17 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/8faa59f4d9a99c225d4b0a1a3f313d19.pdf d43181c53711ae4586d11d0fca3b3e73 PDF Text Text J u n e 2 7 t h - J u l y 1 1 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 3 ( N o . 4 1 0 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. U.S Soldiers with 541st Engineer Company, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 7, position concertina wire on a practice barricade at Naval Air Facility El Centro in California, Dec. 4, 2018. U.S. Northern Command is providing military support to the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure the Southern border of the United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Asia J. Sorenson) Editorial on the next page. (pg 2) This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION Nov 2 o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 June 27- -NJuly 11,22019 410 From The Editor: Detained and Confined Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief C ongresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently said, “the fact that concentration camps are an institutionalized practice in the ‘home of the free’ is extraordinarily disturbing.” When met with outrage she tweeted that she refuses to apologize for calling the border camps exactly what they are: concentration camps. Right-wing propaganda media like Fox News jumped on the opportunity to say that the comparison was insulting to the communities who perished and to those who survived the Holocaust. In the United States, and many other places in the world, the term “concentration camps” is strongly associated with the Holocaust, but that is not when the term was coined. The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition for “concentration camps” reads as “a place where large numbers of people (such as prisoners of war, political prisoners, refugees, or the members of an ethnic or religious minority are detained or confined under armed guard.” Its first known use was in 1897. Because of this right-wing propaganda-guided shift of focus, TV journalists end up hosting debates in attempts to seem fair and unbiased. These debates and airtime ends up legitimizing arguments about semantics rather than the fact that children are dying under U.S. custody. While it might be important to discuss the meaning of terms since no one seems to agree on facts, it is mostly being used to waste time and energy so people become so tired of the topic that people end up ignoring actual atrocities. This is known as a “straw man” which the M-W dictionary defines as “a weak or imaginary opposition (such as an argument or adversary) set up only to be easily confuted.” One fact that we should be able to agree on is that these border camps in the U.S. are areas where large numbers of people, such as refugees and members of an ethnic group, are detained and confined under armed guard. We don’t have to call them the same thing, but we have to focus on the fact that they are happening and that they are deplorable. Slate has reported that the “U.S. Border Patrol is refusing citizen donations even as it holds migrant children without access to soap and toothpaste.” The New Yorker reported that “hundreds of immigrant children who have been separated from their parents or family members are being held in dirty, neglectful, and dangerous conditions at Border Patrol facilities in Texas.” This was almost not discovered, the article reads, because the Clint Facility usually houses a maximum of 104 adults and those investigating were reporting on child-focused conditions. But it was later reported to be housing “approximately three hundred and fifty children.” In another article by the Associated Press, “a traumatic and dangerous situation is unfolding for some 250 infants, children, and teens locked up for 27 days without adequate food, water and sanitation” in El Paso Texas. We should be able to agree that none of these cases should be acceptable nor should they be taking place in the United States of America. Many of the people being detained in these camps are not crossing the border illegally. According to The American Immigration Council, “The Refugee Act established two paths to obtain refugee status—either from abroad as a resettled refugee or in the United States as an asylum seeker.” If someone crosses the border into the U.S. seeking asylum, they are doing so legally. Many of these legal asylum seeking immigrants are being held in these camps and according to NBC News, federal data shows that 24 immigrants have died while under ICE custody. According to Vice News, this number does not include children that have died under other federal agencies, or those that have died shortly after being released from ICE custody. GQ published an article on June 5, 2019 stating “in July of 2018, 37 detained migrant children boarded vans in Texas so they could be reunited with their parents at the Port Isobel Detention Center. But when they reached the Immigration and Customs Enforcement–run detention facility, they had to wait. And wait. It took 39 hours and two nights spent sleeping in vans for the last child to be processed and reunited with their family, with most of the 5- to 12-year-olds waiting at least 23 hours in the center's parking lot.” This is not a new issue; this is deeply ingrained into our American history. It is part of our beginning, middle, and present. This country was built by murdering those who were already here, and then moving the surviving Native American into areas that the government deemed fit. In the 1900 the American government built concentration camps in the Philippines during the American-Philippine War. Years later Japanese Americans were displaced and moved into camps, stripping them of their possessions and jobs, all while dehumanizing them in the process. Now we are here, with camps at the border that rip families’ apart, let people die, and the cycle continues. It is up to us to vote, protest, and organize to say that we no longer will let this continue. S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Lungelo Ndhlovu, Sarah Shearman, Nacho Doce, Jake Spring, Tharanga Yakupitiyage, Angus Berwick, Dr. Mark Mussman, Depthstroke the Cypher, Willa D. Jones, James Brown, Felix Winternitz ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 211, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 June 273-| July | No. 410 HOMELESSNESS 3 Zimbabwe's Economic Crisis Driving Boys Experiencing Homelessness Into Illegal Gay Sex Trade Lungelo Ndhlovo Reuters O n a sunny morning in the central business district of Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo, 14-year-old Tapiwa is basking in the sunlight on a busy pavement. After running away from his abusive stepmother last year, Tapiwa turned to sex work to earn a living on the streets. He is one of the rising number of homeless children in a nation crippled by a cash crunch that has led to shortages of fuel and price hikes of basic necessities. Child rights' groups said the sexual abuse of underage girls was widely discussed but to date little attention had been given to the boys caught up in the Ncube Siphiwe, a senator for Bulawayo Metropolitan province, said the authorities were aware of this trend, with abandoned beer halls converted into unofficial venues for sex work. "Of course, we know what is happening in the city ... we don't support this as leaders and parents because it makes children lead a bad life," she said. Bulawayo City Council spokesman Nesisa Mpofu confirmed the authority has leased unused beer halls to the community for businesses and had no say on how tenants ran those places. "We are not aware of the 12th Avenue brothel but that should be reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police," she said, adding that this would now be investigated. Sikholiwe Ncube, programmes officer at the Bulawayo-based Thuthuka children living rough is scarce but the Social Welfare Department estimated Zimbabwe in 2017 had more than 4,700 children working and living on the streets of major cities Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo and Beitbridge. "This year the number of children living on the streets of Bulawayo has risen due to the economic meltdown in the country. Children as young as 10 years are on the streets," Ncube said. Thuthuka Street Children's home estimated there were between 150 and 250 street children in Bulawayo's city centre, eking out a living mainly by begging while some engaged in criminal activities and others ended up in the sex trade. This put them at risk of HIV with the southern African country having one of the world's largest HIV epidemics, with about 13 per cent of A Zimbabwean street kid sleeps in an empty bus terminus, which would normally be full of commuters, in Chitungwiza, 20 Km's south of Harare July 3, 2001. The country is on the first day of a two-day national stayaway in protest against a recent 70 per cent increase in the price of fuel. REUTERS/Howard Burditt sex trade to survive. Gay sex is illegal in Zimbabwe, carrying a prison sentence of up to three years, but non-governmental organisations (NGOs) said reports of rising numbers of underage boys selling themselves on the streets were rife. "There is a brothel on 12th Avenue here in the city where my friends and I solicit for sex in exchange for money," said Tapiwa, adding his clients usually paid $10 for 30 minutes. Zimbabwean parliamentarian Street Children's Home, said the nation's economic crisis has forced more children onto the streets, leaving them vulnerable. For after suffering from decades of decline, Zimbabwe is also facing a drought and devastation from Cyclone Idai that has further dashed hopes that the economy will quickly recover in the wake of the downfall of Robert Mugabe in a coup in 2017. More living rough Historic data on the number of 15-to-49-year-olds and 57 per cent of sex workers living with the virus in 2017, according to UNAIDS. Yet Bulawayo residents in the central business district have little sympathy for street children. "They are a nuisance," said Nigel Matupire, a local shop. "Every day I clean up their mess in front of my shop door." Sex for money Selling sex has become a daily reality for Munashe, 15, from THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Mberengwa District in Zimbabwe's central heartlands. "I come from a very poor background and I lost both parents then I decided to come to Bulawayo to look for a better life," said Munashe, on a street corner. Initially, he travelled to South Africa where he said he lived under a bridge until someone told him about the sex trade. "I laughed at the idea that men pay for sex with us until he one day (took) me to his clients. But life was tough at that point," he said. He said he moved back to Bulawayo after the South African police started to crackdown on homeless people and at first begged before moving into the sex trade. "I get a lot of money from the sex trade to survive in the streets," Munashe said. Danai Chirawu, a lawyer at the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA), said children under 16 cannot consent to sex under the law but there were some grey areas. Heterosexual sex between a man over the age of 16 and a girl between the ages of 12 and 15 is legal if the girl consented while sexual intercourse between a girl below the age of 12 and a man aged over 16 is automatically classified as rape. Sex between men or boys – of any age – is illegal but prosecutions are rare, according to a British government report that found authorities more commonly harassed LGBT+ people for loitering, indecency and public order offences. Bulawayo's Chief Inspector Precious Simango said there had not been any reports of underage boys in the sex trade but every police station had a special "Victim Friendly Unit" for such cases to be recorded if they did come up. However, the Sexual Rights Centre (SRC), a non-profit organisation that supports marginalised vulnerable groups such as sex workers and the LGBT+ community in Bulawayo, said there had been an increase in the number of children in the sex trade. "As an organisation we see that as child exploitation," said Mojalifa Mokoele, SRC programmes officer. "It is not sex work, it is exploitation of minors and children into sex work. This is something that we speak against as an organisation." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT Tours focus on the historical and contemporary struggles and successes of the Overthe-Rhine Peoples' Movement. Learn what gentrification looks like and how displacement affects community members. N o v 227 - N- oJuly v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 June 11, | No. 410 Social Justice Walking Tours Cost: $80/Group (max 20 in each group). Sign up today: https://cincihomeless.org/ please-register-youreducation-event-here/ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 3927 3 |-N ov 2 11, - No v 19,| 2 0 18410 June July 2019 No. U.S NEWS 5 High Hopes: Will 'Cannabusiness' Turn Around Deprived Communities? Sarah Shearman Reuters H aving witnessed the fallout from drug and alcohol abuse in his struggling Maori community, Manu Caddie was always "quite anticannabis". But now the youth workerturned-entrepreneur believes the plant will bring prosperity to indigenous New Zealanders. A global upshot in cannabis legalisation has led to a "green rush" by investors into the fast-growing industry, worth some $12 billion in 2018 - equal to The Bahamas' annual economic output - data from Euromonitor International shows. A crop of social entrepreneurs also believe there is room for businesses to do good, as well as profit, from the plant. "Our community has a history of cannabis overuse probably and people relying on it, and it has caused all sort sorts of issues with prohibition and people going to jail," Caddie said over the phone from New Zealand. "The dream is we could have some sort of ethical cannabis company that looks after the workers and looks after the environment," said Caddie, whose Hikurangi Cannabis start-up won New Zealand's first medicinal cannabis licence last year. As Canada, Uruguay and almost a dozen U.S. states have legalised cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use, tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical companies are moving into the market with weed-infused drinks, foods and medicines. With New Zealand due to vote next year on legalising recreational cannabis, growth is set to continue. Research company Euromonitor International predicts the industry's value will rocket by almost 1300 per cent to $166 billion by 2025. Best weed Caddie lives in Ruatoria, a remote town in eastern New Zealand where 94 per cent of people are Maori that has one of the country's highest unemployment rates, according to 2013 government census data. Its green rolling hills earned an unofficial reputation for growing New Zealand's best weed after a Rastafarian community settled there in the 1960s. Caddie and his business partner Panapa Ehau, spotted an opportunity in 2017 to tap into this local expertise and grow legal cannabis, offering locals the chance to buy shares in Hikurangi Cannabis through a crowdfunding campaign. "We tried to emphasise to people how risky it was," said Caddie, "because there are no guarantees, but those people who put money in were prepared to do so and it was quite humbling." Several locals dipped into their savings and pensions to buy a stake, with about NZ$2.4 million ($1.59 million) raised in total to back the company, which has yet to make a profit. While health impact of legalisation is fiercely debated around the world, Caddie is optimistic that it could create legalisation of the commercial production of hemp - a type of cannabis plant with no or little THC, the ingredient which makes users "high". It is unclear whether the entire plant will be legalised at federal level but several states may fully legalise marijuana this year. Marginalised minorities risk being shut out from the emerging industry Founded in 2016, the dispensary which has two stores and aims to open five more by 2020 - helps poor locals and ex-convicts who might struggle to access capital, start cannabis businesses with loans and grants. Customers can also invest between $1,000 and $50,000 at their local dispensary in return for equity, and 10 per cent of profits go into community Photo by Matteo Paganelli on Unsplash jobs and money and keep some people out of prison, while the risk of addiction to medical products like lozenges and balms is low. Although Maori only make up 15 per cent of New Zealand's population, more than 50 per cent of prisoners are Maori, according to the Department of Corrections, which runs prisons. Half of Hikurangi Cannabis' 25 staff are Maori, including four Maori growers. The company - now valued at NZ$30 million after receiving further investment - is training more, with the aim of having 100 staff by the end of next year, Caddie said. "If there is a way to grow the plant they love and do it legally, they are super keen on that," he said. Opportunity In the United States, black and Latino communities that have been criminalised for decades for illegally selling weed are also keen to benefit from the marijuana boom. The Food and Drug Administration is holding a public hearing about the sale of cannabis after the December due to a ban on licensing people with criminal records to grow or distribute the crop, as well as high start-up costs and regulations on the type of property to be used. "People that were once convicted for crimes that are no longer considered crimes need to have a platform to get involved in cannabis," said Jessica Steinberg, managing director of the Global C, a consultancy firm for cannabis businesses. Eight in 10 people who launched a cannabis business or have an ownership stake in a marijuana company are white, according to a survey by Marijuana Business Daily, a U.S. news site. Only six out of 10 Americans are white, census data shows. "There is this opportunity to create and shape an industry the way it should be - with balance and equity - but that is not necessarily the reality," said Steinberg. The People's Dispensary, a social enterprise that sells cannabis for medical and recreational use in California and Oregon, aims to do just that. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED initiatives, such as cookery classes and donations to homeless people. "There is no way we could make all of this money and not give back to our communities ... which have been overly policed, overly incarcerated, because of prohibition," said Christine De La Rosa, chief executive of The People's Dispensary. But opening up the legal cannabis industry to marginalised communities is not just about doing good - it also makes good business sense, said De La Rosa, who used cannabis to treat her lupus, an autoimmune disease which almost killed her. "People on lower incomes spend more on cannabis ... If you don't pay attention to people of colour, the formerly incarcerated and women, you are going to lose," said De La Rosa. "Because I'm a person of colour, I'm part of that underserved community, and I know that underserved community would rather come to me." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 N o v 2 27 - N-oJuly v 19, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 June 11, | oNo. 410 Brazil's Mangroves On The Front Line Of Climate Change Nacho Doce and Jake Spring F Reuters ishermen like Jose da Cruz have made their living for decades hunting for crabs among Brazil's vast coastal mangrove forests, dense thickets of twisted plants in deep black mud that grow where fresh-water rivers meet the brackish Atlantic Ocean. Cruz, who is known by the nickname Vampire because of his distinctive teeth, doesn't use a rod and reel or a net. Instead he parks his two-foot-wide boat at the shore of the Caratingui river and wends his way on foot through the tangle of mangroves to dig out crabs with his hands from the dark muck. He slowly begins to blend into his surroundings as he becomes increasingly caked in mud, sometimes lying flat to submerge his arm in search of crabs. He pulls out two of the spikeylegged creatures, larger than his hands. The four or five dozen he captures in a day will earn Cruz about 200 reais ($50) per week, enough to get by, he said. But this tenuous livelihood is facing a series of threats, including rapid alterations to the environment caused by climate change, and Cruz's average daily catch is half of what it was 10 years ago. In that time, the water line has advanced 3 metres inland from where it used to be, according to Cruz. A battery-powered radio may be his principal connection to the outside world, but Cruz knows about global warming. "Nature is upset. ... In Antarctica, it's melting, nature is melting," he Unofficial community known as "The Train" because the mud houses are arranged single file along the edge of the Caratingui river like train cars, is seen next to mangrove forests, in Cairu, state of Bahia, Brazil April 5, 2019. REUTERS/Nacho Doce said. "People, you have to have some awareness about what is happening. It's clear what is happening." Climate scientists lend credence to Cruz's interpretation of what he sees. Rising water levels, they say, are a sign of global warming, which also causes water temperatures to rise, killing off some marine life. Globally, scientists have warned that water temperatures are increasing far faster than expected, which drives rising sea levels. Climate change and human development are putting 1 million species, a large share of which live in marine environments, at risk of extinction, according to a report published this year. These changes in turn are threatening the dozen or so families in Cruz's village that depend on the coastal ecosystem. His unofficial community is known as "The Train" because the mud houses are arranged single file along the edge of the Caratingui river like train cars. The low-lying island, otherwise covered in mangroves, is quickly receding under the water. Water levels have risen 20-30 centimetres over the past 100 years in coastal Bahia state, where Cairu is located, according to climate researcher Carlos Nobre at the University of Sao Paulo. Mangroves cover 13,989 square kilometres along Brazil's coast - an area larger than the U.S. state of Maryland - and are a vital protection against climate change, according to biologist Renato de Almeida with the nearby Federal University of Reconcavo da Fisherman Jose da Cruz, who is known by the nickname Vampire because of his distinctive teeth, listens to the radio inside his house, in Cairu, state of Bahia, Brazil, April 5, 2019. REUTERS/Nacho Doce THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Bahia. One acre of the ecosystem absorbs as much or more carbon dioxide as a similar area of Amazon rainforest, he said. They protect the coast from eroding as intense storms grow more frequent as climates shift, the two scientists say. The plants themselves are resilient, following water levels as they rise, but creatures like the crabs and oysters that Cruz harvests less so. Global warming is causing water temperatures to rise, which can kill off crabs and other animals in their food chain if it becomes hotter than the narrow range they are adapted to, Almeida said. Hotter water is also more acidic, which corrodes the shells of crabs and other marine life, he said. To be sure, global warming is not the only threat. Overfishing - by fishermen exactly like Cruz - is likely also a major reason for the decline in the crab and other fish populations as urban demand for seafood expands, Almeida said. Growing tourism has led to the clearing of mangroves to make way for small inns and piers that pop up along the coast, the researchers said. Increased traffic can disrupt oysters from growing on riverbanks and the constant inundation from passing vessels can erode the attachment of mangroves to the soil. Areas like The Train will face more rapid change in the years to come. Even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today, water levels could rise another 2 or 3 metres in the next 200 years, 10 times as much as the last hundred, according to Nobre. "It's not just here. It's not just me. There are many fishermen that depend on getting food from the mangroves day-to-day," Cruz said. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �N o. 39 3 |-NJuly ov 2 11, - N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18410 June 27 No. GLOBAL 7 An Escalating War on Reproductive Rights Tharanga Yakupitiyage Inter Press Service A bortion has long been a contentious issue across the world, and the debate is only heating up, prompting women to stand up and speak out for their reproductive rights. In response to increasingly restrictive policies, civil society is taking action to help protect abortion rights. “The failure of states to guarantee reproductive rights is a clear violation of human rights,” said President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) Nancy Northup. “The centre is committed to using the power of law to ensure that women and girls…are guaranteed access to sexual and reproductive health rights and services,” she added. Human Rights Watch’s Senior Researcher Margaret Wurth echoed similar sentiments, stating: “No rape survivor should be forced into motherhood without the chance to consider a safe and legal abortion.” Girls, Not Mothers Latin American countries have some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. For instance, Nicaragua has a complete ban on abortion while Guatemala has an exception only when a girl or woman’s life is at risk. Though the risk of maternal mortality increases when pregnancies occur in girls younger than 14, still many girls are forced to give birth. According to CRR, over 2,200 girls between the age of 10 and 14 gave birth in 2018 in Guatemala. In Nicaragua, eight of 10 sexual violence survivors are girls under 13 and the country has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Latin America with 28 percent of women giving birth before the age of 18. Fatima was only 12 years old when she became pregnant after being raped by a man in her community in Guatemala. Though the pregnancy was risky, health care providers never offered her a legal abortion. After more than a year of abuse by her priest, Lucia became pregnant at the age of 13 in Nicaragua. Fatima and Lucia are now young women and two of four women who have brought their cases to the United Nations Human Rights Committee with the support of organisations such as CRR and Planned Parenthood Global in order to seek justice and demand access to safe and legal abortion. “Too many young girls in Latin America, and around the world, have been put in situations that threaten their rights and put their lives at risk because they are not able to access abortion care,” said head of Planned Parenthood Global Leana Wen. “Forcing young girls to continue a pregnancy no matter their circumstances or wants, is not only cruel, but will have devastating impacts for them, their families, and their communities,” she added. People around the world have since showed solidarity for the four women, posting #NinasNoMadres - they are girls, not mothers. U.S. regresses Access to abortion has also become a point of contention in the United States as a total of 27 bans have been enacted across 12 states so far in 2019. Most recently, Louisiana signed a bill banning abortions once a heartbeat is detectable, known as a “heartbeat bill.” A foetal heartbeat can occur as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, often before many women know they’re even pregnant. The legislation does not include exceptions for rape or incest. If the bill becomes law, any doctor who performs an abortion could face imprisonment for one to 10 years and/ or a fine ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 dollars. Missouri has passed a similar bill with a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and the loss of a doctor’s professional license. Missouri’s last and only abortion clinic was expected to close on Friday, but a judge granted a restraining order that temporarily allowed the clinic to continue. If the clinic had closed, Missouri would have been the first state in 45 years without access to abortion. While abortion is still legal at the federal level, such moves threaten safe, accessible and affordable abortion care across the country. “We are very concerned that several U.S. states have passed laws severely restricting access to safe abortion for A demonstrator in Buenos Aires wears a T-shirt with the slogan "my body, my rights," one of the slogans of the so-called green tide - the colour adopted by the movement for the legalisation of abortion, which is beginning to spread to other Latin American countries. Credit: Fabiana Frayssinet/IPS THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED women, including by imposing criminal penalties on the women themselves and on abortion service providers,” said UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. “We are calling on the United States and all other countries to ensure that women have access to safe abortions. At an absolute minimum, in cases of rape, incest and foetal anomaly, there needs to be safe access to abortions,” she added. Not only does a complete ban on abortion drive women and girls to seek unsafe “back street” methods of termination, but a study found that women and girls are also more likely to experience short-term anxiety and loss of self-esteem, economic insecurity and poverty, and continued exposure to intimate partner violence. But there is hope yet. Organisations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal have filed lawsuits to help protect abortion rights in the U.S. And the UN can play a role globally too. In 2001, a 17-year-old Peruvian girl, known only as K.L., was denied an abortion after being diagnosed as having a foetus with anencephaly at 14 weeks. The refusal had serious mental and physical consequences on her health as she was forced to continue her pregnancy and her baby, once born, only survived four days. Working with human rights lawyers, K.L. filed a complaint with the UN Human Rights Committee, which concluded that Peru violated international human rights law and its actions constituted “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.” It was the first time a UN Committee held a country accountable for failing to ensure access to safe, legal abortion. The committee also ordered financial compensation to K.L, who finally received it a decade later in 2015. “In seeing justice delivered in K.L.’s case—watching it go from A to Z—we are part of an inspiring historic moment,” said Lilian Sepúlveda who directs CRR’s global legal programme and was one of the attorneys involved in the case. “We are witnessing the results of advocates’ dedicated perseverance and the power of the UN and other international bodies to ensure our basic human rights to dignity, health, and freedom from ill-treatment,” she added. Such efforts are more urgent than ever to ensure access to justice as well as safety and health for women and girls. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �FEATURED 8 N o v 227 - N v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 June - oJuly 11,2 02019 410 They Fled Venezuela's Crisis By Boat Then Vanished deportations and beefed up coast-guard patrols to intercept smugglers' vessels. Reuters Trinidad and Tobago, with a population of more than 1.3 million taxi dropped Maroly people and among the highest incomes Bastardo and her two small in the region, has been a particular children by a cemetery magnet. not far from the shore in Since 2016, almost 25,000 northeast Venezuela. She still had time Venezuelans have arrived in Trinidad, to change her mind. according to government figures, many Eight months pregnant, Bastardo without documentation. The United faced forbidding choices in a nation Nations last year estimated 40,000 whose economy has collapsed. Give Venezuelans were living in Trinidad, birth in Venezuela, where newborns straining the government's ability to are dying at alarming rates in shortageassist them. plagued maternity wards. Or board a Traffickers have been known to crowded smuggler's boat bound for abandon their human cargo in rough Trinidad, the largest of two islands waters and force female and child that make up the Caribbean nation of passengers into prostitution. A shortage Trinidad and Tobago. Her husband, of spare parts in Venezuela means Kennier Berra, had landed there in boats often take to sea in disrepair. February, found work and beckoned Most migrants leave Guiria in open, low-slung wooden vessels with patched hulls and jury-rigged outboard motors. Smugglers often stuff these boats well beyond their 10-person capacity, locals familiar with the trade said. But for Maroly Bastardo, the grinding hardships of life in Venezuela loomed as the greater danger. She was feeling exhausted and increasingly anxious about her health and that of the baby in the event of a difficult labor. "Things are too rough here girl," Bastardo texted an aunt in the days leading up to her departure from Venezuela. "I can't give myself the luxury of staying here all beat down." Bastardo's ill-fated journey was reconstructed in interviews with her Carolina Gil shows a picture of her daughter Maroly Bastardo, an eight months pregnant woman who, family members, friends and the along with her children, her husband's sister, uncle and father, disappeared in the Caribbean Sea after relatives of others missing from the boarding a smuggler's boat during an attempt to cross from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, at her Ana Maria, along with authorities home in El Tigre, Venezuela, June 4, 2019. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado and people involved in the human her to join him. escape a nation in freefall. smuggling trade. Bastardo's mother, Carolina, Years of economic mismanagement Bastardo grew up in El Tigre, an begged her to stay. by the socialist government have interior boomtown in Venezuela's Neither Bastardo or her children crippled the oil-rich nation with famed Orinoco Oil Belt, the source of could swim. Barely three weeks earlier, hyperinflation, shortages and misery. much of the nation's oil wealth. 27 people had gone missing after a An estimated 4 million people - about Carolina, Bastardo's mother, migrant boat went down in the narrow 12 per cent of the populace - have fled worked in the kitchen of a fancy hotel stretch of water separating Venezuela the South American country in just the that catered to visiting oil executives. from Trinidad. The 20-kilometre strait, last five years. Bastardo attended private school and known for its treacherous currents, is The vast majority have travelled talked of becoming a doctor. She and nicknamed the Dragon's Mouths. overland to neighbouring Colombia her little sister, Aranza, sang songs in But the 19-year old hairdresser was and Brazil. But in images reminiscent the bedroom they shared. determined. On 16 May, she and the of desperate Cubans fleeing their The good times faded with kids packed into an aging fishing vessel homeland in decades past, Venezuelans mismanagement of state-run oil along with 31 other people, including increasingly are taking to the sea in company PDVSA by late President three relatives of her husband. They rickety boats. Hugo Chavez and his successor Nicolas snapped cellphone photos from the Prime destinations are the nearby Maduro. With government loyalists at shore near the port town of Guiria, islands of Aruba, Curacao, Grenada and the helm of the company, oil revenue where thousands of Venezuelans have Trinidad and Tobago off Venezuela's funded social programs while basic departed in recent years, and messaged Caribbean coast. Formerly welcoming maintenance and investment tumbled. loved ones goodbye. of Venezuelans, who once brought Skilled petroleum professionals fled The craft, the Ana Maria, never tourist dollars, all have clamped down for opportunities abroad. Despite arrived. No migrants or wreckage have hard on these mostly impoverished possessing some of the world's largest been found. migrants. Their governments have oil reserves, Venezuela has seen oil A man believed to be the boat's tightened visa requirements, increased production slump by about 75 per cent Angus Berwick A pilot, a 25-year-old Venezuelan named Alberto Abreu, was plucked from the sea on 17 May by a fisherman and taken to nearby Grenada. Abreu told his rescuer the Ana Maria had sunk the night before. He fled before police could complete their investigation, Grenadian authorities said, and hasn't been spotted since. Bastardo's anguished mother, Carolina, clings to hope that perhaps a lesser tragedy has befallen her daughter and grandchildren. She prays smugglers are holding them hostage to extract more money, and that any day now she will get the ransom call. "My heart tells me they are alive," Carolina said. "But it's a torture." The disappearance of Bastardo, five relatives and her unborn child underscores the ever-more perilous lengths Venezuelans are taking to THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED since the turn of the century, when it was producing 3 million barrels a day. The fallout hit El Tigre hard. The swanky hotel closed its doors and Carolina lost her job. Bastardo quit school at age 16 to earn a few dollars a week cutting hair. She and Berra, a construction worker, had two children, Dylan and Victoria. With another baby on the way - a little boy they planned to name Isaac Jesus - Berra left in February for Trinidad. He found a job frying chicken and laid plans for his family to follow. Bastardo would require a Caesarean section, her third. The prospect of giving birth in the local hospital terrified her, her mother said. Venezuela's national healthcare system, once considered a model for Latin America, is now plagued by shortages of imported drugs, equipment and even basics like rubber gloves. Thousands of doctors and nurses, their salaries ravaged by inflation, no longer show up for work. At the Luis Felipe Guevara Rojas Hospital in El Tigre, signs at the maternity ward inform women in need of Caesareans to bring their own antibiotics, needles, surgical sutures and IV drip. Even electricity isn't a given. Doctors there said the power fails almost daily, forcing them to rely on backup generators. Infant mortality rose sharply, to 21.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2016 from 15 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2008, reversing nearly two decades of progress, according to a study published in January in The Lancet medical journal. Mothers, too, are dying at higher rates during childbirth, the study said. Some 11,466 babies died before their first birthday in 2016, up 30 per cent from the year before, according to the most recent figures from Venezuela's Health Ministry. "Any woman who gives birth in a Venezuelan hospital is running a risk," said Yindri Marcano, director of the El Tigre hospital. Trinidad would almost certainly have better medical care, Bastardo and Berra reckoned. An extra incentive: a child born there would be a citizen and could make it easier for them to obtain legal residency someday. Family members would accompany Bastardo to watch out for her and the little ones, 3-year-old Dylan and Victoria, 2. On 2 April, Bastardo, the children, and her sister-in-law Katerin traveled 500 kilometres by taxi to the port of Guiria. Located on Venezuela's remote and lawless Paria Peninsula, the city is known as a hub of migrant tracking and drug running. There they joined Berra's father, �No. 39 ov 211, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 June 273 -| N July 410 FEATURED A local resident points on a map at an area nicknamed the Dragon's Mouths, where Maroly Bastardo, an eight months pregnant woman, along with her children, her husband's sister, uncle and father, disappeared in the Caribbean Sea after boarding a smuggler's boat during an attempt to cross from Venezuela to Trinidad and Tobago, in Guiria, Venezuela, May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado Luis, and his Uncle Antonio, who would also make the trip. The six settled into a rundown hotel above a Chinese restaurant to make final preparations. They hung out with a friend of Luis's, Raymond Acosta, a 37-year-old local mechanic. Luis took charge of securing their places in a smuggler's boat. A construction worker, he and his wife had already emigrated to Trinidad and had helped other relatives make the journey in recent years. Acosta said Luis had negotiated a price of $1,000 for all six members of the party: $400 payable up front, with the balance due in Trinidad, U.S. dollars only. But as the departure approached, the smuggler jacked up the price. They would need an extra $500 cash up front. Rather than back out, Luis had his wife in Trinidad drain their savings, and he arranged for a contact there to transport the cash to Guiria. Another setback followed on 23 April: A migrant boat heading for Trinidad with 37 passengers overturned in the Dragon's Mouths. Rescuers found nine survivors and a corpse; the rest remain missing, according to Venezuela's Civil Protection and Disaster Management Authority. Smugglers hunkered down for a few weeks, according to people involved in the boat trade in Guiria. The family's crossing was delayed. News of the accident unnerved Bastardo's mother in El Tigre. The night before the scheduled departure, Carolina begged her daughter to reconsider. Bastardo replied via text: "Mothers have to do what they can to help their children....Don't worry. Better times are coming." On Thursday, 16 May, Acosta took the six voyagers to a taxi stand, where they said their goodbyes around 3pm. They were headed to the small fishing village of La Salina, 4 kilometres from Guiria, to meet their boat, and were relieved to be finally getting underway, Acosta said. He said he felt uneasy that none of the family took a life jacket in case the smugglers didn't have enough to go around. He also fretted about the possibility of an overloaded boat. "People are now more desperate," Acosta said. "I always told Luis that they shouldn't go if there were too many passengers on board." Before they boarded, Bastardo snapped a cellphone photo of Katerin, Dylan and Victoria with their backs to the camera, staring out to sea. She sent it to her family. The plan was to arrive at the Trinidadian port of Chaguaramas under cover of darkness. The 70-kilometre journey from Guiria typically takes about four hours, putting them in port around 8.30pm at the latest. Luis wanted his son there early. "At 6.30 in Chaguaramas, be waiting," he texted Berra at 4.37pm as their voyage got underway. Those who know the route say pilots headed for Chaguaramas carrying migrants typically navigate along the coastline until reaching the eastern tip of the Paria Peninsula around nightfall. At that point, the lights of Trinidad’s towns are visible as they prepare to enter the final 20-kilometre stretch, the Dragon's Mouths. Evening turned to night. The Ana Maria didn't show. Berra said he paced anxiously until police arrived at midnight on the Chaguaramas dock and told him to leave. He said he returned early Friday morning and waited all day and deep into the second night. Still nothing. He repeated the vigil on Saturday. "After the first sinking, Maroly was afraid, but she still wanted to be here with us," Berra said in a phone interview from Trinidad. Back in El Tigre, Bastardo's family was growing uneasy. She and the others were not returning text messages. On Friday, they heard instead from someone identifying himself only as Ramon. Locals in Guiria said Ramon had helped arrange for their relatives to cross by boat to Trinidad without documents, including on the Ana Maria. The vessel had engine trouble, Ramon wrote, but would soon be on its way. "We are going to change the motors and continue," Ramon said in text messages. In a telephone interview, Ramon said he works for an operation that takes 9 Abreu was identified as the man in the photos by relatives of people on the Ana Maria who saw the Facebook post. Venezuela's Civil Protection agency confirmed he had been rescued. In a 24 May statement, police in Grenada said a man "in need of urgent medical attention" was rescued 17 May by a vessel in waters between Trinidad and Grenada and brought to Grenada for treatment. They said the man, a Venezuelan national, left the hospital without "authorisation." His whereabouts remain unknown. Venezuelan authorities barely searched for the Ana Maria. The Civil Protection authority, in charge of maritime rescue, had no boats to send. Its half-dozen-or-so vessels are all in disrepair or missing parts, said Luisa Marin, an agency official in Guiria. The Venezuelan military sent out a boat from Guiria on Saturday, 18 May, two days after the Ana Maria vanished, but the craft malfunctioned after 20 minutes and had to return to harbour, Marin and other locals said. Trinidad's coast guard conducted its own search in Trinidadian waters, but spotted no signs of the Ana Maria or its passengers, National Security Minister Stuart Young said publicly on 21 May. With no wreckage or bodies found, A view of a maternity room of Felipe Guevara Rojas Hospital in El Tigre, Venezuela, June 3, 2019. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado people to Trinidad legally, with a limit of 10 passengers per vessel. He said he was simply passing along information given to him by an unidentified smuggler to ease the family’s fears. He declined to give his surname and denied he was involved in any illicit activity. By Saturday, 18 May, reports of the Ana Maria's disappearance had surfaced in the news and social media. In an early morning Facebook post, Robert Richards, an American fisherman, said he had found a "young man" on Friday afternoon, floating 50 kilometres offshore of Trinidad, "fighting for his life." Photos accompanying the post showed a figure in a life jacket bobbing near a piece of floating debris. Richards said the man had "been in the water for 19 hours...on a boat that sunk the night before with 20 other people on board, so far no other survivors." Richards, whose Facebook page says he resides in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has not responded to calls and text messages seeking comment. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED some relatives of the missing say they believe the migrants were kidnapped by criminal gangs. But Trinidadian authorities have not presented any evidence that this happened. The National Security Ministry declined to comment. Bastardo's mother, Carolina, 38, says she no longer sleeps. She scours the news and social media for any shred of information. Every time she reads that Trinidadian authorities have apprehended yet another group of undocumented Venezuelan migrants, she wonders if her Maroly might be among them. "It just causes me more agony: Is it her? Is it not her?" Carolina said from her porch in El Tigre, staring into the distance. Bastardo's nine-year-old sibling, Aranza, says she believes her big sister is still alive. The child's birthday is coming up 30 June. She tells her mom the only present she wants is to have Bastardo and the others back. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �10 LOCAL N o v 227 - N v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 June - oJuly 11,2 02019 410 A New Local Initiative To Establish A Citizens' Organizing Round Table Bill Woods Contributing Writer An initiative moves forward to establish a Citizens' Organizing Round Table in Cincinnati. The purpose of the Round Table is to enhance citizen organizing in this area. Supported by a grant from the Murray and Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation, Applied Information Resources will plan and administer this initiative. This initiative is an outgrowth of an all day forum sponsored by the Seasongood Foundation in February. The event, "The Power of Organizing - Finding Your Community Voice," highlighted a variety of diverse organizing efforts. It featured panels and discussion groups on everything from basic neighborhood organizing to building coalitions in order to pass ballot initiatives. The theme of the forum and also the Round Table initiative is that without effective organizing average citizens are often overlooked in public decision making in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Washington, D.C. The growing power of "big money" in politics in recent decades has made it harder and harder for citizens to compete with lobbyists and powerful institutions in shaping policies and legislation that often impact their lives and neighborhoods. The goal of the Round Table will be strengthening the citizen voice through organizing. AIR's first task will be to put together an informal coalition of citizen organizers that will meet regularly to discuss local community organizing needs. By creating an entity comprised of people who represent diverse local citizens' organizing initiatives, AIR envisions a group that shares information, assists various community organizing activities, assesses the health of citizen involvement, and collaborates on issues when appropriate. A number of people who fit this description were involved in the February forum, and AIR will seek to include them as members of the Round Table. Initial organizations that will be asked to participate include the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Invest in Neighborhoods, the Sierra Club, CUFA, the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, the Woman's City Club, Community Shares, the League of Women Voters, Bold New Democracy, and Project AMOS. AIR hopes that the Round Table will begin informal meetings by late summer. At the start of its existence, the Round Table will be asked: "What can the group do to strengthen citizen involvement in public decision making and in addressing critical community issues? An important second question is: "How can the Round Table reach out to citizens and grassroots groups that need organizing assistance? For further information about this initiative, call AIR at 381-4994. Hatch Me If You Can! Felix Winternitz I Contributing Writer t’s more than a hundred years come and gone since the last passenger pigeon on this planet, a copper beauty by the moniker of Martha, perished at the Cincinnati Zoo. Now, the play-land’s genetic sequencing czars are apparently preparing to revive the late, lamented species. For sure, most berserk cloning activists across the globe are squawking loudly in face of a stunning “quiller” memorandum – a birdbrain proposal, if you will– recently leaked in a Snowden tweet and later confirmed through a viral bird’s-eye “peep show” on YouTube. So people are definitely talking. Rumor is, these zoologists intend to parcel out passenger-pigeon pro-creative parts, chromosomes (long preserved inside a block of ice), with of all wild things, a bald eagle. So what here could POSSIBLY go wrong? For newcomers in the room, we offer a ruffling chit-chat with the chief stew-ologist at the Cincinnati Zoo and Soup Gardens, the esteemed Doctor F.N. Stein. First question: You’ve applied to the government, Doctor Stein, for permission to reverse engineer an entirely fresh species, crossing the biological strain of a passenger pigeon with the grand symbol of our once-proud country, the iconic Bald Eagle, to create a so-called Passenger Peagle. Isn’t this flighty concept something akin to crossing kittens with puppies- producing what, Kuppies, Pittens? “A fascinating query. It reminds me of a fact-finding mission I took to Guatemala last summer, in search of the Horned Guan Orcophasos derbianus. The natives call this spry fellah the “Flying Unicorn.” Now, back on point, if you are actually asking me WHY the Cincinnati Zoo of all places is breeding “pass-pigs,” as I prefer to call ‘em, well, I acknowledge the Queenly City is not routinely considered the eugenics capitol of the world. But we do possess in hand the only earthly cellular remains of the very last passenger pigeon on the planet, “Martha,” and her DNA sequence stringies belong to us, thank you very much (so don’t you dare tread on her piddle-biddle molecules until we’re totally done culturing).” Astounding. So it’s your nimble scheme, Mister Green-genes, to shake up Martha’s genomes in the mad laboratory equivalent of a Cuisinart, toss in some heaping teaspoons of predatory raptor BBQ wings and graft a whiff of carnivorous subatomic essence, all just to witness what baffling bootleg molecular mass might eject? Hmmm. What could be the down-side with this peculiar pecking order, other than to disrupt the biological order of the ages? “You absolutely fail to glimpse the panoramic picture, the bird’s-eye view. We are talking fertile ground here. I have a vision of recuperating America’s once-great prairie lands restored to their native state, to a past century of yore when trillions and trillions of these stupendous critters traversed the cloud atlas, regenerating like rabbits into the most prolific beak brand in North America. In the mid-1800s, the migrating buggers could turn the heavens black for hours, eclipsing the sun while emitting a sound best described as fierce mudslide gurgle. These innocent lovelies harmed no one (their voodoo pooh-doo excepted); the squabs simply thrived on their benign diet of beechnuts and buckeyes.” Twitchy. But back to smidgeons of homing pigeons fabricated from across creation’s eggy eons, your mutant cockatoo progeny, your particleaccelerated birds on the fringe. You’re up to a notion no less than remixing and re-mastering the Intelligent Architect’s handiwork, all to restore the universe to what celestial balance, exactly? “Yep, we are certainly busy here reshaping the fluttering cosmos. What better state than Ohio, where hunters sniped the last-recorded wild pass-pig, the wholly quail." Sketchy. So back to terra firma, if you can manage to reach sub-orbit. ... You say you’re turning to the test tube (well, hello, Dolly!) to encapsulate all the inherent sex appeal of locust plagues, flying cockroaches and eerie cicadas – all wound up into one impeccable bug-eyed creature with feathers and a predatory razor beak? “No comment. Oh, did I happen to notate that esteemed ornithologist THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED John James Audubon first documented the carrier pigeons in his immensely illustrative journals, while he was still executive stevedore and exterior taxidermist for the Cincinnati Natural History Museum & Ye Olde Curiousity Shoppe. That was surely back in the day, when the institution proudly displayed shrunken pygmy skulls, Marsha Brady memoirs and Tea Party position papers. All this billow talk should surely make sweaty copy for you and your newsroom colleagues.” Random. So Martha picked Cincinnati to take her ultimate dirtnap, flapping herself as she did along a blue skyway to the Big Nowhere?” Don’t depend on any winged rumors or cackling gossip here. The fox is in the hen-house. “It’s not the proudest moment here at our Betty Crocker Zoo-Soup and Britannical Gardens. Or “Zupe” as our excellent marketing department now phrases it. Poor Martha went to her reward at the distinguished age of 29 years.” Disturbing diatribe, Doc. Kerplunk! “Darwin! My fall-back stock response in these kind of pernicious interviews, above all else fails, is “Darwin.” Call it my-can’t-lose escape claws. Quoth the Raven, never-muchmore. That, and I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ no whiffling preschool pigeons.” �No. 39 ov 211, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 June 273 -| N July 410 11 LOCAL Participatory Budget Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer W hen you look around your neighborhood, what do you see? Do you focus on the people, going on about their day? How about the buildings and the businesses in them? We rarely take time to look deeply at the publicly owned assets that make up our community, but when they are in disrepair, we notice that someone needs to do something about it. But, who? And when? I want to feature the 4 or so blocks between Liberty and McMicken on Vine Street. The Vine Street Corridor is known as the main street between the east and west sides of the city. As Vine Street snakes its way up from the urban basin, it passes main institutions, such as the University of Cincinnati, the hospitals, the Zoo, churches, schools, and parks. Of course, many neighborhoods and housing is also located on, or near, Vine Street. I don’t know the exact origin of the name “Vine” for the street, but my theory is that it was named Vine Street because of Longworth’s hillside vineyard that spanned the hillside from Fairview to Reading Road. Therefore, a trip up Vine Street would bring you to the Vineyard before anything was built beyond the hillside. Local governments who struggle to fund necessary things like sidewalks, sewers, utility poles, and lighting, while at the same time finding funding for millionaire pet projects, should be ashamed of themselves. On this stretch of Vine Street, which is the most important street in our entire city, you can feel the shame of disinvestment. Broken sidewalks, crumbing curbs, rusty lights, and bootleg utility poles, all line Vine Street between Liberty and McMicken. A crumbling infrastructure greets the residents of this stretch when they walk out of their doors each day. The amount of pride someone takes in their neighborhood is probably affected by disinvestment like this. Yet, residents are blamed for not taking care of the neighborhood when litter is visible, or grafitti covers a wall. So many of the buildings are boarded up, yet many families are raising their kids along this corridor. A participatory budget is a type of governmental public input process. Essentially, when residents get to have input on the city’s budget, the values of the people are expressed. Our current budget process could be described as a “sham” because it is all about political posturing. The City Manager proposes a budget that outrages everyone just so the Mayor can come in and “save the day.” The community input sessions are shameful displays of inhumanity as people have to argue not to have their projects or positions put on the chopping block. The sessions generally last hours, with only some City Councilmembers in attendance. It’s important for people to show up, but it all just seems like political theatre to me. What if we started with the budget of the people, and then approved slight modifications from politicians? Do you think we would give the majority of our budget to the police? Or do you think if the people chose where our money went, that we might put more than a paltry 1% of our budget into human services? A participatory budget would allow for us to tip the scales towards equity, rather than having an administration with no vision squander our money on things that do not affect our quality of life. Heading back to Vine Street, I want to point out something that blew my mind when I noticed it. Back in the 1800’s we had a robust publically funded and run streetcar system. The streetcar was electric, so electric lines followed each route into the suburbs. Today, there are only a few remnants of the system: the turtle-shell lights you will see behind Music Hall, on Reading Road, and throughout the city; the random tracks busting through the road on Highland Avenue; the Car Barn on Vine Street; and the old electric poles. Some of the electric poles have been converted into light poles downtown. But there’s something unique about these poles from the 1800’s along this little stretch of Vine — they are holding up pieces of wood that hold the live Dangerous metal pole cut and left jagged. Photo by Dr. Mark Mussman utility lines. This is the most bootleg thing I’ve seen in years, which is just a reflection of how much the city values the residents of this part of Over-theRhine. I believe this is something that should cause outrage in our community. Not only has the CRC decided to close Findlay Playground without true public input, not only has the city allowed the sidewalks and lights to deteriorate, but we have probably the most unsafe and cheapest utility poles in the nation. The fact that they are from the 1800’s and were made for the streetcar, not for Duke Energy, should be a real concern to everyone. How can we allow this Sidewalk deteriorating. Photo by Dr. Mark Mussman THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED type of disinvestment continue? I guess we’ll see what happens as 3CDC storms up Vine Street over the next few years. They have already started working on the old brewery building, and many smaller developers have already started to set their vision on creating expensive market rate housing along the corridor. Once the low-income families are pushed out, and their apartments become condos, do you think the city will keep these bootleg utility poles? Or do you think somehow, now, after 150 years, they will find the money to upgrade the poles to a safe condition? �12 STREETVOICE ODE TO THE SECURITY OF THE FIFTH FLOOR I think back when i first saw my apartment on the fifth floor I recall feeliinf relieved, good and happy finally moving in. Then i heard the opening of a door Right then i figured i had moved into a good, quiet and safe place Or elese i had moved on the wrong side where nothing would be sacred not even in my space But as the years past and we grew into neighbors learning to respect one another I learned that we on the fifth floor had the only real security who was my neighbor a black brother As long as my neighbor was here i never had to worry about strangers hanging around on my floor As long as my neighbor was here i never worried about unwanted guess knocking on my door Since i've learned that all good things often come to an abrupt end I realize now that i will forever remember and i will miss my neighbor, my security and my friend So may god bless you and keep you always and forever more And may he bless you with the job you do so well being security for heavens front door..... Willa D. Jones Rest in peace micheal tombs Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor N o v 27 2 - -NJuly o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 June 11,22019 No. 410 TEARDROP First of all, I want to apologize for my last article published in this newspaper.In that article I talked about my experiences selling Streetvibes in Cincinnati, having grown up in Detroit. At one point in the article, I mentioned the KKK and used vulgar language. For this, I am sorry. I’m from up north in Detroit and my mother Senithia Brown taught us about racism back in the day, about how we all still share the same blood. I’ve been selling Streetvibes since May 7th, 2009, so I just celebrated my 10th year anniversary. I would like to give a shout out to my Kroger people, Suder’s Art Store, The Little Mahatma, and everyone else. Since day one, you’ve all supported me. I have my good days, and my bad days. All the money I make goes towards household bills. Selling Streetvibes is a full-time job. I miss my mother and father and the rest of my family and friends that are in heaven or locked up. I wish they were here to see what’s going on in this world today. Selling Streetvibes gives me the opportunity to support my community while remembering all that my mother and father have given me. They gave street knowledge. My mother was strict, but she still loved and cared for me. My father taught me how to shoot dice, play chess, and play pool. Playing these games helped me see how life is so precious. We need to bring back the Pledge of Allegiance and the American flag to our school classrooms. Thanks to all our military people across the globe, for all the service they have put in to keeping this country safe. For every teardrop that comes out of my eye, I know that there is somebody, somewhere, who really needs help in this lifetime. James Brown ContributingWriter Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREETVOICE No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 June 273-|July 11, 2019 | No. 410 THE MSer My reality Depresses depression. Between stages And ages, What enrages me Is how my body Disagrees... THE HOUSE'S DILEMMA MOTHER GOOSE Speaker Nancy, oh Speaker Nancy, Please stand... Watch how you land... A side of me does not feel... Knife thrusts are fake but the pain is real. How do you deal with Trump's lies? "The thing that sticks in my craw Is his great contempt for the law, Walk this way... Talk this way... Slurred speech Would impeach Recovery However, the discovery Of Neuro impulses Misfiring causes Those not afflicted To believe that I am addicted To some of that "Feel Good." And the Constitution he defies!" BILL WOODS Contributing Writer I am still learning About my limitations Through pain sensations. I survived a 4 collusion Yet my body is indecisive in the decision Of how to live. Weakened immune system Strengthens my wisdom. My impairments do not detour my drive. I accomplished more with one eye than those who are alive But not living. Death is unforgiving So I do what i must To bring awareness as I discuss My joys and my disqust... One day at a time... In brief moments I find Familiarity... I wish I could hold on to the similarity Of who I was before July 25th, 2001 But I blinked. My day is almost over before I begun My daily rituals which are fear factor obstacles. A simple task that seem impossible... Today, I'm possible! will change hour by hour Depthstroke the Cypher Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 107 Across 1. Goodwill 6. The night before 9. Lawsuit 13. Access a computer 14. Cacophony 15. Relating to a particular neighborhood 16. Approximately 17. Fuel 18. Main artery 19. Demean 21. Innumerable but many 23. Bind 24. Partially carbonized vegetable matter 25. Indefinite but relatively small number 28. Entice 30. Full-bodied 35. Translucent mineral 37. Line made of twisted fibers or threads 39. Mixed drink usually served in a bowl 40. Scintilla 41. Tripod 43. Prevaricator 44. Fragrance 46. 5,280 feet 47. Drill 48. Source of danger 50. Hit with something flat 52. Novel 53. Bird structure 55. Unit of play in squash 57. Small crown 61. Impresario 65. Higher up 66. Rodent 68. Fragment 69. Relating to the sun 70. In the past 71. South American cudchewing animal 72. Relate 73. Liveliness and energy 74. Church officer PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #106 Down 1. Happy 2. Loose flowing garment 3. Highly excited 4. Judicature 5. Involve or imply 6. Boundary 7. By way of 8. Follow, as a result 9. Slow-flying bird resembling a duck 10. 4,840 square yards 11. Replete 12. Distinctive and stylish elegance 15. Portable computer 20. A tie in tennis 22. Spoil 24. Persevere 25. Force onto another 26. Era 27. Colorless binary compound 29. Wander 31. Electric lamp 32. Jointure 33. Frighten 34. Tossed 36. Well-defined track 38. Small wooded hollow 42. Tether 45. Person who makes leather from skins and hides 49. Golf peg 51. Folks 54. Elongated piece of leather 56. Cloth with parallel diagonal lines or ribs 57. Actors in a play 58. Woodwind instrument 59. Roster 60. Ellipse 61. Halt 62. Made of fermented honey and water 63. The highest point of something 64. Approach 67. Historic period N o v 227 - N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 June - July 11,2 02019 410 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 1- EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 396- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 211, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 June 273 -| July | No. 410 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 227 - N v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 June - oJuly 11, | No. 410 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. 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ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource June 27-July 11, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Detained and Confined Pg 3: Zimbabwe’s Economic Crisis Driving Boys Experiencing Homelessness into Illegal Gay Sex Trade Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: High Hopes Pg 6: Brazil’s Mangroves on the Front Line of Climate Change Pg 7: An Escalating War on Reproductive Rights Pg 8: They Fled Venezuela’s Crisis by Boat Pg 9: They Fled Venezuela’s Crisis by Boat Continued Pg 10: A New Local Initiative to Establish a Citizens’ Organizing Round Table Hatch Me if You Can! Pg 11: Participatory Budget Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 27-July 11, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Lungelo Ndhlovu Sarah Shearman Nacho Doce Jake Spring Tharanga Yakupitiyage Angus Berwick Dr. Mark Mussman Depthstroke the Cypher Willa D. Jones James Brown Felix Winternitz Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Angus Berwick Bill Woods Brazil Cannabusiness Canva.com Climate Change Depthstroke the Cypher Dr. Mark Mussman Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Gay Sex Trade INSP.com Jake Spring James Brown Lungelo Ndhlovu Nacho Doce Reproductive Rights Sarah Shearman Tharanga Yakupitiyage Venezuela Willa D. Jones Zimbabwe https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/60dcbfcf86747919e9b521dddf81587e.pdf f1633614620dfae899ad67f988a7560e PDF Text Text J u n e 2 9 t h - J u ly 1 2 t h 2 0 1 8 | Vo l . 2 1 I s s u e 1 3 ( N o. 3 8 4 ) advocating justice | building community Spirituality, Social Justice & JustLOVE at the Heart of Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp's Life, Actions & Pastorship | 8 This Issue is sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cincinnati’s Hills and Hollars | 3 A Very Important Little Dam | 7 Photo Essay: Murals of Cincinnati | 9 Life lessons from Mr. Rogers and breaking with social media | 7 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 LOCAL From The Director: The Delusion of Opportunity Rubbing Off B JOSH SPRING y the time anyone gets this paper from a Distributor, Cincinnati City Council will most likely have passed a fiscal year 2019 budget which goes into effect on July 1. This year, like every year, we had to fight for the restoration of Human Services Funding. Human Services Funding is supposed to be at least 1.5% of the city’s General Fund, but has been well below this percentage for about 15 years. We also had to advocate for funding for the Winter Shelter. On Monday, June 25, the Budget and Finance Committee of City Council voted to bring a budget to full Council on Wednesday the 27th which if it has passed will bring Human Services from its 0.9% level last year to 1% this year and will have funded the Winter Shelter at more than last year, but still at 68% of the full funding needed. These decisions do represent forward movement. It wasn’t until a few years ago that Council started restoring Human Services after years of cuts. It also wasn’t until just a couple years ago that the city budgeted at all for the Winter Shelter. These improvements have come because of years of advocacy and organizing; years of people emailing, phone-calling, meeting and telling the stories of their organization’s work and their own I J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 Executive Director Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition personal stories of the importance of these funds. This work has also lead to the make-up and outlook of council improving. All of that said, we have so much further to go. Lack of access and opportunity, racism and classism, poverty and homelessness are so rampant in our community that portions of the city’s budget that are supposed to affect any change in these areas pale in comparison to the level of problems to overcome. In our city and really in the world, the problem is not that there is a lack of resources. The problem is that the we are allowing the resources to be in the wrong, small number of hands. We allow individuals and companies to flourish financially and in terms of power at the cost of people. Sometimes folks will try to ease conscience or trick us by saying that when these individuals and companies flourish it creates jobs and people who don’t currently have access to opportunity will. Or that these individuals and companies flourishing increase tax revenues which pay for steps like Human Services. Really, you can paint it however you like, but such beliefs are a belief in trickle-down economics and trickle-down access. But real life does not work like that. Just because a large company has an increase in sales or builds a new office or a group of people have success with a tech startup and create some new jobs, that does not mean that lack of access to opportunity because of racism and classism improve. One does not equal the other. If you truly believe that investment in the former really improves the latter, then show your math, I want to see the proof. Because I know the proof doesn’t really exist. Wasn’t it Einstein that said something like continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity? This country (Continued on page 12) WHERE ARE WE HEADED AS A NATION? (Part two) s the first order of business in this country the need for citizens to attempt to restore democracy back to health? At the conclusion of Part I of "Where Are We Headed As A Nation - A Need For Reflection," I promised to review critical problems that are currently receiving either inadequate or completely counterproductive responses, and to also suggest some possible reforms. Two U.S. Supreme Court decisions this month prompted me to place reviving our democratic process at the top of my list of reforms. First off, the Court upheld the policy of the State of Ohio to purge people from the registered voter rolls if they had not voted in two consecutive elections. This policy put in place by Secretary of State John Husted was justified as a way to prevent voter fraud by efficiently BILL WOODS Contributing Writer removing registrants from the rolls who for a variety of reasons no longer appeared to be Ohio voters. Critics and reform groups such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters denounced the policy as a Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Key Beck Reception: Larry Johnson, Anne Evans Maintenance: Pete Roper ----------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: partisan step to make it more difficult for many citizens to exercise their right to vote. Research shows that thousands of Ohioans were purged from the rolls and a disproportionate number of them were African (Continued on page 12) Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Dr. Mark Mussman, Martha Stephens, Maria Funcheon, Jim Luken, Robert Park, Jason Haap, Michael Earl Patton, Saad Ghosn, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Dr. Mark Mussman, Michael Earl Patton, Saad Ghosn, Tony Castrucci, Google Images, Bill Woods --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �3 LOCAL Cincinnati’s Hills and Hollars No. 38 4 | June 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 DR. MARK MUSSMAN T he Appalachian community in Cincinnati has taught me things that have enriched my understanding and my life. It has taught me that simplicity is often the best solution. It has taught me that music and art can be the centerpiece of both community building and struggle. It has taught me that time is fleeting, and without one another, we have literally nothing. I am thankful that the community has allowed me in from time to time, Staff Writer people in families in Cincinnati. The stereotypes: uneducated, dirty, unsophisticated, poor, and unable to work were deeply entrenched in Cincinnati. Many of those stereotypes I had held, not specifically for expressly Appalachian folks, but for people in (then all-white) Norwood, or even the East End. Having grown up in the East Side, in Hyde Park specifically, I learned classist and WordPlay Cincinnati Performs Where I'm From, a group poem, at the Urban Appalachian Conference Showcase Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman without questions, and embraced me and all my identities. Even more than this, the Appalachian community taught me deep truths about the society in Cincinnati. It has been a mirror to the atrocities that we have perpetrated against those in our community who suffer and struggle. I first became acquainted with the Urban Appalachian Council (which has morphed into the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition today) as a freshly minted Bachelor, returning to my hometown in 2001. I was asked to lead a training on peace and nonviolence, which turned out to be more of a training for myself. Within the structure I facilitated for the session, I learned some things about how society sees Appalachian racist stereotypes from a young age. For example, if we drove through Norwood, which borders Hyde Park, we’d see who could hold their breaths the longest. I vaguely remember that if you passed a white church or train tracks, you could stop holding your breath. The only reason I write this today is because I’m sure ignorant things like this still occur today. But, what I most remember from that training in 2001, was the statement that someone made about the police. One of the elders in the group said, “The reason why we don’t trust the police is because they separate our families.” It was this statement that has stuck with me for years. White, middle-class, people in the United States rarely experience the loss of a family member due to the Curt Ellison Discusses Applachian Studies at the Urban Appalachian Showcase Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman “Breakdown Stereotypes” police, but for others, this is routine. In the context of the conversation in 2001, it was about cultural differences and class warfare. Appalachian people, emigrating from the hills and hollars in the mid-Atlantic states, were literally coming here with nothing. They were forced from the Idyllic areas because they could not find work, or any source of income. It was an economic reality to leave, but when they left, they brought with them their culture. Appalachian folk remedies, the importance of work, the centering of the family, were all strong parts of their culture, but the lack of educational and work opportunities gave us, onlookers, a warped view of who they are. I remember my Grandma, who was born in 1911, was telling me that she had to leave State Street in Price Hill when the Appalachians started moving in. When she was still a child, she moved to Oakley, where later she married a man from the “hills of Kentucky” and raised her 7 children there. She had a hollar in the backyard, where we’d an apparatus of the state that rips families apart. For the Appalachian, it was substandard housing conditions and the inability to find educational opportunities and decent work. Families separated because of these reasons knew that the police were the second step, after social workers, who reported them. Whole communities of Appalachian people were at risk, due to economic factors. Today, we are seeing the same thing with ICE, Homeland Security, and the police as well. African-American families are destroyed by police brutality, but are simultaneously expected to repair the societal ills that harm them. Children separated from families is the tradition in America — from the Africans stolen from their homelands and the system of slavery that encouraged family separation, to the Native Americans whose children have been put in “Indian Boarding Schools,” to Mass Incarceration, to the economic separation of Appalachians, to the Tender Age Shelters that those who are seeking asylum in our country are now facing. Separating families is the history of these United States of America because it fulfills the need of underground human trafficking rings. It also creates an urgency to work Rabbit Hash String Band at the Appalachian Showcase Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman play as kids. When she was 86 yearsold, sitting on her porch, she told me (in high school): “it doesn’t matter what color someone’s skin in, even if they have green skin with purple polka dots - they are still family and they are still welcome here.” This revelation took her many years, as she fought the integration of St. Cecilia in the 50’s. I feel that the Appalachian in my grandfather (which is disputed by my family to this day), was what helped her change her views, and humanized all people. Today, we are seeing the same issues where the police are just harder for less. It creates a system of inequality that benefits the rich, while forcing everyone else’s wages down. It is imperative that we understand how Cincinnati’s history is similar and different than the rest of the country. We are a border town, and this year we hosted the Appalachian Studies Association Conference. We are fortunate to have a rich history steeped in the lived experience of African and Appalachian Americans, who have bestowed upon us a very special power to fight for families and culture as vigorously as we fight for justice and equity. “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Mark Mussman at (513) 421.7803 x14 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 LOCAL Unions Are More Important Than Ever J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 I MARTHA STEPHENS ’VE STUDIED the recent article in Streetvibes about the socalled “right-to-work” laws in the U. S., and I’m writing to say, as that article seems to suggest, that full union shops will always be what people need. We know that corporate power in the U. S. has been growing ominously for some years, and that business has been homing in on state legislators to get them to cripple workers’ organizations through “right-to-work” statutes, or in effect “right to work for less” laws. About unions, we might remember that fifty years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched alongside striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, and though he knew his life was in danger, he spoke at a certain rally there on that night later on. The next day he was shot and killed. At the rally he had made what would be his last speech, saying that he believed success would eventually come for all God’s children. “I may not be with you,” he said, but that he’d been “to the mountain top” and had seen “the promised land.” It was a long and beautiful speech. The Issue for the Memphis marchers, said Dr. King, was simply “injustice” -- the refusal of Memphis “to be fair and honest in its dealings with its public servants, who happen to be sanitation workers.” They were marching, he said, “to force everybody to see that there are thirteen hundred of God's children here suffering, sometimes going hungry, going through dark and dreary nights wondering how this thing is going to come out.” This great leader would, I believe, want us to persevere today for all workers black and white and of Contributing Writer immigrant origin. THE FIGHT of workers to organize has been going on, it seems, since the late 1800’s. So-called “rightto-work” laws are nothing new and ones that Dr. King understood very well. Some say that such laws began in Texas in 1948, were designed to pit worker against worker, black against white, immigrant against native born. Today such laws are still trying to break union strength and deny the rights of workers to collectively bargain a “closed shop.” In “right-to-work” states workers hired in a company that has a union do not have to join that union or pay union dues, but such workers still benefit from the union’s negotiations for their pay, their healthcare and pensions, for sick days and family leaves. Workers not willing to pay the “fair share fees” are still represented by union staff in any grievance they may bring -- about unfair charges, for instance, or dismissals. IN 2011, Ohio Governor Kasich launched State Bill SB-5 to end closed shops or “union security clauses” in public contracts with workers in AFCSME (city, county, and state workers). SB-5 was defeated in Ohio at the ballot box, with 64% opposed to it. In Ohio there’s a right to a Referendum. That is, if we gain enough signatures, our issue goes to the ballot box, a right that many states such as Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky, do not have. To defeat SB5, Ohio workers and their many supporters gathered over 2 million signatures during many rallies and protests, and delivered those petitions to the state house and Governor Kasich. Kasich eventually accepted the defeat of his effort for right-towork and said that the people had “spoken.” In unions older workers can look forward to a more dignified retirement, with income over and above their Social Security. They will have benefitted from their union’s work for good pay, affordable healthcare, and a measure of job protection, issues union staff face and fight for every day. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, a member of my family began union work years ago and is a union representative in Cincinnati today. It’s hard work, the hours are long, but she is doing what she loves! We don’t see a lot of her at home. As for myself, I helped foment the faculty union at U. C. back in the seventies. I remember going downtown on the U. C. shuttle one day to see a labor attorney, James Paradise. We wanted the university to provide us a list of all U. C. salaries, including those of the administrators, and we knew that state law required this disclosure by public institutions. For several months U. C. tried to get Paradise to be satisfied with salary averages, but we said, “No, no, Mr. Paradise, we are entitled to names and exact figures.” The day our lawsuit was to be filed, the university called Mr. Paradise and said that a full list of names and salaries would be placed in the library the next day. When faculty saw this list, and the differences in faculty and administrative pay, a union team got to work and a faculty vote for a union soon passed. The local AAUP was asked to represent us. During Former Inmates Deserve A Second Chance. Let’s Give It To Them F ormer prisoners re-entering their communities face many challenges associated with reintegration, like landing a job and affordable housing, re-establishing relationships with friends and loved ones, and keeping up with probationary responsibilities. These challenges are compounded by the shame that looms over them because they have served time. Although reentry is touted as a second chance, there are ways society negatively views former prisoners that make this second chance nearly impossible. This shame is detrimental not only to former prisoners, but also their loved ones and our communities. Former prisoners have paid their debt to society, and we must support them in their reentry process in order to truly offer the second chance they deserve. MARIA FUNCHEON Contributing Writer The United States accounts for 25% of the world’s prisoners, locking up more people than any other nation in the world. Over 70 million Americans -- nearly 1 in 3 -- have a criminal record and about 1 in 110 have been to jail or prison in the past year. Chances are, you may work with someone, have a relative, or went to school with someone who spent time in jail or prison and may not even know it. Incarceration is meant to be a punishment paid to society, but it is often paid by those who don’t have much to begin with. The majority of US prisoners lack a high school diploma, and almost 60% were living in poverty at the time of their incarceration. When they are released, they should have a second chance, but society often sees nothing more than an “ex-con”. Many, it’s clear, were not given a first chance. The way we communicate the shame associated with the actions of others, which social scientists call stigmatization, serves to further shame reentering individuals and make their reentry process harder. We cannot preach about second chances when we actively fight against them. Criminal histories can be lifelong barriers to many areas of reentry, including employment, but positive changes are being made. The Ban the Box movement, which encourages employers to not ask job applicants if they have a criminal record, has been successful in allowing a more fair interview process for all candidates, including former prisoners. Similarly, employers may not miss out on a THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED our first strike, we won a 20% raise. I’m not saying it was all easy-going. We were not a closed shop and some faculty did not cooperate (bad for them!), but most of us did. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS need strong unions, and it is perhaps no accident that the largest of this year’s marches and protests by teachers have come about in “right to work” states -- Kentucky, West Virginia, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Fast-food workers are attempting to organize, and Walmart employees have launched an organization (Our Walmart) that may play a larger and larger part in representing the workers there. Such actions must prevail and be supported by all if we are not to sink further and further into a povertyridden, third-world-like country where fewer and fewer people can make a living, have a family home, count on healthcare and pensions and a measure of job protection. Today people’s voices in their workplaces are more needed than ever, yet we are facing a dangerous Supreme Court that may be deciding, in the Janus case, how unions will be allowed to operate. Whatever happens to us, we must all get busy to elect democratic officials who will stand up, in our legislatures and in Congress, for common people, and will appoint humane and intelligent judges to SCOTUS and the lower courts. Otherwise our unions will be crippled by “right-to-work” statutes and all the other means corporate power is developing to impoverish us. [Martha Stephens is retired from the English Department at U. C. She writes books, as well as a blog at marthastephens.wordpress.com. She can be reached at stephem@ ucmail.uc.edu.] superior candidate who may have a criminal history. Ban the Box was signed into law for public-sector jobs by Governor Kasich in 2015 and is a progressive step toward helping former prisoners get back on their feet. It also helps reduce the stigma associated with having a record when applying for a job. Humans are social creatures. We rely on the support, care, and love of others throughout our lives. As a former graduate student in sociology, I have learned that social support from family, friends, and the community is imperative to more positive outcomes during the reentry process. Furthermore, a 2014 study in the International Journal of Conflict and Violence found that higher levels of social support also decreases crime and poverty rates in communities. Supporting former prisoners during reentry is a win-win. It’s time to reduce the stigma associated with serving time not only for the benefit of those reentering, but also to lift up and improve our (Continued on page 11) �WORLD Good Cop, Bad Cop: A Canadian Perspective No. 38 4 | June 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 C anada. Our best neighbor. Just to the north. Along a 3000 mile border. 35 million (cold) people live there (all enjoying comprehensive health care, and a sane Prime Minister who has real hair). For some reason none of those millions seem to be sneaking across the border, seeking asylum in the land of the brave and the free. We Americans picture most Canadians as being tough as a hockey stick. Resilient (who couldn't be dealing with those temperatures five months of the year?), conversant with moose and bears. Here's the thing about Canada that you can tell your friends in the NRA (are those people actually capable of befriending anything but their guns? Just askin'): It is very difficult, almost impossible, to get a handgun permit in Canada. 30 out of a hundred folks there do own guns, mostly rifles and shotguns. 90 out of a hundred in the US own them, many of those keeping huge collections, including those infamous AR 15 assault rifles. Approximately 2 Canadians in 100,000 die from gunshots each year. 13 per 100,000 here. 65 people died interacting with Canadian police in 2017. 963 died here in similar interactions in 2016. [Statistics can vary for obvious reasons, but they never seem to vary by much in terms of gun violence.] This 2-part series of Streetvibes articles will attempt to articulate the difference in policing “styles” in Canada with those in the US. It will be based on interviews I did with a long-time friend, a retired, Canadian police officer, who has worked at operational and administrative level of policing, which has involved cooperative investigations with FBI, DEA, and ATF. For personal reasons my friend prefers to remain anonymous. Background I met Paul (not his real name) at a writer’s conference in Connecticut during the early 70s. He had been a semi-professional hockey player, a boxer, a rodeo rider. I had been a (mild-mannered) hockey player in Cincinnati. Besides our intense interest in writing, we had Canada's national pastime in common. Paul recalled for me that, during the two-week conference, we were thrilled by the news that Daniel Elzberg had bravely released the infamous “Pentagon Papers” to the New York Times. This brave whistle blower action would play a major role in ending the Vietnam War. Elzberg would continue to inspire the two of us, Paul in his ongoing police work, and me as a lifelong anti-war activist. I treasure our friendship. During the two-week conference, JIM LUKEN Contributing Writer he and I became buds. His dedication to high-level police work has inspired me all these years. His expertise has brought him to the international level, wherein he has addressed both Canadian and international investigative organizations, on law and ethical consideration regarding how these apply to use of force confrontations. Clearly, I had chanced upon the right guy to interview regarding the whole “bad cop, good cop” issue. I remember talking to Paul not long after the murder, in Ferguson, Missouri, of Michael Brown in the tactics. Like many of you readers, I became appalled by the plethora of violent deaths, black and white, that occurred at the hands of police around the US, many of the victims being unarmed men...as well as several women. A few months ago, I began emailing Paul up north of the border, seeking his professional take on this seemingly out-of-control situation. Paul's responses “As for Canadian policing...well, it's a whole different kettle of fish. Our police culture is so radically different for a variety of reasons, including the fact that our policing environment is Sir Robert Peel’s Principles of Law Enforcement 1829 1 2 3 The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions. Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public. 4 5 The degree of cooperation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force. Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to the public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law. 6 Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient. 7 Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence. 8 9 Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it. Sir Robert Peel's Principles of Law Enforcement (1829) is a list of professional standards used by Canadian police officers Credit: Wikipedia summer of 2014. He had followed the details of that case. He told me that those officers would be treated very differently in Canada. I didn't follow up on this conversation at the time. A year later, Sam Dubose became the victim of an outrageous police shooting at the hands of UC officer Ray Tensing here in Cincinnati. I began covering Black Lives Matter events for this paper, which involved thinking (and writing) about police not complicated by American racial dynamics, and by NRA 'theology.' “Indeed, when your police approach a car, or for that matter any potential suspect (or even a nonsuspect), they have to make the “safe” assumption that the suspect is armed and then, out of self-preservation, they respond accordingly, which is a recipe for disaster. “One of the things that most appalls me when I see a video of a US THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 5 suspect who has been shot, is lying on the ground, and there appears to be a collective utter disregard [by the cops] for the well-being of the downed suspect, which gives me the cold shivers. Canadian police would be assisting the individual in a matter of seconds. “Also, I might add that the US military is a huge feeder for your police forces and a lot of vets join police organizations after they have experienced hard combat. On that basis they are used to dealing with “enemies”...as opposed to citizens who [usually would be assumed to] attract the presumption of innocence. Furthermore, (some of) these veterans are...what's the technical term?...'f*cked up' from combat related PTSD and are totally unsuited for carrying a gun, let alone policing. “Anecdotally, I can tell you that in my experience with police units here, Canadian vets who have come back from Afghanistan and join the force are more prone to become 'problem children' regarding (things like) excessive use of force and substance abuse.” Disciplinary actions when Canadian police use lethal force As the statistics above indicate, Canadian policing sometimes results in the death of a suspect (and occasionally the death of an officer. Because of the country's demographics few of those killed by police are black, and their deaths have few, if any, racist overtones. According to Paul, each of these lethal incidents is investigated by a Provincial Office of Independent Investigations. In the US, similar investigations are usually done internally, by the local police force. Paul indicates that the results of such investigations often prove to be similar. “I can say that, in terms of Canadian police shootings involving death, there have been only two, and arguably three, incidents that resulted in criminal convictions in the past 25 years. “That is not to say that all [Canadian] police shootings, or police use of force causing death, are the result of highly professional police work. I would say that there are incidents where officers, on the basis of all of the evidence available, have had an honest but mistaken belief in a factual situation that resulted in the use of lethal force. In such cases no criminality would result, but what could result would be very adverse professional consequences.” It would be statistically arguable that such “adverse consequences” occur much less frequently in the US where there appears to many, especially African-Americans, to be a culture, born out by the courts, of tolerating, to the point of encouraging, excessive use of force by our police. Paul points out that in Canada there is a very different dynamic in terms of police culture. “Countering these incidents [of (Continued on page 12) �6 LOCAL Notable RBG T ROBERT PARK he recent movie RBG is a documentary on the amazing life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court. She was at the top of her law school classes (Harvard and Columbia) while raising a child and assisting a very sick fellow law student (a future New York City tax lawyer) who was her husband. As a young lawyer she took cases that built the foundation for a massive assault on the fortress of contempt for women’s rights and dignity in the work place and in other institutions. She won the right of a young woman to attend the all-male Virginia Military Institute, not because she liked Southern racist reactionary militarism but because it was a great case to break down institutional walls – if you could do it there you could do it anywhere. Many other landmark cases followed, argued in the Supreme Court, including the Ledbetter equal pay dispute which A J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 Contributing Writer although unsuccessful in court, energized a strong Congressional move to change the laws. RBG had an uncompromising vision, and told truth to power: she said we’re not asking for special treatment, just “get your boot off our neck.” She took on the good old boys of both parties and smacked them upside the head with arguments they couldn’t dismiss, on Constitutional grounds and on compelling justice that must have unsettled some even in their personal relationships (with wives and daughters). In 1980 she was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and, in 1993, appointed by Bill Clinton to the U.S. Supreme Court. With the rightwing court assembled by Bush et al., victories became less frequent but RBG became a powerhouse of dissenting opinions that themselves help make law. She has become the Notorious RBG of young progressives. In the 2016 election, she made a public statement without naming names to the effect that a candidate for US President should be someone who respects democratic process, the rule of law, fundamental rights and civility (though, after an explosion of public self-righteous indignation, she sort of apologized). RBG didn’t let the fact that the inequities throughout our society sometimes produced Life lessons from Mr. Rogers and breaking with social media new documentary titled Won't You Be My Neighbor? chronicles the impact of Mr. Rogers on American culture, and while I have not yet seen the film, the premise speaks to me - and further it may be the final push I need to quit my social media addiction (even if I just deactivate Facebook for a month, to see how it feels). Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood was on television until 2001, ending its long and influential run a full two years before anyone heard of MySpace - not to mention Facebook (2004), Twitter (2006), or Instagram (2010). For decades, Mr. Rogers reminded generations of American children - and by extension their parents - what it means to be neighborly. I'm not trying to draw a direct line of causality here, as if to suggest the increasing lack of civility in American discourse is due to Mr. Rogers going off the air and then passing away, but perhaps Fred Rogers was the last bellwether of cultural norms that, with his passing, have started to pass, too. Social media seems to have heralded a new age of smugness, and this criticism applies equally across the political spectrum. This is a dangerously sharp double-edged sword. The last thing we need, in highly divisive times as these, is to further alienate ourselves from one another. We need to hear more ideas that differ from our own, and we need JASON HAAP Contributing Writer to practice the art of neighborly conversation, even when we disagree. Instead, it seems we either revel in call-out culture, or we angrily delete everyone from our feeds who has a difference of opinion. But there is more to it than that. For all of us with Facebook installed on our phones, each of those notification chimes gamify our daily lives. Like the pleasure a gameplayer experiences when earning points, those beeps and whistles remind us that someone noticed us. So, we check our phones, feeling the satisfaction of someone "liking" a post, or responding to comments left by friends. For some of us, argument carries a bit of an adrenaline rush. When things get controversial, some of us relish the conflict. This isn't healthy. It's not like Facebook is an embodiment of the Hegelian dialectic, with people synthesizing theses and antitheses into new and productive ideas. Instead, we're just trying to score points and to win. Then, there are those of us who do not enjoy the sport of online arguing. The conflict makes us angry, and it encourages us to damage relationships in the real world. Either option is bad. These mind games are non-productive, and they may even be bad for us not only as a nation, but as a species! So why haven't I quit? Because, if I'm totally honest, I still get a kind of narcissistic satisfaction from even my non- contentious posts. Every time someone asks me if I enjoyed a movie, or likes my picture of a burger from a new restaurant, that game theory kicks in, with all those phone beeps making me feel like I have a place in the world - one with a larger reach than would otherwise be possible while sitting around the house in my underpants. Am I at a bar with an old friend from high school? If I post a selfie with both of us in it, I will get dozens and dozens of likes - sometimes upwards of 100! High counts make me feel satisfied. But why? What nonsense is that? How have I come THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED weird consequences for the victories she claimed; institutions might have to spend more money providing equal rights for women than for men because the whole system was deformed. Too bad, fix it. RBG is a great role model… but she was not alone in this: her husband (now deceased) was a champion supporter throughout; gave up a lucrative NYC career to move to Washington D.C. with the new Justice and he lobbied D.C. for her appointment to the Supreme Court and, and he had a great sense of humor. to care when people I barely see in real life enjoy, for a second, a picture of me with someone else? What is happening to me, and to a large number of us? These days, when I talk politics with someone face-to-face, things never go crazy and sideways like they do online. And while my faceto-face reach may always be smaller than when combined with my social media reach, there is a quality versus quantity issue to consider. Instead of worrying about "winning," or calling out all the "outrage" on the opposite side of the political spectrum, maybe it's time we get back to some basics like being neighbors to one another. I will certainly be watching the Mr. Rogers documentary soon. But I think the idea of it is enough to inspire me to take a social media break. I encourage you to join me. �7 LOCAL A Very Important Little Dam No. 38 4 | June 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 I MICHAEL EARL PATTON t was just a small increase in the storm water charges that Cincinnati City Council approved earlier this year with Ordinance 68-2018, but as I have been highly critical of water and sanitary sewer billing practices I decided to check this out. (My major criticism is that those who use less than the minimum billed amount of 300 cubic feet per month wind up subsidizing those who use more.) This is the third utility charge that is bundled together for locations in Cincinnati. Storm water is a separate utility, run by Cincinnati, for the purpose of reducing flooding in the public right-of-way. There are several aspects of this such as levees, about 300 miles of storm water-only sewers, and the Mill Creek Barrier Dam. The increase is due to maintenance Contributing Writer Creek and flooded the areas along there, too. About half the damage done was in the Mill Creek valley. In 1948 the barrier dam was completed. Most of the time the barrier sections are out of the way and the water can flow uninterrupted into the Ohio River. But when the Ohio floods, the barriers are installed. Once installed, the Ohio cannot back-flow up the Mill Creek but now there is the problem of the Mill Creek water coming downstream and being blocked. So up to eight very large pumps take the water from the Mill Creek and route it around the dam to the Ohio River. You have probably seen Mill Creek but may not have known what it was. It is a little to the west of downtown and I-75. Part of it is crane motors fails, the barrier panels cannot be lowered and the Mill Creek will flood. One of the maintenance items that the fee increase is for is to replace or refurbish the cranes. One of the cranes is original, meaning it is 70 years old. The amount of the fee increase, by the way, is based on several factors which are not really interesting but do make some sense. The basic charge is going up from $3.54 to $4.11 per month. Mine will be somewhat higher because my yard is over 10,000 square feet. I do support this increase. This may be the first time I have publicly supported a fee or tax increase since I started writing for Streetvibes. The utility has a well-defined mission, flooding in Cincinnati has been a concern since the first settlement, and this is important infrastructure. --------------------------------------- Partial view of the crane system. The crane in back is 70 years old and should be replaced. Note the downtown skyline in the background. Credit: Michael Earl Patton View of the housings for the pumps and motors inside the pump station Credit: Michael Earl Patton expenses and improvements but the ordinance is vague on details. I talked to a representative of the utility and was invited to a tour of the dam. I thought it interesting enough that I am including several photos with descriptions. The Mill Creek Barrier Dam was built because of the historic Ohio River flood of 1937. Not only did View of Mill Creek from Gest Street. The Eighth Street viaduct and the barrier dam are in the background Credit: Michael Earl Patton the areas along the Ohio River flood, but the river back-flowed up the Mill natural and has wildlife. I even saw a video of a beaver that someone took recently – a beaver in Cincinnati! A very ugly section is lined with concrete and runs alongside southbound I-75 near Mitchell Avenue. Having all eight pumps run is unusual but happened during the flooding this past February. Each pump can handle 1.1 billion gallons of water a day. Even so, there was a period during a heavy storm when the water in the Mill Creek was slowly rising and creeping towards Spring Grove Avenue. Fortunately such periods are extremely rare and relatively brief. To supply electricity for the pumps there are three large transformers, stepping down the voltage. If one of the transformers fails, two or three of the pumps may be shut down but most of the pumps can still get power. There are two different high power lines coming from different directions that can supply electricity in case one fails. Eight pumps, 3 transformers, and 2 sets of high power lines. But there is only one set of cranes that lowers the panels. If one of the This passage is where the panels go when installed. Some of the panels are now elevated, others (out of sight) are on the ground next to the dam. Two cranes for the panels are on top Credit: Michael Earl Patton Google satellite view of Mill Creek Barrier Dam. Downtown Cincinnati and I-75 are to the east (right) of area shown THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Michael Earl Patton �RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Spirituality, Social Justice & JustLOVE Are at the Heart of Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp's Life, Actions & Pastorship 8 J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 A s she was growing up, Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp's maternal grandfather would always tell her she needed to become a rabbi to continue the Jewish tradition in her family. She was born to a Jewish mother and to a Catholic Belgian father who converted to Judaism upon marriage. Her parents exposed her at home to the cultural and ritual aspects of Judaism, but it was her grandfather who opened her eyes to its religiosity. "As a baby already, my grandfather would take me every weekend to the synagogue to pray," she says. "He would also tell me the stories of the different individuals whose pictures were hanging there, including those of my relatives who had passed away, in particular Miriam his wife." Born in Texas, Terlinchamp lived in Seattle, WA from the age of 8. Up to the 2nd grade she went to a Jewish school and afterwards to the International School, an alternative liberal arts public institution. But all along she attended 3 days a week a supplementary after school program receiving a Jewish education, learning Hebrew and getting familiarized with Jewish rituals. She also went to the synagogue every weekend. At the age of 16 she had a marking experience witnessing the death from cancer of her best friend, also being part of the spiritual conversations that the latter had on her death bed with her rabbi. These were for Terlinchamp moments that strengthened her faith, pointing to what was important, and to the encompassing presence and love of God. For college, she attended Scripps College in Claremont, CA, double majored in Philosophy of Religion and Studio art, and right after went to SAAD GHOSN Contributing Writer London to the London Slade School of art where she received additional training in painting. "I led in London a free and quite enjoyable life," she states, "but I found it empty, not focusing on 'what things mean'. I knew I was avoiding the essential. So, after 6 months I quit, returned home and changed my path. This is when my real quest towards the rabbinate began." Back in Seattle Terlinchamp worked as a graphic designer for a while, then at the Temple De Hirsch Sinai, as their assistant director of education. Around the same time her sister was in a very bad life-threatening car accident, hit by a negligent and very likely inebriated speeding police officer. The Washington law, then, did not require an alcohol test for officers. Angered by the situation and revolted by the pain and agony of her daughter, Terlinchamp's mother sued the city and the state, won and was able to change the law in order to also have officers alcohol and drugtested. "This made me aware of the privilege we were carrying as white individuals, privilege that enabled us to fight and obtain justice," says Terlinchamp. "If we were black or Hispanic it would have been more difficult to change things." "I realized then the power I had to effect the system; also that I needed to use it to make things better," she adds. This is also when she decided to apply to rabbinical school. Terlinchamp was accepted at HUCJIR Reform Rabbinical School, in Los  Angeles, spent her 1st year studying in Jerusalem, the 4 succeeding ones in LA, and in 2008 received her master’s degree in Jewish texts that Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp likes to quote: "It was for this reason that humans were first created as one person [Adam]: to teach you that anyone who destroys a life is considered by Scripture to have destroyed an entire world; and anyone who saves a life is as if he saved an entire world."- Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 "[If] we truly believe that one life is like an entire universe, then all you have to do is change one life, and you’ve begun to change the universe the only way we can, one life at a time, one day at a time, one act at a time. So when, out there, there is despair, let us bring hope. When out there is hurt, let us heal. And when out there is division, let us show that we are enlarged and not diminished by our differences. Let us show the world what it is to stand together and respect one another. Therefore, I say this, never waste a crisis. Never stand still. Go out there, continue the Jewish journey, and be a blessing to the Jewish people, and to the world."- Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Hebrew Letters. Her years at the seminary were happy and productive. During them she served as  chaplain at the Los Angeles Country Men’s jail working one on one with a group of LGBT inmates, at the Los Angeles Home for the Aging ministering for individuals over the age of 100, as a rabbinic fellow 3 weekends a month at Temple De  Hirch Sinai in Seattle, WA, and as a national Kol Tzedek fellow Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp for  AJWS (American Jewish World Service). In 2010 Terlinchamp was ordained a rabbi and came straight to Cincinnati, OH, to join Temple Sholom, selected by its congregation as their spiritual leader. Temple Shalom was then located in Amberley and owned a 30,000 square foot building on a 7 acres property; it was, however, deteriorating, its membership decreasing. Terlinchamp right away raised important questions, asking the congregation to reflect on what it meant to be a relevant faith institution and how the huge space they owned affected them both financially and spiritually. A listening campaign was thus started during which it became quickly obvious that, despite all the attachment and memories the place offered, the wisest solution was to sell the place, get rid of the "stuff", straighten the finances and focus more on the essential faith. Two years later all the goals that were then set were met, the membership was increasing with more youth and minorities, the previous dues model replaced by voluntary participation and contribution by members, and all motivated by faith and spirituality. "Our actions and efforts became to manifest God in us and in the world, to be all about love, and not be tied up by our possessions," she says. This also allowed Terlinchamp to be more vocal for social justice, to serve as the president of the Amos Project and through it to involve her community in various projects such as making the synagogue a solidarity sanctuary for immigrants, supporting the Preschool Promise, participating Credit: Saad Ghosn in various multifaith activities. In a gesture of solidarity, for instance, members of her synagogue participated on several occasions in the Friday prayers at the Clifton Mosque, and their kids mingled and shared activities with Moslem kids at the same place. They also march every year in the Pride parade, manifesting Jewish presence in support of the LGBT community; last year, they were joined by the Black Lives Matter movement. They have been active around the trial of University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing who shot and killed African American motorist Samuel  DuBose  at a traffic stop in July 2015, asking for justice to be implemented and for police violence against black individuals to stop. They have also worked for immigrant rights. Actually, following the ICE decision to deport Maribel Trujillo Diaz, an Ohio Mexican mother of four and Catholic lay leader who has been living in the US for 15 years, almost 500 individuals, including many from Temple Sholom, manifested (Continued on page 12) Religious Peacemakers is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati individuals who use their faith and religious beliefs for peace and justice. Saad.Ghosn@uc.edu is the founder of SOS (Save Our Souls) Art, an organization that promotes arts as vehicles for peace and justice and for a change. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 38 4 | June 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 PHOTO ESSAY Murals of Cincinnati 9 TONY CASTRUCCI Contributing Photographer 1. RiversideVineyard (top left) 2. What's Happening Downtown 3. Fresh Harvest (center left) 4. Self - Portrait, Elizabeth Nourse 5. Cincinnati's Table (bottom left) 6. Martha, the Last Passenger Pigeon 7. The Hands that Built Our City 8. The Cobbler's Apprentice Plays Ball (center right) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9. Dawn is Coming-OpenYourEyes 10. Tom Wesselmann, Still Life (top right) �10 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 �JUBILEE CAMPAIGN Is it Time for Another Great Awakening? No. 38 4 | June 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 I was at a breakfast meeting with friends Trenton Davis and Derek Peebles from the Economics of Compassion Initiative’s Jubilee Circle.1 During our conversation, Trenton brought up a podcast he’s been listening to on the conditions that led to the Civil War. I am a history nerd, so I knew that the early 1800s were filled with all sorts of economic ups and downs, large multi-national jointstock companies like the East India Company2 spanned the globe. The British Empire had ruled for hundreds of years. Slavery was a global business and central to the accumulation of wealth for the British Empire and later the United States. It was also a time when our institutions as a country were being built or rethought and re-imagined. There was a sense of deep moral questioning on our identity as a country and our commitment to one another, what bonds us together. The social upheaval of the early 19th century gave rise to the 2nd Great Awakening3. It was a religious revival that led to the resurgence of the church in America. This movement also gave fuel to the abolitionist movement. Several of the leaders of this movement gave rise to preachers like Lyman Beecher and Charles Finney who called for renewed commitment to faith where ending slavery and reconciliation were central. Altar calls during this time were marked by a call to make a stand against slavery.4 The 2nd Great Awakening did not prevent the Civil War, but it laid the foundation for ending slavery. It gave folks a sense of agency and that they could be the change that they wanted to be. However, it didn’t go far enough. What struck me in my breakfast conversation with Derek and Trenton is that upheaval of the early 1800s can be compared to our cultural upheaval today. Our institutions are either in decline or in transition, the political debate has become toxic and MARIA FUNCHEON (Continued from page 4) communities. I became familiar with downtown Cincinnati pizzeria and catering company Venice on Vine when I was a high schooler at the REV. RICH JONES Contributing Writer partisan, violence is being inflicted upon our schools and neighborhoods, faith communities are in peril as their numbers dwindle and as they search for identity, and we cannot seem to find our shared humanity as folks stockpile weapons and look for safety by building walls rather than seeking around a specific dogma or belief, nor is in dominated by any one group. This is a movement rooted deeply in faith and in the desire to connect and to see our neighborhoods and communities flourish. It is a movement that is calling institutions towards re-functioning and to a place of support and encouragement rather than control. Rev. Rich Jones Credit: Jubillee Campaign union. Large corporations control a vast amount of wealth and influence It is also a movement that is calling us towards equity in relationships and racial reconciliation. A movement 11 means that we are created good and loved. It is not an Awakening of “certainty” or absolutism, it is an awakening towards what Dr. Walter Brueggemann5 calls “relational fidelity”. That is the trajectory of the notion of Jubilee in the Torah, and in the Christian tradition as well as many other faith traditions. If we are to address the issues of our day, the issues that divide us. We have a need for a change of heart, a change of mind. A word that sometimes is misunderstood is “repentance”. It simply means just that, a change or transformation of heart and mind. Transformation cannot be legislated well, it cannot be controlled or manipulated. True change, growth, transformation, repentance happens when folks are allowed their full agency in their humanity and can come to a place of recognition, awareness, or “awakening” if you will of who they are and their need for community. This Great Awakening is calling for folks to stand up, to walk forward, to be counted as people committed to ending all that divides us, to put an end to any “ism” or injustice that puts folks on the margins or dehumanizes them. It is a movement that will call our country, our world towards union, or, as we say in my tradition, “communion”- a sharing together in unity. And, in so doing, we can address the pressing issues of our day with different questions, out of community and in community with others. Rich Jones is the pastor of Fleming Road UCC in the Finneytown neighborhood in Greater Cincinnati. He is on the board for Economics of Compassion and Oasis Cincinnati and is an organizing team member and community connector for The Parish Collective. He also coaches cross country at Finneytown Schools and is an obsessive runner. His spouse, Debbie, is a PTA and they have two teenagers, McKenzie and Brennan. in our government as well as other governments. It can seem hopeless at times and that we no longer have personal or communal agency. We are still a relatively young democracy and country. What we need now is another Great Awakening, which, I believe is already in motion and has the potential of going much further than the previous Great Awakenings. This is not simply a movement that rejects the notion of divisiveness and fear that keeps power in the hands of a few. It is a movement that leads towards maturity and awareness of our shared humanity and that we are all created equal in God’s eyes regardless of skin color, economic isolation, gender, identity, sexuality, etc… it rejects the labels that divide us. The only label that matters is “human”, and that we are all created in the image of God, which Notes: 1Jubilee is a concept where every 49 or 50 years, debts are cancelled or forgiven, and the land is returned to its original owners. This concept has captured the imagination of many here in Cincinnati and beyond as we strive to bring about a more equitable community and culture. 2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_ Company 3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_ Great_Awakening 4Some scholars suggest there was a 3rd Great Awakening that occurred in between the last 1850’s and the early 1900’s. However, scholars have suggested that this “3rd Great Awakening” was simply an extension of the 2nd. 5http://www.walterbrueggemann.com School for Creative and Performing Arts in Over-The-Rhine. Venice’s owner, Power Inspires Progress (PIP), offers job training and placement assistance to people who may have barriers to employment (like criminal records). The history of PIP dates back over 30 years, and they have helped hundreds of Cincinnatians find work. If you’re an employer, consider following in PIP’s footsteps by offering a chance to someone who needs it. You may find that taking this chance is just as rewarding for you, your business, and your community as it is for someone deserving a real second chance. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 2) and really the world as a whole has been following a system of putting resources primarily in the hands of the few and claiming it will somehow benefit everyone or simply saying that it does not matter if it benefits everyone, for a long, long time. In our city we hear this all the time. We hear about how great the “renaissance” is and about how we need to give tax incentives to attract new companies BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) Americans and residents of lowincome urban neighborhoods. By a five to four decision, the Court upheld Husted's process as a legitimate way to administer voter registration. Next, the Court punted on the issue of gerrymandering. After the 2010 Census, extremely gerrymandered representative districts were created in a number of states such as Wisconsin, North Carolina and Ohio. By utilizing computer experts to crunch population data, the political parties that controlled redistricting mapping in those states could virtually insure a lopsided majority of safe seats for their candidates. Challenged in the Courts as procedures that established unfair voting in those states, the Wisconsin case was taken up by the Supreme Court last year. This June, however, the Court ruled that the plaintiffs in the case had not JIM LUKEN (Continued from page 5) excessive use of force], the policing culture in Canada promotes considerable, and sometimes unreasonable restraint, that in turn can also attract unreasonable risk to the officers...and has resulted in both injury and death to them. Hence... constraint should have its limits. “That stated, as I have said previously to you, Jim, we have very strict gun laws in Canada and we do not suffer from the great racial divide you have in the USA. So, our officers do not reflectively suspect that every person they encounter on the job represents a threat to their personal integrity.” I asked him about the situation that happened in Toronto several SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) and met in a little church in Carthage. Their reunion triggered the formation of JustLOVE, an association which organizes multifaith spiritual and music gatherings and which is directed by Terlinchamp. The group's monthly meetings prepare for the journey, discussing themes of forgiveness, love, leadership, establishing larger conversations and building allies. REST OF THE STORY J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 and how we need to support startups etc. and that investing in them is actually a way of promoting growth and fighting poverty. I believe that some people in our city truly believe this to be true and that some people say it just to try to shut people up, but either way, it isn’t true. We can legislatively require living wages, we can use tax abatements to spur on the development of affordable housing, we can legislatively provide protections to people who rent, we can refuse to fund, permit or zone projects that displace people from their homes, we can generate and put money directly into new affordable housing, we can tax the stock options of the super wealthy people at the tops of the tall buildings. Imagine how just this short list of changes would so drastically change our city, reduce poverty and increase access. These alone would not be enough, but imagine how much better our city would be. How about we legislate and fund changes that we know would improve life, versus making arguments about how supporting companies is actually good for fighting poverty. Next time you are personally low on money, how about you just go out and buy an expensive car with great gas mileage and when your kids, partner or yourself are hungry because there isn’t enough money to pay for food, just tell each other that it will be okay because you are saving money on gas, and such a great car will lead to new opportunities. (That is sarcasm and a terrible idea). sufficiently proved their contention of harmful damage to Wisconsin voters. They sent the case back to the state, essentially not commenting on the potential Constitutionality of the issue. These cases reinforced my concern about the health of democracy in this country and the number of obstacles that exist blocking many meaningful reforms. Voting rights and the goal of fair elections emerge as the latest aspects of political democracy to be placed in jeopardy by the Supreme Court. Efforts to curb the destructive impact of "big money" on elections have already been stymied by the Court's rulings in Buckley versus Valeo and Citizens United. The ticking clock for reformers in overcoming this series of inappropriate responses to major political and government issues seems to be the limited time available before reviving democracy is no longer a possibility. Most of the activities and decisions eroding democracy bolster the powers of the economic establishment to control government policy. Such control has led to the kind of elitism and income inequality that has disillusioned so many Americans about our current system. One result has been a sharp decline in the number of people who take the time to vote. In fact, Trump's election was in part a reaction by a large number of people that the current system was not working for them. They threw their support to this very loud and angry man who promised to make America great again with simple answers and by attacks on various scape goats. His authoritarian tendencies and his contempt for the complexity and fragility of public affairs make the decline of democracy even more of a scary reality. The challenge is to work toward rebuilding a political and governmental system that citizens can believe is striving to represent "we the people." What makes this challenge particularly daunting is the current set of circumstances. To repeat, "big money" continues to grow as a warping factor in elections at all levels. Legislation aimed at discouraging and actually suppressing voting keeps popping up in many states, and the threat of further extreme gerrymandering still looms as a possibility in 2021. Meanwhile, a vocal minority seems to relish Trump's inclination for authoritarian rule. All this leads to the question of what reforms exist for activists to support in order to make things better? Are there still some significant ways to renew democracy such as the Ohio Constitutional Amendment on Congressional redistricting that voters passed in May? Part III of this series will discuss some of the reform arrows that are still available for activists to put in their quivers. [To be continued next issue. Thanks for reading Streetvibes!] months ago when a man deliberately drove his vehicle onto crowded sidewalks killing 10 pedestrians. The suspect was famously apprehended by a single Canadian cop, without the use of force. This made international headlines. Paul's take: “As for the officer in Toronto, he was correct to eschew any claim to heroism...he had good separation from the subject (over 24 feet), and he did not reasonably fear for his life. Indeed, as I understood the situation, he surmised that he was dealing with a person in psychological crisis who was most likely trying to provoke a suicide by police. “I would say that most of our officers might have drawn down on the subject [i.e., used their guns to threaten him] but would have been very restrained in going 'center mass' given the degree of separation.” in other words, they would not have killed him. Nonetheless, it seems clear to this American student of police use-offorce that such restraint as that lone officer manifested, would be highly unlikely given a similar incident in the US, even though the perpetrator was white. Paul's explanation “All police organizations in Canada are informed by the IMIM, or Incident Management Intervention Model (of policing), where the officer considers the least amount of force required in the given circumstances. Depending on the escalation or deescalation of the level of threat, the officer slides down, or ratchets up, the use of force options he (or she) has, reserving use of lethal force for the most extreme situations.” [To be continued next issue. Thanks for reading Streetvibes!] "JustLOVE is multi faith," says Terlinchamp. "It brings people together; they share their experiences, connect by love, and work for justice. I would like to see it as an example of a harmonious proactive systemic change replicated in various cities across our country." Terlinchamp is also one of 11 invited citizens of different backgrounds and political philosophies to serve on the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Board of Contributors. In that role she writes a monthly editorial in the Cincinnati Enquirer and uses that platform to further her call and message for justice. She is active in Ohio Organizing  Collaborative and serves on several boards and committees  within the Cincinnati Jewish community. "My goal in life is to do good in the world and work for justice," says Terlinchamp, "and my Jewish faith enlightens me and shows me the way." And as a Rabbi, Terlinchamp uses her power and her privilege to expand Sir Robert Peel by Henry William Pickersgill Credit: Jubillee Campaign THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED --------------------------------------- her mission through all the members of her congregation and through the many allies that her leadership role allows her to foster and create in the Greater Cincinnati community. "At Temple Sholom we welcome all people: seekers, interfaith families, and those in search of a spiritual home. We are defined by spirituality, social justice and love, and our mission is to extend these values everywhere and to everyone," she adds. �No. 38 4 | June 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 NO ONE ASKED 13 STREET VOICE No one asked. How are you today? No one asked, Because no one cared Maybe because everyone is too busy TRUMP'S "VERY SPECIAL BOND" What makes The Donald's heart grow fond? For Kim - he's formed "a very special bond." How did U.S. Diplomacy go around the bend By making Kim Trump's new, best friend? Someone went home today Or is it simply Trump's inclination to cater Feeling, sad and empty To any bona fide dictator? No one asked, No one cared Sometimes no one should have to ask. When was the last time you asked someone BILL WOODS Contributing Writer WHAT’S GOING ON could you help them? It’s so sad when no one cares enough to ask! KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer What’s going on asked singer Marvin Gaye What’s going on in our world of today Stealing from each other, killing one another Lying, cheating and still calling each other brother Disillusioned by what our lives should really be Misunderstanding that we’re all born in sin, you and me Forgetting each day to let live and let love Forgetting to give all praises due to God up above Everyone needs to take time out to pray And ask God to forgive our sins each and everyday To replace hate with peace and love where ever we can Only then can we see what’s going on all over the land So, for me this is what’s really going on We as a people must come together before all life is gone!!! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 154 Across Down 1. Abyss 1. Mantle 6. Launch platform 2. Brass musical instrument 9. Retail outlet 3. Desiccated 13. Large artery 4. Crouch 14. Crystals forming rime 15. Percussion instrument 16. Anterior 17. Allow 18. Waterway 19. Certify 21. Distinguished 23. Cooking vessel 24. Lope 25. Deciduous tree 28. Judicious 30. Eating apple 35. Melt 37. Burden 39. Hex 40. Zero score in tennis 41. Claw 43. Pinkish table wine 44. Sports venue 46. Depend 47. Noisy 48. Lookout 50. Contributions to the poor 52. Elfin 53. Young whale 55. A wooden pin 57. Nom de plume 61. Title of ancient Egyptian kings 65. Large body of water 66. Quantifier for every one 68. Scorch 69. Cut closely 70. A division of 65 Across 71. Musical drama 72. Ripped 73. Female chicken 74. Part of a staircase 5. Large elongated squash 6. Heap 7. Playing card 8. Dissuade 9. Tibia 10. Teeming multitude 11. Portent 12. Saucy 15. Professional judge or evaluator 20. Australian wading bird 22. Cleaning implement 24. One of many used to make a beverage 25. Book of maps 26. Land along the edge of water 27. Sheltered port SODOKU PUZZLE NO 284 - MEDIUM 29. Rise rapidly 31. Knitting stitch 32. Alcoholic strength 33. Publish 34. Indigent 36. Moved to another location 38. Small replica of a person 42. Insect larva 45. Requiring secret or mysterious knowledge 49. Edible tuber 51. Lend flavor to 54. Tether 56. Objection 57. Military installation 58. Reverberation 59. Close 60. Part of a church 61. Scheme 62. Afresh 63. Fiend 64. Cure 67. Sheltered side PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 383 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 153 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 283- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �RESOURCES No. 38 4 | June 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 557-2873 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 411 Gest St. 45203 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 621-7265 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 1125 Bank Street 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 2121 Vine Street 45202 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Shelter: Youth Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Shelter: Family Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network Housing: First Step Home 761-1480 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 Talbert House Tender Mercies 221-HELP 721-8666 Tom Geiger House Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn 961-4555 381-1954 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 27 W. 12th Street 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA VA Homeless Food/Clothing 421-0065 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 351-0422 381-6672 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Advocacy 977-6800 859-572-6226 First Lutheran Church 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry AA Hotline CCAT 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 114 W. 14th Street 45202 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 471-1100 Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 721-4700 421-7803 Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center UpSpring 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health 621-5300 961-1983 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 535-2719 751-8771 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 721-0643 City Gospel Mission 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 1528 Race St. 45202 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 1437 Walnut Street 45202 15 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Center Independent Living Options Peaslee Neighborhood Center 241-2600 621-5514 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart Goodwill Industries Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Mary Magdalen House 381-0111 771-4800 579-8547 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 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 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 for 26 issues 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 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Justin Jeffre at 513421-70803 x 12 or email streetvibes@ cincihomeless.org $100 981-4200 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 J u n e 2 9 - J u l y 12 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 4 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2018 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 June 29-July 12, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Where Are We Headed as a Nation? Pg 3: Cincinnati’s Hills and Hollars Pg 4: Unions are More Important Than Ever Pg 5: Good Cop, Bad Cop Pg 6: Notable RBG Life Lessons from Mr. Rogers and Breaking with Social Media Pg 7: A Very Important Little Dam Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Photo Essay Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Is It Time for Another Great awakening? Pg 12: Josh Spring Continued Bill Woods Continued Jim Luken Continued Saad Ghosn Continued Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 29-July 12, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Dr. Mark Mussman Martha Stephens Maria Funcheon Jim Luken Robert Park Jason Haap Michael Earl Patton Saad Ghosn Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Tony Castrucci Google Images Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Woods Cincinnati Dam Dr. Mark Mussman Google Images Inmates Jason Haap Jim Luken Josh Spring Kim Green Maria Funcheon Martha Stephens Michael Earl Patton Mr. Rogers Photography Religion Robert Park Ruth Bader Ginsburg Saad Ghosn Social Media Tony Castrucci Unions Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/71e129c02f844c75d5abb920652a906c.pdf 310eda52a19117f726902a0851e26b40 PDF Text Text June 3rd - June 16th 2016 | Vol. 20 Issue 12 (No. 331) advocating justice | Building community Judge Nathaniel Jones Answered the Call | 7 This issue sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter INSIDE THIS ISSUE Learning about life as a Palestinian | 7 Collaborating with the Enemy| 4 Final Community Issues Forums of the 2015-2016 Season | 2 Acting and Action: To See or Not to See | 5 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 LOCAL From the Director: The City’s Budget Should Be Transparent June 3 - June 16, 2016 | No. 331 JOSH SPRING T ransparency in government is paramount if that government is really going to be of the People, by the People and for the People. I have been studying the annual budget proposed by Cincinnati’s City Manager. The budget draft is made available online and I assume a hard copy could at least be picked up at city hall by anyone. Perhaps the manager’s office or the clerk of council would also mail it if requested. That said, if you take a look at the proposed budget (capital or general fund) I don’t think a strong argument can be made that it is fully transparent. Accessibility has to be a part of transparency. The budget certainly would be confusing to most people, not to mention it is 533 pages long. Furthermore, often you cannot have a full understanding of a particular revenue or expense item without deeper historical or contextual knowledge and sometimes even then more explanation not available in the document is needed. Of course it makes sense that any budget is going to be most understood by those who wrote it and administer it. And it is okay if a budget requires those people to explain portions of it to others. But here is the trouble in having the city’s budget be as inaccessible as it is: we as Cincin- advocating justice and building Executive Director natians don’t, nor should we just trust the authors of the budget. The inaccessibility of the budget allows room for certain items of spending and revenue to be hidden from public eye. Sure, the dollar amount may be noted directly or through extraction, but that doesn’t mean the explanation or label in the budget fully explains what it is. It is true that residents do not get involved in our local government anywhere remotely as close as they should be. But some of that has to be due to the fact that government is often seen as confusing, inaccessible, untrustworthy and generally not a part of daily life. However, I’ll bet that if Cincinnatians could study a version of the budget that was transparent, many Cincinnatians would have significant concerns and frustrations. And people would have solutions to offer as well. So how can the budget be more accessible? There are public hearings which do serve as a positive place for Residents to voice opinions. And at these gatherings, the city manager walks through an often very dry presentation of the budget draft. One step would be to take some questions from Residents to be posed to the city manager and then have the city manager give them a response. The manager could have a meeting with a couple community. Streetvibes reports on representatives from every community council. City council could solicit specific responses from every community council regarding the budget. The number of pages in the document could be reduced through eliminating blank pages, redundancy, etc. Each department could have a representative present at the manager’s meeting with community councils. Paper copies of the budget could be made available at all recreation centers, libraries, parks and public schools along with the listing of public hearings. Community council leaders could attend a general gathering to better learn the layout of the budget and then share this knowledge with those in their neighborhood. The budget could be laid out in a way that would be more quickly understood by the average person. In short, the city’s budget is not very accessible. There is good reason to believe this is intentional so as to keep Residents from seeing “too much,” asking “too many” questions, and challenging “too much”. The budget should be put together in order to encourage and empower Resident leadership. I wonder how people would feel if they lived in a city where they truly felt they had a lead role in the city’s budget? ------------------------ What Would It Take To Seriously Reduce Poverty Series Ends with the Final Community Issues Forums of the 2015-2016 Season BILL WOODS T he Community Issues Forum ended its 2015-2016 season with the final two forums of the “What Would It Take To Seriously Reduce Poverty” series. The Peaslee Neighborhood Center hosted the May 5th Forum where attendees heard how Overthe- Rhine residents organized an effort to save a basketball court and green space from elimination by a new development of expensive, upscale housing. The final Forum on May 19th featured small group discussions of initiatives that could really make a difference in reducing Cincinnati’s high poverty rate. The first five forums in this series dealt with systemic ways of reducing poverty, while the Peaslee Neighborhood Center session focused on how people at the grassroots level can organize to take on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Leslie Moorhead Director of Education: Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Peter Kobak Reception: Derrick Hudson, Iolanda Barton, Patricia J. Brown, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Contributing Writer developments that threaten their quality of life. The lives of residents living in low income neighborhoods and neighborhoods in transition are often disrupted by commercial and housing projects that ignore their needs, and organizing citizens to either shape or oppose these developments is often an effective process for providing the powerless with the necessary clout to protect their rights. Jennifer Summers and Jennifer Arens of the Peaslee Neighborhood Center led a panel that described the background of the current grassroots initiative to save the public land across the street from Rothenberg Elementary School. The property, 76,000-square feet of City owned land, houses basketball courts, a community garden, and green space. “The Save the Courts” Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Michael movement was launched over a year ago when residents heard about the proposed project that would eliminate this community space. A developer, NorthPointe Group, sought to use this land to build four single family houses costing $500,000 apiece. The initial deal was for the City to sell the property, now under the auspices of the Recreation Department, to the NorthPointe Group for one dollar (and with a long period of tax abatement thrown in). This high end project would take away the recreation area of residents who live below or just above the poverty line. News of the project triggered a series of community meetings, cookouts, rallies, demonstrations, and one presentation at a City Council committee meeting. Young peo- (Continued on page 4) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Earl Patton, Caroline Cory, Dr. Mark Mussman, Camri Nelson, Ricardo Taylor, Ann Mitchell, Willa Denise Jones, Kim Green Photography/Artwork: Caroline Cory, U.S. Government, Dr. Mark Mussman, Camri Nelson, Aimee Willhoite, Bill Woods Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �3 LOCAL No. 331 | Ju n e 3 - J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 Hiroshima in Context MICHAEL EARL PATTON P Contributing Writer resident Obama visited Hiroshima recently, which is where in August 1945 the United States dropped the first atomic bomb to be used in war. He did not apologize for our using the atomic bomb either here or at Nagasaki a few days later. But his visit was seen as an implied acknowledgment that what had happened here was somehow different than the ordinary course of World War II. Most people with whom I have talked about the subject say that using the atomic bombs was the right thing to do to force a quick end to the war. The moral equation used is straightforward – fewer American and even Japanese lives were lost because of the overwhelming display of power. I will address that aspect later. I want to put Hiroshima in the context of some other military events of World War II, conventional ideas of what makes for a justified war, and treaties on the conduct of war that were in force at that time. Because of length, I will cover the context in this article, and justified war and treaties in a subsequent one. My purpose is not to excoriate the United States but to see what we can learn. And there is an obvious need for us to do so. Our record of military interventions over the past twenty or so years is not one of unending success. “Truth is the first casualty of war” is an observation that is almost self-evident, so much so that it is not certain who first said it. I want to start not at Hiroshima in 1945, but the bombings of Rotterdam, London, and Berlin in 1940. After the German invasion of Poland in 1939, there was a brief pause followed by the invasion of Norway. Then Germany invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg on their way to invading France. The Dutch resisted more than foreseen, valiantly defending the port city of Rotterdam. They saw their cause was hopeless and opened negotiations to surrender the city. Nonetheless, on May 14, 1940 German bombers attacked and destroyed the historic city center, killing over 800 civilians. The resulting shock, and the inability to defend against bombers, caused the Dutch government to surrender the country. It is important to note here that the Dutch policy had been one of strict neutrality and that as such, they had refused to coordinate their relatively small military with that of the allies. In June France surrendered. The German Luftwaffe continually attacked military targets in Britain. The large-scale air offensive against Britain began on August 15 with the intent of destroying the Royal Air Force. German air attacks at first were against military and industrial targets, such as docks, airfields, and factories. On August 23 a dozen bombers made a fateful error and instead of hitting industrial targets on the outskirts of London, struck the center of London instead. The British thought this was deliberate and sent their bombers to Berlin in retaliation. For over a week they dropped their bombs on the city at night. This was large scale, indiscriminate bombing. The Luftwaffe continued to target military and industrial installations and was making progress against the RAF. However, pressure was mounting on Hitler to retaliate in kind for the nightly British bombings of Berlin. On September 7, 1940 the Germans began their first massive bombing of London. In doing so, they left off the pressure on the British aircraft factories and airfields. This is all described in William Shirer’s classic book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. His observations as a war correspondent in Berlin during the bombings are in his book Berlin Diary. As we all know, the German change of strategy was unsuccessful, to put it mildly. In fact, it was a disaster. British aircraft production was put in order, their airfields repaired, and American sympathies for our intervention grew. Remember that Pearl Harbor wouldn’t happen until December 1941. The stage had now been set for the air bombing campaigns of the war. As Allied air power increased, more German cities came under attack. As described in William Manchester’s The Arms of Krupp, bombing the houses of the factory workers did not reduce the production of armaments in those factories. Though there were strategic attacks on such things as railroad bridges and factories making critical components such as ball bearings, often the factories themselves were safer than the surrounding communities. The purpose of the bombing was to sap German moral, which it completely failed to do. German war production continually increased until the final few months of the war when transportation and supply networks broke down. Much of the intact factory equipment, however, was dismantled after the war and used for reparations. Getting back to Japan, it had bombed the cities of Nanjing and Canton in China in 1937 and caused massive civilian casualties, most notoriously in Nanjing. The nationalist government in Nanjing did not surrender but retreated. During the war the United States firebombed dozens of Japanese cities, including Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians were killed. The rationale used seems to have been a little different than with the Germans. In the case of Japan many small factories were nestled within residential areas. Those houses were extremely flammable, being constructed of wood, bamboo, and paper. Setting the whole area on fire would surely affect Japanese war production, or so it was thought. I have not been able to verify the effect the incendiary bombings had. The firebombing of Tokyo on March 9, 1945 was the single deadliest air raid of the war, deadlier than Dresden, Hiroshima, or Nagasaki. Japanese war production was definitely declining well before its surrender, but that may have been due to disruption of the shipping of supplies from the mainland. Japan itself, unlike Germany, is a very resourcepoor country. Fuel especially was in short supply. Germany, on the other hand, had huge coal reserves. By the summer of 1945 Japan was isolated, desperate, and ready to surrender. But they wanted to keep their emperor Hirohito, and some Japanese leaders wanted no occupation and no war crime trials. The United States had stated that they would accept only an unconditional surrender. After the bomb Hiroshima mushroom cloud Photo: U.S. Government was dropped on Hiroshima, the Soviet Union attacked Japanese positions in Manchuria and Korea. The war was clearly lost, and a communist uprising inside Japan was a real fear. Such uprisings had happened elsewhere and the Communists, of course, had assassinated their Czar and his entire family during the First World War. The Japanese dropped all conditions except the protection of their emperor, which the United States accepted. See Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick’s book and documentary series, The Untold History of the United States for more information. Generals MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Arnold; and Admirals Leahy, King, and Nimitz; all thought that dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not necessary. The destruction of so many of their cities had not caused them to surrender, why would the loss of two more that had little military value? I myself wonder how things might be different if instead of Hiroshima, the first atomic bomb had been dropped instead on the naval base of Kure. Kure is just 10 miles south-west of Hiroshima. There most of the last of Japan’s large military fleet had been anchored, mainly due to lack of fuel. The remaining large ships were sunk during massive raids on July 24 – 28, or just a week before the bombing of Hiroshima. The Allies lost 133 aircraft during the raids. If instead of the conventional bombing raids the atomic bomb had first been dropped there instead of at Hiroshima, we would be having a different discussion today. The following countries engaged in massive aerial bombardment of civilians during the Second World War, in chronological order: Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States. In no case was it an unambiguous success. In the cases of Germany against Britain, and the Allies against Germany, it may have even led to a strengthening of resolve to continue fighting. War production in Britain and Germany continued to climb during the bombings. Interestingly, I did not come across any mention of the Soviet Union doing such bombings. The Japanese bomb- THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED ing of Nanjing led to wide-spread condemnation and did not cause the Nationalist government to surrender. Allied bombings of Japanese cities during WWII may have affected war production there more than in Germany, but it is hard to discern because the greater effect was probably the disruption of Japanese supply lines from the mainland once we had destroyed most of their navy and the rest was ineffective due to lack of fuel. In context, the dropping of the atomic bombs appear to have had little effect on the Japanese ability and willingness to continue the war. I think this is important because I see a dangerous movement from time to time threatening to use the atomic bomb for peace, based on its supposed usefulness to bring Japan to surrender. Its possible use against Iran (“all options are on the table”) is perhaps the most common of such threats. Overwhelming force and shock doesn’t seem to have that effect, unless the opponent is relatively weak anyways and inclined to neutrality as the Dutch were at Rotterdam. And if that is the case, then there is no reason to use such weapons. One thing that I think we did right at the surrender of Japan is that we allowed Hirohito to continue as emperor, although he had to renounce any claims to being divine. Being still alive and his life not under threat, he was able to order his troops to lay down their arms and surrender. Holdouts were only few and isolated. Similarly, although Adolf Hitler committed suicide before Germany surrendered, he had transferred power to Admiral Doenitz. It was Doenitz who surrendered Germany to the Allies three weeks later. At Nuremburg he was sentenced to 10 years in prison following a proper trial. This is in stark contrast to what happened in Iraq and Libya following the captures and executions of Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi. Besides the urgency of selfdefense, what other principles – if any -- should we invoke when fighting a war? I will attempt to address this in my next article. ------------------------ �4 LOCAL Collaborating with the Enemy Feb.12- 25 , 2015 | No. 297 CAROLINE CORY H Contributing Writer ave you ever worked with someone to whom you cannot completely relate? Does the thought of collaborating with a difficult person upset you? Can you remember a time when you handled a situation poorly due to your own reactions or the actions of a co-worker? These are just a few of the points raised at a Monday evening lecture held at Christ Church Cathedral. Members of the Cincinnati community gathered inside the cathedral’s sanctuary on May 23 to better understand the problems an individual can overcome when collaborating with someone they may not prefer. As part of the church’s Taft lecture series, ‘Collaborating with the Enemy: How to Work with People You Don’t Agree with, Like, or Trust’ was a discussion led by author and international facilitator Adam Kahane. He centered the conversation around the three books he has penned, along with other observances and discoveries he has made throughout his career. Kahane used five main points to identify factors that may hinder the collaboration process between two individuals, with the first of these being the mere idea that, “You need to collaborate.” He cited that not all circumstances require collaboration but simply the use of communication instead, among other substituting methods. Moreover, Kahane elaborated by discussing the differences between the options provided to individuals which can be seen in any situation. “We always have these three options for moving forward: adapting, forcing and collaborating and it depends in part on the balance of power,” he said. “When we don’t have any power with us in a situation, all we can do is adapt.” He continued to explain the options in relation to the involvement of power by citing its hand in how individuals handle a situation whether adapting, forcing or collaborating is used. “When we have the power and have things the way we want them to be, in most cases, we force. We push through it,” he said. “We push things in the way we want to be and collaboration is actually what happens when we can’t prevail and this is important because it suggests that collaboration is actually a second-best option. It’s what you do when you can’t have it your way.” Another point made regarded the difference between thinking in black and white where thoughts are controlled in analyzing concrete patterns and observances as opposed to thinking in shades of gray, which can be described as the reasoning behind a situation, such as a more specific way of seeing a situation. “So, if the black in my thinking is, ‘you need to collaborate,’ the gray in my thinking is, ‘you actually need this repertoire of adapting and forcing and collaborating,” Kahane said. The second point is that “you need to rather dialogue than fight,” which describes the process used when discussing and talking out an obstacle and its problem over choosing to fight over it, which ties into the third point of both parties involved being able to identify both the problem and the solution of a circumstance. Direction also plays a part in understanding collaboration and the methods behind progressing in a productive way, leading to Kahane’s fourth point of how it is necessary to know where you are wanting to go, such as an end goal or ultimate resolution. “I think the difficult question is what to do when the other person has all the power but doesn’t want to collaborate,” Kahane said. The final point made in what can hinder collaboration was feeling a need to change the world, meaning that not all collaborations need to be done on a large scale — they can be used in day-to-day situations also. Even though Kahane is currently based in South Africa, his work has taken him all over the world and these conversations can also be applicable right here in the Queen City. From assessing poverty, hunger or access of affordable housing to obtaining employment, furthering educational needs or improving life skills, collaboration is important in analyzing these items for all individuals in the Cincinnati area. BILL WOODS rum panelists invited the audience to join them in what Jennifer Arens describes as “one small fight against the crushing feeling that poor folks have to lose in order for economic wealth to be invested in their communities.” The wrap up Forum on May 19th began with several of the previous speakers highlighting their views about reducing poverty. Elizabeth Brown, former Executive Director of HOME, stressed the loss of affordable housing units and the necessity to both increase such housing and rent assistance programs. Agreeing with Brown that adequate affordable housing is essential for reducing poverty, Josh Spring of the Homeless Coalition also emphasized the need to promote a minimum wage that comes close to being a “living wage” for all workers. He noted that so many people who go to work every day are still living in poverty. Citing “The Save the Courts” initiative, Jennifer Arens pointed to the need for citizens to support low income people when they organize to preserve or improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Finally, Ross Meyer of the United Way urged Forum attendees to come up with some recommendations to present to the Child Poverty Collaborative that is currently looking for the best approaches for making a significant dent in Cincinnati’s high child poverty rate. These brief presentations were then followed by small group sessions to brain storm some specific recommendations. Affordable housing emerged as a priority for all four small groups. Both increasing the supply of units and providing more rental assistance such as housing vouchers were promoted. At the local level, inclusionary zoning that includes a mandatory percentage of affordable housing in large developments was recommended. A second priority that was touted by three of the four groups was pushing for a livable wage for low-income workers. A start, said one group, would be lobbying at the local level for a higher minimum wage. Promoting more jobs connected to adequate training was another recommendation. Addressing existing racism as a cause of poverty was brought up by two of the groups, and one group focused on the incarceration of young Black males as a major factor causing economic hardship for many AfricanAmerican families. Two groups advocated for quality preschool programs that would be free and available to all children of low-income families, while support for the ”Preschool Promise” initiative was voiced by one group. Beyond specific recommendations, two groups focused on changing public attitudes. Not only do people need to be educated to see the real causes of poverty, but they need to be prepared to support public programs and needed tax increases to pay for safety net services. In fact, one group clearly stated: “we need to create the community will to change the inequities in our society.” (Continued from page 2) ple, their parents, OTR-residents and activists organized and took part in these events. Attendees at the Forum watched a video produced for “Save the Courts” that featured the art work and writing of neighborhood children who are involved in this effort. Although Forum attendees were heartened by the tenacity and pluck of the Save the Courts initiative, they were also told that victory or even some type compromise is far from assured. This grassroots movement needs support from other concerned groups and citizens in Cincinnati. Fo- Adam Kahane speaking at Christ Church Photo: Caroline Cory ------------------------ -----------------------Group discussion at community issues forum Photo: Caroline Cory THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �LOCAL Acting and Action: To See or Not to See 5 No. 331 | Ju n e 3 - J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer I ’ve been running the numbers on our education program and I’m impressed with the work that the Homeless Coalition does each year. We have had hundreds of engagements including speaking engagements, Streetvibes Shadow activities, trainings, social justice walking tours, Final Friday’s at buddy’s place, and other education events. Sometimes I feel that the purpose of the events are so simple: to humanize homelessness and show people how Affordable Housing has a positive impact on our community. But, in reality, due to extreme bias against people in poverty, people of color, and other marginalized groups, our education program is met with opposition in some of the least likely places. I really enjoy working with people in our community. I feel empowered when I discuss difficult topics such as gentrification because when you break it down for people, it becomes something that is easily understood. I’ll admit that it’s taken me a long time to understand how the process of vilification of poverty and displacement are carried out on such a large scale. I have been experiencing it as a member of the community for years – I remember when I taught GED classes, I had a student who lived in the Pendleton neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine. I saw that the Model Group set its sights on creating “Broadway Square” by purchasing several buildings and I knew the student would be displaced. It doesn’t matter if Model Group bought the building, or if 3CDC plans a takeover of a block, but it’s the collective will of developers who decide to make changes in the neighborhood. When 3CDC takes over Ziegler Park Photo: Mark Mussman 3CDC moved north of Liberty last year, developers were scrambling to get on the gravy train and bought up all of the buildings. This same push happened in Pendleton a few years ago. I asked the student if they had made plans for when they are kicked out, and the student responded that it would never happen because “my landlord owns the building, grew up in the building, and would never do that to us.” Within a month, the student stopped showing up for class, so I called and called, and finally got in touch. “My landlord sold the building!” the student exclaimed. What it is like for a single mother to pick up everything and move in less than 30 days, I cannot imagine. What it meant from our side, was that the student (who was very close to passing the GED) missed too many classes to continue the term, and had to restart a month later – after finding a new place to live, in a new neighborhood. The landlord did care about the Community gathering spot is removed along with the community. Photo: Mark Mussman “Breakdown Stereotypes” tenants and helped them pay for their rent for a couple months, but that is very rare. This occurred a few years ago, but it is happening around us as we speak. When we look at the reimagined Ziegler Park, we can see that the housing surrounding the park will be bought up and transformed from affordable to market rate housing. The precedent was set with Washington Park, and now Zeigler, which was a heavily used park by people in the neighborhood, and will now be transformed into a privatized area, with 24/7 private security. Some people will say “it’s safer now” after it is redone, but the question I ask is “safer for who?” Black and Brown bodies are constantly patrolled by police and private security. We know the system has, and continues, to destroy their lives by criminalizing the same behaviors that white people get away with behind closed doors. In Over-the-Rhine, the sidewalks are our front lawns, the parks are our backyards, the alleys are our shortcuts, and when each of these spaces becomes privatized, on top of our housing becoming market rate, then we have no place here. The legacy of racism lives on in Cincinnati. 75% of African-American kids live below the poverty line. Income inequality based upon race is so real that the median income for whites is more than twice of what it is for people of color. But even though we live in poverty it doesn’t mean we have no value, no culture. Just because the people in Ziegler Park couldn’t afford $8 craft beers doesn’t mean they don’t have a place in our community. This is a concept that developers and some educators don’t understand. This is part of why the Coalition’s education program is so important. We need to relate to the concrete ways in which people are being displaced and forced into homelessness to help people understand the full scope. We need your help by telling your stories, supporting the Coalition through Community Shares or Kroger Community Rewards, making a donation for the education program online or through mail, attending our events, and liking us on Facebook. Book a speaker at your next event, take the social justice walking tour with some friends, or get a group together to do a Streetvibes Shadow activity. Whatever you do, don’t sit back and say “that’s someone else’s job” or “it’s not that bad!” One person displaced should be enough to get you to act. ------------------------ Basketball Court "temporarily" turned into private Permit Parking lot. Will 3CDC rebuild a basketball court? Photo: Mark Mussman “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Mark Mussman at (513) 421.7803 x14 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �6 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED June 3 - June 16, 2016 | No. 331 �No. 331 | Ju n e 3 - J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 LOCAL Judge Nathaniel Jones Answered the Call CAMRI NELSON A fter serving 32 years as one of Ohio’s District Court Judges, Judge Nathaniel Jones recently published his book, Answering the Call, an autobiography that addresses the challenges to ending racial discrimination in the United States. “What is the call, and what is the answer to that call?” Judge Jones asked a crowd during his speech at the Joseph-Beth Bookstore on May 26th. He states that “the call” was a result of a meeting in New York on February 12th 1909 that convened to discuss the state of race relations in the country. At this meeting The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed. “It became the principle engine that pulled together to address the problems that were identified in the call,” he said. As the NAACP General Counsel, Judge Jones became a well-known civil rights activist and helped push reforms that helped better the lives of blacks in the United States and in South Africa. Because of his great work, many people urged him to write a book about his life and the efforts that he made to try to end racial discrimination. One of those people was the Dean of Law at the University of Cincinnati, Joseph Tomain. When Dean Tomain had initially requested that Judge Jones turn in papers related to his civil rights work to the law school, he claimed that he didn’t have anything valuable to offer. However, one day after having a heated debate about government during a Good Samaritan board meeting, Judge Jones realized that he did have some valuable documents. After returning home from the meeting, he went to his attic and found boxes, upon boxes full of documents. He then called Dean Tomain to tell him about the documents that he had discovered. To his surprise the dean had organized a black-tie dinner at a hotel to review the papers that he had turned over to the school. What surprised him most that night was the comment that the speaker, Nelson Mandela, said to him. “He said, ‘You helped make this possible. At that moment I came to realize that the moralizing aspects Contributing Writer Audience at Joseph-Beth Bookstore Photo: Camri Nelson of my life might be of some use,” he said. The weeks following that event, he began looking for other authors to help him start on his book. Dean Tomain suggested that he meet with Roger Wilkins, nephew of Roy Wilkins, the head of the NAACP a few years back. When the judge proposed his idea of writing a book to Wilkins, he encouraged him to do it. He told him that the book must be written in his own words and not from somebody else. When he returned home he was introduced to a local editor who began helping him work through the process of writing his story. They spent many hours recording him talk about his earlier parts of his life. The editor would ask him questions like “who are you”, “where are you from”, “who are your parents and where are they from?” Other questions were about his childhood and his neighborhood. CAMRI NELSON O “By going back I was in a context that allowed me to relive and regurgitate things,” he said. After they were done with recording they transcribed the tapes, created a manuscript and began editing. Judge Jones wanted to make sure that narrative was clear and rational. He wanted to make sure that he “spilled his guts” and didn’t leave any details out. In the book he discusses a time when he stole a cupcake, when he was denied the right to organize an event for his fraternity and when he was discriminated against in college. He also talked about the discriminatory laws that were put in place during the 1960s such as segregated pools, movies, and roller skating rinks. He even discussed his relationship with lawyers that he met growing up and how they helped inspire him. In July Judge Jones will receive the Spingarn Medal at the 2016 NAACP convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is a prestigious award that is given to an African American who has had outstanding achievements. Some of the few people who have previously received this award are George Washington Carver, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and Martin Luther King Jr. ------------------------ Judge Nathaniel Jones speaking about his autobiography Photo: Camri Nelson Learning about life as a Palestinian n May 14 the Clifton Mosque welcomed guest speakers the Nakba Tour, two women who told their story about life before and after the massacre. Eighty-six year old Mariam Fathallah and 22-year-old Amena Ashkar are two Palestinian refugees who currently live in the Lebanese refugee camps. Fathallah has lived there since she was 18 and Ashkar has been there her whole life. Life before the Nakba massacre in the district of Accra, Palestine was great. According to Fathallah, both the Palestinians and the Jewish 7 Contributing Writer European settlers lived happily together. They worked together selling fruit, visited one another, and even supplied each other with medicine. “We didn’t have a problem with the secular settlers, we had a relationship with them. We didn’t even have a way to differentiate between each other,” said Fathallah. That bond quickly changed after the Palestinians began to hear stories about the massacres in the surrounding villages. They became fearful that they would end up in the same predicament so they began to isolate themselves. However, it wasn’t long before it happened on their land. One day a group of Palestinians were traveling through the settlement in their fruit trucks when they were stopped by a group of settlers. The settlers ultimately attacked and killed them and burnt down their trucks. Two other truck drivers who happened to pass by the trucks returned to the village and told the story. “People were extremely upset because they couldn’t believe that the settlers would do that to them. They had such a great bond, it was so unexpected,” said Fathallah. Many Palestinians fled from THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED their villages after this incident. Some of villagers were fishers so they escaped on fishing boats into the sea. Others lived in mosques, schools, and streets which Fathallah said was very painful. In order to get the Palestinians off the streets, the United Nations started moving them into the refugee camps. However, the living conditions were terrible. The land was covered in sand, families had to share tents, there wasn’t any electricity, there was a limited water supply, and bathrooms were shared. Every four or three days the camps were bombed by Israelites. Fathallah recalls that when the aircrafts first started bombing, people would call each other over to hide in the cement buildings. Her house was so close to the street that they saw (Continued on page 11) �8 NATIONAL Health and homelessness: “You can’t be well if you’re sleeping on a sidewalk” June 3 - June 16, 2016 | No. 331 AMANDA WALDROUPE Street Roots The fact that safe, stable and affordable housing is an essential factor for a person's good health is increasingly acknowledged among housing and health care providers, policymakers and advocates. It is a conviction John Lozier has held for decades. Lozier is the founder and executive director of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a national nonprofit and membership organization that provides comprehensive health care to homeless people at primary care clinics the council either established or partners with. The council was founded in 1986 and since then, its network has grown to include more than 10,000 doctors, nurses, social workers and advocates. The council provides support, training and mentoring to more than 200 public health centers and hundreds of organizations throughout the country that receive grant funding from the federal government's Health Care for the Homeless program. Encouraging people experiencing homelessness to become actively involved in their health care is one of the council's most important accomplishments. The council was one of the first organizations to have a consumer advisory council; membership is entirely made up of homeless people who have received care at a clinic supported by the council. In its trainings and work with clinicians, council staff emphasize case management and close relationships between providers that ensure effective referrals and continuous care. It also helps homeless people regain their sense of humanity, Lozier said. "It's a great thing that desperately poor people and their providers are able to work so closely and so lovingly together," he said. Lozier will retire at the end of this year. He spoke with Street Roots about how providing health care to homeless people has evolved and what still needs to happen to help the country's most vulnerable citizens, including creating universal care. Amanda Waldroupe: When you started the organization, how radical of an idea was it to create a program specifically designed to provide health care to homeless people? John Lozier: It was an important initiative. The approach evolved from interest in the Robert Wood Johnson foundation [a private foundation dedicated to improving health and healthcare for Americans]. They established some demonstration programs that sought to establish something very simple - which was probably a radical idea at the time - that homeless people can be effectively engaged in primary care services. There were 19 original projects, and we served tens of thousands of people. John Lozier, founder of American non-profit National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Credit: Street Roots We've understood from the beginning that housing is the core problem. Housing is health care. You can't be well if you're sleeping on a sidewalk or in a crowded shelter. One of the main things that has happened is that we have refined those understandings. When we think about violence, we think about trauma and traumainformed care. And we think about cultural humility, an increasingly important approach to health care for the homeless. A.W.: It seems largely accepted that homelessness is a public health problem - not a public safety one, for example. But it took a long time, even, for public officials and the public to understand how much harm - physical, mental and otherwise - can be caused from being unable to get a full night of sleep. J.L.: Right. Sleep science is another place where our knowledge base has increased really dramatically in recent years - even more recently than the awareness about trauma. I think I would have to take issue with homelessness being a health issue. It's predominantly an economic issue. It has to do with the lack of affordable and appropriate and available housing for people, which in turn drives health problems. In 1987, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences published a report called "Homelessness, Health and Human Needs." It found that there are three relationships between homelessness and health. One is that poor health causes homelessness, for two reasons. One reason is economic: Most personal bankruptcies are health care bankruptcies. The other has to do with symptoms of illnesses and people who get squeezed out of housing. Secondly, homelessness, in turn, causes more health issues, with exposure to diseases in shelters and vermin on the streets and violence on the streets, and exposure to the elements. The third is that homelessness complicates all the elements and all the things you need to do to treat people. Add those up, and it's a major public health problem. A.W.: You talked about how our understanding of the health issues faced by homeless people has been refined. What do you think caused that refinement of understanding to take place? J.L.: Science is part of it. The science has evolved. That's not unimportant. Brain chemistry, neurology, the understanding about the effects of trauma in particular has gotten much deeper in the last decade. For us, a more important part of it has been asking people who have experienced homelessness to help define the issues. Our focus on violence, for example, achieved a new clarity for us when the National Con- THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED sumer Advisory Board put together a survey it does for people experiencing homelessness and across the country on violence. Almost everyone on the streets had witnessed violence in the course of their homelessness. A.W.: By involving homeless people so much - asking for their perspective, their input, their opinions - is to genuinely treat them as human beings, something I think a lot of people forget because of their appearance, because they live outside. J.L.: That's true. Yes. We have tried to involve our patients at every stage of our work, and that starts with outreach and really being sensitive to people's situations in the exam room. Much earlier in our career we talked about patient-centered care and goal setting. It goes on and on to patient satisfaction surveys to consumer advisory boards, which operate on a consensus model, so that their voices carry every bit as much weight as everybody else's. A.W.: I was reading the council's most recent quarterly newsletter, In Focus, about the importance and effectiveness of case management. The reason good case management is so effective is that it creates a one-on-one relationship and treats homeless people with compassion and respect. J.L.: Absolutely. It's not just compassion. It's respect. Those two together are what makes the difference. A.W.: How so? J.L.: Just feeling sorry for somebody - one way to express compassion can be condescending, for lack of a better word. But feeling respect for somebody is an expression of justice. It's an expression of understanding. It's an expression of the quality of all human beings in the face of our mortality. It's giving a fellow human being his or her due. We're not about charity. We're about justice. Ultimately, that bleeds over to our understanding of what health care reform still needs to be. It needs to be universal. At best, with the Affordable Care Act fully implemented, there's still 27 million who are uninsured in this country. A lot of those will be homeless people who for one reason or another aren't eligible or not enrolled. That goal we set for universal health care coverage and accessibility to quality care still remains elusive. A.W.: You've advocated for many years that housing is an essential part of health care, yet the funding for housing and health care are entirely distinct. How do you think health care programs, like hospitals or Medicaid, should use some of their funding to ensure their patients live in affordable housing? J.L.: Not enough is happening yet, but we are beginning to see some glimmers of the understanding that housing is health care and that it is a wise health care investment to make sure that patients are adequately housed. Some managed care organizations are spending their money on housing, or a less profound but equally important intervention like respite care. New York (Continued on page 11) �WORLD No masking Trump's popularity at Chinese Partytime Factory No. 331 | Ju n e 3 - J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 9 XIHAO JIANG NATALIE THOMAS INSP / Reuters There's no masking the facts. One Chinese factory is expecting Donald Trump to beat his likely U.S. presidential rival Hillary Clinton in the popularity stakes. At the Jinhua Partytime Latex Art and Crafts Factory, a Halloween and party supply business that produces thousands of rubber and plastic masks of everyone from Osama bin Laden to Spider-Man, masks of Donald Trump and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton faces are being churned out. Sales of the two presidential candidates are at about half a million each but the factory management believes Trump will eventually run out the winner. "Even though the sales are more or less the same, I think in 2016 this mask will completely sell out," said factory manager Jacky Chen, indicating a Trump mask. The firm was already beginning to stockpile the Republican candidate's mask, he said. Just like with the sales of the $4-$5 masks, Trump is now running nearly even with Clinton among likely U.S. voters ahead of the November election, a Reuters/Ipsos poll from May 11 showed. That is a big turnaround for the real estate billionaire once considered a fringe figure in the race, but now the Republican Party's presidential nominee. Trump has been less than positive in his comments about China, asserting that the world's number two economy had waged "economic war" against the United States, and used crafty business practices to steal American jobs. China has largely refrained from responding to Trump's barbs, but Finance Minister Lou Jiwei described him as "an irrational type" in an interview in April. Such issues are far removed from the Trump mask production line at the factory in Zhejiang province, south of Shanghai. Asked if he knew whose face he was making, 43-year-old worker Liu Dahua told reporters: "It's the president of the U.S., right?" ------------------------ The manager of Jinhua Partytime Latex Art and Crafts Factory wearing a mask of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump poses as he presents products to reporters at his factory's showroom in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, May 25, 2016. Credit: REUTERS/Aly Song A worker paints a mask of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Jinhua Partytime Latex Art and Crafts Factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, May 25, 2016. Credit: REUTERS/Aly Song A worker checks a mask of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Jinhua Partytime Latex Art and Crafts Factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, May 25, 2016. Credit: REUTERS/Aly Song THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 LOCAL June 3 - June 16, 2016 | No. 331 Now Hiring Caracole Caracole.org - Social Work Supervisor - Case Manager - Resident Assistant Cincinnati Union Bethel cinunionbethel.org - Payroll and Benefits Specialist - Special Needs Assistance - Family Service Worker - Teachers - Assistant Teachers - Cook Center for Chemical Addictions Treatment catsober.org - Dietary Supervisor - Nurse Manager - Two Staff Nurses - Controller - Patient Aide - Assistant V.P. Nursing Lighthouse Youth Services lighthouse.org - Multiple openings - Warehousemen - Sales - Assistance Managers Tender Mercies tendermerciesinc.org Project Connect cps-k12.org - Chief Operating Officer - Resident Aid - Case Manager Workplace Strategy - Campaign Ambassador - Grant writer - Success By 6 Associate Hamilton County Community United Way of Development - Teachers Greater Cincinnati hamiltoncountyohio. uwgc.org gov Shelter House - Vice President, Marketing - Multiple Openings shelterhousecinti.org - Senior Associate, NonLegal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati lascinti.org - Fellowship Sponsorship - Equal Justice Works - Human Resource Manager - Legal Assistant St. Vincent De Paul svdpcincinnati.org - Cashiers - Stock Clerks Our Daily Bread ourdailybread.us - Executive Director The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition would like to thank 4EG, The Lackman and Lachey’s Bar for sponsoring the 2015 Streetvibes Music Fest at the Woodward Theater! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �11 WORLD No. 331 | Ju n e 3 - J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 Obama administration issues warning to U.S. schools over transgender students’ rights ZACH MOBRICE T he U.S. Departments of Justice and Education unveiled "significant guidance" for public schools to follow in order to protect the civil rights of transgender students on 13 May. This guidance initiative utilizes the past reforms of Title IX-an amendment which bars discrimination in all federally funded schools-to defend transgender liberties and justify any precautions that should be taken in schools to best ensure these liberties. Amidst the recent controversy AMANDA WALDROUPE (Continued from page 8) state is beginning to spend some of its Medicaid dollars. The problem is that we have split social and health needs apart from each other in the major federal streams. HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) and HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) spend money on very different things. A lot of people have tried to put those together at the local level. We need to understand that housing is health care, and that if we want a healthy population, make sure that it is adequately housed. A.W.: There are at least two competing values for delivering good and effective health care. One is doing it out of the kind of compassion you're talking about. But health reform has generated a lot of conversations about creating health care programs that are "evidence based" or have "measurable outcomes," a way of measuring effec- CAMRI NELSON (Continued from page 7) kids running and mothers crying. “Once, we witnessed a man try to help a woman who was laying on the ground. In the process of helping her get up, their hands were ripped off by an explosion,” explained Fathallah. Fathallah also lost her father during that time due to a heart attack. According to his doctor he became sick due to all of the horrific things that he had witnessed during that time. Although that was a rough time for her, she is grateful to have survived the first few years in the camps. The camp in Lebanon where Ashkar lives was only built to house 10,000 people. However as of 2016 there are 25,000 people living there. They are expected to have 25,000 more by the end of the year. She claims that quality of life for the refugees is continually getting worse. “After 68 years, they are still treated as refugees. They cannot be engineers, doctors, or even taxi drivers. Their only options are to work as construction workers,” she said. The refugees have very limited rights. In addition to barely being able to work, they cannot own land, obtain social security, go to public hospitals, or get a good quality education. Kids who attend school from first to sixth Spare Change News the two departments found to be competent and effective civil rights initiatives. Among these initiatives are: how to best confirm a student's gender transition, how to communicate transgender status to students' parents, how to protect transgender privacy, and how to allow transgender students to fit into sex-segregated activities and facilities (such as athletics and restrooms) that align with their identity. Among the state public school policies exemplified in the guidance release is the Massachusetts Guidance, released in 2013. The Mass. Guidance, as expressed in the joint guidance, expresses the necessity for school communication with transgender students over how to best handle communication with par- created by restrictive bathroom laws in North Carolina, this set of guidelines serves to take a stand and help clarify what should be done for students whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex. "Educators want to do the right thing for students, and many have reached out to us for guidance on how to follow the law," said Secretary of Education, John King, Jr. "We must ensure that our young people know that whoever they are or wherever they come from, they have the opportunity to get a great education in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence." The guidance emphasizes that a student's gender identity should be treated as their sex and also states that students need only express to the school that they are transgender and wish to be respected as such; privacy and a comforting environment take precedent over documentation and formality. While not instituting any actual regulation or policy, the guidance showcases state examples of what tiveness, etc. Do you think anything is lost when we talk about health care like that? J.L.: It does matter. It has to do with the quality of those services. A lot of the focus of the ACA (Afordable Health Care) is on patient-centered medical homes. That's what we have been doing for 30 years now. We have been developing medical homes for people who are pretty much excluded anywhere else, (homes) that are compassionate and respectful. We look to what is achievable within the patient's own frame of reference. When we make a referral, we fully recognize the case management (needed) to help make that referral really work - that there are warm hand-offs, careful care transitions, discharge planning so that one person moves from one sort of provider to another. A.W.: What do you think needs to change in this country - socially, politically - for the United States to create universal health care? J.L.: It's the political power of the insurance companies and the for-profit health care providers. That's clear and simple, I think, to anybody who looks at it. They command something like 17 or 18 percent of the nation's economy. Somewhere between 20 and 30 percent of their profit goes into shareholder profit and other wasteful administrative costs. Health insurance executives are among the richest people in the country. It's the one percent defending itself. A.W.: The vacancy rate in Portland, like many other West Coast cities, is lower than two percent. The rental market is incredibly tight, and landlords are raising rent. Housing, even though it is something that everyone needs to survive, is driven by capitalism. J.L.: Absolutely. It's capitalism run amok. Our economy treats housing and health care as commodities, as things to be bought or sold for profit, not as the fundamental human right that we understand they are. They are necessary for our survival. They're so basic. I try to talk about Abraham Maslow's needs hierarchy. Shelter, food and clothing are right there at the bottom, before you can advance economically or psychologically. It's a fundamental need that the capitalist system does not accommodate willingly. The McKinney-Vento act [the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth] got passed in 1987 because Mitch Snyder was starving himself to death (in Washington, D.C.). Many people were expressing a lot of outrage of this sudden influx of homelessness when Reagan cut the HUD budget by 75 percent. What we lack now is that sort of powerful grassroots movement. We need to see more on that political front around housing. grade are usually in classes with 55 or more students. Many of them can’t even spell their name by the time that they are finished with school. Even those who don’t pass within their grade level are still allowed to move on. Ashkar was fortunate enough to get her education through private schooling. Her father, who is a mechanical engineer, illegally works for a company in Lebanon. Although he has a privileged position, he is still discriminated against in the work force. He has to work more hours than everyone else and get paid a lower salary. “That’s how Palestinian’s work, they work illegally and if they get paid less, that’s fine. At least they have work,” she said. Both Fatahallah and Ashkar would like to return to Palestine and rebuild their village but they know that it can’t be done alone. The Israelites have banned the refugees from returning to their land, but Ashkar stands by the Palestinian Right of Return. This political position states that they have the right to return home and claim their property back. Ashkar believes that if everyone comes together they can regain their land. Ashkar believes that the first step to regaining the land is to gather other supporters and to start talking to people about the cause. She hopes that Amer- icans will be able to influence the politicians to make a change. “I now believe in the Americans. This is something I would have not said two months ago. I now believe in them because I have seen many people who really support us and believe in our cause,” she said. (Continued on page 12) ------------------------ ------------------------ Slide show at Clifton Mosque Photo: Camri Nelson THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 Street Life: The liar and the thief LOCAL June 3 - June 16, 2016 | No. 331 RICARDO TAYLOR Contributing Writer & Streetvibes Distributor ‘A thief and liar are one in the same’. L ike six of one thing and half a dozen of another, it comes out the same; or equal if you will, only; is that so? The dynamics of the two is such that they are one and the same. Honored in the presence of gentlemen and respected amongst thieves. Ah, what a place to be. Standing as a force! A force of men; On the side of justice and right, while deceiving in the name of self-gain! Oh, really? For me the greatest theft which could ever be committed is a lie! Lies do not come in colors, or size, they come in deceit. For personal gain at others expense! With intent you come to me with an elaborate fabrication about nothing; or whatever; it’s a theft, simply, because, you have my confidence, yet ZACH MOBRICE (Continued from page 11) ents, in order to protect student safety and privacy. The guidance delves further into the issue of privacy, stating that transgender students shouldn't have their gender information collected unless absolutely necessary. you bring to me complete falsehood {a lie}, with no real concern for me, it’s only for your gain! A liar and a thief are the same. As life has come to me I have come upon a reality. One which has followed my thinking and actions, that reality is that as a man I would never have to lie! Oh, I don’t have to tell you anything! A lie as far I am concerned can only be of any value if it is to protect oneself from harm, or to protect another for that purpose, or to protect some property this would be the only excusable reason for lying. A liar and a thief are the same; so unbecoming of one’s nature! One’s character is the investment of his/her integrity. The honesty of one’s actions is reflected in their character, in the phases, of dealing with others. The sheer audacity of the lie is imprinted in the actions and motives of the perpetrator, who with the vigor of intent concludes to deceive! Too arrest your confidence for self-gain! What greater theft then to have you directed by falsehood? Leading the sheep to the slaughter! No regret or remorse from the perpetrator! Relishing in the gains from their deceit, the liar/thief, adorns themselves with pride and honor. How audacious! To believe that you are blessed from God for gains obtained without the shame of a lie! Such are the motives and drives for those who practice deceit. A thief and a liar are one in the same! A bit out of my usual compassion for the life of most street people I titled and wrote this essay not as an indictment against street people; in fact, often as not it’s the more successful individuals who might engage in those behaviors, yet, whoever, it impresses me as a violation towards others. This acknowledgement comes on the heels of a bill passed by the Massachusetts Senate, which effectively prohibits the discrimination of transgender citizens in public locales. The federal joint guidance also details how to efficiently curb and discipline the bullying of transgender students and how to handle complaints from the greater public. What the guidance says it cannot offer advice for is the handling of transgender students in single-sex classes and schools - as these are associated with private institutions - as well as fraternities and sororities. The Massachusetts Trans Political Coalition, a Boston-based advocacy and education group for transgender issues, praised the move. However, they feel more still needs to be done. "This is just a stepping stone," said Mason Dunn, executive director of the coalition. "It's part of the larger fight to change minds." ------------------------ Streetvibes distributor Ricardo Taylor Photo: Aimee Willhoite ------------------------ For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREET VOICE No. 331 | Ju n e 3 - J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 A Letter to the Editor: Response to Panhandler Like Me What an ironic juxtaposition! Jim Luken’s article about posing as a panhandler, across from Josh Spring’s headline, “Infuriating Fakeness.” Spring says, "I am infuriated with fake," but Luken’s scam, and the article he wrote about it, are much more infuriating. The people who passed Luken without “helping” him don’t need an excuse for enjoying their evening without interruption. They may be taking a break from caring for an aged parent or a house full of small children. They may have a stressful job, but it offers them the opportunity to help others through the United Way, or through making contributions to political candidates who fight for social justice, or to Doctors Without Borders, who help the sick in war-torn areas, or to local agencies like Welcome House and the FreeStore Foodbank. Maybe they work for women’s healthcare at Planned Parenthood, or donate veterinary services to families who might lose their pet because they can’t afford its care. Are those people bad people because they don’t want to open their wallet in the middle of the sidewalk to give to someone posing as needy? And think who you reach with this story – people who’ve bought Street Vibes from a vendor. Do they deserve your guilt trip? Maybe the person who really needs a lesson in compassion is Jim Luken. - Ann Mitchell ------------------------ Ferguson and the Others Unarmed But Dead Death still came Life taken by whom And for what Shots were fired Innocent men were killed Time after time police brutality Bad Judgement, Racism Cops not indicted Cops not brought to trail Police guilty of policing themselves Riots for Justice Police chiefs and the justice system Not being responsible for police actions Unfair killings Police should maintain to restore human dignity of all those they are sworn to protect and serve Law enforcement is supposed to Be a part of the community Not killers in the communities Gardner - Dead Martin – Dead Brown – Dead Wilson – Dead The grand jury and our justice system Must prevail KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE CAMPAIGN MOTHER GOOSE CRUZ DROPS OUT Teddy Cruz got Indiana's bad news, And the results only made him cry. Onto TV he flew and curtly withdrew, But said: "I'm still the right guy!" WARNING ALL VOTERS Voters be wary. Voters be quick. Trumpian rantings Can make you sick. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer A Missing Ruby SINCE BECOMING A STREETVIBES DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE HOMELESS COALTION I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING A LADY I KNOW SHOULD HAVE BEEN A POLITICIAN THIS LADY INSPIRED PEOPLE EVERYTIME THEY'D SEE HER, SHE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE WHETHER THEY'D HAD A GOOD OR BAD DAY AND HAD WALKED A COUNTRY MILE NOT ONLY WAS THIS LADY AN UPLIFT AND SPIRITUAL, SHE BECAME A POSITIVE JOY SHE BECAME MY HOLIDAY BAKER OF CAKES AND PIES COULD SHE COOK,"OH BOY!!!" I KNOW WHAT A DIAMOND IN THE RUFF IS BUT I NEVER MET A REAL RUBY AS A GEM THEY'LL FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR HER WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE SO WE HANGING BY A LIMB MEETING MRS. RUBY WITH HER LAUGHTER ABOUT HOW SHE FORGOT MY NAME MADE ME KNOW AND BELEIVE THAT LIVING LIFE WITH A SMILE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME WE WILL MISS MRS. RUBY SHARING RECEIPTS FOR LIVING AND HOME COOKED MEALS I WILL MISS STANDING LISTENING TO HER HELP PEOPLE WITH FOOD, SHELTER WHATEVER KIND OF ORDEAL GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE AT THE COALTION WILL NEVER FORGET YOU YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED EVERYTIME WE COME FOR HELP NO MATTER WHAT WE DO GOOD LUCK ON RETIREMENT WHICH IS WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT SLEEP AND EAT EVERYDAY JUST REMEMBER YOU HAVE A PLACE AT THE CINCINNATI HOMELESS COALTION AND HURRY BACK I SAY!!!! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES June 3 - June 16, 2016 | No. 331 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 100 Across 1. Soft surface texture 4. Small viper 7. Stop 11. Cuban currency 12. Singing voice 13. Assumed name 15. Egg-laying 17. Paris transport system 18. Guided 19. Promptly 21. Tool used to cut gears 22. Metal-bearing mineral 23. Delicate 24. Desperate 27. Elfin 28. Niche 30. Region 33. Seep 36. Call forth 38. Adjacent 39. Sign of assent 40. Portent 41. Luxury watercraft 43. Weaving machine 45. Salacious 46. Permissible difference 48. Astern 50. Bow 51. Champion 53. Append 56. Apposite 58. Rough shelter 60. Charge for professional services 61. Water nymph 64. Marked by care and persistent effort 66. Rhetorical device 67. Stupefy 68. Item of footwear 69. Was cognizant or aware 70. Golf peg 71. Consumed Down 1. Not at any time 2. Stage whisper 3. Fizzy soft drink 4. Distant in manner 5. Feat to attract attention 6. Assigned position 7. Amateur radio operator 8. Beer 9. Supple 10. Tropical starchy tuberous root 11. Field sport 12. Stream or brook 14. Weep 16. Part of a church 20. Poem 25. Frozen water 26. Rebellion 27. Sire 28. Remake 29. Turn or place at an angle 30. One, some, every or all 31. Actual 32. Deliberate act of omission 34. Merely 35. Menagerie 37. Conclude 42. Number in a brace 44. Swallow 49. Nutrition 51. Hurry 52. Result 53. Currently in progress 54. Tie in tennis 55. Writing table 56. Colony insect 57. Open land for recreational use 59. Compass direction 62. Simian 63. Condensation 65. Country, initially SODOKU PUZZLE NO 230 - MEDIUM PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 330 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 99 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 229 - MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �RESOURCES No. 331 | Ju n e 3 - J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 6 Shelter: Women and Children Central Access Point 381-SAFE Bethany House 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road, Cinti, OH 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Mercy Franciscan at St. John 15 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 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 535-2719 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 981-5800 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 1805 Dalton Avenue, Cinti, OH 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 411 Gest St. Cinti, Ohio 45203 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Parkway Center 661-4620 Prospect House 921-1613 Shelter: Both Starting Over 961-2256 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Lighthouse on Highland (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave Cincinnati, OH 45219 569-9500 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) Housing: 241-2965 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401 Reading Road, Cinti, Ohio 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 Mercy Franciscan at St. John 981-5800 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Emmanuel Community Center 241-2563 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Peaslee Neighborhood Center Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries 771-4800 Healing Connections 751-0600 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Advocacy Northern Kentucky Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 Faces Without Places 363-3300 Stop AIDS 421-2437 St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Brighton Center 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 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Health Center for Respite Care 621-1868 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 $100 for 26 issues 621-5514 215 E. 14th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Hamilton/Middletown 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 352-6364 McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti 352-6363 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Mercy Franciscan at St. John 981-5800 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 2401-, 2411 Reading Rd, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave Cincinnati, OH 45220 961-4080 961-0600 2825 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Cincinnati Health Network $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation 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 859-491-3335 859-572-6202 �16 S June 3 - June 16, 2016 | No. 331 treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2016 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 June 3-June 16, 2016 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director What Would It Take to Seriously Reduce Poverty Series Ends with the Final Community Issues Forums of the 2-15-2016 Season Pg 3: Hiroshima in Context Pg 4: Collaborating with the Enemy Pg 5: Acting and Action Pg 6: GCHC Pg 7: Judge Nathaniel Jones Answered the Call Pg 8: Health and Homelessness Pg 9: No Masking Trump’s Popularity at Chinese Partytime Factory Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Obama Administration Issues Warning to U.S. Schools Over Transgender Students’ Rights Pg 12: Street Life Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 3-June 16, 2016 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Michael Earl Patton Caroline Cory Dr. Mark Mussman Camri Nelson Ricardo Taylor Ann Mitchell Willa Denise Jones Kim Green U.S. Government Aimee WillhoitePDF Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimee Willhoite Ann Mitchell Barack Obama Bill Woods Camri Nelson Caroline Cory Donald Trump Dr. Mark Mussman Hiroshima Josh Spring Kim Green LGBTQ+ Michael Earl Patton Nathaniel Jones Palestine Ricardo Taylor Schools U.S. Government Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/4d0061975782eb935fbbaa1d85fcc22e.pdf 3f69aa5af18b6ca786c2db39ef17388b PDF Text Text June 30th - July 13th 2017 | Vol. 20 Issue 40 (No. 359) a d v o c at 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 Injustice Served | 8 Streetvibes distributor James Brown watches protesters outside the courthouse after the retrial of Ray Tensing was declared a mistrial PHOTO BY A.J. NEWBERRY Injustice Served On Friday, inside from the pouring rain, Mayor Cranley offered his condolences to the Dubose family and told media outlets not to fear any reactions from the black community, saying “I don’t want to make any predictions...other than to know that our police department will insure that it’s peaceful and safe, but also protect people’s right to register their anger.” Business owners were scared— though many of them arrived over a decade after the riots of 2001. But Cranley reaffirmed the patrons, “Downtown and OTR is open for business. My wife and I will spending the evening here.” Anyone who lives downtown, however, knows that any threats from black Cincinatians on businesses have been excised, the idea removed from their minds by way of criminalized fear. The thought... (Continued on page 8) This issue sponsored by (Former) Judge Mark P. Painter Inside this issue: Local: David Knoll | 2 $2.00 donation Local: Public Opposition To Pipeline Continues | 3 Local : Of Course It's Nice| 5 Local: Fentanyl Found in Marijuana and Cocaine | 7 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org �2 LOCAL Our Homeless Coalition Took a Win! J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 JOSH SPRING O n June 21, 2017, a motion brought forth by Yvette Simpson and Wendell Young to restore $350,000 to Human Services passed with an 8 to 1  vote.  A long-term motion brought forth by David Mann for the City to fully restore Human Services to at least 1.5% of the General Fund by five years from now was passed with a unanimous vote. Thirteen years ago the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition started the fight to prevent the elimination of City of Cincinnati Human Services Funds.  Over these difficult years we have attended many very long hearings, held press conferences, rallied, packed chambers, spoke at hearings, created strategy, published statements, sent emails, made phone calls and paid a host of council-people visits. Some years we stopped the attempts to eliminate Human Services funding all-together. Some years we stopped proposed cuts. Other years we lessened cuts.  We have never been quiet when it comes Executive Director to Human Services and our resolve has only increased.  Finally, two years ago we convinced City Council to begin restoring Human Services. Now this year, in the midst of a projected budget deficit, we convinced City Council that the work to restore Human Services to at least 1.5% must continue. Today Council restored $350,000 to Human Services for fiscal year 2018, thus increasing the 2017 fiscal year level by $350,000. We have to keep pushing.  We still have over $2 million to go before hitting 1.5% and we need to go higher than 1.5%, the need is certainly far greater. Cincinnati has the second worst rate of child-poverty in this country and 30% of our People are trying to survive below the federal poverty line, which by the way is based on a 54-year old ill-founded formula that says a family of four with an income greater than $24,600 is not experiencing poverty.   Given this, plus the inherent importance of our People, even 1.5% is nowhere near adequate. In addition to significantly increasing the city’s Human Services Fund, we need to create a local affordable housing trust fund to generate local revenue to build new affordable housing and prevent the loss of existing affordable housing. And we must end the criminalization of People experiencing homelessness- just to name a couple items from the long list of to-dos. But this week, we have taken a win with two passed ordinances for continued restoration. Thank you to our many Member-Organizations, their staff, clients, volunteers, board members and all of our supporters who have worked together to accomplish this win.  Good job to Council-Persons supporting the effort to restore Human Services over the last three years and to the makers of these two most recent motions:  Yvette Simpson, Wendell Young and David Mann. [Editor’s note: The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition does not endorse political candidates.] Remembering David Knoll Coalition Board Member Emeritus and Gentle Giant ALICE SKIRTZ Contributing Writer In September 2016 when the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition asked David Knoll (1946-2017) to serve another term on the Board, he demurred and said he would continue to support the work of the Coalition but was trying to retire. As he had served since 2004 the Board established the position of Emeritus Board Member designating David its first recipient at the Annual Meeting October 19, 2016. David Knoll passed away May 17, 2017 survived by his wife Patricia, a sister, brother, and nieces and nephews. In 2002, David retired from the Social Security Administration (SSA) after 30 years of employment continuing for decades of volunteer work assisting those who experience homelessness, disabling conditions, including Veterans, in addition to his dedication to his lifelong interests in camping and stewardship of the environment. A veteran of the U.S. Army he had served in Military Intelligence in Vietnam and Germany. David began volunteering with the Greater Cincinnati Homeless David Knoll Coalition in 2002 joining the Coalition by way of membership through Coalition-member Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) and host congregation Church of the Redeemer. David held leadership positions in the Coalition, IHN, and the Vestry of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer. David also was active in advocacy for federal employees having served as President of National Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Key Beck Reception: Derrick Hudson, Iolanda Barton, Patricia J. Brown, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper Association of Federal Employees (NAFE) related to his many years of employment with SSA and leadership in several employee organizations. He organized the earliest local “Stand Down for Homeless Veterans” chairing or co-chairing but always as a participant veteran. All of these accomplishments of advocacy and leadership in services for those experiencing homelessness and/or disabling conditions belie the ‘gentle giant’ lurking behind David’s substantial skills at untangling bureaucratic snafus at SSA - he resolved hundreds of complications arising in claims for Social Security, SSI, Veterans benefits, etc. with aplomb - calming frustration and despair for all whose lives he touched. David brought the same calming wisdom to the boards and voluntary organizations he served in retirement - especially beloved by Veterans and homeless and formerly homeless individuals and families. David’s funeral on May 25, (Continued on page 12) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Alice Skirtz, Michael Earl Patton, Dr. Mark Mussman, Nick Shellenberger, Bill Woods, Dick Croy, Key Beck, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones Photography/ Artwork: Michael Earl Patton, Aaron Carter, Dr. Mark Mussman, Dailykos.com, Amy Thompson/ WVXU, AJ Newberry, Phillimag. com, National Coalition of AntiViolence Programs, Bill Woods Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 35 9 3 LOCAL Public Opposition to Pipeline Continues | J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 MICHAEL EARL PATTON I Contributing Writer t is because of public opposition that Duke Energy has not yet obtained approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board for their proposed 20-inch diameter natural gas pipeline extending from an existing pipeline north of I-275 to either Fairfax (the preferred route) or Norwood (the alternate). Duke held three public informational meetings in March and June of 2016. On September 13 they filed their initial application for the pipeline, along with a request that certain provisions of the Ohio Administrative Code be waived. Shortly thereafter, the citizens group Neighbors Opposed to Pipeline Extension, or NOPE, filed their petition and objected. Duke has amended its plan twice since then but the basic concept of a large pipeline going through residential neighborhoods has remained. With each revision the Ohio Public Siting Board, or OPSB, has required Duke to have an additional public meeting. I attended the latest public meeting on June 15 in Blue Ash to see if the opposition, about which I had written earlier, is still strong or is tiring out. Opposition to the pipeline is still extremely strong and I could see no sign of it weakening. In fact, I thought that the arguments presented against the pipeline were not only heart-felt but also well-articulated. By the time I left almost a hundred people had signed up to testify about the pipeline. People speaking both for and against the proposed pipeline OPSB invited attendees to share their concerns Credit: Michael Earl Patton were invited to speak, but only one person out of the several to whom I listened were supportive – and that person was the president of the Ohio Gas Association. If you did not want to speak the OPSB invited you to sign your name as being either for or against the pipeline. I signed one of the sheets for those who opposed the pipeline. I then asked about the number of people who had signed expressing support. The woman at the table said that they hadn’t needed to bring that sheet out yet because after over two hours no one had asked to sign in support of the pipeline. According to NOPE (www. nopecincy.org) Amberley Village, Blue Ash, Cincinnati, Deer Park, Evendale, Golf Manor, Hamilton County, Madeira, Pleasant Ridge Community Council, Reading, and Sycamore Township have all filed comments with the OPSB objecting to the pipeline. Sycamore Township even sent letters to all of its 20,000 residents stating its opposition. Duke Energy says that it needs the pipeline in order to get rid of its propane peaking plants, upgrade aging infrastructure, and to better balance supply coming in from the north and the south. There are further plans for additional pipelines after this one, the details of which Duke Energy so far has refused to disclose. The propane peaking plants are for use during the coldest days when the capacity of the existing pipelines is not sufficient for all the natural gas that is needed. Propane is mixed in with the natural gas. This works because the heating value of propane is about 2-1/2 times that of natural gas for the same volume. It is not clear why Duke is adamant about getting rid of the propane peaking plants. Their application stated that mixing propane in with natural gas might cause problems with natural gas vehicles, but did not state what these problems might be or how many natural gas vehicles there are in the area. The opposition was concerned about the safety of the pipeline, which will operate at 400 psi (roughly 10 times the pressure in a car tire). This is indeed high, more than a hundred times higher than the pressure as it comes into your house. Even without ignition, a rupture at this pressure will cause a sizeable crater. Other concerns were about the tearing up of yards of homes, businesses, and service buildings, even preventing vehicle access onto one’s property during the time of construction. Some questioned the need, saying that the propane peaking plants could be upgraded far cheaper than the cost of the new pipeline, maybe just one tenth the cost. The cost for new infrastructure, or to upgrade old, is borne by the users and at an estimated pipeline cost of $100 million, the amount saved would be significant. Myself, I would turn the argument about getting rid of the propane (Continued on page 10) Anti-Pipeline posters and literature being shared Open Forum for people to share their concerns Credit: Michael Earl Patton Credit: Michael Earl Patton “Breakdown Stereotypes” “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Dr. Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 �No. 35 9 5 LOCAL Of Course It’s Nice | J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 DR. MARK MUSSMAN Y Staff Writer ou know that feeling when you slip into bed with clean sheets and pillow slips? People who are experiencing homelessness aren’t afforded that luxury but still try to live as comfortably as possible. The sad thing is, there are many barriers that prevent people from obtaining housing, and many more that keep people from staying in their home. Whether it be a lack of tenant protections, or the fact that we are 40,000+ units short on affordable housing in Hamilton County, it all adds up to a very unstable situation. Yesterday, I was giving a tour to University of Cincinnati Medical students in hopes of showing them what’s happening in the neighborhood, and also giving them an idea of the resources people who are experiencing homelessness have in Over-the-Rhine. Since so many organizations have been forced out by the Impaction Ordinance and developer pressure, a leisurely walk turned into a hike around the southern and northern parts of the neighborhood. As we walked between agencies, I pointed out some of the areas important to community members. In the end, we didn’t even make it to Washington Park, because we had to walk so far north to get to the McMicken Health Clinic. On our way to the clinic, we stopped by the Mary Magdelen Shower House and Ziegler Park. As you may know, the Shower House is getting an upgrade, moving into the St. Anthony building (St. Francis Seraph) where they will have two additional showers for women. We also stopped by the St. Anthony building under construction and talked about the Center for Respite Care, who is moving into there as well. The medical students expressed that they care deeply about the whole person – what are the conditions that lead them to the hospital, and where do they go after they are released? The Center for Respite Care helps Dr. Mark talking about the St. Anthony renovations Credit: Aaron Carter people recuperate after visiting the hospital. It must be frustrating to doctors to repeatedly see a patient for preventable illnesses that are exacerbated by homelessness, only to release them to the streets again. This is why the Center for Respite Care is so very important. For about 4 million dollars of private donations in renovation, the St. Anthony building will house the Franciscan Haircuts for the Heart, The Mary Magdelen House, The Center for Respite Care, a nurse’s station, a pantry, a soup kitchen, and a flexible shelter. These agencies perform literal life-saving acts, and it’s amazing to see how many people are coming together to make it happen. In contrast, Ziegler Park is getting a 30+ million-dollar renovation by our city’s preferred developer, 3CDC. Of course the new park renovations are very nice. While it’s not finished yet, the parking garage, pool, and spray ground have opened. While there is some controversy about the pool, regarding memberships, management, etc., that’s not my focus right now. Community members without official bathing suits are being forced to tag team bathing suits SprayGround at Ziegler Park Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman so that they can at least get some time in the pool. Like at McKee Recreation Center in Northside, we probably could use a swimming suit donation box for the kids in the neighborhood. The issue with the renovation of the park is similar to the Streetcar – tenants to hopefully save their homes. Every time 3CDC puts a multimillion dollar project in the neighborhood it jeopardizes the housing of people with low incomes. If 3CDC truly cared about people in the neighborhood they would create affordable housing, rather than these half million dollar (and more) condos. Just a final note on current displacement. I was asked to update on Kroger by an avid reader of Streetvibes who was concerned about the Vine Street (Over-the-Rhine) Kroger possibly closing. In an article I wrote a few months ago, I talked about the rumors that the (still nonexistent) condos across from Kroger wanted to shut Kroger down because “they didn’t want to see people selling drugs out of their windows” in front of Kroger. Even though I contacted Kroger and asked them about the rumors, and they said they had “no plans to close the store at this time,” it was recently announced that Kroger will be closing the store in the next two years. In the announcement, Kroger said they have been working on the project for several years – to build a new Kroger grocery downtown. This will double the walking distance for many Over-the-Rhine residents and worse of all, Kroger will be donating the Vine Street store to 3CDC. Pool at Ziegler Park Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman do you think 3CDC wants to spend millions of dollars so that people who are living in poverty can enjoy the changes, or do you think they envision more rich people moving into the neighborhood? It’s obvious by their track record of displacement of economic others that these changes are only for the rich. This puts us, low income residents, in a true bind. We too are enticed by the shiny new park, the shiny new streetcars, the shiny new restaurants – but for many of us, the restaurants are economically out of reach ($15 for a hotdog? No thanks!). Even worse, however, is that they “upgrades” to Ziegler Park have now been documented as a reason landlords are raising rents in the area. Families who are being gentrified out of the neighborhood, are now scrambling to find housing while the Coalition helps organize the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Let’s not forget who 3CDC is – the board is handpicked by the Mayor. They operate as a member organization, collecting dues from their corporate members – P&G, 5/3 Bank, Macy’s, and of course, the Kroger Corporation. They’ve received nearly a billion in City funding, state tax credits, and other public support. They have bought hundreds of buildings in Over-the-Rhine and they sit on them vacant for years. So what does it mean that one of 3CDC’s stated goals on entering Over-theRhine was to close all the corner stores – the ones with food and drinks, force us to shop at Kroger, and then close our only grocery store in the neighborhood? This is indirect gentrification. -------------------------------------- �6 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 �No. 35 9 7 LOCAL Fentanyl found in Marijuana and Cocaine | J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 NICK SHELLENBERGER Contributing Writer F entanyl, the dangerous synthetic opiate, has been found in marijuana and cocaine in our city. Hamilton County Coroner, Lakshmi Sammarco did not specify in last week’s press conference how many cases involving opiates and marijuana were found. However, it was a chance to confirm with Sen. Rob Portman that this once distant fear is now a reality. “We have seen fentanyl mixed with cocaine, we have also seen fentanyl mixed with marijuana,” Sammarco said during a joint press conference with Sen. Rob Portman. This year is on pace to be the deadliest in the opiate epidemic. According to the coroner, nearly 300 overdoses so far this year have been caused by opioid abuse. This is compared to 403 overdoses for all of 2016. The silent killer in all of this is Fentanyl and sometimes Carfentanil. Fentanyl is a synthetic pain medication that is 100 times more potent than morphine. Carfentanil is believed to be 10,000 times more potent than morphine and contact alone with this variant can cause death. “Essentially, the message we’ve tried to get out there, is if you are using any form of street drugs, count on them having some form of synthetic opioid mixed in,” Sammarco said. Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus, who is also chair to the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition, spoke recently about this new finding. “The arrival of synthetic opioids has raised the stakes in this already deadly epidemic. It has made the work of the coalition in distributing Narcan, connecting to treatment, reducing the supply, and preventing drug use more important than ever.” This is not only a local problem but a nationwide one as well. It’s no secret this country is more divided than ever in recent memory but combating this epidemic is one of the few bipartisan issues on the table. Senator Portman teamed with Senator Klobuchar from Minnesota and a few others to propose new legislation on fighting the synthetic drug epidemic. “It’s called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and it makes the federal government a better partner with state and local government and the nonprofits out there doing the hard work to begin to reverse the tide of this addiction.” Hamilton County is one of the leaders in fighting this epidemic with the creation of such organizations as the Heroin Task Force and Heroin Coalition. Commissioner Driehaus spoke on the importance of the HC. "One of our primary goals is to connect people with treatment.  The Heroin Coalition has pursued several strategies to make it easier to get people into treatment, whether that be working with the hospitals to develop a protocol for referral to addiction treatment after an Emergency Room visit, funding additional capacity at area treatment providers, or opening the Heroin recovery pod in the (Continued on page 10) Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco(L) and Senator Rob Portman(R) hold a press conference to speak on the drug overdose crisis in Ohio. The Hamilton County Heroin Coalition is fighting the drug on all fronts including police, the coroner's office, hospitals and the faith community Credit: Dailykos.com Credit: Ann Thompson / WVXU TAKING ON GERRYMANDERING IN OHIO AND ELSEWHERE BILL WOODS Contributing Writer A s reformers in Ohio collect signatures for a state constitutional amendment proposal that would establish a fair process for drawing Congressional Districts, they can take heart that steps to end gerrymandering have gone forward in other states across the country. In fact, the U.S Supreme Court just announced it would hear a case involving the current Wisconsin redistricting map that insures a Republican majority of legislative seats in that state. The Court will take up this case in the fall. The Supreme Court has never ruled on whether gerrymandering to create safe seats for a political party violates the Constitution. Although the Court has determined that legislative districts drawn to protect racial discrimination are unconstitutional, it previously has not intervened when states put in place partisan redistricting processes. Throughout our history, each state has been responsible for devising its own election procedures. What has happened to bring this long accepted partisan strategy to the forefront of the political reform agenda? First of all, politics in 2017 has become intensely partisan to the point of promoting party success to the detriment of legislative compromise and governing. Secondly, computers have turned creating gerrymandered districts into a science. Techies and data crunchers can have a field day devising new district maps that greatly favor one party even if the other party is equal or even stronger in overall state vote tallies. Finally, the Republican Party made it a top priority to gain control of as many state redistricting processes as possible after the last U.S Census in 2010. The results were Redistricting maps like Wisconsin's and Ohio's. With Republicans in charge of drawing Wisconsin's district maps in 2011, the 2012 election results revealed their handiwork. While Democratic candidates won over 50-percent of the statewide vote, Republicans captured 60 of the 99 legislative seats. This example of extreme gerrymandering prompted reformers to legally challenge the process, and they won their case in a Federal District Court. The case, Gill v. Whitford, then was appealed to U.S. Supreme Court that has agreed to hear arguments this autumn. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Other states that have forged ahead on redistricting reform are California, Arizona, and Florida. Californians passed an initiative in 2008 that established a citizen commission to draw new district maps after every Census, and Arizonans followed the same course several years later. In both states, these nonpartisan commissions receive high marks from reformers and citizens in general, but the Arizona Legislature did challenge the constitutionality of such a commission. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, ruled that such bodies passed constitutional muster. Voters in Florida passed a state constitutional amendment banning the process of gerrymandering. Reformers, however, then had to go to court when the Legislature ignored this law and created highly partisan districts. Oregon, like Ohio is moving toward reforming its Congressional district map making after succeeding in creating a fair process for drawing state elective districts. -------------------------------------- �8 PHOTO ESSAY Injustice Served Photo Credits: A.J. Newberry J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 (Continued from cover) thought of rioting or even protesting in a time where an unexpected traffic stop can lead to your death. Fear and distrust of those who are supposed to protect us has simply removed the right of people to “register their anger.” But the fight continues. Pride and Prejudice The call and response went: “Homophobia: Not Okay. Transphobia: Not Okay. Black-phobia: Not Okay. It’s not okay ya’ll: Not Okay.” Saturday’s Pride Parade comes at a time when, across the country, millions are at daily risk for losing their healthcare and homes by means of deportation and gentrification. Oppression of persons who need affordable housing are beginning to gain as much significance as the longstanding racial and gender divides, and the guiding principles of Black Lives Matter Cincinnati include the all struggles of the working class. The utterence of Dubose’s name at the Pride Parade was necessary for those who believe in equality. According to the Department of Justice in 2015, 59.2% of hate crimes in the United States were targeted because of race/ethnicity/ ancestry bias. The 3,444 incidents is likely lower than the actual number and does not include acquitted cops like Jeronimo Yanez who killed Philando Castile. Over-The-Rhine is the city’s economic center and will be protected at all costs. That mayor Cranley would dignify the fears of patrons and business owners is blantant disregard for the black community that has been pushed and priced out of those neighborhoods. For more information on upcoming actions visit: www.facebook.com/BlackLivesMatterCincinnati/ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 35 9 | J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 PHOTO ESSAY 9 Black Lives Matter Cincinnati was invited to join the Pride Parade by Clifton United Methodist Church. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 LOCAL Pretend That Didn’t Happen J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 DICK CROY B ack in the ‘40s and early ‘50s when my younger brother and I were living in the country and had no one else to play with, we engaged in elaborate reenactments of the cowboy movies Dad took us to. We didn’t try to replicate the plots, just assumed the characters. I was Roy Rogers, which meant Dougie had to be Gene Autry. These immersive performances would often go on all day, and Mom would usually play along. “Better git in here to the chuckwagon,” she might call us for lunch, or, “If yer fixin’ t’ herd them cattle, you’d better git some good grub in yer bellies first.” We loved that she enlivened the drama – except when we found her performance too over the top Contributing Writer to plow into the first floor of the most heavily defended building in the world. Without even scraping the lawn.” As the world spirals ever more completely into chaos it behooves all of us to try to learn what’s really going on, but where are we to turn for true and unbiased information? I recently read an informative, well-written article in The New Yorker (Mar. 6: “Active Measures” – the magazine subtitled it “Trump, Putin and Russia’s Grand Strategy”) that it took three seasoned writers to assemble, but when I’d finished it I had to ask myself, so how much of this is true? How can you honestly report on world events while pretending a massive 9/11 cover-up hasn’t been going on since the Twin Towers and WTC Building 7 were brought down by some kind of controlled demolition? Much of the world knows this, and the mainstream even for us. Then I’d say to Dougie, “Pretend that didn’t happen,” and we’d resume as if the offending line reading had never occurred. Or if I blew a line, say, or the story took a wrong turn: “Okay, pretend that didn’t happen.” That worked for us, and apparently the mainstream media thinks it works for them too as they pretend to keep us “informed.” “Okay, pretend the House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations didn’t conclude in ’79 that Kennedy was probably assassinated as the result of a conspiracy.” “Pretend that a conspiracy by the mafia and the government to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t supported in the verdict of a 1998 wrongful death court case brought by the King family. After all, that finding of a Memphis jury was later rejected by the  United States Department of Justice, due to insufficient evidence.” Imagine that. “Okay, pretend that 19 Muslim hijackers with box cutters took control of four airliners and outfoxed the world’s most sophisticated air defense system to bring down two skyscrapers in virtual free fall – to say nothing of the third which also collapsed into its own footprint without benefit of airplane contact soon afterwards. Then, when our air defense should have been on the highest possible alert, a guy who’d never piloted an airliner flew undetected to the nation’s capital and executed a maneuver that experienced pilots say is impossible, The additional natural gas needed for winter use is stored in caverns and the amount that can be stored is limited. So far there hasn’t been a shortage because recent winters have been relatively warm, or just a little colder than average. If a winter is very cold there won’t be enough natural gas stored to both heat houses and to generate electricity. Having plenty of pipeline capacity will be of no use if there isn’t the gas to fill the pipelines. But propane is stored separately. It would be available when it is needed most. Several links about pipeline safety and past accidents are in NOPE’s website. To contact the OPSB and make a comment go to http://www. opsb.ohio.gov/opsb/ and click on “Pending Cases.” The Duke Energy pipeline extension is case number 16-0253-GA-BTX. Clicking on that case will take you to a summary page. On the summary page there is a link to “File a public comment.” The QRTs include a police officer, EMS responder, and a social worker, (Continued from page 7) who visit people who have been Hamilton County Justice Center. revived with Narcan within a few One of the most successful strategies days of the overdose event, and has been the Quick Response Teams attempt to connect that individual pioneered by Colerain Township.  with treatment.  The Colerain QRT has referred 80% of the people it contacts into treatment.” In order to combat this epidemic a collaborative effort is needed by organizations and politicians. It does not seem the number of overdoses is going down any time soon and with reports that other street drugs such as cocaine and marijuana are being laced with these deadly synthetics opiates; the future looks even more dangerous. MICHAEL EARL PATTON (Continued from page 3) peaking plants on its head. I wrote recently about a shortage of natural gas that I see coming. Production of natural gas is going down yet many coal-fired electrical power plants were replaced with natural gas-fired plants. NICK SHELLENBERGER (Continued on page 12) -------------------------------------- September 8 - 30, 2017 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 35 9 LOCAL And Then the Parade Goes On | J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 KEY BECK T his past weekend, the LGBTQIA Pride parade marched throughout the streets of Cincinnati accompanied by rainbow flags, brightly-colored balloons, smiling faces, and happy people cheering. The Cincinnati Pride parade is one of few city-funded/sponsored events so it was enjoyable to see so many people filling the streets with their love, support, and in a few minor cases dissatisfaction. The streets were blocked with barricades and there were people lining the sidewalks should to shoulder, but that didn’t stop the occasional car from trying to drive through. To an uninformed person, this could be any parade for any celebration, but it was for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Nonbinary/GNC folks. As I stated in my previous article, LGBT Pride celebrations were started to honor and recognize the history, struggle and fight that LGBTQ people had to endure throughout history. All that came to head during a queer uprising in 1969, which we refer to as the Stonewall Riots. Police raided a queer-welcoming bar and specifically arrested women dancing together, trans women of color, and known queer sex workers. As they were forcefully arresting a person, someone threw a brick at the cops. A uproar occurred throughout Manhattan, but Christopher Street (Stonewall) was seen as the epicenter of this new Queer Liberation Movement. A movement started by queer and trans women of color. Why the need to review this historical event and what does it have to do with contemporary times, or this year’s parade? People often fail to see the connection between the Queer Liberation movement and the Black Liberation movement. It wouldn’t be a conjecture to say that people often fail to see how all Liberation movements are connected regardless of temporal, geographical and cultural barriers. It is important to recognize that although their core missions and demographic makeup may differ, they are all fighter for basic human rights. The queer and trans women of color who started pride were routinely harassed and abused by the police, let alone the majority of society. Gender nonconforming (GNC) sex workers were routinely beat up, sexually harassed, blackmailed and extorted by the police. They were not only oppressed and brutalized in public, but also in private spaces. Cops would bust clubs and bars that were frequented by same sex people. If you were caught dancing too closely, or wearing clothes that didn’t match your assumed gender you were fined (and sometimes arrested). Often, we Contributing Writer Image of new Pride flag via its designing company, Tierney. The inclusion of black and brown bars have stirred up cotreversy withing the LGBT community. Photo credit: Phillymag.com hear people say things like, “why do they have to flaunt their sexuality?” or “Why can’t they just keep it behind clothes doors?” Well, to answer this question, historically being behind clothes doors didn’t allow you any more freedom than being in public. color. The queer and trans people of color were tired of not being treated human, so they took to the streets. These same queer people were not missing during Civil Rights rallies either. Notable queers of color James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Josephine LGBT homicides by race and sexuality/ type of attacks Credit: National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs The “official” decriminalization of same-sex intercourse didn’t start happening until around 1962. That means that before this time, I could literally hear about you having sex with a same-sex partner and report you to the police. The idea of criminalizing and demonizing LGBT people for their sexual orientation is nothing new or ancient. There are still states that have some form of Sodomy Law (criminalization of same-sex intercourse) in place. Heck, there are definitely laws in place that allows for LGBTQ to be legally fired, evicted, and denied care for their identity. These are all legal forms of oppression and brutality that disproportionately affect people of color, especially LBGTQ people of Baker and Bayard Rustin were leaders during the Civil Rights Movement. So historically, the two movements have always been supportive of each other, regardless of what media and popular culture says about the “black community” and the LGBT communities. To be honest, the easiest answer to the question to “what’s the connection between them?” is that fact that LGBTQ people can also be black. "According to the Williams Institute, there are more than 1 million LGBTQ African Americans currently living in the United States, with approximately 3.7 percent of all African American people identifying as LGBTQ. LGBTQ African Americans are disproportionately THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 11 young and disproportionately female, and nearly one-third of all African American same-sex couples are raising children” (HRC.org). They are little black boys being stopped for playing with plastic guns. They are little black girls who slammed to ground during a pool party. They are grown black men whose license plate is one number different from the suspect the police are searching to find. They are connected because intrinsically they are both fighting for justice. Justice for their fallen brothers and sisters at the hands of police, which believe it or not is higher than one would think. Every transgender woman of color (TWOC) will experience an act of violence do to her gender or gender presentation. Black women and queer men have a higher incident of violence against them than their white queer brothers and sisters. {GRAPH} It is our duty to be more inclusive in our communities. This goes out double to the LGBT community. Pride is not the time to be cheering on police who arrest peaceful protestors. It is the time for you to jump in the streets and pull your LGBTQ brothers and sisters from the police. It is the time for you to demand justice. It is the time for you to reject consumerism and capitalism, both of which first excluded you. It is the time to “Stand Up, Fight Back.” BLM Cincinnati is known for marching in the streets, disrupting business for rallies and providing education for those willing to support justice for murdered black people at the hands of police. This is your opportunity to see the work they do. As everyone at the parade saw, they were peaceful and nonviolent. It is a shame that we have to continue to say this statement. BLM groups have been very vocal about disrupting parades in order to get a couple minutes of silence for those who lost their lives at the hands of police. In some cities like Cincinnati, it went off without a hitch. In others like Columbus, the Police Department flexed their muscles by forcefully arresting and bullying peaceful protesters (who happen to be mostly POC, go figure). Here is the thing. Many of the BLM groups are asking for a moment of silence/protest and then the continuation of the parade. The fact that we can do this for military, firemen, police, baseball heros, etc. yet it is an issue for a black youths speaks volumes. It shows the disconnection that many people, include white LGBT folks, have with the history of protests and the liberation movement. Union workers, churches, fetish groups, corporations and other social groups all march in pride, but it is an issue when BLM wants to do so. It is time that we show more solidarity within our social justice/liberation movements. We are stronger together (cliche as it sounds). So relax, they may disrupt business and block the streets, but the parade goes on. -------------------------------------- �12 ALICE SKIRTZ (Continued from page 2) 2017 at the Church of the Redeemer included presentation of the flag by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and an DICK CROY (Continued from page 10) media know that it knows, yet they continue their deceitful, traitorous game of let’s pretend. Well, that’s how they get paid, of course, and that’s why many in the alternative media call them “presstitutes.” LOCAL J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 attendance that filled the Redeemer sanctuary. Had half of those assisted by David over his many years of service been able to attend the funeral, they would have filled Redeemer and neighboring Hyde Park Churches and congregations hosting homeless families - St. Mary Catholic, Knox Presbyterian, Hyde Park Community Methodist - all missing both the warmth and skills of our ‘gentle giant’! [Alice Skirtz is a Member of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Board.] So like most readers anxious to be informed, I daily peruse particular websites in the “alt media,” news sources which I believe to be knowledgeable, honest and reasonably reliable. Of course with all the nonsense and disinformation spewed out on the Internet, I can’t assume anything is true even after cross-checking it on multiple sites, but at least I’m given an alternate view of reality to counter-balance the distorted picture the paid megaphones of the deep state (a term that has surfaced since 9/11) want to implant. And how ludicrous of them to scream, “Fake news! Fake news!” when it’s always been the mainstream media dragging the world into wars killing millions with their own brand of fake news. The msm calling the alt media the sole purveyors of fake news isn’t the pot but the [out]house calling the kettle black. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- �No. 35 9 | J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 NO ONE ASKED 13 STREET VOICE HE'S STILL THEIR GUY No one asked. GOP-leaders invent all sorts of excuses How are you today? As ways to gloss over The Donald's abuses. No one asked, Their responses insinuate that only a snob Because no one cared Would be tough on a guy so new to the job. Maybe because everyone is too busy They even insist that any Russian connection Someone went home today Feeling, sad and empty No one asked, No one cared Sometimes no one should have to ask. When was the last time you asked someone could you help them? It’s so sad when no one cares enough to ask! Is probably without need of major correction. They seem hell bent on creating distractions To avoid serious talk of impeachable actions. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer ALL HEADS DOWN I REMEMBER DAYS WHEN YOU HEARD ALL HEADS DOWN FOR SILENCE I 'VE HEARD ALL HEADS DOWN TALKING ABOUT ALL THE VIOLENCE TODAY I SEE ALL HEADS DOWN KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer LOOKING AT TELEPHONE DEVICES LOOKING DOWN TO TEXT SOCIAL MEDIA, NOT SEEING STEPPING ON A MICE LOOKING DOWN AT A DEVICE THAT IF THEY HAPPEN TO DROP LOOKING DOWN FOR ANSWERS WHY THEIR COMUNICATION HAS STOPPED TECHNOLOGY IS A GOOD THING IN WAYS OF THINGS AND THE WAY WE USE IT BUT TO WALK AROUND HEADS DOWN EARS PLUGGED UP WHY NOT CALL IT ABRUSIVE ALL HEADS DOWN ALL EARS PLUGGED UP WALKING INTO WALLS AND EVERYONE WHEN AND HOW DO YOU REMEMBER TO LOOK UP AT THE SHINNING WORLD OR THE SUN TO LOOK UP AND SEE PEOPLE UNPLUG EARS TO HEAR HOW THE WORLD IS TURNING I PRAY THAT PEOPLE LOOK UP BEFORE THE ONLY THING THEY'LL SEE IS THEY ARE BURNING LIFE IS MUCH TOO PRECIOUS TO KEEP LOOKING DOWN, WITH EARS PLUGGED AND MISS LIFE JUST REMEMBER THAT IT'S YOUR LIFE TO BELIEVE IN TECHNOLOGY AND NOT THE STRIFE JUST REMEMBER BEFORE THESE DEVISES WERE INVENTD PEOPLE LOOKED FOR PEACE WE AS A PEOPLE NEVER FORGET TECHNOLOGY IS TEMPORARY AND GODS LOVE NEVER CEASES THANK YOU! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 128 Across Down 1. Cut of pork 1. Sweetener 4. Rind 2. Solitary 8. Following 3. Bill of fare 13. A part to play 4. Dance step 14. Wheel shaft 5. Urge on or encourage 15. Slither 6. Evade 16. At another time 7. Give temporarily 17. Eschew 8. Small snake 18. Oust politically 9. Stroke of luck 19. Taxonomic group 10. Wheel covering 21. Betting ratio 11. Boundary of a surface 23. Part of a vessel's hull 12. Bobbin providing stability 13. Fury 24. Sense organ 20. Exchange 25. An article of commerce 22. Move 27. Bind 26. One, some, every 29. Harangue or all 30. Liquor flavored 28. Writing fluid with juniper berries 29. Fish eggs 31. Definite article 30. Space 34. Part of a prachute 31. Ancient city in 37. Score Asia Minor 38. Uncooked 32. Fog 39. Woodwind instrument 33. Pitcher 40. Yelp 34. Carbonated drink 41. Seep 35. Encourage, usually 42. Allow in wrongdoing 43. A great distance 36. Music symbol 45. Attorney 37. Spoil 47. Consumed 40. Long-haired wild ox 48. Sort of Tibet 49. Flame 41. Be in debt 50. Fuss 43. Assistance 51. Consider 44. A complete failure 52. Cutting tool 45. Prevarication 55. Slightly wet 46. Weapons 58. Whittle 49. Antenna 60. Scorch 50. Plant louse 62. Hawaiian greeting 51. Literary genre 64. Glen 52. Trap 66. Gender 53. Lambent 67. Unemotional person 54. Unwanted garden 68. Portent plant 69. Jab 55. A quick run 70. Vast multitude 56. Singing voice 71. Part of a hospital 57. Secure in a berth 72. Darn 59. Affirm 61. Mischievous fairies 63. Maven 65. Either extremity of something PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 350 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 127 J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 258 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 257- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 35 9 RESOURCES | J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 557-2873 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 241-1064 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 St. Vincent de Paul 721-0643 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelterhouse 411 Gest St. 45203 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 1125 Bank Street 45214 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Interfaith Hospitality Network Housing: 471-1100 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 621-5300 961-1983 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 351-0422 381-6672 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 721-4700 421-7803 Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center UpSpring 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 977-6800 859-572-6226 First Lutheran Church 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry AA Hotline CCAT 1522 Republic Street 45202 961-4555 381-1954 421-5211 Food/Clothing 961-4663 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Tom Geiger House Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn VA VA Homeless 961-2256 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both 221-HELP 721-8666 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 Starting Over 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Talbert House Tender Mercies 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 921-1613 First Step Home 761-1480 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Prospect House Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Caracole (HIV/AIDS) CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 114 W. 14th Street 45202 784-1853 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Charlie’s 3/4 House 2121 Vine Street 45202 Shelter: Youth Health 421-0065 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile for 26 issues Center Independent Living Options Peaslee Neighborhood Center 241-2600 621-5514 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart Goodwill Industries Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Mary Magdalen House 381-0111 771-4800 579-8547 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 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 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 981-4200 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 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 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 $100 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio FreeStore/FoodBank 762-5660 Shelter: Men Medical Van 352-6364 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 Salvation Army 131 E. 12th Street 45202 15 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Justin Jeffre at 513421-70803 x 12 or email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 J u n e 30 - J u l y 13, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 9 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2017 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 June 30-July 13, 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Injustice Served Pg 2: Our Homeless Coalition Took A Win! Remembering David Knoll Pg 3: Public Opposition to Pipeline Continues Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: Of Course It’s Nice Pg 6: GCHC Pg 7: Fentanyl Found in Marijuana and Cocaine Taking on Gerrymandering in Ohio and Elsewhere Pg 8: Injustice Served Pg 9: Photo Essay Pg 10: Pretend That Didn’t Happen Pg 11: And Then the Parade Goes On Pg 12: GCHC Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 30-July 13, 2017 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Alice Skirtz Michael Earl Patton Dr. Mark Mussman Nick Shellenberger Bill Woods Dick Croy Key Beck Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Aaron Carter Dailykos.com Amy Thompson WVXU AJ Newberry Phillimag.com National Coalition of Anti- Violence Programs Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aaron Carter AJ Newberry Alice Skirtz Amy Thompson Bill Woods Cocaine Dailykos.com David Knoll Dick Croy Dr. Mark Mussman Josh Spring Key Beck Kim Green LGBTQ+ Marijuana Michael Earl Patton National Coalition of Anti- Violence Programs Nick Shellenberger Ohio Over-the-Rhine Phillimag.com Photography Pipeline Protesting Riot Willa Denise Jones WVXU 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/542c8bdb86adb30963d95b90b792b9d1.pdf e6916b874b065f3a2ba980d7070e4c0c PDF Text Text Move Ahead or Get Left Behind Congratulations Pg 8 March 1-14, 2011 Pg 14 • ADVOCATING JUSTICE Pearla Kinne,The inspiring story of an Argentinian Immigrant who followed her dream to save lives, one companion animal at a time By: Pearla Kinne A civil engineer by trade, at the time Perla Medina, an immigrant from Argentina, married Michael Kinne in 1990; she knew that animals would be an important part of her life. As other people their age were settling down and starting families, the Kinnes opted to adopt and rescue animals that needed special care and attention. Perla knew she had a knack for it. She thrived on providing critical and intensive care to her pets. For years the Kinnes adopted the old, terminally ill, black, and those that for whatever reason, would be a challenge to adopt out to forever homes. But every animal that others saw as a challenge, they viewed as a Judge Painter welcome addition. “The reward for us was in watching them flourish and become beloved members of our family”, she states. And that is how Angel’s Rest Animal Sanctuary got its start, unknowingly at the time by the founder. So in 2009, the Kinnes decided to make it official. “We wanted to help animals on a larger scale”, Perla says. Now Angel’s Rest Animal Sanctuary located in New Richmond, Ohio, is doing just that, helping the unadoptable live as full and happy a life as they can possibly have. Angel’s Rest, whose mission is SAVING LIVES, ONE COMPANION ANIMAL AT A TIME, strives to help unwanted animals who have no place to go other than a kill-shelter to face euthanasia, die alone in the streets or abandoned at the end of a chain. Its goal is to take animals out of situations where they would be facing imminent danger and provide them with a comfortable place to spend the remainder of their lives, no matter how long it may be. They strive to provide everyone that enters their doors with the care they need and deserve to ensure that they live the rest Issue 194 • • One Dollar BUILDING COMMUNITY of their lives in peace, comfort, well fed and loved. While they deal mostly with older residents that will reside in the sanctuary for the remainder of their days, they actively rescue, rehabilitate and have pets for adoption. Of the animals rescued, some will be entering ELDER PAWS™, a program designed to match older shelter animals with senior citizens, as long as their temperament matches with program requirements. “Angel’s Rest has been a life-long dream of mine. It is something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time and the time is finally here,” says Perla. “Our sanctuary is growing a lot slower than I would prefer mostly due to limited funds and lack of a steady income stream. “ Angel’s Rest currently houses 6 dogs and 10 cats. Of the 16 current sanctuary residents, only one is healthy and is up for adoption. The rest are life-long residents who are facing a terminal illness, have a disability or exhibit some sort of behavioral issue which makes them “unadoptable”. “It has been a challenge starting a not-for-profit sanctuary during these difficult financial times, especially when donations are down across the board.” Adding to the difficulty has been not having a facility where animals can be housed and where people can come to see how their hard-earned money is being put to good use. Currently, Angel’s Rest houses animals at the founders’ home as well as two family members’ homes. “I find it very difficult conducting business without the benefit of having a building. You are not always taken seriously, especially when you are forced to hold meetings or interviews at the local coffee shop.” Another downside of their current situation is the limitation not having a facility places on the number of animals they can help. “I get calls and e-mails constantly wanting us to take animals that fit our criteria and we cannot help them. We just cannot take any more in without jeopardizing the well being of the ones we are committed to. It is very hard to accept that as a no-kill sanctuary you may be responsible for an animal’s death, all because you just cannot offer it a home immediately.” Angel’s Rest is planning on opening their first facility next month. “I am hopeful that the opening of Cat Village in March will help us move forward and grow a bit faster”, says Perla. Cat Village will enable the dogs and cats to be housed separately. Having both species under the same roof has been a huge problem for us with the recent addition of Dixie, an 11-year old, threelegged bull mastiff that sees cats as prey. “Our cats are older and some have life-long ailments. They need a peaceful environment.” Along with Cat Village’s opening, Angel’s Rest will be opening a thrift store as well as a bingo operation in New Richmond in the near future to fund the sanctuary’s operation and expansion. “The faster we can get these sources of income in place, the sooner we can start saving the lives of more animals. And, in the end, that is all that matters.” Angel’s Rest relies solely on donations and the kindness of others. They are a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www. angelsrestanimalsanctuary.org Stacey Smith recently changed her name to “Sun” after almost losing her mother to an illness in September. Jeni JenKins. staff Writer She felt like she was re-born with a spiritual motivation that woke her up from a complacent place and now she lives each day as a new opportunity to make herself better. Her new name represents the light that shines inside of her – “it was always there but it has definitely been rejuvenated since September.” This born and raised Cincinnatian draws inspiration from her mother who made tremendous sacrifices to raise her and her three siblings working as a domestic worker. Her mother’s strength drives Sun to work extra hard so she can take care of her as she gets older. Sun’s greatest accomplishment came when her mother witnessed her graduate from Northern Kentucky University with her Bachelors in Journalism and a minor in Sociology. As a first generation college student, having never walked for graduation in high school, this was a huge feat. One of Sun Smith’s designs from her SoapBoxTees Clothing line. See Women’s Herstory, P. 4 �2 Editorial ­ BY ThE NUMBERS 75.5 Cents The amount of money an American woman makes for every dollar that men earn (Page 2) 3.3 Billion The amount of women in the world (Page 2) 3-10-11 The next meeting of the Homeless Congress (Page 3) 32 The years Patti Marshall, Operations Manager for Q102, B105, Rewind, and The Wolf has worked in radio. (Page 4) 1,528 The miles the Japanese light rail transportation system Shinkansen, reaches (Page 8) 60 The percentage of Zimbabweans that have HIV and are female (Page 11) 27 The years Judge Painter has been elected a trial and appellate judge (Page 14) 18 The age Kim Shifflett left her home in New Mexico to pursue her artistic goals. (Page 16) Streetwise “What if Prince Charming never showed up? Would Snow White have slept in that glass coffin forever? Or would she have eventually woken up, spit out the apple, gotten a job, a health care package, and a baby from her local neighborhood sperm bank?” Jen Martin Editor I never really thought of myself as a feminist. I was walking into work the other day and Jeni Jenkins, our fabulous Education Director, asked me how I walk in my shoes. Anyone who knows me knows I love my shoes. Most are heels that raise me up 3 or more inches. There are probably tons of people who think I am a giant. I am about 5’7 without them so most days I appear about 6 feet tall. I don’t have trouble walking in them, I actually feel weird and less confident without them. I don’t wear them to look more attractive, I wear them because they are beautiful and they make me feel that way. When I started working with a friend of mine, he made the movie poster ‘Attack of the 50 Foot Woman’ his screen saver as a nod to my height illusion. Illusion, the word I often use when people ask how tall I am. I typically explain that I am not this tall, it is just an illusion. Or as Chris Rock says, it’s just a lie. Women are visual liars. And yes, Mr. Rock, we are. Being a modern American woman is not an easy task. I believe men tend to think women can control the way feel sometimes. I am not saying we are completely incapable, saying that would mean a woman couldn’t be president because she would… oh what is the quote? I think it’s something like “A woman can’t be president because she’ll get her period and declare war.” That is just silly but the fact remains that women are more emotional due to these insane hormones we have. Add those hormones to pregnancy, motherhood, the day in day out life of being subjected to men’s advances (even when we don’t want to hear them), and Mother Nature’s cruel joke called menstruation; and it is truly amazing that women are right on par with men these days. In fact, modern women need men for practically nothing. Women can make just as much money (even though we have to work harder since women make only 75.5 cents for every dollar that men earn, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau). And if there is one thing I have learned in my life, only one thing I could pass on to any girl who hopes to achieve their dreams; it would be to simply make your own money, to have your own plan. If you do count on a man, chances are likely there will come a day you may have to reevaluate and start from scratch. Which it seems many women in the US don’t have a problem doing. And it’s damn hard when you go it alone without a backup plan; such has been my life for the past year. And I am not nearly alone in my plight. In 2010, 46% of first marriages in the US ended in divorce. It isn’t a crazy statistic when you consider that money is the top reason for arguments within a marriage. We have learned that marriages of financial obligation are just that, obligation. Women these days don’t have to settle for that. It makes you wonder…and in the words of the great Sex and the City writers, “What if Prince Charming never showed up? Would Snow White have slept in that glass coffin forever? Or would she have eventually woken up, spit out the apple, gotten a job, a health care package, and a baby from her local neighborhood sperm bank?” Even though we typically make less money, have more daily commitments, and deal with all those aforementioned hormones; we are still making strides daily in the fight for feminine equality. Each woman has a daily struggle that no man truly understands. And with that, I am just referring to American women. Let’s not forget that there are still areas of the globe, even today, where it is not only acceptable but completely normal for women to experience oppression, illiteracy, rape, poor health care, not to mention physical and mental abuse. In Afghanistan, domestic violence is common, 87% of women said they had experienced it. In oil rich Saudi Arabia, women live their entire life under the guardianship of a male relative. They are not allowed to interact with men publicly, drive a car, and they must live strictly segregated lives. Breaking any of these rules would expose them to sever punishment. In areas of Pakistan, women are gang-raped as punishment for men’s crimes. Killing women as a means of honor in these areas has become wider spread with a renewed wave of religious extremism that targets female politicians, human rights workers, and lawyers. When I think of those women and what they must experience, I feel so privileged to live where I live with the rights so many brave women fought for. Of the 3.3 billion women that occupy this planet, I am one of the lucky ones and if you’re reading this, you probably are too. I was told from day one that I could be whatever I wanted to be. Despite dealing with men in my life who have treated me much less than ‘good’, I always had the right and the means to get away from them. By the means, I mean the resources. And they are there ladies, resources in Cincinnati for women and their issues are abundant. See our resources page if you or someone you know is in need. And again, I feel privileged to live where I live. I am hardly a traditional feminist. I wear heels; make up, a push up bra, and Spanx when I feel a little chubby. While married, I loved the role of playing house and having dinner on the table by six. All of these things though, I did and still do by choice. I believe a qualified woman should make as much as their male counterpart. I believe in a woman’s’ right to choose (and with the insane over population of the world, you should too). I believe women can achieve anything, I mean anything they want. I believe that in my lifetime, we will see a woman president. I believe that women will likely rule this world eventually. If we can manage high powered careers, motherhood, relationships and our monthly visitor…I think we can and we will conquer. I have seen a man with a cold (and recent studies show men do complain an abnormal amount when sick), I am convinced if a man got a menstrual period they would be on the couch in a fetal position. Sorry guys, you would. So ladies, this is my salute to us…to the brave women who paved the way for us to speak our overactive minds, and the fabulous local women featured in this issue. As my mom still says, you go girl. STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 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 STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 3 Local Issue homeless Congress ­ February Meeting riccardo taylor Before giving the spiel and elaboration of the particulars of the second Homeless Congress session it is my pleasure to relate our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Pastor Fred Cook and his wife Leslie Cook for their support and generosity in providing for us the space and allotment of time to conduct our meetings. We would also like to give thanks to all other staff and program directors at the First Lutheran Church of Race St. The second meeting of the Homeless Congress, which was held on February 10/2011, was what I consider to be a success. Our membership count for the day was at eight down from the ten original members who started with me in January. My reason for viewing this meeting as a success is not because of the decline in the number of attendees, but the simple reality that we as a group did meet again as scheduled with the majority of the first meetings attendees returning. The fact that these individuals, all who I might add are under some stress of the conditions of homelessness/poverty, did find the time and as well provided their energy through participation during the meeting is deserving of recognition and appreciation from myself and those who may receive some future benefit. For the most part the only real difference between the first and second meeting as far as attendance and participation goes is that our first meeting held in January was attended by a group of individuals, whom I had the pleasure of convincing that our convening for the particular task of creating a voice for those of us living in the circumstance homelessness was both a worthy cause and a great opportunity for us too air the issues which effect us most. Though not all the original members were present at the second meeting some did follow protocol for missing a session and we look for their return for future meetings. Further, I have convinced myself that a project such as the creation and substantiation of such an entity will take some trial and error as well as some weeding out of potential membership. Armed with all the possibilities of failure and success, I can say with a sense of pride and respect for our member body that we are convinced of our mission and we are pushing forwarded! At our latest meeting we went over the introduction of our pilot project that we hope to institute at the Drop Inn Center. The particulars and duties to be performed by the selected Congress members were set in place and the volunteers for the project are in agreement for contractual assistance with the Drop Inn Center’s staff. Our next step will be the introduction to the Drop Inn center and hopeful partnership with that agency. The remaining time spent in session was a review of some of the immediate issues with winter sheltering, and other issues that might be available for us as a group to engage in within community/resources agencies where we might be of assistance or available for volunteering. We ended the meeting on a positive note and with high hopes of becoming an asset to our community we set our next meeting date for March 10, 2011. In giving appreciation for the individuals who have come forth to help make a difference and who are instrumental in making the Congress a reality below are listed the members of Cincinnati’s Homeless Congress. James De Mario Brown Dennis Saker Keith Eutsey Jerry Davis Constance Walton Stephen Snow Gentry Lee McCoy Deerrick Prophet Walter Washington Booger Love Blog: streetvibes.wordpress.com Street Life Streetvibes Staff Editor Jen Martin, Keeping score jenmartin@cincihomeless.org Art Director Elizabeth Schulenberg Contributing Writers Jennifer Martin, Donald Whitehead, B. Clifton Burke, Pearla Kinne, Jordan Antoine Wilson, Riccardo Taylor, Saad Ghosn, Jeni Jenkins, Willa Denise Jones, Fungai Machirori Photography/Artwork Anthony Williams, Amiee Willhoite, Saad Ghosn, Pearla Kinne, Colleen Lowe Morna, Eddie Sun, GCCH Staff 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. Riccardo Taylor Source: GCCH riccardo taylor The whirl-wind reality of life in the streets lacks in options, and more conclusively has only two types of players. Addressed by any other name they still come out the same. Winners, and losers; a simple formula, at least to the common ear, yet the reality is so much more varied. Everybody knows that someone has to win at the expense of someone losing, but it is so much more then that! You see, you cannot make a loser out of a winner or visa versa, each has its own position. Keeping score, it’s a count that all street people use, large or minute it’s important that you know, the tally, it allows you to get an edge, or when needed or too play catch up. The employment of hard work or the leisure of kicking back is all generated from the count. Pleasure when you are up misery when you are down! Even with such a simple formula, there is still that sense of doubt that creeps in from time to time. Is this where I want to be? Do I have enough or too little? Let me count again, I have to be sure that the score is right! Often times it’s hard to determine where we stand, no winner thinks he’s a loser and no loser thinks he’s not winning. However, there is the reality that someone has to win and someone has to lose. The only difference is that there is only one reality. “Winners make things happen and losers let things happen.” So let us see how this works. The winner. This is the person who goes out, and regardless of the odds or the circumstance, they put forth their full effort. Using everything at their immediate disposal they create the situation/circumstance that best fits the desired result. They are fearless of the outcome, and only concern themselves with the rewards that are to be gained from their endeavor. Taking a chance is the engine of motive for success, having the confidence that only a winner can have, they step headlong into the project, always expecting the most but resolved too accept what comes. The winners know that with just a bit more effort it can be remedied. “Go to where life takes you.” Now the loser, true to his/her disposition, at the first setback or difficulty they throw up their hands in defeat. That common motto, “I did my best”, always seems to be the answer. They tend to have satisfaction from their least bit of effort, and refuse to see things in any other light. Not having the willingness or the fortitude to press on, they allow things to be where they are and to just let it happen. There is an excuse for everything! It is what it is, or, so they say. Taking things for granted we would expect everyone to be satisfied where they are, if you are satisfied with the outcome of your efforts then your OK. However, I beg the difference, actually if we are satisfied with where we are then that makes us somewhat of a loser! One should never be content, with just where they are, there is always room for improvement, and striving for that improvement is the mark of a true winner. Therefore, the keeping of the score is much more then just a count, it’s a calculation of where one wants to be, and not just an idea of the moment. Winners are never completely content and so they are in search of more. Losers are staid and a moment of contentment is their desire. The scorekeeper is the true winner and the keeper of the score! �4 Women Making herstory Patti Marshall, a Journey from Marilyn Monroe to Mogul Continued from P. 1 At 33, Sun is on a path she feels proud of. As Case Manager with Lighthouse Youth Services she spends her days working with at-risk teens between the ages of 13 and 17. She assists youth with mental health and behavior issues, connecting them with community resources to keep them away from negative influences. In her work, Sun co-facilitates a substance abuse prevention support group once a week in addition to individually counseling teens to keep them away from drugs and their negative effects. Sun sees herself as a visionary and as a teacher but is also learning through others and enjoys the fresh insight the youth give on how the world works. “I think that keeps me youthful and helps me keep my ideas flowing and keeps me from being complacent- they energize me. Our youth can provide new solutions to old problems and that is inspiring to me.” Sun recognizes she is making a positive difference when she sees a kid she is working with start to believe in themselves more- and she sees their confidence grow. “When I see a person moving away from where they were from the time we have spent together- breaking people away from the cycle of poverty and impoverished mindset that sometimes comes along with it.” Sun says she pushes youth to think outside of themselves and their norms and explore the world with new eyes. Through her mentoring she exposes youth to art museums, the planetarium and cooking classes as well as teaching them how to apply for jobs, and reserve a library bookall of which she says are “sustainable skills and resources to be able to become independent.” “Many kids don’t have a strong support system and I help them increase their social supports.” When Sun isn’t working with at-risk youth she volunteers for the Cincinnati Association for the Blind as an on air radio reader. Additionally, she’s an advocate for immigration reform, recently volunteering for the Immigration Reform Movement on the local campaign with the Interfaith Worker’s Center to establish workers rights for low wage works and immigrants. Since 2007 Sun has also owned and operated a small business, Soap Box Tees, a creative, urban and socially conscious lifestyle clothing company. Sun designs clothing that are a reflection of her environment and passions. Her work as an activist, writer, and volunteer fuels her drive for promoting social responsibility. STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Hmmm in the beginning I was too young (15) to recognize it, then it started with what management thought was “acceptable” for a female role. Only midday or nights, a sidekick in the morning (never lead and few are now)..... nor were you considered for the program director position. In the early 90’s one boss told me I sounded too much like Marilyn Monroe to be real...something I’ve never forgotten. I took that to mean ‘dumb blond’ by the way he said it. Later I turned it into a challenge, hung her picture on my wall and celebrated. Marilyn had a lot more going on than everyone thought too. I think it’s always in the wind....assumptions are made because you’re female that you’re too emotional, that you won’t work well with other women, the list goes on and on. I guess the best defense is to be damn good at your job and help your company make money .... results are hard to argue with. I am humbled and privileged by the opportunity to document the lives these extraordinary Cincinnati women. -Jeni Jenkins. Staff Writer Continued from P. 4 Julie Evans, Up and Coming Radio Management Giving an Inspiring Take on Being a Gay Woman in a Man’s World author: intervieW By Jennifer Martin An Interview with Patti Marshall You have so many titles…what are they? Operation and Marketing manager of WYGY 97.3 fm “The Wolf”, WUBE 105.1 “B-105” , WKRQ 101.9 fm “Q102”, WREW 94.9 fm “Rewind”, and Program Director for Q102. How long have you been in radio and what made you start? I have been in the radio business for 32 years; I started in radio because I love music. In 1979 I was signed up for an Easter seals dance a thon... about hour 6 of a 24 hour event I started to drive I am truly blessed with the women I work with. Q102 has more full time on air female hosts than any Cincinnati station and most stations in the country. Add to that Kim Carson, Amy Tobin and Jennifer Martin who all contribute to the station’s weekend programming. Jenn Jordan (Jeff and Jenn, Mornings), Laura Powell (Afternoons with Brian Douglas), Jennifer Fritsch (Morning Show Producer) and Holly Morgan (Middays) are the most talented women I’ve ever worked with. Each has a distinctly different personality and their lives reflect our audience. Moms, wives, single, divorced they share it all on the air. We have a lot of women here at the stations...from Angie Mitchell our business manager, sales, traffic, new media to Katie Walters our Q Promotions Coordinator, we never run of a woman’s opinion and influence. See Women’s Herstory, P. 5 Great Books! visit facebook.com/streetvibes cincinnati twitter.com/streetvibesnwes streetvibes.wordpress.com www.cincybooks.com I’ve been in Radio 11 years. 10 years paid! Got into radio because I love music but I have no talent (as far as playing an instrument or singing) so I thought radio would be the next best thing. Throughout your time in radio have you found being a woman has worked for against you? As Operations Manager of the four station cluster, how important is giving back to the community, and how do you decide which charities you partner with? Tell me about the thought process behind Q102’s programming and talent. How long have you been in radio and what made you get in the business in the first place? Amy Lind Educating and Empowering to Change Lives Work directly with the sales department to organize client needs through promotions. Also, schedule all the music you hear on the station. Work hard, learn all facets of the job, and surround yourself with people who are supportive, stay true to your value system, and look for a company that appreciates your talent…and seek a mentor who helps you develop. When you start...consider all of the above as your true salary, don’t measure your worth by the number on your paycheck until you have the experience to demand it...and even then weigh quality over quantity. I feel a strong need to use the power we have to help. Our charity events reflect the needs and life experiences of the listener for each station. With Q102’s large female audience we focus on breast cancer, heart disease, and children. Everyone woman has a friend or family member who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Heart disease is the number one killer of women. B105 and 97.3 The Wolf have strong patriotic initiatives....the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, the USO. Rewind 94.9 has a broader approach, helping local charities with its support of the Rusty Ball and so many other organizations. Our listeners guide us. A good station is a mirror of its audience. An Interview with Julie Evans, Promotions Director/ Assistant Program Director for “Rewind” 94.9 fm What do you technically do each day? What advice do you have for young women who want to break into the radio/ media world? When I thought about powerful women in Cincinnati, the first person that came to mind is Patti Marshall. I started working with Patti about 6 years ago when I was hired at the old alternative rock station, 97.3. The first time I saw Patti, I was scared to death. When Patti walks in a room, people shut up. I was just a radio baby and seeing Patti walk the halls, commanding respect from everyone, was a frightening and inspiring thing. When I explain Patti Marshall to anyone I usually sum it up by saying, “…she is basically everything I would like to eventually be.” When she asked me to be a part of Q102’s weekend programming, it was a surreal moment for me. A lot of radio people would laugh at that because weekends aren’t usually a huge deal, but the fact that Patti had confidence in me…that was a great feeling. Patti has managed to become one of the biggest radio players in the town by being a woman who fights for what is right and never backing down from a male counterpart. She has managed to put together a radio station that seems to greatly understand and relate to the women of Cincinnati. The one thing that I believe sets her aside from any other Program Director is the simple fact that she never loses sight of who is listening to the radio she puts on the air. When she talks about her listeners, she refers to them as ‘My Girls’. Understanding women and being able to outsmart the men has made Patti Marshall a figure that I think any girl who has ever been judged as a ‘dumb blond’ should look up to. 5 Women Making herstory the DJ crazy with questions. I asked him how I could get a job in the business, he told me to go home and record myself reading advertisements out of the newspaper. I did and dropped off the tape and he hired me to run the board for ‘Kasey Kasem’s Top 40 Countdown’. What has your experience been, being a woman in mainly male dominated industry? intErviEw by JEnnifEr Martin STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Like Patti said, the building that all four of her radio stations call home is full of talented, thoughtful women. The second person that came to mind as being an inspiring female figure was the woman who gave me my first shot on the air, after just ‘liking my voice’. Julie Evans is the Promotions genius of the building. I have never met someone more organized and focused on her career while still being the person everyone loves. Julie is outspoken, true to her heart, and most importantly one of those people you just enjoy being around. She doesn’t play the typical ‘radio game’ of being shady and backstabbing. She is honest with her staff and the people she reports to. Her office over the years was a hangout for everyone in the building, almost “the cool place” to be. Everyone has had their favorite radio station flip formats or fire people. I have been through these 3 times now with Julie being the one to break the news to everyone. What sets Julie apart as a manager is that these events break her heart too. I remember when 97.3 (it was ‘Everything Alternative’ 97.3 at the end) was disbanded and flipped to create “94.9 The Sound”. Despite keeping her job, Julie may have taken the flip the hardest. A lot of radio managers act as though they are upset when a whole staff is fired but with Julie, you feel it. To meet Julie is to love her. I’m honored to have her as my friend. I have never thought I have been treated different based on the fact that I’m a woman. I knew right away when coming in the building that there was way more men than women working here but this environment here has never been anything that made me feel that I was treated any different. In fact, being a woman has worked to my benefit. For the first 9 years of my radio career I worked at a station that targeted men, and being one of veryfew women at the station I thought I gave a different perspective on the way to think of creative ideas to reach men. As of now and the last 2 years I have worked for s station that targets female and being I am the only full time women on the staff, the men pay attention when I have an idea. What projects are you working on? Currently I am involved in the Adopt-A-Class program, where we are “pen pals” with students from an underprivileged neighborhood. I guess that really doesn’t have anything to do with me being a female but does give me a ton of joy to see these kids and have them experience things they have never gotten the opportunity to do before. You speak often and openly about being a lesbian, do you feel like this has ever hurt your career or maybe helped you? I think my work place is way more openminded most. When I started here I wasn’t “out”, I even dated a couple guys from work. I think when I finally came “out” people weren’t really shocked. If anything it made me become closers to a lot of my co-workers. I have never had a problem talking about being gay (at work or on the radio). In fact, I’m super proud to be gay. I just always thought that if you were one of those people that didn’t like gay people… meet me and I bet you change your mind. What advice do you have for young women who want to break into the radio/ media world? Don’t …just kidding. Radio is so cut throat. So if you aren’t willing to make little to no money for awhile and beat doors down for a couple years… I would pick something else. Women or not, radio is one of those businesses that really isn’t hiring any “new blood”. So if someone is really interested in radio, I would say they need to maybe job shadow to see if this is really want they want Amy Lind sees herself as a survivor and someone who effects social change even if it’s one tiny step at a time. As a survivor of violence, oppression and discrimination, she wants to pass the awareness of how she survived onto others through teaching. Lind, who holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University and a dual BA in Women’s Studies and Latin American Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz wears many hats including researcher, published author, mentor, and Associate Professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Cincinnati. In her life she has achieved numerous fellowships, grants and honors for her work on economic and sexual justice. Born in Galesburg, Illinois and raised in Southern California, her mother was a big influence in her life as an advocate for different kinds of rights. One of her earliest forms of inspiration came from her aunt Amy Conger, an Art History Professor who while living in Chile in the early 1970s survived the torture of the Chilean military under Pinochet’s rule. While Lind was still in elementary school at the time, her aunt’s story sparked a lifelong passion for social justice issues in Latin America. Since college, Lind has taught and lectured around the globe on topics ranging from gender, sexuality, reproductive rights, violence, globalization and development in America and Latin America. As a teacher her end goal is to help students acquire knowledge that validates their own experiences and identities, “which in this world, unless you are a white, heterosexual male is hard to find validation for.” Much of her work is about teaching students how to think differently then how they have been socialized, “if I can help my students find and create that knowledge for themselves that’s the most important thing I can do.” See Women’s Herstory, P. 6 �6 Women Making herstory Continued from P. 5 Lind’s work is about seeking equality and justice and ending oppression which is inspired by all the people protesting and defending workers rights across the country and “all the people who are fighting against corporate greed and neo-liberal restructuring.” She recognizes a recent change in the political climate: “it feels like something is shifting in the universe. The greed and the inequalities between the rich and the poor are getting worse, which is motivating more people to get involved.” Cover of Lind’s 2005 book Gendered Paradoxes Through her scholarship Lind believes she is making a positive difference in people’s lives: “If I can help change the lives of one or two of my students, that keeps me going, and transforms me in the process as well.” Lind’s most current work is looking at how to combine sexual and reproductive rights with economic justice, “I don’t think we can talk about one without the other.” She recently edited Development, Sexual Rights and Global Governance in 2010 as well as authored Gendered Paradoxes in 2005. In addition, she recently received the prestigious Taft Center Fellowship which will give her the opportunity to work on her a new book entitled Governing Sexuality: Development, Family Norms and the Struggle for Sexual Rights in Ecuador. When Lind is not lecturing, writing or researching, she often serves as an expert witness for women and gay and lesbian immigrants from Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru who are seeking political asylum in the US and the UK. And while her work takes her across the globe, one of her personal goals is to continue to travel to countries she has yet to see. As an educator, author and volunteer Lind has dedicated herself to making a difference. Each day she continues her work changing as many people’s lives that she can. Couple Marjorie Bledsoe’s passion for community with her zeal for teaching and making art and music and the result is distinction. Marjorie, or “Miss Marjorie” as her friends call her, is a wild fire, sprinkling her artistic flame throughout the community. Born and raised in Oxford, Ohio, Marjorie’s mother encouraged her from a young age to be artistic. Beginning lessons at the age of 8 her studies included voice, piano, advanced music theory, flute, oboe, baritone horn, trombone and guitar. Her enthusiasm for the arts continued in high school when she first started making ceramic art. This interest led her to pursue academic studies at Hocking College in Athens, Ohio where she studied Music Production and Visual Design and eventually opened her first gallery Half Way Sun in Nelsonville, Ohio which focused on indigenous and ethnic art. Now, as a Studio Technician, Marjorie teaches classes and works collaboratively with her partner Dustin Lee to make “FaceWare” out of Funk Fired Arts Studios in Hyde Park, where she has been employed since 2009. Funk Fired Arts, one of the largest public studios in the country, is a gallery and teaching studio with classes for everyone from beginners to advanced ceramic artists. According to Marjorie, ceramics are a lost African American cultural tradition and she wants to bring it back into those communities. For Marjorie, her art is not limited to what she makes “my art is my life.” “By teaching people something new, as part of the process of learning ceramics, you have to pay attention to yourself a lot. It’s a reflective process. I give people the opportunity to have a dialogue with themselves and to pay attention to things they wouldn’t normally pay attention to. It’s about making connections and becoming more self-aware.” STREETVIBES ­ March 01-14, 2011 ­ In addition to teaching and doing studio work, Marjorie is currently a junior working on her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program. In the near future, Marjorie will be doing more community based art with an emphasis on social justice- making a connection through art with social awareness, self awareness and making things more apparent. Marjorie sees a clear connection between art and social justice. Marjorie’s passion for social justice naturally led to her extensive involvement with UC’s RAPP (Racial Awareness Program) which she describes as a “dialogue about race, gender, sexuality, orientation, intersectionality and socialization.” According to Marjorie, “the end goal is to provide people with identity awareness whether it is social awareness or other people’s identities. It’s a forum for people to discover their own identities and how they may impact other people’s lives.” In 2010, Marjorie received the Terrence L. Jones Diversity Award for her involvement with RAPP. Marjorie in the studio on her potter’s wheel Marjorie is a visionary. In the future she would like to run a cooperative gallery and currently she is working on stating a local time bank, which is a group of people who exchange services and skills for time dollars. The time dollars earned can be spent within the collective, on any member participating. Marjorie envisions living in a more equitable world where people aren’t necessarily valued with dollar signs. She wants people to realize how valuable community is and that they may have talents that aren’t valued from a traditional capitalist viewpoint. One of her end goals is to help people put more value on their given talents because we as a society don’t always pay attention to them. Marjorie believes that people are good in general, that they aren’t inherently bad. “Even people who are misguided or bad in some way, that’s not part of them- they learned it. Everyone can change and everything can change. We all have the power to do that.” See Women’s Herstory, P. 7 STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Women Making herstory ­ 7 Continued from P. 6 Cleveland native and 20 year resident of Cincinnati, Bet Stewart has worked to craft her living as a performing artist and teaching artist for over 30 years. Bet Stewart with Andy Hopkins & Amos Hopkins (her sons), playing on the Alaska Queen, a steamboat near Ketchikan Alaska Bet holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Cincinnati and has studied theatre with people all over the world. Bet’s motivated each day because she is doing what she loves and she’s “very lucky to be doing what I love.” Her contribution to the world is “giving a lot of people a voice that would not normally have a voice.” In addition to writing, directing and performing plays, Bet recently began writing and performing her own songs which she plans to continue to focus on as her career progresses. Her lifelong dream is to one day perform in Europe and Australia. Self employed as the Artistic Director with Intuition Theatre- a local touring theatre group founded in 1981; she found her niche with the group in 1983. Bet’s work with the theatre group includes writing, producing and directing a variety of plays for both youth and adults throughout the region. Her plays are a mix of art forms including “drama, comedy, music, miming and stilt walking.” One of her more recent plays produced through the Kentucky Humanities Council as a Kentucky Chautauqua Performer, is based on the life and legend of Rosemary Clooney, internationally known American actress and singer who struggled with addiction. This one woman show highlights the many obstacles Clooney faced and how she overcame them through song. Another of Bet’s plays “Stand in My Shoes” is a justice play focusing on conflict resolution and how people need to stand in other peoples shoes - starting with kids on the playground on up to international foreign politics. She performs “Stand in My Shoes” at area schools teaching children the importance of seeing other perspectives by wearing someone else’s shoes. Bet believes that theater is created to make change and that it helps open people’s minds. In her work Bet strives to “help people see something in a new light, in a new way.” She carries this philosophy on in her work at Rivercity Correctional Center, a rehabilitative prison where she teaches and directs with Inside/Outside, a program designed to build inter-personal and life-management skills through the visual, literary and performing arts. Bet teaches movement, storytelling, improv, music, and songwriting in a series of creative workshops with women prisoners dealing with substance abuse issues. Her goal is to “teach them and help them express themselves. We give them a voice so that they have skills and ways to express themselves, so that when they get out they can have a rich life.” Inside/Outside is a “therapeutic community of people qualified to change thinking and behavior.” The teaching artists provide accessible lesson plans that are challenging yet help people with self esteem so they “believe they can do something and be someone.” In her work, Bet finds inspiration from a variety of artists including comedienne Lily Tomlin, singer song-writer Peggy Seeger, jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, the political theatre troupe SanFrancisco Mime Troupe and Augusto Boal, the founder of Theatre of the Oppressed, a theatrical form originally used in radical popular education movements. Bet’s influences and interests guided her down a rich path of experiences including 13 years as a stilt walker with roles ranging from a giant Statute of Liberty singing “Do Wop” and an 8 foot tall one woman band; working with homeless women at Welcome House Shelter in Kentucky to create poerty, movement, dance and storytelling; directing Karen Brody’s play “Birth” a critically acclaimed play about childbirth, women’s vulnerability when they are giving birth and the need for change in the healthcare profession; singing and performing with Cincinnati’s Muse Choir; as well as conducting research and writing scripts for 19 original plays about social and historical issues. �8 Opinion ­ STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Move Ahead or Get Left Behind. ­ A look at what life could be like without a car The notion of an American society abandoning their cars often is often dismissed with a polite laugh. People love their cars, is what I’m told; they enjoy driving them. If that is true or not doesn’t matter. What does matter is that people currently need their cars whether they like driving them or not. The following rant is a sort of grandiose and fantastic vision of what many urban areas could look and feel like if more people gave up their cars for public transit. B. clifton BurKe For most people, having a car is a survival tool. It makes having a job, getting food, and seeking out entertainment much easier. The United States is still quite wide with lots of space and privacy, which adds even more reason to own a car. Child care becomes infinitesimally more difficult without a car. Non­ emergency health visits require personal ownership of cars, shopping is harder to accomplish without one, holiday travel becomes more of a pain. I get it! There will always be reasons to own cars, but the more society works to eliminate those reasons, the more empowered many urban-dwelling individuals and families could become. It seems to me that, as time goes by and resources dry up, people will migrate back to the cities and rely on another for survival. Some of this trend of repopulating rundown urban areas can already be seen in Cincinnati. A resurgence of money and development has taken place in local wastelands like the West End. A wave of displacement is occurring where yuppies are moving into the new stylish apartment complexes, while lower-income people scramble mainly West to nearby affordable neighborhoods. On one hand, the shift is good for resuscitating one of Cincinnati’s oldest and most historical neighborhoods, preserving the centuries-old architecture there that has been left to die a neglectful and sorry death, and for bringing both money and a safer nightlife closer to the city’s core in the process. On the other hand, though, there seems to be no tactful plan in place to assist those citizens who will, in a short time if not already, be economically forced from their homes, and that seems like a lack of civic responsibility from our elected leadership. Digressions aside, the fact is, cities are planning for more people to remain closer to the financial hubs of the areas where they reside, and a place to keep themselves and their car will come at a premium in such a scenario. That space will be needed for more logistical living arrangements that satisfy the basic requirements of city-people, like more sidewalks, more utility lines and more plumbing, not to mention the accessibility to repair and upkeep these services. The city must still flow, even with a swell of inhabitants; therefore too many cars would slow down progress, which is both wasteful and avoidable. A serviceable and effective public-transit system and an encouragement toward a pedestrian lifestyle are necessary for a city’s future growth and sustainability. STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 9 Local Feed me Seymour... Feed me all night long. By the Taco Tuesday Brigade. out of sovereign waters. Rather than simply wait to be caught slipping up and pay your fine for participating in a driving society, you get to move about largely obstructed from the ever-watchful eye of law-enforcement. While that isn’t a license to engage in sneaky illegal practices, it should help you understand the void of worry and stress that drivers have to live with every time they get behind the wheel. Work Equals Public Transit By this point, you should start to wonder how you’re going to get around without a car. Saving money is great and all, but that stops mattering if you can’t get to work to make more of it. The only way is public transit. Some of us have been lucky enough to walk to work or school every day, but that is typically a pleasant coincidence rather than a strategic result. Limiting your job prospects to the small circumference we might consider “walking distance” is not only a bad idea, it’s downright irresponsible. As jobs are wrung out more and more from the giant employment dishtowel, and the percentage of jobless American people continues to grow, the most successful of us will be the ones who are willing to go anywhere for work. Most times, in order to apply your trained skills and maximize your full potential, you must have the ability to travel. Yet, if you’re without a car, the impossibilities of realistic employment crash upon you right away. In 2002, Cincinnati shot down a light-rail proposal that would have sprawled across the metro area in a sort of jagged asterisk-like design. It’s a tough populace around here to convince of anything that could be described as “progressive”. So instead, Cincinnati lumbers along with a shoddy bus system that is organizationally flawed from top to bottom. Trying to get across town to the job that normally takes 20 minutes in your car, would take nearly an hour each way on the bus. For a moment though, let’s pretend that Cincinnati does build the light-rail. Now it takes 20 minutes on the train and another 12 or so on the transfer bus. The whole process takes no longer than 40 minutes each way. If you live near the center of the asterisk, you’re able to get anywhere in the greater Cincinnati area in roughly this amount of time. Your job prospects now effectively match those of when you still had your car. Still dubious? Let’s take the idea even further and talk about bullet trains to Saving Money and Burden The first thing someone—let’s just go second-person and say you—benefit from by not driving is avoiding car insurance. That monthly payment can now go toward a public-transit pass which is hopefully cheaper and therefore saves you money. Not requiring car insurance also relieves you of one less thing you can be arrested for, which can’t be bad and will be visited again later in this piece. If you’re not in a car, and your cell phone vibrates in your pocket, you can safely stop what you’re doing to answer it, where as before, you would do the same while driving and hit a guard rail. That incident raised your insurance, but nothing you can do walking or taking the bus, could ever raise any kind of premium (unless you’re impossibly clumsy or dangerously rude). The next cost you would cut would be gas. As if the insurance and often times the car payment aren’t enough, there’s always the gas. We all know gas is an environmental issue. It comes from oil which we’re told we should use less of, and now it’s coming from corn which not everyone is convinced is a satisfactory replacement for oil but isn’t going away any time soon. Setting the environment aside (which is a big reason why it’s become such a problem to begin with, I guess), not filling your tank twice a month or more now gives you money in your pocket for perhaps a fancier six-pack or a decent pair of snow boots—you will need both over the winter, trust me. Less gas, in theory, would mean less dependence on foreign oil which right-wing blowhards can’t stand, and, reduce greenhouse emissions which left-wing blowhards can’t stand. Of course, this idea of less gas would rankle the big-oil and ethanol dragons of the world and would be met with fearsome resistance. Cutting into their profit margins are dangerous and murky waters to wander around in, I’m sure. Nonetheless, the idea reads well on paper, and seems like a generally pleasing one to consider. The next benefit to your life is a double bonus. Not only does not driving eliminate your chances of having to pay for speeding tickets, parking tickets, tickets for old tags or burnt-out tail lights, it practically removes the police from your life altogether—assuming your daily life consists of legal activity, that is. In your car, a police officer’s judgment over you is all powerful. Since cars are large and potentially lethal objects, our legal system has given law-enforcement wide latitude of insisting on safe-driving measures, which I wholeheartedly applaud. Drive safely and you won’t be pulled over, is the thinking there. Yet, it is uncommon for any person to drive a car throughout their lives and remain unscathed by the police. Drive long enough, and you will be in violation of something or other at some point and you will likely receive a ticket or worse for your mishap. Not driving allows you to never be fined, or even jailed for the way you traverse along the planet—assuming you respect cross-walks, and stay PainterTeam:Layout 1 1/10/2011 3:45 PM Page 1 Buying or selling . . . nearby cities. The Japanese system Shinkansen, is 1,528 miles long and reaches speeds over 180 mph. Imagine the entire Midwest connected by something similar: Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Indianapolis, Columbus, and Dayton. If you live in Cincinnati, you could work at any of these cities and your entire commute might take only one hour. You would take the local light-rail to the bullet-train downtown, and then take the other city’s light-rail to your job wherever that may be. That sounds like a daunting amount of commuting, no? More than two hours every day on public transit? Then work on top of that? No way, you say. Well, depending on your job, there’s a chance you can work on the train itself— in this vision, they are wireless-ready. If not, you can read, sleep, write your own manifesto, and get to know someone else on the train, or just gaze out of the window at the passing landscape. What you aren’t is stuck in traffic, road-raging and cramming down a hurried breakfast, all while trying to arrange a conferencecall to get a jump on the day’s workload. If your job in Louisville is losing its luster and there’s a tempting position open in Columbus, with bullet-trains and light-rail you don’t have to move your home to go after it. Satellite Grocery Stores The whole idea of work is to secure food and shelter, everything else we have is bonus. That’s why the car, when it comes all the way down to it, is a hunting tool used to procure food. Not only do we use it to get the funds used for food, See Move Ahead, P. 10 The Painter Team - For all your real estate needs, call: Michael D. Painter, e-Pro, REOS, SFR 513.348.7999 Candace Kadivnik Painter, CRS, ABR 513.266.1025 - Painting the town sold . . . �10 Opinion STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Move Ahead or Get Left Behind. ­ Continued from P. 8 we also actually “hunt” with it by bringing food back to our caves. Without a car, obtaining food becomes a little trickier. With a car culture…one where every adult is expected to drive a car, the giant box-stores with hundreds of parking spaces and thousands of products inside make sense. If people need to drive to get things, why make them drive all over when they can get all of their stuff in one place? Fine, but that’s about the only thing that makes sense about them. First off, if more people are moving back to the city, it means they’re moving away from the big stores. The problem with big stores in denser urban areas is that they take up too much space, so companies can’t just tear down whatever is in the way to build new ones. Yet, if less people are driving to and from work, than grocery shopping would need to happen in some other way than hitting up the superstore on the way home. We all know how our library system works. In Cincinnati, there are 42 branches that all belong to the same entity, but most of the collection resides at the Main Branch downtown. If you live miles away from the book you want, the library will put someone in a truck and deliver your book to you. This can work with groceries too. With an improved public-transit system comes more stops. These stops can become small-business hubs as foot-traffic would exponentially increase in the area. If a major grocery chain, like Cincinnati’s own local giant Kroger, were to set up small satellite stores designed to facilitate previously ordered grocery bundles, then a person could order their groceries online before noon and have their stuff waiting for them as the exit their train at the end of the day. These orders would be smaller, enough food for only a day or two for the whole family, but could be repeated multiple times a week. Not only would it make grocery shopping doable for the permanent or even occasional pedestrian, it has hidden added benefits like purchasing, cooking and eating fresher foods, which assists with a healthy diet, promotes learning to cook for one’s self, and, in theory, supports local produce growers. If the grocery sector found success with this kind of model, then other everyday-need businesses like pharmacies, liquor and hardware stores might try and prop themselves upon this idea and move closer to transit stops too. Eventually, with enough people passing buy, preexisting small-businesses in the area would benefit as well, and suddenly, there are enough birthdays between the major holidays to keep little gift shops above water and even allow small bakeries and florists to stay alive. From what I’ve seen, the longest-standing smallbusinesses succeed thanks to foot traffic and the best way to increase that traffic is to get people out of their cars. Quality-of-Life Benefits Walking is good for you. If you live eight blocks from the closest stop, then that means you’re walking 16 blocks a day and that’s healthier than walking from house to car to work to car to house every day. Not to mention that the average American misses out on an abundance of sunshine because of this kind of reclusive existence. Some people may think they are safer in their cars than on public transit or walking the streets, but that philosophy is predicated on fear. To assume that something bad will happen to you outside of your car, is assuming you are a victim who is only waiting to meet your assailant. If there were more people walking the streets, with all those eye-witnesses everywhere, wouldn’t the public be safer? The truth is, not everyone walking the streets wants to kill you. In fact, most don’t. People in cars, though, sure are in a hurry to do some kind of personal damage on one another. Once in their cars, many people are in a dreadful hurry to the point where they perform dangerous, potentially lethal maneuvers to get where ever they’re going faster. For some reason, the average person has constructed this facade of impervious safety while in their cars and regularly insists on testing the boundaries of their invincible egg by paying attention to so many things other than driving. If the generations of Americans continue to hurdle toward ADHD ruination, how good of an idea is it to insist they operate heavy machinery? None at all, which is why they’re making cars that drive themselves. Remove the idiot without removing the idiot’s wallet, in a sense. The fact that humanity is able to pilot themselves around in cars with somewhat minimal carnage and misery often astonishes me. Human beings are more famous for their mistakes than of their triumphs, yet highways and parkways hum along fairly unimpeded. So that proves that people can make a sport of it and still survive to some degree, but it also means that they willfully undergo heaping spoonfuls of stress and anger too. Road rage is a strange animal. I have seen the most sane, mild-mannered individual become a frothing storm of threats and profanity toward his fellow drivers when hoisted behind the wheel. Many times, drivers are all too eager to intimidate while in the “safety” of their cars. Everybody is a tough guy on the road, but those same people would not say a peep if someone cut them off while walking. Perhaps that’s because no one gets too hurt if two people bump into one another while walking, but that’s exactly my point. On a bus, or a train, everyone travels together at the same speed heading in the same direction. There is no competition and few ways to accidentally kill yourself or others while riding public transit. Rather than individuals floating along in their reclusive bubbles of steel and speed, masses of people, strangers, are forced to pack close together and, in some way, interact with one another. That sounds more like a society to me; one where a person is forced to admit that other people live in his or her country too. The other nice thing about not driving is, of course, not driving. The physical act, I mean. Not only do you not need to pay close attention to anything for too long, you can do fun stuff like read a book, or text everyone you know or explain to your kid how the moon lights up at night. Or, look out the window to enjoy the scenery rather than look through it to avoid crashing. Every now and again on public transit, someone gets really annoying and distracts you from the fun stuff, but being occasionally annoyed without any truly harmful affect is probably a valuable lesson in cultivating patience in this world. Maybe not, but the point is, nobody gets hurt, or seldom do. The Cost This little utopia is far from a reality, and in fact, the US is still a very conservative place. The first thing everybody wants to know is how a new form of public transportation gets paid for, and when I tell them taxes, most quit listening. The idea that a taxpayer funds the greater good is one only found in storybooks and Europe. The word socialism smells bad in this country and any collective government-funded projects are met with fierce resistance and furious criticism typically from the right-wing. Most Americans are short-sighted in that they only care what their next paycheck reads. Take away from that number without giving them something they can own and not share, and they panic. If you’re a person with a job, congratulations, you’re doing better than nine percent of the population. If you’re among that nine percent, a big ambitious infrastructure-improvement program like a radically renewed rail system could spell out work for you. Though mismanaged funding can often lead to abandonment before any ground-breaking ceremony. It’s true that the government can be the biggest bum of them all and that politicians do little else than comfort themselves and their “positions” and “interests”, and that a big project like this becomes the property of big government—a phrase that is these days typically murmured with a strong dose of venom behind it. And I share, to some degree; these concerns with those Americans who feel that too many good ideas are needlessly wasted away in the administrative phases of a project, but that can’t end the ambition. We, as citizens and tax-payers, should demand more transparency and have the intentionally complicated legal jargon clearly explained so that third-graders can understand the concepts behind government reasoning. We should insist that the public be updated in a forthright manner on all the happenings in Washington and all the way down to the smallest of city halls. It’s up to us, however, to care. Not only care for ourselves and family, but for our neighbors and their families. Helping everyone, in turn helps us. I feel we’ve lost sight of that. Conclusion If it’s true that more young people in the future will rather stay close to the city and resist the temptation of urban flight, then those cities who prepare for such a lifestyle choice will be the survivors. I know that Cincinnati isn’t often called progressive and that there exists a large populace who bristle at the idea of change, but this fair town will become even harder to prosper if it doesn’t get onboard to some kind of public-transit system in the next decade or so. A century or so ago, Cincinnati built subway tunnels only to run out of money after eight miles of track and those tunnels have been vacant ever since. The city was a burgeoning metropolis then ready to explode with commerce and population, but after the subway debacle, Chicago became the crown jewel of the Midwest instead. I feel the Queen City has never fully recovered from that blunder and that the seed of the failure still resonates in the minds of its citizens. Seeing the tunnels left to rot has made these people gun-shy of similar risks that could propel Cincinnati toward the top or sink them farther behind. The right-wing thinkers and doers of the area have ridden this wave of momentum to effectively shoot down nearly any and all public-transit initiatives that would benefit the city. Finding employment isn’t likely to get much easier in the years to come and more and more companies will continue to cut back on payroll. To make our city, even our nation, a more viable place to prosper and find happiness, a large, collective effort of public-transportation must get underway soon. In a future with less natural resource and less commodities, we will need to rely more on one another and that means more sharing. Soon, joblessness and poverty won’t be just your problem or my problem, it will be our problem, and the later we recognize this social phenomena, the harder it will be to catch up to the cities with systems already in place. Just this time, let’s be a proactive city rather than a reactionary one. As a group, let’s acknowledge that some changes will be required for a better future and that some of these changes will be expensive and sweeping. By shifting the way we move around our planet, we have the chance of being the frontrunners of a new way of life, an alternative with endless benefit. A new system that works would bring more people to the area, including more business, and, in turn, lower the public cost to taxpayers. Not only would it help the local wealthy business moguls by bringing in more money to the area, it would also greatly help the disenfranchised people of our city by providing them a larger sphere of job possibilities. Lower-income families could live with just one car per household and give them the means to take more day-trips and other family vacations. Teens and the elderly could navigate themselves around more safely and lower medical costs associated with auto-accidents and other health ailments that come with driving. If this is to ever happen, you and I, the skin and bones that make our city a city, need to start warming up to the idea. We cannot sit on our hands and watch the world get out of their cars and pass us by. A new dawn is on the horizon. This can either be an era of innovation and alternative thinking, or one of stubborn resistance and financial bleakness. So I beg of you: get out of your cars and get on board, because the world is moving that way even if you aren’t. It can be scary plunging headfirst into the unknown future, but it seems far more miserable sitting around and waiting for the lights to shut off. So far as I know, you get one life on one planet, might as well seize it with both hands. Move ahead or get left behind. WANT MORE STREETVIBES? | CHECK OuT THE STREETVIBES BLOG http://streetvibes.wordpress.com STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 11 International News Rape in Zimbabwe: Perspectives and realities A woman is meant to fulfill all of her husband’s desires, even when she doesn’t feel like it,” said Primrose Mukumba, a vendor at a Harare flea market. She believes there is no such thing as rape within marriage. fungai Machirori The belief is widespread in Zimbabwe, according to the Musasa Project, an NGO providing support to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and is a serious deterrent to women accessing their services. “Unfortunately, most married women do not perceive it as rape,” said Musasa Project Executive Director Netty Musanhu. “They will just talk about the consequences of the incident, for example contracting HIV. It’s only when you explore further how they got the virus that they then say that their husbands forced themselves onto them. That’s when you realize that they have been raped.” Medical journal PLoS Medicine recently reported that Zimbabwe’s HIV epidemic had almost been halved in the past several years, a huge success in a region of mostly bad news when it comes to HIV and AIDS. However, in what is already a feminized epidemic (In 2009 UNAIDS estimated that 60 percent of HIV-positive Zimbabweans were female), rape puts more Zimbabwean women at risk of contracting the virus. Centres such as the Adult Rape Clinic (ARC) in Harare provide rape survivors with services that include medical examinations, HIV counseling and testing, emergency contraceptives (ECP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). ARC also collects forensic evidence and fills out medical affidavits for use in criminal investigations. ARC saw more than 450 rape survivors between March 2009, when it opened its doors, and mid-2010. It is the only such centre for adult rape survivors (16 years and above) in Harare. Statistics from ARC showed that 70 percent of survivors who visited the clinic were females in the 17-25 age bracket, one of the most vulnerable age groups to HIV infection. Overall, one in ten clients seen by ARC tests positive for HIV. The majority (two-thirds) of ARC’s rape cases are committed by a partner or relative; known as acquaintance rape. The challenge with reporting this type of rape is that women face physical and social stigma and face being disowned or abused by their family if they do speak up. “It would be much easier to mobilize help for rape victims if the majority of Zimbabweans believed that the victim is not to blame,” observed marketing consultant Tafadzwa Dihwa. “Our conservative attitude to taboo subjects is very wrong.” “At times, our culture extenuates rape. Just think of chiramu and how a husband nowadays can fondle the breasts of his wife’s sister. That’s criminal!” said Anesu Katere, a former teacher. Traditionally, chiramu refers to Gender links_ popular perspectives on rape Source: Colleen Lowe Morna, Gender Links the goodwill expressed between a man and the relatives of his wife. The man may take to playfully calling his wife’s younger sister his second wife. But this goodwill can be abused and a man may sexually harass the woman in the belief that he is entitled to her body since she is the “other” wife. The blame debate extends into the role that provocative attire plays in precipitating rape. “She’s showing the men a sign about what she’s come for,” said Nobert Zhuwao, a cell phone credit vendor, when asked about what he thought of women who visit bars in miniskirts. “Men are visual and are easily excited. And in a bar where there is alcohol and drugs, a woman must know that!” Zhuwao’s friend, Harmony Savanhu, added that in a state of sexual stimulation a man could not be held responsible for his actions. “If we’ve decided to have sex and the girl changes her mind at the last minute, then she’s wrong,” said Savanhu. When it’s up (the penis), its ready!” Originally published by Gender Links opinion and commentary service © Street News Service �STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Most Unlikely to Succeed ­ Chapter One donald Whitehead L ooking back, I suppose I should have been nervous. In fact, I guess I should have been very nervous. I should have figured that what was about to happen shouldn’t have been happening at all. I should have assumed I was dreaming, hallucinating, or having an extreme bout of wishful thinking. I should have reasoned that the Donald Whitehead I had always been, the Donald Whitehead that I knew so well, would have had no business at such a place at such a time. That Donald Whitehead would have been an interloper or kitchen help; that Donald Whitehead would have been approached by security or the police and given only seconds to explain why he was there and what he had in mind. But the truth is, I was there; I was there legitimately, and people were treating me as if I had every right to be there. Donald Whitehead was, as I came to learn, “on the list.” And, of course, I really was nervous. Not in the sense of panic or having my knees knock, but of that inner apprehension as to what might happen that day; that sooner rather than later, someone in authority would come up to me with an expression of superiority on his or her face and I would immediately be out the door, booted as the fraud I really was. Even though I knew that that was not to be the case, old habits and old self-doubts really do die hard. The photographer was a surprise, though. I had hardly expected that anyone would want any sort of a visual record or even that I might have the chance to request such a record. But there the photographer was, explaining to me how many shots he would be taking, assessing what problems I might present, and then disappearing, not to have any interaction with me until I saw the event’s photographs some weeks later and wanted to order pictures. Following the photographer, a young staffer approached to check that the information they had for me was correct, including the pronunciation of my name, which I would have thought to be obvious. Satisfied, he headed for the next guest, and his place was taken by another staffer (apparently half the people in Washington D.C. are on someone’s staff ), who put his hand on my shoulder and begin gently guiding me into an appropriate position, as well as giving me the protocol for what was about to happen – “please, don’t reach for anything, and keep your hands out of your pocket,” and telling me how long I could expect to wait. And I did wait. Waiting is a way of life in Washington, much like in the military, and you learn rather quickly that Washington is a city where important things really do happen, and the necessity of dealing with important matters trumps everything and – almost – everybody. And, because of that, you learn to wait; you learn to master the art of small talk, the art of simply having something to say to pass the time. I talked to the people next to me; they were from the Department of Labor, and so we talked about jobs and poverty, about what programs might work and how, and why and what could realistically be done regarding legislative needs. I talked to someone behind me; she was new in DC, but had come from Kentucky, right across the river from my home in Cincinnati, where I had lived almost all my life. She asked about a constant topic in Washington for any new person: housing. Not housing for the poor, but rather, potential apartments, places to live, locations, traffic patterns, and above all the horrible, horrible rent rates that make life in the nation’s capital often seem beyond financial hope. After about twenty minutes, a more senior staffer (you learn to recognize not only who’s who, but at what level people work) came out and said we would be looking at approximately thirty to forty minutes still more, and that we should make ourselves comfortable and we were not to leave. The lady from Kentucky made a joke as to who would ever consider leaving, and I laughed, but not too much for I would have been determined to wait out the whole night if I had had to. Strangely enough, the call came sooner rather than later. Yet another staffer walked out, holding a clipboard, much like a quarterback on a sideline. He motioned us forward, with the two Labor people leading the way, and me following the lady from Kentucky. The room would probably have been best described as a small greeting room, attached to a larger office, and that office attached to the remaining areas of the home itself. As we entered, I saw the four men in dark suits move quickly but smoothly, in what was obviously a practiced pattern, heading for, and then opening a second door across from where we had entered. The staffer with the clipboard put his hand on the elbow of the first of the Department of Labor people and gently maneuvered him more to the center of the room. We followed and stood waiting. There were no chairs, although various pieces of furniture did line the left wall of the room, under a huge mirror. I remember licking my lips as we waited, and I remember rubbing my hands together. But it was only a minute before the men in the dark suits fanned out to flank the opposite door just as yet another staffer, obviously an even more senior person, entered through that door. He quickly stepped to the side, as yet another man walked in. This man stood still for only an instant before he began what must have been for him a long-perfected litany: “Lady and gentlemen, please give your attention…. The last man to enter was pretty much exactly as I had seen on the television and in the hundreds of pictures, although a bit taller and a bit heavier than I had guessed. He thanked us briefly for coming, and then began what struck me as a fairly impassioned series of quick comments on the shame that America had to feel given that so many of its citizens were poor, homeless, unemployed, or all three. He promised that he would personally see to it that something was done about this disgrace. When he finished speaking, the two Department of Labor people were introduced to him and he spoke with them for at least a couple of minutes; the lady from Kentucky (I later learned she was with HUD) received slightly less time, and then it was my turn. I stepped forward, smiled, and suddenly had only one thought in my mind: again, that this could not possibly be true, that this could not possibly be happening. Not to Donald Whitehead, not to the man who had lain on the floor of an emergency shelter in Cincinnati, Ohio, not to the man who had been so desperate and homeless. But it was happening. I stepped forward, smiled, and put out my hand. “Mr. President,” the staffer said, “let me introduce to you, Mr. Donald Whitehead, the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.” And I stepped forward and shook the hand of President William Jefferson Clinton, and we began to speak, as if we were old friends, about homelessness in the United States of America. Later in the evening, I had a chance to speak with Hilary Clinton as well, and I was tremendously impressed at how knowledgeable she was about homelessness. We talked and I was astonished as she really seemed to listen to what I was saying. Listening to Donald Whitehead, listening far more attentively than others had listened to me when I had been a homeless addict in the gutters of Cincinnati. When I left the Clinton Home that evening, I felt as if I had become somehow a different person; I felt as if the Donald Whitehead who had left the office of the National Coalition on Homelessness to go to the Clinton Home had been transformed; had become someone who was different in some new and invigorating way. I felt somehow raised up, somehow changed. And yet, I knew in the deepest recesses of both my heart and my mind, that that was not the truth. For I realized then, as I do now, that I was the very same Donald Whitehead as I had ever been. I realized, in fact, that I was the same Donald Whitehead, who had lain on the floor of the DropInn Center, on 12th Street, in Cincinnati, completely drunk, unable to get up, and unable to take care of himself. And it had not been that many years earlier. That had been in 1995, six years before I went to the home of Bill and Hilary Clinton as Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Six years before I was invited to the home of a former President and his wife, the sitting United States Senator from New York, I had needed to sleep on the floor of an emergency shelter and had awakened with the knowledge that I remembered little if anything of the night before and that my life was a complete and devastating shambles. Looking back, as I walked away from my evening with Bill and Hilary Clinton, the one point that came to me again and again was thinking about those terrible nights in the Drop-Inn Center, and above all thinking about the path that the years had set me on between the Drop Inn Shelter and the Clinton Household. How was it --- indeed, how could it have been – that the very same Donald Whitehead who had slept with alcohol on his breath and on his clothing in an emergency shelter could be the Donald Whitehead invited to the home of a President and Senator? Was it the hand of God that had reached out and, in some strange way, chosen me for the position I had reached? Or was it something that I had done myself? Had I found inside of me some inner strength, some inner will? Or was it the kindness and support of others? Was it an attitude and a commitment I had made? Or was it simply good fortune, being in the right spot at the right time? Was it fate? Was it Providence? Was it strength? In the years that have passed, I’ve had time to think about such things over and over and consider not only what my answer was that night, but how that answer has changed with the years, and with the new tasks and challenges I’ve undertaken. I’ve had time to look closely at myself and to examine the steps that I took and the steps others pushed me to take; I’ve thought about the things that I did for myself and the events that I could never have predicted. And, above all, I feel that I’ve learned a few things, not only about Donald Whitehead, but about struggle, challenge, and desperation and the ways that I and other individuals have faced up to these foes. I’ve learned about opportunity, and I have things I want to say about the opportunities that each man or woman has in their lives, and the roll that recognizing opportunity plays in each person’s success. I’ve learned about fear and hopelessness, too; and I have a number of things I want to say about those two enemies of the human spirit as well. And so, I’ve written this book. I’ve written it not only to tell people about Donald Whitehead (although I do hope you will find my story an interesting one), but also to tell people a little something about themselves. I want my story to be an uplifting one. I want my story to describe truthfully what I once was, and I want people to see what I became, not so that I should seem important, but rather that the possibilities for other men and women should seem important. We are all people of different skills, people of different fears, different beliefs. We are all people with many problems, and in the lowest of our moments, we are people who believe we have few solution to those problems. I want to address those lowest moments in the light of what Donald Whitehead once was, in the Drop Inn Center. I want to address those fears in light of the terror I felt when I woke up night after night in an emergency shelter on a cold floor, surrounded by our society’s outcasts. And I want to address opportunity in light of the positions I have held. But above all, I want to address hope. Above all, I want anyone who reads this book to know that there is always hope. I want everyone who reads this book to take away from these pages a genuine belief that with determination and a lot of courage, a great many great things are indeed possible. No one’s life is ever totally hopeless. And that is what this book is really about. About The Author: Donald Whitehead spent five years between various relatives and the streets of Cincinnati. Due to the disease of addiction he found himself trapped in the terrible realities of homelessness. In August of 1995 he made his way to the Drop Inn Center where he entered the center’s six-month treatment program. After completing the program, Whitehead was hired as the outreach coordinator he created a public radio program, a community access cable television show and a newspaper all focused on homelessness. He served for two years as the outreach coordinator of that organization. Whitehead worked to get people experiencing homelessness involved in local planning processes. Whitehead created the “Homeless Think Tank” to help the city of Cincinnati develop its strategy for providing services to the homeless population. The homeless think tank model is now officially incorporated in the Continuum of Care process in the city of Cincinnati and has been used as a best practice example in communities across the United States. Whitehead created innovative models for service provision including a program that provides transportation for family transitioning out of homeless. Whitehead served for two years as the Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Under Whitehead’s leadership the Greater Cincinnati Coalition membership grew from twenty members to over seventy active members. STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Story & Poetry Corner 13 A Peaceful Place Intel Willa d. Jones Jordan antoine Wilson There’s a place I go to on different days of every week The hate crimes against my intelligence are growing intolerable I live in a land of one billion sheep Who’s wool is constantly trying to be pulled Over my eyes There are none so blind as those who will not see There are those who create the curriculum And the criteria for a passing grade However, these same disregard the very scale On which they grade when the work is completed And turned in The only thing worse is that one can still feel The need to perform for such ringmasters But alas I will forever keep my head on a swivel Or at least try And I will keep something dear to me on a pedestal. That something is my intelligence, for it is my umbrella On a rainy day 4-6-10 Where I can learn about making things that all kinds of l people seek I learn to make jewelry; I learn how to knit and to even play with clay I learn all sorts of things and if I want, I can stay and learn all day This place is open to women from all walks of everyday life In this place you can find peace of mind from the world’s toils and strife We come together and talk to find solutions for so many different problems As we knit and make jewelry we pray for God’s help with our problems to be able to solve them This place is called the Sarah Center here in downtown Vine Street Who would ever believe this place of peace would be located right off the downtown beat I have been blessed to find the Sarah Center and meet all the Sarah Center Girls I just wish that there were more places of this statue all over the world So I hope I can just pass the blessing on to those who may be lonely and bored And be able to open the door to those lost souls who feel their being ignored Come into the Sarah Center and meet all the many women of different cultures and pray That your day may be fulfilled by the grace of God in the Sarah Center each and everyday The Poet’s Justice Jordan antoine Wilson If justice can be poetic, Then where is my play? All the pretty face followers, Who swoon at the words I say? Let it trickle down from the mountains. Let it rise from the gutter. Let my tongue stay untangled, So my mouth will never stutter. Roll it up in your palm. Pack it up well. Let my words be a story, You won’t hesitate to tell. I need a bank for these thoughts, Because the pennies come in rolls. A nickel for a sandwich, And a few dollars for me to fold. 1-28-11 a 12 Interest S Y WHAT?! Gloria Steinem at news conference, Women's Action Alliance, 1972 In Honor Of Women’s History Month “I have met brave women who are exploring the outer edge of human possibility, with no history to guide them, and with a courage to make themselves vulnerable that I find moving.” -Gloria Steinem �14 Sightings ­ STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 ­ Congratulations Judge Painter! Shelter: Women and Children Cincinnati judge holds court at United Nations Bethany House Press release froM the ohio Bar association Judge Mark Painter of Cincinnati is one of seven judges, and the only American, to serve on a new internal justice system within the United Nations. Painter says the position came about after he answered a want ad for the new U.N. Appeals Tribunal. “I sent my resume to an e-mail listed in the ad, thinking, ‘They want seven people from the whole world and I’ll never hear anything more from this.’” To his surprise, Judge Painter was contacted. The vetting process ended with a vote by the U.N. General Assembly. Judge Painter is preparing to attend the fourth session of the court, to be held Feb. 28-March 11 in New York City. The inaugural session was held last spring in Geneva, Switzerland, and two other sessions were held during 2010 in New York. Cases have included disputes over promotions, discipline, and pensions. The court is internationally diverse, with judicial representatives from France, Argentina, Ghana, India, Uruguay and Ireland. Judge Painter says the judges get along quite well. “At first, there was a concern because four of us are from common law countries and three are from civil law countries. But we haven’t had any problem harmonizing and coming to the right conclusions on the cases.” He adds that out of the first 100 cases decided last year, there have been only two dissents. The judges will have nonrenewable seven-year terms, but because Judge Painter is among those appointed for an initial term of three years, he may be re-appointed for seven more years when the current term concludes next year. Judge Painter was an elected trial and appellate judge for 27 years. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University Of Cincinnati College Of Law, where he earned his law degree in 1973. He has also been a speaker for Ohio State Bar Association continuing legal education courses on the art of legal writing. The Ohio State Bar Association, founded in 1880, is a voluntary association representing approximately 25,000 members of the bench and bar of Ohio as well as nearly 4,000 legal assistants and law students. Through its activities and the activities of its related organizations, the OSBA serves both its members and the public by promoting the highest standards in the practice of law and the administration of justice. A video interview with Judge Painter is available on the Ohio State Bar Association’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ohiobar. Central Access Point Cincinnati union Bethel St. Francis Soup Kitchen Churches Active in Northside 535-2719 591-2246 381-SAFE 768-6907 FreeStore/FoodBank 557-2873 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 762-5660 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 562-8841 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 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 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 458-6670 977-4489 Treatment: Men Other Resources Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Prospect House 241-0490 381-4941 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4663 Treatment: Both 761-1480 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 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 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 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 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 241-2965 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 united Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Hamilton County ADAS Board 946-4888 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 641-4300 Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn Our Daily Bread AA Hotline CCAT Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 381-0111 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 621-5514 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 961-4080 Peaslee Neighborhood Center Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart First Step Home Anthony House (Youth) 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 661-4620 Shelter: Both Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-2256 Treatment: Women 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Shelter 921-1613 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Justice Watch St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House Drop Inn Center Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the 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 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health Center for Respite Care Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY ECHO/Hosea House 859-261-5857 Fairhaven Resuce Mission 859-491-1027 Homeward Bound Youth 859-581-1111 Mathews House 859-261-8009 Homeless & Housing Coalition 859-727-0926 Parish Kitchen 859-581-7745 Pike St. Clinic 859-291-9321 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 Welcome House of NKY 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Street410x:Layout 1 5/7/2010 2:47 PM Page 1 Compliments of � Judge Mark Painter United Nations Appeals Tribunal, 2009– # Ohio Court of Appeals, 1995–2009 # Hamilton County Municipal Court, 1982–1995 # Judging strictly on merit for 29 years � www.judgepainter.org Paid for by the Judge Painter Cte., Paul Gaffney, CPA, Treas., 5086 Wooster Road · Cincinnati, OH 45226 Cartoon: Washington “Park” By: Eddie Sun 15 Resources ­ STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 �16 Column STREETVIBES March 01-14, 2011 Who Decides What Is Good or Equal ­ In her art, Kim Shifflett questions arbitrary boundaries In undergrad, older that most of her classmates, she felt less free, having to juggle her role as wife and mother with her study demands and aspirations for a professional career. A recurrent theme in Kim Shifflett’s artwork is that of boundaries. They range from boundaries imposed by societal rules and expectations, delineating roles and behaviors in such matters as gender, relationships, families, deciding good from bad, to actual physical borders that separate and isolate people, leading to poverty, violence and conflict. “At home I was always expected to do the ‘women chores’, cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids, tending to everyone else’s needs,” she says. “I always came last. People would even make me feel selfish for wanting to be in school.” In a traditional society built mostly around men’s convenience, she found herself fighting for her Kim Shifflett in her studio. Photo by Saad Ghosn interests, having constantly to redefine She did colorful paintings of black-eyed and assert who she was. The theme of Susan, corn flowers, other ‘weed’ flowers she had By saad ghosn feminism then permeated her work. encountered, one painting for each month from Contributing writEr She did a series of semi-abstract spring to early winter. She used on purpose very paintings on relationships, women in large canvasses to draw in the viewer and give the family, all the push-and-pull they added importance to their subject. Born in Champaign, IL, Shifflett grew up in daily experience. The images were based on round Halfway through grad school, Shifflett went Las Cruces, NM, near Ciudad Juarez on the other balls, one of them representing her; they would back to visit her parents in Las Cruces. Wanting side of the Mexican divide. It was at a time when also be accompanied by statements to clarify her to return like in the old good times to Ciudad flow between the 2 countries was welcome and message. Juarez she was strongly discouraged by her sister safe and when crossing the border was a daily In Tomato Soup Family, for instance, she is a who shared with her the ongoing violence in the enjoyable adventure; she often accompanied her big red ball at the bottom, pushed away by 2 other border town, the hundreds of working women friends and mother to party or shop on Mexican balls on the top, one being her husband, the other found dead for no reason, the daily killings due to soil. Shifflett was also interested in art very early her daughter. the drug wars, the desperate prevailing poverty. on, drawing constantly, her talents encouraged by She was appalled not to have heard about it on the She later expanded her series to address more teachers and family. news. Doing her research she discovered the truth specifically her relationship of the new reality and embarked on a new series of with her teenage daughter. paintings, Borderlands. They were both struggling for independence, yet her daughter Her large and somber painting Trash Town is a demanding, needy and commentary on the effect of NAFTA on the lives rebellious at the same time. The of hundreds of thousands of Mexicans who, in abstract paintings in the series order to find better paying jobs, relocated to the were done using Elmer’s glue border cities where new factories had opened. and graphite, Elmer’s glue in her Unfortunately they were met with inexistent mind associated with the school infrastructure, no electricity, water or sewage, and classroom, thus connected to ended up living among trash in shanty towns, the her daughter. for-profit companies not concerned with their well-being. In I Hate You Mom but Can You Please Take Me and My The killing Field was based on the massacre of Friends to the Mall, she reflects 73 to-be illegal immigrants who, before reaching on the expectations and tasks the USA, were kidnapped by drug cartels, held for she’s supposed to meet just ransom and killed, their families not able to pay. for being a mother; and in Trapped is in response to the escalating violence Stony Silence because I Said in bordering towns, people becoming prisoners No, related to not letting her in their own homes, trapped and squeezed 14 year old daughter go to between an obstructive border fence, terrorizing a slumber party at a 16 year drug lords, daily danger, and poverty. It was also old boy’s house, on how these related to similar imagery and background she expectations were only used had experienced on a recent trip to the West Bank, when they suited her child. Palestinians impeded in their daily living by a big Between undergrad and grad dividing wall, numerous checkpoints, long lines school, Shifflett worked on and queues, omnipresent occupation. Shifflett another series related to flowers had travelled to the Middle East to help Bedouin usually considered weeds. women improve their weaving technique and find Travelling down the interstate opportunities to better market their product. to get to her studio she would ‘We’re all alike,” says Shifflett. “Women, often admire along the way Trapped, oil painting. Painting and Photo by Kim Shifflett environment, border conflicts, are universal large patches of beautiful and issues that touch all of us. When I disagree with colorful flowers jut to find them the following day something, I use my art to raise awareness, start At the age of 18 she left New Mexico, settled for mowed away. and facilitate a dialogue, hopefully promote few years in Tucson, AZ, moved to Lexington, KY, “I felt every time violated,” she says, “like if change. My art is compassionate. I strongly and then finally to Cincinnati, OH. Along the way someone was deliberately destroying my favorite identify with immigrants who leave their country she married twice, bore children, learned to weave garden. Why would a flower in a certain setting wanting better chance, education and living; with and knit, started a needlework design business, has value and beauty and in others not. Who burdened women and mothers; with devalued pursued her art education. She earned a BFA decides what is good or equal? Unfortunately ‘weed’ flowers; with ‘invisible’, victimized degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati and by drawing arbitrary lines, our society often individuals in our society.” a MFA degree in painting from the University of contributes to abusive control and prejudice.” Cincinnati. 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 reached 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 2011 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, 2011 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cincinnati Women Making Her Story Pg 2: Street Wise Pg 3: Homeless Congress Pg 4: Cincinnati Women Making Her Story Continued Pg 5: Cincinnati Women Making Her Story Continued Pg 6: Cincinnati Women Making Her Story Continued Pg 7: Cincinnati Women Making Her Story Continued Pg 8: Move Ahead or Get Left Behind Pg 9: Feed Me Seymour Pg 10: Move Ahead or Get Left Behind Continued Pg 11: Rape in Zimbabwe: Perspectives and Realities Pg 12: Most Likely to Succeed Pg 13: Poetry Pg 14: Congratulations Judge Painter! Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Who Decides What is Good or Equal? 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, 2011 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jen Martin Elizabeth Schulenberg Donald Whitehead B. Clifton Burke Pearla Kinne Jordan Antoine Wilson Riccardo Taylor Saad Ghosn Jeni Jenkins Willa Denise Jones Fungai Machirori Anthony Williams Amiee Willhoite Saad Ghosn Pearla Kinne Colleen Lowe Morna Eddie Sun GCCH Staff Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Amiee Willhoite Anthony Williams B. Clifton Burke Cincinnati Colleen Lowe Morna Donald Whitehead Eddie Sun Elizabeth Schulenberg Fungai Machirori GCCH Staff Herstory Jen Martin Jeni Jenkins Jordan Antoine Wilson Judge Painter Kim Shifflett Pearla Kinne Rape Riccardo Taylor Saad Ghosn United Nations Willa Denise Jones Women Zimbabwe https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/99cda505e0bb847ccc3f534ae070d458.pdf 62f36a4360b77120d4aef1dcd497b3d1 PDF Text Text March 10th - March 23rd 2017 | Vol. 20 Issue 32 (No. 351) advocating justice | Building community Transgender Rally At City Hall| 5 This issue sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter INSIDE THIS ISSUE An Update on the Child Poverty Initiative| 2 Border Stories: A Divided Community| 3 Brazil's Race To Save Drought-Hit City| 8 Our friend Larry Files passed away | 12 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 LOCAL From the Director: Join Us: April 1st, National Day of Action for Housing, In Front of City Hall JOSH SPRING Executive Director Homelessness is increasing in Cincinnati. The way to end homelessness is by creating more affordable housing. We will be joining the National Coalition and more than 100 other groups across the country for the National Day of Action for Housing on Saturday, April 1st. At noon we will gather in front of City Hall as we not only continue to notify every one of the increasing hardships of homelessness, but to demand that City Council and the administration begin to prioritize the funding of new affordable housing. As people gather on the National Mall in D.C. and in numerous city and town centers across the country we will all bring the same three calls to action: 1. Preserve funding and create further local, state and national Housing Trust Funds that fund housing solely for extremely low to moderate income households. 2. Stop ordinances, policies and practices that 1) criminalize and harass people who are unhoused, 2) promote racial discrimination, or 3) prevent equal treatment of immigrants and those who identify as LGBTQ, especially in access to housing, employment and healthcare. 3. Ensure that safety net programs like food assistance, health care and emergency housing are available to any people in need of support. Locally we are surveying hundreds of people without homes about their experiences with law enforcement and other public services as we work for a Homeless Bill of Rights meant to end the criminalization of people AN UPDATE ON THE CHILD POVERTY INITIATIVE BILL WOODS W Contributing Writer hat is the status of "The Child Poverty Initiative" that was launched last year? At the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral on March 2nd, Ross Meyer, Vice President of Community Impact for the United Way, provided an update on where things stand concerning this major effort to reduce the high poverty rate of children in Greater Cincinnati. Meyer reviewed what has happened in recent months including the areas chosen for current and future emphasis by the Child Poverty Collaborative. Sparked initially by the Urban League report, "The State of Black Cincinnati 2015," and 2012 Census data that showed Cincinnati to have the second highest municipal child poverty rate in the nation (53 percent), the formation of the Collaborative was supported by a number of local leaders. It began with the lofty goal of reducing the child poverty rate by 22-percent by 2020. The first step was establishing a Collaborative Task Force housed at the United Way and charged with planning how to achieve this goal. "We don't have it figured out yet!" These were the opening words M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 experiencing homelessness. Criminalization which further marginalizes people, creates barriers to housing and upholds the stereotype that people who are housed should be afraid of people who are not housed. Further we are joined with the Affordable Housing Advocates in our big goal for 2017, the passage of a funded Local Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Such a fund could generate millions of dollars annually to build, renovate and operate new affordable housing. Only through generating obligated local funds will we begin to turn the tide on homelessness in Cincinnati. This work takes many people. This year, in a relatively mild winter, the Winter Shelter saw record numbers. The single adult men’s shelter has regularly been at record numbers. The women’s shelter is practically always at capacity and having to turn women away. The family shelters are full, having to turn away most of the families with children who call for shelter. There is such a grand lack of affordable housing that the safety net of shelter simply cannot take everyone. The number of people outside, including families with children is increasing. All of this and the strong potential of federal cuts to housing. Please join us in our mission and in our action on the National Day of Action for Housing at City Hall on Saturday, April 1st. Bring everyone you know who believes housing is a human necessity and right.” ------------------------ of Ross Meyer at the Forum. This declaration captures the realization by Collaborative leaders that child poverty is a complex issue that defies simple solutions. "There is no silver bullet," emphasized Meyer. Almost from the start, he noted, we realized that children aren't by themselves, and we needed to grapple with all the factors causing families to experience poverty. The year-long learning process embarked on by the Child Poverty Collaborative Task Force included eighty community conversations with diverse neighborhood and civic representatives and two summits that attracted more than seven hundred participants. Out of these meetings and the already available data on poverty in Cincinnati emerged some key findings or what Meyer described as insights. A key finding, according to (Continued on page 4) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Leslie Moorhead Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Key Beck Reception: Derrick Hudson, Iolanda Barton, Patricia J. Brown, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Dr. Mark Mussman, Sr. Nicole Varnerin, Gretchen Marie Semcik, Key Beck, Johnathan Diskin, James C. Fraser, Thomas A. Dutton, Mark P. Painter, Steve Sunderland, Sharon Doering, Justin Jeffre, Bobby Morris, Willa Denise Jones Photography/Artwork: Sr. Nicole Varnerin, Dr. Mark Mussman, Gretchen Marie Semancik, Alice Schneider Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �3 LOCAL Funding Our Future: Affordable Housing Trust Fund No. 351 | M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 DR. MARK MUSSMAN A Staff Writer t every speaking engagement we do at the Homeless Coalition, we offer solutions to ending homelessness. Solutions vary, but are attainable and realistic. Often students want to know what they can do today, but the reality is that solutions may be long-term in nature, and will require us to surpass many roadblocks along the way. The biggest roadblock is the political will of the people – to act not out of guilt or shame – but to act authentically in connection with our community. This year, the Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA is an organization of dedicated people and organizations who are working to preserve and advocate for affordable housing in our region) has taken on a monumental task of pushing forward an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This came out of a planning meeting, led by the new President, Patricia Garry, who has a strong expertise in community development. AHA’s members participate in monthly meetings which offer insight into the changing landscape of affordable housing. From my involvement in AHA, I have learned a vast array of information regarding housing, public, private, CMHA, tax credits, etc., but the most exciting thing right now is the creation of a local Housing Trust Fund. Ohio has an affordable housing trust fund which, according to the Ohio Development website (https://development.ohio. gov/) “supports a wide range of housing activities including housing development, emergency home repair, handicapped accessibility modifications, and services related to housing and homelessness. In addition, Ohio Housing Trust Fund dollars may be used for predevelopment costs, rental assistance, housing counseling, rehabilitation, and new construction.” While some of the Ohio Trust Fund came to Cincinnati, last year most of the funds went to rural counties. Much of the affordable housing that is being built today is for seniors and veterans – not much is going towards family dwellings. This is inconsistent with the growing need for housing among women with children. As this gap grows, more and more families show up at our shelters and most (nearly 90% locally) are currently being turned away without help. The shelter system is inadequate and does not solve homelessness. This is why affordable housing is so Border Stories: A Divided Community I important. We can’t just assume that the shelters will take care of people, when we only have about 800 shelter beds in our region, and we estimate 25,000 people in Hamilton County will experience homelessness this year. Why a local fund? While there is opportunity for locals to get into some of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, it is important for us to have control over the scope and precision of the fund. Currently, there is an issue in Ohio where money is funneled out of the cities to support the suburbs and rural areas that don’t generate income like the cities do. The Ohio fund follows this model and shortchanges the cities. We need to be able to enjoy the fruits of our hard work. So, how would a local housing trust fund be funded? This is where we need both creative minds and community conviction. There are different ways that the fund can be saleable – through inclusionary zoning, taxes, entertainment fees, donations, or other ways. Each way has its limits and benefits. Inclusionary zoning is when developers are given incentives to participate in creating and sustaining affordable housing. The city may grant higher density, additional land, Most people who live here have been here for years. They move freely across the border regularly for work, shopping, entertainment, or permits with the agreement that the developer would put money into the trust fund, or create affordable housing in their new development. This is something that the City of Cincinnati should be seeking out now in Over-the-Rhine and other “hot” neighborhoods. Some housing trust funds are funded through taxes to hotels and entertainment items – such as movie tickets or sports games. A fraction of a penny is added to every ticket which goes into a trust fund. This is not unlike the “sin taxes” of the 80’s and 90’s that focused on taxing things that are not essential for survival. This could be a very positive, and not very noticeable, way to fund our local trust fund without creating a uniform sales tax (which hurts people in poverty the most) or a payroll tax, which can be a difficult thing to get the blessing of the Cincinnati Business Community. Another way to help ensure a local trust fund is viable could be through donations and grants, similar to how a non-profit might run. This model would prove difficult to raise the amount needed to have a robust and effective trust fund, but it could be the beginning of something bigger. This is where the need for community involvement comes in – how would you like to see us show our dedication to affordable housing in Cincinnati? To learn more about affordable housing, please visit ahacincy.org and become a member of AHA today. Please attend our monthly meetings to keep on top of the rapid changes in the housing landscape. dentistry. But now, people are very nervous. If a wall is built, it will be (Continued on page 7) SR. NICOLE VARNERIN Contributing Writer was bubbling with anticipation when we pulled up at the Humanitarian Respite Center. I had heard so much about it and was waiting to experience their ministry to immigrants just released from the detention center. I expected to see a bustling place, filled with life and love. But as we walked up to the door, the tents outside were empty and once inside, only a handful of volunteers populated the place. I was puzzled. What happened to the hundreds of immigrants I saw in pictures and videos of the Humanitarian Respite Center? They were gone. Life here in “the valley” has truly been affected by the various executive orders signed by our president in the past month. What was once hundreds of immigrants being released from detention each day, is now only between 5 and 10 each day. Now, volunteers who used to escort families through the respite center spend their time sorting clothes, cleaning, and organizing. For the past three years that the center has been operational, volunteers hardly had time to go through donations, and now we are cleaning areas that have never seen the light of day. While the work is sometimes tedious, it is nice to know that we are making things clean for the few that do come through. The valley is truly bilingual. The culture that has been created, TexMex, is a unique blending of US and Mexican customs and language. “Breakdown Stereotypes” Tents Outside Humanitarian Respite Center Credit: Sr. Nicole Varnerin “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Dr. Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) Meyer, is how pervasive poverty is in this region. Using more up to date numbers to define families in poverty, the Collaborative found that one/ third of the families in the Tri-State Area are not self-sufficient. The percentages jump to 70-percent for Cincinnati and 50-percent for Hamilton County. LOCAL Another finding is the fact that a majority of people who are in poverty are working. In Cincinnati, 50-percent of the families in poverty have a parent who has a job. This stark finding reveals the growing income inequality that now exists here and in the country as a whole. As "The State of Black Cincinnati" so graphically shows, racial inequality is another major cause of poverty in the Queen City. That M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 report found the median income for white families was $57,481, while it was $24,272 for African-American families. Furthermore, 76-percent of the 14,000 families in poverty are African-American. Poverty's impact on children is devastating. Meyer cited studies that show the trauma that children suffer when living in the unstable conditions caused by poverty. Such trauma makes it difficult for young THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED students to learn in school and experience normal development. Meyer went on to depict the long and short term initiatives that the Child Poverty Collaborative's Task Force is currently undertaking. One step is to convene all the human service agencies in the region in order to collectively forge family centered approaches for their work. This (Continued on page 12) �5 LOCAL Transgender Rally at City Hall No. 351 | M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 Gretchen Marie Semancik A Contributing Writer week after the Trump Administration revoked the guidance set in place last year by the Obama administration, hundreds of allies rallied at City Hall to show support for transgender youths. Co-organizer and first to speak at the rally was City Council Member Chris Seelbach The Obama-era’s implemented guidelines for Title IX were issued last May and ensured that transgender students have access to the restrooms and locker rooms that corresponded with their gender identity. The Trump Administration’s actions do not undo the protection given under Title IX, but leaves the policies to be decided on the state-level. “The decision that the Trump Administration has made me scared and devastated” said Lisa Phair, mother and speaker at Thursday’s rally. “Since our administration has Supporters gather in front of City Hall for Rally Citizens Holding Signs of Support for transgender youth Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Gretchen-Marie Semancik When Lip Service Is Not Enough T chosen to take a stance, then I have to take a stance”, Phair says referring to decisions made by the Trump Administration last week. People at the rally made signs, many of which were expressing the same sentiments that transgender rights are a human rights issue. Dr. Lee Ann Conrad, specialist at the Transgender Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, said at the rally that transgender youths should be “accepted and affirmed, not stigmatized. The Transgender Clinic is for patients between 5-24 years old who are questioning their gender or are experiencing gender dysmorphia, experiencing a different gender than their biological sex. At the end of the rally hundreds of supporters chanted “stand with trans” in front of City Hall to show their support for the transgender community. Later this month, the Supreme Court will hear Gavin Grimm’s case, a 17-year-old transgender student from Virginia who is fighting with his school over the right to use the bathroom that corresponds with his gender identity. The Supreme Court says it will decide on an interpretation of Title IX without the consideration of the administrations previous guidance. KEY BECK Contributing Writer hursday, February 23 hundreds of people gathered outside of City Hall on a chilly afternoon. There were parents, teachers, children, allies and even politicians there to show love and support for our youth. We had several reasons for showing up and showing out, but we only had one intention. We wanted to show our support for young people who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary. This Rally in Support of Transgender Young People was influenced by legislation being passed against the LBGT community. Many of them specifically focus on taking rights away from trans people. The current administration’s lack of support for LGBT, especially the T, rights has influenced many rallies centering on the most marginalized of populations, trans women of color (if you didn’t know.) While most of the discourse was on bathroom issues (i.e.: safety in bathrooms, differential treatment, isolation, etc.), many of the issues shared had much to do with quality of life. Everyone has to pee. When you can’t use a bathroom for fear of your safety, you have many developmental barriers keeping you from being a student. Jonah Yokoyama, Executive Director at Heartland Trans Wellness, passionately stated, “Trans children are the ones being assaulted in bathrooms. 12% of transgender youth are sexual assaulted in school.” No matter how you look at it, that is too high of a number. “This is not a state’s rights issue; this is a human rights issue.” And he is right. We all have basic human rights. We should honor those rights regardless of situations. Whether you are a person experiencing homelessness or a transgender woman, you deserve to use a bathroom. You deserve to walk down the street without being harassed or assaulted. You are allowed to exist and identify as female one day and male the next. I understand the knee-jerk reaction of people who have no connection or experience with people who identify as trans. Kids are very aware of gender. Whether they conform to your views, or their own, they know what feels right and what doesn’t. If your five-year-old child says they don’t feel like a boy, but they do feel like a girl you should, and need, to acknowledge they shared that with you. I am not saying you have to psychoanalyze the situation, just say “Thank you for sharing that with me. I think it is awesome you made that decision. I am always here when you want to share things about yourself. If I ever mess up, just let me know, because I want to support you the best I can.” Bam! You don’t have to say whether you agree or not. You don’t have inflict your appreciation or disapproval. You just need to support them. You need to let them know that you care. Just knowing you have family support, regardless of their view of LGBT issues, leads to more stable childhoods. We know, for example, that higher rates of family rejection leads to poorer health outcomes of LGBT people. The Family Acceptance Project found that LGBT young adults who had high levels of family rejection were six times more likely to report high levels of depression, three times more likely to use illegal drugs and three times more likely to engage in unprotected sex. So yes, this is a bathroom issue, but it is also a mental health issue. Each of us needs to take some responsibility to lead with love and empathy. If you are a student, support your fellow LGBT students. Create a bathroom buddy system. Go out and meet transgender people. Volunteer at the many different organizations. If you want to make sure your organization supports transgender people, consider contacting Safe and Supported for a competency training. We all need to do our best to make sure the next generation has a bright future. To be honest, we need to make sure we even have a next generation. So support your transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary children with more than just lip service. Rally in Support of Transgender Young People THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman �6 LOCAL M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 (Continued on page 12) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �7 LOCAL Tax those who’ve gained from public investment in OTR No. 351 | M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 U rban neighborhoods across the country are being remade through the “root shock” of gentrification, a process full of tensions that creates opportunity for some and dislocation for others. In Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, a historical reversal is unfolding as the putative goal of fostering a more diverse community has given way to massive low-income housing loss, removal of services and shelters for the poor coupled with skyrocketing property values and rents. And far from being the result of “the free market,” the massive property wealth that has been created is the intended result of public policy and public investments that include direct, substantial subsidies for construction of market-rate units and major investments in public amenities such as parks and streetcars. In short, the public has underwritten massive private gains in the name of urban redevelopment while resources and housing for the poor who used to call such neighborhoods home have been dispersed and reduced. SR. NICOLE VARNERIN (Continued from page 3) harder for companies who employ people on both sides of the border to do business. There will be fewer jobs and legal immigrants will not be able to see family as often. Those who do not have documentation are very worried that they will one day be torn from their children, legal US citizens born here in the US. One woman was just deported a few weeks before her daughter, a US citizen, was to get married. Now she is stranded in a Even dedicated boosters of such redevelopment, such as Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, call for reinvestment in low-income housing to avoid losing the possibility of “a real city” where people of diverse backgrounds share the streets and make the scene together. Ironically, the very success of OTR redevelopment has now created the urgent need for dedicated funding for inclusive low-income housing. Fortunately, there is a just and practical way to insure that the widely shared goal of a diverse, mixed-income urban neighborhood is supported: recapturing some of the private gains that public investments have fostered in order to underwrite serious efforts of inclusion. Value recapture, as it is known in the urban development literature, is a fair and direct way to insure that some of the new wealth that results from public policy and investments serves broader public purposes. This gain is not “earned income” in the accounting sense; it is a capital gain due to having property in the right location. Recapturing such “gift value” is normal policy in other settings. When a freeway off-ramp is built, for example, it is not unusual to levy a fee or tax to reclaim some of the increased property and rental value of nearby land that follows. The typical means of recapturing some of the value that has been gifted to private property owners is through a “betterment” fee or tax on the incremental gain due to public improvements. Such a tax could either be paid over time – usually annually – as an assessment fee or as a one-time payment of a portion of the location specific capital gain at the time of sale. This incremental value could be estimated as the gain in property value in OTR compared to a broader measure of property value changes in the region, such as citywide or countywide. A complementary policy is to ask new developments to contribute some of their property, and therefore their prospective gift, in the form of land or units set aside at affordable rents through inclusionary zoning. While this is not the place for a detailed policy proposal, City Council and the mayor could easily find models of how such betterment fees and taxes and inclusionary zoning have been successfully structured elsewhere. Such a policy ties private gains to public ends by insisting that those who have been given a gift by the public, including the very taxpayers who are increasingly displaced, share their gain in ways that serve the public good of a mixed-income community. Time is short as development pressures sweep away the longtime residents of Over-the-Rhine. Reclaiming some of the private property wealth to fund lowincome housing preservation and development is a tool whose time has come. It is urgently needed if we are to marshal the resources to make good on the oft-stated value of mixedincome neighborhoods. Jonathan Diskin is an economics professor at Earlham College, James C. Fraser is an associate professor of human and organizational development at Vanderbilt University, and Thomas A. Dutton is director of Miami University’s Center for Community Engagement in Overthe-Rhine. Mexican city she does not know, and a country she has not lived in for at least three decades. And, she will not be able to witness the marriage of her daughter. Due to these worries and uncertainties, flexibility is a rule of life. Very little is certain here, except that your plans will certainly be interrupted and changed. Because the valley is by nature bilingual, there is a patience among the people. No one rushes me when I struggle to communicate or find the right word to use. No one brushes me off as being incompetent because I do not know Spanish well. And everyone has welcomed me with open arms. I have quickly realized, that because of this bilingual reality, communication is a community event. Everyone makes sure everyone else understands. And because things are translated multiple times, it almost seems as if the community itself is communicating, rather than individuals. Community is very important. As two lonely immigrants, a father and daughter, entered the Respite Center, the handful of volunteers clapped and warmly welcomed the duo to the US. The girl was very quiet and did not smile. I could not imagine what she went through to get here and what she had seen on the way. After talking with them I learned that the girl is actually a citizen and her father was bringing her to her mother. The family was separated, and now they will be whole. In a culture that values community, it is devastating that families are being pulled apart. JONATHAN DISKIN JAMES C. FRASER THOMAS A. DUTTON Contributing Writers Sr. Nicole Varnerin cleans Humanitarian Respite Center Collected Donations Credit: Sr. Nicole Varnerin Credit: Sr. Nicole Varnerin THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �8 WORLD Brazil’s race to save drought-hit city M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 ANTHONY BOADLE T Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo he shrunken carcasses of cows lie in scorched fields outside the city of Campina Grande in northeast Brazil, and hungry goats search for food on the cracked-earth floor of the Boqueirao reservoir that serves the desperate town. After five years of drought, farmer Edivaldo Brito says he cannot remember when the Boqueirao reservoir was last full. But he has never seen it this empty. “We’ve lost everything: bananas, beans, potatoes,” Brito said. “We have to walk 3 kilometres just to wash clothes.” Brazil’s arid northeast is weathering its worst drought on record and Campina Grande, which has 400,000 residents that depend on the reservoir, is running out of water. After two years of rationing, residents complain that water from the reservoir is dirty, smelly and undrinkable. Those who can afford to do so buy bottled water to cook, wash their teeth with, and even to give their pets. The reservoir is down to 4 percent of capacity and rainfall is expected to be sparse this year. “If it does not fill up, the city’s water system will collapse by midyear,” says Janiro Costa Rego, an expert on water resources and hydraulics professor at Campina Grande’s federal university. “It would be a holocaust. You would have to evacuate the city.” Brazil’s government says help is on the way. After decades of promises and years of delays, the government says the rerouting of Brazil’s longest river, the Sao Francisco, will soon relieve Campina Grande and desperate farmers in four parched northeastern states. Water will be pumped over hills and through 400 kilometres of canals into dry river basins in Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, and Paraiba, the small state of which Campina Grande is the secondbiggest city. Begun in 2005 by leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the project has been delayed by political squabbles, corruption and cost-overruns of billions of dollars. Brazil’s ongoing recession, which economists calculate has shrunk the economy of the impoverished northeast by over four percent during each of the past two years, made things even worse. Now, President Michel Temer is speeding up completion of the project, perhaps his best opportunity to boost support for his unpopular government in a region longdominated by native-son Lula and his leftist Workers Party. In early March, Temer plans to open a canal that will feed Campina Grande’s reservoir at the town of A cat is seen inside the house of Francisco Barbosa Cruz (not pictured) in Pombal, Paraiba state, Brazil. Credit: REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino Carcasses of cows lie along a road in Pianco, Paraiba state, Brazil. Credit: REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Monteiro. The water will still take weeks to flow down the dry bed of the Paraiba river to Boqueirao. With the quality of water in Campina Grande dropping by the day, it is a race against time. Professor Costa Rego says the reservoir water will become untreatable by March and could harm residents who cannot afford bottled water. Helder Barbalho, Temer’s minister in charge of the project, says the government is confident the water will arrive on schedule. “We have to deliver the water by April at all costs,” he said. Climate change has worsened the droughts in Brazil’s northeast over the last 30 years, according to Eduardo Martins, head of Funceme, Ceara state’s meteorological agency. Rainfall has decreased and temperatures have risen, increasing demand for agricultural irrigation just as water supplies fell and evaporation accelerated. Costa Rego blames lack of planning by Brazil’s governments for persistent and repeated water crises, (Continued on page 9) �No. 351 | M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 9 WORLD Cattle drink water from Pocoes reservoir in Pocoes municipality in Monteiro, Paraiba state, Brazil. Credit: REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino Skulls of cattle are seen in Coremas, Paraiba state, Brazil. Credit: REUTERS / Ueslei Marcelino Natan Cabral, 5, stands on the cracked ground of the Boqueirao reservoir in the Metropolitan Region of Campina Grande, Paraiba state, Brazil. Credit: REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED shocking for a country that boasts the biggest fresh water reserves on the planet. The reservoir supplying São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city and a metropolitan region of 20 million people, nearly dried up in 2015. The capital, Brasilia, resorted to rationing this year. In Fortaleza, capital of Ceara and the northeast’s second largest city, the vital Castanhao reservoir is down to 5 percent of its capacity. While that city will also get water from the São Francisco project, it will not arrive until at least yearend because contractor Mendes Junior abandoned work after being implicated in a major corruption scandal. “Water from the São Francisco river is vital,” Ceara Governor Camilo Santana told Reuters. He said the reservoir can supply Ceara only until August. After that, the state must use emergency wells and a mandatory 20 percent reduction in consumption to keep Fortaleza taps running until water arrives. Ceara has had to cut back on irrigation, hurting flower and melon exporters, cattle ranchers and dairy farmers. They stand to flourish when the transfer comes through, but quenching the thirst of the cities will take priority. In Campina Grande, a textile center, companies including industry leaders Coteminas and Alpargatas have curtailed expansion plans and drastically cut back consumption by recycling the water they use. There, too, new water will first go towards solving the crisis in Campina Grande and surrounding towns. Only then will officials think about agriculture. “First we have to satisfy the thirst of urban consumers. Only then can we think of producing wealth,” said Joao Fernandes da Silva, the top water management official in Paraiba. Rationing has particularly hurt poorer urban families. Many have no running water or water tanks and instead store water in plastic bottles. For those who have waited decades for the São Francisco transfer, they will believe it only when they see the water flow. Brito said he and his neighbours survive on the social programs that were the hallmark of Lula and his Workers Party administration. Though tainted by corruption allegations, Lula remains Brazil’s most popular politician ahead of presidential elections next year. “Without the Bolsa Familia program, we would be dying of hunger,” said Brito, who believes shortages could persist even after the river transfer. “It’s political season again, so they promise us water, just for our votes.” ------------------------ �10 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 �OPINION Let’s Wish Deters Well — It’s Our Only Choice No. 351 | M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 T his year, our Court of Appeals will have four new judges out of six. That’s a major shakeup, brought about by a confluence of circumstances — one judge lost reelection, one maxed out on age, two were elected to the Ohio Supreme Court. The court reviews decisions of all courts in the district. (Our 1st District is Hamilton County, one of three Ohio counties large enough to have its own. The others are multi-county districts.) Gov. John Kasich appointed Dennis Deters to one vacancy. Deters, younger brother of prosecutor Joe Deters, previously served as a Colerain Township trustee, was appointed last year to the county commission, but lost re-election to Democrat Denise Driehaus. We all know that the appointment was political — a Deters replaces a DeWine. It’s sad that the courts are used thusly. It has always been this way in Hamilton County — judgeships are a political “reward.” The courts should be the last place where politics is paramount. But we are stuck with the system we have. All judges in Ohio are elected. Vacancies are filled by the governor, almost always at the behest of the local party chair. So the process cannot help but be political. Sometimes the system, despite itself, works — we have had some outstanding judges. Often though, the political system being applied to the court system turned out as expected. Badly. MARK P. PAINTER Contributing Writer Conflict? The first objection I’ve heard to Deters’s appointment is the “conflict of interest” issue. Joe Deters is the county prosecutor, responsible for most criminal, and many civil, cases before the court. There is no automatic problem with a judge being the brother of the prosecutor. The general rule, under the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct, is that a judge is disqualified from a case if “the judge's spouse or domestic partner, or a person within the third degree of relationship to either of them, or the spouse or domestic partner of such a person” is a lawyer in the case. Obviously, a brother is a close relation. But the rule generally prohibits just the brother (or sister) from personally appearing before the judge. A member of a law firm where the sibling practices is not precluded. For instance, Joe Deters could not personally appear and try a case before a relative, but members of his “firm,” the prosecutor’s office, might. We have had the situation before. Judge Sylvia Hendon was a trial and then appellate judge. She was then Joe Deters’ mother-in-law. Joe himself did not appear in cases before her, but members of the prosecutor’s office did. The rule states: “The fact that a lawyer in a proceeding is affiliated with a law firm with which a relative FRIENDSHIP AND CANCER T STEVE SUNDERLAND SHARON DOERING Contributing Writers he work of the Cancer Justice Network is based on a friendship within a battle. Fighting cancer, especially among people who have been kept ignorant of the signs of cancer and deprived of the resources to fight cancer, means staring in the faces of people that are hurting and courageous. The fight to stop cancer requires both education and action within a caring culture. We have created a "navigator" ally, a person trained to change the obstacles to fighting cancer and to simultaneously promote the necessary steps for stopping the spread of cancer. The Cancer Justice Network's navigator triggers emotions of caring that can overcome a hostile culture of abandonment. A social contract has been broken and for a long time. The belief that every person needing cancer care will find willing and competent medical help is a falsehood for minorities, the aged, and handicapped. Large pockets of people, trapped in neighborhoods with unfriendly hospitals, suffer a dramatic loss in life expectancy, some deaths are the result of the healthcare profession turning its backs on those in greatest need. Some people, facing cancer death in their families, would rather avoid doctors and hospitals that act unfriendly. For the past year, the Cancer Justice Network has been replacing the gap in compassion with the experience of friendly relationships. We emphasize face to face discussions with people who are sometimes angry that family members were unable to get cancer care soon enough to get surgery or other forms of treatment. Hearing the stories of partial commitment by health professionals is both saddening and angry making. "Why should I go for an exam," an adult in her 50's asks, "when I was so humiliated when I brought my mother for care?" "I'm not going to be told I should have been here sooner," a young man says, "when I know I have been turned of the judge is affiliated does not itself disqualify the judge.” But there could be other circumstances, such as if the lawyers in a small firm had a huge pecuniary interest in a case, that would require disqualification. A rule of reason applies — if we banned the prosecutor’s office from cases where a relative of the prosecutor were a judge, it would disqualify the judge from hearing half the cases. In a small county, there would be real difficulty. Competence. When nepotism is suspected, the first thing that comes to mind is a relative who can’t get a job any other way. That’s not the case here. Dennis Deters is not unemployed. He has a law degree and has practiced for 16 years. The real issue is whether he is the best for this job. I do not personally know this Deters, so I cannot comment on his personality, or give first-hand illustrations of his intellect. On paper, he has no obvious qualifications for the second-highest judicial office in Ohio. He has not been a judge. He has not taught law, or written any publications that I know about. He has never written a judicial decision, or even decided a case. Now he will be reviewing the decisions of other judges. Traditionally, judges served in a lower court first (I served 13 years on Municipal Court). I would have found it difficult to start at the appellate level, without the experience of seeing how the law works out in the away so often. I'd rather die than be rejected again." Story after story is heard by navigators as they sit with a person over dinner or at a community meeting. We listen, shake our heads, and try and establish the fibers of a new kind of relationship. We say: "I hear you. You have been left out, ignored by doctors and hospitals, and left to face your fears alone. This kind of relationship stops with us. We will go with you to your exam, sit with you as the doctor explains what is found, and, if you would like, go with you to any and all treatments. We are your support, your ally, your partner in facing and overcoming cancer." Sometimes we see relief on the faces of people, a sigh escapes them as they think about whether to believe what they are hearing. We expand our discussion by talking about the pioneering work of a black surgeon and former president of the American Cancer Society, Harold Freeman, MD. People's eyes often light up when they can see themselves in his story of creating navigators and bringing people, poor people, minorities, to early cancer exams and treatments. They seem to say: "Can such a program really exist? Can I get into such a program and find a friend to take me on the journey, through THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 11 “trenches.” In Ohio, the only technical qualification is that judges must be lawyers for six years before being any type of judge. Deters has been practicing 16, which should give him sufficient experience, though it is much less than normal for the appellate court. I don’t think every appellate judge should be from the same career path. Diversity is good. But too many inexperienced judges at one time may be a problem. Judge Deters will be one of six judges on the court. Four will be new. That’s difficult. I can’t remember a time when more than two were new, and most years either one or no new judges ascended. There will necessarily be some on-the-job training. Deters does have some credentials. In his early days, he worked in the court system as a law clerk. He has practiced 16 years, he has served in public office, he is highly rated by his peers and he seems to have no apparent flaws or weirdness. If Deters is just doing this for a year or two and then will run for something else, that would be a shame. But if he is committed to being a judge, there is no reason he cannot be a good one. Study and hard work can overcome a lack of experience. It doesn’t take genius — it takes common sense, fairness and willingness to learn and apply the law. And maybe the political system will work. He could be a great judge. In any event, he will be a judge, so we must wish him well. [This editorial first appeared in CityBeat. Former Judge Mark P. Painter is a lifelong Cincinnatian. He served as a judge for 30 years.] the maze, and over the hostility of the medical profession?" We emphasize that our work follows Dr. Freeman's guidelines: we want cancer justice to be both a theory of friendship and a real relationship. For many people, it does not take a long time for them to decide that our program is worth a try. Usually, a navigator will take them to an able staff member of a health center, make an appointment for an exam, and then discuss the transportation realities. Too often, people want to go to a doctor or hospital but they are baffled by the transportation obstacles that confront their making their appointments on time. Sometimes, it is the fear of the costs of the transportation that deter people. Or, most sadly, some transportation is just as rejecting as some health professionals. The navigator will not put up with any rejection, slight, or purposeful confusion on the part of anyone standing in the way of a timely exam. The navigator, a new friend, may be with the person, standing with the person, and, if necessary, standing up for the person, either on the way or at the health center. People are coming to believe in their navigators. There is a (Continued on page 12) �12 STREET VOICE Our friend Larry Files passed away M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 JUSTIN JEFFRE Staff Writer I t is with a heavy heart that I share that recently we here at the Coalition lost a member of our Streetvibes family. Our condolences go out to Larry Files’ family and friends. On a Friday afternoon Larry collapsed near Findlay Market in Over-the-Rhine. He was revived by first responders and taken to Christ Hospital. He passed away several days later. We contacted Larry’s sister Sharon who told us Larry was a loving father, a great brother and a good son to his mother Mary. He was originally from Alabama and began selling Streetvibes in 2012. Some say he had been a bit of a lady’s man when he was younger and in recent years Larry had reunited with his children. We knew him as a boisterous personality at our distributor meetings and in our lobby. He will be missed. Thanks to those of you who bought papers from Larry and support Streetvibes. N my fear of the “unknown”. Having things in my life go so well and not really knowing how to handle them is scary. Things in my life have never gone well over an extended period of time due mostly to my interference in the process. I think I know what’s best for me and I, and I alone am the only one who can fix it. That’s a Lie! When I try to fix things in my life I tend to mess them up. So the answer or the choice I must make is to ask for help. Funny, I write that. Recently it was brought up in discussion that asking for help is a way of being vulnerable. Vulnerability is a scary thing to practice when it comes to Who is in the best position to help me? Do you see now how confusing my thoughts are? It’s a whirlwind of misguided and unexplained mumble jumble coursing through my brain. Confused? YES!! But not to the extent that I believe my world is going to end, it’s just at a standstill and that fork in the road is not going anywhere. Not today, not tomorrow, not anytime soon until I take that first step. So to conclude, confused is not a state of mind that I am the only one to experience, I believe all humans at some time and point in their lives are confused. It’s how one deals with the confusion that separates the men from the “men-child”. Confused? Yeah and it’s a good sign for my life today. No rash decisions for me.” being a friend means joining hands with your new friend and helping them get through obstacles. Our navigators are medical and nursing students that want a career that is defined by justice for every patient or client. They have placed navigation, an intense relationship, into an already overheated schedule. Our navigators are social work students, community health students, and even some faculty. Slowly, a community of "friends" is being formed, a group committed to navigating people to the services, to the lives, they deserve. Friendship across religions and cultures is being forged as navigators meet and accompany people. Barriers in communication are being established in ways that permit people to hear the pain and caring that are a part of friendship. For more information about the Cancer Justice Network, please go to our website: cancerjusticenetwork.org” BOBBY MORRIS Contributing Writer STEVE SUNDERLAND SHARON DOERING (Continued from page 11) new and vital hope arising because there are new and vital relationships being created and sustained. Our navigators are community organizers that understand that sometimes BILL WOODS (Continued from page 4) approach will be targeted initially to 5,000 families. The Task Force also realizes it must be involved in advocating for more effective public policies at the state and local level. Meyer listed as priorities promoting more affordable housing and developing a public transportation system that effectively connects people from neighborhoods to jobs. Making child care available to poor families is another priority, and the Collaborative is currently working with the Kasich Administration on a child care subsidy policy. Meyer admitted that all the talk about tax credits will not help families in poverty unless these credits are actually paid out in cash. Another public policy on the Credit: Homeless Coalition asking for help. As a man or as a “man-child” asking for help is the ultimate in vulnerability. It’s a sign of weakness some would say, but others would argue that it’s a sign of strength and growth in a person. Can you imagine going through life without the advice and help from others? I’ve tried that as mentioned earlier. So it’s time to swallow my pride and ask for help. Now that I’ve come to that conclusion. The question now is who? The who is kind of difficult because with the who comes the question of trust. Whom do I trust to be completely vulnerable with? My family? My “friends”? My sober network? God? Who? Feeling that at this moment my life is in the balance I have to make a decision. In this decision making my first act is to Pray and seek “HIS” guidance. After that it’s more of a leap of Faith. Confused ot really knowing what I’m confused about is a hell of a way to start. I’m thinking the confusion is based in wondering what’s next? I’ve been in the process of changing my life toward the better and I want to say that I’m at the proverbial fork in the road. Do I go North? or do I go South? North in this scenario is forward, South would be backwards or at the very least sideways. I got things in my life moving forward but today and for the past 2 weeks they have become stagnant. I have a goal in my horizon and trudging up this hill has become rocky. The cause of the rockiness is Larry Files Task Force's agenda is reducing mass incarceration. This trend has had a devastating impact on poor Black families, and Meyer noted that the Governor and many members of the Legislature are beginning to realize both its high costs and its negative social and economic impacts. Finally, Meyer emphasized that the United Way itself is transforming its goals and allocation guidelines. With the goal of reducing family and child poverty, it will promote and fund human service delivery that focuses directly on these families. Meyer concluded by saying that he and other members of the Task Force plan to conduct an open process that invites the participation of concerned citizens such as the attendees at the Forum. ------------------------ ------------------------ Ross Meyer speaking at Community Issues Forum Credit: Alice Schneider THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREET VOICE No. 351 | M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 I LIVE FOR YOU SWEDEN GETS A DOSE OF TRUMP-FACTS I live for you! The Swedes just couldn't believe their eyes. I think for you! Headlines caused them shock and surprise. I love you! Trump said they underwent a terrorist attack. I hope for you! I will die for you! He made Sweden sound like a Nordic Iraq. I cry for you! Swedes aren't used to Trump's fake news, I worry for you! When he creates the facts to fit his views. I sacrifice for you! BILL WOODS Contributing Writer I pray for you! I write this for you! There’s no me without you! I love you! KIM GREEN LOVED ONE GONE There is time for everything including a time to say hello and a time for saying goodbye My only begotten son There is a place for everything Rico, stay true! including a place to laugh, Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer to cry and ask for reasons why To live each day surrounded by the people we love, never forgetting God is a blessing Is to know that having a mind to remember precious moments will always be a lesson We as people tend to hurt when things don’t go our way or grieve for things that are lost We as people must keep in mind there is never nothing lost as long as God is the boss We must teach our children that as long as we remember nothing ever really goes away Teach them the truth about life and death and remember our experiences everyday Just remember that the good times always out weight the bad times And remember even though people aren’t with us they’re in God’s House and that’s fine! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 120 Across 1. Aromatic substance 6. By way of 9. Stream 13. Behemoth 14. The whole number or amount 15. Supporting structure 16. Warning signal 17. Snow runner 18. Tier 19. Compunction 21. Conspicuous 23. On the sheltered side 24. Stead 25. Old salt 28. Advance slowly 30. Financial gain 35. Musical composition 37. Waterless 39. Chiefly nocturnal ungulate 40. Part of the neck 41. Relating to the nose 43. Bill of fare 44. Avarice 46. Silent 47. Support 48. Two channel sound system 50. Intense anger 52. Creative activity 53. Coop 55. Egyptian cobra 57. Mythological firebreathing she-monster 61. Intoxicant 65. Radioactive gaseous element 66. Mediterranian fruit tree 68. Small ovoid fruit 69. Choose by a vote 70. Enemy 71. Corvus Corax 72. Frail 73. Oddment 74. Vogue Down 1. Principal actor 2. Heap 3. Detail 4. Religious song 5. Main course 6. Ornamental jar 7. Kind 8. Exculpation 9. Worry excessively 10. Molten volcanic rock 11. Presage 12. A raised mark on the skin 15. Display proudly 20. Closed litter for one passenger 22. Hawaiian garland 24. Time off 25. Gripping device 26. Separated 27. Currency of India 29. Metric unit of weight 31. Bivouac 32. Drama set to music 33. Limited in size or scope 34. Start abruptly 36. Oracle 38. Information 42. Licit 45. Polite or respectable 49. Paddle 51. Accompany 54. Faux pas 56. Diametric 57. Ship's company 58. In vigorous good health 59. Notion 60. Treat with contempt 61. Matured 62. Habitat for bees 63. Kitchen appliance 64. Give temporarily 67. Electrically charged particle PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 350 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 119 M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 250 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 249- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �RESOURCES No. 351 | M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 Salvation Army 762-5660 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 411 Gest St. 45203 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 241-1064 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 1125 Bank Street 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 2121 Vine Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Prospect House 921-1613 Parkway Center 661-4620 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Shelter: Youth Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Housing: First Step Home 761-1480 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 Talbert House Tender Mercies 221-HELP 721-8666 Tom Geiger House Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn 961-4555 381-1954 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 27 W. 12th Street 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA VA Homeless Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 721-4700 421-7803 Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center UpSpring 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 621-1868 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Health Resource Center 357-4602 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues Brighton Center 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 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 981-4200 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 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 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Center for Respite Care 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 $100 Hamilton/Middletown Northern Kentucky 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 621-5300 961-1983 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 241-2965 Health 421-0065 381-0111 771-4800 579-8547 721-4811 Joseph House (Veterans) 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 977-6800 859-572-6226 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart Goodwill Industries Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Mary Magdalen House 351-0422 381-6672 1522 Republic Street 45202 558-8888 351-3500 977-4489 241-2600 621-5514 AA Hotline CCAT 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 352-6363 Center Independent Living Options Peaslee Neighborhood Center St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both Caracole (HIV/AIDS) CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 114 W. 14th Street 45202 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 471-1100 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio FreeStore/FoodBank 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 721-0643 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 352-6364 McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Our Daily Bread St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 557-2873 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 15 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Justin Jeffre at 513421-70803 x 12 or email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 M a r 10 - M a r 2 3, 2 0 17 | N o . 35 1 ALMA SIMS SINCE 5/2014 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 DEBORAH POINDEXTER SINCE 9/2012 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 DONALD YOUNG BELINDA CHERRY SINCE 8/2015 ELMORE MORRIS SINCE 5/2014 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 GINA MARTIN CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRAIG SMITH SINCE 5/2014 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 GLENDA CANTRELL GREGORY WILSON SINCE 1/2012 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHNNY KERNS SINCE 9/2012 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 LOTTIE MANNER MEACO WAITE MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MICHAEL BEHYMER MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 TINA SINCE 4/2015 TODD HANLEY SINCE 5/2014 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 KRISTINE HOFSKY SINCE 3/2015 MAURICE GOLSBY MAXINE GRANT SINCE 4/2015 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 MYRA WILSON RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TARA HILL SINCE 4/2014 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 � 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 2017 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 10-March 23, 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director An Update on the Child Poverty Initiative Pg 3: Funding Our Future Border Stories Pg 4: National Day of Action for Housing Pg 5: Transgender Rally at City Hall When Lip Service is Not Enough Pg 6: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 7: Tax Those Who’ve Gained from Public Investment in OTR Pg 8: Brazil’s Race to Save Drought-Hit City Pg 9: Brazil’s Race to Save Drought-Hit City Continued Pg 10: Know Your City Pg 11: Let’s Wish Deters Well Friendship and Cancer Pg 12: Confused Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 10-March 23, 2017 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Dr. Mark Mussman Sr. Nicole Varnerin Gretchen Marie Semcik Key Beck Johnathan Diskin James C. Fraser Thomas A. Dutton Mark P. Painter Steve Sunderland Sharon Doering Justin Jeffre Bobby Morris Willa Denise Jones Alice Schneider Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alice Schneider Bill Woods Bobby Morris Brazil Child Poverty City Hall Dr. Mark Mussman Drought Gretchen Marie Semcik James C. Fraser Johnathan Diskin Josh Spring Justin Jeffre Key Beck Larry Files Mark P. Painter National Day of Action Over-the-Rhine protest Rally Sharon Doering Sr. Nicole Varnerin Steve Sunderland Thomas A. Dutton Transgender Willa Denise Jones 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/b2b7bfedb5277cef09020feab6cdf0c4.pdf 35259738bcea18df3ec635cf9e583955 PDF Text Text San Francisco S t r e e t v ibeS Homelessness March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 UC Students Skip the Beach to Give Back During Spring Break PG 14 PG 6 March 15-31, 2011 A D V O C A T I N G Barb Wolf Jeni Jenkins Staff Writer For over 40 years Barb Wolf has worked to craft her career as a documentary activist or, as she refers to herself, a “documentarist”. What began as an enduring curiosity in a 1960’s Grailville bookstore, spurred on by members of the Catholic women’s movement, ripened into a deep love for documenting human and civil rights transgressions and the people who fight them. According to Barb, in the 60’s “Grailville was made up of powerful women who would watch what you were interested in” and incite your creative potential. These women, part of the international Grail movement which was established in Loveland in 1944, were committed to “the release of women’s creative energy throughout the world” (grailville. org) and came together strictly “to change the world.” Upon recognizing Barb’s interest, the women of Grailville asked her to make a slide show on the “changing role of women” and that is when she first learned about the women’s movement. Barb had been involved in the anti-war movement and the civil rights movement almost from the beginning. In fact the civil rights march on Washington, D.C., in August 1963 was the first march she ever participated in. The Grailville slide show peaked her interest in the women’s movement because “if women could begin to understand how they had been mistreated, they might begin to understand or expand their understanding to others who had been mistreated.” Wolf ’s involvement with the 1960’s movements had a huge 1 ISSUE 265 J U S T I C E impact on her life and work, leading her to make slide shows and films about other social issues including race and poverty. “To be part of that- it was a freeing time. One of the things that I learned is to be open to change, because change is not bad. Look at the possibilities of change as opposed to fearing change.“ Barb estimates that she has made 6-8 films a year for at least 40 years, resulting in 100’s of films. Her work evolved and expanded in various directions over the years. In the early 70’s she went to work for Cincinnati’s Urban Appalachian Council and began teaching kids how to tape and edit shows on Appalachian culture. Word of mouth about her talents grew and each project led to other projects focused on giving people a voice. In the late 70’s, for example, she did a training film for an organization working on establishing home health care providers for people who were wheelchair bound. Then with the 1980’s AIDS epidemic, Wolf began making funeral videos for friends who had died after contracting the disease. Barb worked on a number of projects with activist buddy gray, founder of Over-the­ Rhine People’s movement, including “These Old Buildings Raised Our Many Children” about “people who were moved around and used like pawns and placeholders in OTR when the gentrification was just beginning.” Barb also worked with gray on a documentary on the history of the Drop Inn Center that was never completed due to buddy’s untimely death in 1996. As a champion for the rights of the oppressed, Barb has continually participated in demonstrations, rallies and marches. In 2000 Barb participated in the Trans- • B U I L D I N G Atlantic Business Dialogue conference demonstrations at Fountain Square where protestors peacefully rallied against corporate wealth and the decreasing wealth of the poor. Barb watched the protests with a camera so that “if something went wrong we could have it on tape” a tactic that has helped her fight the arrests of people who have been falsely accused. She also taped the 2001 Cincinnati riots and documented the civil unrest, which prompted her to tape virtually every demonstration that happened afterwards. In September 2001, Barb united with thousands of anti-war protestors across the country as they demonstrated against in the impending invasion of Afghanistan. Barb was arrested for standing in the street and blocking traffic as she and others were “trying not to have that war happen because it was just so wrong.” She says, “People literally poured out into the streets to say ‘stop this’, ‘don’t do it’. We had done everything else we possibly could have-and that’s what we did and we got arrested and spent the night in jail.” Barb was found guilty for disorderly conduct, despite the fact that she was calm, polite and non-violent. The appeals courts later threw out the case. More recently, in September 2006, Barb was arrested in Steve Chabot’s office as part of a nationwide movement calling on representatives to sign the declaration of peace. A judge found her guilty of criminal trespassing and sentenced her to 30 hours of community service, a sentence that she then protested because she didn’t believe doing community service, which is often a life choice, should be made equivalent to punishment. Her refusal landed her 10 days in jail, an experience that she found fascinating and “wouldn’t take it back for the world.” While in jail she was able to speak with and interview dozens of good people who had done something wrong, people she says “shouldn’t be there for a variety of reasons.” Barb describes her work as a “tool for understanding.” When she documents people she attempts to “represent people in a positive fashion” so they can “see themselves and feel proud, once they see themselves it will empower them.” She follows the philosophy of “We become what we behold” and believes “If someone sees themselves with dignity and respect they become that. That’s what I do in $1 C O M M U N I T Y my work- and then of course I try to get arrested every once in awhile.” One video project she produced, Degrees of Shame, is on the exploitation of adjunct professors in higher institutions, modeled after Edward R. Murrow’s film Harvest of Shame, a documentary on the exploitation of migrant farm workers. Barb sought to draw parallels between migrant workers and part-time professors in the “hope that they [professors] would look at migrant farmers and realize they are allies and they would try to help their cause.” Barb’s current projects include creating a training video from the Streetvibes Distributors as well as a film documenting the lives of speaker’s from the Coalition for the Homeless’ Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau. She is also making a Barb Wolf’s arrest during the local demonstration of the international protests against the 2001 War in Afghanistan. source: Unknown film on Mr. K’s Math Camp in Cincinnati and is in conversation with Ohioans for Health, See Women, Pg. 3 �editorial 2 1964 The year Barbara Wolf first marched on Washington DC, in an anti war protest (Page 1) 1984 The year Jen Martin, the Editor of Streetvibes was born (Page 2) 8 The years Lea Drury has been in Cincinnati, committed to social work (Page 4) 2-25-2011 The day The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless lead people in a rally to protest 3CDC’s recent ‘improvements’ to Washington Park (Page 8) 26,000 The amount of messages that were sent by Amnesty activists to the Iranian government demanding the release of Roxana Saberi (Page 11) 88 How much beloved Mojo, a German Shepard-Rottweiler weighed (Page 12) 17 The age Cedric Cox began playing bass in a hard rock band, Morticite (Page 16) I Jennifer Martin Editor have decided that ‘Streetwise’ may not be the best name for this editorial. When I came on as Editor for Streetvibes that was the Editorial’s name, so I just kept it; however after consideration I have decided it is a wrong fit for me. At the risk of this offending anyone, let me just be the first to say I am probably not what one would consider ‘Streetwise’. Therefore, since I haven’t come up with a new title yet, the name will just be untitled for a bit. I look forward to sharing my opinions with you through this piece. I also thought it may be a good time to let you know what I am here to do, much like a company or group’s mission statement, this is kind of mine… I came to Streetvibes because I believed in the cause which it supports, my mission as Editor, is to simply advocate for the cause and use this newspaper as a means to get the message out there. I believe Streetvibes is an avenue to awareness. I want it to be something that someone donates a dollar for, and they actually get something out of. My intention is to continue the message of the community within and to make people outside of our core know the name Streetvibes. While I understand my point of view and my ways may be unusual to others, they make perfect sense to me and I think in time others will see where I am coming from. In an effort for transparency, you should know I don’t think doom and gloom are always the way to go if you want someone to listen to your message. This is why now and in the future, especially in my Editorials, I may sometimes go for the lighter side of an issue. Again, this is all in an effort to simply keep people turning the page. I believe strongly I can bring different sets of eyes to thispaper and as long as I do that, our message as a Coalition can only become louder. In the mean time, I encourage your thoughts, critiques, and comments on the paper. When it comes to me as Editor, I want to be transparent. I don’t aim to be charming or cute, I aim to simply produce a good product, and my opinions are secondary to that. The things I write within an Editorial aren’t to be taken as fact unless specifically stated, my opinions may not always reflect those of the Coalition and its staff, and what I do write may mean something very different to everyone as individuals. This is the reason I want your opinion on issues not necessarily about who I am. Really, with all the hate we deal with on a daily basis just watching the news…I am pretty spent on it, so you’ll understand if the things I say from now on may be on a lighter and more positive note. Those thoughts will be relegated only to this box and it is called an Editorial. And aside from that I am completely aware of who I am and the fact that I know nothing in the grand scheme of things, I assure you I do not need to be told. I am also completely aware of my shortcomings and I think most would describe me as abrasive, loud, and blunt… and I tend to agree. I am all of those things. I was once given the back handed compliment that I was like a “pretty Kathy Bates” and trust me that was the nicest compliment that person could muster at the time, hardlycute or charming. I am however honest and I truly try my hardest not to judge others (as difficult as that can be sometimes), it isn’t my style. I try not to judge and within the perimeters of my job, I try to listen and be fair. I always want to hear what you have to say. I will always respond to a thought or concern if sent to me in a respectful way, so that a dialogue could start from differences. This is something that is important to me since I have not always been a member of this community or it’s very strong core of nonprofit advocates. My email is printed to the right of this Editorial, so please if you do have something to say, send it my way. I always want the reader’s voice to be as loud as mine. StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 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 Jen Martin, jenmartin@cincihomeless.org Art Director Elizabeth Schulenberg Contributing Writers Jim Luken, Riccardo Taylor, Saad Ghosn, Catie Dargue, Jeni Jenkins, Willa Denise Jones, Jennifer Martin, Laura Osborne-Coffey, James Brown, Lee McCoy, Dawn Fuller, Elisa Hill, B. Clifton Burke, Jimmie Gipson, Elles van Gelder, Beth GriffithNiemann Photography/Artwork Amiee Willhoite, Saad Ghosn, Mikki Schaffner, Bill Howes, Suzanne Chouteau, Bill Howes, Cedric Cox, Dawn Fuller, B. Clifton Burke, Sarah Hager, Elles van Gelder, Catie Dargue, Laura OsborneCoffey 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. �3 S t r e e t v ibeS March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 Women Making Herstory Laura OsbornCoffey Continued from Pg. 1 Environment and Justice on creating a film about the environmental effects of Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) in Ohio, and working on documenting the opening of the co-op coffee shop opening in Norwood in Fall 2011. While Barb has never had an interest in film festivals and contests as the rewards that she gets are not from awards “it’s when they [films] make a change,” she received a videography award from the Contact Center in 1997 as well as the Maurice McCracken Peace & Justice Award in 2002. She continues her work after all these years because she is “ridiculously hopeful.” While she acknowledges she can’t fix everything, she is optimistic about continually working for solutions to social issues. While she considers herself a “persistent follower… and rarely the spokesperson” she did lead and organize a project called Artists for the Drop Inn Center. Barb initiated the project as a response to a comment she documented while filming a meeting of residents at the Drop Inn Center. The residents were asked to give input about Erich Kunzel’s push to move the Drop out of OTR. One of the residents said, “Why do artists hate us so?” She thought it was so awful that they felt that, so she got together with a couple of other artists who pulled together 40 or 50 artists who supported the Drop and put on a concert together at Southgate House. This visionary to be reckoned with was born in Wisconsin and raised in New Jersey and Michigan. She originally moved to Cincinnati in 1963 to pursue a BA in Math from Mt. St. Joseph College. She lives with her partner of 35 years, Michael Burnham, a Professor of Drama at the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music. Barb’s films and videos tell many stories and document the struggles of our people over the last 4 decades. She plans on gifting her life’s work to the historical society, to preserve this history. “You can write a letter, you can save a life. Take Action Now.” Laura grew up in Clinton County, Ohio, a Quaker stronghold. She credits this for her background in an activist life. As a teen she was involved in a 4-H horse club in Clinton County, and once she grew out of the club she volunteered as an advisor for a few years afterwards. The day she completed her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Cincinnati in 1986, she and her fiancé watched “A Conspiracy of Hope” tour on TV. This rock concert was a benefit for Amnesty International, and featured artists such as Sting, Peter Gabriel, Brian Adams and U2. The show also carried the message in info-mercialsby actors such as Robin Williams, Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg: You can write a letter, you can save a life. Take Action Now. This concert incited Laura to send in her membership, and three months later she got in touch with the Local Group 86 in Cincinnati. In the mid 80’s, Local Groups were also called ‘Adoption Groups’ as they would take on a Prisoner of Conscience case and work on it until the case was closed – either through a release,or due to the prisoner’s death. “The first case we worked on was Mohamed Mghagha in Ethopia. The group had his case when I joined, and we must’ve worked for at least 6 or 7 more years for him, until he was freed. When Mohammed was released, we had a big party with cake. We were so excited!” Laura remembers. In 1987, Laura became the coordinator for the Cincinnati Local Group 86. The group was very active, and was in constant contact with the Amnesty office in Chicago, and later in 1987 she became the Area Coordinator for Ohio. This role was a natural extension, as there were four active Amnesty International Local Groups in the state. In 1987 and 1988, she helped two new Amnesty Local groups to start in Dayton OH and Covington KY. In 1989 she began attending the ‘Training of Trainer’ program within Amnesty, which provided a training program to members to facilitate presentations and outreach for Amnesty to grow the movement. After going to through this process, she did trainings at the local, regional and national levels, including workshops at their Annual General Meetings. Three years ago, Laura was asked to join the Area Coordinator Steering Committee (ACSC) – a group consisting of one representative Area Coordinator from each of Amnesty’s five regions, plus a Board member and staff. In this group, she has worked closely with the other representatives to award a national level award to the Amnesty Local Groups, called the Sister Laola Hironaka Award. The ACSC also works to develop workshops at the annual meeting for the Local Groups and the Area Coordinators, and adds strength to Amnesty’s work with local groups and membership. Laura is also a volunteer at the Maple Creek Artisan Center in Moscow Ohio (Clermont County) – she’s done spinning and weaving demonstrations for their festivals over the past year, and she will be doing quilting workshops with them this year – for a change of pace. Maple Creek is a center for revitalizing the older arts, including pottery, blacksmithing, and other crafts. She is still very involved in the Cincinnati Local Group and is the coordinator. “We do a lot of work for the Prisoners of Conscience – our current case is Dhondup Wangchen, a film-maker in China who was arrested after he made a video of Tibetanstalking about how they felt about the Dalai Lama. Dhondup is like the ‘Indiana Jones’ of China – he was imprisoned for making the video, then somehow he managed to escape from the Chinese Police for a short while, andmanaged to smuggle the video to a relative before he was again arrested and imprisoned. Who does that in China these days?” The Cincinnati group shares this case with a Local Group in Massachusetts, and last year the two groups collected over 2000 signatures on petitions on his behalf, with some help from the concert tabling worldwide. She’s also in touch with student groups in the area, and is impressed with their energy and dedication. “Amnesty volunteers don’t stop, and we don’t go away. 2011 is Amnesty’s 50thanniversary. Our goal is to make the governments of the world realize that people around the world are watching when they arrest someone, torture someone, or execute someone, or even if they condone this behavior. The culture of human rights worldwide is growing and I am proud to be a part of that movement.” Great Books! visit facebook.com/streetvibes cincinnati twitter.com/streetvibesnwes streetvibes.wordpress.com www.cincybooks.com �4 StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 Women Making Herstory Melissa Lea Drury Bennett Jeni Jenkins Staff Writer In recent years our nation’s streets have become home to thousands of homeless youth. The Queen City is no exception. While these individuals find their way to the streets for a myriad of reasons, from the lack of employment opportunities to running from troubled families, the bottom line is they are struggling to survive. Yet, there is some reprieve through the efforts of street outreach worker Lea Drury. As a Case Manager for Lighthouse Youth Services, Lea provides compassion, hope and support. In her work, she engages people on the streets and when they are ready for services “I make it happen as quickly as I can and I get the barriers out of the way once they are in a position to use their own resources.” Lea provides outreach to anyone living on the streets and case management for those up to the age of 24. Each day Lea and fellow Case Manager Rashida Pearson scout Downtown, Over the Rhine, Camp Washington and surrounding neighborhoods. As they encounter people they offer water, food, blankets and condoms. In her work, Lea’s gift is her patience. When she meets people she doesn’t rush them through the system, instead she takes the time to “develop relationships with people” earning their trust. With a passion for helping people help themselves, Lea believes this is her life’s work—“it’s somewhat of a calling” and she doesn’t think she would be happy doing anything else. Lea sees herself as a positive entity, as part of a community and as a small part of a larger whole. She is someone who tries to contribute to solutions to making things better for the community as a whole. In 2009 she received the Literacy Center West Partnership Award, as a result of her commitment to her work and the strong working relationship she has developed with the center. In the future Lea intends to design and implement re-education programs within the prison system “so people have more to work with when they get out.” This vision was prompted by countless experiences with ex-prisoners on the streets. She cites a recent encounter with a 30-year-old man who had been in prison for 11years. After serving his time “he was released and literally standing on the same corner he got picked up on.” Lea sat down with him and did her best to refer him to community resources, “If he had been given a trade or a college education, he would have had the whole world. If he had received more tools, he could have worked.” Lea desires more “compassion for all people” within our culture. She recognizes that in our society homeless people are seen as unfavorable and “they are objectified and de-humanized.” For Lea, a larger structural issue in our culture is that “there is a disconnect between the chain of command for funding- where the money starts and where the money ends up- because of poor communication.” Each day Lea wakes up and continues her work because she receives considerable gratification from helping people, “I feel like I have a purpose. There is something more important than me past my front door.” Originally from California, Lea moved here for family 8 years ago. She will receive her Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati in December. She plans to immediately begin work on her Masters in Social Work. When she completes her degrees she will continue to work for Lighthouse, as she believes strongly in their mission. thank you! For the past few months, Elizabeth Schulenberg has donated her time and design to Streetvibes, as Art Director. Elizabeth works as a graphic designer in Montgomery, Ohio. Born and raised in Cincinnati, she earned her Bachelor of Design from the University of Cincinnati’s school of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. She now lives in a 103 year old Covington home with her husband (David), bulldog (Lily, pictured), and cat (Obie). “ We are out exploring whenever possible, whether it is around town on bikes, or camping/backpacking around the country. I love this area and being able to contribute to Streetvibes, and makeCincinnati even greater, is an amazing feeling. I have met a few Streetvibes vendors, and look forward to getting to know more of you! ” intervieW by Catie DargUe Melissa Bennett behind the scenes The best way to describe Melissa is that she is everywhere, a part of everything, all the time; but no one necessarily knows it. “I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life,” she says. What exactly does she do? Well to be honest, everything. Melissa is a Cincinnati native who has worked everywhere from a bank to horse ranches to Target but is now mostly known for her work in the theatre. If you don’t recognize her from the stage it may be because Melissa spends the bulk of her time behind the scenes. A trained actress, she graduated with a degree in theatre from Bowling Green State University. A plethora of careers and opportunities took her to Colorado, Connecticut, Vermont, Las Vegas and even Ireland but she’s always ended back in Cincinnati doing what she’s best at: working in the theatre. She is now in her third season as New Edgecliff Theatre’s Technical Director with a responsibility for building the sets and managing all technical aspects of the plays. Additionally, she teaches at the School for Creative and Performing Arts(SPCA), specializing in stage combat. As a woman teaching stage combat she has developed a number of specialty classes “Fight like a girl” and “Broad swords for broads” taking a physiological and physical look at the way in which women use their bodies differently in a fight and applying that to the stage. “Women move differently than men and they fight differently too.” By studying how women act in a fight, stage combat can be completely altered to fit a character that is fighting and not just be taught to overlying tradition of male combat. In the technical world Melissa notices the subtle way in which certain men try to steer her away from heavy lifting and manual labor, though she is a very able and willing carpenter, and towards more detail orientated tasks. But she doesn’t let this affect her as she knows she’s a capable stage hand, designer, teacher, actress, technical director, etc. Like many creative types she has a degree of dyslexia which can always be a challenge when working on a stage and when teaching students but she says she doesn’t let it affect her work. Inspired by such people as her parents, Aunt Lauri, Gina Kleesattel at SCPA, Michael Schooner at New Edgecliff Theatre and the Showbiz Players, where she got her theatre start, Melissa is a true asset to this community. The enthusiasm to spread her love of theatre and her professional presence are some of her strongest qualities making her a natural leader. However, she is humble in her accomplishments and claims that her proudest moments have been shared with the Film Outside the Lines project where she works with people of varying disabilities to write, act and film movies. “There’s no politics or stress, it’s just enjoyable and it reminds me how fun this can be”. While she admits to wanting a little more security in her job, which the theatre world rarely offers, she says she believes in ‘Karma jobs’ and seems to always land on her feet. She loves theatre, the children she teaches and of course instructing someone to do a proper choke hold on stage. �street life S t r e e t v ibeS March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 the Homeless Congress Member Biographies Jerry Davis I am currently unemployed but hope to attend Cincinnati State College this coming Fall Season. I am a member of the Garden St Transition Housing Board and believe that I can help in making a difference in our community by being apart of the Homeless Congress. Keith Eutsey As a member of the Homeless Congress I hope to be instrumental in the lives of others who have lived under homeless circumstances and who have suffered its disparagement. I would like to see more affordable housing and job training, as a result of my involvement with the Congress, being created. James Brown As a member of the Homeless Congress I would like to impact others in making changes in their lives. As a formally homeless person I feel my experiences can be useful in directing others through the difficulty, which is a part of that life style. The struggles that we face are hard and often seemingly impossible to burden. Our mindsets are often in disarray and we find ourselves in a dilemma. We resort to self-medicating with drugs or alcohol at time to relieve our sorrows and often find ourselves in more difficulty then we can manage. The displacement of individuals in our neighborhood, resulting from the recent rehabilitation of the buildings, is responsible for much conflict within agencies that otherwise support those in need. In our struggles I have one particular agency that I appreciate and support. The Drop Inn Center is in my opinion the “greatest”, and all other like agencies are the immediate solution to some of the problems which so many people face. It is for this reason that I commit my time and effort as a member of the Homeless Congress. Stephen Gentry Riccardo Taylor....source: amy Willhoite Lee McCoy I have been homeless off and on many times over the years. As of late I have been living in my own apartment, to date it has been 13 month’s. I have had my stint with drug addiction and have been fighting substance abuse for the greater part of my life. Today I am clean and looking for a new start on life. Working with the Homeless Congress I have picked my peeve, which is to see more being done with help in sheltering individuals during the cold months. The idea that a person is at least 75% water and that water freezes at 32 degrees puts a lot of people at risk. I believe that working with the congress in trying to convince the city and county authorities to create a winter shelter plan is an important obligation, and therefore I that being a part of the congress is a great way for me to have some influence. March Madness What we are losing in Over the Rhine lee MCCoy riCCarDo taylor The Homeless Congress of Cincinnati was created in January 2011, its mission, to become a voice for those who have the least in the way of a voice in our community. As an entity striving to work in the community for the purpose of change, the members of the Homeless Congress wishes to introduce themselves too the community as a whole. Below are listed the Bio’s of our current members. We would hope that our Streetvibes readers take note of their participation in community building and improvement as we engage in the revamping of our status as viable members of the community. As listed, the following Congress members are the initial enrollment members and the core of what we feel will be a lasting and productive resource for our homeless population. Our members have given a short bio of whom they are and what they would like to accomplish as members of the Homeless Congress. 5 I am a native Cincinnatian and product of the Cincinnati Public Schools with three years of college. I have had a varied career in the service and production industries. I am currently disabled and have found meaningful and fulfilling satisfaction through Homeless Advocacy because of a volunteer position at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and membership in the Homeless Congress. Due to the circumstance, which I would suggest goes with the territory; I find that it is necessary to install the Bio’s from our members in segments. Our members have very full lives for the most part, and given that circumstance they are usually quite busy and coupled with the provision of space bios of the rest of our membership will be posted in future editions. The Homeless Congress is made up of individuals who for the most part are struggling with poverty issues and find themselves under pressure financially and the Homeless Coalition offers some relief for that. It is therefore that some of our Congress members are also involved with the coalition through their participation with the Streetvibes paper program; their involvement with the propagation of issues, which affect those most at risk due to poverty, is plus for membership with the congress. It’s that time of the year again and 65 teams are scrambling to see who going to be number one. The fans will be cheering, some may be crying but with the way this game is played it won’t be a basketball team that winds up the winner. It will undoubtedly be the bookies. This time of year seems to make people do crazy things…like we got a little spring in the air to bring out the madness in us all. That said, let’s another walk through my neighborhood. And I guess I should say that my hood is no longer my hoodwith the renovation of Washington Park. We are watching all of this construction to the tune of 47 million dollars, but the when I look at the park I just trees being dug up. 47 million can’t replace those…to me they are priceless. And while we’reon the subject of digging up priceless things let’s just call to light that they dug up people buried in my hood, they moved them or put them in a new hole in the earth all together. I always thought it was sacrilegious to disturb the final resting place of someone who has passed on, but apparently 47 million dollars and the greedy promise of more revenue must make all spiritual guidance go out the window. I suppose if you are 3CDC you can pretty much get with anything, right? The scariest part of all is watching groups like City Gospel Mission get bumped out of the community. And now because of it close location to The Performing Arts School; I fear the writing is on the wall for the Drop Inn Center. Whatever happened to love thy neighbor? I guess greed really will make that moral compass and spiritual guidance dissipate. I am sorry 3CDC but just because a person is down on their luck doesn’t make them a nuisance, they are still human. You came into Over the Rhine on a mission of greed. You have taken buildings and made them into your fancy ‘flats’. Your fancy condos that no one who has lived here their whole life could afford. And you mean to tell us you aren’t forcing people out of this community? These fancy apartments will likely run $800 to $900 a month for a one bedroom. Bear in mind, one of these buildings I am referring to used to rent a one bedroom for $200 a month. It’s been my experience that you come upon your real estate ventures in a shady way like telling a landlord that in order for them to purchase the building they must evict or relocate the tenants already there. You don’t even pretend to give people a chance. That’s cold. I’m pretty sure it is all about the Benjaminsfor you people. You have your casino coming in and the bigger picture is becoming clear for Cincinnati. You can just take a look at Vine Street and see that this isn’t Over the Rhine anymore. It is also clear that they will do anything they can to move us out…but why? So the rich can get richer by saving gas money getting to and from their Downtown work places? And don’t get me wrong, with the price of gas I totally understand that argument but really, what happens to the rest of us? What happens to the people who gas isn’t a problem for because they don’t have a car to put it in? And now I hear they are going to have to pay a Guard to patrol Washington Park. Why is that, so you can keep certain people out? It just doesn’t sound right to me. I have never heard of a public park with an armed guard. What’s more is that we could be losing some of the oldest social service agencies, essentially fixtures in Over the Rhine for nearly a century. These organizations literally put food in the mouths of the community’s homeless and poor. I know that when I was homeless I was damn glad to 6:15 because I knew that I could have a hot meal and then spiritual services following that fed my soul and enriched my spirit. When you homeless and down on your luck, sometimes that spirituality is all you need to pick your chin up and go through another day. You see the one thing about Over the Rhine is that as a community, we cared about each other. You can hardly name another place in the tri state that will feed those in need, clothe those in need, or give you a shower when you need it.Places like The Free Store, Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services, The Salvation Army…these places are priceless without greed. I know God will look after His own, but I for one will truly miss the Gospel Mission. I wish them all the blessings in the new move but I know they will be greatly missed in Over the Rhine. �6 Column StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 san francisco Homelessness A look at the same issue by the Bay JiM lUken Ahh. San Francisco…the romantic City by the Bay. I spent two weeks there in mid-February, and like so Tony Bennett (and many others), I left my heart there. The biggest part of my heart went out to the city’s homeless population, which is one of the largest in the country. One might think that homelessness is homelessness no matter where it occurs. But what I observed in San Francisco had a very different look and feel to it than it does here in Cincinnati. While the city has twice our population, there are many more homeless people there than here, and these homeless are quite visible, almost everywhere throughout the cosmopolitan city. Surprisingly to me, most of the homeless are white and in their 40s and 50s. Many push shopping carts around wherein they store their belongings. I saw several men with wheel chairs hooked up to their carts and small bicycles strapped on top. In the famous “Haight/Asbury” neighborhood, the homeless population is mostly young and white kids from all over the country. Many of these—I was told— are runaways. Often they are unwelcome in their family homes, by reason of their LGBT identities. The accepted (politically-correct) name for them is “queer kids.” Call it a form of reverse prejudice, but I had problems dealing with healthy looking white kids panhandling all over town. There are many reasons for the high numbers of homeless in SF. The city is a kind of magnet, due to its (relatively) warm weather all year long, and its massive transit system, and perhaps mostly due to its being in a traditionally “liberal” city in a state (California) that is famous for its free-wheeling lifestyle. Although San Francisco is technically in Northern California, its climate borders on temperate. The Pacific Ocean currents bring generally mild temperatures. One evening there was a smattering of snow. After leaving a bar, I gathered a small snowball from the windshield of a car. My buddy was amazed, because snow almost never happens there. Many days the temperature was in the low sixties, with the sky a postcard blue. What this means is that chronically homeless people (95% male) can sleep outside all year long without endangering their lives. The huge finger of Golden Gate Park runs four miles from the ocean to the heart of the city, incredibly green and wonderful to walk in. On several of my walks, I followed narrow paths through the grass, only to find a homeless encampment tucked away, tarp covered, 4’X 6’, a shopping cart often holding up one end of the tarp. My buddy told me that there are men who have lived out in the park for years and years. San Francisco’s equivalent to Over the Rhine is called the “Tenderloin District,” nestled downtown very close to the major business district. Imagine OTR situated between Central Parkway and the library. There, on Turk Street, I found the office of the “Coalition on Homelessness” which publishes of the newspaper, called “Street Sheet” You press an intercom button and someone rings you in. Then you climb a long flight of shabbily carpeted stairs to the offices. According to Bob Offer-Westort, the editor of Street Sheet, people flock to San Francisco in the hope of getting a better shake from the city’s support network. He says they are mistaken in this belief, describing the city laws and authorities as “punitive.” Perhaps “punitive” can be best illustrated by referring to the infamous “Sit/lie” law which was enacted this past November. Bob says that their “Coalition on Homelessness” campaigned vigorously against the law, which empowers the police to arrest/harass homeless people for sitting on (or sleeping on)the pavement. There have already been two demonstrations against the law since its passage. Fortunately, the law is not currently being enforced, although Bob says that may change with the installation of a new police chief in March. No doubt the homeless population is anxious about enforcement. I saw hundreds of people all over town sitting on curbs and sidewalks. And at night, I would walk around the homeless sleeping under blankets in doorways and alcoves. I was pleased to hear Editor Bob Offer-Westort praise our own newspaper during my interview with him. to see that Benni was reading my recent story on the “Shooting at Tucker’s” in Streetvibes, which is mailed to SF’s homeless coalition office each month. Benni described homelessness in his home town as “a bad situation. And it ain’t getting any better.” On Market Street, the main downtown artery, I walked up to a man pushing a shopping cart. The temperature was in the low forties that day. The first thing I noticed was that he was wearing flip flops with no socks. Handing him a dollar, I asked if I could interview him for Streetvibes. He said, “Sure.” His name was Terry Adale, white, age 56. Tall, thin Under his hooded sweatshirt, I could see that Terry was movie-star handsome, with clear blue eyes. He chewed on butt of a cigarette that hung from his lower lip. He had been out on the streets of San Francisco for twenty years now, a transplant from Chicago. He said he had had a typical childhood there, had done well at school, and had even done some college work. “When I lost my job there, I decided that—if I was going to be homeless—there were better places to be than Chicago.” I was surprised to learn that he never sleeps in any of the city’s shelters. [There are 1100 beds in the SF shelter system]. He said he usually slept in the same doorway several blocks east on Market Street. He never begs, and supports himself by recycling. He said he can generally make $10 or more each day. “Food is easy to find,” he said. “You mean, like, at soup kitchens?” I asked. “No, I mean on the street, in trash receptacles. You wouldn’t believe some of the food people throw away in this city.” When I inquired about the flip flops, he complained that he had gone to the hospital recently and they had taken some of his clothes, including his shoes and socks Sharon Randle Pamela gerard He described Streetvibes as among the “first tier” of homeless newspapers. Street Sheet prints 16,000 (12 page) newspapers in San Francisco, compared to Streetvibes’ 3,500 (16 page). They have around 230 vendors (40 regulars) compared to our 35 vendors. Bob expressed envy at the fact that Streetvibes vendors now wear vests. His San Francisco vendors are not even provided with identification badges. As I left the editor’s office, I met the Street Sheet circulation manager, Benni Clyburn, who works with the vendors. I looked down on his desk, and was amazed without ever returning them. “Didn’t you ask about them?” “I guess I should have,” he responded. He said he was “relatively” satisfied with his style of street life. “The lottery is my principle means of hope,” he ventured. I asked Terry if he had anything to say to our readers in Cincinnati. “I urge people to be friendly and healthy, as well as they are able.” Then he padded off in his flip flops. �S t r e e t v ibeS March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 Column 7 the struggle for Doing good JaMes DeMario broWn My name is James DeMarioBrown. I am one of the members of the Homeless Congress. I’m trying to impact the lives of those who are homeless in our community. From personal experience, I know being homeless is hard. It is truly an everyday struggle just to meet basic needs and it is so hard to keep the right mind set while doing so. Some people give up, fall into drugs and alcohol for comfort when nobody else is there to rely on. This I know, and my message is that there is a way out. One of the best resources in the community by far is The Drop Inn Center. It is a place where you feel comfort and supported in your hardest of times. Lately, with the closing and relocation of The City Gospel Missionit has me wondering if 3CDC’s development in Over the Rhine has just put the writing on the wall for The Drop Inn Center. Where will all these people who are genuinely helped by The Drop, I wonder where they will go, who will they turn to for help? This kind of desperation can only breed more outrage and violence. Pushing the people out is not the answer. The people in this community need a boost, not an eviction notice. Where’s our bail out? Where is our development? Where are our jobs? We need the support of others. We need resources like The Drop Inn Center. With the recently formed Homeless Congress, we intend to work on the issues. Ultimately, we hope to get in front of Cincinnati’s City Council because right now it seems like there is no one there playing on our team. My struggle for doing good continues and yours should too. Speak out whenever you can, help whoever you can, and maybe together we can get our voices heard. �local 8 StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 fighting Poverty: the impact and future of the ameriCorps Program Current Legislation betH griffitH-nieMann Faces without Places AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps members make a yearlong, full-time commitment to serve non-profits or public agencies, while living in poverty themselves, but prosed budget cuts are threatening this program. On February 19th, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would completely eliminate AmeriCorps and all other service programs supported through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The House Appropriations Committee compiled a Continuing resolution totaling $4 billion dollars in cuts over two weeks, keeping the government operating, preceding a vote on the budget cuts in the Senate, until a long term bill can be agreed upon. The Senate is set to vote on the issue on March 18th; however, it seems likely that the budget will not be resolved and that the current fiscal year may function with a series of continuing resolutions until the end of the fiscal year in September. It is unclear what the final outcome will be for AmeriCorps and CNCS. Current Impacts AmeriCorps is comprised of AmeriCorps State & National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) totaling over 75,000 individuals each year who pledge to serve their country through national service. AmeriCorps is one of many organizations that receive funding from CNCS; other organizations include Senior Corps, Learn and Serve America, Nonprofit Capacity Building Program, the Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund. All of the programs provide an outlet to serve the nation for over 1.5 million individuals across the nation. AmeriCorps members work hard to serve the needs of the poor, help create lasting change, lead and manage volunteer projects, and help others obtain education, as well as many other services that impact their community. In our country’s time of economic need, some explain their service is even more vital. “I can’t think of a bigger bang for our government’s buck. I hope the cuts don’t fall there [on AmeriCorps]” explains Diana McVey Wood of the American Red Cross. My first rally Musings of an outsider looking in Catie DargUe My mom and dad were hippies. There’s no better way to describe them. In fact, growing up, all of my friend’s parents were hippies, we just never really thought of them like that- or if we did it was in a past life, somewhere off before we were born. I’ve never seen my parents protest or rally for something they believe in, but it seems like the sort of thing they would do. Fist in the air, yelling at “the Man” – it just seems appropriate Barbara Wallace of UC Clermont states that AmeriCorps members, “provide an invaluable service to our organization; they are highly educated, skilled professionals.” The AmeriCorps program allows non-profits and government agencies to focus on their services to clients rather than staffing specific programs. By having an AmeriCorps member working at the non-profit, the budget is opened and money can be provided to other parts of the organization because CNCS provides a living stipend (in lieu of salary) to the AmeriCorps member. There is no cost to the non-profit organization. Local Impacts There are over 1,400 AmeriCorps members working to better their communities through service in Ohio. These members are working to meet educational, environmental, health and economic needs of the state. AmeriCorps VISTAS work to increase the capacity of non-profits by recruiting volunteers, fund raising, expanding the services provided, as well as creating sustainable programs. Tracy Power, President of Faces without Places, a Greater Cincinnati non-profit that My first rally source: Catie Dargue works to raise awareness and funds for children and youth experiencing homelessness explains how their Future Impacts AmeriCorps VISTA has helped their organization. The impact of an AmeriCorps member’s service outlives “Because the Faces without Places Board of Trustees is volunteer based, our VISTA’s efforts have been invaluable that of an individual’s time within AmeriCorps. A 2008 study by CNCS found that AmeriCorps Alumni are to our organization, which is dedicated to removing the barriers to education for children and youth experiencing more engaged in their community and are more likely to continue a life of public service. The report explains, homelessness. It is essential to maintain our VISTA “Not only does AmeriCorps provide individuals with in order to continue promoting the mission of Faces opportunities to help address their communities’ most without Places in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern pressing needs, but the program also spurs individuals to Kentucky area. As the critical need for awareness, be agents of positive change in their communities long services, advocacy and funding have increased due to the after their AmeriCorps service”. economic instability facing many families; our VISTA Shelley Werner, an AmeriCorps Alum explains that has made great strides by engaging a constituency of donors and community supporters. Our VISTA has been even now, years after her service, that she “cannot see the ‘good life’ without volunteering; it an essential part of my very successful with her efforts to educate stakeholders life after AmeriCorps.” and community interest groups about the plight of the The life of an AmeriCorps member is far from ‘homeless child’ by visiting board rooms, classrooms, glamorous, as members live and work in poverty; but evening meetings, and church groups. Building capacity payment is not the goal or the reward for AmeriCorps while educating the general public about the issues and members; serving their community and country is long-term impact to the community as a whole is a payment enough. vital component of the work our VISTA has dedicated time, resources and energy. Discontinuing the national Voice your opinion, contact your representatives: AmeriCorps program and losing our VISTA will impede Sherrod Brown (Senate) (202) 224-2315 efforts for a ‘call to action’ in the Greater Cincinnati area Rob Portman (Senate) (202) 224-3353 that is bringing this devastating issue to the forefront.” Steve Chabot (House, District 1) (202) 225-2216 Jean Schmidt (House, District 2) (202) 225-3164 Michael Turner (House, District 3) (202) 225-6465 for my parents. For me, it’s never been something I’ve done, but something I’ve always felt compelled to do. It must be in my blood and that’s why in 1999 and later in 2001 when riots in Seattle broke out I felt compelled to ‘join the people’. It was an overwhelming sense that I needed to have my voice heard and my presence felt to send support to my fellow protestors. I never did get a chance to go to Seattle during that time and until Friday February 25th I had never been to a rally. On February 25th the Coalition for the Homeless led the people in a rally in front of 3DCD’s offices in Over-the-Rhine to have our community voice heard. The mission: to make people aware of 3CDC’s resistance to work with the community on a number of issues surrounding their recent ‘improvements’to Washington Park Having lived in London where it seemed like there is a protest weekly or perhaps being inspired by the recent events taking place in Egypt and Wisconsin, I felt in the mood to rally. It was a great turn-out with 40-50 people in attendance. Media was poised with cameras and microphones while the police and 3CDC looked on in the background. It was everything I imagined. Chanting in chorus in support of the common belief See Rally Pg. 9 Vanessa Sparks Speaks Out for Washington Park Photo by: Catie Dargue �local S t r e e t v ibeS March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 marketing ploys designated to distract the public’s attention from the real issues and the amount of hurt they are causing in Over-the-Rhine simply by turning their backs on the very vibrant yet impoverished culture that already inhabits this neighborhood. This rally, this coming together of people of all racial and financial backgrounds, was a truly beautiful and moving experience. To fight for simple rights like a place for the people “We want to see development, but we don’t want to be pushed out.”—Nannie Hinkston (1995) 1. We want neighborhoods where all citizens are respected and appreciated for who they are. We don’t want to be overpowered by corporate interests. We believe healthy neighborhoods have real democratic decision-making power. We believe empathy and the quest for understanding are core values for social life. We live in a time marked by extremes and suffering, where city and corporate practices too often reduce human beings to deficits and end up punishing, demonizing, criminalizing, and making people disappear. 2. We want full employment for our people with meaningful jobs and livable wages. Millions upon millions of public and private dollars are being invested in Cincinnati’s urban neighborhoods, resulting in new jobs. A reasonable percentage of these jobs must come to local residents. 3. We want policies, legislation, and development projects to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. We believe that wealth and power are now mobilized to keep our most vulnerable citizens at arm’s length, and not for the purposes of ensuring basic human rights. Too many city policies treat these excluded citizens as threats and take strides to: * criminalize panhandlers and people who are homeless; * push them into the prison-industrial complex; * remove them from sight and displace the Drop Inn Center (see point #6 below); * enact police sweeps and invasive surveillance; * regulate public spaces (no Streetvibes distributors on Fountain Square); * impose a gentrified culture on the marginalized. Under this system those citizens among us made most vulnerable must fend for themselves. 4. We want the renovation of Washington Park to welcome all citizens and to be maintained as a genuine public space. The current plan demolishes the deep-water pool and basketball court—recreational facilities that neighborhood people wanted to keep. Who is the park for, exactly? We don’t want public spaces turned into private assets. 5. We want the assault on Metropole residents to stop. Over the last 20 years, downtown Cincinnati has lost a significant number of afforda able housing units. We want those units restored. The Metropole has 224 such units. Metropole residents have put up a valiant effort to save their homes. If relocation must occur, we demand residents be relocated in the downtown core—in their own neighborhood—and receive full relocation benefits. construction site soon to house a parking lot and ‘Dog park’. Broken promises and a cold shoulder to the community have provoked us to rally. My first rally was a short one, a productive one, a powerful one. My first rally was one that my aging hippy parents would be proud of to know that, “We the people” have not lost our voice to a corporate sold out America. My first rally was and eye opener and by no means will my first rally be my last. 6. We want the assault on the Drop Inn Center to immediately stop. The City/3CDC alliance continues to pressure the Drop Inn Center to relocate out of the neighborhood. This pressure puts the city in violation of its own Over-the-Rhine Comprehensive Plan (2002) to protect all current residents from displacement. Our homeless brothers and sisters have a right to be fully integrated into our neighborhoods and not to be used as pawns by development schemes. 7. We want commercial development that serves existing neighborhood residents. Mixed-income neighborhoods need to have shopping opportunities for all income levels. In neighborhoods like Over-the-Rhine, for example, not all new commercial development should cater to people with higher incomes. This is not an argument against high-end boutiques and bars, but a challenge to attract neighborhood-serving businesses to meet the needs of lower-income residents as well. rm People�s Platform for Equality and Justice of the neighborhood to use the bathroom with dignity, despite what 3CDC claim about there not being the space, location or wanting to maintain such a space, is our right. It’s our right to ask why none of the supposed 900 jobs are easily accessible to the people in this neighborhood who need them most. We chant, “Washington Park is the people’s park, not just your park”. We fight for the last open park in this area which now has been reduced to a, treeless, fenced off 8. We want our urban core neighborhoods to be racially and economically integrated with housing options affordable to all income levels. When low- to moderate-income areas experience upper-income development, benefits to the poor are few. In fact, often low-income individuals are displaced. The market alone does not create economic mix. We want to see a greater multiplicity of housing options that can serve lower-income people such as cooperatives, multi-generational housing, renter equity, housing for the elderly, shared-function housing, and land trusts. fo that “We the people” of OTR will not silently sit by and watch as our park slowly disappears. One of my favorite moments was when a local passer-by on bike stopped to see what all the action was about and ended up staying for about 10 minutes to help support the cause. People left and right seemed moved by our cause, cars honked and we said our piece. The speakers were elegant and to the point; an overall great success. As tensions have grown, 3CDC has made several attempts to appear as if they support “the little guy” by sponsoring such events as the Cinciditarod, which benefited the Freestore Foodbank and helping to finance the completion of the Jimmy Heath House, which helps homeless individuals recover from addiction by providing them with a safe home and supportive environment. To me these resemble clever 9. We want an auditing system in place to make sure that the mixture of household incomes called for by participatory neighborhood plans are on track. New upscale development is picking up in Over-the-Rhine, West End, Lower Price Hill, and Walnut Hills. The market left to its own devices will not produce balance. Low- and moderate-income housing needs to be diligently secured and protected with incentives, policies, and legislation. at Continued from Pg. 8 10. We want “Shared Equity.” As neighborhood developments attract more and more investment, both private and public, an enormous hike in property value will likely result. We want an innovative system that uses that increased property value to benefit low-income residents and the non-profits in our neighborhoods. Pl My first rally 9 We need new narratives in Cincinnati about how life can be lived differently, supported by values of empathy, community, solidarity, and inclusivity. We remain steadfast that conversations across borders are life-transforming. Social change happens when the included come to see and truly understand the excluded, when the haves come to understand the have-nots, and when the centers of power come to understand the margins. Change occurs when those with privilege come to see and understand those who are disadvantaged, to walk with us, and to learn from us, because when this happens, power is not coercive. Rather, power is used to mutually benefit everyone. www.cincihomeless.org Call 513.716.7455 �10 national news StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 no Quiet old age for south africa’s grannies Grannies are indispensable in South Africa. They may have been hoping for a restful old age, but the AIDS epidemic has seen them taking on motherhood for a second time, caring for grandchildren whose parents have died of the disease. elles van gelDer Despite her aching joints, 76-year-old Thandiwe Matzinga moves swiftly through the small corrugated iron home she now shares with three of her grandchildren: twin boys (15) and a seven-year-old girl whose mothers died of AIDS. Matzinga supports them and herself on government grants of 300 euro per month. Matzinga raised nine kids of her own, three of whom have died of AIDS. She’s one of South Africa’s many grannies who care for their grandchildren. South Africa has been hit hard by the HIV/Aids pandemic; 5.5 million people, around 18 percent of its population are infected. According to UN figures for 2007, there are 1.4 million aids orphans in the country, 64 percent of them being raised by their grandparents, usually single grannies. In a community centre near her home in the township Khayelitsha outside Cape Town, Matzinga takes her place in a circle of wrinkled faces. Talking in the Xhosa language, the women share stories about how it has been for them to lose their children. They are part of the organization Grannies Against Poverty and AIDS (GAPA) that has around 500 members. All these ladies thought their kids would take care of them when they would be old, but instead the tables have turned. “A lot of these grannies have five to ten mouths to feed from their old age pension,” says Vivienne Budaza, director of the organisation. “Their kids are dying like flies,” she sighs. Granny Nothemba Mdaka in front of her small home in the township Khayelitsha, near Cape Town. She has lost two children to HIV/AIDS and a third one is dying. Mdaka raised five grandchildren and is now raising five great grandchildren. source: elles van gelder The grannies get together regularly in the GAPA offices for mutual support; there they discuss their burdens and the disease that is destroying their families. “The grandmothers know that you contract HIV/Aids via sex”, says Mrs Budaza. “But there are still myths and misunderstandings. A lot of grannies for example, don’t understand that there are kids who are HIV-positive. How can they have the disease if they never had sex? Granny Thandiwe Matzinga together with the three of her grandchildren she takes care of in her shack in a township near Cape Town. She’s one of South Africa’s many grannies who care for their grandchildren. source: elles van gelder We then need to explain that a kid can contract the virus while in the womb.” It’s both a social as well as a financial struggle for the grannies to make ends meet. HIV/Aids is still stigmatized in South Africa. “When my neighbors heard that kids of mine died of the disease, they didn’t dare to use the same communal toilet as me,” Matzinga says. But slowly, she feels, this is changing. “More and more families around me are hit by HIV/Aids. There are more and more grannies in the same situation asking for my help.” Another granny taking care of lots of children is 71-year-old Nothemba Mdaka. But her small home is temporarily quiet. She has sent her grandkids and great grandkids away because one of her daughters is dying of HIV/Aids in the back bedroom. She doesn’t want the children to see the suffering. It is her third daughter who will die of the disease. Mdaka raised five grandchildren and is now raising five great grandchildren while her grandchildren are looking for work. Bringing up teenagers has been difficult for her. “A lot of youngsters in the townships use alcohol and drugs and there is a lot of crime,” says Budaza of GAPA. “And the number of teenage pregnancies is so high.” One of Mdaka’s grandchildren had her first child when she was 15. She is 20 now and has three kids. “She says she wants to have healthy children before she gets HIVpositive,” says Mdaka. At first she didn’t dare talk to her grandchildren about sex, but now she even hands out condoms. “We need to be open about this. Otherwise this killing disease will never stop.” © www.streetnewsservice.org The Street News Service (SNS) is an innovative online news agency that brings together the best of street paper journalism from around the world. INSP also works with media partners Reuters and Inter Press Service (IPS) who support the Street News Service by providing supplemental news features and photographs. �national news S t r e e t v ibeS March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 11 Women and Human rights laUra osborne-Coffey Amnesty International celebrates Women’s Rights day on March 8thannually. Amnesty members worldwide often celebrate by activities such as rallies, letter writing activities, and demonstrations for women’s rights worldwide. When people today think of women and human rights, they often think of historical figures such as Dorothy Day, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Or perhaps they think of more recent prominent women – Wilma Mankiller, past chief of the Cherokee tribe. Winnie Mandela, wife of Nelson Mandela. Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, who had key roles in the Civil Rights battle. Amnesty works on behalf of women’s rights worldwide, and has called for the United States to become signatory to CEDAW (Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination AgainstWomen), along with the rest of the western world. Amnesty also has a campaign to ‘End Maternal Mortality’ as a part of their current ‘Demand Dignity!’ campaign. Amnesty International knows that there are currently many women worldwide who carry the strength and dignity of their beliefs and their work with them on a daily basis, as they work towards their own goals – and the goals of their family and their community. Some of these women are people whom Amnesty members have worked for and are now released; some are currently in prison and are a focus of ongoinghuman rights work. These women are featured below: Successes: Roxana Saberi, Iran Ma Khin Khin Leh, Burma After serving nearly 10 years of a life sentence in Myanmar (Burma), prisoner of conscience and long-time AIUSA priority case Ma Khin Khin Leh was also freed in 2009. Ma Khin Khin Leh is a school teacher and young mother, who served a life sentence because her husband helped plan a demonstration to be held in Bago on July 19, 1999, to show support for the National League for Democracy (NLD), a pro-democracy political party that sought to counter the military junta that had reigned over Myanmar since 1962. Days before the demonstrations were to take place, authorities took action to halt it. Failing to find her husband, security agents arrested Ma Khin Khin Leh and the couple’s three-year-old daughter instead. Although her daughter was released after spending five days in detention, Ma Khin Khin Leh - then age 33 - was eventually transferred to Insein Prison. In December 1999, the Insein Special Court sentenced her to life imprisonment under vaguely-worded security legislation. Even by the normally harsh standards of “justice” meted out by Myanmar’s military government, the life sentence given to Ma Khin Khin Leh was extreme. Mah Khin Khin Le was the AIUSA Midwest Region’s Special Focus Case since 2005 Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma Human rights activists in Cincinnati and worldwide were thrilled and grateful for the release on November 13, 2010 of Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar (Burma)! The government released her after seven and a half years of house arrest. Aung San was the nationally elected leader of Burmain 1989, and has been under house arrest by the Burmese government for most of the time since then. Amnesty volunteers worldwide worked on her a Amnesty was happy to report in 2009 that American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi was freed from prison in Iran! Roxana had originally been given an eight year prison sentence on trumped up charges of “espionage,” following a brief closed-door trial in Tehran. Amnesty International had issued an urgent action calling for her release. When an urgent action is posted by Amnesty on its website, members worldwide take immediate letter writing action. Over 26,000 messages were sent by Amnesty activists to the Iranian government demanding her release. S Y WHAT?! case many times, the most recent being over the last seven years. James Roberts, Amnesty international Co-group chair for Myanmar stated up on her release: “Will she re-form the National League for Democracy? Will she continue to advocate for democracy? Will her release be for good this time, or will the government find another reason for imprisoning her yet again? Only time will tell.” What is known is that there are over 2,200 other political prisoners who are still behind bars in China. IMPRISONED: The women discussed below have been arrested or detained as recently as last week. One has been an Amnesty concern for years and the other only recently arrested, both are in China; and WOZA has been a subject of harassment in Zimbabwe for years. WOZA, Zimbabwe Women of Zimbabwe Arise marching in Harare, Zimbabwe “WOZA” On March 1st, 2011, members of civil rights organization WOZA were targeted and arrested by police in Zimbabwe. Seven members of WOZA and MOZA (Men of Zimbabwe Arise) were arrested at their own homes. One of the women arrested was a nursing mother who has been denied access to her child. When visited by their family, several of those arrested indicated they were subjected to beatings on the soles of their feet. This is a torture method called ‘falanga’ and is a common instrument in the torture arsenal of Zimbabwe police. Fourteen more women were arrested on March 2nd. Four are WOZA members, the other 10 are not. They were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time. The wrong place was a meeting to contribute $1 to a burial society fund. At this time, not all of these women are accounted for as they have been taken to several different police stations. According to WOZA “police officers, some in full riot gear, visited the homes of another 6 members but they were not home.” Mao Hengfeng, China Activists worldwide were originally pleased to hear of the release of Mao Hengfeng, a Shanghai-based human rights defender. She was released from Re-education Through Labor (RTL) on medical parole on 22 February 2011, as she had suffered from the effects of torture while imprisoned since March 2010. She has high blood pressure and had evidence of bleeding in her brain, due to torture. The relief was short-lived however, as on February 24 she was sent back to RTL on the grounds of having violated the terms for medical parole. According to her husband, Shanghai Yangpu district police came to their house on 24 February 2011 and said they wanted to talk with Mao Hengfeng, and she was informed by the police that she had committed activities which violated the terms of her medical parole, andwas being sent back to RTL. Mao was not allowed to change her clothes or pack anything she needed before being taken away. She is again at risk of torture. Since 2004, Mao Hengfeng has been repeatedly detained for her work defending women’s reproductive rights and victims of forced evictions, and her support of human rights defenders. Often her family has not been allowed to visit her and they have since found out that it was at these times that she has been tortured. The human rights situation around the world continues to change rapidly. One constant is Amnesty’s 50 year commitment to upholding human rights. Jenni Williams of WOZA said this about Amnesty: “I am alive today after 33 arrests because members of Amnesty International sent … text messages, they phoned;they faxed the Zimbabwe Republic police. They made a huge difference. It caused those police to say – let me not torture them today, let me not rape them today, let me not beat them today because they have friends in Boston.” In Honor Of Women’s History Month “The work of the political activist inevitably involves a certain tension between the requirement that position be taken on current issues as they arise and the desire that one's contributions will somehow survive the ravages of time. ” -Angela Davis, radical black activist. educator & philosopher �interest 12 StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 Mojo the great b. Clifton bUrke “There might be stronger dogs and faster dogs in the world, and many of these will have decent ball skills themselves, but to find another dog with the combination that Mojo possessed is damn-near impossible. That dog could play.” Not an ordinary dog, Mojo had the strength of many men and could crash through drywall for a tennis ball. In his prime, he was a beast with a hemi V8/400 horsepower engine. His playing weight was around 88 pounds, but he could hang with the fastest dogs on the block no matter what the size. Obstacles? Over or through them. Objection? The ball. Nothing stopped him and his career lasted a solid eight years or so of high-caliber play and an unmatched tenacity to make catches. He is, without question, the greatest I’ve ever seen and my all-time favorite. He was a German Shepardrottweiler puppy, six-weeks old, on the east side of town and he was handed to me by a man I had never met before or since. The man wanted him to go to a good home and I gave him my word. Once Mojo grew out of his fluffy, awkward puppiness, he almost right away became the legend we remember him as today. The routine trips to the park weren’t much of an option for me. A day without going meant a day of him blasting around the apartment being too big and too excited to ignore. So we went. Every day for years and years and years. There he turned his haunches into muscly pistons, his front legs into those of a race horse’s, and would thrash the turf between himself and the ball with supernatural force. Our areas quickly became either swampy mud islands or clouds of dust from his powerful running style. And, during his athletic peak, I could never wear him out. Never. I could throw the ball until my arm fell off and he would be back with it at my feet smiling up at me with his obscenely large tongue, waiting for the next throw. He was never a frisbee dog; he didn’t have the patience to wait around for it to land. And he would chase the kong, but didn’t like the unpredictable bounces it took—even though I did. The tennis ball was his obsession and he went through hundreds of them. The sport was that I throw it and he’d catch it on a bounce. For a long time I couldn’t over throw him, he was a bullet. A large black bullet. It wasn’t just at the park either; Mojo also had an indoor finesse game that he constantly tricked human beings into playing. His placement on people’s laps, on armrests, on the very ledge of an end table, was most impressive. Once the ball had been expertly placed, the human would be distracted by conversation or television or whatever and lightly toss the ball to Mojo. He was a master at getting his way in this regard. He tricked me a million times or more. There were a couple of ways he played indoor. If it were a close range toss right at him he would snatch it with no problem. In fact, you could put a little heat on your throw, and release it as close as a foot from his face, and he would envelop the ball like a first-baseman’s mitt. If it were a lob intended to lead him into a certain direction, that too was no problem, as he could make over the shoulder snags, shoe-string catches and leaping grabs (but only when he had to). He was respectful of wires and electric fans but disregarded everything else around him. Many, many spilled drinks and other disasters came about because of Mojo’s recklessness, but it was part of who he was and I rarely stopped him. If the game was a kicking one, he showed excellent blocking technique by moving his broad chest low to the ground and spreading his legs out wide. He was especially good at using his paws to deflect kicks attempted to go past him. I also enjoyed watching him roll the ball around on the ground for a while with his paw; smash the balls into the floor until it squirted out and then collect it on the backspin he anticipated. It reminded me of a skateboard trick, or spinning a basketball on your finger—pointless, but cool. Eventually, he slowed down some in the twilight of his life, taking things easier but never giving up all the way. Up to the very end, he played ball at the park and still loved it. There might be stronger dogs and faster dogs in the world, and many of these will have decent ball skills themselves, but to find another dog with the combination that Mojo possessed is damn-near impossible. That dog could play. The best of all time. He stays in my heart. The Sandwich Man Jeffery Hass by: JiMMie giPson Jeffery Hass has been giving back to the community for years. He doesn’t volunteer at a local shelter or work for a nonprofit, he gives back in the simplest but most appreciated way; by bringing vending machine sandwiches, cakes, pops, and milks down to the Lord Gym, Lord Pantry, Washington Park, and The Drop Inn Center. He faithfully does this every day, gathering food from local vending machines and bringing them down into the community and simply handing them out to those who need it. And those who need it, well they will be there…waiting patiently for their treats. It is truly heartwarming to see the love and genuine gratitude on their faces when The Sandwich Man arrives. This is a blessing in our community that he will do this day after day and year after year. So I would like to salute The Sandwich Man. Please don’t stop giving your time and generosityto the community. What you do is incredible and we LOVE you for it. You remind me of the Candy Man, only better. MY ODE TO THE SANDWICH MAN Who can make you happy? And fill your tummy too? The Sandwich Man can Who? The Sandwich Man can Cause he mixes it with love, So everyone can be full Yeah, the Sandwich Man Can �S t r e e t v ibeS March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 story & Poetry Corner 13 i am eve and Woman for you Do i Cry! aUtHor: elisa Hill “Feel it falling off like clothing. Taste it rolling on your tongue. See the lights above you glowing. Oh and breathe them deep into your lungs. It was always simple, not hidden hard. You've been pulling at the strings, Playing puppeteer for kings. And you've had enough. But the search ends here, where the night is totally clear. And your heart is fierce, so now you finally know, That you control where you go. You can steer. Taken from His rib, I am Eve! Because I was the first to eat the apple, I am forever in sin, diseased. I give birth in pain and fire. I am beaten when ever men desire. I am stone when he needs a wall to cry. I am alone in this world and to kneel is to survive. I am Eve, the first of many. I am the one who disobeyed. You should not suffer for the mistakes I have made. I am Eve, queen to Adams throne. I am the one to whom, they all should throw stones. I am Eve unto each new day. I am Eve and my soul craves the shade. You should have peace and tranquility to guide your way home. With honor and wisdom to know that you women are not alone. I accept my faults to which I lie. I accept my results that in this world today, I too am still alive. To suffer for the rights I made wrong, to ask for forgiveness through the Son. Where forgiveness bleeds long, I am your retribution and their revenge. I am Eve and yes I am still a woman. God, forgive me for falling prey. Please reach down and deliver me from this hell to which I lay. I am Eve and woman for you, do I cry! So hold this feeling like a newborn. All the freedom surging through your veins. You have opened up a new door. So bring on the wind, fire and rain.” -Missy Higgins “Steer” If you would like to submit lyrics that have spoken to you or helped you through a difficult time, please send them to jenmartin@cincihomeless.org Can yoU Willa Denise Jones Can you shut ‘emdown? Does the world believe that this is the world’s solution Can you shut ‘emdown? Keeping factory’s open with no work, now that’s pollution Can you shut ‘emdown? The free clinics, people homeless, no more Drop Inn Center ... G! MOUR Y E S T LON E H M G I D N E FE E ALL JENKINS I FEED M BY JEN Can you shut ‘emdown? Washington Park, the sanitation workers, I can’t help but litter Can you shut ‘em down? Over the Rhine was white then it was black, I thought we were all together The title of this column is taken from the 1986 film “Little Shop of Horrors,” where a plant keeper must meet the demands of a ravenous plant that feeds on humans. Instead of plants that feed on people, this column is for people who feed on plants!! Can you shut’ emdown? I’m confused so tell congress I really thought they knew better ZESTY MEXICAN RICE I’m a sucker for Mexican food, have been for years. Unfortunately, since turning vegetarian almost 5 years ago I have struggled finding a Mexican restaurant that serves authentic VEGETARIAN Mexican cuisine and I had my suspicions as to why this was. My suspicions were confirmed on a recent vacation to Mexico. While in Cozumel my girlfriends and I sought out a place to dine for lunch and discovered this cozy little Mexican eatery. To my dismay the restaurant had only 1 vegetar­ ian option, stuffed peppers, which I disappointingly ate, while they savored their meaty options. Sadly, I may never get to enjoy the “real” flavors of Mexico unless I decide to eat meat again. Lucky for me, a few years back I started exploring how to make a quick and easy Mexican rice dish and came up with this. I hope you enjoy! Serving size, as a main dish 5-6 bellies. Ingredients: Cost at Kroger: 1 11oz container garden fresh gourmet salsa 3.99 2 cups water 3 cups instant rice 1.64 (½ box) 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil .60 LOREM Aliquam blandit Praesent molestie lorem 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced .20 ½ white or yellow onion, chopped IPSUM Ante magna vehicula.50 Sed turpis 16 oz. shredded Mexican style cheese 1.67 1 (15 oz) can Mexican style diced tomatoes with chiles, .75 undrained 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1.05 1 (15 oz) can whole kernel corn, rinsed and drained .70 1 cup crushed tortilla chips .50 Approximate Cost: 11.60         Mix water and salsa in a sauce pan- bring to boil. Add instant rice, stir, cover and remove from heat. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium low heat and sauté the onion and garlic 3-4 minutes until the onions turn translucent. Add tomatoes, beans and corn and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until heated through, remove from heat and combine with the cooked rice. In a bowl, toss the remaining oil with the crushed tortilla chips. In 9" x 13" baking dish coated with cooking spray, layer the tortilla chips and then the rice mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Heat in 350 oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melty. Voila, FEED! Etiam ac libero Can you believe in your heart that the decisions of our country are either republican or democratic? Can you believe that out of all the people in the world two simple parties be worthy of so much static? Can you close your eyes to the reality of the fear that has such a tight grip on our nation today? Can you keep living shut down and shut up? I’m baffled but not lost for words I can honestly say For me, learning to live without doubt or fear in my life and keeping God so close to my heart I have no doubt that without God’s blessings this world is doomed to fall completely apart With much faith and without any regards for the republicans or democrats controlling my being Without any doubt what so ever today I know that almighty God is the only real thing So can you shut ‘em down? Now slow down and take the time to think, what do you really understand? You need to come back into the days of Adam and Eve and remember when only God ruled the land! �14 StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 University of Cincinnati students skip the beach this spring break UC’s Spring Break Takes Students Around the World, Including Service in Haiti DaWn fUller Dawn.Fuller@uc.edu An adventure blending sun and fun over spring break is a longtime college tradition. But dozens of University of Cincinnati students are planning trips to destinations affected by earthquakes, hurricanes and mudslides, including two trips to the devastation in Haiti. UC’s spring break is the week of March 21. Students in several courses will continue their academic study beyond the classroom and around the world. Others are looking ahead to some hard physical labor as they offer service in areas that are struggling to recover from natural disasters. “I’ve never been on the typical spring break trip, but I feel like I’ve experienced so much more through my trips with Serve Beyond Cincinnati (SBC) and through helping people,” says Lindsay Long, co-president of the student service organization. Long will be leading SBC’s first trip to Haiti over spring break. “I love being on these ‘first’ trips, because we never know what to expect.” Here’s a roundup of where UC students will be serving, studying and traveling over spring break. Here are some of the places UC students will be serving, studying, and traveling over spring break. To see a complete list of the destinations go to: www.uc.edu UC Alternative Spring Break Trips Serve Beyond Cincinnati Trips Serve Beyond Cincinnati (SBC) is a UC student organization that strives to build an emerging, civic-minded generation by providing national and international service experiences for UC students. The organization founded by UC students is planning five service trips over spring break. Balan, Haiti Ten UC students will be working with the Fuller Center for Housing in a town just east of the capital of Port­ au-Prince. “We will be building the first house in this village, a home for a family displaced by the earthquake,” says Lindsay Long, UC senior biological sciences major and SBC co-president, who are leading the trip with fellow co-president Lane Hart, a UC junior who is majoring in information systems and finance. The cost of the trip per student is approximately $1,600. Students will be departing Cincinnati on March 18 and returning on March 26. “Service and academic study will have UC students pursuing adventures around the nation and the world as they plan their spring break.” San Luis Talpa, El Salvador Ten UC students will continue their three-year relationship of working with the Fuller Center for Housing, a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing worldwide . The team will be building a home for a family in a developing community – a project they also tackled on their first trip to the region. On this trip, they are also planning a two-day adventure involving surfing lessons and exploring the village markets. The trip runs $1,500 per student. They’ll depart Cincinnati on March 18 and return on March 26. Service in Haiti source: serve beyond Cincinnati Webster Parish, La. Twelve SBC members will be working in partnership with the Fuller Center for Housing as part of a threeyear tradition of taking service-centered trips to this region. The cost of the trip is $300 per student. They’ll depart Cincinnati on March 19 and return on March 26. Kansas City, Mo. As SBC takes its first trip to Missouri, 12 UC students will work with the Fuller Center for Housing and a local affiliate to build a home for a family. The cost of the trip is approximately $300 per student. They’ll depart Cincinnati on March 19 and return on March 26. St. Louis du Nord, Haiti This UC service learning experience is themed, “Restoring Hope in Haiti.” Twenty-four students will travel to the region as part of a trip in partnership with the Northwest Haiti Mission. Students will take part in three areas of outreach: volunteering with children’s educational and athletics programs, assisting a clinic, and supporting community development. As part of their planning, a drive for everyday medical supplies is being led by trip coordinator Cheri Westmoreland – director of the McNair Scholars Program under Student Affairs and Services. The drive is collecting children’s Tylenol and Ibuprofen, anti-fungal cream, antacids and vitamins. “Even the most common everyday over-the-counter medications are lifesaving in Haiti,” says Westmoreland. The supplies are being collected at Swift Hall, Room 700. The cost of the trip per student is $1,800. Students will depart Cincinnati on March 17 and return on March 24. Rabinal, Guatemala The UC College of Business and McMicken College of Arts & Sciences Romance Languages Department lead this service learning course in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala. As 20 students build a home for a family in Guatemala, they’ll practice and improve their skills in speaking Spanish while observing issues of culture, social issues and the economy. The cost per student is $1,700, which includes a $500 individual donation to Habitat for Humanity International. Students were encouraged to apply for grants from UC International and the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center to offset travel costs. Students will depart Cincinnati on March 18 and return on March 27. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching names UC among 115 American colleges and universities for its 2010 Community Engagement Classification. The foundation issued the announcement earlier this year, naming UC among 35 research intensive universities to receive the classification. �15 S t r e e t v ibeS March 15- 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 Shelter: Women and Children Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel St. Francis Soup Kitchen Churches Active in Northside 381-SAFE 768-6907 FreeStore/FoodBank 557-2873 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 762-5660 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 535-2719 591-2246 562-8841 872-9259 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 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 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Crossroad Health Center 458-6670 977-4489 Treatment: Men Other Resources Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Prospect House 241-0490 381-4941 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Justice Watch St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 961-4663 Treatment: Both 761-1480 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 Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 421-5211 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 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 241-2965 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Hamilton County ADAS Board 946-4888 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 641-4300 Advocacy Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 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 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 621-5514 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 961-4080 Peaslee Neighborhood Center Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart First Step Home Anthony House (Youth) 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 661-4620 Shelter: Both Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-2256 Treatment: Women 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Shelter 921-1613 St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the 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 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health Center for Respite Care Hamilton/Middletown ECHO/Hosea House 859-261-5857 Fairhaven Resuce Mission 859-491-1027 Homeward Bound Youth 859-581-1111 Mathews House 859-261-8009 Homeless & Housing Coalition 859-727-0926 Parish Kitchen 859-581-7745 Pike St. Clinic 859-291-9321 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 Welcome House of NKY 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 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 �16 StreetvibeS M a rc h 15-31, 2011 art to empower Cedric Cox’s work celebrates the positive “The more personal you make your work the more universal it becomes, and the more it will resonate in others,” is what Terrence Corbin, then professor at the University of Cincinnati (UC), told once Cedric Michael Cox studying under him. Cox never forgot this advice and all of his artwork since has been a genuine reflection of his life, of who he is, of what he believes in, of what he would like to achieve in this world. By Saad GhoSn Contributing Writer Born in Dayton, OH, Cox, an African American visual artist, lived most of his life in Cincinnati. He attended Indian Hill Schools from first grade on and later UC, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, majoring in painting and drawing. Art from the beginning was his refuge, his mode of expression and of self-assertion. Growing up as a minority individual in a predominantly white community made him often feel estranged and somewhat out of place. He responded to the challenge by using his creative energy White Oak on Elm, acrylic painting on canvas. Painting and Photo by Cedric Cox. to communicate, meet others and go beyond divisive prejudices. During art school he produced work related to the African American experience and culture; he felt an obligation to do so. He was, however, at the same time constantly questioning how he could use his art to speak of himself, of his history, to become empowered, and empower others. He discovered his own voice studying internal anatomy, looking from the inside out, his anatomical drawings helping him answer who he was and where he fits. But his real artistic direction took shape only after he graduated and moved to Over The Rhine (OTR), downtown Cincinnati, to live. “Coming from the suburbs I was mesmerized by the graffiti on the sidewalks, on the buildings, by the coexistence of boarded up vacant houses side by side with palatial architecture,” he says. “Some buildings were being rehabbed, others not, still wearing their history. There was a rhythm to the Cedric Cox in his studio. Photo by bill Howes. neighborhood, a dynamic pattern of creation myth of the ancient Yoruba cultures of West shapes and forms, all like in a jazz symphony.” Africa, he emphasized the role every individual plays in the creation act, in the betterment of this world, in his Cox, a musician himself, playing bass in a hard rock case, constructive contributions to OTR. band, Morticite, since the age of 17, had been using music His painting White Oak on Elm shows in its center a tree and songs all along to reflect on himself and his views. overlapping and espousing various architectural details “In the band we write songs about injustice and from OTR, columns, church windows, rooftops… He prejudice, what affects us,” he says, “also about human meant it as a symbol of rebirth and hope, a source of struggles, love, doing the right thing to other fellows, continual inspiration and faith. By its organic form making this world a better place…” contrasting with the linear geometric elements of He decided to put his visual art at the same service, architecture, the tree brought a human quality to the to produce works painting, connecting to Cox’s feelings, experience and that speak of his new emotions about the neighborhood. neighborhood, its architecture, its beauty, In addition to his art, Cox has also contributed to OTR its rich potential, as an organizer and an educator. With Robin Harrison, emphasizing its a filmmaker who had directed a documentary on the positive, the goodness civil unrest of 2001, they produced The Blast Urban of its people, not only Arts and Cultural Festivals, bringing to the area events the bad that media that showcased themed art exhibitions, popular art usually portrays. By collections, films and music; they all intended to depict deconstructing and the local culture in a reputable, respectable way, making reinventing architectonic people aware of the richness of their heritage and configurations he created diversity. At the same time he created Art Shapes Us, an densely fragmented art teaching program for high school and middle school abstract drawings and students from various institutions and backgrounds; paintings that forced he also taught after-school art classes at the YMCA, the viewer to step in, served as a studio coordinator for Visionaries and Voices, connect with their spirit volunteered as guest speaker at various elementary and reexamine material schools, participated in educational art projects at the culture. Public Library, Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Center… His series Underground “I try to provide outlets and services to others, to lead juxtaposes horizontally them to positive change,” Cox says. “Working with kids, the 2 worlds of uptown I encourage them to follow their dream, reminding and downtown OTR, them that it can be achieved. I share with them my own uptown represented struggles, my fears, my bad experiences, but also that by the distant and with commitment, hard work and honesty, I am being somewhat cold cityscape, rewarded, that good prevails, that inner beauty grows downtown by the even in the midst of ugliness.” boiling underground visceral reality of the Cox perceives art as a tool of empowerment for himself neighborhood with its and others. It helps him become a better person, rich history and vibrant persevere through difficulty, assert himself. His art comes soul. from his heart, at the service of his life. “I wanted my paintings to pay tribute to the area, to “My art is about beauty from within,” he says. “It allows show what it is really about, its guts, its beauty, away me to be the best I can be, to project my fullest human from the stereotyped images of violence and decay usually associated with it,” he says. “It was my attempt to potential and share it with others in positive ways. I hope it can move others to realize their own dream. When I empower it, also its inhabitants.” hear a song I like I always envision myself performing In Horizon, he connected directly with the urban it on stage and sharing it with people I love so they too architectural landscape of the place and its inner spiritual may be touched by it. I would like my art to resonate the dimension. In his Mud Cloth drawings, related to the same with the viewer.” creation story and to Obatala, a deity central to the 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 reached 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 2011 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, 2011 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cincinnati Women Making Her Story Pg 2: Editorial Pg 3: Women Making History Pg 4: Women Making History Pg 5: The Homeless Congress Pg 6: San Francisco Homelessness Pg 7: The Struggle for Doing Good Pg 8: Fighting Poverty My First Rally Pg 9: My First Rally Continued Pg 10: No Quiet Old Age for South Africa’s Grannies Pg 11: Women and Human Rights Pg 12: Majo The Great Pg 13: Arts & Poetry Pg 14: University of Cincinnati Students Skip the Beach this Spring Break Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Art to Empower 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, 2011 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jen Martin Elizabeth Schulenberg Jim Luken Riccardo Taylor Saad Ghosn Catie Dargue Jeni Jenkins Willa Denise Jones Laura Osborne-Coffey James Brown Lee McCoy Dawn Fuller Elisa Hill B. Clifton Burke Jimmie Gipson Elles van Gelder Beth Griffith- Niemann Amiee Willhoite Saad Ghosn Mikki Schaffner Bill Howes Suzanne Chouteau Bill Howes Cedric Cox Dawn Fuller Sarah Hager Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Americorps Amiee Willhoite Arts & Poetry B. Clifton Burke Beth Griffith- Niemann Bill Howes Catie Dargue Cedric Cox civil rights Dawn Fuller Elisa Hill Elizabeth Schulenberg Elles van Gelder Haiti Human Rights James Brown Jen Martin Jeni Jenkins Jim Luken Jimmie Gipson Laura Osborne-Coffey Lee McCoy Mikki Schaffner Over-the-Rhine Protests Rallies Riccardo Taylor Saad Ghosn San Francisco Sarah Hager South Africa Spring Break Suzanne Chouteau University of Cincinnati Willa Denise Jones Women https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/a06be7487d217e471715183e7d9d59f1.pdf ecd1e7125f967b55e9db23da43663c5a PDF Text Text A Rally for Peace Autism S t r e e t vibeS Awareness april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 Month PG 5 Stories from 2001, Cincinnati Riots and Unrest PG 6 PG 4 MARCH 15-31, 2011 A D V O C AT I N G J U S T I C E 1 ISSUE 196 • BUILDING COMMUNITY $1 Streetvibes Remembers... We would like to dedicate this issue of Streetvibes to those we lost ten years ago, to those who lived through the unrest and carried on, and those who are still effected by it today. Jimmy HeatH Former Streetvibes Editor These photos were taken during the unrest by Jimmy Heath. J immy Heath was a photographer and community activist living and working in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Jimmy came to Over-the- Rhine nine years ago as a homeless person, eventually finding his way to the Drop Inn Center homeless shelter. He had hit rock bottom in his life and career, and had turned to alcohol and drugs for solace. At the Drop Inn Center, Jimmy Heath found hope and recovery and a new direction for his life and inspiration for his photography as a community activist and documentarian. He was a successful editor of GCCH’s Streetvibes and was active with the Coalition for many years. Jimmy passed away in December 2007. Race Relations 101 Jim Luken Contributing Writer W hen the riots occurred in 2001, I was living in a small town in Northern Vermont, which was about as far away from Cincinnati and its problems as a person could be,and still be living in the “belly of the beast” (the USA). I was managing a low-income housing facility (all white) in the middle of the town. Knowing I haled from Cincinnati, several of my old-lady residents brought the news of the riots to me on April 10th. I remember one of the ladies asking, “What kind of city do you come from, anyway?” As a white man who had lived for several years in heart of Over the Rhine during the ‘90s, I had a pretty good sense of the “kind of city” where I had been born. Politically republican. Socially conservative. And, like most municipalities in the Northern states, in a huge state of denial about the racist atmosphere that prevailed, and that “colored” so many interactions between black folks and white folks. But, being so far removed from it, I found myself surprised that these attitudes, and this atmosphere, had spawned what NBC News described as “the most devastating riots since Watts(1992).” I had been aware of police problems in/ with the African-American community, that there had been several shootings of black men by white police officers prior to 19 year-old Timothy Thomas’s death. But I was, to repeat, white. I didn’t record, on the walls of my imagination (or my soul), the deaths of each of 15 other young black men (all under 40) that had occurred between 1995 and April 7, 2001. Nor did I know much about the four police officers killed (or wounded) during those deadly interactions. But, on both sides in Cincinnati, other people were running tallies, and—after young Thomas’s shooting on April 7—one side had obviously had enough. On April 9, the race riots—this time exclusive to Cincinnati—exploded locally and nationally, and even internationally. An old friend of mine, 63- year-old (white) Mike Henson, now a clinical counselor for Paths to Recovery in OTR, was contacted by a journalist in Rome who interviewed him for an Italian Newspaper, Il Manifesto. He remembers being on the West Side and stopping to help an African American couple whose car had broken down. He gave them a ride home. However, there was a strange atmosphere in the car. “Black and white people weren’t talking much at the time. It was an odd time for us to be holding a conversation.” Mike had been working for the Urban Appalachian Council at the time, and recounted, in his interview, several stories of police over-reaction that had occurred among Appalachian whites in Lower Price Hill at the time. Then he added (translated from the Italian newspaper): “I know that the police have a hard life and a difficult job, especially when tasked with the daily battle against the [drug] pushers in my community. I know there are police who themselves worry gravely See Race Relations Pg. 3 about their relationships with the people.” Long time OTR resident Georgia Keith, 65, lives on Republic Street, a block from where Timothy Thomas was shot. She remembers the time vividly. “It was terrible,” she says, “and I think it could have been avoided.” Keith says there were problems on both sides, but remembers that there was almost “hysteria” on the part of the police. “Then, as now” she believes, “a lot of the problems were brought into our neighborhood from outside.” One inequality she vividly recalls is that “the businesses was treated unfairly.” Black businesses were forced to close Jones while many white businesses remained open. That was not fair.” “Pray for the dead but fight like hell for the living” - mother �editorial 2 10 the number of years since the unrest in Cincinnati. pages 1, 3, & 4 19 the age timothy thomas was when he was killed, sparking riots in Cincinnati in 2001. page 1 1 in 110 the number of children diagnosed with autism. page 5 4-1-2001 the day Dan Moore’s excerpt from his cartoon Mark twain Was right: Stories from the 2001 Cincinnati riots and Unrest page 4 I am sure you were on pins and needles (I am kidding, really) but I have decided on a new name for this editorial. ‘In My Shoes’, is a nod to the tall shoes I walk in most days. You can call me a stupid girl for it but I love my shoes…and about five and a half feet above them resides my brain…a big, smart brain that I do in fact have…you’ll find it right beneath my highlighted hair. Yes, I am way more Elle Woods than Streetwise. This editorial is my opinion, and my time here at Streetvibes is also my education as much as it is a job. And I thank the people who are my teachers here in every instance. Because again, more Legally Blonde than Streetwise. But I think that may be a good thing. It means I will do anything and everything for what I believe is right. And it means I am honest and I’ll have your back if you have mine. I am learning this is the way I need to be in this job, this community, and in life. My education here has taught me so much about the stories you’ll read in this issue of Streetvibes. I am proud to share these stories. I am honored with the duty of sharing what people in this community have felt in the ten years since the unrest. I was only 16 when Timothy Thomas was killed. I was a Sophomore in high school and I lived in Lakeside Park, Kentucky. So clearly, I do not have the raw emotions and thoughts of what happened in this community. But that is where my education at Streetvibes comes in. People have shared their feelings and thoughts in this issue. The passionate, passionate feelings that this community still has. My goal with this issue was to honor those emotions by giving them a voice. My goals is to reflect on the events of ten years ago during the unrest, and allow the raw concerns that still plague this community even today, to be heard. I can hardly imagine the fear and uncertainty that surrounded that time. The community has come so far, but the pain is still very real. So to the community… I honor you, each and everyone who was effected. I honor you for living through it and carrying on. This community has done that and will continue to do that. This community must believe in itself. It just must. And it will. Believing in yourself never goes out of style. On a side note, a memorial has been announced for Bruce Morris who recently passed. Tuesday April 5th @12 pm at the Jimmy Heath House. From the Director the day the rally for peace took place on Fountain Square to mark the 8th anniversary of the iraq War, and to promote peace and civility. page 6 5 to 1 the staff to student ratio at lighthouse Community School. page 7 3 the number of years local artist rod Northcutt has taught traditional, non-electric, woodworking skills through a making-based traveling course, Unplugged. page 16 a p ril 1-14, 2011 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 We Are At WAR in Cincinnati Editor Jen Martin, jenmartin@cincihomeless.org JosH spRing 3-19-2011 StreetvibeS W ar! At the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless we like to deal in Truth. Not everyone likes to hear or see Truth, but we believe that the Truth must be proclaimed loudly, must be respected and ultimately should change us. So let’s talk about some Truth. The Truth is that the united states of america not only is a brutal country now, but has always been a brutal country; in fact our roots are founded in brutality. Prior to the landing of white people upon these shores this land held the nations of many people that had been here for an unknown span of time. We did not establish this country based on some Godly ideals. We established this country through mass lying, theft, coercion, hate, occupation and murder. We not only thought ourselves better than those here, but also capable and worthy of deciding that they should not be here and millions of them should die for our destined right to be here. This country was created through war, and not in the sense of some sacred revolutionary war, but the forced death of generations of people. Far too often in this country, both people and organizations who call themselves either conservative or liberal, attempt to maintain that at its core, the united states of america is about freedom and humanity and that we should therefore get back to our core. To stand by such a belief is to stand by a lie and to disrespect the untold numbers of people that have died at the hands of this country. In fact, the belief that the usa is inherently about freedom and humanity is such an absurdity that many of those that stand by this belief, will also say that in order to keep freedom, we must at times have war- that somehow war leads to freedom and humanity, and war especially keeps those of us in the usa free. This lying mantra is what launched us into both the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq. We have been at war in Afghanistan since October 7, 2001- over nine years and five months. We have been at war in Iraq since March 20, 2003- now over eight years. We tend to use words that allow us to feel okay about the injustices we are committing. For example, we leapt into these wars with the label of “The War on Terror.” Obviously terror is a bad thing, and inherently going to war against “Terror” would be good and upright.“Terror” should in fact be ended. These wars, however, have not been on “Terror.” These wars have been on people. We are purposefully distracted from the fact that we are at war on people by thinking we are waging a “War on Terror” The term “war” itself has become mundane and has little affect upon many. Do most of us really feel the wars daily or do we even know when we do feel the wars? No, we don’t. “War” has become just another word and we have become so used to the word, that it barely affects the usa psyche. War is not real to us. This is another case in which we must begin to deal in the Truth. The Truth is that war means lying, theft, occupation, rape, mass bloodshed and murder, not of “Terror,” but of people. War is murder- horribly and simply. We have been murdering people and being murdered in these wars for going on ten years now (not to mention all the other below-the-radar murdering we are involved in). Next, when we talk about war, especially if we are against it, we like to talk about the usa going to war or the president going to war or congress or any host of people, but again, we must deal in Truth. The Truth is that WE are engaged in war. WE are engaged in murder. Our tax-dollars pay for the bullets and bombs that rip apart the hearts and heads of people in other parts of the World. Our (regular people) compliancy allows these wars to murder countless people. This is Truth. We may be against it, we may even protest, march, rally, write letters, vote and do all of See From the Director Pg. 12 Art Director Elizabeth Schulenberg Contributing Writers Jim Luken, Riccardo Taylor, Saad Ghosn, Catie Dargue, Jeni Jenkins, Willa Denise Jones, Jennifer Martin, Laura Osborne-Coffey, James Brown, Lee McCoy, Dawn Fuller, Elisa Hill, B. Clifton Burke, Jimmie Gipson, Elles van Gelder, Beth GriffithNiemann Photography/Artwork Amiee Willhoite, Saad Ghosn, Mikki Schaffner, Bill Howes, Suzanne Chouteau, Bill Howes, Cedric Cox, Dawn Fuller, B. Clifton Burke, Sarah Hager, Elles van Gelder, Catie Dargue, Laura OsborneCoffey 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. �3 S t r e e t vibeS april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 Race Relations 101 Continued from Pg. 1 Asked if she was frightened at the time, Keith says, “No, I was cautious. I’m still cautious.” She feels that some things are better now than in that tumultuous period, but that there could be a stronger ongoing effort from both sides. “We need to be creative in trying to improve the situation. The same goes for the city officials as well as the citizens. Sometimes I don’t think that they appreciate that we understand what the city needs to do.” Don Cargile, a 52 year-old union electrician who now calls Las Vegas home, says he was living in Colerain Of the situation in Over the Rhine today, Don Cargile is reflective. “The situation is complex,” he says. “I think there are well meaning people who wish it would just… go away.” Twenty-five year-old, Rodney Beamon is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Elements, a youth hip-hop venue on Central Parkway that focuses on “rap and respect.” His take on things, then and now, has a different slant than the other, older folks who were interviewed for this story. Obviously, Beamon was just fifteen at the time of the Thomas shooting, but he was a very vocal young man, who literally got swept up in Unrest source: Jimmy Heath Township at the time of the riots, but that he came downtown often “to support the demonstrations, and the work of pastor [Damon] Lynch.” Many downtown people I have talked to say that Reverend Lynch [of New Prospect Baptist Church near Findley Market] was hugely important in helping to calm tensions and bring the two sides to some kind of mutual understanding. According to Cargile, “Damon Lynch was concerned with a fair investigation of the facts [about Timothy Thomas’s death and some of the other questionable police shootings].” It was obvious to Cargile that the leaders of the black community were strongly discouraging the rioting and the “disrespectful conduct.” “As I saw things go on,” Don Cargile says, “I think people confused the peaceful protests with those who came out to wreak violence. I don’t know if this was visible to people from the outside, but to me it was.” Cargile lays part of the blame on the media’s coverage of the events of those fateful days. “I think that the rioters and those who misbehaved got more of the press. And I think that the better cops got discouraged, just as there seemed to be the possibility of a settlement between the city and the protesters.” Carlisle has been living back in the city and the neighborhood for the past several years. He has taken a strong interest in understanding the dynamics of Over the Rhine and downtown Cincinnati. He reflected on what has seen since returning from Nevada. “I feel like, to a degree, the neighborhood has morally deteriorated, and that a lot of decent people are somewhat tired. I think that the answer may lie within the community and within the family to a great degree “This may not be liked, but I’m gonna say it anyway. The answer lies in how we [in the African American community] handle our households, how we teach our children, how we treat each other. That was one of the messages of the original Black Panthers’ Party. Self accountability.” the pain and the power of what came down during, and immediately after, the riots of ‘01. In the African American Community, “Speak-Outs” were held in various local churches, so that the people would have a chance to express their fears, their frustrations, their hopes. Young Beamon attended one of these events at the New Freedom Baptist Church in Avondale. There, he says, he focused on one of the other disputed shootings. He recounted for me the gist of what he told the gathered people. “I talked about a man named Lorenzo Collins, a mental patient. He left the hospital, no shoes and socks, dressed in a hospital gown. Someone reported that he was carrying a brick. The cops came, They maced him once. Then a second time. The man was unstable! They said he charged at them with his brick. Hit one of them with the only swing he took. Caused a concussion. The police shot him nine times. Later, during the riots, they used bean-bag guns and rubber bullets on rioters. I asked my audience where were the bean bag guns? Where were the rubber bullets, when they were dealing with this mental patient?” Rodney Beamon’s eloquent words at that Speak-Out thrust him almost immediately into the national spotlight. Everyone apparently wanted to know about the Cincinnati riots. He participated in other SpeakOuts. One in Newark, called B-CAP (Black Cops Against Police Brutality). He spoke at the State of the World Black Conference along with Danny Glover and Dick Gregory. “I guess they were looking for a young black American man who was able to articulate the issue,” he now says, almost modestly. Beamon frames the whole situation of the riots from the point of view of the young people. “The city was in turmoil,” he says, “and the youth thought they didn’t have the chance to express themselves. They found it dangerous to live in their own community. It seemed like every other day there were deaths. The same people you think you would call to protect you, are the same people who are killing young black males. The city got to the point it couldn’t take any more.” The rioters, Rodney Beamon claims, amounted to about eight to ten people who were fed up, “and the only thing they knew how to do was to express themselves in destructive way, to tear things up, and set things on fire.” Beamon believes that because of all the national attention, and the boycott of the city that came in the wake of the riots, a certain amount of accountability came to the police department. But after most of the dust had settled, he believes the police simply “ignored the Over the Rhine community and allowed it to selfdestruct.” As the 10th “anniversary” of the riots approaches, Beamon is refusing most invitations to talk to the Media. “I’ve known Curtis Fuller for years, and I just don’t want to be pulled into all that media stuff.” He says the only reason he did my interview was because it was Streetvibes, and because he and I had a mutual good friend in Mary Burke, director of Over the Rhine Community Housing. Ten years after the riots, Rodney Beamon states emphatically, “A whole lot ain’t changed.” And he repeats the statement to make sure I understand his conclusion. Now, he believes, the local powers-that-be are “dragging people out of the community, forcing them to live away from the bus lines, all for their own personal gratification.” It was almost as if he didn’t want the anger to come out, but—once started—there seemed to be no stopping him. “They’ve got money to buy street cars, but they don’t have money to feed homeless people. And they don’t have money to help youth groups, like Elements.” Rodney Beamon doesn’t feel the city or the police are willing to support organizations like his, that are helping, on a daily, basis to prevent what happened in 2001 from happening again. “Our solution was this. We created a Hip-Hop Center where the kids can express themselves in a more creative and positive way.” By the time I returned to Cincinnati from Vermont, in the summer of 2004, the after-effects from the riots were, by and large, gone. The national boycott seemed to have had a sobering effect on at least part of the city. I found an apartment near 14th and Race. The ghetto, at that time, was a different place than the one I had left seven years earlier. It felt like a lethal arcade game, a shooting gallery, and a killing machine. Four people were shot and killed on the street within a block of my apartment in less than 8 months. I would hear gunshots in the middle of the night, often three or four times a week. I developed an almost eerie intuition as to when those shots were just the “drug boys” showing off, and when their bullets had found human flesh. In those days, as most neighborhood residents recall, the drug boys were on almost every street corner. The police had backed off, usually arriving for the clean-up, but little else. Cincinnati became another kind of spectacle. Many law-abiding people living in the ghetto believed that the police had basically abandoned the neighborhood to the dealers and their (often brutalized) suburban clients. The cops, I was told, felt they had taken the blame for causing the riots. What came next—as all of us folks who live in OTR know—is still in process. And it involves wrecking balls and bulldozers and off-street parking. The purging of entire blocks of poor people from their long-time homes. “Gated” dwelling-places. Yuppie shops. Gentrification. We have even been fenced out of our park. As things stand now, it appears, racial and class problems will simply resolve themselves… in a more civilized way. Civilized, that is, from the point of view of the gentrifiers, the city bigwigs, the big money folks who funnel in millions through 3CDC. Instead of ignoring the problems, instead of doing battle with the problems, it appears that the main problem, i.e., the poor (whom Jesus said “will always be with us”) are simply being pushed further and further out of this last corner of Over the Rhine, which some of us still call “our beloved community.” Maybe Jesus had it wrong. P.S. The Cincinnati police were contacted numerous times in order that they might express their own ideas about the city then and now. Apparently,they chose not to respond. As the reader can tell, from many of the comments above,” the poor people kindly stuck up for them. �4 StreetvibeS a p ril 1-14, 2011 mark twain Was Right: stories from the 2001 Cincinnati Riots and unrest Dan mooRe Author and Illustrator M ark Twain Was Right: Stories from the 2001 Cincinnati Riots and Unrest is a soon to be released graphic novel about United States’ first urban uprising in the 21st century. The following excerpt is during the daytime on Tuesday, April 10 2001, after protests in Over-The-Rhine continue into their second day and the police begin to respond to the growing uprising. The story is told in a series of first-person perspectives from people who became intimately involved, from community leaders to random bystanders. Tying these narratives together is commentary by the author himself, then a budding radical teenager who finds the urban unrest influencing his life. Drawing on interviews and primary resources, a picture is painted of how one kid’s solitary death in a ghetto alley grows to impact every resident of the region. Mark Twain Was Right follows the sometimes contradictory and hard-to-comprehend developments from the day of the killing to Thomas’s funeral six days later, including the marches, posturing, organizing, brutality, looting, prayer, curfews and analysis that commanded international attention, inspiring ghetto residents and tormenting city leaders. For more information about the complete graphic novel Mark Twain Was Right, email cincinnatiriotsbook@gmail.com for information and updates about the release of the completed novel. Dan P. Moore was born and raised in Cincinnati and received his bachelor’s degree in Community Development at Portland State University. He first got involved in organizing during high school, founding the Cincinnati Radical Youth and has never stopped since then working on a variety of issues that engages marginalized communities at the base level. Currently, he is an organizer at the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, organizing low-wage and immigrant workers. Aside from self-publishing two comic zines, One of those Beautiful Days, and A Guide to Relationships during a Recession, this is his first graphic novel. �S t r e e t vibeS april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 autism awareness month 5 Chocolate Lockets and yellow pillows: an autism story sanDRa knoLLman W hen most people think of autism, they think of Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rain Man, someone locked away in an institution who could spout off mathematical facts and figures at the drop of a hat. Or even the “stereotypical” child walking around with a helmet on their head in order to prevent injury while banging their heads on a wall or some other surface. What people don’t realize is that autism is more than some part in a movie, and that no two people with autism are alike. I have two daughters, one officially diagnosed with autism, and one who has severe receptive language disorder and disruptive behavior disorder. This pretty much means there aren’t too many dull or quiet moments in my household. Especially not for the past year since my oldest daughter was unexpectedly kicked out of her autism program. I always thought of myself as fearless and bulletproof, that is until the day my daughter got kicked out of her autism program. I thought I was going to school for a typical meeting, and ended up taking my daughter home from that school for the last time. I was told she was “no longer a good fit”; “causing anxiety in other kids” (not true!); and that she was “no longer welcome” at that school. I had just settled into a job I loved at a local nonprofit doing foreclosure counseling for clients who were past due on their mortgages. I helped them try to get loan modifications from their lenders. I also taught foreclosure prevention classes, as well as budget and credit classes and counseling. I had only been there five months when my daughter got kicked out. I had to quit that job because I hadn’t been there long enough to take family leave. So where did that leave my family? It left us with one income and no school for my daughter. It took a whole month to find her a new school. Once I found her a new school, the only job I could find was working as med tech and nurse aide at a local assisted living facility making half of my previous salary. It’s been a year now, and I finally feel like my life is somewhat back to normal. My daughter is in a school she loves, though she really misses her old friends. I’m at a different job that I love working in an adult day training program for adults who have developmental disabilities. I’m hoping that working here will help prepare for life as the future parent of an adult with developmental disabilities. Some people have told me they’d be bitter if they had to go through what my family has in the past year. I say no. As I tuck my oldest in at night and tell her I love her all the way to the moon and back to a yellow pillow, and all the way to the moon and back to a chocolate locket for my youngest daughter, I realize that life could be much worse. As the mother of an individual with autism, the daughter, the sister, and the aunt of an individual with autism, I see the potential in all. Every one of them has something unique to offer this world. Rising stars By BRenDa ZeCHmeisteR, CooRDinatoR Rising Star Studios, Edgewood, KY A ccording to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent findings revealed as many as one in 110 children in the United States are now diagnosed with autism. It’s the fastest-growing developmental disability; according to the Autism Society, the annual growth is 10 - 17%. April is Autism Awareness Month. Several activities are planned locally in conjunction with this, from advocacy - with the Autism Society of Ohio partnering with the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Network on a Legislative Advocacy Day at the Statehouse - to raising awareness - with an Autism Awareness Game on April Nancy Cooper source: Brenda Zechmeister 20th in partnership with the Cincinnati Reds. In addition, organizations such as New Perceptions’ or e-mail info@risingstarstudios.org. Interested program, Rising Star Studios, will provide additional participants must reserve their spot by April 7. support for the autistic community with a special outreach sampler program, Monday, April 11 – More Rising Star Studios Thursday, April 14. Rising Star Studios will offer Although there are many centers that offer complimentary classes for autistic youth from 4-7 p.m. rehabilitative services such as occupational, speech and in art, photography, music, computers, life skills, cooking, behavioral therapy, the Rising Star Studios program is and yoga. All classes will be held at New Perceptions, distinctive. This program makes an incredible difference One Sperti Drive in Edgewood, Kentucky. in the lives of young people with autism and other special needs in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern For more information, call 859-344-9322, ext. 15, Betsty and Alex source: Brenda Zechmeister Kentucky area through unique arts and life skills classes. Art, music, and dance are more than a valuable leisure skill through which young people with autism and special needs can learn to express themselves. The overall quality of their lives is improved as they learn to function more independently. Students learn and improve upon social skills, academics, communication skills, motor skills, and activities of daily living. The skills they learn through the fine arts, in addition to life skills classes such as cooking and computers, stay with them for a lifetime. Great Books! visit facebook.com/streetvibes cincinnati twitter.com/streetvibesnwes streetvibes.wordpress.com www.cincybooks.com �6 Rally for peace StreetvibeS a p ril 1-14, 2011 Coffee party sponsors peace Rally on Fountain square Coffee Party Cincinnati and friends held their first annual “Patriotic American Peace Rally” on Fountain Square, Saturday March 19. This rally was held to mark the 8th anniversary of the Iraq War, and to promote peace and civility. Coffee Party Cincinnati hopes that this rally will encourage people to take a stand against war, violence, and hate. Approximately 100-200 people attended the rally. sHeLi DeLaney T he national Coffee Party Movement established itself in January 2010 as a non-partisan grassroots political organization, and Coffee Party Cincinnati is one of its many local chapters that have sprung up across the state of Ohio and the US since its inception.The Coffee Party was created to be a venue for people who are disenchanted with two-party politics and want to work toward positive solutions, government accountability, removing corporate influence from politics, and making government a true expression of our collective will. When it comes to political discourse, Coffee Party wants candidates and elected officials who will quit wasting time slinging mud, disagree without being disagreeable, stick to the facts, and never EVER use rhetoric that deliberately incites hatred and violence toward other groups of people. The Coffee Party formed last year in response to the bitter hateful rhetoric surrounding the healthcare reform bill about this time last year, and also in response to the non-stop media coverage of the Tea Party. Over the last year, it local chapters have organized in nearly every major city across the US, and have taken on a wide range of political causes. At our rally we presented speakers from different organizations around Cincinnati that are in support of ending the wars. The speakers we featured included: Don Rucknagel, Green Party; Josh Spring, Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless; Professor Mark Lause, University of Cincinnati Department of History; John Waltz, Veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; Robert “Buck” Clay, Veteran of the Iraq War; Donna Park, Citizens for Global Solutions, Elizabeth Ampthor, International Socialists Organization, and Fariba Nourian, Coffee Party Cincinnati. Throughout the rally, we circulated a letter to our US Representatives in Ohio for you to sign which states that we want them to stop supporting funding for the wars and to fight for money for social services, education, healthcare, libraries, public radio, infrastructure, job creation, and all that other good stuff that we love that we believe the government should be providing for us. A total of 65 signatures were collected. We organized this rally because we know that it is wrong for the US to wage war and occupy foreign countries. We know that it costs enormous amounts of tax payer money to sustain such efforts, while other much-needed photo by sheli DeLaney programs go unfunded or underfunded. We know that contractors and corporations are able to make huge amounts of money from war profiteering, while our economy slumps and our middle class and our poor struggle to recover from a recession. And more than the monetary cost of the war is the loss of life that results from it; thousands of soldiers, and many times more civilians, that could have otherwise lived out their lives and made a positive contribution to society, are lost to us forever. Many of us have lived through several periods of war, violence, and political unrest, and enough is enough. Ironically, at the same time we were holding our rally Saturday, a coalition of armed forces from Britain, France and the US began attacking the Libyan military in order to stop them from killing protestors and rebels. While we agree that the people of Libya must be protected, we hope in the future that regimes like Gadhaffi’s are never put in power in the first place. We also wish that coalition forces would not pick and choose whose people they are going to protect, because while they may be stopping the attacks on the people of Libya, the people of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen are still being killed by their own government. Finally, several of our supporters have spoken out against the name Patriotic American Peace Rally, saying that it is misleading, delusional, and even offensive, since nationalism and patriotism in the US is associated with a long history of imperialism and national superiority. While those are fair and well-intentioned critiques, we believe that as Frederick Douglas once said “a patriot is a lover of one’s country that rebukes it and does not excuse its sins.” We at Coffee Party Cincinnatireject the framing of what some call patriotism, and we want to challenge these definitions. Being against the wars and the military machine is patriotic. Of course, we know our title is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but we sincerely hope the rally attracts some from the right who oppose the empire. They exist and should be reached out to. With them we are a majority. And we feel that we can love our country and the world at the same time. Making change starts at home at the local level. photo by sheli DeLaney �Community S t r e e t vibeS april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 7 Lighthouse Community school CoRey giBson G rowing up can be tough, but growing up in the child welfare system can be even tougher. With hundreds of thousands of children growing up with out a home, essentially living under the care of the government, education can be a difficult step in these children’s lives. But for the children in the Greater Cincinnati area living in foster care or in the welfare system, they can turn to the Lighthouse Community School. a library with a student staff ratio of 5 to 1, Lighthouse Community School is like any other school in the neighborhood. David Rosenthal, owner of Prairie Gallery in Northside, is one of the many volunteers at the school. He has been working in the community for years doing photography programs. “Basically {the programs} introduce photography as a way to learn about art making,” said Rosenthal. “And also learn about how art works in the world.” He began working with the Lighthouse Community School a year ago when he did a graphic novel project with the students. The graphic novels vary heavily from student to student. One tells the story of growing up with an alcoholic family member, while another tells the story of a prince. The writings are accompanied by astounding photos taken by the students that show how they see the world around them. The creativity and sharp photography make the stories extremely intriguing. “They were autobiographical, fictional, fantastical things,” said Rosenthal. This year he is teaching a class at the school once a week that combines the art of photography with the creative stylings of fashion designs. One of Kayla Bentlay’s wardrobe designs Her country is Ireland. Lighthouse Community School is a highly specialized school for high school age students that stresses “individualized, flexible and intensive strategies to meet the educational needs of youth in the child welfare system.” The school does all it can to accommodate the students. The school is sponsored by the Cincinnati Public Schools, meaning no tuition for the students; “The goal of the class is to engage the students with developing creative concepts based on research about the world,” said Rosenthal. The students are studying specific countries of their choose and translating those into fashion designs. The students also document their projects throughout the process by taking photographs of the things that inspire their clothing. Rosenthal started the students out by having them look at fashion magazines and research about different countries. He Marvin Binford working on one of his wardrobe designs. His country is Mexico. Next, he asked the students to take photos of things, anything. He wanted the students to get used to using a camera. “Our first couple of photo shoots we were just asking them to experiment with the camera, just to see what a camera can do,” said Rosenthal. “They looked at things close up, at extreme angles, what happens when you over or under expose a picture. Just looking at the possibilities of the medium.” Since Rosenthal has a limited time with the students each week, the students are using available clothing instead of fabricating their own. To make up for not being able to sew the outfits, he took the students to Goodwill to find clothing for their outfits. “I think it is an important part of the whole thing,” said Rosenthal. “Part of my bigger mission in life is to find creative ways to involve artists in the world.” He wants the world to acknowledge the work these students have accomplished. the school works with local districts to provide transportation and community volunteers from all around help to keep the school running. With a basketball team, volleyball team, computer lab and instructed the students to find colors they want to use, shapes they can incorporate into an outfit and textures that could be manipulated and copied onto the clothing. Rosenthal raises the bar for his students. He challenges them to do amazing things with not just art but with their lives. He treats these students just as he would treat graduate students he has taught in the past. After taking pictures for inspiration, the students began thinking about clothing they wanted to use. Rosenthal introduced the idea of styling to the students. The students took clothing and accessories and began using them in unconventional ways to what the outcome would be. The students would dress the mannequins and photograph the outfits, using lighting to change the “mood of the garment.” The end goal of the project is an exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center on May 6, which showcases the student’s work. The exhibition will include the fashion designs, the photographs taken along the way, collage work and the conceptual photos taken for inspiration. A student working on styling their mannequin. to college students who at an advanced level still have difficulty with the projects. Rosenthal said he wants the students to learn about creative expression and what it can mean to them. Since many of the students in the school have never had a chance to take a photography or fashion class, Rosenthal wants to give them an outlet for expressing themselves. Yet what he is really instilling in the students is a passion to succeed when they are challenged. Rosenthal gives the students problems that he has presented One of Dasheka Edward’s wardrobe designs. Her country is Bolivia. She transformed a scarf into a top and a button up t-shirt into a blouse. The yellow and green stripes are taken from a wind sock’s streamers. “Part of the reason I really like this work is because these kids are hardly ever challenged,” said Rosenthal. “They go through life, starting at a very early age, with the bar being automatically lowered. If someone walks into a situation knowing the exceptions are low, that is how they are going to perform.” �Local 8 StreetvibeS a p ril 1-14, 2011 Rally at Fountain square keLissa HieBeR Contributing Writer T uesday March 14th, was a chilly raining day, however these less than ideal weather conditions did not stop large numbers from coming out to the rally at Fountain Square. Participants of this rally, arrived in solidarity against the massive proposed budget cuts, outlined by Governor John Kasich and the proposed Ohio Senate Bill 5. Bill 5 is similar to the bill in Wisconsin, which received massive debate causing the democrats to literally flee the state to delay the vote on the bill. Bill 5 would eliminate collective bargaining rights for an estimated 350,00 police officers, teachers and a large array of other public workers. These large numbers of workers would be unable to bargain for fair wages or improved working conditions. Also strikes would be disbanded and unions would essentially be destroyed, leaving thousands of workers silenced. Kasich’s proposed budget cuts for the next two years would issue many of it’s cuts to public schools ranging from the primary to the university level, cut programs for the poor, massively cut the resources and funding for local governments and reorganize Medicare. At the rally on Tuesday, groups ranging from large unions such as AFSCME, CFT-AFT, other groups such as Jobs for Justice joined with various representatives from the inner-faith community. Also present were various undergraduate and graduate students and all types of university employees, from local colleges such as Miami University and the University of Cincinnati. Many Cincinnati City Council members such Rally Photos By Chris kromer as Mayor Mallory also spoke out in solidarity with the assembly. Mallory spoke to the crowd, saying that one of the primary reasons why public workers are being targeted is because those proposing the budget don’t understand what these worker go through and how important they are to our community. Mallory said: “They are committed to public service and to making our lives better.” Speakers from AFSCME and AFT spoke to the crowd about the importance to fighting this battle together and that in order to kill this bill; everyone was going to have to go to work. Representatives from the faith based groups AIMOS and Su Casa, voiced their support in this battle and spoke out against such bills and budget cuts, which punish those who hold the foundation of the community together. The spokesperson for AFT started her address by saying quite bluntly about Kasich: “What is wrong with this man?” Part of his questioning of the governors character came from the fact that only 9% of the budget is designated for public workers, yet they would received some of the most severe cuts and restrictions. A mother from Lakota expressed her concerns of what will happen to her daughter’s education and opportunities for things such as sports and other extra-curricular activities. She like many others asked the question of why everyday workers and public schools were suffering the most, when they claimed that these are not the people who created the budget crisis in the first place. They urged that the corporations who through unequal, unfair business practices let the economy spin out of control, should be the ones to pay, not innocent public workers. City Council member Cecil Thomas, illustrated the disconnect between government officials like Kasich and public workers by quoting something that Kasich had said to lobbyists back in November. “If you think that I’m going in the wrong direction, stop me. I don’t want to drive over a cliff. I just want to be a good governor.” Thomas said that is all well and good, but then directly after this invitation for public debate and participation, Kasich said in order for people to help build a better Ohio: “You need to get on the bus. If you’re not on the bus, we’ll run over you with the bus and I’m not kidding.” Everyone in the crowd at this rally knows that we are in a very difficult time in our country and difficult decisions do have to be made. However, those who helped to create this economic catastrophe should be held accountable and the rights and voices of essential workers need to be upheld. Is perfectly balancing the budget worth jeopardizing the livelihood of so many? And when did things such as education, suddenly become expendable and extraneous? Everyone in the crowd knew that sacrifices are ahead, however Kasich’s attitude of excluding so many from the discussions on how to deal with this situation is unacceptable. Equally intolerable are his callous remarks such as saying he will run people over if they don’t agree with him. This seems to represent a complete disregard for the people that he is suppose to be representing. If whole groups in society have no voice or rights, then this goes against the very fabric of what is supposed to define America, that of the right to freedom and participation and inclusion in democracy, which represents the ideals of the masses not just the rich. �S t r e e t vibeS april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 Local 9 �10 national news StreetvibeS a p ril 1-14, 2011 Japanese street paper: ‘We are not defeated’ Vendors are back on the streets of Tokyo selling copies of The Big Issue Japan, as staff vowed to support all street paper vendors affected by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami. Translated by Mayuko Hida, and Yushin Toda (University of Glasgow) Originally published by The Big Issue in Scotland Additional reporting by The Big Issue Japan www.streetnewsservice.org In Sendai, capital of Miyagi - one of the north-east regions worst hit by the tsunami - all Big Issue Japan vendors are alive and accounted for. Sadly, damage to infrastructure means there has been no delivery of magazines to Sendai, Sapporo, or any of the cities in the north. Miku Sano, managing director of The Big Issue Japan’s Tokyo office, said: “In Sendai the vendors survived but do not know when they can start selling the magazines again. The vendors and people in Northern cities are fighting for their lives and (to find) loved ones. We are trying the best we can to support them. Things are not easy and will not be the same, but we are not defeated.” “We are also trying to start our football practice in Tokyo as soon as possible,” she added. “All the scheduled matches were cancelled but many of our vendors said that they want to play football to feel better.” Diary of a disaster The Big Issue Japan works with the Sendai Night Patrol Group to help the homeless in Sendai City, one of the worst hit by the March 11 tsunami. Tireless staff members have been providing free meals for anyone sleeping rough as the city attempts to recover from the disaster. Aoki San, head of the patrol team and magazine distribution in Sendai, allowed us to publish extracts from his diary about the relief effort: 14 March In Sendai, the supply of water and electricity was restored in some parts, but it will take more than a month to restore gas supply. In the Wakabayashi area, the worst affected area within Sendai city, I saw a very long queue of people trying to get half rotten oranges and only one banana. A thousand dead bodies are left unattended in a gymnasium, and there is no information Caption: People ride bicycles past houses destroyed by an earthquake and a tsunami as snow falls in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan March 17, 2011. ReuteRs/kyodo about those unaccounted for. We are planning to provide free meals of curry rice for everyone from 11am. The death toll is too big to comprehend, and many people seem to know nothing about what to do. 15 March Roads, airlines and trains are not allowed to run except for emergency vehicles, and there is the dire prospect of a shortage of goods. More than 1,000 people queued for a motorway bus. I joined a queue for Daiei Supermarket before its opening at 10am, but 30 minutes after the opening, major goods had already gone. There is a shortage of gas cylinders, noodles, tinned food, batteries, and rice. Public administration is completely paralysed. Sendai City Council opened a help desk today, four days after the earthquake. Hospitals in the city are only able to provide a partial service due to electricity shortages. Without a battery-powered radio, people are getting no information at all. Many citizens don’t know about the accidents at Fukushima nuclear plant. People are ‘information refugees’. Local radio stations function to help people to find out about missing persons. Strong aftershocks at 3am and again at 4am. A woman cries after her mother’s body was found in Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture March 18, 2011. The area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11. ReuteRs/kyodo 16 March This morning started with rain in Sendai. Today the local radio announced about the food at Wakabayashi city hall, so we had to make 1,000 meals. At lunchtime we gave out curry, miso soup and rice for about 800 people and it was gone in a second. Some hadn’t eaten for three days and queued for the food in the rain. I am worried because there’s no information about what’s going on at the nuclear power plant. I am worried about the radioactive contamination for the north Kanto region because of the north winds. There are thousands of people sleeping in the elementary schools, city halls and public halls. I will do my best to provide free meals tomorrow, although we may run out of stock if we do so. UPDATE from Miku Sano, Monday 21st March: We organised a football training session with vendors this weekend. Vendors and many volunteers participated (see images on the Big Issue Japan blog: http:// ameblo.jp/one-goal-one-step. Most of our street paper vendors are doing OK, but the ones who are in the worst hit areas face a lot of challenges. At first, many of us were surprised at how strong and unaffected most vendors seem. However, when you think about it, most of our vendors always sleep outside- which means, in many ways, the “emergency situation” that we are facing now is the kind of life they live on a daily basis. I hope this crisis will bring us together and that it will give us a chance to think more about the people who have to live in such harsh conditions not only after this earth quake, but every day. In the mean time, the latest edition of The Big Issue Japan has arrived in Sapporo. Hokkaido five days behind schedule. We still have earthquakes on a scale of M5 to M6 every day in the coastal areas around Tokyo and the north. There is a shortage of electricity and gas in Tokyo and the northern cities. People in Tokyo were panic buying food initially, but that slowly becomes less. Things are still unsettled but everyone is trying to help each other. �S t r e e t vibeS april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 national news 11 Bearcats Better Be Better BRyan CLiFton BuRke Now that the city’s teams have been eliminated from the Big Dance, many of its citizens have wiped basketball clean from the list of things they normally think about. After all, with the misery surrounding the Bengals and the promise of a quality Reds season, it doesn’t make much sense to dwell on local teams that lose. However, before you return the sport back to its shelf for the summer, know this: the Bearcats will soon be legit and should generate some realistic excitement this time next year. How much excitement? I don’t know; come on, fortune telling? Why do I think they will be better? Namely Yancy Gates. The legacy of this man is shaping up as a sort of tragic one. A local cat with a huge following, Gates has not manifested into the beast many of us anointed him as he left Withrow High so many years back. His NBA-ready body at the age of 18, mixed with an interesting shooting touch for a big guy, allowed some to speculate that he would be wooed by the pros before graduating. Three underwhelming seasons later, complete with a punitive benching and vigorous boos from the UC faithful, hearing Yancy confirm his desire to return seems unnecessary. Of course he’s coming back; he needs more time to maximize his draft potential which can still become quite high if he works hard and plays his cards right. Gates, though, primarily wants to graduate, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that—for all the ways universities use their high-profile athletes, snaking a degree out of them is the least he could do to even the score. Fans, however, want to see him become the local legend he seemed so destined to be. Next year is the last chance for greatness, and before the pros whisk him away to another land with another life, we want to see him spread his wings right here in his hometown. To do that, though, his game needs an injection of urgency. Yancy, like almost every one else, is a rhythm player. Those majestic 18-footers he occasionally flashes only come when he catches and shoots in rhythm. His post moves, including his stillimproving passing game, succeed when in rhythm. The problem is, he often holds the ball too long and appears to over-think himself. If he made quicker decisions, the offense could run through him easier and roles would be more clearly defined. I believe he has the raw materials to become an excellent offensive player, but he must put in the work this offseason. His defense is toughening up and his rebounding continues to get meaner, but a polished array of post moves and a sharpened sense of urgency could make him the aircraft-carrier the Bearcats will need to make their run next year. The good news is that even if Gates improves from marginally to not at all, he will still be surrounded with more size and more talent around him. Gone are the silly bigs, Andre McClaine and Ibrahim Thomas. These men were good for fouls only and didn’t even do that well. Back is the pogo forward Justin Jackson whose length and athleticism make him an outrageous transition player, along with redshirt freshman, Kelvin Gaines. The 6’10’’ Gaines looked a tad out of sorts in the Deveroes Summer League last summer, but he is large and plays angry which will help him in the burly Big East. Then there is the incoming freshman, Octavius Ellis, who sounds like a lanky power-forward enshrined in Greek mythology, but instead is one only from Memphis. Ellis’ scouting report talks of a shot-blocking European-type of forward who is comfortable scoring from the wing. Also expected to arrive on the scene next fall is a skinny Floridian named Shaquille Thomas. The nephew of NBA veteran Tim Thomas, Shaquille is raw but has lotterypick tools and could become an immediate impact player for the ‘Cats. More of a small-forward, Thomas is ranked in the ESPN’s top-100 list of high-school players and is worth keeping an eye on. The development of the back court will obviously be key as well. Cashmere Wright, Sean Kilpatrick and Dion Dixon all must raise their game throughout the summer to fulfill my expectation of each of them. One weakness coach Mick Cronin must address is a suitable backup point guard. Once it became clear Wright was not totally healthy against Connecticut in the second round, it became equally clear that there was no one better in that spot off of the bench. Either Dixon needs to learn to run the point more effectively, or incoming player, Ge’Lawn Guyn, needs to show his Division I chops right away. Wright is a man who has not been able to remain fully healthy with this team, so it seems impractical to assume that he can be depended on another full season next year. He is a fine player when he is feeling good, but a contingency plan at the point can’t be a total waste of time. All in all, this program is headed in the right direction. Mick Cronin has met hostile criticism in his five years here, perhaps due to the negative public perception that shorter people face on a daily basis, I don’t know, but his team has improved every year under his guidance. He is finally getting his recruits in place and developing them to some degree of success. True, their brainless decision-making often astounds the observer, but I’m hoping that the dumbest players on the roster are the ones graduating this summer. With a proper trimming of the unwanted dead weight and a new flock of athletic prospects slatted to arrive this fall, these Bearcats can move into the Sweet 16 and beyond in the very near future. Here’s to next year. �interest 12 ten years-not enough to get over Death in over-the-Rhine! Just how much time is enough time, to get over the death of a Family Member? JuDge LesLie isaiaH gaines Contributing Writer It’s been ten years since that April day in 1001 when Timothy Thomas’s blood soaked that tiny dead-in ally, and rad down That Gutter in Over-the-Rhine. Timothy Thomas, a member of our Cincinnati, Ohio family was gunned down by a bullet in the back; while unharmed and running from a Cincinnati Police officer; down an Over-The-Rhine ally. The entire Cincinnati Family, regardless of race or economic condition was impacted by Timothy Thomas’s sudden, premature and violent death. Burning, Looting, violence and bloodshed washed over the inner city neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine like a tsunami following an earth quake. I was on the riot ravaged streets of Overthe Rhine within a half hour of the first StreetvibeS a p ril 1-14, 2011 fire being set and the first window being smashed. I immediately joined a group of citizens who grieved and mourned the death of Timothy Thomas; in the midst of trying to restore peace and stop the violence. I did not read about the riot or watch the revolution on TV. Following the dictates of fate and destiny I was drawn to the forefront of the battle; as if by a giant magnet. I was there with the residents of Over­ the-Rhine when we were choked by smoke and blinded by tear gas, as we dodged bean bags fired upon us by police officers in Washington Park. I volunteered to serve on “The Stop Squad;” A group of concerned Citizens who walked every street and ally in Over-the-Rhine trying to stop the violence. We stopped the blood-shed and performed CPR on the Findley Market; the historic market in heart of Over-theRhine. Had been strangled and entangled by the giant tentacles of violence that engulfed the city. We blew fresh breath into Findlay Marker and today ten years later it is on the road of rehab to recovery. Yes April 2011 marks ten years, many citizens of Over-the-Rhine and Cincinnati are still in a state of shock and post-traumatic grief. To those who say, “It’s been ten years, get over it!” I ask; is ten years enough time for you to get over the death of one of your loved ones? Some deaths we never get over. The death of unarmed Timothy Thomas is one of them. We never get over them. We pray for the strength to carry on. The danger in getting over, is in the fact that we may forget. If we forget history we are doomed to repeat it. Dr. King’s assassination on April 4th 1968 and President Kennedy’s assassination on November 23 1963 will never be forgotten. Timothy Thomas was not a famous person or world Leader. You don’t have to be to be loved and missed. Purchase: Over -the -Rhine a Positive Look; book by Judge Leslie Isaiah Gaines and Doctor Jennifer p. Gaines. On sale at Findley Market: Over-The-Rhine, Cincinnati Ohio. Partial proceeds to benefit the Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. ReadJudge Gaines Briefs: Weekly Brief short stories of life and Law, Yahoo Associated Content, Face Book. Judge@judgegaines.com From the Director Continued from Pg. 2 this against it, but at the end of the day, all of us in the usa are engaged in war against people in other lands. Now that we have dealt with some Truth, let’s deal with some more. War and homelessness are connected. In fact, homelessness is connected to nearly every ill in the usa. Homelessness very likely may be the ultimate symptom of our collective ills. And yes, we are all responsible for homelessness and it’s continuation. With that stated, we must take hold of the Truth that we continue to repeat the same ills and crimes over and over and over again. This is the case in a broad sense in that this country was founded through war and continues to function with a foundation of war. But, lets narrow this down a bit, war does not just take place across borders, war is very much taking place here. bottom or at the bottom never see it. It does not in fact trickle down. During this time homelessness went from being in the hundreds of thousands of people in a given year to millions of people in a given year. This is when we created modern-day homelessness. No longer were just predominately middle aged, addicted men homeless. Anyone could become homeless. This is why so many of our organizations are currently somewhere near their 25th anniversary. Obviously, the money did not trickle down, but something did. In fact what trickled down was nothing new, it had been trickling down for many years. It trickled down all the way to Cincinnati. For the past 25 to 30 years in this country we have continued to deplete our stock of low-income affordable housing and living-wage jobs. Not only have we depleted the stock of both, we have taken it a bit “ We are told nationally that we are at war on “terror” and creating freedom, and locally that we are fighting blight and de-investment and crime and creating progress and an economic base- But the Truth is that there is a war raging in our streets against those in Cincinnati that are financially poor.” In the 1980’s the Ronald Reagan administration pushed his “trickle-down theory” economics or Reganomics. In this period, the Reagan administration slashed and cut spending on safety-net services and especially housing (by the billions of dollars) and put this money into big business and military. All this was done with the promise that the big-whigs at the tops of the tall buildings would buy more cars and hamburgers that the rest of us make, we would then get their money, we would spend it, and the money would continue to work it’s way down. The problem with this theory is that for the most part the people at the tops of the tall buildings horde the money, so the people near the further. We have allowed (perhaps some of us have even supported) large companies, politicians and developers as they have wedged their way into our downtown-core neighborhood and forced people with low-incomes from their homes and businesses, taken over and given the land to whom the large companies, politicians and developers see fit- to those deemed worthy and destined to take the land. Sound familiar?-. The term for this is gentrification. Another term could be occupation, displacement, forced removal or war. War forces one group’s life upon another group’s life through the methodic erasing of those deemed undesirable. This is what gentrification does. Gentrification is war on people with low-incomes. Gentrification is war that creates homelessness. On a broad scale of stealing from one group to give to another, gentrification is why we have modern day homelessness. We currently have a war raging in our own streets- right here in cincinnati. We are at war with each other, and it is sad. People have been forced from their homes for other people to move in to the urban core. Companies, at the backing and pushing of the city, are occupying urban core neighborhoods. The lives of people with low-incomes are being threatened on a continual basis. Homes are being stolen, schools have been closed, public restrooms have been torn down, parks have been either closed or taken over by private interest, money is being hoarded up by big business, lies are being told, people are being criminalized for being financially poor and / or homeless, occupation is happening- what else can you call it but war. And by the way, the argument that sometimes you just have to have war in order to create “freedom” or in this case “progress”- is a lie. It is a lie told by those that want to steal the land and resources of another group. It is a lie that is allowed to continue because, once again, others get duped and believe the lie. Still others may not believe the lie, but stand by and allow it to happen. And lest we forget, war is murderous to the lives of people. We are told nationally that we are at war on “terror” and creating freedom, and locally that we are fighting blight and de-investment and crime and creating progress and an economic base- But the Truth is that there is a war raging in our streets against those in Cincinnati that are financially poor. The other Truth is that True freedom murders nobody and True progress hinders no life. We have a choice, do we believe we can all live together, or do we believe that some of us must not exist so that everyone else can reach their manifest destiny? �S t r e e t vibeS april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 story & poetry Corner Have a Laugh CLeo WomBLes A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender is he can drink free all day if he can make him laugh 13 Can you WiLLa Denise Jones Can you shut ‘emdown? Does the world believe that this is the world’s solution The Bartender agrees, so the man pulls a mouse, a small piano, and a frog out of his pocket. Can you shut ‘emdown? Keeping factory’s open with no work, now that’s pollution The mouse begins to play the piano and the frog sings opera. Can you shut ‘emdown? The free clinics, people homeless, no more Drop Inn Center One man seeing this approaches the man and offers him $500,000 for the talented frog. Can you shut ‘emdown? Washington Park, the sanitation workers, I can’t help but litter “SOLD!” He says. After the proud new owner leaves the bar with the frog, the bartender asks the man why he wouldn’t have tried to sell the frog for a million. Can you shut ‘em down? Over the Rhine was white then it was black, I thought we were all together He responds, mouse and piano in hand, that the mouse is actually a ventriloquist. Can you shut’ emdown? I’m confused so tell congress I really thought they knew better Can you believe in your heart that the decisions of our country are either republican or democratic? Can you believe that out of all the people in the world two simple parties be worthy of so much static? Can you close your eyes to the reality of the fear that has such a tight grip on our nation today? Can you keep living shut down and shut up? I’m baffled but not lost for words I can honestly say For me, learning to live without doubt or fear in my life and keeping God so close to my heart I have no doubt that without God’s blessings this world is doomed to fall completely apart With much faith and without any regards for the republicans or democrats controlling my being Without any doubt what so ever today I know that almighty God is the only real thing So can you shut ‘em down? Now slow down and take the time to think, what do you really understand? You need to come back into the days of Adam and Eve and remember when only God ruled the land! �14 StreetvibeS a p ril 1-14, 2011 CmHa’s Housing Choice Voucher program opens april 4 keLLy kRameR Streetvibes contributor The Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) will open the waiting list for its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program April 4-8, 2011. The application will be available exclusively online at HYPERLINK “http://www.hcvwaitlist.com” www. hcvwaitlist.com. This is the first time the application will be available solely online. For those with limited access to a computer, CMHA has identified resources throughout Hamilton County that will offer free computer access to fill out the online application. For a full list of free resources, applicants can call 513-977-5757, visit HYPERLINK “http://www. cinitmha.com” www.cinitmha.com. The HCV program makes safe, quality, affordable housing more accessible to those who need it most – very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled. Under the federal program, qualifying families receive a subsidy from CMHA that covers the gap between what the family can afford for rental housing, and what a private landlord charges. The participating family or individual pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord, and the amount subsidized by the program. If you plan to apply: Applications will only be accepted online at HYPERLINK “http://www.hcvwaitlist.com” www.hcvwaitlist.com from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April, 4 through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 8. Only one application per person will be accepted. You will need a pen and paper to write down you confirmation number. What you need to apply: Individuals who apply for the waiting list will need to know information such as birthdates and social security numbers of everyone living in the household; asset information (checking and savings accounts, real estate owned); a current mailing address; and an emergency contact address. Individuals must also verify their annual household income, including: Pre-tax gross employment wages All Social Security, SSI, OWF/TANF/Welfare benefits – including minor children. All cash received on a regular basis from family, friends or others All amounts received for child support Net income received from self employment All monies received from any pension plan All monies received from assets, (i.e. rental income, interest from a Certificate of Deposit (CD), annuity, savings account, Investment Retirement Account (IRA), etc.) What happens after you apply: An application does not guarantee that you will be added to the waiting list. Those who apply for the waiting list will be randomly selected for the HCV database by lottery system, regardless of the day or time the application is submitted. If a family or individual is selected for the waiting list, they will be informed by CMHA in writing. Those who are interested in applying for the HCV April Fools in Over the Rhine A resident’s perspective on ‘change’ and why it can be seen as a joke Lee mCCoy Coming to a neighborhood near you…no it’s not a movie, it is something worse. It’s a move against any resident of Over the Rhine. It is scary, it is creepy, and it should be against the law. “Oh let me shut my mouth now!” I am talking about 3CDC…you is a bad mother…but on the real, will someone stand up to the bull shit? When an injustice has been done…will someone stand up? Years ago before any one had ever heard of a 3CDC, there was one realtor who owned most of the buildings in OTR. The rich and the poor lived side by side and rent was affordable. Now the same place has little renovation but a different view of the “improved” Washington Park and comes with a much different price tag. That apartment…actually, let me do this right, the same ‘condo’ or ‘loft’ now would cost $500 to a grand per month. Now that is April Fool’s Day. These places that we used to call home are now specifically designed and priced for anyone but the low income. Which is still insane to program waiting list should visit HYPERLINK “http:// www.cintimha.com” www.cintimha.com for more information, or speak with a case worker at local social services agencies. me with the major dollars being pumped into transportation forms in and out of the area for the “low income”. There are still so many buildingsin the area that are boarded up. Why can’t we take some of them and actually make them available and affordable for everyone? This way we could all live side by side, the rich and the poor. Remember what the good book says about ‘love thy neighbor’? I guess this doesn’t apply to 3CDC. The ‘Take Back the Neighborhood’ Rally should have sent them a clear message. Hopefully God will have a April Fools prank to play on 3CDC. Here is my hope…these moves you have been making in OTR will come to an end. You’re crooked, you’re bad boys. So answer me this 3CDC, what’cha gonnado when they come for you? Bad boys, bad boys. Even the good you’ve done here like the work with the Jimmy Heath House comes with the stench of a rat. I was walking around the other day and I was amazed at the buildings that had been destroyed downtown for this casino. The Family Dollar is gone, it seems the bus station will be next. Can you imagine how full the Justice Center would be then? I guess Simon Leis will get his April Fools if that happened. Now let me tell you something about me…in 1968 I was in the US Navy. I was a Navy Seals Officeron a submarine called the USS Enterprise. We were four thousand feet under the sea when the sub blew up. I was in an air bubble and I fought my way to the top. On the way up I ran into a mermaid and we made love. Nine months later she gave birth to twins…out came Charlie Tuna of the sea and on his fin was Bumble Bee. April Fools! �S t r e e t vibeS april 1-14, 2 0 1 1 15 �16 StreetvibeS a p ril 1-14, 2011 Challenging problematic systems to improve Relationships Rod Northcutt uses animals and nature to reference social concerns “Once your eyes are open and awakened to social reality, you cannot escape it anymore,” says Rod Northcutt. “It stays with you and your innocence is gone.” Northcutt became acutely aware of social issues when he moved to Chicago for graduate school. He was confronted for the first time with poverty, homelessness, By Saad GhoSn Contributing Writer crowded housing, environmental decay, the many human and physical problems of a large city. They remained with him ever since and found their way into his art. A visual artist, he teaches sculpture at Miami University, Oxford, OH. He has a BFA degree in drawing and painting from the University of North Texas and a MFA degree in sculpture from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Northcutt grew up in rural Texas, intimately connected to the land and to animals he raised and tended to. It triggered in him a lifelong interest in biological and He also resorts to nature-related metaphors to raise awareness of the various societal ills. Initially destined to become a medical illustrator, Northcutt soon realized he was in reality a maker and that he liked to craft and create things; also that he enjoyed setting his art in nature, interacting with its environment, doing sculptural installations. His work, as a result, grew along these lines. In his interior gallery work, he functions like a fiction story teller, combining animals with study of the sciences or humanities. This allows him to empower the animals, understand them, especially understand human resemblance to them and what humans owe them; also to apply his meticulous craftsmanship skills to his projects. Northcutt would design an imaginary tale, halfway between truth and lies, connecting animals to human history and to real events. He would then craft related physical objects, “relics” that look real and legitimate to give support and validity to his story. He would display all in a natural history museum-like setting, thus playing with the line between fact and fiction. “I consider myself a ‘writer’ of historical fiction,” Northcutt says. “The events I cite are grounded in history yet diverge humorously from known archives by combining with current social concerns, such as outsourcing of labor... My work is carefully hand-crafted and often suggests a ‘backwater’ answer to difficult social questions.” He used for instance native woodworkers and builders such as beavers, woodpeckers, and termites, to devise an alternate history of building and manufacturing in the United States, pointing to their inherent problems. His displays have variably included relics and tools from beaver lodge architecture in the 1950’s, dioramas illustrating a 19th century American Luddite movement among beavers, Dutchstyle shoes supposedly carved by woodpeckers and beavers… At times, he also featured natural ceramic workers such as potter wasps and barn swallows. Northcutt quickly realized, however, that his conceptual gallery work did not reach common individuals who, confronted with real daily problems, could not afford the luxury of frequenting galleries. He felt the need for a different venue to touch them and resorted to outdoor installations, easily seen and experienced, and good vehicles for his social concerns. He would research a site specific area for his work, become familiar Near-Shore Fish and Flotsam of New York City, mixed media sculptural with its environmental installation with annotated diagram problems (for instance installation and photo by Rod northcutt diseases affecting its trees, gypsy moths, predator insects…), and propose a piece that speaks to its social systems that he explored, compared, and illustrated ecological or social issues. Nature and its elements would in his work using analogs between humans and the thus become proxy for humans and their life. natural world. “My sculptures, drawings, paintings, all speak of human relationships,” he says. “I use animals as surrogates to construct allegorical tales referencing social history, philosophy, labor movements, manufacturing, revolution…” In his installation Arborvention (a composite of arbor and intervention), he placed orthopedic braces around damaged dying trees. He was calling attention to the scarred trees and their condition, but also indirectly to the care needed for vulnerable, diseased, possibly disabled and neglected individuals in society. Rod Northcutt carving photo by scott allison In Near-shore Fish and Flotsam of New York City, an installation he did on the shore of East River in Brooklyn, he made, out of floating garbage collected from the site (Styrofoam, wood, plastic…), model sculptures of the various fish that live in the river. He accompanied his sculptural installation with a didactic display that included, in addition to pictures of the indigenous fish, pictures of the discarded elements and information about their constituent chemicals. The toxic chemicals we throw away became like the new fish of the battered environment. To raise awareness about consumption and recycling, and working collaboratively with Material Exchange, a green/sustainable collective, he built with materials recovered from various Chicago dumpsters, a temporary miniature golf course on which passer-bys played for 2 weeks. In one of his pieces he used bird watching as a metaphor for racial prejudice in selection and categorization, birds sought after being usually the only bright colored ones; and in another one, bird migratory pathways to reflect on Mexican migrants, natural migration patterns, in his mind, all similar and legitimate. “In my art I try to facilitate conversations that challenge habitual, often destructive, ways of thinking and living,” he says. “I want my art to make an enabling and ennobling change in both the artist and the viewer.” In addition to his art, Northcutt uses his teaching to convey his concerns. In the classroom he discusses social and environmental questions, how to research them and express them. He involved his students in developing a material resource data base to understand materials being discarded into the land, differentiating, according to the environmental theory ‘cradle by cradle’, the naturally degraded biological from the technological needing recycling. For the past 3 years he has also taught traditional, non-electric, woodworking skills through a making-based traveling course, Unplugged. He would like to offer the course, free of charge, to kids in various parts of the country, giving them access, opportunity, and ability to become creators, the creative act, according to him, “allowing unfolding and reaching the spiritual.” “With my work, lectures, and teaching, I always challenge problematic systems,” Northcutt says. “I would like my work to improve relationships between people, animals and the earth. I want to get into people’s heads; I try to do it through humor, beautiful craft, an active experience. “ 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 reached 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 2011 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, 2011 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Streetvibes Remembers… Pg 2: Race Relations 101 Pg 3: Race Relations 101 Pg 4: Mark Twain Was Right Pg 5: Chocolate Lockets and Yellow Pillows Pg 6: Coffee Party Sponsors Peace and Rally on Fountain Square Pg 7: Lighthouse Community School Pg 8: Rally at Fountain Square Pg 9: Local Pg 10: Japanese Street Paper Pg 11: Bearcats Better Be Better Pg 12: Ten Years-Not Enough to Get Over Death in Over-the-Rhine Pg 13: Arts & Poetry Pg 14: CMHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program Opens April 4 Pg 15: Housing Choice Voucher Pg 16: Challenging Problematic Systems to Improve Relationships 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, 2011 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jen Martin Elizabeth Schulenberg Jim Luken Riccardo Taylor Saad Ghosn Catie Dargue Jeni Jenkins Willa Denise Jones Laura Osborne-Coffey James Brown Lee McCoy Dawn Fuller Elisa Hill B. Clifton Burke Jimmie Gipson Elles van Gelder Beth Griffith- Niemann Amiee Willhoite Saad Ghosn Mikki Schaffner Bill Howes Suzanne Chouteau Bill Howes Cedric Cox Sarah Hager Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Amiee Willhoite Autism B. Clifton Burke Bearcats Beth Griffith- Niemann Bill Howes Catie Dargue Cedric Cox Cincinnati CMHA Dawn Fuller Elisa Hill Elizabeth Schulenberg Elles van Gelder Fountain Square James Brown Japanese Jen Martin Jeni Jenkins Jim Luken Jimmie Gipson Laura Osborne-Coffey Lee McCoy Mark Twain Mikki Schaffner Over-the-Rhine protest Race Rally Riccardo Taylor Riots Saad Ghosn Sarah Hager Street Paper Suzanne Chouteau University of Cincinnati Willa Denise Jones