product for its customers, nor should it suffer financial consequences for any failure of its business model. Sound familiar? “We're obviously disappointed,” Anderson said. “The things that have occurred over the last decade to this industry and the work we've done over the last decade ought to give us a better result than the peril that our crews and passengers faced on Christmas. … You can be certain we will make our points very clear­ ly in Washington.” Let me make my point very clearly, Mr. Anderson. Shall we review your work over the past decade? You opportunistically took advantage of 9/11 to revive a failing business model (threatened by the likes of up­ starts such as Southwest Airlines) through a $15 bil­ lion taxpayer bailout of the airline industry, enacted less than two weeks after the World Trade Center trag­ edy. Not enough, in 2003 taxpayers gave your indus­ A passenger removes his shoes as he places his belongings in a tray at a security try another $3.2 billion. You filed bankruptcy, much checkpoint at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport. REUTERS/Larry Downing. like other giants in our corporate welfare state, a rem­ edy largely available only to needy corporations, not needy individuals, thanks to more bipartisan lobby­ ing efforts during the Bush years. You gutted pension plans, slashed deal with pirates. When the economy tanks, carjackings increase. pay so pilots and crew earn scarcely more money and respect than a Just a few decades ago hijackings were commonly in the news. Ar­ greeter at Wal-Mart, charged people's clothes to travel with them and chie Bunker once suggested that we stop hijackings by arming all the passengers – just pass out the guns as people board and collect them bought yourself another airline. Christopher Hitchens, the famed atheist whose amygdala won a at the end of the flight. Amusingly, Congress included a provision in the recent transportation bill to allow successful coup attempt of his brain af­ Amtrak passengers to bring theirs on ter 9/11 (his view that science is always What’s new is that any such failings of human board. It appears that traveling at 35,000 good and religion has caused all the evil feet in an aluminum tube with people in the world is proven by the actions of character are now met with ransom demands on packed like sardines breathing recycled the Council of Trent, which must have the American taxpayer, to provide a certainty that air has some risk – who knew? hatched the nefarious plan to drop a will never exist, except for the certainty that some What's new is that any such failings of new bomb codenamed Fat Baby Jesus corporate interest will reap rewards. human character are now met with ran­ on Nagasaki), opined in Slate that the som demands on the American taxpay­ fault lies not only with “our endlessly er, to provide a certainty that will never exist, except for the certainty incompetent security services” but with “public opinion that sheep­ that some corporate interest will reap rewards. ishly bleats to be made to ‘feel safe.’ ” Take that, Brutus. While I'm certainly sympathetic to the ideas of the rational con­ Hitchens conveniently ignores that our half-assed efforts to make servatives who argue we should always let these industries fail, that the sheep feel safe is a compromise of trying to detect terrorist activ­ ity while not taking measures so obtrusive that they negatively impact solution is political suicide in this climate of zero net job growth in the profits of the airline industry. Like the woman above, if sniffing the past decade and double-digit unemployment. Which is why we should nationalize the airline industry. (I'd per­ dogs keep more customers flying than body scans, then that's where we'll go. And if for some reason we do go with body scans, who pays sonally prefer to let it fail and invest in new rail travel, so we don't fall for the estimated $100 billion cost? The American taxpaying sheep, a century behind the Chinese with their new cross-continent bullet of course. And when profits erode because the woman decides not to trains.) If air travel were completely under the control of Homeland fly at all, we'll help pump up the airlines' coffers with more taxpayer Security, we could take more stringent measures concerned with passenger safety without worrying about profit margins. We could money. This Too Big to Fail corporate theocracy is untenable, and to be fair guarantee every flight has at least an air marshal aboard. We could be to my brethren on the right, the only critiques I've read against the more stringent in deciding who is allowed to board the plane. Hell, we taxpayer bailout of the airline industry after 9/11 came from the likes could even treat pilots and crews to a little more pay and respect. We just can't afford to keep responding to fear with corporate wel­ of American Heritage magazine, warning that we were headed down fare, be it financial institutions (free markets can only work when the a bottomless rabbit hole. The Airlines Transportation Safety and Sys­ tem Stabilization Act passed in the House by a vote of 356-54 and a middle-class subsidizes the rich), the defense industry (it's OK to kill whopping 96-1 in the Senate. It seems corporate welfare is our only civilians, Blackwater; and it's fine to gang-rape women, Halliburton – here, let's give you some more taxpayer money, too), or the airlines. source of Congressional bipartisan support. Transportation terrorism is hardly a new phenomenon. Railroads We need to bare our teeth and bark at these assholes, instead of tuck­ ing our tail and peeing in submission. hired Pinkerton guards to deal with robbers back in the day. Stage­ coach travel was fraught with risk. Shipping concerns still have to �10 Local News STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Why Martin Luther King Matters Xavier University plans week of commemoration By dan rozier Contributing WritEr I t is Martin Luther King Jr. Day today, an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, the people who have lived, worked and died for racial equality and the actions necessary to maintain the momentum of our progress. All next week (Jan. 18-22) Xavier Univer­ sity is hosting events “We must understand and that reflect King’s lega­ cy. Student groups from appreciate our past in order to shape and change across the campus our future. Consequently, have banded together to provide lectures, the graveness of the holiday is unchanged and art exhibits, films and will forever be a reminder a march and rally that are all free and open to of African Americans’ struggle in this country as the public. For a comwell as current motivation plete list of the events, times, locations and for growth.” additional details visit - Lundon Brown www.xavier.edu/mlk. Relatively speaking, it could be argued that, in the past 50 years, the United States has made more progress in racial equality than any other nation. In just a half-century we have witnessed the fight for equality go from the streets of Birmingham to the Oval Office. With the election of Barack Obama in 2008, we watched affirmative action come to fruition, and overnight he was the personification of the American Dream. It wasn’t just a victory for African Americans; it was a triumph of a nation, and for a fleet­ ing moment, it seemed that “We shall Over­ come” could be changed to “We have over­ come.” Yes, we have come a long way; but in the midst of our success, we must not forget the history, the people and their passion that laid the foundation for such progress. Nor can we let it blind us from the progress that has yet to be made. “We must understand and appreciate our past in order to shape and change our The grave of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. REUTERS/Tami Chappell. future,” says Lundon Brown, president of be lessened by any singular act, no matter the Black Greek Society at Xavier Univer­ its magnitude.” sity. “Consequently, the graveness of the The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is one holiday is unchanged and will forever be of 10 student and university organizations a reminder of African Americans’ struggle sponsoring Xavier’s Martin Luther King Jr. in this country as well as cur­ events at Xavier next week. rent motivation for growth.” “On the surface, our nation’s Student leaders are adamant “The historic election of an African-American about creating and encourag­ election of President president illustrates a society ing open dialogue about how Barack Obama does transcending racial injustice. King’s legacy is still alive today, However, with a critical eye, not diminish the even though we have an Afri­ one still recognizes the institu­ need to celebrate can-American president. tional and systematic issues of King’s legacy.” “The historic election of race that still plague our great - Aaron Marble President Barack Obama does nation in areas of education, not diminish the need to cel­ incarceration and poverty,” ebrate King’s legacy,” says Aaron Marble, a Marble says. senior at Xavier University and president of For a complete list of the events, times, lo­ Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. “Rather, it pro­ cations and additional details about events vides the opportunity to celebrate the leg­ at Xavier University celebrating King’s lega­ acy. Dr. King’s impact and influence cannot cy, visit www.xavier.edu/mlk. To the editor: I understand from an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer that the $2,344 per year for a new class of liquor license for casinos equals the most expensive retail liquor license currently is­ sued by the state, but I wonder how that peculiar figure was decided upon for existing retail liquor licenses for night clubs, etc. More importantly, did anyone give any thought to factors such as (1) increased state income from “well oiled” gamblers and (2) balancing the incentive of casinos to give away free drinks with an opportunity for Ohio to profit much more by changing a considerably higher licensing fee? With so much potential for increased state earnings, simply repeating the odd $2,344 fee seems very irresponsible from a fiscal standpoint. That's incredibly “small beer” in the casino world. Four such licensed casinos in the state would earn Ohio a mere $9,376 per year from the li­ censes, though the likely growth in profits of both casinos and the state from increased betting by drinkers would be many, many times that amount. If it’s virtually certain that casino owners will want to give away free drinks, why doesn’t Ohio be smart and charge them at least $250,000 per casino site for the license? How could anyone be surprised that casino officials consider the negligible fee of $2,344 to be “appropriate”? Finally, if the state is going to profit from the dispensation of alcohol, let’s have a good look at the Casino Control Commission’s guidelines and possibly insist that everyone who plans to drive away from a casino site first passes a simple test to ensure they’re under the legal bloodalcohol limit. Robert A. Pohowsky Madeira, Ohio Have something on your mind? Let us know by sending a letter to: 1 117 E. 12th Street 1 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 1 streetvibes2@yahoo.com �STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 11 Local News New Policy at the Drop Inn Center Continued from page 1 are facing transition between housing and stay for less than a month, he says. The center has 222 beds – 180 for men and 42 for wom­ en. For chronically home­ less people, the center offers case management to connect them with medical care, drug rehabilitation and employ­ ment, Clifford says. The cen­ ter employs nine case man­ agers, with five onsite and four offsite. The Drop Inn Center has a dorm housing 120 people who need initial housing as­ sistance. It also has a “step up” dorm with a capacity of 60. The requirements for that program are having employ­ ment, establishing a bank ac­ count, attending education classes and a willingness to volunteer to keep the center clean. The perks include a larger storage area for per­ sonal property and being sur­ rounded by like-minded peo­ ple seeking ways to improve their lives, Clifford says. Since August 2009 the Drop Inn Center has achieved a success rate of 60 to 65 per­ cent in helping people find permanent housing, he says. “We’re trying to raise the bar with no new increases in funding,” Clifford says. “The reorganization was budgetneutral. We invoked creativ­ ity, stole ideas from other shelters and listened to sug­ gestions from residents and The men’s dorm at the Drop Inn Center prior to recent renovations. Photo by Andrew Anderson. “We’re trying to raise the bar with no new increases in funding. The reorganization was budget-neutral. We invoked creativity, stole ideas from other shelters and listened to suggestions from residents and staff. The feedback from staff, the community and residents has been very positive.” - Pat Clifford staff. The feedback from staff, the community and residents has been very positive.” The Drop Inn Center regu­ larly remains at full capacity, Clifford says. The center is or­ chestrating an interfaith col­ laboration to provide shelter once it reaches full capacity. Once the center is full, people still in need of shelter are di­ rected toward organizations such as the Cincinnati Chap­ ter of the Saint Vincent DeP­ aul Society. “That’s why we advocate to be prepared in September to November for the winter,” Clifford says. “We don’t turn anyone away because of ca­ pacity. The result is some people have to sleep on the floor. To me, it’s a success sto­ ry of collaboration.” The Drop Inn Center re­ quires people who come seeking help to show identifi­ cation before being accepted into the shelter, Clifford says. The staff needs to know who is inside the building, he says. For someone who can­ not provide state identifica­ tion, the center will provide its own form of identification after being sure the person is not a sex offender, he says. State law prevents former sex offenders from staying at the shelter because of its proxim­ ity to the new School for Cre­ ative and Performing Arts. People who have been banned from the Drop Inn Center can use a grievance process by completing a reen­ try form available at the Drop Inn Center or at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. For more information about the Drop Inn Center, call 513-721-0643 or visit www.dropinn.org. We Don’t Understand, but Thanks Victory doesn’t have to make sense By B. cliFton Burke Contributing WritEr A t the beginning of the year, not many expected much from the ol' Bengals this season, and who could blame them? They were fresh off a fourwin season, they played in the toughest division in the NFL and had lost one of their stars, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, to free agency. Expectations were predictably lukewarm for their 2009 campaign. Then the wins came, and the world was flabbergasted. For Bengal fans, skepticism turned into relief, which then turned into excitement and eventually morphed into ela­ tion. For such a hard-ridden and long-suffering fan base as the Bengals', this season was something of a dream come true. Sadly, however, there are still those who are far from satisfied with how things have turned out. Many lifelong fans remain highly critical of the team’s direction and the style of play the organization has adopted. Either the run-first, defensive-minded mentality is not their preferred style of game, or the coaching staff's perceived unwillingness to stray from the script in any way contradicts their version of common sense. In both cases, they ultimately go after Head Coach Marvin Lewis. It seems incredible to me that Cincinnati hasn't taken to Marvin more. Before him, the team was completely lost at sea; inept in every way. Since then, they are 56-55-1, which is at least consistently visible from the shoreline. They have won the division twice in that stretch and have never finished last. While certainly not matching the kind of win totals with that of New England or Indianapolis, Marvin Lewis has the Cincin­ nati Bengals solidified within the ranks of league respecta­ bility – something many once considered out of reach for such a dismal organization. I think one could make a good case for Lewis as the NFL Coach of the Year. Not only is he credited for the turn­ around in wins, he's had to also redefine the culture that surrounds Bengals football. This team is now made up of professionals who can be ex­ pected to go about their busi­ ness on and off the field in a levelheaded manner. Gone is the sideshow that came with all the dramatic divas of the past. The most made-for-TV of them all, Chad Ochocinco, remains with the Bengals, but even he is more serious about his job this season than what he's demonstrated in years past. Much was written about the emotional overload the team faced on a number of occa­ sions. From the unexpected deaths of Chris Henry and Vikki Zimmer to the tsunamis in Samoa, Marvin has needed to be a friend and mentor instead of just a coach to his players. Yet in the face of all of that, not only has he kept the train on the track long enough to manage a winning season, his team swept the AFC North and now finds it­ self in the postseason. Yes, he is steadfast to his philosophy even when it ap­ pears to go against reason, true he sometimes employs curious ways of clock-man­ agement and yes, I agree that there are flaws to his predict­ able nature, but for now, the man is winning, and I think it's about time the world rec­ ognizes that fact. Plus, I don't see a replace­ ment stepping in and im­ mediately elevating this team to an even higher level. If anything, it would likely take time for a new coach to become entirely comfort­ able with his new team; and STREETVIBES Vendor Mary frankly, I'm tired of starting over with new coaches, espe­ cially when the guy currently leading the pack is moving at a steady pace. To all those expecting a quick post-season exit to justify your prolonged pes­ simism toward Marvin and his staff, you're missing the point: It's more fun when the team you’re rooting for wins. If the man in charge contin­ ues to accomplish that task at the rate he's on, I see no rea­ son to make a change. Thanks, Marvin, and keep up the good work. Only purchase Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the paper. �12 Community News STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 A Chance to Celebrate Adath Israel again benefits ‘Streetvibes’ vendors By Jeni Jenkins Staff WritEr W ith the help of Adath Israel con­ gregation, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) held its annual Streetvibes vendor holiday party Dec. 21, 2009. This celebration is an ex­ pression of appreciation for the dedicated vendors, a way to let them know how much we value their hard work and their commitment to spread­ ing the word about homeless­ ness. The Streetvibes vendor pro­ gram is designed to distribute news that educates the pub­ lic about social justice issues in Cincinnati, as well as pro­ vide a source of income for low-income and homeless or dren from Adath Israel. formerly homeless individu­ After the meal, vendors als. Last year received gifts. 111 vendors Each vendor d i s t r i b u t e d Thanks so much to Adath was individu­ 54,027 cop­ ally “adopted” Israel for helping make ies of Streetby families of our vendors’ holiday vibes, which Adath Israel, party a success for the amounts to and some ven­ seventh year in a row. approximate­ dors received ly $40,520 in gifts for their potential profit for our ven­ spouses, children and grand­ dors. children. One vendor, William Twenty-six vendors at­ Bussell, who joined our ven­ tended the party, enjoying a dor team in October, received meal provided by members a brand new bike that he will of Adath Israel. The spread use for selling Streetvibes in included LaRosa’s pasta and Northern Kentucky. pizza as well as a few homeThanks so much to Adath cooked dishes and home­ Israel for helping make our made cookies. As they took in vendors’ holiday party a suc­ the food, the vendors relaxed cess for the seventh year in a to holiday music, enjoyed a row. sociable chat and read holi­ day cards handmade by chil­ Nelle Williams, Streetvibes vendor, waiting for gifts. Photos by Jeni Jenkins. Antonio Hodge poses for a picture. Cleo Wombles, Streetvibes vendor, is known for his clown costume. James Brown shows off his t-shirt. Vendors received gifts from Adath Israel congregation. �STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 13 Poetry Corner The Sorrow and the Pity By spencer ledyard My left kidney gave up, Dislodged and died. It was knocked loose by Sarai in an effort small By comparison to what we had read: Jews stampeding like beasts of burden from Buna, Freezing, starved, and it didn't stop on any ac­ count. A sociopath might call it an evolutionary trek. A humanist might call it credo. Night. It is called, Night. I am at a loss, two days later, in the hospital. I am a Catholic; “credo” comes into my head readily From the Nicene or the Apostle’s Creed. In Latin it means literally “I be­ lieve.” wrote earlier. The first conversation we had was about Jewish guilt Because I had heard of it and thought it was a myth, Or a mythical being haunting some section of the Torah But she said it was one of those untranslatables: Something understood thru years of context clues, And I felt like she was brushing me off. I told her that for gentiles, the ones I knew, Jewish guilt was understood vicariously thru Holocaust media. She was not offended when I said this But told me I was supposed to. I felt like Annie Hall. She said the guilt was a part of the community, And that was part of it, being responsible to the family. We sat in the library, reading Night, side by side, And when she finished first she walked behind me, Put her gray, sweatered breasts on my neck And her arms around my chest while I read on. When I finished she said, “Take me home, Matthew.” We rode the train holding hands like father and son. Tiny, she slammed me thru the door of our apartment And on to the bed and took the ache out on me. In the dictionary it means a creed, but I’m rambling. It is nice to research etymology rather than to feel “At a loss” for what to call it. I turn off the computer. I am biting my eraser and my left eye keeps twitching. Sarai is Jewish and so good to me, kidney be damned, And we met in a sweet way, kissing the first day, And she brought me a good bunch to eat here President Obama listens to Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, author of Night. And I read her a few short stories I REUTERS/Markus Schreiber. I love her but you already know that and love feels small Next to this guilt, pulling like fingers against a noose, Guilt that I can’t say anything to balm the brutality, Guilt that this poem is never going to be enough. Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com aFFordaBle rates etvibes? tre nS rested in Advert Inte isin gi many sizes (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) Black & White and color aVailaBle discounts For nonproFits Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. �14 International News STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Watch the Birdies, Pay Attention They might tell you about ecological woes By ido liVen StrEEt nEWS SErviCE T EL AVIV, Israel – Or­ nithologists say that climate change is having a profound effect on bird behavior and suggest that this phenomenon can act as an early warning sys­ tem to the dangers posed to Earth. “The fact that birds are changing their behavior means that climate is chang­ ing already,” says Marco Lambertini, chief executive of Birdlife International (BI), a conservation federation working to protect birds and their habitats. “Birds are an excellent early warning system to what is happening to climate.” Numerous studies have been tracking the effects of climate change on the sur­ vival, migration and repro­ duction of different bird spe­ cies. As spring temperatures rise, the breeding of ficedula flycatcher has been delayed across Europe. The same rea­ son was attributed to earlier breeding by tree swallows in North America and an oppo­ site tendency in Antarctic sea birds. “Some are winners, some are losers. Some species will expand, some species will run out of habitat,” said Lamber­ tini, speaking with IPS on the on the sidelines of the annual Bird Watching Conference in Tel Aviv last month. “But it’s estimated that for each spe­ cies that benefits, three spe­ cies will be in trouble.” While climate change re­ lated threats to human live­ lihood might seem clear, the other consequences for man are not too obvious. “We still need to consider the intrinsic value of nature, its spiritual, aesthetic, emo­ tional and recreational values which are as important as its economic value,” said Lam­ bertini. “The Economics of Ecosys­ tems and Biodiversity,” a re­ cently published study aimed at setting a price tag on Earth’s natural assets, considers the avian aspect. Insectivorous birds, according to the study, play an important role in crop production as they regulate insect pests. “Maybe people are not aware of it, but the situation is quite acute,” says Prof. Marcel Visser, who heads the animal ecology department at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology. “There are already many species which are de­ clining quickly,” he told IPS over telephone. A study by Visser published last year found that 12 out of 24 European bird species studied have decreased their migration distances through the past 70 years. “There’s always a lot of variation,” he says. “It’s not that all the species change in the same way.” Another study conducted by Durham University scien­ tists projects that by the end of the century nine out of the 17 European birds studied might actually be undertak­ ing longer journeys north­ wards. One key element is food availability. Alterations in weather patterns directly af­ fect the timing of vegetation growth and the birds that feed on it or on the insects they eat. In many cases, bird migra­ tions are no longer synchronized with food abundance. Other factors that are known to be challenging bird survival on land and sea include prey distribution and shrinking hab­ itats. “They need to adapt themselves,” says Yoram YomTov of Tel Aviv Uni­ versity, who found some bird species in England to be changing their body weight. “Those who Climate modeling predicts a northward expansion for the European don't adapt – their roller (coaracias garrulus) but suitable habitats are a question. Photo numbers decline, by Markus Varesuvo/IPS. those who do – their numbers remain stable “The only thing that can be “Flood defense is some­ or even increase.” done is reduce greenhouse thing that we have to do, but When it comes to project­ gas emissions and make sure we support prevention rather ing the risks birds face, orni­ the temperature doesn't in­ than firefighting,” says Lam­ thologists avoid numbers. crease by more than, say, one bertini. “If we don't tackle the “It all depends on how our or two degrees,” he says. root problem, we will need climate is going to change. If BI – which has affiliates in bigger and bigger defenses – the temperature is going to more than 100 countries – it’s not feasible.” rise by two degrees, the pat­ believes that some mitigation A study published last year terns will be different from measures are inappropriate. by researchers from three when temperature rises by “Badly placed wind farms, universities in Canada and four degrees,” says Visser. unsustainably produced the United States found that BI currently ranks climate bio-fuels and harmful irriga­ male mockingbirds in more change a distant ninth among tion and anti-flood measures variable climates sing more the different threats to birds are posing new threats and complex tunes. and issued a formal position stresses on birds and their Mockingbirds sing to at­ on climate change only in habitats, too,” a position pa­ tract mates, and the complex­ June 2008. per by the organization says. ity of the chanting might indi­ “Some conservation move­ “We don’t object to wind cate the quality of the singer. ments – and BI is probably farms. We want wind farms But although finer tunes are part of it – have woken up late to be located in places which thought to help the feathered to the challenge. But I think are not impacting biodiver­ troubadours adapt better to we are pretty much on course sity,” Lambertini says. harsher climes, the acceler­ to fight it very hard,” Lamber­ Similarly while sea-level ating rate of change could tini told IPS. rise poses a threat to both mean the birds are singing Conservation measures coastal human communities their own requiem. targeted at particular bird and low-lying ecosystems, Courtesy of Inter Press Ser­ species are not the way to inadequate barrier construc­ vice. deal with the threat posed by tion could put shore birds at © Street News Service: climate change, says Visser. risk. www.street-papers.org 1128 Walnut St Pizza by the Slice Tues and Thurs Buffet($7.00)-11AM-2PM Wed-Thur-Fri-Sat 9PM-3AM Become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati �STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Churches Active in Northside 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 681-2365 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Charlie’s 3/4 House 661-4620 Crossroad Health Center 241-1064 Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 562-8841 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 DIC Live In Program Prospect House 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 784-1853 721-0643 921-1613 961-2256 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 961-4080 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 961-4663 First Step Home 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 351-0422 381-6672 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky 721-4700 421-7803 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 721-8666 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 621-6364 535-2719 Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry Brighton Center 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 381-0111 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 AA Hotline CCAT 241-2600 241-2563 621-5514 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both 558-8888 981-5800 Other Resources 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment: Women 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 458-6670 977-4489 NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach Peaslee Neighborhood Center Shelter: Both Anthony House (Youth) 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 872-9259 241-5525 591-2246 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Treatment: Men Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter FreeStore/FoodBank 762-5660 Shelter: Men City Gospel Mission 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 859-491-8303 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health Center for Respite Care 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor A Call to Greater Cincinnati Poets Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Write for ‘For a Better World 2010’ Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. It’s time to get your verse on. SOS Art, the annual exhibit of art on themes of peace and justice, pub­ lishes a collection of poetry each year. Saad Ghosn, who organizes SOS Art and writes the “Artists as Activists” column for Streetvibes, is now col­ lecting submissions for For a Better World 2010, the seventh edition to date. Any poet from or connected to Greater Cincinnati may submit up to three poems related to themes of peace and justice. All submissions will be considered. The editors will be looking for quality, inclusiveness and appropriateness to the themes of peace and justice. If space becomes limited, priority will go to poets not published in previ­ ous books. The poems selected for publication will be illustrated in black and white by Greater Cincinnati artists. Poets included in the book will be invited to read their poems at SOS Art 2010. For a Better World 2010 will be released in May 2010. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2010. Go ahead. Ask. Send submissions as “Word” attachments or in full text By e-mail to saad.ghosn@uc.edu or On a CD to Saad Ghosn, 216 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES January 15 - 31, 2010 Power of Uncomfortable Art Kurt Storch’s painting advocates mental health “I am a regular guy, husband, and father,” says Kurt Storch. “I am OK with being me, but it has not always been that way. Fear and self-loathing marked much of my early life.” Storch, a visual artist, has suffered from clinical depression since his early childhood. When he was 2 years old, he discovered crayons, coloring books and Play-Doh and used them as an immediate means to express himself and find respite from the torments of his condi­ tion. He did not, however, become serious about art until in his mid-30s when, going through a serious depressive episode and heavily selfmedicated, he tried to take his own life. Luckily, he did not proceed all the way, sought medical help and actively started confronting his situation. One of the decisions he made then was to pursue an art career. Storch attended the Academy of Communicative Arts in Cincin­ nati, graduated with a degree in design and illustration and worked for several years as a commercial artist. This, however, did not satisfy him. Doing work for others was taking him away from his own needs and connecting him more with his underlying anger. He found him­ self slipping more into depression and decided to quit. Storch did not do art for several years afterwards. He later got pro­ gressively back into it, focusing more on himself, discovering a new spiritual dimension to his creativity. His works during that period consisted of a series of assemblaged boxes, subconsciously executed; they talked to him after the fact and opened a road to his psyche, con­ necting him to his ego. They also addressed sev­ eral social and political as issues that preoccupied him: gun violence, the role the AK 47 plays in By saad Ghosn modern society, the inContributing WritEr discriminate targeting of black males by the police, the distorted vision of God and Judeo-Christian symbols by Western civilization. His art had become mostly process-oriented, away form the commodifiable, sellable product. It was helping him sort out his issues, unravel and express the alienation he was going through, assert himself and find his voice. Unfortunately, Storch quickly discovered A rtists ctivists Manic Depression, painting by Kurt Storch. Photo by Kurt Storch. Kurt Storch standing next to his painting, Oh Happy Girl. Photo by Bill Howes. that society did not easily accept mental illness, that it was frightened by it and rarely knew how to deal with it. His condition kept him iso­ lated, losing friends and job opportunities; it also prevented him from sharing his works with others. Two years ago Storch met Barbara Gamboa, a local visual art­ ist who was using her art to combat her own post-traumatic stress disorder. Gamboa got him to show his work and encouraged him to fight through his art the stigma of mental disease. She involved him in Hope and Strength Through Art, an exhibit she was curating at the time, sponsored by the Mental Health Arts Collaborative. The exhibit connected him to many other professional and non-professional art­ ists who, like he, were suffering from mental illness. Through artists’ talks, they all shared their personal trials and tribulations with the disease, telling their own story. For Storch, it was an empowering ex­ perience, one that opened new horizons and made him determined to become an activist for the cause of mental wellness. “I started using my art as a metaphor for spiritual awareness to help myself and others who suffer and are stigmatized by mental ill­ ness,” he says. “I wanted my work to make a comment about my own condition as well as that of others. The creative process can also help anyone realize what is going on inside and find a therapeutic outlet.” Storch is now very active in raising awareness about mental illness and the stigma it places on the individual, self-inflicted or imposed by society. He shows his related work whenever the opportunity presents and gives talks on the subject, sharing his own experience. He was recently invited to display his works at a seminar featuring a psychia­ trist who had written a book on the topic. Manic Depression, one of the paintings Storch exhibited, pertained to the brain-diseased mind and its implications to the individual. It shows two frightened and distraught faces of a woman with the words “manic depression” written on them; also a brain depicted upsidedown, an airplane falling, metaphor for despair, and an anatomical picture of a man cut in half, allegory to the way mentally ill individu­ als often view themselves. Storch also added the image of Groucho Marx because Marx had said, “I would not want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member” – a statement many mentally ill people would also make. To personalize the piece, Storch incorporated in it the brushes he used to paint it, thus reflecting on his own creative process and on the process of the disease itself; he also signed it “CC,” for Cody Ca­ vanaugh, the alias name of a “female consciousness” that allows him to expand his dimension and speak not only from the standpoint of a man but of that of a universal being espousing the entire humanity. In Oh Happy Girl, another painting he displayed, Storch put a face on the anger many mentally afflicted individuals experience, anger that often leads to uncontrollable violence. He represented the face of a furious woman wearing a voodoo hat, next to an image of many hearts alluding to the various conflicting emotions she might have, depending on the day. For Storch, art now has an explainable purpose. It helps him reach self-realization and allows him to loudly convey his messages and raise awareness about mental illness. He also uses it to bring mentally afflicted individuals in contact with their own healing creativity. “I consider my art successful if it makes a statement rather than simply being a vehicle for something only pretty,” he says. “It’s not commodifiable anymore. I want it to trigger a dialogue with the view­ er where the stigma of mental illness becomes evident and uncom­ fortable.” Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2010 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 15-31, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Set Afire, Homeless Man Feels Burned by Police Residents Only: New Policy at the Drop Inn Center Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: A Priest to Prisoners and the Poor Pg 4: Man Feels Burned by Police Pg 5: The Good Justice News of 2009 Pg 6: Profs and Prophets of Non-Violence Pg 7: Cramped Affordable Housing Pg 8: Veggie Stir-Fry Pg 9: Stop Bleating, Start Barking Pg 10: Why Martin Luther King Matters Pg 11: New Policy at the Drop Inn Center We Don’t Understand, but Thanks Pg 12: A Chance to Celebrate Pg 13: The Sorrow and the Pity Pg 14: Watch the Birdies, Pay Attention Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Power of Uncomfortable Art 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 15-31, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Kelissa Hieber Jeni Jenkins Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Lynne Ausman Steven Paul Lansky Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite Jeni Jenkins Anthony Williams Bill Haigh Clarissa Peppers Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Adath Israel affordable housing Aimie Willhoite Airlines Anthony Williams Bill Haigh Clarissa Peppers David Heitfield Drop Inn Center Eli Braun Gregory Flannery Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Kelissa Hieber Kurt Storch Larry Gross Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Martin Luther King Jr. mental health mental illness Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham Non-Violence Paul Kopp police brutality Priests Prisoners Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Stephanie Dunlap Steven Paul Lansky Xavier University https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/e5403a3c26f637e079bf27c5e1f9518f.pdf 2dd7b2ed60ca191547f3e45e3a8652fa PDF Text Text 36 C R O S S W O R 37 S U D O K U D A N P A G 38 D E 12 Film Review Page 9 STREETVIBES $1 Feb. 15 - 28, 2010 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 171 The ‘Madness’ of Hate Downtown Attack leaves Streetvibes vendor badly injured By GreGory FLannery editor T he circumstances of the vicious beating endured Jan. 24 by Robert Meehan were fraught with irony. The attack occurred a few steps from the Metropole Apartments, purchased last year by the Cin­ cinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC). Just days before being assaulted, Meehan wrote a letter to the editor of Streetvibes, criticizing 3CDC, which plans to convert the subsidized low-income apart­ ments into a boutique motel. The attack occurred soon after Meehan took training to become a vendor for Streetvibes, pub­ lished by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Both the newspaper and the coalition have been publicizing a recent spate of hate crimes against homeless people in Cincinnati. The attack was allegedly perpetrated by a man Michael K. Taylor, aka Madness (left), was apprehended by Las Vegas Police after a nationwide warrant was issued. Taylor allegedly attacked Robert Meehan (right), on Jan 24. Photo on right by Josh Spring. See Madness, p. 5 Postcards from Hell Lynching exhibit captures hatred’s horror By Lew Moores Contributing Writer Not all of the images depict AfricanAmerican men. Among the first images a visitor sees are of Laura Nelson and he images are beyond graphic. her son, L.W. Nelson, 14, hanging from a They are horrific. African-Amer­ bridge in Okemah, Okla., in 1911. Laura ican men hang from power lines Nelson wears a dress that reaches to her and bridges, a light pole, most from trees. calves, her arms and hands at her sides. A blooming dogwood, a cedar. Many of Her head is sharply angled to her left the images are – remark­ shoulder. In an image of ably – postcards. They them both hanging from “I would like students were sent through the the bridge, her son dan­ to focus on that third mail, postcards not from gles at least 100 feet away section. To understand – separated in death – as vacations, but sent from hell. On the back of a post­ that it just wasn’t in the a crowd stands on the card of a burned corpse, past, that it certainly is bridge and watches. one correspondent wrote Of the nearly 5,000 relevant to what is going about having a barbecue. on in their everyday lives lynchings that occurred About 75 of these imag­ – not physical lynchings in the United States be­ es are arranged on walls tween 1882 and 1968, anymore, but there that cover five rooms and certainly are hate crimes.” 3,437 were African 3,000 square feet of space Americans and the oth­ - Dina Bailey at the National Under­ ers included white, His­ ground Railroad Freedom panic, Chinese, Jewish Center. Without Sanctuary: Lynching and Native Americans, according to the Photography in America opened at the Tuskegee Institute. As signage in the ex­ Freedom Center Jan. 19 – the day after hibit points out, 70 women were among Martin Luther King Jr. Day – and contin­ those lynched, and lynchings occurred in ues through May 31. Halfway through the 41 states, mostly in the South. There were exhibit is a room called “Respite,” with 581 in Mississippi, 531 in Georgia, 493 in benches and two boxes of facial tissues. Texas, 391 in Louisiana. There were two And at the end are tables with “Reflec­ in New York and one in Vermont. tion” Journals, where visitors can leave There were 205 lynchings in Kentucky, their thoughts: 47 in Indiana and 26 in Ohio. Hangings This exhibit was way too sad for me. … took place in Butler and Clermont coun­ I can’t believe the things America let hap- ties. None are known to have occurred in pen. … It was very painful to view the pic- Hamilton County. tures and facts. We have come a long way but we still have a very long way to go. See postcards, p. 4 T Lynching, circa 1905, location unknown. Photo courtesy of National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 31 The percentage of homeless people in Louisville who lost their homes last year because of inability to pay their rent or mortgage (see page 7). 5 The denomination of dollar bills depicted in Pachyderm’s Progress (see page 16). 144 The number of years in the future in which Avatar is set (see page 9). 644 The number of peace cranes created by a young victim of the U.S. nuclear attack on Hiroshima (see page 6). 45,000 The annual death toll caused by lack of health insurance in the United States (see page 3). 14 The age of L.W. Nelson, the victim of a lynching in 1911 (see page 1). 79 The percentage of people in Cincinnati who, when asked, signed a petition for the legalization of marijuana (see page 7). StreetWise By GreGory FLannery editor First, I Screwed Up A photo caption on page 9 of the Feb. 1-14 edition contained this statement: “Blah blah blah blah.” This error was an oversight on my part, and I apologize to the people in the photograph, the reporter and the photographer. This is how it happened. A “dummy line” was placed under the photo to indicate that a caption was needed. The editor was supposed to change the dummy line. In this case, the editor was a dummy. We Get By with the Help of Our Friends Homeless people and economically struggling people are so often maltreated that acts of kind­ ness – and even more rare, solidarity – deserve mention. Last week Streetvibes received a call from a woman who bought the paper in Northside from Riccardo Taylor. Hours later she saw Taylor downtown. She had parked at a broken meter, and Taylor offered to watch her car in case a meter attendant came by. The woman called to say that she was impressed by Taylor’s thoughtfulness and wanted to do something for him. This came a week after another vendor reported that employees at a pancake restaurant in Northern Kentucky came to his defense when he was about to be arrested. The vendor had nodded off in the restaurant, and another patron called the police to complain. But when the vendor was about to be arrested, restaurant employees intervened and told the officers he hadn’t done anything wrong. An Award and a Lawsuit for the Dalai Lama Last week the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced that it will bestow an International Freedom Conductor Award on the Dalai Lama in October. The Dalai Lama is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, a distinguished teacher of Tibetan Buddhism – and the de­ fendant in a lawsuit in India accusing him of violating the human rights of other Tibetan Bud­ dhists. Kuten Lama, abbot of a monastery in Colerain Township, is one of the founders of the organization suing the Dalai Lama. At issue is the alleged persecution of Tibetan exiles who honor Dorje Shugden, a deity banned by the Dalai Lama (see “Rejoicing Against Oppression,” issue of Sept. 15-30, 2009). Don’t Touch That Dial: ‘Streetvibes’ is on the air Streetvibes is now on the radio. Our writers are working with WNKU (89.7 FM) to put stories about homelessness and other social-justice issues on the air. Contributing writer Margo Pierce launched the effort last week by interviewing Kevin Finn, executive director of the Ham­ ilton County Continuum of Care. WNKU News Director Craig Kopp says he hopes to broadcast a new Streetvibes interview once a month. Visit the station at wnku.org. Street papers are growing in number and in circulation. In late 2009 two new street papers began publishing: One Step Away in Philadelphia, Penn., and St. Petersburg Homeless Image in St. Petersburg, Fla. One reason for the success of the street-paper movement is collaboration. Streetvibes is a member of both the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) and the Interna­ tional Network of Street Papers (INSP). Like other professional or trade organizations, NASNA and INSP give members access to shared resources such as photographs by Reuters photogra­ phers and stories syndicated by the Street News Service. In early February, Streetvibes enjoyed a visit from Emma Kernahan, distribution manager for The Big Issue UK, a street paper headquartered in London, England. Kernahan came to see how our distribution works and told us about distribution at her paper. She also shared information about Streetwise, a street paper in Chicago. Kernahan is spending two months there as a volunteer helping to organize this year’s NASNA conference. 3 The number of women who stood and watched while Robert Meehan was beaten in downtown Cincinnati (see page 1). Competition is a time-honored convention in journalism. Collaboration has its own set of ben­ efits. 2010 The year that you should get over your fear of tofu (see page 8). Zilch The amount of food a charity can legally distribute to poor people in a Cincinnati park (see page 12). Emma Kernahan, ‘The Big Issue UK,’ visited ‘Streetvibes’ and ‘Streetwise’ (Chicago). Photo by Lynne Ausman. NASNA is working on its first continental collaborative article, with Streetvibes and other mem­ ber papers contributing research for a report of international scope with local relevance. You’ll see what we mean in the March 1 edition. Writers from street papers in the United States and Can­ ada are working on a story that will be published in both countries. Andy Freeze, executive director of NASNA and former education coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, says he hopes NASNA members will collaborate on national articles several times a year. STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Graphics/Layout Intern Veronica Glass Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Valerie Fessler, Alecia A. Lott, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Lew Moores, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are proud members of: �STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Issues 3 Health Care Reform on Life Support People are dying for lack of insurance 1 By eLi Braun Contributing Writer care. “We’re losing more Americans every day be­ welve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of cause of inaction ... than an abscessed tooth that a routine $80 tooth [because of] drunk driv­ extraction could have prevented. His fam­ ing and homicide com­ ily lacked health insurance and could not afford bined,” said study author to pay a dentist. So they waited, thinking they had David Himmelstein in an time for a toothache. While the toothache festered, interview with Reuters. bacteria from the abscess spread to Deamonte’s Himmelstein, a profes­ brain. The boy was hospi­ sor at Harvard talized. Then, after two op­ Medical School, erations, six weeks of hos­ In a study of people with favors extending pital care, and $250,000 in Medicare to all. appendicitis, uninsured bills, he died. People with­ people were 18 percent Was the cause of death a more likely to suffer a burst out health insur­ tooth abscess, or was it lack ance have more appendix than those with of health insurance? to worry about private insurance. It has been well docu­ than just death. mented that people with­ Besides pre­ out health insurance face poorer health prospects. mature death, uninsured Why? Perhaps they engage in riskier behavior, people with diabetes are smoke more cigarettes, or eat more junk food? Or, at greater risk of blind­ as a growing body of evidence suggests, uninsured ness and amputations, people face poorer health prospects simply because according to the Insti­ they are uninsured. For decades, covering the unin­ tute of Medicine, which sured has been a central goal of health-care reform. found that one in four While the current bill in Congress delights neither uninsured adult diabet­ the left nor the right, it represents the best chance ics go two years without in years to achieve this goal. If it dies, so will thou­ a doctor’s visit, compared sands of Americans. to one in 20 insured adult diabetics. T ‘Enough to make you sick’ What happens when sick people don’t have health insurance? In a study of people with appendicitis, uninsured people were 18 percent more likely to suffer a burst appendix than those with private insurance. Re­ searchers found that the people whose appendices burst tended to have waited longer before seek­ ing medical attention. In fact, the delay in seeking medical care was “the most important predictor” of rupture. These individuals waited because they could not access “primary and hospital care without cost con­ cerns.” That is, people who were uninsured waited. Insurance status was the most important predictor even after researchers controlled for age, sex, socio­ economic status and hospital type. As with Deamonte Driver, whose $80 barrier led to a $250,000 bill, delaying timely medical care has expensive repercussions. An appendicitis opera­ tion leads to a longer hospital stay and a larger bill if the appendix has burst. Insurance status affects the prognosis of people with ailments besides tooth abscesses and appen­ dicitis. Uninsured people are also more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer. Consequently, uninsured people were almost twice (1.6 times) as likely as insured people to die within five years. “The truth is that our national reluctance to face these facts is condemning thousands of people to die from cancer each year,” wrote Elmer Huerta, president of the American Cancer Society, in an ed­ itorial that accompanied the study. “For too many hardworking ‘average Americans,’ paying for can­ cer treatment means not paying rent, mortgage (re­ sulting in foreclosure or eviction), or utility bills, or even going hungry.” The American College of Physicians tracked similar evidence in its 2000 report, No Health Insurance? It’s Enough to Make You Sick. In 2002, the Institute of Medicine calculated that 18,000 unin­ sured adults died each year because, lacking in­ surance, they do not seek medical care. The Urban Institute estimated that between 2000 and 2006, 137,000 people died who would still be alive if only they had had health insurance. The most recent estimate in 2009 found that nearly 45,000 people die in the United States each year – one person every 12 minutes – because they lack health insurance and cannot access medical Too little, too expensive House Minority Leader John Boehner is Dr. No on health-care reform. More than 46.3 million REUTERS/Yuri Gripas. U.S. residents, 15.4 per­ cent of the population, were uninsured in 2008, according to the U.S. Cen­ ance companies from excluding people with pre­ sus Bureau. One in 10 children – 7.3 million – were existing conditions. That would address one flaw uninsured. Only people who lacked insurance for of the current health-care system. Insurance com­ the entire year are counted as uninsured in the Cen­ panies cherry-pick customers, prioritizing profit at sus Bureau’s methodology, so these numbers might the expense of the sickest. understate the true number of uninsured Ameri­ The bill does not, however, change the for-profit cans. If you count people who were uninsured for model of the American insurance industry. Even if at least one month in 2006-07, 86.7 million. this bill passes, companies can continue to mini­ Comprising one in 3 Americans under the age of mize payouts and require higher co-pays. Medical 65, had limited access to medical care. bills are a frequent cause of bankruptcy, some crit­ The numbers vary by geographic region. In 2007­ ics note, and insurance is not serving its purpose if 08, Texas had the largest percentage of uninsured an illness can wipe out the family savings. residents (25 percent) while Massachusetts had the Despite the weaknesses of the existing system, smallest (5 percent). Ohio ranked toward the mid­ the public appears reluctant to tinker with it. A poll dle, with 12 percent of its population uninsured. conducted by the Health Foundation of Greater That’s one in eight Ohioans, or a million people to­ Cincinnati found that likely-insured Ohioans be­ tal. lieved that the proposed changes go too far. Insured The current health-care reform bill, despite people comprise the vast majority of the electorate, its faults, would reduce the number of uninsured which perhaps explains why health-care reformers Americans, according to the non-partisan Congres­ have been so modest in their approach. sional Budget Office. It would provide subsidies for Not surprisingly, according to the Health Foun­ poorer Americans, expand Medicaid eligibility to dation poll, Ohioans who were likely to be unin­ 150 percent of the federal poverty level (133 per­ sured thought the proposed changes don’t go far cent in the Senate version) and enough. institute various reforms to slow People with health insurance health care’s rising costs. Emergency-room care is have better access to health care Rising health-care costs are and better outcomes. Critics of too little, too late and too partly responsible for the numhealth-care reform sometimes expensive. It can hardly be ber of uninsured Americans. Bequip that uninsured people called satisfactory care for a tween 2001 and 2007, insurance patient with late-term cancer or can always go to an emergency premiums rose 78 percent while room. And yes, the 1986 Emer­ a ruptured appendix. wages rose only 19 percent. And gency Medical Treatment and as health-care costs rise, employ­ Active Labor Act guarantees ac­ ers drop benefits. The Census Bureau found that cess for everyone to emergency services. the percentage of Americans who receive health But many health conditions are chronic and re­ insurance through their employers has decreased quire routine attention. Emergency-room care is from 64 percent in 2000 to 59 percent in 2008. For too little, too late and too expensive. It can hardly many people, employment comes with fewer ben­ be called satisfactory care for a patient with lateefits. In fact, one in six full-time workers, or 21 mil­ term cancer or a ruptured appendix. It did not save lion people, were uninsured for the entirety of 2008 Deamonte Driver, and it can’t prevent another. meaning 45% of uninsured people actually worked Health-care reform might still pass Congress this full-time. year. But for the 45,000 people who died last year Of course, the current bill in Congress does more for lack of health insurance – or at that rate, the 123 than cover the uninsured. It would prevent insur- people who died today – it’s already too late. Read this article with links to sources at http://streetvibes.wordpress.com. �4 Local News STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Postcards from Hell Continued from page 1 ‘I wish I didn’t know’ As much as Terryl Meador prepped the 39 juniors in her Advanced Placement U.S. history class at Northwest High School before visiting the exhibit in late January, they were still shocked. Even Meador, who as a teacher knew of this dark side of American history, was taken aback by the breadth of the cruelty. “It never stops shocking you, even after going through the teacher training, even after doing outside readings and a lot of other research and prepping the kids, both academically and emotionally,” she says. “There were a lot of times when I found myself very close to tears. “I felt frustrated and ashamed and embarrassed and shocked, thinking, ‘How did I not know this?’ And then thinking, ‘Oh my God, I wish I didn’t know this.’” Of the nearly 5,000 Paul Bernish, spokesman for the lynchings that occurred in Freedom Center, says the center the United States between worked to prepare the region as far 1882 and 1968, 3,437 back as October for the exhibit. “We went out of our way to pre­ were African Americans pare the community,” he says. “We and the others included white, Hispanic, Chinese, told people what it was going to be about, so that by the time it opened, Jewish and Native Americans, according to it opened with some degree of so­ lemnity.” the Tuskegee Institute. Bernish also says the Freedom Center learned from past venues where Without Sanctuary was displayed that incorpo­ rating some new features in this exhibition would help. One was having the Reflection Journals. “We took lessons from past exhibits,” Bernish says. “For some, there wasn’t an opportunity for people to vent their emotions. We’ve given people an opportunity to express themselves, their reactions and emotions. The number of people who have taken the time to write their journal entries is a very good indicator of the im­ pact it’s having.” And that impact has been for the most part positive, Bernish notes from both the journals and oral reac­ tion. “The response has been sober, reflective,” he says. “People feel it’s very powerful. We’re showing this be­ cause of our belief that freedom is a value that needs protecting. Beneath the veneer of civilization is an el­ ement that allows hate to overcome reason and that The lynching of Bennie Simmons. June 13, 1913, Anadarko, Okla.. threatens freedom.” Photo courtesy of National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Katie Johnson, public programs manager for the Freedom Center, says the center recruited more than two dozen education partners to get input on the pos­ sible reaction the community might have and how to mitigate ‘Have you stood up?’ against adverse reaction. Dina Bailey, associate curator at the Freedom Center, says there Images of a bludgeoned African American sitting in a rocking are three things they want visitors to take away from Without Sanc- chair, his clothes covered in blood; a charred corpse; dead Africantuary. American men tied to fences; a corpse chained to a tree face-first. “The first being a The more disturbing images are of crowds standing in the fore­ “So we talked about how hate doesn’t spring look back at histo­ ground of a lynching – staring, gesturing and even smiling at the ry, understanding camera. There is the image from July 19, 1935, of a black man hang­ up in one day, how it grows if you allow it to be unchecked. All of us have this potential of having a better where this ing in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., with children looking on. And the infamous photo of the lynching of Abram Smith, 18, and little dark side of ourselves. And if you don’t actively lynching era came work to stay on top of that, it overtakes you. That from and how it Thomas Shipp, 19, hanging from a tree in Marion, Ind., on Aug. 7, possible,” 1930. Some in the crowd look at the camera. One man points to the liberty is best protected when you guard against was Bailey says. “The hanging men. An entrepreneur mass-produced the photograph hate. That’s what I hope they took away.” second is bearing and sold copies for 50 cents each. - Terryl Meador witness, under­ Meador, the teacher at North­ standing what the west High School in Colerain lynching era was about. The third is reminding people there are Township, where African Ameri­ The more disturbing images are of still vulnerable populations today that we need to keep watch over. cans represent about 25 percent crowds standing in the foreground of I would like students to focus on that third section. To understand of the student body, attended a a lynching – staring, gesturing and that it just wasn’t in the past, that it certainly is relevant to what is teachers’ workshop at the Free­ even smiling at the camera. There is going on in their everyday lives – not physical lynchings anymore, dom Center in early December in the image from July 19, 1935, of a but there certainly are hate crimes.” preparation for visiting the exhib­ black man hanging in Ft. Lauderdale, “Homeless is one. I think it is one of the hate crimes that is on it. The Freedom Center was very Fla., with children looking on. the rise. We’re looking at different forms: LGBT, homeless, religious supportive, she says. Her students affiliations. They may not be in the exhibition, but it is a program spent the better part of the day at idea that we want to talk about. One of the things I’ve noticed is the Freedom Center and Without Sanctuary. that, the worse the economy, the more hate crimes there are. When “It was a very full day, but a very rich day,” Meador says. people are worried about not having enough of their own mon­ The students had been prepared. Some had sought out some im­ ey, then they look to blame immigrants, or illegal immigrants, or ages online or saw one or two in a textbook. But nothing compared homeless people. It goes back to those vulnerable populations.” to the enormity at Without Sanctuary. All I feel is sadness. … This exhibit is as important as it is disturbThe students lingered. They began to read every accompanying ing. … Their fight (and even their fear) created my grandmothers explanation at every image – so much so that Meador had to nudge and grandfathers, my mother and father, those women and men of them along, she said. the civil rights movement. From great pain and sadness there has been victory. See postcards, p. 5 �STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Local News 5 The ‘Madness’ of Hate Downtown Continued from page 1 initially known to police only by his nick­ name, Madness. At about 3:48 a.m. Meehan was bodyslammed, punched and struck with a beer bottle during what Cincinnati Police Lt. Mi­ chael John called an unprovoked attack. Three women stood and watched the assault, captured on a surveillance camera outside the Metropole. For nearly two weeks Meehan was in a medically induced coma as a result of his in­ juries, which John described as so severe that he was surprised Meehan survived. Josh Spring, executive director of the Home­ less Coalition, launched a media blitz to bring attention to the attack and to encourage peo­ ple to provide information for the suspect’s capture. The effort paid off when TV coverage led one of the three women who were pres­ ent during the beating to contact police. John said police identified the other two women and interviewed all three of them. “I think they felt some pressure to come forward, but none the less they were help­ ful,” John wrote in an e-mail to a TV reporter. “They were all shocked to see the nature of Michael Stoops, National Coalition for the Homeless, spoke at the Cincinnati Homeless Mr. Meehan's injuries.” Coalition’s forum on hate crimes, where advocates were first informed of the attack. Equally shocking was the suspect’s behav­ Photo by Josh Spring. ior after the attack. “The night of the incident, Madness was Spring says. operating a white or cream colored late model Cadillac,” John wrote. In fact, Spring learned of the assault during a forum on hate crimes “He actually drove the vehicle southbound on Walnut, passing Mr. sponsored by the Homeless Coalition. Meehan (after the beating) before slowing outside the Subway to inLast year a homeless man was assaulted downtown by two drunk­ vite an unknown individual to the Anchor Grill in Covington.” en suburbanites, one of whom knocked a bottle of insulin out of the Police succeeded in tracking Madness to Las victim’s hand. The assailants were arrested and Vegas, Nev., where he was arrested Feb. 6. The fined. Last month a homeless man was set on suspect, now identified as Michael K. Taylor, is At about 3:48 a.m. Meehan was fire downtown by four youths. No one has yet wanted in Cincinnati on a charge of felonious body-slammed, punched and struck been charged in that case (see “Set Afire,” issue assault. of Jan. 15-31). with a beer bottle during what Spring visited Meehan at University Hospi­ Spring says these cases, like a series of stun­ Cincinnati Police Lt. Michael John tal on Feb. 8 after he was transferred out of the called an unprovoked attack. Three gun attacks in Cleveland, point to the need for intensive-care unit. hate-crimes laws to protect homeless people. women stood and watched the “He will have to go through rehab,” Spring assault, captured on a surveillance Bills are pending in Congress and in the Ohio says. “He was markedly exhausted physically General Assembly. Spring says Cincinnati City camera outside the Metropole. and mentally. He was in the office before this atCouncil should also pass an ordinance includ­ tack, and he spoke very fast. This time, if I didn’t ing homeless people as a protected class. talk, there wouldn’t be any conversation. Relative to what happened “People who are homeless are one group that it’s still OK to hate,” he’s doing very well, but it’s clear that this will change his life. He said he says. “We’re hoping at the local level someone will put forth a mohe was having trouble trying to remember what happened. He asked tion to protect people based on housing status. It doesn’t do a lot beme why someone would do this.” cause municipalities can only affect misdemeanors but it does signal Spring says he didn’t venture to answer Meehan’s question, but he to the state government that it’s important. We’re hoping this will be has a theory. The assault on Meehan was the latest in a series of hate a wake-up call. It’s gotten progressively worse. It’s important Cincin­ crimes against homeless people, according to Spring. nati doesn’t forget. We had a man almost beat to death. If we don’t do “Mr. Meehan has been known to have been homeless on the street something now, it’s going to get worse. This should be an eye-opener as well as regularly moving from the home of one friend to another,” for everybody.” Postcards from Hell Continued from page 4 “It was just conflicting emotions throughout the entire exhibit,” she says. “It ran the entire spectrum. I saw kids crying in the exhibit. I saw kids an­ gry. I mean just angry, like, ‘How could this happen? How could this happen in America?’ they asked. There was a lot of horror. As much as we talked about this, the graphic nature of the pictures was very stunning to them. It’s one thing to talk about women being lynched, but then to see that very famous picture of the woman (Laura Nelson) being hung off the bridge …” What did she want her students to learn from this? “What I wanted to resonate the most for them was that hate does not exist in time and place,” Meador says. “Hate ex­ ists. I think one of the blessings of living in America is that we do have free speech. I think the other thing really crucial for them to understand is the importance throughout American history of people in shaping and changing of America. “We talked about how, if you see things wrong, you have to stand up. It’s your duty as an American citizen. You can’t get caught up in these kinds of things. No one of you ever participated in a lynching, but have you stood up and cheered when a fight was happening? Have you watched a kid be bullied and not stand up for them? “So we talked about how hate doesn’t spring up in one day, how it grows if you allow it to be unchecked. All of us have this potential of having a little dark side of ourselves. And if you don’t actively work to stay on top of that, it overtakes you. That liberty is best protected when you guard against hate. That’s what I hope they took away.” �6 STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Local News Walking to End the Nuclear Peril Footprints for Peace opposes nuclear bombs and plants 1 By VaLerie FessLer Contributing Writer H ow are walking and nuclear weap­ ons connected? By the people who dedicate their time, money and resources to peacefully raise awareness about alternative energy and sustainable lifestyles while exposing the deadly effects of the nuclear industry. On Feb. 13, Footprints for The 2010 Nuclear Peace began its three-month 2010 Nuclear Free Future Walk Free Future to the United Nations in New Walk is open to anyone interested York. The march began at the Y12 Nuclear Facility in Oak in walking for a nuclear-free future. Ridge, Tenn. Footprints for Peace is a global community of people dedicated to creating change through peaceful action. They organize events throughout the world in order to deepen others’ understanding of environmental is­ sues. Their goal is to educate, inspire and empower individuals and communities in building a sustainable future. Every five years, the Nuclear Non-Pro­ liferation Treaty, also known as NPT, is reviewed at a conference at the United Nations. The treaty calls on countries “to achieve at the earliest possible date the ces­ sation of the nuclear arms race and to un­ dertake effective measures in the direction of nuclear disarmament.” The NPT Review Conference begins in early May. Sophie Morel, 48, and her son, Noé, 12, of France came to Cincinnati to join Foot­ prints for Peace. They have participated in past anti-nuclear walks in Europe. Last year they walked from Geneva, Switzerland, to Brussels, Belgium, stopping at many nu­ clear power plants and nuclear weapons bases. “It was great, but sometimes it was hard because of rain,” Noé says. Participants walk an average of 15 miles per day. The distance depends on the phys­ ical capabilities of the group and on ac­ commodations. At night, towns and com­ munities provide shelter and hold potluck dinners for the walkers. “Walks are physically demanding,” says Jon Blickenstaff of Cincinnati, a member of Footprints for Peace. “You are not sleeping in your own bed, and you’re in a strange en­ vironment.” Although the walks are demanding, Blick­ enstaff says the group dynamic intensifies, Noé Morel (fourth from right) participated in an anti-nuke march in Europe last year. Photo courtesy of Footprints for Peace. and everyone makes decisions together. get better. She only made it to 644 before “It’s an amazing experience,” he says. her death. People from numerous countries, includ­ Noé Morel says he is “very sad about the ing Japan, Australia, France, children affected by bombs”. Canada and the United States, Not only does nuclear power come together in order to walk Participants walk an harmfully affect human beings, for peace. Nuclear weaponry average of 15 miles it poses a threat to the environ­ and nuclear power are con­ per day. The distance ment as well. cerns for the entire world. Mining uranium causes both depends on the “The French army tests new physical capabilities water and soil pollution, and nuclear missile, which is a of the group and on the process constantly releases contradiction with the NPT,” radioactive substances into accommodations. Sophie Morel says. “They don’t At night, towns and the environment, according to honor the treaty and are still communities provide Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire, or building nuclear weapons and “Network for Nuclear Phaseshelter and hold reactors.” Out.” Radioactive waste re­ potluck dinners for Both Morel and her son are mains dangerous for hundreds the walkers. passionate about stopping the of thousands of years. use of nuclear weapons and “Nuclear waste is a problem power. Each morning during the walks, the with no solution,” Blickenstaff says. group holds a “morning circle” in order to More than 20 people are expected to take thank their hosts for the shelter and food part in the 2010 Nuclear Free Future Walk. and give them gifts of peace cranes. A peace The group will walk through Tennessee, crane is an origami bird, with roots in Japan Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New and the atomic bombs that were dropped Jersey and finish in New York. They will also there by the United States during World War be holding a rally in Piketon, Ohio, where II. a new nuclear power plant is to be built by The story of Sadako, a young girl who Duke Energy and Areva, a French energy lived in Hiroshima when the first atomic company. bomb was dropped, inspired Footprints The 2010 Nuclear Free Future Walk is for Peace to fold peace cranes to symbolize open to anyone interested in walking for a the harmful and deadly effects of nuclear nuclear-free future. weapons. Sadako made cranes while in the For more information, visit footprints­ hospital as she died from radiation poison­ forpeace.net. To find where the march is ing. Legend stated that, if she made 1,000 at any given time or to contribute financial cranes, she would be granted the wish to support, call 513-843-1205. Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Housing Issues Out of the Cars and into Homes 7 “Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge.” --Kahlil Gibran By Michelle Dillingham Contributing Writer I t is perplexing that it is 18 degrees outside tonight, and there are families sleeping in cars on the streets of Cincinnati. Why is this happening? What is going on with the availability of affordable housing in our city? Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) has entered the new year with an ambitious policy agenda for 2010. There is so much to advocate for in the area of housing – from issues around accessibility and visitabil­ ity, to the lack of understanding about barriers to creating more afford­ able housing, to ensuring affordable units are lead-safe and many more. AHA has nar­ Cincinnati’s family shelters rowed its focus to a few key areas. One area is the need for public education about afford­ now have waiting lists. able housing. At present there is no compre­ Louisville’s data analysis hensive assessment on the current state of shows what many of us know to be true here, that affordable housing in Cincinnati. The Metropolitan Housing Coalition in the economy and families’ inability to pay their housing Louisville, Ky., released its 2009 “State of Met­ ropolitan Housing Report,” which it calls “an costs have caused a substantial increase in the ongoing report card of the fair and afford­ number of individuals who able housing challenges and successes in the are homeless in Cincinnati. Louisville metropolitan region.” The Metro­ politan Housing Coalition is a formidable advocacy organization and has been pub­ lishing housing reports since 2003. The coalition considers nine hous­ ing measures in its assessments: Concentration of Subsidized Housing, Housing Segregation, Renters with Excessive Cost Burden, Production and Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing, Homeownership Rate, Ac­ cess to Homeownership, Foreclosures, Homelessness and Community Development Block Grants and HOME Funds. This year AHA has a goal to identify resources in order to conduct a similar assessment for our region. We recognize the critical importance of having objective measurements by which to gauge where we stand with respect to affordable housing in Cincinnati. One of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition’s measures is home­ lessness. The coalition reports, “A study released this year by the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville examined the cost of housing, healthcare, correctional facilities, and shelters to de­ termine the true costs of homelessness to our community. The study found that Louisville spends about $88,802,380 every two years to aid 7,108 adults in our community (Coalition for the Homeless, 2009), an amount that is unsustainable.” It is information such as this that is use­ ful when trying to convince policy-makers that investing in permanent supportive housing is indeed more cost-effective than simply ignoring our citizens who are homeless. The coalition also reports, “About one-third (31 percent) of the sur­ vey respondents became homeless because of an inability to pay their rent or mortgage, up from 29 percent the previous year. Inability to afford housing costs is now the most-cited cause of homelessness by survey respondents, up from the third most cited cause last year. Only 16 percent became homeless because of substance abuse and only 6 percent because of mental illness. … Taken together, these data show that many of the people who are homeless in Louisville are educated and employed, have families, and often became homeless because of an inability to pay for housing costs.” Cincinnati’s family shelters now have waiting lists. Louisville’s data analysis shows what many of us know to be true here, that the economy and families’ inability to pay their housing costs have caused a sub­ stantial increase in the number of individuals who are homeless in Cin­ cinnati. The creation of a local State of Housing Report will hopefully bring us from perplexity to knowledge, from knowledge to informed advocacy, to no more families sleeping in cars. Chapter Wants to NORML-ize Pot Working for legalization By Jill Span Contributing writer many in the national orga­ nization working to end the prohibition of marijuana in group of 22 advo­ the United States. cates for the Miami “Our main goal is to edu­ Valley chapter of the cate the public about the re­ National Organization for the cent science behind canna­ Reform of Marijuana Laws bis,” Huber said. (NORML) gathered around The chapter supports the a small laptop screen on a complete use of cannabis, table in the dining room of including everything from the Hideaway Café in North- medical purposes to recre­ side at the start of their Feb. 6 ational use, according to Hu­ meeting. ber. They watched a new marWith supporters in attenijuana-legalization ad being dance ranging from college aired on television sets across students to middle-aged California. store owners, the members “Wow. That’s good,” said first discussed their individ­ one member ual reasons of the group for joining as they all “We’re demonizing a part of NORML. For stood in mo­ our population and making many, their mentary sithem hide in the shadows approach to lence when it the legaliza­ and feel like criminals.” was over. tion of mari­ “This is juana is both the type of ad I want to see on a civil-rights issue as well as a TVs in Cincinnati,” said Will personal one. Huber, the chapter’s meet-up “We’re demonizing a part organizer. of our population and mak­ The Miami Valley chapter ing them hide in the shadows of NORML, which started and feel like criminals,” said last September, is one among one member. “If we’re going A The National Organization for the reform of Marijuana Laws has a new local chapter. Photo by Rob Ryan. to be a caring nation, we have to stop harming our people.” Members discussed the overcrowding of jails by those charged with possession of marijuana, as well as the medical benefits and personal well-being of marijuana use. “In my mind, it’s a legalized hate crime,” said Rob Ryan, treasurer of the Miami Valley Chapter of NORML. “That’s what it boils down to.” Ryan shared with the group his experience of creating a petition last fall to send to elected representatives with signatures of people who be­ lieve that the drug war is a failure. He went around areas of Cincinnati and randomly polled 100 people. “I didn’t go to any hippy hang-outs,” Ryan said. “I didn’t wear any buttons. I just had my clipboard and asked people their thoughts.” Of the 100 people he polled, 79 signed the petition, he said. “A lot of people have been flying under the radar, and it’s time to change that,” Ryan said. Members of the chapter shared ideas for fundraising opportunities and future goals to get their mission statement out to the com­ munity. Ideas included in­ volvement in Comfest, an annual community festival in Columbus, and the annual Northside Independence Day Parade. Participants pulled togeth­ er to consider their resources, offering their store spaces for NORML’s effort, financial contributions and personal skills such as marketing. They also hope to run an ad promoting legalization of mari­ juana. Outreach is essential, Hu­ ber said. “What we really need is people to step up and write a letter to the editor because people don’t talk about this enough,” he said. The group meets monthly and has an active Facebook page titled “Miami Valley NORML,” where supporters can find more information on upcoming events and meetings. �8 STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Recipe Sexy,Yummy, Veggie Your tour guide into the steamy side of vegetarian cuisine 1 10 ounces (approx.) wide, flat rice noodles ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce 3 tbsp. peanut butter (smooth or chunky, your choice) 2 ½ tbsp. fresh lime juice 1 ½ tbsp. sugar (more or less to taste – I like a sweet sauce.) ½ tsp. red pepper flakes ½ tsp. fresh ginger, minced 1-2 tsp. peanut or canola oil 2 cups broccoli florets 1 ½ cups seitan, cut into strips 1 large carrot, shredded 2 handfuls cashews or peanuts (I prefer cashews.) Lime slices for garnish I Photo by Alecia A. Lott ent is seitan (pronounced say-TAN), which is a proteinrich meat substitute made of wheat gluten. In fact, it’s also sometimes referred to as wheat gluten or just glu­ ten. You can make it yourself (maybe some other time?) or you can find it at health food stores, most Asian markets or even some Kroger locations. Like many meat substi­ tutes, it is not meant to taste like meat. It is meant to stand in for meat to provide protein Adapted from Vegan Yum Yum, by Lauren Ulm Serves 2 noodle fiends or 4 normal people By aLecia a. Lott Contributing Writer ’m so happy and proud to be writing for Streetvibes again. Did you miss me? No need to an­ swer—I know you did. When I wrote my column last summer, I made a list of ingredients I would not use in my recipes because I thought they were too “out there” and therefore might “scare the meat-eaters.” This list in­ cluded such vegan staples as tofu, soymilk and the various meat/cheese substitutes that are widely available. My job, however, is to share things that I, a “typical vegan,” like to eat, and I eat the above things all the friggin’ time. Ex­ cluding an occasional recipe that calls for at least one of these items is not being true to myself. Also, I’m not giving you, the reader, the opportu­ nity to try something new. Besides, does tofu really frighten you? Well, it’s 2010. Get over it. Today’s “scary” ingredi­ Lime Peanut Noodles with Seitan, Broccoli, and Carrots and possibly a meaty texture, but be enjoyable in its own way. You can’t possibly dislike seitan when it’s covered in a loverly, lickable peanut sauce that’s bursting with tangy lime flavor, as in today’s rec­ ipe. Enjoy, and be brave! Alecia Lott also writes for her food and travel blog,BangBang’s Quest for Yay,Yum, and Yes. http://bangbangquest. wordpress.com 1. Boil the water for the rice noodles. While that’s going, make the peanut sauce by combining the tamari, pea­ nut butter, lime juice, sugar, pepper flakes and ginger. Set aside. 2. Cook the noodles until just softened, then rinse with cold water and drain well. Use kitchen shears to “chop” the noodles into bite-size pieces, if you’d like. Set noo­ dles aside. 3. Heat the peanut oil in a large pan (or wok) over medi­ um-high heat. Add the broccoli and stir until slightly browned. The broccoli should be heated through but still crisp. Add the seitan and carrots, then reduce the heat. 4. Add the noodles and the sauce, reserving about a tea­ spoon of the sauce. Stir until everything is well com­ bined. 5. Toss the nuts with the remaining teaspoon of sauce. Plate up your noodles, and garnish them with the nuts. Artwork by Anthony Williams ! ? t ha W y Sa ___________________ “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” - Fannie Lou Hamer �STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 9 Film Review No Super Bowl on Planet Pandora ‘Avatar’ might be just what we need 1 By DaViD HeitFieLD Contributing Writer I went in with trepidation – anything as wildly popular as Avatar has got to suck – and came out physically shaken, a visceral reaction to immersion in a world de­ signed to appeal to an older part of my evolutionary brain. Herein lies the problem with this review. When Editor Greg Flannery asked if I'd be interested in reviewing the film, he e-mailed me that “I hear it's either anti-American or racist or both.” Anything that reeks of controversy gives an oldschool journalist like Flannery a boner, almost as much as using a word like “boner” elicits a wet dream of angry Catho­ lics threatening to set homeless people on fire for selling a newspaper that has dirty words in it. Since I loved the movie, does that mean I'm either antiAmerican or racist? I'm probably both, but I try to hide it most of the time. Doesn't that count for something? At the very least, it should make me an honorary Catholic. Avatar is set 144 years in the future. The allegory is pretty simple: A corporation wants to mine for the ore “unobta­ nium” on Pandora, because of Earth's environmental prob­ lems, and it has employed American mercenaries to wipe out the “blue monkeys” who interfere with their potential profits. The Na'vi are tall, blue beings with golden eyes who live in harmony with their environment – they have tails with nerve endings that allow them to either commune with other animals, such as flying horse-like thingies, or make love (which is a spiritual act of “mating for life”). The corporation had established mining operations on Pandora three decades earlier, and because the environment is toxic to hu­ mans, they use “avatars” to interact with the natives and search for the unobtanium. These avatars physically resemble the Na'vi, but move­ ments are controlled by the human living in a large MRI-looking con­ traption. An ex-military paraplegic, Jake Sully, is recruited at the last moment to become one of these avatars because his DNA matches his recently dead twin brother, for whom the avatar was created. The paraplegic – he explains there is a cure for his spinal condition, but budget cuts did not allow the American military to pay for the operation – who lacks the proper indoctrination for his mission, just can't wait to start running around in his avatar, and thus his adven­ ture begins. If all this sounds vaguely like Dances With Wolves, you'd be correct, but you'd also be missing the appeal of the movie. The 3D effects are so wonderfully executed that the immersion just feels real – the ap­ peal to that old fish or monkey brain. Words are not as important as the feeling, so the ideas are kept simple: Greed is bad, living with na­ ture is good, people who use phrases like “shock and awe” in dealing with indigenous people are evil. The world is beautiful, with hues and colors I've never seen. It's a world where honor and honesty are the important currency. There would be no Super Bowl on Pandora, let alone commercials filled with neurotic men who need pants and cars and Viagra to feel whole again. None of the females own shoes. And because it all comes alive so re­ alistically, you have no problem believing that the paraplegic would rather live in Pandora's world than his own. “How does it feel to be­ tray your own race?” Jake is asked at one point, and while he doesn't answer, he doesn't have to. You know the answer – it feels pretty damn good, if you must know. The conceit works – Jake is of course your avatar. The difference be­ tween this avatar and other avatars that we use to communicate online or in video games is that this avatar dares to dream of a world that is better in almost all respects, instead of a creating the same world but placing ourselves higher in the pecking order. And that, to me, is the true genius of James Cameron's movie. I remember when I started working at LexisNexis, and we were starting a large project where we would hire 700 attorneys working from home, writing summaries for every judicial decision ever writ­ ten. Our corporate leader said at the time, “We're free to create what­ ever world we want to. We can avoid all the unnecessary entrapments of working in a corporate office. We can create our own culture.” What we ended up creating, of course, was the same old shit. Meaningless virtual office meetings proliferated. One manager kept an enemies list. Rather than the size of the desk, people became pre­ occupied with the size of their phone cards or inboxes. Management became paranoid and fearful, and the worker bees learned that qual­ ity was not nearly as important as finding short cuts and kissing the right asses. And it's all the same – despite the thoughts of some that technol­ ogy will revolutionize how we communicate, interact with each other and live our lives, all evidence I see is that people just want the same old shit. From The Sims to blogging to dating sites to comments on online materials, we seem hell-bent on simply regurgitating the world we know. Cameron has invited us to use technology to at least envision a bet­ ter world. Yes, it's an unabashedly liberal world (Cameron is a Cana­ dian, although it's worth pointing out that the film is making money for Fox News Corp.), and I'm still not convinced that tail sex is bet­ ter than the human kind, but that Avatar allows people to experience something beyond the same old shit is itself a gift that a lot of us need right now. And for my friend and editor, Greg: Those who see Avatar as rac­ ist or anti-American should be pitied. Apparently, it's the only shitty world they'll ever know. Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this year. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �10 International News STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Disasters are Not Created Equal Responding to earthquakes, ignoring homelessness 1 By Jesse caLL Contributing Writer T he ground began to shake, and in just a moment the lives of hundreds of thou­ sands of Haitians changed drastically. In an instant, many of them became homeless. An outpouring of support from Americans has been continuous to the region, providing much needed funds and supplies to the devastated country as it deals with the emergency and looks ahead to rebuilding. Many of those donors have been from right here in the Cincinnati area. “There has been an outpour of support from the Tri-State area from those who have been touched by the Haiti earthquakes,” says Nikki Williams of the Cincinnati Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. “When people see that level of devasta­ tion, they are compelled to help, and it has shown through donations to the Red Cross International Relief Fund tremendously.” Who cannot be moved by the images from Hai­ ti? The suffering there is unimaginable for many of us. Haiti will need our help for years to come. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is helping in Haiti. Where is the response to homelessness here? But from where is all that money coming? How REUTERS/United Nations/Sophie Paris. is this affecting local donations? “I'm told that it can have a slight impact on local donations, as donors focus The people who experience homelessness have numerous causes, includ­ on the immediate issue,” says Bill Schinkal of the Southwest Ohio-Northeast ing natural disasters, financial disasters, relationship and familial disasters Kentucky Division of the Salvation Army. “However, we also observe that many and health disasters. donors for a disaster relief situation are new or additional donors, who are The victims in Haiti suffered from a circumstance beyond their control. For moved by what they see and hear about the disaster, and want very much to many people experiencing homelessness, the circumstances that placed them help. As such, their donations are above and beyond what is being contributed in that condition were also beyond their control. for our local programs.” Is it any less tragic when someone beAbove and beyond? That’s definitely true. comes homeless because of a man-made By Jan. 15 the American Red Cross raised “There has been an outpour of support from the Tri-State circumstance? Does that victim need or de­ $37 million. The Cincinnati chapter raised serve any less help? area from those who have been touched by the Haiti $134,000 in donations to the Haiti Relief earthquakes. When people see that level of devastation, they People might be limited in the financial Fund by Jan. 21. are compelled to help, and it has shown through donations to resources that they can give to others. Most In any given year, 3.5 million people will of us are not able to go to Haiti and offer the Red Cross International Relief Fund tremendously.” experience homelessness in America, achands-on assistance, but there is the oppor­ - Nikki Williams, Cincinnati Area Chapter cording to the National Law Center on tunity to do that here in the Cincinnati area of the American Red Cross Homelessness and Poverty. But funding and through several organizations. Remember donations to homelessness relief programs that many of the tragedies occurred in Haiti has not seen the same outpouring that this disaster has. happen around us everyday. Homelessness is a disaster of its own in the United States. It might not be The people of Haiti need help in recovering from their tragedy. And those concentrated in one area or have resulted from a single event, but it affects just battling homelessness everywhere need your support. as many each cold and wintry night – and almost half of them are children. To donate to the relief efforts in Haiti, visit http://www.redcross.org or text Haiti to 90999. Contact your local homelessness relief agencies to donate or volunteer to their efforts. Contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 513-421-7803 or at 117 E. 12th St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor A Call to Greater Cincinnati Poets Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Write for ‘For a Better World 2010’ Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. It’s time to get your verse on. SOS Art, the annual exhibit of art on themes of peace and justice, pub­ lishes a collection of poetry each year. Saad Ghosn, who organizes SOS Art and writes the “Artists as Activists” column for Streetvibes, is now col­ lecting submissions for For a Better World 2010, the seventh edition to date. Any poet from or connected to Greater Cincinnati may submit up to three poems related to themes of peace and justice. All submissions will be considered. The editors will be looking for quality, inclusiveness and appropriateness to the themes of peace and justice. If space becomes limited, priority will go to poets not published in previ­ ous books. The poems selected for publication will be illustrated in black and white by Greater Cincinnati artists. Poets included in the book will be invited to read their poems at SOS Art 2010. For a Better World 2010 will be released in May 2010. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2010. Go ahead. Ask. Send submissions as “Word” attachments or in full text By e-mail to saad.ghosn@uc.edu or On a CD to Saad Ghosn, 216 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. �STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 11 Poetry Page To Old St. George’s Haiti, Le Monde Vous Écoute By anne skoVe By MaLcoLM o. Varner Proud people of the Haitian Isle, Stand firm with head held high. Though days may last for a while, The world has begun to hear your cry. Le monde écoute les voix criantes; On voit et ressent même votre douleur. Avec vous, on est priant. Avec vous, aussi on pleure. Two plus centuries ago, You proved strength and gained liberty. For your great past, there’s a greater tomorrow, In spite of the now, pursue prosperity. Le monde écoute votre voix d’éspoir; On voit tous votre courage. Quel beau pays et beau peuple noir – À vous, on dit “soyez brave, soyez brave!” Photo by Ben L. Kaufman. You were burning, breaking news. I removed my shoes, stepped closer to the blazing TV screen. Such a calamity to strike Port-au-Prince; May you raise capital walls and the hearts therein. Like those of Katrina, you will be remembered since; This time, may justice and compassion speedily win. This time, the dragon slayed you. Its flaming tongue licked your steeples. Fire trucks lined the street like beer vendors at a festival. Here friends’ older sisters married for the first (and sometimes last) time. After baptizing my brother Fr. Fritz fed worms to the turtles in the courtyard. My birthmother went into labor during 5 o'clock mass. Walgreens wanted to level you. Archbishop Pennychick sold you with a kiss. Theologians, never having slain anything, dismiss you as mere legend. Haïti, le monde écoute les cries de votre terre; On voit que vos avez tellement de besoins. Il nous semble qu’un parmi d'autres, c'est un frère. Donc, à vous on dit, “On vient!” Giving the Nameless Names The OCD group met Saturdays, 3 p.m. sharp, in neat rows. The historical society labeled you endangered. UC turned you into a holy rolling Starbuck's. Coming soon: a boutique hotel! By aLanaH GaBrieLLe knox Inside, little boy Christ sports armor and a Little Lord Fauntleroy haircut. I tried to fit my small feet into the shape of the tiles in the aisle. Blue and red votive candleglow warmed me. Small fingers extinguished long matches in soft white sand. Once I was tall enough I turned and lifted mine eyes to the balcony. The rosetta window blazed back with its match-blue glow. When I was little mom and I danced in the back pew. The folkies sang "Though the mountains may fall And the hills turn to dust." As though the blind flutist could see the future fire, flaming spires falling on power lines. Driving up Vine Street hill all that is visible, all that remains in this time of war and aftermath are two neatly wrapped stumps, amputated out of mercy just above the clock, which (call it a miracle) never stopped. Fanni Edwards, Derek Gibson, Frank Roper, Rodney Sosby, Eric Smothers, Eugene Burgess, Anthony Wright, Joseph Wright, Ken Tucker. On street corners, in dirty old clothing holding signs, huddled: they now have names and stories. on the side walk on the way to Paul Brown Stadium they’re given a wide berth cast a hurried glance with sympathy or concern, maybe curiosity often fear and even anger Nameless and faceless people. Fanni Edwards, Derek Gibson, Frank Roper, Rodney Sosby, Eric Smothers, Eugene Burgess, Anthony Wright, Joseph Wright, Ken Tucker. Feisty, Brother, mild mannered, middle-aged, spirited, drugs and alcohol, heart attack, navy veteran, victim of cancer. Believe It By wiLLa D. Jones Believe it when you see someone bundled up sleeping in the street believe it when you see someone looking in garbage cans for food to eat believe it cause all of these things are real and none are made up believe there are many men, women, and children just down on their luck believe with the economy all twisted and heading straight for hell believe there are many who just give up, commit suicide or simply go to jail believe to the homeless, jail with 3 meals, cell buddies for friends and a cot believe to some may mean nothing but to the homeless means one hell of a lot believe with faith all things are possible for all including you and me believe in God, have faith, pray constantly and change will come all you do is believe!!!! �12 Vendor Voice STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Parks Aren’t so Kind to Poor People “If you have a problem seeing homeless folks you should end homelessness.” - Georgine Getty, former executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless By George Herrell Streetvibes vendor How many swing sets, jungle gyms, swimming pools, etc. were paid for by donated monies or materials? How many were erected by donated labor? Why then would an organization whose whole purpose is supposed to be ’ve heard a lot of quotes in my lifetime but none has ever rung stronger “public service” deny organizations the right to provide assistance to those or more true. It seems like such a simple solution to an overwhelming who are most in need? problem: House those who are homeless, feed those who are hungry, Most of these charitable organizations are “faith-based,” meaning they are help those who are truly in need and begin right here at home. churches – churches that not only provide the food and materials but serve it In Cincinnati City Parks it is against the rules to pass out food or clothing to as well and clean up afterwards. those in need. Sounds absurd, but it’s true. I sought to find out the origins of According to the Enquirer’s article, Julie Horne, who was the manager of this ruling back in June 2009 beginning at City Hall. I ques­ business services for the park board, said, “Those organiza­ tioned several officials, including those at the city attorney’s tions who want to distribute food or blankets are referred to office; however, no one was able to find any city ordinance The commissioner put me the Drop Inn Center or other social-service organizations.” prohibiting such actions. My next stop was to speak to the But my question is: Why should they be referred anywhere? in touch with one of his city’s health commissioner, who I found one Sunday after­ directors, Douglas Springs, Public parks are for use by the public; and although folks are noon attending an inspirational service in Washington Park. homeless or hungry, they are still citizens of the city of Cin­ who sent me an e-mail The commissioner put me in touch with one of his direc­ cinnati and should have the same courtesy as other citizens. stating that there wasn’t tors, Douglas Springs, who sent me an e-mail stating that The census people expect us to be counted so that the city a health department code there wasn’t a health department code that prohibited any that prohibited any one from of Cincinnati can receive the maximum amount of federal one from giving away food or clothing for free in any city park giving away food or clothing funding possible, and yet we can’t even receive a charitable or anywhere else for that matter. for free in any city park or hot meal within a city park. I continued to seek answers by asking policemen and fire­ anywhere else for that matter. To Julie Horne I say this: A man named Ebenezer Scrooge men, yet none of them claimed knowledge of or responsibil­ once said, “The poor should die and thus decrease the sur­ ity for any such ordinance. plus population.” Just as he realized the error of his thinking, Finally, I turned to one of the most informationally rounded organizations so can you. I know of, the public library. At the main branch, with the assistance of staff To the citizens of Cincinnati who are more fortunate than the homeless: Re­ members who helped me search through local history books and microfilms member covering up a problem won’t make it go away. There is a homeless of past newspaper articles, I finally found my answer. problem in the city of Cincinnati – 8,300 homeless in 2008, and that number A Cincinnati Enquirer article titled, “Feed My Lambs,” published Nov. 20, has grown in the past two years. 2007, stated that the Cincinnati Park Board doesn’t allow charitable organiza­ You can’t hide that many people and simply act as if they don’t exist. As hu­ tions to pass out food or clothing to those in need in city parks. In learning this, man beings, you shouldn’t want to. However, if you aren’t willing to help, then I began to wonder, “How many charitable organizations’ donations have the at least don’t hinder others from doing so. Cincinnati Park Board accepted on their own behalf?” I Crossword Puzzles Sudoku across 1. Stays 4. Brand 8. Ottoman Empire (7,6) 13. Lots 14. Shut in 15. Minor role 16. Stay too long 18. Lascivious 19. Ruptured 21. Female name 23. As well 27. Thoroughfare 31. Swordsman 33. Resort lake 34. Tall palm tree 35. Piece of news 36. Security operative (5,8) 37. Cold-shoulder 38. Contraction of need not Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 through 9. Down 2. Harsh 3. Installment 5. Lure 6. Sand and cement 7. To do with religious study 9. City in central New York 10. Recognized 11. Troublesome person 12. Knowledgeable about 17. Yeah 20. Owns 22. Thing 24. Spiking 25. Polluted air 26. Expression of discomfort 28. Curse 29. Mild warning 30. Website 32. Helicopter feature The fundamental goal of a Sudoku puzzle is to use the provid­ ed numbers, or givens, to discover which numbers logically fill in the empty squares. The only rule of Sudoku is that each of the nine rows, each of the nine columns, and each of the nine 3x3 subsections must contain all of the numbers from one to nine, and each number consequently can occur in each row, column and subsection only once. �STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 13 Vendor Voice Lots of Room and an Endless View For a Better World 2006 Image by Blair Gibeau. One man’s take on street life 1 By Booger Love Streetvibes Vendor look back. But that’s life. What they don’t know: They could someday be out here with us. You will eing out on the streets is not know what it’s like being out there fun. It is a hard life to live. when you ask someone for help. They Every day you have noth- will walk right by you. Yes, it happens ing to do, nowhere to be. All you have all the time to us. It will happen to to do is walk around or hang out any- you. They don’t care how you are or where you can. Life is how long you been out hell out there. there. The streets is not The streets is not where We help each other. where you want to live That is all we have. If we you want to live at any at any time at all. Peo- time at all. People don’t didn’t help each other, ple don’t care about care about you being out we would not have any you being out – the – the men or the women. help at all. We are one men or the women. Some of them has little big family out there. Some of them has little So come take my kids. They don’t care kids. They don’t care hand. We will walk and about the women with about the women with talk about our time out the little kids. the little kids. here. We have lots of It’s not only here. It’s room with a good view everywhere. When you’re out there, as far as you can see. don’t nobody care. If you’re a man, So look down in your heart and you woman or a little kid, they see you on will see you could be out here with the streets, they walk by you like you me. was not there – keep walking, don’t B Check out the Streetvibes blog @ streetvibes.wordpress.com Poems and Drawings on Peace and Justice by Greater Cincinnati Artists, edited and curated by Saad Ghosn. Kennedy Heights Arts Center 6546 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45213 513-631-4278 or www.kennedyarts.org January 16 - February 27, 2010 Panel Discussion: Art as a Vehicle for Change facilitated by Jeff Hillard with Mary Pierce Brosmer, Greg Flannery and Jimi Jones February 27, 4-6pm; closing reception at 6pm Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 10am - 5pm Saturdays 10am - 4 pm Venice on Vine Pizza and Hoagies 1301 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine Hours Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. -8:00 p.m. 513-221-7020 Good food for a good cause in a friendly neighborhood restaurant. Dine in or take out. Hoagies, pizza, salads, soups, weekly specials, wifi and organic coffee too! Venice on Vine and Venice Catering are social enterprise programs of Power Inspires Progress (PIP), a nonprofit employment education program for inner city adults. STREETVIBES DISCOUNT: Present this coupon for a free drink with any large hoagie or medium or large pizza. One per customer, valid through March 1, 2010. �14 STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Letters to the Editor To the Editor: To the Editor: To the Editor: I am a high school student at Cincinnati Country Day School. I really appreciated your first article, “Bad Words are a Matter of Perspective” (issue of Jan. 1-15). Along with giving a very persuasive argu­ ment, there was some incredible writing in there. I was particularly struck by, “His paean to the pursuit of justice perverts the meaning of the concept.” It was a cleverly crafted article and I was left fully con­ vinced by your opinion on the issue – although I was biased in favor of your position to begin with. This person who complained about Streetvibes needs to take a look at history and realize that people need to hear the truth. Censorship is the breeding ground for corrup­ tion and oppression of all kinds. You mention Adolf Hitler in your next article. Just look at Nazi Germa­ ny from 1933 to 1945 under Hitler if you’re deluded enough to favor censorship. It disgusts me that someone would disturb the sale of this newspa­ per because it tells the truth. The truth needs to be told, and I think it commendable that this newspa­ per works to expose the truth about such a thing as misunderstood as homelessness. Who is this person? Is he responsible for all the children who may or may not read and be offended by this paper? I think not. It’s a parent’s or guard­ ian’s responsibility to decide what they want their children exposed to – yes, a form of censorship, but not one as harmful or less imbedded in society as the censorship this person is suggesting. I was lucky enough to grow up in a school and household that held the right freedom of belief and speech to the highest importance. It is something I guard aggressively and I thank you for your article promoting it. I have just finished reading the article “New Voic­ es of the Voiceless” (issue of Jan. 1-15), and I find it to be outstanding. Rappers like Jasari X and Radiant Amar are poets, and they deserve to be recognized as one. Such commentary is so real that it strikes a chord within me, although I have never experi­ enced what they have. It is these rappers that make Hip Hop art, while mainstream “rappers” produce flat, recycled tracks in order to make money. Describing despair and poverty, these artists write for a better tomorrow and offer a medium to share their sentiments with others. While some look down upon them, I find them inspiring and uplifting. Talented, driven, and benevolent, they take their cause to the streets and remain true to themselves. I think that my parents would find them off-putting, but I see true art and spirit in their words. It’s possible to feel their emotion and their struggles and know that there are many out there like them. Music can be relaxing, fun or good for dancing, but this music is something special, and more people should listen to it. This H.E.R. is art in its purest form, like it is meant to be. As of mid-January of 2010, Xavier Bertrand, head of the French conservative party, “wants a law” that Muslim women cannot wear face coverings and be citizens. “Clothes make the man” is one kind of ad­ vice to wear appropriate clothes. What is appropri­ ate where? When someone else makes the decision of what I have to wear, I may be a prisoner or be in for out­ patient surgery. Clothing used as a devotion or protection includes hijabs, yarmulkes, the habits of some Roman and Anglican Catholic men and women, surgical face masks, hats to protect fairskinned persons, scarves or caps for persons who have lost their hair, police and military uniforms. Costumes in theater can show us how clothes make theater in ordinary life. But when worship services, work, special duty or theater is completed, when Mardi Gras or surgery is over, the special clothing in which the person could not easily play golf, operate equipment, garden or do a variety of manual labors is reserved for the next appropriate occasion. For generations in the mid-East and in medieval Europe, clothing “made” and protected the wom­ an. When at home, some of these women can enjoy dressing up or down. Perhaps someday Muslim cul­ ture will develop like Western culture. This may or may not be good. In all events, reactionary imams, prelates or profiling politicians may be around to tell the women they have to put the veils back on. Whether veils or collars are experienced as secu­ rity risks, or when they have, as in the cases of child abuse in the past, been misleading, or when they are genuinely protective, there’s a whole new nexus in which no one law or dictum is always helpful. Some of the people I pray with really want wom­ en in religious vows to be put back into habits. Most of the people I know respect the choices of senior nuns who wear habits and are not in active min­ istry. The majority of vowed women in the Unit­ ed States wore period costume before the 1970s. (That’s costume from the eras in which their com­ munities were founded, not the wads the menstru­ ating women sat on as referenced in Genesis 31: 35.) Today some find exotic clothing unhelpful to their imitation of Jesus and the disciples, who did not set themselves apart from the community or need protection from it or special status within it through clothing choices. Why some persons would make clothing a major factor in their choices of persons to associate them­ selves with or persons to trust interests me. Will Duncan Cincinnati Kathryn Black Cincinnati Have something on your mind? Do you agree or disagree with an article? Let us know: 1 To the Editor: Thank you for including the article titled “An ‘AHA!’ Moment in Cincinnati” in the Jan. 1-15, 2010, issue of Streetvibes. I appreciate having the chance to learn more about housing advocates and their methods of advocacy. This can often be an ambiguous subject, so it was great to read an article that clearly explained advocacy to those of us who do not completely understand this vital method of support for the homeless. 117 E. 12th Street 1 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 1 streetvibes2@yahoo.com 1 Lilly Fleischmann Cincinnati aFForDaBLe rates etvibes? tre nS sted in Adve e r e t rtis In ing i Many sizes (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) BLack & wHite anD coLor aVaiLaBLe Discounts For nonproFits Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. Vickie Cimprich Fort Mitchell, Ky. �STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 681-2365 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Treatment: Men 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men DIC Live In Program Prospect House 241-5525 961-2256 Treatment: Women First Step Home 961-4663 961-4080 761-1480 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky Advocacy 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Housing: Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Tender Mercies 381-0111 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 AA Hotline CCAT 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 621-5514 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 661-4620 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Drop Inn Center Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center Peaslee Neighborhood Center Shelter: Both Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 458-6670 977-4489 Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 558-8888 981-5800 784-1853 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 562-8841 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 721-4700 421-7803 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health Center for Respite Care Brighton Center 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 535-2719 Puzzle Solutions Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES February 15 - 28, 2010 Re-shaping Ideas and Forms Stephen Geddes’s sculpture challenges conventional perceptions S tephen Geddes grew up in Wisconsin in a small rural community. He always wanted to be an artist. As a child he was good at painting and liked to carve wood with his pocketknife. His mother, whose own grandfather was an artist, and art teachers at his school encouraged his artistic inclina­ tions. Geddes attended the University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse, got a bachelor’s degree in art education, then got a master’s degree in sculpture at Ohio University. He intended to become a full-time college teacher. But due to limited available positions at the time, he worked instead as an artist in residence for the Kentucky Com­ mission on the Arts, then as a toy sculptor for various companies and later as a freelancer. Geddes’s art education emphasized both formal technical considerations and judicious use of ideas in order to give life and purpose to a product. “I am between a craftsman all about material and an artist all Stephen Geddes next to his sculpture of Pope Coleman’s head. about ideas” he says. “Ben Shahn’s writings, especially his book, Photo by Bill Howes. The Shape of Content, influenced me greatly. They taught me that successful art needed content and that content needed to be sculpted body of a rhinoceros on roller skates; influenced by the last shaped well.” gasp of roller derby as an organized sport, it was also partly based on Geddes has always been concerned about perfecting the form of Ionesco’s play Rhinoceros, a parody of the Nazi takeover in Germany his work in order to give it visual authority and thus become a strong and Austria. Hindu Wrestlers depicted wrestlers, each with four or five vehicle for his viewpoints, most often social commentaries. arms, stressing the exaggerated production value of the sport. In college at a time While in college, Geddes was against the Vietnam War and did not when minimalism was want to be drafted; he was not an activist, though, and all he desired very popular, Geddes, was to be left alone in the studio to do his art. The Reagan presidency, critical of the movement, however – with its cowboy mentality, the significant social changes created sculptural pieces it imposed in favor of the wealthy at the expense of the poor, the that included hard edges, wretched excess and entitlement it allowed – greatly offended him as curves, sharp angles, ma­ and served as a turning point in his political involvement and the di­ sonite, welded steel, ele­ rection of his art. ments and materials that Geddes’s works since then have dealt with violence, the role of By saaD GHosn composed a strong me- religion in politics, the hypocrisy of philanthropists, wealth and the Contributing Writer chanical image in which domination of the poor. Cylinder Head is the simplified image of a re­ human figures would be volver shaping into a human head, the bullet points of the chambers embedded, subjugated becoming the eyes. Fundamental Church-State Discrimination Test and trapped. He also worked on carousel imagery, replacing the tradi­ includes the sliced and fragmented heads of Christ and Uncle Sam tional horse with beautifully carved and painted fanciful figures such positioned on a checkerboard. Geddes intended their loose parts to as a muscleman centaur or a sphinx with a lion’s body, alluding to the be mismatched when reassembled, his reflection on the dangerous fantasy and escape into new identity that one usually lives during the and blurred overlap between state and church during recent adminis­ ride. trations and the powerful intrusion of religious zealots and extremists In the mid 1980s, influenced by his job as an industrial toy sculp­ into politics. tor that required frequently reassembling body parts, he developed a Carnegie Dream, a meditation on the nature of philanthropy in the sculptural technique of splitting and fragmenting the human head, American culture, represents a tower, its base referencing industrial afterwards mismatching its various sections. Geddes used the ap­ steel mining that made Carnegie’s fortune possible; and its top, a bed­ proach to comment on the misdirection that corporate structure was room-library depicting Carnegie in bed surrounded by books. Books imposing on citizens’ life. In a time when all was becoming very fast, and libraries were how Carnegie tried, as a philanthropist, to buy his he also sought to slow down the viewer’s eye to scrutinize the non- way back to heaven, having built his money at the expense of poor conventional, non-immediately recognizable form and to reflect and, workers. Another sculpture is of HC Frick, a coal and coke magnet as a result, see more. and partner of Carnegie, sitting in a coal car inside a carousel with Other works concerned the prevailing societal preoccupations with a golden dome. Frick holds a frame of a painting, a reference to the spectacles and contrived sports and the emphasis placed on super­ huge art collection he had amassed while exploiting the poor. Geddes ficial show business lacking content. The Roller Rhino represented a uses both businessmen to also reflect on the permissive and empow­ ering role that government imparts to the wealthy. Pachyderm’s Progress, a finely crafted wood sculp­ ture, represents an ornate sedan chair in which an oversized elephant is seated, alluding to both wealth and Republican affiliation. At its front and back, a scroll cage contains powerless mice expected to constantly run and move it forward. Geddes carved on its sides ornamental motifs taken from $1 and $5 bills, thus directly connecting money to privilege and politics. Jurassic Ark or Noah Saves the Dinosaurs was in response to the recently built Creation Museum. It is a sarcastic comment on how religion and fear are always used to trap, control and keep vulnerable people ignorant, providing simple answers and for­ mulas, dismissing any critical thinking. Geddes’s works always strike by their refined craftsmanship and elegant beauty. They also chal­ lenge by their thought-provoking, strident and of­ ten ironic, social and political viewpoints. They transmit his messages with potency and eloquence. “I do not expect my art to change many people,” Geddes says. “I expect it, however, to have formal authority, speak by its quality and clearly convey my ideas. My art is directly connected to my life; it Pachyderm’s Progress, wood sculpture by Stephen Geddes. Photo by Stephen Geddes. wakes me up in the morning, it keeps me going.” A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2010 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 15-28, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: The ‘Madness’ of Hate Downtown Postcards from Hell Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Health Care Reform on Life Support Pg 4: Postcards from Hell Pg 5: The ‘Madness’ of Hate Downtown Continued Postcards from Hell Continued Pg 6: Walking to End the Nuclear Peril Pg 7: Out of the Cars and Into Homes Chapter Wants to NORML-ize Pot Pg 8: Sexy, Yummy, Veggie Pg 9: No Super Bowl on Planet Pandora Pg 10: Disasters are Not Created Equal Pg 11: Arts & Poetry Pg 12: Parks Aren’t so Kind to Poor People Pg 13: Lots of Room and an Endless View Pg 14: Letters to the Editor Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Re-Shaping Ideas and Forms 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 15-28, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Veronica Glass Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Valerie Fessler Alecia A. Lott Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Lew Moores Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite, Anthony Williams Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Alecia A. Lott Anthony Williams Arts & Poetry Avatar David Heitfield Earthquakes Eli Braun Gregory Flannery health care Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynching Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Marijuana Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham Nuclear Bombs Parks Paul Kopp Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Stephanie Dunlap Stephen Geddes Street Life Super Bowl Valerie Fessler Veronica Glass https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/e462a6a14ebad3446165907ac85e068e.pdf 6a555e6c3b2a93ae0ae50e1cc4e1157b PDF Text Text Artists as Activists Page 16 Eight Minutes Lyrical Page 3 Worship Page 6 STREETVIBES $1 M a r. 1 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 0 • A d v o c a t i n g J u s t i c e , B u i l d i n g C o m m u n i t y • I s s u e 1 7 2 Being Homeless is Against the Law Economic profiling treats 1 homeless people as criminals 1 By Margo Pierce Contributing Writer A ffluent college students set up tents, cardboard boxes and crates on private property housed in their makeshift “shanty town” as a protest against the plight of homeless people. Living outdoors for a night – food, toilets and police protection readily available – this camping offers pro­ tection for a night spent in full view of the public. A ragtag group of people huddles under a highway bridge, cars thundering overhead, setting up tents and a few belongings. They are waiting out a storm. It will likely be a few days before the rain finally stops, so they are grateful for the protection and a measure of privacy in a public place. The first group will pass the night in relative calm after the TV cameras leave. The second group will be invaded by police issuing citations before forcing them back into the storm to look for some other shelter, possibly leading to more tickets. Both situations describe people creating their own shelter. The reason they are treated so differently is economic profiling. Like other forms of profiling – targeting individuals for suspicion because of their race, faith or nationality – economic profiling uses the appearance of poverty as a basis of suspicion. Economic profiling is also used to create laws and ordinances that inten­ tionally target economically disadvantaged people, frequently homeless, for the stated reason of improving public safety. The problem is that this profiling doesn’t work, and it sanctions discrimination against people who are different, feeding an irrational fear of “homeless people.” Beautiful people can be homeless, too If you saw David Letterman or Jim Carey sleeping in a car, wrapped in a sleeping bag against the cold, would you call the police and complain that he made you feel unsafe while walking your dog? Would Halle Berry, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt on a bus-stop bench, prompt you to tell a cop that a pros­ titute was soliciting in a place where children gather? Would those people in­ spire feelings of fear, disgust or self-righteous indignation? Of course not. You’d look for a piece of paper for an autograph and get your cell phone ready to take a photo. The only difference between Letterman, Ber­ ry and other people on the street is that they managed to move beyond home­ lessness and became rich. When they were homeless, however, a call to the cops would have been a more likely outcome, because we treat homelessness as a crime. See Homeless, p. 4 Stop Abuses by Military Recruiters Cincinnati Public Schools has no policy to protect students By SaMantha groark Contributing Writer T he Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center (IJPC) has been collecting information about military recruiters mis­ leading and harassing stu­ dents in the Cincinnati Pub­ lic Schools. The organization wants the district to adopt a policy to protect students. Cincinnati youth are tar­ geted by military recruiters to join the Army and the Ma­ rines, the military branches that have sustained 93 per­ cent of the casualties in the Iraq War, according to Kristen Barker, an IJPC staff member. Over the past five years the Army has increased the num­ ber of recruiters who would normally be barred because of criminal misconduct or drug abuse, raising concerns of students being exploited. An Associated Press study found that one out of 200 frontline recruiters – the ones who deal directly with young people – were disciplined for sexual misconduct between 1996 and 2005. Hundreds more were accused of assault and harassment in districts across the country, including Cincinnati Public Schools. Because of the national increase in recruiter abuses, districts in many states have recognized the need for poli­ cies that provide clear guide­ lines to protect students. “With ongoing wars in Af­ ghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. military has aggressively stepped up its recruiting ef­ forts in high schools, spend­ ing $4 billion a year on re­ cruiting efforts,” Barker says. “Due to rising allegations of recruiter misconduct, the Government Accountability Office analyzed almost 11,000 allegations during a two-year period.” The No Child Left Behind Act, passed in 2002, mandates that schools give military re­ cruiters the same access to students as college recruiters or lose federal funding. In the Cincinnati Public Schools, individual schools set their own policies on recruiters. In selected schools, military re­ cruiters enjoy greater access than others. This includes fre­ quent visits, prime locations in schools, administration of the Army Service Vocational Aptitude Test, access to some classrooms and presence in the cafeteria. IJPC has collected stories of recruiter abuses, including misinformation about edu­ cational benefits, level of risk, ability to select jobs in the military, recruiters following students around campus and repeatedly calling minors af­ ter hours. “We’ve gone into the schools, we’ve heard sto­ ries from young people here about recruiters following them outside of the school, inside of the school, being in the hallways, the cafeteria, we’ve heard all kinds of sto­ ries about false promises,” Barker says. High-school students not equipped to handle aggres­ sive recruiting tactics might See Military, p. 9 �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 670,000 The number of people who read The Big Issue UK, a British street paper (see page 3). 69 The percentage by which property values increased in a neighborhood, thanks to new subsidized housing (see page 7). 50s Gloria McConnaghy’s age when she decided to open a Cincinnati shop selling ethnic jewelry and folk art (see page 16). 2003 The year Cincinnati City Council passed a law requiring panhandlers to be licensed (see page 1). 84 The number of pages in a guide for people who want to file their own appeals before the Ohio Supreme Court (see page 13). 5 The number of minutes requested – but not granted – for a meeting between Metropole tenants and the secretary of Housing and Urban Development (see page 11). 11,000 The number of allegations of misconduct by military recruiters during a two-year period (see page 1). Twice The number of times Bill Walsh’s team beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl after the Bengals failed to hire him (see page 12). 9 The hour at which the lights went out for the night at London Prison Farm (see page 10). StreetWise By gregory Flannery editor Disposable Income Trumps Disposable People How many poor people is the city of Cincinnati willing to push out of the way in order to let rich people have some fun? The current number is 150. That’s how many residents are left in the Metropole Apartments, which is slated to become a boutique hotel. How much money is the city of Cincinnati willing to give to developers to help rich people have some fun? The current amount is $2.5 million, approved last week by city council’s fi­ nance committee. But in case that’s not enough, the committee also approved $4.6 million in loans for the project. The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) purchased the Metropole Apartments late last year. The building has been a federally subsidized site for affordable housing since 1971, home to more than 200 elderly and low-income residents. But 3CDC finds their presence untidy; the corporation wants that part of Walnut Street to be a playground for people who have disposable income for theater productions, contemporary art, over-priced steakhouses and so forth. All members of the finance committee voted in favor of giving the money to 3CDC for its fancy new hotel except Cecil Thomas, who abstained. The full city council is scheduled to vote on the corporate welfare package this week. STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff The Cincinnati Enquirer’s report on the finance committee’s vote contained a pleasant line about 3CDC’s treatment of Metropole residents: “The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is helping them relocate.” Sounds like noblesse oblige at its finest, doesn’t it? Too bad it isn’t true. 3CDC is, in fact, forcing residents out of their homes. Residents of the Metropole have filed a fair-housing complaint against 3CDC with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), alleging that their forced relocation constitutes discrimina­ tion – a fact the Enquirer didn’t include in its report. Unless HUD stops the deal, Metropole residents have until November to get their low-income butts out of the way of 3CDC and the rich tourists it wants in their place. The only reason residents have that long is because of HUD regulations. But that doesn’t mean residents feel welcome in their own homes. Since the sale of the apartment building, tenants report that 3CDC and its property manager, Brickstone Properties, have neglected to maintain the waterheating system, leaving tenants to bathe and wash dishes in water that is lukewarm at best during the frigid winter. Tenants also report being harassed by management and Brickstone personnel. Tenant Robert Wavra says he encountered a person in a hallway Feb. 10 and asked if she lived in the building. It turns out the woman was a Brickstone relocation specialist, who scoffed and asked, “Do I look like I live in the building?” “I think that is an attitude that is sent down by Brickstone,” Wavra says. “It’s a mindset that we’re different. I’m hurt by it. I’ve never considered myself ‘not as good.’ ” Rob Goeller, civil rights outreach coordinator at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Home­ less, says he isn’t surprised. “This is exactly the kind of behavior we’ve been seeing with management and Brickstone rep­ resentatives,” he says. “They tell the tenants that they care, but there is an obvious lack of re­ spect here. It’s elitism. It’s discrimination and prejudice based on class. Sadly, this is the type of behavior we’ve come to expect from Brickstone Properties and 3CDC.” Required Reading for 3CDC Meanwhile Cincinnati has lost a woman who spent decades fiercely defending the rights and dignity of low-income people and others subjected to discrimination. Karla Irvine, who served for 27 years as executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.), died Feb. 19. She was 76 years old. “She is remembered as a leader in the fair-housing movement and a strong woman who pas­ sionately fought for equality and justice,” says Kendal Schwab, education and outreach assis­ tant at H.O.M.E. For a full remembrance of Irvine’s career – or if you work for 3CDC and want to learn how to treat poor people with respect – visit cincyfairhousing.com. A Continental Production The article that leads this edition of Streetvibes (“It’s Illegal to Be Homeless,” page 1) is the firstever collaboration on a single topic by members of the North American Street Newspaper As­ sociation (NASNA). To produce the report, editors of street papers across the United States and Canada shared information about the ways that laws are used to penalize homeless people for doing things outside that polite society prefers to have done inside – namely, eliminating bodily waste, sleeping, bathing and other necessary activities. Margo Pierce, a contributing writer for Streetvibes, volunteered to write the article. Andy Freeze, executive director of NASNA and former education coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, says street papers plan to collaborate several times a year on articles that have both continental and local relevance. Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Graphics/Layout Intern Veronica Glass Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Valerie Fessler, Alecia A. Lott, Jeni Jenkins, Saad Ghosn, Lew Moores, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are proud members of: �STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 8 Issues 3 M I N U T E S with a British Street Paper A business solution to a social problem By Margo Pierce Contributing Writer der to support their lifestyle – both their substance misuse and their essentials such as omeless and “vulnerably food and housing, shelter. housed” individuals in “In the long term, we pro­ the United Kingdom (UK) vide what’s called a founda­ stand on the corners of “public high­ tion worker; our charity wing ways” (sidewalks) to sell street papers provides a worker in the office just like in the United States. Swap who has access to all of the in­ “sofa surfing” for “couch surfing,” formation about the services “night shelter” for “homeless shel­ that are offered to help them ter” and “misusing substances” for out of their problem. It is not “substance abuse” and the terminol­ mandatory for them to partici­ ogy describes an identical situation: pate and access that support The Big Issue magazine is the UK’s but very few people do not – version of a street paper, printed for very, very few. Those that don’t the purpose of giving those struggling tend to gain support from us in with poverty a way to earn an income other ways.” within the context of their current life The Big Issue Foundation is circumstances. a registered charity that has the “We do a very similar thing in that mission of helping “vendors vendors who are homeless or vulner­ gain control of their lives by ad­ ably housed in some way … purchase dressing the issues which have the magazine contributed from us first to their home­ – they don’t The Big Issue’s tag line is “a lessness.” For get it for free those who are hand up, not a handout ... a – and … then business solution to a social trying to break they sell it for problem, demonstrating that their addiction, a profit. That an organization can succeed the governcore thing is whilst being simultaneously ment provides a the same,” methadone pre­ driven by commercial aims says Emma scription. But and social objectives.” Kernahan, an there’s a long area manager waiting list, and for The Big Issue. “The main differ­ vendors need a way to survive. ence (is) we work with predominantly The importance of dealing white vendors – most homeless peo­ with the root causes of home­ ple are white in the UK – even in ar­ lessness and poverty, such as eas where there is a large, ethnic mi­ addiction and mental health, Emma Kernahan, The Big Issue UK. Photo by Lynne Ausman. nority population. That’s the biggest became apparent to one local and most obvious difference when government after they asked I walk into an office in the U.S. And The Big Issue to leave their commu­ the magazine to return. After lengthy that they need … because it’s slightly we work with a very large number nity about five years ago. The council negotiations, The Big Issue returned more informal,” Kernahan says. “And of people who are actively misusing of Brighton adopted a “local connec­ to Brighton and has an office in a they make sure that nobody’s sell­ substances and have mental health tion” policy that limits services by the privately held building. The reason ing the magazine that doesn’t have a problems. Those two things are in­ government or government-funded they’re back? badge or doing it in the wrong way. tricately linked, so 90 percent plus of agencies to those who have family or “The problems that they had five They feed that information back to our vendors in my area are misusing have lived at least six months in the years ago were still there but the peo­ us and help us run a tighter ship and substances, and it’s mostly heroin area. ple that would have been accessing a make sure there are less incidences and secondarily crack.” “This is in the southeast of the legitimate income did not have that (when) the public are unhappy with Kernahan, who is taking a three- country, which is an entry point for option open to them and so were of­ the service they get from The Big Is­ month sabbatical from her job, is visit­ many people who have migrated into ten engaged in criminal activity,” Ker­ sue.” ing various U.S. street papers in an ef­ the country from a different area,” nahan says. “They had problems with Impressed with the courteousness fort to find new ideas and approaches Kernahan says. “A lot of the people shoplifting, muggings, robbery, bur­ and personability of U.S. vendors, for successfully merging social policy who are homeless there have origi­ glary – all of the things that come with Kernahan hesitates to make any rec­ with business enterprise. Responsi­ nally come from elsewhere in the a large homeless population which ommendations for how U.S. papers ble for running four offices in an area country because it’s by the seaside. still exists in Brighton and, in fact, has could replicate their success. The Big called the West of England, one of the “The Big Issue company does not increased.” Issue currently supports over 2,900 biggest issues she must tackle is that receive government funding, so we The criminalization of homeless­ homeless and vulnerably housed the company knows vendors actively did not have to follow this local con­ ness in the UK continues, as it does people across the country and is read use illegal drugs. nections policy and on principle here in the United States (See “Being by more than 670,000 people every “We accept that it is a difficult issue would not. The council in the area Homeless is Illegal,” page 1), despite week. for the public to swallow, that many of was unhappy with this. We were oc­ efforts to work with the local councils What is readily apparent is that The the people that they are giving money cupying a space that was ultimately and police departments. The Big Issue Big Issue’s use of language – terms to are actively misusing substances owned by the local council, and we is continuing to find new and creative such as “supporting,” “vulnerable” like heroin and crack,” Kernahan were asked to leave. Rather than relo­ ways to assist vendors and educate and their tag line – “a hand up, not a says. “But the argument that we have cate, despite the fact that was a very the public. Volunteers are one exam­ handout” – are less pejorative and in is that those people would be misus­ lucrative area … we decided to leave ple. keeping with the company’s focus: “a ing those substances whether or not that area rather than continue to work “We have trained outreach volun­ business solution to a social problem, they were selling The Big Issue. In the with a council that would not support teers who … go out around to all of demonstrating that an organization short term, we provide them with a us and instructed agencies not to re­ our locations, meet with the vendors, can succeed whilst being simultane­ legal and legitimate and structured fer to us.” (and) often get a lot of information ously driven by commercial aims and alternative to criminal activity in or­ However, in 2009 the council asked from the vendors about the support social objectives.” H Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in the Queen City. “Eight Minutes” is an opportunity to learn who those people are and what motivates them to be a positive influence. �4 National Issue STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Being Homeless is Against the Law A ragtag group of people huddles under a highway bridge, cars thundering overhead, setting up tents and a few belongings. They are waiting out a storm. It will likely be a few days before the rain finally stops, so they are grateful for the protection and a measure of privacy in a public place. Homeless people camped under Interstate 5 until police forced them out. Photo by Libby Fernandez. Continued from page 1 • Sitting or lying in public places • Spitting • Failure to disperse from public places • Washing cars or windshields • Being without a shirt Using a toilet is a universal need. You might think a person could just use the facilities in a public place such as a library or subway or a shelter. But that ig­ nores facts that only become obvious when you are living on the street. Many public places can be too far away to walk to – assuming you can walk - and are locked much of the day. Many shelters have re­ stricted access; not anyone can just wander in when they want. And businesses rarely allow people who are not customers to use their facilities. Then there’s the challenge of taking a shower. or anywhere else unless you actually walked under the bridge.” In 2007 approximately 3.6 million people were Efforts to rid the streets of evidence of home­ homeless at some time in North America, ac­ lessness can increase during highly visible public cording to a number of non-profit organizations. events. At these times a city wants to look good by “Homeless” is defined in a variety of ways, so it is “sweeping” unpleasant aspects of the community impossible to paint a uniform picture of what this out of sight. Police in many cities conduct sweeps in reality looks like. But the numbers show that home­ which they round up individuals on the street and lessness has reached epidemic proportions. The take them to a specific location or simply dump the popular response is punishment. people far away from where they were picked up. “It’s illegal to be homeless in this country. We By the time they make their way back, the event will have a form of economic profiling similar to racial be over. profiling,” says Michael Stoops, director of commu­ The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British nity organizing for the National Coalition for the Columbia, is an example. Homeless in Washington, D.C. “It’s a major prob­ “What we have seen in Vancouver is an escalation lem, and it’s not going to go away unless citizens in the criminalization of poverty and homelessness demand that their cities do something about it in a in the lead up to the Olympics,” says Sean Condon, positive manner.” Olympic Kidnapping executive director of Megaphone. “Homeless advo­ This is true across all of North America. cates believe this is an attempt to sweep the poor “During the past 10 years the number of tick­ While advocates for the homeless recognize the away during the games. While that hasn’t been fully ets given to the homeless by the police has qua­ harmful impact of such laws, most communities actualized, it has led to displacement and further drupled,” says Serge Lareault, publisher of the are slow to recognize the added burdens they place criminalization. The first wave started last winter Canadian street paper L’Itinéraire. “Considered an on people already struggling to overcome signifi­ when the police, taking advantage of transition in ‘open city,’ many homeless have moved to Montré­ cant barriers. A single complaint can result in fines the mayor's chair, started handing out tickets to al, especially after the situation in Toronto, where for homeless people even if they are causing no homeless and low-income people in Vancouver's the police decided to ‘clean’ the downtown of the problems. When four police cars pulled up to an Downtown Eastside – a poor neighborhood that homeless through ticketing and harassment. area under the Interstate 5 bridge in Sacramento, is most well known for having an open drug mar­ “From 1994 to 2007 the population ket – for everything from jaywalking and of homeless in Montréal has passed riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. After a Using a toilet is a universal need. You might think a person from 15,000 to 30,000. The tickets public outcry and the new mayor’s own could just use the facilities in a public place such as a library given to the homeless between 2003­ opposition, the police finally backed off. or subway or a shelter. But that ignores facts that only become However, this past summer they started 05 total $3.3 million, and they will obvious when you are living on the street. Many public places another crackdown in the neighborhood never pay it, because they have no money. The majority of them say it’s can be too far away to walk to – assuming you can walk - and are on the vendors who sell often found a big reason why they will not be able locked much of the day. Many shelters have restricted access; goods on the street. Homeless/low-in­ to reintegrate the society, because not anyone can just wander in when they want. And businesses come people are unable to pay the $100­ they have too much to pay.” rarely allow people who are not customers to use their facilities. $500 tickets that were handed to them.” People who live on the street or A more benevolent label on another rely on shelters for temporary hous­ law recently enacted in British Columbia ing are on the outside of society because they ap­ Calif., and cops started ticketing the people shelter­ is the Assistance to Shelter Act, which authorizes pear to do things that are inappropriate. The law ing there, Paula Lomazzi, editor of Homeward, the police to “forcibly remove a homeless person and treats certain necessary behaviors as “anti-social” local street paper, was nearby. Lomazzi also works take them to a shelter when there is an extreme when they are performed in public. Criminal cita­ with the Sacramento Homeless Organizing Com­ weather warning,” Condon says. With approxi­ tions are often issued to homeless people for activi­ mittee (SHOC). mately 3,000 homeless people in Vancouver and ties that everyone else does indoors or on private “Safe Ground Sacramento was having a retreat approximately 1,000 shelter beds, plus a few emer­ property: earning income, sleeping, eating, going about a couple blocks away when we received a gency shelters, there are more homeless people to the bathroom or sitting down to rest. call about this,” Lomazzi says. “We all took a break than available beds. Stoops calls these “quality of life” behaviors. Some from the meeting to support the group under the “Dubbed the Olympic Kidnapping Act by locals, of the laws barring them are cited in the Homes Not bridge, including two attorneys. It was raining. The (the law) is troubling,” Condon says. “What the po­ Handcuffs: The Criminalization of Homelessness in group that was camping/living under the bridge lice, the shelter and the homeless person are sup­ U.S. Cities, a 2009 report by the National Coalition had moved there because their regular place was posed to do when all the shelters are full has not for the Homeless and the National Law Center on flooded out by (a) high river. They had nowhere been answered. In fairness, the Vancouver police Homelessness and Poverty. They include: else to go. Police gave them all citations and told department has said they will not forcibly take a • Bathing in public waters them they had to leave. … We found out later that homeless person to a shelter and will only encour­ • Urination/defecation in public a lady that lives in the area had complained. This age them to go. But police departments in other • Begging/panhandling bridge underpass is not located near any residents • Camping in public places or business. They were not visible from the street See Homeless, p. 5 �STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 5 National Issue Being Homeless is Against the Law Continued from page 4 municipalities, including other Metro Van­ couver cities, have not made the same guar­ antee.” As recently as December 2009, the Supreme Court of British Columbia has ruled in favor of the rights of homeless people. The court refused to reverse a decision made in 2008 by Supreme Court Justice Carol “What we have seen in Ross, which struck down byVancouver is an escalation laws in the city in the criminalization of poverty and homelessness in of Victoria pro­ hibiting home­ the lead up to the Olympics. people Homeless advocates believe less from camping this is an attempt to sweep in public parks. the poor away during the games. While that hasn’t been She wrote that the bylaws “vi­ fully actualized, it has led olate … the Ca­ to displacement and further nadian Charter criminalization.” of Rights and - Sean Condon, Megaphone Freedoms in that they de­ prive homeless people of life, liberty and se­ curity of the person in a manner not in ac­ cordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” Housing is cheaper There are no comprehensive studies prov­ ing that the criminalization approach to homelessness improves public safety. Advo­ cates for the homeless, however, cite scientif­ ic research and anecdotal evidence to prove that addressing the root causes of homeless­ ness – not the behaviors related to it – can have a positive long-term impact for the community as well as the individuals. Homes Not Handcuffs cites a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association in which Seattle researchers concluded that it’s “cheaper to provide supportive housing to chronically homeless individuals with severe alcohol problems than to have them live on the streets. “Researchers designed a study to evaluate the effect of a Housing First intervention for chronically homeless individuals with se­ vere alcohol problems on the use and costs of services,” the report says. “According to the study, the median costs of Housing First participants before the study were $4,066 per person per month. When participating in the Housing First program, median monthly costs decreased to $1,492 per person per month, after six months and $958 after 12 months.” Some cities make an effort to balance the criminalization approach with efforts to as­ sist individuals in connecting with service providers. The uneven application of harsh enforcement is illustrated in Colorado. Den­ ver’s Road Home – a 10-year plan to end homelessness – includes criminalization or­ dinances, but the city “adopted a policy of training officers on how to do outreach to the homeless,” says Tim Covi, editor of the Den­ ver VOICE. Law enforcement is expected to direct people to assistance rather than issue tickets right away. While the homeless on the Down­ town Business Improvement District say they have been treated with respect, others aren’t so fortunate. “Particularly along the Platte River and Cherry Creek areas, where the homeless often sleep at night and by law are not permitted to sleep, the Denver VOICE has received ac­ counts of people’s possessions being discard­ ed after they were roused in the morning and told to leave the area,” Covi says. “We have been told by at least five homeless people that the police make regular stops early in the morning on the Platte River and tell people to Trying to earn money with a squeegee in Denver. Photo by Rod Graham. leave, and that if they’re found there again, they’ll be ticketed or arrested.” Scarce financial resources and public sen­ timent means advocates for the homeless have the added responsibility of educating the public about the steps necessary to end homelessness. Most large cities have more homeless people than shelter beds and even fewer services to address the root causes of the problem – mental health issues, addic­ tion, job training, high unemployment rates, hiring practices that bar individuals with criminal records. Success stories are hard to come by. The “A Key Not a Card” campaign in Port­ land, Ore., allows outreach workers from five different service providers to offer people im­ mediate housing, instead of just a business card. “From the program’s inception in 2005 through spring 2009, 936 individuals in 451 households have been housed through the program, including 216 households placed directly from the street,” says the Homes Not Handcuffs report. Another innovative and successful pro­ gram cited by the report comes from Day­ tona Beach, Fla. In an effort to reduce the need for panhandling, a coalition of service providers, businesses and the city of Daytona Beach provides homeless people with jobs and housing. The Downtown Street Team program hires homeless people to clean up downtown Daytona Beach. Each is provided with shelter and then transitional housing. Some of the participants have secured other full-time jobs and housing as a result. Make them wear signs Unfortunately, failed programs tend to get the most attention. “What happens when a city proposes some new initiative to solve the homeless problem – and this is in a negative way, to criminal­ ize homelessness – it passes,” says Michael Stoops of the National Coalition for the Homeless. “The chamber of commerce, the police department, the business community will say that this new anti-panhandling pro­ gram is working. And then other cities hear about it. Cities are actually very lazy. They will copy and pass this same, exact panhandling ordinance that was passed in Cincinnati.” Indianapolis, Ind., and other municipali­ ties are currently considering the ordinance Stoops refers to. “In 2003 Cincinnati City Council passed an ordinance requiring panhandlers to ob­ tain licenses from the health department,” says Gregory Flannery, editor of Streetvibes. “Teachers, nurses, activists and others reg­ istered as panhandlers in an expression of solidarity. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (parent organization of Streetvibes) filed a civil-rights lawsuit in fed­ eral court alleging the ordinance was a vio­ lation of the First Amendment, which guar­ antees the right to free speech. In settling the lawsuit, the city, the Homeless Coalition and Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) agreed to create an outreach position at DCI, whose job includes connecting panhandlers with social services.” Politicians in Cincinnati, eager to appear tough on panhandlers, have sometimes tried to ignore the condi­ tions of the settle­ ment, however. Last Politicians in Cincinnati, summer City Couneager to appear tough cilman Jeff Berding on panhandlers, have proposed taxing pansometimes tried to handlers and makignore the conditions ing them wear signs of the settlement, stating how much the however. Last summer city spends to help City Councilman Jeff homeless people. In Berding proposed taxing response to these con- panhandlers and making ditions and other out- them wear signs stating rageous claims made how much the city in the proposal, Berd- spends to help homeless ing bowed to compeople. In response to munity pressure and these conditions and retracted the measure other outrageous claims but only after a signifimade in the proposal, cant amount of grandBerding bowed to standing. community pressure Advocates are workand retracted the ing to change the views measure but only after of lawmakers while sia significant amount of multaneously finding grandstanding. ways to get around the laws until they are re­ moved. In Sacramento it’s against the law to camp or use “camp paraphernalia” on any pub­ lic property. Camping is allowed on private property with an owner's permission as long as it’s not for more than 24 hours, according to Lomazzi. One unintended consequence of the law is that people who own houses could receive citations for camping violations. If a family wants to have a two-day camp-out in their backyard, they can’t get a permit: The limit is one day. The likelihood of a neighbor call­ ing the police isn’t great. But the net result is much more severe for homeless people. Even though Sacramento has more homeless people than shelter beds, people are not al- See Homeless, p. 6 �6 STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 National Issue Being Homeless is Leading Worship Against the Law Lyrics Continued from page 5 lowed to create their own shelter, de­ nying them even minimal protection against the elements. Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee is trying to adapt. “We have started a new organiza­ tion called Safe Ground Sacramento that is trying to establish legal places for people to stay until housing is available,” Lomazzi says. “Campers stay together and sleep illegally most nights. A church has offered sanctuary to the group on freezing cold nights. Currently, the strategy is to go from one private property to the next … in hopes of evading the anti-camping ordinance by taking advantage of the 24-hour private property loophole. “We set up a Safe Ground commu­ nity on private property near the cen­ tral city with the owner's permission, and that lasted for about a month be­ fore the police came in and arrested everyone. The city threatened to fine the owner, so the group vacated the land.” Support from the community in the form of donations for sleeping cottages and pledges for future finan­ cial support is coming, but locations for the rotating sleeping locations are not yet being offered. ‘Everyone has the right’ Although no data proves criminal­ ization efforts deter crime or increase public safety, municipalities continue to pass punitive laws. Research by the National Coalition for the Homeless illustrates how expensive that ap­ proach can be: * Los Angeles: $6 million a year to pay for 50 extra police officers to crack down on crime in the Skid Row area while the city budgeted only $5.7 million for homeless services. * Gainesville, Fla.: As part of its 10­ year plan to end homelessness, the city commission approved a plan to spend up to $75,000 on a fence to keep people off “Tent City” property, and only $20,000 to address the housing and service needs of those evicted. * Cincinnati, Ohio: A 2007 study by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless found that using the criminal justice system to deal with the consequences of street homeless­ ness is an expensive approach, cost­ ing $65 per bed per day in the jail, compared to $30 a day for permanent supportive housing. At a time when millions are being donated by private citizens and gov­ ernment to offer relief to 1.9 million Haitians left homeless by the recent earthquake, North Americans turn a blind eye to the policies that punish almost twice that many people in the same circumstance. But change is possible. “After two years of debate in front of the Commission of Human Rights of Québec, a victory has been achieved: On 9 Nov. 2009 the commission con­ demned strongly the city and the police regarding the social profiling of Montréal’s homeless,” says Serge Lareault, publisher of L’Itinéraire. “The government of Québec engaged a new lawyer for homeless at the beginning of December 2009. He is charged with the creation of a center for drunk homeless as an alternative to help them and not arresting them or giving tickets. But the fight con­ tinues. The police still arrest and give many tickets each day. Many peo­ ple are asking for programs to help homelessness. Others are asking for an amnesty to the hundreds of home­ less who have tickets.” Both Canada and the United States have signed and ratified and the Uni­ versal Declaration of Human Rights, but both have failed to universally incorporate its principles into their laws. The non-binding United Na­ tions (U.N.) declaration opens with a preamble recognizing “the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalien­ able rights of all members of the hu­ man family is the foundation of free­ dom, justice and peace in the world.” In 1948 the U.N. General Assembly adopted this declaration as a “com­ mon standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.” The recognition that everyone – regardless of any distinction includ­ ing an “other status,” such as home­ lessness – is “born free and equal in dignity and rights” of life, liberty and security of person, is detailed in ad­ monitions to prohibit slavery, torture, arbitrary arrest and a host of other behaviors that the United States and Canada routinely condemn as deplor­ able in other countries. The problem is that we refuse to do as we say. Laws that criminalize homeless­ ness routinely violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Re­ stricting the movement of people in specific locations violates article 13: “Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.” Confiscating and disposing of personal property because it happens to be on public land violates article 17: “Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of (his/her) property.” Perhaps the most egregious violation of all is the blatant disregard for Article 25: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living ad­ equate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disabil­ ity, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” Homelessness has become a crime, but homeless people are the victims, not the perpetrators. Laws that wors­ en their plight aggravate the offense. Just as mental illness, sexual abuse and addiction are conditions that call for helping victims – not prosecuting them – homelessness deserves a re­ sponse rooted in compassion, fiscal sense and respect for international law. Helping homeless people is less expensive than jailing them. But more important, helping homeless people is the right thing to do. Jailing them for being homeless is wrong. Young faith leader speaks 1 openly about faith and music 1 By adriana Shahandeh Contributing Writer M att McCoy, a 24-year-old worship leader and graduate of the Uni­ versity of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, started his worship career at the Vineyard Church in Tri-County. He now leads worship for more than 12,000 adults every weekend at the Harvest Bible Cha­ pel in Chicago. He spoke with Streetvibes about his lyricism, his career and his faith. What’s the most honest lyric you’ve ever written? In “Will You Carry Me,” it’s really just me talking to God, saying, it’s been too long since I’ve spoken with you. “Will you welcome me back home / I know it’s time to lay down my pride / And give you the pieces that shat­ tered inside my heart / I’m so tired of running, so Lord will You carry me?” That lyric just re­ sounds to me because I feel like it’s really per­ sonal and true. Everyone has mo­ ments of doubt in their faith. What triggers those moments for you? Matt McCoy writes and performs music for worship. There are things you Photo courtesy of Matt McCoy. go through, where you … lose a loved one or family members get sick or … maybe things don’t go as you expected or hoped. It can just make you wonder, “God, where are you? Can you hear me? Do you even still see anymore? Am I on your mind?” (Doubt) is always a seasonal thing (for me). It’s never consistent. Maybe I’ll have doubts for a little bit, but I always end up seeing the faithfulness of God come through. And maybe I was going through that storm, that rough patch, just so God can show me character. Maybe God was allowing me to go through that. What triggers the moment when that doubt passes? Honestly I think it just takes … time. I think there’s nothing wrong with ask­ ing questions. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with doubting, because it causes you to question: why do I believe what I believe? And what is it that I believe? So I think doubt can actually be healthy, because it makes you start really thinking. You start looking for answers. You end up rebuilding that foun­ dation. Do you have the same kind of ups and downs when it comes to having faith in your music? Professionally? Yes, absolutely. I think one of the hardest things about being a musician is that you write these songs and you’re emotionally connected to them, so it’s hard to disconnect yourself from the song, and sometimes when you do, you start (doubting). Was there a specific time in your life where you felt something didn’t go as you had planned, instead unfolded into an even more positive experience and you felt it was a path orchestrated for you or that you were pushed toward? Yes. There was a time I was applying to schools all over the place. I didn’t know where I was going to go, and every time I got accepted into a school, I’d research the churches in that area, because I knew I wanted to be involved in the worship industry. In the end, I had my sights on (Indiana University). But, last minute, about a week before my graduation, there was an opening at the Vineyard Church. It’s an amazing church – great heart. It was just so last min­ ute. I applied for it, got the job and within a week or two I moved to Cincin­ nati. What’s the most surprising lyric you’ve ever written? “I want to be consistently faithful and break away from temporary highs.” And I think that surprised me because it showed that it’s so easy to get on these temporary God highs. Maybe for a season, maybe for a week, maybe for a month you’re all out for God. But then just maybe a month you start walking away again. I want to be consistent. I want to have a faithfulness that’s consis­ tent. When that lyric came out , it really showed me something about myself I tried to work on: Am I being consistent? How do you want to be remembered? As a person who passionately sought after God’s heart and cared for others more than himself. �STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Housing Issues 7 Metropole Tenants Confront HUD Shaun Donovan leaves through the back door 1 By Paul koPP Contributing Writer “I ’m not going nowhere till the last minute,” Rob Porter said as he stood outside the offices of the Cincinnati Herald after attending a Feb. 18 press conference by U.S. Secretary of Hous­ ing and Urban Development (HUD) Shaun Donovan. Porter is a resident of the Metropole Apartments, a low-income housing site downtown. He went to the press conference to voice his disapproval of the relocation of Metropole residents. Last year the Cincinnati Center City De­ velopment Corp. (3CDC) bought the build­ ing and plans to turn it into an upscale ho­ tel. Under HUD regulations, residents have one year to move. The Metropole Tenants Association (MTA) has filed a fair-housing complaint with HUD, alleging the forced relocation constitutes discrimination. HUD has not yet ruled on the complaint. ‘Happy to sit down with you’ Donovan was in town to promote the re­ sults of President Obama’s American Recov­ ery and Reinvestment Act. He used the For­ Shaun Donovan, secretary of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. est Square senior apartments in Avondale as an example of the law’s positive impact serve affordable housing. are doing in other parts of the city, and dis­ on communities and workers. The project, Josh Spring, executive director of the band this contract, which is going to make still underway, has created 70 construction Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Home­ near zero amount of low-income hous­ jobs. less, told Donovan that the issue is not only ing in this area. It’s segregation downright, After introductions by State Sen. Eric about the loss of affordable housing but plain and simple.” Kearney (D-Cincinnati) and U.S. Rep. Steve also the fair-housing complaint. “We’re looking at it,” Donovan said. Driehaus (D-Cincinnati), Donovan contin­ “Our local fair-housing officer tells us Donovan answered some other brief ued to discuss the accomplishments of the that, if Metropole tenants are removed questions and then was directed by his recovery act. So far 79,000 jobs have been from downtown – a district that has had a aides to a photo shoot in the Herald offic­ saved in Ohio, he said. Donovan also dis­ status of being diverse for 30-plus years – es. Though he had expressed an interest in cussed topics ranging from his hopes of it could lose that diversity. It is a sense of meeting with MTA representatives, a time creating a green economy to compete with cleansing the downtown,” Spring said. “It is wasn’t set. MTA members, Howard, Spring China to his partnership with local senators about more than making sure the units are and Rob Goeller – civil-rights outreach to stop foreclosures on homes and the $25 dispersed about. We want to keep fair hous­ coordinator for the Homeless Coalition – million in stimulus money ing.” waited outside in hopes of setting up a time that has been allocated to Donovan said HUD has to meet with Donovan. But Donovan’s aides reverse the effect of fore­ “The reason we filed the strengthened enforcement said he was busy, and though he might not closures in Cincinnati. The of fair-housing laws with be able to meet with them, he was aware of complaint is because money will also be used to we know we are dealing substantial funding from the Metropole situation and is talking with help with neighborhood with a private company, Congress. He said HUD has local HUD officials about it. revitalization. As Spring walked around the building, and the Fair Housing Act a range of ways in which to Robert Wavra, a member ensure fair housing. With trying to locate another exit that Donovan does apply to private of the Metropole Tenants entities. All we want is those comments, he ended might use, Donovan went out through a Association, confronted the press conference. back door. to bring awareness to Donovan about HUD’s the issue and for Model The mood afterward was “Do you have five minutes to talk to ten­ delay on the fair-housing ants?” Spring said. “There are three tenants Group not to be able to tense. complaint, which was ini­ come in, because of their “What he had to say to me right out front. We could also talk later on tially filed four months reputation and what they was bullcrap,” Wavra said. today or anytime.” ago. “I have two meetings, and then I’m head­ are doing in other parts “You (Donovan) had our “Why aren’t you protect­ of the city, and disband complaint for four months ed to the airport,” Donovan said. ing us?” Wavra said. “It doesn’t look good when you won’t talk this contract, which is but now you are going to “We are reviewing that going to make near zero look at it this morning be­ to tenants,” Spring said. application as we speak Donovan and his aides apologized, gave amount of low-income cause I asked you a ques­ and looking at the con­ Spring the secretary’s card and left. housing in this area. It’s tion. That’s bullcrap.” cerns you have raised,” Earlier, while the group was waiting for segregation downright, Donovan said. “We haven’t Donovan ducks out Donovan, they spoke to Driehaus. Spring plain and simple.” made the decision yet, and and others asked if he could provide any in­ - Rickell Howard, that is why we haven’t got­ Rickell Howard, the Legal formation about a meeting with Donovan. Legal Aid Attorney ten back to you. Let me Aid attorney representing “He is talking to James (Cunningham, lo­ be absolutely clear: Our the MTA, criticized 3CDC’s cal HUD field director) locally,” Driehaus number-one goal is to preserve affordable use of the Model Group to help convince said. “He’s talking to a bunch of folks. This housing. We would be happy to sit down residents to move. guy’s schedule is packed. He is not ignoring with you.” “The reason we filed the complaint is be­ it. You heard what he said about big picture. Wavra asked why, if HUD hasn’t yet made cause we know we are dealing with a private From the big-picture perspective, he obvi­ a decision about the relocation plan for company, and the Fair Housing Act does ously has his time and his heart in the right residents, 3CDC is pressuring Metropole apply to private entities,” she said. “All we place, in terms of preserving affordable residents to move. Donovan said HUD is want is to bring awareness to the issue and housing. He gets it. He is aware of it. I trust still reviewing the plan and will continue for Model Group not to be able to come in, him. He’s not just a faceless bureaucrat.” to work with Metropole residents to pre- because of their reputation and what they Call 513-421-7803 x11 to learn about Streetvibes subscriptions �8 STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Recipe “Feed Me, Seymour / Feed Me All Night Long …” Veggie Curry with Red Quinoa 1 cup red quinoa (and a rice cooker) 2 cups water 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 white or yellow onions, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 16 oz. bag frozen cauliflower/broccoli mix, defrosted 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped 3 tablespoons curry powder or paste 2 cups vegetable broth 14 oz can coconut milk Photo by Jeni Jenkins. By Jeni JenkinS Staff Writer T his is one of my recent food experi­ ments, an attempt at cultivating my tumultu­ ous love affair with Indian cuisine. In 2003 I attended a research conference in Los Angeles with a cohort of my colleagues. The first evening of our stay, members of my group decided we should eat at this little Indian restaurant near the beach in Santa Monica. I was cautious, as I had never eaten Indian food, and I sheepishly believed there couldn’t be a single item on the menu that I would enjoy. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I instantly fell in love with the rich spicy flavors and delectable aromas Indian food offers. Since that time I have invested a bit of time in re-creating Indian dishes at home, some with tremen­ dous success. Others were tossed into the trash with ut­ ter disappointment. This dish combines my love for veggies and creamy sauce with my exploration with the South American grain, quinoa (pronounced “keen­ wah). As a vegetarian, I am constantly looking for food with high protein content. Quinoa is one of the most complete proteins and is su­ perior to most other common grains. Quinoa is an excellent source of calcium and iron and contains a near-perfect balance of all eight essential amino acids required for hu­ man survival. Additionally, it is gluten-free. The texture is not grainy, and eating qui­ noa is like eating tiny little beads that pop a little in your mouth as you chew. Here is my first of many experiments with this grain. I hope you’ll enjoy as much as I did. 1. Prepare the quinoa, either as directed on the package or by putting 1 cup quinoa and 2 cups water in a rice cooker for 45 minutes. 2. While the quinoa is cooking, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Sauté the onion and garlic 3-4 minutes until the onions turn translucent. 3. Turn the heat up slightly to medium high and add the defrosted cauliflower/broccoli mix. Cook approxi­ mately 3 minutes. 4. Gently stir in the chopped spinach and cook until wilted. 5. In a bowl, mix the vegetable broth with the curry powder. Pour mixture over the veggies and simmer to a low boil. 6. Stir in the coconut milk, cover and cook on medium for 5 minutes. 7. Serve the curried vegetables over the hot quinoa. 8. Voila, FEED! Serving size: 3-4 bellies. Artwork By Anthony Williams Cleo’s Joke Corner If you carrot for me, my heart beets for you with your turnip nose and your radish hair. Your chin is a peach. If we cantaloupe, lettuce marry and become a pear. ! ? t a h W “In thinking of the mechanisms of power, I am thinking of its capillary form of existence, the point where power reaches into the very grain of individuals, touches their bodies and inserts itself into their actions and attitudes, their discourses, learning processes and everyday lives.” Say___________________ - Michel Foucault, Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings �STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 9 Local News Stop Abuses by Military Recruiters Continued from page 1 be lured or pressured into military service for which they are not yet prepared, she says. Many students are giv­ en a fantasy portrayal of the military, with promises that they can avoid deployment or that they will be able to go to college without cost. “There have been docu­ mented cases of recruiters saying ‘Things are safer in the streets of Baghdad than downtown Cincinnati’ or ‘You’ll never go to Iraq,’ things about what types of benefits they would be able to receive or telling them they have full control of where they would be placed, or what type of job they would have, which is ab­ solutely untrue,” Barker says. Each school’s guide­ lines are subject to change as school administrations change. “Principals establish informal guidelines,” Bark­ er says. “They aren’t writ­ ten down or codified in any school policy. They are not available when you call to ask what they are.” Other districts Demonstrators stand with mock coffins outside U.S. military recruiting station in New York City. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton. have established policies that help protect students, including limiting military recruiters to the same areas allotted to college recruiters. School districts in Draft Resolution to Eliminate Recruiter Abuses in Toledo, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Seattle and dozens of other Cincinnati Public Schools: cities have implemented district-wide policies to protect stu­ dents from recruiting abuses, and some states have legislation All Recruiters (college, employment or military) shall be subject to these procedures: requiring statewide policies. 1. Recruiters must register with the school office and wear a visitor's pass. Cincinnati Public Schools has no policy on military recruit­ 2. All recruiters must sign a code of conduct before visiting campus. ment. No guidelines exist to ensure that students are given 3. CPS school board and Cincinnati Federation of Teachers will establish procedures to equal exposure to post-graduation options and protected document and resolve violations by recruiters of CPS policy. from recruiter abuses. IJPC is concerned about the extent of 4. Except for career and college fairs, recruiters shall have access only to interested recruiters’ access to students, misinformation by recruiters juniors and seniors in designated areas of the school. and the lack of balanced information for students. The orga­ 5. CPS employees shall not engage in recruitment activities on behalf of an outside nization wants a district policy to ensure that students and entity. parents are fully informed of their right not to have contact 6. Materials on making informed military enlistment and employment and education­ information released to recruiters, limit recruiters’ access to al opportunities shall be available wherever U.S. Armed Forces material is located. schools and promote an environment that allows students to 7. Schools should refer to the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB) make informed decisions. by its full name if the test is administered, and ensure test scores are kept confiden­ “We are really hoping that Cincinnati Public Schools takes a tial by choosing “Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test (ASVAB) Option systematic approach to recruiting and follow the lead of doz­ 8.” ens of districts in establishing a policy to protect student rights, 8. CPS shall educate students and parents/guardians on opt-out policies and other end the preferential treatment military recruiters receive and policies regarding recruitment. eliminate recruiter abuses,” Barker says. “The important thing 9. Equal access shall be granted by CPS to advocates for alternatives to military ser­ right now is to gather support.” vice. To help IJPC’s effort, call 513-579-8547. To sign a petition asking Cincinnati Public Schools to adopt a district-wide policy on military recruitment, visit http://www.change.org/ijpc-cincinnati/actions/view/stop_military_recruiter_abuses_in_cincinnati_public_schools. Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �10 STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Poetry Page Count-Time The Touch of a Word By Sonny Williams By Alexis Victor 9 p.m. and the lights go out. London Prison Farm gets quiet. Headphones go on convicts’ ears. The guards symbolize the prison injustice and the pain Of not seeing a lover, mother or son. Ahmed Evans rings in the Minds of the men’s dreams Of freedom and human respect. Ahmed Evans, Ashby Leach, all Political prisoners, all fighters For all prisoners and justice. End prison construction! Lessons By George Herrell As a child we dreamt of growing up And then of growing old Of all that which was in between, “Ignore it!” we were told And now that lost experience Is like so much buried gold Childhoods crushed! Futures sold! God When the skyscrapers are skeletons And the nights never end And our minds bear the crosses Of all that might have been When we hear our children laughing Ignorant of sin Will we win? Or just start again? Interested in volunteering with Streetvibes? Contact Greg Flannery at 513-421-7803 x 12 or by e-mail at streetvibes2@yahoo.com the face worn by the cold, wrinkled with regret the smile faded, eyes blank. Lost. yearning for the warmth of a connection eyes meet, a smile, nod of the head. worth more than the filthy bill too precious to spare for someone in need an exchange of words can touch the soul, spark a light in the eyes alleviate the wrinkled problems on the face fill the mind, body and soul with purpose for change. The Unknown and the Unnamed By Kate Taylor The folds of thin, fraying fabric Form a crumbling resistance Against the tormenting Frost-bitten air A candle burns at the end of a dark street Sputtering light and warmth until The invisible thief snatches It away Pleas for help take the shape Of cardboard signs Silently crying out To passersby Individuals are built On hard, unforgiving concrete Stories without readers burn To ashes in graveside flames STREETVIBES Only purchase Vendor Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the Mary paper. If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes. �STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 11 Housing Issue Myth-Buster: Affordable Housing and Property Values Research finds no negative impact By Michelle dillinghaM Contributing Writer W ho knew the world of property-value appraisal was so elusive, so complicated? After researching the topic – essentially a “real estate appraisal for dummies” Inter­ net search – I am now more mystified than ever. But there is good news, and it doesn’t require understanding the complexities of property valuation. The good news is that research­ ers have determined that the presence of affordable housing does not negatively impact property values. Dispelling this myth is im­ portant because communities have used this unfounded fear as a rationale to reject proposals for subsidized housing projects. Property values 101 The three major causes of a decline in property values are the removal of improvements from a property; a calamity or disaster, such as a fire or flood; and a decline in the real-estate market due to neighborhood changes, departure of a major industry and the economy in general. I spoke to a real-estate appraiser about the factors that go into valuing a property. He said having a gas station or factory adjacent to a property can negatively influence its value. Even in this case, however, if the neighborhood suddenly becomes popular to young homeowners, property values can still increase. He told me an ap­ praiser is not allowed to cite the presence of subsidized housing as by a community development corporation (CDC) actually caused an an explanation for a decrease in property value. increase in property values. The main factor that appraisers consider is the sales or foreclo­ “In one recent econometric analysis of the impacts of CDC de­ sures in the neighboring prop­ velopment work on prop­ erties. The appraiser I spoke to erty values, it was found that assured me that the fear that “In one recent econometric analysis of the impacts of CDC these groups have been able property values will decrease to spark a chain reaction development work on property values, it was found that these due to adjacent subsidized groups have been able to spark a chain reaction of investment of investment that leads to housing is unfounded. He did dramatic improvements to that leads to dramatic improvements to neighborhoods.” note that, if properties are not neighborhoods,” Bratt wrote. - Rachel G. Bratt well managed and litter and Bratt cited a 2005 study by blight proliferates, this can the Urban Institute showing cause adjacent homeowners to sell, thereby causing a decrease in that “CDC investments in affordable housing and commercial retail property values. facilities have led to increases in property values … that are some­ Property taxes are calculated using the assessed property values times as great as 69 percent higher than they would have been in the and millage rates. Therefore, property values determine how much absence of the investment.” property tax local government can collect. Our own city budget relies Bratt also cited a study by the MIT Center for Real Estate. heavily on property taxes. Having robust property values generates “Another rigorous research study conducted in Massachusetts more property taxes, which go to fund more city services. Clearly, no concluded that the ‘introduction of large-scale high density mixed in­ one wants to see property values decline, but let us not place blame come rental developments in single-family neighborhoods does not on affordable housing. affect the value of surrounding homes,’ ” Bratt wrote. Her conclusion is that, if housing is well designed and managed, The surprising truth “there are no negative impacts of affordable housing on the property values of neighboring single-family homes.” Sometimes communities will mobilize to fend off subsidized devel­ The next time someone uses property values as an excuse to block opment by citing fears their property values will decrease. Tufts Uni­ a building for senior citizens subsidized by the U.S. Department of versity Professor Rachel G. Bratt has reviewed a number of research Housing and Urban Development’s 211 fund, I will be sure to let them reports that measured the effect of affordable housing on property know their claims are based in fear, not fact. values. She found evidence that development of affordable housing Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this year. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �12 Sports STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Paul Brown’s Biggest Fumble Even the legendary coach had his flaws By B. cliFton Burke Contributing Writer for eight years, and the speculation began that he would become the next head coach of the Bengals. Instead, n the state of Ohio there is a Brown hired someone named Bill “Tifootball legend that compares ger” Johnson, and Walsh left Cincinto no other; he is Paul Brown, nati for other opportunities. and he is rightfully revered by those After coaching at Stanford for two who are familiar with his career. seasons, Walsh became the head The man revolutioncoach of the San Francisco ized the game in countless 49ers in 1979, going on to ways, ranging from a comThe man revolutionized the game in countless win three Super Bowls in 10 plex passing attack to the ways, ranging from a complex passing attack seasons. He is nicknamed face mask on helmets. He to the face mask on helmets. He coached his the “Genius,” and the same coached his way to an Ohio way to an Ohio state championship at Massillon offense he devised in Cincinstate championship at High, an NCAA championship at Ohio State and nati has since been dubbed Massillon High, an NCAA both an AAFL and an NFL championship with the West Coast Offense and is championship at Ohio the Cleveland Browns – a team named after him. now used in some variation State and both an AAFL by nearly every NFL team. and an NFL championship The twist to the story, with the Cleveland Browns – a team The facts are that Walsh was hired though, is that Walsh says that, when named after him. by the expansion Bengals in 1968 as he was passed over for the head He founded the Bengals in 1968, a receivers coach but quickly became coaching job and decided to leave, taking over as team president, general what would later be called an offensive Brown actively tried to sabotage his manager and head coach. Yet despite coordinator. He created an offense of career. The Bengals offered Walsh an all of his glory, Brown made two criti- short-yardage passing plays that ac- expanded role and more money but cal mistakes while in Cincinnati. One commodated the weak arm of back- not the top job; and when Walsh reis turning over the team to his son, up quarterback Virgil Carter once the fused, Brown saw it as an act of bewho now acts as team president, gen- promising starter, Greg Cook, went trayal. Brown recommended other eral manager and local villain. The down with a shoulder injury. Walsh teams ignore the future “genius,” calllesser known oversight, however, took led a proficient offense in Cincinnati ing him too soft to be a head coach or I place in 1976, when Brown refused to promote a bright offensive assistant coach who many suspected was being groomed to take over for Brown once he stepped down as head coach. That man is Bill Walsh, whose team went on to beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl – twice. even an offensive coordinator for another team. Former Bengals receiver Isaac Curtis, however, said that Brown once told him that he promised the head coaching job to Bill Johnson eight years earlier, but Bill Walsh said that Brown also promised him the same thing many times. The irony to it all is that Paul Brown, with his speedy players and their fancy passing, was once considered a less than rugged coach, too. The great innovator couldn't see enough of himself in Walsh to make him head coach for the same false drawbacks that were labeled on him. Or was it that Brown saw plenty of himself in Bill Walsh, and wasn't prepared to be replaced by someone as great as he was? Who knows? Sadly, both men have since passed on, and the repercus­ sions of the decisions made by the Bengals in 1976 are well documented. A Bengals fan can't help but wonder what would have happened if Walsh had stayed? How many Super Bowls would Cincinnati have won in the ’80s? Maybe still zero, but I would have liked to see it anyway. Ask a Vendor Dear Grady, Dear Nancy, You have been coming faithfully one Sunday each month to sell the Streetvibes newspapers at Bellarmine Chapel. You feel like a friend! I would like to know how you get to Bellarmine each month. And I would like to know what your days are like. Thank you, Grady! I’ve got my own transportation. But at one time, when I first started going to Bellarmine, Earline Moreland and I used to catch the bus up to Reading Road from downtown, where we stayed, and then walk to church. After Mass, different church members would give us a ride. Up until a year ago I accumulated enough money where I could get my own transportation. I really appreciate the fact that the money I earn helps me pay my rent. They’ve also helped me get in touch with other agencies, such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society. I’d like to send a special thanks to the families that helped me and some other people during the holidays. I didn’t get a chance to thank them in person. Lately I’ve been taking it day by day because I’ve been unemployed except for selling Streetvibes and doing a few odd jobs. If any other readers have small jobs, I’m definitely looking for work. Sincerely, Nancy Grady Cook Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go ahead. Ask. �STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 13 Legal Affairs ‘Do it Yourself’ Appeals New handbook tells how to do it in Columbus By anne Skove Contributing Writer W e will not repeat the old saw that “he who represents himself has a fool for a lawyer,” if only because the saying would be lost in the tide of self-represented (or pro se) litigants. The number of appeals filed pro se in Ohio has increased to over 40 percent. Lawyers cost money – something peo­ ple have less and less of lately. The poor economy plus a distrust of the legal system, the rise of DIY culture, and (con­ trary to what Dan Quayle told us back in the day) lack of af­ fordable attorneys creates the perfect storm for the trend. In the mid-1990s the Legal Services Corp. (LSC) experi­ enced critical budget cuts by the Republican Congress. It responded by promoting pro se assistance with what little money it had left. This ap­ proach was less controversial – the LSC was under political attack for “defending drug dealers,” even though grantee organizations generally did not take criminal cases – and seemed necessary, given the growing number of unrepre­ sented parties. The courts themselves stepped up to the challenges faced by unrepresented parties. One recent example is the Supreme Court of Ohio’s new publication, Filing an Appeal in the Supreme Court of Ohio: A Pro Se Guide. At 84 pages, this manual is no light read. It’s not easy to learn the legal system on your own. But the government trusts us to do our own taxes, fill out our own child-support worksheets, report our own income (both legal and ille­ gal), buy car insurance and elect candidates, so perhaps we can be trusted to file ap­ peals with the state supreme court as well. The book’s length is due in part to the large amount of graphics. Not content with simply providing written di­ rections for how to draft a notice of appeal, for example, the book provides a sample cover sheet identifying all the requisite parts – case name, title, addresses, etc. Other necessary documents are similarly presented. This fool, who found legal proce­ dure courses a bit like learning how to drive by reading a book, ap­ preciates the descrip­ tive pictures. Yale law professor Fred Rodell once said, “There are two things wrong with all legal writing. One is its style. The Ohio Supreme Court building in Columbus, Ohio. The other is its content.” The manual strikes a Twister – maps and driving gal advice” means. The state balance between avoiding directions to the state su­ supreme court recently held legalese whenever possible, preme court, court holidays a course on this very topic while managing to include and an overview of the state for staff. The checklist could the “real” terms. Here is the courts complete the package. be the cheat sheet for such a “perfect” example: Even represented parties and course. “The Rules of Practice of new lawyers might find the Is this book a good substi­ the Supreme Court of Ohio manual helpful for its general tute for a lawyer? In the introrefer to the act of properly fil­ information. duction, the authors play CYA ing an appeal as ‘perfecting’ Court staff, too, will find with this warning: “You are the appeal. For purposes of this manual to be a blessing. strongly advised, however, to simplicity, this guide substi- A handy checklist outlines hire an attorney to represent tutes the word ‘file’ for the le­ what they can and cannot do you through the appeals progal term ‘perfect.’ ” for the self-represented. For cess.” Appendix A is a fine reEnlarged text boxes pro- a long time, court staff mem­ source on locating legal help vide definitions, pronun­ bers around the country were in Ohio. Read the manual ciation and other important instructed, “Do not provide even if you do have a lawyer; notes. Easy-to-read time- legal advice,” and courthouse it will help you understand lines with crucial deadlines signage echoed the senti­ what’s going on. – missing one is the legal ment. Unfortunately, it can David Giacolone contrib­ equivalent to falling down in be tricky to tell what “no le­ uted to this article. The Guide is available online at http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/PIO/news/2010/proSeGuide_020410.asp, another nice user-friendly touch. Venice on Vine Pizza and Hoagies 1301 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine Hours Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. -8:00 p.m. 513-221-7020 Good food for a good cause in a friendly neighborhood restaurant. Dine in or take out. Hoagies, pizza, salads, soups, weekly specials, wifi and organic coffee too! Venice on Vine and Venice Catering are social enterprise programs of Power Inspires Progress (PIP), a nonprofit employment education program for inner city adults. STREETVIBES DISCOUNT: Present this coupon for a free drink with any large hoagie or medium or large pizza. One per customer, valid through March 1, 2010. �14 Football on a Rollercoaster STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Letters to the Editor Start with Compassion Sweating the Aluminum To the Editor: To the Editor: To the Editor: My school was recently visited by a member of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, and shortly thereafter I was given a copy of Streetvibes to read. While thumbing through its pages, I happened upon an article concerning the Cincin­ nati Bengals and the emotional rollercoaster the team (and doubtlessly the city as well) had been riding throughout the season (“The Unexpected Might Be the Bengals’ Best Weapon,” issue of Jan. 1-14). My own feeling for the Bengals have fluctuated madly this whole year. For as long as I have lived here, the Bengals have been dismal. So when they lost the season opener on a fluke play, I felt familiar feelings of anguish, anger and resigned frustration. Another year we would be laughed at. But then we steadily rose and won and won again. Around midseason, I would say I share many of the sentiments that the author of the article has. When the Ben­ gals were riding high, I had misguided notions of the Super Bowl, a bright shiny trophy and bragging rights for the year to come. Slowly, however, those visions faded away. Oak­ land, Minnesota, San Diego, New York. Each week I watched the Bengals implode, and every week I lost a little faith. When Chris Henry went down with an injury, I knew it spelled trouble. When he died, I felt the wheels about to come off. I can’t imag­ ine the pain of Henry’s teammates, family, friends. It seems, however, that his death started the final unraveling of that football team, and that unravel­ ing was felt by everyone in the city. The joy of the division sweep, the anxiety of a mid-season slump, and the horrible, biting feeling of another playoff defeat. Nobody even knows what to say anymore. Beyond all else, I’d like to thank the author for writing about the Bengals in a very emotional and provocative way, I truly enjoyed it. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, the Upper School of Cin­ cinnati Country Day School gathered to learn about homelessness. Grades 9-12 watched the movie The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., which depicts how a talented musician ends up on the streets due to mental illness. The film awak­ ened us to the plight of homelessness, which can strike anyone. Immediately following the film, we heard two speakers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, who had both previously been homeless. The goal of the presentation was to erase stereotypes and enlighten students on ways to con­ tribute to the fight against homelessness. The most important lesson learned that day was compassion. Each person who lives on the streets has their own story and is a human being worthy of empathy and aid. I left the presentation wishing to give hope to those out there on the streets battling the cold and hunger. Hundreds of young adults had taken time out of their day to learn about the lives of those down on their luck, and we cared. We cared about the individuals that are seen as less than hu­ man because they don’t have the privilege of a daily shower; we cared about those who feel degradation from their fellow Americans. We cared and we will continue to care. If the message that hundreds of thousands of people worry and feel for those who suffer on the streets reaches the ears of the afflicted individuals, it might bring a moment of joy to those who need it the most. If I can put a smile on the frown-lined face of a homeless person, the first step towards raising them up to success has been accomplished. I want some feedback from consumers concern­ ing cosmetic-additive anti-perspirants. The market is dominated by aluminum anti-perspirants. Alu­ minum is a harsh metal that can cause cancer. Doc­ tors believe but haven't presented scientific facts that aluminum contained in hygiene products has no impact on human bodies. Competition is good for consumers. Having al­ ternatives to aluminum anti-perspirants can lower prices. Personally, as a consumer, I am tired of using aluminum cosmetic additives and want a change. I want to present a new formula using fortified iron as metal base. The formula hasn't been devel­ oped but a laboratory in South Carolina can com­ plete that task. The problem is formula-develop­ ment financing. Investors’ financial assistance will be appreciated if elimination of aluminum antiper­ spirants is desired. My fortified iron antiperspirant should be made available to consumers on mass market. Mac McKee Cincinnati Lindsay Dougan Cincinnati Broken Stereotypes To the editor: Eyes now Open To the Editor: I would just like to take the time to thank you for the work you are doing. My school was recently visited by a member of the Greater Cincinnati Co­ alition for the Homeless and I must say that that presentation, in addition to your paper, have really opened my eyes to the true nature of poverty. I now realize what I didn’t only a few short weeks ago, that homeless people can come from anywhere. My mental image of the homeless has changed irre­ versibly from this experience, and I hope to change those of the people around me as well. Sincerely, Michael Fitzgerald Cincinnati I am a junior at Cincinnati Country Day School who was recently introduced to your newspaper through a guest speaker at my school. I was im­ pressed with the quality of your publication and the work you are doing to raise awareness about the homeless community. I was particularly touched by the article “May They Finally Rest in Peace” (issue of Jan. 1). I think it is important to remember those who have died, and your article was a nice tribute to these people. I feel as though it broke the stereo­ type that homeless people have nobody who cares about them. I look forward to reading future issues of your paper and hope that you continue the work you are doing to help the homeless. Jordan Komnick Cincinnati Derrick Prophet busmen4life@aol.com Pure Hip Hop To the Editor: I really enjoyed reading the article “New Voices of the Voiceless” by Ariana Shahandeh (issue of Jan. 1-15). I found it very moving and inspiring. Al­ though I don’t know much about Hip Hop or the music industry in general, I found that I didn’t re­ ally need to when reading this piece. I really con­ nected with what the author was saying. After reading the comments about famous artists like Jay Z and Drake, it made me want to go back and listen to those songs to see what the artists are really saying in them. I found myself thinking about how, after an artist becomes famous, they don’t have many other meaningful experiences to draw from like rappers such as Jasiri X and Amar do. It is much more meaningful to hear a song that is about the truth, rather than a song about parties and money. Especially since the economy is in such a bad place and since so many people are suffer­ ing, it is not nearly as appealing to listen to a rap about wealth and money – people want to hear the truth. Like the rapper Common said, Hip Hop is best when it is pure, when it isn’t drowned in drugs and money. Spokespeople from Streetvibes actually just came and talked to my school, Cincinnati Country Day School, and with what they had just said fresh in my mind, this article really made me want to hear more songs by people like Jasiri X and Amar. Again, this article was very touching and I loved reading it. Keep it up. Caroline Perrin Cincinnati Have something on your mind? Do you agree or disagree with an article? Let us know: 1 Become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvibes2@yahoo.com 1 �STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 241-5525 784-1853 Other Resources DIC Live In Program Prospect House 721-0643 921-1613 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 961-2256 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Treatment: Both 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 721-0643 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 471-1100 221-3350 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Advocacy Northern Kentucky Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless Brighton Center 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 721-4700 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health Center for Respite Care 535-2719 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 Hamilton/Middletown 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen AA Hotline CCAT 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 761-1480 381-0111 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 First Step Home 961-4080 621-5514 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 661-4620 Shelter: Both 241-2600 241-2563 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Starting Over Treatment: Women 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Drop Inn Center 458-6670 977-4489 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 558-8888 981-5800 872-9259 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Anthony House (Youth) Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Charlie’s 3/4 House Mt. Airy Shelter 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach Treatment: Men Shelter: Men City Gospel Mission Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House Crossroad Health Center 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 aFFordaBle rateS etvibes? tre nS sted in Adve e r e t rtis In ing i Many SizeS (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) Black & White and color availaBle diScountS For nonProFitS Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES March 1 - 14, 2010 Ascending to the Pure Realms Gloria McConnaghy’s creations celebrate spirituality “W hy don’t you draw pictures about something from your heart, something you dream of, good things you remember?” That was the advice a junior high school art teacher gave Gloria McConnaghy when she was a pre-adolescent girl. It was an advice she would never forget and that shaped from then on all her artistic expression. Gloria, born in California, grew up in British Columbia and later located in Cincinnati. As a young child, she liked drawing, enrolled in scholastic art programs and won several awards. When ready to choose a career, a well-meaning adviser dissuaded her from going to art school and directed her instead toward nursing. She attended a small Jewish nursing school in San Francisco and mingled with stu­ dents from all ethnic backgrounds, African-American, Jewish, Japa­ nese, Chinese, Haitian. “This was the best thing that ever happened to me,” she says, “It woke me up to social reality and forged my tolerance by experience.” Gloria loved nursing and taking care of patients who opened her eyes to the world and its diversity. While working as a nurse, she took art classes at night, mostly drawing and painting. The paintings she did then were popular and sold well; she felt, however, they had noth­ ing to do with her. Frustrated, she decided to stop painting until she had something to say. Interested in public health, she joined the Cincinnati Health Department, then the Peace Corps and Save the Children, which took her for many years to Colombia, Fiji, Tuvalu and Bhutan. Not master­ ing the languages of these countries, she resorted to her drawing skills to generate public-health teaching documents based on images she would create. Their top­ ics varied from preven­ tion of malaria, maternal as and child health care, family planning, clean water and sanitation to a By Saad ghoSn complete primary health Contributing Writer care manual for Bhutan. The documents served as visual aids well suited to citizens of these countries who could not read well. They tied her art interest to her public-health concerns. When, after many years of overseas commitment, she decided to settle back home, Gloria was well in her 50s, out of synch with the nursing field and not easily marketable. To earn a living, she started an ethnic jewelry and folk-art shop in downtown Cincinnati and got A rtists ctivists Ascending from Evil into the Pure Realms, mixed media assemblage by Gloria McConnaghy. Photo by Saad Ghosn. Gloria McConnaghy. Photo by Bill Howes. back, seriously this time, into her own creative art. Inspired by her experiences abroad and the spirituality of the places she had lived in or visited, she started doing small construction pieces, shrines or altar-like, some with strong religious connotations, each with a per­ sonal story. They connected her to her dreams, to the mystical images she had in her mind, to her beliefs, to the people she had met, and to the important individuals who had influenced her views of the world. Gandhi, the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa, for instance, often ap­ peared in her works, reflecting on the values of peace, non-violence, love and compassion they promoted and imparted onto her. Corona Awaiting Her Ascent into Heaven is a small construction piece Gloria did in honor of a small and frail black lady she encoun­ tered one day on her way to work. The lady was quite ill but scared to go to the hospital because she had no money. Gloria arranged for an ambulance to take care of her; she died, however, shortly after. That same night she appeared in Gloria’s dream as a beautiful angel as­ cending into the skies. Ascending from Evil into the Pure Realms is about the Holocaust. Although not Jewish, Gloria grew up all her life haunted by the Ho­ locaust and the innocent people who were murdered. She won­ dered what happened to their souls and wanted to commemo­ rate them, floating in the universe, connecting with the world. She glued together two old wooden boxes and used an old broken doll, missing a hand and a foot, as a symbol of the victims. She dressed the doll with a striped outfit similar to the one the pris­ oners had to wear and planted in its open, cracked head, flowers representing hope and life. She also incorporated into the piece old ashes, burnt objects and bones and added pictures of her rela­ tives, underlining her own connection to the oppressed world. Another piece, Mother Teresa, is treated like an old Russian icon, holding in her hands a jewel, her offerings to humanity; and under her, two small statues of the Virgin Mary, a reference to her sainthood. Until two years ago Gloria had been very prolific in her art and participated in many exhibits all over town. Magical images from her experiences kept emerging in her memories, leading her to create a visual world of beauty, poetry, spirituality and positive feelings. “I have strong political views,” she says. “But what comes out in my work is the sweetness, the magic, the beautiful and not the ugliness. I am more interested in peace than just the absence of war. We need to get along and address fairly everyone’s concerns. That is my definition of peace; that is also what I want my work to achieve.” Her social concerns also got her involved in many community projects, for instance, painting murals for a soup kitchen in Cin­ cinnati and offering her services to the Red Cross. For the past two years Gloria’s time and energy have been to­ tally absorbed by the shop she owns and runs on Vine Street. She would like, however, to sell it soon and get back to her creative art. She feels she still has a lot to say and offer; she is in particular eager to create works to sensitize people to the problem of hunger in the world and participate in public art projects. “Art is very important to me,” she says, “It gives me happiness, and when I do it, I am in heaven. It helps me connect with myself and my experiences, also convey, in a poetic translation, the val­ ues I live and believe in.” Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2010 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 March 1-14, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Being Homeless is Against the Law Stop Abuses by Military Recruiters Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Eight Minutes with a British Street Paper Pg 4: Being Homeless is Against the Law Pg 5: Being Homeless is Against the Law Continued Pg 6: Being Homeless is Against the Law Continued Leading Worship Lyrics Pg 7: Metropole Tenants Confront HUD Pg 8: “Reed Me, Seymour/Feed Me All Night Long…” Pg 9: Stop Abuses by Military Recruiters Continued Pg 10: Arts & Poetry Pg 11: Myth-Buster: Affordable Housing and Property Values Pg 12: Paul Brown’s Biggest Fumble Pg 13: ‘Do It Yourself’ Appeals Pg 14: Letters to the Editor Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Ascending to the Pure Realms 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 March 1-14, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Veronica Glass Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Valerie Fessler Alecia A. Lott Jeni Jenkins Saad Ghosn Lew Moores Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite, Anthony Williams Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Alecia A. Lott Anthony Williams Cincinnati Columbus David Heitfield Eli Braun Gloria McConnaghy Gregory Flannery housing HUD Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Larry Gross Law Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Metropole Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham Military Paul Brown Paul Kopp Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Schools Shaun Donovan Valerie Fessler Veronica Glass https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/ba9b95de793295e61f13d9317a22b3b8.pdf 8052bc46bdb0a8b8ce1300ac96725ba9 PDF Text Text Artists as Activists Page 16 Vendor Profile Page 9 Metropole Page 1 STREETVIBES $1 M a r. 1 5 - 3 1 , 2 0 1 0 • A d v o c a t i n g J u s t i c e , B u i l d i n g C o m m u n i t y • I s s u e 1 7 3 City Ignores Plea for Fair Hiring Commission won’t listen, mayor misleads media By Eli Braun Contributing Writer respected community groups representing thousands of Cincinnatians apparently incinnati’s Fair Hir­ arose from a misunderstand­ ing Now Coalition ing that could be cleared up rallied at City Hall by a single phone call. on Feb. 25 to deliver over The morning after the rally, 1,000 letters from city resi­ Mallory taped a segment for dents and community groups WKRC’s Newsmakers with asking Mayor Mark Mallory Dan Hurley, in which he once and his ap­ again de­ pointed nied that Civil Ser“You have a First the city’s vice Comno-felon Amendment right to say mission to what you need to say. Please hiring poli­ end their cy existed. don’t be dissuaded.” policy of “There is - Stephen JohnsonGrove denying not a blan­ city jobs ket policy to qualified applicants who that says we cannot hire fel­ have felony convictions. ons,” Mallory said. “It’s always The Civil Service Commis­ been my belief that you have sion is responsible for estab­ to give people that second lishing screening standards opportunity. The city of Cin­ used in the hiring of certain cinnati can’t be exempt.” civil service employees for Mallory’s claim doesn’t the city of Cincinnati. match the evidence, accord­ For at least three years the ing to David Singleton, ex­ mayor and the Civil Service ecutive director of the Ohio Commission have refused to Justice & Policy Center. acknowledge that a no-fel­ “Bottom line,” he said on on hiring policy even exists, a different segment of Newsmuch less consider creating makers, “if you’re applying a smarter policy. The AMOS for a civil service job, you’re Project, the Ohio Justice & not going to get it if you have Policy Center and the Cincin­ a criminal record.” nati Human Relations Com­ While the mayor maintains mission therefore joined to­ one façade for the cameras, he gether to draw attention to presides over a government the discriminatory practice. that denies rehabilitated peo­ The city’s obstructionist ple with criminal records the stance was only more deeply opportunity to work for their confirmed by its response to city. the rally. Representatives of the Fair Stop That Singing Hiring Now Coalition planned to testify during the commis­ The commission canceled sion’s regular Feb. 25 meeting, its public comment section but upon learning of the rally, the afternoon before the rally. the commission canceled the It did not explain why. There section for public comment. was no time to alert commu­ Over 50 Cincinnati residents nity members who planned arrived at City Hall for the to attend. commission’s 9 a.m. meeting “That train had left the sta­ only to find that they would tion,” said organizer Stephen have no opportunity to tes­ JohnsonGrove, who directs tify. News crews from WLWT the Second Chance Project and WXIX captured their sur­ at the Ohio Justice & Policy prise on video. Center, where he focuses on After the rally, the mayor’s alleviating barriers faced by staff called the news stations former offenders. to deny that the city had a While organizers passed no-felon hiring policy. It was out an agenda and song sheet, all a miscommunication, the Cincinnati Police Sgt. Rich­ mayor’s staff asserted. The ard Antoine told the group, news stations pulled the sto­ “There will be no singing or ries. The concerted efforts of See City, p. 4 C The Fair Hiring Now Coalition demands change. Photo by Nate Wenstrup. Council Turns Backs on Metropole Tenants Millions in subsidies for boutique hotel By Paul KoPP Contributing Writer R ants while local business praised 3CDC for its work and its approach in helping the tenants with the relocation process. obert Britton sat calmly as he waited to speak at the March 3 meeting of ‘This should enrage’ Cincinnati City Council. “I would like to read a scrip­ Andy Church, president of the ture from the Living Way Bible,” Downtown Residents Council, he said. “Anyone that oppresses “I would like to said the group wants to mainthe poor insults God, who made tain diversity downtown. read a scripture them. That’s chapter 14 Prov­ “3CDC has gone above and from the Living Way erbs, the 31st verse." beyond what one would expect Bible. Anyone that Britton was among a group of many other companies pur­ oppresses the poor of activists attending the meet­ suing a similar deal,” he said. insults God, who ing to show their support for “We feel this project is a net made them. That’s the low-income tenants of the chapter 14 Proverbs, positive for the city.” Metropole Apartments. The ten­ Others discussed in more de­ the 31st verse.” ants, some of whom also spoke tail the positive effects the city - Robert Britton at the meeting, oppose a plan by could see from the addition of the Cincinnati Center City De­ the hotel. velopment Corp. (3CDC) that will force them Steve Loftin is president of the Cincinnati to move so the Metropole can be renovated Arts Association, which operates the Aronoff and turned into a boutique hotel. Center across the street from the Metropole. The topic of the council meeting was wheth­ He said he has seen the positive effect 21c has er to give 3CDC and its partner, 21c Hotels, a had in Louisville, where it opened a hotel in $2.5 million grant and a $4.5 million loan to 2006. help fund the renovation. Also being voted on David Ginsburg, president of Downtown was an ordinance that would exempt 3CDC Cincinnati Inc., said the hotel will help round from paying property taxes on improvements out the “backstage entertainment” area to the Metropole during the renovation. downtown and continue the neighborhood’s During the public forum, sides in the debate commercial revitalization, bringing jobs to were quickly drawn. Activists spoke against the funding and the forced relocation of ten­ See Metropole, p. 5 �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 8 The number of years Farron Allen worked for the West Virginia Turnpike before devoting himself to art (see page 16). None The number of citizens allowed to speak to the Cincinnati Civil Service Commission on its policy of barring felons from city jobs (see page 1). 546 The number of scientific studies used in an analysis of the effect that faith has on the human brain (see page 11). 1,200 The number of signatures Dan La Botz obtained when he sought 500 in order to qualify for the ballot (see page 3). 2000 The year President Clinton signed an order requiring government agencies to offer services for people with limited proficiency in English (see page 7). 1967 The year Sonny Williams was sent to fight in Vietnam, after a military recruiter duped him (see page 14). $400 The amount a Metropole tenant receives to help move to a new apartment (see page 1). $2.5 million The amount the city of Cincinnati is giving 3CDC to help kick out Metropole tenants (see page 1). 49cc The size of the motor on Kenny Bussell’s bicycle (see page 9). 1975 The year Va Vang moved from Laos to Thailand before emigrating to the United States (see page 10). StreetWise By GrEGory FlannEry editor Cincinnati Continues Attack on Charities Never mind the foreclosure crisis, the recession, unemployment rates of 10 percent and worse. The city of Cincinnati is still determined to restrict charities and socialservice agencies in its poorest neighborhood – a move that attorney Tim Burke finds mind-boggling. “At a time when governments, businesses and individuals are facing frightening eco­ nomic prospects, jobs are being lost to budget shortfalls, homeowners are losing their homes and increasingly long lines are forming at food pantries, it is difficult to under­ stand the city’s desire to curtail social services in the area of Cincinnati where they are needed the most, Over-the-Rhine,” Burke writes. His criticism is part of a response to the city’s effort to quash a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a 2008 resolution by city council. The resolution, sponsored by Councilman Chris Bortz, says the “unchecked proliferation” of social-services agencies has the potential to negatively impact Over-the-Rhine. U.S. Magistrate Timothy Black held a hearing March 5 on the city’s motion to dismiss the suit, filed by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, Bethany House Ser­ vices, Justice Watch, Joseph House, Mary Magdalene House, the Drop Inn Center, the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers’ Center and seven individuals. The resolution violates the U.S. Constitution’s Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause, infringes on free speech and is an abuse of the city’s powers under state law, according to Burke. “The resolution clearly tells plaintiff social-service agencies that they are not wel­ come in Over-the-Rhine, that any expansion of services or programming will be looked at with heightened scrutiny by the city of Cincinnati and that, if any excuse ‘permitted by law’ can be found to shut them down or restrict their ability to expand, then the city will do so,” Burke’s response says. “Should they seek to open or expand a program selling clothing to the poor for small amounts of money or for no money at all, such a service would be viewed with a more heightened scrutiny under the resolution than if Family Dollar, with its steeply discounted prices, moved in next door.” The city’s motion argues that council’s resolution hasn’t been implemented yet and therefore hasn’t caused any harm. “It is odd that the plaintiffs went to the trouble to try to make a federal resolution that expressly directed the city manager to follow and pursuant to which the city manager has not even acted,” the motion says. “The lawsuit is premature. The plaintiffs have not suffered any injury.” Nonsense, Burke says. “If the city had declared that the excess of lawyers in the downtown area was dimin­ ishing the quality of legal services or that doctors were so concentrated on Clifton’s pill hill that they were harmful to their patients, and then directed the city manager to limit their operations, as appropriate, would not the harm be clear?” he writes. “So it is here for the social-service agencies and their clients.” Black heard oral arguments March 5. He has not yet issued his findings. Other Madness is Under Control The same day that the Homeless Coalition was in federal court, its executive director, Josh Spring, was in Hamilton County Municipal Court for the arraignment of Michael K. Taylor, aka Madness, charged with felonious assault. Taylor allegedly beat Streetvibes vendor Robert Meehan so badly that he had to be placed in a medically induced coma (see “The ‘Madness’ of Hate Downtown,’ issue of Feb. 15-28). Taylor then fled to Las Vegas and was extradited to Cincinnati. He is now in jail under a $750,000 bond pending indictment. “Today Mr. Meehan is still recovering,” Spring says. “The bones in his face are pre­ cariously floating in place. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless believes that Mr. Meehan was beaten with such disregard for his life because Taylor believed he was homeless. Nationally there is a running trend of people who are homeless being at­ tacked and often killed. The attackers believe that because the person is homeless the person does not matter and there will be no consequences for such actions.” What if the City Helped Workers Instead? Meehan was attacked outside the Metropole Apartments, whose new owner, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp., is forcing out the low-income tenants in order to build a boutique hotel for tourists (see “City Council Turns back on Metropole Tenants,” page 1). That kind of economic development, with the city constantly sup­ porting big money over working people’s interests, will be the topic of an April 5 forum sponsored by Xavier University Students for Economic Justice. The panel’s subject – “Controversial Topics in Cincinnati Urban Development” – is inspired in part by a study by Dan La Botz, Socialist candidate for an Ohio seat in the U.S. Senate (see “Maybe it’s Time for a troublemaker,” page 1). “In Cincinnati, seven dominant corporations and some other companies guide all the important civic, cultural, and social organizations of the city,” La Botz wrote. “They influence or control the boards of directors of foundations, universities, muse­ ums, and social welfare organizations. They sit on boards while community members and working people are virtually excluded from participation. Middle class and work­ ing class people have almost no role in these organizations or at best have token rep­ resentation.” The panel discussion is from 7-9 p.m. April 5 at Kelley Auditorium at Xavier Univer­ sity. Admission is free. STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@yahoo. com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress. com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Graphics/Layout Intern Veronica Glass Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Valerie Fessler, Alecia A. Lott, Jeni Jenkins, Saad Ghosn, Lew Moores, Larry Gross, Eli Braun, Jesse Call Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are proud members of: �STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 3 Local News Maybe it’s Time for a Troublemaker Dan La Botz runs for U.S. Senate By GrEGory FlannEry Editor T he further left one’s politics goes, the more argu­ mentative is the company he keeps. Thus while many progressives in Cincinnati might agree with Dan La Botz’s policy views, he is not necessarily every local activist’s favorite. That won’t faze La Botz, who brings an unusual combi­ nation of political scholarship and organizing experience to the Ohio race for U.S. Senate. A veteran of union campaigns, anti-war movements and the ongoing struggle against rac­ ism, La Botz has spent 45 years in the politics of the work­ place, the ballot box and the street. Now he’s making his first run for elective office, and he’s doing it under the banner of a party whose very name has been used as a smear against the far more moderate views of President Obama. La Botz is running as a member of the Socialist Party USA. “ ‘Socialist’ has become a dirty word but it’s also become an attractive word,” he says. He describes his effort to get 500 signatures to qualify for the May 4 primary election. He gathered 1,200 and has been certified for the ballot. Dan La Botz wants to abolish corporations. Photo by Drew Goebel. “Here’s the re­ sponses I got,” La Botz says. “There were some peo­ ple who just turned away. But I didn’t have one person who got nasty or call me names. For the first time in 45 years as an activist, I didn’t have one person tell me to go back to Russia. I also had people say, ‘You can’t be any worse than what we have in Washington now.’ Another response I got was people said, ‘This is America. Everybody has the right to run for office.’ Young people would turn away. They weren’t interested in politics in the usual way. But then, when you said, ‘Socialist candidate,’ they would turn around and say, ‘Here, let me sign that.’ These were not people who belong to political organi­ zations. They have come to self-identify as leftist or socialist. It had made people on the left and right think and say, ‘If I want health care, I guess I’m a socialist.’ ” “Today the corporation, like slavery, is an institution that should be abolished. Closing a factory, destroying the economy of a town, is too important a decision to be in the hands 10 or 20 men. That is a decision society should make.” -Dan La Botz Abolishing corporations La Botz explains his concept of democratic socialism as a contrast to the power of corporations in the so-called “free market.” “We have several corporate headquarters downtown,” he says. “Those headquarters can hold a board of directors meeting of 12 to 20, usually white men, and take a vote and decide to close a factory and put out of work an entire town. Today the corporation, like slavery, is an institution that should be abolished. Closing a factory, destroying the economy of a town, is too important a decision to be in the hands 10 or 20 men. That is a decision society should make. Skilled trades­ men, factory workers, secretaries, electricians, millwrights, accoun­ tants, advertising people – all of those people created that wealth, and that wealth should be seen as our common property.” The economic initiatives of the Bush and Obama administrations – bailing out failing mega-banks and the auto industry – primarily ben­ efited the corporations that profit from them, according to La Botz. “The government decided to save the auto industry,” he says. “They continue to move plants abroad. Even though they have been saved, they continue to go to the workers and demand concessions in wages and health care. Let’s use that money to create a kind of not-for-profit company that works for the people of Ohio. Let’s build solar panels. Let’s build wind energy. Let’s have them use their talent to create a new industry and have that industry run democratically. … We could build an industry, using our tax dollars under the priority of the peo­ ple of our state. What would it mean to have the secretary who reads Streetvibes make a good living wage and have a voice in running the company? How about a world where all the clerical workers have a vote in the way the company is run? “I don’t think democratic socialism is easy. But a system in which a very few people keep all the wealth for themselves and make all the decisions is a very poor option.” La Botz opposes the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He believes Obama’s continuation of those wars is causing disillusionment with his own supporters. “It seems to me Obama must be a big disappointment to those who voted for him,” La Botz says. “Many people voted for Obama because they wanted to end the wars. They wanted a different foreign poli­ cy. The war has continued in Iraq. It’s expanded in Afghanistan. It’s expanded to Pakistan. There is a danger of war in Yemen. There is a danger of war with Iran. Obama continues the same foreign policy as Bush. These wars are not good for America. They promote terror­ ism.” ‘Fight Back’ His Senate run isn’t the only new thing in La Botz’s life. At age 64 he has begun learning to play guitar, a useful aid in his new job as an elementary-school Spanish teacher. “It’s challenging because it’s all new,” he says. “I’ve neither taught Spanish nor taught young children before.” An adjunct professor of U.S. history at the University of Cincinnati, La Botz has also taught at Miami University and Northern Kentucky University. He is the author of books on the history of labor unions, Mexico and Indonesia, including Rank and File Rebellion and A Troublemaker’s Handbook: How to Fight Back Where You Work – And Win! La Botz has a history of working with “My goal right now is to reach out to people successful coacross the state to create a political movement. alitions. He is I’m trying to reach out to people who belong to a member of the faith community, people who belong to labor Cincinnati Prounions and young activists.” gressive Action, -Dan LaBotz which worked with the Cin­ cinnati Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to defeat a tax to build a new jail in Hamilton County. When voters defeated the tax, the county commissioners ignored the election and imposed the tax anyway. La Botz and his allies then or­ ganized to overturn it, and won again. In 2001 La Botz was active in the March 4 Justice, a large, non-vi­ olent movement against police violence after a Cincinnati Police of­ ficer killed an unarmed African-American teenager wanted on traffic citations. Although he is all but certain to win the Socialist Party primary – he is the only candidate on the ballot – he is more realistic about the general election in November. He recently spoke to a class at Seven Hills High School. “One of the students said, ‘Why would you do this when you know you can’t win?’ It seems to me the reason is to present an alternative and to network across the state and put people in touch with each other and kind of encourage people to fight back,” La Botz says. “The reason for doing this is there’s such incredible disenchantment with the government and political parties. “My goal right now is to reach out to people across the state to cre­ ate a political movement. I’m trying to reach out to people who be­ long to the faith community, people who belong to labor unions and young activists. I’m not going to be able to cover every precinct in the state but I think we can have a presence in all the larger cities. I would like this to be the kind of campaign that gives expression to the work­ ers’ concerns.” The opinions expressed here are not to be perceived as an endorsement or reflecting the views of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, which publishes Streetvibes. �4 Local Issue STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 City Ignores Plea for Fair Hiring Continued from page 1 chanting in these hallways! This is a workplace, not a place of pro­ test. If you need to sing, you’ll go outside where you need to be.” JohnsonGrove spoke up. “You have a First Amendment right to say what you need to say,” he reminded the group. “Please don’t be dissuaded.” At 9:15 a.m., when the commission opened the meeting room doors, over 50 Cincinnati citizens tried to squeeze inside. Half fit into the room, while others filled the outside hallway. “Ain’t council chambers the people’s house?” asked coalition member Marjorie Moseley. Inside the crowded meeting room, Fair Hiring Campaign orga­ nizers Pastor Troy Jackson and JohnsonGrove negotiated for two minutes of speaking time with the commis­ sion. Jackson, of University Christian Church, “Jesus was a felon. an AMOS Project congregation, spoke first. “Jesus was a felon,” he said. “Moses mur­ Moses murdered a dered a man. Joseph, Moses, Jeremiah, Peter, man. Joseph, Moses, Paul and James all spent time in prison. Jesus Jeremiah, Peter, Paul and James all spent time was a convicted criminal when he went to the cross. Our faith teaches us that people with in prison. Jesus was a convicted criminal when criminal records should not be forever condemned.” he went to the cross. JohnsonGrove also spoke. Our faith teaches us “The current policy of barring all former ofthat people with criminal fenders is wooden, rigid, one-size fits all, and records should not be we need a fairer way forward,” he said. “We’re forever condemned.” not asking for guaranteed jobs. We just want - Pastor Troy Jackson fair consideration for people with old and ir­ relevant criminal records.” The commission gave no reply. Others who wished to speak were not permitted. “If people have meaningful jobs, they tend to become produc­ tive members of society,” said Sheila Donaldson-Johnson, a reha­ bilitated former offender who would have spoken during the open forum. “Being able to support your family makes all the difference in the world.” From the third-floor meeting room, the crowd migrated down­ stairs to the mayor’s office to deliver over 1,000 letters of support, encouraging the city to change its hiring policy. Descending City Hall’s marble steps past the stained glass win­ dows, coalition members sang, “It’s my brother and my sister and it’s me, Oh Lord, standing in the need of jobs! It’s we, it’s we, it’s we, Oh Lord, standing in the need of jobs!” No one was arrested or asked to leave. The mayor’s office had locked its doors and police officers blocked the entrance. “Are you saying that the mayor doesn’t want to hear from us?” JohnsonGrove asked the officers, loud enough for the assembly to hear. Antoine replied that Mallory wasn’t in. “Are you saying that no one from the mayor’s staff wants to hear from us?” JohnsonGrove said. The doors opened. JohnsonGrove presented the letters in stacks of a hundred, fol­ lowed by organizational letters of support from multiple religious congregations, Talbert House, the Urban League, Cincinnati State Community and Technical College and the law offices of former Hamilton County Prosecutor Michael Allen and former Cincinnati Mayor David Mann. The crowd shuffled out to the City Hall steps, while police of­ ficers pulled the organizers aside. Standing on the City Hall steps moments later, Pastor Gregory Chandler, president of the AMOS Project, told the coalition that the police officers said that their gathering had been illegal. “I thought it was a public building!” someone cried out. “Not too public,” called another. Chandler rallied the group. “We thank them for the opportunity to have this discourse,” he said. Elsewhere he explained his opposition to the city’s policy. “Treating folks who have turned their lives around like pariahs damages them and it damages all of us. … The city’s no-felon rule violates our fundamental values, damages struggling families, and tears at the fabric of our society,” Chandler said. Second chances The letters that the Fair Hiring Campaign presented to the may­ or’s office encouraged the city to adopt guidelines to help deter­ mine whether an individual with a felony record should be hired. The city could consider the gravity of the offense, the age of the applicant at the time of the offense, the time elapsed, the relevance The dispute over the city’s ban on hiring former felony offenders started when Gene Mays was denied employment for a 15-yearold drug conviction. Photo by Calvin Chen. of the offense to the duties of the present job and evidence of re­ habilitation. But the city jettisons such nuance in categorically barring peo­ ple with irrelevant and seemingly ancient criminal records. These restrictions hinder the ability of former offenders to successfully reintegrate after completing their sentences. By condemning re­ habilitated people to unemployment and under-employment, the no-felon hiring policy ends up increasing the burden on the city’s own overloaded criminal justice and public welfare systems. Gene Mays, profiled in Nov. 1, 2009, of Streetvibes, was one such candidate for city employment. Mays ranked first in his class all five years of his union apprenticeship and is by all accounts a supreme­ ly qualified electrician. The commission saw extensive evidence of his rehabilitation from his nonviolent 13- and 19-year-old “Treating folks who have drug felonies, but concluded anyway that turned their lives around “he had a couple of felony convictions on like pariahs damages them his record, and could therefore not be hired and it damages all of us. for city employment.” … The city’s no-felon rule Their assessment came in spite of the violates our fundamental mayor’s claim that the city doesn’t bar for- values, damages struggling mer offenders from city jobs. The city’s law families, and tears at the department fought Mays’s appeal to the fabric of our society,” Ohio Supreme Court. - Pastory Gregory Chandler Advocates explain that after a certain period of time, someone with a criminal record is at no greater risk of offending than a same-aged coun­ terpart who has never offended. Researchers confirmed that fact in a May 2009 study in the journal Criminology. For example, they found that for 18-year-olds arrested for burglary in 1980, that pe­ riod was 7.7 years. Yet people convicted of crimes far less serious than robbery needlessly face job barriers decades later. The no-felon hiring policy is based on fear, not evidence. Far from making our communities safer, job restrictions serve to pun­ ish people with old criminal records years after they have paid their debt to society. They also apparently serve the interests of a duplicitous mayor who preaches a message of second chances that his own administration demonstrably ignores. His obfuscation thwarts not just the media’s responsibility to report honestly, but the efforts of rehabilitated people seeking to serve their families and, in spite of their mayor, their city. Call 513-421-7803 x11 to learn about Streetvibes subscriptions �STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 5 Local News Council Turns Backs on Metropole Tenants Continued from page 1 low-income individuals and increasing property values. But Josh Spring, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Home­ less, made the case against the funding pro­ posal. “This is the status quo,” he said. “This is why we have homelessness to the level that we know. Now in 2010, 3CDC desires to keep the status quo, desires to “The issue here is: Can we remove Metropole tenants make sure that there is a fair and equitable way which from downtown. These are people folks can be relocated? who are black, Four hundred dollars is just people who are not enough money (to help people someone) relocate. The other poor, who are handi­ issue is, if individuals are capped. These fearful of living in a certain neighborhood, I would not in are all protected any way support forcing that.” classes. To top it off, they come to - Councilman Cecil Thomas you and ask for $2.5 million to go to an out-of-town company to do this. This should enrage but instead most of you are deciding to work with them, deciding to join in displacing tenants.” Attorney Rickell Howard of the Legal Aid Society, who represents the Metropole Ten­ ants Association, noted that a past resolu­ tion by city council calls for a minimum of 1,300 units of affordable housing in the central business district. “3CDC and 21c is proposing turning 230 units of affordable housing into hotel rooms with no proposal for a replacement of those 230 units,” she said. Vlasta Molak, founder of the GAIA Foun­ dation, a non-profit educational and re­ search organization, said the Metropole is a poor choice for the site of the hotel. “There are many empty buildings just a few blocks north of the Metropole,” she said. “If 3CDC is such an efficient business organization that can develop the city, then let them fix what needs to be fixed. (The city) should not give them money to evict people from their homes while there are all these empty buildings.” Fortune 500 coalition Though council was solely addressing the funding issue, activists used the forum as an opportunity to also dis­ cuss other elements of the con­ troversy. Contrary to what some think, a relocation process has not been approved by the U.S. De­ partment of Housing and Ur­ ban Development (HUD), ac­ cording to Spring. “We have heard numerous stories of tenants giving up their leases under high amounts of intimidation and never actu­ ally getting what was supposed to be on the other end,” Spring said. “Tenants have said that they desire to stay downtown, and it should be a priority of this council to keep diversity in the downtown.” 3CDC President Stephen Leeper and spokeswoman Kelly Leon were at the meeting but did not speak during the forum. After the meeting Leeper gave With low-income residents evicted, a boutique hotel will interviews to local TV stations. move in. Photo by Bill Haigh. Asked about Metropole tenants’ concerns, Leeper expressed his interest in helping tenants relo­ cate smoothly. ceive safe and quality housing. I got that Vice Mayor Roxanne Quails held her gaze commitment from Mr. Leeper.” firmly on each speaker, while other mem­ Councilman Chris Bortz said he thinks bers of council looked on or quietly talked the addition of a hotel in the backstage among themselves. Neither Councilwoman entertainment district is happening at the Leslie Ghiz nor Mayor Mark Mallory were perfect time due to the increased amount present for the forum. of activity there. Council approved both ordinances 8-1. Thomas said he could not support the With the exception of Cecil Thomas, who plan for various reasons, including the fact cast the dissenting vote, each council mem­ that HUD hasn’t yet approved 3CDC’s plan ber spoke in support of the project. for relocating tenants. He also addressed Ghiz said that, when she learned of the other concerns about 3CDC’s relocation ef­ possibility of the renovation, her first ques­ forts: tion was, “What about the residents?” She “The issue here is: Can we make sure that added that it is very hard for political lead­ there is a fair and equitable way which folks ers to face this kind of dilemma, and she be­ can be relocated?” Thomas said. “Four hun­ lieves 3CDC has handled it very delicately dred dollars is just not enough money (to and with respect. help someone) relocate. The other issue is, Councilman Charles Winburn voted to if individuals are fearful of living in a cer­ back the hotel but claimed solidarity with tain neighborhood, I would not in any way Metropole tenants. support forcing that.” “I grew up on the streets of Cincinnati, Spring cast the issue as a moral dilem­ and I know firsthand what it’s like to be ma. homeless,” he said. “I will never turn my “Today we are here to judge your moral­ back on the homeless. Though I may not ity, to judge where you will side,” he said. have power to reverse the Metropole situa­ “We are the coalition for the homeless. We tion, I do have the power to hold 3CDC ac­ also have the NAACP and all these other countable. I have gotten certain assurances groups. 3CDC is the coalition of Fortune from them to make sure that residents re- 500 companies.” Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �6 STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 International News More Trouble Ahead for Haiti Only plastic between Haiti’s homeless and the coming storms A tent erected over the remains of a house in Port-au-Prince. REUTERS/Carlos Barria. By olEsya Dmitracova Street neWS ServiCe L ondon, England – Seasonal rains and hurricanes spell trouble for Haiti in the best of times, but with hundreds of thousands of people living in flimsy makeshift shelters after January’s earthquake, this year the dangers are much greater. The rainy season begins in earnest in early April and the hurricane season in early June, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Both can be deadly. “If a hurricane hits Haiti head on, the loss of life will be severe, and every temporary housing camp will be wiped out,” Cameron Sinclair, co-founder of non-profit design and building group Architecture for Humanity, wrote in a blog. Margareta Wahlstrom, U.N. Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, offers a similar warning for the Haitian capital. It bore the brunt of the January 12 earthquake, which has killed up to 300,000 people. “Port-au-Prince is built on vulnerable small slopes and mountains,” she told Reuters AlertNet. “With the rains, these slopes start softening up and cause mudslides like we have seen in the past, causing schools to collapse and more deaths.” A series of storms in Haiti in 2008 already showed the extent of damage they can cause, even to sturdy buildings. More than 800 people were killed, and nearly 1 million left homeless or in dire need of help. Haiti is extremely vulnerable to floods and mudslides because most of its Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go ahead. Ask. hillsides have been stripped bare. Cutting down trees to make charcoal to sell for fuel is a last resort for many rural Haitians who have no other income between harvests. There is no talk in the Haiti aid community of building enough durable housing before the storms start and no mention so far of evacuation plans in case of floods or mudslides. “We have a huge challenge in terms of just providing emergency shelter –something that we feel that, if we put all of our weight behind, as we are do­ ing right now, we will be able (to do),” said Kristen Knutson, a spokeswoman for the U.N. office that is coordinating the international relief effort, in a tele­ phone interview from Haiti. She added that aid groups were for now focusing on providing plastic shel­ ter materials to earthquake survivors and that more robust housing would be needed in the longer-term. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is coordinating all shelter-related aid work in Haiti, is so far building only one model transitional house and hopes construction of more houses will begin before the rainy season. ‘Minimal Protection’ Beyond distributing waterproof shelter materials, aid agencies are also working to improve sanitation and health care – all essential in wet conditions which help infections spread. Neither tents nor tarpaulins, however, will provide more than minimal protection from the Haitian rainy season which peaks in May, when Port-auPrince gets an average 230 mm of rain and sometimes as much as 50 mm in two hours. The hurricane season, which begins later in the year, is of special concern,” IFRC said in a statement. When asked for more information, including on evacuation plans, an IFRC spokesman in Haiti declined to comment further. The WMO has also been asking Haitian authorities and some aid agencies on the ground whether it would be possible to anticipate floods and move the displaced people – many of whom have camped out in low-lying planes and near the sea – to safer ground, said Maryam Golnaraghi, who heads the disas­ ter risk-reduction program at the U.N. weather body. “I do not know the answer to that,” she told Reuters AlertNet. Before any evacuation can begin, reliable and consistent forecasts of ex­ treme weather must reach the government and relief groups quickly. In Haiti, that is difficult, as the earthquake shattered its weather stations; and now several countries are supplying meteorological information to the country. To prevent any confusion, the WMO is working with Haiti’s authorities to ensure that all weather forecasts are channeled through Haiti’s single official meteorological service. Another challenge is disseminating the information, now that only a fifth of all media in Haiti are working, Golnaraghi said. As those aims are achieved one by one, Haiti will become better prepared for the stormy season. But time is short and the number of people at risk enor­ mous. “We recognize that this is minimal perfection,” said Knutson from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Photo courtesy of Reuters. © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org �STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Legal Affairs 7 Once Upon a Time: Access Justice Ohio courts translate forms for immigrants By annE sKovE Contributing Writer W hen my great-grandmother was 14, she left her fam­ ily in Eastern Europe, boarded a boat and ended up in Cleveland by way of Baltimore. She had a job, owned property, gave birth to children and got married as often as the Wife of Bath. Every year she renewed her green card. And she loved The Three Stooges – physical comedy that appeals to everyone, no matter what language they speak. You don’t need to translate a pie in the face. Most people can tell a similar a family story. Eventually, we go all Borg-like and assimilate. We learn to speak impeccable English – my great-grandmother and grandmother made sure their secret language wasn’t passed down through the generations. Meanwhile the federal government – not unlike Moe and friends – remains ac­ cessible to everyone, whatever their level of English. President Clinton signed Executive Order 13166, “Improving Ac­ cess to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” in 2000. Along with the Department of Justice’s Enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – National Origin Discrimination Against Persons With Limited English Proficiency, it required fed­ eral agencies to “prepare a plan to improve access to its federally conducted programs and activities by eligible LEP persons.” These documents follow our country’s longstanding tradition of welcoming im­ migrants by enThese documents follow our country’s suring that the longstanding tradition of welcoming immigrants by federal governensuring that the federal government and agencies ment and agen­ cies receiving receiving federal assistance are accessible to federal assis­ people with limited English proficiency (LEP). tance are acces­ sible to people with limited English proficiency (LEP). Last fall at the Ohio Judicial Conference, “the DOJ reminded at­ tendees of their obligations regarding language access and compli­ ance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,” says Bruno Romero, man­ ager of the Supreme Court of Ohio Interpreter Services Program. This obligation led to the translation of court documents. With a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation grant, the Su­ preme Court of Ohio funded the translation project. Certain court forms are now available in the five most-requested languages: Ara­ bic, Mandarin, Russian, Somali and Spanish. Twenty-seven differ­ ent instructional forms were selected for translation. They include waivers of rights, forms relating to juvenile court and forms relat­ ing to domestic violence issues. “Often, interpreters, particularly unqualified interpreters, sum­ marize, omit or misinterpret documents, principally when the documents have to be sight-translated on the spot,” Romero says. “By having these documents, courts can avoid the consequences of mistranslated statements or misunderstood instructions.” The problem that has plagued courts is: How much knowledge of English is enough? There is no test, and it can be difficult to as- The Ohio Supreme Court building in Columbus, Ohio. sess just how much a person understands. Tools have been created to help identify people with limited Eng­ lish skills and their respective needs. Law enforcement can use the “I Speak …” cards, a list of languages from Arabic to Zulu used to help communicate with victims, witnesses and others who might come into contact with the criminal justice system. A bench card, “Working with Foreign Language Interpreters in the Courtroom,” is available to help judges decide whether an interpreter is needed and to help determine interpreter qualifications. The translated forms are yet another nail in the LEP toolbox. “Greater access to the courts comes from having parties ob­ tain these forms in their own “Often, interpreters, particularly language, ideally before com- unqualified interpreters, summarize, ing to the court,” Romero says. omit or misinterpret documents, “Even if parties do not have the principally when the documents forms beforehand, if they rehave to be sight-translated on the ceive them at the time of their spot. By having these documents, appearance, they can follow courts can avoid the consequences along and not only hear but of mistranslated statements or also read important informamisunderstood instructions.” tion. This, we believe, creates -Bruno Romero greater access.” In 1860 there were 328,249 immigrants in Ohio, representing 14 percent of the state’s popu­ lation. According to ohiohistorycentral.org, “Signs in (Lancaster, Ohio) were printed in both English and German. By 1809 a German-language newspaper, Der Ohio Adler, began to be published. Cincinnati and Cleveland Germans also established their own German-language newspapers. … Over-the-Rhine emerged as an im­ portant center of German immigrant culture. The neighborhood had its own churches, clubs, and German-language newspapers.” We still enjoy many of these “immigrant” traditions today – May Festival, Oktoberfest, Bockfest (sort of the Hallmark holiday of the bunch). Why else would we eat goetta? Access to government is for everyone. Our ancestors would be proud. See more Ohio immigrant history at www.ohiohistorycentral. org. For information about the state supreme court’s Interpreter Services Program, contact Program Manager Bruno Romero at 614-387-9404 or visit http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ JCS/interpreterSvcs/default.asp. The forms are online at http:// www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/interpreterSvcs/forms/de­ fault.asp. Want to be a court interpreter? Visit http://www.su­ premecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/interpreterSvcs/calendar/default. asp. Become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati �8 STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Recipe Sexy,Yummy, Veggie Your tour guide into the steamy side of vegetarian cuisine Easy Black-Eyed Peas, Okra, and Tomatoes with Couscous Serves 2 2 cups black-eyed peas, cooked and drained (or 1 15-oz can, drained) 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes, with juice 12 oz. frozen sliced okra 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ tsp. red pepper flakes 3-4 drops liquid smoke Salt to taste 1 cup couscous 1 cup water 1 tsp. olive oil Lemon juice (optional) By alEcia a. lott Contributing Writer E ating according to the seasons is a big thing these days, as it should be. Everyone from nutritionists to environmentalists tell us that, because it’s March, we should load our grocery carts with carrots, Brussels sprouts and beets. Yes, food is more nutritious, better for the environment and tastes better when eaten fresh and picked during the season in which it was natu­ rally meant to be harvested. There, I said it. But lately, during this harsh winter when I should be looking for stew recipes, my tummy’s been craving summer foods like tomatoes and okra. Now don’t get me wrong, I would never buy a fresh tomato in March in Cincin­ nati. I’d rather eat Styrofoam. Canned tomatoes, however, are always a star in my pantry, regardless of the weather. 1. Combine the first seven ingredients in a saucepan, cover and bring to a rapid boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until couscous is done. Photo by Alecia A. Lott They’re OK, right? Surely no one would object to frozen sliced okra – or, as I like to call them, green penta­ gons of happiness. Although their annual time in the spotlight as a New Year’s Eve symbol of prosperity is over, black-eyed peas are still aces to me. I like to get dried ones and cook them myself, but the canned ver- sion is good as well. Put them all together with couscous, a teeny-tiny pas­ ta that cooks in literally 3-5 minutes tops, and what do you have? Ta-da, a lazy, politi­ cally incorrect meal that will keep the chill off your bones. But don’t tell the food police. Let’s be naughty together! 2. In a second pan, boil water. Add olive oil and couscous, stir quickly and cover. Remove from heat. Let sit for five minutes. 3. Fluff couscous with a fork. Served topped with tomato mixture. For added zing, squeeze a little lemon juice on top. Alecia Lott also writes for her food and travel blog, Bang-Bang’s Quest for Yay, Yum and Yes. Visit http://bangbangquest.wordpress.com Artwork By Anthony Williams ! ? t a h W “Development should be viewed as a human rights issue, not as a question of simply increasing the gross national product (GNP). When the national economy picks up, the situation of the poor is not necessarily improved. Therefore development should be redefined. It should refer only to a positive measurable change in per capita income of the bottom 50 percent of the population.” - Muhammad Yunus Banker to the Poor: Micro-lending and the battle against world poverty Say___________________ �STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Vendor Profile You Can’t Keep a Vendor Down Kenny Bussell sells ‘Streetvibes’ and tomatoes By GrEGory FlannEry editor ack of transportation keeps many Streetvibes vendors from taking the paper to other neighborhoods. But Kenny Bussell isn’t one of them. Bussell, 49, is one of the few vendors who sell Streetvibes in Northern Kentucky. He gets from Covington, where he lives, to Over-the-Rhine, where he picks up copies of the paper, via a bicy­ cle. But his is no ordinary bike. Bussell rigged it with a 49cc Honda motor. In addition to “I put it on in about 45 minutes,” he says. “I’ve been selling Streetvibes, taking it wide open ever since.” The motor gets 100 miles per gallon of gas. Bussell Bussell is an could go 28 miles per hour when the motor was new. urban gardener, growing tomatoes It’s no longer new, however. The clutch is going out, where he can and he says. He hopes his next motor will be chain-driven. His friction-drive motor doesn’t work when it rains. selling them to “When it gets wet, I can’t get around,” he says. local restaurants. Don’t expect those kinds of obstacles to keep Bussell from getting around. Selling Streetvibes for the past four months is just the latest way he has adapted to challenges in life. Originally from Carlisle, Ky., where he grew up on a racehorse farm, he has lived in this area for the past 25 years. “I became a truck driver when I turned 21 and drove a truck for about 15 years,” Bussell says. “I enjoyed it but I don’t have very much education so it knocked me out of the ballgame. You’ve got to be able to read road signs and read them pretty fast.” In addition to selling Streetvibes, Bussell is an urban gardener, growing tomatoes where he can and selling them to local restau­ rants. He got started three years ago when he encountered Brenda Zachmeister, owner of Morning Glory Bed And Breakfast, outside one day. “She was out there one day deciding what to do with her empty lot,” Bussell says. “I asked her if I could grow tomatoes. She said, ‘I’m a vegetarian and I think that would work pretty well.’ ” The result is a community garden, with one plot for Morning L Bussell advertises that he sells Streetvibes on the front of his bike. Photo by Lynne Ausman. Kenny Bussell. Photo by Lynne Ausman. Glory, one for Bussell and four or five plots rented by others. In fact, the garden has experienced some unwanted popularity. “It’s been like a guerilla garden,” Bussell says. “Anybody could take anything. This year we’re going to get a fence around it.” But vegetable pilferers aren’t the only people who have noticed. A lawyer in Covington lets Bussell use an empty lot on Russell Street to grow vegetables, and he has asked the city for permission to grow on empty lots that it owns. “They like the idea and they’re going to work with me,” Bussell says. “They’ve got a bunch of plants they can give me and a few tools.” Last year Bussell grew 120 tomato plants. He is aiming even higher this year, hoping to find more lots to cultivate and hire oth­ ers to work with him. “I should be able to put this together and put people to work, too,” he says. “I’ve got two or three homeless people who do odd jobs. If we work together, we won’t go hungry.” Bussell’s entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t mean his problems are over, however. “I’ve got a roof over my head right now,” he says. “My brother’s in the process of remodeling a house right now. As soon as he’s done and it’s sold, I’ll be back out on the streets. I just go from friend’s to friend’s. I don’t care for shelters. I need to get where I can get some housing.” If you have vacant land that you’d like to let for vegetable garden­ ing, or if you own a restaurant and would like to donate vegetable waste for composting, call Bussell at 859-652-8904. Half for a Half Throughout the month of March, Klosterman Baking Company will donate one half loaf of bread to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for every half loaf sold. Pick up a coupon for Klosterman Bread at www.facebook.com/klostermanbakingcompany 9 �10 Book Review STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Every Woman a Road Warrior New anthology is a travelogue of women’s lives By GrEGory FlannEry editor ing up afterward. “We did it all in one day, with no help from the men,” Sedillo writes. “This is not to say that the guys wouldn’t have helped, had we asked ’ve never been a woman and never owned a truck, and I have them to help us. Uncle Johnny, however, had gone an eloquent shade enough lingering sexist prejudice that I’m still surprised when I of green the first time he smelled the papers that Paula and I carried see a woman driving one. That said, a truck might have been the through the house.” perfect cover illustration for When One Door Closes: Reflections from Other kinds of loss can be equally grievous. One author comes to terms Women on Life’s Turning Points. with learning that she must carry her dead fe­ Trucks figure prominently in two of the 56 es­ tus to delivery for several weeks, only to have says that make up this powerful anthology. One her husband make sexual overtures a few days author credits a garbage truck that crashed into later. Another writer, Erin Wilson, is shocked by her car with leading her to a career of religious the idiotic comment of a doctor who refuses to ministry. Another author describes the murder perform a vasectomy on her young husband of her daughter by an estranged husband, who because his “next wife” might want children. first rammed her car with his truck and then But Wilson’s essay, like others in this book, shot her as she dangled upside-down, suspend­ isn’t without humor – though in the case of her ed by a seat belt. essay, “Biology,” some of the laughs might be This diverse collection traverses the wind­ best appreciated by women. Wilson describes ing roadway from tragedy to triumph and all the pre-surgical preparation for the vasectomy points in between in the lives of women. Edited – “his rooster plucked of every last feather, head by Terri Spahr Nelson, a clinical social worker bowed in reverence to the upcoming chop.” In in Oxford, Ohio, When One Door Closes does “Shopping in the Sperm Aisle,” Rebecca J. Love not settle for blithe happy endings but relates reveals that an extra $85 will pay for the seed of the hard-earned wisdom of women who have a donor who has a Ph.D. encountered detours, road closings and pot­ Seemingly minor events can prove life-al­ holes and sometimes run out of gas on their tering. In “Ending the Tyranny of ‘Supposed journeys. To,’ ” Margo Pierce – a contributing writer for Readers will know from the start that this is no Streetvibes – describes the awakening she expe­ Chicken Soup for the Soul takeoff. The first es­ rienced when she put canisters on her kitchen say is by a woman married to a female-to-male counter-top. It was an act of rebellion against a transsexual, frustrated that so many questions domineering husband. But it was the reaction about their relationship are merely anatomical. by Pierce’s sister that made the author realize Another author talks about her four marriages. that something in her marriage was terribly Yet another describes herself as happily mar­ wrong. ried but unable to escape the feelings she has After each chapter, Spahr Nelson lists “Re­ for another man. flection Points,” and she closes the book with “Lessons Learned.” These Spahr Nelson has organized the essays into chapters that capture are helpful and un-intrusive but sometimes unnecessary. The authors some of the complexity of women’s lives – marriage and divorce, parent­ do a fine job of drawing the lessons on their own. ing, abuse, illness, addiction, finding one’s identity, careers and death. In “Winter Solstice,” Karen Ander Francis notes, “Resentment is like Death makes many appearances. taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” “I’m Here,” by Alice Coggin Bagley, “A New Challenge” by Va Vang, who caught me off guard. Her account of moved in 1975 from Laos to Thailand her friend’s dying day is excruciating. Readers will know from the start that this is and then to the United States, best sums Bagley had the unhappy task of helping up the book’s theme: “No one really no Chicken Soup for the Soul takeoff. The first her friend’s family prepare for the death knows what life might throw at us. One essay is by a woman married to a female-to-male – a task I had in the case of both my par­ transsexual, frustrated that so many questions about day we think that life will be the same ents but which didn’t affect me in the their relationship are merely anatomical. Another and we will be doing the same thing all gut-wrenching way this essay did. author talks about her four marriages. Yet another our lives. Then change strikes without In “Paula,” Vickie Andresen Sedillo describes herself as happily married but unable to warning.” discusses the suicide of her schizo­ Spahr Nelson is donating 35 percent escape the feelings she has for another man. phrenic mother: “By the time the news of profits from When One Door Closes to came that Mom had died, she had been charities: the Global Fund for Women; dead for years. Not her body, but whatever it was deep inside her that the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network; the Beginning Over Founda­ made her my mother was long dead.” As if to drive home the point, the tion; the Washington Area Women’s Foundation; and Women's Legal Re­ mother’s body lay undiscovered for two months in her apartment in the source. To order a copy, visit sugatipublications.com. Arizona desert. To Sedillo and her friend fell the odiferous task of clean- I Want more Streetvibes? Check out the StreetviBeS Blog http://streetvibes.wordpress.com STREETVIBES Only purchase Vendor Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the Mary paper. �STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Book Review The Chemistry of Faith 11 Neuro-science studies religion’s effect on the brain 1 By JErEmy FlannEry Contributing Writer D o you believe God exists? Whether or not She is with us, our brains crave faith exercised through prayer or meditation and discussion, accord­ ing to neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman, an associate fel­ low of the University of Pennsylvania. The two authors of How God Changes Your Brain do not assert correctness for any ideology. Newberg writes he is open to the possibility of God’s existence while Waldman chooses to view the universe through evidence. I prefer an agnostic mesh that bor­ rows benevolent facets of the monotheisms and Buddhism. The book provides scientific evidence that suggests personal perspectives of faith are more complex than such labels as Hasidic Jew, Sunni Muslim and Method­ ist Christian; and certainty about faith eludes us, even atheists. “Ultimately, it is a mistake to assume Yawning, the fifth best that any self-assigned label, category or de­ way, is the best-kept scription of religious secret for maintaining belief accurately capa healthy brain, the tures a person’s value authors write. Smile system or moralat the idea and try it. ity,” the authors write. The authors say the act improves alertness, “Furthermore, our rememory recall, voluntary search suggests that control and temperature the more a person regulation, and it helps contemplates his or her values and beliefs, us relax and focus before taking on physical the more they are apt to change.” or mental tasks. The authors sought to study how faith neurologically affects the human brain and how views of God compare among various groups. So they ventured into the minds of Americans who participated in surveys to offer their personal perspectives of God. Par­ ticipants drew pictures of God and described how God feels along with other surveys for the authors to mold an anatomical explana­ tion of how people perceive God through the human senses. The majority of respondents expressed be­ nevolent views of God as an abstract notion beyond their ability to fully comprehend. Also, the religious demographic in the United States is shifting from religious denomina­ tions to individualized spiritual practices. The authors’ research suggests that God in the minds of Americans faces an identity cri­ sis: He might be She or neuter, loving, com­ manding, caring, damning or non-existent. Young children tend to see God as anthro­ pomorphic, they write. As our young brains develop, especially the frontal lobe, which is attributed toward logic and critical thinking, we begin to see God as more of an abstract notion and sometimes shed religious instruc­ tions to establish personal beliefs, they write. The authors used brain scans to see what parts of the brain become active during med­ itation or prayer. They scanned the brains of people who meditate or pray for about an hour each day to compare to those who do not by asking them to pray or meditate for 12 minutes. The results show that those who pray or meditate daily have decreased activ­ ity in their parietal lobes, the portion of the brain associated with concern for the ego. Religious fundamentalism is not a neuro­ logical pathogen sparking theistic violence, according to the authors. They write that, if the focus is positive, such beliefs can cause beneficial effects in the human brain. Fear of an angry god and resentment and anger toward infidels, however, cause brain dam­ age by releasing destructive neuro-chemicals into the brain. “Anger interrupts the functioning of your frontal lobes,” the authors write. “Not only do you lose the ability to be rational, you lose the awareness that you’re acting in an irrational way. When your frontal lobes shut down, it’s impossible to listen to the other person, let alone feel empathy or compassion.” But the authors offer brain exercises and meditation techniques to alleviate such neg­ ative thoughts. They offer their “eight best ways to exercise your brain.” “Neuro-scientific evidence has governed our choice in selecting the eight best ways to maintain a healthy brain,” they write. The list might be surprising. Repetitive smiling is the eighth best way to enhance your brain as it helps to maintain a positive outlook. Staying intellectually active ranks seventh. “This should be (if you will pardon the pun) a no-brainer,” they write. “When it comes to the dendrites and axons that connect one neuron to thousands of others, if you don’t use it, you will lose it.” Consciously relaxing with pleasant music, meditating for 12 minutes per day, engag­ ing in aerobic exercise and participating in meaningful discussions also rank upon their list. Yawning, the fifth best way, is the bestkept secret for maintaining a healthy brain, the authors write. Smile at the idea and try it. The authors say the act improves alert­ ness, memory recall, voluntary control and temperature regulation, and it helps us relax and focus before taking on physical or men­ tal tasks. The authors consider faith to be the best way to exercise your brain because it drives us to believe in ourselves and maintain an optimistic approach toward life. Is it possible to perform all eight activities together? The authors don’t say, but an at­ tempt seems like a healthful challenge. The book is a cornerstone for studying how certain activities positively or negatively affect your mind and ways to enhance your brain’s health and vitality. If you’re interested in understanding your own brain more, the authors cite 546 scientific studies related to their research. The most inspiring information in How God Changes Your Brain is that we can gener­ ate new brain cells, we can reroute our neu­ rological circuitry toward more compassion and optimism and we can understand the written results of neuro-scientific research. The proof? I grasped it, and I’m an idiot. �12 Local News and Views Typecasting Jim Tarbell Plays a dummy at League of Women Voters roast By JEssE call Contributing Writer T he League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area celebrated 90 years of political activism Feb. 27 at its annual Susan B. Anthony Dinner by tak­ ing jabs at Cincinnati politicians. Former Cincinnati Mayor Jerry Springer, now a tabloid talk show host, emceed the event, in which Republican Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Patricia Clancy, Democratic judicial candidate Dan Donnellon and Jim Tarbell, a Char­ ter Party candidate for Hamilton County Commissioner and Jim Tarbell. former Cincinnati vice mayor, were roasted. Mayor Mark Mallory was originally scheduled to be roasted, but was replaced by Donnellon when Mallory did not attend. Among the highlights of the evening was the response by Donnellon, a former stand-up comedian, to his roasting. Donnellon cracked jokes about Springer and his hosting the second season of the television show, America’s Got Talent. The winner in that season was a ventriloquist and impressionist. Donnellon apparently doesn’t have a high regard for ventriloquism, which he referred to as “doing singing impressions with puppets.” Donnellon then called Tarbell to the podium and used him as a dummy. Placing his hand on Tarbell’s back, Donnellon impersonated Louie Armstrong singing “What a Wonderful World” as Tarbell colorfully pretended to be performing. “Jerry!” Donnellon said. “That’s not talent, people!” Donnellon also said that one lesson he learned when going into politics was to “bear an odd resemblance to Mr. Clean” in order to get the Procter and Gamble vote, a clear jab at Tarbell’s bald head. Another highlight was when Tarbell finished his response by playing harmonica for the audience. The towering mural of Tarbell in Over-theRhine came up when Clancy said she feels safe in Over-the-Rhine. “The scariest thing I ever saw in Over-the-Rhine is that painting of Jim Tarbell,” she said. The mural has been a subject of controversy in Over-the-Rhine. Residents were not asked for input before the mural was painted, and there are differing views on whether Tarbell is a hero or villain in the community (see “Gigantic Insult? Towering Tribute?,” issue of Jan. 1-14). Many have accused Tarbell of backing gentrification, driving out the residents of the community in order to make it more appealing to people with higher incomes. Tarbell was an ardent foe of the late Buddy Gray, founder of the Drop Inn Center and the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. After the event, Springer said he didn’t mind the jabs he received. A week prior to hosting the League of Women Voters dinner, he hosted WWE Raw, a popular wrestling program on TV, but said that “people here have more teeth.” Springer also shared his perspec­ tive on how homelessness has changed in the years since he was Cincinnati mayor. “It’s getting better,” he said. “We’re not there yet. And particularly in tough economic times, people become less worried about taking care of each other and more about taking care of themselves. We see that with the health care. You become so blasé about it, and that scares me. I hope we aren’t losing our compassion.” Springer said he was unsure wheth­ er he would get involved in Cincinnati politics again, saying he still had it in his system but that he doesn’t need a job. When voters prepare for elec­ tions, the League of Women Voters is a better source of information than the news media, he said. “As cable news has become so obviously more partisan on both sides, there are more and more people that just want the straight scoop where they don’t feel there is going to be a bias even if there wasn’t one,” Springer said. “As we get closer to elections, more and more people are asking, ‘Where can we go to find out basic in­ formation on these people?’ … This is where the league can do great work.” Although the issue of homelessness didn’t come up during the roast, the league’s monthly publication, The Voter, features homelessness and its impact on the community. League President Alice Schneider discussed the issue in her letter to readers, shar­ ing an experience at a discussion group of women at the Drop Inn Cen­ ter. “One left because of abuse,” Schneider wrote. “Another found her­ self without the means to stay in her home after her husband died. Another was recovering from drug and alcohol abuse and was trying to stay sober. One talked about how the FBI was tracking her down – we guessed that mental illness might be a partial reason for her homelessness. The stories were all different but the one thing that was the same was that they were homeless now and needed a place to stay.” STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Let me Explain Helping you understand me By larry Gross Contributing Writer statements, balance sheets and general ledger account analysis, enough was enough. However, for fun, some­ ’ve been a writer in Cincinnati times my old accounting buddies and for over 12 years now, and I’m I get together and prepare amortiza­ a w a r e tion schedules that a lot of – just for the you still haven’t pure enjoyquite figured ment of it. me out. PerLet me exhaps as a public plain why I’m service, I’d like now a writer: to explain why In my youth I am the way I and in a lot of am and maybe my adult life, also enlighten I was always you on some talked out of it things you – you know, I’ll probably don’t never be able know about to support myme. Ready? self by doing it. Let me exOver 12 years plain why I ago, I said the drink vodka: hell with it; it’s I like the way what I want to it tastes with do. So far I’m tonic water, Larry Gross. Photo by Andrew Anderson. still able to and somebody buy vodka and told me once it doesn’t have any car- cigarettes, so I’ll consider this career bohydrates. I’ll continue to believe change a complete success. that even if it’s not true. You also can’t Let me explain why I’m diabetic: smell it on my breath. I usually don’t It’s my mother’s fault. care if someone can smell alcohol Let me explain my view on friends on me, but if I’m standing in line at a who desert you when you’re down bank, I don’t want someone sniffing and when you really need them: They and trying to figure me out. really weren’t your friends anyway. Let me explain why bus drivers Let me explain why I’m not a beer should like me: I’m the kind of rider drinker: Before vodka, I was always a who always has the exact fare and beer drinker. But years ago, at a bar waiting to turn it over as soon as I get down around the river, I really got sick on the bus. I’m not the kind of pas- on a brand. I haven’t really enjoyed a senger who starts looking for change beer since. after getting on the bus or asking othLet me explain my opinion on Jay er passengers if they have change for Leno: Did you really think this guy a $5 bill. would walk away from late night? He Let me explain why I’m usually nice was always kind of “waiting in the to telephone solicitors: I’ve had to do lobby” for Conan to tank, but Conan this a few times in my life to help make didn’t get enough time to build his ends meet. It’s a thankless, shitty job. show, in part because of Leno’s poor You get paid very little money, and showing as the lead in at 10 o’clock. people can be nasty as hell. Really, all Whatever. I never thought Leno was a person has to do is say, “No, thank funny. I’ll continue to watch Letteryou” and hang up. man. Let me explain why I don’t answer Let me explain why I don’t really the phone after 8 p.m.: If I’m drink- care if you think I’m a “character” : ing – and I’m a big boy; sometimes I Now that I’m older with longish, grayam – I don’t feel like acting normal on ish blonde hair that’s too long, I’ve bethe phone when I’m clearly not. I’ve come increasingly known as someone heard other people’s slurred speech who says what he thinks – namely a on the phone, and it’s not very be- character. “Oh, he’s a character. … Oh, coming. you never know what’s going to come Let me explain my reason to con- out of his mouth.” Etc, etc, etc. The re­ tinue to smoke: It relaxes me and goes ality is I’m pretty much the same pergreat with my coffee in the morning. I son I’ve always been. If getting older like it when I’m writing. Something’s gives me a license to speak my mind gonna get me at the end, and it might without being judged, I’ll accept beas well be something I enjoy. ing that character you think I’ve reLet me explain why I enjoy going to cently become. Northern Kentucky bars: I can smoke Let me explain my continued aninside. noyance with iceberg lettuce: Even Let me explain why I have only two upscale restaurants in Cincinnati cups of coffee in the morning: I might continue to serve this crap. It has no want more; but if I have more than nutritional value. None. It’s like eating two cups, I start to feel sick and my tap water. heart starts to race. All right—done for now. Of course Let me explain my giving money there’s more to explain about myself, to panhandlers: I usually think I’m but Streetvibes refused to devote this a paycheck away from being there entire issue to me. Yeah, I know. Pretty myself. It can’t be a good time asking damn selfish. strangers for money, so I try to put myself in their place. Let me explain why I’m no longer an accountant: After 33 years of income I Larry Gross’s latest book, Living Out Loud, is available at barnesandnoble.com and other online bookstores. �STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 13 Sports Big, Fast and Costly Poetry Corner Living large in the NFL to By B. cliFton BurKE Contributing Writer Q uarterbacks will always rule the roost in the NFL, but the next hot­ test position this off-season appears to be the fat guys – the defensive tackles. The mania for the plus-sized run-stuffers technically started last season when the Wash­ ington Redskins paid $100 million for every ounce of the 350-pound Albert Haynesworth. That trend has grown in 2010 after witnessing multiple teams either franchise tag or sign big contracts to the big men who eat up space on the interior of the defensive line. The Green Bay Packers slapped their tackle, Ryan Pickett, with the franchise tag, as did the 49ers with Aubrayo Franklin and New Eng­ land with Vince Wilfork (though Wilfork even­ tually signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Patriots). The divisional scumbags, the Pittsburgh Steelers, signed their aged be­ hemoth Casey Hampton to three more years for around 21 million bucks. Even the Bengals have made re-signing Tank Johnson a top off­ season priority. Part of the reason tackles have become a more valued commodity of late is because of the recent fad teams have adopted, switching to a 3-4 defensive scheme. In a 3-4, the most interior player is known as a nose-tackle, and this man's job is to be as large as possible and force ball carriers to the outside. Sounds sim­ ple, but nothing in the NFL is that easy. Even though some of these guys resemble small moons, they are still surprisingly nimble men who, when healthy, become a major setback the opposition's running game. Nearly every effective 3-4 defense has a formidable nose-tackle as its centerpiece. The rush to acquire good tackles is also showing up in early draft prognostications. The first two selections of the 2010 draft could very well be defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma. Suh, with the build of a Volkswa­ gen, possesses the size and agility to fit into either a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. McCoy is a little lighter and seems more suited to pair with another defensive tackle in a 4-3 set. Both of these players will be handed impressive con­ tracts and will become the building blocks for the defenses they play for. It doesn't end with the top two either. Up­ wards of five defensive tackles could be select­ ed in the first round this year. Heavyweights Dan Williams of Tennessee, Brian Price of UCLA and Jared Odrick of Penn State are also considered valuable prospects and won't like­ ly be around by the third round. There is even a player nicknamed “Mount” because of his sheer enormity. Terrence Cody of Alabama ac­ tually lost 20 pounds to weigh in around 350 at the Scouting Combine. The gobs of money going to the defensive tackles is yet another trend in the trendiest pro sports league on the planet. Because they are in such a high demand now, many will be locked into longer contracts and won't sur­ face on the free market again for quite awhile. What that translates to general managers and owners is this: Step right up and get your fat guy of the future. His big, he's fast and he's costly, but he will stop the run for years to come. A Paradox of Peace by SpenCer Ledyard Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances. -Mahatma Gandhi He took his time. There was no rush. He paused. A peace within: breathe out, breathe in, breathe out. The harmony of mind and body caused By vast experience; it spread throughout. The light was good. The wind was down. No clouds, No shadow cast by tree or building face, And underfoot, the little, rounded shrouds That glide along beneath the human race. His pulse was slow. His hand was still. He kneeled. He closed his eyes. He counted ten. And then He opened them and saw a crowded field Where people milled around. He said, “Amen.” And all he felt was nothing, cold or hot, As he took aim; and let off his first shot. Peace Between Reloading by SpenCer Ledyard Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading. -Unknown Two up, two across, then an X, an O, X,O,X,O,X. Tic-tac-toe, you win. Wanna play again? The game's all chance; no, Let's do something else before we move in. How many are inside or do we know? They shouldn’t be armed but, well, maybe ten ... Christ ... gimme a grenade before we go. Here. What are we waiting for? The captain ... Oh, when? Zero zero zero zero. That's like twenty minutes ago. ... So when? I don't know, we’ll give him ten more or so And if he ain’t here yet we'll start blastin’. So ... wanna play again? Nah, that game’s dumb, (Yawn) It only kills time and killin’ time’s dumb. Quiet Rebel by SpenCer Ledyard I am listening to Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited loudly on headphones that block out other noise. On this military base in Japan I take them off to scratch my ear and hear on the intercom The Star Spangled Banner. I quickly pull my headphones back on. Ode to the Homeless Man Passed Away by JuLeS Cantor Thirty springs, thirty summers, thirty short lived years Not to mention thirty winters through which he persevered Through thirty years he was a source of strength, though now he’s simply gone And though no longer with us, his legacy lives on �14 Letters to the Editor The Demise of Hip-Hop STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Firing people isn’t Easy Dear Editor, To the Editor: I really enjoyed the piece by Ariana Shahandeh in your latest edition of Streetvibes, entitled “New Voices of the Voiceless” (issue of Jan. 1-15). Shahan­ deh writes so passionately about the demise of the hip-hop genre and about the amazing work of people like Radiant Amar and Jasiri X, who are working to save it. It really inspired me to seek out music such as theirs that really address all that the world is going through today. Music is such a strong outlet for so many individuals, and getting rid of all of the Hollywood-superficial musicians and going back to music that connects with reality could have such a strong impact on the youth of today. I hope that featuring Radiant Amar and Jasiri X in your newspaper speaks to other people like it spoke to me and raises awareness of the hardships that everyone faces in the world each day. Keep up the amazing work! First of all I’d like to applaud you on what a wonderful paper you are pro­ ducing. Streetvibes seems to be a wonderful outlet for news that I simply have not seen elsewhere. I am the photo-editor of The Scroll, the paper at my high school, and I definitely appreciate the breadth of content and the interesting perspectives presented in each of the articles. I received a copy of the paper following a presentation on the homeless, and it’s given me a perspective on certain hot-topic issues that I hadn’t seen before. One thing I wanted to comment on was the article “On the Streets, Not ‘Up in the Air’ ” (issue of Jan. 15-30). I definitely understand the author's point that not all those who get let go react angrily, but I suppose I have another one of those contrasting viewpoints. My father works in relatively the same business as Clooney’s character does, and I would argue that the reason the movie fo­ cused in so much on the people that became violent is because these people have the most effect on people like my dad. My father spends most of his time on his airplane (he is just about to break 2 million miles), and while the main portion of his job is not to fire people, this part certainly upsets him. Whenever you google my dad, up pop up blogs describing my father as Sa­ tan or even insulting his mother or my sister and myself. Even though my dad is just doing his job, many people take it personally and thus backlash against him and his team. In one office in Tampa, someone even threatened my father with a bomb. While smaller staffs may not respond in such an ugly manner, “corporate crap” is different. While the movie may not have taken the direction the author suggested (and please recommend the movie Outsourced to them as, if they really want to see O&O, that's their gig), I think it was successful in exploring the psychological toll that those kinds of jobs have on the people that do them. My dad is con­ vinced I think he’s a monster because of what he does. He’s never home, people hate on him over the Internet, and his job is basically to make some people miserable. It’s not all he does, but it’s a part of it, and it's something that affects him every day. I really enjoyed reading your paper, and if I have the opportunity to get my hands on another copy in the future, I certainly will take advantage of it. Claire Heinichen Cincinnati Music as a Refuge To the editor: In reading the local newspaper, the article that stood out to me was “New Voices of the Voiceless” (issue of Jan. 1-15) As I read it I just made so many con­ nections. The music and its importance in tough times relates to The Soloist and the story of Nathaniel on the streets getting by with his violin. Music really seems to be the best rehab for people going through tribulations, just like Jay Z. He is definitely a rare case since he made it big. However, I agree with the writer and the local artists’ views on how fame and big time artists are too fo­ cused on the money and fame. I almost hope Jasiri X doesn’t make it big so his views stay pure and his songs stay clean. The second connection I made in thinking about this article was the com­ ments made about self-absorbed musicians. I probably would never have thought much of it except that in school right now we are reading Walt Whit­ man. His poems were intended to reach out to the common man back in the late 19th century. However, his book was misunderstood and nationally re­ jected. I see the book’s failure at the time due to Whitman’s overuse of personal experiences. Many infer the poet is cocky and pompous. I do not agree yet I do see how they could make this judgment. I think that popular artists who only sing about themselves rub off to listen­ ers like Whitman did. While their songs may be catchy and appeal to the pub­ lics’ auditory senses, the meaning is often shallow. Jasiri X and Radiant Amar are totally right in their criticism of today’s trend to glorify hard-core partying when really alcohol can lead to homelessness. It’d be ideal to have more mod­ est, conservative artists spreading positive messages of hope rather than pro­ moting bad habits that lead to troublesome society. If you ever are in touch with either artist, please pass along my support. I listened to them both on youtube and enjoy their new outlook on hip hop as well as their messages. Lastly, I thought “Turn in your Gun Day” was a neat idea. While people prob­ ably underestimate me and most of my classmates for any connection or em­ pathy to what goes on downtown and in “bad” neighborhoods, I have a di­ rect connection through my tennis coach. He grew up in Over-the-Rhine and throughout his childhood alone saw friends and family members shot before his eyes. I admire him for making a life for himself, avoiding trouble when it tempted him. I think the music piece offers some hope to people who find themselves in what seems to be a terrible situation that feels never-ending. Slaves in the 1800s used music as therapy; it served as a kind of refuge they could enjoy in the midst of all their suffering. Music today can help people, too. First, if you’re good enough, you can turn it into a profession. If not, just singing can bring a smile to your face. The messages in songs also give hope to those feeling des­ perate. And the fact that all of this is discussed to a degree in the newspaper enhances people’s knowledge of musical healing. I really enjoyed the article and newspaper. Good luck to your vendors. God bless those who passed away last year. Thank you for coming to our school and talking to us. Elizabeth Ann Blackburn Cincinnati Military Recruiter Lied To the Editor: In response to “Stop Abuses by Military Recruiters” (issue of March 1-14), I went into the military in 1966, and the military recruiter at 500 Main St. told me I could go to Hawaii, if I signed up for four years, and avoid Vietnam. I arrived at Scho­ field Barracks, Hawaii, at the receiving barracks. Within a week I was assigned to an infantry company, and a month later I was training troops from Taiwan, Philippines and South Korea. I was with a jungle warfare training unit that was preparing new recruits for Vietnam. On Nov. 2, 1967, I was shipped out on a mer­ chant ship to Vietnam with the 11th Infantry Brigade. The recruiter lied. Sonny Williams Clifton Ilana Habib Cincinnati Homeless People Deserve Respect To the Editor: Reading the Jan. 1 edition of Streetvibes, I came across a phrase that really res­ onated with me. In the article, “Homeless Coalition Marks 25 Years,” Liz Carter is quoted as saying, “Ten years ago I was one of those people who thought that, in Cincinnati, if you're not making it, it's probably because you're not trying hard enough.” I have a confession, too: I believed the exact same thing. When I passed a homeless man I thought, GGosh. He should really get a job and stop begging for money.” I categorized all homeless people under the same, lazy, sloppy stereotype. But after hearing the representatives from the Homeless Coalition that came to my school last week, Grady’s story, and read­ ing your newspaper, I have a new understanding of the homeless. I now know that every person is different: different story, different person­ ality, different life. I know that many become homeless due to circumstances completely out of their control. I know that being homeless presents difficul­ ties and situations that I can't even begin to imagine. And, most importantly, I know that each homeless person deserves the same respect I give to every other person I meet. Thank you for helping me to better understand my fellow human beings. Ali Breneman Cincinnati Have something on your mind? Do you agree or disagree with an article? Let us know: 117 E. 12th Street 1 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 1 streetvibes2@yahoo.com �STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 558-8888 981-5800 NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach Treatment: Men 458-6670 977-4489 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men 784-1853 Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 961-2256 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Starting Over Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 961-4080 Treatment: Both 761-1480 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 471-1100 221-3350 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Advocacy Northern Kentucky Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Brighton Center 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 721-4700 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health Center for Respite Care 535-2719 People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women Hamilton/Middletown 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 241-2965 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) AA Hotline CCAT Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 381-0111 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 First Step Home Anthony House (Youth) 621-5514 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 661-4620 Shelter: Both 241-2600 241-2563 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment: Women 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Shelter DIC Live In Program Prospect House 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 St. Francis Soup Kitchen Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Vendor Voice Halfway Houses Help the Community Rehabilitation and a way to become productive By GEorGE HErrEll StreetvibeS vendor case-management geared toward ensuring that ex-offenders are equipped to re-enter society as productive members of the community. They provide structure and guidance that individuals being released from The term “halfway house” might conjure up thoughts of illiterate convicts prison wouldn’t otherwise receive, while at the same time holding clients en­ who’ve spent most of their lives behind bars or of drug addicts who’ve fried tirely accountable for their actions, achievements and/or failures. their brains with dope until they can barely complete the In some instances they even serve an interventional func­ simplest thought without assistance. tion, accepting probationers with the hope that having the In fact, however, today’s halfway houses are “transition­ They provide structure and same services offered to them might prevent the need for ing stations” which contain a wealth of talents, ideas and expensive, extended incarcerations at state facilities. guidance that individuals abilities from all walks of life, and although there are those More often than, not halfway houses benefit the commu­ being released from prison few individuals who simply hope to use them as easy endnity as well as their clients by offering a centralized pool of wouldn’t otherwise receive, ings to long stints in jail, more and more you’ll find that while at the same time holding employable individuals eager to prove themselves in the job halfway house programs are last-ditch havens of hope for market and eventually releasing those individuals as suc­ clients entirely accountable men and women alike who’ve made poor choices in the cessful productive individuals to their respective communi­ for their actions, achievepast and now want nothing more than to improve the qual­ ties once their debts to society have been paid. ments and/or failures. ity of their lives. So the next time that you hear of the possibility that a Programs such as Volunteers of America, Talbert House halfway house might be opening in your neighborhood, and Cornerstone, just to name a few, offer such services as “corrective think- take the time to “play the tape all the way through,” honestly weigh the alter­ ing” courses, G.E.D. classes, employment counseling, as well as individual natives, check the statistics. Make an informed choice. �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES March 15 - 31, 2010 Farron Allen’s Body of Work Bits and pieces of humanity in a cry for freedom F arron Allen grew up in the mountains of southern West Vir­ ginia, the product of three generations of coalminers. He was raised by loving and religious grandparents who imparted to him the rigorous and somewhat rigid teachings of their Southern Baptist faith. As a child, he helped his father build things around the house; it gave him a good sense for materials and constructions that proved important in his artistic direction. Allen is a sculptor who uses primarily fabricated or found metal objects, casted and welded together, thus given a new life. “In my work, I usually incorporate fragments – found, given, from my own history, of my creation – that I weld together in a final form that bears a special meaning,” he says. “The finished product makes a statement and connects to me, my art, the history of the objects included, the people they represent.” Allen is also a popular art teacher at the University of Cincinnati (UC), where he teaches sculpture foundry. Despite his early inclinations to art, reflected by his constant draw­ ing as a child and throughout school, Allen did not pursue art educa­ tion until in his late twenties. In college, he earned two degrees in social work, specializing in aging. He worked then in nursing homes and community programs, an occupation he enjoyed but that he in­ terrupted, relocating to Florida for personal reasons. When he returned a few years later to his native West Virginia, not finding a satisfying job in social work, he worked as a toll collector on the West Virginia Turnpike. This allowed him to further his artistic interest: working on the midnight shift, he took advantage of its slow pace to re-immerse himself in art and create a whole body of drawings collectas ed by friends, coworkers and regular truckers who came through his lane. By saaD GHosn Eight years later, due Contributing Writer to the tedious nature of his otherwise well pay­ ing job, Allen decided to quit it and pursue instead an art career. He enrolled at West Virginia University, received a bachelor of fine arts degree in sculpture and graphic design, then at UC for a master of fine arts degree in sculp­ ture. Allen has lived in Cincinnati since then, creating his own art and teaching at the university. The human figure always held an important place in his work. Ab­ stracted life-size at the beginning, it became progressively decom­ posed into body parts, hands, faces, incorporated in sculptures with found objects, tools, spoons, crosses. Skulls and bones were also of­ ten prominent. This imagery, termed the Attack on Innocence by Allen, coincided with the emerging of the AIDS epidemic and Allen’s experience of the A rtists ctivists Hammered into Form, bronze and steel sculpture by Farron Allen. Photo by Bill Howes Farron Allen stands behind his sculpture, Reaching Out. Photo by Bill Howes. death of many of his friends and lovers. It was his reaction to the phys­ ical disintegration of a large generation of young individuals, also to his anger at the negative societal response to the disease because it affected predominantly homosexual men. Other concerns that transpired all along through Allen’s works pertained to religion, its conflict with sexuality, its misuse for power and control; the moral hypocrisy that frequently rules society, the imposed conformist values that disagree with the individual’s basic aspirations. Being raised in a poor area controlled by corporations, brought up in a religion that denied and denigrated his own sexual expression and brainwashed with a set of rules contradictory to his thoughts and beliefs generated anger that came out as a statement in his work. Allen’s response, initially visceral and cathartic, later be­ came message-laden, compassionate in its story telling. “I want my art to speak to people, to trigger questioning and think­ ing, to generate a reaction, even if not always positive,” he says. “I want the history behind my work and its implications to be commu­ nicated and perceived.” Commemorating those who died from AIDS, Allen did a series of altars with lights and mounds of bones, commentaries on death and life. Addressing the mixing of religion and sexuality, he did an installa­ tion that included a cross composed of thousands of small crucifixes and an altar made of waxed underwear having phallic lights inside them. Reflecting on his own religious upbringing, childhood and sexual­ ity, he did a series of Hair Boxes, incorporating his grandmother’s jew­ elry, family bibles, crucifixes, his own hair that his grandmother had saved, casted body parts. He was thus enclosing his personal history with its conflicts and contradictions inside a box. Hammered into Form, a bronze and steel black sculpture, repre­ sents a hand caught between two hammers, tools used to forge met­ al. He meant it as an allegory to how we’re formed as human beings, forged by our upbringing, education, external factors, opportunities. The hand appears stuck, yet seems to reach out for change. A spoon, symbol of what is spoon-fed and forced down one’s throat, but also of medicine and cure, is placed in front of it. A twisted piece of metal rod welded to the side alludes to knotted and painful internal organs. The piece also addresses the boundaries and regulations set by govern­ ment and laws, often to profit those in power, at the expense of the individual. Reaching Out, a similarly themed sculpture, represents a hand cov­ ered with nails, displayed on a heavy tall structure with a chain. The hand reaches out but is weighted down and imprisoned. “Body parts are a frequent metaphor in my work,” Allen says. “They deal with the idea of attack, initially centered on AIDS – the rejection of a generation of people by government policy, morality, fear of con­ tamination – but also attack on the essence and integrity of the indi­ vidual by religion, politics, power and greed.” Through his art and teaching, Allen continues his plea to liberate the human from all that ties it down, especially rules hypocritically condoned by society. The cocooned, enclosed body that appeared in his earlier installations gave way later to free winged figures and an­ gels. It is a transformation he would like to trigger and see happen in everyone, including himself. “I cannot imagine myself not doing art,” Allen says. “Art for me is everything. I make it, teach it, surround myself with it, use it to com­ municate and to hopefully make a change.” Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2010 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 March 15-31, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: City Ignores Plea for Fair Hiring Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Maybe It’s Time for a Troublemaker Pg 4: City Ignores Plea for Fair Hiring Continued Pg 5: Council Turns Backs on Metropole Tenants Pg 6: More Trouble Ahead for Haiti Pg 7: Once Upon a Time: Access Justice Pg 8: Sexy, Yummy, Veggie Pg 9: You Can’t Keep a Vendor Down Pg 10: Every Woman a Road Warrior Pg 11: The Chemistry of Faith Pg 12: Typecasting Jim Tarbell Let Me Explain Pg 13: Big, Fast and Costly Pg 14: Letters to the Editor Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Farron Allen’s Body of Work 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 March 15-31, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Veronica Glass Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Valerie Fessler Alecia A. Lott Jeni Jenkins Saad Ghosn Lew Moores Larry Gross Eli Braun Jesse Call Aimie Willhoite Anthony Williams Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Alecia A. Lott Anthology Anthony Williams city council Courts Dan La Botz David Heitfield Eli Braun Farron Allen Gregory Flannery Haiti Hiring Immigrants Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Jesse Call Jim Tarbell Justice Kenny Bussel Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Metropole Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham NFL Ohio Paul Kopp Rehabilitation Religion Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark U.S. Senate Valerie Fessler Veronica Glass Women https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/fc5e5ea7c0d27b46906f8d21f4c3b44c.pdf d359a19c8cd4b412421724083bfb14fe PDF Text Text The Fools of April Pages 4 and 5 Artists as Activists Page 16 Affordable Housing Pages 10 and 13 STREETVIBES $1 A p r. 1 - 1 4 , 2 0 1 0 • A d v o c a t i n g J u s t i c e , B u i l d i n g C o m m u n i t y • I s s u e 1 7 4 Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice Widespread incarceration isn’t keeping us safe By marGo Pierce Contributing Writer C riminals: They all deserve to go to prison and be pun­ ished in perpetuity. That isn’t exactly an accurate summary of the criminal justice system in Ohio, but taking into ac­ count the budget crisis and the annual $1.7 billion line item for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilita­ tion, criminal policies and procedures won’t escape scrutiny. With 31 prisons and 13,000 employees, bricks and mortar are only one consideration – sentencing requirements, programming, post-release supervision and recidivism reduction, among other things, are also getting atten­ tion. It naturally follows that we ask, “Who are we putting in prison and why?” That was the focus of the March 25 panel discussion, “Prisons and Prisoners: Impact Ohio,” at Isaac M. Wise Temple. Rabbi Ilana G. Baden opened the discussion by explaining that the topic of prisons and prisoners has deep roots in Judaism. She referenced one of the most famous lines from the Torah – “Justice, justice shall you pur­ sue” – and went on to explain why this passage has “fasci­ nated” sages over the years. “The use of the verb … ‘pur­ sue,’ or ‘chase after,’ for how does one chase after justice or righteousness? Isn’t justice or righteousness something that we should just simply do?” Baden said. “Our tradi­ tion teaches us that justice and righteousness are more ongoing endeavors. It’s not so clear-cut, and we must always be heedful to follow through, to not just to do justly, but to also make sure that we con­ tinue, that we go back, that we ensure that we’ve done justly, that we continue to do justly.” She pointed out that the Terry Collins, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Corrections (L), David Yost, Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney (C), David Singleton, executive director, Ohio Justice & Policy Center (R), at the Prisons & Prisoners: Impact Ohio panel discussion, March 25, at the Issac M. Wise Temple, 8329 Ridge Road, sponsored by the Critical Topics Committee of Wise Temple and The Woman’s City Club. Jon Hughes/photopresse. sages also note the repetition of the word “justice,” which serves to underscore the point that justice is multifaceted. It is a call to practice justice for “all parties, not just for those who are wronged but also for those who are al­ leged to be wrongdoers and those who are found to be guilty. They deserve justice and righteousness as well.” This broad view made it clear that the panel, spon­ sored by 13 communityminded organizations, was See Justice, p. 6 ‘We Just Want to Work’ Immigrants and supporters rally in Washington By Samantha Groark Contributing Writer M Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, addresses a send-off rally for the proimmigration demonstration. Jon Hughes/photopresse. ore than 200,000 immigrants and ac­ tivists gathered March 21 in Washing­ ton, D.C., chanting, “Si se puede!” and “Yes we can!” Waving American flags and carrying signs saying, “Justice and Dignity for All U.S. Im­ migrants” and “We Just Want to Work,” the dem­ onstration filled five blocks of the National Mall. The rally was part of a nationally organized campaign supporting an immigration-reform bill in Congress. Supporters traveled from around the country in hopes that the rally will re-energize Congress to address the broken immigration sys­ tem, which affects the lives of nearly 12 million undocumented U.S. residents. With the help of the Cincinnati Interfaith Work­ ers Center, four buses full of local activists and im­ migrants traveled 10 hours to Washington to take part in the rally. One of the Cincinnati activists who attended the rally is Alma Díaz, a 28-year-old bartender and an immigrant from Mexico, who arrived in this country seven years ago. Shortly before the rally, Díaz said she felt over­ whelmed with anticipation and enthusiasm. “I feel like my heart’s on fire,” she said. Now she recruits other immigrant activists for the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, which helps immigrants know their rights as laborers. In January the center helped organize a local im­ migration reform rally that attracted over 2,000 demonstrators (see “Demanding Justice for Im­ migrants,” issue of Feb. 1-14). U.S. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, (D-Ill.), the leader of the immigration-reform movement in Congress, took the stage at the rally and applauded the ef­ forts of the thousands who gathered. He prom­ ised that he would work his hardest to continue to support them, but also added that activists would have to be steadfast in their efforts. “If we see this protest as a culmination of our struggle, we’re going to lose,” Gutiérrez said in an interview. “We have to take the struggle to the street.” President Barack Obama did not attend the demonstration because of the health-care vote taking place in the House of Representatives, but in a videotaped message on giant screens, he warned of the cost of inaction. “In the end, our broken immigration system affects more than a single community; it affects our entire country,” Obama said. “And as we con­ tinue to strengthen our economy and jumpstart job creation, we need to do so with an immigra­ tion system that works, not the broken system we See Work, p. 12 �2 The Vibe By The Numbers StreetWise 1 the percentage of construction contracts awarded to African-American firms by Cincinnati Public Schools (see page 2). 31 the number of state prisons in Ohio (see page 3). 91:1 the ratio of benefits to costs, measured in dollars, for advocacy programs in Los Angeles (see page 10). 13 the age at which Carmen Bowen Bush’s artistic talent was recognized (see page 16). 1 the number of atheists ever elected to Congress (see page 9). 89 the number of housing units to be built with a new federal grant (see page 13). 9 Holly Parker’s age when her parents raped her (see page 12). 200,000 the number of people rallying for immigration reform March 21 (see page 1). 62 the percentage of felons who stay out of Ohio prisons after their release (see page 1). 1971 the year Alex Chilton formed the band Big Stare (see page 11). By GreGory Flannery editor Public Administration Award for ‘Streetvibes’ designer Lynne Ausman isn’t only the Streetvibes art director; she’s also the person who makes the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless run day to day. As administrative coordinator, she manages the coalition’s finances, oversees fundraising, designs Streetvibes, maintains the computers, orders supplies and takes care of the mailings. Now a professional organization has taken note of her considerable talents and accomplish­ ments. The Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the American Society for Public Administra­ tion has named Ausman winner of a Public Administrator of the Year Award. Ausman received the award in the student division. She is finishing work on her master’s de­ gree in public administration at Northern Kentucky University. Ausman started at the Homeless Coalition in 2006 on a placement with Volunteers in Service to America. Her passion for social justice isn’t only local. In July she’ll serve a month-long internship in Bangladesh, working with a program founded by Muhammad Yunus. The winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, Yunus started Grameen bank, which gives micro loans to help poor people start businesses. ‘Off the Streets’ Gets Global Attention As Ausman prepares to study abroad, international visitors recently came to learn about Off the Streets, a program at Cincinnati Union Bethel that helps women escape prostitution. Five women with the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors Lead­ ership Program visited March 12 from India, Nigeria, the People’s Republic of China, Cape Verde and Turkey. Off the Streets, staffed by women who once were on the streets, provides emergency shelter, referrals to community resources and support and educa­ tion groups. “So much of the conversation about prostitution has been whether it should be le­ galized or not,” said Sumathi Kasturi, an advocate from India. “It was refreshing to see that instead your focus is on rebuilding the women’s lives and including them as hu­ man members of society.” In four years of operation, Off the Streets claims a phenomenal success rate for wom­ en who use its services for 30 days or more: Six months later, approximately 85 percent had no new prostitution convictions. NAACP Demands Work for African Americans Onto the streets is where Christopher Smitherman has taken his demand that Cin­ cinnati Public Schools hire more African-American contractors on construction jobs. Smitherman, president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Rev. Dock Foster, president of the Baptist Ministers Conference, were arrested March 18 when they blocked a construc­ tion entrance at North Avondale Montessori School. The NAACP has criticized Cincin­ nati Public Schools’ contracting practices for years, recently filing a public-records law­ suit and winning Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland’s support for an audit. The school district has said it is proud of its minority-contracting record and is working to improve it. But after his arraignment on a charge of criminal trespassing, Smitherman said the media has helped the school district blur the issue by its use of language. “We’re not here standing for minorities,” he said. “We’re here standing for African Americans. We’re here because African Americans get 1 percent of $701 million (in contracts). They’ve been lying about the minority number. They’re saying it’s 12 per­ cent. But it’s actually 9 percent. Out of that, African American is 1 percent.” Smitherman and Foster, who pled not guilty, are free pending trial. Foster said the ar­ rests gave them a view of another racial disparity – this one inside the Hamilton County Justice Center. “It was 95 percent of African Americans in jail,” he said “Go over there and it looks like a slave ship. I was so shocked. They’ve lost everything. Their spirits are broken.” Health Bill Passes, Republicans Pout U.S. Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Cincinnati) voted in fa­ vor of President Obama’s health-care reform. Obama signed the bill into law mere seconds before Republicans started threatening to sue to stop the reform. Driehaus had wavered but ultimately voted for the watered-down bill. Supporters of the mea­ sure rallied in front of the Weston Hotel as Driehaus hosted a campaign fundraiser attended by Vice Pres­ ident Joseph Biden. STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@yahoo. com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress. com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Graphics/Layout Intern Veronica Glass Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Valerie Fessler, Alecia A. Lott, Jeni Jenkins, Saad Ghosn, Lew Moores, Larry Gross, Eli Braun, Jesse Call Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Anthony Williams, Vinit Murthy, Jon Hughes Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are proud members of: Jon Hughes/photopresse. �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 8 Column 3 M I N U T E S Behind Prison Bars Being dumb on crime makes it worse and more expensive By marGo Pierce Contributing Writer T he average length of stay in prison for an Ohio in­ mate is about two years. Of the more than 52,000 people currently behind bars in Ohio, 98 percent will return to the community whence they came. Having done their time, the theory goes, they get a second chance. Not so, according to David Singleton, executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center. This is because we, as a society, have labeled all of them “criminals” or “felons” and have created an extensive list of restrictions designed to keep “them” away from “us,” he says. “We have to fight hard against these labels that we put on people,” Singleton says. “When you think of some­ one as a felon or a criminal or a sex offender (it’s) a way of pushing someone to the margins. It’s a way of keeping them at arm’s length – and then when you do that, you don’t really care what happens to that person.” That alienation has consequences for everyone, includ­ ing a high recidivism rate. Up to 62 percent of all people convicted and sent to prison will reoffend. However, until they return to prison, they will be the woman next door and the man in the line at the gro­ cery. “The goal should be, “People in the criminal justice system are people who are going of the criminal justice to be our neighbors, who are going system, to make sure we keep the community to live amongst us, and we have to safe. … We don’t do that make an effort to see them as the when we make it impos- people they are,” Singleton says. sible for people returning “Because if we don’t, we’re almost going to guarantee that they’re go­ from prison to get on their feet and get a job. ing to go back to prison, because David Singleton. John Hughes/photopresse. … And all too often folks we’re going to tolerate the dumbon-crime approach that we’ve been give up and return to a life of crime because of doing here in Ohio for a long time the problems they face that says, ‘You never get a second by Collins allows those who fail to pay child support to remain in when they come home.” chance. You never can be trusted again.’ And when you say that message to the community and work. If they miss a scheduled payment, they - David Singleton people, eventually they go and commit more spend the weekend confined. By losing their freedom temporarily as crimes again.” an incentive to not miss the next payment, the individuals released Singleton was one of three panelists March 25 at “Prisons and on Monday to go back to work are more likely to pay support. If im­ Prisoners: Impact Ohio” at Isaac M. Wise Temple in Amberley Vil­ plemented statewide, this program alone would reduce the prison lage. The discussion addressed questions such as, “How does our population by 750 and cost less per person. community’s prison system really work?” and “How does sentencing “We need to also focus on making sure we have the right people policy affect society’s choice about prisons?” (See “Too Many Pris­ locked up behind bars,” Singleton says. “All too often we have loweroners,” page 1.) He explained that people with a conviction on their level offenders who could be managed and supervised in the com­ record are routinely denied employment, housing and essential ser­ munity at a much-reduced cost to the taxpayer. vices because fear rules legislation and public policies. “We have them behind bars in the state system, and it’s expensive. “The Ohio Justice and Policy Center represents individuals who They learn how to be better criminals when they’re locked up; and are in the criminal justice system … and we also advocate for what when they come home, they haven’t gotten the rehabilitation they we call smart-on-crime criminal justice reform,” Singleton says. need because prisons are overflowing and services are hard to pro­ “Smart on crime means having policies and criminal justice laws vide in an environment where everybody’s stretched thin.“ that are grounded in research and evidence and best practices that The state budget for maintaining the existing prison system is are shown to keep the community safe rather than a fear-based, re­ $1.7 billion annually for 31 institutions employing 13,000 individu­ actionary approach that says, ‘Lock up as many people as we can als. This doesn’t include the 352 county jails that are funded by 88 lock up.’ counties. Singleton believes we’re investing our tax dollars in a way “The goal should be, of the criminal justice system, to make sure that doesn’t accomplish the goal of community safety, and it’s time we keep the community safe. … We don’t do that when we make it for a dramatic paradigm shift. impossible for people returning from prison to get on their feet and “We have to double, triple, quadruple our commitment to making get a job. … And all too often folks give up and return to a life of sure that, when people return home from prison, they have an op­ crime because of the problems they face when they come home.” portunity to succeed – to get a job, pay their taxes, be good members Given the overcrowding in Ohio’s prisons – they are 130 percent of this community,” he says. “We all win when that happens, and we over capacity, according to Terry Collins, the recently retired director all lose when it does not happen. So, I think that’s really critical that of the Ohio Department Rehabilitation and Correction – inmates are we embrace meaningful reentry programs for people coming out. only being punished. Drug rehabilitation, GED and other services “We also have to be smart in terms of who we’re locking up. We’re that will help people find an alternative path on the outside can’t locking up people that we’re mad at, not necessarily the people who meet the current demand. With this in mind, support in the commu­ are the most dangerous. And we can’t continue that, because for ev­ nity for former inmates is essential for enhancing public safety. ery dollar that we spend on education, we’re spending 69 cents on One alternative to jail for a non-violent offender is community keeping people confined in the state prison system – and that’s just supervision. An example of a successful pilot program spearheaded absurd.” Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in the Queen City. “Eight Minutes” is an opportunity to learn who those people are and what motivates them to be a positive influence. �4 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 The Fools of April People Power: Rickshaws on Vine Street C incinnati City Council last week approved a plan to establish a six-mile rickshaw route from downtown to University Heights. The rickshaws will replace a $200 million streetcar plan previously approved by council. The city failed to win federal funding for the streetcars, derided in a congressional debate as “typical Cincinnati – reaching back 50 years for a path to the future.” The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) proposed the rickshaw line, saying it will promote multi-culturalism and attract upper-income residents to Over-the-Rhine. “People will enjoy being transported on rickshaws, and they’ll enjoy watching them go by,” says 3CDC President Stephen Leeper. “They have a certain charm that cars don’t have – not to mention reduced emissions, so this is a green project, too.” Council approved an ordinance requiring homeless people to pull rickshaws in order to qualify to stay at emergency shelters, eat at soup kitchens or receive treatment at city clin­ ics. The city will pay $100 million to 3CDC to provide and maintain a fleet of 30 rickshaws and to train and supervise the pullers. City Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz said the contract will save taxpayers money by keeping homeless people trim, thereby reducing long-term health-care costs. “This is the first fiscally responsible decision we’ve made as a council,” Ghiz said. Rickshaws are 3CDC's plan for employing homeless people and expanding public transportation. REUTERS/STR New. (Ima Tryin) Enquirer Nominated for 17 AP Awards Dunkin’ Isn’t Just for Donuts T he Associated Press Society and hardly ever get arrested. You of Ohio announced today could possibly step in it when they that the Cincinnati Enquirer, don’t use a can, and it really messes the leading newspaper on cincinnati. up the sweet smell emanating from com, is a finalist for the Ohio River 17 AP awards in 14 when the wind categories for 2009. “It’s an amazing testament blows north. “It’s an amaz• Best Explan­ to our commitment to ing testament to journalistic excellence. Sixty- atory Reporting: our commitment “We’re Pretty five newspapers in Ohio to journalistic exSure Laketa Cole sent in 2,794 submissions. cellence,” says EdiPees Standing Of course, we only compete tor Tom Callinan. against five other newspapers Up,” one of an “Sixty-five newspaindefinite series in our circulation group.” pers in Ohio sent in of articles explor­ - Editor Tom Callinan 2,794 submissions. ing why we find Of course, we only a strong black compete against five other newspawoman with political connections pers in our circulation group, and to be really, really scary. Hitler peed there are 35 categories if you count standing up, too. That’s just a fact. General Excellence, and usually about • Best Breaking News: “5 Million Atfour or five finalists for each category. tend Tea Party Rally; None of Them But we’ll leave that last stuff out of Have to Poop or Pee,” documentour press release, and it’ll look pretty ing the hoards of Great Americans good, and we’ll be keeping with our who attend every Tea Party event, general editorial policy of avoiding dreaming of their desire to end all too much information that hurts our gubmint and live in a Somalian readers’ heads.” paradise where all the women are Some of the nominations include: strong, all the men are good-look­ • Best Community Reporting: “Who ing and all the pirates are aboveKnew? The Homeless Poop, Too,” a average. shocking warning to the commu­ nity that selfish homeless people (Mo Cash) continue to have bowel movements C. Johnson Ocho Cinco Acht Fünf “Cincinnati is a German city, so I’m going with that. I love that chicken dance they do at Oktoberfest every year.” - Chad Acht Fünf H amilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. says he will continue the use of waterboarding at the Justice Center. Waterboarding has decreased disciplinary infractions in the jail and saved the court system money, he says. In its first three months, waterboarding at the jail has prompted 63 confessions leading to felony convictions, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in court costs, according to Leis. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed suit in U.S. District Court in an effort to stop Leis from waterboarding prisoners, saying the practice is unconstitutional. Leis sneered at the lawsuit. “It was filed by the ACLU,” he said. “That should tell you something right there.” First used by the Inquisition during the Dark Ages and later by the Japanese Army during World War II, waterboarding is considered torture throughout the civilized world. The Bush administration was widely condemned for using waterboarding in the U.S. terror war. President Obama banned waterboarding of prisoners captured by the U.S. military but Leis says that ruling doesn’t apply in domestic criminal cases. “Obama might have taken over the auto industry and the hospitals, but he doesn’t run the Hamilton County Justice Center,” Leis said. “Obama can use his health-care reform to help the little darlings after we’re done with them.” The procedure isn’t as bad as critics make it out, according to the sheriff. “These criminals know what they did,” he said. “It’s just water – it isn’t poison. If a good dousing helps them talk, what’s wrong with that? When did discipline become a bad word?” The only negative impact so far has been a slight increase in the jail’s wa­ ter bill, Leis says. At a Tea Party rally in Western Hills last week, Leis won loud applause when he announced that he has a committee looking into other cost-ef­ fective ways to maintain discipline in the jail and encourage confessions. “You ever heard of the thumbscrew?” Leis said. “Nobody ever died from having their thumbs pinched, but I’ll tell you what: I bet the ACLU would object to that, too. We’re going to do whatever we can to fight crime, and the socialists can go straight to hell.” (Siegfried Heil) Eight Five Will be Eight Five C incinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, nee Chad Johnson, will soon be known as Chad Acht Fünf. Ocho Cinco recently filed papers in Hamilton County Probate Court to legally change his name again. The move came after he was arrested in Middletown on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant. Ocho Cinco, who was born in Miami, Fla., is African-American. Butler County Sheriff Rich­ ard O. Jones, whose harsh anti-immigrant policies have attracted national attention, defended the arrest of the football star. “A lot of the Mexicans in Cuba are black,” he said. “In Brazil, too. A lot of their Mexicans are black. So that shows we’re not discriminating. It doesn’t matter to me what country they come from. They’re still Mexicans, not Americans. If he just had a regular American name, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place.” Butler County turned Ocho Cinco over to U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.), which released him after 24 hours. An I.C.E. spokesmen said the agency found that Ocho Cinco has some foreign ancestry but is a U.S. citizen. Ocho Cinco means “eight five” in Spanish, a botched translation of his jersey number, 85. Following his arrest, Ocho Cinco released a statement saying he now wants to be known as Chad Acht Fünf. “Cincinnati is a German city, so I’m going with that,” he said. “I love that chicken dance they do at Oktoberfest every year.” Acht Fünf means “eight five” in German, a botched translation of his jersey number, 85. (Bill Cunningman) �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 5 The Fools of April Council Solves Metropole Controversy C incinnati City Council voted 8-1 to ap­ am. Paradox, is not.” prove $50 gajillion in grants and loans C3PO and its development partner, R2D2 to developers who plan to turn the Metropole Hotels of the out-of-town Louisville Empire, Apartments into a boutique hotel after they hope to use the vast surplus in city coffers to presented Council with “round out” the back­ a plan that would not stage entertainment dis­ “Homeless people, one of you, I trict by catering to drunk only please the current Metropole tenants, but am. State of mind, homelessness white people who think would cure all homeless­ paying obscene prices is. Force, you must use. Give ness in Cincinnati. money, I do; fiscal conservative, I for a 10-year-old Broad­ “It’s simple, really: way touring spectacle am. Paradox, is not.” We’ll just tell them to counts as a night of “go­ - Charlie “Yoda” Winburn Use the Force,” said Ste­ ing to the theater.” phen Leeper, president “I don’t care whatcha of Cincinnati City Center Planned Obsoles­ all do, you can kiss my ass because I’m outta cence (C3PO). here,” Princess Laketa added. Mayor Han Solo “Homeless people, one of you, I am,” said Mallory was doing reconnaissance work in Councilman Charlie “Yoda” Winburn. “State another galaxy. of mind, homelessness is. Force, you must use. Give money, I do; fiscal conservative, I (Leslie G. Whiz) Photo by Bill Haigh. Poetry Corner Berding Proctors Asshole Tax C We Won’t Give Up By chriS Bortz Over there, over there Kill the poor, cut them off, strip them bare Charity proliferation, hurts commercial masturbation So beware, God hates poor prayer. Kill the poor, cut them off, Nobamacare Problems will be over, the Rhine will be Over, And we won't give up until Over-the-Rhine is bare incinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding has revised an idea he proposed last year that would require panhandlers to pay a registration fee and car­ ry a sign when panhandling. “I thought, like many of my constituents, that all the problems of the city were caused by homeless people and others without power,” Berding said last night. “Now I realize the problems of the city are caused by assholes. “Assholes detract from our vibrant city and, some would argue, is one of the major impediments to attracting shoppers, diners and other visitors downtown,” Berding continued, reading from an op-ed he submitted to the Enquirer. “It is an uncomfortable truth, but one we need to face head-on. Enabling assholes is not the answer.” Berding wore a sandwich board saying, “Help me – I am an asshole” that all as­ sholes would be required to wear after registering with the city. In addition to the city asshole tax, Berding said there would be an aggressive billboard campaign to raise awareness of the negative impact assholes have on attracting new business to the region. “Look, I have consistently supported city funding for programs to help the as­ sholes,” Berding said. “Yet we continue to have this problem with assholes in the city, on council, broadcasting on the airwaves and generally telling the world that Cincinnati is a great place for assholes. Compassionate treatment means helping those in need – not enabling further destructive behavior. “It’s time to wipe out the assholes,” Berding concluded, smiling as he pointed to his sign. (Sarah Palor) Want more Streetvibes? Check out the StreetvibeS blog http://streetvibes.wordpress.com Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �6 Local News STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice continued from page 1 going to challenge the popular focus of only giving weight to crime and victims, exclud­ ing the perpetrators. Such a radical departure from the “The politicization of crime current punishment meant is really disturbing to me, mentality and I think we all owe it to sparks were bound ourselves, to our children, to fly, and they did. to our grandchildren to put Posing the challenge to think differently the brakes on that.” were Terry Collins, - David Singleton recently retired head of the Ohio Depart­ ment of Rehabilitation and Correction, and David Singleton, executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, with much disagreement from Delaware County Pros­ ecutor David Yost. Marianna Brown Bettman, a professor of clinical law at the University of Cincinnati and former Ohio appeals judge, moder­ ated the discussion. It began with the most pressing bottom line – money. Politicizing crime “Currently we spend close to $2 billion on Ohio’s prison system – money that the Co­ lumbus Dispatch recently editorialized isn’t going to schools, hospitals, libraries, parks, highways or health care,” Bettman said. “Ac­ cording to … the Dayton Daily News, prison populations are at 130 percent capacity in Ohio. If existing policies remain unchanged … the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction predicts the prison popula­ tion will rise 11 percent in the next decade. The cost to accommodate that increase will be $925 million annually … which is on top of the already existing costs.” Bettman said that State Rep. Bill Seitz (RGreen Township) has proposed a prisonreform bill, Senate Bill 22, to address this record-breaking increase in the number of people behind bars. Seitz says he is mov­ ing forward because, in his mother’s words, “You can’t put 10 pounds into a five-pound bag.” The Council of State’s Justice Center has been commissioned to collect data on Ohio’s criminal-justice system and develop solutions. If they talk with Collins, they’ll save a lot of time and cash, because he can tell lawmakers, based on firsthand experience, what he and a vast body of research already show. “The fact of the matter is when some­ one comes to the state prison system, they’ve got 90 days to do, they look at the staff … and say, ‘I don’t care about you. I don’t care about your programs because, guess what? I’m going home in 90 days, and there’s nothing you can do about it unless I commit a new felony.’ Coming to the prison system for just a few days does not work. “We have a lot of people in the state pris­ on system that should never get out. I will never argue that, but there’s a whole lot of other people who could be served in different, alternative options that would probably be far less expensive and much more productive and create a better rate of return for normal society.” Singleton used S.B. 22 as an example to illustrate how the exploding prison popula­ tion and unsuccessful policies have failed to achieve safer communities. He said the bill, proposed by a Republican, “narrowly passed” the Senate and is now being held up in the house by Democratic politicians who fear being “painted as soft on crime,” in part for showing support for the early re­ lease of some prisoners. He described those people who would qualify for this release as low-level, non- violent offenders whose release would help alleviate overcrowding and change the makeup of the prison population. “These issues ought not to be as political as they are,” Singleton said. “If I ever hear another politician say, ‘I’m tough on crime,’ I don’t know what I’m going to do. None of us like crime in our community. I’ve got a daughter, I’ve got a wife – I want them to be safe. I want to be safe. I want all of you to be safe. We have that in common. When we talk about ‘tough on crime,’ that’s just the rheto­ ric that pushes people’s buttons and allows us to … fall asleep at the switch where we go along with policies and laws that wound up exploding the prison population. “The politicization of crime is really dis­ turbing to me, and I think we all owe it to ourselves, to our children, to our grandchil­ dren to put the brakes on that.” (See “8 Min­ utes Behind Bars,” Page 3.) Batting .620 Yost stepped in to challenge Singleton’s assertion that the growing number of peo­ ple in prison is a bad thing. “The criminal-justice system is supposed to be about punishing the people that ac­ tually commit crimes and deterring other people who are similarly situation from do­ ing that,” he said. “What we ought to do is decide what people we need to lock up. … But at the end of the day this notion that sheer numbers should dictate our penal policy is absurd. We should figure out who needs to be locked up, who needs to be off the streets and then we should figure out a way to have them off the street. “What we’re talking about here tonight is rationing prison beds. The first function of government is public safety. Before we educate, before we medicate, we need to have safe streets and make sure there’s an ordered framework for liberty where we can all be safe and raise our families.” Yost offered no proof of his statement that punishment serves as a deterrent or that the growing number of people being incarcerated promotes public safety. “I don’t think our current approach is get­ ting us public safety,” Singleton said. “What we wind up having is a revolving door where we’re not really rehabilitating people Queen City. It’s all about perspective, and that’s what Collins wanted to add to the dis­ cussion about numbers. “To get people’s attention, you got to talk about numbers – 130 percent capacity, $1.7 billion budget,” he said. “When you talk re­ habilitation, 62 percent of the people who leave the state prison system don’t return. If I’m playing baseball and I hit .620, guess where I’m going to be? I’m going to be in the Hall of Fame. “But I don’t have anybody standing on the street corner saying, ‘I’m an ex-convict and I’m doing well.’ But let somebody do bad and it’s all over every paper across the country. I believe we can punish people without putting everybody in prison. I think we have to start thinking differently about what we do with individuals who break the law and what type of punishment do they get.” Collins wants the beds behind bars re­ served for “the worst of the worst” and al­ ways have space available for the people who should never leave prison. Closing debtors prison People who fail to pay child support oc­ cupy 750 beds in Ohio prisons. The illogic of throwing someone in jail for not making payments, which eliminates the possibility of keeping a job and fulfilling his commit­ ment, wasn’t lost on the panel. All agreed that alternatives are needed. In an effort to experiment with an alter­ native to prison for child-support violators, Collins helped implement a pilot program. Seven Ohio counties served as test sites. The success rate was astounding – an in­ crease of payment collection of more than 70 percent. “We went into seven different counties and said, ‘Don’t send those people to pris­ on,’ knowing that there’s some of them that need to come to prison but there’s more of them who don’t,” Collins said. “If you keep them in a job and make them pay their sup­ port and give intensive supervision … it’s a win-win situation to me because the chil­ dren were getting what they needed, the state prison system didn’t get somebody they didn’t need.” Yost agreed with this alternative ap­ proach. “How about instead of sentencing “I don’t get an incentive to take a shower. them to felony, we sentence them in­ stead to a first-degree misdemeanor I just like myself better and the way I smell and give them a 180-day sentence if I do take a shower. We shouldn’t have to to be served two days at a time?” he incentivize people to behave well.” said. “When you get paid, you show --Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost up to child-support enforcement agency, you make your payment and in prison. Some people may be beyond re- you go home and have your weekend. But habilitation, but there are some who should if you don’t make your payment, we’re not be rehabilitated, and we’re not focusing on going to put you in prison – we’re going to that. take you to jail on Friday night and you’re “They come home, they’re worse off, they going to stay there. … On Monday morning commit more crime. And I also agree that at 6 a.m. we’re going to roust you out of the we ought to decide who needs to be locked bunk. We’re going to throw you out the front up as a community and, yeah, the numbers door and say, ‘Go to work. Next paycheck, alone don’t dictate that. I wasn’t saying that. please pay your child support or we’re go­ My point is that our vision of who should ing to have another weekend.’ No fishing, be locked up is skewed by fear. … If we, as no hunting, no drinking beers, no football, a community, we let fear drive our policy, no hanging out with your buddies on the then we’re not going to lock up the right weekend. I’ll bet if you lost three or four or people. We’re going to over-incarcerate, and five of those weekends running, you’d start at the end of the day, that’s not helpful to to get the idea that you’d have to pay your community safety.” child support.” Singleton pointed to sensational crimes such as shootings highlighted in television ‘A better way’ news as a case in point of how a narrow sampling of crime “distorts our picture of Yost assumed that most people not paywhat’s actually going on.” He said, after liv­ ing child support have the kind of jobs and ing in New York and Washington, D.C., Cin­ disposable income to engage in sports cinnati has “got nothing” compared to poor and drink responsibly. He acknowledged areas in those cities, yet many people tell contributing factors him they don’t feel safe downtown in the such as addiction that See Justice, p. 10 �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Column Poverty and Grief 7 All suffer, but especially the poor 1 A few years ago a friend helped make was not just a place of fond memories of hot a video that documented the clos­ chocolate or old jokes about the intestinal ing of a White Castle restaurant in consequences of too many sliders. It was a Louisville. The restaurant stood at a corner place of genuine refuge. To these folks, poor where the bus lines crossed, and it had been and working-class people, mostly Africana popular place. It had been an institution for American, the White Castle at the crossroads years and served all sorts of people. I don’t re­ was a place of warmth in the winter, shelter call why it was closing, but I think it had to from the summer sun, the source of a hasty do with knocking the building down to make meal between jobs, a community hearth way for condos or corporate offices. where friends could meet. While those inside (What makes me say that? Do we ever go took part in a countdown to a midnight clos­ the other way? Do ing, a woman stood outwe ever knock down side and lamented, “What corporate offices are we gonna do now?” to make way for afHer image and her quesfordable housing for tion have remained fresh working families? in my mind for over 20 By Michael henson Does eminent do­ years. I’m not sure where main ever take over the line is between nostal­ a condominium at gia and grief, but I know half its value in order to build a school? Do I that what this woman felt was grief. Her loss even need to ask?) was real. The tone of the film was mostly upbeat. Interlaced with a countdown to a midnight * * * * * closing, the film’s producers interviewed a range of people for whom the White Castle Gwendolyn Brooks, in her poem, “Beverly restaurant had been a part of their lives. They Hills, Chicago,” tells of a carload of people interviewed businessmen and bus drivers, from the inner city who drive through an ex­ neighborhood characters, waitresses and a pensive suburb. The trip causes the poet to crew of Catholic high school students, one of ponder life and death and the difference be­ whom had prepared a rap for the occasion. tween life and death for the poor and life and It was a humorous rap. There was a lot of death for the wealthy. humor and a lot of light-hearted nostalgia. . . . . Not that anybody is saying that these Perhaps as a parody of the Ingmar Bergman people have no trouble. film, The Seventh Seal, a marathon chess Merely that it is trouble with a gold-flecked game ran in the parking lot. There was a lot of beautiful banner. laughter, a lot of celebration. Nobody is saying that these people do not But I remember also that there was a coun­ ultimately cease to be. And ter-current, visible on one side of the class Sometimes their passings are even more line but not on the other, a current of anger painful than ours. and grief. It is just that so often they live till their hair To some, the White Castle at the crossroads is white. ammered H They make excellent corpses, among the expensive flowers. I believe that the further we look down the economic scale, the more often and the more intensely we see grief. I do not mean to say that the rich don’t ex­ perience pain and loss. As Brooks points out in her poem, grief is built into life, no matter what your economic status. What I do mean, and what I think Brooks means, is that, for the poor, loss is more fre­ quent, more sudden and unpredictable, more likely to be violent, more often preventable and all the more painful for that. If you are poor, you’re more likely to see those around you die young, go to prison, disappear, dis­ locate, isolate. Connections across time and distance cost money. So even if the loss is not due to an early and preventable death, even if it is only that the loved one has had to mi­ grate to look for work, the loss is more likely to be permanent. The poor are more likely to lose children – to death, imprisonment, foster care and other official and non-official displacement – than their more wealthy counterparts. The work­ ing poor are more likely to suffer a careerending injury, so that the job that gave them a respite from the worst of poverty returns them to poverty with a vengeance. Those who go to prison suffer intense grief. They lose years from their lives. Children take their first steps, parents die, lovers discard them. … All sorts of losses can and do hap­ pen during the years of a sentence. No one disputes that everyone experiences grief and loss. The poor simply lose more, lose earlier, lose more painfully and lose more of­ ten. Intensified grief is one more example of how poverty is not simply a financial incon­ venience. It is a wound to the spirit. Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. Vendor Voice Street Life You’ve got to keep moving By riccardo taylor StreetvibeS vendor T he last time we were walking, we went on a stroll. Well, it’s good that we get to spend a little time together. Let’s walk and talk. Or better yet, let’s stroll and let me do the talking. Street life, not to get it twisted, is not the only life I know or understand. However, for the sake of explanation, you just listen and again I will do the talking. Just after midday we are on our way. Watch­ ing, listening to the sounds of the street. Voices raised in the heat of the beat that makes the street life move. Listening with your eyes and seeing with your ears, not much will get past you. It’s about being attentive to everything going on around you. Waiting for your opportunity to get in on some action. OK, enough schooling. Let’s get in the mix. Most days start out the same, though we don’t know how they will end. Nonetheless, starting out with little or no money, you have to come up with a bustle. For some of us, that can mean an honest day’s work, but for others it can be some deceitful move, playing some con game or engaging in some petty theft. Still, we all have the same objective in mind, getting those few dollars to see us through the day. Whichever option you use to get paid, one thing is for sure: You have to make something sleepers. In the life of the streets, everything is happen. We can cut to the chase. For me, trick­ a job. No vacations, no layoffs and most impor­ ery, theft or panhandling is not an option, tant, no giving up. The consistency of struggle so I revert to my norm, which is selling a few soon becomes routine. Sometimes it becomes Streetvibes, checking a few businesses to see if so much so that we are lost in its reality, miss­ they have something for me to do to earn a few ing an opportunity to get out of it. The feelings dollars or perhaps doing a little scrapping of of helplessness and hopelessness far outweigh meals. The least of my desires, but the misery that is part of the I know that there are always a few reality – in such a fashion that cans to gather or some discarded One thing is for this becomes the norm, and it meal to be found. becomes easy, almost essential sure: there is no Usually when you have your idleness in the life of for a person to just accept it. thoughts and ideas in the proper the street. Relaxing If you watch the faces, you see frame, things will come to you. Yeah, that abandonment. The actions is standing on the it takes a lot of effort at times, but tell you that this one or that one corner. Luxury is patience pays off. Well, we are sure hanging in the park. is lost in the ways of the street, to come up if we put in the time. often without the possibility of Every wakening One thing is for sure: there is no return to the mainstream. moment is being idleness in the life of the street. Re­ Yeah, well, we’ll stroll on. Up on the move. Body laxing is standing on the corner. the block, we cannot be fazed tired, mind racing, Luxury is hanging in the park. Every too much. The reality is that it’s one foot after the wakening moment is being on the better them than me. other beating the move. Body tired, mind racing, one Though I walk with some concrete. foot after the other beating the con­ compassion I fully understand crete. that the subjectivity is in stride During the summer we sweat without relief, with me, so I keep that glimmer, that belief that and in winter we freeze. Hands and feet cold, just a block or two away there is that possibility there’s nothing happening here, so we step to of help to lift me from the grips of the street, the next block. The consistency of movement is that hope that things will get better, so we’ll our guarantee that we will come up with some­ stroll another day. thing. Perhaps we can see what’s happening after Everybody knows that only dreams come to dark on our next stroll. Talk with you then. �8 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Artwork By Anne Skove By Anthony Williams ! ? t ha W y Sa ___________________ “Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities, has the power to make you commit injustices.” - Voltaire �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 9 Book Review The Insufferably Atheist Buddhist Self-absorption by any other name By david heitField Contributing Writer L. Ron Hubbard was the most highly regarded in­ tellectual of his day, proven by his award-winning fiction and legions of celebrity followers, who with am glad I belong to a religion that wor­ their fame and wealth only followed the most ad­ ships a tree,” Stephen Batchelor writes in mired? his new book, Confession of a Buddhist Parts of the book are brilliant and engrossing – Atheist. his reconstruction of the actual person of Gotama Maybe that explains the Pew Research Study ear­ versus the myth of the king’s son who was sheltered lier this year that suggests while President Obama's from life until he escaped and saw people suffering election has possibly led to more acceptance of in­ is well worth reading. But by the end of the book, terracial marriages – 64 percent of African-Amer­ the whole thing seems as aimless as the middleicans and 71 percent of Hispanics would accept aged author regards much of his life. a child's marriage to a white, and 80 percent of Maybe it’s me, or maybe I’m just burned out on whites would accept a marriage to either – fully 7 of this New Atheist literature, which is more interest­ 10 Americans would not at all be happy about little ed in bashing religion as the root of all evil than in Michelle marrying an atheist. making cogent arguments about the existence of And considering that U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D- God. The logic seems to be this: 1) 9/11 was an evil Calif.) is the only professed atheist in the history act caused by crazy fundamentalists; 2) We can’t of Congress, it's a pretty safe bet we'll see a female just blame Muslim fundamentalists, because that president, an Hispanic president and perhaps even would be politically incorrect; 3) Therefore, all reli­ a canine president before we ever see an atheist gions are responsible for all evil acts. president. Hitchens writes a blurb Of course, this might say praising Batchelor’s new book, While Batchelor seems very more about the institution of which is a little odd, consider­ marriage and that lack of rep­ ing that Hitchens had nothing sincere in his story-telling, it resentation in our representa­ does give one pause as to how nice to say about Buddhism in tional democracy than it does his book, calling it the sleep of far he was willing to sell out about the number of practic­ reason and Buddhists them­ to become one of the “cool” ing atheists. Church atten­ selves as mindless (and not in intellectuals of the moment. dance continues its downward a good way). While Batchelor trend in America, as the corol­ seems very sincere in his sto­ lary number of people who do not identify with any ry-telling, it does give one pause as to how far he religion rises. was willing to sell out to become one of the “cool” One could define theism as the old-school top- intellectuals of the moment. He does, in fact, do the down structure, in line with patriarchy – rules, mor­ deed that seems to be required for initiation to the als, life and meaning come from the top, the core club: He positively bashes his Tibetan lama teach­ of conservative authoritarian belief. The anti-the­ ers as fundamentalist idiots who were too rigid and ists believe the opposite, that the bottom-up order stupid to let go of little things such as reincarnation defines our existence, with meaning found at the or karma, when any thinking European Caucasian sub-atomic level, if anywhere. Naturalism is the can clearly see such ideas are silly. dominant liberal orthodoxy that many conserva­ Batchelor’s story is one of a man who abandons tives rail against in the academic community, but what he sees as sophistic inauthenticity, only to naturalism is no longer limited to liberals. Liber­ find what he sees as dogmatism, to arrive at the tarians and neoconservatives have been identified dogmatic sophistry practiced by the New Atheists. with the Brights movement, created to promote a It is part autobiography, part travelogue, part West­ naturalistic world view, including Penn & Teller, ern philosophy, part reading of the Pali Canon, part James Randi and Steven Pinker. revisionist history and part revisionist history of The atheism thing has gotten confusing, to say someone else’s revisionist history. the least. The ideas are not only jumbled, but he seems to miss his best opportunities for expanded stories. L. Ron Buddha Two examples: One, he talks about a version of the Pali Canon written by a man who was not only not a And so, spurred by the 9/11 attacks, we’ve had a Buddhist, but worked for a Nazi think tank explor­ coming-out party for atheists, who’ve written best­ ing the idea that the Buddha was of “good Aryan selling books that have inspired many to loudly stock.” While the Nazis were measuring Tibetan spout off about how anyone who believes in any skulls to see if they fit the mold, they were also de­ religion is functionally illiterate. They’re ironically ciding that the Pali Canon preserved the true Aryan known as the four horsemen of atheism: God Is Not spirit: Aristocratic, anti-spiritual, anti-evolutionist Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by neocon­ and (my favorite) “manly.” Not only does Batche­ servative journalist Christopher Hitchens, The End lor tell you nothing more about that, but he sorta of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason leaves you thinking … What? This is the Pali Canon by Buddhist/Hindu sympathizer Sam Harris, The you’re placing all your prayer beads in as the one God Delusion by evolutionary biologist Richard and true Buddha? And you call the Tibetans nuts? Dawkins and Breaking the Spell: Religion as a NatuThe other story he doesn't flesh out has to do ral Phenomenon by philosopher Daniel Dennett. with his four years in a Zen monastery in Korea, Karmically flying into that self-congratulatory where he went after he started getting disillusioned pile is Batchelor, a former Tibetan and Zen monk, with Tibetan ideology. The story of his time in Ko­ a self-described Boomer hippie who traveled to rea is rather short – Zen was considered inferior in India to escape his horrible suburban existence in ideology by the Tibetans (Zen was outlawed in Tibet England in search of enlightenment. I greatly ad­ in the eighth century), so he accepted that at face mired his earlier book, Buddhism Without Beliefs, value, even though he couldn’t swallow the reincar­ a meditation of sorts on an agnostic Buddhism. nation stuff. But he liked the meditation better, and Now, however, he argues for what he calls “secular he was falling in love with his translator, who would Buddhism” and uses the Pali Canon, written sev­ soon become his wife, and he would have to dis­ eral hundred years after the death of Siddhattha robe in order to marry, so that was about all he had Gotama, stripped of what he deems to be biased to say about Zen. commentaries and things Gotama probably didn’t But he teases about some of the monks who had or shouldn’t have said, to show that the Buddha to go through mandatory military training and himself agrees with him. how they had no problem killing or dying for their If you are thinking Jeffersonian Bible and His­ country and thought Batchelor to be something of torical Jesus, I think you’re onto something. The a coward for being a pacifist. And then he explained problem I have with that reconstruction process is, how the first brutal South Korean dictators after in our lifetime, when have we ever seen a religious the war were Buddhists, while the first democratic movement built around the sane and rational? Will reformed-minded president was a Catholic – and scholars 500 years from now uncover evidence that again, a great story begging to be explored that goes “I nowhere. Dr. Phil, but enlightened Much of the book is just hard to read; and un­ like his earlier book, I don’t think it was because it required reflection. “What really matters is inner spiritual experi­ ence, which, by definition, consists of irreducibly private states of mind,” he insufferably writes in his chapter on embracing suffering. “Rather than dis­ miss the self as a fiction, Gotama presented it as a project to be realized. By ‘self’ he referred not to the transcendent Self of the brahmins, which, by defi­ nition, cannot be anything other than what it eter­ nally Is, but the functional, mortal self that breathes and acts in the world.” I’ll admit my knowledge of Buddhism is limited, but I believe that Is bullshit. If I understand correct­ ly – and I'm not at all sure that I do – atheist Gota­ ma wants you to practice self-development (even though you have no reason to). Atheist Gotama is a 2,500-year-old Dr. Phil. And it goes on like that. His long descriptions of the suffering in life made me scream out, “Dude, just read Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. It’s much briefer but more poetic and makes the same point that life is vain and meaningless, doo-dah, doo-dah.” Nothing new under the sun there. In fact, what Batchelor says we are left of the Buddha’s teaching, after stripping out the evil Hin­ du and other religious influences, are something like the 4 Ps of self-actualization: 1) The principle of “this-conditionality, conditioned arising”; 2) The process of the Four Noble Truths; 3) The practice of mindful awareness; 4) The power of self-reliance. Which I translate as: The only principle is sub­ jective relativism, and Truth is a process by which, through meditation, we learn to be completely selfabsorbed. How does one write a meditation on existential­ ism, religion and faith with barely a nod to Soren Kierkegaard? (Kierkegaard was a Danish 19th Cen­ tury Christian apologist regarded as the “father” of existentialism. He of the infamous “leap of faith,” which postulates that “faith” and “doubt” are insep­ arable; indeed, “faith” without “doubt” isn’t faith at all, but the mark of a Sarah Palin supporter.) Instead, he seems to wholly adopt Sartre’s view that any form of faith is an act of intellectual dishon­ esty. That’s French existentialist Jean Paul Sartre, he of the “Man is condemned to be free” school, a po­ sition I daresay modern behavioralists and neuro­ scientists would take umbrage at, if we’re gonna be scientific about it. Sartre also famously said, “Hell is other people,” inspiring generations of nihilistic alcoholics and addicts and, yes, ex-hippies who ran to India and found nothing of lasting import, out­ side of maybe worshiping a tree. �10 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Housing Issues Advocacy Pays Dividends Research shows the value of supporting advocacy organizations By Michelle Dillingham Contributing Writer E arlier this year I wrote about what advocacy is, and how an organized advocacy group like Affordable Housing Advo­ cates (AHA) can help your own advocacy. In this issue, I cover a research report that demonstrates that supporting advocacy actu­ ally results in increased community reinvestment. The Los Angeles Times article, “Getting More Back from Giving,” reports how researchers in Los Angeles County from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy collected data from 2004­ 2008 from 15 groups engaged in fighting poverty, improvThe 15 advocacy groups spent $75.5 ing health and education, de­ million over four years and generated fending minorities and other nearly $6.89 billion in benefits to resi- causes. A couple examples of dents. From this data, the Los Angeles these groups were: • InnerCity Struggle camTimes deduced that “for every dollar invested in the work of a selection of paigned for the construction of two new schools in East Los advocacy groups, there was $91 in benefits to local residents.” Clearly, a Angeles at a cost of $299 million. The first is set to open in good return on investment. fall 2010. • The Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and other groups helped persuade state leg­ islators not to abolish programs that provide food, cash and medical aid to legal immigrants. The 15 advocacy groups spent $75.5 million over four years and generated nearly $6.89 billion in benefits to residents. From this data, the Los Angeles Times deduced that “for every dollar invested in the work of a selection of advocacy groups, there was $91 in benefits to local residents.” Clearly, a good return on investment. As I write, my husband yells at March Madness basketball upstairs while I yell at the Senate vote on health-care reform downstairs. Soon thereafter, health-care reform has passed and President Obama ad­ dresses the nation. He assures us this historic change would not have been possible without community organizing “from the ground up,” that it would never have happened from the “top-down”. The “ground up” is what advocacy is about, and this remarkable change in health­ care policy again reinforces the argument of why organized advocacy efforts should be funded. Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) had a membership drive ear­ lier this year, and some cited their inability to pay membership fees were due to the economic recession. Advocacy, like training and mar­ keting, is one of those costs that organizations tend to cut first in hard times. Another advocacy group that relies on membership dues is the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, an organization sup­ ported exclusively by contributions – and look at the immeasurable impact their advocacy has had. One example of an effort they led was the fight to retain human-services funding in the city budget. This funding was saved in the city budget in part because of the legislative monitoring, testimonies made before city council and the coordinat­ ed advocacy of the coalition and other non-profit agencies. AHA’s policy agenda for this year has highlighted legislative moni­ toring and public education on affordable housing issues as important initiatives for this year. We recognize that an essential part of advocacy is first educating. It is education about affordable-housing issues for those who oppose it. Also, it is educating supporters who might not be sophisticated enough to advocate in a compelling way. Simply put, I cannot make the case for affordable housing unless I have accurate information about the positive effects of affordable housing. I need to be armed with “myth-busting” information to counter those same old arguments – “not in my backyard.” When AHA receives funding, we can continue to invest in publiceducation initiatives that will ultimately support our mission: to fur­ ther the creation, retention and accessibility of affordable housing in our community. The research report cited above tells us that advoca­ cy has a positive impact on dollars being reinvested in communities. Take-home lesson? Support your local advocacy organization! Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice continued from page 6 plague much of the prison population, but he never acknowledged that the ability to address these issues and move toward noncriminal activity was part of the process of keeping communities safe. At one point he employed the dismis­ sive rhetoric used by many who see prison reform as a waste of time because some people are simply unworthy of attention, and anything beyond punishment is a priv­ ilege. “There is free will and “We in this state have a thing autonomy and many, that your debt to society has never been paid – that when you many, many go to prison and you get out of people will prison, your second chance ain’t not success­ fully be re­ your second chance.” habilitated,” --Terry Collins Yost said. “Re­ habilitation and drug treatment need to be an opportu­ nity and not the primary focus because you can’t fix people that don’t want to be fixed.” He disagreed that it is necessary to give inmates incentives to make changes in their lives to avoid returning to prison. “I don’t get an incentive to take a shower,” he said. “I just like myself better and the way I smell if I do take a shower. We shouldn’t have to incentivize people to behave well, to get treatment for your addiction. If you recognize that you’ve got an addiction, you ought to get out of it. If you recognize that you don’t have an education, you ought to take advantage of the opportunity that’s available. … “I do agree that we do have a sub-popu­ lation of people that require mental-health treatment, and of course they should be treated. I think the constitution does re­ quire that, just the same as if a prisoner has a heart attack, we’re going to take them to the hospital even if they’re a heinous mur­ derer. We also have things that are in place, for example, in my county, we have a mental-health docket. For lower level felonies, we are bringing these folks into court on a regular basis, they are being supervised and linked up to services in the community, and there’s been some success with that. “But let’s not make any mistake about it. We have mentally ill people among us inside and outside the prisons. And that is not a reason to relieve them of responsibility of their actions or to ignore the threat that they may pose to society. We need to recog­ nize that there are limits to our treatment and limits to our compassion.” Toward the end of the panel discussion, the moderator took questions from the au­ dience. Collins provided the best summary of the entire discussion. “There has to be a better way than what we’re currently working in this state,” he said. “People have chastised me, saying, ‘You’re saying let everyone out of prison.’ I’ve never said that in my life. … I never said, ‘Open the doors and let anybody out.’ I did say we should have earned credit. I did say we should give people incentives for peo­ ple to get education, to get drug treatment and do the things that will keep them out of prison because it reduces recidivism. “The reality of the matter is the bigger problem is not who comes to prison. It’s what happens when they leave prison, be­ cause we in this state have a thing that your debt to society has never been paid – that when you go to prison and you get out of prison, your second chance ain’t your second chance.” Call 513-421-7803 x11 to learn about Streetvibes subscriptions �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Music Review Remembering Alex Chilton 11 A legend known to few, a master of his own song 1 By Paul koPP Contributing Writer R Through various line-up changes, with Chilton and Stephens as the only constant members, they recorded three albums between 1971 and 1974. Though at the time of their formation Big Star was virtu­ ally unknown, there was a re­ surgence of interest in their music in the 1980s, which led to an almost cult-like follow­ ing for Chilton. Rolling Stone eventually put all three of Big Star’s albums in its top 500 greatest albums of all time. The story of Chilton and Big Star was a case of bad tim­ ing and complex and conflict­ ing personalities. The group’s name – taken from a chain of local convenience stores – and titles of their first two albums (#1 Record and Radio City) are sadly ironic considering the history surrounding them. Naming their first album #1 Record was clearly a joke by the band, maybe a half-heart­ ed attempt to coax the myste­ rious ways of pop culture in Alex Chilton. their favor. It also could have been Chilton letting the world know that he really didn’t care about mainstream success. If the band were going to become a hit, it was go­ ing to be on their own terms. #1 Record was recorded by producer John Fry at Memphis’s Ardent Studios and was released on the famed Stax Records. Though it might not have mattered to Chilton, all the elements were in place to break the band. Instead the album suffered from poor distribution and promo­ tion, despite positive critical reviews. Tension between band members and disappointment with the failure of the album led Bell to leave in 1972. Bell died in a car crash in 1978, and his ock musician Alex Chilton died March 17 of a heart attack. Chilton was best known as the front man of The Box Tops and Big Star, two groups he formed in his hometown of Memphis in the 1960s and 1970s. He later went on to a solo career, releasing nu­ merous albums over the past three decades. You might not know who Chilton is, but he should have been a bona fide rock star, in ranks with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger. Instead he became an underground in­ die-rock icon, a mystical figure to a generation of record store rats who discovered his music long after it was made. Countless musicians and bands that went on to achieve much greater fame and recog­ nition than he ever did praised his work. The list of his followers includes REM, Ryan Adams, Elliott Smith, Wilco and many more. The Re­ placements even had a song titled “Alex Chil­ ton” with a chorus that says, “Children by the millions scream for Alex Chilton.” This lyric might have been a somewhat lov­ ingly ironic jab at the fact that Chilton, despite his incredible gift as a songwriter, never quite broke into mainstream American pop culture. As a tribute, it is fitting. What one realizes after studying Chilton and his career is that he prob­ ably never really wanted to be a star. He just wanted to be a musician and to have the free­ a time. The solo albums he released sounded dom to explore his own creativity. In today’s nothing like Big Star and were filled with ob­ world of pop culture excess, he was a true origi­ scure R & B covers and original songs with titles nal in that respect, especially as it would have like “Bangkok” and “No Sex.” They sounded lo­ been so easy for him to cash in on his talents. fi and edgy. Some songs sounded unfinished Discussing Chilton’s life is somewhat diffi­ and sparse but that added to their beauty. It cult, because little is known about his personal seemed he cut them in one take to capture life beyond his history as a songwriter and mu­ the energy of the moment, which worked. It sician. This is partly due to the innovative songs was like he was trapping pure rock ’n’ roll in its he will forever be associated with, as well as his most natural state. individual spirit that made his music possible. When revived interest in Big Star became ap­ The closest Chilton got to fame was with The parent, Chilton initially shied away from the at­ Box Tops in 1967, when they topped the charts tention. He was always interested in following with a song called “The Letter.” He was 16 at his own artistic direction, and because of that the time. Chilton’s instant success with he kept his integrity and legendary sta­ the group at such a young age might have tus. He could have sold out and jumped opened his eyes to the loss of freedom It seems that through all Chilton went through on the bandwagon of his old band’s new­ and integrity a musician sometimes faces found success, but he did the exact op­ in his life and career, he almost took on the when thrust into the limelight so quickly. mentality of a Buddhist monk, shunning attention posite. For him, it was a thing of the past. Based on the direction his career took, he It seems that through all Chilton went and accolades, keeping to himself and living obviously did not enjoy this, nor was he spontaneously and simply. He was at peace with in his life and career, he almost took on willing to play the game. the mentality of a Buddhist monk, shun­ his creative vision, and that’s all that mattered. After The Box Tops disbanded, he ning attention and accolades, keeping formed Big Star in 1971. The group in­ to himself and living spontaneously and cluded local Memphis Boys’ guitarist simply. He was at peace with his creative Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel and drummer own solo work wasn’t released until 1992’s I Am vision, and that’s all that mattered. In a New Jody Stephens. The band’s musical persuasion the Cosmos. York Times piece following his death, Paul was keenly grounded in their appreciation for The fate of Big Star’s second release, Radio Westerberg, Replacements leader and Chilton’s the classic British pop acts of the 1960s. What City, was similar. By the time they began re­ friend, remarked that the last time he saw Chil­ made them so interesting was the unique en­ cording their third album, Hummel had also ton, Chilton said that he had been living in a ergy and seeming innocence they crafted into left the group. That album, Third/Sister Lovers, tent in Tennessee. timeless pop anthems. Initially each member was considered too un-commercial for release In 1993 he reformed Big Star with Stephens contributed their own songs as well as collabo­ by Columbia, which held distribution rights to and two members of The Posies, bassist Ken rating and sharing vocal duties, including some Stax Records. It did not see release until 1978, Stringfellow and guitarist Jon Auer. They have amazing harmonies, but Chilton was their un­ when the group had already been disbanded released several live albums and studio album official leader – a title he probably wouldn’t for four years. In Space in 2005 as well as sporadically playing agree with. No doubt because of Big Star’s relative ob­ live shows. They were scheduled to play at this In Big Star’s early work, Chilton wrote lyrics scurity, they developed such a dedicated fan year’s SXSW. Instead Chilton’s remaining band about adolescent romance, teenage rebellion base over the years. Those who discover their members, and others, including Mike Mills of and angst but he did it in such a form, with music feel as if they are being let into a part of a REM, performed a tribute concert of all Big Star grace and attitude, that had never been done secret society, thinking, “How could music this songs. before or since. If anyone else would have sung good not be huge?” Fortunately, we still have his music, and fans his lyrics, it might have sounded trite and su­ That element of enigmatic energy carried will continue to be initiated into the secret so­ perficial. But his delivery struck a balance be­ over into knowledge of Chilton’s personal life ciety of Alex Chilton and Big Star for years to tween perfect harmony and the brash sincer­ as well. In the 1980s he moved to New Orleans come. ity of someone with a sensitive but hardened and kept a low profile working manual labor soul. to get by and often quitting music for years at If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes. �12 Local News STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 The Poetry of Survival Holly Parker’s victory over abuse By valerie FeSSler Contributing Writer S ix children, 10 grandchildren, a book, abstract paintings and published poems. These are the many accomplishments of a woman beaten, bruised and raped before she had even reached dou­ ble digits in age. Holly Parker, a.k.a. Huniie, uses poetry and art to express her experiences as a young girl in an abusive household, a young woman in abusive relationships and a mother who has learned about self-worth. She has published some of her work in Streetvibes. Parker, 47, was born in Burlington, N.C. When she was 9 years old, her father and her mother raped her. Her mother used her as the reward to keep her father from cheating. This cycle continued for four more years. As the oldest of five children, Parker feels as though she was the “sacrifice” to her parents. Holly Parker. Photo by Vinit Murthy. At 13 years old, Parker courageously approached a counselor at school to explain the situation at home. She had always been afraid to tell someone because her parents threatened her. Parker was taken to the hospital and mentally and emotionally abused her. He is now deceased. found to be pregnant. The pregnancy was aborted by the hospital “Going through abuse growing up, you think that’s love,” Parker because her father was the baby’s father. says. Soon after, Parker was placed in the foster care system and a trial She had one child during her next relationship, but the man of­ against her parents for child abuse, molestation and rape ensued. ten cheated on her and was verbally abusive. Her sixth child was “The court prosecutor told me I was a slut and a whore, and it born to a man who left her while she was pregnant. was my fault because my clothes were too tight and too short,” Parker moved to Cincinnati in 2008 and “learned what love was.” Parker says. “Of course they were too small; they were hand-me­ She began to love herself, she says. downs.” In her book, Help with Your Inner Garden, Parker takes readers Her father was sentenced to 25 years in prison, but was paroled through a journey of exploration into the soul of a woman and after serving only 15 years. Her mother was never convicted. teaches them that growth is a lifelong process. Between the ages of 13 and 17, Parker was moved to numerous In April, Parker’s poem, “God, No, I Screamed” will be featured foster homes and orphanages in North Carolina and Virginia. Dur­ in an online magazine, The Village Griot, at www.thevilliagegriot. ing these years she again experienced the horrors of rape. One of com. her foster fathers raped her. Parker uses poetry, abstract art and spoken word to share her When Parker was 17, she left all the foster homes and orphanages message of hurt, hope and healing. In the future, she wants to be­ behind. She got a job and moved into her own place, but something come a motivational speaker and start a non-profit organization to was not left behind: abuse. Parker met a man, was in a relationship help those in similar situations. with him for 13 years and gave birth to four children. He physically, To find more information and learn more about Parker, visit www.huniiezxpressions.zzl.org. ‘We Just Want to Work’ continued from page 1 have now.” Obama said he would do everything in his power to forge a bipartisan consensus on immigration reform this year. Activists promise to hold Obama to that commitment. One local college student attended the rally because she wanted to represent other undocumented students who can’t achieve their dreams because of the broken immigration system. “I have a lot to offer,” said the woman, who declined to be identified in print. “I can do so much. My math professor wanted me to be an assistant and tutor students, but I had to decline; and I want to be a teacher after I graduate, but I can’t because I don’t have that nine-digit number or documents to show that I’m an American.” Despite academic achievements, she cannot move forward in a career in mathematics or seek out internships like normal college students. But she remains hopeful. “The rally has given me hope that something is go- ing to happen; and even if it doesn’t happen in May like we are hoping, I know we will continue to fight,” the stu­ dent said. “My original plan was that I was going to return to Mexico after I graduate, a country where I was born but did not grow up in, because there is nothing that I can do here. I refuse to work in a Mexican restaurant with a math degree. But this semes­ ter everything changed.” She has committed to remaining active in the immi­ gration reform movement and asks that others contact Congress and demand ac­ tion. “We have made a lot of noise,” she said. “Now we need to use the Easter recess to target (U.S. Sen. George) Voinovich for his support. We want to let Voinovich and (U.S. Sen. Sherrod) Brown know that we want immigra­ tion reform, and we want as many people as possible to call them or send faxes or drop in to their offices to tell them that we need their support.” Alma Diaz, a member of the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center (CIWC), rallies the marchers while Don Sherman (right), CIWC executive director; and Gary Gardner (second from right) of the AFL-CIO listen. A translator (left) from Voces de la Frontera takes notes. Jon Hughes/photopresse. For more information about immigration reform, text the word “Justice” or “Justicia” to 69866 or visit www.ri4a.org. �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Local News 13 Making a Bigger Pie in Cincinnati Community development corporations rebuild Cincinnati By JeSSe call Contributing Writer A major boost is coming to Cincinnati com­ munities to increase affordable housing and decrease blight. Eighty-nine housing units will be created in 2010 through the disburse­ ment of $400,000 in federal funds awarded to the city of Cincinnati, and another 140 will receive pre­ liminary work for scheduled completion in coming years. “This I am excited about because we haven't re­ ally had steady city funding on this order for quite a while,” says Patricia Garry, executive director of the Community Development Corporations Associa­ tion of Greater Cincinnati. “A lot of the (new hous­ ing units) will be coming on line this year.” Several non-profit groups have been established throughout Cincinnati to help rehabilitate neigh­ borhoods by using abandoned or dilapidated prop­ erties to develop housing or neighborhood-focused businesses. These organizations, community devel­ opment corporations (CDCs), bring together com­ munity members with banks, other businesses and the local government to collaborate for change. One of those programs is Over-the-Rhine Com­ munity Housing. It is developing the Jimmy Heath House in Over-the-Rhine, using the “housing first” model, which makes sure people have a safe place to stay so they can face their demons – not the other way around. In all, the project will create 30 hous­ ing units in 2010 and set up 72 more. Another is Cincinnati Housing Partners, which is rehabbing the Carthage neighborhood. It is a program “definitely growing in their production capacity,” Garry says. Cincinnati Housing Partners will have completed or started development on 10 units by the end of 2010, a huge growth for the program. The growth is a trend that Garry wants to see continue. A small pace of one house per year is all that some CDCs have been able to manage in years past. That rate will never catch on to the needs of the communi­ ties, particularly given the current national and local economic de­ cline, she says. “In Spring Grove, we were doing one house a year, and now they are doing three or four; and in a few years they will A CDC project house in Carthage. Photo by Vinit Murthy. be doing six or seven a year,” Garry says. “At that level, they can keep up with their need.” for the several CDCs throughout Hamilton County That need can only be met, however, if funding and parts of Northern Kentucky. continues to grow. The organization provides support in helping “Of course, I’d always like to see the money dou­ CDCs keep track of their financial accounting, pro­ ble or tripled,” Garry says. “We could get a lot more viding information technology and Web site devel­ things going with more money.” opment support, providing staff support to develop Garry says she is excited to be able to show how proposals and generally facilitating a spirit of coop­ much CDCs can do with so little money so that it eration instead of competiveness throughout the will help promote further funding. community building organizations. “As we demonstrate more bang for your buck “A neighborhood can make the plan, but they with this little bit of money, we'll build the case and don’t always have the staff,” Garry says. “We are this city will respond,” she says. going to start making that happen. That will mean The funding was administered through the Com­ a small CDC wouldn’t need a huge staff but could munity Development have one of our consultants to help make things Corporations Associa- happen. We don’t want to fight over the pieces of tion of Greater Cincin­ the pie. We want to work together to make the pie nati, whose role it is to bigger.” serve as a “back office” CDC Projects on the Way The following communities are developing housing units through a new federal grant: • • • • • • • • • Camp Washington Community Board: Three homes this year, three expected next year Cincinnati Housing Partners in Carthage & Hartwell: Six units this year, four more under development Northside: Six units this year Community Revitalization Agency on the West End: at least five and up to 12 units this year Cornerstone Corporation for Shared Equity: 17 units this year Over-the-Rhine Community Housing: 30 units this year, 72 more set up Westwood’s Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation: Three units this year Village Development Corporation: Four homes this year and set up 15-20 more to be completed within five years Working in Neighborhoods in College Hill, Northside and South Cumminsville: Eight units this year Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com �14 STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Poetry Page Ghost On Ludlow The Epistle of Saint Michael to the Marginal by MiChael o'brian Clifton is a ghost town. I saw a ghost today, walking dead. I’d seen him before in his same old Salvation Army clothes walking up and down Ludlow. Where’s he going? What’s he doing? He’s living to a death that won’t come soon enough. I’ve seen him ask for change for the bus. I’ve watched the suits turn in disgust. They’re educated. They know what the deal is. He doesn’t want change for the bus. He’s saving up his nickels and dimes to score a quick forty. Suits belt out their frustrations on him. Working men work hard. “Get a job,” they scoff. “Support your own habit.” He has a bad habit, homelessness. Suits drive west into Harrison sunsets. Suits aren’t fools. They play by the rules written by their white fathers. Black man, homeless man cheats the system. He doesn’t play by the rules because he’s lazy. He’s so lazy that he wakes up at the crack of dawn from his mission cot hoofs across the street to score a quick casserole breakfast. Then he’s out going curb to curb checking out the library at 10 a.m. so he can sit with a book that he can barely read. If he’s lucky and he’s quick, maybe he’ll score a forty by six. Then he could relax and remember living in his own house with a clean set of clothes each day. Maybe he could dream of the death that one day will save him from the street. by MiChael henSon You are not forgotten. You are not alone. The center is the fringe The fringe is at the center. There is no center. There is no fringe You cannot fall off the edge. There is no edge. You cannot fall out of the eye of God. You and I by Willa d. JoneS You and I must make a pact To be mindful of how we act Towards each other no matter what And not hold hatred down in our gut We need to understand that each one is unique And know that a change in the world is what we all seek With time, patience and the help from up above We can conquer hate and replace it with God’s love For only with God’s grace and his so many blessings Can we learn to live together without ever guessing We’ll know what it is to live on Earth as one together To love each other for who we are and not what we are For now and forever Suits sleep in brass beds with cuddling wives. Suits aren’t fools they play by the rules written by their white fathers. Black man, homeless man ought to learn to play by the rules. Maybe someone should teach him how to play. I saw a ghost today. If I come here tomorrow, I’ll probably see him again. Maybe I’ll give him change for the bus. No Words by Morgan W. broWn become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati there is nothing one could manage to put into words with which to describe all about oneself and one's life. anything spoken or written would be either too brief or lengthy as well as overly boring or otherwise unbelievable at times, with differently sized fragments of a huge puzzle missing many pieces, gaps that often get distorted, even worse when done by others who think they know better about what happened or why, concerning deep dark holes that were long ago torn through one’s shattered soul, never truly mended or healed, attempts having been tried several times over and in several ways, including uttering thousands upon thousand of prayers, usually going unanswered, or so it seems. yet life is still passionately held onto as the precious gift it is, far beyond words could ever fully relate or express. Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this year. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 241-5525 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 DIC Live In Program Prospect House Starting Over Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 961-2256 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment: Women 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 721-0643 961-4663 Treatment: Both 471-1100 221-3350 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 Hamilton/Middletown 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS Brighton Center ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 721-4700 421-7803 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Letters to the Editor The World’s Biggest Terrorist To the Editor: Does the War in Afghanistan mean ensuring the reign of U.S. imperialism? Calling the recent increase of U.S. troops in Afghanistan “Enduring Freedom,” the U.S. military is sending bombs and cruise missiles raining down on targets inside Afghanistan. After President Obama increased troops in that country, we are now supposed to cheer, wave the flag and fall in line over this high-tech version of Wild West justice. The U.S. willingly sent money, arms and training to the Taliban to encourage and support them waging war against the former Soviet Union. The intent was to turn Afghanistan into another Vietnam for Russia. However, as often the case, even the best laid plans of imperialism go awry, and like many of the U.S.’s earlier creations, the Taliban turned on their master – something that happens often enough that the CIA has a name for it, “blowback.” President Obama and the rulers of this country would have you believe that the British shoe bomber arrested headed for the U.S. was more significant than the 400 people gathered for religious services perished as a result of U.S. bombing of the Amariyah bomb shelter during the Gulf War. But we learned during our time as terrorists for U.S. imperialism that the lives of the people of this country are not worth more nor the rest of the world worth less. However, we need to show as much concern, if not more, for the lives taken in our names. We need to look behind the words and lies of our rulers and put a stop to the invasions and interventions, to the death and destruction being carried out by this country. By putting an end to this country’s reign as the world’s biggest terrorist, we will take a real step towards ending terrorism once and for all. Sonny Williams, Vietnam veteran Clifton People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women Advocacy Center for Respite Care 535-2719 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 241-2965 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry AA Hotline CCAT Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 381-0111 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 761-1480 621-5514 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 961-4080 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 First Step Home Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 458-6670 977-4489 784-1853 661-4620 Shelter: Both Drop Inn Center 558-8888 981-5800 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Mt. Airy Shelter Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach Treatment: Men Shelter: Men City Gospel Mission 562-8841 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Vincent de Paul 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center Have something on your mind? Do you agree or disagree with an article? Let us know: 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvibes2@yahoo.com �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES April 1 - 14, 2010 Respect and Nurturance Carmen Bowen Bush paints to promote life “A rt is my lover, my friend, my companion,” says Car­ men Bowen Bush. “It is my everyday life. I cannot give individuals the time I devote to it. My artworks are my people and my communication.” Bowen Bush, a Cincinnati artist, grew up in Walnut Hills and Evanston, raised primarily by her loving grandmother. Her child­ hood was full and colorful, surrounded by many talented individ­ uals: Her father was a successful boxer; her aunt, Sadie Birch, an influential jazz singer; her grandfather, Samuel Birch, a muralist and a virtuoso piano player; her godfather, Wallace “Bud” Smith, the famous world lightweight boxing champion. Bowen Bush did not receive a formal art education; she is a selftaught artist. Art, however, has been part of her life since her early years. Already at age 13, in fourth grade at Hoffman Elementary School, her art teacher, Mr. Orr, recognized her talent and entered her work in an exhibit. This acknowledgement stayed with her all her life, gave her self-confidence and still encourages her to al­ ways strive for the best. After high school she entered the University of Cincinnati and graduated in social work, but only many years later, her studies Carmen Bowen Bush standing in front of some of her Cityscapes paintings. having been interrupted by marriage, childbearing, parenting Photo by Bill Howes and living in Germany, for a while. When she returned to the United States due to death in her fam­ ily, Bowen Bush decided to settle for good in Cincinnati. Art deepseated inside her and dormant until then reemerged. She started and being attacked by two guns aiming at its head but it is also at­ painting again, initially landscapes from images stored in her mem­ tacking, two pistols brandished from its sides. It serves as an allegory ories during her Euro­ for kids’ violent and destructive behavior, killing and being killed, and pean trips, then socially- for society’s indirect negligent role in favoring such a situation. By themed paintings mostly not providing the required education, the parental, secure and sup­ dealing with cityscapes, portive needed structure, the caring and all that it takes to shape a youth violence, the ero­ solid and responsible individual, society is contributing to the youth’s sion of society. death; and the youth, not knowing better, are furthering the damage as “All my art comes from by killing each other, thus favoring societal demise. my heart, from experi­ In addition, Bowen Bush purposefully placed a gun pointing from ences I’ve had, from what between the doll’s legs, where its genitalia would be, alluding to the By Saad GhoSn I know,” she says, “also prevailing lack of respect and also to the wide-spread permissive and Contributing Writer from what’s going on right unprotected sexual activity of teens – in her mind, another killer. She now in society.” also added on the child’s face red, yellow, white and green colors stat­ A recurrent theme in ing that the problem is not only limited to blacks, but affecting all her work has been the young society, its violence, its lack of respect of ethnic groups; and around his head, a halo of bullets, an ironic glori­ the elderly, but also its need for stronger foundations, stable families, fication of death. love, nourishment – all that builds one’s character. In Solution, a companion mixed media piece, Bowen Bush wanted Problem, a mixed-media construction painting, is her statement to provide an answer, addressing what should be done as a remedy. about what is wrong. A dark-skinned baby doll representing child­ She represented a growing tree with a baby doll at its root. The tree, hood and also teenage, is in the center of the piece. It is threatened shaped as a person, has a face outline and rings composed of black- eyed peas looking at the viewer; they seem to invite all of us to join in and participate collectively in fixing the problem. The child at the roots of the tree is being nurtured by society and at its turn fulfills its role contributing to society’s life and growth. Bowen Bush dispersed in the branches small birds, symbols of rebirth, and various bean seeds implying diversity and potential for change. Bowen Bush is now planning a painting that will depict a baby’s coffin surrounded by older individuals in wheelchairs, pointing to the ironic reality of youth dying first, leaving behind, uncared for, a dis­ abled society. “My heart goes out to the youth,” she says. “I have a young grand­ daughter, 11 years old. We need to provide them with stability and support. We need also to impart onto them the love, nourishment and moral principles essential for their healthy development. We need to plant good seeds. That’s what I got from my grandmother. That’s what I want to give back.” This is precisely what Bowen Bush did when she taught art to chil­ dren at Peaslee Neighborhood Community Center, giving them love and appreciation, but demanding at the same time respect and re­ sponsible behavior. Another subject that appears often in her work is that of Cityscapes. Bowen Bush associates the tall buildings sprouting everywhere in her paintings to chaos, to the rigid, tight and somewhat inhumane bureaucracy that governs our world, a bureaucracy she experienced firsthand working for the city for over 20 years and which, like these big structures, is difficult to move or change. In her recent solo show, Peace and Chaos, held in Covington, Ky., she contrasted on one side her paintings of tall, dense, oppressive and labyrinthine buildings to those, on the opposite side, of abstracted landscapes – references to freedom, harmony and peaceful escape. Bowen Bush will continue to use her art to speak loudly, express her feelings and values and contribute to the shaping of a healthier society. “I am passionate about what I feel,” she says. “My art always comes from my heart; it conveys and communicates my emotions and be­ liefs. I do not want it to stop there, however. I want it to provoke a Problem, mixed media construction painting by Carmen Bowen Bush. response in the viewer, to lead the viewer to think and ask: What I can Photo by Bill Howes do to help, to make things better?” A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2010 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 1-14, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice ‘We Just Want to Work’ Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Eight Minutes Behind Prison Bars Pg 4: Enquirer Nominated for 17 AP Awards Pg 5: Council Solves Metropole Controversy Pg 6: Too Many Prisoners, Little Justice Pg 7: Poverty and Grief Pg 8: Arts & Poetry Pg 9: The Insufferably Atheist Buddhist Pg 10: Advocacy Pays Dividends Pg 11: Remembering Alex Chilton Pg 12: The Poetry of Survival Pg 13: Making a Bigger Pie in Cincinnati Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Respect and Nurturance Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 1-14, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Veronica Glass Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Valerie Fessler Alecia A. Lott Jeni Jenkins Saad Ghosn Lew Moores Larry Gross Eli Braun Jesse Call Aimie Willhoite Vinit Murthy Jon Hughes Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Advocacy Aimie Willhoite Alecia A. Lott Alex Chilton Arts & Poetry Atheist Buddhist Carmen Bowen Bush Cincinnati city council David Heitfield Eli Braun Enquirer Gregory Flannery Holly Parker Immigrants Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Jesse Call Jon Hughes Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham Paul Kopp Prison Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Valerie Fessler Veronica Glass Vine Street Vinit Murthy Washington Work https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/7ac2eca7cc13f14b648d1d9daf7ddc67.pdf 21ce8745d6524464ce16e11c61e2855a PDF Text Text Human Trafficking Page 3 Artists as Activists Page 16 STREETVIBES $1 A p r. 1 5 - 3 0 , 2 0 1 0 • A d v o c a t i n g J u s t i c e , B u i l d i n g C o m m u n i t y • I s s u e 1 7 5 Development for and of the People Bank bail out or abolition? By Jesse Call Contributing Writer I s self-worth tied to work? For advocates participating in a recent community forum at Xavier University, the common thread among their perspectives was how the government can better the livelihoods of those experiencing poverty and homelessness by diverting funds to activities that will create jobs. That way, people will find value in making a contribution to their community. On April 5 Xavier University Students for Economic Justice, an organization promoting education and fair trade, hosted “Urbanomics Panel: Controversial Topics in Cincinnati Urban Development.” The panel consisted of Dan La Botz, a Socialist candidate running to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate; Rob Goeller, human-rights outreach coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless; and Vlasta Molak, executive director of the Gaia Foundation. The panelists answered a range of questions from a student moderator before the audience was allowed to ask questions. The panelists agreed that local government is wasting re- See Development, p. 4 Dan La Botz, Socialist Party Candidate for U.S. Senate, makes a point at an April 5 panel discussion. The other panelists are Rob Goeller and Vlasta Molak. Photo by Jon Hughes/photopresse. The Stories of the Man in the Van Making art of recession’s woes By Dwayne Pride Street News Service D enver VOICE – Artprize is a national contest for fine artists and emerging artists from all around the world. It is said to be one of the largest prizes that an artist can hope to win to get recognized for his or her craft. All of the winners are chosen by the public. The top prize is $250,000. For most, when they think of somebody who would be part of a contest like this, they would not think of a poor man, a homeless man, as one of its participants. Artist/driver Aaron Heideman aka “The Man in the Van” proves this theory wrong. “I don’t want to panhandle,” he says. After losing jobs during the recession his life was more than just a struggle. He hit rock bottom. But he took a creative angle on his situation and found some freedom from a 9-to-5 with a road trip that eventually took him through at least 30 states. His mission: to make an enormous tapestry of people’s experience of the recession. State by state, city by city, he collected words. His project started in Medford, which he calls home. Driving through places like Portland, Fresno, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Denver, he met all types of people and had them share their experiences of a sagging economy and what it has done to their lives. People wrote their individual stories on rolls of 50-foot waterproof, tear-proof white Tyvek paper. All he asked was, “How has the recession affected you?” ‘There is no recession’ As people pass by Heideman hands them cards that say, “Help A Homeless Guy Make Art. History.” The card is how he starts every meeting with people before they write their stories on the van. “Tell Me Your Story” is written boldly on the side of the van to entice the public to participate in what he is offering them, a way to vent their feelings. People stop with a variety of comments. “There is no recession,” one man says as he refuses to take a card. “That’s a myth. The only reason people think Dwayne Pride literally took his show on the road. Photo by Aaron Heideman. there is a recession is because they say there is one.” Heideman says he is amazed by how many people blame Obama for all of the country’s problems. Despite his views, though, he has tried to keep his project open to everyone. “I’m not a Republican,” he says. “I am not trying to be political. It is not about what I have to say, it’s about what Americans have to say. I would like to have as many perspectives as possible. The object is to stay neutral.” About 5 percent of the people who walk by the van take a card and disagree and keep moving. By the end of his stay in Denver, Heideman came up with 137 stories from people who wrote what they felt as he stopped them or they stopped to see what the commotion around the van was about. Someone named VonHellFire ’09 on MySpace writes, “ ‘Thug Life’ hoping all of his criminal endeavors will pay off.” One man writes, “I sold my body!” Another person, responding to an onlooker’s comment – “Get a job” – writes, “Give me one.” See Work, p. 10 �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 7 The number of days between the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and passage of the U.S. Civil Rights Act (see page 10). 26.6 The salary, in millions of dollars, of the CEO of Procter and Gamble (see page 14). 6 The number of years artist Kevin T. Kelly worked in New York City (see page 16). 16 The date in March when Linda Zachary died (see page 14). 137 The number of stories elicited by the question, “How has the recession affected you?” (see page 1). 3-in-27 The number of field goals missed by Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence (see page 13). StreetWise By Gregory Flannery Editor Painter Completes First U.N. Cases Judge Mark Painter of Cincinnati, the only American on the new United Nations Appeals Tribunal (UNAT), returned April 2 from Geneva after the court’s first session ever. Sitting for three weeks in Geneva, the court decided 33 appeals. After translation, the cases will be released and posted on the UN website later this month. The UNAT is the highest court of the new internal-justice system, instituted in 2009 to provide access to independent and professional courts for U.N. employees and management. The judges were elected by the General Assembly. Cases included disputes over employee promotions, discipline, pensions, sexual harassment, contract matters and other issues. Because the court is new, the first cases begin the development of the U.N.’s internal law. “We had originally scheduled 27 cases, but we added more,” said Inés Weinberg de Roca, the court’s president. “One goal of the new system is timely justice, so we want cases to move as fast as is reasonable,” Painter is a former judge with the Ohio First District Court of Appeals. In addition to him and Weinberg de Roca of Argentina, the other judges are Jean Courtial of France, Sophia Adinyira of Ghana, Kamaljit Singh Garewal of India, Rose Boyko of Canada and Luis Maria Simón of Uruguay. We Were Only Kidding The truth can now be told. So far as we know, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) isn’t really planning to start a rickshaw line powered by homeless people, Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr. doesn’t really use waterboarding on prisoners, Bengals player Chad Ocho Cinco isn’t really contemplating changing his name to Chad Acht Fünf and Cincinnati City Councilman Jeff Berding hasn’t really been seen wearing a sign saying, “Help me, I’m an asshole.” These were among stories published in our April 1-14 issue. Satire is a dangerous business, because some people fail to see the humor. Others get taken in and believe what they read – and education isn’t always a barrier to credulity. Thus, we are sorry to report, an attorney, a former congressional candidate and a person with a master’s degree are among the people who fell for the gag, even though we tried to warn readers, posting “Fools of April” at the top of the two pages containing these stories. We won’t tell you the names of the people who got pulled in. They know who they are. Got to Keep Moving 1,740 This is no joke. So eager is the city of Denver, Colo., to keep homeless people from littering the landscape that it is illegal to sit or lie down in public, downtown areas between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. We learned this while researching a story on the criminalization of homelessness in the United States and Canada (see “Being Homeless is Against the Law,” issue of March 1-14). Tim Covi, editor of the Denver VOICE – a street paper – explains the anti-sitting law. 12 “The amazing thing is that it was passed in the spirit of the 10-year plan to end homelessness,” he says. “This is going on all over the state right now. Communities are defaulting to 10-year plans, saying they're being proactive by trying to implement housing programs and such, but pass punitive laws or maintain them in the same breath as they adopt 10-year plans. It's like the carrot and the stick. They say they won’t make arrests, they'll direct people to services, but that they're not going to tolerate people sitting around. The problem is that it sounds so rational and reasonable, it seems to impress people." The number of citations for public drinking issued by the Portland Police Department (see page 5). The age at which a Toledo girl was made a sex slave (see page 3). 3,000 The number of empty buildings in Cincinnati (see page 1). 4 The number of cloves of garlic in Veggie Spaghetti (see page 8). Correction An article in the April 1 edition (“Eight Minutes Behind Prison Bars”) misstated Ohio prison overcrowding. The article should have said that state prisons are at 130 percent of capacity. Kids Aren’t Inanimate Objects Maybe Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters was trying to sound rational and reasonable – or maybe he just wanted to impress people – when he denounced two suspects for allegedly giving sleep aids to children at Covenant Apostolic Church Day Care in Springfield Township. Both Pamela Hartley of Cleves and Donna Scott of Cincinnati were charged with three counts of child endangering. Deters’s outrage was well placed. But we wish he’d choose his words more carefully. He issued a statement denouncing the alleged drugging of children. STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@yahoo. com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress. com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Graphics/Layout Intern Veronica Glass Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Michelle Dillingham, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Valerie Fessler, Alecia A. Lott, Jeni Jenkins, Saad Ghosn, Lew Moores, Larry Gross, Eli Braun, Jesse Call Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Anthony Williams, Vinit Murthy, Jon Hughes Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are proud members of: “I understand how upset the parents of these children must be," the statement said. “Daycare workers are responsible for a very valuable commodity and must be held to a high standard.” Children are not commodities. People are not commodities. Language has consequences, and one possible result of viewing people as items to be bought and sold is that sometimes they are (see “Ohio is a Slave Market,” page 3). �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Local News 3 Ohio Has a Thriving Slave Market State begins studying human trafficking By Gregory Flannery Editor O hio is one of only eight U.S. states that have not enacted laws against human trafficking. Yet Ohio is a thriving market for human beings, according to a new state study. “Report on the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Ohio,” issued by a subcommittee of the Ohio Trafficking in Persons Study Commission, is a first step in quantifying and addressing the problem of human trafficking in the state. Some of its findings are startling: • As a proportion of population, Toledo is the busiest slave market in the United States. • Children who have been involved with the juvenile-justice or foster-care systems are at high risk for being trafficked. • Police, hospitals, social workers and others largely do not understand and therefore do not properly respond to evidence of human trafficking. • The report includes first-person accounts by former slaves in Ohio and concludes that the state has failed to respond to the tragedy of slavery within its borders. Recommendations include legislation banning human trafficking, treating child prostitutes as victims rather than criminals and the establishment of safe houses across the state where slaves can seek refuge. Media and law enforcement can miss human trafficking when they see prostitution. Photo by Kay Chernush. are involved in the underground economy practices of sex trafficking. Those are the criminal justice system, the social-service system and the health-care system. Each system’s response, it could be argued, has been either ineffective or insufficient.” The study recommends several steps to improve Ohio’s response to the growing problem of human trafficking: ‘Most vulnerable’ • Stop arresting and incarcerating child victims of sex trafficking. Trafficking in humans is the second • Pass a state anti-human trafficking largest criminal enterprise in the world, law that includes provisions for protecexceeded only by illegal drug sales, the “Given that the city of Toledo’s population is 298,446 and tion, prevention and prosecution and report says. Quantifying the number of Lucas County’s is 440,456, this area can be considered to that attends to the overall issue including victims is difficult because the trade in lead the nation for the number of traffickers produced and the supply (victims), demand (customers) people is conducted underground, so and distribution (traffickers). number of victims recruited into the sex trade per capita.” the study used a series of models to de• Improve the oversight of massage - Report on the Prevalence of Human Trafficking in Ohio velop estimates. parlors, agriculture and other “traditionThe numbers show the problem is ally exploitative” markets not rare, with 783 foreign-born persons estimated and Las Vegas, Nevada. • Train health departments on human traffickto be trafficked into the labor or sex trade in Ohio ing. “Given that the city of Toledo’s population is and 1,078 youth who have been trafficked into the 298,446 and Lucas County’s is 440,456, this area can • Ask the Coalition on Homeless and Housing sex trade over the course of a year. in Ohio, when interviewing homeless youth, be considered to lead the nation for the number of A variety of factors make Ohio fertile ground for traffickers produced and the number of victims to ask whether they have traded sex for housthe slave trade. One is geography. ing or if pimps or boyfriends take their monrecruited into the sex trade per capita,” the report “Ohio’s proximity to the Canadian border makes says. ey. it possible for victims to be moved through MichiIn just the past four years, 60 U.S. citizens in To• Appoint an ongoing committee to coordigan and be trafficked in various venues throughout ledo have been identified as child victims of sex nate anti-trafficking activities of ImmigraOhio,” the report says. “Toronto’s international air- trafficking. tion Customs Enforcement, the FBI, state port has been identified as one of the arrival destiBut the crime goes on throughout the state, with and local law enforcement, child welfare, nations for some victims who are trafficked in Can- prosecutions for labor trafficking in Cincinnati, Coand the juvenile justice system. ada, while others are moved through to the United lumbus and Cleveland. • Have Ohio included in the national Human States.” Trafficking Reporting System’s database to A growing population of immigrants also means Rescue is only step one obtain better understanding of the problem a higher incidence of human trafficking. in Ohio. “Most of the migrant labor in Ohio and the UnitThe study details the horrors to which slaves are If Ohio is to stop human trafficking, a systemic ed States is concentrated in poorly regulated in- subjected – not just lack of wages or freedom of overhaul is in order, according to the study. Rescudustries that demand cheap labor,” the report says. movement but also beatings, broing slaves is only a first step. Take “Such industries include textiles (sweatshops), ag- ken bones, malnutrition, rape and the case of “Julie,” a 12-year-old Toriculture, restaurants, construction and domestic torture. After being freed, victims The lack of support for ledo girl pressed into sexual bondwork.” often suffer long-term psychologivictims isn’t merely age, servicing men at a PennsylvaBut not all slavery in the United States involves cal problems, sometimes leading to nia truck stop. a matter of tender immigrants. Ohio’s growing poverty rate makes suicide. “With the help of a truck driver feelings. Slaves are often “In 2007, one trafficked girl in ToU.S. citizens vulnerable, too. and an adult friend, also recruited treated as criminals “Those domestic populations who are most vul- ledo who testified in a case outside from Toledo into the sex trade, they – prosecuted for nerable to human trafficking are the poor,” the re- of the state of Ohio returned home were able to escape and call the poimmigration violations port says. “In 2008, 1.5 million Ohioans lived below to find little support, no safe halice,” the report says. or for engaging in the poverty level. This is the highest rate since 1994. ven and no escape from the interThe traffickers were prosecuted, prostitution. Since 2002, the population in Ohio grew a total nal depression and external stigma but Julie’s troubles didn’t end with of 1.2 percent while the number of those who are she found,” the report says. “With a her apparent liberation. poor grew to over 40 percent. … According to the baby left to care for, she ended her life at 17 years “Rescue out of the sex trafficking is not the end of National Center on Family Homelessness State Re- old.” the story, but the beginning The lack of support for victims isn’t merely a port Card (2009), Ohio is ranked 20th among the 50 of a longer, more difficult road to recovery,” the states for child homelessness, but is ranked 42 out matter of tender feelings. Slaves are often treated as study says. “After returning to school, Julie was ridiof 50 states for children’s vulnerability to homeless- criminals – prosecuted for immigration violations culed by her classmates for being a ‘prostitute.’ As ness, which in turn contributes to a higher vulner- or for engaging in prostitution, for example. a result, she refused to attend school, quickly fell “Ohio’s response to child sex trafficking is weak,” behind and quit.” ability to child sex trafficking.” Perhaps the most disturbing marker for children the study says. “There are three conventional instiSix years later she was struggling to overcome anat risk of becoming trafficking victims is having tutions that will intersect with trafficked youth who other kind of slavery – addiction to crack cocaine. been involved in the very systems that are meant to help troubled kids, namely foster-care, children’s services and juvenile court. “In Toledo, 77 percent of the trafficked youth had been involved with child welfare at some point in their lives and 52 percent had been involved in the foster care program,” the report says. Toledo has received the most attention in Ohio for human trafficking, with more arrests than any U.S. cities other than Miami, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; �4 STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Local News Development for and of the People continued from page 1 to go to outsiders. “These are jobs that don’t sources on community devel- do anything for the communiopment projects that could ty,” Molak said. “There should be used for jobs creation to be a link between work in a community help the unand jobs. employed That link is and under“There are all these employed. beautiful empty buildings not clear in “ C h a r - in Over-the-Rhine. There is this society. ity is bad for no reason there should be … There is not much atpeople,” La 3,000 empty buildings in Botz said. Cincinnati and no reason tempt made “We don’t why we should have at any to help people learn want handone time 900 homeless.” trades and outs. They - Vlasta Molak then crewant a job. ate jobs that They want to contribute to society and would actually do something useful in this city.” have an identity.” Instead, the money should Jobs created under existing community-development be used to rehabilitate homes projects are often temporary in places such as Reading and don’t make a lasting im- Road, as that would better pact on Cincinnati neighbor- benefit the citizens of Cincinhoods, the panelists said. In nati, Molak suggested. “There are all these beautiaddition, developers don’t give preference to residents ful empty buildings in Overfor these jobs, allowing them the-Rhine,” she said. The Land of the Po “There is no reason there should be 3,000 empty buildings in Cincinnati and no reason why we should have at any one time 900 homeless.” Molak criticized the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) and other downtown interests. “The city council members have delegated their brains to 3CDC because they think these people know better. …They build stadiums and they don’t fix things in the community that needs to be fixed,” she said. The answer is for the community to take a stand and demand jobs, La Botz said. “What has to happen – there has to be a social upheaval from below in this country,” he said. “It would be the best thing to build a movement of the working class people of this city and help to set them in motion.” But not everyone in the au- dience was buying in to the idea that jobs creation was a solution. “Americans generally need to recalibrate their expectations,” said one audience member who identified himself as experiencing homelessness. “You live in a society which your parents created. Their expectations might be unrealistic. You have competition that they never experienced or anticipated. … I don’t know if jobs should be the end-all in this country.” One audience member asked the panelists, “Demand jobs from who?” All the panelists explained that they felt the government should create jobs, even if this means increased taxes. All the panelists also agreed that organizations such as 3CDC try to make it look as if they take the needs and viewpoints of community members into consideration and have made redevelopment a democratic process. But that is where it ends, according to the panelists: Meetings at which input is solicited are simply “smokescreens” at which developers “put up a façade” that they care about input from the neighborhoods they are changing. La Botz accused developers of engaging in “ethnic cleansing and class cleansing” to remove people of color and people experiencing poverty from Cincinnati neighborhoods. “These are not democratic processes anywhere,” he said. “We live in a society where banks rule. I think the banks and corporations which dominate our society are institutions that have outlived their time. We have to become the abolitionists of the corporations to become a democratic nation.” Letters to the Editor Eloquent Memorial To the Editor: To the Editor: Such is life in the Land of the PO and those homeless in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Nasty Natty – Know place like it in the World. We sit around and discuss the ills and proudly display the wounds given in the life of poverty and disappointment of being deserted by our families who have it so much better, almost as if a sort of pride in infirmity is present. There is the use of canes, as if all should lose the so human trait of bi-pedaling lacking them there walking skills. And we parade our injuries as if medals, our illnesses as if they are something to be desired, to accept and be prone to get and bask in the painful glory of being well, all messed up abiding with this sort of do-nothing spirit. My Me noticed that especially in the land of the homeless or the dire strait of being just poor there seems to be a certain amount of Unlikely Glee. Which is most likely found in that anticipation of a monthly check issued for a real or exaggerated, sometimes imagined, usually mental condition. And too many times we just hope for the status of that mental impairment as a Governmental Approved Check. Disability which pays the rent by the payee and buys the dope because you no longer need to work and you have nothing else to do like manage you own little piece of First of the Month Money. It is a strange selection of the meaning of status with just a hint of prejudice within this gargantuan fiction of holding wealth. My I knew for this sort of fantasized certainty that this privilege of being proud held too many aspects of elation, considering being held captive so far below at the Gott Damn Bottom of that there poverty line totem pole. Once in a while, standing in one of the too many Free Food Lines, a statement is made that was the truth but lord knows unfortunately this truth it should never be. The positioning of anyone at this location or station within this so beautiful life is really sad and depressing and just miserable. My own humble opinion is that being Po is nowhere that anyone desires or fondly wishes to become, and the Land of the Po and those in this city who choose to visit down here call us Po people and Homeless folk. “The people who ain't got nothing … those of you on the street.” These co-cohabitants just kinda smirk in that slander, being assured that they at least got more than us, as they put it, more than them if indeed they merely have housing; however, the fact that they are present – not in a voluntary way as in a civic duty capacity like the volunteers at the soup kitchens – is evidence that they, too, ain’t got that much. You see, they stand in the same line with all of us “ain't got nothings” to feel as if what they got is no less but so much more. Well, it ain’t. You ain't got nothin’ either and that, my friends, is a crime against nature. It sucks to be poor in Cincinnati, the Nasty Natty Know place like it in the World. “A voice is a human gift; it should be cherished and used, to utter fully human speech as possible. Powerlessness and silence go together.” Margaret Atwood’s words are a reminder of just how important having a voice in society is. In the world today, this human right has become a rare luxury. Through tyranny and fear, voice has been stripped from millions of human beings, whether it be because of their nationality, their religion or their sexual orientation. But where this loss also has a major effect is in economic status. Those who suffer from being homeless not only live without material positions, but without a voice of their own. In losing that right, these people lose a part of their dignity, of their persona, of themselves. The cover article in the Jan. 1 edition of Streetvibes says it all. “May They Finally Rest in Peace” is the title of Paul Kopp’s article, a heartening piece about those homeless who passed away in 2009. Kopp tells the story of many homeless individuals who died this past year and broaches a salient point about the effect of this condition. Homelessness strips a person of his or her voice in society. Too often homelessness is misconstrued as a result of laziness and poor choices by society. But this perception is often a falsehood. Homelessness can happen to anyone. It is often a matter of luck or health. And even in those situations of bad choices, those choices have root. They have root in family history, in severe addiction. But what brings one to homelessness is hardly the issue compared to the effect of the actual condition. As Kopp eloquently writes, “It seems that those who are homeless have lost their voice in society. Though they suffer from problems similar to those who judge them, they are ridiculed for their mistakes and viewed as a lesser class.” A voice is a human right. It is a personal definition. It is a mark of identity. Those who pass away without having the opportunity to have that voice need to be remembered. They were people. They deserve that much. Walter Madison Washington Jr. Over-the-Rhine Cody Pomeranz Cincinnati Unique Content To the Editor: I want to express my appreciation for your last issue (March 15-31). The two front-page articles (City Ignores Plea for Fair Hiring” and “Council Turns Backs on Metropole Tenants”) were quite interesting, and neither were something that I was likely to see in another place. Keep up the good work! I am a regular customer of the Streetvibes vendor who occasionally sells your paper outside of Saint Monica-Saint George after mass. He has been doing it for some time and is always a gentleman. Lawrence J. Mazlack Clifton �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 National News 5 Street Drinking and Free Markets The value and the cost of public sobriety By Amanda Waldroupe Street News Service Neighbourhood Involvement, says another are some of the most popular products at the group of concern are teenagers and people stores. Street Roots interviewed nine storeowners in their twenties drinking in public while on ortland, Ore. – City Commissioner their way to shows, house parties and other for this article. Three requested anonymity Amanda Fritz’s office and the Of- social outings. Another population of street because they feared political backlash from fice of Neighbourhood Involvement drinkers, Marchetti says, are youths known the city and the Oregon Liquor Control Com(ONI) is attempting to decrease the amount by the police to favor boxed wine. mission (OLCC). For this article, they will be of public drinking in downtown Portland by Proponents of the alcohol ban say street referred to as Storeowner #1, Storeowner #2 convincing grocery storeowners to voluntari- drinking leads to other livability issues, such and Storeowner #3. ly not carry certain kinds of alcoholic bever- as aggressive panhandling, public urination Owners expressed concern about how the ages. agreement drafted at the first meeting would and defecation and an increase in littering. But all the initiative is resulting in so far is The Downtown Neighbourhood Associa- impact their sales. fury from grocery-store owners and collective tion, Old Town/Chinatown Neighbourhood “In this economy, I can’t believe that they’re agreement that it is not a real solution, with Association, Old Town Chinatown Business trying to do something like this when so many only a fraction of them agreeing to comply. Association, Downtown Retail Council, Travel small businesses are struggling,” Storeowner “VibrantPDX,” as the initiative is called, is a Portland and the social service agency voluntary agreement between grocery stores Central City Concern (founded in 1979 and the Office of Neighbourhood Involve- to specifically provide services for peo- The Portland Police Bureau gave 1,740 citations for ment not to sell alcoholic beverages with ple known as “public inebriates”) sup- public drinking in downtown Portland in 2009. That high-alcohol content. That includes malt li- port the initiative. accounts for 53 percent of all public drinking in the quor and beer with names such as Old Eng“We would like to see a limit on the city. Twenty-five percent of all individuals being lish 800, Steel Reserve, Milwaukie’s Best Ice accessibility of certain types of alcohol held in detox came from the downtown area. and Camo Malt Liquor. that are more amenable to chronic alSixty-seven grocery stores within assigned coholism that people are dying from,” limits of the city’s downtown area have been says Ed Blackburn, executive director of Cen- #3 says. asked to sign an agreement. The purpose of tral City Concern. “I can’t think of a good reaBoyer recognizes that concern and says the program is to decrease what proponents son to keep these high-level alcoholic bever- that economic considerations have stopped some owners from signing the agreement. ages available.” “It’s a tough pitch to make in a rough econ“These high-alcohol volume drinks are pretty mar- omy,” he says. Doug Peterson, owner of Peterson’s Conketed to our types of clients,” venience Stores, says 10 percent of his store’s Mattsson says. In exchange for entering sales are in beer. One storeowner said his sales into the agreement, Mar- could drop by as much as 20 percent. Chris chetti told storeowners that Girard, the owner of Plaid Pantry, is skeptical they would be recognized by that sales would be impacted, based upon his Commissioner Fritz for be- store’s experience in Seattle. Boyer argued during the first meeting that ing socially responsible and would have their store logos the grocery stores would ultimately become prominently displayed on her more profitable because stores would gain customers who in the past had been unwillWeb site. Public meetings with stor- ing to shop at those stores. Storeowners argued that the reason their eowners were held Feb. 4 and 18 and March 4. The meet- sales would be so negatively impacted is that ings, Marchetti says, were very few of their customers are street drinkdesigned to solicit feedback ers. from storeowners about the “I’m not catering to these people,” Peteragreement. son says, referring to the majority of his cusMalt liquor is among the products targeted in downtown Portland. “This is meant to be a col- tomers as “middle America” people. Photo by Amanda Waldroupe. laborative effort,” she says. One owner used the term “smorgasbord” to But from the moment the describe his clientele. During the first public call “street drinking” or drinking in public. It public process got out of the gate, there were meeting, it was expressed loud and clear that is illegal in Portland, and offenders are given problems. condo owners, Portland State University stua citation, which does not come with fines or dents, culinary students, tourists, people on other types of punishment. The economics of microbrews their way home from work, middle-income The Portland Police Bureau gave 1,740 ciand even higher-income people represent The first meeting Feb. 4 was attended by the majority of the people doing business at tations for public drinking in downtown Portland in 2009. That accounts for 53 percent of approximately 20 storeowners. All expressed grocery stores. all public drinking in the city. Twenty-five per- concern with the agreement as it had been “We have a lot of customers that prefer the cent of all individuals being lower cost beer without abusing held in detox came from the it,” Girard says. “We would like to see a limit on the accessibility of certain types downtown area. Girard’s point gets at a probof alcohol that are more amenable to chronic alcoholism that Steve Mattsson, the manlem with the alcohol ban more ager of Hooper Detox’s sobasic and philosophical than people are dying from. I can’t think of a good reason to keep bering station for intoxiimpacted sales. these high-level alcoholic beverages available.” cated individuals, says the Some business owners feel ~Ed Blackburn, executive director of Central City Concern. station has 12,000 admislike they are being told what to and what not to sell as it is. Many sions a year. Fifty percent of would only say off the record that the city is those people will return “on a repeated basis,” drafted by Marchetti and ONI. The agreement would have banned all acting inappropriately when telling busihe says. In his mind, there is no doubt that 16-ounce and 24-ounce containers, sold in- nesses what to do. The program, one owner there is a street drinking problem. “Over the last two years, one of the most dividually or in six-packs, and all beer with an says, negatively impacts free enterprise and frequent complaints we get were problems alcohol content over 5.75 percent per ounce. limits an individual’s ability, one said, to exaround street drinking,” says Mark Friedman, That would have included all beers from Old ercise free will. English 800 to beers made by local, popular “Let the consumer decide,” Peterson says. a Central Precinct officer. Owners, especially Peterson, argued that “It is a compelling problem in a small area,” breweries. Marchetti says the agreement’s original much of the agreement unfairly penalized says Theresa Marchetti, ONI’s liquor license stipulations were based on research that had stores. specialist. “The problem is pretty much identified She emphasizes that it is a location-based been conducted on other municipalities that had created similar programs, such as Seat- with cheap, high-alcohol content,” Peterson – not a store-based – problem. says. “The microbrews are not cheap. The “(And) it’s not a problem we can really ig- tle. “We started with what we thought was go- prices are too high for street drinkers.” nore,” Marchetti says. As a result of the initial meetings, Oregon Sources for this story largely pointed to ing to be the most effective way to deal with microbrews are now listed as an exception to homeless people when describing the pop- the issue,” she says. Storeowners pushed back when it came to the ban. Sixteen-ounce singles and six-packs ulation of street drinkers. But Mike Boyer, a crime prevention specialist in the Office of 16-ounce singles and six-packs, saying they were also listed as exceptions. P �6 National News STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Street Drinking and Free Markets Continued from p. 5 As a result of the changes, Peterson says he probably will not have a problem signing the agreement. Girard would like a few more exceptions to be made so Plaid Pantry could continue carrying particular types of popular beer. He has been working with ONI to see whether those changes could be approved. If they are, he will sign on. Sketchy data The core data and statistics ONI used when crafting the ban agreement are not the citation reports from the Portland Police Bureau, but from Portland Patrol, Inc., according to Marchetti. Portland Patrol, Inc., a private security firm that contracts with the Portland Business Alliance to patrol downtown Portland, conducted a targeted mission between May 21 and June 17 last year to make contact with people drinking in public to find out what kind of alcohol they were drinking, where they were drinking it and what size container it was in. Portland Patrol officers made 289 contacts during that time. Portland Patrol, Inc. would not make the records available to Street Roots (the records are not public). Nor was the data made available during any of the three meetings. But a spreadsheet of compiled data provided by the Office of Neighbourhood Involvement shows that the common containers were 16and 24-ounce bottles and cans of beer with an alcohol content of 5.9 percent per ounce. (For comparison, Deschutes Brewery’s Mir“I don’t think (the street ror Pond Pale Ale is 4.53 percent alcohol drinking problem) is per ounce.) overwhelming, I do Many storeowners think that the reason said they were suspithey are finding so many street drinkers in cious of the data at downtown Portland is the Feb. 4 meeting. In that we have, through what parts of downthe (Portland Business town were the street drinkers found? What Alliance), we have (Portland Patrol, Inc.),” exactly did the statistics show? How was - Chris Girard ONI making a connection between street drinking and the stores? There are two reasons why the data would cause concern. First, Portland Patrol only patrols downtown. Any street drinking that takes place in inner Southeast Portland, for example, would not have been recorded or noticed by ONI. Second is the timing of Portland Patrol’s mission. The summer months in Portland, though glorious for much-awaited sunlight and farmers’ markets, are also the time when there is a noticeable influx of people and activity on the streets. “I don’t think (the street drinking problem) is overwhelming,” Girard says. “I do think that the reason they are finding so many street drinkers in downtown Portland is that we have, through the (Portland Business Alliance), we have (Portland Patrol, Inc.),” Girard says. Not so voluntary Responses from all stores were expected by March 12. April 1 is the date set for the beginning of the alcohol ban. A review will take place in October, according to Marchetti, to review how well the program is working and if there were any “unintended consequences.” As of March 17, only 12 of 67 stores had signed the agreement. Marchetti says she is not surprised more storeowners have not signed up, because the final draft of the agreement was not available until late in the week of March 8. Marchetti and Boyer were conducting street outreach to each store to make a last-ditch effort to get stores to sign the agreement. What the success of the program depends on, Boyer says, is bigger stores in the downtown area, such as Safeway, Whole Foods and Plaid Pantry, signing the agreement. Small stores will feel compelled to sign on if there is a critical mass. “If they don’t take the lead and step forward, you’re not going to get 100 percent compliance,” Boyer says. Marchetti is willing to up the ante if compliance isn’t voluntary. City council can be petitioned to allow Marchetti to work with OLCC to declare downtown Portland an “alcohol impact” area. Doing so would create mandatory guidelines storeowners would be required to follow regarding types of alcohol they could and could not carry. A similar string of events happened in Seattle. Seattle declared parts of its downtown “alcohol impact” areas in 2003 to respond to problems associated with street drinking. The program was voluntary at first. But businesses were not willing to voluntarily stop carrying particular types of alcohol because they were concerned “it was going to hit their bottom line,” says Kimberly Archie, the deputy director of Seattle’s Department of Neighbourhoods. As a result, “we weren’t seeing any improvement in chronic public inebriation,” Archie says. Seattle petitioned the Washington State Liquor Control Board in 2006 to make the alcohol ban mandatory. Archie says there were no legal repercussions. Since then statistics have shown a 21 percent decrease in admissions to detox centers, a 35 percent decrease in calls to the police and a 61 percent decrease of drinking in parks. Marchetti is hoping for similar results, voluntary or mandatory. An extensive public process is required before the OLCC can make a recommendation that the alcohol ban be mandatory. Marchetti says it would take at least a year, starting late this summer or early fall. than other places. It’s not feasible.” Spreading out the social services and low-income housing, self-policing stores, increasing fines and punishment for street drinking and increasing fund“In the long run, what ing for treatment solves the problem is were all ideas offered providing services that by storeowners. help people get off the Many storeowners streets and support already make efforts them in efforts to stop to self-police whom their drinking.” they sell alcohol to, - Ed Blackburn checking a person’s ID or asking for rent receipts given out by hotels to ensure that a customer has a place to take the alcohol to. “We’ll sell them alcohol if they have a street address,” Peterson says. “It’s easy to do,” Storeowner #1 says. This storeowner also thought it would be beneficial to require all store clerks to take the same class the OLCC requires of servers at bars and restaurants. Part of what that class teaches is how to recognize people who are visibly intoxicated. Clerks who sell alcohol to such people, or to people whom they know are chronic drinkers, should not have jobs at grocery stores, the storeowner says. Boyer and Marchetti said that, when the VibrantPDX initiative was being crafted, there was no effort to include a component that would increase the amount of alcohol treatment available or create some sort of outreach or education program for individuals engaged in street drinking. “This is the start of the efforts,” Boyer says. But is there an effort to partner with Multnomah County, which is the principal funder for alcohol treatment in the county, to increase spending or outreach for alcohol treatment? “There is not a well-thought out plan at this point,” Boyer says. Marchetti says treatment was not considered along with the alcohol ban because “our expertise and understanding of the problem is more on the supply line.” Marchetti says she is also not sure if alcohol treatment is relevant. “I don’t think we could say that all of the street drinkers are alcoholics,” she says. As Seattle crafted its alcoholic impact areas, investing further in alcohol treatment was not considered, Archie says. Yet she recognizes that Seattle’s policy is not “a total solution to the problem.” ‘Help people get off the streets’ Storeowner #2, along with a few other storeowners, said he would be willing to donate Almost everyone interviewed for this article the amount of money lost in sales as a result thinks downtown Portland has a street drink- of the alcohol ban – or at least a fraction – to ing problem. But no one will stand behind the social-service agencies that provide alcohol street drinking initiative as a solution to street treatment. There is a precedent for business drinking. At best, it will mitigate the problem. associations such as the Portland Business Al“It makes it harder for them to get a lot of al- liance putting their financial resources toward cohol,” Blackburn says. “I would never suggest creating programs and policies that address sothat it’s a cure to this type of alcoholism.” cial problems. “We don’t expect this to eliminate the prob“In the long run, what solves the problem is lem,” Marchetti says. providing services that help people get off the She does expect it to decrease. streets and support them in efforts to stop their Some think it will simply decrease because drinking,” Blackburn says. street drinking will move to other areas of the “I would say that every single one of our clicity. ents want treatment,” Mattsson says. “There are at least four stores just on the But the likelihood that they will actually enother side of the Interstate 405,” Storeowner #3 ter a treatment program is slim. Ten people says. “They can walk over there. What’s the dif- are discharged from Hooper each day. Only ference? It doesn’t make any sense to me.” 10 treatment slots open up per month. That It is not possible, Marchetti says, to make the means that people who have the potential to program citywide because “there are definite successfully complete a treatment program pockets of places that exhibit greater problems are only cycling through detox, over and over again. “It’s not the best way to treat these clients,” Mattsson says. Follow Streetvibes “We have to expect we’re going to see them over again.” www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati Reprinted from Street Roots © Street News Service: www. twitter.com/streetvibesnews street-papers.org streetvibes.wordpress.com �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Column Poverty, Choice and Serenity Deprivation and what we do with it 7 poverty lead to spiritual renewal like that of these others? Actually, most people in poverty do make the best of a bad situae had a pretty rugged winter this year, but I know at tion. And many achieve great spiritual levels. I have had great spirileast two people who slept out-of-doors through the tual teachers from among the poor. whole of it. I believe it has nothing to do with he weakness or failure of the One is a client. Driven by alcohol and poverty, he spent his nights individuals, and everything to do with the difference between volsleeping behind a downtown restaurant. On the reuntary and imposed poverty. Choice, in certain matally bad nights, he snuck into a parking garage. He ters, makes all the difference. For example, going back laughs about the experience, but there is an edge to to my friend the monk, there are only two sorts of peoThere is a sort of his laughter. He’s in his forties now. How many more ple who sleep in a cell: monastics and prisoners. The back-to-the-land, winters like this can he take? off-the-grid, out-of- monk chooses to take to his or her cell and can revoke I also have a friend the-rat-race poverty that choice at any moment. The prisoner is stuck in who lives a pretty celebrated by these his or her cell until the state decides. There is a world rugged life. He sleeps of difference between going on a fast and having your poems, stories outside year-round, food stamps stolen. If I’m on a fast, I can choose when and songs that is even in the harshest to start eating again. If I have been thrust into poverty, characterized by By Michael Henson weather. He owns I don’t necessarily have the choice. simplicity, dignity, nothing, or next to Choice is everything when it comes to the conseorderliness, calm nothing. If he wants and serenity. It is a quences of deprivation. But there is more than one to get somewhere, he usually walks. He will walk for poverty of freedom kind of choice. miles. He’s often alone for long stretches of time and and unfettered-ness. There is the choice some people make to go into really expects to stay that way. It improves the mind voluntary poverty. They are the most likely to gain But he suffers little, if at all, from the rigors of his something on a spiritual or personal level from the and spirit. It is the life. Although he lives in poverty, he is not poor. And poverty of the saints. experience of poverty. They go into it with a specific he has a serenity and peace of mind, something we all agenda; and there is a vast body of teaching, both resay we value, even if we don’t do much to get it. ligious and secular, that will take them through the My friend is a Trappist monk, one of many men and women who, experience. The other great advantage of voluntary poverty is that in joining a contemplative order, take a vow of poverty. (They also you can always leave. I’ve known several people enter monasterusually take a vow of chastity and obedience as well, but those are ies, then return to their lives, both spiritually and monetarily better way out of my topic.) off. There is a tradition in literature and song that associates poverty Then there are those who “choose” poverty by their actions. They and serenity. “The world is too much with us,” the poet tells us. gamble away their savings, either at the slots or in the stock mar“Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” The poetry of ket. They drink it up and piss it out. They snort it up their nose or William Blake is haunted by the horrors of urban poverty, which burn it up in a pipe. They might “choose” to be born into the wrong he contrasts to the simple life of the rural poor. Yeats’s “Lake Isle family and they might continue to make choices that compound of Innisfree,” Thoreau’s Walden, and Willie Nelson’s “Luckenback their poverty: They have too many children, or have them too early. Texas” are all of the same mythic material. Blow up your TV, sings The wrong marriage or the wrong divorce can have John Prine: disastrous consequences on a person’s finances. I believe it has . . . Throw away your papers, But none of these choices involves an intention Go to the country, to become poor. People enter poverty for a vari- nothing to do with he Build you a home. ety of reasons, many of which have nothing at all weakness or failure Plant a little garden, to do with choices they make (corporate layoffs, of the individuals, Eat a lot of peaches, outsourcing, an injury, an illness – any one of these and everything to do Try and find Jesus will do the job nicely). with the difference On your own. People who enter voluntary poverty generally between voluntary It works for my friend. A photographer and poet, he is one of the benefit from it. People who have poverty thrust on and imposed poverty. happiest and most creative men I know. There is something about them generally suffer from it. Why? Choice, in certain giving up the race for more money and more status that clarifies the I read recently of Saint Juan of the Cross, a Spanmatters, makes all mind, lifts the spirit and soothes the soul. There is a sort of back- ish monk who was thrown into prison and tortured the difference. to-the-land, off-the-grid, out-of-the-rat-race poverty celebrated by for beliefs his tormentors could not understand. these poems, stories and songs that is characterized by simplicity, The result included the long poem we know of as dignity, orderliness, calm and serenity. It is a poverty of freedom “The Long Dark Night of the Soul. “ and unfettered-ness. It improves the mind and spirit. It is the povBut we are not all saints. erty of the saints. Is it real? My friend lives it. Poverty, involuntary poverty, is not just an economic problem. So if poverty is so damn good for us, why don’t more of us choose Poverty is a wound to the psyche. Some people have more wounds poverty? And why aren’t more poor people as happy as my friend? and deeper wounds than others, and it makes no sense to judge or The poverty most of us see is characterized instead by dirt, dis- to compare. ease, uncertainty, violence, stress, trauma, indignity, scorn, disorThat I have decided to make something positive out of degradaderliness, blocked goals, contempt and self-contempt. tion does not mean it stopped being degradation. Perhaps, instead of judging or comparing, we should consider Why should it be this way? Why can’t poor people get themselves together and make the best of a bad situation? Why doesn’t their eliminating the degradations of involuntary poverty. W ammered H Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. Streetvibes vendors keep 75% of sales. Consider helping Streetvibes with our publication costs by making a tax-deductible donation or by purchasing a subscription. Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �8 STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Recipe “Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me All Night Long…” Veggie Spaghetti Serving Size: 3-4 bellies. 16-oz. package spaghetti or angel hair noodles 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 white onion chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 zucchini squash, diced 2 14.5-oz. cans stewed tomatoes, undrained 6-oz. can tomato paste 1/8 cup sugar 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 3 teaspoons dried basil or ¼ cup chopped fresh basil 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano 2.25-oz can black olives, undrained Photo by Jeni Jenkins. By Jeni Jenkins Staff Writer T his dish is one that I have enjoyed weekly most of my life. My mother says that, when I was a child, I would have eaten spaghetti for breakfast, lunch and dinner, if she would have allowed it. Apparently when I was too young to even pronounce my words correctly, I would beg her for “basgetti.” Even as an adult, when I return home for visits, she teases me playfully, indicating her sarcastic surprise when I voice my desire to make spaghetti. This dish is one of the many spaghetti recipe variations I have explored over the years. This has become my favorite way to make spaghetti, combining my love for veggies, red sauce and stringy noodles. 1. Begin preparing the noodles as directed. 2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium low heat and sauté the onion and garlic 3-4 minutes until the onions turn translucent. 3. Add zucchini to the onions and garlic and sauté an additional 2 minutes. 4. Turn the heat up slightly to medium high and add the stewed tomatoes. Cook approximately 2 minutes, stirring continuously. 5. In a bowl, combine the tomato paste, oregano, basil and sugar. Stir with a spoon until smooth. Carefully add the mix to the skillet. 6. Add the undrained olives and stir, simmer an additional 4 minutes. 7. Spoon generous helpings of the prepared sauce over the finished noodles. 8. For added yum factor, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the hot sauce and serve with garlic bread and fresh salad. 9. Voila, FEED! Artwork By Anthony Williams ! ? t a h W The fundamental rights of humanity are, first: the right of habitation; second, the right to move freely; third, the right to the soil and subsoil, and to the use of it; fourth, the right of freedom of labor and of exchange; fifth, the right to justice; sixth, the right to live within a natural national organization; and seventh, the right to education. – Albert Schweitzer Say___________________ �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 9 Poetry Page Poetry is the Language of the People, and All is Poesy, and All is Holy By Carolyn R. Hanks I go among the people of the earth Listening and hearing all languages and manners of speech; I wander Among the fathers and sons of the earth and I hear the cries of their children And their children’s children, and to my ears all is Poesy. I go also Among the mothers and daughters and sons; I hear the holy sounds of their voices, All poetry, and all holy. I was told that the Word is a manifestation of thought: So in the beginning, the Great mother-Father God/Goddess was the Word, and the Word became Light, and there was Light. So also there was darkness, as well as All seasons and all days and nights, and also all holy. My lips were opened and I sang a song, it became my song for the people, And I, too, became holy, in the presence of the Great Spirit, whose many names Are Mother Walking Bear, Sister Moon and Brother Wolf and Goddess Kali and Mother of the sons and daughters of men and women and of God, And all is Poesy, all is Holy. Better than Rust By Spencer Ledyard “My god,” Laura said. As she felt the red, Thick weight of welling tears. “My dear, it’s been years.” “Oh, I know. Like ten, right? That is a while, a good while. So, what are you doing? Kids and a family, like everyone else?” “I work here, downtown, But no children, I’m not wed. I’m engaged to Harry Brown From high school,” Laura said. “Really! My old Harry! I haven’t thought of him in so long. We went to the Spring Formal! In 10th grade … 10th grade.” Laura said, “Oh yes, You wore that blue dress And I was there with … Umm … Joseph Smith?” “Joey was there but I think he was with Cheryl then ’Cause you started dating him After I broke up with Harry.” “You could be right,” Laura said, “I don’t recall. Anyway, later tonight We’ve got the Mayor’s ball.” “So you got to be going. Okay, sure, see ya later. Tell Harry I said hi. And, Laura, you have a good night.” Art by Steven Paul Lansky Poem of Inaction By Steven Paul Lansky yes i like doctrine of inaction it is the same as action only without movement presence of stillness lake is calm glass mirror very reflective The Ghost Bird By Chelsea Ostrow Through searing heat, In a sand coated tent hospital, A whip of pain, Fighting for life, The wheeze of a respirator greets Artistic Expression You’ve Been Dreaming Of. Welcome to the depths of the Beautiful Stranger. Words create Worlds Cementing the future. New life begins. A vast trove of buried treasure Recycling Instrument of Remembrance Introducing a Revolutionary New Dimension In The Happiness Effect. Nadav Kander recommends using a Permanent Birth Control. Something to put about. It lives! Real ingredients are ingredients you understand. Welcome back. “Well, now, hold on … how … Is there something I can, Can do for you, like, now?” Laura said, wringing her hands. “You got a couple bucks, That would be good. And Don’t ask me how it happened. This is just how things are.” Story World By Chelsea Ostrow Little Bo Peep fucked her sheep Maiden Mary was appalled This caused such a ruckus, The Lady in the Shoe stopped fucking Douglas And all her kids were mauled. The Three Blind Mice heard this thrice they couldn’t imagine the sight! Jack and Jill got a divorce and Jack ran off with Snow White The Seven Dwarfs shot Jack in the head after he took the Little Mermaid to bed. The entire time Alice thought she was just a little brain dead but truth be told she took a hold of what the White Rabbit was dealing. She followed the Rabbit down his hole hoping he’d put it in hers, she got on her knees, simply said please and the Rabbit gave it to Alice while kneeling. Alice died and lost her pride. and that was the end of that. Now you know that what you’re told can’t be all but true. Take into consideration the different aspects of information and everything you thought you once knew. �10 STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Housing Issues King’s Death Led to Fair Housing Ending housing discrimination: The urgency marches on By Michelle Dillingham Contributing Writer O ne of my favorite quotations is credited to Otto von Bismarck: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” Yet one of my hobbies is to read about legislative history, sort of like how some people like to watch horror movies. Go figure. To research this article, I reviewed the legislative history of the federal Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act was adopted in 1968 and made it illegal to discriminate in housing transactions based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or familial status. I discovered an article written by Jean Eberhart Dubofsky contemporaneous to the law’s passage. It tells the story of how fair-housing legislation was added into the Civil Rights Act as an amendment by U.S. Sen. Walter Mondale in 1967. It is really fascinating but too lengthy to cover here. Near the end of the story, after much political maneuvering and debate, we find the bill referred to the House Rules Committee, where action was deferred and hearings were dragging on. On the morning of April 4, 1968, many feared the Senate’s civil rights bill might perish in committee. That evening, Martin Luther King was assassinated. “Martin Luther King’s death accomplished one thing; it dislodged the Civil Rights Bill of 1968 from the Rules Committee,” Dubofsky writes. “On April 8, shaken by the disorders in Washington, the committee concluded its hearings. …On April 10, with National Guard troops called up to meet riot conditions in Washington still in the basement of the Capitol, the House debated fair housing. … On April 11 the Civil Rights Act of 1968 became law. The new law begins with the following words: ‘It is the policy of the United States to provide, within constitutional limits, for fair housing throughout the United States.’ ” How bittersweet that King’s tragic death catapulted fair housing into the civil rights bill, and his passing provided the urgency needed to help that bill became law. Fast-forward 42 years. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) declares 2010 a “Time to Act” – a slogan to reflect the urgency of ensuring fair housing. As time passes, new varieties of housing discrimination continue to rear their ugly heads. HUD reports that it “for the first time ever is examining the prevalence of housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and discrimination based on a tenant’s use of government assistance to pay rent.” Forty-two years later we are still urgently fighting housing discrimination. And then there are fair-housing issues related to land use and zoning. Two years ago the Cincinnati Planning Department proposed zoning text amendments that set limits on where certain organizations may serve certain people. Many citizens came out in opposition, including Elizabeth Brown, executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME), who testified that the proposed changes violate the Fair Housing Act. The planning department did not pursue the text amendments, although they will undoubtedly resurface in another form. I was recently asked to serve on behalf of Affordable Housing Advocates on the City/County Fair Housing Advisory Committee. Fair housing is not the same as affordable housing. Affordability refers to one’s ability to meet his or her housing needs. Fair housing refers to one’s right to engage in housing transactions that are not influenced by race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or familial status. However, often the affordability and discrimination are connected, because many people who live in subsidized housing happen to be families, minorities and people with disabilities, which are protected groups under the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Committee’s charge is to help identify strategies to implement the recommendations made in the document, “Impediments to Fair Housing in Hamilton County” written by HOME last year. This committee is also in place because HUD requires municipalities that receive federal funding not only to refrain from discriminating, but also to exceed the basic requirements and affirmatively further fair housing. We gather for a noble cause, to make sure the recommendations made in HOME’s report are not shelved but rather implemented. This month, let us reflect on the untimely death of Martin Luther King Jr. and how it enabled us to have the Fair Housing Act. Learn about what your housing rights are. Help educate your friends, family and neighbors about housing discrimination. The Fair Housing Act protects all of us – black and white, male and female. We were all children once; and if we are lucky enough to live long, we will all have disabilities in old age. For more information about your fair-housing rights, please contact Housing Opportunities Made Equal at 513-21-4663. HOME exists to eliminate illegal discrimination in housing, especially racial discrimination, and to promote balanced living patterns. The Stories of the Man in the Van continued from page 1 A New Stage The project is putting Heideman in a new stage in his life. A better understanding. He has never made a living at art before, but has been making it since he was 18. Most of his work has been two-dimensional oil paintings. Some galleries in Seattle have displayed the paintings. He was supposedly the youngest artist to ever display his work in the Woodside Braseth Gallery. Before starting “The Man in The Van” project, Heideman was working on a screenplay. He eventually scrapped it, deciding that “The Man in the Van” project was a better way to express himself. He wants to try to build relationships again, so why not just start with the general public? “I wanted to be less selfish … have empathy,” he says. By letting others write, he thought he could reach out more to people. “This is much more rewarding,” Heideman says. “I don’t want to become a preacher. I don’t want to be political. The real goal is to get people out of their rut.” Since his visit to Denver, he has travelled the country and has experienced setbacks along the way. Sometimes he thought that he would not make it. But he never gave up. Heideman reached his destination, Grand Rapids, Mich., for the Artprize competition, though things did not end up as he had planned. “The Man in The Van” did not even place in the top 100. “That’s OK,” he says. “It wasn’t about winning a big prize. … I’ve been able to inspire a lot of people and spread a message of empathy and compassion.” Now, after a long road, Heideman is trying to get on with other parts of his life. He is moving to Seattle with a newfound sense of adventure. He has had a few offers from movie producers to discuss “possibilities.” “I’m also hoping to write a book about the whole experience (including transcribed stories), but that’s tough right now because things are a little stressful,” he says. “I’ve been living in a van for over one year now, and I’m ready to move on with my life.” But winning isn’t everything. “It’s amazing what kind of rewards come when you have the courage to serve others,” Heideman says. Reprinted from Denver VOICE © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org If you like what you read, but don’t live in the Cincinnati area, you can subscribe to Streetvibes. Call us at 513-421-7803 x 12 to learn more about subscribing to Streetvibes. �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 11 Column A Night Walk Reveals the Action F or the average street person, the on- in and out all night, only being caught by set of the night is the crown of the the first light of day. Then it’s time to wind day. It often brings about fear – or down, to sleep most of the day. Amazingperhaps relief from the constant shuffling ly, you might give it some kin to the old of the day. Making one’s way to that place of Temptations song, “Psychedelic Shack.” refuge, which we call our spot, one can end For those who frequent this place, it is the day with a bit of sleep. However, for some where it’s at. of us, it’s just the beginning of a part of our Of course a visit to the Bat Cave is not routine. the only action of the night life. There is The night person is a small percentage of always the waiting game: waiting for the the overall, but is still a feature of the life of right person to come along or the right the street. They wear a telltale sign of the life- situation to occur. Vying to get what you style. Often known seek, you have to spend time by their movetrudging back and forth, from ments, they are a block to block, seeking those breed of a different who live like you do, doing species. Living off the things that you do. Living of their wits, they on the edge, the street people maintain by whatare oblivious to danger in the ever means necesnormal sense. The only fear sary. Most are honone has is of being stopped est by nature, but or detained by the police. The By Riccardo Taylor the life of the street worst-case scenario is to end Streetvibes Vendor can change that. up in jail. The violence, comWe are out on the petition, or other distractions block. OK, let’s see what’s happening. Let’s of the street pale in comparison to havgo over to the “Bat Cave” (usually an aban- ing to spend a night in the holding tank. doned building). Batman doesn’t live here, There is no getting back that time you and the only Robin you’ll see is the one try- lose sitting in the Justice Center. Time, the ing to turn a “trick,” or trick you out of some- most important element of the street life, thing. The Bat Cave is a squatters’ paradise, cannot be wasted sitting in the can. Every Riccardo Taylor. Phpto by Aimie Willhoite. usually set with electricity from a nearby moment of every day has to be utilized building. Without running water, buckets or for the betterment of one’s condition, the canteens are used for the water supply. The hustle for survival. The later – or, if you will, the earlier – the Bat Cave is furnished with discarded furniSomehow you become invisible in the hour, the slower things get. Feet starting to ture that the occupants have found. Keeping night as you duck and dodge through the hurt from all the walking, eyes feeling heavy, with its name, the Bat Cave is only alive with streets. Taking in every step, you don’t miss you know it’s time to find that spot to sleep. A few hours is all you expect. action during the late night. The fluttering a beat. Knowing where the Hate to miss any action, but of arms and legs in swift movement in and action is, you start that way. out of the cave gives the impression of those Anticipating the scene, your There is no getting back I’m done! In places where most who frequent the place, back and forth with- mind picks the route. On this that time you lose sitting people would be appalled, out direction. walk we see a huddle on this in the Justice Center. There he is the houseman directing where or that corner or cars passing. Time, the most important the street person is right at to sit, who gets in and who leaves. His main An occasional shout, an alert element of the street life, home. A lot of us are cast into job is to collect the entrance fee, usually a to which way to go, a nod cannot be wasted sitting the role we play. You learn to go with the flow, so to speak. hit of dope or a few dollars. Everybody tend- signals that it’s right here. in the can. Every moing his own habit: 40-ounces being passed, Often the walk is where the ment of every day has to Still, that reality that things a crack pipe being pushed or perhaps a action is. Much more move- be utilized for the better- are different and that we can joint being shared, each in their own world. ment than if we are stuck in ment of one’s condition, have a part of that eludes our senses. Chase the action, usThough it seems chaotic, there is order in the Cave or held up in some the hustle for survival. ing up all of your facilities the cave. The stays are generally short. When house. It’s the darting in and to come to the same conyou have nothing left to share, it’s time for out that attracts you, so you you to go; or when you have had your plea- walk the way that you know something is clusion. This becomes the mindset of those sure, you realize that it’s time for you to get happening. Number-one rule: Avoid conflict who live this way, and life goes on. The walk back to the block to come up. or dispute. There is enough mistrust and po- continues. The residents of this humble abode are tential violence waiting. Street Life Affordable Rates etvibes? tre nS rested in Advert Inte isin gi Many sizes (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) Black & White and Color available Discounts for Nonprofits Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go ahead. Ask. Missed an Issue? Check out the Streetvibes archive at www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes �12 Guest Column STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Russian Women, American Men A cultural experience between young adults By Jeremy Flannery Contributing Writer F ive women from Russia visited Cincinnati in April 2003 to taste the sweet existence that is American. My roommates and I met them through their enrollment with the American Work Experience, a program that offers European college students a fourmonth summer adventure in the United States as low-wage workers. What was their American work experience? They became cashiers for McDonald’s in Corryville and Chipotle in University Heights. One of the women worked with one of my roommates. While at work she told him that they realized their landlord was “scary,” and they needed a new We pointed out such place for the summer. That landlord must sights as Fountain Square have been scary indeed if he compelled women from another nation to flee into the and the concrete river home of three unknown men. And so they that resembles the Rhine moved into the vacant third-floor bedroom River in Deutschland. of the Corryville house we rented. We told them the Taste The women were very shy at first. The of Cincinnati was third floor had a kitchen and bathroom with approaching, one of the a shower, but there was no way to bypass few times per year when the second-floor living room, where my hordes of suburbanites male roommates and I hung out, to access feel safe enough to visit the rest of the house. Even so, I never saw downtown and trash it. our new roommates after leaving work from downtown and the rest of the evening. As a gesture to show they seemed reclusive, I placed a cup of water next to their bedroom door every day. Maybe they thought it was some bizarre local custom – or simply considered it annoying. After two weeks of this routine, the Russian women filed down the stairs one night to join us in the living room. My roommates and I were the most American Americans in America at that time, so the ladies were fortunate to have us to guide them through Cincinnati. We pointed out such sights as Fountain Square and the concrete river that resembles the Rhine River in Deutschland. We told them the Taste of Cincinnati was approaching, one of the few times per year when hordes of suburbanites feel safe enough to visit downtown and trash it. We explained how University Heights becomes a lively locale thanks to the University of Cincinnati students, and we made sure the women knew how to reach University Hospital or call 911 for emergencies. We even said our local government is proficient with assisting people in need. And then we admitted we lied. At the time Cincinnati had a law requiring panhandlers to have licenses. “Why would you need a permit to ask people for money on the streets if the U.S. has freedom of speech?” they asked. Good question. One of the ladies fluently spoke Russian and German and learned some English words during her flight to the U.S. Whenever she couldn’t complete a sentence in English, she would add her native language. “I go to the university in Berlin and, um … (insert many Russian words).” The ladies laughed at our bewildered facial expressions. One was fluent with English and was dubbed the household translator. The other three understood varying degrees of English, but two often requested translations. When my roommates and I told jokes, their laughter became a chorus line, with the Berlin student excluded Interested in volunteering with Streetvibes? Contact Greg Flannery at 513-421-7803 x 12 or by e-mail at streetvibes2@yahoo.com from the crescendo as she awaited a full translation. College tuition didn’t exist at their universities in Russia, and they were required to study a second language by age 8. Cincinnati has more skyscrapers, while their Russian hometown provides more public transportation. These were the only significant differences they noted. The women enjoyed reading the local newspapers and collected bundles of copies to take home. I was surprised. Who actually reads newsAbove all, they reaffirmed my papers? They would huddle and read together as the household translator belief that humans everywhere clarified the writing. are equals simply divided by One of my male roommates prelanguages and national borpared to smoke marijuana. He asked ders. And they proved that it’s the women if they preferred that he possible to survive in the Unitdidn’t. ed States if you’re a Russian “It’s OK,” one of the ladies said. “We female visiting where American understand it is a part of your cul- fast-food chains proliferate, are ture.” accompanied by four friends My roommates and I laughed, and and have three American men the women seemed puzzled by our re- willing to disregard rent when action. faced with a scary landlord. “It’s actually illegal in this country,” God bless Siberia. I said. That is a cultural component of the “Land of the Free.” You might think it’s inappropriate for unmarried women and men to live together. How would we situate cycles to clean our clothes? One of my roommates and I thought we were alone in the house one weekend afternoon. The Russian ladies left to visit the Newport Aquarium. Apparently the Berlin student thought she was alone because she came down the third-floor steps wearing a T-shirt and no pants. She tried to explain she needed to get her clothes from the dryer. We couldn’t understand her, so she pendulously waved her hand, returned from the basement with her clothes and took them to her room – where she remained for the day. I hope she laughs at the memory now. Living with these women for three months was an educational experience. They showed us the Russian alphabet and some words to construct basic sentences. We’d hear them say “knee,” which is short for “nyet” or “no.” If you don’t speak Russian, it would sound like “knee, knee, knee,” and you might think they were about to kickbox. They cooked what they claimed to be Lebanese breakfast for us at 3 a.m. before we strolled through UC’s campus. The meal was pancakes and fruit jam. Then they added an unknown topping and said, “Now it’s Lebanese.” Above all, they reaffirmed my belief that humans everywhere are equals simply divided by languages and national borders. And they proved that it’s possible to survive in the United States if you’re a Russian female visiting where American fast-food chains proliferate, are accompanied by four friends and have three American men willing to disregard rent when faced with a scary landlord. God bless Siberia. My roommate and I drove the women in our cars to the Dayton Airport the night they left in early August. We thanked them for an interesting time and warned that not everyone in the United States is safe to live with. Then they were off to San Francisco. �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Sports Kickers Are People, Too 13 Time for the Bengals to draft one By B. Clifton Burke Contributing Writer W ith all the attention surrounding tall receivers and big guys named Tank and Bobbie, the small problem of the kicking situation remains in question. Shayne Graham is an unprotected free agent this year, and there has been no word about the Bengals showing any interest in resigning him. Cincinnati did bring back Dave Raynor – the kicker the Bengals signed after Graham injured himself in the pre-season – but can we trust Raynor more than Graham to make kicks in the playoffs? The Bengals could look to draft a kicker to develop; they selected Cincinnati native Kevin Huber in the fifth round last draft and turned him into an immediate upgrade at the punter position. Special-teams Coach Darren Simmons has attended various college pro days around the country, but that is a pretty standard off-season occurrence and probably shouldn't be analyzed too deeply. Still, there are a few good prospects in this draft. One is Kentucky native Aaron Pettry, an Ohio State alumnus, who is ranked atop many draft charts for kickers this year. Pettry showed a strong leg by making field goals from 50 and 52 yards last season, but his accuracy might be a concern as he missed four times with 40 yards. Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence only missed three times in 27 attempts but didn’t convert anything over 50 yards. There is always an emergency kicker in the free agent market – Billy Cundiff comes to mind – and the Bengals will have to address a long-term answer for that dainty yet crucial spot on the team someday anyway. To take a decent kicker in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft (April 22-24) makes a lot of sense and would be a welcome pick to most fans. But if the team finds itself at its next training camp with Raynor as the only kicker in sight, I think Chad Ochocinco should get a legitimate shot to compete for the starting kicker. We all saw that point-after split the uprights with grace, altitude and distance. Then we watched his ensuing kickoff driven deep to the 10-yard line. The man has a motor mouth, but he also apparently has a kicker’s leg, and it seems worth testing its range. Why not? It would save a roster spot and generate more interest in the team. Eighty-Five is a freak athlete who could probably play professional soccer and who once outraced a horse on television. He has the sleek elegance of a jungle cat on routes and can become boneless around the sidelines to get his feet in. He is a terrific football player, and that could very well include kicking. It is unlikely that Chad ends up the kicker next year, same as Graham. That still just leaves Raynor, and I don't think that’s good enough. The Bengals should either draft a kicker this year or allow Ocho to expand his carnival to special teams. To leave it unaddressed would be foolish; kickers might be small, but they matter too, damn it – they matter, too. Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com �14 Vendor Voice STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Take Power From Corporations There are more of us than them By George Herrell Streetvibes Vendor W hen it comes to deciding the future of any populated neighborhoods, one would think that the residents would have a say. However, unfortunately for some citizens in one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Cincinnati, this is not the case. In fact, according to a 2008 study by Dan La Botz – “Who Rules Cincinnati?” – there are seven corporations that, by virtue of their enormous wealth and power, dominate not only the economic but also the social life on Cincinnati. They are Procter & Gamble, Kroger Co., Macy’s Federated Department Stores, Fifth Third Bancorp, Western & Southern Financial, American Financial Corp. and E.W. Scripps. These corporations, combined with some other influential companies, guide all of the important civic, cultural and social organizations of the city. To achieve their goals, large Cincinnati corporations have created a series of private organizations: the Cincinnati Business Committee, Downtown Cincinnati Inc. and Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. Together, these organizations have managed to seize democratic control from the city council, from city agencies and from the public. They’ve managed this by a number of methods – by creating the “strong mayor” system, by abolishing the city planning department and by handing over public planning functions to private organizations, all but destroying public discussion, debate, and democratic control. As any corporate executive will tell you, corporations exist solely to produce profits for their stockholders. Corporate control of the city’s economic and political life for the profits and the accumulation of corporate wealth and property has made Cincinnati the third-poorest midsized city in the United States. Furthermore, it has also served to preserve and sometimes deepen patterns of racial segregation and discrimination. Meanwhile, the corporate CEOs and leaders continue to rake in enormous salaries: *A.G. Lafley of Procter & Gamble, $26.6 million *Terry Lundgren of Macy’s, $16. 3 million *Ken Lowe of E.W. Scripps, $9.8 million *David Dillon of Kroger Co., $7.5 million *Carl Lindner III of American Financial Group, $7.1 million *S. Craig Lindner of American Financial Group, $6.8 million *Fernando Aguirre of Chiquita Brands, $1.9 million *Mike Contreras of E.W. Scripps, $1.3 million The sheer wealth of corporate directors and executives makes it possible for them to have a tremendous influence on the economic, social, and political life of Cincinnati and the region. The millions of dollars they earn in salaries – not to mention other sources of wealth – makes it possible for them to fund political parties, to donate to charities and to give to the arts. Through all of these activities they exert their influence on every aspect of life in our city. Yes, the power of corporations is enormous and yet the situation is not hopeless. The hope for the future of Cincinnati lies not with those at the top who now rule it, but with the majority of the city’s middle-class and workingclass people who, in a democracy, have (if they organize) the numbers, the power and the votes to decide the city’s fate. When Cincinnati citizens voted against David Pepper, the son of a Proctor & Gamble CEO, and for Mark Mallory, many were voting against corporate control and for a larger voice for the people, though others (keeping it real) cast their vote against the long history of white domination over what is now a half-black city. We need to unify our African-American organizations; our progressive churches, temples and mosques; our community-based organizations, our unions and our city’s immigrants. We can accomplish this if we create opportunities for African-American, white and immigrant community activists to meet to talk about organizing unified movement for social change. We need to unite around common struggles and common issues of concern, and we need to find opportunities to put forward candidates of the local social movements. If we are to challenge corporate power, then we must create platforms that speak to working people and to poor people in our city. There must be no more chances for corporate-backed organizations to attempt to herd human beings around the city like they hope to the tenants of the Metropole Apartments for no other purpose than to fuel their all-consuming corporate engines. Stand up, stand out, stand strong! One mile from corporate headquarters. Photo by Rob Goeller Personifying Recovery Remembering Linda Zachary By Larry Gross Contributing Writer A fter battling cancer and surrounded by family and friends, Linda Zachary passed away March 16. Zachary wore many hats as an employee at the Recovery Center – a openly about her own mental illness, schizophrenia. “The more I learn about my illness, the more I let them (her family) know, because my illness runs in our family,” she said. Regarding her involvement with the Recovery Center, she said, “It’s like missed by many. Linda had amazing talent as an artist and dreamed of becoming an art therapist. In the near future, the Recovery Center will be setting up a fund to establish a scholarship fund in honor of Linda to help “Linda has touched many of our lives and truly personified what Recovery was all about. She will be greatly missed my many. Linda had amazing talent as an artist and dreamed of becoming an art therapist.” ~ Linda Ostholthoff non-profit, consumer-driven agency located in Walnut Hills. The agency offers peer support, self-help, and education and community involvement activities for those recovering from mental illness. Zachary taught classes, answered the phone and even swept the floors if needed. She was featured in “All Right to be Different” (see issue of July 1-14, 2010), a story about the Recovery Center. In the story, Zachary talked home. You don’t have to put on airs. There’s peace.” Zachary made a mark at the center, according to Linda Ostholthoff, training coordinator. “Linda has touched many of our lives and truly personified what Recovery was all about,” Ostholthoff says. “She will be greatly Linda Zachary. Photo by Andrew Anderson. a student wanting to become an art therapist.” For more information on The Recovery Center, visit recoverycenterhc. org or call 513-241-1411. �STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 558-8888 981-5800 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Salvation Army 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 762-5660 458-6670 977-4489 Treatment: Men 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Other Resources 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men 784-1853 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 DIC Live In Program Prospect House 721-0643 921-1613 961-2256 381-0111 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 661-4620 First Step Home Shelter: Both 621-5514 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart Treatment: Women 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Shelter Starting Over 241-2600 241-2563 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 961-4080 Treatment: Both 761-1480 AA Hotline CCAT 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 471-1100 221-3350 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Housing: CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 421-5211 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 621-6364 Hamilton/Middletown 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Advocacy Northern Kentucky Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS Brighton Center 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health Center for Respite Care 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 421-5211 241-2965 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn Our Daily Bread 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 351-0422 381-6672 People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women Off The Streets 535-2719 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this year. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ Name: Address: E-mail: Call 513-421-7803 x11 to learn about Streetvibes subscriptions �16 Artists as Activists STREETVIBES April 15 - 30, 2010 Dark Humor and Harmony Kevin T. Kelly’s spiritual trek “A rt is the tangible manifestation of an eternal spirit that flows through all things,” says Kevin T. Kelly. “When I get immersed in creating art, I lose track of time and space; I am only in the ‘now’ moment, communing with the sacred and spiritual, with a universal energy, a force bigger than me that manifests itself through me. I feel deeply satisfied and connected, as if touched by the hand of God.” Kelly is an artist and educator who grew up in Ludlow, Ky. After high school he attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati and earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in sculpture. He moved to New York City for six years, working as a studio assistant to Pop artist Tom Wesselmann. As a child Kelly drew non-stop, inspired and coached by his father, who nurtured his talent, teaching him perspective, creating images for him to copy. Although his degree is in sculpture, Kelly shifted entirely to painting after college. “My sculptures were more akin to assemblages, comparable to drawings in 3D,” he says. “I always Kevin T. Kelly stands in front of his new landscape paintings. Photo by Bill Howes. liked the Pop genre and decided to explore it in painting to reflect my perceptions on personal experiences, the huWith humor, Kelly’s work examined various facets of the human man condition, as well as on society in general. “ drama. Family issues, relationships, communication and mispercepFrom the beginning, tions all found their way into his paintings, often with a dose of cyniKelly felt that art needed cism and sarcasm. content and that it needParadigm Lost is based on a car advertisement from the 1950s. A ed to convey a message. man is driving; his wife is blindfolded. The message of the ad is that He is not an abstraction- the car runs so smoothly the wife is not even aware of the ride. Kelist, but rather a figurative ly re-contextualized the image to reflect upon the issue of the everas painter whose work tells changing roles of gender and identity in society. a story, is socially aware, In Club Lust, an apparently wealthy married couple is shown in and taps into the emo- the intimacy of their bedroom. While the wife is waiting, sitting on By Saad Ghosn tions of the time. As an the bed, her husband is instead admiring and enamored with a golf Contributing Writer undergraduate he cre- driver. The bedroom window opens on a golf course and an image of ated works on apartheid the same hangs on the wall. Kelly used the painting as a metaphor for and Nazism, in particular the hidden aspects of relationships, for what is expected, what actuthe “Monster of Vienna,” a Nazi with no remorse for his atrocities – ally happens or does not happen; he depicted in it the openly unspotopics prominent in the news. While working at Wesselmann’s studio ken truth, reality versus perception, the dissonance of the moment Kelly continued his own art. He created a series of black cutout still encountered in personal exchanges. The painting also alluded to the lifes that did not satisfy him; they prompted him, however, to move in role sports play in people’s lives, particularly at retirement – a curse a different direction – Pop art. and a blessing at the same time. “Pop art allowed me, through visual metaphors, to establish allegoMany of Kelly’s topics come from his personal experiences and reries and narratives which looked at personal dilemmas and percep- flections. The more he delves into them, the more he connects with tions, and apply them to a general societal context,” he says, “It let me himself, his emotions, his beliefs and values. It is an uncovering proopen a visual dialogue with the viewer while trying to get to universal cess, like peeling off the skins of an onion, exposing layer after laytruth.” er. Often and sometimes after the fact , he says, he realizes that his paintings subconsciously relate to his own history – his divorce, for instance – yet have a universality due to their basic human subject. Kelly always tries to convey his thoughts and messages with subtlety and humor. He does not want his paintings to impose his views; he strives to understand and represent the other side, engaging viewers in the debate, expanding their awareness, indirectly leading them to the spirituality of life. All along Kelly has been interested in his own spiritual quest. A year ago he became dissatisfied and wanted to part with the cynical dark humor of his work, striving instead for more beauty, joy, serenity. He began reevaluating his belief system, meditating daily, embracing Taoist philosophy and learning the disciplines of Qi Quong and Tai Chi. This led his work into a new direction. He is now focusing on painting calm and harmonious landscapes, conveying the awe and grandeur of nature, its perpetual change, its peace and spirituality. They are small, intimate, meditative paintings. “I began looking at places I’ve passed hundreds of times, really noticing their beauty and abundance for the first time,” Kelly says. “Nature is in a continual state of becoming, and I equate it metaphorically in these new landscape paintings to one’s journey from ego to spirit. “It’s my attempt at conveying to the viewer a transpersonal experience which transcends the mundane veneer of just focusing on personal and societal ills. I want to offer in these works the gift of serenity, a haven of solace and tranquility for anyone willing to take the time to look.” Kelly’s art always comes from his heart. Whether through Pop art or new landscape paintings, it affirms who he is, conveys his beliefs and worldly views, shares his spiritual journey. Using symbols and metaphors, it aims at a higher level of understanding Club Lust, acrylic painting by Kevin T. Kelly. Photo by Kevin T. Kelly. and consciousness, at the fullness of life, at the universality of truth. A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � 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 2010 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 15-30, 2010 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Development for and of the People The Stories of the Man in the Van Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Ohio Has a Thriving Slave Market Pg 4: Development for and of the People Pg 5: Street Drinking and Free Markets Pg 6: Street Drinking and Free Markets Continued Pg 7: Poverty, Choice and Security Pg 8: “Feed Me, Seymour, Feed Me All Night Long...” Pg 9: Arts and Poetry Pg 10: King’s Death Led to Fair Housing Pg 11: A Night Walk Reveals the Action Pg 12: Russian Women, American Men Pg 13: Kickers Are People, Too Pg 14: Take Power from Corporations Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Dark Humor and Harmony Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 15-30, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Veronica Glass Jeni Jenkins Michelle Dillingham Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Valerie Fessler Alecia A. Lott Jeni Jenkins Saad Ghosn Lew Moores Larry Gross Eli Braun Jesse Call Aimie Willhoite Anthony Williams Vinit Murthy Jon Hughes Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Alecia A. Lott Anthony Williams Arts & Poetry Bengals civil rights David Heitfield Eli Braun Gregory Flannery Human Trafficking Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Jesse Call Jon Hughes Kevin T. Kelly Larry Gross Lew Moores Linda Zachary Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Martin Luther King Jr. Michael Henson Michelle Dillingham Ohio Paul Kopp poverty Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Slavery Valerie Fessler Veronica Glass Vinit Murthy