21 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/d5ac60bca99624c6f34cc57f1a612cb8.pdf c2342640c83873a53aee2af1cffd9d47 PDF Text Text ~ \ ~ C) first was held last June, Rally at Fountain Square Marks ~The drawing several thousand activists from around the city and from Anniversar of Cincinnati's Unrest across the country. Over a dozen speakers spoke on Sunday for two hours, then the crowd proceeded down Vine and Court streets to City Hall 1 where a bell was chimed 12 times for the 12 months people have been waiting for their voices to be , heard, justice to be done and peace !r:e ~ to come to the area. • 1 ~ Afterwards, 400 U • - ~ ~l ~ participants continued a silent --=-""- _g march to the Cincinnati Police ~Department's District 1 ::;_ headquarters. From there a .~ smaller group dispersed at the ..... alley located at 13th and Republic to death by a police officer in Streets where Roach shot Thomas by Andria Y. Carter Over-the-Rhine. last year. The Cincinnati Herald "Here we are a year later Throughout the march, the Approximately 1,000 and not much has changed," Sister Cincinnati Police and Hamilton people turned out to honor the Victoria Straughn of Concerned County Sheriffs Department kept a death of Timothy Thomas at the Citizens for Justice told the crowd respectful distance from the April 7, 2002 March for Justice on on Fountain Square. groups, but remained watchful. Fountain Square, one year after the Participants held signs March for Justice 19-year-old unarmed man was shot saying, "No Justice, No Peace," participants represented the vast "Cry Out for Justice," "Justice for diversity within Cincinnati; All," and "Food not Bombs," African Americans, Whites, expressing a variety of emotions Hispanics and Native Americans, and feelings. all gathered on Fountain Square Former Cincinnati Police promoting peace, justice and unity. Each speaker was well recieved Officer Stephen Roach was acquitted of all charges in Thomas' but many participants came to hear death. Roach left the Cincinnati and support Angela Leisure on the police force in January to join the anniversary of her son's death. Leisure spoke about how Evendale, Ohio police force. ...,; the day was very trying for her and This is the second "March Rev. Damon Lynch Ill, addresses her fam ily; how Thomas' 11-yearfor Justice" held in Cincinnati. rally gathered at Fountain Square Q. Street Life by Riccardo Taylor In the street life everything is serious. Mastering the art of seeing with your ears and hearing with your eyes is essential for your survival. The continous hustle and bustle of each day in the world as the street person endeavors to encounter the neccessities of life, is an ever changing reality which depends on the honing of these skills. The challenge ofsurvival is based at times on the willingness to sacrifice one's morality and civility as taught from the lessons of social upbringing. This sacrifice means compormising one's integrity, dignity, and often even one' s life. Relief from the dregs of survival comes in the form of prison cells or a stint in the local jail, in most cases. However, the ( ,..:r•illll ' \' • I .:: '~ \~ Angela Leisure addresses Fountain Square Rally old sister continues to wake crying for her brother; and how it is still difficult for her family to come to an understanding of why Thomas Rally.... Cont. Page 3 t"~ Marchers gather at City Hall ~In the street world, this is not some it. So the question is why? No dream floating in limbo. It is in one lives this life for the sake of fact a reality that has no real basis, Q~~-flei:efore, the question , sh uld be•w can be done so that yet, it is the truth in waiting in the mind of the street person. You just no o live this way? The have to keep surviving until your answer lies in CHANGE. Change tum comes. In the life, you have in a macro sense. Change that to get down like you live - nothing affects the entire society. Change comes to a sleeper but a dream. that affects every individual. Living on the philosophy of Change that comt through policy. self The belief that the world Change that can only be brought owes you something, and in order about by the fo e of the people. bottom line for the street person is to collect on that debt, you have to Change that for most part has to be that ultimatley you have to make stay in the game if you want to initiated by the individual. receive it. This keeps the street changes or you Jose! How ironic! Without further ado the street person must, without Every street person kn~w person's hopes of a future alive. down inside that they e detined The real problem is that one has to hesitation, start the wheels twning for loss, ye~ey hang o live by more than just hopes. You for the survival of their existence. belief, or better stated, the illusion, have to invest effort and time in They must take a stand in their order to get any benefit. The name own circumstances, eraditcating that they can get away with artful of the game is that if you don't tactics of survival without change. the "bull", and replacing it with work, you don't eat. Hopes and Motivated and driven by the things that will make their lives dreams are a thing of make believe more siutable for themselves. hopes that things can or will be different, with just one grand for the street person. There is no complaint without "lick.,, The one opportunity to Reality says that one must Life .... relieve all of one's troubles and do what they have to do. It's a problems with one magical stroke. hard life and not everyone can live Cont. on page 3 �. REETVIBES May 2002 STREETVIBES The Tr i -State's Homeless Grapevine Streetvibes, the Tri-State's Homeless Grapevine, is a newspa­ per written by, for, and about the homeless, social justice, and poverty-related issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for home­ less and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition/or the Homeless is a group ofshelters, agencies and individuals cot1lmitted to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCBStaff Alicia Beck Executive Director Meghan Clarke Administrative Coordinator Americorps• Vista John Halpin Molly Lyons Americorps* Vista Mary Taylor Receptionist Cheryl Ware Educational Out­ reach Coordinator Streetvibes Staff Jimmy Heath Editor Writen Carter Camp Paul Lawrence Dunbar BrianOany Laura Grace LAH \~ 'IJ John Halpin George Herrell Mike Henson ~ FanniJ. t\' Steven Paul Lansky Robert Lederman ~ Mr. Lee ~ \ ~ Molly Lyons Jerome J. Manigan Robert Mannassa Carol Rainey Edna Smith Riccardo Taylor Cheryl Ware Edward (Sonny) Williams Looking Outside for Answers to give from our hearts and minds by Jimmy Heath and our pockets. I also recognize local government, and sometimes Earlier this year I had the that this is not a reason to hide not even in our everyday lives. behind bad foreign policy. As opportunity to once again visit This is modem society, Central America, as a where things move for the good of good Americans, we have a moral photographer and a delegate for responsibility for our world everyone, and the sense of the Witness For Peace, a Washington neighbors and how we treat them individual seems to be lost in the through these policies. DC based human rights shuffle. As our country grows in When I speak to groups organization. The trip took me to population, we become even more about my experiences, I always Nicaragua; the second most isolated, even in our own homes. impoverished nation in the find a willing audience. People The windows are closed tight, the Western Hemisphere. (Haiti is the doors locked, and information is want to hear about what is going first). Our delegation met with on, and they want to know how to piped in through wires and cables. community organizers, How much of the outside world do help. I tell people that gathering government officials, and union information is the first step and we really know, unless we cross from there your heart will tell you leaders. the borders and take a look for what you need to do. In spite of general ourselves? disagreement with US policies, This month's Streetvibes I was not surprised at some every Nicaraguan we met liked looks at the struggles ofthe people of the things I saw and heard and admired the people of of Nicaragua and how American during my trip to Central America. America. Our hosts found fault, I saw many of the same things and policy affects thier lives. Nicaragua, by Jon Gambrell not with us, but our government experienced many of the same and its policies. How did we, as (Features, page I 0) shows us the attitudes when I visited El country from a people's citizens, become something Salvador five years ago. My separate from our own government ignorance makes me helpless, yet perspective. Jennifer DeLury, a in the eyes of these Central I'm happy to be recognized, not as Witness for Peace Nicaraguan Team Leader, discusses the impact American people? Aren't we the a repressive government force of our own government? of free trade and Presidents Bush's representative in a foreign land, economic policies, in Bush~\' Isn't our government for the but as a generous American. The Central American Free Trade people, by the people? This irony of all of this is that I Agreement Exploits the Poor, disconnection seems to reflect recognize the irreppressible Benefits the Rich, starting on page attitudes shared by citizens of capacity of the American people to many countries, not just the 12. be generous. We are always ready Nicaraguans. How many times, in recent months, have we heard foreign policy discussions about the Middle East and other international "hot spots" that included praise for the American "people" but disdain for our system? Our democratic system is supposed to reflect the desires and attitudes of its people. However, I think most of us feel that we do not have control of anything outside of our own lives. Maybe there is a better view from outside our borders. Sure, we vote our leaders into positions of power. But we don't feel the force of this power ourselves, not in.our Folks Dancers, El Regadio, Nicaragua Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor has to sign the following code to be able to sell the paper. 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary Photographen Jimmy Heath, Jerome J. Manigan Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, photos.... We will give prefer­ ence to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes can be purchased for $15 per year. c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCB) 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OB 45210 (513) 421-7803 fax (513) 421-7813; e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web page: http://cinci.com/2cch Page 2 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. collecting for the "homeless" in general. I will be donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of than $1. I also understand that I will be able to Streewibes will go to the individual vendor. keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. Future 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing issues of Streewibes will be purchased from the papers, and I will display my badge at all times Homeless Coalition for 20 cents. while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. Srreervibes may only be purchased from the 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not GCCH. Purchasing or selling unauthorized contest territories with other distributors. I will papers, or from other vendors, will result in termi­ not sell on private property without permission. nation from the program. 10. I understand that Streewibes strives to be a self­ I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt supporting paper created by people who are to vend after 12 midnight. homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this I agree to treat others with respect - other vendors, effort, I will try to spread the word and write customers, and GCCH personnel. stories if possible. l will not sell Streervibes while under the influence. 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel above statements will result in termination from threatened. the Srreervibes vendor program. GCCH reserves I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I am the right to terminate a vendor at any time as collectine: for a not-for-orofit charitv or that I am deemed aoorooriate. �~ REETVIBES May 2002 Rally... Cont. From Page 1 was killed. She urged all to work together - the community and the police - to foster a sense of unity and peace. She added under these conditions there will be justice. "I do not advocate violence of any kind. Nor do I have malice, hate or vengeance in my heart," Leisure told the crowd regarding the actions surrounding her son's death. She said she could not bring her son back to life, but is working for justice for the sake of her son. The Women's chorus sang " We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest," a song written and recorded by Sweet Honey and the Rock. Sweet Honey had performed the song earlier this year during their January performance at the Aronoff Center. Life.... Cont. from page 1 struggle. One has to get with the program. There is no waiting for the magical wand. One has to make their way through sacrfice and effort. Egos don't fly, they are a product of one's efforts, resulting in self-satisfaction and happiness, as it may be. The street life is a short life, a life that is surrounded Local News I Rev. Damon Lynch ill, leader of the Cincinnati Black United Front, urged all to remember those who remain in jail and are responsible for moving Cincinnati forward to change the racial injustices in the city. Lynch continued the call for amnesty for the young men and women who were arrested during the three day civil unrest. He said that the reason why the Department of Justice came to Cincinnati was because of April 9-11 , 2001 . He said Cincinnati's history changed during those three days. Lynch emphasized that healing could not take place in Cincinnati until amnesty takes place. He said that those convicted during the unrest and the city-wide curfew, must have their criminal records expunged. Lynch added, "Justice is not an event. The March for Justice is a lifelong pursuit." by chaos and despair, a life that has no reward, only misery. A life that needs improving. Still, I know for a fact that saying these things are conceptually easy. However, actualizing them is another thing. I wouldn't want to be the pot talking about the kettle. Making the changes is one thing, living them is another. Often I find myselfjust short of what I say or believe, yet I Clif.ford Jones 0 (513) 761-3464 Office l!'-IJ'>ail: t. • :'j)O\.~C jonesa~ (5 13) 230-6353 ~ Voicemail # · c~c· %°'tiexchange- Vendor: 80 cents The Life by Riccardo Taylor In the life there are many paths a person can embark on. None with the intent of success, none with the objective of security, each just for the moment. Meandering along the high­ ways and byways of what they call the game. Never winning, never losing, just making a show, placing is the best hand. Trying to stay ahead of the game, using what means necessary. Living on the edge, never getting ahead. Wits and luck, the tools of the trade. Playing the game with­ out the goal of winning, casting one's lot for the sake of the game. Wins and losses are all the same - they say they hate the game, not the player. Absurdity, the way of life in the fast lane. Keeping it real, lying and conniving, to stay ahead of the continue my struggle with the belief that things can change. Those of us who live on the idea of pretense have to keep a little extra energy, so that we can make that transition. What this means is that you have to learn humility, shamefulness, and a sense of guilt. When you have to lie about yourself, avoiding the real, you have to learn to become humble in your personage. One has to come to grips with their shortcomings, admit that they are short and that they need some correction. This is in my opinion the first step to putting their lives back in order. We must keep in mind that things didn't always look this way and that they can return to days gone by. Again, saying these things are conceptually easy, or are they really? When I came to the sense that this is not so easy, to say I ~ ~~Where Your Dollar Goes Printing and Production: 20 cents The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421­ 7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Page 3 game. Blind reality. Insanity, the stepping stone to a sense of sanity. Never winning, never losing, just playing the game. Living lies, convinced that everything that one does is right. Living without moral bounds, without rules, owing nothing, existing on your wits, feeding off the fat of the land. Story, Editorial and Art Submission Deadline for the June,2002 edition of STREETVIBES is Monday, MAY 13th. when one is not living them, I concluded that doing those things weren't as easy as they seem to be. I have learned to have hope, yet I know without my effort I have no real hope. It is up to the individual to make the effort for change if they want to realize change. Write Us! _ ... We'd like to hear .". from 'JOU­ a _..., Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com~ , or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45210 Peace is the work of justice indirectly, in so far as justice removes the obstacles to peace; but it is the work of charity (love) directly, since charity, according to its very notion, causes peace. Thomas Aquinas No matter bow big a nation is, it is no stronger that its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise. Marian Anderson �,/ R EETVIB E S M ay 2002 Reader Reader Mail Dear Editor, I am one of the homeless people who were moved by Covington (Kentucky) city officials on Monday, April 15 (4 We would like to hear from you days after my birthday). First, I - please address letters and would like to thank them for the comments to; birthday present, first time I ever Streetvibes, got one like that, only it was the 1506 Elm Street, wrong size. Not all people are out here Cincinnati Ohio 45210 because they want to be, everyone (or) email to: has a different story about why or Streetvibes@juno.com how we got here. Everyone should realize that they are only a Dea r Streetvibes, paycheck away from being in the I am temporarily working same situation. in the Provident Bank Building In September, I hitchhiked (Downtown Cincinnati). I really up to New York to try and help appreciate the gentleman that sells out, injured my hand and had to his Streetvibes magazine in front return home and eventually have of Wendy's on Vine Street. He surgery on it. I couldn't work for brings a smile to my face approximately a month so I lost whenever I hear his voice. You my apartment and got thrown out see, at first I would just ignore him on the street. I still have problems and chalk it up as some crazy guy with my hand (as a matter of fact, bothering people. Boy, I was I'm going to a doctor's wrong. This man has a great appointment right after I'm done attitude and whenever you get a writing this) and have difficulty Streetvibes from him or not, you working only a few hours at a still walk away, or by, smiling. I time. So as you can see, some of see it every day. us aren't out here for the fun of it. What also trips me out is Not a11 of us disrespect other's the white man that stands on the property by throwing garbage or comer with his sign and cup recieving money, not saying a word to people. I've even put change into this man's cup. Yesterday, I saw a little colored girl with four other girls and a lady stop and give the white man her change. For some reason, this touched and insighted me. He can be doing something just as productive your Streetvibes vendor. I appreciate Streetvibes and will continue to support it. Carla Smith, Cincinnati, Ohio Hail bottles around, and not all of the homeless drink alcohol. So I would just like to thank the City of Covington again for the funky birthday present and the thanks for trying to do my part to help after 9-11. There were some things in my stuff that I had brought back with me from New York that meant something special. Again THANKS Covington, for showing me and the rest of the country and other fellow Americans just how considerate and understanding you are. Even though I've been treated this way, I would still volunteer here for Covington as I did for New York. Please Covington, wake up and realize this is a situation that needs looking into. Not just the stealing and destroying of peoples' property, but also the fact that there is a homeless problem in this country. We're not just a bunch of drunks running around, littering the streets (ever see the cigarette butts outside City Hall?) and putting up homes where we can. Thanks again and God Bless America, "Hjppie" Ed. Note: See the Streetvibes Civil Rights News Report on page 6 for the story on the Covinton Sweeps. To w hom it may concern I saw Sonny Williams letter in the February issue of Streetvibes and I was inspired by his work and struggle to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. Panhandling also should be the rights of all who are limited in resources and community ties. It may be necessary to provide their own adequate shelter. May God continue blessings to you aII Lee Crum Consumer advocate Ralph Nader visits wil:P Streetvibes vendor and community activist Berta Lambert 1.l \ Write Us! attn: Streetvibes Letters I 506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45210 FRIDAY, MAY 31 S-8'PM Over-the--Rhine) $10 ADULTS • Suitable for Framing " ... it is in the nature of imperialism that citizens of the imperial power are always among the last to know - or care - about circumstances in the colonies." Bertrand Russel (International War Crimes Tribunal, Nov. 1967) " Never in this world can hatred be stilled by hatred; it will be stilled only by non-hatred­ this is the law Eternal." Buddha (563?-483? B.C) "Skill to do comes of doing." Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Society and Solitude "Ignorance once dispelled is difficult to re-establish." Laurence J. Peter "When you get to the end of all the light you know and it's time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: either you will be given something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly." Edward Teller (1908-) Hungarian-US nuclear physicist "Some Scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa OPSNHOUSS We'd 11/ul to hear ....-.!11~.x fmmgo11­ Send letters or 215 E.141'1{ STRSST comments to: (at the SW comer of Streetvibes@Juno.com, ~... J4ih &S~more, or write the Coalition oftice Page 4 $ SCHILDREN, 12 and under STOP BY P6.ASLE£ OR CALL 621-SS14 TO ORDER YOUR TICI<STS Story, Editorial and Art Submission Deadline for the June, 2002 edition of STREETVIBES is Monday, MAY 13th. �./REETVIBES May 2002 Boycott of Cincinnati Continues Despite Lawsuit The Coalition for a Just Cincinnati The Coalition for a Just Cincinnati will not call off the boycott on Cincinnati despite a pending lawsuit. The Cincinnati Arts Association, (CAA) which manages local government-owned venues, has filed a lawsuit in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas against individuals active in the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati, alleging tortious interference with a contract. The suit comes in the wake Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati , Ohio 45210 of a string of national performers canceling their scheduled appearances in Cincinnati. The lawsuit asks for $88,850 in damages due to cancellations, and $500,000 in punitive damages. On February 28, the Coalition received a letter from the CAA, threatening to sue the organization and the individuals who have led a boycott of Cincinnati. In March, in United States District Court, the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati filed an action for declaratory relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201. This action seeks a declaration that the letter (of 2/28/02), from the Cincinnati Arts Association, constitutes an impermissible restraint ofFirst Amendment rights. On March 18, 2002, the CAA followed through with its threat of suit. In April of last year, citizens of Cincinnati rose up following the killing of Timothy Thomas, an unarmed 19-year-old African American man, by a white police officer in Over-the-Rhine. Thomas was the 15th African- American man killed by the police in the last five years, a fact that highlights the lack of civilian control of the City,s police force, and a "battle-zone" approach to policing the City's inner-city neighborhoods. Conditions of extreme poverty exist in nine Cincinnati neighborhoods designated by HUD as "economic disaster areas." Basic human rights are denied citizens of Cincinnati, with an ordinance written into the City Charter that denies equal protection in housing and employment on the basis of sexual orientation. The boycott was enacted after calls to address these severe problems in our city continued to fall on deaf ears. The boycott calls for sanctions on tourism and conventions throughout Cincinnati, and urges people living in and near Cincinnati to avoid spending money in the downtown business district. In addition, in January of this year, the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati beJ n the " ists of Conscience" campaign, which calls for all Artists of Conscience to honor the boycott and to refuse to perform in Cincinnati. In recent months several artists including Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Smokey Robinson, Wynton Marsalis and others have canceled their scheduled performances. The Coalition for a Just Cincinnati will stay its course until real change begins in Cincinnati. Solutions would include real advancement in the areas of economic equality, education and a local government responsive to the needs of the inner city. After fulfilling our civic duty of petitioning, voicing our opinions in city council meetings, and filing grievances, a boycott became necessary. It is our only viable, non-violent means of getting the city government's attention. Despite these efforts, local leaders seem to be digging in their heels, not only refusing to meet and negotiate with the boycott groups but calling them " economic terrorists". (513) 621-5514 Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education . "And all do-gooders opposed... SHUT UPI" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- The GCCH would like to thank this Starbucks location for their generous donation of coffee and pastries. 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park (513) 533-3402 National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) Molly Lyons and John Halpin 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45210 homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.com (513) 421-7803 ---~~~ (.7 --~-~ ~,· ~- CHRISTIAN HOME-BASED BUSINESS Finally . . . . . a Network-Marketing Company that has developed a unique Product Line and Marketing Plan especially for the Christian Community. Tens of thousands of members in all 50 states and GROWING!!! each and every m~nth. v-' t/ t/ t/ FREE Sign Up FREE Info Packs Conference Calling Auto-Ship Program • One-of-a-Kind ... Nutritional Products Hair Care Products Skin Care Products Rnd out how you can become part of this Home BHed Opportunity that will allow you tXJ join your felk:llN brothers & sista's in Christ and give you a real opporrunity to earn an honest residual monthly income. For a FREE 18 page Info Pack .•• Call Now!! 1-800-585-5873 Ext. 3 ~~st · leave- ID# 56026 with reply Sign up early to benefit from this ad! �/ REETVIBES May 2002 Know Your Rights by Molly Ly ons andJohn Halpin mental illness. As you may remember, interactions between Every month we mentally ill persons and the police will be highlighting a have taken tragic turns in the past, such as in the case of Lorenzo law or ordinance that Collins, who was fatally shot by affects homeless people police in 1997. in Cincinnati. This The racial profiling settlement makes a specific column does nothing to provision so that people without a replace sound legal fixed address will be included in a advice from an periodic evaluation of citizen satisfaction with the police. A accredited lawyer, but "probability sample,, of people seeks to empower and will be taken throughout the city, educate people in but since these samples typically miss people without a fixed dealing with the address, a non-probability sample criminal justice system will be specifically designed for and their lawyers. people who may be homeless. One of the most useful provisions in the racial profiling lawsuit is the mandate for officers to tell a person why she or he has been stopped or detained. People experiencing homelessness frequently report that police officers stop them for no apparent reason or stop them asking to see their identification. Requiring by John Halpin and Molly Lyons officers to explain their actions Last month's "collaborative will hopefully cut down on unnecessary questioning by the agreement,, actually settled two police, as well as to help people different issues, one being the understand why they were stopped Department of Justice's or detained when this was done so investigation into the Cincinnati for a legitimate reason. police, and the other being the Both agreements contain racial profiling lawsuit brought by provisions that make it easier for a the Cincinnati Black United Front citizen to make a complaint and the American Civil Liberties against an officer. The racial Union. The Civil Rights Project is profiling settlement mandates pleased with numerous provisions police officers display their badges of the agreements that may on request and that they must not improve relations between police retaliate or disapprove of citizen and the homeless community. recording their badge numbers. One substantial part of the The DOJ-City agreement requires agreement between the City and officers to carry information on the the Department of Justice will complaint process, as well as result in the Cincinnati Police actual complaint forms. Police Division (CPD) training a special will have to inform a citizen of his group of officers to respond to or her right to make a complaint if incidents involving persons who the citizen objects to an officer's are mentally ill. The officers will conduct. receive multi-disciplinary training The Department of Justice from mental health practitioners agreement contains a significant and substance abuse counselors, amount of changes that will be including training on how to de­ made to police use of force escalate conflicts. Mental health practitioners will also be available procedures. The proposed policy revisions will be made available to to respond to situations if they are the public via Community needed. The Greater Cincinnati Councils, other community groups, Coalition for the Homeless' 2000 and CPD's website. A few of the homeless study found that about 10% of the homeless population in changes include the following: Police will incorporate a use of Cincinnati have some form of Cincinnati's Racial Profiling Settlement Gives Homeless Rights a Boost u y's o ace Permanent Housing for formerly homeless individuals at 1300 Vine Street. For more information, call Agnes Mack at (513) 784..0800 Page 6 force .model which will describe what kinds of force may be appropriate for specific conduct. Officers will be advised that excessive use of force will subject them to discipline, possible criminal prosecution, and/or civil liability. The changes will also re­ enforce that individuals should be allowed to submit to arrest prior to the use of force. Significant changes were made to the department's chemical spray policy, as well. The new policy, among other things, will require officers to give a warning before using chemical spray. It will only be used if necessary to protect someone from physical harm, to arrest a person who is actively resisting, or to arrest someone who is trying to escape. The agreement will also require police to offer to decontaminate the person who has been sprayed within the twenty minutes after the incident. on the riverbank. The police in New Hampshire have stated that the fire was started by vandals not the homeless people living there. The mayor had stated that when the camps where evicted again people would be given notice and their personal belongings would not be thrown away. On Friday there were still camps up that the city workers took down against the objections of the almost 50 peopled gathered to protest the removal of the property. The police told advocates that personal property would be taken to 43rd street. This concern after the fact does not help the people who have already had all of their belongings, including a litter of six kittens, thrown away. The mayor handed out forms that listed different agencies where he said people could go. The only agency on the list that provides emergency shelter for single men in Covington is Fairhaven Rescue Mission. The reason for this is Fairhaven is the only shelter that does emergency shelter in the City of Covington. Fairhaven has only 24 bed half of those are long term beds, the other half you can only stay for 7days every three months. You have to be in by 6PM every evening, you have to pass a breathaJyzer to get in and you have to attend a church service. Evicting people from homeless encampments is a trend that happens around the country. by Molly Lyons and Mark Many times like in Covington, the Teegarden people living in the camps have little or no other housing options. On Friday April 12, 2002, Other times people stay in camps Captain Finan of the City of because of a desire for community Covington police put in a work order to clean the riverbank and to and autonomy that they can not get in a shelter. Lawsuits like get rid of Pottinger v. anything that Miami have looked liked held that it is housing or bedding. None THE CITY OF COVINGTON WILL illegal for cities to of the at least 17 RESUME CLEANUP OF THE throw out homeless people RIVERBANK ON FRIDAY APRIL people's (the majority of 19TR AT 10:00 A.M. property who work full without due time jobs) were *MAKE SURE TO REMOVE ALL warned in TEMPORARY HOUSING AND ALL process. The advance that this PERSONAL ITEMS BEFORE Tms people who have had was going to TIME. their occur. Covington sweeps riverbanks, Riverbank residents and homeless advocates respond. NOTICE *ANY ITEMS REMAINING ON THE property RIVERBANK AFTER 10:00 A.M. ON thrown out APRIL 191 H WILL BE DISCARDED h~ve met · with lawyers and are planning to file su1·t i·n .. d I te era court. '1'0 fi d t ANYONE NE.EDJNG ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING AND OTHER HOMELESS ISSUES CAN CONTACT TB! FOLLOWING AGENCIES: *PARISRKITCKEN - 141 PlKEST., COVINGTON 531-7745 •WELCOME HOUS&-2-05 P£1(EST., COVINGTON 431-8717 •FAIR.HAVENRESCUE - 260PIKEST.,COVINGTON 491-1027 • tNTERFAITHROSPJTALlTY - 18E.9T11, NEWPORT Cl-6840 • HENRY HOSEA DOUSE - 901 YORK. NEWPORT 261·5857 •OROPlNNCENTER - 2l7 W. l2TM, CtNCINNATI 513-721.-0643 .1' lil OU �1 J. R E ETVIBES May 2002 The Library creates new anti-s I pol· y. Recently the board of The Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County agreed to a policy, under the respect for others clause, that would allow people to be removed from the library for "offensive and pervasive body odor that constitutes a nuisance to other customers and staff." This policy has not been implemented yet because the library is waiting to hear back from the prosecutor's office on it. The policy does not include people who have an offensive and pervasive odor that constitutes a nuisance because of perfume and other synthetic fragrances. Other libraries across the country have passed similar policies that have been taken to court for violating people's first and Fifth Amendment for being overbroad and violating due process laws. One of the cases in Washington DC, was decided in the plaintiffs favor because the court decided that there was no objective standard for what was objectionable appearance which included such things as being barefooted, bare­ chested, body odor, filthy clothing, etc. The standard applied to the policy says that the odor has to be a nuisance but there is not a universal library policy for what a nuisance is. The library has 40 different buildings and it would be up to the staff at each buildin etermine what is a nmsan . e told that there will be tra · ·ngto differen · staff and when people are rem ved it should be documented. 19~ The Natio~-H~meless Civil Rights Organizmg Project fears that this policy may be used to remove homeless people who have no control over their body odors from the library. We have specific concerns because the policy does not include people wearing synthetic chemicals so does not address people who smell bad but have an unnatural smell. The PR department at the library has assured us that the policy is not being put in place to find an excuse to discriminate, but many times policies that are not put in place to discriminate do it unintentionally. For more information or to report discrimination against homeless people )please call Molly Lyons or John Halpin at 421-7803. f Page 7 keeping tight schedules for appearance or convemence. Danny Glover has a most personable way about him that makes one feel as though they are spending time with a favorite relative more so than a famous by George Herrell personality, even though he was under great pressure and was being When I was first offered rushed about and was even behind, the opportunity to interview Danny pressed to end the interview Glover, a man who is one of quickly, he Hollywood's was even inost respected gracious leading men, enough to who is known, stop long for among other enough to things, his roles take pictures in movies such with me and as "Places In my associates The Heart", before "The Color continuing to Purple", and fulfill his "Lethal obligations as Weapon", I emcee. The knew there was final event of no way I could the evening pass up the just sort of chance to meet put such a versatile everything superstar! Mr. into Glover was in Streetvibes reporter Brian Garry interviews Danny Glover perspective the Tri-State to only individual city listed in it! because at the end of our emcee the Greater Cincinnati One can't help but wonder why interview, as my associates and YMCAs 2002 Annual Meeting myself were preparing to leave, which was held Tuesday, March 26 that was the case? When asked about the and the guests with their beautiful at the Northern Kentucky boycott cJothes were greeting each other Mr. Glover stated that he Convention Center. outside the banquet room of tables supports boycotts if their Upon arriving for our coordinators had exhausted all filled with elegant cuisine, Ms. scheduled interview (five minutes other options, and if the Hauser was gracious enough to early) we were informed by our provide us with two cans of Dr. communities supported them. I contact for the interview Ms. Pepper, and one can of caffeine must say that upon meeting and Barbara Hauser "Public Relations having had the chance to talk to free Pepsi with a courteous and Account Manager" for "Powers guiding "Thank you for coming" Mr. Glover, I now realize that he is and Associates" that the preceding as she pointed us to the elevators! not only an award winning actor, interviews and rehearsals had run Barbara, "chill out"! We only overtime and so " Danny" wouldn't producer, and director, Danny came for the interview, we weren't Glover is by far the most caring be available to grant us the humanitarian I have ever had the planning on crashing the party!! interview after all. What Ms. pleasure You of meeting, and a man could truly learn a lot from Hauser wasn't aware of however "Danny"!!! who understands that the was that onJy moments earlier Mr. Editorial assistance Glover had "personally" assured us community's needs should always provided by Brian Gany be put ahead of the importance of that he would be more than happy An Interview With Danny Glover to take the time to speak with us. Mr. Glover is a gational YMCA advocate. He stated that the YMCA has always had a positive affect on the community's youth and has always provided the community with an inexhaustible source of positive energy and assistance including helping the Write Us .... We'd like to hear from youI Send letters or comments to : Streetvibes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office attn : Streetvibes Letters 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati . Ohio 45210 homeless find suitable housing. One thing I couldn't help but notice about Ms. Hauser's "News Release" packet was that even though the "Gala Event" was being held in Northern Kentucky, and was being held to praise the YMCA and its people for the positive things they've done for communities throughout the Tri­ State, Cincinnati was the first and Know Your Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati's homeless and covers a person's basic rights when interacting withf11~-.~~ the police, as well as some local laws that might be ofinterest to the homeless population. If you are a homeless person or if you work with homeless people and would like to obtain free copies of the brochure for yourself or your agency, please call John or Molly at 421-7803. �./REE T V IB E S May 2002 Page 8 House Moves Forward on in solitary for long lengths of time and often Welfare put on Thorazine. But he resisted prison treatment Reauthorization by educating himself and PRISONERS' NEWS - -~...._... ln April, two House trying to develop a rational understanding of subcommittees approved nearly liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii& i;;;iiiliilii;iii;;iiiii• the origins and effects of identical bills to reauthorize the violence. Abbott wrote Temporary Assistance to Needy to Mailer, "you do not understand Families (TANF) program. The the devastating nature of civilized bill was approved on a 6 to 4 violence ...The shah of Iran will party-line vote. Both chop off your hands, but he will subcommittee-approved bills not (because he cannot) take your closely mirror President Bush's by Carol Rainey soul from you. In America.. .if its TANF reauthorization proposal. prisons hold the slightest authority Each would require a greater For the last ten years I over you, it can and will destroy number of welfare recipients to have been teaching a course in the you - it can and will take your work longer hours while limiting soul. Evening College at UC on prison the number of activities they may literature and always begin with be engaged in for much of the Ab n the book by Jack Abbott, In the t? defy ~s brutalization. A short \' ~ k. Despite imposing these Belly of the Beast, a collection of tlmejc(fteiin the Belly of the Beast andates, neither bill contains letters he wrote to Norman Mailer was\published in 1981, Abbott got increased funding to provide child in the late sixties. It is a powerful out orprison, but totally book about prison conditions and unprepared for civilian life · ed care assistance or other work his refusal to adapt to the a waiter in a restauran only a few supports to families. Furthermore, like the President's plan, the brutalities which were a daily .,cu.<......_,_ eeks after · of his life. Abbott had s nt his ten~t:I~i~e · out J erger and .M cKeon proposals h was 1 entire life in what he cal d (state­ g role. sfwee~ nso would contmue to deny assistance run institutions," from th ime he m upstate ew York he committed to legal immigrants and would was put in a home for delinquent suicide in his cell. I doubt that grant sweeping authority to federal there will be many memorial cabinet secretaries to grant states' teenagers when he was 14. He services for him, but I want to requests to waive a variety of was imprisoned a few years later program rules (a provision known for writing a bad check, and when honor his memory here, and he was twenty killed another recommend that his brilliant book as the "super waiver"). ln inmate and was given an continue to be read by all those addition, Republican-backed indeterminate sentence. During struggling against our inhumane amendments were adopted in both subcommittees to impose tougher the next fifteen years he was put system of law and punishment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uoctionsonfamil~sforfailing~ comply with TANF program rules. While we make every effort to provide a forum for those The subcommittee also approved a without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of technical amendment offered by THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION Representative Nancy Johnson (R­ FOR THE HOMELESS, is not CT) to allow funds in the bill to be responsible for statements, and do not necessarily used for "relationship" education endorse the opinions of the prisoners and skills programs for nonwhose writings are represented here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ married pregnant women and The Death of Jack Abbott ~==~~==============~~==='\ 1r expectant fathers. The bill already contains funds for programs that promote "healthy marriages." Among the Democratic amendments defeated by the contains news about the justice system and the Republican majority on the Ways writings of persons incarcerated in our and Means subcommittee were nation's jails and prisons. those to add $11.5 billion over five We are seeking subscribers who are willing to sponsor a years for child care services·, prisoner so they can receive STREETVIBES behind the walls. replace the caseload reduction Please sponsor someone on the Inside. credit under TANF with an A year's subscription costs $ 15. employment credit to reward states Send your comments and questions to streetvibes@juno.com for placing recipients in jobs; drop mall : STREETVIBES, 1506 Elm Street the 40-hour work requirement in Cincinnati, Ohio 4521 ~ the bill; and allow the transfer of Prisoners' News pr member of the North AmeriGan trut Ne"''paper Af,&oGiation '4pre,enti g over s;o &trut ne'la&papers throughout the United '5tate' and t:anada 5treefvibe · ----~"'"' . .:. . .!:. :. "'·'pea~ea&~.ora!_na,na . .!. ~~~.:..==.~~~~~~~~~- marriage promotion funds to programs that reduce poverty or provide child care services. Democratic amendments that failed in the Education and Workforce subcommittee include those to eliminate the "super waiver" provision from the bill; remove the legislation's 40-hour work requirement; count education and job skills training as work activities; and add an employment credit to reward states for lowering their welfare rolls and moving recipients into jobs. The Energy and Commerce Committee also took action on TANF reauthorization. On April 24, the full committee approved, by a 35 to 17 margin, legislation to extend for five years a $50 million­ per-year abstinence-only education program administered through TANF. Opponents of the legislation assert that there is no evidence to suggest that abstinence-only programs are more effective than those that include safe-sex instruction in reducing teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Democrats tried unsuccessfully to broaden the program to include safe sex instruction. The committee also approved, by voice vote, legislation to extend a provision in current welfare law that allows parents who have left TANF for work to retain their Medicaid eligibility for one year. Despite Democrats' desire to see the provision extended for five years (other provisions of the welfare law will be reauthorized for five years), the GOP-led committee approved just a one-year extension. The Energy and Commerce Committee-passed bills will be merged with legislation that comes out of the Ways and Means and Education and Workforce Committees. The committee's Social Security and Family Policy Subcommittee held a hearing on April 25 to examine how to best serve TANF recipients who face serious barriers to employment. At the hearing, Subcommittee Chair John Breaux (D-LA) expressed concerns about proposals to limit state flexibility and tighten TANF work requirements. Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Tom Carper (D­ DE) are still planning to introduce a reauthorization bill that closely resembles the President's proposal. Anti-poverty advocates have been lobbying hard against the measure, which appears to have lost some momentum - the proposal has gained no new cosponsors in recent weeks. Senators Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and John Corzine (D-NJ) also plan to introduce a comprehensive TANF reauthorization bill in the next few weeks. �i R EE TVIBES M ay 2002 Increase Access to School Meals for Homeless Children from the FRAC website The USDA issued a memo updating 1992 guidance on homeless children's participation in the school meals programs. This update brings the school meals programs in line with recent changes in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which expands eligibility for services to homeless children in the education system. USDA's definition of a homeless child has been updated to include not only children living in shelters, but also children whose family is "doubled up" with another family because of loss of housing, children living in motels or campgrounds because of lack of adequate housing, and children awaiting foster care placement. The guidance allows school Page 9 officials to determine a homeless child eligible for free school meals based on documentation from the local educational agency liaison that the child is homeless. This documentation is in lieu of the free and reduced price meal application with income information that is usually submitted by the child's parent or guardian. The changes in the guidance mean that many more homeless children will be eligible for free breakfasts and lunches. Community Will Celebrate Memory of Reverend Maurice ''Mac'' Mccrackin The fifth annual Reverand Maurice Mccrackin "Mac" Day will be held on Saturday, June 8th, 2002 from noon until 6pm at Laurel Park on Ezzard Charles Dr. (near Linn Street opposite Saint Joseph Church) in the West End. In case of rain, the event will be held inside Saint Joseph Church, 745 Ezzard Charles Drive. Featured activities will include video ofMac at 12:00 noon, an Interfaith gathering at 12:15, open mic sharing of memories of Mac at 3:30 p.m. , live music, and information tables homelessness to the death penalty, representing local social service nuclear waste and prisoners' agencies, political groups, and rights. Groups representing these religious organizations. Also, there issues and more will have will be children's games, art, and information tables at the event. food. "Mac Day" is dedicated to The park is handicapped the principles he lived by. accessible. For more information, or to Rev. Maurice McCrackin inquire about volunteer (Mac) was perhaps Cincinnati's opportunities or for information on most prominent civil disobedient how groups can get involved in for nearly a half century. He Mac Day, contact Brian Garry at followed his own conscience in 221-5537 or Reverand Phil Seher at Saint Joseph Church, 381-4526, causes ranging from anti-war demonstrations, civil rights and extension 13. ART, MUSIC, AND WRITING OPPORTUNITIES! Peaslee Neighborhood Center, 215 East 14th Street, hosts lots of arts opportunities for adults and children to learn skills such as playing a steel drum or piano, photography, making mosaic art, or writing. Any resident of Over­ the-Rhine or the West End is w e.b:m e ! AU sessions are FREE, including instruction and materials. No previous artistic experience necessary. Contact BrendaZ. at621-55 14, or peaslee_ bz@hotmail.com for more information. OTR Steel Drum Band Learn how to play the steel drums in a nine-week introductory series for adults. Parents may bring their children (age 9 and up) to learn together if they like. Participants will learn steel drum technique, rhythms, and how to read music. "I Dave A Dream": Community Mosaic Art Park Bench Project Community members are coming together to build a large mosaic art park bench to be placed in a neighborhood park. People of all ages may drop by buddy splace, 13th and Vine, Tuesday- Friday, 2­ 7 p.m., to try their hand at learning the mosaic tiling process. Photography Teenagers and young adults are invited to learn basic photography skills through introductory courses provided at Peaslee. Call the Writing Any young person in the Greater Cincinnati area may submit poems and/or articles via email at peaslee_bz@hotmail.com for publication in Streetvibes. Content should be related to homelessness, social justice, or poverty-related issues. Writing sessions are held Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for young people wanting to learn journalism skilJs and at 7:00 p.m. for anyone wanting to open up creative chan­ nels in writing. "Rhyme-n-Cbat," an. informal group of young people, gathers on the first Friday ofeach month, 5:30 -7:00 p.m. Call For New Arts Advisory Committee Members! The Arts Advisory Committee is looking for representatives from the neighborhood and the arts and business community. This committee helps to formulate the direction and development of Peaslee's arts programs. Looking For New Staff Peaslee is also looking for new music instructors for the steel drum band and for the mallets program. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in teaching music in a fun and rewarding setting. Anyone interested in any of these opportunities, contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee, 215East14th Street, Writers Unlimited is looking for writings to display at the annual Over-The-Rhine Community Festival Saturday, August 31 2002 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Washington Park Call Judi Mendriski for more information at Peaslee Neighborhood Center 513-621-5514 Deadline: July 10 A Woman Cursing by Mike H enson I see a woman cursing in the street. She has thrust herself into the crush of traffic and a car, to miss her, must cross lanes. The driver, wary, shrinks under her heat but she ignores him; she has other fish to fry. She curses loudly and without shame and the young men of the sidewalk tum to watch her. The prostitute eyes her from her comer perch. A clerk worries from the window of the Jordan Market and, in the schoolyard, a nun folds her arms and stares. Perhaps she mumbles a prayer for the woman who is large; she ripples with anger. I cannot hear her curses but they buzz against the glass of my car. I cannot see the target of her curses, but I see the hand she points and the firm set of her foot. I see the narrowed wince of her eyes and the path of the curses down her tongue and off her lips and into the street and into the solemn ears of children. I see the roped muscles tighten at her neck and the twine of the nerves beneath her hatchmark brows. And I am sad to see her so. Sad that the world can be so raw. Sad that the air of the street has filled with poison. Sad that the masters of television mock her poverty. Sad that the honey is leaving the combs of the earth. Sad that the milk of the world is tainted with salt. Sad that this path is cluttered with stones. Sad that there is so much pain ­ You, me, and this woman on the street. Ah, God, I cannot lift such sadness! �lREETVIBES May 2002 NICARAGUA :fighters funding and training resistance to take back power in By Jon Gambrell Oxford Press On top of a hill overlooking Managua, the capital city ofNicaragua, a silhouette of assassinated opposition leader Augusto Sandino looks down at a multi-million dollar hotel. If the silhouette could turn a little to the left, it would be looking down into Nicaragua. These Contras began hit­ and-run attacks into Nicaragua from Honduras. For the next ten years, shelling and fighting took the lives of many innocent people until finally, the FSLN lost power to the opposition party, the Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC) during the 1990 elections. As soon as President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro took power, the United States formalized relations with Nicaragua and began funding disarmament programs. However, the economy of Nicaragua was in shambles from the ten years of war, coupled with the remaining loans the Samosa - family had taken out prior to their loss of power. "The debt that Nicaragua now has is more political than economic," said Carlos Pacheco, an economist for the Institute of the poor barrios, the heart of a country in shambles. 80 percent of the population is in poverty and rampant corruption has taken its toll on this small Central American country, which is now under the control of World Bank and International Monetary Fund (JMF) structural adjustment programs. This was the focus of a group from Miami University as they traveled to Nicaragua this Spring Break to study the effect World Bank and 1MF policies are having on the country. Under the sponsorship of "Witness for Peace," a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., the delegation examined the roots of the economic troubles in Nicaragua and the way United States' foreign policy influences Nicaragua. Miami University sophomore Ross Meyer led the delegation. "Going on a Witness for Peace trip to Guatemala last year really affected me," Meyer said, " and I wanted to bring that valuable and positive experience to more people." The first thing one notices upon arriving in Nicaragua is the revolution. It screams at you from murals, art work and the statue of a peasant farmer holding an AK-47 in one of the main squares. The inscription at the base of the statue reads: " Only the workers and farmers will go until the end." However, it appears that the revolution is over. After the fall of the Samosa family in 1979, the Frente Sandinista de Liberaci6n Nacional (FSLN) took power and began social benefit programs. Much to the ire ofthe United States, the FSLN accepted loans from the Soviet Union, which prompted President Ronald Reagan to begin FEATURES IMF and the World Bank. These plans call for a privatization of state-run companies and a shift from subsidence farming to export­ only crops. "All national sovereignty is being lost to an era of globalization," Pacheco said, " Our farmers began growing coffee as an export crop, in line with structural adjustment policies. However, when we tried to sell our crop this year, we found no buyers, since Vietnam (also under 1MF structural adjustment plans) had a better season. So our farmers were stuck with a crop they couldn't even eat." Page 10 government is simply not responsible for the poor." However, during the recent presidential election campaign in Nicaragua, the United States Ambassador made a campaign appearance with E nrique Bolanos Geyer, leader of the PLC. When asked about the FSLN, the The structural Don Augusto Castillo Obregon adjustment plans have also gutted the central government embassy response was simple. "The Sandinista ruling class did of Nicaragua. Nicaragua's health not represent the society," she said. indicators are now some of the The people ofNicaragua worst in the hemisphere. have a different opinion. Don More than half of all child Augusto Castillo Obregon is a deaths in Nicaragua are campesino, a farmer three hours caused by preventable away from the capital. He lives diseases. Nicaragua has simply, with his wife and children one ofthe highest rates of in a village called El Regadio. teen pregnancy in the While he does not have many of Americas. "All of this is a part the luxuries of city living, he is very active politically. Shot three of the debt agenda," he times during the Contra revolution, said, " Through Don Augusto now runs "La dehumanizing the market Union," a farmers ' cooperative in and placing a price on El Regadio. everything, there is no "I am a Sandinista," Don value on the environment Augusto said proudly, showing a or human life." mural of Sandino on the side of his The United States government has a different home, "I love and defend my party Carlos Pacheco. an economist for the opinion on the problems in and am thankful because now I Institute ofInternational Studies in have my land and my daughters are Nicaragua. "There is Nicaragua. incredible corruption in the studying in school." Under the Sandinista party, International Studies in Nicaragua, Nicaraguan government," Nicaragua was able to change the said Robin Meyer, the new «This power is held by the G-7 illiteracy rate from 70 percent political counselor at the United countries and is used as a means down to just 10 percent. Under the States Embassy in Managua, "Over for dominance." If the debt, which now is in $300 million of aid was lost due to structural adjustment plan, Nicaragua has cut that part of its outright fraud. Nicaragua's the neighborhood of $6.5 billion, was evenly distributed among the citizens of Nicaragua, each person would owe international lenders about $1,400. The average yearly wage of a Nicaraguan worker is $430. The Nicaraguan governrnent, on average, pays about $225 million in debt-service payments a year. In order to come up with the money, Nicaragua has started following . structural adjustment plans laid out by the A home in El Regadio, Nicaragua �.CREETVIBES May 2002 FEATURES debt service social spending and illiteracy is at before basic 30 percent and continuing to rise. needs of a In El Regadio, the spirit of people." the people surpasses many of the "As monetary disadvantages. Working U.S. citizens with locals, Don Augusto assisted in a program to bring electricity to we should be the village a few years ago, which better was a mammoth task in itself. The informed about community literally had to run the debt and trade rhetoric, as electric line from nearby Esteli all opposed to the way to El Regadio, which is being an 800 about thirty minutes away. The pound community is also working on bringing irrigation to all of the economic gorilla on top surrounding farmland. While this of the community has achieved much on Americas." its own, Don Augusto realizes the country will continue to need And so the silhouette foreign aid and investment. of Sandino still "If the IMF and the World Bank stopped loaning us money, sits at the top of the hill in our country would die," he said, School Children in El Regadio "But in my opinion, 1 would ask Managua, you to pressure the IMF to overlooking the great disparity in wealth. The silhouette used to be continue loaning us money, but without the structural adjustment backlit at night, but now it vanishes conditions." into the darkness as night falls As the delegation returned across a country tom from years of back to the United States, they had war and economic struggle. There more emotions than answers. " I is still light, though, from the was struck by the strength of the people. people," Randy Wilson, a junior "We don't want war," Don interdisciplinary studies major, Augusto said, "We are lovers of said, "Even though they went peace. That doesn't mean that we through revolution and 10 years of won't continue to struggle." Only war, they still have so much hop~·\ ~he workers and the farmers will go "The experience was , ~until the end. SIDEBAR: Miami University, in wonderful," Meyer said, " It was pretty emotionally devastating, but part ofthe $40 million it has still inspiring. I think a lot of invested in diversified bonds, owns people gained important World Bank bonds. The experiences out of it and are University, which has over $200 motivated to bring them back to million in a variety of endowments displayed disgust over the the campus." and investments, holds a small discovery. "I think it is our Miami University professor percentage in the World Bank. responsibility as students and people not to be supporting hurtful and Oxford resident Rick "Basically, the University has about 5/ 100 of one $750,000 fund, institutions that don't work for Momeyer shared the same which equals out to about $375 feel ings. "The warmth and development," said Miami student generosity of a people who have invested in the World Bank," said Randy Wilson. Nicaraguan Beverly Thomas, assistant treasurer delegation leader Ross Meyer suffered endlessly is incredible," echoed Wilson's response. "I Momeyer said, "From the opposite of Miami University. While this end of the spectrum, you have U.S. represents only a fraction of a think it is a very important issue and international policy placing holding in the World Bank, several for both students and parents," Meyer said, " We [Miami University] are investing in an institution contributing to flawed policies that exploit the . poor and it is our responsibility as investors to ..;.tgoiw.!l~t.;.a denounce this." The fund that ~~"'lilliiFN-";~i19'!"1: contains the holding in the World Bank is being managed by an investor independent from the • University. Phntn 1\ ' lrn limmv f..lpnfh Page 11 Witness for Peace is a politically independent, grassroots organization. We are people committed to nonviolence and led by faith and conscience. Our mission is to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas by changing US policies and corporate practices which contribute to poverty and oppression in Latin America and the Caribbean. We stand with people who seekjustice . For more information on Witness for Peace and upcoming delegationas to Central America and the Caribean, visit the website at: www.witnessforpeace.org �f REETVIBES May 2002 Page 12 Bush's Central American Free Trade Agreement Exploits the Poor, Benefits the Rich (NAFTA), which the United States signed with Mexico and Canada in 1994, CAFTA by Jennifer DeLury, Witness for prioritizes the profits of foreign Peace International Team, investors over labor rights, Nicaragua environmental standards, and "I will rise again in the other measures that would benefit people," said Salvadoran pacifist Central America's poor majority. Archbishop Oscar Romero before CAFTA requires member he was shot and killed. The man countries to use their who ordered his murder was " comparative advantage" to trained by U.S. taxpayer compete in the global market. dollars-at the U.S. Army's For poor Central American School of the Americas. This countries, as for most other poor countries around the world, the March 24, 2002, twenty-two only "comparative advantage" S) years after Romero's \~ as sasination, President Bush and they have to offer is a cheap, l, Secretary of State Colin Powell desperate labor force and l; ~till be in El Salvador, where they vulnerable natural resources. And -\'°"~ will see thfttthe Archbishop's just as NAFTA did in Mexico, R prophacy was true: his CAFTA will certainly lead to ? committment to standing with the more exploitation of poor workers ~<J.. poor and spealcing out against and the environment in Central inj ustice has risen again in the \.- America, while benefitting the ~ multinational corporations whose people of Central America. Thousands of protesters ~\J profit margin depends on cheap ~ from around the region wttttake labor and lax environmental standards. ~ to the streets in San Salvador Like NAFTA, and the :->-- ~e last week in March to celebrate the legacy of Romero hemisphere-wide Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which is and oppose the signing of the Central America Free Trade also currently under negotiation, Agreement (CAFTA), an CAFTA's terms of trade are designed to prioritize export crops agreement designed to bring NAFTA-like trade rules to over local food production. This Central America,\Like the North destroys local markets for basic American Free Tfltde Agreement food goods and threatens the food security of small and impoverished nations like E l Salvador and Nicaragua. Although this transition to export­ oriented agriculture is already happening throughout Central America, CAFTA will help accelerate the process. Central American countries that further shift their agricultural production to export crops will be more dependent on food imports from the north, and more vulnerable to the fluctuating world market prices that they will receive for their export commodities. Central American small and medium-sized farmers do not have access to private financing or state subsidies, and therefore will not be able to compete with large corporate farms from the north. Unable to make a living on their land, these farmers will be forced to emigrate to cities or to other countries­ like the United States- in search of work. Those who oppose CAFTA also reject the undemocratic process through which "free trade" agreements are signed. In the aftermath of September 11, the House of Representatives narrowly voted to grant President Bush "Fast Track" authority, which would allow NPR senior correspondent Juan Williams interviewed conservative authors Bernard Goldberg and William McGowan, former journalists who argue that media tilt to the left. For the second part of the series, rather than featuring progressive media critics with an opposing view, NPR instead chose to interview two media veterans- former Time magazine editor aud columnist Jack White and former CBS News producer and executive Ed Fouhy- who were introduced with the observation that "most journalists reject the idea that their reporting is biased in any direction." Goldberg and McGowan offered examples from their books (Goldberg's "Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News" and McGowan's " Coloring the News: How Crusading for Diversity Has Corrupted American Journalism"). McGowan argues that efforts to increase diversity in the newsroom have led " to racial and ethnic and gender hypersensitivity and to a kind of narrow political orthodoxy," while Goldberg offered his claim that mainstream media tend to label conservatives more often than liberals. The following day, White and Fouhy were asked to respond to Goldberg and McGowan's charges. But Fouhy's first statements suggested that he believed there was some truth to the conservative critique, offering his recollection of a staffer at CBS News who referred to gun owners as ''right­ wing nuts. " While the experience and insight of long­ time journalists is valuable, neither guest presented what would be described as a progressive alternative to the previous day's conservative voices. White explained that public opinion about affirmative action was much more complicated than simple "pro" and "con" labels often assigned ~ NPR's One­ Sided "Liberal Media" Debate Reprinted with permission from FAIR-L National Public Radio's Morning Edition recently devoted two segments (3/20/02, 3/21/02) to allegations ofmedia bias. Morning Edition host Bob Edwards explained that "one of the most common complaints about major news media, including NPR, is that they' re not objective- that they either lean too far to the right or too far to the left." Though the program cited a poll suggesting that both complaints are believed by substantial numbers of Americans (36 percent see a rightward slant, vs. 46 percent who see a tilt to the left), only one of those points of view got a ful l hearing on NPR. In the first installment, Bush to negotiate trade agreements such as CAFTA without consulting the general population or considering input from Congress. The Senate is expected to follow suit as soon as next month. Under pressure from leaders representing the most powerful government to the north, Central American heads of state have little choice but to become accomplices in an agreement­ signing process that is anything but transparent. The inherently undemocratic "Fast Track" authority would help further a trade negotiation process that takes place behind closed doors, where corporate interests triumph over the needs of the world's poor. Labor, environmental and citizen/consumer groups will be barred from the negotiations, while the door is open to corporations and lobbyists. The Bush administration has declared that the signing of CAFTA within the next year and a half is a top priority, and Bush will take advantage of his "Fast Track" authority, if it is granted, to further this goal. By creating a Central-North American "free trade" bloc, the Bush administration hopes to have more clout with which to Free Trade.... cont. on page 17 by the media, while Fouhy recalled that over the last 30 years, "the most controversial issue was abortion, and it was generally seen as either a pro­ choice or a pro-life point of view. The fact is, of course, that many Americans are profoundly troubled by either point of view, but I never heard that expressed in the newsroom." These recollections do little to answer the claims of liberal media bias offered by McGowan and Goldberg. At one point, White did offer the beginnings of a progressive media critique when he explained that the main media bias " is toward the status q uo. It tends to downplay the complaints made by people who are seen as being on the fringe of the political spectrum, especially those on the left." Unfortunately, National Public Radio's truncated debate over media bias was a good example of that problem. Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe views and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �lREETVIBES EL) ITO RIAL SECTl()N May 2002 Local Housing Response to Trust Fund: proposed The Solution to settlement of racial profiling Cincinnati's Housing Crisis lawsuit The Coalition for a Just Cincinnati wishes to congratulate all those involved in the collaborative process used to draft a resol ution to the racial profiling lawsuit. We emphasize, however, to the community of Cincinnati and to the local and national media, that the boycott called by the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati continues. We urge community leaders to take immediate steps to address all areas of our demands - to end social and economic apartheid, to support and enforce civil and human Rights, and to enact City government and election reform, as well as to restore public accountability of the police. The Coalition for a Just Cincinnati will be studying in detail the following documents to determine, should the recommendations contained therein be successfully implemented and sustained over time, whether or not any of our demands will in fact be met Proposed Agreement on Cincinnati Police Division Operations: City of Cincinnati & United States Department of Justice Collaborative Agreement: City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Black United Front, American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, Fraternal Order of Police We would like to point out that the immediate situation in Cincinnati remains that the current Citizens Police Review Panel is not meeting, and there is no effective discipline system in place to deal with police misconduct. We stand by our demand for the resignation of the Chief of the Cincinnati Police, Thomas Streicher. We also point out that several lawsuits against the city have not yet been resolved, and that the families of the victims of police violence of recent years have yet to be compensated or offered any justice. The Mayor of Cincinnati still refuses to meet with any of the organizations calling for boycotts and sanctions to resolve these issues. by Meghan Clarke The gap between the number of affordable housing units and the number of people needing them has created a housing crisis for the low-income people across the United States. According to the 2000 Census, owning an affordable home or even finding a safe and affordable rental unit is financially unattainable for close to half of American families. A lack of safe affordable housing has an enormous impact on American families, especially in Cincinnati where 25,000 unduplicated cases of homeless individuals were reported in 2000. Families with high housing costs are forced to choose between paying for housing and putting food on the table. Low-income families seeking stable housing have not benefited from the expanding U.S. economy. Inadequate wages, high living costs, and housing shortages have made it extremely difficult for low-income and working families to purchase homes. According to the Center for Community Change, in Cincinnati, an extremely low­ income household, earning 30% of the Area Median Income of $61 ,000 can afford monthly rent of no more than $458, while the Fair Market Rent for a two­ bedroom unit is $576. To make matters worse a worker in our area earning a Minimum Wage, $5. 15, must work 86 hours per week in order to afford a two­ bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market Rent. In fact, the Housing Wage in Cincinnati is $11.08, 215% of the present Minimum wage. In today's economy the leading solution for the affordable housing crisis is the establishment and implementation of Housing Trust Funds. Housing Trust Funds are public funds established by legislation, ordinance or resolution to receive specific revenues, which can only be spent on housing. The key characteristic of a Housing Trust Fund is that it receives on-going revenues from dedicated sources of funding such as taxes, fees or loan repayments. Housing Trust Funds have demonstrated that when government makes a commitment to address critical housing needs, the on-going dedicated source ofrevenue allows for more intelligent planning to address housing needs and for improved proposals submitted by the housing industry in an effort to effectively use existing resources. Having funds that are committed to housing over time is crucial because housing advocates have long had to compete with numerous social causes to secure dwindling public resources for affordable housing. A Hamilton County Housing Trust Fund will make Page 13 monies available to communities to rehabilitate existing substandard housing, allowing parents to raise happy, healthy chi ldren and giving children the opportunity to reach their full potential. Housing Trust Funds do more than build new homes: they help communities create new jobs in the construction industry and increase the property tax base. By using a U.S. Department of Commerce model, it is estimated that investing $5 billion directly into housing construction would result in 184,300 new jobs. Local Housing Trust Funds leverage an average of $9 from private, non-profit, and governmental sources for every $1 spent by the Housing Trust Fund. Housing Trust Funds are so important because without more financial resources, the need for safe affordable housing will not go away anytime soon. For many private developers, building affordable units without some type of low-interest loan or grant is not financially feasible. Housing Trust Funds help by providing the funds housing developers need to make their projects affordable. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is undertaking an initiative to advocate for a countywide housing trust fund as a means of creating affordable housing opportunities in desperately needed in Cincinnati. This will be done in conjunction with the Center for Community Change and the National Coalition for the Homeless and in cooperation with the County Commissioners. "This company is awash in cash precisely because you CAN'T afford shoes for y our kids." �fR EE TVIBES May 2002 Page 14 We Are Here by George Herrell It has never ceased to amaze me, That our existence could be ignored by so many. Or perhaps it's disbelief, That within the graffiti covered buildings of "Over-the-Rhine" Any goodness could exist! - --===--­ Or is it doubt hat God - loving, good - ~ hearted people, ) streers­ Could share these trash stre with those Filled with such clearly apparent evil and those who Only for now have fallen by the wayside. But the God we love, The same God you praise each Sunday in your "Multi-Million Dollar Temples" Teachings tell us not to discriminate! He has told us not to judge others who are plagued by misfortunes. But instead to make the way clear so that they may someday, Repent the wages of their sins. For the precious blood that was shed on "Calvary" Forgives ALL of them. Yes, We Are Here.... Dying To Live and Living To Die by James Hardison Some people live and some people die never knowing the reason why some people are always ready to take but never willing to give that's just the way it goes in this world on which we live sometimes you have to be willing to make a few sacrifices · when you want something really bad even though giving up something you love might make you sad once it's all over, when everything is said and done and there's nothing left to say you realize it was worth the price you had to pay sometimes life can be so unfair and sometimes life can be really great filled with things you love and things you hate the things that are on sale are not always what you want to buy when you' re dying to live and living to die Cincinnati Riot a-k-a ''Civil Unrest 2001'' by George Herrell ace" but if that is true, Is it the neighborhoods in which we live? Would simple relocation solve the problem? Is it the seasons? Do the seasons in this city differ so much from any other? Could leaving it barren and desolate be the answer? Would that be fair to everyone? To entirely elimminate the existance of a city? The Military Few and the Civilian Many by Eric Edward Johansson Democracy crumbles in a military world From top-down do the orders trickle But when upon military duty Did we create a democratic process for the men: The Grunt Council Hated we were to rise up and equal the soldier many to the officer few In democracy we talk much about the people But to their disservice do the orders come To obey and conform with rules from above The people's voice obscured by unquestioning obedience Policies ill-reflective of American principles; ashamed of my leaders am I For if we are truly a people imbued with compassion Then why act only in the interest of elites? As the many suffer only to guard lavish pinnacles of power Principles ignored, deconstructed to make room for profit As cities crumble, prisons flourish, liberty diminishes and wars abound The laws are clear. They were created by the state And are enforced by every city within its boundaries. And yet unlike any other to the youth who must Why must we pay such high a price live here, It's swiftly becomming known as "The City Of So only the military and elite may prosper? For if truly a compassionate nation then Death" Why not strive to care for the civilian many? For it is by their sweat that elites ravage global Fathers are locked away for minor crimes, fruit Mothers are denied adequate assistance, Forcing them g hours, Perpetual people of poverty, malnourished and Destroying th' familys s cture. under-educated Leaving children to children for Some without shelter to protect; some without companionship, and guidance to survive within this " Concrete medicine to cure And all our nation has come to represent in the Jungle" world Is a continuation of dominance Those who claim to "Protect and Serve" are T he prosperous few over the downtrodden nurtured with the words, many "ZERO TOLERANCE" Many takin~ it the step beyond to, If all men were created equal ZERO UNDERSTANDING! , and ZERO Then why are the fruits of the world distributed COMPASSION! so unequally Serving only to draw their paychecks! How about a fresh perspective in equality? And Protecting only their pensions! Knowing only the brotherhoods of "Them" and For if the top 3 percent control 70 percent of resources "Us". Then they should be responsible for 70 percent And yet the leaders claim no knowledge of the of revenue problems, Why only the few, the military few, while Which so obviously exist. civilians are neglected and No one could be so blind! jailed American principles failing the many, and Simply count the years on our headstones succeeding only those on top between "Born" and " Died" Restore Am.e rican principles: Of the people, Put away your foolish pride. For the People, By the People Let's heal our wounds. Before the judgement day in this city comes too To rise up the civilian many to equal the military few soon!!!!!!! Awaken, unify, rise and take America back, back to the people!! �fREETVIBES May 2002 A Parable for Our Time by Charles Schott Said the First World to the Third World: "Give me you land, your water, and your natural resources, and 1 will develop you." "But we don't want to be developed," answered the rainforest Native. "We love our lands and waters, and the forests are our homes." " Ah," replied the East Coast investment banker, "you're just ignorant Indians. You don't n he value of a dollar. Why, i the ace of your jungles we' ll giv ou shopping malls, high-rise buildings, automobiles, maybe even a mi litary base if you're good." "No, no," replied the Native. " Our lands and waters are precious to us. The Earth is our Mother. To destroy Her is to destroy us. " " Umph, we have ways to deal with you then, you stubborn Indians. We'll come in and take your lands, and we'll make you slaves in our government factories, on our pl tations, and in our Prepare Page 15 The Honor Of A Man by George Herrell by Edna Smith I am a black man who bas been It's true, we are all governed ~by other black men, through laws made by man ~t I should be proud of my When the truth is known African" heritage. there's one ultimate plan. I do not dispute that. But my "sooner" blood contains True, we have earthly parents that of several races. yet we' re all fathered by one And words of the only true book Do I disclaim all but that of the are coming to pass, it has begun. "Dark Continent"? What of my "Native American" Daughters turning on their Mothers ancestors? friends hurting one another Were they any less honorable? coveting neighbors possessions Should I deny that part of me? a man killing his brothers. Are they any less a part of who I am? The Earth falling steadily apart rivers and oceans unclean If I should have "Colonial" Mankind getting lazier ancestors, :::: ::::~Ys::~dm~~';; ,if I~::~dn::::1 : f b e ~e.} we must answer for our wrongs ( Many of us will be too Late to hear the golden song. We must deny the temptation that will lead us to hell Give in completely to our Father He will make us well. Learn that true compassion is truly heaven sent And using it very wisely to go where Jesus went. " we w d rather die than give u omes and see our Mother Earth destroyed," said the Native. "The Creator made our .. Let go of the worldly goods lands, and His Spirit is in the you can't take with you anyway animals of the forest, and these Don't sweat the small stuff animals are our brothers and Up to the Lord always pray. sisters. The plants and trees give us shelter and provide our food and He' ll always keep providing medicine. No, these things were exactly what we need given to us, and we cannot sell Quench you when you're thirsty them away. They are our children, When you're hungry, he~ ll feed. ands our children's children." "Enough of this," growled Start now this very minute the investment banker. "Out of the for our Father gives us a soul way! You can't stand in the way of It is now time to prepare progress. " to let him take control. Just then , a cloud enveloped the banker, and his It may happen tomorrow bank, and the building it was It may happen tonight standing in. It was a mushroom So lets ask our father cloud, and it turned the city into to help make us right. windy, howling crater as set off by a Third World Spirit that bandoned placed a device in building. This was the spirit of the ancient Earth and her children, the For information Spirit of the primeval forests, of on submitting the timeless mountains, and of the your poetry to deep, dark flowing waters with STREETVIBES their reflected stars. This is the Spirit that call 421 -7803 speaks to us now. When will we learn? Ghetto Life (part 2) by George Herrell "The Woman" A night of pleasure, nine months of pain, four days in the hospital with so much shame. You regret that night, but it's just too late, you've grown to hate. As he starts growing, and you're too tired to think, you run to the bar to get a quick drink. You stay at this place most of the night, and then you come home to argue and fight. You beat your son because of his father 's half, and you say you are a woman, " Ha", that's a laugh. Wo that make their blood any less a part of my own? Can I then claim "Purity" to any one race? More pride in one over the other? I was born in America, not Africa, not England! I am a Man born of Mankind. Nationalities are unimportant to me. Night/Bright The land to which you are born does not make you any more or less honorable. The color of your skin does not make you any more or less honorable. The hon.or of a man comes from within his heart!!! If I only walk about at night, Influence by Joseph Norris (submitted by Robert Mannasa) Drop a pebble in the water And it's ripples reach out far~ And the sunbeams dancing on them May reflect them to a star. Give a smile to someone passing, Thereby making his morning glad; It may greet you in the evening When your own heart may be sad. Do a deed of simple kindness; Though it's end you may not see. It may reach like widening ripples, Down a long eternity. by Mark Fries, G.E.D. Tutor ­ Urban Appalachian Council wear sunglasses even if it's not bright, or look too long into the blinding sun, 1' 11 have trouble seeing the good or bad I could have done. But if there are shadows and enough light, I can navigate the streets and choose to do what's right. I need shadows for my depth of fie ld, to understand the wisdom of what my thoughts can yield. To keep me from living in the panic of inky black, or blinded by too much light shed upon the facts, 1 need both light and dark. I need the contrast to make things clear. I need dark and light to see both far and near. �fREETVIBES May 2002 Page is a wonderful Palestinian man whose family lives in the occupied city ofRamallah, a Haitian man, a refugee and orphan whose parents were killed by police, an Indian Over-the-Jordan woman who became a human This has been a very tough rights attorney, and an Israeli year for our city, our country and woman who helps children with peace-loving, innocent people lost limbs from war. My beloved around the world. Right now we told me of her Masters thesis about have young Americans dying, Rwanda and the horrible genocide which I'm sure they don' t want to there. I've always considered do, and killing, which I'm equally myself rather a liberal and a sure they don't want to do. humanist until this angel of a Because some evil people could woman came into my life, willing somehow justify killing innocent to change the world, with the Americans who committed no heart, the drive, and the tools to do crime but to go to work one it. September morning. Tuesday evening, April 16 This same year we have all at approximately 8:00 p.m. my seen Israeli tanks destroying Palestinian villages. These attacks girlfriend was returning from work downtown to her home in Clifton. are in response to a people so Her only crime was to go to work desperate that not only the act of suicide is understood and accepted one April morning when she but even condoned. It is condoned became the victim of a hate crime herself While she was driving on by mothers and fathers of eighteen McMickenjust north of Liberty, year old girls whose only future as near the Free Store Food Bank an they see it, is martyrdom and their ' African American youth stepped only goal is to kill as many "oppressors" as they can in the act. off the curb in broad daylight and with his best impression of a major However we see it on television, few of us could point out on a map league pitcher, threw an object where the Golan Heights, the Gaza from close range directly at her unprotected bead. She ducked, as Strip or the West Bank are located. the object slammed not six inches Maybe half of us know simply its from where her head had been. some place Over the Jordan. Looking up and hearing shouts as I meet her during the civil eight to twelve youths began unrest last year here in Cincinnati. surrounding her car, she hit the We met at a mutual friend's house accelerator and ran through a red during the curfew. The party was light risking her life, in fear for her for my birthday because my local life. watering hole had to close at The object turned out to be 8:00p.m. We talked for hours as an egg. How ironic that the she shyly told me of recently universal symbol of fertility and getting her Masters degree in birth, a luxury food item in many International Relations after many of the world, should be used parts hard years ofstruggle. And I fell in as a weapon to destroy the liberal love. That week she went to ideas of such a beautiful person in Reverend Shuttlesworth's of the Free Store. front congregation in North Avondale to It is now both of our fears hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 's that from this day on we will see son speak of peace and to give her the color of someone's skin before support to the community there we see the true person. 'this morning the death of Timothy incident in Over-the-Rhine makes Thomas. Since then I have met many me pray that Over-the- Jordan did of her college friends. Among them not start with an egg. Death of Liberalism 1 2 3 4 California Struggles Over Open Air Shelter by Robert Norse Santa Cruz's Coral Street Open Air Shelter Campground bas been unfairly maligned and the record needs to be corrected. Ken Cole, the Homeless Services Center director of Santa Cruz ' who has abandoned a former activist role in Seattle in favor of grant-seeking service-provider in Santa Cruz was not present when the Open Air Shelter thrived (1994-5). It was open to all the homeless and not just a select few. It saved lives and, though crowded, noisy, underfunded, and treated like an undesireable dirt poor relative by the Homeless Community Resource Center next door, it was a relatively successful experiment, which received virtually no funding from the City. The Citizens Committee for the Homeless under Paul Lee Paul Pfotenhauer, Paul Merceau, and Deryl Darling essentially abandoned it. The CCH abandoned their promises to the campers organization, the Save Our Shelters group. Councilmembers Kennedy and Rotkin moved to close it after a heavy rain. It did collect overflow of homeless people driven out of San Francisco under the neo­ fascist "Matrix" policies of Mayor Frank Jordan. It did have folks who drank, took drugs, were loud, etc. But it served as an anchor for folks during the day, a place where they could keep their pets and belongings. NO ONE DIED THERE. But after Rotkin, Kennedy, and CCH ordered the camp dispersed, half ) 10 @ 25 a dozen to a dozen homeless people, forced to live in unsafe conditions, did die. Homeless activist Dan Hopkins called Rotkin and Kennedy "murderers" for their role in this suppression of homeless activism and self­ empowerment. It did not have the "clean image" that Camp Paradise had, but it served far more people. It is important that the false negative history of this camp be corrected. There are documentaries such as "Campground" and other videos as well as many hours of interviews and tapes from Free Radio Santa Cruz's Bathrobespierre's Broadsides show that attest to the value of Coral Street Open Air Shelter, in spite of all the lies spread by its critics-including the so-called service providers who watched it. The writer can be contacted at: rnorse@hotmail.com Story, Editorial and Art Submission Deadline for the JUNE,2002 edition of STREETVIBES is Monday, MAY 13th. Answers to April Crossword 5 Across 1. Sylvia Plath's The _ _ __. 9 7. Be Obliged. i - - . , . . - 4 - - 4 - - - - - - - 8. Costly Shirt Brand. 10. King's Jurisdiction. 12. Sing like Bing. 14. Dual Overhead Cam. 16. This Publication. 20. Big Bitter. 21. In Re: ---+----+----+--~--' 22. What Steve Roach could have done with bis gun. 23. Employ 24. Look out Below 7 16 5 Down 1. Enemy of Moose and Squirrel. 2. Ram's S.O. 3. Othello or Juliet. 4. Editor of 13 Down. 5. Arizona 6. Big Bird. 9. Emptied. 11. Wind-deposited silt. 13. Draft animals. 15. _ Scan - a medical image. 16. General chicken. 17. Unit of length (Hispanic) about a meter. 18. Units of a shelter's size. 19. Bait 22. Hebrew 3rd person pronoun �ti I J rl, fREETVIBES May 2002 my mother had a black boyfriend. Little did those people know that it was my mothers boyfriend who filled the role of father that a white coward left in his haste to abandon by Anonymous my mother, sister and me. No, Written during last years Civil they didn't see his goodness, only Unrest his skin. We eventually moved The curfew is a lonely from Norwood to Bond Hill where place for those of us who are I attended grade school. Living in spending it reflecting on what this Swifton, race never seemed an crisis means to us, to our issue to me. The common neighborhoods and to our was poverty, denomjnator relationships with members of generally speaking. My friends other races. This somber loneliness found me in search of a were not black or white~ they were simply friends. As my and my place to share my thoughts with sister's friendshlps developed, we other concerned citizens. When I regularly found ourselves in found the Cincinnati Enquirer Avondale, Evanston~ Walnut Hills, internet bulletin board, I thought and Roselawn. Ironically, perhaps someone would emerge we moved to Roselawn eventually who was seeking the meaning and healing that I find myself in search because I bad reported to my of tonight. Instead all I found there mother that I was uncomfortable in was more hate and finger pointing. school because I was the only white person in my fourth-grade Granted I did not read every entry. class at St. Agnes. Thus, I can still hope there are Tonight I feel guilty th~t at people out there that desire the age ofeight, I'd somehow the positive reassurance I know developed a sense of racial Cincinnati is capable of I grew up in many different differences. Was it my experience in Norwood? Was it due to some but integrated Cincinnati subliminal programming from neighborhoods during the 1970's. society? It certainly wasn't based As the Cincinnati police have continued their irresponsibility and on anything my mother taught me. racial brutality over the last several (I'm sure you are familiar with the argument that children are only years, I've found myself very grateful for the diverse experience able to develop racist ideas if their my mother provided my sister and I parents espouse them)! In fact, she encouraged me to continue with as we grew up. My attending St. Agnes and explained upbringing, I think, has thankfully me that skin color is to a11owed me to understand black meaningless. I recall that the first outrage and fear in this city. racially-motivated comment that I At the young age of five, ever heard was other from other Norwood taught me about racism. children calling me n--r lover. My family was harassed because Time to Start Healing Page 17 Despite my mother's efforts, we moved to Roselawn so I could change schools. Living in Roselawn was a great experience. The neighborhood was integrated and the school was good. I was also introduced to a new "ethnic" group there, Jews. Just as I had learned to love gospel music from spending time in black homes, I also found Jewish customs fascinating. Roselawn was a true melting pot. In those days, there wasn't racial tension there nor was there the endemic poverty of Swifton. Looking back, I am nostalgic for the diversity that thrived there in the late 1970s. Once reaching middle-school age, I attended Walnut Hills High School where I continued to thrive on the integrated nature of the school. Not surprisingly, my sister ultimately taught in South Africa during the final days of Apartheid and I earned a Masters in International Relations and developed an expertise in ethnic conflict in the Great Lakes region of Africa. These days my mother can rest assured knowing that her girls will always be part of the solution based on the values she instilled in us from my earliest memories. As the current crisis has unfolded, I've been so tempted to return to Avondale to hear the message of black leaders and offer my hand in helping to heal this community. While I'd like to believe that the black communitys protest is solely aimed at the police department, I worry that every day relations between blacks and whites will suffer. Currently, I live in Pleasant Ridge. I chose this neighborhood as an adult because I'm not comfortable in the segregated communities that characterize Cincinnati's suburbs. I believe Pleasant Ridge has a lot in common with the Roselawn of the 1970s ~ children of all races play with one another and our community council is active and integrated etc, etc. But as I ventured out just before the curfew Friday, I worried that perhaps Pleasant Ridge would suffer the tensions that have characterized so many other parts of the city this week. The sight of Everybodys Music store all boarded up seemed to symbolize the loss oftolerance and understanding that the city has suffered. My question to the black readership of this [newspaper] bulletin board is: Are you offended when whites participate in events currently taking place in the black community? Do you think its patronizing for whites to feel they understand your plight at all? I don't want to offend anyone, but I feel a duty to be a part of the healing in this city. The one thfog I am sure of is that I can't truly understand anything by sitting in my house and avoiding the debate. I hoped when I attended Mr. Thomas' funeral that you will greet me like any other caring citizen there. God Bless. Free Trade .... Photographs by Jimmy Heath and Siusan Durst May 31 - June 23, 2002 Opening Reception May 31, 6- lOPM BASE ART GALLERY 1225 MAIN SI REET OVER-THE-RHINE (513) nl-2273 WNW.baseart.org chorus opposing all "free trade" agreements that do not promote cont. from page 12 the social and economic welfare of human beings as their central pursuade South American objective. Economic growth is countries-especially Argentina otherwise meaningless. In the and Brazil, who have voiced name ofRomero, we must commit concerns about the terms of such ourselves to opposing "Fast Track" "free trade" agreements- into and workjng towards international joining the FTAA trade agreements that strengthen Over 22 years ago, workers rights, protect the Archbishop Oscar Romero also said, "Let those who have a voice environment, prioritize the needs ofthe poor majority over the speak for the voiceless." profits of a handful of As thousands of Central corporations, and that are created Americans gather in prayer and through a participatory, transparent protest in El Salvador, let us in the and democratic process. north use our voices to join the Are you a dedic ated individual with a desire to educate the public about homelessness? Volunteer at Streetvibesl We need writers, editors, webpage updaters - any help you can p r ovide. Call 421- 7803 for more in formation. --- �'I fREETVIBES May 2002 Page 18 The key here is "responsibility". The lock is apathy or Bread and Circuses. The result is crime ridden streets. When a mother and by Jane Humane her children cannot stand at a bus thousands of buildings stand Here's the bad news fust. vacant we continue to tear into the stop without being shooting virgin earth and destroy the victims of other children's drug We are a civilization in decline. habitats of other creatures. Just like Rome right before its wars we still need the police. fall, we have degraded into "bread In Irish folk lore, the elves Prior to the Ice Age and circuses". That is what the or nature spirits ofan area are humans found cities in the caves ancient Roman Empire gave the referred to as the "Good People". in order to better survive. We banded together to protect one It is the term used to describe the idle masses in order to appease another from wild animals and regenerative and healing nature of them. They created the first the planet. This concept appears welfare dole and when that wasn't share food and responsibility in caring for the youth and the elders. in all variety ofethnic fairy tales. enough they started throwing Humans have thrived and now we Well, this is no fairy tale. The Christians to the lions to provide a no cost spectacle for the masses. have cities where food is plentiful people of this city need to work (check your comer's Wendy's, Star together and economic extortion Eventually, that wasn 't enough. Bucks or Soup Kitchen), via boycott is not the answer. Any These free but poverty dangerous wild animals are in of the able bodied men and stricken citizens were distracted women who are unemployed (and check for the most part and we and government subsidized. It wasn't until much later that they now fear each other. even those who are not) are gained enough spiritual guidance That is the crux ofour valuable members of society. We and conscious to realize what was dilemma here in Cincinnati. Fear can use screwdrivers, hammers and modem machines and happening. It was a huge mass of and intimidation rule. On the technology to fix up the ruined peoples of all races and ethnic surface it appears to be a racial buildings for businesses and backgrounds. division but it goes much deeper. housing. We can teach our The people ofgood Some members of the community conscious took themselves and feel threatened by the police force. children to read. We can watch their children away from these By definition, the title of Police out for one another. If we can ever hope to live spectacles. We are approaching Officer is Officer of the Peace. this point here in Cincinnati and We have had far to little peace for in a society where we don' t need all over the country. They are Police, then we need to take better too long. If our citizens could leaving the urban centers to care of each other and stop the learn to live together peacefully escape the decay, and fleeing to violence. Every citizen needs to then we would have no ne~d for build newer and newer suburbs Police. Until that time, we tteed take responsibility for the farther away from the city's them and they don't have an easy condition of our society and for job to do either. They aren't center. These people of all races our situation here in Cincinnati. perfect, they are just human and religions are trying to avoid When all good people of our society's iIIs by moving away beings like the rest ofus. this city who are at its heart and from the hotbed of political Some ofour spiritual soul leave Downtown Cincinnati collusion. leaders continue to divide us to fall like the ruins of Rome, it We are experiencing urban according to race and say it is the will be too late for any sprawl all over this country and it basis of the problem. It is not. redemption. When the Good People Leave is destroying the very earth. While ---------------------------------------1 RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION REMOVES LABOR other employees from the RIGHTS Hoffmand Plastic Compound in On March 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that undocumented worke do not have the right to free association in unions nor protection against employers that violate their labor rights. This decision means that if a business fires a worker for union activities (or any other reason), the worker does not enjoy the legal protection established by law because of her/his illegal immigrant condition. Undocumented workers in farm fields, factories, restaurants, and hotels in the country from this point do not have the right to demand lost wages or any other restitution from employers that violate the law by firing or punishing them for exercising their basic rights. The Court made a divided decision, 5 to 4, resolving the case of undocumented worker Jose Castro, fired along with three Paramount, California, in 1989, for supporting efforts to unioJlize the plant. The National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency in charge of resolving violations oflabor law and that supposedly guarantees protections to workers against employer repercussions for union activities or protesting employment conditions, found the rights of Castro had been violated and ordered that he be paid his back wages. The lower courts upheld the NLRB ruling, but the Supreme Court ruling reversed those decisions. BRACERO PROGRAM ­ Dangerous for workers The Bush Administration favors a "bracero" worker visa program. Under this program, immigrant workers are assigned a boss by the federal government and they I) cannot change jobs legally, 2) do not have the right to vote or a means to gain citizenship, 3) do not have the right to form unions, and 4) can be deported and prevented from returning to this country at the will of their employer. Baldemar Velasquez, President of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee of the AFL­ CIO, wrote, "What's scary is the number ofgood-hearted people who have been sold on this idea. Without a mass movement of opposition, Congress will go for it. People see it as some "compromise" short of "blanket amnesty." "Isn't it better than not having papers at all?" they ask. NO, IT'S MUCH WORSE! This program *codifies into law* the intimidation and absolute power employers have over immigrant workers." (Information is provided by the National Coalition for Dignity and Amnestyfor Undocumented Workers, www. tepeyac. orgl amnistia/, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, www.jloc.com; and Mexico Solidarity Network, www. mexicosolidaritv. orfY) Santa Cruz Homeless Activist wins Lawsuit Against LAPD for excessive force at DNC. Los Angeles, Ca. _ HUFF activist, writer, and videographer, Becky Johnson was awarded an undisclosed sum in a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department on April 11th when three cases represented by attorney James Fosbinder were settled. All cases stemmed from the LAPD police riot of the night of August l 4t~ 2000 when President Bill Clinton was speaking to the conventioneers~ the LAPD was shooting at the crowd outside with rubber bullets and clubbing everyone within 6 city blocks. Blocks away, on the night of August 14th, in the parking lot of the Shadow Convention at Pioneer Hall in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department prevented a live broadcast upload to satellite link claiming a suspected bomb in the parked van ofSanta Cruz Free Radio 96.3 FM programmer, the V-Man. After the riot, the sheriff's gave the aU clear. Becky Johnson and Robert Norse had been in the crowd across the street from the protest pit where the LAPD had just prematurely ended the series of speakers and bands that had been performing for the protesters. "They had permits until 9:00 PM," said Robert Norse. "But the police pulled the plug at 8:10PM" At 8:20PM, police began to advance on the dispersing crowd with biIIy clubs, firing dozens of rounds of rubber bullets, bean-bag guns, and stinger bullets. "I was almost trampled by the terrified crowd. I crouched behind a car wash sign so I wouldn't be hit by bullets," said Becky Johnson. "I pulled out my videocamera and began taping." Johnson turned to flee when an officer began clubbing a girl in front of her. "I never heard any warning to disperse from the area. I was not arrested. I was not threatened with arrest. I and three other people around me were just clubbed." Johnson sued in federal court for the Central District of California represented by attorneys Rhonda and James Fosbinder and Santa Cruz attorney, Kate Wells. On April 11th, 2002 Magistrate Judge Andrew J. Wistrich issued the order for settlement in Johnson's case, and that of two others. �May 2002 1TREETVIBES Page 19 Wal-Mart Faces Federal Charges for and harassment. Widespread Violations The Board complaint combined a year's worth of of Worker Rights violations into a consolidated Federal Labor Board Issues Complaint Against Wal-Mart for More than 45 Separate Incidents of Illegal Conduct From the UFCW web site Las Vegas, NV- The National Labor Relations Board charged Wal-Mart with violating federal law by coercing, intimidating and retaliating against its employees who were seeking a voice on the job with United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local Extreme Poverty Rising, Exsting Government Programs Could Do More The Urban Institute, April 2002 A recent Urban Institute policy briefconcludes that, "despite phenomenal growth in the U.S. economy in the late 1990s," extreme poverty (people with incomes below 50 percent of the federal poverty level) increased. More children lived in single­ parent, extremely poor families in 1998 than in 1996, an outcome that reflects an increase in very low-income families that are not receiving government support programs (including cash welfare and food stamps). 711. The Board complaint charges that Wal-Mart's illegal actions interfered with employees' right to hold a free and fair election at the Sam's Club store on Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas. The Board blocked the union election that was scheduled for November 29th and 30th, 2001 due to the company's relentless, illegal activity to silence its workers, voices. After investigating the charges, the Board found ample evidence to prosecute Wal-Mart for denying workers their federal right to organize for union representation free from intimidation, coercion complaint. A hearing is set for June 25, 2002. Wal-Mart was on trial in Las Vegas before an Administrative Law Judge of the NLRB for massive labor law violations in both Wal-Mart stores, including illegal termination and discipline of pro-union employees. The Board cites Wal-Mart managers for: Illegally threatening workers with termination if they support the union; Illegally encouraging its employees to retaliate against co-workers who supported the union; Illegally interrogating workers about their union sympathies; IUegally threatening not to hire applicants and to fire employees based on their support for the union; Illegal surveillance of workers' activities to discover their union activities; Illegally attempting to silence workers' voices to discuss the union on Wal­ Mart property; Illegally denying workers' representation. "All we want is a fair and free election," said Sam's Club worker Alan Peto. "But the company refuses to take their chances on fair and free. They prefer to subvert the basic principle of American democracy, everyone's right to make up their own minds without threats, promises, or intimidation." The UFCW is the largest organization of retail workers in North America, with 1.4 million members. Workers at retail food industry leaders such as Kroger and Safeway are members of the UFCW. \ ­ Extremely poor children face especially high risks. Many families are not getting the assistance that they need. The report finds that, if the present government safety net Yellowstone spokeswoman were fully utilized for families Karen Cooper ofthe Marsha Karle said the National with children who qualified, Montana Department of Livestock Park Service did not protest DOL's poverty among children and their announced last montb yesterday decision to get kill untested bison. families would have been more that all wild buffalo roaming Yellowstone National than 20 percent lower and extreme outside Yellowstone National Park Park,s new supervisor is Suzanne poverty 70 percent lower in 1998. on their traditional grazing and Lewis. Her number is: These findings provide a calving grounds will be (307) 344-2002. Address is; P.O. strong rationale for improving slaughtered. Box 168, Yellowstone National existing programs to provide Cooper said she does not Park, WY 82190-0168. "family-friendly" delivery systems. know how long DOL will continue Montana's State vet is To link to the brief go to the FRAC killing animals without testing Arnold Gertonson. His number is: website: www.foodresearch.org them. They will no longer use the (406) 444-2043; Box 202201, facade of brucellosis testing to Helena, MT 59620; determine if buffalo exposed to the agertonson@mt.gov disease (& carrying theantibody) We'd like to hear A five minute call or 34 get the death sentence. All will be from 'JOUcent stamp could save a buffalo's killed Send letten or life! comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, .. .··.. . ,:. or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letten, Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe-string budget I 506 Elm Street from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Cincinnati, Ohio 452 I 0 H omeless. Can you help us with some of the following items? Montana DOL ~o"' To Destroy Wild Buffalo Write Us! • Wish List Extra! Extra! o Electric Stapler - Heavy duty Advertise in Streetvibes! o Supplies for Vendor's Lounge (paper towels, cream and sugar, snacks, etc.) Reach thousands of downtown UXJrkers each month! Call 421-7803 for more information about how advertising in Streetvibes will work for your business.... o Blank Zip D isks - For Streetvibes Archives o Office and Cleaning Supplies o Computers/ components for Streetvibes story-writing, editing, research. If you can help, contact us at: Streetvibes, do Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45210 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@"uno.com � 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 2002 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 May 2002 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Rally at Fountain Square Marks Anniversary of Cincinnati’s Unrest Pg 2: Looking Outside for Answers Pg 3: The Life Pg 4: Reader Mail Pg 5: Boycott of Cincinnati Continues Despite Lawsuit Pg 6: Know Your Rights Pg 7: The Library Creates New Anti-Smell Policy An Interview with Danny Glover Pg 8: Prisoners News Pg 9: Increase Access to School Meals for Homeless Children Pg 10: Nicaragua Pg 11: Nicaragua Continued Pg 12: Editorial Pg 13: Editorial Continued Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: Death of Liberalism California Struggles Over Open Air Shelter Pg 17: Time to Start Healing Pg 18: When the Good People Leave Recent Supreme Court Decision Remove Labor Rights Pg 19: Wal-Mart Faces Federal Charges for Widespread Violations of Worker Rights 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 May 2002 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Alicia Beck Meghan Clarke Molly Lyons Mary Taylor John Halpin Cheryl Ware Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Mike Henson Susan Huesken LAH George Herrell Mike Henson Fanni J. Mark Telgarden Beth Lake Steven Paul Lansky Robert Lederman Mr. Lee Riccardo Taylor Robert Mannassa Carol Rainey Edna Smith Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alicia Beck anniversary Arts & Poetry Beth Lake Boycott Bush California Carol Rainey Cheryl Ware Cincinnati civil rights Covington Danny Glover Editorials Edna Smith Edward (Sonny) Williams Fanni J. Fountain Square Free Trade George Herrell Jack Abbott Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath John Halpin LAH LAPD Lawsuit Liberalism Library Mark Telgarden Mary Taylor Maurice Mac McCrackin Meghan Clarke Mike Henson Molly Lyons Montana Mr. Lee Nicaragua NPR prisoners news Racial Profiling Rally Reader Mail Riccardo Taylor Rights Riverbank Robert Lederman Robert Mannassa Santa Cruz School Steven Paul Lansky Street Life Supreme Court Susan Huesken Wal-Mart welfare https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/674d08303529325d5d30af26e9241a17.pdf 5826eec5a0c03190f7f63f8251ddc100 PDF Text Text Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �• MAY 2003 Cover Story deaths and 4 non-lethal acts of violence against people experiencing homelessness. Ohio was only surpassed by California (3 2 separate incidents in 18 cities resulting in 20 deaths and 15 non­ lethal acts), Colorado (13 separate incidents in 2 cities resulting in 11 deaths and 4 non-lethal acts), and Washington State (13 separate incidents in 5 cities resulting in 10 deaths and 3 non-lethal acts). The most recent known hate crime that occurred in Ohio Dangerous to be homeless happened in Springfield. There in August, Dennis R. Wade, who was homeless, was sleeping on the porch of an abandoned house when he was set on fire. He suffered burns on over 80% of his body. Though initially Mr. Wade was in stable condition, his brother reported, "He has no skin. The damage is done. He is not going to make it.''. His brother was correct. death were committed against men, women and children experiencing homelessness over the past four years. There have been 89 reported acts of non-lethal by Andy Erickson, National violence against homeless men and Homeless Civil Rights Organizing women. Project Many more ofthese crimes In Champaign, Illinois, a Homeless .... probably went unpublicized and quiet college town of about unreported. Often, homeless cont. on page 3 100,000 people, Robert James people do not report crimes Nash, a homeless man, was beaten committed against them because to death by a gang of four youth. ofmental health issues, substance The doctor who performed the abuse, fear of retaliation, past autopsy stated that Nash had been incidents, or frustration with struck on his head and chest about police. 20 to 25 times. He had also been Hate crimes against the strangled. He had suffered from homeless occurred all over the bleeding and bruising in the brain, country - in 98 different US cities ­ six fractured ribs, a broken over the past four years. Many sternum, and five ofhis teeth were occurred here in Ohio. In fact, the knocked out. National Coalition for the A recently released report Homeless has proclaimed Ohio the by the National Coalition for the "Fourth Most Dangerous State" Homeless (NCH), entitled Hate, for the homeless to live in. The Violence, and Death on Main ranking was based upon the Street USA: A Report on Hate number of hate crimes that hav.e Crimes and Violence Against occurred against the homeless People Experiencing Homelessness here. in 2002, is full of these stories. Over the past four years in According to the report., a Ohio, there were 11 separate total of 123 hate crimes resulting in incidents in 5 cities, resulting in 8 Living in public can be dangerous to your health Jimmy Heath photo New report ranks Ohio as 4th Most Dangerous for homeless people Panhandling For Awareness On April 15th, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) and the Cincinnati Youth City Council (CYCC)joined together in an educational effort to increase empathy and awareness about ____ • homelessness. There were groups of teenagers stationed in key locations on downtown Cincinnati city streets passing out flyers with different statistics from the latest study on violent crimes directed towards the homeless. The youth around the city were not protesting, but informing Cincinnati about the recent statistical study released by the National Coalition for the Homeless on violence against the homeless. The report; Hate, Violence and Death on Main Street USA, developed by the National Coalition for the Homeless and its Civil Rights Work Group, hopes to educate lawmakers, advocates and _­ the general public about the problem of hate crimes against those who are homeless. (See cover story above). The GCCH, dedicated to ending homlessness in Cincinnati since 1984, is a local grassroots community organization. This was the Cincinnati Youth City Council's first major project as an active, youth-based group, striving for a better city. The CYCC and GCCH challenge the city ofCincinnati to unite in a collective effort to Director of GCCH says " Ohio is improve our community the fourth most dangerous state to live in if you are homeless. Over for all ofits inhabitants. To get involved or learn 20,000 people experience homelessness in Cincinnati each more, please call year. That's 20,000 men, women, Georgine Getty (GCCH) and children who not only 513-421-7803, or experience the horror of having no Jeremy Guttman (CYCC) 513-325-9001. shelter, they also face the fear of being raped, beaten, robbed or Emily Geier, a comurdered simply because they are founder of the CYCC homeless. It's great to see the stated, " As concerned local youth rally to address this youth, we feel that it is difficult issue. I hope all of not only our right, but our duty to confront the Cincinnati will follow their compassionate lead." present day city issues. Decisions made today will inevitably affect our future. It's our job as educated youth to open the community's eyes to issues, one of which being homelessness." Georgine Getty, Executive TH �STREETVIBES local News May, 2003 Page 2 Homeless Challenged by Stereotypes by Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes Editor children homeless than ever before. After a couple offalse So unless we educate starts, I think spring is finally here. ourselves about the homeless and For the homeless in Greater we have is who they really are, Cincinnati, . this time ofyear might what we see, or think we know. be regarded as an easy time for In the movies and on TV, we see the mentally disturbed man, living on the streets. If you are homeless and living outdoors you dirty and bearded, rifling through don't need to worry so much about the garbage, or yelling at an unseen freezing to death. The food in the antagonist. Or it's the "bag lady". dumpster stays warmer for a bit Or any number of stereotypes; longer after it's been thrown out. drifters, transients, mentally Panhandling may be a bit more disturbed homeless people. profitable because there are more Sometimes they are portrayed as people on the streets enjoying the drug addicted or alcoholics, weather! standing in groups around a barrel Of course, all of these so-called observations are terrible stereotypes. For one thing, who we see on the street represents only a small percentage of who is actually homeless. Most people base what they know about the homeless on what they see in public. If you don't educate yourself, (or ifyou don't care) this is all you will ever know. Most often, the homeless people you see in A~co~ding. ~o a recent GCCH ~tudy, 25~ of public are men, maybe Cmcmnatl s homeless population are kids. all middle-aged, standing on a corner with a cup or a sign. Seeing people .. live like this, for whatever reason, is unfortunate enough. But the real tragedy ofhomelessness goes unseen. Nearly halfofall the homeless are families. 25% .o fthe homeless are children. Homeless children do not live their lives in public. We rarely see homeless families huddled together on city streets. Nearly 25,000 people in Cincinnati experience being homeless at one time or other during the course of a single year. There are now more woman and fire in a dark alley in some seedy part ofanimaginarytown. With all of this, how else are people going to know who the homeless really are? We sometimes hear about the homeless when they commit a crime, and their housing status is pointed out, as if that alone is a misdeed. We hear about "housed" people committing horrible crimes all the time. Does the fact that they are not homeless somehow lessen the crime? Or worsen it? I'm just not sure, but ifyou are homeless and commit a crime the news media will point it out just the same. The dreadful things that occur in middle-class suburbia is sometimes hidden by class or economic status, or just the fact that they are not living outdoors. Homelessness exaggerates everything, especially suffering. Times are tough economically and things may not get better for a while. And this means that those at the bottom ofthe ladder will suffer even more. Ifwe don't know our brothers and sisters on the streets, if we don't know who they really are and what they need_ how can we help them? We shouldn't let fear or revulsion or mistrust or stereotypes make us forget about our sense of humanity. Learn to challenge your own stereotypes ofthe homeless. Take the time to find out who the homeless really are. Behind every man and womar who lives on the street is a family, a history, a yearning that we all share. When you pass a homeless person on thi: street in the coming months, take. ent to pause. Think about you · and what it means. In 2001, the Greater Cincinnafreoalition-for the .. · Homeless, Applied Information Resources and the Health F oundati~o'.!! n.s~ of~eat:er\ completed a report on . homelessness in Cincinnati. The report, Homeless in Cincinnati, gives statistics on Cincinnati's homeless population. The data from the report can be accessed at http :Ilwww. ihphsr. uc. edulhfgc! holdings.cjm. Select &fil Foundation Archive then Browse Archive Holdings and select Homeless, Year 2000 Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary the sale of Streetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise rnis­ donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $1. I also understand that I will be representing is a violation ofa city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless papers, and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not termination from the program. contest territories with other distributors. I will 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt not sell on private property without permission. to vend after 12 midnight. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other vensupporting paper created by people who are dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence effort, I will try to spread the word and write of drugs or alcohol. stories ifpossible. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of threatened. the above statements will result in termination 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I am collecting for the "homeless" in general. I time as deemed appropriate. will be honest in stating that all the profits from �ST R EETVI BES May,2003 Page 3 Homeless .... cont. from page 1 by Molly Rhodes relationship that has few While services for protections for both the employer homeless and poor people are and the homeless person. being cut back across the It may not look like nation, Portland, Oregon's only much to to the untrained eye, street newspaper, Street Roots but Dr. Randy Christensen's (www.streetroots.org), is roving camper can be a Jiteral expanding this month from a lifesaver for homeless teens in monthly paper to a bimonthly. Arizona. The camper, known as The volunteer-run, four year old the Crews' n Healthmobile paper had looked to double its Mobile Medical Unit, is equipped publication schedule for at least a like a doctor's office, with all the couple years; it has only recently basics from prescription amassed the volunteer base medicine and anti-depressants to needed to increase production. anti-fungal sprays and even room Sadly, the decision to expand is for minor surgery. The biggest also a response to the need for the disease Dr. Christensen is unable true voice of homeless people to to treat is mental health illness. A be heard. Said the paper's study conducted among his creative director, Israel Bayer, patients reveals that 40 percent "With the current economic crisis, admit to feeling depressed, while and dramatic growth in numbers only half those took some kind of of homeless, it only makes sense medication for this condition. to make that move now." More than 78 percent of Homeless day laborers in homeless teens receive no Salt Lake City fear they will feel counseling at all, even though it the aftershocks from the is available to them. Dr. discovery that Elizabeth Smart's Christensen makes screening for kidnapper was a homeless man mental helth issues part of his hired to work in the Smarts' first treatment for any new home. Jobs that are already patient. Yet neither he nor any of scarce could become scarcer as the other Arizona homeless city residents shy away from advocates can force teens to seek hiring anyone with a similar the care they need to survive. homeless background, according A small but important to the Salt Lake Tribune victory for homeless advocates (www.sltrib.com). Yet there have was won in San Francisco, been no noticeable drops in day where Supervisor Chris Daly laborer employment in the city managed to convince social since Elizabeth was recovered, service officials not to require and homeless advocates in the every person seeking shelter in area think most people who the city to be fingerprinted. would have been interested in The fringerprint plan was part of hiring day laborers would realize Proposition N, which stopped the that not all of them are like flow of money directly to Elzabeth's kidnapper. In addition, homeless people and instead will Brian David Mitchell was not funnel that money into new social offered the job at the Smart home service programs, according to through an established day laborer the San Francisco Chronicle. organization, but picked up while The fingerprinting was designed panhandling downtown - a to be a way to track who uses the new services, particularly new shelter beds and food sources, to make sure the people who need the services are getting them. Yet such an invasion into privacy would only scare off homeless people who are illegal immigrants or do not want to be so closely tracked. Those who had been receiving checks from the city will continue to be tracked - about 2,500 people out ofthe city's estimate of anywhere from 8,500 to 15,000 homeless people. Wade eventually succumbed to his injuries. In October of 2001 , a homeless Cincinnati man was sitting in Piatt Park when a group ofyouths came up behind him, hit him with bricks in the back ofthe head, and then ran off. Two days later, a police officer noticed the injuries to the man's head, and took him to the hospital where he was given stitches. The man later had a series of strokes and died as a result of the injury to his brain. Because ofstories like these, NCH is calling on Congress to add housing status to pending hate crimes legislation. The US Congress currently defines a hate crime as a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim because ofthe victim's race, color, or national origin. Hate crimes are commonly called bias-motivated crimes, referring to the prejudice or partiality of the perpetrator against the victim's real or perceived grouping or circumstance. According to NCH, most hate crimes are committed not by organized hate groups, but by individual citizens who harbor a strong resentment against a certain group of people. Some are "mission off.enders, " who believe they are on a mission to cleanse the world of a particular "evil." Others are "scapegoat offenders," who project their resentment toward the growing economic power of a particular racial or ethnic group through violent actions. Still others are "thrill seekers" - those who take advantage of a vulnerable and disadvantaged group in order to satisfy their own pleasures. Thrill seekers, primarily in their teens, are the most common perpetrators of violence against the homeless population. Donald Whitehead, director ofNCH, said in a press release, "Our country is in its darkest hour. As more and more men, women and children are forced into poverty by worsening economic conditions and the widening and growing dap between the rich and the poor, their cries for help are hot being greeted with kindness or benevolence, but are instead being greeted with apathy ·and hate. It is time that we expose these cowardice acts against people without homes. It is time we bring this darkness to light." For more information about hate crimes and other issues su.rrounding homelessness, please visit NCH's web site at www.nationalhomeless.org. The report "Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA: A Report on Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness in 2002 " is available as a downloadable PDFfile. Finding a Great Job by Mary Anne, a Streetvibes Vendor It took me a long time to find a job I like to do. I love my job. It's fun and I meet different people. I have a great boss. Her name is Hope. She is caring, kind and has a good heart. She will go out of her way to help you if she can. It's not easy finding a job where your boss is great and understanding. · I thank God for giving me this great job and meeting Hope. My boss and I do cleaning work. Hope isn't just my boss, she is a great friend to have. God bless Hope and her family. ­ �STREETVIBES May,2003 Reader Hail use my perspective on homelessness, because I have been there, and may be on my way back. I will not, however, give ':1P on my mission to enlighten the world We would like to hear from you through my poetry. I am a certified - please address letters and artist in the branch ofEnglish Literature comments to; and I look forward to having you on my team. I've Streetvibes, submitted another copy of my 1506 Elm Street, poem "The Streets" with a copy of Cincinnati Ohio 45202 my biography as well. (or) email to: I look forward to seeing it Streetvibes@juno.com published in next month's issue of your newspaper that I still support, and I'll be at your rally on the 15th ofthis month if I'm still in town! Lawana T Luck Vendor Doing a Good Job I wanted to comment on one of your vendors. I believe his name is Tony ­ he stands around the comer of Central Parkway and Elm by the YMCA He is always very courteous, has a smile on his face and even when turned down wishes folks a good day. I try to purchase Streetvibes from him each month because of his attitude and positive presence. Too often we only complain and do not let people know when a good job is being done so I felt it was important to comment on this gentleman who represents your organization very well. DebbyNare Ed Note: See Lawana spoem, The Streets on page 15 ofArts & Poetry.... Finding a Way I'm from Dayton Ohio and I'd like to share my story with Streetvibes.readers. Seven years ago I was homeless with children, coming out ofan abusive relationship. I ended up living with my parent's in a room that a child's bunkbed could barely fit in with my four children. The Creator made a way where I landed a job working at a local newspaper as an assistant administer security guard. Soon after that one job became two. Realizing that two jobs would only take care of two children, I applied for another job at the local battered Greetings from the East. I hope that this message finds you in women's shelter as a security guard. The three jobs led to four. - good health and spirit. About a With that the Creator blessed me month ago I was on my way to the with a house under the (DMHA) main library here in downtown Dayton Metro Housing Authority. Cincinnati and I was approached by I know it was the Creator that one ofyour vendors. He' d asked watched after my children because me if I had a dollar to spare towards a good cause. At first I the landlord requested that no - thought that he was some bum more than two children be allowed trying to hustle me, but when he into the home. gave me the background of your That day I cleaned aJJ my organization I supported him by children up and we headed out to buying a issue ofyour newspaper, the interview. Out of all the people even though l really couldn't afford there my family was chosen for the to. home. About a month later after You see, I just returned to settling in, GOD came to into my Cincinnati about three months ago life and changed my heart and I because ofa financial crisis to was guided to use my home to help discover that I really have no place the community. Not less than one to call my gwn. I find myself year after getting into my. home I running from pillow to post in an gave many of my personal items effort to escape homelessness. away and things left over. I sold I called myself furthering them and helped the needy. my education to end the poverty Since 1996 I've been that I'd been exposed to as a child, feeding, clothing and sheltering but somehow found myselfright those in need. I funded everything back in it as an educated adult. from out of po·cket expenses or That day that I'd met the through donations from area vendor who had sold me the business family & friends. I magazine I felt hope and saw eventually quit working to support opportunity, please don't prove me my mission on·earth but soon the wrong. I know that others could funds ended. Running from Pillow to Post Page 4 So I turned to the Montgomery County Job & Family Services for support. I received public assistance for a time but the 36 month time limit had taken effect. I removed three of my children from the Dayton Public School System to home school which lead to no support from them. So things had developed to the point where no support came from that department. With no or little business knowledge I began to search for a way to help myself become self sufficient. With that in mind I started developing programs for the Y.<?,Uth of the Dayton community working with parks & recreation, metro parks etc. Anyone or anything that could support my efforts in the community. When I went to the Department OfHuman Services they refuse to see my need to help those in the poverty area where I lived nor what I was trying to achieve at that point. I applied for asstistance some time in 1999 and they refused me because they said I should stay home and be with my children for working was not apart ofthe plan. I received social security for a little while but that soon was cut off Today I receive less than $300 a month. I'm still striving to support the homeless of my community. I've ask the F&J services for some support and this very day they wont return my call.... I've become a grassroots community center. I'm not sure where GOD is trying to lead me with this but I believe I was chosen to make a difference in the lives ofa multitude of people whether or not its to provide shelter for a day, a meal or a listening ear. Today I'm known in the community as Movement 19, home ofEuphoric Earth Healing. I seek help with food, clothing, etc. right now with the help ofthose that believe in me this will manifest into some thing great. "I have a dream" of having my own grassroots non-profit community center in the center of where its needed the most. Today I sit with and protest for the rights of the poor alongside Streetvibes, OEC and many other interest groups. I'd like to thank you for your consideration and for reviewing m~ Nasira Tullah ~ ART, MUSIC, AND WRITING ,6PPORT1JNIUES! Peaslee Neighborhood Center, 215 East 14th Street, hosts lots of arts opportunities for adults and children to learn skills suclfas playing a steel drum or piano, · photography, making mosaic ~ or writing. Any resident ofOver-the­ Rhine or the West End is welcome! AU sessions are FREE, including instruction and materials. No previous artistic experience necessary. Contact Brenda Z. at 621-5514, or pea,slee_bz@hotmail com for more information. OTR Steel Drum Band -Learn how to play the steel drums! Participants will learn steel drum technique, rhythms, and how to read music. Ages 9 and up. flw.t.Qgrapja')'. gers and young adults are invited to learn basic photography skills through introductory courses provided at Peaslee. Writing - Any young person in the Greater Cincinnati area may suomit poems and/or articles via email at peaslee bz@hotmail com for publication in Streetvibes. Content should be related to homelessness, social justice, or poverty-related issues. The Center also offers classes in creative writing and "Rhyme-n-Rap" poetry sharing sessions. Call For New Arts Advisory Committee Members! - The Arts Advisory Committee is looking for representatives from the neighborhood and the arts and business community. This Community Mosaic Art Project ­ committee helps to f~rmulate the Community members are coming direction and development of together to make mosaic art for the Peaslee's arts programs. Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Stop by buddy's place at 13th and Looking For New Staff - Peaslee Vme Monday - Friday 2:30-4 :30, is also looking for new music and Saturday 11 :00-1:00. Children instructors for the piano. This is a must be accompanied by an adu!t wonderful opportunity to get Groups interested in participating involved in teaching music to should contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee children in a fun and rewarding to schedule a special group time. setting. Anyone interested should contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee. �STREETVIBES Page 5 May,2003 US Marines Raid Rooms at Media Look Up! by Jerome Manigan Look Up! If you find yourself in front of Christ Chapel on Hotel in Baghdad Masked US marines w ho said they were searching for weapons raided rooms at a prominent Baghdad media hotel last month, fueling rising tensions between the military and the press. A marine spokesman said the raids at the Palestine Hotel, where many journalists and the military have set up base, were in response to "reliable intelligence reports". Jean-Paul Mari, a journalist with the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur said three marines entered hi s room and ordered him at gunpoint to lie on the floor. He said the marines, in full body armor and wearing balaclavas, checked his press accreditation papers then searched his room. " It lasted 10 minutes," he told the press. Soon after the marines left another marine entered his room and apologized but then more troops arrived and searched his room a second time. Shingo Kinawa, of the Japanese-based K.yodo news service, said his offices in the hotel had also been searched. "They explained they were searching for a cache of arms," he said. Marine public affairs officer Corporal John Hoellwarth said room searches were conducted after reports were received by military intelligence, but he would not elaborate. "We reacted to security concerns that arose from intelligence reports. The marines are always ready to protect t he security ofjournalists, Iraqi civilians and marines on the hotel premises," he said. The raids came amid rising tensions between the marines and the media, with claims that troops are hampering efforts by the press to cover anti-American protests by Iraqis. Vine Street near 12th Street. The many different geometric shapes - lines, angles, squares, triangles, and rectangles all work together to form a structure known as a fire escape. Watch f or the return of Streetvibes TV Streetvibes TV is a live program created by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Media Bridges. Watch as our panel discusses the issues surrounding homelessness today. Community Resource Cards / / ' Check your local cable listing f or broadcast dates and times.... Prisoners Advocacy Committee ­ Ohio PO Box 1746 Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-1746, or submit a prisoner's name and jail number at chu-lai@juno.com Finding pen-pats for people inc.arcerated in jails throughout Ohio. National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.com Call Andy Erickson (513) 421-7803 Rockdale Temple has announced the release of the latest in its series of Community Resource Cards. The new one, printed in Spanish, is customized for the needs of Cincinnati's rapidly growing Hispanic/ Latino population. The tri-fold, plastic cards are funded by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a project of Rockdale Temple, in consultation with Bienstar, Su Casa and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. In addition to the Hispanic Resource Card, the Resource Card Project has also produced cards for senior citizens, the homeless, and public school and Catholic school students covering the Tri-state area. Cards can be ordered from: cc 5300 Hamilton Avenue, #210 Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 or send a fax request to: (513) 541-0099 �_ STREETVIBES May, 2003 Page 6 Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge our Misguided Drug Rehab untreated mental health needs of Shavelson met Darlene, worse and heads back to drugs, the System Mike, Darrell, Crystal and Glenda addicts is staggering. National program must increase treatment, by Alex Grabtree The alcohol and drug service system has absolutely failed most homeless people in the United States. Dr. Lonny Shevelson, an emergency room doctor in San Francisco set out on a tour of the treatment and rehabilitation programs in an effort to gauge the impact that these programs are having. San Francisco passed a treatment on demand initiative, and Dr. Shavelson wanted to see first hand how this had improved life on the city by the Bay. His 2001 book called Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge our Misguided Drug Rehab System, was intended to follow people in the system to find out which program was most successful. His conclusion was that all the systems fail miserably in serving people with addictions. This information is important to every local alcohol and drug addiction services board, which continue to base treatment on the person curing themselves and the agency that helps the person remain drug free. Shavelson followed five homeless people struggling with addictions to drugs or alcohol or both in a city that has recognized the need to provide treatment. Most cities have a waiting list and an inability to place addicted people into residential treatment without insurance. In Cleveland, - there are only a couple of beds reserved for homeless people or very low inco.me people. There is always open enrollment in the day treatment prograni which asks individuals to stay sober while returning to drug and alcohol saturated environments. Providers routinely report that 1S or more attempts at rehabilitation are typical for people with addictions. In California two initiatives passed, which to the general public, decriminalized drugs and provided treatment on demand to the citizens of San Francisco. It was expected that these two efforts would start the process of cleaning up the streets. The reality was that a new bureaucracy was constructed, but the appropriate level offunds never materialized. during his journeys. While this is a non-fiction exploration of a societal problem, the reader gets caught up in the lives of the drug addicts. All are amazing people with a talent for survival despite the punishment that their bodies endure. Darlene is severely mentally ill and an addict. Her self-medication allows her to function while moving from tents to bushes and underpasses to stay warm and dry. She stays with an abusive partner and rides around on a bicycle. Mike is separated from his family and is in and out of treatment. He wants desperately to have a good relationship with his wife and child. He puts up the most valiaht effort to live by the rules ofthe residential treatment facilities, but still is lured by his addiction. Darrell is the one who makes it off the streets. He pushes forward and patiently waits for housing, which in the end he finds. He is overjoyed and succeeded despite the system. He had the ability to adapt and give up his individuality to survive the system. Glenda was part native American and spent most of her life on the streets drinking. She finally was taken into custody by the Death Prevention Team and put in Detox. This program was working until they forced her to graduate into independent living which lasted only a couple of days. Shavelson met Crystal in the Drug Court after a severe tongue lashing by the courts. After a great deal of backsliding, she did make it to graduation from Drug Court. It would be wrong to reveal the ending ofthis b~ok because it does read like a novel, but the simple profile offive people ends with one dying of their addiction, and one ending up in prison for an extended sentence. The most difficult part of writing this book was seeing people destroy their lives as a journalist and not interfering. The interesting thing that many of these patients share is their personal experience as sexually abused children. The National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.c9m (513) 421-7803 experts report seven in ten people with substance abuse problems were caused or exacerbated by child abuse or neglect. Children of parents$hO abuse drugs are three times more likely to become addicts. Hooked looks at the San Francisco drug courts as well as the harm reduction outreach teams. Drug Courts provide a carrot and stick approach in order to move people into treatment. The men and women in drug courts are punished if they do not complete a treatment program and they do not maintain sobriety. Without effective referrals to treatment it is hard to measure the success of the Drug Court. Throughout the book, we read ofthe overbearing rules at both outpatient and residential treatment facilities. The author questions whether the rules are ways to screen out difficult to serve individuals. The result is often early death. Shavelson talks about the insanity ofturning people away after they relapse. If cancer patients were turned away when they relapse, we would see cancer patients walking the street being eaten alive by their own bodies. Yet, we allow the health condition known as addiction to go untreated until the person is "ready" for treatment. Shavelson ends the book by detailing his suggestions for how to improve the current system. He says: -When an addict in rehab gets not withdraw it. - Each and every rehab program must be required to have a formal structure association with a drug detox center where it can send relapsed clients for continued treatment. - Abuses and humiliation in the name oftherapy must cease. Cities must establish an ombudsman to monitor the rehab programs, and addicts must be allowed to access the ombudsman without repercussions. -All rehab counselors must be trained to recognize and treat the multitude ofaddicts who also have psychological disorders, and refer them to appropriately intensive additional care when needed. - Cities must establish a comprehensive case management system to guide addicts through the maze of programs and services. The case managers should not work for any particular rehab program, but rather represent and advocate for tl:!_e addicts in the overall system. ----­ - Government agencies that provide funds to the programs must assure that addicts are receiving comprehensive and effective treatment. ---­ - Federal funds and eff0rts must be shifted from drug interdiction aboard to drug rehab at home. Shavelson believes that rehab can work, but needs careful monitoring and oversight. Our community would do well to take to heart the advice in Hooked. The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations for their generous donation of coffee and pastries: 11379 Montgomery Road (513) 469-1111 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park. (513) 533-3402 7896 Montgomery Road (513) 891- 7740 / �STREETVIBES Page 7 May, 2003 Key Republican Not Sure on Sensenbrenner and House Patriot Act Democrats about the law and its will not be proposed to Congress, according to Justice Department officials speaking on condition of anonymity. Advocates say the current law has helped quash other terrorism attacks, but opponents claim it has eroded civil liberties. Among the advocates is Senate Judiciary Committee · Chairman Orrin Hatch, who isn't waiting on 2005 to craft legislation to extend the life of the law. _ Last week, Hatch sought to extend the act through an amendment to a bill that would further expand government wiretapping authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Lawmakers left for their Easter break before considering it. "It seems to me to be ridiculous to take away the best law enforcement tool against terrorism before we get rid of terrorism," said Hatch, R-Utah. "This bill has helped us protect ourselves from terrorism both . inside and outside the country. It's a tough bill, but it's constitutional and it works.'' The Justice Department likely will need full Republican support to renew the anti-terrorism law, with congressional Democrats are already lining up against Hatch's legislation. A renewal effort "will be highly controversial and is not justified by the Justice . Department's own record," said Sen. Patrick Leahy ofVermont, the Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat. by Jesse J Holland use in the war on terrorism. WASHINGTON - The Bush "The courts have upheld administration's plans to expand a our actions time and time again," post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism law spokesman Mark Corallo said face resistance from a powerful Tuesday. But "we will do House Republican who says he's everything we can to cooperate not even sure he wants the with Congress and with Chairman government to keep its new Sensenbrenner in answering hi ~ powers. questions." James Sensenbrenner of Passed weeks after the Wisconsin, the House Judiciary Sept. 11 attacks, the USA Patriot Committee chairman, complains Act granted the government broad that the Justice Department isn't new powers to use wiretap~! sharing enough information for electronic and computer lawmakers to make a judgment on eavesdropping and searches and how well or poorly the USA the authority to access a wide Patriot Act i~ working. range offinancial and other "I can't answer that information in its investigations. It because the Justice Department has also broke down the traditional classified as top-secret most of wall between FBI investig~tors and what it's doing under the Pa~ot intelligence agents. Act," Sensenbrenner said when Justice officials won't say asked about the future of the anti­ what their new proposal would do, terrorism law in a recent interview. but "we will present Congress wit~ Sensenbrenner maintains an anti-terrorism package 'I that because the department sometime in the near future," ; refuses to be forthcoming, it is Corallo said. losing the public relation battle An early draft leaked to needed to extend the law beyond reporters iJ:i November suggested its October 2005 expiration, much creating a DNA database of Jess expand it. "suspected terrorists~" forcing ,._ will be on, .t he "The burden suspects tq prove w,hy.they should • J Justice Department and whomever be.released on bail, rather than 1 is. attorney general at that time to have the prosecution prove why convince Congress and the ·they should be held; and deporting_· president to extend the Patriot Act U.S. citizens who become members or modify it," he said. "But of or help terrorist groups. because of the fact that everything But that draft was nev~r has been classified as top-secret, reviewed by Attorney General John the public debate is centering on Ashcroft and about two-thirds of it (the act's) onerousness." For example, the American Civil Liberties Union this week used newspaper ads to attack one provision that the ACLU says allows the government to enter homes, conduct searches, download computer contents and Internet viewing histories without informing the occupai;it that such a search was conducted. "Enacting policies that allow the government to enter our homes in secret and to collect highly personal information won't make us safer, but it will make us less free," said Anthony Romero, the ..... ACLU's executive '' ... ... .. ' director. .""' •:... : .. ... "' ; •t' • ' 1 .•,:' ' . A Justice :.·•:..:...... ~~. ... , .... \·1:·. · ~.l'f •-., ., ~ •. -~~T..,·.-.:·.' t. Department spokesman ,, ~- ~., ,;. .. ., < ,...t. •• •r;. l.t ·,• said the Bush 1-. ...., tl.;T:.·'·'1. • • • • -~ ~' , •• .... ... -: •j-•. •.•. administration will do its •.• ,·.,...l \i:\......; .• • ... .. . . best to answer more than 100 questions from give ~ . . Permanent Patriot Act? OMB Watch Recently, the Bush administration and several lead Republicans in Congress have begun pushing to make permanent the governmental powers temporarily expanded by the USA Patriot Act. The USA Patriot Act, which greatly expanded the. government's ability to spy on citizens, only gained wide support when many ofthe critical provisions were designed to expire or sunset at the end of 2005, unle·ss Congress re-authorizes them. A recent proposal drafted by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) would repea~ the sunset provisions and · make all of the new powers permanent. The idea faces strong opposition from many Democrats and even some key Republicans. House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R­ WI) has already voiced deep reservations about making the new powers permanent. Sensenbrenner stated that the Department of Justice has not been sharing enough information with Congress to allow a fair evaluation ofhow ' well or poorly the USA Patriot Act is working. The debate may bring needed attention to the expansion of secrecy and reduction in government accountability that has occurred under the USA Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act. .. . . .. , ... .. .. .....,...... .... _ "What do you mean the thrill·is gone? " -. �.. Pag~ , ~ : Rep·aijri ng Iraq, and our cities Fear and Anger i·n ·Syria·· by Steve Sunderland The task of rebuilding Iraq seems to be similar to nothing I know. What the war has left remains to be seen in terms of necessities. Ruth Messinger 's organization, American Jewish World Service, is collecting supplies for Iraqis. B ut the central questions remain aboµt who has the will to do what, when, and how. I was reminded by reading a biography of Frederick Douglass that little was . followed through for blacks by president Johnson in the aftermath ofthe Civil War. Reconstruction did not stop long held prejudices from reemerging and seriously damaging every attempt to help with land, employment, education, health and spirit Will Iraq be any different as the powers of terror see}< to reestablish control while American good wiU is eroded? ~ It is important in terms of peace efforts that the repair process move forward. But if Cincinnati is any model of repair on a very small scale, or, Washington, D .C.'s inner city, we are.in for a by Kim Ghattas long process of half steps and not always in the forward direction. The platitudes about only being against Saddam and not the Iraqi people will now be played out and it looks like some kind of heavy hand will be used. Satisfying religious sects seems unrealistic to say nothing ofthose who agreed with some aspects of Saddam's control and their role in the government. I think back to the way in which •9'!-•members of the Gestapo were brought to this country following WW II to work, under protection, in our science and bomb projects. What will we do with the scientists who have worked on t he alleged "weapons of mass destruction?" And where are they, the weapons and the people? Now, the next phase of the peace movement needs to be activated as guardians ofthe Iraqi people's right to I justice. How we do this, and · through what organizations, and when are all questions that I want to return to in subsequent writings. Please share your ideas about these issues. DAMASCUS - In a year's time, there will be American tanks rumbling through the narrow streets ofthis typical Middle Eastern city- at least that's what a lot of people here are starting to b,elieve as every day brings more US accusations against Syria. Under the vaulted roof of \ the beautiful souk al-Hamidiyyeh in the old city,.shoppers are going about their business. But, in the middle of the spice market, the carpet sellers and the ice cream vendors, there's a palpable tension. One woman told·me how worried she was. She didn't believe there was really going to.be an American war against Syria, but still she couldn't help wondering. A year ago, she said, the US was accusing Iraq of having weapons ofmass destruction and ties with terrorists. Now there were American tanks in Baghdad. Would that be the lot of Syria a year down the line, she asked. And, as very often in this region, the woman was convinced - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - that, as a journalist, I knew more than her about the American plans and begged me to tell her what I While we make evety effort to provide a forum for those thought was going to happen to without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of her country. THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION Well, what I do know is FOR THE HOMELESS, is not that the US and Syria have never responsible for statements, and do not necessarily been·great friends for many endorse the opinions of the people reasons, all .political. There's also a whose writings are represented here. strong sense ofnationalism in Syria. Many of my friends here tell ---------------------------11 modem me that although they want to be and connected to the rest PRO-PEACE and ANTI-WAR Items at IJPC Over the past two months Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center(IJPC) has been selling pro­ peace and anti-war items. Our first shipment of 300 "No War On Iraq" was sold in less than two weeks. We then ordered 500 eacb of"Peace is Patriotic" and "War Is Not the Answer". Two weeks later after a front page picture in the Enquirer we ordered 1,000 more of the "Peace is Patriotic" and 500 of"War Is Not the Answer." We have sold more than 2000 stickers and buttons. If you want any pro-peace/ anti-war items, please call IJPC at 513-579-8547. of the world, they' re proud Syria is still resisting American pop culture, there are no McDonalds or Levi Jeans. 'Imperialistic troops' There's always been distrust of the US here, but now there's also real anger, and it's very obviously whipped up by the autborities. I'm Lebanese and I speak Arabic and t hat's often helped me in my reporting ta get the t rust of people I interview around the region, but now even that's not enough to .convince some people to talk to me as a BBC correspondent - and I've had my share of insults from angry mobs. Even Iraqis aren't immune to angry Syrians. Just before the fall ofBaghdad, I was standing by the side of the road talking to some Iraqis who were telling me how much they hated Saddam Hussein and wanted to see him go. They said it didn't matter if the US was.waging the war because oflraq's oil - under .Saddam they had never profited from the oil gains anyway, and they didn't have any freedom. Maybe the Americans would take the oil, but at least they would give Iraqis their freedom. All of a sudden, a Syrian man came up to us screaming. How dare they criticize a leader who was :fighting against the imperialistic troops? How could they allow the Americans into their country? 'Traitor' The Iraqis started screaming back, saying Arabs had never done anything for the Iraqis, never said anything about Saddam killing his people by the thousands, and now anti-war protesters around the world were brandishing posters of Saddam. The Iraqis were furious. The shouting match went on for a while before we managed to escape to a nearby a shop and continue our conversation about the future oflraq: But then Baghdad fell without much of a fight and the Syrians were furious. How dare Saddam give up like that? Where were t he gates of bell he had promised to the Americans? Now there are rumors every day that wanted senior Iraqi officials are hiding in Syria. Syria is probably the best way out ­ better than any oflraq's neighbors where they would walk straight into the arms of the Americans, or in the case of Iran, into the arms of t heir worst enemy. A very lonely, sad-looking Mohamm~d al-Douri, Iraq's man at the UN, is now staying in my hotel in Damascus, but I haven't seen any wanted Iraqis here yet. And it may not be such a good idea for Saddam and his followers to head to Syria anyway. One man I spoke to in Damascus said that the rumors about Saddam fleeing to Syria were nonsense. Saddam, he said, was a traitor for not fighting the Americans and if.he even dared show up at the Syrian border he would be shot immediately for betraying the Arab cause. No one is so foolish as to prefer to peace, war, in which, instead of sons burying their fathers, fathers bury their sons. Croesus, King of Lydia, in Herodotus' The Persian Wars } / �ST R EE T VI B ES M ay,2003 Volunteer Opportunities ai the Greater Cincinnati Coalition f o.r the Ho_meless . would like to advertise in our paper, we offer very competitive rates for ads that reach about 15,000 people per: month. Ou~ dream volunteer would be a self-motivated volunteer that would like to fundraise for oun organization. This could include asking your friends and family'for donations to researching and writing grants for our excellent programs. The Streetvibes newspaper project is always in need ofpeople There are numerous opportunities for volunteers at the interested in connecting with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for vendors and helping them write the Homeless. JJie are willing to articles on social justice/poverty issues, poetry,.or personal stories. work with each ·individUal in We need help in the choosing a service opportunity afternoons at the front desk, that is rightfor them Tlte answering phones and handling f ollowing are a few ofthe areas in transactions with our Streetvibes which the CoaUtion could use Vendors. This person will address your hep: the needs ofvisitors, having direct Designing a web site for contact with homeless individuals our National Civil Rights and should be available one Organizing Project. This would afternoon a week. . . include working with the . There is al::ays a ne~i for Americorp Vista vol~~ee~s o~ how to prevent further cmmnahzat1oil ~elp with bulk mailings. Mai mgs include the annual ~eport, q.uarterly ofhomeless individuals as well as preventing the increasing hate newsletter, and vanous capitol crimes against them. campcugns. To enhance our Streetvjbes If you are interested in at the Greater volunteering program, we are searching for volunteers to solicit advertisements Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless~ please.contact tl).e aff~e from local businesses. ~(your at 421- 7803, or Visit us at 1506 business or a business you know of Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine. Story, Editorial and Art Submis­ sion Deadlineifor the Ju.ne 2oua , · edition <Jf You know, ifp eop le are n ot p acifists, it's not their f ault It's because society puts them in that sp ot You 've got to change it You don'tjust change a man - you 've got to change his environment as y ou do it Cesar Chavez Page 9 We Can Be Proud! Judge MARK PAINTER Ohio Court of Appeals The Most-Published Hamilton County Judge Ever! Our own Judge Mark Painter reached a milestone in November- 250 of his decisions (now 261) have been published nationally, He is the most-published Hamilton County judge ever, and one of the m ~st-pu blished Ohio judges in history. Judge Painter has: • Served on the Court of Appeals for eight years, after 13 years on Municipal Court. His opinions have been recognized as legal precedent more than 2000 times -in cases, textbooks, and encyclopedias. • Written 55 articles on appellate practice, sentencing, DUI, contempt, and legal ethics. He writes a monthly column on legal writing for Ohio Lawyers Weekly. • Taught 91 sem inars for judges, lawyers, and police officers, and is an Adj unct Professor of law at U.C. • Authored the textbook Ohio DUI Law, now in its 12th edition. His other book, The Legal Writer: 30 Rules for the Art of Legal Writing, was published in June. • Is writing two more books to be published t his fall : William Howard Taft-President and ChiefJustice and a new edition of Ohio Appellate Practice. www.judgepainter.org Paid for by The Judge Painm Committee. Gre9 Ruehlmanri, Chair, 312 Walnut St., Cincinnati Write Usl We'd like to hear from you.... Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office, attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 STREETVJBE$ is Eriday., May ·9 · ~ Youngpeople say, What is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at at time, take one.step at a time; · we can be responsible only, for the one action in the present moment But we can beg for an increase of love in our hearts that will vitalize and trans/orm all our individual actions, and know that God will take tliem and muldp~ them, as Jesus multipJiedthe loaves and.fishes. Dorothy Day, 1963 \ "Department ofHomeland Security, Economic Recovery Division. We have a report that you left the shopping mall without buying anything.'' �ST REETVIBES Page 10 May, 2003 GCCH Receives Generous Donation From Christ Church Cathedral Georgine Getty, {right), Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, accepts a generous donation from Christ Church Cathedral representatives Ed Burdell (left) and Bill Woods (cen­ ter). The money will used for the Streetvibes Newspaper Project. Getty was quoted as saying, "We are very thankful to the members of Christ Church Cathedral. Their donation shows that there is wide community support for the continuation ofthis wonderful program." Local Schizophrenia/Schizo-affective Research Study * Financial Compensation * 45 years and over * Symptoms of depression * 13 visits (513) 861-3100 ext 4187 or toll free (888) 267-7873 ext 4187 Opposition to "Beverly Hillbillies" TV Show The staffofRural Strategies Opposition to CBS' "Real Beverly Hillbillies" TV show is continuing to spread, most recently from the halls of Congress to the union hall. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil E . Roberts has sent a letter to the president and board chairman ofCBS 's parent company saying the proposed program is "repugnant to me and the union members I represent." Mr. Roberts, a Vietnam veteran, noted that a large proportion of men and women serving in the U.S . armed forces come from rural communities. "These soldiers deserve better than this," he wrote. He also said he was strongly considering sending union representatives to the next Viacom annual meeting to register their complaints to the corporation's board of directors. Viacom, which owns CBS, will hold its annual meeting May 21. On Capitol Hill last month, 44 U.S. representatives signed on to a letter to CBS President Leslie Moonves asking the network to drop plans for the show. The letter said the program would "only serve to propel outdated and erroneous stereotypes about rural Americans. " The letter received bipartisan support and was organized by Kentucky Congressman Hal Rogers. Read both letters on our web site at www.ruralstrategies.org <http:// www.ruralstrategies.org/> . In other developments, state legislators in Tennessee and Louisiana introduced resolutions asking CBS to drop its plans to produce "The Real Beverly Hillbillies." . Regrettably, CBS still refuses to say whether it is dropping the show. Thanks again to everyone who has written to CBS and enlisted others to support the campaign to stop "The Real Beverly Hillbillies." A proud member of ihe North Amerit.an 45trut Ne.~spaper 5freetvibes: SSOGia ·on.... I T '4pre.sentin9 over So strut ne"'spape..rs throu9hout the United 'btate.s and C.anada "'w~.nasna.or9 Write Us.... Wed like to hear· from you! Send letters . r comments to . Streetvjbes@Juno_com, or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati. Ohio 45202 War stirs in men's hearts the mud of their worst instincts. It puts a premium on violence, nourishes hatred, and gives free rein to cupidity. It crushes the weak, exalts the unworthy, and bolsters tyranny ... Time and time again it has destroyed all ordered living, devastated hope, and put the prophets to death. Charles DeGaulle �STREETVIBES May, 2003 Dispatch from Cleveland by Lisa Etling In case residents don't think Cleveland has its own housing crisis, consider the following information. Accordingto the last census, 50% of the 101 ,000 rental households pay more than 30% of their monthly income on rent, and 25% pay more than half of their monthly income on rent. The City ofCleveland Housing Court processed 11,500 evictions so far in 2002, the majority of which are for non-payment ofrent. The men's shelters that accept overflow have had as much as 144% of capacity; the women's overflow has operated on some nights at 172% of capacity. CMHA reports that the last time the voucher program was opened in 2000, 35,000 people applied for the 6,000 available vouchers. To draw attention to the issue of affordable housing, the Alliance of Cleveland HUD Tenants (ACHT), CMHA Progressive Action Council (PAC), Cleveland Tenants Organization (CTO), and Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) joined forces to organize a march, rally, and audience at the City Council meeting last November. Approximately 100 people gathered at 2100 Lakeside Men's Shelter to march Yz mile past the looming FBI headquarters carrying signs with quips such as "Housing Now," "Homes Not Jails," and "The Browns Have a Home, Why Not Us?" The march brought media from Channel 3 and the Plain Dealer, with Sun Press, and Channels 19 and 43 showing up to cover the rally and city council meeting. Marchers gathered at the Free Stamp outside of City Hall, where three residents of 2100 Lakeside spoke, along with Cleo Busby oftheACHT, Lillian Davis ofPAC, Brian Davis ofNEOCH, Mike Foley ofCTO, and Commissioner Tim McCormick. Billy Caldwell, a Christian drug/ alcohol outreach worker traveling here from the South, said an introduction and prayer, stressing the irony ofknowledgeable tradesmen who find themselves homeless. "There are craftsmen all over the U.S. who have built up this country and are living in cardboard boxes today." While many speakers stated the need for state and national dollars, McCormick went as far as to clai1,11 that Cleveland should have its own Housing Trust Fund, like the other major cities in Ohio. Most overwhelming were the individual stories from men who found themselves homeless for various reasons : Don works but doesn't make enough per hour to afford housing; Greg, a U.S . veteran, is disgusted that 6800 veterans in Cleveland find themselves homeless every year; "It 's a national embarrassment that people who served our country don't have a home." Willis has four debilitating diseases and noted the absurdity and danger (because of the risk of fire) of having 13 out ofthel 4 designated public housing projects for seniors and disabled, in high rises. Curtis has been on the CHMA list for three years now and stressed the need for housing for single people under 50. John is a veteran ofthe foster care system, was released from prison, dropped off at the greyhound station, and has been at 2100 Lakeside ever since. After the rally, the marchers were joined by members of CTO and ACHT and they milled up the steps to council chambers, filling the lower level, standing along the walls and even entering the balcony, reaching almost 400 in number. Council members from the 21 wards could look out at a sea of constituents wearing red ACHT hats stating "United We Stand, Divided We' re Homeless." Almost 25 residents ofthe endangered subsidized housing structure Park Lane Villa showed from Councilwoman Pat Britt's ward to express concern for the possible loss oftheir building. The energy ofthe gathering waned while Council Clerk read the agenda- a long list of ordinances and tax abatements. Thirty minutes, many yawns, and some shuteye later, council got to the two housing resolutions that had been authored and shepherded through by Councilwoman Merle Gordon: Resolution 2261 and Resolution 2272. Resolution 2261 recommends that CDBG and HOME Funds should be increased, or at least not cut, in the next federal budget. These funds provide housing and services for Cleveland neighborhoods. Resolution 2272 endorses the National Trust Fund Act of 2001, the Preservation Matching Grant Program, and the establishment of a secure and permanent source of revenue for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. The matching program would "provide a federal match for dollars spent in Ohio on preserving federally subsidized housing projects." The Page 11 Ohio Housing Trust Fund was established in 1991 in response to Issue 1, which stated housing was a public purpose. The plan was to set aside ·so million dollars a year from the state budget of35 billion dollars for providing housing and related services to low-income households. Over ten years later, the state has provided 160 million , dollars, instead ofthe planned 500 billion dollars; currently the Trust Fund receives 23 million dollars, but faces constant threats due to budget cuts. Councilman Joe Cimperman gave a rousing speech to the crowd, commiserating over the lack of affordable housing and how long people have been waiting for housing to be a priority, stating "we have a greater need for affordable housing in t his city today than ever in the history of Cleveland." He also stressed the need for local businesses to join the already existing coalitions to find solutions to housing. He urged the audience to come back on January 9th, 2003 for a joint committee working on a ten year plan to provide affordable housing and eliminate homelessness. Councilman Joe Jones also worked the crowd, stressing the need for people to utilize "creative protesting" and "get out here on a level like no other before and organize politically on a grassroots level." He reiterated the link between "politics and money," a phrase that stuck with and was repeated by audience members long after his speech. He admitted that the resolutions will "probably sit on someone's desk" and it was therefore, even more imperative for people to remain vigilant. ~ ~ Streetvibes Mayor Campbell spoke last, declaring that this was an unprecedented act, to debate and. sign on a resolution in the same meeting. She also pointed out the need for more money at the federal level and more disbursement for housing at the state level. She lamented the sad fact that housing has never been a priority for government, commenting that " Affordable housing is what gets added when there is extra money. And ifyou 've been paying attention, there is never extra money." While city council finished up their meeting, audience members returned to their homes and shelters, discussing the events of the evening. Everyone was riled up by the power of people organizing in mass numbers to support such a pressing issue. However, many questioned what exactly had been accomplished. So the City Council agreed that housing was a major issue and would put pressure on politicians at the state and national level. But what then? What if people think that things are taken care of if no one shows up to protest or write letters to their representatives? What ifthese small housing coalitions offorce dispersed throughout the country, can never make noise at the national level? What then? Walking down the steps from the council chambers watching the crowd mill about, the man next to me saw my camera, smiled, and said "the reporters left early- this is where the real news begins." I Reprinted.from Cleveland's I 1 Homeless Grapevine. Wish List Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe-string budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Can you help us with some of the following items? o Dormitory-size Refrigerator o Desktop Paper Folder o Blank CD-RW Disks - For Streetvibes Archives o Supplies for Vendor's Lounge (paper towels, cream and sugar, snacks, etc.) o Office and Cleaning Supplies If you can help, contact us at: Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com �ST R EETV IB ES Page 12 M ay,2003 The Peace Village by Steve Sunderland Notes from Jerusalem... I have lived in Israel since 1976. In 1977 I joined the Peace Camp. There have been so many ups and downs that I have lost track. Nothing felt more exhilarating than when Yitzchak Rabin was elected in 1992, after 15 long years where nothing seemed to move. Then his dreadful assassination and Bibi! In 1999­ 2000, with Barak in charge, we were practically touching peace, breathing it. I was in and out of Bethlehem, so many ofus wanted it to work, without walls without guns. And then .. .Indifada El-Aqksa broke out...were we fools, were we delusional? Was the Israeli left totaUy blind to the realities in the West Bank and Gaza? And last year, March was living hell in JerusaJem. Sooner or later, we will have to put down the guns and break down the walls and find a way to live together. In the meantime, and this is where your wonderful inspiring work comes in. In the meantime, we just keep at whatever peace efforts we can muster: An inter-faith dialogue with Palestinian Christians; Jewish feminist programs for disadvantaged women, food drives for the growing ranks of hungry, protest rallies for getting back to the peace table, going to road blockades to monitor the behavior of soldiers, teaching the values of tolerance in whatever informal and formal educational settings you are in. The Peace Village reminded me that the big and the little efforts move us toward peace...just keep at it. Whether its creating hospitals that are more aware of diversity, high schools that talk about tolerance, teens from different religions that meet and share life experiences, etc, etc. Just keep at it. Thank you . Since I cannot move the BIG picture here one iota at the moment, the least I can do is stir up the little one. Naamah. ... Recently, I was asked, as a veteran, how can I oppose the war in Iraq and still support our troops. After reflecting on this question, I have concluded that these two issues cannot be separated and to try would be, for me, disingenuous. Sadly, to support American troops is to support the war. This is clearly my position and I realize that no two veterans have the same experience of war. I oppose the war without qualification. Still, I have a different feeling of sadness when I hear of the death of an American service man or woman. It is different, but not deeper than the sadness I feel when I hear of an Iraqi dying. These feelings are driven by my belief that it was only an accident that I was born into a working class American family. It was not my choice, just as it was not the choice of the child born into an Iraqi family, which set up a series of events that lead them to be in a building destroyed by a bomb dropped by an American plane. At an earlier time in my personal journey, I was able to define the value oflife by geography, citizenship!-?r religion. It was my experience of our war against the people of Vietnam that ultimately lead me away from this thinking. Of course, there were other events in my life, moments of insight that shaped my thinking, but it was the war that served as a bell to awaken me to a different reality. As I review what I have written, I'm not sure I have added much to the discussion on this important question. I do know that as my quest for understanding and peace turned inward I found a calmer place from which I can oppose what l see as Americas' unquenchable thirst for violence. May we all find greater peace ­ Paul Davis.... Team member Merrell Frazier, founder and director of the Harriet Tubman Project (HTP) and I went up to meet with team member Tina Vest and her co-staff of City Year and her over 100 Young Heroes for a posters 4 peace session. In his closing comment, following a wonderful discussion of how these junior high school activists saw peace and conflict resolution, Merrell noted the hope be felt in his heart that came from the spirit of these young people. I felt it so strongly, too. On a cold and dark Saturday morning in a bright community center, these young people continued their work to strengthen their hearts for the work of service ahead. Can we live up to our rhetoric ofjoining these brave youth in creating a world that is ready for their talents? I learned, again, the power of the posters to ignite in the "artist-citizen" an image of a world where peace is an acceptable word, a flower opening in the voices of the very young who have somewhere picked up the idea that peace and justice can be found right here, right now. Merrell and I flew back to Cincinnati, our wheels rarely touching the ground, as our goodbye to Tina and her staff warmed us and lightened our return. It was a difficult week in the Peace Village as we worked to keep the peace agreement with the city and the police together through testimony in City Council and holding our own meeting with some of the key lawyers and activists working for the implementation ofan agreement that joins the police and community groups in ongoing problem solving efforts. The week started with surprises as the city council moved to remove some lawyers from continuing as a part of the peace agreement due to the fact that some of their clients were leaders ofa "Boycott Cincinnati" effort that has been successful in keeping Bill Cosby, Winton Marsalis, Whoopie Goldberg, Spike Lee, and Barbara Enhrich, author of the best selling book, "Nickeled and Dimed," from Cincinnati stages and lecture halls. Many in our community did not understand this move. Another surprise was the release of a new data collection system of the police, a system that had the community known about sooner, may have been useful in both improving crime reduction and police-community relationships, at least in collecting and strengthening the crime data. Finally, the federal Monitor over the entire process came out with a report documenting the slow, if any, response ofthe city and the police department to the section of the agreement that calls for greater cooperation with the community. Both the mayor and the police chief tried to dismiss the report. The key planners in this effort refused to be deterred by the events of the week described above. Instead, they continued to move for greater efforts at community and police involvement and Stef Sunderland described the latest and perhaps the most elaborate community effort to stem the rising influx ofyouth gangs into our neighborhood. Other neighborhoods reported on similar efforts in various stages of movement; and, we heard of monies for a center to help neighborhoods and police work together more effectively. The various groups moving ahead seemed more worth focusing our attention on than the missteps and backsliding ofkey political leaders. I began to see that some aspect of our peace effort must move ahead despite counter efforts at disruption, whether conscious or not. Yet, there is a lingering feeling on my part that without political leadership that accepts the community as a partner of the police, the entire effort may be no more substantive than the paper it is printed on. Team member Barbara Hogan coordinated the meeting, inviting some key people to come, including one of our key politicians. What continues to happen in Iraq competes for attention. I cannot work with young people without seeing them in battle fatigues and/or as victims of a war that is out of control. Paul's note on not supporting the war effort, including the soldiers, was a hard message to digest. Paul and I will be meeting to talk more about this important point. Other friends chose to march outside a local church, today, in protest of proposed cuts in veteran benefits, a position alleged to be held by their speaker, Rep . Portman. The most amazing story out of the war was related to the Lynch rescue and the acknowledgment of the Iraqi family, Mohammed and Iman, I think are their names, that critically intervened in the rescue and comforting of the soldier ''. .. because she was a human." I hope someone tells Kurt Vonnegut about this family and I hope they continue to be safely protected. What does it take to step into the shadow and help those who are in harm's way? I sensed from the stories about him just the same thing I heard from Miep Geis, rescuer of the fami ly and friends of Anne Frank: "I really felt I had no choice. They are humans. They are my friends." Thanks Mohammed and Iman and Miep. In hopes for peace, shalom, sulhu, Tubman, and in the praise of the "normal" heroes. Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues ofPeace in the world. Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters­ /or-Peace which engages people in expressing their visions of Peace, in their own words, through the creation ofposters. ----------------------------i While we make evety effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. �STREETVIBES ~age May, .2003 Visions for a New Tomorrow by Patrick Mosolf Its been a long time since I initially requested that people send their visions to me, their ideas for a better world. I've been busy working in Cambodia, and let the newsletter that I write become a lower priority for a while. I received some good visions, including a statement from an environmental coalition, brief ideas from friends, as well as several well developed ideas from friends. My own vision is quite long, and I'm in the process of completing it. But its enough ~o say that my vision is that people around the world will make reducing the suffering of other people, protecting the environment, and improving the conditions in their own lives and communities more of a priority. If people focus on this objective more, I am confident that we will see an improvement in the world. Thank you to those people who took the time to write a vision and I hope many of you will take time to read what they wrote and compare it to your own vi·sion. Happy Earth Day! My vision of a better world is that of"Full Contentment" in life. It 1s hard to be someone,or do something if that simple trait is gone. It's all the wanting and aspiring that drives men to feel envy, unhappiness and sometimes even to kill. If only we were all content of what we have, the knowledge we were given, the wisdom we could share, then this could be a happier world and a peaceful place to raise our children and our children's children. For isn't it in children where our future begins? Let's all start now counting our blessings and work towards fulfilling the goal of Full Contentment. We should not seek for it for it is there and it's always been there. Trmi Mosolf A world with caring people taking care of their food and their · neighbors caring about the animals, and their environment, touched with the insight that we all are one and dependent on our mutual development. Giving is receiving.. Karen Jonkers Find people who need help, try to help them, feel you have got somewhere ifyou have slowed down the destruction, saved a fragment. Ifyou do better: then great. Mathew McDaniel I still have the same vision as before: Chapter 4 of The Jo)"'of Revolution: http:// www. bop secrets.org/PS/ joyrev4.htm. See also the preceding chapters for pros and cons ofvarious methods of getting there. You are welcome to reprodtice any or all of that text. Ken Slapb I I truly appreciate your efforts in trying to make people think about what they want and bow to shape the world. Although I feel visioning is very important in making dreams come true, I have long stopped dreaming on such things as "how the world should be like". I have a general idea about how things are going and what steps could be useful but I don't create a generalized utopia. But I do have a sort of utopia for myself and my community which still requires some changes in the world but no overall revolutions. I'll still answer your questions but my answer~ may be a bit forceful and not well thought of However, I'm leaving tomorrow for Tunisia and I'll be back after a week and then have time to do this. Till than keep on spreading the need for change. Another world is possible ... Aykut from Istanbul I haven't really thought about a vision for the world very much. I just try to be the best person I can and hopefully get my message across by setting a good example. I was talking with a guy from my course and .he 'says tha~ is . all everyone needs to do. You ~an raise the level of those around you by being a good person. And that will snow ball onto their acquaintances too. A vision for the world is just for everyone to be true to themselves. 13 ;Write Us! We'd like to hear fn>m VoU­ 11"- il:':A' Barney Thanks for accepting my view. I can tell you one thing. We have to start it from our siblings. Basically we first have to convince every member of our own family. Then we can look for the community where we are living. We can arrange sen'unars & meetings to convince the people. In this way we can start the job. He wh o can control bis rising anger as a . toacbman controls his card.age atfull ~eed, this JDan I call a good driver; others merely hold the reins. Gauta.ma Budd~a Sudeshna Know Your Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati 's homeless ·and covers a person 's basic rights when interacting with the police, as well as some local laws that might be ofinterest to the homeless population. If you are a homeless person or if you work witlr homeless people and would like to obtain free copies of the brochure for yourself or your agency, please call 421-7803, or stop by the Coalition office and pick one up. ~: ­ fJ "· ' .. : · ~~ "'' , · WE'VE DECIDED ~IT~ ONE THAT YOO CAN KEEP SMALL YOUR NOSE RING... MOPIAlATION �ST REETVIBES Art&Poetry May,2003 Page 14 59,196 Names Urban Wilderness Fighting over Dirt by J Michigaus byjh by Brian Garry 20 years later, how attitudes have changed but for so many, they still feel the pain Within the hollow of brick and mortar, concrete and glass, I seek my place along the vista, looking for solace in the darkest places ... Fighting over, over the dirt People are homeless, and out of work All because of fighting, over the dirt. Pain from the wounds, suffered from in battle Pain in head and heart, and the screams how they rattle · Deep to the bone, quite chilling in fact Each remembers the day, their world turned to black Now they have the respect, that they long ago earned Now they have the honor, now we have learned They fought for Freedom, for God and Liberty In that unpopular war, for the Land of the Free Sacrifices were made, by one and all Each and every one, who answered The Call They all paid their dues, some paid with their lives But ALL who answered, paid the price Along the windblown gutter, Through the broken pane, Searching the twisted souls, the eye, the nod, demands an answer... • ,. , , I'\ ·u • . My space behind the gate, from which I cannot see, but hearing the tainted curses, the thunder, the fear, I hide inside my skin... Sharing the concrete trench with the screaming ofthe bounded, bends my head, and breaks my gaze from fear, and challenge. I am only flesh ... They may be gone, but not forgotten Those that don't know, it's time we taught them So; when the final Taps, has been played Let's hope that peace has come our way Using us like, we have no feelings. I just need, some time for healing Did I forget about my self-worth. So many of us seem to get hurt My mind is reeling. All I do is sit around and look at the ceiling. I got to be Loving, in all my dealings Something happens and people get hurt Taking it all, out of the Earth but What about Our self-worth? They don't care, what people worth. People all over, they're over worked. People are fighting, over the dirt Something happens and people get hurt People sleeping all inthe 'sfreet. I will rise - the universe I will greet Everything, it speaks for itself From this spiritual poverty comes wealth. I'm gaining some inner health. Some guidance some mirth, re-birth. Rich people prepare to share the Earth. Some had their personal effects, sent home without them To their families back home, no more letters to send Some we still wonder, where they are now Prisoners or missing, how can this be allowed People are sick, in need of health car~. In my soul there is a tear. Do I care about the air? Something happens and people get hurt People are fighting, over the dirt .) . ., /\. The Streets by Lawana T Luck This pavement that lies beneath us it often teaches us about the ways of life. The many directions that they may go, being to, or fro one may never know. They could be the fate, or lead to destiny. At times they set tho.se free who are in need to release their minds; to catch up with time get reacquainted with this foundation that houses many nations. To study war - - no more, take to them with wisdom and they will lead. Their paths connect to places mostly known by faces, but try another route. Memories are held between them from independence to rehabilitation most don't even see them. They try to do the best that they can, some won't even lend a helping hand to maintain them, so, they begin to break up going to places where there are no roads. Watch out for ·potholes, but don't complain because from the sky view they were unimportant too, until they had to be walked or driven. And still they produce some ofthe highest ways That says goodbye to ways that have crossed many tough nights and days to find a place to call home, or just get alo'ng. Homeless Person Thoughts by Mark Augusta Patience by Mark Augusta As I sit here homeless tonight Thinking ofthings when my life was just right. .. Like a joh and a house to come home to But now it's all gone so what can I do To keep the tears from falling and being so blue. And my smile is gone and my energy too And now my life is on the edge of missing all ofyou. So help me Lord what can I do Close my eyes and come to you. Help me fast and jump high as trees And find me some hope for I can be free. As I sit here and look down at my hands That used to work so hard and provide for my family And come home and hug the prettiest woman in the world And sit down and play kid games with my kids But now I can't. But ifl ain't got the patience of a tall boat mast Holding the sails ofLife, The boat mast will break and the sail ofLife will blow away And I will too. (patience) �STREETVIBES Art& Poetry May,2003­ Page 15 My Eyes Could Not See by Michael Willis For information on submitting your poetry or art to STREETVIBES email­ Streetvibes@juno.com BodyBag President, BodyBag President by Allen Carpenter Dear Citizen will you take My War It took me years to do it but I think we' ll score Book on a book called Mein Kampf And I need a Cause Because I want to be a BodyBag President. It's a Dirty War against a Dirty Man And I like to kill whenever I can But those Stupid Euros don't understand My Dad is still working with The Cartyle Group It's a steady job And wants me too be a BodyBag President BodyBag President. It's a Hundred Thousand Dead give or take a few And I'll be killing more in a year or two I can make it quicker ifyou like my style We can kill anywhere anywhile And I want to be a BodyBag President BodyBag President. If you really like it we can grab all the oil We'll be Rich as Rockefeller with·a lot less toil (And ifyou don't like it I got a Camp for you) Cause I need a Macho Cause And I' d love to be a BodyBag President BodyBag President. Produce Seller - Havana, Cuba I was walking in the World doing all the things the World would have me do, but something was wrong, something just wasn't right. I knew I was living, but I didn't have a life, I didn't know how to filve love or to receive for that which I could not see, could not bring myself to believe and yet something was always there, Something that told me now you know that wasn't right, something that said I'm here all you have to do is call on Me, We sometimes act like litt le children when we should be acting like Kings and Queens, the choice was mine, and it had to be made before I could walk with Thee, ' I So I begin to believe, I begin to receive all ofthe things that my eyes could not see. My Enemy, My Friend by Zachary Karabatak We met one day out on the street I never thought our worlds would meet. He said "Hi" and asked me to play. I didn't know ifl should stay or run away. Before I could decide he kicked me the ball. I kicked it back with no effort at all. We played outside together all day. Until it was time to go our separate way. My parents say he cannot be my friend. But I knew in my heart this was not t he end. We are different but we do not hate. We will not accept conflict and war as our fate. We know we can make a difference for tomorrow. Ifwe could just stop the bloodshed and the sorrow. We could be friends forever ifthere was peace. What can we do to make this fighting cease? Leaders must look to us for the solution. Two states with peace is our resolution. �STREETVIBES May,2003 The War Against the Homeless by Peggy Lee Kennedy On January 3, 2003, homeless activists, local Outdoor Food Providers, concerned citizens, legal observers, and the founders ofAxis of Justice (Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello and System of a Down singer Serj Tankian) marched down Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade carrying signs and chanting slogans like "Human needs, not Bayside greed." The march ended at a press conference held by the National Lawyer's Guild Los Angeles, the Outdoor Food Providers, and Axis of Justice. That morning, the National Lawyer's Guild Los Angeles filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Outdoor Food Providers in order to challenge one of two anti­ homeless ordinances adopted October 22, 2002 by t he City of Santa Monica. The goals of the ordinances are to remove the charitable food providers and the homeless from Santa Monica parks and public places via police enforcement. In the press release, James Lafferty, Executive Director ofthe National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles, said, "I would hope that everyone who hears ofthis Lawsuit · will be shocked to Learn that the age-old practice of providing for the hungry- a practice that is central to virtually all of the world's religions and humanitarian organizations- has now been criminalized by t he City Council of Santa Monica. Santa Monica, to its everlasting shame, has made an immoral bargain with the devil. It has decided that its more important to shield its tourists and shoppers from having to gaze upon hungry residents lining up for food, than it is to provide enough food to shield its hungry residents from starvation." Carol Sobel, the attorney who filed the lawsuit and noted civil liberties attorney, said, "The real motivation behind Santa Monica's ordinance is a desire to run its homeless residents out of town. Sadly, emboldened by Santa Monica's new ordinance, some members of the Los Angeles City Council want to use the same kind of legal measures to clear the homeless ofLos Angeles out of the downtown area to make room for more commercial development. Well, Santa Monica's effort is Also, the St. Joseph Center's housing assistance program gave clearly illegal and just as we have my friend general rental listings and told her to not tell people she had a challenged it in court, we are prepared to do the same with Los Section 8 HUD voucher until she Angeles if it tries to follow suit." went out and met them. That was These words certainly have crazy, because my friend does not come true. Carol Sobel is now have a car and people refused to working with the ACLU of take HUD. After three extensions Southern California, which filed a on t he voucher's time limit, it federal lawsuit February 19, 2003, became apparent that, unless we seeking to prevent the City ofLos had an "in" somewhere, this was a Angeles from ticketing and waist of our time. arresting homeless residents who I can't help but find Jan sit, sleep, or lie on public sidewalks Perry's boast of3,000 subsidized at night. This lawsuit accuses the affordable, rehabilitated housing City ofLos Angeles ofcruel and units for extremely low-income unusual punishments used in the people completely ridiculous. recent LAPD "crack down" on Shelter Partnership, Inc. 's most public sleeping. recent study found that there are as On February 28, 2003, the many as 84,000 people homeless Los Angeles Times printed a each night in Los Angeles County. "Commentary" written by LA City Ohhis estimated homeless population, 9,000 are children. Councilwoman Jan Perry. She defends enforcement ofthe law There are approximately 15,000 emergency shelter beds in LA prohibiting sitting, lying, or sleeping on LA City sidewalks. County and "real" affordable Perry accuses the ACLU and other housing for extremely low-income critics ofbeing dishonest and self­ people is practically non-existent. Furthermore, many housed serving ifthey imply that the actions taken have to do with people are going hungry. Findings urban renewal of the downtown released at a MAZON-sponsored area or lack of affordable real conference by the UCLA Center estate. She further states that for Health Policy Research on more than 3,000 units of November 3, 2002, revealed that subsidized affordable, rehabilitated over 775,000 low-income L.A. County adults are food insecure housing for extremely low-income people have been developed. and report that they cannot always Subsidized housing often afford to put food on the table. In refers to the U. S. Department of fact, a quarter million of our }J:ousing and Urban Development neighbors experience episodes of (HUD) system. As it happens, I substantial hunger. In California the recently had the privilege of food insecure population includes advocating fo r an extremely low­ 29.5 percent of all pregnant women income recipient of a HUD Section who are low-income. Homelessness and hunger 8 voucher (after a long four-year wait !). A voucher is the piece of are growing. Poverty, joblessness, paper that verifies a person's job insecurity, the lack of affordable housing, and family acceptance for Section 8 instability are increasing while subsidized housing. social services are decreasing. At the HUD o~entation, which is where a person receives According to a study from the their voucher, it was explained that Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty at the only a percentage of all HUD Section 8 voucher recipients Weingart Center: -Families represent 34-37 percent actually move into subsidized of the national homeless population housing. The truth is that my friend has a ding on her credit from and the typical family has 2.2 minor an in-patient hospital doctor that children and is headed by a single mother (84 percent). did not accept her Medical after the Blue Cross ran out. She is - More than 25 percent of homeless adults are veterans. forthcoming and honest about the -The City ofLos Angeles problem, just unable to resolve it. 011e potential HUD Community Development Dept. estimates that 33-50 percent ofthe apartment managt:?r, who was informed of the credit issue, took homeless population is mentally ill. money for a credit-check only to - Nationally, 46 percent of turn around and ask me for an homeless adults reported one or enormous deposit to rent the unit. more chronic health conditions, Page 16 such as diabetes or high blood pressure; 26 percent reported an acute infectious condition, principally chest infections, bronchitis, and 1 percent reported having AIDS and 3 percent reported testing HIV positive. This study reveals that homeless people are veterans, people with disabilities or chronic health problem, and families with children. Skid Row, an area know for its homeless population, is an area being targeted by Los Angeles Police ChiefWilliam Bratton for his "broken window" theory. This theory holds that cracking down on the lower offenses, like sleeping on the street(!), will prevent more serious crimes. The real crimes are apparent: the police arresting and ticketing homeless people for sleeping on the street when there are not enough shelter beds, city officials creating ordinances that target charitable food providers when there is growing hunger and very limited social services, and public servants pretending that they want to help homeless people by disguising harassment as health and welfare projects. Criminalizin_g and punishing the poor is just plain evil. Our jails are overflowing with poor people and LA County Jail has been known for years as the largest mental health facility in the United States! So is it a "broken window" approach or really just more of the "breaking human rights" approach? To me, it is simple to see what side to be on: food not bombs, homes not jails, healthcare and a living wage not law enforcement against the poor! Bravo to the National Lawyer's Guild Los Angeles, James Lafferty, Carol Sobel, charitable service providers, and the rest of us standing up for homeless and hungry people! Reprinted courtesy ofMaking Change, Los Angeles Story, Editorial and,Art Submis­ sion ,Deadline for the June 2Q03 edition of STREETYIBES is Friday, May 9 Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe vi~s and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �~TREETVIBES Page 17 May,2003 Europe Seems to Hear Echoes of Empires Past "The key terms ofthe new imperialism will be the ability ofthe U.S . to provide security and As the United States began stability for other nations without imposing an American way of life," he task of finding Iraqi leaders to Karl-Otto Honrich, a sociologist at ake power after the war is over, Goethe University in Frankfurt, here were many in Europe and said in a telephone interview. After lsewhere who were reminded of the war in Iraq began, Mr. Honrich n earlier period in global.history ­ wrote a much noted article he era ofimperialism. subtitled "WitQ.out a Hegemonic "What cannot now be lisguised, as U.S. marines swagger Power There Can Be No Peace." "Over the last 10 years, round the Iraqi capital swathing oppled statues of Saddam Hussein U.S. hegemony has become clearer as a function of what America has vith the stars and stripes and leclaring ' We own Baghdad,' is the done in the world," he said. "It has taken on the role of world police in :rudely colonial nature ofthis :nterprise," wrote Seumas Milne, a several cases, and successfully done so. :olumnist in The Guardian, the "The function of the U.S. eftist British daily. right now is to tell the world there Mr. Milne's comment, in a is someone who is ready to fight in 1ewspaper that rarely misses a cases of big security and disorder," ~hance to cast the United States in Mr. Honrich said. "The U.S. has L negative light, was an especially 1irulent and hostile expression of a taken on this role, and hence its leadership has become a social riew that has become common in reality." ecent days. To some in Europe, the That view, which Mr. Milne operative word is not so much :hares with many other imperialism as it is unilateralism. :ommentators and government The frequently repeated American >fficials, is that the war in Iraq contention that the United States :onfirms the status ofthe United led a broad coalition into Iraq has )tates as no longer just a :uperpower, but an unambiguously not been very convincing to those who feel that the war illustrates a mperial power. It is seen as a new twist on imperial behavior: the :ountry that uses its might to use of pre-emption in the face of !stablish dominion over much of he rest of the world, as Rome once widespread opposition even from lid, or as Britain did in the 18th close allies. "The nee-conservatives in md 19th centuries. the U.S. have developed a new Many Americans will jmperial vision," said Guillaume 1uarrel with that view, convinced Parmentier, the director of the 10t just of the absence of any \merican ambition to control Center on the Unjted States at the oreign territory but persuaded by French Institute ofInternational he Bush administration's assurance Relations. Senior Bush administration advisers, like Paul hat power in Iraq will be turned >Ver to Iraqis as swiftly as possible. D. Wolfowitz and Richard N. Perle, are commonly seen in Europe as t is not generally part of the having gained decisive influence \merican self-conception to 1ssociate the United States or even over foreign policy to the disadvantage of Secretary of State . he Pax Americana with the great :mpires of the past. Colin L. Powell, who is viewed as But elsewhere in the world, a sort of defeated multilateralist. he United States is being seen in a The speed ofthe victory in Iraq is being seen as likely to 1ew way, as the latest - and >erhaps most powerful - ofthe bolster the prestige and influence of mperialist powers that bestrode those in Washington who, he globe over the centuries. As Europeans believe, would now like :vidence, critics cite not just the to embark on further military .udden collapse oflraqi resistance, conquests, in Syria, Iran or possibly 1ut the stunning American military North Korea. • riumphs in recent years, in "Traditionally, the U.S. has \fghanistan, Kosovo and in the emphasized its great convincing and coercive power on other >ersian Gulf war of 199 1. states," Mr. Parmentier said. "Its With this observation, that he United States represents what foreign policy managed to convince he respected German daily other heads of state that what they •rankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung this were doing was in their national veek called a "hegemonic interest, and this was American's great strength. nternationalism," comes the "Today, the U.S. is 1uestion: will it turn out to be a affirming a much more blunt and :ood thing or a bad thing for the brutal stance," Mr. Parmentier est of the world? y Richard Bernstein Tew York Times continued. "Its vision for foreign affairs has somewhat retrograded to a more national or even nationalistic definition, in the most limited sense of the term, as it was understood in the 19th century." Outsiders wonder whether the United States will use its power from now on as it has in Iraq, free ofthe constraints ofmultilateralism and dismissive ofits allies. Some answer that question with a stark new definition ofthe American goal, which is not so much to control unconventional weapons or to bring about government change in Iraq, but to establish unchallenged global dominance. This view, which would seem strange, almost paranoid, to many Americans, is heard in serious and respectable places in Europe. "The ' war against terrorism ' is certainly an excuse, and an organizing principle, but not in and of itself a primary motive for a strategic new direction in international relations and American world policy," Stef~n Frolich, a German scholar and a professor ofinternational politics at Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen, wrote in the "hegemonic internationalism" commentary in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a conservative daily with a long tradition ofpro-American views. "In this sense, the war against Iraq can be seen as a logical and necessary defense ofAmerican predominance," Mr. Frolich wrote. Critics of"the increasing imperial assertion of the Bush regime," he continued, "are judged to be promoting a policy of ' appeasement' toward rogue states like Iraq." No historical period is exactly like another, and few people are arguing that the United States is a new Rome or a new colonialist Britain. In the main view·being expressed in Europe, it is not the classic imperialist goal of national wealth and resources that is driving the United States. In the more radical view of American power - represented by The Guardian or by Mr. Frolich ­ the U~ted States is seeking global dominance almost for its own sake. The more moderate view is that Washington has reacted, or perhaps overreacted, to the threat of terrorism. The American destiny, as the German newsweekly Der Spiegel put it recently, is "to bring peace to the world through war." In other words, the motive is good, even ifthe actions are violent and possibly unjustified . But there seems to be a strong emerging view that the immensity ofAmerican power amounts to something different in the world. "Throughout the history of mankind, certainly no country has existed that has so thoroughly dominated the world with its politics, its tanks and its products as the United States does today," Der Spiegel said. What are the consequences? Some commentators are waiting to see whether new military actions stem from the Iraqi victory, which, they believe, would be final confirmation ofthe new American 1mpenum. "Does the policy remain on this trajectory and they go off hunting other regimes that are judged undesirable and dangerous?" said Michael Emerson ofthe Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels. "Or do they say: ' Whew, that was a sweat politically, the Iraqi campaign. We better slow down and attempt to reconstruct multinational understanding and consensus.' " Echoing this view, but with eyes on another potential crisis, an influential South Korean commentator, Kim Young Hie, a columnist for the newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, worries that American success in Iraq will backfire when it comes to North Korea. "For Pyongyang, Iraq was the second shock and awe after Afghanistan," Mr. Kirn wrote. "When Bush is determined to do something, he just goes ahead. And America undoubtedly has the military prowess to carry out his will. This message is sinking in with Kim Jong II." Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 ~~ Empowering our neighborhood children through peace , art and education �STREETVIBES May, 2003 Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Report FOCUS ON THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM (Connect For Kids, April 2003) Children are not eating breakfast, either at home or school, because of long commutes, extended and non-traditional work hours that often make it difficult for families to find time to eat breakfast, late bus arrivals, and schools failing to offer breakfast. In many schools the breakfast program is seen as "just for poor kids," even though it is available (at full cost) to children who don 't qualify for a reduced-price or free breakfast. Of every 100 low-income children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch at school, about 43 receive a free or reduced-price breakfast. Universal breakfast programs reduce administrative burdens, draw no lines between students based on income, help everyone perform better in school and make it possible to serve breakfasts in the classroom. http://www.connectforkids.org/ benton _topics l 544/ bentoo_tq>ics_show.htm?d:ic_i<Fl 63137 FACT SHEET: FOOD PURCHASES OF FOOD STAMP SHOPPERS (FRAC Fact Sheet, April 2003) Among some people there is a perception that food stamp recipients often make poor choices when it comes to food purchases. However, studies over the last 20 years consistently show that this is not the case. Those studies include findings that food stamp recipients consumed less fats, snack foods, oils, sugars, sweets and beverages other than milk and juice than did nonrecipients; and that for each dollar of food stamps a household received, the households' Healthy Eating Index score went up -the higher the level of food stamps, the larger the positive nutritional effect. This fact sheet summarizes the studies. http://www.frac.org/pdfl Foodstamppurchases.PDF (Adobe PDF) EDITORIAL: PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAX CUT PACKAGE WILL INCREASE DEFICITS, DEBT; SHRINK PROGRAMS (New York Times, April 16, 2003) This editorial criticizes President Bush's support of the tax cut plan pending in Congress by pointing out that it would immediately increase the national debt by $984 billion (to $7.384 trillion), with annual deficits of $400 billion. Mainline economists warn the tax cut plan and extended deficits will crimp the economy in a grim future when the government must borrow more and more to stay afloat. Also, with high wartime expenses and increasing budget deficits, taxpayers can expect shrinking public programs down the road. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/ 04/ 16/opinion/l 6WED3 .html (free registration required) EDITORIAL: INCOME VERIFICATION FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES WOULD LEAVE CHILDREN HUNGRY (Los Angeles Times, April 12, 2003) This editorial criticizes the administration's proposal to require expanded income verification for the National School Lunch Program and points out that for each ineligible family screened out, five eligible families are deterred from applying. The proposal is based on a flawed 1999 study showing a 21 percent overcertification rate for the school lunch program. The study uses census data from annual income figures while the school lunch program depends on a one-month snapshot of income. Also, low income people are more likely than others to move throughout the school year, creating record­ keeping problems for administrators that can result in a child being counted twice. Furthermore, any estimates of money saved by reducing overcertification are too high because many children signed up for the program do not eat the meals. "Embarrassment is a key reason." http://www.latimes.com/news/ printedition/opinion/la-ed­ 1unchl2apr 12, 1,3 3 06959 .story (free registration required) MORE THAN 570,000 CHILDREN NATIONWIDE COULD BE ELIMINATED FROM AFTERSCHOOL Editorial PROGRAMS (Washington Times, Washington, D.C., April 15, 2003) The Children's Defense Fund recently released new statistics showing that more then 570,000 children nationwide could be eliminated from eligibility for afterschool programs because of the Bush Administration 's proposed $400 million cut from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. In Washington, D.C., the public school system provides 8,000 students with afterschool services; 35,000 children in the city are eligible for afterschool services. The school system has had to eliminate 2,000 children from the program over the last two years due to budget cuts. "We are bracing for retrenchment on the domestic side for people in need," says Howard Brown, director of out-of-school programs in D.C. http://washingtontimes.com/ metro/20030415-4529544.htm SENATE ADOPTS CARE ACT, WOULD INCREASE FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE (Press Release, America's Second Harvest, April 9, 2003) The Senate adopted the Charity, Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act of 2003 (CARE Act - S. 476), a measure that will allow family farmers, ranchers and restaurant owners to deduct the costs of food donated to hunger-relief charities. The growing demand for emergency food assistance has in too many instances outstripped the food resources of local charities. A 2001 study of emergency food providers showed that demand at emergency feeding sites had increased 9 percent since 1997. "The food donation tax changes in the CARE Act result is a win-win for all parties ­ farmers, small businesses, charities, and most importantly, hungry Americans. Enactment...wi11 encourage increased donations of food," said Robert Forney, president of America's Second Harvest. http://www.secondharvest.org/ newsroom/pressreleases/ 040903. html NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH LOW PAY, BENEFITS (News and Observer, Raleigh, NC, April 13, 2003) Military reservist families in North Carolina and around the country have been struggling with Page 18 reduced pay and benefits since the reservists were deployed for the war in Iraq. Many families are seeking assistance; more than 850 military families showed up for a food giveaway at Fort Bragg. Bob Mullens recently retired as a first sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, said many military families are living on food stamps or the WIC program. Before the recent call­ up Food Stamp Program participation for military families was down nationally, with 4,200 military families qualifying last year compared with 19,400 in 1991 , due in part to the fact that some won't seek help. Nancy Mayo, of the Family Support Center at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, reminds military spouses that "asking for help is a sign of strength." http:// newsobserver. com/news/story/ 2436028p-2266320c.html See FRAC's web page on nutrition assistance available for military reservists: http ://www.frac.org/html/ federal_food _programs/military/ reservists. htm IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY FOOD IS IDGH (Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY, April 13, 2003) In Rochester, New York, many new people are coming every week to seek assistance from the Rochester Food Not Bombs emergency food pantry. They have recently lost jobs, they are fleeing a threatening domestic situation, or their wages are too low and their bills are too high. http:// www.democratandchronicle.com/ news/0414story 17_news.shtml The FRAC web site is http://www.frac.org To subscribe to the weekly FRAC News Digest go to the website: http://capwiz.com/frac/mlm/ Ben Winter Food Research and Action Center 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 540 Washington, DC 20009 (202) 986-2200 x3019 phone (202) 986-2525 fax Email: bwinter@frac.org �STREETVIBES May, 2003 Page 19 Libraries, others offer computer classes and free or affordable Internet access by John Zeh Newcomers to the Internet and current computer users will be treated grandly by the Cincinnati­ Hamilton County (C-HC) public library system and other agencies this spring and summer. Library branches and their downtown headquarters offer ongoing basic computer classes, instruction on using valuable search tools, and access to the worldwide web for free. Other operations such as cable TV companies and social service agencies also provide free instruction and access to the World Wide Web. Folks using computers anywhere who have (C-HC) Library cards can use fee-based research databases at no charge, order books online, and get updates on library services via www.CincinnatiLibrary.org, a new, easier e-address. "Technology has affected nearly every aspect ofthe Library's operations and services by providing new resources, and new ways to conduct research, allowing our resources to be accessed when our buildings are closed," said system director Kimber L. Fender. "Alibrarian from the l 850's could not begin to imagine the impact these changes would have on the Library." Classes for Internet newbies have been held throughout the region at various locations, times, and days this spring. The Library's popular "Introduction to Computers" classes will be held in May at branches in North Central, College Hill, Delhi Township, Norwood, Groesbeck, and Northside. On May 14, the Groesbeck library will host a class on Creating and Using E-mail. A sure-to-be popular session on how to access the Library's CINCH catalog online will happen there at 10 am on May 31. Summer promises more e-opportunities, with more classes to be scheduled as Streetvibes hits t he streets. At press time, only the Library's Northside branch had listed a June computer-related class, set for 1 PM on June 12. Even long-time Internet-users should appreciate sessions on using I-net search engines that were offered in April, if they are revived in May or June. To learn about classes and other programs for children, teenagers, and adults: pick up free monthly guides at any library location or go to the Library's home page at http:// www cincinnatilibrary.org/, click on the purple square in the upper right hand comer of the home page to learn all Library programs throughout the county. For computer classes, specify programs for adults; classes are open to teens, but they are not listed in the Library's website section for programs offered to youth. A direct link is at www. cincinnati library.erg/ happenings/programs.asp Pre-registration for classes is required. Call or drop by the branch offering the session to sign up. Branches not listed may have signs posted at the branch about joining a class or getting a one-on­ one session with the computer specialist there. Timeonline at libraries is limited. A day's allowance is best used at the main library (between Vine and Walnut and Eighth or Ninth Streets downtown), but branches will extend a user 's time if no one else is waiting. To receive regular, e-mailed updates on all Library programs and events, subscribe at www.cincinnatilibrary.org/pubs/ atlib.asp . The bulletins also list jobs available throughounhe system now that hiring has resumed. The 150-year-old institution quickly recovered from a severe state budget shortfall, but faces more cuts from the Ohio legislature and the governor 's office. The Law School library on the south side of the University of Cincinnati's Clifton campus offers non-students Internet access to work on legal matters. The three libraries in northern Kentucky (Covington, Erlanger, and Independence) also offer computer access, but users After basic training, students do are limited to one hour, a librarian tabling at a two-day festival in live Internet radio production in a studio funded by Fifth Third Bank downtown Covington told and Ohio Valley Foundation. . Streetvibes. Rawlins and her staffare planning a Other places around town fall festival outside its center, a also offer classes or Internet beautifully-rehabbed automobile access. The Urban League (3458 showroom sited between Reading Rd.) and Women's Connection (4042 Glenway Ave. in downtown and Over-the-Rhine. For details, see Price Hill) offer computer training, according to the Literacy Network www.MediaBridges.org. Institute for Learning in of Greater Cincinnati. Three Retirement, a unique school for recently-acquired computers are available for homeless clients at the seniors aged 50 and over, offers Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the classes three quarters a year at Maple Knoll Village, Union Homeless two days a week. Institute, Rockdale Temple, Computer skills are Deupree Terrace, Joseph-Beth taught through the Bookstore, and the University of Cincinnati Public School'sABLE Cincinnati 's campuses in Clifton program of basic and Raymond Walters College. See www.UC.Edu/cece/ilr, e-mail and literary education at Uptown Rosemary.Gauch@UC.Edu, or Towers (415 W. call513/ 556-9186. , Court St. 357-4510). Online, UC's Communiversity offered 75 classes The classes are this spring covering Internet use, publicized as free, certification preparation for _ but books must be purchased and ­ other fees may apply. computer-related technical skills, and personal enrichment courses on Free Internet access has been available at Ohio Bureau of grammar, digital photography, and basic genealogy. See Employment Services ( 1916 www.ed2go.com/uc. Central Pky. northwest of downtown) and Career Resource The College ofMt. St. Joseph has a "LifeLeam" project Network's multiple locations. for "senior horizons and Cincinnati's public access cable TV center has eight iMac enrichment" with spring classes on units av ailable for free use seven the Internet and both basic and days a week, and plans to offer intermediate word processing. computer classes soon such as On the business front, SoHo Flash, Photoshop Elements, Computer Solutions offers "affordable" computer consulting Dreamweaver, and others, said via www.sohocom.com or 513/ Media Bridges director Belinda Rawlins, a regular on WAIF 88.3 225-6018. FM's comedy squad. AU these efforts aimed at Other "bridges" to multi­ advancing computer literacy should media uses that the city agency help keep Greater Cincinnati on the offers include computer-based frontline oftechno-cultural courses in using digital video creativity. Let Streetvibes know cameras, state-of-the-art digital about your forays into the new editing, "i-movie" featuring basic media. Contact the writer at techniques for editing digital video. JohnZehl46@Yahoo.com Vendor: 80 cents Where Your Dollar Goes Printing and Production: 20 cents The S treetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. �.. - - ~ Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati . _ <;;oalition for the Homeless members listed below. SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 ·Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Greater Cincinnati CoaUtion For The ·HQmeJess • Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761 -1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center 861-1111 (Teens) St. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 639-7056 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Meo Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6660 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421..7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Menlal Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 � 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 2003 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 May 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Dangerous to be Homeless Panhandling for Awareness Pg 2: Homeless Challenge by Stereotypes Pg 3: Homeless Continued Pg 4: Reader Mail Pg 5: US Marines Raid Rooms at Media Hotel in Baghdad Pg 6: Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge our Misguided Drug Rehab System Pg 7: Key Republican Not Sure on Patriot Act Pg 8: Repairing Iraq, and Our Cities Fear and Anger in Syria Pg 9: Volunteer at GCCH Pg 10: Opposition to “Beverly Hillbillies” Tv Show Pg 11: Dispatch from Cleveland Pg 12: The Peace Village Pg 13: Visions for a New Tomorrow Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: The War Against the Homeless Pg 17: Europe Seems to Hear Echoes of Empires Past Pg 18: Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Report Pg 19: Libraries, Other Offer Computer Classes and Free or Affordable Internet Access 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 May 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Steve Shockley Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Elain Coffy Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Baghdad Brendan Goodwin Cleveland Drug Rehab System Elain Coffy Europe Food Research FRAC GCCH Georgine Getty Iraq Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath Libraries Marines Mary Gaffney News & Editorials panhandling Patriot Act Peace Village Reader Mail ReSTOC Steve Shockley Syria https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/5e5dc7dfa42c1354bdb0114753506b6f.pdf 4753718904d001b73b9d6a184d302712 PDF Text Text May, 2004 STREETVIBES Fort Washington Hotel To Be Replaced By Upscale Condos alternatives for the clients. demolition of the Milner Hotel in Story and photos by Jimmy Heath jobs, transportation, affordable housing and services. Many of Supposedly, other places will take 1994, which resulted in the loss of the residents work during the up the slack. But none of that has 115 affordable housing units in Red’s baseball games or other been formalized – there were no downtown Cincinnati. The downtown events in menial lowdiscussions on the issue, no study Milner Hotel, once a low-income paying jobs. Many others work in or concern for the impact this will rooming house, was torn down nearby restaurants, others get by have on poor people. And there is for the construction of Greenwich on fixed incomes. a lot of money in this deal,” says Village, a market rate complex for “Most of the people will Clifford. higher-income people. be able to find other housing Many Earlier this At the present time the Fort downtown,” says Roger, the desk agree that the decade, Main clerk at the Fort Washington Hotel Hotel needs Street in Over­ Washington Hotel offers who has lived in the building off work beyond the-Rhine low-cost affordable housing and on for nearly ten years. just cosmetic experienced “They will be able to go to the changes. The significant to the working poor and Dennison Hotel or the Metropole Hotel is in need renovations people on fixed incomes around the corner. A lot of these of major that gentrified a folks are on fixed incomes, so electrical and wellwho want the flexibility of they will be able to get help.” plumbing work established weekly rental rates. The Hotel serves as an as it stands community. In Advocates for affordable alternative to many people who today. just a fivecould otherwise wind up on the Businesses on block span housing are worried that street. The residents are mostly Main Street are from l2th Street turning the historic building the working poor; folks who can’t anxious to see to Liberty, over afford market-rate apartments and the property 200 units of Another option for lowinto market rate housing can’t commit to long-term leases developed – the low-income income housing may soon be lost will further erode the stock or pass stringent tenant screenings aging building housing were in downtown Cincinnati. The but who still need an affordable is surrounded lost. The Fort Washington Hotel on Main of low income housing in roof over their head. by new adjacent West Street has about 100 rooms and the city of Cincinnati.... “An affordable rooming development End community nearly as many residents but it house is preferable to a homeless including the has soon may be closing due to a shelter, a park bench or an alley,” new Contemporary Arts Center experienced the demolition of two development project that will says Pat Clifford, general and the Aronoff complex. There housing projects; Laurel Homes transform the turn-of-the-century coordinator of the Drop Inn are at least 200 new units of and Lincoln Court, as part of the structure into 10 upscale Center shelter. “We are losing a upper-income market rate housing HUD Hope VI program which condominiums. scheduled to open in the grants cities federal money to turn The rehab project is slated lot of places where residents can go when they manage to save a downtown area within the next aging “projects” into mixedto begin in about 2 – 6 months. few dollars or are on their way to two years. income units. Financing of the project will getting back on their feet. There Many advocates for lowWith a need for lowdepend mostly on the presale of seems to be less and less income housing remember the income housing that already the new condominium units. The outstrips the supply, public project will begin as early as this redevelopment projects and spring and will develop 10 units private development continually at 1,600 square feet of living contribute to the leading cause of space with starting prices of homelessness - lack of affordable around $250,000 each. There are housing. plans for balconies and indoor Georgine Getty, Executive parking. The building originally Director of the Greater Cincinnati opened in 1888 as an office Coalition for the Homeless stated, building but later was converted “lack of affordable housing is the to a hotel. number one reason that women At the present time the become homeless in Cincinnati, Fort Washington Hotel offers lowwhich means it is also the number cost affordable housing to the one reason that children become working poor and people on fixed homeless in Cincinnati. We are incomes who want the flexibility talking about 8,000 children each of weekly rental rates. Advocates year who experience the horror of for affordable housing are worried homelessness simply because that turning the historic building developers and businesses didn’t into market rate housing will take them into account in the further erode the stock of low attempts at ‘progress.’” income housing in the city of She concluded, “It really is Cincinnati. a shame, because Cincinnati is big For several decades the enough for us all if we would only Fort Washington Hotel has served make the effort to include the working poor of Cincinnati, There are plans to restore the turn-of-the-century facade everyone.” providing access to downtown Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw - Administrative Coordinator Andy Erickson - Education Coordinator Elizabeth Linville - Civil Rights Coordinator Janice Faulkner - Receptionist Mary Gaffney - Receptionist Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photographers Jimmy Heath, Berta Lambert, Sonny Williams Cover Fort Washinton Hotel, downtown Cincinnati - photo by Jimmy Heath ET VIB ES Page 2 the north can be hazardous to your health. But there are many other dangers too, especially for women. According to the National Gentria Lynn Thomas’s Coalition for the Homeless in body was found in a pile of Washington, DC about 10% of clothing on a Cincinnati street last victims of hate crimes month. Someone called committed against the 911 to report an homeless are women. unconscious person lying (Log on to on the street near www.nationalhomeless.org/ Broadway and Third in the hatecrimes/fullreport.pdf downtown business for a full copy of the district. When police Jimmy Heath report; Hate, Violence and arrived they found Thomas Death on Main Street dead, possibly murdered. USA). Investigators think she may have “I did what I had to do to been killed elsewhere and then left make it out there,” a woman on the street. The Hamilton resident of the Drop Inn Center County coroner was to perform an told me. “I would do anything on autopsy but as of this writing the the street. A woman on the street is cause of her death remains unknown. According to the police, like a commodity. It is a different way to survive than the men. But the death has been ruled as a now I’m here so I can get my kids homicide and there is a suspect in back. I need to do this more than her murder. that. It’s crazy out there” Gentria Thomas was a Getting people off the street homeless person who frequented is the first step, and this alone is the Drop Inn Center and spent not always easy. There is fear and afternoons with friends in Washington Park. The struggle she mistrust and sometimes mental had with her life was punctuated at illness and addiction. Many people who the end by an are homeless cycle anonymous and in and out of the possibly violent justice system, at death, a blurb in the taxpayer expense, news. for minor infractions This is the like drinking in ultimate indignity “There is a choice that has to be public or for homeless people made in this country to end panhandling. The - to die in public, homelessness, and it’s exactly the justice system does alone and on the same as the choice an artist has to Gentria Lynn Thomas nothing for the street. make to create something homeless except Although the beautiful: it is a choice between provide a brief respite from a night murder of Gentria Thomas may be respect and contempt. Studying an isolated incident, I am reminded on the street. Mostly, it just creates Aesthetic Realism made for a new a criminal record and that makes it of the cycle of life and death, integrity in my life. I learned that increasingly difficult to find especially the loneliness of dying beauty and ethics are inseparable— housing or employment. Many homeless. The disconnection that the way to take care of myself police bring people to the Drop Inn was by trying to be fair to other between society and the homeless Center instead of taking them to person - a life of isolation and people, that in order to express jail, and that is a sympathetic poverty - makes the loss of life something original, I had to be profoundly tragic. Without friends, beginning. impressed by the world in a deep Every year in December we way. We have to oppose contempt resources, or a family connection, mourn the passing of our homeless in the way this country is run, and only a stranger’s generosity brothers and sisters on the longest prevents an anonymous burial in a we have to oppose it in ourselves.” night of the year. [see Streetvibes, pauper’s grave. Anthony C. Romeo, AIA, January 2004]. Homeless workers, Principal, Urbane Architects, We are constantly asking why? What can be done to prevent family and friends gather in P.C. Washington Park for a memorial the death of a homeless person service to remember the people from going unnoticed? Will the who have died during the year crime go unsolved? For advocates while living on the streets of of the poor and the homeless the Cincinnati. It is a solemn occasion, question also arises; how many marked by a barrel fire in the park more preventable deaths will go Support and the cold-winter wind of a late unchecked? Your December evening. The service is Those that simply die of old Vendor age or because they have an undetected illness should not die alone on the street like so many do. Gentria Thomas’s death adds a new twist because of the possibility of homicide. But her death also Streetvibes Vendors are required to sign a code of conduct reminds us of the nasty side of life and agree to abide by all the rules of the Streetvibes Ven­ on the street and the element of dor Program. If a Vendor misrepresents or breaks the danger - real danger, that can get rules, she/he may be removed from the Program. To report you killed. Without shelter, life a Vendor, call 421-7803. ext. 16 outside during the winter months in by Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes Editor RE Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://homeless.cinci.com repeated throughout countless cities in the US each year, remembering the homeless and others who have lived and died outside. But after the holidays, the remembrance wears thin The Homeless Memorial is a remembrance and a challenge to all who listen to not let the lives or deaths of people on the street go unnoticed. The occasion is especially poignant for me - I know some of the folks who have died in recent years. I could be one of those people on the list of the dead too ­ dying outdoors, anonymous and nameless, drifting out of life unnoticed. In the end, this is the plight of many of the homeless – they eventually die and strangers grieve their passing. I didn’t know Gentria Thomas. But I know of the life. I’m all too familiar with the death of those on the streets. All of these words are simply put to paper to remember someone who died outside of society – not a fitting memorial to a human being, but it is all I can do. I grieve for the many that die unnoticed and forgotten. I hope to see everyone home someday, safe from the hazards of life on the streets - safe from a silent, unnoticed death. ST Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Death On The Street Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Streetvibes �ON A SCALE OF ONE TO A HUNDRED, HOW MUCH DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THE CITY’S TREATMENT OF CINCINNATI’S HOMELESS? I WILL DONATE: $1 $20 $40 $60 $80 $100 He’s only 18 months old and already he’s trapped in the cycle of homelessness in Cincinnati. His mother needs an affordable place to live and a job with a living wage as she escapes a life of domestic violence. The current treatment of homeless individuals in our city means that he may never be able to live in a home of his own. There are 25,000 people in Cincinnati that experience homelessness each year. More than one-third of those are women and children. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless believes that by addressing the root causes of the problem through education, advocacy and coordination of services, we can end homelessness in our city. The more support we have from the community, the further our efforts reach. Please cut the coupon and pick a box. It could mean that one less child will have to live in one. Send your donations to Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Streetvibes Page 3 �Police Use of New Taser’s Raises Questions Amanda E. Mayes, Co-chair, Coalition for a Just Cincinnati In December of last year a divided City Council voted in favor of equipping every police officer with a taser despite feelings many residents had that the tasers could be misused. (As you well know, at the time of the taser debate, African-American residents appeared at Council’s meeting to oppose the Taser purchase, stating that Police were already too prone to use force on black subjects and adding that they feared the weapons would be deployed too readily in black neighborhoods). Notwithstanding the charged racial climate in Cincinnati - and in particular strained race relations between African American citizens and the CPD - Cincinnati police deemed it necessary to zap at least four people not long after receiving these tasers. Countless other times, the police have threatened citizens with the use of these tasers. For instance, last month while at City Hall, Cincinnati Police Lt. Doug Ventre threatened to tase activist Nathaniel Livingston, Jr. while escorting him out of City Council chambers. In light of these facts, some serious questions must be they be shot into a crowd? Can asked. What precisely is the tasers be used on individuals who policy on police use of tasers? are clearly disabled or who don’t For example: have the health of an average 1.) Under what circumstances is it individual (for example: a person acceptable for an officer to tase a confined to a wheel chair or a citizen? So far it seems police pregnant woman)? discretion has been arbitrarily 4.) How many times can an applied. For example, suspects officer tase an individual during a who have posed no physical threat single arrest? Can an officer to police repeatedly officers have tase any been tased (as suspect? was the case It goes with a 33 year without old Price Hill saying that man who the answers police tased to these because he questions was “acting should have Taser issued to the Cincinnati strangely” been clearly Police and whom established they never BEFORE brought up on criminal charges). Council voted in favor of issuing 2.) How many officers can tase a these tasers. It may even be the single citizen at any one time? case that the above mentioned Thinking back on the Nathaniel questions (and many more) have, Jones case, had all six officers indeed, been answered and been armed with tasers, could all policies put in place. If that is the of them have tased Mr. Jones if case, I appreciate the prudence they all claim to have perceived a involved and would like to know threat? if that information was made 3.) Are there age, weight, or other available to the public. considerations that would prohibit However, if these the use of tasers no matter the decisions were not made before circumstance? For instance, can Council voted to issue these tasers tasers be used on children? Can - as I suspect is the case - the Taser Used on Man Threatening cigarette, Suicide Cincinnati police said Cincinnati. one of the officers they saved a man’s life last month by using a taser on him to keep him from committing suicide. This was one of the most recent tasing’s, taking place around 3 a.m. in the middle of the suspension bridge. The man threatened to take his own life in the early morning hours by jumping off the bridge in downtown James Robinson of Westwood was threatening to jump into the river because he was distraught over being robbed on Vine Street. Officers talked with him for several minutes and got him to move away from the railing by offering him a cigarette. When the man stepped away from the railing to get a used his taser to subdue him. Police said the man did not suffer any serious injuries from the tasers. He was placed under medical care. Cincinnati police have had tasers for over three months and have used them about 100 times. According to police, just pointing the taser or threatening appropriate policies must be put into place post haste, and it is the responsibility of Council to see that that is done. African American citizens in Cincinnati live with a police force that has no compunction about calling us Niggers. We are profiled by the police and constantly harassed. We, therefore, don’t trust the police and equally distrust an establishment that protects them. If we are really to come to any kind of racial reconciliation, we must be honest and hardworking on these issues. Lip service is a waste of our time. It is easily detected and only serves to foster distrust and resentment. I urge you to respond with righteous indignation against a police force that has served to help divide our city along racial lines, hasn’t reduced crime a bit, and continues to eat up more and more of the city budget. I urge you to consider what would have been the attitude of the African American community had Mr. Livingston been tased on Citicable for holding a sign in City Council Chambers? For many, many reasons you are urged to be aggressive about preserving the civil rights of your constituents. I shudder to think of what will be the consequences if you choose to do otherwise. its use causes compliance. Nearly 450 police officers have been voluntarily shot by a taser since its introduction, so that officers learn firsthand the effects of the high voltage discharge device. The first time a taser was used was against a suspect in Price Hill on January 9th. Cincinnati spent $1 million to buy tasers for most of the police officers. New Council Rules To Be Challenged In Court Nathaniel Livingston Jr. Last month I filed a federal lawsuit against The City of Cincinnati, Mayor Charlie Luken and FOP Vice President Keith Fangman to stop the City from violating my civil rights. Along with the Complaint, I filed a motion requesting an immediate temporary restraining order to stop Mayor Luken and City Council from enforcing the unconstitutional Rules of Council which have been used to throw citizens like me out of City Hall, and to stop the police from giving tickets to citizens like me who say unpopular things on Fountain Square. During the last year I have been arrested or ticketed at least six times for saying “F@#& The Police” or “Nigganati” on Fountain Square and at City Hall. The same Mayor and police officers who don’t want to hear me say these offensive things have defended the KKK’s right to call Black people “niggers” on Fountain Square, and Lt. Jeff Butler’s use of the word “nigger” on videotape. Some people argue that I should give up my rights to say whatever I want to at City Hall or on Fountain Square. These people, including those of you in the media, never suggest the Klan, or the Chabad, or the Know Theatre Tribe give up their rights. This lawsuit is about defending my Constitutional right to attend City Council meetings and speak if everyone else is allowed to do so. The suit is also about defending my right to engage in offensive speech on Fountain Square as long as other people are allowed to do so. If City Council objects to the comments of speakers at City Hall then they have the option of discontinuing the Citizens’ Forum. Until then, however, the law is clear. If one person is allowed to speak, then everyone is allowed to speak. That’s America. Love it or leave it. I am somewhat concerned about Judge Dlott being assigned this case because she has worked with Keith Fangman and the FOP in the past during the Collaborative Agreement which I think was a sweetheart deal for the cops. Nevertheless, I trust that Judge Dlott will be fair in this case. Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Home Page 4 Streetvibes �Street Vendors Sell Knowledge by Saleha Ghani, University of Cincinnati News Record Staff Columnist What does a dollar mean to you? For some people, it means something from the 99-cent menu at Wendy’s or a 20-minute phone call. I used to think that a dollar wasn’t worth much, but a few days ago I discovered how much an extra buck can do. I was walking into the Blockbuster on Corry Street near the University of Cincinnati campus trying to think of a good “date movie” when that nice black guy who is often seen selling copies of Streetvibes, a newspaper published by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, asked me if I would by a copy from him. It would only cost me a dollar, he said. Usually I shrug off street vendors with a smile and continue on my way, but I was in a good mood that day and happened to have a dollar in my pocket. At the time, I thought he was the lucky one since I usually don’t buy things from street vendors. In retrospect, I see that I am the lucky one. While waiting in line at Blockbuster I began perusing the newspaper. This is what I learned by giving a Streetvibes vendor my dollar: Streetvibes vendor’s keep 70 cents of each dollar collected while selling the newspaper. They are usually homeless or lowincome adults who are working hard to get themselves out of poverty. Unlike the homeless guy who sits on a bucket when you turn onto Hopple Street from I-75 who is always holding a sign saying he is hungry and homeless (one of the letters is written backwards to encourage sympathy), Streetvibes vendors work hard to earn money. They even have to taken an oath promising not to sell the newspaper while under the influence. This just makes me angrier at the old white guy who bumbles around McMillan Avenue smelling like he’s been swimming in alcohol, who goes around asking people for their change. I once saw him laying on the couch at KFC and offered to buy him food, but he said he didn’t like chicken and just wanted money. Now I don’t know any of these people or their life stories, but I do know that I’d rather give money to someone who is making a genuine effort to get back on their feet, than to someone who is just sitting around waiting for someone to hand them a few bucks. Not only does the publication provide employment for those who may have difficulty getting jobs elsewhere but have the motivation to get off or stay off the streets, it also gives them an opportunity to express their creativity. The publishers give vendors and the homeless preference when deciding what to print. But enough about the homeless. What about the rest of us? Sure, college kids usually don’t have much money, but would it kill us to give a few bucks here and there to someone who really needs it and is willing to work for it? By buying a copy of Streetvibes, you’ll also learn about the poverty situation in Cincinnati. The most recent issue of Streetvibes has an article about Cincinnati City Council’s effort to remove the homeless who have found shelter under bridges and highway passes to make the city look better. Instead of trying to help the homeless by providing real shelters, the city is sweeping its problems under a rug. I learned all of this just by giving a dollar to a vendor on my way into Blockbuster. He inspired me to buy a pack of Peanut M&M’s for a dollar from the guy who stands on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and MLK. Hand him a dollar, and you’ll get M&M’s and a little flyer about the importance of being drug-free. Who knew that a dollar could help so many people? Florida Street Paper Sues Over Vendor Crackdown For the second time in just over three years, the city of Hallandale Beach Florida faces a lawsuit from The Homeless Voice newspaper, which says the Atlantic coast town is unfairly cracking down on its street vendors. The organization that publishes The Homeless Voice newspaper sued Hallandale Beach in federal court last month, seeking to block city efforts to keep street vendors off medians and sidewalks, a lawyer for the organization said. The suit - the paper’s second against the city in about three years - asks the court to rule that the city is interfering with the newspaper’s constitutionally protected right to distribute its product, said John David, who represents the Cosac Foundation. ‘’It’s always important that people protect their rights to free press and free speech, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,’’ he said. “The efforts of my clients are important to meet the needs of the homeless.’’ Unlike Streetvibes, where vendors keep all of the sales profits, proceeds from the sale of Hallandale’s street paper go to The Homeless Voice/Helping People in America shelter in Hollywood FL, said Lois Cross, a shelter volunteer. The city is simply enforcing a state statute that prohibits newspaper vendors - and everyone else - from standing in the street to solicit business, said Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor William Julian. Vendors are allowed to use sidewalks and medians - a contention disputed by The Homeless Voice - but are not permitted to step down into the paved portion of the road reserved for traffic, he said. ‘’This is not a homeless issue for me or the city of Hallandale - this is a safety issue,’’ he said, adding that several vendors had been killed or injured in recent years. Since 2000, officials in Weston, Aventura, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Davie and other National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 Florida cities have considered or enacted measures to restrict street vendors. In 2001, Homeless Voice founder Sean Cononie sued Hallandale Beach for banning his vendors while allowing those of The Herald and Sun-Sentinel daily newspapers to do business in the streets. The suit was settled and the vendors were allowed to return. About a year ago, Hollywood issued tickets to three Sun-Sentinel vendors and one Herald vendor hawking newspapers in the street. The newspapers sued in federal court, arguing that their constitutional right to freedom of the press had been violated. They asked Judge Patricia A. Seitz to order Hollywood to stop its enforcement efforts, but Seitz rejected the newspapers’ request. While other street papers around the US, Canada and Europe enjoy support and praise from government officials, many street papers continue to be attacked by city lawmakers intent on removing or restricting the freedoms of homeless persons in public. Cincinnati’s Streetvibes newspaper has faced many serious challenges from the City in recent years, including attempts to Streetvibes outright ban the sales of the paper, restrictions on where the paper can be sold and statements from City Hall citing Streetvibes as “contributing to the demise of downtown Cincinnati.” “Some see this as ‘meaness’ directed at people who are least able to defend themselves,” said Jimmy Heath, editor of Cincinnati’s Streetvibes newspaper. “But most people know what is really going on and they support the people selling the paper on street. And the courts have always been just in these matters.” An Alcoholic? by Linda Corey An alcoholic is a real character; drinks to forget hurt and failure. Plays the victim. Role: anger, fear, shame, guilt. The behavior is selfish. The alcoholic character staggers around constantly wanting another drink, and then wakes in the morning with a hangover. The first word in the morning is the guilt. Oh, what have I done now? Then there is a crisis or a problem. The alcoholic says, “Well, how am I going to get another drink? The insanity starts all over again. An alcoholic is spiritually dead. Alcohol is their higher power, their God. Page 5 �Homeless News Digest compiled by Patty Lane A man who police say beat a homeless man in an attack linked to a White supremacist group has accepted a plea agreement. According to the Seattle Times, David Nikos Platos of Tacoma plead guilty to firstdegree murder in the death of 42­ year-old Randall Townsend. His girlfriend also plead guilty to second-degree murder. As part of their pleas, both will testify against two others charged with aggravated murder. Police say the defendants planned last month’s attack so that one of them could earn red shoelaces in the White supremacist movement. The victim, however, was White. Instead of spending Spring Break hitting the beach and partying, some Minnesota college students decided to use their time to help those in need. Seven women and four men spent their time volunteering at a homeless shelter in Florida, doing everything from painting and casework to sorting clothes and fixing church pews. According to the Sun Sentinel, they also hit the streets. “They did some street outreach ride-alongs and went under bridges and to local parks,” says Diane Bates, executive director of the shelter. For some it was their second Spring Break spent at the shelter. “It was too short a time,” says senior Mariana Mayers. “I wish I had more time to help out, but Spring Break is only one week.” A daytime shelter has different needs than a regular homeless shelter such as providing breakfast, lunch, showers and hygiene items and a clothing closet. The shelter also provides a food bank and bus tokens for such things as job interviews and medical appointments. Bates praises their work: “They not only bring the work that they do in terms of physical labor, but they also bring up our morale. They’re really inspiring. It’s a privilege for us to have them,” she says. From 2000 to 2002, the number of homeless people at Calgary’s homeless shelters rose by 30 percent. But that won’t stop the Alberta capital’s largest shelter from closing its doors this spring. The Calgary Drop-In Centre faces a cash crisis that could shut it down as soon as May 1. In 2002, the Drop-In Centre and the Page 6 city’s four other facilities sheltered 14,181 separate individuals. “That is really unacceptable in Canada and particularly in Alberta,” Floyd Perras of the Mustard Seed Street Ministry told the Calgary Sun. “You feel a hopelessness for these individuals.” A Vancouver politician is calling on citizens to organize patrols of schoolyards in the West End neighborhood of the city, where, says Liberal Party representative Lorne Mayencourt, the homeless and the addicted are increasingly loitering. Mayencourt blames the hangouts on a police crackdown forcing addicts out of the Downtown Eastside, the city’s historic slum neighborhood. But Vancouver School Board trustee Andrea Reimer says cleaning up needles and crack pipes from playgrounds is only a half-measure. The people creating the problem, she told CBC News, “don’t go away. They just leave that neighborhood. And they’re going to go to other neighborhoods.” Reimer says a longer-term solution would include more money for drug treatment and housing. A new bicycle lending and ownership program for the homeless is underway in Kentucky. WAVE 3 Television reports the project, started by Wayside Christian Mission, will give homeless people a transportation option through a bicycle lending facility. The 12­ bike program is expected to go city-wide by the end of the year. Reverend Maurice McCrackin UNITY DAY Honoring the life and Work of the Reverend Maurice (Mac) McCrackin June 11 – 13, 2004 St. Joseph Catholic Church 745 Ezzard Charles Drive at Linn Street “Come whenever you can and stay as long as you can...” - Rev. Maurice McCrackin • Free Breakfast - Lunch – Dinner • Fun Stuff • Vision, Strategy, Action • Art Show / Videos • Small Groups • Music • Information on community organizations • Children’s Activities Amos 5:24 - “But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” As Mac said: “It is up to us to work out the irrigation system.” Come help spearhead the movement for change in Cincinnati. We are the ones in control of Cincinnati’s future. What kind of city do you want to live in? Any contributions will be gratefully received. Please make checks payable to St. Joseph Catholic Church c/o Mac Day. Write “Mac Day” in the memo line. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information contact St. Joseph Catholic Church; 513-381-4526 or Brian Garry; 513-236-4180 or e-mail: briangarry@briangarry.com Streetvibes �Labor of Love by Mary Gaffney Happy Easter to each and everyone. When this issue of Streetvibes reaches you, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus’ death will be over. To my homeless friends, it is on behalf of you that I speak on the problems that you are facing each day, for each of you are still struggling to have employment and a place to live, where there will be no fear of being locked out, abused; some of the things that can happen to my homeless friends. I still try to find time to talk to them, encourage them to not give up. Sometimes they are not in the best of moods while they are trying to secure a job. Sometimes their past, which includes time in Well, some of my friends have worked, served this country, jail, makes these things difficult. They have served their and some have served time for their time, and when they are let out, misdeeds. Yes, they have paid the price and served they are expected to find work. the time for what they were Some receive training – all of involved in. this and they still When a can’t get a job. person gets They are also released from prison, they are victims of people giving them an told to find employment. But attitude, is doesn’t always reminding them work out. They that others work have trouble for a living. Miss Mary Gaffney Remember, they finding a job because they have are watching you as you behave this way. For us a record and no home. This certainly makes them bitter, and more fortunate, we have homes, they feel no one cares. Some jobs, etc. people resort to drinking, etc, and a don’t care attitude. But I talk to them and continue to tell them that there are people who care, and don’t give up on you. Go to an official who is higher if you have to, and ask to see the person who is in charge of the homeless programs. It doesn’t take much to speak with kindness and a little smile. You never know what the future holds for each of us. With the conditions in the world today it is time for everyone to stop and think and remember we are all brothers and sisters in the sight of God, regardless of race or nationality. In the Father’s words, we are all his children. Remember to please be kind because you never know when the kindness you share will be returned to you. The Taxing Truth by David Bisson Lurking behind the recent string of federal tax cuts are the blueprints for a far-right-wing revolution. In a column last year in the Washington Post, Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform and the radical right’s anti-tax ringleader, laid out a program to transform our current tax system into a single flat tax on wages. Unlike Steve Forbes and others who have tried to radically alter the tax code in a single swoop, the contemporary conservative movement favors a more gradual assault. “The new Republican policy is an annual tax cut,” proclaimed Norquist, and “each of the Bush tax cuts, past and proposed, moves us toward fundamental tax reform.” When they say “fundamental tax reform,” rightwingers are talking about dismantling the progressive tax system that has facilitated social progress in the U.S for the past 70 years. They are trying to smother the widely held belief that people should be taxed at different rates based on their ability to pay. And they are proposing a change in the tax system that would hurt most Americans by shifting the tax burden off capital and investments and onto the wages of low- and middle-income taxpayers. To market what should be a wildly unpopular agenda, the conservative movement has devised an arsenal of disinformation. For three years in a row, President Bush has exploited workers’ insecurities in a stagnating economy to pass major tax breaks for his wealthy campaign donors under the guise of economic stimulus. Last summer’s 2003 tax cut provided a potent example: although it was sold as a “jobs and growth” package, the bill is a targeted giveaway to high-income policy. The choices made by citizens and legislators in the near earners and investors who are future will lead the nation down likely to save their windfalls. one of two diverging paths. Working taxpayers, by contrast, Politicians and pundits on the right would spend tax cuts now in ways have offered assurances that the that would stimulate job creation deficits are “manageable’ while and economic growth. The only advocating ever more tax cuts thing Bush’s tax cut stimulates is aimed at the wealthy. Accepting growth in economic inequality. this conservative revolution is An honest look at the likely to produce a fiscal train numbers reveals the tax cut’s wreck that the right will use to staggering inequities. Over the justify elimination or privatization next 10 years, the bill will deliver of social programs that most the same amount, $90 billion, in Americans want and need—namely total tax cuts to the top one-tenth Social Security, Medicare, and of one percent of all U.S households — the tiny number with Medicaid. The main beneficiaries of yearly incomes over $1 million — that train wreck would be large as it will to the entire bottom 88 corporations that would profit from percent. privatization of core government Already, the Republicans’ annual tax cut strategy has had dire services, and wealthy individuals who do not depend on the current consequences for America’s fiscal safety nets and who would keep health. In July of last year, the Bush Administration announced an more of their incomes under a flat tax. The remaining majority would estimated $455 billion federal have less job security, healthcare, budget deficit for fiscal year 2003. A long-term analysis by the Center for Budget Priorities (CBPP) concludes that “under realistic projections, budget deficits will remain at or above $325 billion for each of the next ten years and total $4.1 trillion over that period.” While the Bush administration and its The Know Your Rights supporters have been quick to Brochure is now available at the blame the deficits on unanticipated spending demands, Coalition’s office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati’s the CBPP report demonstrates homeless and covers a person’s that federal tax breaks enacted basic rights when interacting with since 2001 will, over 2003 and 2004, cost nearly three times the the police, as well as some local laws that might be of interest to combined costs of combat and the homeless population. If you occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan, reconstruction and are a homeless person or if you work with homeless people and relief after the 9/11 attacks, would like to obtain free copies increased expenditures on of the brochure for yourself or homeland security, and the cost of fighting terrorism worldwide. your agency, please call 421­ 7803, or stop by the Coalition America is at a office and pick one up. crossroads of tax and budget and retirement security. If the right succeeds in shifting responsibility for funding social programs to state and local governments whose tax systems disproportionately burden people with lower incomes, most people would pay more taxes for fewer services. Or we can choose the other path: honoring our commitments to aging generations while investing in a future of shared opportunity and prosperity. David Bisson is an intern at United for a Fair Economy and an Economics major at the University of Massachusetts— Amherst Through Gandhi and my own life experience, I have learned about nonviolence. I believe that human life is a very special gift from God, and that no one has a right to take that away in any cause, however just. I am convinced that nonviolence is more powerful than violence - Cesar Chavez Know Your Rights Brochure Available! Streetvibes Page 7 �The Peace Village by Dr. Steve Sunderland museum of the Old John Street Church, we drew posters of what stood out most from our four intensive days of seminars and touring. One of the first year students had drawn a beautiful picture of the cross fashioned from the beams that were destroyed at the World Trade Center that stands at the side of the site. She spoke eloquently about how the cross moved her and how inappropriate it was since no other religious symbol was in evidence. Very quickly, the other members of the trip joined her in agreeing that we had learned so much about diversity and had seen no sign of it at the World Trade Center. A wonderful discussion ensued as one member, TAKING A PEACE TRIP: One of my dreams came true: taking a peace trip with group of people dedicated to learning as much as we could about the different meanings of “peace.” Nine of us, squeezed into a big blue van, headed out from Columbus, Ohio to learn about peace in New York City. Peace Village member, Rev. Paul S. Stark, Wesley Foundation University of Cincinnati Student Center, plus Peace Villager, Ryan Chewning, first year student, UC, joined with six Ohio State University students and the Rev. Donald Wallich, Wesley Foundation, Ohio State University, for four days of visiting and studying the ways of peace in Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, and Jewish service organizations plus meeting with representatives of interfaith peace Dr. Steve Sunderland organizations and having the joy of being a Methodist, thanked another at the UN. We visited the World Trade Center site the home church person, a Catholic, for coming on the trip and for “putting up with of the oldest Methodist congregation in America, the Old her stereotypes of Catholics.” A smile of peace was her answer as John Street Church, and St. John we began to reflect on the deeper the Divine, Harlem, Chinatown, lessons we had gained about the Little Italy and mid-town ability to open our minds to the Manhattan. meanings of peace, friendship and We stayed in a most solidarity with those working for unusual church that was peace. Our conversation returned undergoing massive renovation: St. Johns/St. Andrew in the 80s on to the importance that one person can make in the working for the West Side. This Methodist peace. We felt very lucky to have Church also housed an Orthodox met so many people who were Jewish Congregation, a Sufi working for peace under many dance group, the set for the religious flags. television program, “Law and Yet, our discussion after Order,” and many support groups. being at the World Trade Center We slept on the floor of the “Board Room” until a mouse and had opened our eyes to the questions about how religious the cold chased us to pews and organizations participate in peace couches in other rooms. (After a day, the Holiday Inn “called” me. activities. Was the major I went.) The church was also the motivation a chance to promote a faith based program, aiming at center of a food distribution program that was massive and we enlisting disciples, while also working for social justice? Could joined a team of the church in taking a morning to empty a large sectarian organizations, even ones moving van of foodstuffs and then that had no desire to convert recipients of their peace efforts, packed shelves with these accomplish this goal while also treasures. representing a religious frame of The most important reference? The Rev. Bud consequence was being with Heckman, executive director of college students and ministers as the US Conference of Religions we underwent the change that For Peace, startled us with his only deep immersion in peace opening statement: “We assume work can bring. Toward the end of the trip, sitting in the basement/ that religions are forces for evil Page 8 until we see how their actions promote peace and justice.” Bud led us in a thoughtful workshop that helped us explore just how serious we were about wanting and working for peace. Bud challenged us to begin to choose to see if what we really wanted was to promote charity or, and here he stared straight at us or, “do you really want to change your mind set and become Moses, leading to major changes?” “Seeing the real structure of peace and what we are up against,” Bud went on, “means changing our minds about who and what is important in what we do.” His talk began to offer a powerful tool for looking at the Methodist, Presbyterian, Jewish, and Catholic programs as well as helping us understand the forces arrayed against the UN efforts for peace. Peace work, in sum, seemed like a minor backwater for the world, flowing as a thin stream to and from the major religious organizations. Or, most sadly, a minor river in an ocean of war making organizations and countries that have tremendous resources, but look at the UN as an artificial harbor for peace. The decisions that made up this structure of aggression seemed to be well known by each organizational religious representative we spoke to. Yet, the willingness to make do with pennies when billions of dollars were desperately needed for hunger, housing, health, and other basic community peace programs were a part of their heroism and inspiring commitment. Walking the halls of the UN we saw the consequences of the policies of neglect in the pictures and exhibits of wars, the charts about hunger, and the too long list of those who have died, under UN sponsorship, from trying to protect or bring peace. A fabulous Sengelese guide tried to keep our spirits high, inspiring us with stories of how peace had been achieved and lost and then regained. There was a sense of time running out for peace work. Ruth Messenger, Peace Villager, and president of the American Jewish World Service, a peace corp kind of organization for Jewish college students wanting to work for justice in non-Jewish places, spoke of the costs of inaction in the fight to reduce AIDS in Africa. “Your children will ask you,” Ruth pointedly said, “just what you did to reduce this genocide.” We all nodded at her statements and were able to connect them to our UN guide: “I believe the UN is working and can work better,” Streetvibes she said with assurance. “Yet, the problems facing us are immense,” she mused, as we looked at the room where the Security Council meets. We finished our tour looking at a charred sculpture of a religious figure severely burned by the bomb at Hiroshima. “More have died from hand guns in the world last year than from the bomb she said.” The pictures were echoes of the pictures in the lobby of the UN of children, of the same age, starving to death from hunger and malnutrition. “Would there be time for these children to regain childhood, adolescence, and a safe adulthood?” we had to wonder as the story of world war and the small role of the UN became increasingly visible. Just as the cold wind of the World Trade Center, added to the devastating pictures of what the buildings looked like after the bomb, and it was starting to touch our marrows, we made it over to the 12 o’clock service at the Old John Street Church, a little 18th century structure looking way out of place in the midst of the skyscrapers of Wall Street. As we walked into the church and up the stairs we were warmly greeted by the sounds of hundreds of voices singing, “This Little Light of Mine,” as an African-American Baptist congregation had come down from the Bronx to lead the service. Their joyous voices, the warm greetings, and the general spirit of love and joy, so filled us as to make us forget, for the moment, what lay outside this door.45 minutes of intense Baptist group therapy made our smiles return, our hopes stop limping, and our hearts full of the spirit of joining a community of song and hope. The sun shone in this little church, as our voices joined in the chorus of some of the oldest and best peace songs. Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues of Peace in the world. Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters-for-Peace which engages people in expressing their visions of Peace, in their own words, through the creation of posters. �The GCCH would like to thank Starbucks for their generous donation of coffee and pastries. Streetvibes is a member of the North American Street Newspaper Association and the International Network of Street Papers e Str etv ibe s Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors Only! Support Your Vendor Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 30 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. 20 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living ­ General Omar Bradley Streetvibes Support your local Streetvibes Vendor! Your vendor keeps 70 cents of every dollar..... I sing the song of hope, wishing for peace and happiness. Of spiritual feeling and happiness. For God’s wisdom and Salvation, kindness and freedom of prayer. And in the minds and hearts of men, they dream of brothers and fathers and of son’s respect. Honoring humanity is to be the keeper of Love, and to redeem yourself of temptation of sin. To renew the soul of damnation, so they be right, and of Heaven. by Ronald English, Streetvibes Vendor Page 9 �Cincinnati’s Big League Opening Day Photo’s by John Zeh, Streetvibes Vendor In most big-league cities, Opening Day is just the first of 162 regular season games. In Cincinnati Ohio, Opening Day resembles a holiday. Tickets for the 128th Reds Opening Day game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park sold out in a record 16 minutes. Thousands of fans lined downtown streets on April 5th for the 85th Findlay Market Opening Day Parade and Vice President Dick Cheney was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Stadium. This year’s Opening Day festivities took on a somber tone with the passing of Reds minority owner Marge Schott, who died on March 2 at the age of 75, and Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson, who was killed in Arizona on November 15. Both Schott and Stenson were honored with video tributes and a moment of silence prior to the Opening Day game. Schott was represented at the Findlay Market Parade by her sisters and a 21-St. Bernard salute in honor of Schott’s love for dogs. The Grand Marshall for the Findlay Market Parade was former big-league outfielder Dave Parker. Parker, a Cincinnati native, played 19 years in the Major Leagues including four seasons with the Reds from 1984 to ’87. This year’s parade featured 182 parade units and 20 marching bands. Sam, one of two nationally-trained bald eagles, flew into Great American Ball Park from center field at 1:30 to begin the pregame ceremonies at the Red’s stadium. Platinum-selling country music star Sara Evans sang “God Bless America” and Cincinnati native and Universal recording artist Nick Lachey sang the National Anthem, followed by a flyover by U.S. Marine F-18 fighter jets. Vice President Cheney, escorted by Reds majority owner Carl H. Lindner, then strolled to the mound and delivered a strike to Reds catcher Jason LaRue. Underground Railroad Freedom Center Opening Day Parade marchers Parade marchers in vintage Cincinnati Red Stockings uniforms Berta’s Art Corner Sara with mother goat - photo by Sonny Williams, Streetvibes Vendor In every child who is born, no matter what circumstances, and of no matter what parents, the potentiality of the human race is born again: and in him, too, once more, and of each of us, our terrific responsibility toward human life; toward the utmost idea of goodness, of the horror of terror, and of God - James Agee Inside the Window, 40 W. Liberty Street, NE corner of Liberty and Race Streets, Over­ the-Rhine Page 10 There have been periods of history in which episodes of terrible violence occurred but for which the word violence was never used...Violence is shrouded in justifying myths that lend it moral legitimacy, and these myths for the most part kept people from recognizing the violence for what it was. The people who burned witches at the stake never for one moment thought of their act as violence; rather they though of it as an act of divinely mandated righteousness. The same can be said of most of the violence we humans have ever committed - Gil Bailie Streetvibes �Photo’s of Fallen Soldiers Stirs Controversy Flag-draped coffins are secured inside a cargo plane on April 7 at Kuwait International Airport. Military and civilian crews take great care with the remains of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq. Soldiers form an honor guard and say a prayer as, almost nightly, coffins are loaded for the trip home. The aluminum boxes, in ordered rows, are bound by clean white straps on freshly scrubbed pallets. American flags are draped evenly over the coffins. Uniformed honor guards form on either side of the pallets as they move from the tarmac to the entryways of the cargo planes. There are prayers, salutes and hands on hearts. Then the caskets are carefully placed in cargo holds for a flight to Germany. In recent weeks, military and civilian contract crews have loaded scores of these caskets onto planes departing the U.S. military area of Kuwait International Airport, south of Kuwait City. And the rituals are repeated over and over again. More time also is devoted to the dead. The fallen come into Kuwait on flights from Baghdad. Before they are loaded onto the outbound aircraft, soldiers in full uniform form parallel lines along the tarmac. There is a prayer. Then loaders lift up the coffins, which are joined on board by soldiers who share the final journey. After going first to Germany, according to the military, they fly to Dover Air Base in Delaware. Since the end of the Vietnam War, presidents have worried that their military actions would lose support once the public glimpsed the remains of U.S. soldiers arriving at air bases in flag-draped caskets. To this problem, the Bush administration has found a simple solution: It has ended the public dissemination of such images by banning news coverage and photography of dead soldiers’ homecomings on all military bases. In March, on the eve of the Iraq war, a directive arrived from the Pentagon at U.S. military bases. “There will be no arrival ceremonies for, or media coverage of, deceased military personnel returning to or departing from Ramstein, Germany airbase or Dover, Deleware base, to include interim stops,” the Defense Department said, referring to the major ports for the returning remains. Though Dover Air Force Base, which has the military’s largest mortuary, has had restrictions for 12 years, others “may not have been familiar with the policy,” the spokeswoman said. This year, “we’ve really tried to enforce it.” “The way everyone salutes with such emotion and intensity and respect. The families would be proud to see their sons and daughters saluted like that,” says Tami Silicio, a contract employee from the Seattle area who works the night shift at the cargo terminal. For U.S. troops, April has been the worst month of this war, with over 100 service members killed by hostile fire. “So far this month, almost every night we send them home,” Silicio said. “... It’s tough. Very tough.” Silicio says those who lost loved ones in Iraq should understand the care and devotion that civilians and military crews dedicate to the task of returning the soldiers home. Silicio says she shares her motto, “Purpose and Cause,” with colleagues who appear worn down from the job: “We serve a purpose and we have a cause — that’s what living life is all about.” Ms Silicio, 50, worked for Maytag Aircraft Corporation, which has a contract to handle cargo for the US Government at Kuwait’s international airport. In the course of her job, she would often see soldiers’ coffins in the back of aircraft, on their way from Iraq to burial in the US. Earlier this month ­ one of the deadliest for coalition soldiers - Ms Silicio decided to photograph the coffins. She then asked a friend, Amy Katz, to forward the image to her local newspaper, The Seattle Times. “Tami wanted to share the image with the American people,” said Ms Katz. The editor of The Seattle Times, Mike Fancher, said he decided to publish the photograph on the front page because it was “undeniably newsworthy”. Ms Katz said that after the picture was published Ms Silicio was “called into her supervisor’s office and severely reprimanded. She explained why she did it, but they fired her and her husband (David Landry) too.” She said Ms Silicio “really wanted mothers of the soldiers to know how the coffins were handled”. After being fired, Ms Silicio was quoted as saying: “I feel like I was hit in the chest with a steel bar... I have to admit I liked my job and liked what I did.” Portions of this story were researched from the Seattle Times and the Washington Post. Some of the photos released through the Freedom of Information Act and now in the public domain. More photos can be viewed at http://www. thememoryhole.org Streetvibes Page 11 �InkTank Writing Project Engages Drop Inn Center Residents InkTank was created in November 2003 to act as a lightening rod for local writers, where writing could flourish outside programs housed in universities and academic institutions. We are striving to nurture non-traditional voices and the creativity inherent in all of us through writing-based initiatives. At the present time, the Tank is up and rolling in a broad range of venues. We work on creative writing skills with children ages 8-12 at Emanuel Community. At the Drop Inn Center, volunteers meet with two writing groups on a weekly basis - partipants in their residential substance abuse recovery programs. Creative writing classes for seniors are offered at the Corryville Recreation Center, as well as a class by Kathy Y. Wilson. A group for young women at 7 Hills Neighborhood Center puts special emphasis on African American culture. “Women of Success in Over the Rhine,” a cooperative effort with Emanuel Center, Jobs Plus, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, the Sarah Center, and OTR Chamber of Commerce was presented at Final Friday in March in honor of Women’s History Month. Our latest addition to the InkTank stable of cultural partners, Playhouse in the Park, will sponsor our alternative speakers’ series in the fall. And we are in discussion with the University of Cincinnati to add a service component to writing courses for college credit. At the root of all our endeavors is the belief that good writing can and does happen in less than conventional or ideal circumstances. Writing is power and everyone with a pen and a piece of paper has the potential to write. But not everyone who has something of value to say has the resources to find a vehicle for their voice in traditional ways. By bringing together community centers, area writers and teachers, volunteers, and arts supporters, InkTank can encourage new voices, improve cross-cultural understanding , and perhaps, unite a city the same way its been done since the invention of language, by telling each other our stories. Some of the InkTank writing from the Drop Inn Center Recovery Program Being a Father by Antonio Reed I picked this topic because I am a father in name only. I have five children and for three of them I was a part of their lives just a little. My oldest son is about to be 16 and my only daughter is about to be 9 months. I can’t say I know how to be a father because I feel that drugs have always stood in my way. If drugs wasn’t with me, they were with one of my baby’s mothers. One of them is the woman I have three children with. Her past is being held against her. I know all the wrong things my father has done in my eye sight, how I wanted him to be there for me, to support me. But it never happened. He has three children, me, a brother of mine and a sister. They had the support. I didn’t. They are doing good. I’m not now. I’m trying to figure out how not to follow those same footsteps, the mistakes that my father made. And I hated him so much for that. One day when the drugs no longer clouded my mind and I could see clearly that I was walking in my dad’s footprints, doing the exact same thing. And it really hurts me. At times, more than I sow it. That was one of my reasons for using drugs, to cover those hurtful feelings. I tell myself each and every day that I can be a good father. The only thing I have to do is give myself that chance. Three of my children are in the custody of Children Services. I can’t see them until they get to be eighteen years old. One is fifteen. One is seven. One is three. And my daughter I’m in court with now. There are a few things I want very bad in life. Here they are: To learn how to stop using drugs for good. To be a part of all my children’s life so that I can one day tell them the truth of why I couldn’t be there. I’ve hurt from not having a father for so long. I know I got what it takes to be one. Fatherhood by Drew A father should be strong and at the same time have the compassion of a mother. A father should lead with a firm hand and also have motherly tenderness. A father needs to discipline, but also reward. A father must teach to honor and respect, to hold one’s own and be responsible for yourself as well as for any loved one or fellow human being. A father must know when to scold as well as when to embrace, to protect and love when times are so cloudy. Fathers must create sunny days when skies are gray. And above all else, a father should absorb the pain that leaks out from our children, absorb it like a sponge. To know when to be hard as a rock, yet soft as cotton, planting seeds of growth in our little ones so that they will have an unlimited future. This is what a father should do. Father – Hood! My father. by Ron O’Neal When I was young, I thought I would like to be like my father. But the older I got, the less like him I wanted to be. Maybe it’s because I never realized how hard it was to be one until I became one. Compared to me my father was great. It’s like saying you can do something someone else is doing, because it looks so easy. I never realized what my father was up against at the time. Now I would like to take my hat off to him for doing a great job. I only wish I could do even half the job he did! Now I know how much he cared for me. Being a Father by Victor Shearer When I think about being a father, I wish I could be a better father in the life that I now live. The father that I knew was always drinking, fussing. But he made us do what we had to do. The house was clean. The beds were made. My mother was somewhat happy – at least until there was the discovery of a new woman. He was having an affair while with my mother. Well, I guess my view of a father was to make sure the house was clean and the kids did their chores. At least that was what I thought with my first little girl. I raised her with the help of my mother, God bless her heart. I love my mother so much. She did everything she could to make us happy. She made me the father I am today. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would do it with love, understanding, and comfort. Don’t be Squirrelly! Buy Streetvibes! Page 12 Streetvibes �Comic Store Pulls Bumfights Video in Response to Boycott by Paula Mathieu Once in a while, David really does beat Goliath. Sometimes a handful of ordinary people make a difference, even if it’s a small one. That some time is today. Due to a boycott initiated by the Homeless Empowerment Project (HEP), publisher of Spare Change News, Newbury Comics has removed the Bumfights and Bumhunter videos from its shelves. These videos, which Newbury Comics had been selling, capture homeless people performing violent acts on themselves and others in exchange for small amounts of money and food. “It feels good, what can I say. We’re told our whole lives that little individuals can make a difference, and we did,” said Nate Marsella, who handed out flyers and stood in the cold during each boycott. “It was a good thing, a good lesson.” According to Alex Tsouvalas, HEP volunteer and organizer of the boycott, the decision to take on Newbury Comics was not taken lightly. Tsouvalas had tried unsuccessfully to work quietly with Newbury Comics beginning in August 2003, urging them to stop selling the videos. “Newbury Comics didn’t really get it. They always tried to frame the issue as their right to sell offensive material. They never seemed to care about the people who were abused or exploited,” said Tsouvalas. The decision to remove the videos came abruptly on February 3, as a news crew from New England Cable News (NECN), interviewed HEP staff and volunteers regarding the boycott. Newbury Comics, rather than meeting with NECN reporter Mont Fennell, issued a statement saying, “Due to the media circus, we’re pulling the videos.” “I was a little pissed to hear that they took the videos off the shelf because of the media circus. I still have a bad taste about Newbury Comics in my mouth,” said Marsella. On the positive side, Tsouvalas noted that it was good to see HEP become active on an issue of local advocacy. “There’s the important advocacy that we normally do on a daily basis, giving people income and a public voice, and then there’s getting out in the street about an injustice we see, like this video. It’s the first time we’ve done anything like this. As an organization we’ve learned a lot, how to build relations with other media outlets and use the media of Spare Change News to affect local issues.” HEP staff and volunteers are celebrating this small victory, but are putting it into perspective. The problem of exploiting homeless people persists. “When people are poor and desperate and someone can make money off of them, exploitation can happen,” said Tsouvalas. He described that during the first protest three men on the streets asked an HEP volunteer how much they might be paid to appear in such a video. “That’s a level of desperation that’s hard for us to understand,” said Tsouvalas. While Bumfights and Bumhunters are no longer for sale at Newbury Comics, the culture of violence against homeless people portrayed in the videos remains widespread. Spare Change News distribution manager Ken Campbell relayed during the television interview with NECN that when he was homeless, some teenagers set fire to the blanket under which he was sleeping in a park. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), in 2002 there were 37 documented incidents of similar crimes against homeless people, resulting in 16 deaths. NCH is encouraging people to support legislation that would classify deliberate acts of violence against homeless people as a hate crime. National Student Organization Works to End Hunger participate in the Hunger and campuses across the country organize Hunger and Homelessness Homelessness Awareness Week, fill and Homelessness out the online registration form or by Wendy Guild Swearingen The National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness (NSCAHH) works with a coalition of students and community members across the country to end hunger and homelessness through education, service, and action. “Students organize a variety of projects ranging from food drives, to weekly service projects, to tutoring programs, to studentrun soup kitchens,” said Jennifer Hecker, the organizing director of NSCAHH’s National Organizing Office in Amherst, Massachusetts. Describing NSCAHH’s inception and goals Hecker said, “The National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness was established on the belief that students are a critical force in the fight against hunger and homelessness. Today, the Student Campaign is the largest national coalition of students and community members working to address the problems of hunger and homelessness through community service, education, and advocacy. “We know that hunger and homelessness don’t have to exist in the richest country in the world. But as a society we haven’t prioritized addressing hunger and homelessness in any systematic way and therefore these problems continue to grow. Our goal is to increase civic involvement and create a community that demands the end of hunger and homelessness. Since our inception, we have mobilized countless volunteers and raised more than $1.5 million for hunger and homelessness relief efforts.” Started two decades ago by the PIRGs [Public Interest Research Groups] and USA for Africa, NSCAHH is now the largest student network fighting hunger and homelessness in the country, with more than 600 participating campuses in 45 states. Among its many accomplishments in the past sixteen years, NSCAHH has helped school Awareness Weeks; held conferences to educate students and administrators about hunger and homelessness issues and projects; established food salvage programs that provide surplus cafeteria and restaurant food to food banks and shelters; developed Project Partnership to build community and campus coalitions; organized political efforts; and, through the Annual Hunger Cleanup, involved some 110,000 volunteers in service projects to raise more than $1 million for domestic and international relief. NSCAHH makes getting involved easy. If you would like to Streetvibes Vendor: 70 cents Printing and Production: 30 cents Streetvibes call (800) 664-8647. Students should check with other campus organizations to find out which groups are active on the issues or want to be. The site also provides links to letter templates that students can customize and send to their local senators, representatives, and newspaper editors. The letters ask support for the Section 8 Housing Voucher program, the National Housing Trust Fund Act, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Reprinted from Spare Change News Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Page 13 �Prison by Reenie M. Kidd Ware 18 months n Florida State Prison, stated the Judge, I was shocked, appalled, I needed a hug. My addiction, this time, had taken me too far, No longer could I keep my feelings locked in a jar. I thought my life was over, my life, as I knew it, Once again, I messed up; yeah I guess I blew it. I did not know what was ahead, I just felt I‘d rather be dead. My family I hurt, they no longer claimed me, Disturbed and torn, I called on God, please help me. Once realizing that God was still there for me, He never left me; it was I who left He. So I started to pray more and more each day, Realizing that God was in my life to stay. As time went on the pain subsided, Because of God’s love for me, I’m a survivor. I may be in prison, but that’s just technically, Because I have peace of mind, so really, I’m free. So just when you think that life is too tough, Pray and pray some more, you can never pray enough. Turning Grey In Summer I.B. Iskov I know what men want obsessed with beauty thin enough to pass through a needle I dress each day pretending to be size 8 squeeze into clothes ten years too tight Crack of Dawn by jh The assemblage of slouching young men, frowning, angry arms and hair and music. Gathered in their own garbage - bottles, bones, wind-blown trash circling the shattered hearts. someone else stares at me through the glass a pathetic woman turns grey like the sky in mist and fog Hideous, deadly, desperate eyes repeat the scanning ritual - Melt, Weed, Knife, Rob. Death by time, their youth buried, beneath the smoldering asphalt, that marks their pitiful scent. I imagine but and yellow catch sunlight drown in the grey of a cloud The future was then, marked by the innocence of a young child, scarred by the slashing of the relentless hate of men, and mom, and broken glass. earlier in summer men watched me shine the colour of a snapdragon after the rain Like stained and broken bedding, they wait by the curb, for the end of their minds. Reprinted from NYStreetnewsbiz We must always remember how precious we are, I’d rather be here, at peace, because I’ve come so far. Prison to me is a blessing in disguise, No more living sinful, because today I’m more wise. For me whatever problems I have, I give to God, He takes away hurt and pain, without sparing the rod. Prison time has given me the chance to look at my life, I want to serve God, be a good sister, mother, daughter and/or a good wife. So life is what you make it, don’t ever give up, Turn your life over to God, for He you can trust. So...18 months, so stated the judge, if I could see him, for he saved my life, I’d give him a hug. Book of Change by Sonny Williams how to say you’ve changed to two dead girls after ravishing them in the jungle; because they were VC. tossing them on the trail with holes in their middle to bleed in the mud by the village where their ancestors lived for centuries both face up turning nightly with screams of pain, pleas for mercy in your dreams? Page 14 I’m Not Alone by Robert Manassa The Bullet Iraqi poet I tried to domesticate the bullet, To take her with me to school, To teach her the alphabet And have her speak But she is made of black clay and stuffed with canned blood I tried to domesticate the bullet, To take her to the water-spring, To the fields of dew. But she has consumptive lips That love to kiss the lips of death To rummage or wreck And blow ashes in our eyes. I tried to domesticate the bullet, To lead her to the truth, To wash her copper with perfumes And replace her gunpowder with sweets. But she refused to be unlocked; and remained dripping pus, With poison in her breath. I woke up this morning, singing a new song. I even took the time out to thank the Lord. I’ve been reborn There’s not a day or nite that passes me by That I don’t send up praises to the Lord on high. I know that I have all my sins forgiven me. I have my Heavenly Father above, Watching over me continuously. I never, ever worry; I don’t have to fret, I have someone walking and talking with me. He’s never left me, nor has he failed me yet, I’m not alone. Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ Streetvibes@juno.com Streetvibes �Friends Departed To my friends that have passed, That fell victim to the streets, just another nameless face, forgotten by most. With the dawning of a new day, To you I make this vow; That people will once again know your name And you shall not be forgotten. City Cancer Love by Joani Lacy by Geraldine Devine Urban blight is multi-faceted. Ii comes in the form of decaying buildings, once grand and cared for until the caring died. It comes in the shape of rotting ideals whose reality is never near the dream. Urban blight is a city cancer, curable, but difficult to treat while it spreads through the streets. It feeds off of reckless youth with their pumped up energy until there is nothing to be done, except to excise the diseased areas. Love is a word that used to sound and mean so much When it was spoken from someone’s mouth, then that person you should trust. Urban blight is a symbol of our times. God and the devil facing off under a street lamp. I wish to thank you, my friends, For the lives you touched, Including mine. Our friendship, the times and memories we shared, I shall cherish. To you, my friend, I will not say goodbye, only Until we meet. For in my heart, You’re still very much alive. Dawn of Time by Dwight A. Turner Love was never a word to be and action, that was just thrown around. t had real meaning, real feeling; and with a persons heart it covered so much ground. Love used to be and action, or in English known as a verb, But now we are living in a time where not much of a purpose does it serve. Let’s take this word, give and show it as our Father does from above. Let’s take, put, power, spread, and recharge this important word called Love. In the universe there’s a cluster of stars. Cam I touch one without touching two? I may even touch the sun without it burning me. I blessed your country to be brave and free, But you keep locking yourself up, throwing away the key. Is it that I can see? Or is it the light within, which makes you afraid of me? I gave you light, from the sun, the moon, the stars, That you see. So why in this world is it so hard for you to see me? Shutter Speed by Jimmy Heath Liberty Street, Over-the-Rhine Streetvibes Page 15 �At the Crossroads of Gender and Homelessness by Soula Pefkaros It Was a Wonderful Life dir. Michéle Ohayon (Ridgebury Films) You wouldn’t realize it but the woman standing next to you is homeless. She looks clean and kept. She has a job. She has an honorary doctorate and comes from an upper-middle class family. She was a famous singer who traveled around the world on tour. She lived in a beautiful home on the beach and spent free time horseback riding with her children. But she fell. She broke her hip and had to stop teaching, lost all her money in medical bills and lives out of her car with her dogs. She got sick, lost the apartment she shared with her husband and lives out of a U-Haul when she can afford it. Her husband left her pregnant with a sixth child and does not pay his child support. She has permanently damaged her back from endless nights of sleeping in the reclined driver’s seat of her car. She was a business consultant, successful, until recession caused her to lose all her clients; she lives in a motel with her three children with no support from her exhusband. It Was A Wonderful Life, directed by Michéle Ohayon and narrated by Jodie Foster, is a docudrama about the lives of seven of the thousands of “Hidden Homeless” women in the United States. Newly out on DVD, the film exposes the stark realities that homeless women face in order to Their stories are unique, survive day to day. Through this with some similarities. Josephine, a exposé, Ohayon poses critical painter from an upper-middle class questions about the experience of homeless women and the crossroad family, said, “It seems to me that in a society where people don’t care of gender and homelessness. about the homeless, anyone could We talk about become homeless,” a feeling that homelessness; this is what we do. resonates with each of the women. We seek to be a “voice for the Reena, who was a successful singer voiceless.” It is through this in her youth and led a comfortable understanding that we struggle to life until suffering the economic put an end to the myths of devastation of a bad divorce, says, homelessness, get at its roots, and “Why can’t the help come before find some way out. There is a you’re homeless?” plethora of films, articles, and According to the film, after books that address homelessness. What we don’t realize is that in our a divorce, a mother and children discussion of homelessness, we are remiss in recognizing the genderWe have clearly fallen into a specific struggles that hole so deep that services sometimes separate a woman’s experience from a meant to aid those in need man’s. often result in worsening the Homelessness means high risk as situation. Our system is individuals find themselves such that, in a moment, any susceptible to the elements of a world without shelter. person can find himself or For many women, staying herself homeless and yet at a shelter is not an option climbing out of this poverty because of the risk of rape or assault or having their can take a lifetime.... few possessions stolen from them. Homeless women will experience a 73 percent drop stay out of the public eye. in standard of living; a husband will Keeping clean requires involved exertion for any homeless experience a 42 percent increase. Fifty percent of divorced fathers do person and can be the weight that not pay child support. Two thirds tips the scale in finding work. Cleanliness carries with it an added of divorced fathers pay more in monthly car payments than child urgency for homeless women as seeming unclean and “homeless” is support. The inefficiencies of social a risk factor. As Lou, one of the women spotlighted in the film says, services for homeless or at-risk women are made gravely clear. In just keeping clean takes the whole the case of Reena, it is a court day. system that does not enforce the child-support payments a divorced father is supposed to be making. In the case of Jeanette, it is a Section 8 program (a federally funded housing assistance program) that isn’t paying its half of the rent. It is social work case-managers that are overwhelmed with a staggering 4,000 cases each. We have clearly fallen into a hole so deep that services meant to aid those in need often result in worsening the situation. Our system is such that, in a moment, any person can find himself or herself homeless and yet climbing out of this poverty can take a lifetime. The harsh truth is that things have not changed much in the 11 years since the film’s initial release. The country continues to face chaotic economic turmoil and consistent cutting of funds. The title of the film is resonant with the poverty and homelessness many women (and others) are forced to deal with during these years of massive military spending and reduced social services. And the film goes beyond awareness; it stirs something deeply personal as you witness the resolute strength mustered by these women. At that point, the challenge is there—it is your turn to act. Soula is an activist, freelance writer, and member of the live-in community at Haley House in Boston Reprinted from What’s Up Newspaper Beltway Humor: Media React to Bush’s Weapons Jokes FAIR - Fairness & Accuracy corps, which seemed to write it off Hemmer mentioned that “there was show a sense of humor, and I think, a slideshow shown a little later. as harmlessly “self-deprecating” In Reporting - 112 W. 27th for the most part, it was taken that Maybe we’ll get to that later in our way.” As the morning wore on, humor. Many of the press accounts Street, New York, NY 10001 When presidents appear at the annual Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner, it’s traditional for them to tell a few jokes. But when George W. Bush appeared last month (3/24/04), he made a series of “jokes” about the failure to find the weapons of mass destruction that had been the central justification of his invasion of Iraq. Part of Bush’s routine included slides showing administration officials looking around the White House for something. “Those weapons of mass destruction must be somewhere,” Bush explained while showing one of the images, which elicited laughter from the audience of politicians and media figures. Interestingly, Bush’s comments were hardly controversial to the Beltway press Page 16 the next day did not raise questions about Bush’s humorous reference to his administration’s bogus rationale for a war that has cost thousands of lives— American and Iraqi. For the media, such humor was expected. “Well, every night we hear people on TV telling jokes about President Bush, but last night it was the president’s turn to tell jokes about the president,” CBS anchor Julie Chen explained (3/25/ 04), adding that “at least someone’s making jokes about it other than the late-night talk show hosts.” CNN’s American Morning show on March 25 provided a glimpse at the gulf between the media reaction and the public response to Bush’s sense of humor. After playing some clips from Bush’s speech, CNN anchor Bill broadcast. There were some good funny lines in that, too.” But once CNN aired Bush’s weapons jokes, its audience saw what the anchors and correspondents missed. CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien announced that the program was getting a surprisingly negative stream of emails from viewers, and asked Hemmer what the reaction at the dinner had been. He explained: “I think the reception was pretty receptive, for lack of a better phrase. I can understand what you’re hearing. There was a little rumbling about whether or not it was sensitive enough to the reality that we all know two and a half years later, also with the situation in Iraq as well. But overall, I think it was a speech that was given a way where the president tried to Streetvibes CNN co-anchor Jack Cafferty read numerous messages from outraged viewers, and characterized the reaction as “overwhelmingly” negative. NBC’s Washington bureau chief Tim Russert defended Bush’s comments, explaining on the Today show (3/26/04) that while Democrats and military families might be critical, “rather than be judgmental, let me just step back. Ironically, for me the exact same joke was told to me two weeks ago by a very rabid anti-war Democrat. In the context of that evening, after the president made those jokes, he had very emotional comments about the military in Iraq…. So if Weapon’s Jokes... Continued on page 18 �Finding the Invisible Class by Lindsay Thomas You probably already know that Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Nearly 370 years old. Maybe you also know that Harvard is the wealthiest nonprofit institution in the world aside from the Roman Catholic Church. But did you know that until 2002 Harvard paid its lowest level workers as little as $6.75 an hour? Between the years 1994 and 2001, Harvard’s endowment fund nearly tripled to $20 billion, while the university cut wages and benefits of the lowest-paid employees, keeping well over 1,000 of them below the federal poverty line. Harvard had a habit of outsourcing positions such as janitors, guards, and dining hall workers to avoid classifying them as full-time employees, and therefore avoiding giving them vacation time, sick days, and other benefits. Even directly hired “regular” employees’ wages hovered around only $10 an hour. In the fall of 1998, a group of Harvard students took action and planned the Harvard Living Wage Campaign. In 1999, during his senior year, one of the campaign volunteers, Greg Halpern, decided to take some action of his own. Halpern didn’t know any of the above statistics when he entered his freshman year at Harvard in 1995. But by graduation he would begin the four-year project of chronicling these workers’ untold stories and capturing their forgotten faces in his book, Harvard Works Because We Do. It all started around 4:00 a.m. with a woman named Carol- Ann Malatesta, who cleaned the Phoenix, an all-male social club where Halpern was a member. “Carol-Ann came into work and started to clean up the party we had just had,” he said. “There was an unusually good dynamic between her and everyone because she went out of her way to talk to everyone. But she started to wipe the table where one guy had his legs up. He was so fixated on the TV, I guess, that he just lifted his legs up, not really noticing CarolAnn, so she could finish wiping the table.” After the incident at the Phoenix, Halpern decided to document the personal stories of some of Harvard’s grossly underpaid employees, individuals with two jobs and 70-hour workweeks, who still could not make ends meet. With a camera and a tape recorder, he set out to meet another side of Harvard. In the preface to the book, Halpern recalls one of many humbling moments during the project: “When I asked Gary Newmark - the first person I interviewed for this book - if I could talk to him about his job, his response was, ‘You want to know about regular working stiffs? You want to know what I do? I unloaded from a truck probably every book you ever read at Harvard. That’s what I do.’ It was my first honest conversation with a campus service worker.” Harvard’s Progressive Student Labor Movement began the Living Wage Campaign with a handful of students, including Halpern and his friend Aaron Bartley, one of the initial founders of the campaign. The goal was simple - to convince the university, Cambridge’s largest employer, to adopt the living wage ordinance that the city was already reviewing to bring the minimum wage up to an inflation adjustable $10 an hour. For three years, the campaign struggled against the unwillingness of the Harvard administration and then-university president Neil Rudenstein to acknowledge unjust labor and wage practices. Halpern’s photographs and interviews, which were passed around to students and faculty, were indisputable evidence of the real - but often unnoticed ­ individuals suffering the hardships of unfair wages. “What I wanted was for the reader to have to make eye contact with these people - a kind of confrontation between the reader and the workers,” he said. “It was my way of making the reader look them in the eye and meet the kind of people they may never have noticed before.” One of the most striking series of photographs, all of which are in black and white, is of Wilson Saint Claire, who we learn is from Haiti. Standing outside one of Harvard’s characteristic red brick halls in a tweed vest and blazer and looking confidently into the camera, he might pass for a professor on his way to class. On the following page we see the same Wilson Saint Claire hunched over in workpants and work shirt to clean under a piece of furniture, and his story: “I was 20 when I finished college. Yes, I finished college. And the thing that is difficult for us when we come here is that no matter your class in Haiti, when you come here, you have to work as a cleaner just to survive. . . . My old supervisor, he was from Haiti, and he was high class there, too. And so when I started, when I picked up a mop, he told me, ‘Don’t think about it, Wilson, just do it.’” After a three-week sit-in, the Living Wage Campaign convinced the Harvard administration to implement a one­ time wage boost, scoring a victory for living wage campaigns nationwide. The win was indeed something to celebrate, yet the campaign’s primary request - an actual living wage - was adamantly refused. Poignantly absent from Halpern’s collection of photographs are any images that might instill a sense of resolution. Much work remains to be done. Harvard still outsources a portion of its lower wage employees. With inflation, in a couple of years the one-time wage increase will become insignificant. Even more, the Living Wage Campaign itself is struggling to maintain a cohesive center, according to Halpern. “After the sit-in, most of the students who helped graduated and then none of the incoming students took over,” he said. “In ten years, is anyone going to remember?” Harvard Works Because We Do is an arresting reminder of the people behind a movement that, even if only briefly, reached across the great divide that exists between the server and the served. “To respect another person, I came to feel, was to acknowledge his or her own complexity,” said Halpern in his preface. “I accepted that I might never understand all of what was said to me, and I came to appreciate how complicated the relationship was between workers and the beneficiaries of their labor.” For updates on the current efforts of the Harvard labor movement, visit hcs.harvard.edu/ ~pslm/livingwage/portal.html Lindsay can be reached at spraguelt@yahoo.com Reprinted from What’s Up Newspaper Street Life PROLOGUE.... As a child then, my days, just as they do now, contained a large portion of this cotton wool, this non-being. Week after week passed at St. Ives and nothing made any dint upon me. Then, for no reason that I know about, there was a sudden violent shock; something so violently that I remembered it all my life. I will give a few instances. The first: I was fighting with Thoby on the lawn. We were pummeling each other with our fists. Just as I raised my fist to hit him, I felt: why hurt another person? I dropped my hand instantly, and stood there, and let him beat me. I remember the feeling. It was a feeling of hopeless sadness. It was as if I became aware of something terrible; and of my own powerlessness. Virginia Woolf - A Sketch of the Past We were on Second Avenue, Sarah and I, within sight and sound and salt of the ocean, a gentle breeze carrying away exhaust fumes and giving us back the sea. The clouds had parted, the rain festival had lapsed, the sun shone everything green and new. It was the sort of evening when one plays ultimate Frisbee until ten at night, when skaters and bikers and walkers stroll beneath the grassy slopes and beside the blue-green waters of Greenlake; past sunbathers, sail boarders, volley ball players, and those who come simply to nap under a rare and glorious Seattle sun. We knew these streets well, before their renewal, our nightly walks touched by the kids that lived–or survived–there, on drugs and prostitution with AIDS and crime. We knew things that we didn’t really want to know–that more than half of the prostitution in downtown Seattle was performed by young boys, that most of the “johns” went to church on Sunday, and that business would be slow until after Monday Night Football. We knew that a girl could demand a higher price if she looked “fresh” and that if a man said to you, with something of a drawl, “you’re healthy woman, you’re healthy,” it meant that he thought you were fat but wanted to sleep with you anyway. We were based on the first floor of a dilapidated warehouse– there was plenty of space if you didn’t mind the rats. It wasn’t bad in the summer, but in the winter the roof leaked and the heat didn’t. Streetvibes Periodically one or more rats would die in the walls–either by poison or natural causes–and decay there for several weeks. At the end of that time, the stench would dissipate and hundreds of flies, grown large on uninterrupted feeding, would release into the center in search of fresh meat. They carried the stench of their diet. But their size did have an advantage–they were slow and easy Street Life.... Continued next Page Page 17 �Street Life.... Continued from previous page.... to kill. The warehouse served as a drop-in center for street youth. Church groups would bring meals, there were games and places to sit out of the cold, it was place where kids could get mail, clothing, talk, rest, learn life skills, and get connected to social services. It was the best of what a Christian outreach service could be– ministering to the needs of others with minimal pressure toward conversion. I had been there for maybe three months; Sarah was my mentor. We had dropped by the center to pick up some forgotten item. But the sun and the air had worked their magic; we were out to have fun, happy to be alive. Our plan, only half spoken, was to walk through Pike Place Market–a bustling open air market where fish hustlers played the crowd and hurled whole salmon across crowded aisles to be iced and wrapped. The market was on a bluff overlooking the water, perched atop a park winding down to the waterfront. In anticipation, we were already there. Second avenue, where our bodies remained, was a Mecca of deep store fronts. The buildings were from another time: doors set ten feet in from the sidewalks, some with slanted display cases to draw in the casual shopper, others with slanted and tiled walls. There had been a time when these entryways rang as invitations to life, giving character and energy to those who passed by and through their doors. But now they spoke of decay, empty sockets gazing out upon the street. They spoke no longer of life, but of concealment, of being jerked off the street, of crimes hidden from all but the most direct passerby. Such a crime was in progress that day. A young man held a girl up against the wall, her plea jerking us back to Second Weapon’s Jokes.... Continued from Page 16 you look at the evening in the totality, the people who were there I don’t think came away with some of the same conclusions as people who just heard snippets on the radio or television.” David Corn of The Nation magazine was one of the few journalists openly critical of Bush, writing on The Nation’s website: “This was a callous and arrogant display. For Bush, the misinformation— or disinformation— he peddled before the war was no more than material for yucks. As the audience laughed along, he smiled. The false Page 18 Avenue: ‘Please don’t hit me again, please don’t hit me.’ Training lost, I spoke instinctually, calling out to him to leave her alone, to ‘cool it’ in there. Testosterone played a role – men do not hit women, and besides, there was a woman by my side. It mattered not that we were just friends, nor that my impulse actually increased her danger. Somehow, to fail to defend one woman was to fail to defend all women. Time slowed as the assailant turned toward me. Reason kicked in–I should have called the police–but now there was no time. I told Sarah to stay a bit back and to the side, to be ready to run for a phone, but most of my attention was fixed on my assailant. He turned toward me in fury, how dare I interrupt him! And as I tried to talk to him, I realized that he was just a boy, with short black hair and brown eyes, maybe 15 years old, tears streaming down his face as he repeated again and again, “nobody knows how much it hurts, nobody cares.” I suddenly found that I could not strike him. I wanted to take him into my arms and hold him tight, to calm his struggles, to tell him that not everyone would abandon him and leave him without compassion and structure. I felt something in him begging for boundaries, begging for love. As he cried, he swung at me, but other than blocking his blows and trying to talk him down, I was powerless to strike back. I lost my glasses, I almost lost my manhood, I would limp for weeks. But his tears arrested me as even the day had not. It would not be fair to say that in that moment I cared more for a stranger than I did for myself. In that moment I forgot myself. I was not successful in talking him down, but there were pauses between his blows. My training told me not to try and hold him–I still question that decision, as did some of my companions–and I realized that he would keep striking until we called the police. This saddened me, but Sarah made the call. For him, forcing us to call was a last measure of control, showing that he was in charge, that my interruption didn’t matter. He departed, girlfriend in tow, and I felt helpless to stop her. Or rather, he finally allowed her to drag him away, as she had been trying to do all along. Then began a period of profound introspection and waiting. Though in pain, we sat on the curbside waiting for the police. They never showed–no doubt, the prospect of a couple of assumed drunks fighting on Second Avenue was not worth their time. Eventually we made our way to the police station. And, through contacts on the street, learned the names and something of the history of both the boy and the girl. I don’t know whether this event ever made a difference in the boy’s life. The police report was but a minor addition to his record. But the event did have a profound effect upon me and his girlfriend. Some time later, when she was in prison, I heard that she would tell her cell mates of this strange person who had tried to help her but would not strike her boyfriend– even in self-defense. My actions interrupted her belief in the violence of the streets–the only life she knew–and may have opened other possibilities in how she saw her world. At least, I hope so. The last I heard she had given up drugs and prostitution, but was still in denial about alcohol. She had also left her boyfriend–perhaps he had left her–and was very close to a woman at our center. But I should not flatter myself. While our ordeal may have interrupted her world, only sustained relationships could support lasting changes. Fortunately, there was a women at our center with whom she had that sort of relationship. Last I heard, the boy was in Alaska, running from various criminal charges in Washington. Sarah stayed with me for several hours after the assault, talking me down, praying with me, and hopefully finding support for her own ordeal. But I am sad to say that the last is uncertain, as I was so shaken by the event and by my own reactions that I was just as self-absorbed in the aftermath of the confrontation as I was selfforgetful in passing through it. At least, I was haunted by the young boy’s face, his tears, and by my own reactions. Never before had I so lost myself, never before had I been so arrested by another’s suffering that I was unable to feel the physical pain of repeated blows until much later. It was not courage, for had the threat been greater, I would have acted differently. I did not feel that I was a victim in the normal sense of the word. My sense of powerlessness came not from being physically dominated, but from the recognition of a young boy’s pain. In a primal moment, I lost the filters which shielded me from feeling the claim of another’s suffering. In that moment, and in the reflections which followed, I recognized something I would not be able to articulate for years to come. Life, at its deepest, is a wounding–or at least, a vulnerability to be wounded. Without that vulnerability, one cannot be arrested by the beauty of a day, a chance smile, a sick friend, a widow, a stranger, or sudden tragedy. Without that selfforgetfulness, we cannot find ourselves. We live most fully, most intensely, in openness to such wounding–better a clean wound that heals than the hidden wound that festers. And while I may never be able to return the gift, I still tremble in the debt I owe that young boy. At least one time in my life, I have seen the face of god, and lived. statements (or lies) that had launched a war had become merely another punchline in the nation’s capital.” MSNBC’s Chris Matthews also seemed appalled by the media’s reaction (3/25/04): “Well, there’s four or five cases where the president told a yuck about the fact he couldn’t find weapons of mass destruction, and the press being supportive in their laughter. Maybe sycophantic, but they laughed.” Perhaps it’s no surprise that the conservative Fox News Channel would defend Bush’s comments, but Fox’s line of defense at times became arguably more offensive than the remarks themselves. Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace, after admitting that “I must say, I still think it’s funny,” introduced the subject (3/ 28/04) by saying that “the day after, some Democrats and the families of some American soldiers in Iraq, some who died in Iraq, said they were offended by this kidding about the missing weapons of mass destruction.” But you didn’t have to work for Fox News to go to bat for Bush. The Los Angeles Times penned an editorial in his defense (3/27/04) headlined “Commander in Comedy.” The paper noted that “presidents have always used selfdeprecation to deflect criticism,” then lamented the fact that “Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and other Democrats are acting like laughs should be banned from serious politics.” The paper also made this odd comparison: “Democrats saying that Bush can’t joke about it without insulting soldiers is like the GOP claiming that Democrats can’t oppose the war and be patriotic.” The problem is not that someone told a joke about WMD. It’s that as the chief purveyor of the WMD falsehood, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Americans and thousands of Iraqis, it is beyond bad taste for George W. Bush to joke about WMD. It’s the difference between a comedian making a joke about O.J. Simpson looking for Nicole Brown Simpson’s “real killer,” and O.J. Simpson making the same joke. Streetvibes �Food Research and Action Center News (FRAC) on why it has refused to run the ad. HOUSE PASSES CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM BILL WITH STRONG BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FRAC (Press Release, March 24, 2004) The House of Representatives approved, by an overwhelming bipartisan majority (419-5), its child nutrition reauthorization bill, The Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act (HR 3873). This bill will expand the availability of nutritious meals to more children in school, in outside school hours programs, and in child care. The bill makes key improvements in the nutrition programs, such as expanding successful paperwork reduction pilots in the Summer Food Program that have already resulted in more low-income children receiving nutritious meals during the summer months; extending eligibility for snacks and meals to children in homeless and domestic violence shelters up to the age of 18; making it possible for more low-income children from military families to receive free and reduced price school meals; allowing for-profit child care centers that serve significant numbers of low-income children to participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program; providing migrant children with automatic eligibility for free school meals; creating new ways to improve the nutrition environment in schools; and making the application process for school meals easier for many low-income families. http:// www.frac.org/html/ federal_food_programs/cnreauthor/ 032403reauth.htm Institution, March 24, 2004) The Brookings Institution, in cooperation with the Foundation for Child Development and Duke University, released a new index of child well-being, which assesses trends in seven quality-of-life areas for children from 1975 to 2002. Although children are safer than they were 30 years ago and teenage birth rates have substantially declined, more children are obese, living in poverty, and attempting suicide than in 1975. See the full report and PowerPoint presentation at: http:// www.brookings.org/comm/events/ 20040324.htm Read an event summary at: http:// www.brookings.org/comm/op-ed/ 20040324wellbeing.htm SHARE OUR STRENGTH ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR GREAT AMERICAN BAKE SALE FUNDS (Share Our Strength, April 2004) Share Our Strength will be accepting grant applications for this year’s Great American Bake Sale grant-making campaign beginning April 4th. Applicants must be either current sponsors of the USDA’s summer feeding or afterschool meal service programs for children, or advocacy organizations that provide technical assistance to these programs. Applications will be accepted from registered nonprofits and schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The priority deadline to submit an online application is May 31st. The final deadline is July 25th. http:// www.greatamericanbakesale.org REPORT: CHILD WELL­ BEING INDEX FINDS MORE STATES CAN CONSIDER CHILDREN ARE OBESE, LIVE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO IN POVERTY (Brookings SIGN UP FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS, USDA SAYS (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, WA, March 24, 2004) Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Eric Bost said at a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would consider letting states use private contractors to sign eligible people up for the Food Stamp Program, even though federal law says government workers should do the job. Undersecretary Bost noted that if a state had a better way to provide services and save money, then it should be considered. In Florida, a pilot program will allow non-government workers to handle applications for food stamps, as well as Medicaid and TANF benefits. http:// seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/ apwashington_story.asp?category=1 152&slug=Food%20Stamps COLUMN: PHILADELPHIA METRO NEWSPAPER REFUSES TO RUN FOOD STAMP ADVERTISEMENT (Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, March 24, 2004) Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Tom Ferrick Jr. wonders why the Philadelphia Metro Newspaper publisher is refusing to run an ad from the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. The coalition hoped to include several quarter page ads in the Metro encouraging low-income Philadelphia citizens to apply for food stamps, part of a greater Food Stamp Program outreach effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, Coalition staff received a phone call from the paper’s ad representative saying that the publisher would not run the ad. The publisher refuses to comment http://www.ers.usda.gov/ publications/efan03013/ NEW YORK CITY JEWISH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION HIRES FULL-TIME FOOD STAMP COORDINATOR (TimesLedger, Queens, NY, March 25, 2004) The Jackson HeightsElmhurst Kehillah, a coalition of 13 Jewish community organizations in Queens, has hired a full-time food stamp coordinator with a grant from the Nutrition Consortium of New York. Many of the clients are Hispanic persons and immigrants who are not aware that they can participate in the program. The Kehillah applied for the grant after it attempted to start a food pantry at its Jackson Heights office. So many people needed food assistance that the landlord forced it to shut down. http:// www.timesledger.com/site/ news.cfm?newsid=11169351&BRD=1079 &PAG=461&dept_id=170338&rfi=6 SAN FRANCISCO FOOD PANTRY DEMAND “JUMPED AT AN ALARMING RATE” OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS (San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, CA, March 25, 2004) Since the beginning of 2004, the number of people seeking emergency assistance at San Francisco’s food pantries has jumped at an alarming rate. The San Francisco Food Bank is on pace to distribute 20 million pounds of food this year, equivalent to 44,000 meals a day, an increase of 11 percent over 2003. The food bank says it probably cannot provide much more food than it is already giving out. Mayor Newsom’s special advisor on homeless issues, Angela Alioto, recently called for an investigation. “There is no question the crisis on San Francisco streets is bordering on third-world atmosphere,” Alioto said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my 15 years working on this issue.” http:// www.sfexaminer.com/templates/ story.cfm? displaystory=1&storyname =032504n_food To subscribe to the weekly FRAC News Digest on the Web go to: http://capwiz.com/ frac/mlm/ Food Research and Action Center 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 540 Washington, DC 20009 (202) 986-2200 x3019 phone (202) 986-2525 fax Email: bwinter@frac.org Streetvibes Page 19 �TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 $1 Donation May, 2004 STREETVIBES BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY Fort Washington Hotel Affordable housing succumbs to upscale “development” Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Serial Number � 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 2004 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 May 2004 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: For Washington Hotel to be Replaced by Upscale Condos Pg 2: Death on the Street Pg 3: Donate Pg 4: Police Use of New Taser’s Raised Questions Taser Used on Man Threatening Suicide New Council Rules to be Challenged in Court Pg 5: Street Vendors Sell Knowledge Florida Street Paper Sues Over Vendor Crackdown Pg 6: Homeless News Digest Pg 7: Labor of Love The Taxing Truth Pg 8: The Peace Village Pg 9: Vendors Pg 10: Cincinnati’s Big-League Opening Day Pg 11: Photos of Fallen Soldiers Stirs Controversy Pg 12: InkTank Writing Project Engages Drop Inn Center Residents Pg 13: Comic Store Pulls Bumfights Video in Response to Boycott National Student Organization Works to End Hunger and Homelessness Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: At the Crossroads of Gender and Homelessness Beltway Humor: Media React to Bush’s Weapons Jokes Pg 17: Finding the invisible Class Street Life Pg 18: Street Life Continued Weapon’s Jokes… Pg 19: FRAC 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 May 2004 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Alison Leeuw Andy Erickson Elizabeth Linville Janice Faulkner Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Berta Lambert Sonny Williams Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alison Leeuw Andy Erickson Berta Lambert Boycott Bush Cincinnati city council Drop Inn Center Elizabeth Linville Florida Florida Street Paper Food Research FRAC Gender Quality Georgine Getty Hunger Janice Faulkner Jimmy Heath Mary Gaffney Media National Student Organization Opening Day Peace Village Photography Police Soldiers Sonny Williams Street Life Suicide Vendors https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/22e43d3a74a47cb01b283c123b2e421f.pdf c06ffb3fd472efbdde2e0892671b3883 PDF Text Text May 2005 STREETVIBES Drug Dealing Prevention Barrier Taken Down in OTR by Jimmy Heath The controversial 13th Street barricade in the downtown neighborhood of Pendleton in Over-the-Rhine - put up on the recommendation of police and residents in an attempt to block easy access to and from I-471 for drug buyers - came down last month, 10 months after it went up. Cincinnati City Council voted 5-4 to ask the City Manager to take the barricade down. It was originally slated to be a six month “test” closing of the street, but since its erection in July of 2004 it has been a source of controversy and debate. An increasingly common technique of community policing is limiting access to a neighborhood. In many cases, the police, with the cooperation of resident leaders, erect barricades and guard posts at street intersections in threatened neighborhoods. Municipalities have become interested in the prospects for controlling crime through the introduction of traffic barriers and traffic flow controls. Cities as different as London and Chicago have begun to experiment with the use of street barriers, parking prohibitions and other impediments to traffic flow. The idea is to create dead-ends, cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods that are difficult to enter by motor vehicle in the expectation that the levels of crime on targeted streets and neighborhoods will be reduced. The Pendleton Community Council asked for the barricade at the intersection of 13th Street and Reading Road after a drug deal ended in a fatal shooting and because of speeding cars, petty crime and other dangerous activity. In 2004, there were 3 murders in this area of OTR, all drug related. Some Council members and residents said the barricade was installed without properly surveying residents’ opinions. They also said the barricade merely pushed the drug dealing a block away, to 12th Street. Complaining that it was losing business, a Pendleton car wash, Mr. Bubbles, led the opposition to the barricade. Other 13th Street business owners have complained that the effect of the barricade drove down business. The city’s Department of Transportation and Engineering also said the barricade should never have been erected because it’s designed for crime control rather than traffic control. In a report to council, City Manager Valerie Lemmie laid out a six-step process for future street closures, which will require approval of 75 percent of property owners, along with other criteria affected by a closure, along with City Council approval. The 5-4 vote to remove the barrier came after Cincinnati City Councilmember Sam Malone, who had previously voted to keep the The barricade, changed his mind. It came as a surprise to the Pendleton Community Council, who thought a decision would wait until their meeting this month, when they planned to hear a presentation on the effects of the barricade from the neighborhood’s community problem-oriented policing (CPOP) team. Police say the barricade has driven crime down by no longer allowing drug buyers from suburban areas and Kentucky easy access to 13th Street from Reading Road and the exit ramp from Interstate 471. The access provided drug buyers an easy route in and out of the city for purchases from street corner drug dealers. But opponents of the barricade, led by the Mr. Bubbles car wash, said the barricade kept too many business customers away. Meanwhile, drug dealers who were inconvenienced by the barricade took up business on other street corners in the neighborhood. Arrest statistics indicate that while there has been a decrease in the number of serious crimes in the Pendleton area, the number of less serious crimes has increased. Several barricade opponents chastised City Council, saying their predominantly black, mostly poor neighborhood had been unfairly targeted. Cincinnati City Council previously delayed a vote on whether to remove the metal guardrail that was installed by police last July. 13th street is lined with turn-of-the-century tenement buildings mostly inhabited by lowincome people of color. There is decay and poverty, but there are families and businesses that are barricade from Reading Road to 13th Street in Over-the-Rhine hoping to bring safety to this dangerous area. But residents say drug dealing is also common along the Main Street entertainment district and near bars in Mount Adams, which are frequented by affluent white customers, yet barricades aren’t used there. Laketa Cole, who heads Council’s neighborhoods committee, said police had indicated they had overwhelming resident support for the barricade when it was installed. But a recent UC study found otherwise, she said. “There were several residents who indicated the barrier should not have been there,” she said. Many of the citizens and their families feel like they have been abandoned by the police and the city. Blocking a street is not a solution to the drug problem, but it temporarily greases the squeaky wheel – it sends a message to the uneasy upper-class that something is being done to appease the new, more affluent, formerly suburban residents. It superficially addresses the concerns of neighborhood upscale developers. Sadly, drug dealers simply move on to another corner and the problem becomes someone else’s. It didn’t take long before the middle-class residents and businesses realized they had been had by this weak “solution.” There is a growing realization that the best strategies for fighting crime in residential neighborhoods are those where the police work closely with resident organizations. Such communitybased strategies require residents to believe that others in their neighborhood, including the police, are committed to a crime-free environment. Additionally, as long as the drug-buying customers keep coming to the corners in urban neighborhoods to buy drugs, there will be a willing supplier. For every drug deal that goes down, there is an equal amount of buyers. A message needs to be sent to the buyers that this is not the place to buy drugs. Coming at the drug problem backwards will not solve the problem. It is not enough to create a slight inconvenience by blocking street corner access. Most important is evenly distributed access to safety for everyone, including low-income people who have lived and worked and raised their kids on these tough neighborhood streets. It should never be a matter of economics from the standpoint of who’s “worthy” and who isn’t. It is a sad commentary on our society that money rules the day; that appearance, color and culture judges how precious you are, or aren’t. Soon, it will be necessary to block every street in the community, creating a gated urban neighborhood. We need a community that celebrates each citizen equally – and does not apply weak fixes when rich people come in and start crying. We also need a unified community that will not tolerate the use of neighborhood streets as an open-air drug market. Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. Vendors are private contractors who DO NOT work for, or represent, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homleess. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director Allison Leeuw -Administrative Coordinator Andy Erickson - Education Coordinator Rachel Lawson - Civil Rights VISTA Kate McManus - Civil Rights VISTA Mary Gaffney - Receptionist Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor Photographers Jimmy Heath, Steve Lansky Cover Jimmy Heath photo 13th Street barricade, Over-the-Rhine Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 Update with Ernie Hubbell Ernie came into the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless office (GCCH) on April 26 to give an update on what’s been happening since his last interview with Streetvibes. He had a stack of photos in his hand of people who had been helping him and wants to say a big thank you. He’s also been helping homeless folks. As he puts it, “there are always two sides to a story. That’s what causes problems between elected officials and homeless people.” People have been staying with you? Occasionally overnight. Just here and there. Just my friends. I feed them with food from the church, give them clothes and send them on their way. These are my friends who are homeless. I’d like to thank them. They give me information from the street . . . who’s died because of alcohol, how the bridge camps are doing. Sometimes they give me soda pop, they give what they can. Where do you stay now? Page Towers. I have a furnished apartment. . . my own furniture thanks to the churches. There are two ladies from the Lord’s Pantry who gave me a color TV. They serve sandwiches. Here is my preacher and his wife (Carol & Larry Bombark). They’re like a mom and dad to me. They’re self-funded. They spend their own money. Here’s a guy in a camp. He’s below poverty level. This is what it’s like, homelessness. Here’s Sharon and Debbie from Tender Mercies. They saved me. These are all my friends. These are friends to the homeless people. Some of them are homeless, they stay up under bridges. All I can do is be an example. I’m Sharon and Ernie free from drugs. I have an apartment. I abide by the law. I hope they don’t have to have a tragedy like I did before they get some help. There was a rumor that you died, what happened? Yeah. They thought I’d passed away. I just want people to know that I’m doing well. I want other people to get help too. Cincinnati Behavioral Health can help them. Anything else new? My Friend at campsite attorney is taking my case to I just want to put this in because I’m court with my Social Security. I’m helping homeless people where I can, having a few health problems. . . I have a lot of pain in my legs and they but I can only do so much. I’m getting help myself. I’m not sure go out on me. Other than my pain, what to say, but I’m speaking from I’m staying sober and healthy. I’m the heart. The Lord is helping me. going on TV. (Brian Garry’s cable show) I think. The Cost of War Americans killed since war began (3/19/03): 1572 (as of April, 2004) Since “Mission Accomplished” (5/1/03) 1435 Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 1105 Since Handover (6/29/04): 706 Since Election (1/31/05): 140 American Wounded Official Estimated - Total Wounded: 11664 Other Coalition Troops -176 US Military Deaths - Afghanistan - 166 The wounded numbers above reflect the official count as released by the U.S. military. However, there are other estimates that 12,000 soldiers have been treated for illness, non-combat injury and combat injury since March of 2002. The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center has been a fixture on America’s military landscape for more than five decades, serving as midway point for wounded troops returning home for treatment. Since President Bush declared Iraq combat operations over in May 2003, nearly 3,000 servicemen and women have been wounded in action. More than half that number did not return to duty, reflecting the high number of combat casualties, and serious nature of injuries, from Iraq. As many as 1 of every 10 soldiers from the war on terror evacuated to the Army’s biggest hospital in Europe was sent there for mental problems. Between 8 and 10 percent of nearly 12,000 soldiers from the war on terror, mostly from Iraq, treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany had “psychiatric or behavioral health issues,” according to the commander of the hospital, Col. Rhonda Cornum. That means about 1,000 soldiers were evacuated for mental problems. The hospital has treated 11,754 soldiers from the war on terror, with 9,651 from Iraq and the rest from Afghanistan, according to data released by the hospital. Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Streetvibes �throughout the five boroughs. According to a survey released today by the department, 592 homeless people live in Brooklyn, 587 in the Bronx, 1,805 in Manhattan, 335 in Queens, 231 in Staten Island and 845 are living in the subways. ”I spent a lot of time making William “Les” Brown, an Compiled by Jimmy Heath sure I did not make assumptions activist who helped start an In New York, a homeless (about the numbers of homeless advocacy group to fight man was busted last month for people),” said DHS commission homelessness in Chicago, has trying to smuggle a BB gun into a died. He was 64. Linda Gibbs. “While we continue to federal building so he could shoot have far too many individuals Brown was a founder of the Social Security clerks for cutting remaining on our streets, we now Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. off his benefits. The coalition’s executive director, Ed have a solid estimate of street Daniel O’Brien, 38, of Staten Shurna, says Brown died last month homelessness citywide.” Island, told investigators he brought A higher density of homeless at Rush North Shore Hospital in the weapon “so he could intimidate Skokie after a long battle with cancer. people were found near Social Security employees if transportation hubs like Penn Station, Brown was the Chicago necessary,” but added he had no Grand Central Terminal and the Port coalition’s first board president and qualms about using it. Authority bus terminal, the survey went on to become its executive “I would have shot them found. director in 1988. He also had been because I’m not getting any answers active in the National Coalition for the regarding my Social Security,” he said Homeless. An auction in Witchita, in a written confession, law Brown was born in Doraville, Kansas raised about $45,000 for enforcement sources said. the Drop-In Center and other Georgia. He earned a masters O’Brien’s name was on a degree in social work from Chicago’s United Methodist Urban Ministry Secret Service watch list because he Loyola University in 1968. services to combat homelessness. had made verbal threats against Brown is survived by a wife, President Bush in 2002, sources said. two children, a sister and two As much as the event was O’Brien, who suffers from about art, it was also about raising grandchildren. bipolar disorder and lives in a awareness on the issue of homeless shelter on Staten Island, is homelessness, said the Rev. Deann In Springfield MA, Lee being held without bail by the U.S. Smith, executive minister of the O’Brien says he survived the Bureau of Prisons pending an April winter thanks to a city-sponsored organization. She said the Drop-In 11 court date. emergency homeless shelter that Center is at capacity, averaging about He was arrested by the guaranteed him a thin mattress on 100 people each day.” Federal Protective Service and Homeless services are one of a patch of basement floor. arraigned before a federal magistrate. the hardest to fund, because people The so-called warming Law enforcement sources said he had places, operated on alternating nights have the myth of the guy that just served time in federal prison, but doesn’t want to do anything, and at two city churches, gave the 30­ details of the earlier case were not that’s not the case,” she said. year-old refuge from the blistering available. “All of us would like to think cold and an alternative to the that could never happen to us,” she Worthington House, Springfield’s In Lexington, North said, “But having worked at the main homeless shelter which many Carolina critics fear a statewide Drop-In Center and been across the say is overcrowded and unsafe. database that will track the table as I’ve served lunch, I see that But with the warming places homeless as they get help will put set to close on April 30 when the there’s so little that separates me from victims of domestic violence in program’s funding ends, O’Brien and the guy or woman that I’m serving.” danger, make fraud easier and scores of other homeless people are discourage people from getting Toronto police announced becoming anxious about where they’ll help. they have charged two people in find shelter. Starting next year, information the death of a homeless man After eating lunch at a on computers used at shelters, soup downtown soup kitchen, O’Brien and whose body was found last week kitchens and treatment centers can be some of his friends started talking near the Rogers Centre. shared with nonprofit agencies across about the need for another Sanctuary An autopsy found the victim, North Carolina. identified as Daniel Joseph O’Brien, City - the name given to the Supporters say the goal is to community of tents and plastic tarps 43, died of a blunt force trauma to his improve services, allowing workers head. that drew criticism from city officials to track whether the homeless get James Rushton, 23, of while providing a haven to the continued help. Toronto, has been charged with homeless last year. But critics charge the second-degree murder, and Tina “Hopefully there will be database will subject the homeless Marie Desjardine, 23, of Vernon, another one of those,” said O’Brien, “to a level of tracking that is normally who says he arrived in Springfield B.C., has been charged with being an used against criminals,” said Jennifer accessory after the fact. from Tennessee about four months Rudinger, executive director of the ago and found himself homeless when ACLU of North Carolina. Here in Cincinnati, a friend’s promise of a job and a The programs use names, downtown businesses and place to stay was broken. “If not, I Social Security numbers, dates of guess we’ll all just be on the streets.” property owners pay a voluntary birth and other personal data to set tax that raises $1.6 million up individual computer files. annually for various services, New York City’s Whenever a homeless person spends Department of Homeless including $50,000 for Brent a night in a shelter, sees a counselor Chasteen’s social worker position. Services said last month that or picks up food at a participating Chasteen walks through the 4,395 homeless people live on the agency, the file is updated. city streets and in subway stations downtown and tells the homeless Homeless News Digest Streetvibes about sandwich shops where they can get something to eat under deals he has worked out. He is friendly but firm as he warns the homeless of a city ordinance that outlaws aggressive panhandling. Steve Prichard, 45, has been on the streets for four years, but is now staying with friends and plans to enter an alcohol rehabilitation program. “Brent has stuck with me through thick and thin,” Prichard said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do all this without his help.” Still, many cases do not turn out as well. Sometimes people skip the meetings Chasteen sets up with social service agencies, drop out of treatment programs or rebuff his attempts to help. “I try not to take it personally or get discouraged,” he said. “I just see myself as a motivator for those who want help but may not be able to find it on their own.” A judge overruled a mobile home park’s request for summary judgment in a case involving the location of a new homeless shelter in Iowa City, Iowa. Attorneys for the Hilltop Mobile Home Court argued that Shelter House missed a deadline to extend an application period with the Iowa City Board of Adjustment. The new shelter is proposed near Southgate Avenue and Waterfront Drive. However, Judge David Remley concluded that the applicant’s request was timely filed. During a two-hour bench trial last month in Johnson County District Court, attorneys argued for and against a special exception granted in August 2004 by the Iowa City Board of Adjustment. Arguments focused on whether sufficient evidence existed to support the board’s decision, specifically whether the new shelter would hurt neighboring property values and whether parking requirements had been met. Appeals brought last summer by nearby property owners, including Hilltop Mobile Home Court, stalled the shelter from expanding from its current 29-bed center at 331 N. Gilbert St., to a facility that could house as many as 70 people at 429 Southgate Ave. Writers! Submit your Poetry to STREETVIBES ­ email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Page 3 �If the human race wishes to have a prolonged and indefinite period of material prosperity, they have only got to behave in a peaceful and helpful way toward one another. - Winston Churchill I prefer the most unfair peace to the most righteous war. - Cicero. The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war. - Desiderius Erasmus I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. - Mohandas K. Gandhi Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time. - Lyndon B Johnson Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind...War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today. - John F. Kennedy Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. - John F. Kennedy At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. - Martin Luther King, Jr. Show your support! Get your STREETVIBES T-Shirt Today! (Back shown here. Shirt not actual size) Only $15 We will send your Streetvibes T-shirt to your door ­ All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Streetvibes newspaper. Call 513.421.7803 x 16, or come in to our office at 117 E 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine Page 4 Streetvibes In Focus: WIC Trends One half of all U.S. infantsand one in four young children in the U.S. (aged one to five)-get crucial health and nutrition benefits from the WIC Program, according to a new FRAC (Food Research & Action Council) report. “WIC In The States: ThirtyOne Years of Building A Healthier America” provides extensive state­ by-state and year-by-year data for each of the covered categories (women, infants and children) for the period FY 1974 through FY 2004. “WIC is building a healthier America,” explained Geraldine Henchy, MPH, RD, FRAC’s Director of Early Childhood Nutrition and the author of the report. “Newer research is adding to the list of positive WIC accomplishments. It helps to reduce low birth weights, decrease the incidence of iron deficiency anemia in children, prevent overweight in children, and improve the growth of at-risk infants and children. WIC investments are costeffective, preventing costly health problems that would impact federal, state and local budgets in the future.” See http://www.frac.org/ Press_Release/04.20.05.html and http://www.frac.org/WIC/ 2004_Report/index.html �chorus of conversation. Forty ounce on the move, in and out of the alley, bottles being passed around in peeking around the corners, watching between tokes of a joint. In one for the police. by Riccardo Taylor Smokers, drinkers, tricks, Ah! So here we are ready to corner you may witness a sexual act where a quickie may result in a few and crooks all paying tribute to the take a walk down the street in the dollars pay. The exchanges of alley and its happening. Huddled up life. schemes are on the lips of everyone, in a corner with a bottle, or passing Strolling the avenue, listening trying to figure away to come upon a around the crack pipe. to the sounds of the city streets. lick for the return trip back here. Between slurred Watching to see who is doing what, The empty building, their conversations of the alcoholics there how the human traffic is flowing. backs on the alley proper are as busy occurs the pronounced voice from We pass groups of people someone giving doing their thing. Drinking, swearing, as the main street. People climbing in and instructions on the talking loud about everyone else’s fine art of smoking out of once boarded business. The groups consist of the the crack pipe. street people, those of us who line the windows, or doorways that have been The alley is a sidewalk, everyone looking for reopened by the live from the first something to get into. It’s all about squatters who reside in hour of the day until trying to make a dollar. the splendor of an the last. The alley Dope fiends, alcoholics, abandoned building. has a life of its own. panhandlers, and small time hustlers Some coming out to It is the passageway all vying for a piece of the day’s pie. Riccardo Taylor start the day others from sobriety to Each one working for the moment seeking refuge from intoxication, from that they can take their brake in the their tour of the streets. mellowness to rage, from sense of alley. Arguments, the order of sanity to the pure depths of the Before entering the alley we insane. have to take a look up and down the civility in the alley are heard throughout the day. An occasional This is the place where the street to see who’s watching or who fight occurs, but generally threats fly street person is most relaxed. It is might follow. as everyone attempts to establish here that we make plans for going Upon entering the alley we their right or rank within the alley. back out on the sidewalk. are greeted by the smells of human Often you find someone who after Oh! The sidewalk. We’ll waste, urine permeating the air. reaching his or her limit of intoxicants see what’s happening out there. Let’s Every shadow conceals people has laid down some cardboard for a take a walk. ranging from one to a group. bout of sleep. Others are constantly Whispers and shouts mingling in the It is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold by Jimmy Gipson, Vendor no one to trust in them. Churches people, or houses to the homeless. The message and the need and other agencies help the best way John Kenneth Galbraith continues. The cry for help is always that they can. But not enough to present for the homeless problem in bring changes to the lives of many. Cincinnati The real problem too is in the mind Streetvibes vendors and and the thinking of the homeless. writers carry this message. The need They adapt to confused and defeated for giving is great and becoming behavior. This is their reality. More greater. Mental illness, addiction, love, more support more giving is abuse, poverty, crime, lack of housing needed. You must understand what is Over the years, media – It is at an all time high with no at stake. The more you give, the owners and editors have come up solutions in sight. The depressing more you bless. Serving gives and with different explanations for the state of the homeless mind makes it a offers hope to the one who’s trying to lack of left or progressive voices plaque for everyone. They’re trying overcome their problems. across the media landscape. We’re is in vain. The homeless say, Why Thank you and continue to told those ideas are unpopular with try? No one cares or loves. support Streetvibes and the vendor the public, for example, or that leftists Many try to help themselves, so that the message can continue to aren’t as engaging or likeable as, say, just to run into a deadend. They have be carried. May God Bless Sean Hannity. Street Life The Zen of Streetvibes Don’t Get Too Worked up About Anything Homeless Woman by Linda Corey, Streetvibes Vendor A woman being homeless is very hard. I was homeless in Daytona Beach, Florida, and I‘ve been homeless here in Cincinnati. Cincinnati is a lot harder on a woman than Daytona. The men here are nice until you reject their offers and they turn on you. Most of the men I have met are OK. I leave them where they are. I was in Daytona living with a man who came on like a charm when he was sober. After a few drinks he turned into a mean, selfish, greedy and controlling person. Women are brain dead. I put up with this for 5 years. I was always wearing a black and blue face. I had him arrested and he just got worse. The black and blue increased. I had separated ribs and I tried counseling for domestic violence recovery. That did not work so well. I had nightmares. My friends told me that if I didn’t leave he would eventually kill me. I left and hitchhiked to Cincinnati. My kids are in Daytona. I miss them a lot. I hope one day to go back and see them. Congress needs to make up laws that are a lot stricter on these men who hit women and children to keep these women and children safe. We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty. Mother Teresa The new CNN President Jonathan Klein offered another theory during an appearance on PBS’s Charlie Rose Show on March 25: Progressives aren’t angry enough. When Rose asked if there could ever be a successful progressive version of Fox News Channel, Klein thought not. He explained that while Fox was tapping into a brand of “mostly angry white men” conservatism, “a quote/unquote, ‘progressive’ or liberal network probably couldn’t reach the same sort of an audience, because liberals tend to like to sample a lot of opinions. They pride themselves on that. And you know, they don’t get too worked up about anything. And they’re pretty morally relativistic. And so, you know, they allow for a lot of that stuff.” Does Klein really think progressives don’t get too worked up about anything? If he does, that Streetvibes U.S. Income Gap Among Worst of Wealthy Nations (“It’s better to be poor in Norway than in the US,” Christian Science Monitor, April 14, 2005) Even though Americans on average have a higher standard of living than those in almost all other rich countries, the poor in America fare worse than the poor people in almost all other industrialized countries. The cause is unequal distribution of income in the U.S. Among 30 prosperous nations, the U.S. ranks third from the bottom in income equality. Only Russia and Mexico have a greater maldistribution of income. America does “far less on the social side. We have not as good a safety net. The priorities aren’t there,” says Timothy Smeeding, a public policy professor at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, who compiled the inequality numbers. Poor U.S. children are at a “serious economic disadvantage” compared to their peers in other nations. Without a stronger governmental safety net, the nation faces “a rough future,” says Smeeding. Disadvantaged children “will be a drag on themselves and on our whole economy.” http:// www.csmonitor.com/2005/0414/ p17s02-cogn.html might be because he’s watching too much CNN, where centrists are often looked to stand in for bona fide progressives. But outside the CNN studios, evidence would suggest that progressives get plenty worked up. Internet organizing groups like MoveOn.org, which advocates against Bush administration policies, attract millions of members. Hundreds of thousands of Americans marched against the Iraq war, and the 2004 Republican convention in New York City provoked massive protests. The expansion of liberal talk radio network Air America, as well as the success of the Bushbashing documentary Fahrenheit 9/ 11, would also seem to suggest that there’s an audience for programming from a distinctly left-of-center perspective. As for progressives being “pretty morally relativistic,” Klein’s insult seems misapplied. One could argue that it’s the right and not the left that tends to see the killing of civilians as important only if the civilians are of the right nationality, for example, and thinks that torture may be acceptable if the right people are torturing. Presenting a skewed political dialogue that under represents progressive points of view is bad enough; but Klein’s explanation that progressives simply don’t get “worked up” makes no sense whatsoever. Page 5 �Program Important in Aiding The Second Time Around day. Completely satisfying. Or so I Senior Citizens The staff at AARP is very by Rachel Lawson thought. dedicated in helping provide help to by Ms. Mary Gaffney senior citizens, whose programs To my Streetvibes readers and my homeless friends, this month’s provide extra income. The four or article is dedicated to AARP and the five hours of employment each day are very helpful. staff headquartered at 700 Walnut I want to thank each and Street here in downtown Cincinnati. every one of the The American people at the Association for downtown AARP Retired Persons office. Your help in (AARP) is a senior aiding the senior men employment program and women helps for people 55 years provide a better life. or older. This To my program is so readers and homeless important in aiding the friends, keep on senior citizen, Miss Mary Gaffney trying, and don’t give providing job up. God loves both placement and you and I. training. The staff at the Cincinnati office is John Phillips, project director, Abdur Rashid Ali, employment specialist; Mary Dean, employment specialist; Jimmy White, community outreach specialist; Clara Miller, office specialist; Dorothy Craig, computer specialist; Dean Campbell, intake payroll; Bill Wiggin morning receptionist; Mary Ann Doyle, afternoon John Phillips, project director, AARP receptionist. Hello Future by Marieke Van Zyl Amid the litany of ‘international days’ on our calendars, World Telecommunications Day (on 17 May) stands out as one whose importance in contemporary society is steadily increasing. Celebrated as a commemoration of the founding of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), it’s an annual date on which to take stock of the state of the global digital divide, and the initiatives that have been, and are being implemented to combat this techno­ political phenomenon. In our increasingly connected global society, the issue of access to information and communication technologies plays a fundamental role in the level of interaction a country or community can achieve with its neighbors or competitors. The lack of access to such tools and systems has placed Africa at a disadvantage in relation to the international market, compounding the many economic and social problems already suffered by her countries. Catch-up has been painfully slow, with the logistics of stringing phone-lines in some of Africa’s more rural areas and harsh landscapes proving tough and expensive. It is because of these difficulties that many have turned to the world of cellular communication Page 6 to decrease the problems of connectivity on the African continent. In 1999, Uganda became the first African nation to have more cellular than fixed-line customers, an example, which some 30 other Africans countries have followed since. Cell-towers are significantly cheaper to build than kilometers of telephone wires and poles, with much lower maintenance costs. This has prompted Uganda to recently start removing some of its mostly unused fixed-line infrastructure. It is estimated that about 9,000 cellular users sign up in South Africa daily, with current statistics claiming 19 million cell-connected citizens. With the South African consumer still waiting for a second network operator to be licensed in order to break Telkom’s de facto monopoly, the ease and accessibility of cellular communication is negating or replacing the need for a fixed-line communication for a growing number of people. While the global digital divide is still felt keenly with regard to the Internet and its various communication channels, cell phones are increasingly picking up this slack in the telecommunications market. As an international initiative, the ITU has a Plan of Action to which all of its 175 members have committed themselves, the primary object of which is to extend information and communication I love all forms of creative Mr. Taylor invited me to writing. As a result I may not qualify attend his first reading, ever, on April as an expert on what is and what is 1st, 2005. Although it was pouring not “true.” I honestly believe that down raining, a group of loyal art (spoken and visual) lovers, college anything someone took time out to write is relevant and whether or not I students, etc, gathered at the Base Gallery (located on Main Street in “get it” does not really matter. After Over-he-Rhine) and listened to all there are pieces that were written various performers read and recite so certain people would not “get it,” for example, the Negro Spirituals that their creative pieces. Before Riccardo performed, he explained the guided slaves to freedom were not inspiration for his written understood by their white masters and I piece and then he went personally am pretty on to read in his thankful for that. In soothing yet gruff voice turn, I like to read Dancing in Poverty. This creative writing pieces time around however, it for what they are, works was more fulfilling. It of arts that sometimes was as if even though I Rachel Lawson let the reader into the had eaten my favorite mind, heart, and soul of the writer. meal, Larosa’s just added my favorite What impresses me the most, desert, and I was beyond satisfied, I however, about creative writing was in total bliss. It’s amazing how pieces is their ability to have a life of different things sound and appear their own, as well as your own once your perspective is broadened personal impression and beyond your own understanding of understanding of the writing and how reality. I gained insight into the and why that perspective can change. thoughts of an individual who wants Upon first reading Dancing in so much more for not only himself, Poverty by Riccardo Taylor in the but for those around him. December Issue of Streetvibes, I Riccardo’s work examines thought it was well written and that it the desire to go beyond the level of gave a unique viewpoint of the life led gaining material possession but by Homeless Individuals. Extremely instead challenging individuals to humble, reserved, intelligent, with a demand that they are treated with the spark of mischief hiding in his eyes, utmost respect. Inspite of one’s the words of Riccardo Taylor are a circumstances, we are all human and major asset to any conversation, deserve to be treated that way. poetry collection, or spoken word Although I still believe that Dancing in event. Also very direct, Riccardo Poverty was beautifully written, I does not allow anyone to know that it reaches an even deeper misunderstand the reality of his life. element, it offers the reader the In turn, my first reading of Dancing in opportunity to step into another Poverty was ironically similar to world, life, and reality and I thank eating one of my favorite meals: Riccardo, the Nikki Giovanni’s, and Larosa’s pizza with a salad, after the Maya Angelou’s for that having absolutely nothing to eat all opportunity. technologies to all humanity. For example, in 2004, the ITU initiated the installation of 100 Multipurpose Communication Telecentres in 20 African countries with primary aims to bridge geographical and social distances, as well as focusing on empowering rural women. Press releases concerning such projects use words such as “ehealth” and “e-governance,” connoting a new era of administration that could possibly bridge obstacles such as language, distance and accessibility on the African continent. In the wake of the tsunami disaster that rocked the world, the union has channeled energies on developing an early-warning disaster reduction system; what it calls a “wake-up call for technological co-operation.” Reprinted from The Big Issue South Africa, April 2005. ©Street News Service: www.street-papers.org Streetvibes GE Announces $1 Million Grant For City GE announced a million dollar grant aimed at improving race relations and other issues in Cincinnati last month. The money will go to a new group called “Better Together Cincinnati,” which is hoping to increase diversity and racial understanding in the city. The grant is part of a court ordered collaborative effort initiated in the wake of the April, 2001 civil unrest. The fund is managed by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Part of the GE donation will go toward improving night-time lighting in Over-The-Rhine, especially around Music Hall. GE held shareholder meetings in Cincinnati last month. �Undoubtedly, the blackface minstrel hardships and cruelties that Blacks have successfully endured. Although I think Cincinnati definitely needs by Rachel Lawson random history lessons on what racial In the early 1800’s a tolerance can lead to, that’s not my comedian named Thomas Rice purpose for taking a dreary walk introduced a song that described a back in time. black stable hand. The image that A young white lady chuckled was depicted in the song gave birth to as she was assigned her role for the Blackface. The Black face minstrel day: a black coffee-colored, freeshows a type of theatrical flowing Afro wearing woman. entertainment that was extremely Smiling before her audience, she was popular in the United States, the UK instructed to imagine she was black. and even Europe. Both White and This did not happen in the early Black performers wore greasepaint, 1800’s. It didn’t even happen in the wigs, and rags for clothing in order to 1900’s. It happened March 30, exaggerate the stereotypes of Blacks 2005. UPN is one of my favorite during that time. In turn, although the channels because of their continuous minstrel shows played on the pre­ effort to fill their television line-up existing racist views, they also further with African American oriented shaped them. Although the roles that shows that focus on a variety of these Black actors played were themes: a group of single independent extremely insulting, it allowed for women to a single father raising his African Americans to at least get their college oriented daughter. As well, foot in the door. Bert Williams, America’s Next Top Model, hosted famous for his portrayal as a solo by Tyra Banks had become one of minstrel performer is even more my must see television shows, known for being the first black especially since last season the young performer on Broadway. Eva won, setting a positive example We Wear the Mask for other African Americans. For all of you that perhaps don’t watch reality shows as faithfully as I do, each week the contestants each have a test (whether it means taking a picture with a boa constrictor or hanging upside down in the air), the purpose of each test is to make sure you know how to take a good picture no matter what the circumstance. Which is why I am not sure what was the motivation behind placing a white female in what basically was modern day blackface. I thought perhaps it was just me until my cell phone kept ringing and all of my friends called me asking me what was going on. Here was our role model, an independent and beautiful Black model who was extending her hands out to all women and showing them how to be business oriented and focused at the same time. Yet as a black woman, I personally felt slapped in the face. Not only did Tyra Banks basically promote black face in 2005, but also since that week’s test was based on all the would be models becoming another ethnicity they all played into stereotypes. For example a young blond became an Italian mom and the judges berated her appearing too innocent to promote that sexy Italian image and another contestant, a black woman became Asian by placing a wig on her head and accentuating her eye shape. The stereotypical images that America’s Next Top Model promoted on March 30, 2005 were similar to the ones that were put on display during the early 1800’s. One can not forget Bert Williams, Josephine Baker, and Spike Lee and the suffering that they struggled to make known to the world. “We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides out cheeks and shades our eyes, This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile” Paul Laurence Dunbar. *All historical information was accessed from an online encyclopedia, for further information or if you would like to look further into the history of the blackface minstrels feel free to visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Blackface must first go to court to be assigned her court date and then she will have to go to court again. That would be two days in which she probably spends the whole day at court in addition to possibly another day in jail. For those of you who may not be aware, when you do not have the funds to pay your fine, homeless individuals and those with lower income spend days in jail depending on the price of the fine. In other words, Ms. Cobb will be left with deciding whether or not she will pay for heart medicine or even food and shelter for homeless individuals in order to not spend a day in jail. Another issue to consider is that when a homeless personal has charges on their record, no matter how small or irrelevant, it gives them an extensive criminal record. Having such a record certainly does not make it any easier to find housing or assistance. I think it is tragic that the police are targeting panhandlers, when it is legal to panhandle, but it is even more of a tragedy when there are actual crimes occurring in Cincinnati that should receive attention. Ironically, Ms. Cobb herself believes in upholding the law, which is why she educates herself on the city ordinances in order to ensure she is not breaking the laws. She even explained that if she were in the wrong, she would have no problem; unfortunately Ms. Cobb was upholding the law. As stated before, the Cincinnati Police Department has quite a few fans and that is the result of them upholding the law and protecting their citizens. Unfortunately we cannot ignore the actions of those who are giving a bad name to the Cincinnati Police Department. Those police officers that profile anyone based on the social status, race, or beliefs should be given just as much attention, to ensure that they are not allowed to violate the civil and legal rights of anyone. Especially a 60 year old woman who is raising money for homeless individuals. Upholding the Law by Rachel Lawson The responsibility of the Police Department is to protect the citizens and uphold the law; there are definitely police officers out there that go above and beyond their duty and they should be recognized and given applause. Unfortunately, there is always a bad seed in the bunch that give a bad name to the Cincinnati Police Department. Ms. Carol Cobbs is a striking woman; although she’s petite in stature, her vast knowledge of information, feisty spirit, and ‘go-get­ em’ attitude make her someone to be reckoned with, not someone to mistreat. Although she’s in her early sixties, there’s no strand of gray and why should there be? Anyone who has led the life she has and believes in her strong moral convictions is destined to always have a smile on her face. Raised in group homes at an early age, Ms. Cobbs explains, “I’ve been down some roads and I’m not a drug addict or alcoholic” although she’s definitely come in contact with her fair share. Ms. Cobb does more for others in one day than others have tried to do in a life time. Why? She says, “It gives me something to do, besides feeling sorry for myself. Occupy my time.” She went on to explain that when she first saw homeless individuals in Cincinnati, she thought that was only something that happened in New York. Deciding that something definitely had to be done, she set out to get to know homeless individuals and help them anyway she knew how. Unfortunately Carols eyes were opened to a reality that made her unhappy, “You’re playing God when you decide who can eat. If they tell you they’re hungry, you feed them.” Rather than sitting still and accepting the problems that were right in front of her, Carol tackled them head on. She began interacting with different agencies, insisting that they treat their clients the right way. She also takes in people from under the bridge into her own home so they can get a shower and shows them how to access different programs that can assist them. Ms. Cobb is not a multi-millionaire who has the funds to freely give away, but rather she does what she does because it’s right. As a matter of fact, Ms. Cobb is even a legal panhandler herself, going so far as to receive her vendor license to ensure that Carol Cobb she is not breaking any law. Ms. Cobb uses the funds that she receives to help the homeless individuals that she interacts with, for example, buying them food and blankets. Ms. Cobb is the very person the Cincinnati Police Department should be protecting, especially since she is legally allowed to panhandle. Instead, certain police officers harass the homeless and lower income people. Ms. Cobb is a perfect example of what happens when the interaction between the police and lower income individuals is not positive and understanding. Since she was given a ticket for impeding traffic while she was panhandling, she has a fine of $60 and if she cannot afford to pay Ms. Cobb must spend a day in jail. However, Ms. Cobb Streetvibes 20 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Page 7 �Drop Inn Center Update Don’t be Squirrelly! Weather Impact: If you had any doubt before about the impact of weather on the shelter population, just look at a weekend in April as a case in point. On a Friday night, before the severe weather hit, we had 178 people stay the night. However, on Sunday, when the temperature hovered around freezing, we had 242 people. That’s a 40% increase! Thanks to everyone for their yearround assistance. Due to your help, we can be available whenever we are needed. Supportive Housing Update: As you may know, the Drop Inn Center has been working with development groups who are interested in moving our Supportive Housing at the corner of 12th and Elm Streets for the new Arts School Project. We had a project worked out this spring that would have used Tax Credits to pay for the construction of a new facility, but talks broke down mid-February because city leaders had concerns about the size and program for the project. We are beginning again to work on another relocation project and are re-looking at possible sites and program options. We will keep you posted on any developments. Let us know if you have any ideas! Rumors: Some of you may have heard the rumor recently that said that the Drop Inn Center was moving to Price Hill on March 15th. Obviously, that was not true. Believe me, if our location is ever threatened, you would hear about it first from us! You never know how stories will take off… Resident Handbooks: Work was completed on our first ever comprehensive Resident Handbook. This guide is given to all residents and includes all the services, schedules, rules and rights for the Emergency Shelter. It provides information on everything from how to get a locker to the hours for the laundry facilities. If you are interested in one of these handbooks, please let me know. Nursing Award: Charlene Rasche, volunteer nurse with the Southwest Ohio Nurses Association, won the prestigious Florence Nightingale Nursing Award this year. Charlene has volunteered with SONA at the Drop Inn Center since they started coming in 1994. She combines craft projects with nursing when she comes every Sunday evening. I know many residents who look forward to Charlene’s visit. Congratulations and thank you! Buy Streetvibes! This Mother’s Day, how will you show your mother that you really care? Mother’s Day is May 8. Whether she is a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a wife, or a sister, Mother’s Day is our chance to show that special woman in our life how much she means to us. Mother’s Day is also a chance to honor the spirit of mothering. Mothers are there to make sure we are clothed, clean, fed, safe, and warm. They are there to tuck us in and kiss away the tears. They are there to read to us, to listen, and to steer us down the right path. The picture above was drawn by 9 year old Asherah, one of many participants in a state-wide Mother’s Day card contest for young people. Asherah won the contest because of her touching ability to capture the sprit of support, love and family. Asherah was a resident of a local shelter at the time she drew this picture of her family. Her family is one of 5,000 in Cincinnati who will experience homelessness this year. Nationally, 3.5 million people experience homelessness over the course of a year. Homeless families make up over 40% of that population. This year in Cincinnati alone, over 8,000 children will experience homelessness with their mothers. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless has been working for 20 years to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. We firmly believe that by coming together as a community, we can reach this goal. We need your help to erase homelessness from childhood memories. This year, truly honor the mothers in your life by making a special donation in their honor. We will send Asherah’s Mother’s Day card to the honoree, along with a notification that a donation has been made in their name. What better way to appreciate the woman who raised you than by helping other women raise themselves, and their children, out of homelessness? By sending this completed form along with your donation, Asherah’s Mother’s Day card will be sent to the person you designate below. The card will inform the recipient that a donation has been made in her name to the Coalition for the Homeless. Your name, address, and phone number Name and address of the person to whom we should send the card / For more information on how to help or for volunteer opportunities please call the Drop Inn Center at 421-7803 Page 8 Who should the donation be placed in honor of/in memory of? Who should we say the card is from? If you would like the card sent to an additional person, please indicate on another sheet of paper the same information as above. Send this form along with your donation in the enclosed envelope to: The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Streetvibes �People of Faith, People of country in ways that it doesn’t in Conscience other developed nations.” by Anitra Freeman Jim Wallis, leader of the national church-based effort to address poverty, speaks often of the importance of being “people of faith.” But comparing these two books, I think a more accurate term for what he is describing is “people of conscience.” Both Susan Jacoby and Wallis describe an America that has barely begun to live out the commitment to human rights expressed in our founding documents, and has been over the past 30 to 40 years eroding what advances we had made. Both call for a recommitment to “liberty and justice for all,” and illustrate in their equal passion, and the passion of those they describe and admire, that such a commitment transcends boundaries of theism and non-theism. Jacoby shows how religious evangelicals allied with freethinkers and deists to ratify a Constitution with no mention of God or any appeal to Divine Authority. Instead of secularizing the nation, Jacoby explains, the secularized Constitution put the just-sprouting Protestant denominations on equal footing with established religions, which “has probably enabled religion to flourish throughout the 20th century in this Jacoby acknowledges the work of progressive Christians in working for the advance of democracy and civil rights, while Jim Wallis describes the providing a much-needed corrective to coalition of evangelical as well as American’s historical amnesia by liberal Protestants, Catholics, and publicizing the leadership of Jews who are secularists, now allying to including agnostics Freethinkers : A History of speak out against and atheists, in American Secularism the theology of those advances. by Susan Jacoby American While Wallis Metropolitan Books, 2004 Triumphalism that advances a very Hardcover, 432 pages, $27.50 passes for progressive Christianity on the agenda, he rarely Right, and refocus God’s Politics : Why the acknowledges the Right Gets It Wrong and the contributions of the message on Left Doesn’t Get It social justice: in atheists and particular, the by Jim Wallis agnostics, or even related issues of HarperSanFrancisco, 2005 of those religious poverty, racism, Hardcover, 416 pages, $24.95 outside of the and the Jewish-Christianenvironment. Muslim family of faiths, in advancing While Jacoby’s book the principles of conscience he celebrates the respect for reason and proclaims for a new “spiritual” rejection of “truth by decree” that is politics. essential to carrying out such a Yet both Jacoby and Wallis — commitment, Wallis illustrates how and all of the people they praise and emotional faith is not necessarily in identify with — are committed to the conflict with free reason and the criticism of tradition. In an article on racism as “America’s Original Sin,” he writes that the nation “was established as a white society, founded upon the near-genocide of another and then the enslavement of yet another.” same principles of human rights and common good; of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior’s vision of “The Beloved Community.” These principles seem to Jacoby to be rooted in secular values; to Wallis they seem rooted in the values of the God of the Bible, proclaimed by the prophets of the Bible — prophetic voices still lifted up today. Both regard the effort to incorporate these values into social life as an ongoing countercultural revolution. The revolution to establish liberty and justice for all may have begun in 1776, but it has never ended, and has a long way yet to go. Engaging in that effort is a profound moral commitment. Both Jacoby and Wallis say that we need a revitalized commitment to those values to even regain what we once had, and to build on it. That both books are bestsellers today demonstrates that this message transcends theism or secularism. Reprinted from Real Change News, April 2005. ©Street News Service Got The Vibe? Protesting Budget Cuts by Kate McManus On April 12, 2005, concerned citizens and action groups from across the state of Ohio met on the Statehouse lawn to let the state Senate and House of Representatives know that they do not agree with the cuts that are proposed in the 2006 Annual Budget. These cuts include the elimination of health care for 25,000 working parents, the elimination of Disability Medical Assistance to 15,000 adults, cuts in funding for Child and Family Health Services, and freezing ODH funding for HIV/AIDS health services. It also includes cuts in funding to local governments, which would result in cuts in funding to fire and police departments, libraries, and many local human service agencies. The rally was a huge success with hundreds of people turning out in support of reinstating the programs and funding that have been cut. Individuals from across the state who use and depend on the services that are in danger of being cut told their stories in hopes that the state legislators would hear their stories, see these cuts as affecting real people, and vote to change the budget. Since the rally, the House has voted to approve the budget mostly as Taft proposed it, however, due in part to this rally, full funding was restored to vision and partial funding was restored to dental coverage, as well as restoring the funding to the Bureau of Children with Medical Handicaps. This beautiful, original artwork depicts the vibrant role that Streetvibes plays in downtown Cincinnati and neighboring communities. Created by local artist and activist Mary Ann Lederer in collage form, this colorful 18" X 10" reproduction can be yours to own for only $10. Commemorating Streetvibes 100th issue, proceeds from this limited time offer will go to support the Streetvibes Program and Vendors. Kate McManus and Rachel Lawson at the State House To order, call the Homeless Coalition at 421-7803 Streetvibes Page 9 �Maman in Athens, Ohio was a joy, his ready and generous wit always present, his affection for creativity easily offered, and his words so friendly. We bonded quickly and I so by Steve Sunderland looked forward to seeing him and his I am back two days from school. Maman is part of a growing Indonesia, awake in the shadows of core of young civic and religious an early Cincinnati Sunday morning. leaders training for democratic I see her, a vibrant 12 year old, her methods throughout Indonesia, all so brown face glowing in the 100 degree deeply committed to rights for all, heat, her smile as wide as Jakarta, recognition of women, economic and her piercing voice, bellowing justice, anti-corruption, and directly to me: “Mista! Don’t you forget me!” As if I could. She is wearing a simple black headscarf, a gray coat, and running everywhere I walk, peppering me with question after question. She is Indonesia’s future: beautiful, energetic, highly bright, and with a great smile, and those eyes, those eyes of fervor and friendship. Dr. Steve Sunderland We met in the courtyard of the beautiful Islamic boarding school, Al- tolerance. They remind me of the Mizan, Ciboren, Indonesia, 4 hours freedom fighters of the civil rights drive east of Jakarta. She comes up movement. Something similar is to me as I stumble into the courtyard, happening in Indonesia as young past militia with rifles, and into the people, masses of students, have very warm welcome of hundreds of been responsible for insisting on children and adults standing in rows democracy, demanding the abolition to greet us. It is brutally hot, the most of authoritarian structures, replacing intense of any of our 7 days in the destruction of pseudo democratic Indonesia, but seemingly ignored by methods, and the end to sexism and children and adults. Children, in racism in the treatments of any brilliantly colored headscarfs, run to Indonesian. (Many students have us to shake hands, to stare, to smile. been threatened, tortured, and killed So many are very little ones, by the military but the movement for cautiously walking forward with one justice continues.) Teams of these hand outstretched, a little smile young leaders have come to Ohio covering their faces. University and to the Peace Village to We have come to meet with discuss the ways to strengthen non­ their delightful religious leader, violent approaches to conflicts that Maman Imanulhaq Faqieh, a surround free discussion, resolution of handsome young man who has come disputes through just practices, and to peace programs in Ohio, attended the constructive uses of emotion. peer mediation programs with us in Now, we have returned to our Jakarta, and now, standing in his friends, reconnected, and, thanks to beautiful robes and hat, we are at his the US State Department, have the boarding school. Doing posters with chance to continue our discussions. The Peace Village It became clear that we were holding a historic “interfaith conference” for this school and community. The Imam rose to give us a great welcome, to praise our coming, and to thank us for attending. A large and generous buffet dinner had been prepared for all and we were invited to line up to receive our delicious looking dinner. The heat and jet lag were combining to take away any thought of eating for me but the friendliness of our hosts made it impossible to not join in, dizzy as I was. Standing on line, my new “friend” appeared and started her questions about everything: “Do you like our school? Have you been here before? What is your name?” And so it went, as I moved down the line for food, answered questions coming so rapidly from this jewel, and tried to keep from fainting from the heat. I was so happy to meet her, almost as if we were old friends catching up on my being away, a grandfather that had returned with stories to be shared that could not wait. Our remarks were followed by a presentation of music by the school orchestra and they played the beautiful music of Indonesia. A group of a dozen teenage males came after and presented a spectacular program of magic and daring with broken glass being danced on, knives seemingly so sharp as to cut leaves in front of us but never cutting flesh and other events that seemed out of some distant and dangerous magic show. I rose to find out what these events meant and asked Maman and he stopped the program to say to all, “We are showing that violence in art is all that is permitted.” I gulped as he said this explanation, struggling to grasp all that it might mean to youth and those adults who knew that violence was always right beneath the surface. (Indonesia’s army is famous for its brutality and betrayal of human rights. Also, the separatist movements have acted violently toward army supporters in Aceh and East Timor. Millions killed. Struggles with students had also had a long tradition of violence, with violence being brutally exhibited in the failed coup in 1965 and by the Japanese in their 3 year occupation of Indonesia during World War II.) The smile on Maman’s face acknowledged that teaching about the end of violence was something that he was serious about even if the “lesson” was purposely dramatic to make his point. This “teaching” was for the sake of his school community but it was not misdirected for the adults, especially those of us from a country at war with Islamic peoples. Our Indonesian social worker colleague drove the point home with his comment about the need to explain just why we were at war in Iraq and Afghanistan and, by implication, were we to be at war with all Islamic countries? (Indonesia is concerned about this question not least because it is the largest Moslem nation in the world with more Moslems than the Middle East combined, over 200 million people, and because of recent events of some Christian relief agencies seeking to “adopt” Moslem orphans and place them in a Christian school in Jakarta.) We took pictures, her eyes looking sad for the first time as she looked deeply into me. “Do not forget me, Mister,” she repeated. “I want to see you again.” We laughed, hugged, and walked the path with dozens of children and adults back to our bus, as two old friends. Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and interna­ tional community committed to examining all issues of Peace in the world. Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters-for-Peace which en­ gages people in expressing their visions of Peace, in their own words through the cre­ ation of posters. Kamagasaki: The City Left Behind by Kazuhiro Hieda The largest city of dayworkers in Japan is Kamagasaki, Osaka. While it has lost its primary function as a ‘Yoseba’ (the focal point of job seeking day-workers), after the rupture of the bubble economy nearly 30,000 people still remain in this area. Nearly half of all ‘roughsleepers’ in Osaka have once been day-workers in Kamagasaki, and it is the birthplace of the homeless. Professor Kazuhiro Shima of Osaka City University tells us the story. “The present job openings in Kamagasaki have declined to one third in number, compared to those in 1989 (1.87 million). The numbers of people who receive unemployment insurance benefits have also Page 10 decreased to one third, compared to its peak. Kamagasaki’s day-work labor market, which once underpinned Japan’s steep economic growth, has perhaps completed its mission,” says Mr. Kazuhiro Shima, who first brought attention to the issue of homelessness in Osaka in 1998 by conducting a field survey on the homeless. The district has continued to be his area of field work for many years. Job opportunities in Kamagasaki have decreased, after having reached a peak when the Kansai International Airport was constructed in 1993. Later, however, there was a temporary revitalization of the industry and the area during the reconstruction process following the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in 1995. As a result, workers who could not find jobs left Kamagasaki behind; an estimated 5000-6000 of such workers later became rough sleepers- thereby originating the homeless population, he points out. Mr.Shima says, “You may consider homelessness as something that suddenly occurs to you, like someone living a decent life one day suddenly falling off a ten-storey building. That is not the nature of today’s homeless issues. The truth is people who were excluded from the safety net of the social welfare system managed to work throughout the steep economic growth period; however, they were later pushed out Streetvibes onto the streets when they lost their jobs with the breakdown of the economy.” “According to the national census of 1955, the gender ratio of men to women is about 1:1. The situation drastically changed when the Exposition was held in Osaka in 1970, resulting in a huge demand for a massive labor force necessary for infrastructure construction. As single men poured into the area, the numbers of women and children steeply declined.” Mr. Shima asserts the daywork labor market expanded to respond to urban infrastructure City... cont. next page �Nakuru story and photos by Steven Lansky After driving all day in Kenya we arrive in Nakuru as dusk falls. Peter, our Kikuyu guide, a darkskinned man in a World Safari uniform shirt and chinos, climbs out of the van and disappears into Safari.com to buy cell phone minutes for Mel’s phone. Peter is in his thirties, has worked managing sustainable farmland, and played soccer as a young man until he broke a leg during a scrimmage. He has a shaved head, wide features, with sometimes evasive eyes. Richard, our driver, has pulled up next to an open market that edges out into the wide street in front of a small hotel. Hardscrabble faces take in our arrival below machine and handmade painted storefront signs. Traffic and a crowd of people in all manner of colorful clothing block the road. A preacher speaks through a megaphone across the street in front of what looks like a mosque. As we have parked, a truck blocks our view of this pale blue building where a small crowd appears to be listening. I open the sliding left side door and step down to stretch my legs. (Richard sits in the driver’s seat, on the right side of the Nissan’s cab. He is a very happy man, who takes his work seriously. The day before when we had a flat tire on a City... from page 10 development, and was promoted as part of labor policies at the national level. “Back in those days, Kamagasaki was full of sweat shops, violent recruiters, and illegal work arrangements negotiated by street labor sharks. The local administration established a ‘Center’ so that employment arrangements would be made on a transparent, face-to-face basis, and the dayworkers’ labor trade could then also be monitored by local administration. This also meant that Kamagasaki became an obvious source of manpower for the urban development of Osaka.” Kamagasaki was not the only day-worker’s job market fostered by national labor policy. In Tokyo, workers gathered in Sanya to respond to the infrastructure development demand for the Tokyo Olympics held in 1964, and in Yokohama, Kotobukicho functioned as a labor market of dock workers after the end of World War II in order to handle US military cargo. However, when the economic boost rough dirt road, he changed it in ten minutes, sweat covering his face, and red dust thick on his forearms. In the evening he took the van from our resort hotel where my stone porch faced Mt. Kilimanjaro. He repaired the tire.) Out of the van I reach above my head and clasp hands lightly easing the stiffness in my shoulders and back. At the edge of the roadway, circled against the corner, men and women are seated on stools with piles of potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and purple eggplants stacked in front of them. A woman with an orange head wrap, a thin face, and light brown skin is drinking a steaming cup of kahawa from a white enameled cup. As she sips and grins at me a young vender offers to sell me khaki trousers. I decline. A big man, bigger than I am, with light leather boots, dark blue trousers and a heavy navy parka steps forward. I stand six-two with long gray hair and a beard. My green hemp jacket and nearly round wire-rim spectacles attract a special attention. The sky is cloudy and night will soon be upon us. The big man lifts a small child, wrapped in a blue hooded jacket as a gesture at me. The drone of the man preaching through the megaphone fades as this man sways the chortling child. The child has oval eyes that are not quite symmetrical, he reaches a hand toward me; I return the favor and we clasp hands. Sticky, soft, tiny fingers with a limp grip. The man pulls the child down, as I try to find Peter. The yellow sign of Safari.com is nestled against the far corner opposite the market. Black bicycles and a throng extend to the edge of the road. Peter is not visible. The American women in the van are talking loudly. Mel asks why Peter had to go in for her. I pull the white sliding door almost shut. The big man is a smoky color, his eyes are a bit puffy and he chats in Swahili with the woman who watches, holding her hot cup. The child away, out of sight behind the produce stands; a second child is offered up to me, this one in a pink coat and hood. Her skin is lighter. For a moment I think the man wants to give me the child. He leans closer, smelling of tobacco and beer. As her eyes focus on me she bursts into tears. The man laughs and speaks to the seated venders in Swahili. There is a chorus of laughter. Faces change shape and I am not sure if they are laughing at me. My head buzzes with tension and fear. The American passengers behind me laugh, enjoying this at my expense. The preacher’s voice drones. My hair flows down across my chest. A dark-skinned boy with a small square head and angry brown eyes approaches with an open extended hand. “Give me,” he says. “Uncle, give me.” I shake my head. “Where is your mother?” “My mother she is sick, give me.” I turn sour. “Are you a man?” I ask. “Yes,” with a pout. “What are you doing?” I ask, resentful. “I beg. I am begging.” “I have nothing for you.” An older boy leads a man with a cane. The eyes are closed, twitching above a flat van Gogh nose. The forehead is creased with tenderness. Richard tells me to get in the van, his head angled between the seats. “We have to go.” A truck is pulling toward the van from the other side as I close the sliding door and Richard revs the engine. He backs up to let the truck through. Through the window Peter reappears from the Safari.com shop, strolling through the crowd with presence and purpose. ended and industrial restructuring changed labor demands, these “Yoseba” job markets reached a similar, dim closing. “The day-workers’ issues should be considered in the context of national employment policies, as in the case of the closure of the coal industry. However, because the ‘Yoseba’ day-worker’s labor market was, in principle, not an authorized labor market, it is very unlikely that the issue will be reexamined for official labor measures to be taken,” explains Mr. Shima. Today, as Kamagasaki becomes an aged workers’ city, it has been transformed into a “Social Welfare City.” Nearly one third of the 160 privately owned temporary shelters have been reconfigured into welfare apartments and supportive housing with welfare benefits. Already, over 5000 ex-workers receive these social welfare benefits. It appears Kamagasaki has morphed into an enormous welfare facility. Reprinted from The Big Issue Japan, March 2005. ©Street News Service: www.street-papers.org Streetvibes Page 11 �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Coalition for the Homeless and Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 Streetvibes.... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed Vendors must not tell customers earned. This program has helped for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 30 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $2.00 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for free, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 70 cents Printing and Production: 30 cents Page 12 The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Streetvibes Trying to be a first-rate reporter on the average American newspaper is like trying to play Bach’s St. Matthew Passion on a ukulele: The instrument is too crude for the work, for the audience and for the performer. Ben Bagdikian In those days, most people read newspapers, whereas today, most people do not. What caused this change? One big factor, of course, is that people are a lot stupider than they used to be, although we here in the newspaper industry would never say so in print. Dave Barry I am unable to understand how a man of honor could take a newspaper in his hands without a shudder of disgust. Charles Baudelaire �Safe and Stable Families Have Health Care by Lynn Williams, Ohio Empowerment Coalition, West Ohio Organizer Ohio Empowerment Coalition and the Ohio Family Coverage Coalition held a joint press conference Wednesday, April 6, to draw public attention to the severe impact of the health care cuts proposed by the Governor. The press conference was part of the Ohio Empowerment Coalition’s Legislative Day at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Downtown Columbus. Individuals who will be hurt by these cuts if passed were the majority of speakers. Ohio Empowerment Coalition leaders along with Family Coverage Coalition spokespersons urged the State Legislature & Governor to restore: Parent Coverage to working parents at 100% of Federal Poverty Level and higher; Disability Medical Assistance (DMA) to Ohio’s poorest adults who are medication dependent; dental and vision care to 800,000 adults on Medicaid. “Don’t balance Ohio’s budget on the backs of the poor” urged Contact Center and Cincinnati Welfare Rights organizer Cassandra Barham-Denton. “Health care for the poor is not a playing card to use; human lives are at stake here. We want our families to be “Safe and Stable. That means having health care.” Elen McKee of Cincinnati was one of the speakers. “I am here today to ask you not to cut vision and dental care from Medicaid. I am on Social Security Disability, and one of my many disabilities is diabetes. Due to this condition, I run a higher risk of macular degeneration and at the moment I am in the very early stages of cataracts. I desperately need vision care,” she said. “Due to the very restrictive limitations of my Shutter Speed budget, I cannot afford to pay for vision and dental care myself. My medications to keep me alive and healthy cost more than my monthly check.” Along with DMA and dental and vision care for adults on Medicaid, low-wage working parents are also slated to take a cut in health care. “Cutting Medicaid for lowwage working parents is Pennywise and Pound Foolish. Low-wage parents need health care to work and to raise healthy children. Eliminating their coverage will come back to bite struggling parents, their kids, their employers, their health providers and Ohio taxpayers,” stated Cathy Levine, co-chair of the Family Coverage Coalition and Executive Director of UHCAN OHIO. Afterwards, OEC members from Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Blanchester and the Athens area met with approximately twenty state representatives to share personal stories of how health care had helped their families on the path to becoming safe and stable. The Ohio Empowerment Coalition is a statewide coalition of low-income people who work collaboratively to bring about economic and social justice through public policy. The annual Mobilization Day brought together low-income people and advocates to educate ourselves and mobilize for action to impact Ohio’s policies of deep concern to our families. The Family Coverage Coalition is a statewide coalition of advocates, health care providers, and concerned citizens. For more information on how you can get involved in stopping the health care cuts in Ohio, please call the Ohio Empowerment Coalition at 877-862-5179. by Jimmy Heath Worn Stereotype Tokenism does not change stereotypes of social systems but works to preserve them, since it dulls the revolutionary impulse - Mary Daly Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful - Margaret Mead FACTS ABOUT LIFE ON TV If being chased through town, you can usually take cover in a passing St. Patrick’s Day parade - at any time of the year. All grocery shopping bags contain at least one stick of French bread. The ventilation system of any building is a perfect hiding place and leads to any location in the building, including the safe. No one will ever think of looking for you in there. The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window of any building in Paris. A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds afterwards. This generally leads to a sex scene. When paying for a taxi, just grab a note from your pocket and hand it over. It will always be the exact fare. AnyAmerican movie will contain a car chase, unless it was made by Walt Disney. Cars and trucks that crash will always burst into flames after they have come to a standstill and the hero is running away from it at 5 to 10 meters distance. A single match will be sufficient to light up a room the size of a football stadium. If a killer is lurking in your house, it’s easy to find him. Just relax and run a bath - even if it’s the middle of the afternoon. Medieval peasants had perfect teeth, were well-fed, wore clean clothes and make-up. Although in the 20th century it is possible to fire weapons at an object out of visual range, people of the 23rd century will have lost this technology. Even when driving down a completely straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments. Similarly, when driving a curvy road, the slightest movement of the steering wheel will do the job. One man shooting at 20 men has a better chance of killing them all than 20 men firing at one. Creepy music coming from a graveyard should always be closely investigated. “Don “Don’’t Leave Home W ithout IIt...” t...” If a phone line is broken, communication can be restored by frantically beating the cradle and saying, “Hello? Hello?” Dogs always know who’s bad and will naturally bark at them. Streetvibes Page 13 �Today Life by Ron O’Neal by Ron O’Neal Today I can honestly say that I’m glad to be alive. But recently I’ve been through Hell, and that’s no jive. Today I believe you only get out of life what you put into it. Really, life is just life, we have no choice but to get down to it. Today I’m feeling good about myself, So now I need to learn how to feel for someone else. I know it’s not going to be easy to stay in this frame of mind, But I do know it gets easier with time. So when things aren’t going your way, I suggest you hit your knees and pray. Today it’s time to give back what was so freely given to me. I can do that by becoming all I can be. Today I’m becoming the man He created me to BE! My life has taken on a new meaning. I am doing the right thing for the right reason. I now know that in order for something to grow You must feed it. I’m writing about how I feel Because I need it. I need fellowship in life, Much like a husband needs his wife. It keeps me from feeling alone. it gives me the sense that I belong. Once I felt that I had it made And my relapse was the price I paid. God gave me a gift, but not just for myself. It was to be of service to someone else. I pray for the strength to become all I can be, But I know deep inside, it’s not just for me. So if you feel the same as I do, Be careful that you share the gifts God has given you. Relapse by Ron O’Neal I was doing so well As far as I could tell. I thought I was doing all I could do, And that’s when life shows up for you. Sometimes I feel like a fool Because it’s my fault for not using my tools. All I know is, I’ll never forget How close I was to turning my life into s**t I know deep down inside That it was a blow to my pride. I really know what I have to do Because I can’t save my ass and my face too. I’m only glad it didn’t last too long. I’m so grateful to be back where I belong. The N.A. fellowship is the best thing for me. It’s my only chance to really be free. My family is uppermost in my mind I refuse to take them through this s**t one more time. My life is back on track. I’m just thankful to sever my bout with crack! His Sacrifice by Abby Grimm Dust and grime coat his lungs as the poor man heaves and coughs HE is told by the soldiers to carry his cross She falls to the ground and feels the sting of his fist HE is greeted by his mother’s lonely kiss Whiskey stirs the room, they spin out of control HE carries his cross, now alone The young man ran the streets, he was told to sell crack HE feels the soldiers whips in his back They sleep on the streets, in the winter catch flu. Page 14 We’re Not Alone by Robert Manassa Sometimes when the going gets tough Even when the road is rough Don’t forget there’s one who’s bigger than you and I He’ll fight our battle from on high We’re not alone When we’ve prayed and prayed all night long When it seems that all hope is gone Remember that there’s one with a mighty hand Cast your burdens upon him ‘because he’ll understand We’re not alone When things don’t come your way Pray a prayer, ask God for the things to say Have faith in everything you do This poem I’ve just written, all the words are true We’re not alone Love by Ron O’Neal Love is what a mother feels for her child. How she is so willing to go that extra mile. I’m learning how to love myself And Maybe I’ll be able to love someone else. Some people love to eat. Others would love nothing better than buying new shoes all week. Love is my family being there through thick and thin. Helping me to fight the fight until I win. I love to write. It helps me from staying up all night. My life has been going through all kinds of s**t But I’ll be damned if I’ll quit. I love my friends for never leaving my side, For hanging on to me for this crazy ride, And for never letting go. No matter what they never said, “no.” God puts people in your life for a reason, Not just for the season. Love can make you sad, But there’s still no reason to stay mad. I love my life today. I can only keep what I have by giving it away. May God bless you – And learn how to pray Streetvibes �The War Within To My Beloved Brother by Brian Garry War Against the Poor, The war within me The war on my inside The war rages on. Flames against the sky Yeah I’m Inflammatory I’m Hot, Hot Boy, Hot Head Yes I’m inflamed, incensed, engulfed with the flames the fire of Justice, The burning flame of Freedom pours from belly. passion compassion – to suffer with Feel the heat, it’s getting warm in here Fan the flames My guts metaphorically strewn all over the cityscapes – Some by the police, Rattle the cage Answer the door with lead. Blood visceral This is my block fighting over the block Bush wants to sell the dope on this block But I’m takin’ the block back, my block Black Block We the entrepreneurs, selling, freedom, Marketing Democracy, Peddling Justice, Liberation, Capitalism All by methods of brainwashing and mind control Democratic lullabies, bedtime stories Lulling us to sleep at night brought to us live by corporate media Whose purpose is only thought distortion, mental transfixiation to cause us to vote bush in the next election GW wants us to be perfect little American puppets, awaiting the teacher to come and teach us What is life? Life is bad be afraid here is your gas mask terrorists are everywhere. We will fly around the earth orbitin’ while you all blow yourselves up with weapons we created. Democratic lullabies sung to Saluting the flag that we burn I got dynamite in my pocket A tank rolling over my chest You got the gasoline The wick sticks out of my heart Can’t breathe. My greatest weapon is acting from my core my center. love The War Within My words, my weapon,- a double edge sword The Babylon beast,- a open legged whore The war inside me. The hungry Lion The DMZ. Over-the-Rhine is Palestine. BG, Baby Gansgta The war rages on. Battle lines drawn. Damn. Not again. Here comes the flood. The little dutch boy pulled the plug and Hitler’s army has drowned in the sands. The tanks can’t move. I’ve been so guilty of … I’m here to eliminate you, I mean liberate you and your weapons of mass destruction and create for you a puppy government I need comfort There are two wolves, which will I feed? Speak to me. Calm me down cool my heels, sooth me, U the balm for my soul Shut me down . . Save it for the ring killer. Pull my chain Speak to me. by Jesse James Dear Diary, it’s me. How sad I know I’m mad. But what can I do, except maybe enjoy these blues Through your Pen I see your heart, az the Ink Bleedz across the Paper, you show me through your eyez that are not my own but sacred, and a mind complex’d in ways I may not understand, you share a piece of you az I learn who you are and how you feel to be a man. From the wonderland to the sad misshapz in life you do reveal, as I walk through your front door and enter into your real, Now az I see you in your Happy room, I smell your motherz cookin’ in the air the aroma loomz, I see where you’ve come from though I’ve never left my seat, and I feel the pain of growing up missing thingz that make you so complete, I know not the namez of family or facez you hold so dear, but I feel love for them through you and how you may long to hold them near, You put your soul on Paper about how you love your sisterz and your Motherz, to how you’ve been abused to wrestling with your Brotherz, from the argumentz and Pain and enduring Parentz Fightz, I want to pray and tell you everything will be alright, and say you’ve tried enuf my brother Joy comez in the mornin’ so tuck your tearz in good night, Cuz Through your Pen I see your heart az the Ink Bleedz across the Paper, You show me through your eyez that are not my own but sacred… (This waz written during a Menz group creative writing session) Mozez. On the Run by Jesse James Another day, another dollar? I hope so. I thought I’d try to give a holler to ya’ll. My first story is dedicated to the River Rats. You have to really be one to know one. I met my first one in Covington, Kentucky about 4 years ago. That’s when I became homeless. Folks called their little community the “Ponderosa.” It was an exclusive club. Some may have called it a hobo village. But we all had one thing in common; we loved living on that river. Well, my old girl, the river, took one home this year – ol’ Joe. We used to call him the mayor of the Ponderosa cuz when I first got down 4 years ago he had already been on that river around 13 years or better. Winter, summer, he did it all on the river. That’s a long time. I would dare you to try one night on the river when it’s 10 degrees. It’s nasty. Joe and I became friends and he was a good friend. I’m gonna’ miss you, brother. Well, they found ol’ Joe, down on the river on a very cold morning. I walked by the spot and his cigarettes and bottle were still there. He lived on the river -he died on the river. I’m glad he died at home. All we are is dust, while we are here, we fight over dust - to become dust Streetvibes Bells and Whistles Through the hazy, fog-wisped smalltown air of my schoolday morning I hear the bells for Mass at Holy Angels and the low, asthmatic whistles of the factories near the poisoned river. My mother makes breakfast and I dress for school, but I know that men in gray work clothes will now swing lunch buckets off kitchen counters painted white. My father is gone two hours already to his window at the Post Office, but my uncle is among these men and my neighbors and the fathers of my friends. Across town and around the corner and in the next street over and in the slate-sided houses of Buckeye Terrace, men with gray knuckles clothes that smell of tobacco and machine oil and hearts thickening in their chests leave, under the call of the whistles, for Liberty Folder, LeRoy, Mack and the river-fouling tannery and the nameless foundries where my grandfather caught the red of his lungs. They do not complain. It is not in them to complain. A word to the wife a word to the kids an ear to the great solemn bells toiling in the catholic steeple and out the door and into the chill, fog-dark, bell-bespoken whistle-haunted streets to the places where they make their living and their death. Page 15 �357-4602 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 May 2005 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Page 1 Controversial Anti-Drug Barrier Removed Casualties of War cover story BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY STREETVIBES $1 Donation � 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 2005 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 May 2005 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Drug Dealing Prevention Barrier Taken Down in OTR Pg 2: Update with Ernie Hubbell The Cost of War Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: Vendors Pg 5: Street Life U.S. Income Gap Among Worst of Wealthy Nations Pg 6: Program Important in Aiding Senior Citizens Pg 7: We Wear the Mask Upholding the Law Pg 8: Drop Inn Center Pg 9: People of Faith, People of Conscience Protesting Budget Cuts Pg 10: The Peace Village Pg 11: Nakuru City Continued Pg 12: Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes… Pg 13: Safe and Stable Families Have Health Care Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2005 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Alison Leeuw Andy Erickson Rachel Lawson Kate McManus Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Steve Lansky Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alison Leeuw Andy Erickson Budget Cuts Drop Inn Center Drug Dealing Prevention Ernie Hubbell Georgine Getty Grants health care Homeless Woman Jimmy Heath Kamagasaki Kate McManus Mary Gaffney Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Nakuru Over-the-Rhine Peace Village Rachel Lawson Senior Citizens Steve Lansky Street Life War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/42f675f174bef0a932d330a920af275a.pdf f2c165457ae2b90a6fa3bdd1755ca056 PDF Text Text May 2007 STREETVIBES Cover Story - Homeless Individuals and the Justice System by Lynne Ausman The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless conducted research regarding homeless individuals, the crimes they are charged with, and the severity of the offenses. All public records for October 1, 2005 through October 31, 2006 were obtained and cross referenced with prior public records. The results were shocking. The Hamilton County Jails have a revolving door for homeless individuals. They enter homeless, they exit homeless. This constant cycle creates barriers for homeless individuals in obtaining housing, entering substance abuse treatment, treatment for physical illness or mental illness, finding permanent employment, and accessing other services. Our focus group is comprised of 53 individuals who had given a “homeless address” and had been arrested five or more times between October 1, 2005 and October 31, 2006. A “homeless address” is any address which was provided as a home address during the time of arrest and is the address of a social service agency which provides services to homeless individuals. We determined that these 53 individuals were more likely to be chronically homeless than other individuals who gave a “homeless address.” There were 792 charges against the focus group. Chronic homelessness is defined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as “an unaccompanied individual with a disabling condition that has been homeless for more than a year or has had more than four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.” The average number of times each individual in the focus group had Graph 1: Percentage of Time a Homeless Address Was Given Graph : 2 Classification of Charges of Homeless individuals MM = Minor Misdemeanor M = Misdemeanor F = Felony Numbers indicate degree been arrested is 12. The number of times arrested ranges from 6 to 43 times in the thirteen month time frame. Those who did not give a homeless address every time they were arrested may not have been homeless at the time of that arrest or they may have provided the address of a friend or relative. However, the fact that almost 60% of these individuals gave a homeless address 80% of the time. This more clearly implies that these individuals are most likely to be homeless, formerly homeless, or at a high risk of becoming homeless. 34% of those in the focus group provided a homeless address every time they were arrested or 100% of the time. Please see Graph 1. Homeless individuals commit a large range of crimes. While sometimes these are serious crimes, the vast majority of the crimes committed are low level, non-violent crimes. Over 75% of all of the charges against the 53 individuals in our focus group were between a minor misdemeanor and a fourth degree misdemeanor. Less than 2% of the charges were felonies. Many of these crimes are quality of life crimes and are only committed as a result of being homeless. These crimes include public indecency or public urination, being in a park after hours, having alcohol in a park, open containers, loitering, spitting in a public place, sitting on the sidewalk, and improper solicitation. This is sometimes called the criminalization of the homeless. Please see Graph 2. Many homeless individuals are arrested during the warmer summer months, when they are most likely outside and therefore more likely to be caught by police. Also, JUSTICE Cont. on page 2 So-called “urban pioneers” reinvent the face of Cincinnati by Jason Haap, Guest Columnist Most of Cincinnati knows nothing about the silent campaign mounted by our City’s power brokers — the media moguls, real estate hawks, Blue Chip VIPs, and the politicians their money buys. And because most people don’t know, certain facts remain marginalized — like how Margaret Buchanan (Executive Editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer) sits on the board of 3CDC (a private corporation that has replaced the City’s planning department with for-profit gentrification). So the lap-dog media drools at the ringing of their own bells, marketing a new vision of Cincinnati that happens to include no place for the poor, the homeless, the downtrodden — anything that might shake the consumer dream-world of a suburbanized target audience. The Corporate Landscape Consider the new jumbotron at Fountain Square. On most days, it plays cable — complete with commercial advertisements and audio accompaniment blasting through the plaza. Television is America’s quintessential escape from reality. Visitors to the renovated Square — surrounded by new paint, new plaza stones, and even a new facade to the 5/3 building — can now find escape right on Fountain Square’s jumbotron, watching advertisements for Crest White Strips, tight jeans at The GAP, and vanity packages for The Tanning Hut. This is the new center-city style, without having to pay attention to the plight of urban life. 3CDC has slowly purchased all roads to Cincinnati — at least the main thoroughfares through OTR. Systematically, buildings get new paint and new windows. Many are still empty — just think of those near Findlay Market — but they look fresh and new. This is all part of the unreality campaign brought to us by the City’s power brokers. Last year, for example, $2.6 million got channeled to 3CDC from a fund that would otherwise be used to pave the streets. If you feel annoyed by potholes this spring, thank 3CDC. And if you have wondered about the City’s budget priorities, you probably just thought about whether the City could afford to subsidize human services. No one talked about whether we should continue subsidizing corporate welfare. When 3CDC buys occupied buildings under the condition that owners evict residents before the sale, the displacement happens mostly under cover. There are no news reports. Throw some paint on a building, and make a carpet of flowers at Fountain Square — suddenly Margaret Buchanan’s Enquirer has the exclusive story, and the politicians stump speech during re-election campaigns about how much progress the City has made. But progress, in this context, means doing whatever possible to make sure the target audience (and their suburban spending dollars) does not have to experience the discomfort of seeing poverty. Pioneers Cont. on page 3 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �Streetvibes Streetvibes, the Tri­ State’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice, and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other low-income people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director John Lavelle - Administrative Coordinator Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Matt Cohen - AHA Staff Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design, with Andy Freeze and Georgine Getty Photographers Jimmy Heath, John Lavelle, Georgine Getty Cover Homeless person being arrested by Cincinnati Police Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $25 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Page 2 JUSTICE Cont. from page 1 when homeless individuals are more visible, the public is more likely to complain to police. Please see Graph 3. Constantly arresting homeless individuals for quality of life crimes is a huge cost burden for the county to bear. This is especially true when there are other more cost effective, proven successful alternatives available within the community. It costs $65 per bed per day in the jail. The Lewin Group conducted their own study titled “Costs of Serving Homeless Individuals in Nine Cities.” Columbus, Ohio, was one of those cities. In Columbus, Ohio, it costs $70 per bed per day in jail and just over $30 a day for supportive housing. Supportive housing is not transitional and is not emergency shelter. It is permanent and the residents are eligible to continue working with case workers and for various services including substance abuse and mental health treatment. If Hamilton County had housed each of the individuals in our A Place to Call Home? by Lynne Ausman Ask the average American how many nights they spent in jail in the last year. Chances are that they will say that they have never been arrested. Ask a homeless individual how many days they spent in jail in the last year and you are likely to get a completely different answer. For some, the number of nights that they spent in jail during a year could top 200 days. The average American would consider this to mean that homeless individuals are some of the worst offenders in the country – that they commit crimes so heinous and terrible that they warrant days or months of incarceration at a time. That homeless individuals are violent, unstable, and a threat to society – they are the strangers that parents warn their children about. Most crimes committed by homeless individuals are minor misdemeanors or fourth degree misdemeanors, punishable by maximum of a $100 fine or thirty days in jail, respectively. These crimes include: possession of an open container, public urination, loitering, disorderly conduct, improper solicitation, and sitting on the sidewalk – yes, SITTING on the sidewalk. Another absurd crime found in the records request: Spitting in a public place. Now, spitting might be a gross habit, but seriously, does it warrant a $100 fine? $100 might be a small amount to some. To the solid middle class, it’s a night out to dinner with the family, or maybe a trip to an amusement park. The average American would say, “Just pay the fine; I can live without the trip to the amusement park. Just pay the fine, and the case is settled.” But to a homeless individual, $100 is a fortune. $100 means a good meal, a new pair of pants, clean socks, bus fair to see family, and a hair cut, or in the winter – a coat. $100 to a homeless family means a night off the streets in a hotel room or maybe the rest of a deposit on an apartment. Last time I checked, any person over the age of 21 was allowed to enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Housed individuals enjoy their beverage on their front porch or in their living room. Homeless individuals enjoy their beverage on their front porch too – except their front porch is the park bench in Washington Park. They enjoy their beverage in their living room – except their living room is the tent by the river. It is my first amendment right to ask another person a question or to voice my opinion in public. What difference does it make if I am asking for a dollar or for a cigarette, or asking what time it is or making small talk about the weather at the bus stop? Streetvibes focus group to the maximum extent of the law, they easily could have spent over $4.2 million alone. The average cost per person in our focus group is $35,100. The range of cost is between $1,950 and $538,850. The individual who potentially cost the county $538,850 had 42 charges against him – all but nine were misdemeanors and the nine felony counts were non-violent. Another individual could have cost the county over forty thousand dollars in thirteen months. He had thirty-eight charges against him, gave a homeless address one hundred percent of the time, and his most severe charges were public indecency and improper solicitation – both fourth degree misdemeanors. His other charges included possession of an open flask, and disorderly conduct. For more information about this research please contact Lynne at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless via e-mail at lynneausman@yahoo.com or phone at 513-421-7803 x11. No wonder people use the justice center as their address when being arrested and cited. Some days, for a homeless individual, the justice center is home. Not by choice, but by necessity. No, they do not commit crimes to get the famous “three hots and a cot.” They commit crimes because they have no choice. It’s a crime for an adult to enjoy an alcoholic beverage with friends. It’s a crime to camp by the river. It’s a crime to ask for assistance on the street. It’s a crime to sit on the sidewalk. It’s a crime to not have a toilet to pee in. It’s a crime to be poor. It’s a crime to be homeless. Maybe we shouldn’t spend money on a new jail. Maybe we should provide homeless individuals with continued supportive services and housing. Maybe we should stop arresting them and start dealing with their addictions and mental illness. Maybe we should let them enjoy their front porch, aka Washington Park, with their friends. Maybe we should let them enjoy the same first amendment rights we enjoy. Maybe we should put port-a­ potties on the street corners and in the ally – there are port-a-potties on street corners during the Bengals’ and the Reds’ seasons for the drunken fans stumbling back to their cars to drive back to their homes. Maybe we should designate public space (like Fountain Square for example) where it is okay to loiter. Too bad you need $1 million in liability insurance to enjoy Fountain Square. �Pioneers Cont. from page 1 Panhandling is not always aggressive; sometimes, it is just too frustrating to rationalize a four dollar Starbucks cappuccino when someone is shaking a styrofoam cup for quarters. But who wants to sacrifice a caffeine fix to help the poor? It is easier to blame the victims of a system corrupted. The Politics When The Charter Party was founded, it was designed to prevent undue corporate influence on the City’s political process. But take a look at their emerging face. In 2005, creative class candidate and Charterite Nick Spencer said that, if elected, he would use eminent domain to close the Mary Magdalene House because it promoted aggressive panhandling. In reality, the place offers showers, a washing machine, and maybe a sandwich while waiting to get cleaned up. Spencer was not elected, but fellow Charterite Chris Bortz was. Chris Bortz’s father sits on the board for 3CDC, and his family owns Towne Properties. After emerging as part of the so-called “Fiscal Five” (known as “The Fascist Five” by critics), Bortz pushed to slash human service funding from the budget. More recently, he mounted a campaign to improve the City’s “curb appeal” by getting rid of bench advertisements and replacing all busstop benches with nicer permanent seating that has no advertising. Whether you agree with an enhanced curb appeal for the City is irrelevant. Somehow, our politicians continually threaten the funding of health clinics, and swimming pools, and anything that exists for the benefit of the poor. This is done under the banner of fiscal responsibility. But when it comes to channeling $2.6 million of street paving funds to a private real estate development corporation, or when it comes to spending thousands of dollars on benches to increase curb appeal, one must wonder at the real motives. It seems the burden of “fiscal responsibility” gets whipped squarely on the backs of the poor. Prediction: Watch which neighborhoods get enhanced and improved benches first. My money says they’ll appear near the homes, businesses, and real estate interests of campaign contributors before they show up anywhere else. (After all, the proverbial fat-cat needs someplace to plant his proverbial fat backside.) Business as Usual In the emerging new face of a corporatized (read “sanitized”) OTR and downtown, 3CDC’s real estate development is designed to maximize profits for their business partners. 5/3rd has representation on the 3CDC board, for example. 3CDC holds traditional mortgages on their development through 5/3 Bank (funded through diverted revenue streams that used to belong to the City). So the new Fountain Square — which has placed the Genius of Water right in front of a 5/3 building — is a real estate investment sponsored, in part, by 5/3 interests on the 3CDC board. 5/3 gets interest off the deal, and the redeveloped Square benefits its corporate headquarters. Over-the-Rhine These kinds of power brokers are the big money contributors to the campaigns of politicians like Jeff Berding and Chris Bortz — leaders of the Fascist Five, against services for the poor but in support of big corporate pay-outs to gentrify the City for the sake of their friends. Try to criticize, and they will use the rhetoric of reform to marginalize you — saying we need to think “out of the box,” otherwise we just support the “status quo.” What they forget (or more likely, what they want you not to realize) is that there are several options when thinking about change — and that change, in and of itself, is not always an improvement over the status quo. If we let them continue, unchecked, in their radical approach to changing our City according to the corporate agenda, what will happen? Mostly white people will inhabit the City, bringing night-life, entertainment, and employment for mostly white people. Perhaps the City will gain rehabbed buildings, upscale housing, and expensive restaurants around every corner. (Why is Jean Roberts focusing on OTR anyway? Did 3CDC line his pockets with some cash?) As these so-called “urban pioneers” reinvent the face of the City, we must remember how the pioneers before them reinvented the face of America. Now that it is too late, many people recognize how our ethnic cleansing of Native Americans was immoral and unjust. We might not be killing the poor and the black per se, but Cincinnati’s modern trail of tears follows everyone on their own personal journey to someplace else. Cincinnati wants the poor to become someone else’s problem. Jason Haap is a media activist, and the publisher of The Cincinnati Beacon (www.cincinnatibeacon.com). He writes under the name “The Dean of Cincinnati.” Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Firecats Review Chameleon: I like their commercials. They’re good for a chortle or two. Blue: I don’t boycott – just make individual choices. I have no set Firecat Blue: Let’s review boycotts. boycotts, just the way I live my life Firecat Chameleon: I’m boycotting and avoid that which doesn’t appeal boycotts. to me. Blue: I boycott Walmart. Chameleon: In that case, I’m Firecat Beige: I boycott it, too. boycotting SteinMart. Chameleon: If you boycott Walmart, Silver: I boycott all chocolate that’s where will you buy cheap crap while not fair trade. eating McDonalds? Blue: You do not! Blue: Target. Silver: Yes, I do. Beige: I boycott it because of the Blue: So you don’t eat Hershey? giant sea of asphalt. Silver: Oh, I was kidding. Silver: I like Meijer. Beige: Well, you should. You’re Blue: They’re good – they’re union. doing a good thing and the chocolate’s better. Hershey is going gourmet now. Firecat Review: Boycotts Blue: What do you boycott, Anti- Cat? Anti-Cat: Firecat reviews. Blue: I boycott Bob Evans. Chameleon: Why? Silver: As of Friday, my father can get a Golden Buckeye card. Blue: Bob Evans supports WLW. I hate WLW. Chameleon: I boycott Cracker Barrel – they were really bad on gay issues. Blue: Wendy’s, too. Beige: You should boycott Wendy’s because they’re terrible. Silver: Target won’t support any military charities. (awkward silence) Beige: Does that make them a corporate sponsor of terror? Blue: I boycott all-you-can-eat buffets – they’re just a salute to waste. They’re just wrong. Beige and Chameleon: Gluttony! Streetvibes Blue: Except CC’s Pizza. Sometimes I eat there. (another awkward silence) Blue: I boycott 1-800-FLOWERS. They support promise keepers. It’s like you abuse your wife and then give her flowers. Chameleon: Chick-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby are uber-Christian. I boycott them on Sundays… ‘cause they’re not open… Silver: Walmart was closed on Easter. Beige: I feel bad for the people who have to work on Christmas. Blue: At Waffle House they’re mandated a 12 hour shift on Christmas. Beige: I feel like Waffle House kills any hope for small local diners. Silver: Crap! We have a meeting in 5 minutes and I haven’t eaten lunch yet? Beige: Are you boycotting lunch? Page 3 �Cincinnati Shelter helps homeless vets find hope by Dan Yount ­ Reprinted with permission from The Cincinnati Herald It is difficult to sense from the smiling faces and the levity of conversation among the men at Joseph House in Over-the-Rhine that these men recently led devastated lives. Joseph House is a campus of seven buildings in downtown Cincinnati where 76 homeless veterans reside in a safe, supportive, abstinence-based recovery environment. “This is the first time I’ve felt real hope in my life,’’said James, who started drinking at age 4 and battled alcoholism throughout his life. He’s been sober for 22 months. “Alcohol and drugs deaden your feelings,’’ he continued. “But these people here put you in touch with your feelings again. Some of us even cry at the movies as we discover our real feelings again.’’ Joseph House operates two programs to meet its resident’s needs: The Captain Robert S. Marx Veterans Recovery Center, which is certified by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, and the Ready & Forward program, which provides permanent housing and services for veterans with a need for long-term support. “We are very proud of our success rate,’’ said William Malone, the executive director who retired after a career in the U.S. Navy. “We started 2006 with 75 residents, and 29 of those men are still on board. Of the 46 who left our program, 42 of them completed 90 days or more of staying clean and sober. Eight of these men had stayed with us more than two years, 10 more than a year, and 15 more than six months.’’ Of the four men who left before completing 90 days, two went to impatient care at the VA Hospital, and two were discharged due to relapses, he said. Since April 2002, Joseph House has accepted about 450 homeless veterans into its programs. About 70 percent of those men stayed clean and sober for more than 90 days, reaching a point where they can continue to rid themselves of substance abuse, Malone said. (The standard for many treatment facilities is just 28 days, he noted.) ‘Sick and tired of being high’ One resident - Harvey - said he was on the streets for three years before he decided to walk into the shelter. “I was sick and tired of being high,’’ he said. “They gave me immediate help. Now, even my family is proud of me.’’ The average length of stay for those who have reached the 90-day sobriety mark has been 10 months. More than 90 percent of those who stay for more than a year begin to Page 4 achieve economic stability through regular employment and leave to reside in permanent housing, well on their way to leading responsible and productive lives again, Malone said. Some residents remain in the agency’s housing for more than a year, and one man has been there almost seven years. “Residents may stay in the transitional housing as long as they need to become economically stable and solid in their recovery,’’ Malone said. The men leave on their own terms, he said. Another resident - Glennie ­ called the treatment he has received “reality therapy.’’ He said, “We’ve been in a state of denial, and we needed someone to tell us in a pointed way what we have been dealing with. The staff does not pull any punches. They get in your face.’’ Joseph House has met Better Business Bureau, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and state inspection and certification standards, Malone said. The agency operates with a $1 million budget, with 70 percent of the financial support from VA and HUD. Residents contribute about 10 percent, and 20 percent comes from the George B. Riley Trust, the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust, the Vietnam Veterans Buckeye Foundations, AMVETS Post 12, V.F.W. Posts 9094 and 1079, and more than 50 other veterans service organizations. The clinical staff includes five full-time and two part-time licensed counselors, and three full-time and one part-time staff members who support the clinical program’s 24­ hour operations. Four full-time staff members handle administrative and maintenance work. Ret. U.S. Army Gen. Colin Powell visited the shelter in May 2005 and praised the work that is being done there to help homeless veterans. Shelters in Over-the-Rhine The clinical offices and Half Way House are at 1522-26 Republic St. Transitional and permanent residents reside at 1530 Republic, 1207 Elm St., 1519 Vine St., and 1440 Pleasant St., all in Over-The- Rhine. The buildings are named after local military heroes, including 1st Sgt. Powhattan Beaty, a Black Civil War hero; Capt. Robert S. Marx, a World War I officer; Sgt. Maj. Thomas Hawkins, a Black Civil War hero, and 1st Sgt. Thomas Shaw, a Black Civil War hero who served 20 years with the famed Black Buffalo Soldiers. Joseph House was started in 1994 by offering counseling to veterans living on the streets. The agency began offering housing to five homeless veterans in 1995. Today, Joseph House operates a 30-bed Halfway House Program and an Outpatient Program. In addition, 46 beds of transitional and permanent housing are offered. “Veterans can reside on our campus for as long as they need,’’ Malone said. “We require only that they comply with out rules, seek economic stability through employment, and make progress in their recovery.’’ Calvin Wooten, associate director and treatment coordinator at Joseph House, said, “We focus solely on recovery issues in the Halfway House, using the standard 12 step addiction recovery program. We begin dealing with whatever issues the new resident has, be it medical care, mental heath care, or other problems.’’ Once progress has been made, the resident then moves to one of the transitional homes where he begins seeking employment or enrolls in a trade school or college program, he said. Eventually, the men are able to function on their own and rent an apartment or go back with their Streetvibes families, he said. “About 15 percent of those who leave Joseph House return for a ‘tune up’ because substance addiction is a very powerful disease,’’he said. “They have also experienced the lasting trauma resulting from being homeless, and, although alcohol and drug addictions are treatable, they are not curable.’’ Some of the men continue to stay on at the shelter after they have recovered due to the comfortable relationships they have formed there, Wooten said. “These guys become their family, and they stay on to help the new guys coming through the door,’’he said. “It helps to give away what you have received in order to nurture it.’’ Wooten, a former retail sales manager, also went through a similar program and decided to become a counselor and help the new men coming into it. About one-third of the residents of Joseph House are Vietnam veterans. For veterans from the war in Iraq it usually takes from 10 to 12 years before addictions resulting from wartime or other trauma begin destroying lives, Malone said. Wartime trauma is an important cause of homelessness, Malone said. About one-third of all men who are homeless are veterans, but only 14 percent of the adult population is veterans, he said. Some of the residents have trauma from their childhoods that pop up to haunt them in later years, he added. Some of the men deal with a combination of issues, including childhood abuse and abandonment, combat trauma, a bi-polar mental condition, and depression, he said. Joseph House Cont. on page 7 �and women in jails, homeless handle. And what good could she shelters, in ghettos, barrios, have done him? Little or none, as reservations, trailer parks, up I later found out. When there is mountain hollows, or down nothing you can do, you do the shards of broken glass. narrow, silent alleys? nothing. To attempt to do more But at least today there is They have their dignity than that might only to make it light along the alley. What I too. It is one of the great worse. remember of it is darkness, even mysteries, and one of the great And this distressed me in the blazing summer day. The replenishing truths, that it is even more: this apparent moral alley was narrow; the buildings nearly impossible to extinguish were three and four stories tall so numbness of the woman (and of entirely the human drive for myself) What of the children who that, with the looming balconies dignity. Its terms may be twisted, see such a thing? What if he dies and the overhanging eaves and its preservation obscure; it may right now? The more I thought, cupolas and the narrow slot left lay long dormant; you may drive for daylight to fall through, Yukon the harder it was to move. it far down. But it is virtually The woman in the alley was dark as a narrow mountain impossible to utterly stamp it out. broke me from my enchantment. hollow, if a mountain hollow But it seems to me that, I went on to my errand, and over baked with the heat of asphalt when poverty joins addiction, we the years, to many other errands. and smelled of urine and diesel have something which puts I went on to meet many people in fume. I remember that it was dignity particularly at risk, that community and other silent once I entered the alley. something which assaults the communities No sound of buses, human spirit with an intensity afflicted with no voices, no which neither poverty nor poverty. Of these, rumble of cars. No addiction can muster alone. A many, indeed the threats. No music. majority, have been man lays in a gutter for the world No banter. The to see him in his shame. Would it people who faced darkness, the happen in a more prosperous hardship with narrowness, and community? Would the world responsibility, the silence around him be so powerless? humor, and faith, oppressed me, but We all know the answers who presented to I do not know that me models for how to these questions. But the other I hesitated as I question, for which I have no a person might live entered. I have answer, is this: Did the deadly a meaningful life in never had much cocktail of poverty and addiction spite of multiple fear in the inner Michael Henson destroy this man’s dignity difficulties. They city, mostly altogether? Perhaps not. But I’m faced their poverty with dignity. because I am small and do not also guessing that his dignity But what of my man in the pose a threat to anyone so no one either died in that gutter or it was gutter? Can I say the same thing feels a need to threaten me. so wounded that it might never of him? Or of the beggar who Besides, by that time I was have recovered. I hope it did. It’s seemed to single me out from known in the neighborhood; no been nearly forty years now, so I anyone else who might be on the one had ever bothered me. I felt hope the man has, by now, street to ask, in a voice that confident on the streets. something of dignity, something always reminded me of that of But I know I stopped of peace. Doc Watson, “Do you think you short after a few steps down the This is the fourth in a series might have a couple quarters for alley, for then I saw the man in by Michael Henson on poverty a sandwich and a cup of coffee?” the gutter. He wore jeans and a and addiction. Or of the prostitutes on Vine? short-sleeved plaid shirt and he lay half in the gutter, half on curb; And what of the countless men his arm shaded his eyes, the sidewalk served him for a pillow. Writers and Artists! He breathed peacefully, heavily Donate your Writing, Poetry as if asleep at home in his bed. I stood stock still, And Art to STREETVIBES ­ immobilized by indecision. What Streetvibes@juno.com should I do? I knew of nothing I could do, but it seemed such a shame to see a man so degraded and to do nothing al all. All the SUDOKU questions of dignity I had been Puzzle asking myself now faced me in a Fill in blunt, incomprehensible way. numbers so A woman passed; she also that each stared - not at him, but at me. column, each For her, I was the odd one, the row, and each college boy from the Bible Center of the nine with his jaw hanging loose. She 3x3 boxes did not give more than a contains the moment’s glance to the man in the digits 1 to 9. gutter. What good would it do There is only her to contemplate such a thing? one solution! Probably none at all. To stop and The ponder someone too sorry to ANSWER is pick himself up off the street on Page 13 would probably complicate her life beyond what she could The Man in The Gutter liquor and children play among by Michael Henson When I was young and very inexperienced, I entered the world where poverty intersects with addiction. By that, I mean, I took a summer job as a youth worker Qoute By (more Michael youth than worker myself) with a Catholic social service agency called the Main Street Bible Center and came to live in Over-the-Rhine, at that time a dense, multi-ethnic concentration of some fifty thousand people, nearly all of them poor. The buildings, now valued as historic, were closebuilt, thickly-tenanted, crumbling affairs. But the neighborhood was lively; every storefront was filled. The streets rocked at night with bluegrass and gospel music. It was heady stuff for a smalltown, middle-class boy. I became witness to some of the early skirmishes in the War on Poverty. It was the summer of 1968 and the world was changing. There were things I wanted to know, about the fragility and strength of human dignity and the operation of freedom under adversity. I wanted to know how humans maintained dignity under the assault of poverty. I had a notion that they could, somehow. I had been inspired by the Kennedys, by the Civil Rights marchers, by my reading of Michael Harrington and Harry Caudill, by my visits to a mission in Eastern Kentucky, and by a charismatic social worker named Ernie Mynatt who worked among the urban Appalachians of Cincinnati. I wanted to see what all these people had seen. And I wanted to understand that issue of dignity above all. The experience was fundamental to me and many images remain with me from that summer. But one in particular was painful to me then and remains painful to me still. I walked down Yukon Alley on some errand and saw a man passed out in the gutter. Yukon Alley is only one block long, and runs parallel to Main, just around the corner from the Bible Center. It was a hot, humid day in a river-city mid­ summer, in a basin which held heat like a steam table. Today, Yukon Alley has been ripped open, its eastern side torn down and replaced with a park where men and women sit at picnic tables to talk and drink malt Streetvibes Page 5 �DLOP Takes On Labor Works Cincinnati - Attorneys from Manley Burke, LPA are filing a lawsuit in Federal court alleging various wage and hour violations against Labor Works, an employer of day labor workers, located at 2236 Gilbert Avenue, Walnut Hills and Schwans™ Global Supply Chain, aka Schwans™ that is located at 7605 Empire Drive, Florence, Kentucky. Schwans™ is a corporation that manufactures and distributes frozen foods. The United Food and Commercial Workers, local 1099, and the Day Labor Organizing Project (DLOP) has been working to improve the wages and working conditions of the estimated three hundred (300) to five hundred (500) day labor workers in the Over the Rhine and Avondale areas of Cincinnati. These workers are employed by seven day labor halls in Cincinnati and are subject to abusive conditions at work and substandard and inadequate wages. The federal law suit alleges that Labor Works and Schwans™ are joint employers who do not pay their day labor workers for their entire workday. The workers Ghetto Rats by Lynda Crane Ink Tank Writer Cincinnati - The drug problems on our block are real, but they are far from the only challenge. Right up there with the drugs are the rats. Once winter set in Ms. Arley downstairs began to complain that they “were comin right on into her apartment.” “They’s no ordinary rats” she told me, “they’s big as a cat. They’s ghetto rats; they’s tough, and they ain’t scared of nothin. They just stand right there and look at me.” And so started our campaign, our war if truth be known, against those ghetto rats. We bought every poison made and they just ate it up and came right back. We put down sticky paper and they hopped over it. We set rat traps, and baited them with peanut butter, cheese, and fried beef in gravy. They loved all of it. “They’s smart” Arley said, “They ain’t gonna get caught.” We bought special plugs to stick in the outlets that made noise only rodents could hear—guaranteed to run them off. Our rats danced through Arley’s kitchen to the tune. Nothing worked. Page 6 spend up to fourteen hours under the direction of either Labor Works or Schwans™. In addition, these workers are mandated to take transportation from Labor Works to the Schwans™ facility in Florence, Kentucky. They pay $7.00 for this transportation, even though public transportation or use of their vehicles would cost a fraction of that amount. These day labor workers are trying to support themselves, and often their families as well. Some of these day labor workers have families to support. A take home pay of $35 for a fourteen hour day is not only unjust, it is also illegal. DLOP and UFCW are joined by many Labor, Community and Religious organizations in calling for an end to these practices and for proper redress in federal court. Again and again we looked for their entrance, and finally found a tiny hole behind the toilet, so Mona (who saves my skin time after time) covered it over and that was the end of them. They were inside our house no more. Our neighborhood, though, is still overrun with rats. On a warm evening, about dusk, if you happen to be sitting outside on our porch, you can watch them cross the street from the market. One such evening, not so long ago, we watched an especially big rat come ambling across, brazen and bold as you please, and head straight for the lotto and beer store next to the Neighborhood Center. Just as he approached the step, a big old tom cat came from one of the doorways and spotted the rat. The rat was as big as the cat, and all eyes were on the pair, no one sure who would take the day. The cat made a move toward the rat, and the rat turned on the cat. That cat spun around and took off running, and all of us on the porch nearly fell off laughing. “They’s no ordinary rats” Ms. Arley repeated, “They’s ghetto rats. They’s tough.” Streetvibes ALMOST 30 YEARS SERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 �Celebrate Mother’s Day for Homeless Children and Their Moms by Alice Skirtz, PhD/LISW Cincinnati - Mother’s Day is celebrated in the United States this year on May 13. As we consider ways to honor mothers on that special holiday, let us pause to remember mothers and their children who have experienced homelessness since Mother’s Day a year ago. Information recently released by our Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care for the Homeless* reports that in 2006, there were 9,448 individuals who experienced homelessness during the year. Of this unduplicated count of homeless persons, an astonishing 29% or 2,724 were children under age 18. All of these children came to shelters in 732 families with their parents, in 90% of the situations the parent was their mother by herself struggling to maintain housing, employment or job training, school or day care for the children, as well as loving mothering and essential nurturance for her children. This grim picture of a nearly invisible community problem is especially poignant when we know that more than nine hundred (903) of our homeless children in 2006 were under age six. Under age six means newborns, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who were homeless…their older brothers and sisters ages six to twelve were 652 in number, along with their 1,169 older siblings who are ages 13 – 17. 2,724 children experienced homelessness in Cincinnati and Hamilton County in 2006 – that Joseph House Cont. from page 4 Tears of joy Some of these men had never had a birthday party or experienced the joy of Christmas, Malone said. At the monthly birthday party at Joseph House, one of the men whose birthday was being recognized broke down and cried, he said. He had never had a cake for his birthday. At Christmas, the Paul Vail V.F.W. Post 4369 in Sharonville treats the guys to a party and gifts. “The men on the streets have to be willing undergo our treatment programs,’’Malone said. “That time comes when they begin saying, ‘I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.’ However, some of them have lost 10 or 15 years of their lives in the streets before that moment of clarity hits them. They finally begin looking for some hope, and we help them become hopeful.’’ astonishing number of children could easily fill nine elementary schools. It is easy to be blind-sided by the popular press and talk show hosts who portray those who are homeless as adult men perpetuating all the stereotypes of living on the riverbank or holding up signs for food at highway exits. The reality is, one third are children whose mothers struggle for the economic means to maintain housing, food, and nurturing for their children. Sustaining adequate, safe, livable housing is the linchpin to maintaining income, sufficient food, and the basics of care for children, and for preventing the disruptive, emotional upheavals of homelessness. In 1990, voters in the State of Ohio considered a state-wide ballot issue making housing a “public purpose.” (At the time Ohio was one of but three states forbidding use of public funds for housing purposes.) In a statewide co-ordinated effort advocates for housing and homelessness prevention came together to promote the issue. Locally Cincinnatians for Affordable Housing (now convened as Affordable Housing Advocates), the Woman’s City Club, the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, and joined others to promote the issue. We sponsored a call-in television program produced by Channel 64. I was privileged to participate in that program and had permission to take 8 month old Lenny (not his real name) with me as he and his Mom were in one of our family shelters. Lenny represented homeless Ohioans on the program, captivating the hearts of voters as an especially creative Whenever possible, it is important that the ties to the men’s families be repaired, he said. “Those family ties are usually destroyed by the time they get here,’’ he noted. “Often they have stolen from their family members to feed their addiction, or they have become an embarrassment to their family. “One fellow shut down about 12 years ago,’’ he said. “He moved in with his mom and lived in a storage area of the apartment. Finally, he walked in here, and he is now doing fine.’’ One resident, Bob Mattes, was a former restaurateur who has gained some fame after walking around the country since his wife, son and daughter were killed in a car crash in Chicago in 1984. During his travels, Mattes has raised money selling products to make wishes come true for children with illnesses or disabilities. A study by the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 704,000 people cameraman made close-up shots of blond haired, blue-eyed Lenny as he tried to eat the microphone affixed to my lapel with an alligator clip. When that failed, Lenny reached for my ear and flashed a big toothless smile and giggled with delight that he snagged my earring. Lenny and his Mom were homeless, and the voters of Ohio resoundingly affirmed the vote that led to the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. Lenny and his Mom eventually were able to leave the shelter for their own housing, regaining sufficient economic equilibrium for Mom to finish her job training and move to an hourly wage job. I saw Lenny not long ago, now himself finishing school, proud to tell me he was also getting his driver’s license. He and his Mom had been homeless one time since our television show, and it was due to Mom’s lay- off from her job when the company she worked for closed. However, it has been 17 years since Ohio passed the legislation to establish the Housing Trust Fund. Hamilton County, as all other counties, contributes to the Fund, but Hamilton County does not receive its full share of the Fund. Advocates are working with the Board of County Commissioners to explore ways to fully utilize these resources to increase affordable housing options. What better way to honor mothers year-round than provide sufficient housing options for all income levels so that moms (and dads) can provide housing for their children, year-round… for Mother’s Day and for our children. nationwide sought shelter in the threemonth period between February and April 2005. One-third of those seeking shelter were from families with children. The rest were individual, mostly adult men. Nearly half were Black. Nine of 10 homeless mothers have been victims of violence, largely domestic abuse. Streetvibes Alice Skirtz, PhD/LISW is a Casework Supervisor for the Family Shelter Partnership, a Program for the Continuum of Care. Page 7 �Mother’s Day is May 13th. Whether she is a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a wife, or a sister, Mother’s Day is our chance to show that special woman in our life how much she means to us. Mother’s Day is also a chance to honor the spirit of mothering. Mothers are there to make sure we are clothed, clean, fed, safe, and warm. They are there to tuck us in and kiss away the tears. They are there to read to us, to listen, and to steer us down the right path. The picture above was drawn by 9 year old Asherah, one of many participants in a statewide Mother’s Day card contest for young people. Asherah won the contest because of her touching ability to capture the sprit of support, love and family. Asherah was a resident of a local shelter at the time she drew this picture of her family. Her family is one of 5,000 in Cincinnati who will experience homelessness this year. Nationally, 3.5 million people experience homelessness over the course of a year. Homeless families make up over 40% of that population. This year in Cincinnati alone, over 8,000 children will experience homelessness with their mothers. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless has been working for 23 years to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. We firmly believe that by coming together as a community, we can reach this goal. We need your help to erase homelessness from childhood memories. This year, truly honor the mothers in your life by making a special donation in their honor. We will send Asherah’s Mother’s Day card to the honoree before Mother’s Day, along with a notification that a donation has been made in their name. What better way to appreciate the woman who raised you than by helping other women raise themselves and their children out of homelessness? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------By sending this completed form along with your minimum donation of $10, Asherah’s Mother’s Day card will be sent to the person you designate below. The card will inform the recipient that a donation has been made in her name to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Your name, address, and phone number ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name and address of the person to whom we should send the card ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Who should the donation be placed in honor of/in memory of? Who should we say the card is from? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you would like the card sent to an additional person, please indicate on another sheet of paper the same information as above. Send this form along with your donation in the enclosed envelope to: The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 This Mother’s Day, how will you show your mother that you really care? Page 8 Streetvibes �Venice on Vine: Pizzas and Hoagies 1301 Vine Street Open 11-7 Monday - Friday. West End Catering: lunch and dinner catering services for local organizations and businesses. 221-7020. COUPON Venice on Vine 1301 Vine Street Buy one, get one free. Buy any hoagie, small or medium pizza or salad, get a second of same or lower value free. One coupon/customer. Offer good through May 30, 2007. Power… Inspiration… Progress... Meaningful Employment... A Living Wage I Love A Parade by Georgine Getty The Homeless Coalition took 2 hours off work on April 2, 2007, to walk down to Washington Park to watch the Red’s opening day parade go by. It was nice to see all types of people in Washington Park on that beautiful spring day, especially the families with children. Homeless people, who call Washington Park their home, sat back, cautious of the additional police, also enjoying the parade. There were several highlights of the parade and the general atmosphere of celebration. I was delighted to see the Kid’s Cafe float (a program of Our Daily Bread soup kitchen), the kids on the Cincinnati Public Schools float and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission’s banner. It was also great to see the people of Over-the-Rhine cheering for the police officers on motorcycles, riding in careful precision. Findlay Market had several floats and has always been very kind to Streetvibes vendors. There were dancing pigs and CityBeat’s float, featuring freestyle rap. The marching bands were wonderful. As a former band geek myself, I always cheer for them, even if they are just marching, red-faced and hot in their terrible uniforms to a drum cadence. I loved seeing all of the animal rescue societies walk by with their dogs, pausing to let crowd participants pet and admire them. David Pepper marched with the bucket boys and girls, who are all grown up, and more talented every time I see them. The kids of Junior Achievement got a rousing cheer from the crowd, complete with shouts of “be smart!” and “good for you!” The veterans and color guards were politely cheered, and the fire trucks were also shown respect. Also wildly cheered, was the Over-the-Rhine Senior Center bus and the brave client who marched the whole parade route, in heels. One group of young men in white t-shirts picked up their friend and insisted that a group of passing clowns hug him. To their Kelly Carr serves food to the residents of Tender Mercies for Opening Day delight and his mortification, a clown complied. There were also some lowlights of the parade, one of the hazards of living and working in Over-the-Rhine and seeing its dark side as well as its beauty. It was difficult to watch some of the politicians walk by, in full campaign mode, with their big, toothy smiles. Many of these same politicians voted to cut funding to the Rec Centers, the OTR Senior Center and Our Daily Bread, agencies that they shared the parade with. I also watched two suburban youth happily stomping on two shrubs while their oblivious parents unloaded the mini-van. Greenspace is too precious in OTR to be willfully destroyed, something that these two children, undoubtedly with their full yards at home, cannot possibly understand. I found the person in the Eric Kunzel costume difficult as well, remembering the “Kunzel plan” to remove the Drop Inn Center. And I wished that some of the hundreds of homeless people who clean the Red’s stadiums after the game could have gotten some recognition, or maybe even a little float. Such are the hazards of being alert in this City. I can’t even enjoy a parade as I might once have. But on the other hand, I enjoyed it on a level much deeper than many other people because OTR is MY neighborhood, and it was almost magical to see so many people, if only just for two hours, loving it as much as I do. Children of Over-the-Rhine neighborhood enjoy curbside view of Parade Streetvibes Page 9 �Homeless News Digest Compiled by Jimmy Heath SACRAMENTO, CA - The Loaves and Fishes program called a community meeting to discuss a plan to improve and rebuild its facilities, despite opposition from the neighborhood. Many residents said they are worried about the impact of an even larger homeless population concentrated downtown, even though the meeting was a briefing about all homeless social services. “They attract so many people daily and then they leave and go through the neighborhoods,” resident Ken Lauszus said. Police said they estimated the Sacramento homeless population at 1,000. About 500 of them are fed and helped daily at Loaves and Fishes. Sister Libby of Loaves and Fishes said the ministry is being victimized by exaggerations. “Loaves and Fishes has been here 25 years,” Libby said. “Our bathrooms need renovating. Our Mustard Seed School needs renovating.” Loaves and Fishes served a hot meal to 450 people a day, but officials said that in 1995 they served about 900 people a day with newer facilities. Libby said her short-term plans are about renovating and replacing what is falling apart. Some residents, like business owner Laura Parker, said problems like vandalism and illegal camping are not improving. “I don’t think they will just re-message what they have,” Parker said. “I think they will somehow expand it. It just feels like it’s not going to stay contained.” At the end of the meeting, city officials said they realized there is such intense interest they need a special meeting solely about the renovation project. CLARKSVILLE, TN - Legislation that would keep track of the number of homeless children who enrolled in public schools without immunization is on its way to the governor for his consideration. The measure sponsored by Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, passed the House 93-2. The companion bill unanimously passed the Senate last month. Besides tracking those children without immunization, the legislation would also require the commissioner of education to annually report “the average length of time required for these children to be immunized or to obtain their immunization records.” “This bill would let us know what children in our school systems are without immunization,” Hensley said. “We want to make sure children are protected from the diseases that are out there,” added Rep. Donna Rowland, RMurfreesboro. Gov. Phil Bredesen could not be reached for comment about whether he will sign the bill. The bill is HB1866. ORLANDO, FL - A homeless man who said he was stabbed repeatedly in the hand by a group of teen-agers made the whole thing up, police said today. Jon Johnson was drunk the night of his supposed attack, he told Daytona Beach investigators. “He can barely even remember where he was, let alone what he was doing,” Lt. George Colon of the criminal investigations division said today. Johnson’s admission came when investigators called him in to get more information about his alleged assailants. He said three young men attacked him with a box cutter on his way to his “hole” near a creek. He told police that the boys kept yelling, “Hey homeless boy!” and called him a “homeless piece of trash.” The stabbing stopped after he threw oysters at the youths and they ran away, he told police. Johnson was treated at Halifax Medical Center for lacerations in his hand and required 15 stitches. But his description of his assailants was vague. And his story became even less credible when detectives tried to find out more about the alleged attack. “He became more and more agitated, leading us to believe there was something wrong with the story that he was giving us,” Colon said. Johnson, 49, refused to take a lie-detector test after investigators became suspicious. The test measures stress levels in a person’s voice, said Daytona Beach police spokesman Jimmie Flynt. The cuts on his hand looked more like they were made from oysters than they did a box cutter, police Chief Mike Chitwood said today. There’s a chance Johnson may have stumbled back to where he was staying that night and cut his hand on oysters in the nearby creek, Colon said. After fielding detectives’ questions about the attack for about an hour, Johnson called the investigation off, Chitwood said. “How about if we just forget about it?” he reportedly told detectives. “I was so drunk I don’t know what anybody said.” Johnson was not arrested for making false claims. Chitwood said Johnson has enough problems as it is. DELRAY BEACH, FL - A homeless man in Delray Beach was at the right place, and right time to pull two men from the wreckage of an airplane crash. Witnesses said the experimental plane spiraled into an open field from about a thousand feet just west of I-95 at Congress Avenue around 3 p.m. last month. 57 year old Milton Pendelton, a local homeless man, was peddling by on his bicycle when he found the wreckage site and pulled two men from it. One was the pilot, 61-year old Charles Scherer, a resident of Antiquers Aerodrome west of Delray Beach. The aerodrome is a small community of homeowners who park small planes in their garages and share a mile-long, grass airstrip. The other man, who was in his 50’s, has not been identified. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. The crash in Delray Beach was the second of the day. In Fort Lauderdale, a pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a field shortly after takeoff. The pilot had just taken off from Executive Airport in the afternoon when he discovered the Cessna 205 was suffering from engine trouble. After contacting the tower, the pilot decided to return to the airport, but was forced to crash land in a nearby field. A witness at the scene said the plane appeared to lose power during the final approach and made a sharp nose dive, flipping once hitting the ground. Emergency officials rushed to the scene and the pilot was transported to Holy Cross Hospital with minor injuries. The FAA is investigating the plane to determine the exact cause of the crash. DAYTONA, FL - Egged on by a 17-year-old, two 10-year-old boys joined in the attack of a Florida homeless man, leaving him bruised and bloody, police said. The incident highlights an upswing in violent crime across the U.S. against the homeless. In 2006, there were 142 attacks and 20 murders, several involving teenagers seeking a vicious thrill, according to the Washington, D.C.- based National Coalition for the Homeless. Lat month’s incident, which took place in Daytona Beach, Florida, may make history, said the nonprofit’s acting executive director Michael Stoops. “If we’re talking about 10­ year-olds, that means we’ve hit an all-time low,” said Stoops. “The youngest person to have ever been arrested for a crime like this is 13.” Daytona Police Sgt. Billy Walden said the teen and two boys were walking in their neighborhood around 9 p.m. when they saw 58­ year-old John D’Amico. They began throwing rocks at the homeless man. The 17-year-old, Jeremy Woods, punched D’Amico who then fell over a concrete wall. As he lay on the ground, one of the 10-year-olds — whose names are not being released — used parts of the concrete to bash D’Amico in the head, a police report shows. D’Amico’s eye was severely damaged in the attack. Woods and the two boys were charged with felony aggravated battery and are being held without bond at a juvenile detention center in Daytona Beach, Walden said. The Volusia County State Attorneys Office received paperwork on the case and will make a decision about whether or not to pursue charges, said spokeswoman Linda Pruitt. The three boys made their first court appearance wearing ankle shackles and handcuffs, and white jail jumpsuits too big for the two tiny 10­ year-old frames. Judge Peter Marshall assigned them public defenders. Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Page 10 Streetvibes �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $3 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for $1, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 cents Printing and Production: 25 cents About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have earned. This program has helped hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... Buy STREETVIBES! (Check Vendors Badge) Don’t be Squirrelly! The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Buy Streetvibes! Page 12 Streetvibes �Streetvibes Vendor Code of Conduct All Vendors Sign and Agree to a Code of Conduct Report Any Violations to GCCH - 421-7803 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, vendors are allowed to keep that donation. However, vendors must never ask for more than $1 when selling Streetvibes. 2. Each paper purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) costs 25 cents. Papers will not be given out on credit. Old papers can not be traded in for new papers. 3. Streetvibes may only be purchased from GCCH. Never buy papers from, or sell papers to other vendors. 4. Vendors must not panhandle or sell other items at the same time they are selling Streetvibes. 5. Vendors must treat all other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel with respect. 6. Vendors must not sell Streetvibes while under the influence. 7. Vendors must not give a “hard sell” or intimidate anyone into purchasing Streetvibes. This includes following customers or continuing to solicit sales after customers have said no. Vendors must also never sell Streetvibes door-to-door. 8. Vendors must not deceive customers while selling Streetvibes. Vendors must be honest in stating that all profits go to the individual vendor. Vendors must not tell customers that the money they receive will go to GCCH or any other organization or charity. Also, vendors must not say that they are collecting for “the homeless” in general. 9. Vendors must not sell papers without their badge. Vendors must present their badge when purchasing papers from GCCH. Lost badges cost $3 to replace. Broken or worn badges will be replaced for $1, but only if the old badge is returned to GCCH. 10. Streetvibes vendor meetings are held on the first weekday of the month at 1pm. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. If a vendor cannot attend the meeting, he or she should let us know in advance. If a vendor does not call in advance and does not show up, that vendor will not be allowed to purchase papers on the day of the meeting or the following day. Five free papers will be given to those who do attend. 11. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate any vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH, and must be surrendered upon demand. The mission of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA) is to support a street newspaper movement that creates and upholds journalistic and ethical standards while promoting self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA papers support homeless and very low-income people in more than 35 cities across the United States and Canada. Streetvibes Vendor: 75 cents Printing and Production: 25 cents About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes.... The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) was formed in May of 1984 for one purpose: the eradication of homelessness in Cincinnati. What started out as a coalition of 15 volunteers meeting weekly in an unheated church basement has since grown into a Coalition of over 45 agencies and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to improving services for homeless individuals, educating the public about homelessness and empowering homeless individuals to advocate for their civil rights and housing needs. Streetvibes is a tool of GCCH used to help us achieve our goal of ending homelessness. On the one hand it is a selfsufficiency program geared towards the homeless and marginally housed individuals who are our vendors. Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 30 cents per copy and sell it for a suggested one-dollar donation, keeping the profit that they have earned. This program has helped hundreds of people find and maintain housing. The vendors also sign a code of conduct stating that they will behave responsibly and professionally and they proudly display their official Streetvibes badge while selling the paper. Our vendors put a face on “the homeless” of Cincinnati and form lasting friendships with their customers. On the other hand, Streetvibes is an award-winning alternative newspaper and part of the international street newspaper movement. Focusing on homelessness and social justice issues, Streetvibes reports the often-invisible story of poverty in our community. Streetvibes is also proud to include creative writing, poetry, articles, photography and interviews written by homeless and formerly homeless individuals. Streetvibes enjoys a loyal reader base that respects the honest portrayal of the joys, sorrows, and challenges facing the people of Cincinnati. Streetvibes is a member of the: The International Network of Street Papers (INSP) unites street papers sold by homeless and people living in poverty from all over the world. INSP is an umbrella organisation, which provides a consultancy service for its partner papers and advises on the setting up of new street papers and support initiatives for marginalised people. Where Your Dollar Goes... Buy STREETVIBES! (Check Vendors Badge) Don’t be Squirrelly! The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Buy Streetvibes! Page 12 Streetvibes �Iraq’s homeless poor crushed by war’s aftermath by Patrick Fort BAGHDAD - An old man slumbers on a rotten and stinking sofa as a malnourished scruffy child in rags bats around a ball in the dust and flies buzz through the decay. In Baghdad the homeless live hand to mouth. Left with no income after her son was killed in the war, and with her husband old and helpless, Salwa Lifan Salman had to leave her working-class home and move into a squat at the bombed-out Iraqi air force headquarters in the center of the capital. Her family of 13 — 10 of them children — is today crammed into the small room she rents for 50,000 dinars (40 dollars, 30 euros) a month from an alleged landlord who probably has no legal right over the public building. “He told us he was the owner, that he had bought the ground. We’re frightened, he’ll kick us out if we don’t pay,” said Salman, enveloped in the black abaya. She is 43, but already she looks like an old woman. Surrounded by other families in a similar predicament, Salman picks a living amid the ruins left when US warplanes bombed the base in 2003. There is no electricity and only a single tap outside on the pavement for water. Frightened about being turfed out by the council, she prefers not to make problems. “If we don’t live here, there’s no where else to go,” she said. Her family is so poor that none of her children go to school. Four of the children had a rudimentary education when they lived in the Shiite slum district of Sadr City. Tuition may be free, but Salman cannot afford to clothe her children or buy the necessary books and pencils for their schooling. So they run wild. “We looked for work but there isn’t any,” she said. In Iraq, where war and insecurity are the primary concerns, reconstruction is limited and funds are short. It goes without saying that her family receives no help from the authorities. “We sell on a little rice or flour from food packages that are handed out” by charities or social services, she said. Some of her fellow squatters sell oil on the black market to customers too impatient to queue at petrol stations. “We are trying to live on 10,000 dinars (eight dollars, six euros) a day for the whole family. There are days when we don’t even manage that,” said Salman. The United Nations sets the poverty line in Iraq at living on less than a dollar per day per person. Former builder Faik Hasun, who through illness lost part of his sight in one eye and also now needs crutches to get around, is someone else who survives hand to mouth, camping out in a workman’s hut in the bombed compound. Originally from Jadida in northeast Baghdad, he says he left his family in order not to be a burden to them. Today he exists in near total destitution. From time to time, restaurant or cafeteria workers give him things such as crackers to sell on the street. Hasun has access to neither running water nor electricity — just a little stove for winter. But temperatures are already rising, and before long the squatters will be hit by the merciless Baghdad summer and 50-degree Celsius (122-degree Fahrenheit) heat. “The situation is going from bad to worse. We have never been so badly off,” he said. “Our only chance is if the violence stops and the country recovers some stability. Then there will be a little work. “Economically things will get better and people like me will have a chance to live a bit better.” Crashing from a thriving economy in the 1970s and 1980s, a third of Iraq’s population of 27 million now lives in poverty, according to a recent study by Iraq’s planning ministry and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). For Salman, Hasun and the rest of Baghdad’s poverty-stricken homeless, hand-outs are the key to their survival. They are the living statistics whose only hope is that one day things will improve in the aftermath of war. worth $5,000,000. We can expect that altogether approximately 50 homeless or on-the-edge-of­ homeless people will get luxury digs from Kawamoto, most of them children of single mothers. That’s the bright side. Thank you, Genshiro K! The dark side is that the sort of real estate speculation that made Genshiro Kawamoto rich enough to do all this lies precisely at the root of nearly all the homelessness Hawaii and the rest of America have to bear. Kawamoto is infamous in Hawaii for evicting renters at short notice to make a quick profit, as well as buying properties and neglecting to rent them at all. In short, he’s a slumlord to the rich. He may not create homelessness in the demographic he serves, but his practices reduce their housing options, which reduce the options of the next lower class, and the next. It’s the real trickle-down. The end result is homelessness for a lot more than 50 people. So, thank you also, Genshiro K, for being a prime example of how the rich and powerful screw us all and then do some token rescues to make up for it. Just like the government and the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, which is really only a plan to reduce a fraction of it. Reprinted from Real Change News, Seattle The Rich Act Different Seattle - Everyone has their own way of relating how rich Bill Gates is. Bill Gates is so rich; he has half the money in Seattle. Bill Gates is so rich, that he sleeps in a different room of his house every night of every decade. Bill Gates is so rich, when he wants something from the grocery store, he has it delivered. I mean the store. Bill Gates is so rich he could buy most countries. Bill Gates is so rich he won’t buy a used country, preferring a new custom country built from scratch, somewhere between Lake Washington and Lanai. And, finally, Bill Gates is so rich that just his money alone would be all you’d need to end homelessness in America for what’s left of the 10 years before the great US Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness is finished and solves everything. What would it look like if Bill Gates actually did use his wealth to relieve some homelessness around here, just in Seattle? We have fewer than 10,000 homeless people. Gates could get 10,000 cheap prefab homes. At wholesale prices, they’d all put together cost him less than a billion. Another billion to buy the land to put them on, and Bill’s ranking among the world’s billionaires wouldn’t slip by more than 1. But all that assumes Bill would go about relieving homelessness the way ordinary humans would. It doesn’t take into account the fact that, like all billionaires, Bill Gates is an alien from the Horsehead Nebula. To understand how Bill would try to relieve Seattle’s homelessness, consider another billionaire, Genshiro Kawamoto, who is trying to relieve homelessness in Oahu. Kawamoto, like Gates, likes to spend a lot of time in the Hawaiian Islands. In the ’80s Kawamoto mixed business with pleasure and bought up a lot of property in Hawaii as investments, including a lot of mansions. Recently he got bit by the altruism bug and announced he was going to rent eight of his pricey Kahala Avenue luxury homes to poor struggling Hawaiian native families, preferably homeless families, for $150 to $200 per month, utilities paid, for up to 10 years. Now that he’s moving people in, he’s saying he won’t charge some of them rent at all. He’s partially furnishing the places. To help you visualize the deal, we’re talking about homes in the $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 range that either sit directly on a gorgeous tropical ocean beach or are at most a couple of hundred feet removed. One of the recipients is a women with five children who has been staying in a homeless shelter for the last four or five months. Her new home for the next 10 years is Sudoku answer from page 5 Streetvibes Page 13 �I Shall Die by Jose Ornelas I am Indigenous. I am a conquered peoples, one of many. What next? Will I be bitter? Who will I try to conquer? My women, or child? You? No, brothers and sisters, I will surrender so that I may rise. Surrender to my hunger. Accept my humanity. Embrace...us. My nation became a gang, now it will be a nation again. Heart to heart, Love to love, one two three nations under a groove. We will marry each other and see all the children as our own. I am lucky because I am not the inheritor of the legacy of the overseer. I don’t hold the whip, I never did. When it is finished we will bury the past; weep for it and then sing for the future. by Elizabeth Romero The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. You can see it in her eyes, her wary sidelong glance. The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. Her clothes flap loosely in the wind. Her red shoes clash. The woman coming toward you carries the patient rage of her mother and her mother before that like that cracked plastic handbag. Tagger by Jose Ornelas The carports had these spaces in between them that were big enough to walk through and since they were behind the apartments nobody could see you. So there I am shaking the can and putting the finishing touches on a bomb aguila when along comes this long hair dude with a bottle of something. “Heey, man.” “What’s up holmes.” “Doing some paintin?” I nodded and continued working. He weaved in place. “Heey, wanna drink?” “No thanks, I don’t drink.” “Good for you, man.” He took a swig and stepped closer. Then he grabbed my wrist. “Motherfu... “I could get 600 hundred bucks for turning you in.” “Shyeet. If you could find the phone I bet it would take you all night to dial the numbers.” I easily shook loose and looked him over. “Sabes que, este, graffitti is something you can grow out of, but drunken losers... “ Wolf by Galaxie You could call me a night owl, or you could think of me as the wolf. You won’t see me much during the day, but alas, when you are asleep, I’ll be there in your dreams, sometimes to comfort, sometimes to torment you, for I am your nightmares. I am your dreamscapes, I am the things that you fear and fail to understand. I am the night, I am the darkness. I come and I take away the pain, though I can also make it worsen. Do not cross the night. Because the night, like the wolf, has no fear of the dark. Second Home by heather gearhardten sing a song of violation equivocation demarcation supplication tribulation and truncation sing a song of subterfuge a deadly ruse loving abuse and splitting in twos and no way to choose sing a song of fighting free a warrior’s creed survival fees ptsd and healing mes. Page 14 by Stan Buriss You could stand. Then you would stand alone! Not with out friends, you understand—with this circle beneath your eyes,far from a real center. Broken from the ends! Sharp, where the best ends are broken for the last time (if you call it the last). Only then, if you use your real name. Cabin Fever by Virginia Conn I’m freezing, so I tack flannel sheets under the blinds, discovering the frost has resurrected the finger oils of someone named Linda. Twice the precise lettering appears, well out of reach of a child’s hand. by Kris Schon To Be, to Become To be, to become to believe in yourself the inner voice that propels you forward a waterfall of wisdom of life fears and rejections triumphs and tragedies laughter and hope belly button stuff the main course at life’s banquet for those wishing to attend. grateful are the many who stand firm in a brisk breeze head up, eye to eye with the dragon. Flickering stars candles lit from your strength your courage your hope your faith, burning on. The window overlooks the street. I’ve stood there, impatient for mail or visitors, yet this is the first I’ve heard from her. I scan my studio for other traces, blaming her for the erratic nails, especially one eye level screw, dead center, that no painting hangs from comfortably. I start to attribute other mischief to her; misplaced keys and night knocks, then fear she may be trapped, the bitter cold compelling her to contact me. ”I never got out. It never warmed up.” I keep checking the pane for further word. I remind myself: It is winter everywhere. Outside, Buffalo trudges past, layered in clothes like shuck on corn. Like that screw, an act of defiance, Linda versus concrete, in relief of the wide white wall. Streetvibes �Valentine’s Day by Wendy Nakashima Valentine’s Day is for moochers. It might even be for smoochers Please excuse me for not being concerned; I would rather hang out with my Teddy Bear. Cause Fuzzy Wuzzy Really Cares by Michael Sloan Gray steel wind and tears of rain lash people and pigeons huddled on the steps. The gray morning floods us round. Grayness seeps into the cracks of concrete, into the shadowed clefts between the buildings, into the hair of old men wedded to the streets, and in the eyes and hearts of those silently awaiting an opening of doors. Standing with Dignity by Paul von Kempf, JR. Gray drowns even the privacy of thought and the rainbow of memory. We clutch our collars against the morning’s teeth. Someone coughs and pigeons explode, gray into gray they abandon the vigil, vanish in a liquid sky. Yet the human figures stand wordless, inmoving, gray as thoughtless rock. No meeting of the eyes or fingers. No spark of colored laughter. Only the grayness dares to touch such woeful stone. Such gray and weary words a friend once whispered to me; She said, “Some wounds never heal.” and though I hate her for it here in the grayness waiting, watching I see now what she meant. Standing here with dignity waiting through all kinds of weather selling Real Change Newspaper. Waiting for those smiling eyes hopeful, wanting to be helpful to say paper please, can you see that your generosity is appreciated? Standing here with dignity I see another kind of eye scold, cruel and full of contempt walking past me without seeing, taking the long way around. Can you see my pain? Do I jerk you out of your cocoon, when I say hello? Do I jerk you back to reality? Standing here with dignity I have time to reflect on why I am selling Real Change Newspaper. In another time and another place I have had several jobs I have lost them to accident, illness, disease or my big shot ideas Society deals harshly with people who have big shot ideas where is the forgiveness? Today I am standing here with dignity selling Real Change Newspaper. Waiting for those smiling eyes to say paper please. I hope you can see my gratitude for your generosity . Abraham and Isaac Without Blues For all those who have seen drugs, alcoholism and abuse tear their families apart. Without the stub of crocus, the breeze through cedar and hills to climb in the soft light of January I would be lost. by Michael Henson Again, the climb into the mountain. Again, the boy with his bundle of faggots and his question. Again, the old man with his knife and his answer. Ravens course the ridges. Marmots whistle and dive. In the valley below, smoke rises from a village. Tanks crawl through the fields. They mangle the corn. A line of soldiers snakes along the road. Again, the boy has his question. Again, the old man answers. He answers with a curse. He looks at the boy. He looks at the sky. He looks at the valley. He curses. He feels that his answer is no answer, so he curses and turns to stagger up the stony mountain path. Without the picket lines’ ”How you doing?”— friends sitting around at the table while November rains, I would wash away in tears. Without my pencil, the work that must be done, the brothers and sisters in the strong August sun, I would go over the edge. Streetvibes Page 15 �357-4602 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome Hse. 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6672 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 721-8666 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services, Inc 751-9797 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 961-4080 St. John’s Housing 651-6446 Need Help or Want to Help? MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-5491 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 May 2007 The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Cruel and Unusual Punishment - How The Justice System Wastes Your Tax-dollars BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY STREETVIBES $1 Donation � 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 2007 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 May 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Homeless Individuals and the Justice System So-Called “Urban Pioneers” Reinvent the Face of Cincinnati Pg 2: Justice Continued A Place to Call Home? Pg 3: Pioneers Pg 4: Cincinnati Shelter Helps Homeless Vets Find Hope Pg 5: The Man in the Gutter Pg 6: DLOP Takes on Labor Works Ghetto Rats Pg 7: Celebrate Mother’s Day for Homeless Children and Their Moms Pg 8: Mother’s Day Pg 9: I Love a Parade Pg 10: Homeless News Digest Pg 12: About the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes Pg 13: Iraq’s Homeless Poor Crushed by War’s Aftermath The Rich Act Different Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Matt Cohen Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Cincinnati DLOP Georgine Getty Homeless News Digest Iraq Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Justice System Linda Pittman Lynne Ausman Matt Cohen Melvin Williams Mother’s Day Parade veterans War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/d3a643c87f6d4d0a07d5bc2699e61a49.pdf a69c594bb03d7e98cbad19ca3c894681 PDF Text Text Vendor Artwork -page 8 and9 THE TRJ-STATE'S ALTERNATIVE NEWS SOURCE ·'Lion" by Orlando Craig www.ciucihomeless.org Children's Creative A little paint, some imagination and a lot o.ffun 8v A NDREW f REEZE that "there were not a lot of coming to create art, hang out STAFF WRITER tilings for kids to doan1ightand ru1d beoutside. not a lot of As the weatl1er cooled T t's five till 6 on a Monday th.ings that "They are never down. lnight, and kids of all ages were orga­ the pro­ bored, they stay gram moved started gathering at buddy's nizedjustfor kids." Haigh out of trouble and from Washing­ place. "What aie we painting to­ says, They ton Park to they get to hang night?" Kameron asks Josh enl isled the Peaslee Neigh­ out with other kids help of borhood CenSpring Spring, resident seivice co­ Laura and in the neighbor­ ter. It stayed at ordinator at Over-the-Rhine K a r a Peaslee from hood." Comnumity Housing(OTRCH). Mc Neel, October to De­ - Tonya [(JWieilce saw a need for "a place where who were cember and kids·could.express themselves exci ted to then moved to buddy"s place. and an outletto talk about what share their art expertise. was h<~)pening in dieir neighbor­ The resident services pro­ Theall-volunteergroupthat hood." He and Bill Haigh, aresi­ gramatOTRCH helps re..<>idents works wiih the kids saw a need clent ofOver-the-Rhine,noticed with finances, emotional assis­ for more mies and more orga­ tance, as well as nization. They started having classes on resumes monthly plann ing sessions to and inte~'iews. flesh out ideas. "It is unique to Tonva -. Lawrence has three us; · Sprin·g says. kids who parli.cipate every "Most places fulfill week. the role of bricks "They love it." shesays. ''It and mortar. We gives tl1em s.omething to do on wai1t tojoin people Monday and Wednesday in lire." nighlS." What began as She heard about the pro­ Art in the Park in grmn when it was at Peaslee July 2007 has Neigh borhood Center; her grown steadily over three kids have been coming the past year. At ever since. Her kids enjoy first, the class was "drawing and paii1ting imd love split into two seeing their work hang in tbe groups, 4- to 7- windows." Lawrence says. year-olds ru1d 8 and Many ofthe children who older. The group participate are st udents at had almost 30 kids Rotl1enbergPreparatory Acad­ every Monday and emy. Working with many ofthe II piece (Jfscrop u·oa<l work,<petfec:tlyfor (Jfl Wednesday nighi, students ''has allowed us to art pall!lfl!. Pho1~ by ~r11dre1•' 1l11cfcrson. "Poom Poom "enjoys her painting with a little as.sistance from Dierdre Gorman. Photo by Andrew Anderson. work closely on education is­ sues that many ofthe.fami lies deal with in our community," Haigh says. Lawrencesays hc.r children love coming. "It's great" shesays."They are never bored, they stay out oftrouble and tl1ey get to hang out with other kids in the neigh­ borhood." The program continuesev­ ery week. according to Spring, because "the dedicated volun­ teers religiously show up at 6 and because the kids make it strong.,, On April 21, the kids painted a chair. Next week, as they begin gathering outside buddy's place they will certainly be ask ing, "What are we paint­ il)gtonight?" lnrerested in vohrnteerlng or donofing qrt supplies? Co111ac1 Bill Ffaigh or .Josh Spra~ at 313-381 -1171. 'At Ease' for the Homeless For n1any, annual Stand Down brings relief "It's about getting help for optioas out there for so many." CONTRIBUTING WRITER people in onespot at one time," The Homeless Veteran Re­ he said. ~People who don 't integration Program of Ohio ohn Briggs has been work know they' re eligible for one ValleyGooclwill Industries hosts mgforOluo ValleyGooclw1LI thing find outthey·re eligiblefor this e~'elll each year in Cincin­ in Cincinnati forover 20 years. three tilings. There are so mru1y nati to draw attention to the One of his primary jobs is lo bring various agencies toged1er "It's about getting help for people in to help the homeless, and the one spot at one time, " - J ohn Briggs, Stand annual Stand Dov1n is one ofhis Dow n Volunteer favorite events. .Bv .L ARRY J GROSS needs of homeless veterans. While the event is geared to­ ward veterans, all who are homeless are.welcome. The phase "stand down" comesfrom an old military tenn relating to tin1e d1atmilitary per­ sonnel have to attend to per­ sonal needs. Itmeans "atease." Despite a steady. cold rain that fell all day April II , over 380 people attended Stand D0wn, held at Mercy Frm1ciscan at Sl John in Over­ tlie-Rhine. All received bagels, coffeeand donuts for breakfast. Lunch was a free chicken din­ ner from Lee's. Volunteers from more tl1an 30 service providers spent the day helping tl1e homeless- giv­ ing medical exams, checking hlood pressure. distributing free underwear mid conductingeye exan1s. See page 4 �Streetvibes l 17East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 phone: (513) 421-7803x12 fax: (513) 421-7813 streetvibes2@yahoo.com www.cincihomcless.org May 2008 Our Mission Streetvibes is anewspaper that provides relevant discussions of homelessness, poverty and other related social justice issues. It is published once a month by the GreaterCincinnati Coalition for -the Homeless. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group ofshelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homeless in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. Our Vendors Streetvi bes Staff Editor STREETVIBES About Us 2 STREETVIBES ' Alfred Woolfolk Anthony \.Vi Ilia ms ~. ~, ;,.. . . . . . ' ... "-~- J . Antonio Hodge Berta Lambert Cleo \.Vomblcs David Watkins Quiotion Williams J on Darby J osephine Baskerville Ne ll \Villiams Tonia Haley GREGORY FLANNERY Contributing Writers GREC OW<HOVSl<Y, Mlo-tA~L H ENSON, STEVE SUNDERLAND, ANDREW FREEZE, ARDELLA WOOLENS, Al..YSSt\ .\ 'l ark Shears Grady Cook James Bybee Juli e Walker Leonard Jackson Mark Cam pbell Raeshawn Gipson Riccardo Taylor Sam Jackson Silvia Collins Tony Drummond Raynard J ones Kenneth Stonitscb John Gai nes Terrence Williams Charles Cole Milton Hawkins James DanyoII l<ONERMANN, KATHY H OLWAOEL, LYNNE AUSMAN, PATRJOA GARRY, BILL G ALLAGHER, L ARRY CRl:>SS, BRIAN CARRY, G EORGINE GE-n'Y, JOAN TIFFANY THOMPSON, AM;ELA PANCfil.LA, C AROLYN COSMOS, 1\ND ELIZABETH BROWN Photography ANIYREW ANOEHSON, BERTA LAMBERT 6 6N L. KAUFMAN, AND JIMMY HEATH Artwork ANTOl\.~0 !iODGE ANTHONYWILUAMS 0RtANDOCRAlC Advisory Committee }OE W ESELS, STEVE NOVOTNl, A NDREW FREEZE, G EORGINE CEITY, MICHAEL H ENSON, STEPHANIE D vNLAP, STEVE Cmss Cover SINCERE AND l<AMERON WORK ON PAINTING A CHAIR DlJRINC CHD..DREN'S CRJ:ATrVE CORNElt PHOTO BY ANDREW ANDERSON. We are members of: Donate to Streetvibes Them.ore support we li(lve from the'community, tbefarther our effr>rtsJeach. Our work is pgssible only wjtb the help ofgenerous indivJduaJ gifts. Norlh American Street Newspaper Associ.ation Please consider making a contri.bution today! JN SP _/ lnf'ernational Nelwork of Streel Papers Cit:y I S.tate/ Zip: _ _ _ _ _ _ __ I I 1 : Enclosecl is .my ta".•deductible contribution of: : l $<25 $50 $'100 $150 Other $_ I Or make checks paya~lero: I I You <:<1n donate on line Streetvibes I WYt'W.cincih<Jmele;;s.org 117 East 12tll Street, I Cincinnati, OH4$202 I I Tha)l k you for giving generously.! I ~-~---------~------------------~----~-----~ �STREETVIBES May 2008 The Vibe 3 Reserving the Banks for the Wealthy New neighborhood was supposed to include all classes City Club. "The BoardofWoman's City local faith groups represented by the at GBBN ArchitectsInc. and a member Club voted on April 23 to encourage Amos Project and various labor unions, ofthe board ofthe U.S. Green Building CONTRIBUTING W RJTERS Cincinnati and Hamilton County to in­ held a press conference at the stadium. CouncilofCincinnati, worries that there e long-awaited Banks Project cludeamixed-income community in their Irvineservedon the inclusion Policy will be a place for low-income people s once again the subject of vision ofthe Banks project" Committee, which formed to write the at The Banks: Theycan work there, but eated debate. Some envision liveelsewhere. housing atThe Banks as exclusive, with "Sustainability can be measured in " ... Those that inhabit affordable housing in the only upper-crust individuals welcome to three symbiotic terms:environment,eco­ community would likely be the service workers Iive there.Others imagineThe Banks as nomics and equity," Warner says i.n an for the businesses of The Banks." amixed-incomecommunity,open to au. e-mail to Streetvibes. "Here at The - Alan J. Warner, architect What remains open for discussion Banks, the environmental component is is whose vision will be enacted in the primarilyaddressed by the achievements end - a complex debate that spans Often the recipient of venomous inclusion policyforthe Banks. Therewas ofgreening the project. As to the eco­ public policy, racism, classism and ulti­ criticism,Section8housing is also known plenty ofdiscussion to support mixed nomics component, does the business mately the ideologyofCincinnatians. as HousingChoice Vouchers. Provided income at The Banks, she says. plan for The Banks incorporate ' afford­ The Banks, an ambitious develop­ by the federal government, the vouch­ "When the Port Authorityoriginally able' housing?That is unlikely. But the mentspanning IS acres on Cincinnati's ers make up the difference between 30 planned the Banks project in the 1990s, real issue is one ofsocial equity. Are OhioRiver bank, has brokenground­ percent ofalow-income family's income there was a stipulation that it was to be people ofall demographic groups able and broken the peace, thanks to com­ and the fair market rate ofthe housing in amixed incomecomnumity,"Irvinesays. to liveand work within the commw1ity? ments from Pete Witte, a memberofthe which they live. Section 8 has served to "The NAACP unanimously passedsup­ 1bose that inhabitaffordable housing in board of the Cincinnati Metropolitan provide housing for more than I0,000 port for the creation of an ordinance the community would Iikely be the ser­ Housing Authority (CMHA). Witte has ofthe I7S,000 citizens living under the which states, 'In the residential real es­ vice workers for the businesses ofThe suggested that housing at The Banks poverty line in Hamilton County. tate developments where the city ofCin­ Banks." Elizabeth Brown is the director of cover a rangeofincomes, including fed­ "Cincinnati has lost vast mm1bers of cinnati is involved,20 percent ofrental erally subsidized housing, lmownasSec­ affordable units," says Karla Irvine, a is SO percentofthe median income. For Housing Opportunities Made Equal tion 8. veteran housing expert and housing di­ home ownership, 20 percent should be (HOME), an organizationcommittedto "I believe that all neighborhoods in rector for the NAACP, "and Section 8 at 80 percent ofthe median income.'" ending housingdiscrimination. What dis­ the city ofCincinnati should be mixed helps fill that gap." Jim Clingman, economic develop­ turbs Brown about the way this discus­ income," he says. "lfwe intend to have The board ofCMHA voted April ment chair for the NAACP, also served sion has playedout in the media isn't the a truly diverse equitable city, then we IS to urge the city and cotmty to include on the Inclusion Policy Committee. inaccuracies and faulty memoriesofthe need to work at making all neighbor­ acomponentofaffordable housing in The "This country has fought long and politicians, but the hatred ofaffordable hoods safe, clean environments for all Banks. It met with resotmding criticism hard to stop segregation (by race and housing in the general public. income classes to live, work and play. from Mayor Mark Mallory and many class) in housingand in scl100ls," he says. "This is a policy issue," she says. With the huge publicsubsidygoing into county commissioners and city council The Banks, it would only make sense members, who claim that this demand "This is a policy issue. Unfortunately, it's also that this new large-scale development was too late and that they were "blind­ an issue of hate. The media in this town is sided" by it would be open to all incomes." demonizing the poor... " Mallory has been a supporter of - Elizabeth Brown, Director ofHOME mixed-income commtmities in the past. Check the history What makes The Banks different? Regular citizensare chimingin. The "We don't need to start the conver­ "Creating an exclusive community on "Unforttmately, it's also an issueofhate. Cincinnati Enquirer blog posted more sation regarding low-income housing The Banks is tantamount to returning to 1be media in this town is demonizing the than SO pages ofcomments, most of with the Banks project," Mallory says. the days when there was legal segrega­ poor, and not just in the form ofpublic them negative, about the inclusion ofaf­ "There are plentyofaffordable housing tion. The results are the same." commentson the Enquirer's blog.They fordable housing in The Banks opporttmities throughout the city." are also printingletters to the editorand On the other end of the debate, He then cited CMHA's failure to Welcome to work only guest editorials that present the poor as mainstream civic groups such as the complete the City West project - tm­ ' scum' and 'vennin.' We need to beable After the NAACP 's 2006 press to have a public policy discussion with­ Woman's City Club have offered their occupied storefronts, displacement of support formakingThe Banks a mixed­ people from Lincoln Homes and Laurel conference, the Affordable HousingAd­ outdegrading to this level." Also at stake is the issue ofsubsi­ incomecommunity. Homes- as well as their destruction of vocates (AHA) - a group ofhousing "Wefonned in 191 S,in part, to work English Woods and failure to replace providers, advocates and consumers dies The Banks has amassed quite asum dedicated to the goal ofensuring good, ofsubsidies in the form ofgifts ofland, on housing issues," says Kathy those units. Helmbock, board chairofthe Woman's The numbers for The Banks num­ safe, accessible, affordable housing for free parking garages and several other bers are already run, and that CMHA is all people in Southwest Ohio - voted " perks" that come directly from tax­ Mayor Mark Mallory. Photo courtesy too late to be a part of this conversa­ to support the NAACP's vision and payerdollars. ofcity ofCincinnati. formed a committee to look at tion, Mallorysays. "The Banks should be inclusive all "I'm opposing this becauseoftheir inclusionary housing in111e Banks. The the way from the workers to the owners timing and appropriateness," he says. committee included DonaldTroendle, of the businesses to those who live "Others are in opposition to Section 8 then director ofCMHA, as well as rep­ there," Clingmansays. "The developers Housing and I don 't agree with that" resentatives from The Banks. AHA was are inclusive as to their sources of rev­ Buttimingshouldn't bean issue.After repeatedly assured since 2006 that the enue, wh ich comes from all ofus tax­ all, the 1999 concept paper by Jack inclusion ofaftbrdable housingw0ttld not payers across the board, so they should Rouse, the business leader who devel­ be a problem. be inclusive as to who benefits from the oped the ideaofThe Banks, envisioned What wasn' t discussed in as much finished Banks project." it as "a mixed income neighborhood." detail were the complicated details of Brown points to the glaring ironyof Further, in 2006, the NAACP got how to make that happen. Optionscould the debate. " It seems strange that people don't involved with makingsure the develop­ include w1its being purchased and main­ ment included minorities.At that time the tained by CMHA for their low-income mind taxpayer dollarssubsidizinghous­ NAACP also expressed its dedication clients (project-based units) or the use ing forwealthy people, butthey do mind to The Banks being a mixed-income ofvouchers. taxpayer dollars subsidizing housing for neighborhood. The NAACP, as well as Alan J. Warner, principal architect poor people,"she says. BY BRMN GAR.RY Ti & GEORGINE Gl\TTY �4 Local News STREETVIBES May 2008 'At Ease' for the Homeless continued from page 1 ··we had awoman come in who had lost her gla'lSes,"Briggssrud. "It's.a Iittle hard totind a job when you don' t have your glasses. We got her a prescription that day:· Nurse Lori Blackburn ass isted the homeless who have diabetes. Shetested blood sugar levels and got insulin for those who needed it. uDiabetes is a majorproblemfor ihe homeless," 131ackbum Said. "It's not al­ ways possible for them to be eating the kinds offood they should. Donuts are easy to come by, but not always fruits and vegetables." Another service provided byStimd Down is assisting in finding housing forpeopleout on tl1e street. Martl1a had been home­ less Since early Jfilluary. She and her 1S~year-old daugh­ ter, were staying at th e YV.lCA Battered Women·s Shelter. Martl1asaid her boy­ friend broke her daughter·s ribs and she ·•wanted to get away from tl1atsituationfast" On Apri l 11, because of Stand Down, Martha is no longer homeless. She's found housing and now lives in Price Hill. "TI1is is a god-send," she said.'Tmso glad Icame here today." Love Anderson is a vet­ eran who gotout ofthe ser­ vice in 2000. She has two children, ages 3 months and 7 years. " Ineed to figure out how not 10 be home less," she said as she entered Mercy Franciscan. "I.ve been homeless for about a week." Tall, wllh slicked-back black hair. she had acell-phone receiver in her ear. " I know I don't iit the typical pic­ ture," Anderson said. " I can·t explain how this happened to me, but I didn ' t see it coming." For those auending Stand Down, being homeless means notbeing typical. Participants came from all kinds of backgrounds and in all colors, shapes has been so wort11wh~e.·· and sizes. Most could walk.Some were Asked whatservices he's interested in wheelc.hairs.A few had anns or legs in, he laughed. missing, and one ofthem had his ann in "1 need it al l," Page said. a sling after being shot on a downtown ~10 .find but 111ore aho111 the ,\'t!rvlr.:es (Jj' Strl;!el. Ohio 1/(11/ey Goodll'i!l lmlustries /11 Ci11ci11­ Page didn' t offer his last name but nn1i, \'isit u·u·w•. «incbutqttgotJchvjll.ctnn, was clearly happy to beat StandDown. Despite having a damaged Jell am1. he was all smiles. Sumd Down bring.y a sense of ·'Jt's nice to talk to people l'ace to COl/llllllnity. PluHON hyAndrt'll' face," Page said."[l's much better than AufltirS«)ll. trying to get help over the phone. This No Wonder the Jail is Overcrowded f{an1ilton County likes to lock 'em up Bv L YNNEAUSMAN STAFF WRITER r the past two years, campaigns o build a newjail and campaigns o halt those plans have been un­ de1way ia HamiltonCounty. The first campaign,spearheaded by former Cotmty Commissioner Phil Heimlich, was a plan to build ajail­ brick5 and bars only. Ln November 2006, voters defeated tl1e quarter-cent sales tiu< increase to pay for a newjail, by a margin of 57 percent to 43 per­ cent. The second campaign, led by com­ missioners Todd Pomme and David Pepper, proposed a comprehensive public safety plan that included a new jail butalso created more specialized treatment and re-entry progrnms. ln .May 2007, voters turned down the sec­ ond newjail proposal. During both campaigns, a new po­ litical action committee formed to op- R pose the tax levies lo build a new jail. The No Jail Tax PAC waged a grassroots campaign to encourage vot­ ers to turn down botl1tmdevies. Activ­ ists held Signs oa streetcorners, partici­ pated ia neighborhood parades and col­ lected signatures to put a repeal ofthe sales.tax,, enacted by Po11tmc and Pep­ per, on the ballot. The.Justice Policy Lnstitute, a pub­ lic-policy re.search institute tliat advo­ cates alternatives to incarceration, re­ cently released astudy, "'Jailing Com­ munities: The ImpactofJail Expansion and .Effi:c,tive Public Safety Strategies." Using data from the U.S. Depart­ ment ofJ ustice, ihestudy examined the 50 largestjails ia the UnitedStates. One ofthem was tl1e Hamilton Cow1t)' Jus­ tice Center. HamiltonCountyis the59tb largest co1mty in the nation, but has tl1e 46'" largestjail population. Thus the Jus­ tice Center ranks amongsome ofjails in the nation's large.st metropolitan com­ nnmities, such as New York, Los.Ange- Jes and Chicago. 111e average national incarceration rate is about 256 per I00,000 people. Incarceration rales in New York, Los Angelesand Chicagoare al lwell below the national average. Hamilton County's incarceration rate is 291 per I00,000 people: above the nationalaverage. The report points out that high in­ carceration rates don 't translate into low violent-crime rares. In fact, the oppo­ site is true. New YorkCity, for example, has the secondlargestjail system In the county but has one ofthe lowest incar­ ceration rates-and a declining vio­ lent-crimerate. ·'These countiesjust cannot afford to invest tl1e bulk of their local pubIic safety budget injails, and we are begin­ ning to se.e why-the more a commu­ nity relies onjails, lhe less it has 10 invest in education, employment and proven pubIicsafety strategies..,says Nastassia Walsh, co-autl1or ofthe report. Forthe2008 Hamilton County Bud­ get, 71percentofthegeneral tund is al­ located tojudicial administration and publicsafety.The 2008 Budget in Brief reports says. 'Though the county funds numerous acti vities that intervene proactively to address the root causes ofctime, the majority ofthe general fund is related to the consequences ofcrime: theprosecution crfcrimes (prosecutor's, public defender's and coroner's omces). tl1e adjudication ofcrimes(county courts and clerkofeourts) and ll1e dete111ion of inmates (sheriff's oflice)." The county has only b(1dge1ed 0.9 percent of the general fund for social services and 0.3 foreronomicdevelop­ ment Thestudy by the Justice Policy ln­ stitutedoes give us someoptions to con­ sider, such as addressing ~'Time at a com­ munity level, releasing-more individuals while they await trial.and freeing upjail space by reJerririg mental ly ill and ad­ dicted individuals to community-based servicesand treatment. Finally, thestudy suggestsreal locating money to help fund "education, employment, and housing. Research has shown that education, employment, drug treatment, healtl1 care, and the availability ofaffordable hous­ ingcoincide with lower crime rates." �STREETVIB ES May 2008 Local News 5 This Thing We Do Advocates .for the horneless take stock and recomniit Bv GREGORY FtANl'IERY Eo1r OR d~ed progress and the urency offighting on were the emes attbe annual meetingof the Greater Cincirn1ati Coalition for the ffomeless, heldMarch27 at the Church ofthe Redeemer in Hyde Park. Last year tens of thousands of people in Greater Cinciru1ati learned aboutll1est111ggle against homelessness, according to Georgine Getty. executive directorofthe l'Jomeless Coalition. KeynotespeakerMargoPierce, a staffwriter for CityBeat, reminded the coalition of the Iile-and-death nature ofits work. "It's usually not malice orgi·eed that we ligh~ butignonmce," Gettysaid. ··we fight comfort. Wefight against complacency and people who don' t see, because they don't have to. Aud we know we can win this fight, because wasn 't there a time when we were all there, blissti1lly ignonmt, burwith a nagging in our gut that toldus there was something wrong? Weren't we all !here until someone nudged us, switched us on? Don't we all continue to grow 1md learn'/" That, ofcourse. is the central missionoftl1e HomelessCoalition-to help the larger soeiety learn about the complexities ofthe crisis in housing. Getty detailed thateffort: • ln 2007, the Voice ofthe Homeless speakers bureau reached 5,500 people at 116 speaking engagements in 2007. • The Homeless Curriculmn, de­ signed by a teacher for teachers, is now in use by more than 40 high schools, colleges and organizations. • Vendors sold 38,000 copies of Streetvibes, the coalition's monthly newspaper, last year- and the growth continued in the first quarter·of2008. "This month also marked the very first month in the historyofStree.tvibes where we actually sold out ofpapers," Gertysaid. • A new program coordinated by the Homeless Coalition. Cincinnati Ur­ ban Experience, gave college students analtemativewaytospendspringbreak. "Instead ofdrinking until they puke in Fort Lauderdale, college students come to Over-the-Rhine for a foll week ofvolunteering and reflection.... The results have been overv1helmiugly posi­ tive, with students promising to take what they've learned back to their home communities," Gettysaid. Pierce, too, tatked about worl..ing to educate the pubIic, descnbing the role ofadvocacy journalism. She opened with a terse description ofihe last days and hours ofan Ohio prisoner about to be executed, then talked about the need to tell readers about the issue. ln case the point were missed, she talked about the link between poverty mid Deatl1 Row. "I haven ' t had the courage to look at the statistics to find out how many people on Death Row were homeless at the time of their conviction or who have been homelessatsome pointin their lives," Pierce said. "1don't know ifthat infomiation is even available. but I will find out. What 1do know is that mostof the people on Death Row, the majority ofwhom areAJiicanAu1erican men. fall into tlie category of· indigent.' "A conunent l 1ecently heard from a senior about to graduate from law school sums up ihe situation in achilling yet ac­ curate way: ' Capital ptmislunent is for those who don'thave capital.' " It is for those who don ' t have ac- i\1argo Pierce. key11ote speaker al tlte GCCH Annual Meeting, discussed advocacyjournalism as a tool 10 educale people abo111 !he realities of1he world we !J've in. P/1010 by Be11 L. Ko,,f 111c111. Georgine Gelf)1, executive director qf GCCH. recapped the year and reenergized the group to cominue theirfight. Pt1oto by 8.:n L. Kal!fi11a11. ccss to drug treatment. It is for those who don't have access to mental health services. It is for those who don't have access to adequate food. clothing and shelter. Capital punishment is for your clients, and that is beyond pathetic. It's inexcusable." Ofc.ourse, homeless people ex1>c­ rience the tyranny oftl1e criminaljustice system in little ways. too, according to Getty. She discussed the study "CriminalizationofHomeless Individu­ als in Cincinnati," release.ct by the Home­ less Coalition lastyear. "The study identified 840 people who were homeless and involved in the jail system," Getty said. "Seventy-two percentofthe charges againsthomeless individuals were misdemeanors includ­ ingsitting, ' dumpster diving,' spitting, public urination, Iittering, loitering, pan­ handling, lreSpas:;ing and disorderly con­ duct. The bigwinner ofbomclesscrimes is open flask, accounting for 50 percent of homeless arrests." Ignoring that phenomenon comesat a high cost ··At a cost of$65 per night in jail, the report tracked 53 individuals who were arrested six or more times during ayear and estimated that ll1escindividu­ als could have cost the county $4.2 mil­ lion dollars," Getty said. Both speakers closed by thankiJ1g the people and agencies who serve the homeless- and urging them to carry on. "I wish tl1ere were no need for ad­ vocacyjournalism," Piercesaid. "Butas long as there is and long as people Iike you who do what you do. I 'II continue to do my damneclesrto get the words of your clients in front ofthe people who need them." Thegoal?Tomakcthework forthe Homeless Coalition a thing ofthe p!!St "'We may be tiny and grungy and grassroots and loud," Getty said. "But we're al l diat toged1er, walkiJJg towards a solution so that our children, grand­ children or maybe even great~grandchil­ dren can ask us with wide eyes, 'What was that th ing you used to do? Homelessness? What the hell wasthat?" Do you have trouble reading? Seeing people's faces? Doing everyday tasks? There is hope. There is help. We can help you or someone you know who has: •No Vision • Loss of Some Vision • I/"; Cincinnati Association for the , ,'-' Blind & Visually Impaired ~ 2045 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202 A not-for-profit agency For information call 513-221-8558 and ask for Adrianne. �Community News 6 Crazy Justice Expecting tougher laws to reduce crime is insane B Y B ILL G ALLAGHER CONTRIBUTING WRITER ome have defined insanity as continuing to engage in the same behavior but expectingadifferent result. This definition would allow every taxpayer to label our criminal justice system"insane" as it confronts theworld ofdmg-related offenses. Ever-increasing penalties, increased incarceration rates, longer sentences, removal of prison programs and property forfeitures have had a major impacton the numberofpeopleentering the courts and prisons for drug-related offenses. Nationally we have over2.2 million people incarcerated. We have the greatest incarcerationrate in the world. In December 2007, the Ohio Department ofCorrections surpassed the 50,000 mark for its incarcerated population. It now is slightly below the 50,000mark but there is every indication the number wi ll continue to rise. Ohio has the seventh fastest-growing prison population ofthe 50 states. In Ohio,allfelony crimes are placed in one of five categories of severity. (Murder has aseparate classification)A "felony one" has the greatest level of punishment and a"felonyfive" tl1e least. Most nonviolentfelonies are found in tl1e felony four or five categories, where prison may be possible up to 18 months. Rapes, violent offenses, serious drug offense, burglary, robbery are generally found to be at the felony two or one levels, where prison is generally S mandatory and may reach I0 years for a single charge but can exceed one's natural life ifmultipleacts orcrimes are charged. The widely held beliefis ourprisons are filled witli violent offenders who need to be removed from our midst. The increasing rate ofincarceration is aresult ofa never-end ing escalation ofviolent behaviorthatmustbemetwith increased severity. But this is not factual. Violent crime has beenon the decline locally and nationally for more than I0 years. In Ohio, over 55 percent of all personreceived into prisonin 2007 were for felony4 or 5offenses. Dmgoffenses account for over 33 percent of all persons incarcerated. This does nottake into account the offenses committed while intoxicated or seekingto satist)1a need for drugs. Sixt)'-seven percent of all persons currently incarcerated in Ohio are serving a sentence ofless than one year. The cost in Ohio to run the DepartmentofCorrections in 2007 was over $1.7 billion. It cost the taxpayers of this state over $25,000 per inmate incarcerated in 2007. The rate ofviolentoffenses has been on tl1e decline in diis stateand nationally since 1991, yet the number ofpersons in prison has grown by over 50 percent in that time. This has an impacton more than just the inmate, but also on their families, the community and the surrounding area. Less than one-half of the inmates released last year were employed at the end of 2007. After dra ining the state of resources for incarceration on a nonviolentoffense,less STREETVIBES May 2008 than one-half ofthose released are in a different approach. In order to qualify, position to contribute to the general funds one must have a low-level, possessory of our cities, counties and country drug offense. There must not be any through employment,taxes and taxable history ofviolence.This is true even if spending. the violence weredmg driven orclearly The refusal of policy makers to symptomaticoftliediseaseofaddiction. recognizethe tmevalueofdmgtreatment In some cases, the prosecutor has veto in placeofincarceration is insane. While powerover entrance into the program. the inlmediate inlpactofincarceration has A person dealing insmall quantities to its effect, there is little long-term benefit. supportahabit is denied admittance into Study after study proves conclus ively drug court, as are the petty thief and what we know in our hearts: Treatment vandal. works. Long-term,supervisedtreatment The insanity of our policies is more than a cheaper alternative to concerning low-level nonviolent incarceration. It is also an investment in offenders is ever-present Recently, ourcommunities. State Sen. William Rand Corp. Seitz (R-Green Study after study studies in the Township) 1990s estimated introduced a bill, proves conclusively SB320, wh ich that every $1 what we know in our invested in would increase the hearts: Treatment treatment led to penalties for collateral savings persons convicted works. of stealing more of$7 to taxpayers. A sober person is than $500 in a more likely to work, pay taxes, commit year. This bill aims to confrontorganized fewer ifany crimes, not be incarcerated rings ofshoplifters but is not limited to and requ ire less medical attention. them. A person who shoplifts over a Incarceration has no positive impact periodofmonthscan now face I0 years other tllan forestallingcriminal activity in prison with no possibilityofprobation. during the time one is locked up. What used to carry six to 12 months in The refusal to alter policy in jail now might result in adecade.Sane? "Tough oncrime" is a saying used in addressing drug offenses and drug­ motivatedcrinle has additional collateral everyelection to indicate a candidate is damage. There is the erosion ofcivil serious about crime and the effects it has liberties, the increase ofdrug-related on each of us. However, once elected, harm such as HTV infections and the there is never aserious discussionon how effect on the famil ies of those to properly address the crime that allects incarceratedas aresult ofa failed policy. us the most. The "tough" discussion Ohio has in place "dmg courts" as a involves understanding the problem, mechanism to address offenders in need identifyingsolutionsthat work and then oftreannent This program,started in tile instituting policies that will achieve mid- l990s, has had a positive impact success. on many who have passed through it. Bill Gallagher is chair ofthe However, these"specialty courts" come Indigent Defense Committee ofthe Ohio Association ofCriminal nowhere near handling the number of offenders who could benefit from a Defense Lawyers. Making Birthdays Heavenly at Our Daily Bread B Y JOAN TIFFANY THOMPSON AND ANGELA PANCELLA When Our Daily Bread first began, and when the population ofpeople we served was smaller, once a month we made a large birthday cake, enough to feedeveryo1ie. Those who had birthdays that month were first to be served and received large pieces. Today, with 350-400 guests dai ly, it's been a challengeto provide recogni­ tion Iike that, but we don't want our guests' birthdays to go unnoticed. We know the birthdays ofthose of ourguests who fill outour twice-a-year surveys. David Carlson, a longtime vol­ unteerand neighborhood resident, makes amonthly poster listing tllose birthdays we know about The poster is up right by our front door, so olten our guests will write their birthdays on it ifwe' ve missed them. In our last newsletter, weexplained that we wished to honor ourguests in a new way, and tllat we wanted help. We included a quote from the Hasidic Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson: "Be­ cause time itselfis like a spiral, some­ thingspecial happens on your birthday eachyear: thesame energy that God in­ vested in you at birth is present once again." Then we asked, "Are you the birthday angel who feels called to help us with this project?" Six wonderful friends ofOur Daily Bread have respon ded: Ruthie Brunsman, a longtime donor; David Carlson; Katie Klug, who has been vol­ unteering since she was a student at Purcell Marian High School- she's now rearranged her work schedule so she can come volunteer every week; Lela Foley, a parishioner at Bellarrnine -she got involved withanother project ofours, a fundraising cookbook, after seeing anote in her bulletin;, Bev Miller, whose late father, Clete Baumer, was a devoted donor; and Leanne Waid, who works full-time but loves crafting and watercoloring-she'Ube workingfrom home on cards for our guests. Here's how our "birthday angels" projectwill work. We' ll coUect surveys from ourguests about their birthdaysand a few other pieces ofinformati on. On the firstTuesday ofevery month, start­ ingJune J at 12:30p.m. - before Bingo - our birthday angels will pass out jumbo frosted cupcakes with a candle on eachone. We' ll give a personalized birthday card and a small gift as well. We will all sing "Happy Birthday" and ask our guests to make wishes as they blowout theircandles. We hope our guests will feel asspe­ cial as we think they are. �STREETVIBES Community News May 2008 7 Attacking the Hate crimes report showed increase in 2007 Bv GREG O LKF1ovsKv STAFF WRJTER 2007, 16 1l1omeless people were iolently attacked in the Un ited tatcs, resulting in 31 deaths. The number ofattacks against the homeless increased 12 percentfrom the previous year. Last month the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) and the Na­ tional Law Centeron Homelessnessand Poverty released Hate. Violen,·e and E Deathon Main Street USA: A Report on Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness 2007. Th.is annual reportbegan in 1999 and continues to serve as both an in­ valuable source ofinformation and an honest rem ioder oftbe unfortunate re­ alities ofhomelessoess. On August 7, 2007, Cincinnati ex­ perienced what ~\1as classifiedat the time as its first documented hate crime in two years. Geraldine Beasley, 62, shot 44­ ycar-old Donald Francis in the face.al: ter he asked her for a quarter. But.pros­ ecutors later concluded the l1omicide resulted from adispute over panhandling tenitory. Last month Beasley received nine years furvoluntary manslaughter. Between Febniaryand May2007, young men with baseball bats and pipes beat at least six homeless people in Cleveland lo early April, teenage boys anued wiU12x4 piecesofwoodsavagely beat, robbed and set ablaze the camp ofa39-year-oldhomelcss pt.'fSOO sleep­ ing under a bridge. On May 11, sLx meu bmtally attacked a homeless couple ru1d stole their puppy. In Akron on July 21, two people, ages 19 and 22, were arrested for throwiog rocks, shooting BB guns and setting the clothes on fire oftwo home­ less men, age.s 50 and 68. Eradicating homelessness is the mis­ sion ofthe National Coalition for tbc Homeless, which is comprisedofho.me­ less people. formerly homeless people, advocates, activists, community-based and faith-based service providers. Foui1ded i:o 1982, the NCH is ..com­ mittedto creating 1hcsyste01icand atti­ tudinal cbanges nea:ssary topreventru1d endhomelessness.'' Tbe National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) is the only national legal advocacy orga­ nization com mitted to ending homelessness before it starts. 111e NLCHP sends attorneys into court­ rooms and speaks to legislatorsto pro­ tect the homeless and tbcir rights. Lack ofaffordable bousing, over­ crowded shelter space, lacko(jobs and low payingjobs are many reasons wby people sleep outside. nie homeless who optto spend the night outdoorsare most vulnerable. Forty-four percent oft:bc homeless are unsheltered, according to 1he U.S. Deparuncni of Housing and Urban Development. Some cities andstates have helped the homeless by enacting harsher pun­ isbmcnts for attackers. Butmany other cities and states have implementedlaws speci.ficallyagainstd1e homeless. Laws across the country include measures that have ''restrictedsleeping, sitting, storing property and asking for money in public." Such laws dehuman­ ize 1he homeless andsuggest that crimes committed against them wilJ not be treated seriously. Hate crime.~ against the homeless happen all over the UnitedStates. How­ ever, 51,)me st11tes reportedJnore attacks than others. In 2007, Florida led every state, with 32 attacks. 111 second place was California, which had 24 homeless attacks. Nevada reported 14 attacks, ranking third. Ohio, with 13 attacks on the homeless, was fourth Last year. An overwhelming majority ofthe predators are young men between the ages ofl3 and 19 and are respons ible for63 percentofreportedattacks. Kids as young as I0 have engaged in ahome­ less attack. An alarming 86 percent of U1ose who have bee11 accused or con­ victed.were 25 years and younger. The most chilling a~pect ofthe hate cdnkl$ repo1t is the conunon motives that the perpetrators ofter. "The attackers repeatedly cited dleir motive ofattack as boredom, commit­ ting U1e crimes for the -dll'ilr or ' fun,' because the victim is homeless or per­ haps even more harrowing, because they simply ·can,· " the report says. 1-1ieJ1ate crimes report proposes: • supporting H.R. 2216 and H.R. 2217, two bills before U1e U.S. House ofRepresentativesd1atwmtld add home­ less status to the HateCrimes Statistics Act and U1c Violent Crime Control and Law EnforcementAct • supporting state legislative ef­ forts to add homeless persons as a pro­ tected class in hate-crime statutes. • engagingin publiceducation ini­ tiatives in schools to educate young people about homelessness and to hu­ manize homeless neighbors;and • advocating for more affordable hOLL~ingand pem1anentsuppnrtive l10tL~­ ing to bring an end to homelessness. WHAT'S AT STAKE? JOIN US for DAYS OF DIALOGUE. What better time than an election year to dialogue on the critical issues that affect us all Education May 17 OUR PURPOSE is to create an environment where people with differing views can listen and be listened to, and civil discourse can occur. WHEN: Each dialogne will be held on Saturdays from 9am to 12 noon WHERE: First Unitarian Church (536 Linton St) at corner ofReading ~ Free & Open to the Public ~ Reservati.ons Requested. RSVP to 513-579-8547 www.ijpc-cincinnati.org 0 �STREETVIBES Artwork and Poetry 8 May 2008 Cleo's Joke Corner There wa5 Mr. and MrS. Carrot walking down the garden patch. Awatem1elon came by·and knocked Mrs. Carrot over. They went 10 the garden hospital. The doctor said to Mr. Carrot, "T got some good and some bad news. The good news is Mrs. Carrot is going to live. TI1e bad news is she's going to be a vegetable the rest of her I ifo." Mother BY ANTONlO HODGE Bv ARDELLA WOOLENS S TREETVlBES V ENDOR Vendor of the Month ­ Antonio Hodge What do you like most about selfing SYreetvibes? I get to place my artwork in the newspaper so others can see it. I also enjoy letting other people know what is happening in Cincinnati and elsewhere. M is for themillion d1ings she gave me 0 means only dtat she's growing old T is for the tears she shed to save me H isforherheartofpuristgold Where tlidyou grow up? I grew up in Cincinnati and have lived here all my life. E isforhereyes with love lightshining How tlid you become ltome/ess? My mom passed away and my family was done with me. so dley put me out. l have been homeless for the past year and a hat f. I am staying at die oro·p Inn Center and working on getting my apartment·by working with a case manager there. R is tbrrjgbt and right she' ll always be. Witat are some ofyour hobbies? Ienjoydrawing. writing, walking, observingpeople, conversingand listening to music. Someofmy fa~'orite musicians are Led Zeppelin. Prince and John P. Coltrane. Wltat wouldyou say to your customers? Lappreciate you buying the paper from me and staying informed. I also e1tjoy conversing with you. Shutter Speed Put them aU together, they spell mother, a word that 111eans the world to 111e BY BEN L. K AUFMAN �STREETVIBES May 2008 Artwork and Poetry 9 Abstract Ball To Peter Writers! ~ subn1jt yotu­ "i!!IJ!I poetry to Streetvibes ­ email your writi ng to streetvi bes2@yahoo. con1 RY A NTAONY \V 1.Ll.JA.MS ''Lion" Bv ORLANDO C RAIG Poem - The Big Blue Bag Bv A NTONIO B.o»Ct The big blue bag has contents therein ofgreatsubstance. Lookingat the big blue bagon the outside one would tend to think that it isjust a big blue bag. The big blue bag holds two meanings to the carrier. One that it holds contents that is essential 10 him ancVor her persevering i111he.irdaily life in society. Se~ondly. the big blue bag holds thesymbolic meaningofcarrying the cross. as Jesus Christ carried his cross on the earth. Tosome individuals' eyes the big blue bag is of a burden to one's sight. bui to the carrier ofthe big blue bag; ii is a pillow to the shoulders of the one whomcarry it. The big blue bag holds the contents ofa day ru1111er, legal papers,clothing, l'ood. etc. These arethe main things that help oneselfsustain himselfand/or herselfin Life's twists ai1d 1ums of negative and positrve to reach the heightoftheir achievement. The big blue bag to the owner is just like the cross of Jesus: it holds great value as the cross holds great value to the Christian. The cwss represents the burdens oftbe people that did not believe in a livinggod: lo wit: it he.Id the blood and body ofd1e savior and all the l)urdens oflhis world! The big bl ue bag, so precious to all who carry it. as the cross is to the believers. Much love, many blessings- by Antonio Hodge. Berta's Art Corner "Gradation of Light: About to be Destroyed" C INCINNAT I, O HIO �Columns 10 STREETVIBES May 2008 The Poverty of Culture It 's much easier to love the poor on stage Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room w ith Trouble on lvf.y Mind, The Tao of Longing, and Crow Call. This column is part of a monthly series on poverty and addiction. pie talk ofthe cultureofpoverty. It is much-debated concept, with merit on each side. I discussed my view ofit in a column last month - that what we think ofas a culture ofpoverty is really a description of what happens when poverty coll ides with ad­ diction, resulting in a mutually reinforcing pat­ tern in wh ich each helps trap the addict in the other. But that was last month. What lam con­ cerned with now is the povertyofculture. Jn particular,[ believe there is a poverty ofCul­ ture with a capital "C." I believe there is a poverty ofCulture that is set in motion when Big C culture collides with poverty in a com­ munity. It stems from a poverty ofcompas­ sion, an inability to envision in a realistic way the pain ofothers. l shou ld know better by now, but l still keep thinking that one outcome ofan expo­ sure to the arts is supposed to be an increase insensitivity(or, ifyou are afan ofJane Austen, sensibility) to what others suffer. But it seems To revitalize something means to bring new life to it. But Over-the-Rhine was never dead. It just didn't have any money. thatwherever BigCultureencounters the poor, there is a disconnect. Thegrandsensitivity that the arts are supposed to generate somehow does not translate into effective compassion for the poor- especially ifthe poorget in the way ofBig C Culture's plans for development and expansion. • Last month I went to a performance of August Wilson's RadioGolfat the Ensemble Theateron Vine. This is a play by an African­ American writerwho is oneofthe leadinglights ofthe century. It deals with a conflict between hmnan values and property values, in which a real estate developer confronts the reality of the people he intends to displace. These are less than perfect people, but they have a com­ munity and diey have nowhere else to go. Does he proceed with the development? Or does he side witl1 these people that he has learned to appreciate? The sympathies of the play­ wright are witl1 the people ofthe community. The play ends a5 the main character makes a decision to sacrifice his political career to side with the poor. Everyone applauds, and we walk out of die theater. And d1ere is Vine Street and tliere isOver­ tl1e-Rhine, where every day or so we lose an­ other unit ofaffordable housing to develop- over his shoulder picking blues. There was a thriving Doo-Wop culture. Kids were fonning and refonning rock groups. None of th is small-c cul­ by Michael Henson ture got a write-up in the pa­ per, Not one of these people ever got a grant from an arts agency. Some of them have ment of theaters and other arts institutions died sad, difficult deaths. Some of them wliere we can go to more plays about tl1e plight struggleon. Oneofthe Doo-Wopsingers who ofthe poor. had a tragically beautiful voice was living un­ It makes me a Iitde crazy. der a bridge the lasttime l saw him.The stoops where people used to play bluegrass and blues I write here about Over-tl1e-Rhine be­ are now the stoops where crack dealers hit cause Over-the-Rhine is what I know. Radio their licks. The small-c culture ofthe neigh­ Golf is set in Pittsburgh, but it could be any­ borhood has been battered, the people who where, in any city in the country. There is ev­ created it scattered. erywhere a drive to replace low-income hous­ l don 't think Big Culture cares. ing witl1 BigCultural institutions. * • But when you address the issues ofthe BringingCulture into acommunity is said people ofthe neighborhood, small-c culture to revitalize tl1at community. We started hear­ begins to flourish again. Under a partnership ing abouttl1e need to revitalize Over-tl1e-Rhine between the Drop Inn Center and lrlkTank, 30 years ago or more. there is a monthly open-mike reading ofpo­ 'lb revitalize somed1ing means to bring new etry by people who are notsupposed to make Iife to it. ButOver-tl1e-Rhine was never dead. poetry. They read strong poems about pain It just didn't have any money. Therefore, if and recovery. This is what small-c culture is revitalization means to bring money into acom­ all about. munity, it mLL5t follow tl1at, to adeveloper, Iife ButlnkTank is struggling to keep the doors is money. open. And everyone knows what Big Culture ·n1is is tl1inking at tlie level ofdie dope boy. thinks oftl1e Drop Inn Center. Here's tl1e problem. Money is not life. Life * is people. Aneighborhood is not tl1e buildings. I am not against culture, Big C or little c. It is the people. Revitalization people talk But what we do to create culture makes no about the buildings but riever abouttlie people. sense. We solve the problems ofa neighbor­ I remember a slideshow presentation on revi­ hood by moving tl1e people oftl1e neighbor­ talization tl1at showed only the buildings. Not hood somewhere else. Are tl1e projects a problem? Tear down the projects. 'Ilie re­ We solve the problems of a sult? The people of neighborhood by moving the people of the projects take their the neighborhood somewhere else. problems to their new neighborhoods. So asoul appeared in any oftl1e slides. There was the people who had problems with poverty a lot oftalk about Italianate architecture and and addiction in Over-tl1e-Rhine and the West tl1e good olddays wlien tl1e neighborhood was End now have problems with poverty and ad­ German, but not one ofthe current Black or diction in Price Hill and Westwood. The pov­ Appalachian people who lived tl1ere showed erty pockets ofthe East End have become tl1e up in the pictures. poverty pockets of Mount Washington and But at tl1e time those pictures were taken, Amelia. We cannot solve the problems ofour tl1ere were a whole lot of people who lived society byconstantly pushing tl1em to comers tl1ere and they created agreat deal ofsmall-c where they can safely be ignored. culture. On Main, between 12'' and Liberty Want to fix the problems of Over-the­ streets, were five bars and five storefront Rhine? Address tl1e problems oftl1e people of churches, and at various times tl1ey al lrocked Over-tl1e-Rhine- jobs, treatment, education, with gospel, country, or bluegra5s. I recall a health care, housing. And culture, Big C and storefront church on Main Street, where an littlec. inter-racial congregation sangHank Williams' The poverty ofCulture is that we learn " I Saw tl1e Light." On Vine, you might see a compassion in the theater, the art gallery, the man walk down tl1e street witl1 a guitar slung concert hall. But we don 'ttake it to tl1e street. Hammered Interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a writer, poet, artist or photographer? Do you want to help Streetvibes? Call 513.421.7803 xl2 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com Please be sure to only purchase a Streetvibes from a vendor wearing a white or yellow badge. �STREETVIBES Columns May 2008 11 Sounds of Peace Are Getting Louder Students lead the growing chorus in support of equality and justice Bv S TEVE SUNDERLAND CoNTRJBUTING W RJTfR ounds ofaction are brealdngthe silence : had fallen across our city. Perhaps S shock about the latest loss ofjobs or the continuing threats to home ownership or the rising and astoundingcostsofco-payments for medical and drug expenses had temporarily and reasonably taken our voices and breath away. The average person has seen what looks like the complete shreddingofthe American Dream and has fallen into a ldnd o stupor. It's as if we are asldng, "Which disaster should l focus on? What should l protest?" Turning to schools and colleges,the citizen is dazed by thejump in tuition at public colleges and private and parochial schools. Who can pay these fees - and for what? What is the "hope" for education that the pubI ic imagines is worth any cost? As crime statistics rise in suburbs and city, the resident asks about the loss of public safety and the inability of government to either control or contain violence. Related to this fundamental and growing local insecurity, the wars in the Middle Eastdefy comprehension: Why are wefighting andsacrificingthousandsofAmerican and Iraqi lives withouta serious and publicdebate? We are all worrying that the price offood will mirror the price offuel. Will the average fam ily continue to be faced with choices of which food to sacrifice along with whetheror not anyone canjustdrive to the store, to school orto the hospital?The conceptofa family or individual budget has been replaced with nightmaresoflatest, worse conditions: Do V we cut backon medicine, food, fuel or meals in orderto pay the mortgage,the child'stuition, and/or the car payment? Cutting backon food is agrowing common experience for the American citizen as more and more of our community turns to the FreeStore FoodBank for help. There is nowhere to turn for tuition assistance, mortgage help, fuel vouchers, guaranteesofa reasonable job or for schools that are either affordableorhigh quality. 'Critical difference' Young people in ourcity, particularly in the Peace Village, are facing this bleak reality in brave and creative ways. Young people are accepting that the unfairness ofsociety must Steve Sunder/ond, can break the barriers formerly dean ofthe separating people who UC College of have "disabiliti es" by Con11n11nl ty working for inclusion at Services and a every level. He pr(!fessor ofsocial by Steve Sunderland reminded us that those work for the past 21 years at UC, is with intellectual and director and physical disabilities are founder <!(The often an " invisible" Peace Village. a be changed, whether it is in Cincinnati or in group that are poor, underemployed and Cinci1111ati based pet1ce 11etH1ork Uganda, Darfur or at Walter Reed. demeaned by all sectors ofsociety. founded after the About l00 high school and collegeyouth "We will not be forgotten or neglected if riots and expancled recently gathered in the3rd annual "Peace or you respect us," he said. after 9111 to work Hunger?"conference ofthe Peace Village to on peace and discuss and become involved in the reality Home, sweet shanty healing. For n1ore /11forn1otio11 on the facing homeless and hungry people in Peace Village Cincinnati. Teams of students visited and I recently attended a peace-signing progra111s, please provided service to the FreeStore FoodBan.k program at Nativity school in PleasantRidge, w1rite: by sortingtons offood and preparinghundreds as students from Finland and Chinas igned an swdersc@emoil.1c.edu of boxes of food for a state of Ohio food agreement with students from Nativity to program. continueto exchangevisits overthe nextfour Another team ofstudents went to Joseph years. Nativity is the leader in ourcommunity House to hear about the growing plight of in peace programs that involve visiting by homeless vets, perhaps one-half of all elementary and middle-school students. The Cincinnati homeless; another groupwent to the studentsmarched together to the signing table, Drop lnn Center to meetandserve homeless seriouslytaldng the responsibilityofthe future adults. Groupsfanned outto meet with service on theirshoulders, as the entire studentbody leaders at Tender Mercies and learn about ofNativity waved paper flags ofChina and what is being attempted for mentally ill Finland. homeless. Finally, young people and their teachers Agroup visited with ProfessorTom Dutton are comingtogetherfor the first time to have a ofMiami University to gain his perspectiveon why there is a widespread attack on the most Young people are accepting that the fragile people and institutions. A large group unfairness of society must be changed, ofstudents ventured to the Freedom Center to seek historical understanding of the whether it is in Cincinnati or in Uganda, connections between hungerand slavery. Darfur or at Walter Reed. Later in the conference we heard from pioneering high school programs at Moeller, Sycamore and Loveland thatare raising money citywide"Shantytown" in October. Under the to build schools for orphans in Uganda. A guidance ofSteve Elliot,service learning and delegation ofstudentsand teachers is heading peace guru, teams ofyouth from dozens of to Uganda this summer. Connie Ring, math schools will live in cardboard boxes on the teacherat Moeller,says she is inspired by the sameweekend to call attention to the growing youth ofher and other schools. needs ofthe homeless. A Cincinnati Peace "This entire project is driven, organized VillageShantytown will stretch outtheir hands and nurtured by the students,"shesays. "They and caring alI across the city. Will this end are maldng the critical difference." homeless and hunger in Cincinnati? No, yet A group from Wyoming High School hundreds ofyoung people, citizens of our spoke eloquently ofa citywide high school democracy,will bevoting for adifferent world effort to support a Darfur relief effort. A for the homeless that night. This vote is as representative from St. Xavier High School importantas any paperslipped in a ballot box. devastated us with a film on human slavery and The work, never more difficult, continues. what local high schoolscould do to buy people l bow to the youth leaders in great respect out ofslavery. and gratitude. May they fmd shelter, peaceand Robert Harris,Peace Village consultanton hope in our Peace Village. inclusion, raised questions about how youth Peace :Village Natural Neighbors: Rebuilding the Bridges Bv P ATRICIA G ARRY CoNTRJBlTllNG WRITER The Community Development Corporations Association ofGreater Cincinnati (CDC Association) is partneringwith the Commw1ity BuildingInstitute at Xavier University to rebuild the close ties and relationships that used to exist between schools and developmentgroups in Cincinnati's neighborhoods. The commw1ity learning centers now beingcreated in the Cincinnati Public Schools are meant to be inclusive of the entire community and to provide services, classes and access that a particular neighborhood wants. During the growth and development of many CDCs in the 1980s, school ties with the community were close, with each group knowing what the other was doing - community councils, business associati ons, CDCs, schools, other groups - and providing needed supportto one another. In the past 20 years those partnerships have weakened. Using a Powerpoint presentation created by the CDC Association's Sarah Hayes, visuals of housing and development projects, listings oflocal contacts and infonnation on where to go to get help with foreclosures is now easily available, targeted for various communities. The CDC Association, wh ich is the trade association for regional communitydevelopers,and the Community Building Institute are bringingtogether CDCs and school commun.ities in seven areas ofthe city during thespringto begin the rebuilding process. �12 STREETVIBE S National News May 2008 Graveyard Shift Leaves Nowhere to Go Not enough shelters help night workers who have no homes B v C AROLYN COSMOS STREET N EWS SERVI CE Donna is trying. She works as an inserter at The Washington Post in College Park, Md., from 11 p.m. to 4:30a.m., the so-called graveyard shift. As for her belongings, shesays,"Everythinggoes with me." Donna, who didn't want her last name used,stays at a downtown shelter on her two days off. The rest of the week, shesays, "I catnaphere and there during the day." Donnais among many homeless resi­ dents in the D.C. area who work night­ time hours but Jind it ditlicult to find a shelter where they can sleep during the day. Most shelters accept clients only for overnightstays from 7 p.m. to about 7 a.m., although a few are beginning to accornn1odate night workers. Michelle Durham, program director at Rachael's Day Center for homeless women,says there are more joboppor­ tunities at night for herclients. But a lot ofshelters still stick to their traditional evening timings, which don' t meetcli­ ents' needs, she says. Durham estimates that about I0 of the clients who come to her day center work nightsas home health aides, child­ care workers or as cleaners for small companies wh ile spending their days sleeping on the streets or staying tem­ porarily with friends. Ruth Cummings, homeless and working nightshifts, is one ofthe lucky ones.AgraduateofDCCentral Kitchen and New Course Catering, she gets kitchen jobs through the Food Team employment agency- and has a bed waiting for her at a northwest D.C.shel­ ter for women when she leaves work. "At John Young, they allow you to sleepthere (during the day) ifyou show a pay stub. They'll keep your bed," Cummingssays. Onceshe finds a room she can afford, she'll move out ofthe shelter, she says. Most shelters accept clients only for over­ night stays from 7 p.m. to about 7 a.m., al­ though a few are begin­ ning to accommodate night workers. Donna, the woman who works nights at The Post, also wants to find a place ofherown. "I' msavingmoney,"shesays. "But D.C. needs to come up with more af~ fordable housing, not only for families, which are a priority, and that's good, but also for those of us who are single." Then there's a woman who was sleeping in UnionStation. "I heard of a night job at a book store doing inventory, but I didn't apply because I had no place to stay during the day," she says. She doesn 't want to be identified. Michael Stoops, acting executive directorofthe National Coalition for the Homeless, puts it bluntly. "Most shelters are not 24 hours a day, but homelessness is," he says. "Agencies who kick people out during the daytime are preventing them from getting offthestreet." Some overnightshelters allow em­ ployed residents to claim a bed after curfew butstill require them to leave early in the morning. Forexample, the 90-bed La Casa Men's Shelter, open from 7 p.m. to 7a.m., can sometimes accom­ modate "regulars" who get a job and come in late, according to a staff mem­ ber. However, the 350-bed overnight shelterformen atSt. Elizabeth's Hospi­ tal doesn' t do that, says Charles McCrimmon, the program manager. The 25-bed Calvary Women's Shelter will sometimes '110ld dinnerand a bed" past curfew, Durham says; and the N StreetVillage women's nightshelter, with 31 beds and a I0 p.m. curfew, "works with employed residents on an individual basis," according to Kristyn Carrillo, nightshelte.r manager. "Shelters are beginning to accom­ modate the working poor who are homeless, and mostshelteroperators try to be supportive," Stoops says. "How­ ever, historically, most have done shel­ programmanager,Ke.nyaua T. Brunson. "There's no difference between night jobs and day jobs." Open Door is another pioneer that offerssupport for night workers. "It's a trend I'd like to see continue, but some don't have the capacity or staff," Durham says. The Community for Creative Non­ Violence (CCNV) shelter does. It has a 2 a.m. curfew and bed check, and resi­ dents can remain inside during the day­ time. With caseworker approval and proofofemployment, agraveyard-shitl worker is welcome, according to David Mincey, program director for the men's lloor. "You want to give residents hope," he says. "Suppose that's the only job they can get? You tell them they can't workat night-youbreak their spirit." "Every shelter should loosen up its rules soall its homeless are able to both work and stay in the faci lity," Stoops says. "Ajanitor, a security guard could oversee daytime sleepers, or a vol un­ teer, a forn1erly homeless person. lfwe "Suppose that's the only job they can get? You tell them they can't work at night - you break their spirit." - David Mincey, program director CCNV ter and food, and not that many have are evergoing to end homelessness, we taken on an employment focus." need to help those able to find work." Catholic Charities' programs such as theJohn L. Young women'ssheltersup­ port nightemployment, Michelle Durham says. Reprintedfrom Street Sense "If a woman is working, I accom­ © Street News Service: www.street­ modate her," saysJohn Young's senior papers.org Four Decades of Opening Doors The 4(Jh anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and HOME B v ELIZAB ETH BROWN CONTRIBUTING WRITER In 1968 the Fair HousingAct made housing dis­ crimination illegal in the United States. In the same year HousingOpportunities Made Equal (HOME) was in­ corporated to ensure the new law was enforced in metropolitan Cincinnati. Theenactn1entoftile federal Fair HousingAct on April 11, 1968, came only after a long and ditlicult journey. From 1966-1967, Congress regularly con­ sidered tile fair housing bill, but failed to garnera strong enough majority for its passage. When the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, however, President Lyndon Johnson used the national tragedy to urge the bill's speedy approval. Since the 1966 open housing marches in Chicago, King 's name had been closely associated with the fair housing legislation. Johnson viewed the law as a fitting memorial to the man's life work and wished to have it passed prior to King 's tUneral in Atlanta Senators Edward Brooke and Edward Kennedy ofMassachusetts argued strongly for the passage of this legislation. Brooke, the firstAfrican-American to be elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote, spoke personally ofhis return from World War II and his inability to provide a home of his choice for his new family because ofhis race. With tile cities in turn1oil like to no1~1 inate for Vendor of the Month? Please send vour non11nahons to streetv1bes2cavahoo.con1 or - Streetvibes, 117 E 12th St. Cincinnati, ()11 45202 513.421.7803 x 12. A...":J Do you have a favorite Vendor yot'. ~..... b't-Q ~v \Vc~ul d after King's assassination, the HouseofRepresenta­ tives passed the act and, without debate, the Senate followed. Johnson signed it into law, all within seven days. Today, HOME continues to receive calls from people who believe they've experienced illegal dis­ crimination becauseof their race or because they have a disability or because they have children. In 2007 HOME received 500calls ofpotential illegal discrinli­ nation in GreaterCincinnati. HOME helpsclientsgatllerevidence andexplains how they can enforce their housing rights. It alsospon­ sors the Housing Mediation Service to help resolve problems without the need for legal action. HOME services are free. �STREETVIBES Columns May 2008 Streetwl.se By 6re9ory Flal\l\ery Evet\ C.tt\Ctt\t\ati lst\'t That Meat\ hasn 't been that long since Cincinnati was nmked sixth in a. listofU.S. cities that are meanest to the.homeless. But even Cincinnati was never as mean as the mayor oflndianapolis makes us out to be. The lndianapolis Star last month reported on a proposal byMayor Greg Ballard for "ending" panhandling. The article quoted a mayoral aidesaying,'"Cincimiati requires panhandlers to have a Iicense that costs$400. lt seems to be effi:ctive in decreasing the numbers." That's nonsense. In 2003 city council passed a law requiring panhandlers to register-I ike criminals checking in with thesheriffor lepers made to carrysigns saying''Unclean"-but it was free to register. Facinga lawsuit in tederal court, city council repealed the registration law last year. But even more disturbing than the inaccuracy ofthe Indyofllcials· comprehension oflhe details is the falsity oftheir conclusion. In a letter to .The Star. Georgine Getty, execativedirector of theGreater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. refuted Ballard's theory. ''·Rcgistrntion j ust did not wor k," Getty wrote. "Over 190 people were rurested the first year ofthe ordinruice. The majority spenteight hours in our over­ crowdedjail (at a cost of$65/day) mid were immediately released,,just as pooras ever mid still needing in panhandle. City council. as well as Cincinnati's dowiitown improvementdistrict, wereforced to admit lliat.tbis was simply not rui effectiveuse ofpolicetimeorjail space. "What did work in Cincinnati was the introduction ofa downtown outreach workerwho focuses his time on panhmidlers. Since2003,dozens ofpanhandlers have been moved offthe streets and into pemument housing. This has been the only approach that has reduced our number ofpanhandlers ruid met the humane standards of those ofus con~med with civil liberties mid the preservation ofthe First Amendment,. I But the Supreme Court ls The three-poison recipe used to kill prisoners in Ohio, Kenrucky and many otherstates isn'tfit for putting down mangy dogs. That's not hyperbole; it's the literal truth. Veterinarians havetestifiedthat they wouldn't use pru1curonium bromide to euthani7,.e animals because it's inhumane.1l1edrugparalyzesan inmate, rendering him or her unable to cry out if the anestheticisn't working. TI1e result is thatsome inmates arc conscious while being suffocated by the paralyz.ing drug and experience the pain ofthe third drug, potassium chloride, which stops tlie heart Even so, the U.S. SupremeCourt ruled last month that using th is devil's brew doesn't constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Now Ohio and otherstates will resume poisoning prisoners. The polite tenn, ofcourse, is "lethal injection": the poison is injected via intravenous tubes. Octthis: Some doctors actuallyparticipate in this process, pronouncing prisoners dead on behalf of the state. Here's an idea: What if they gave an execution and no doctorsshowed up? Would they go through with the killing? 13 In The News Ed,vardsville, lllinois Teens P.lead Guilty to Murder in Seer-can Beating Two miil6isteens, l 7-year-old Jos~ph Lee Rafoes.aod 18-year-oldBran­ -don Carql J3ouck, fac.e up to 20 years in prisen fo~ the futal beating ofa home­ less moo over acan ofooer. They have pleaded guilty seeond-dl(gree murder, ·and io exchange, preseeutora dropped'first-i:legree murder charges. The teens told a friend they panelled and kic.kedThomas Muffler IastOetober when Mu f­ iler, who was experiencing homelessness, refused tp buy the teell§ beer. 1\fter beating.him, which resulted inMuffler suffering.broken ribs and,a pllll.ctured Iung, they stole hiS'24-ounce can.of beer. A sentencing date has notyet been schedule.ct. GAP, Boston Reraid, 4i4') San Diego, California Homeless Man 8 eaten to Dea th with Own Cru tch Around midnight intlieCore-{/olumbia neighborhood; an ru:gume.nt between 4J-year-oldGregaryWillis and zqcyear-qld:Ross Ivy escalated, resulting in·tlie death ofWillis. Police said Willis, who ~uttered disabilities and was experiencing homelessness; was beatto deatlrwith his ownerutiih. Paramedics attemptedt.o revive hi m, but he died ata trauma center about one hour later. Ivy has bee11 ·arrcsteda11d will be booked on one count ofmurder. (KTLA,4/.16) Philadelphill, Pennsylvania Women Starts Running Group for ttom·eless Aveteran mari1thon runner, Anne Mahlum deci'ded to n111 \vith- rat[Jer1l1an pas~-the men living in Philadelphia's homeless.sbeI.ters, She.began the "Back On MY17eef'running clu~ i.n 2007with ni11emernber$ on a mile-Ieng nm; tooay, there are throe teams with atotal of54 homeless members andover2SO volun­ teers who have.Joggetl more than 5,000 mi.les. In order tojoin, individualsm·ust livein affilffiliatedfaci!ltyand beclean andsoberfodO days. Membersreceive' ne\\is))o~ and running clothes, and tean1s run together three time..~a week be­ tween 5:30 and 6·a.m. The groupof n111ne.rs is diverse, ineluding doctors,jani­ t9rs, studei1tsand shelter reSidenfli; bm1hese distincti(.lns aren' t appatent "All you crurtell is who'sthe fa<>t'est,".says Mal1lun1. "Yotican'tte.11 who's homeless ·and who' s not." Baek On My Feet is more than a running:club; they a:re "a comm1:111ity oHuppo.rt:; love, respect." (CNN, 4/3>) By the Numbers - In Cineinnati, the Fair MarketRent (FMR) for a two bedroom apartinent is $726, in Oh io $680. - Ln Cincinnati, 34°/o of households are r enters as compared to 31 % in Ohi0. - A unit is considered affordabJe if it costs no more Weitd Memos than 30o/o ofthe renter's incolile. Sometimes press releas.es are deliberately vague and incomplete. especially the kind that.oomeftorn governmentofficials. Last month Cincinnati Police District One. the department's headquarters. underwent more renovation. The department issued astatemenl sayingthatfront desk ru1d lob.by fonctions had temporarily moved to a "mobi le command van" - cop talk for "trailer" - parked in front of the building. But what we want to know is whether the police were installjnga hottub for ChiefThomas Streicher Jr.. who recently had his pri vate oft.ice bathroom renovated. The statement released by the police department gave no details about the work beingdone inside. But it closed with this useful observation: "This temporal)' relocation atfo.cts only the lobby and front desk functions ofDis1rictOne. Al Iother District One and pol iL>e depar1ment administrative oltices loc.ated al 3 10 Ezzard Charles Drive are operating as usual." That, ofcourse. is the problem. Then there are memos that tell you in concise language al lyou need 10 know about an organization. Consider this embarrassing announcement by the Greater Cincinnati Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists: "Tt's been unusual! ycrazy in recent weeks.so we' ve extended the contest deadline by one week. ·nie new deadIine for entries is April 22. Please see attachments for categories and entrance fomis." Aren't ''professional journalists" supposed to be able to make deadl ines'/ - In Ohio,. tbe1uinimum wage is $7.00 an h.our. - In Cincinnati, the annual inco1ne needed to afford a two bedr9om FMR apartment is $29,040. -An individual who works a 1n.inimtnn wage job1nt.1st \.\'Ork 80 hours a week, 52 weeks a year in order to afford a nv·0 bedroom FMR apartment. -2 fulJ ti me jobs at mini.intun wage are needed tQ afford a FMR ap&rtm.ent in Cincinnati. *li<All infonnati.on from 2007-2008 National Low lnsome Housing Coalition annual report, Out o]Reczch. �Guest Column 14 STREETVIBES May 2008 Jimmy-Magic Seeing angels in Over-the-Rhine, ofall places Bv K ATHY Ho1,wA oE1. CoNTRmUTING WRITER events. Or he'd come lo Rubbish, Jnk:Tank's perpetual yard sale and support the cause with purchases JimmyHeathdied in December. and recent he probably didn't really need. issuesofStreervibes have explored his legacy Sometimes,after I' cl left voicemails through the heans of people who knew him atal l h.is phone numbers and tried for b<:tter than l did. Butwhen Mike Henson e-mail, I' d end up chasing l1im asked me to writea column about poverty in down the street to comer him in a Over"the-Rhine and how itintersects with my doorway and ask for help or lite, I kept going back to the story ofJinuny advice. The last time l sawhim. he and what1leamed from him. wassitlingon abench in Covington Jimmy was famous in Over-the-Rhine. 1 with Brenda. l11e sun wasshining, started to hear about him almost as soon as 1 it was warm, and the two ofthem arrived. fresh from asuccessful20-yearcareer looked so happy. I Ii.kc that in corporate America. I was trying to start memory best 1.nkTank, a writing center to connect people Anyway. after I'd been in the through their stories, and I didn' t know neighborhood for a.couple years, anything about anything then, sol spent most and after we'd closed Rubbish. 1 oftl1oseearly days listening. didn't see Jimmy as much anymore. ·'You·ve got to meet Jimmy Heath." Besides..1had my ownexperiences everybody said, and maybe they'd tell me by then, thrceyears ofMain Street about the pictures he made or the Literacy neighbors askingfor bus fare. did 1. ThroughPhotography program hi:. started. need any help or want my car The first time ImetJimmy; 1was very mde. was hed. could they use the On the way to the room he used for meetings, liathroom or the phoneor would I vve passed through his reception area. set up take them to the hospital to sectheir as a gallery of recent work. 1 couldn' t mother, did 1haveanything t0cat'I concentrate on him or our conversation. I I came to understand how the couldn't stop looking attheimages. l cotildn't privileged could get crabby and talk. Thesimple black and white ofLines and tired in Over-the-Rhine. Some shadows was more compelling than anything days the bollomless pitofneed was exhausting. Heasked like he'd been savingup the question we could ptrt into words. Besides. Jimmy's viewpoint seemed alittle for a long time. And the only answer Icould Eventually wedid make itto the table in naive somehow. The 37th time Mr. English come up with wasn't an answer. "l have no idea," r told him then. And laughed. We botJ1 laughed. "...poverty, like the people who are a part of it, is such a f Still don't know exactlywhat I was doing tricky, complicated issue. I do know you have to be in Over-the-Rhine, why 1look for ex.cuses to come back even aner I've le'f:t InkTank and very careful with it, keep looking even after you think Jimmy Heal11 is gone. 1still don't know much you've seen everything ..." about anything else. But poverty. like the people who are a part of it, is such a tricky, complicated issue. Ido know you have to be the back room. messy with stacksofs1uffand showed me lhe check stub from his disability piles. My guess is we sat down and he told check and asked for another loan for art very careful with it, keep looking even after me the same stOI)' he lold everybody else, the supplies he'd never repay, I remembered how you think you've seen everything there is to one aboul tl1e years when he was drinkingand Jimmy called him aS<lim-"an angel on earth," see. You have to pay close allention to the how he came to the Drop Inn Cemer where he'd said more than once. Mr. English is qualityofthe light and how it falls, what to put buddy gray told him lOgo document the Iives probably a bit confused and periodically he'd in lhe frame, what to crop. 11's so easy to of people in Over-lhe~R11ine and how that lose another toe lo his diabetes. But he was foeus on the wrong pieces,just the pretty or saved his life. It's a very serious story, tUll of no saiat. Even Tknew he drank. LlioughJimmy ugly facts in a composition. But if! have to choose-and in the end tragedy and heartbreak, but there are two assured me 01herwis.e. On Final Fridays Mr. things lhal stand out to me now: His quiet. English Sal in the back of our shop on the we all do, ifwe're going to gelourmind around mind-blowing patience-and how much we pretense ofart. dowaing our supply ofbeers lhe big things-I choose to look at poverty through Ll1e richness ofJimmy's eyes,eyes that laughed. UllliJ J' told him he had tO leave. What could we have been laughing alxlut Jinuny was arecovering alcoholic who had saw the magic in me and everybody else in exceptthe total and complete ignoranceofyet lived on the stre.ets. He had to know better Over-the-Rhine. To him 1was jus1 one more anoiher wel l-intentioned white woman in his lhan I did that drugs and alcohol were partof mysterious angel, yetanother saint on earth, a ne ighborhood? When he laughed hard ­ the problem, and yet he still forked over a bold little dandelion struggling through the cracks of the sidewalk like everybody else. and he did ilquiteollen-he' d pu1hishand couple ofsingles whenever hesaw him. up to hide bis smile. self-conscious about how Fairly well into my knowing Jimmy,one On my good days, that's what I was doing in his teeth looked. but he never once made me day he asked out ofthe blue. "What are you the neighborhood we both adopted. On good fe.el anythiog butcompletely comfortableabout doing down here?" By"down here,"he meant days, when lhe light was just right, Jimmy whoJwas. Over-the-Rhine. Re meant poverty and race Heath was leaching me how lo see. After that, we met at we ird lnkTank and all theotlier big proble.nis witli.outsolutions. Photo by Jimmy Heath. Kathy Ho/wade/. this months g uest columnist. is the founder of lnkTank. the worldft1mous inner-city writing program. and an unindictedco" inspirator of many other projects. In Memory of Jimmy Heath, dedicated activist and artist, who served as a Mickey Leland National Hunger Fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center in 1999-2000. Thank you for sharing your passion and wisdom with us. You will be greatly missed. The 6th Class of Hunger Fellows �STREETVIBES May 2008 Opinion 15 Take the Whole Mess with You, Jackson middle- and upper-income households guard changes, howeve.r, we have an tothctuncof$122 billion. Since 1981. opportunity to restore HUD to its former cax benefits for homebuycrs have been intended glory, ifwe compel it to do so. ure, Alphonso Jackson gets to greater than HUD's entire budget as The next head of housing in th is leave. He walks away from the federal Department ofHousing There was a time when the federal and Urban Development(HUD) wich a government's role in building communities by fat wallet and fatter cronies, a portrait on the wall and the seemingly requis ite supporting housing for the poor was cloud offuture indictments overhead. respected and supported. It would be nic.e ifhc could rake the department's po.licies with hi.rn. But at least for the time being, it appears we' re low-income housing programs have country could actuall y rcframe the stuckwith thesame institution ofexploit­ been whittled away. Since l996. HUD nation 's housing agenda around the idea ing housing as a commodity for devel­ fundingfornew public housing bas been that housi ng is a human right and that opers and speculators. zero, even as more than I00.000 public poverty and homelessnessweseeon our Thal'swbalHlJDhas become dur­ housing units were lost to demolition or streets didt1 't always exist and doesn 't ing the pa~t 25 years. What was in­ sale. As a result of HUD's tennination have to anymore. There is an opportu­ tended as a departmentfor supporting ofcommunity builder, we have ll:ie docu­ nity here to restore a balanc.e in com­ housing a~ a foundation to strong com­ mented rise of modern-day munities that U1e housing market has munities and economicdevelopment has homelessness. raken toex1remes, leadingall tbewayto Alphonso Jackson wasjust the lat­ U1e current subprime-mortgage crisis become a facilitator to snbsidi7.e an in­ dusll)', not ourcommunities.h's Ille dif­ est authority figure administering bad that, again, is beatingdown hardest on ference between funding low-income pol icy and perpetuating homelessness, minorities and low-income homeowners. There was a time when the federal housing at about$30 billionand fimding and we can expect his replacemem to mortgage deductions and tax credits for be cut from the same cloth. When the government's role in buildingcommuni­ By Sh·eet Roots Editorial Sta IT Street News Service S NYCHAY "'~( ties by supporting housing for the poor was respected and supported. It can be that way again with leadership that is prepared to. look frankly at the conse­ quences of the government's abandon­ ment ofatfordablc housing. That will also mean destroyingthe stereotype that providing public housingfor people wilh physical or mental disabilicies is a bur­ densome handout but subsidies for people buying $500,000 homes is the taxpayers' obligation. HUD, nccdsto be stipped ofits ul­ terior motives, along with the deception that progress is being made by shifting the demographics ofhomelessness or targeting the extremes,while ll:iesyslemic problems are left to coutinue unchal­ lenged. Itwil l lake leadership, and ad­ vocacy. to make the changes needed. and thesupportofa wiU ingadministrn­ tion. a far difforent administration then we've seen for past25 years. l?t!pri11b!tl.fru111 .~·1ret.~f I~oOJ!l~...1 .'i1ree1 /Veu~s ,\'i.~r•1icc.·: \11\vu1.,''"trec1-11apers. org Letters to the Editor My daughter gave me a copy of a recent issue ofStreetvibes because she knew I would be interested in 1he article about the DeafSocce.r te.am from Iraq. J me.ntioned yesterday another article impacted me in that issue as well. but could not remember which one. After going backtothe office ofCommunity Services ofll1e Deaf and finding 1hcir copy pinned to the bulletin board, l immediately remembered the other articlclhatstruck me. Itwas your editorial regarding the "Bodies" exhibitat the Museum center. After just reading the headlines, I was surprised at your opposition to the exhib.it because I knew you were a Professor at tlie University ofCincinnati. JalwaystheughtoflJCas an instinrtion in ll1eforcfronrofmedical research and knowledge and Iassumed anyone associate.cl with the University would support the exhibit. Alter reading the.article, however, your reasoning for wanting ro suspend the exhi.bit unti l "evidence is shown ofhow the bodies were obtained and whether pen11ission was given from the individuals and their families" was convincing. You changed my opinion on 1he matter as well. In February, my son;s parochial grade school scheduled a field trip to seethe "Bodies'· exhibit. The day before the outing was scheduled, .it was canceled due to the objection ofthe ArchdioceseofCincinnati ro the exhibit. My reaction at the time was "Oh brother. the archdiocese is always making a big deal over noth ing, rguess l'll have to take my son mysel fto see ll1e exhibit., Fortunately, l read your article before we made our journey and now am going10 waitand see ifthe Museum Ccmer is able10 come up with proper verification ofhow the bodies were obtain~. Ialways try to think the bestofsituatio11s, but I also know die facts aboutthe Chinese government. TI1is became very evident ro my husband on a recelll business 1rip to Shanghai in January. One morning, my husband watched in horror as an elderly man crossing the street was hitby a car and kil led. For the next three days, the dead body lay in the streets as pedestrians continuedto step over ir. Obviously, rhe Chinese governmelll does not have the same rcspecl for human Iife as we do in the United States. Once again, it was a pleasure meeting you and thank youfor all your contributionsto our community. Kacey Schmitt Sign language interpreter and Sfreetvibes fan "h 's a mu/ti,racial neighborhqod. but only until the help goes home." � 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 2008 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 May 2008 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Children’s Creative Corner ‘At Ease’ for the Homeless Pg 2: About Us Pg 3: Reserving the Banks for the Wealthy Pg 4: ‘At Ease’ for the Homeless No Wonder the Jail is Overcrowded Pg 5: This Thing We Do Pg 6: Crazy Justice Pg 7: Attacking the Weakest Pg 8: Arts & Poetry Pg 9: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 10: The Poverty of Culture Pg 11: Peace Village Pg 12: National News Pg 13: Columns Pg 14: Columns Continued Pg 15: Take the Whole Mess with You, Jackson 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 May 2008 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Greg Olkhovsky Michael Henson Steve Sunderland Andy Freeze Ardella Woolens Alyssa Konermann Kathy Holwadel Lynne Ausman Patricia Garry Bill Gallagher Larry Gross Brian Garry Georgine Getty Joan Tiffany Thompson Angela Pancella Carolyn Cosmos Elizabeth Brown Andrew Anderson Berta Lambert Ben L. Kaufman Antonio Hodge Anthony Williams Orlando Craig Joe Wesels Steve Novotni Stephanie Dunlap Steve Gibbs Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alyssa Konermann Andrew Anderson Andy Freeze Angela Pancella Anthony Williams Antonio Hodge Ardella Woolens Arts & Poetry Ben L. Kaufman Berta Lambert Bill Gallagher Brian Garry Carolyn Cosmos children Columns Elizabeth Brown Fair Housing Act and Home Georgine Getty Greg Olkhovsky Gregory Flannery Hate Crime Jails Joan Tiffany Thompson Joe Wesels Kathy Holwadel Larry Gross Letters Lynne Ausman Michael Henson National News Orlando Craig Over-the-Rhine Patricia Garry Peace Village Stephanie Dunlap Steve Gibbs Steve Novotni Steve Sunderland https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/883de0194c0e0ac5497bffce7438e3dc.pdf 4810616c0e0fa8e2bb2605f356c55db1 PDF Text Text Yes UCAN Page 7 ‘The Soloist’ Page 7 STREETVIBES $1 M a y 2 0 0 9 • I s s u e 1 5 4 • C i n c i n n a t i ’s A l t e r n a t i v e N e w s S o u r c e Legal Backfire Making sex offenders homeless 1 doesn’t protect anyone 1 By GreGory Flannery Editor A Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy stands guard outside the Pogue Rehabilition Center along with a VOA administrator while a protest occurs on the street. Meanwhile, inside the Pogue Center, staff (pictured in the doorway) and clients enjoy a pizza party and movie night. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. Earl Smith reports to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office every day to provide his address, which is really no address. He’s one of about 50 homeless sex offenders living downtown. Earl Smith isn’t his real name; he doesn’t want publicity. His photo is already on the sex offenders’ list on the sheriff’s web site, and that’s a problem for him. He can’t get a job, and that’s a problem for everyone else. “I have two options,” he says. “I can either kill myself or I can commit another crime so I can get locked up. At least I’d have meals and some shelter. This winter was so bad I seriously thought about it.” Smith doesn’t want pity. Most people wouldn’t give pity if they heard his story. What he wants and isn’t able to find the Drop Inn Center banned is a way to earn a living and Smith; it’s too close to the a place to live. Even the place new School for the Creative of last resort for homeless and Performing Arts. people, the Residency “I can either kill Drop Inn restrictions and myself or I can Center, public registries won’t let aim to protect commit another him in. children from crime so I can get “I can’t locked up. At least being sexually go in there abused. But a I’d have meals and growing body and get some shelter. This a meal,” of research indicates that Smith says. winter was so bad “I can’t get the laws don’t I seriously thought medical. I about it.” - Earl Smith achieve their can’t use goals and are the bathpotentially makroom. I’m not allowed in the ing the public less safe. building.” The reason isn’t hard to understand: Desperate people do ‘Gone too far’ desperate things. Smith was locked up on Former sex offenders aren’t a registration violation last allowed to live wherever they fall. His truck and camper want. Homes near schools, were impounded. The judge day care centers, public pools dismissed the charge he was and parks are off limits under arrested on. But he’d been state and city laws. That’s why The X Mayors to the Rescue See Backfire, p. 5 Battling the forces of reaction to save Cincinnati’s image By DaviD HeitFielD Contributing WritEr First came the X-Men, a Stan Lee Marvel comic in which Professor Xavier gave mutants super powers to prove that they can be heroes, too. Then came Robert Smigel's X Presidents, a Saturday Night Live cartoon about former presidents turned super crime fighters, with such classic one-liners as “I have lusted in my heart – to kick your ass!” (Jimmy Carter) and “Just say 'No' – to pissing me off!” (Ronald Reagan). So on Tax Day, through some miracle of metaphysical irony, Xavier University – presumably no relation to Professor Xavier, but one can never be sure – brought together the X Mayors, eight former mayors of Cincinnati, including Jerry Springer, who has dedicated his life to prov- ing that mutants can be heroes, too. Despite the local media's usual half-assed attempts to create audiencearousing controversy – the Enquirer covered the event as essentially a fight between Springer and Roxanne Qualls over the “image” of Cincinnati, while Channel 5 began several post-commercial segments Jerry Springer weighs in on Cincinnati’s image. with pre-taped Photo courtesy of Xavier University. horseshit from the don't know who to hold acracially androgyWhose side are you on? countable.” He also said in a nous Ken Blackwell, includlater segment, which seemed ing a dire warning that acceptDwight Tillery set the stage, directed intentionally at the ing federal stimulus money as it were, by first throwing largely older, white audience could turn us all into drug addicts – the X Mayors had a out the D-word – diversity in attendance, that African few interesting things to say – while alluding to a certain Americans are afraid to come sense of powerlessness among downtown. about the region’s issues. denizens, because “people Qualls summed it up nice- ly: “Diversity is a defining element of being a 21st-century city,” insisting that it was a choice Cincinnati would have to make between staying a 19th-century city or attracting youth and jobs. Springer added that the mixed message didn't work. We can't say, “Come to Ohio, come to the region, come to Cincinnati” one day, and the next day add, “ but not if you're gay.” Showing off her political skills, Qualls was emphatic that such messages came from those folks who are “forces of reaction” and not conservatism. She was probably thinking about a sign on Fountain Square earlier in the day that defined a “liberal” as “a person so open-minded their (sic) brain fell out,” which was right next to “Impeach Obama See Mayors, p. 5 �2 News Briefs Don’t Be a Pig: Resist Swine Flu Cincinnati – Please wash your hands early and often. It’s a simple but important way to avoid catching and spreading swine flu, as well as other contagious illnesses, according to Cincinnati Health Commissioner Dr. Noble Maseru. The symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting. In the past, severe illness and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection. If you experience symptoms, see your physician and limit contact with others. Other suggestions from the Health Department include avoiing touching your eyes, nose or mouth; germs spread that way. Call the Health Department hotline at 513-357-7499 or visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov for more information. Lawsuit Over ‘Homeless Dumping’ Settled Los Angeles – College Hospitals will give more than $1 million to organizations that help homeless people to settle a lawsuit alleging the hospital firm dumped mentally ill homeless patients on Skid Row. The city sued after investigating claims by workers at rescue mission, who said a hospital van dropped off a mentally ill patient at its doorstep last year. The city’s investigation allegedly turned up 150 similar cases of dumping by two hospitals in Orange County. The settlement doesn’t include any admission of wrongdoing by College Hospitals. The Vibe Streetwise By GreGory Flannery Selling Out – in the Best Possible Way Streetvibes vendors did it again, and so did our readers. All 6,000 copies of the April edition are gone, completely sold out. This came after vendors sold 4,000 copies of the March edition. This kind of support from readers is why the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless plans to start publishing Streetvibes twice a month beginning July 1. Plans call for new editions to be released on the first and 15th days of each month. With newspapers across the country going out of business, laying off employees and cutting their print runs, the success of Streetvibes can only be attributed to two things – the hard work of our vendors, who earn 75 cents for each copy they sell; and the generous support of our readers. Minimum Wage Won’t Pay the Rent The heads of many homeless families have jobs, belying one of the persistent myths about homelessness in the United States. But simply having a job isn’t always enough to pay for housing. The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLICH) has released its annual report, “Out of Reach,” documenting the growing disparity between minimum-wage jobs and the actual cost of housing. The organization uses the generally accepted affordability standard of paying no more than 30 percent of income for housing to determine a metropolitan area’s fair-market rent. In the metro area from Cincinnati to Middletown, NLICH found the current fair-market rent to be $733 for a two-bedroom apartment. In order to pay that amount of rent and utilities, a worker must earn $2,443 monthly or $29,320 annually – or $14.10 per hour, 40 hours a week, 52 week a year. That is almost double the $7.30 minimum hourly wage in Ohio. Sure, it can theoretically be done. “In order to afford the (fair market rent) for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 77 hours per week, 52 weeks per year,” the report says. “Or a household must include 1.9 minimum wage earners working 40 hours per week year-round.” For families headed by single parents, unemployed people or people who can only get parttime jobs, the possibilities are very bleak. Police Show They Care – About Each Other We now know with some degree of certainty what it takes for a command officer with a history of discourtesy to the public to be disciplined by Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher Jr. What it takes is for the officer to be discourteous to other command officers. Consider the disturbing career of Assistant Police Richard Janke. In 2004 the police department was under a federal court order to change its policies and procedures, especially with regard to use of force. The court order was part of the settlement of a class-action lawsuit over racial profiling by the police and public outrage that led to the 2001 uprising in Over-the-Rhine (called a “race riot” by many white people). An independent monitoring team assigned to report on the police department’s compliance went to police headquarters for a scheduled visit. They ran into Janke’s obstreperous attitude. The monitors asked about the implementation of community problem-oriented policing. “Janke responded that the question was so general he could not even respond," the monitors’ report said. “He also stated that the question was the stupidest question he had ever heard." Janke then declared that the monitors knew nothing about police work and said the meetings were a waste of time, according to the report. That incident, which ticked off the judge, came three years after Janke warned a Streetvibes writer that police would “whack” protesters in Mount Adams. An account published in CityBeat quoted Janke telling David Mitchell of Streetvibes, "We're just here to ensure that all you lawabiding citizens don't do anything illegal, because if you were to do something illegal, then we just want to be clear that we are prepared to whack you and take you out if necessary." Police arrested nine protesters, and a jury cleared all of them. Which brings us to the incident that seems finally to have gotten Janke in trouble with his boss. Earlier this month Streicher told Janke that he was facing charges of insubordination for being disrespectful to other assistant chiefs. Now we know what matters to Streicher: not how the public is treated by cops, but how cops treat each other. Work to End Homelessness Street Paper Survives Chicago – When Streetwise, a street paper sold by homeless people, seemed about to go out of business, donations kept it alive. The paper appealed for $75,000 dollars to stay in business; a total of $190,000 came in. Individual donations ranged from $3 to $35,000. More than 200 vendors sell Streetwise. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is accepting applications for a full-time community education assistant. The position, available through the AmeriCorps VISTA program, includes a bi-weekly stipend, health coverage and money for education at the completion of service. Responsibilities include scheduling and coordinating speaking engagements for the coalition’s Voice of the Homeless Speakers Bureau; building community relationships with private and public schools, religious youth groups, etc.; distributing promotional materials about the speakers bureau in order to build community support; giving educational presentations to area schools and organizations; and other rewarding tasks in service of a good cause. Qualifications include knowledge of homelessness, an associate degree or higher and public speaking abilities. VISTA rules require applicants to be U.S. citizens free of felony convictions. A full description of the position is available at https://sites.google.com/site/homelesscoalitionvista/. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Jeni Jenkins, education coordinator, at jenijenkins@cincihomeless. org, by fax to 513-421-7813 or by U.S. Mail to 117 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. But don’t dawdle. The deadline for applications is May 8. STREETVIBES May 2009 Streetvibes is a newspaper that provides relevant discussions of homelessness, poverty and other related social justice issues. It is published monthly 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 Contributing Writers Stephanie Dunlap, Margo Pierce, Lew Moores, Paul Kopp, Alecia Lott, David Heitfield, Dave Scharfenberger, Angela Pancella, Mike Henson, Andrew Anderson, Ariana Shahandeh, Jeremy Flannery, Maika Arnold Photography/Artwork Andrew Anderson, Paul Kopp, Anthony Williams, Aimie Willhoite, Stephanie Dunlap, Berta Lambert Advisory Committee Joe Wessels, Steve Novotni, Andrew Freeze, Georgine Getty, Michael Henson, Stephanie Dunlap, Steve Gibbs The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Programs include Streetvibes, “Voice of the Homeless” Speaker’s Bureau, Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE), Homeless Curriculum, and Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project. All donations support these programs and are taxdeductible to the full extent of the law. We are members of: �STREETVIBES May 2009 Community News Eight Minutes ‘Standing Up Again’ 3 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. By MarGo Pierce Contributing WritEr Prostitution is desperation. Prostitution is survival. Prostitution isn’t a lifestyle choice or a question of morality. That’s why women who have been in Carol Thornton’s shoes will talk to her before they’ll talk to a preacher, social worker or a woman just in from the suburbs who wants to help and then go back home. “What I think is unique and special about Off the Streets … is the peer facilitators,” Thornton says. “The value of having someone who has walked a mile in your shoes, especially a mile in what is Carol Thornton talks with a client. Photos by Aimie Willhoite. usually considered shameful and you might think there’s and prostitution are all tied end up using the commodity something morally wrong up together. That’s why Cin- that you have, the thing you with you … (is) you see that cinnati Union Bethel (ci- carry with you all the time, things can change.” nunionbethel.org) partnered and that’s your body. So once Off the Streets helps womwith more than 20 agencies in you use and your self-esteem en get out of 2004 to de- is gone anyway, prostitution the sex trade, “I had been a survivor velop a com- or selling your body is just anget healthy of domestic violence. p r e h e n s i v e other step of the degradation and become intervention that you already feel you’re in a positive I had been through a to address from the drug use. part of their whole lot of things in the issues of “For me and for all these community. my life that lowered prostitution. ladies, especially those at the Thornton, an my opinion of myself. As Thornton end of the road, it’s survival. outreach and The addiction came walks the There were a lot of times I intake coorstreets now, prostituted just so that I could dinator for from that, just trying she does so get me something to eat. A lot to be accepted in the program, to let ladies of times I prostituted just to uses her 13 something, not really know that survive.” years on the understanding how an option is Life on the streets usually streets of traumatic it was going a v a i l a b l e . means homelessness. Cincinnati to But leaving “Every time I speak to a to end up being.” help others the life isn’t lady, she’s not asking anything Carol Thornton change their easy. until she’s comfortable with lives. “ W e ’ v e me,” Thornton says. “All she “This is something that I had some ladies come who wants to know is, ‘Will I have was meant to do because I love weren’t specifically ready to a place to stay? Will I be safe it,” she says. “I love dealing stop using the drugs, so that there?’ When I was out there with the ladies. I will tell them plays a big part,” she says. “If on the streets, the one thing anything they want to know she’s not ready to stop using I wanted more than anything about my life if it will make the drugs, then we can’t deal was to just have some place to them feel comfortable enough with the prostitution part. We stay.” to get their life back together. have had ladies say, ‘To hell Trying to find some kind If she’s never been clean bewith this. I’m outta here.’ But of security and a human confore, I become the reference it was mainly because she was nection leaves many women point. I keep a little bit of that fighting her addiction.” vulnerable to exploitation by rugged side to me so I stay apOutsiders judging prosti- pimps. proachable so they don’t think tutes from an uninformed per“When it starts off, you’re a I’m just too high up for them spective dismiss and degrade woman out there on the streets to tell me anything. these women’s life experienc- by yourself and you hook up “I had been a survivor of es. Most people don’t know with this guy who you think domestic violence. I had been how a hooker’s life begins, is going to protect you and through a whole lot of things but Thornton does. maybe look out for you, and in my life that lowered my “What happens is you start they end up standing around opinion of myself. The addicusing; and before you know it, watching you sell your body,” tion came from that, just trying you’ve lost your family, lost Thornton says. “If you know to be accepted in something, your home, lost your kids, lost anything about domestic vionot really understanding how all your foundation, and you lence, 30 to 40 percent of the traumatic it was going to end end up on the street, home- time they’re making you feel up being.” less,” she says. “So you have all right. The other 60 to 70 Addiction, mental health to do what you have to do. You percent of the time they’re abusing you or making you feel bad – but you bond with this person. “It’s hard to walk away from them because of the intimidation; and they have become, sometimes, your defender. Especially if they think they’re gonna lose their crack or whatever, if something happens to you, they become your defender and that’s all you want is somebody to defend you.” Off the street “14 years in November,” Thornton wants people to understand that pros- titution isn’t about morality. The program offers women who have nothing emergency needs, trauma recovery, health care, education, family services and a host of other services free of charge. While there’s no time limit for women to access and utilize services, many stay for about a year. And the success rate proves the program works. Within 60 days of getting into the program, 86 percent received substance abuse services, 60 percent were connected to mental health services, 86 percent reported no involvement in prostitution and 82 percent didn’t have a new conviction for prostitution. “We have so many intelligent, artistic women,” Thornton says. “What happens is … something is going on in their lives that have made them feel like they’re not worth anything. What we do at Off the Streets is we help give you that feeling back – that you are worth something. You’re worth all the dreams you had before this came about. And it’s a very good thing to have someplace like this so the ladies can learn how to stand back up again.” If you know someone who needs help, call 513-3782534. Thornton has been off the streets for 14 years. �Community News 4 Retreat to Silence STREETVIBES May 2009 God’s humor, monks’ wisdom and a sweet magic By StePHanie DunlaP Contributing WritEr mani engenders, and reentry can be brutal. That’s why I didn’t write this story earlier. Brother Rene raised his cane Maybe some things, lost, seem and waggled it at my head. better unremembered. “What would Jesus say if I I also didn’t want Gethsehit you with this?" he asked. mani to be just another series The old monk didn't remem- of interviews, observations ber me from and explanatwo years ago. tions. But I Being here feels I remembered couldn’t quite like living in him, though, put words to true community, and I rememwhat it meant bered his rid- without the illusion to me. of intimacy that dle. This is the closest I know “ ‘Ouch,'" information can I said. "Jesus bring. We may meet how to come. would say, The passages eyes, smile and nod, in italics are 'Ouch.' " but that is all we "I must have from my 2007 know of each other. journals. asked you before!" Rene said. "And I still believe it.” ‘Open-air insane asylum’ Otherworldly Rene could deal in such certainties, but Gethsemani is a place for Benedictine monks of the those who live in questions. Trappist order traveled from Even Jesus questioned God’s France and settled outside plan in the biblical retreat to Bardstown, Ky., in 1848. Gethsemani, from which the They’ve been praying the abbey draws its name. Psalms together seven times “I am deeply grieved, even a day ever since, though their to death,” Jesus said at Geth- ranks have dwindled from semani, according to the Gos- hundreds to 60-some. pel of Matthew. When they’re not in chapel The Abbey of Gethsemani, singing, starting with Vigils a three-hour drive from Cin- at 3:15 a.m. and ending with cinnati, is a place to question Compline at 7:30 p.m., the and then to stay silent, waiting monks move through their for answers in the in-between. days silently. In the stillness grows an "Silence is spoken here," idea that the in-between might urge signs in the dining room, be the answer. in the elevator, in the library. “God Alone” is etched into Retreatants may speak in desthe stone above the gated en- ignated areas; monks may trance to the monk's gardens. speak to the abbot. How do you write about a The garrulous Brother Rasilent retreat at a silent mon- phael, the monk designated to astery? work with media, explained I first came to Gethsemani all this to me two years ago. two years ago on assignment I figured Raphael must have as a reporter and stayed five saved up all his unspoken days in the retreat house. I ex- words, because he had plenty perienced the place much as a of them for me. reporter would, ferreting the “I’m sure there’s people story. Two years later I came who drive by here and say, back for myself. ‘That’s the local open-air inBoth times I arrived deplet- sane asylum,” Raphael told ed and left rested and raw. The me. “We’re just a bunch of world is not fashioned for the ex-Marines and guys who are kind of openness that Gethse- looking for God.” He explained that the monks aren’t sequestered in here to pray for us heathens outside the monastery walls, who muck up their Godly world. “The monk knows that he is in need of salvation and redemption,” Raphael said. “We’re not praying for sinners. A monk is on their level, maybe sometimes a little lower.” Hospitality is among of the rules St. Benedict drew for monasteries, and one wing of the abbey accommodates retreats 50 weeks of the year. Monday through Friday reservations are easier to get; Friday through Monday retreats must be booked further in advance. Being here feels like living in true community, without the illusion of intimacy that information can bring. We may meet eyes, smile and nod, but that is all we know of each Brother Rene of Abbey of Gethsemani. other. All we need to know, Photo by Stephanie Dunlap. except that we’re here, so we up the pace a bit. Peace and can draw from that whatever being there says enough. The abbey's most famous prayers.” assumptions or commonalimonk, the late Thomas MerWhen they’re not singing, ties we like, if we need to ton, or Father Louis, struggled monks are to maintain siA simple room with a desk, with God. His eloquent conlence at meals; silence worksingle bed and private bathroom with shower, three un- templations and his early life ing side-by-side making their remarkable meals a day with as a reprobate make his writ- mail-order cheese, bourbon fruitcake and bourbon fudge; fruit and coffee or tea for the ings enduringly appealing. “My Lord silence in all those in-between taking in beGod, I have times that most other humans “My Lord God, I tween – all no idea where fill with conversation. have no idea where for the price I am going. I It’s impossible, and not of whatever I am going. I do not do not see the really the point, to entirely donation you see the road ahead road ahead of quash the impulse to speak. I care to slip of me…I will trust me…I will noted how the urge to relate through the slot on the you always though I trust you al- kept bubbling up. People can’t help but talk. I night guest- may seem to be lost ways though on a silent retreat and I I may seem come and in the shadow master ’s to be lost and can’t get people to stop talking door. of death,” Father in the shadow to me. Every time Thomas Merton of death,” Sometimes recorded mesI settle into in Thoughts on Merton wrote sages are piped in at mealmy room in Thoughts times. Retreatants usually get Solitude. I think, ‘I on Solitude, spiritual talks but the monks should turn reprinted on hear all kinds; when I vison some music – oh, wait.’ Retreatants do nothing in a card available at the retreat ited, Brother Raphael said the monks were working through particular. They may roam the house’s reception desk. audio biography of AbraMerton drew connections an grounds, visit the statues in the woods, peruse the library, con- between contemplative Ca- ham Lincoln. He said a monk sult with a chaplain, smoke on tholicism and Eastern reli- may consult another monk the screened-in porch (it’s still gions. He was a prolific writer on some area of expertise. If Kentucky, after all) until his sudden death in 1968; a monk really needs to talk, or just sleep. I spent his writings weigh down near- there’s the abbot. When Raphael arrived here the first day of both ly an entire bookcase in the retreat house library. as a postulant in 1954, comvisits sleeping. I asked Raphael if he was munication was much more “Sometimes peoput out by Merton’s high pro- restricted, so the monks deple come here to do file. veloped a sign language. In that, sleep,” Rene “It doesn’t bother me at more recent years the silence said. all,” he said. “We just see him seemed to have relaxed, he Guests may atas Father Louis. I just kind of said. tend services and “We try to keep it down Mass, but they don’t figure it was his way of doing his thing.” but every now and then conhave to. Luckily, versations begin,” he said. they don't screen reMonks dot org “I think it’s good. It tends to treatants for Catholknit the whole thing as a comicism or faith of any A sign in the elevator says, munity, communication does. kind. We're to stay “Retreatants, when singing Before, monks were individsilent, so what we’d profess is moot. Our along with the monks, a bit Gravesite of Father Thomas Merton. Photo by Stephanie Dunlap. See Silence, p. 6 lower on the volume, and pick �STREETVIBES May 2009 Community News Legal Backfire 5 (continued from page 1) 1 locked up so long that he ter told Smith he had to leave; couldn’t afford the impound- he’d been accepted by mising and towing fees. take. “They messed up, and I Smith’s parole officer once lost everything,” Smith says. enlisted Smith’s help, he says, “I have no truck, no camper, looking for leads on housing no anything.’ I’ve tried to get for other former sex offenda job. I’ve tried to put every- ers. thing on the table. I was hon“He told me, ‘If you find est and laid everything out. It anything, let me know.’ He’s didn’t work. Now I manipu- asking me for help,” Smith late the system. I don’t break says. any laws but if I can bend the rules, I do, because I have to More than postcards eat. It’s ugly. They’ve gone too far with this.” Legally classified a sex ofProfessor Jill Levenson of fender, Smith wasn’t convictLynn University in Florida ed of having sex with anyone. agrees. In an affidavit in a He was prosecuted for allowlawsuit over sex-offender ing his girlfriend to have sex laws, she testified that re- with his 16-year-old son. Consearch shows the laws can be victed in Butler County on a counterproductive. charge of aiding and abetting “Ironically, social stability sexual battery, he received a and support increase the likeli- year in prison. hood of suc“He was “Ironically, social cessful re16, she integration was 35,” stability and support for criminal increase the likelihood he says. “I offenders, didn’t care, of successful and pubhonestly. It reintegration for lic policies was no big criminal offenders, that create deal. That obstacles to was my and public policies community that create obstacles opinion.” re-entry may It beto community re-entry compromise came a big public safe- may compromise public deal when ty,” she said. safety.” - Jill Levenson his girlSmith has friend cut a tried to find support, but it’s deal. She ended up convicted proven as elusive as housing of a misdemeanor count of and employment. Homeless child endangering, while he since Jan. 26, he says he was got the felony rap. accepted at the City Gospel Smith isn’t coy about his Mission two months later. past. “I was quite shocked,” he “I wasn’t an innocent persays. “I tried that in 2003 or son,” he says. “I was in the 2004 and I wasn’t allowed.” dope game. My attitude was, But the break was short- ‘I don’t give a fuck.’ I used to lived. After 10 days, the shel- skate through the system.” During a protest at the VOA’s Pogue Rehabilitation Center, a Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy and a VOA administrator ask protesters to remain across the street. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. Now, he says, the system is making it impossible for him to live lawfully. “I’ve never molested a kid in my life,” he says. Even so, he is legally classified a sex offender, restricted from housing, unwanted by employers, even banned by charities. What motivation is there to obey the law? “I need a biscuit,” he says. “If you want me to jump through the hoops, there has to be a biscuit in the end.” Policy makers are beginning to see his point. Last year the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission issued a special report on the status of former sex offenders. The report called for a comprehensive approach to provide better services as a way to improve public safety. “Housing options are very limited for sex offenders, and their choices are usually lowincome areas that already have high crime rates. Housing providers and law enforce- ment should work together to explore options to keep the community safe and the offender in a stable residence. … It is important to recognize that a stable environment is a critical element in the vast majority of cases to prevent re-offending.” The report’s 15 recommendations include a better kind of community notification. Instead of simply sending postcards saying a sex offender has moved into the neighborhood, the report points to a program in Seattle. In that city, 90-minute public meetings with police officers, victims’ advocates and others prepare neighbors. The X Mayors to the Rescue Now!” Forces of reaction, just because we tend to be too darn nice and maybe, but pretty polite and say I'm “Diversity is a sure they defining element of “please” too always vote being a 21st-century much around a straight here – libercity” - councilwoman als and proRepublican and former mayor ticket. gressives Roxanne Qualls So if the don't speak up problem is enough. While it is an lack of diversity and you can't blame interesting proposition – conthe conservatives, and while servatives around here are asthe “forces of reaction” prob- sholes (or, ahem, “forces of reably don't help the city's im- action”) and the progressives age, blaming them is sorta are too nice to deal with them like blaming the football team – the theory discounts what for the academic deficiencies pretty much everyone with a of University of Cincinnati, college education around here whom, as Tillery asked, do knows: This is a one-party reyou hold accountable? gion, and if you want to play Liberals and progressives, ball, you know which side you of course. No, Bill Cun- need to be on. ningham didn't interrupt the During law school, I spent a forum. That was Qualls sug- few days at one of the largest gesting that – and maybe it's law firms in Cincinnati, just to get a feel for life in a law firm. At a lunch with three attorneys, they told me a big secret after swearing me to silence (I was going back to school the next day, so not much fear of tattling): They were Democrats! They thought they were the only three out of 150 lawyers; and they were certain that if anyone found out, they'd lose their jobs. It was like they were part of a secret underground movement. That was more than 15 years ago, but I don't think things have changed all that much. I recently told a lawyer friend about an invitation I'd received to attend a liberal PAC meeting. “If you want to work around here,” he sincerely told me, “you'd better stay away from that.” “These 90-minute meetings provide the opportunity to educate the community about sex offenders, to separate myth from fact, to emphasize how the community has a vested interest in the offender doing well,” the county’s report says. More than 1,600 former sex offenders live in the county. We know that because of increased awareness about sexual abuse and the harm that it does. But the push to do something about it appears to have led to poor policy decisions, the planning commission reports. “The rush to pass residency restrictions and community notification for all sex offenders is fueled by a general public that is operating on fear rather than fact,” the report says. (continued from page 1) 1 ‘Tone that down’ And that perception also conforms to the most interesting comments from the X Mayors, which happened to come from Tom Brush. Early in the program, he bashed The Banks, saying he just didn't care about the issue, because one way of dealing with social problems around here was by diverting attention away from people and to buildings. You know, like not talking about the homeless, but about the buildings that house them. “It's a hell of a lot easier dealing with buildings than dealing with social problems” Brush said. Later, in subtle honesty, Brush answered Tillery's question about the powerlessness many people feel around here. Brush cited “tremendous pres- sure from the business community and other leaders” to not discuss the “problems” of the area, to “tone that down” and “don't talk that way” when addressing any issues of substance in the region. And you have no choice but to listen to them, he explained, because when you need money to fund a project, where do you turn? Certainly not to Over-the-Rhine. So there you have it: the Greater Cincinnati region is not just a conservative region; it's a conservative region that consists of the “forces of reaction” on one side and those conservatives who channel Ward Cleaver on the other, among whom “Don't ask, don't tell” is considered a mature philosophy of living. �Local News 6 Retreat to Silence (continued from page 4) 1 uals in relation to God.” Monks don’t leave the abbey, but they’re not hermits. Raphael said that most monks slip away about once a day to check e-mail. It’s better than phone messages, he said. the outside world. In 2007 Rene led me to his basement rosary library. The rosary made of buckeyes strung together was my favorite. Books on the rosary, books on novenas, books on Mary. A tray of post-it notes from retreatants who came before me. Two years later I made my way back to that basement room alone as though I were retracing a dream. I’d put it so far out of my head; it seemed so far from reality. I saw the tray and recognized the handwriting on one of the notes. “Brother Rene, thank you always for teaching me the rosary,” it said. Signed, “Stephanie.” I didn’t remember writing the note, or the person who wrote it. Meeting the shadow Raphael, who in his former life was a Navy pilot, came to Gethsemani as part of a wave of men in search of meaning after World War II. The war had Brother Raphael from the Abbey of Gethsemani. ended while he was waiting to Photo by Stephanie Dunlap. ship out to the Western Pacifbe a great help with that.” Brother Rene exudes joyful ic. Soon after that, he visited As earthy and erudite as impishness that could verge on a brother in Florida to explore Raphael was, Brother Rene a touch of insane unreality. He connections for some busiseemed to me sweetly magi- says there are statues that cry ness venture. A walk down a cal. I met Rene, the night the oil of Mary’s tears. He unlurid Miami Beach boulevard guestmaster, screwed a little cylinder. There shook what in the retreat was a fluff of gauze inside. He Raphael, who in his meaning that house library. dipped in his index finger. The former life was a was left from He was zeal- tip looked wet when he pulled Navy pilot, came to contempoous about it out. Gethsemani as part rary life for ‘Nothing is pleasing’ Mary and the “I’d like you to do the same of a wave of men in Raphael. rosary. He be- and make the sign of the cross search of meaning “ T h e The stillness could be brutal stowed upon on your forehead,” he said. I after World War II. very ground in ways I only realized when I me “Mary’s did. under me was relieved of it. special blessBoth times Rene met me shook,” he said. “That would Every time I have a coning” from Medjugorje and - for his first time, both times have been a terrible life. I saw versation I am drawn out of urged me to pass it on. During he asked that (revelation) as a kind of myself. I forget my last visit he predicted that what Jesus He said that at first grace.” my head and the Jesus will come back later this would say if he the life of prayer obsessions in it. Raphael, whose birth name year. smacked me. I wrestled was Paul Prendergast, spoke is disheartening. “I think Jesus is coming “When I more of Carl Jung and O. through restlessHe said there back through other people,” first came here Henry than of St. Augustine. ness and boreare many times he said. “He doesn’t have the abbot told He said entering the monastic dom. Raphael to come back in a body like me there are when “nothing is life was a crash course in psycalled these yours or mine.” only two peo- pleasing, nothing times “aridity.” chology. I struggled to wrench my ple here, me solves me, nothing He said that “People are taught to take mind open to the possibil- and Jesus. I’ve at first the life good care of their ego in socifeels good.” ity. What if? Everyone holds been lookety,” Raphael said. “When we of prayer is dispieces of the truth, even when ing for other see in another what we don’t heartening. He said there are the pieces are splinters. people, but I haven’t found like in ourselves, we don’t many times when “nothing is “I’ve been here 58 years,” them,” Rene said. like that person. So you have pleasing, nothing solves me, Rene said. “And I’m very He said he’d have become to withdraw those projections. nothing makes me feel good. happy.” an alcoholic if he’d stayed in I found Jungian psychology to You think, ‘Is anybody really STREETVIBES May 2009 hearing this? Does any of this have meaning anymore?’” At those times, Raphael said, the monk turns to God. “Why would God have aridity in the plan?” he said. “Because we are looking for the giver, not the gift. These are all God’s gifts – God wants you to seek the giver, and the gifts will take care of themselves.” Just when I’m wandering through the Stations of he Cross in the garden and getting blurry-eyed and fed up with all of it (why is it so frickin’ cold in April? We’ve got the March wind out there, Brother Raphael said earlier) I get to the last pillar, the resurrection, and a bird has shit on Jesus’ divine arm. Does God have a sense of humor? We do, so God must. When I returned to Gethsemani this March, I was afraid to ask about Raphael and Rene, desperately wanting some things to remain constant. God, I don’t want to fully embrace you because I am still young. The hurt of being separated from you sometime in my life is worse than never knowing you. I don’t know if I can survive more loss. Always waiting til the right time – I found Rene in the library where he again offered to whack me in the head with his cane, and I prayed the rosary with him that night before 7:30 Compline, but I saw nothing of Raphael. Later I learned that he’d died in the in-between. Working Person’s College Southwestern helps students who want jobs, not academics By Paul KoPP Contributing WritEr A hectic energy can be felt in the halls of the downtown campus of Southwestern College. Teachers and students move about in close quarters, each office shared by at least two staffers, with students and passersby popping in to ask questions or chat about the day’s events. The office of Robert Schmalz, the school’s education director, is no exception. Staff members intermittently file in to check their mail, send faxes and look up students’ telephone numbers. The noise of passing students becomes part of the music of the place, but it is also as an indication of its approach to higher education. The close quarters create an environment to develop real relationships, helping students more easily connect or re-connect with the idea of education with more purpose. Sitting behind his desk, Schmalz seems unaffected by the noise and flow of voices and people streaming about. Working in education for the better part of two decades, he was principal of Jacobs High School for four years. He has been at Southwestern for a year. “It is a downtown hidden treasure,” Schmalz says. “I sort of stumbled into it.” Schmalz says he often wondered what happened to students whom the public schools lost along the way. He was pleased to find that Southwestern offers programs for them, many of whom felt disenfranchised by education in the past, he says. Explain- ing the difference between students at Southwestern and those at more traditional colleges, he likes the example given by a faculty member who also teaches at Miami University. “He tells me (Southwest students) seem more concerned (about their lives),” Schmalz says. “(The school) has its own beauty in that respect, because many of our students would be among the unemployable if they didn’t come here.” Southwestern College, at the corner of Seventh and Vine streets, has been in Cincinnati for 45 years. The school started with five campuses throughout the city owned by Gary Wright, who sold them to Lincoln Educational Services five years ago, according to Kathreen Buckner, the lead medical instructor at the Southwestern College students are focused on long-term careers. Photo by Paul Kopp. school. Buckner has taught at Southwestern College for 17 years. The school is proprietary, a for-profit institution, but the staff seems driven by something more than money. “The difference between here and other schools is the teachers, before they even begin to work here, know it will involve going above and beyond to be able to connect with students and be able to meet the needs of the students,” Schmalz says. “The students come from See Working, p. 11 �STREETVIBES May 2009 Book/Movie Review 7 Exceptional and Homeless ‘The Soloist’ explores homelessness, mental illness and friendship By lew MooreS Contributing WritEr In a brief scene in The Soloist, the TV news is on. The year is 2005. The screen shows black faces, residents about to be made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Nothing further is noted; perhaps Katrina merely sets the year. But it does more. As it played out over the days back in 2005, Katrina reminded the nation that not everyone had it well in America, that not everyone could escape natural disaster in their cars, that some were trapped by poverty. We had forgotten in 2005 – given not only the relative prosperity of that time, but also due to the fact that many newspapers medication and psychiatric had largely abandoned reporthelp. But he’d had enough of ing on the poor and inner-city that while in his 20s (he was in issues – that there was still an his mid-50s in 2005), so he’s under-class in America. They chosen a life on the streets of hadn’t disappeared. Los Angeles, playing classical You get that same feeling music on a violin and later a watching The Soloist, with its cello in a park with a statue of Dickensian scenes of poverty, Beethoven, homelessthen in a In the case of ness, despair, Los Angeself-abuse Nathaniel Anthony les highway and hope- Ayers, the promising tunnel. His lessness. Julliard School nights were Based on spent sleepa book by student who dropped ing on Skid out of school in the Steve Lopez, Row in Los a colum- early ‘70s, diagnosed Angeles nist for the with paranoid among other Los Angeles schizophrenia, he has broken and Times who lost souls. spent more not so much chosen a He has in than a year life of homelessness tow – more chronicling as been a victim of his evident in the life of a illness. the book than homeless but the film – a talented classhopping cart with all his possical musician whose glory sessions, the detritus of other years were in his youth, the peoples’ lives. Palm fronds, book and the film percolate on broken clock, sleeping bag, several different levels. buckets, boots, hubcap, clothWhile the film is ultimately ing, a tarp. He fends off sewabout the redemptive value of er rats by tapping sticks on friendship and music, it is also the pavement near where he about the complicated world sleeps. Ayers wants nothing of poverty and homelessness to do with medical and social and how to address it. help; musical instruments and In the case of Nathaniel sheet music will do. His cart is Anthony Ayers, the promishis crutch, as Lopez explains ing Julliard School student in the book. who dropped out of school in “The cart really is about the early ‘70s, diagnosed with security, and letting go of it paranoid schizophrenia, he has would be like letting go of the not so much chosen a life of side of the pool for the first homelessness as been a victim time,” Lopez writes. of his illness. Ayers “chooses” As long as Ayers has his only because he has options – cart, Lopez writes, he could an apartment awaits, as does never visit a doctor’s office: want the apartment, doesn’t fers a heartfelt assessment. want psychiatric help. “I think that everybody So where does that leave who is homeless has someothers whose paths came from thing extraordinary in them,” different directions, those who he says. “They’re continuhave no champion in a news- ing to live and go forth in a paper columnist? Lopez poses system that says they’re not the question and suggests the important enough to have a answers are enormous, having home. There’s something exto do with affordable housing, traordinary that keeps pushing eliminatthem along.” The numing povWhile the film is ulerty and so bers of hometimately about the on. Where less in the redemptive value of to even new report friendship and music, it due out will start? In Cin- is also about the com- undoubtedly cinnati, plicated world of pov- show an inabout 31 erty and homelessness crease from percent of and how to address it. 2000, Spring the homesays. less popu“We are lation suffer from chronic pretty sure that since 2000, mental illness, according to and with the economic crisis, a 2000 study by the Greater the numbers are higher,” he Cincinnati Coalition for the says. Homeless. Lopez appeared April 26 While a new study of home- on CNN’s Reliable Sources. lessness is due soon, the coali- He told host Howard Kurtz, tion estimates that altogether Washington Post media critic, about 25,000 people experi- that it had taken five or six visence homelessness in Cincin- its with Ayers before he finalnati (90,000 in LA) during the ly wrote a word about him in course of any given year. At 2005. For the past three years any one time, depending on Ayers has lived in an aparttime of year, a few hundred ment run by an L.A. group that may actually live on the streets offers housing to the homeless – in encampments, abandoned mentally ill. buildings, cars. Another few Lopez told Kurtz that he hundred live in shelters, and urged Soloist director Joe most might find themselves Wright to hue “true to the esdoubled-up with friends and sence of this friendship.” That relatives. is there in the film. Those who choose to live as The film, of necessity, comAyers did do so for a number presses. The book and film of reasons, according to Josh have no grand ending. AySpring, executive director of ers does not end up playing the coalition. They prefer their for the L.A. Philharmonic or independence on the streets at Carnegie Hall. Instead, he – “Having your own spot,” ends up in an apartment, off he says – or they despair of the streets, and continues to the hopelessness they might play his instruments. That’s find in shelters, where they all. see that so many others share At the outset, Ayers is simtheir homelessness. Other ad- ply a story to Lopez, a good vocates have said some do story, his next column. It not like the rules of shelters, moves beyond that. Other prefer to come and go as they columns follow, then a book. wish, or are substance abusers During the course of it, Lopez who can’t take their alcohol tries to become Ayers’s de facand drug habits inside shel- to social worker. He schemes ters. Others just don’t trust on how to get Ayers into an shelters. apartment, into treatment. While the classically trained But finally, when all is said and talented musician Ayers is and done, he becomes simply the exception, are there people his friend. In the end, that’s all like Ayers among the home- that counts. less in Cincinnati? Spring of- He couldn’t fit it through the doors. Ayers is rarely without his cart. To take a room would involve the hassle of moving it in and outside the room each time he left. He illogically maintains that he couldn’t just leave his cart unattended in an apartment. That would be to invite thievery. “Every criminal in Los Angeles will be coming through that door right there and they will steal everything I’ve got,” Ayers says in Lopez’s book. Ayers hears voices he has since he was a student. He doesn’t so much carry on conversations as deliver riffs on whatever pops into his head. When he is invited to a rehearsal concert of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he balks. “I am not going,” he tells Lopez in the book. “I don’t care. I don’t need to go to Walt Disney Hall, Fantasia, Donald Duck, Beethoven. … Does a cockroach talk to a greyhound?” The book and film are about homelessness aggravated by mental illness, so it is even more vexing, a double quandary. Solutions to Ayers’s homelessness, at least, are there – medical solutions are available, and an apartment offered largely as the result of Lopez’s columns. But Ayers has to be a willing partici- Tues and Thurs Buffet($7.00)-11AM-2PM Wed-Thur-Fri-Sat 9PM-3AM pant. He doesn’t 1128 Walnut St Pizza by the Slice �8 Sexy, Yummy, Veggie Your tour guide into the steamy side of vegetarian cuisine By alecia a. lott Contributing WritEr When is the last time you called your mother? If she’s anything like my Ma (and if you’re anything like me), she’s probably wondering why you don’t call or visit her more often. Oh, the guilt… Mother’s Day, which is May 10, can be your ticket to getting on Mom’s good side once again — if you play your cards right. Try this classy idea: Serve Mom a savory, down-home brunch that honors not STREETVIBES May 2009 Local News Photo by Alecia A. Lott. only her, but also non-human mothers — cows, chickens, sows — by not using their flesh, eggs or milk. Give her a little speech about the power of the maternal spirit in nature. Tell her what qualities from the animal kingdom — the renowned fervor of a lioness when protecting her cubs, for example — you see in her and how lucky you are that she’s always been there for you. But don’t make her cry: Her food will get cold. Though inspired by the scrumptious hash browns at Tucker’s Restaurant in Overthe-Rhine, my version is more of a guideline than a recipe. Feel free to throw in your (or your mom’s) favorite veggies. This tastes best when made in a cast-iron skillet. Don’t ask me why. Vegetable Hash-Mash 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large yellow onion, diced 2 large russet potatoes, peeled (if you wish) and chopped 2-3 leaves of kale, tough stems removed, chopped 1 small bell pepper (any color), seeded and diced ½ cup fresh mushrooms, sliced (I recommend thick slices of Portobello.) 1 large fresh tomato, diced 1 tablespoon chopped basil leaves Salt and freshly ground black pepper Red pepper flakes (optional) 1. Boil the potatoes in a large pot for about 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat and drain. 2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, cover and cook until softened, about five minutes. 3. Add the bell pepper and mushrooms, cover and cook until softened, another five minutes. 4. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring frequently until lightly browned, yet another five minutes or so. Lightly mash the potatoes a bit with a fork or potato masher. 5. Add the kale, basil and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook until the kale is wilted, about two to three minutes. 6. Add the tomato and cook until heated through, two to three minutes. 7. Serve hot, garnished with basil. I like it with ketchup. But then I like everything with ketchup. 8. Serve with veggie sausage patties, toast with jam and juice or coffee. And give your mom a great big hug. Funny Man, Serious Sales ‘Streetvibes’ vendor uses humor to peddle the paper By MarK Payne Contributing WritEr I have to do keep going forward.” He used to sleep on a bench, Cleo Wombles is at the sometimes in the snow, across corner of Fifth and Walnut the street from where he now streets selling Streetvibes, an sells papers. alternative newspaper pubWombles, 52, says his outlished monthly by the Greater look has made a difference. Cincinnati Coalition for the “I just try to have a positive Homeless outlook on life,” he says, “I “Why did the skeleton like to make people laugh.” go into the Making closet?” he Wombles has came people smile a long way from asks a passis what breaks erby. “’Cause sleeping on a bench “the burden of he didn't have downtown and has a person beany-body.” ing homeless,” no plans to return according to A woman smiles and con- to the life he had. Wombles, who tinues walking. was born and “It’s jokes like this that I raised in Cincinnati. He wears come up with that I share with an assortment of novelty items people,” Wombles says. to amuse potential customers: Vendors sell the paper for a red clown nose, a clown hat a dollar, earning 75 cents per or a hamburger hat. He mimes. copy. But his funniest accessory is Wombles usually sells at his array of jokes. the same corner from 8 a.m.-2 A man walks by. p.m. Monday through Friday. “How do basketball players He then goes to University keep cool during the game?” Heights to sell the paper in Wombles asks. front of Chipotle restaurant. “How?” the man asks. Wombles says selling “They stand by the fans.” Streetvibes helped turn his life Humor is Wombles’ bigaround. gest sales tool, and it works, “I was homeless for seven judging by the volume of his years,” he says. “I was an al- sales, consistently the highest coholic and drug addict. Wine, among Streetvibes vendors. wine, wine – that was my in- “Sometimes 1,300 papers a fluence.” month,” he says. Wombles also makes use of He says he used to blow his money on drinking, drugs or his time on the street by dogambling. ing small deeds for people. “I would blow my money, Chipotle stands adjacent to a but I don't do that anymore,” parking lot that is notorious Wombles says. “I make every for towing cars, because the dollar count. I'll do whatever tow-truck drivers that frequent the area get paid on commission. When Wombles sees a car about to get towed, he runs into the restaurant and yells, “Hey, guys, the towtruck driver is here. Make sure you got enough money on the correct meter, or (spot) 10 is getting towed.” The owner of the car still might have to pay $50, but it saves her from having to go to an impound lot and paying twice that amount. Once, Wombles says, he caught two men trying to steal purses in the ‘Streetvibes’ vendor Cleo Wombles. Photo by Andrew Anderson. restaurant. happened to Wombles while “The only time I will beg is His goal is long-term relaselling Streetvibes involved a if I lost my wallet and I need tionships with customers. family relationship, he says. to get home,” he says. “When I “If I keep my good repu“My daughter was missing begged, I was conning, ’cause tation for these people, they for two years – bipolar,” he I was an addict, and addicts come and buy,” he says. “I've says. “I thought she was dead. con.” had bankers, judges, lawyers, Here is Fifth and Walnut on Wombles says he has spiripolicemen. That didn't use May 3. She is coming across tual support. to happen. I use to run from the street right here.” “Some people in AA (Alcothese people.” He points towards the cross- holics Anonymous) say they Wombles says he must bewalk. find a higher power,” he says. lieve in “positive mental atti“And now she is back home. “I found mine. Evil happens tude.” Even if he is having a Now, that is a good thing.” all around you, man. There is bad day, he won't let it show. Wombles has came a long always a negative thing. We He believes that, if he makes way from sleeping on a bench do need for people to see a people smile, they will come downtown and has no plans positive influence.” back and buy copies of the pato return to the life he had. Wombles has a saying to per. He says he still isn't where he describe his progress: “From But sales aren’t the only wants to be, but not even close the gutter to the udder, and I benefit. Perhaps the most to where he use to be. He still didn't stutter.” meaningful thing that has struggles, but won't beg. �STREETVIBES May 2009 Music 9 Creative Control Musicians independently expand vision before signing with labels By ariana SHaHanDeH Contributing WritEr lease of his first album, Awake, in 2005. At one point Vesely was earning up to $20,000 a From the insomnia-inspired month on merchandise and laptop music making stage to music sales on his own. building a music myspace to Support and recognition for finally signing with a label, Secondhand Serenade’s honest these days bands lyrics and pasare developing sionate delivery The band’s their music long eventually led before deliver- electronica style labels to seek and thoughtful ing it. a partnership. songwriting Secondhand But Vesely was Serenade and more focused on pierced the Paper Route are hearts of college the integrity of two examples of the music than campuses bands that have on getting a connationwide. found success tract; if he were with a label only going to sign after years of a with a label, it sovereign pursuit for musical was going to be on his terms. growth. “I just took it one step at a John Vesely, the core mem- time, tried to make decisions ber of Secondhand Serenade, that would affect what I was which originated in Menlo doing in a positive way,” he Park, Calif., started out mak- says. “You have to be smart ing music from his own home. and not jump on the first deal This led to the independent re- that comes to you.” Vesely eventually ran into Daniel Glass, an industry legend and founder of Glassnote Records, at a showcase in New York City. By 2007 Secondhand Serenade re-released Awake through Glassnote. Later the album, A Twist in My Story, would be born of the new partnership. To Vesely, the deal was worth the wait. “We work really well together,” he says. “(Glass) gives me the space to do what I want and gives me a lot of resources, so it’s perfect.” That creative space between producer and artist seems to be the most appreciated element of the relationship. JT Daly of Paper Route, whose home base is Nashville, signed with Universal Records. “It was more about finding someone that’s running parallel next to us, sharing the same vision at the same time and re- alizing that this could be a great team, rather than looking for someone to save us,” he says. “(It wasn’t) like, “Man do we have to get a record deal or we’re dead.” P a p e r Route’s musical soul was inspired by an iBook, inexpensive equipment and sleepless nights. The band’s electronica style and thought- Paper Route ful songwriting pierced See Control, p. 13 Vendors’ Artwork Artwork by Anthony Williams Berta’s Art Corner “In the shadow of solar cell technology” Michigan Say What?! _____________________ “In the long run, the oppressor is also a victim. In the short run (and so far, human history has consisted only of short runs), the victims, themselves desperate and tainted with the culture that oppresses them, turn on other victims.” - Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States �Column 10 The Shadow of Poverty Stories my father never told me STREETVIBES May 2009 Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. This column is part of a monthly series on poverty and addiction. I knew very little about poverty, so that I got to know and her four children look like at it. He should have been a ***** poverty growing up. I learned the people in the little trailer Okies in a Dorothea Lange hero to the family. But nearly a lot about it – that of others park in the shadow of the Big My parents both knew pov- photo. Indeed, they were Ok- everyone just shook his or her and that of my own – later Four Bridge and the pretty erty as children. My mother ies of a sort. My grandparents head. Nearly everyone who on. But my w o m a n was the only child of a widow were rural southerners who knew him would tell you he “If you’ve really been parents saw with two in a small mill town in Mas- never seemed to settle any could have made something to it that my poor, you remain poor (or was sachusetts. She was lifted out one place and even home- of his life, but he drank it all at heart all your life.” sister and I it three? of poverty by the election of steaded Oklahoma for a time away. But not my father. Dad was saw as little – Somerset Maugham or four?) Franklin Roosevelt, which until they moved north with of poverty as screaming led to her mother becoming the whole Henson clan on the one who had to drag him possible in one small town. children who stayed drunk the postmistress of the town, word that there was work out of the bars. Dad was the They were hard working and never paid me; and the old with a stable income and a in the foundries in Sidney. one who had to leave college and thrifty. They both had widow at the end of my route chance to go to a teachers col- In another photograph, my to come home and help care government jobs. We owned who complained about my lege. She taught in one-room grandfather in his suit and my for his younger brothers and our own house, and we ate lollygagging with them girls schoolhouses in the moun- grandmother in what looks sister. He probably did a lot regularly. We went on vacatains of Vermont to be her finest dress stand more I will never know about. tions. We owned our own auand married my in front of a clapboard house But he never talked about it. tomobile and, after my mother It seemed he wanted to father when . . . with a wooden sidewalk. The went back to teaching school, . Well, that’s too rickety surroundings stand in leave as much of that life as by MiChaEl hEnson we had two – a nice one for long a story for stark contrast to their attempt far behind him as he could. her to drive to school and a He worked hard, avoided alwhat we’re doing to look their best. What the photo does not cohol, married well and was beater for my father to take here. She emerged downtown to the post office. at the start of it. I did some se- from poverty with opinions, show is how my grandfather, generally happy with the life Poverty was something rious lollygagging with them but few scars. by his drinking, sabotaged he made. other people went through. In girls every day so she did have I don’t think my father is My father had a different every chance at gentility, evSidney, Ohio, where I grew up, a right to complain, but that is story, one he would never tell. ery hope for stability, every much different from others it was something endured by another story. I only learned about it from the thought of a steady climb who grew up in poverty that the Black people across town I read about poverty, of stories of my aunts and uncles up the wobbly ladder of the was further undermined by in Buckeye Terrace, a collec- course. I was a teenager when and from alcohol. I don’t What the photo does not show is how my tion of crumbling, slate-sided Kennedy was elected. My par- little hints think my father project houses. Or, closer to ents were liberal Democrats. my father grandfather, by his drinking, sabotaged ev- is much differhome, you might see it at the My mother, an Irish Catho- w o u l d ery chance at gentility, every hope for stabil- ent from chilend of Shie Avenue in the little lic from Massachusetts, even let fall. I ity, every thought of a steady climb up the dren raised in the shacks near the dump where talked like the Kennedys, and still don’t double affliction wobbly ladder of the American Dream. the migrants from Kentucky she encouraged me to read know it all, of poverty and settled. It was something you books like The Other America and I doubt addiction today. might see out in the country by Michael Harrington and I ever will. American Dream. I know he There are a lot of people who where old men lived in little Night Comes to the Cumberwas a union leader because want to leave it behind. But I My father looked away evscrappy trailers or in a string land by Harry Caudill. ery time I asked him about his I’ve heard the story of how think the shadow of poverty is of little fishing cottages along But still poverty was some- childhood. Grandma had to use the rent long and touches many peothe banks of the Great Miami. thing that happened to other money to cover for him when ple. If we had poor relations, people. It had nothing to do he drank up the union dues. I know the shadow of child***** they were no one I knew. with us. He was a man with a third- hood poverty never left my faWhen I turned 12 or 13, I did not realize then, as I I have some family pho- grade education who could ther. If you asked him about it, my father expected me to go do now, that the shadow of tographs that tell part of the play five musical instruments he would tell you, “I don’t reto work, so I got a paper route poverty is always there. story. In one, my grandmother and could make a cast of an member.” And he would look that took me face to face with object by just taking a look away. ammered H ! ! ! Action Alert ! ! ! Cut Out and Sign This Letter and Return to the Ohio Justice and Policy Center 1 City Council City of Cincinnati 801 Plum Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Return to: Dear City Council: David A. Singleton Ohio Justice & Policy Center 215 East 9th Street, Suite 601 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 513-421-1108 (phone) 513-562-3200 (fax) I join with the Ohio Justice & Policy Center and other civic leaders who are asking the City of Cincinnati to end its blanket policy of denying employment to otherwise qualified applicants with felony convictions. It is very important, from a community safety standpoint, that we do all we can to ensure that former offenders, who have been rehabilitated and are otherwise qualified for employment, be given a chance to work and become productive, law-abiding citizens. I encourage the City to adopt guidelines to help determine whether an otherwise qualified applicant with a felony record should be hired. Among the facts and circumstances the City should consider in making the employment decision are: (1) the nature and gravity of the offense(s); (2) the time elapsed since the conviction(s); (3) the age of the applicant at the time of the offense(s); (4) the number of convictions; (5) any evidence of rehabilitation or mitigation presented by the applicant; and (6) the degree to which the conviction(s) relate(s) to the duties of the job for which the applicant has applied. These guidelines are important in making sure that only those former offenders who present minimal risk receive City employment. The City of Cincinnati should join the growing number of cities that are opening employment opportunities to people with felony records. It is important for the City to show leadership on this issue to encourage more private sector employers to hire former offenders. Sincerely, Name: Address: Date: �STREETVIBES May 2009 Local News A Little Snip Goes a Long Way 11 UCAN provides low-cost veterinary care By JereMy Flannery Contributing WritEr Dogs and cats boast a more productive sex life than humans. Female dogs and cats can produce up to 18 to 20 puppies or kittens per year, according to the United Coalition for Animals (UCAN), a non-profit veterinary clinic in Lower Price Hill. There is almost no limit to the number of females that can be impregnated, unless either or both are fixed. UCAN is literally cutting those numbers down through its pet spaying and neutering service. The clinic’s mission is to eventually eliminate the number of homeless dogs and cats euthanized in Cincinnati. Dogs and cats might not volunteer for the surgery, but it certainly beats the alternative. More than 33,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year in Cincinnati, costing taxpayers about $1.2 million annually, according to UCAN. UCAN opened in 2007 to provide low-cost spay and neuter services to low-income pet owners and animal shelters operating on small budgets. The fees for each surgery (dog spay $75, neuter $65, puppies $60, cat spay or neuter $35) go directly toward animal services. The clinic loses about $10-20 per surgery, according to clinic manager Sonja Felix. But low cost doesn’t mean low quality of care. “Some people have expressed concern about, you know, are there trained vets there? Do you use anesthesia?” she says. “As you can see, it’s not a chop shop. There are windows to see into the surgery room and everyone here has a tremendous love for pets.” The clinic’s staff includes four veterinarians, one fulltime and three part-time, who perform surgeries for an estimated 10-15 dogs and 40-50 cats daily, Felix says. Twelve volunteers assist the clinic’s 15 employees. Many of the staff and volunteers have been animal rescuers and/or house rescued animals, Felix says. Volunteers assist with care for the animals between their surgeries and with the maintenance of the clinic. Barb Young started regularly volunteering at the clinic in December 2008. “I want people to know they have ways to care for their animals because over time A cat being prepped for surgery at UCAN. we lose our resources, getting older, and animals shouldn’t have to suffer for that,” Young says. Nor should financially burdened pet owners, Felix says. A Streetvibes survey of private veterinarian services shows dog spays cost $100 to $274, and dog neutering costs $78 to $150. Cat spaying costs $100 to $274, and cat neutering costs $59 to $150. “If people can’t afford the price, can’t afford to take care of their pets, then there wouldn’t be competition for them (in private veterinary practices),” Young says. “Some people that can’t afford to buy their pets food end up feeding – have to sacrifice their own food to feed them.” Pet food is not payable by food stamps in Ohio. Thanks to grants and donations, UCAN is able to offer vouchers and discounts for its services on a financial-need basis to those who cannot afford the listed prices. UCAN wants to make sure pets aren’t neglected because of their owners’ financial problems, Felix says. In addition to spaying and neutering, UCAN also provides medical services such as vaccinations and de-worming. The clinic recently added basic veterinarian care during weekday afternoons and Saturdays. For those who need it, UCAN provides transportation to the clinic. UCAN operates mostly through donations, Felix says. Its towels, the washers and dryers that run perpetually, the surgical equipment and the pet food have been donated by individuals, hospitals and companies. UCAN needs volunteers with a variety of skills: office management, cleaning, animal care such as feeding the animals and cleaning their cages and community outreach to inform the public about the organization’s mission. Volunteers could help by handling laundry for an hour, an option that might appeal to students seeking to fulfill communityservice requirements. “You don’t see it now, but there is usually a large pile of towels in the laundry room,” Young says. “These washing machines almost never stop running when we’re here.” UCAN hosts its first annual yard sale June 27, including games, food and face-paint for children. UCAN has performed more than 15,000 surgeries, Felix says. Those 15,000 surgeries prevented potentially 270,000 fewer homeless dogs and cats in Cincinnati. UCAN is at 1230 W. Eighth St., Lower Price Hill. To find out if you’re eligible for discounted services at UCAN, call 513-721- 7387. To volunteer, call Jeannine Dalluge at 513-504-4413. For more information, visit ucancincinnati.org. Working Person’s College various backgrounds but the at the end of their programs, majority are from urban areas, the school’s career office placand a lot of them (are) young es them in externships. single mothers,” Brian Hooten, If a student Buckner says. Southwestern’s “You have young misses a class, career services the staff calls people wanting to director, says change their lives he critiques stuto make sure but really don’t dents’ resumes, everything is know how, so helps them preOK. they go through pare for interthe education sysviews, shows tem and get focused on what it them how to network with difis they really want to do.” ferent employers and organizThe field with the largest es job fairs so they can get an enrollment at Southwestern idea of what employers want. College is medical assisting. “I also mentor, counsel and The school also has a growing uplift some of these individubusiness management pro- als because, due to the econogram, as well as one in crimi- my, you also have to tell them nal justice. When students are that there is hope out there,” Dr. Denise Bevins performs surgery on an animal. Photos by Andrew Anderson. Hooten says. Some of the students must complete a GED program within the first three quarters of their enrollment. “I sometimes say it’s culture shock for me to come teach here,” says Charles Baker, the school’s GED director. “I try and keep it light, use a lot of humor and knock myself down because there is this image of being a white male teaching here, that I may be inaccessible so I try and make myself the clown. I try and dispel the fear and anxiety, and there’s so much of that here.” The school’s work involves more than academics. “We do a lot of counsel- (continued from page 6) 1 ing, diverting them to people or places that can assist them with issues that come up in their daily lives,” Buckner says. The way the staff treats students is part of what attracted Antony Jemison, a first-year business-management student. “The instructors here seem like they want you to finish,” he says. “They want to help you vs. bigger schools where they don’t have relationships with their students. You can’t come to them with your problems. Here it’s like family.” For example, if a student misses a class, the staff calls to make sure everything is OK. Lois Robb, a student in the medical-assistance program, says teachers make her feel that they care. Earlier this year Robb lost her 3-yearold son’s father. She says her teachers were very supportive. She returned to school after the funeral. “They appreciated the fact that I was determined to still come and get my education despite my barriers,” Robb says. Buckner sees the school as a stepping-stone for anyone who wants to further her education or her career. “You start out with a foundation, and then you build on that,” she says. �12 STREETVIBES May 2009 Poetry We Need Some Things Redone So We Can Get a Lot Done I want to save Rothenberg. How in the world could you leave it like that? Here at Vine tiles on the floor are missing, doors are broke, the heat doesn’t always work. The bathrooms are dirty, nasty, and it stinks. There are holes in two of my classroom’s ceiling, and when it rains water falls through. That distracts me from my learning. We should not have to worry about our safety every time we come to school. We are very low on supplies. Will you please help us? The electrical problems are destroying our learning time. This school at Vine is a complete wreck! We found a dead rat in the closet. We don’t want to be scared of bugs that are around the building. We just want to be able to concentrate on our schoolwork and our teacher. I don’t think that we deserve to be one of the few schools without a renovated school. The school is not a good look for the students and staff. When people come here, they might think that this is a bad school because it looks Cincinnati School Board has agreed to revnovate Rothenberg crazy. Elementry. Photo by Lynne Ausman. I think that they need to do as they said and I feel like it’s not fair that almost every school has fix up Rothenberg. been renovated and ours has not! Even though it’s over 100 years old it’s okay. My mother used to go to this school when she was The board has been talking about renovating for at least five years. a kid. Students need bigger classrooms because it helps Students downtown need a nice, clean school. them to be more organized. We need some things redone so we can get a lot done And not worry about the wrong things. Rothenberg deserves to be renovated because it’s been sitting there rotting to the point where it might end up falling. Old Rothenberg is very big. There will be more students going there. It won’t feel overcrowded. People who live up on the street can just walk to school. Parents won’t have to worry about having to find transportation. I think it’s better to have a nice looking school for my little sister to go to. It will be a better learning environment. It’s a great place to have recess and is safe for children to not run in the street. We work hard for our education. You should not knock down old Rothenberg. If you knock down the old Rothenberg, it would be hard to find the company to help knock it down since they are firing people off their job. Where will the kids all go who live in this area? If you really care, you will find it deep down in your hearts to make a change. Everyone in the community will really appreciate what you have done. I hope I just persuaded you to renovate the Old Rothenberg. Even though I won’t be here anymore, it is important to still have a better school. When I get older, I would want my kids to go to a good school. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read my letter. From letters written to CPS School Board by seventh- and eighth-grade students at Rothenberg on Vine. Lines compiled and arranged by Bonnie Neumeier from OTREPS, April 13, 2009. Crossword Sudoku Down Across 3. Support bar 8. Ballpoint 10. Have an obligation 11. Reactor (6,4) 12. Barrel 13. Draw air audibly up the nose 14. Bequest 20. Hiss 23. Ornamentation 26. Motor transport 27. Written expression of affection (4,6) 28. Ladies 29. Temperature 30. Unpleasant 1. French volume 2. Punctuation mark 4. At most 5. Debris 6. Tangelo 7. Act of stealing 8. In an inadequate manner 9. Coarse 15. Elastic wood 16. Road 17. Abrupt 18. Gourd fruit 19. Displaces 21. Expletives 22. Water vapor 24. Deep unconsciousness 25. Tear Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 through 9. The fundamental goal of a Sudoku puzzle is to use the provided numbers, or givens, to discover which numbers logically fill in the empty squares. The only rule of Sudoku is that each of the nine rows, each of the nine columns, and each of the nine 3x3 subsections must contain all of the numbers from one to nine, and each number consequently can occur in each row, column and subsection only once. Answers on Page 15 �STREETVIBES May 2009 Community News Our Daily Jazz Student orchestra livens up hospitality ministry 13 Our Daily Bread, a food and hospitality ministry at 1730 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, offers a mid-day meal, serving more than 500 meals every weekday. To volunteer or donate food, call Joan or Kathy at 513-621-6364. By anGela Pancella Contributing WritEr casserole, cole slaw, tossed salad and desert. Some of our guests in the lower dining area “I wanna hear this music!” were playing cards or chess. one of our guests called as the Others, like the gentleman band set up. shouting All around the dining W e ’ d encouragement blocked off a area heads started section of Our bobbing, and soon the to the Daily Bread’s s t u d e n ts, more outgoing of our lower dinleaned guests got up to dance on ing area with the to “Knock on Wood” church pews, half-walls and “Blue Skies.” and now Cinand just cinnati Hills watched. Christian Academy (CHCA)’s We’ve been blessed with Electric Jazz Orchestra came some great musical perforto take their places. One of our mances at Our Daily Bread — wooden tables got drafted as a the combo Jus2, for instance, keyboard stand. Trombones has played a couple of times. and trumpets and saxophones (Musicians reading this who were unpacked and a drum kit might feel inspired to play at set up. our food and hospitality can It was 10:30 on a Friday call 513-621-6364). morning, so lunch was still This was the Electric Jazz being served — leftovers from Orchestra’s second visit; the the week, a ham and cheese first was in March 2007. Both Guests play chess while the Electric Jazz Orchestra plays in the background. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. Students from the Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Electric Jazz Orchestra entertain guests at Our Daily Bread. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. visits coincided with the CHCA’s Serve-A-Thon, a day when all the students at the school’s four campuses set out to do service projects in small groups. Some students were cleaning up parks, doing landscape work at hospitals or nursing homes. The Electric Jazz Orchestra, about 20 high school students strong, was one of the larger groups. They were performing several concerts around Cincinnati as part of the Serve-A-Thon. The students set up all their instruments, music stands, amps and speakers in a matter of minutes, and then the jazz kicked in. All around the dining area heads started bobbing, and soon the more outgoing of our guests got up to dance to “Knock on Wood” and “Blue Creative Control the hearts of college campus“It helped define our vision es nationwide, and eventually more,” Daly says. “We retheir music reached out to an ally knew who we were by the even broader audience: any- time we got the record deal. one bored with mainstream. I don’t want people to think That individualistic image, we’ve changed at all. This is however, is exactly what is at what we set out to do from the stake now that start - to make Many of our a label is ina creative pop volved. musical authorities albums.” “This has And they can are beginning raised the bar, back it up. Even to come from because when after signing, an independent we were just both bands have background, and an indie band maintained the a new niche of doing whatevcontrol over er we wanted, entrepreneurship is their art: Paper we had the inRoute still enbeing created. die scene paygineers its own ing attention to songs and does us, looking in our direction,” its own visual art, and SecDaly says. “And now that ondhand Serenade’s music we’re signed, we have to win has only changed by becomthat all back again to prove ing more accessible. that we haven’t changed our Essentially, the labels’ roles vision.” are in fact “running parallel” Despite the mixed feelings to the artists, rather than overabout the effect record labels lapping. What’s interesting is have on an artist’s music, Pa- the fact that neither band exper Route’s self-supporting pected it to go this far. experience helped solidify the “I didn’t go into it thinking band’s intent. I needed to get signed,” Ve- Skies.” One man gave a grin at a particularly sweet keyboard riff; some folks used cell phones to snap pictures. The first set of older songs ended with John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom.” Then came a couple of contemporary worship numbers in horn-heavy arrangements — “Lord, You Are Good” and “Friend of God” — and more shouts of encouragement. This from a soloist: “Come on, horns, gimme something!” “That’s old school,” one of our guests commented as the brass section began a stately rendition of “Amazing Grace,” which then slid into a smooth jazz arrangement punctuated by cymbals. Hits by Stevie Wonder (“I Wish”) and Tom Jones fol- lowed — even Mary Beth Peters, our executive director, was seen breaking out the Carlton to “It’s Not Unusual.” The finale was Charles Mingus’ “Better Get Hit In Yo’ Soul.” “Put some sauce on it!” one of our guests insisted to the drummer as he soloed. And then the Electric Jazz Orchestra headed out to its next gig. The sheer number of positive comments throughout was overwhelming. It seemed everyone gave their vote of approval with “I enjoyed it,” “That was good,” “I liked that” or some variation. One woman even commented afterward, “If — and that’s a big word, ‘if’—if I ever get married, I want them to play at my wedding.” (continued from page 9) 1 sely says. “I didn’t go into it thinking I needed to even be very successful. I just wanted to make an album, and I just wanted to get it out to people as best I could.” D a l y agrees. It wasn’t until the band’s drummer, Gavin Mc- Secondhand Serenade Donald, joined the developed, followed by hard group that Paper Route started work. But not until a foundato get serious. tion was built, a vision defined, “Before that it was all more did it rise to the next level. of just a recording project,” Many of our musical auDaly says. “We sort of felt we thorities are beginning to were finished with music in a come from an independent lot of ways.” background, and a new niche Somehow the casual affec- of entrepreneurship is being tion these musicians had for created – finances, copyrights, music turned into a hobby, work ethic, risks, originalthen a project. Soon a passion ity and timing, all things in- volved in starting a band from the ground up. With this new trend, the age of being developed has replaced the age of being discovered. Hopefully, the industry will continue to encourage this sense of individuality. If we’re really lucky, it might even deliver artists that inspire us to buy CDs again. �14 Starting Life and Starting Over How I learned about family and faith 1 boy had a beautiful mother. They were going about their business, and then I had the accident. They loved me back to the point where I was all caught up. To me, that is and was amazing. Now, as I said, my mother began to go to church, and me and my brothers and sisters went also. My father at that time did not. So I was in church at a young age. M and Born in Cincinnati, the old- my brothers and sisters had to est of four, I began a happy go. It seemed like it was all life as a child. My father was the time. there, and my mother was also When Christmas came, we there. ate good, and I had to wear a I was told by my grand- three-piece suit. At that time mother on my mother’s side of my life the seed was being that I was spoiled the first few planted about God and his creyears of my life. That’s be- ation. I thank my mother for cause I was the having a heart oldest grandI was only 5 years to desire more child on my from life. Beold, and I had to mother’s side cause of her, wear a patch over me and my of the family. Then there one of my eyes for a family began very long time. was an accito learn, and dent. And I was church then hurt in a bad way. I was hurt became a part of my life. so bad that I had to be flown Once I stopped playing to the hospital in a helicopter. in church and started learnI was fed through my nose, ing, even before I learned the and my family was worried books of the Bible, I learned about my life. Things were so this: 1. Hear the word. 2. Read bad that I had to learn how to the Word. 3. Study the Word. do everything all over again. I 4. Memorize the Word. 5. had to learn how to walk. Meditate on the Word. Once I learned everything For any of this to be a blessthat I had already been taught ing in your life, you must up to that point, my family have faith. Faith helps you get said I began my recovery and started. Faith helps you along I recovered in a big way. I was the way. Faith in Jesus grows told I learned how to walk you. again and I learned how to If you’re reading this story do everything else. I was told and have questions, have an I was even better than before odd job you need someone to the accident. do or need encouragement, I was only 5 years old, and I you can contact me at 513had to wear a patch over one of 823-6030. my eyes for a very long time. Now you know just a little Then I began school. School about me. If you want me was wonderful because it was to speak to a group or your always something to do and I church, you can call me. You liked that. A short time after can also call Jeni Jenkins, that, my mother began to at- education coordinator for the tend church. greater Cincinnati Coalition So I was this young boy for the Homeless, at 513-421with a cool father. This young 7803, ext. 14. By toMMy tHoMPSon strEEtvibEs vEndor Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery at 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com STREETVIBES May 2009 Vendor Writings Homeless Sam His attitude makes him wealthy 1 ing the day so he could have a By Dan Hoeweler roof over his head at night. He Contributing WritEr desires nothing but his freedom and love for life. He gets Sleeping outside under a exactly what he wants, and bridge was an old man named nothing more. Sam. He reeked of sweat and During the day he sits at dirt and hadn't shaved nor busy crosswalks in downtown trimmed for months. When Cincinnati carrying a cardhe smiled, a yellow sulfuric board sign asking for change. gleam apBusinessmen peared across dressed in Sam always has his face, t h r e e p i e c e a big smile on his showing his suits walk face, knowing full yellow teeth by, somethat he hasn't well he is one of the times willing brushed in richest people in all to help with nearly a year. a little bit of of Cincinnati. Next to him spare change. was a six-pack They feel sorof cheap beer he purchased at ry for him, not having the nice the store from the change he’d car, the trophy wife and the acquired while begging on the big house they’re so proud of. streets. His possessions are Others simply walk by in disfew, as he needs to carry all of gust, wishing he would simply them. This bridge has been the disappear. old man’s home for the last Sam always has a big smile year. The cops kicked him out on his face, knowing full well of all his other homes. Around he is one of the richest people him was a heap of garbage in all of Cincinnati. He feels that included hamburger and sorry for these businessmen candy wrappers, empty beer wanting to control people all cans and dirty old clothes that the time and always trying to had been worn out over the seem important. He knows years. that, despite all their possesEveryone feels sorry for sions, few appreciate life as Sam, yet Sam never feels much as he does. He lives in sorry for himself. Unlike most bliss. of the homeless, he chose this Everywhere he goes, he sees lifestyle. He tired of the rat wonder and joy, as if wearing race, the struggle to see who is a special set of glasses worth the alpha male in the pack. He a million dollars. Love surtired of the constant struggle rounds him like an aura of joy for possessions and pieces of no rich man could ever buy. green paper everyone seemed People feel sorry for him, yet so crazy about. He decided he wonders why. Why should early on in his life that the you feel sorry for one of the most important commodity for richest men in Cincinnati? him is freedom – the freedom Sometimes he’ll find a nice to wake up whenever he wants beat-up old suit at the Salvaand not be pushed around and tion Army and prance around threatened by someone dur- the streets of downtown Cin- cinnati, feeling richer than almost anyone there. He stares at the tall buildings, feeling as if he owns them all. Sam is indeed rich, yet everywhere he goes, people felt sorry or disgusted by him. It doesn’t bother him one bit. Sam lives in a world of his own, a world much greater than that of most people. He loves his life and freedom so much that he couldn't imagine selling one hour of his time to a factory or company. Every now and then he’ll sit down, grabbing a quick bite to eat, and start crying out of happiness and joy about how wonderful his life is. He feels compassion for those beneath him, the people slaving away hour after hour, collecting green pieces of paper he knew little about. He wonders every now and then if somehow he could help these lost souls he sees everyday walking through the city, in a rush over creating some object or thing that is worth green paper. If only he could teach them how beautiful life is if you just stand back and watch it. Convinced few of them would listen, he decided instead to have the glory and beauty of life all to himself. Sam loves his freedom more than anything on this planet. Freedom was more important to him than money, power and fame. He is living the American dream that most Americans can't even dream of, the dream of endless freedom – freedom so great that no number can take away or convince him otherwise. Sam is one of the wealthiest men in Cincinnati. �STREETVIBES May 2009 Local News 15 Peaslee Power Neighborhood center celebrates 25 years of empowering Over-the-Rhine 1 By MaiKa arnolD Contributing WritEr Imagine Over-the-Rhine with a beautiful garden for children to learn and play in, a steel drum band, photography workshops, African drumming, poetry readings and art classes. These are a reality at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center on East Fourteenth Street. The Peaslee Center grew out of a grassroots movement by a group of concerned women who wanted Over-the-Rhine to have an asset that belonged to the community. Opened in 1984, will celebrate its 25th anniversary Dec. 14. Members of the community helped raise about $290,000 to purchase Peaslee Elementary School from Cincinnati Public Schools after it closed in 1984, according to Bonnie Neumeier, the director and one of the founders of the center. The center’s goal has been to Peaslee Neighborhood Center empower the people of Overthe-Rhine, offering residents a chance to express themselves through art classes. Residents created a series of mosaics now housed at Peaslee, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and other locations, such as Love Dove at 12th and Vine streets. The center sponsors a steel drum band and offers music classes, including piano and violin lessons; poetry readings; and sign language lessons. Peaslee’s Childcare Center, which serves children 6 weeks to 12 years old, uses hands-on learning to help develop their minds. Children learn math by learning how to play African drums studying and the beats. They learn how to read by telling stories with the teachers. They learn about vegetables in the Edible Garden. The garden, a new addition to the center, helps children learn where food comes from and helps them appreciate the earth. This hands-on approach gives them a better understanding of ecology and the satisfaction of growing their own plants and vegetables. The Peaslee Center enables residents to hold meetings and social gatherings. It also provides space for seven nonprofit advocacy groups: the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, A Small Group, Equal Justice, Ohioans to Stop Executions, Christians for Peace in El Salvador, the Center for Community Change and the Intercommunity Workers’ Justice Committee. Peaslee now faces an uncertain future. Because of the recession, the center hasn’t received some of the grants it had hoped for. The center lost the Homeless Child Care grant from the Salvation Army, worth $50,000, for this year, along with a few other grants and funding, Neumeier says. Peaslee needs about $85,000 by the end of the year to keep some of its programs from being diminished or eliminated, she says. “We seriously could use $100,000,” Neumeier says. “Our budget each year is about $450,000 to $5000,000 for the license for child care and everything else. So I’m hoping the word can get out between the broad community again to keep everything here running.” Neumeier says she believes Kim Burgas, Bonnie Neumeier, Annabelle Johnson and Michael Jackson on the steps of Peaslee Neighborhood Center. Photos by Lynne Ausman. the community will help as it has in the past. One of the reasons the center has survived for 25 years is because of public support, she says. “We’ve had a lot of joy and bumps over the last 25 years, but it’s been worth it,” Neumeier says. “We don’t have a lot of community assets in the neighborhood that belong to the people. We’ve got to keep Peaslee as a pillar of strength.” (Jeremy Flannery contributed to this story.) To help the Peaslee Center, contact Bonnie Neumeier at 513-6215514, ext. 20, or bonsunflower@gmail.com. Donations of basic supplies for the Childcare Center are especially welcome. For more information on the Peaslee Center, visit peasleecenter.org. Missed an Issue? Check out the Streetvibes archive at www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes Puzzle Solutions �16 Vendors Resource Guide STREETVIBES May 2009 Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 25 cents and sell the paper for $1, keeping the money they have earned. The vendors can be identified with a white badge and can be found selling the paper in downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northern Kentucky and area churches. The money they earn helps them meet basic housing, food and health care needs. Not all vendors pictured. Josephine Baskerville Doris Binion Terry Ranson Anthony Williams Nell Williams Grady Cook Cleo Wombles James Davis Jon Darby Dede Stoops Julie Walker Kenneth Stonitsch Antonio Hodge Leonard Jackson Samuel Jackson Riccardo Taylor Alfred Woolfolk Berta Lambert Mary Mueller Brandon Nelson Mark Shears Terrence Williams Raynard Jones Richard Tyree Karen Collett Charles Cole Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Central Access Point...381-SAFE Cincinnati Union Bethel...768-6907 Bethany House...557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House...681-2365 Salvation Army...762-5660 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter...872-9259 Talbert House...684-7965 Treatment: Women First Step Home ...961-4663 Treatment: Both City Gospel Mission...241-5525 Justice Watch...241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Worker House...381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter...661-4620 AA Hotline...351-0422 CCAT ...381-6672 Joseph House ...241-2965 Hamilton County ADAS Board ...946-4888 Recovery Health Access Center ...281-7422 Sober Living ...681-0324 Talbert House...641-4300 Shelter: Both Advocacy Shelter: Men Anthony House (Youth)...961-4080 Caracole (HIV/AIDS)...761-1480 Drop Inn Center...721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network...471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center...221-3350 St. John’s Housing...651-6446 Housing: CMHA...721-4580 Excel Development...632-7149 OTR Community Housing...381-1171 Tender Mercies...721-8666 Tom Geiger House...961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services Inc. ...751-0643 Volunteers of America...381-1954 Food Lord’s Pantry...621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Soup Kitchen & Pantry..961-1983 Our Daily Bread...621-6364 St. Francis Soup Kitchen...535-2719 Treatment: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House...784-1853 DIC Live In Program...721-0643 Prospect House...921-1613 Starting Over...961-2256 Catholic Social Action ...421-3131 Community Action Agency ...569-1840 Contact Center...381-4242 Franciscan JPIC ...721-4700 Greater Cinci Coalition for the Homeless..421-7803 Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center...5798547 Legal Aid Society ...241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center ...421-1108 Peaslee Neighborhood Center ...621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids ...363-3300 Stop AIDS...421-2437 Health Center for Respite Care ...621-1868 Cincinnati Health Network ...961-0600 Crossroad Health Center ...381-2247 Hamilton county Mental Health Board...946-8600 Hamilton County TB Control ...946-7628 Health Resource Center ...357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van...352-2902 McMicken Dental Clinic...352-6363 Mental Health Access Point...558-8888 Mercy Franciscan at St. John...981-5800 NAMI of Hamilton County..458-6670 Oral Health Council...621-0248 PATH Outreach...977-4489 Resources Catholic Social Services...241-7745 Center for Independent Living Options...241-2600 Churches Active in Northside...591-2246 Emmanuel Community Center...241-2563 FreeStore/FoodBank...241-1064 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart...381-0111 Goodwill industries...771-4800 Healing Connections...751-0600 Madisonville Education & Assistance Center...2715501 Mary Magdalen House...721-4811 People Working Cooperatively...351-7921 St. Vincent de Paul...562-8841 The Caring Place...631-1114 United Way...721-7900 Women Helping Women...977-5541 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center...859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House...859-261-5857 Fairhaven Resuce Mission...859-491-1027 Homeward Bound Youth...859-581-1111 Mathews House...859-261-8009 NKY 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 Women’s Crisis Center...859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary...859-559-5011 VA Homeless...859-572-6226 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels...863-3184 Salvation Army...863-1445 Serenity House Day Center...422-8555 Open Door Pantry...868-3276 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2009 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May 2009 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Legal Backfire The X Mayors to the Rescue Pg 2: The Vibe Pg 3: Eight Minutes ‘Standing Up Again’ Pg 4: Retreat to Silence Pg 5: Legal Backfire Continued The X Mayors to the Rescue Pg 6: Retreat to Silence Pg 7: Exceptional and Homeless Pg 8: Sexy, Yummy, Veggie Funny Man, Serious Sales Pg 9: Creative Control Pg 10: The Shadow of Poverty Pg 11: A Little Snip Goes a Long Way Pg 12: We Need Some Things redone So We Can Get A Lot Done Pg 13: Our Daily Jazz Pg 14: Starting Life and Starting Over Homeless Sam Pg 15: Peaslee Power Pg 16: Resource Guide 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 May 2009 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Stephanie Dunlap Margo Pierce Lew Moores Paul Kopp Alecia Lott David Heitfield Dave Scharfenberger Angela Pancella Mike Henson Andrew Anderson Ariana Shahandeh Jeremy Flannery Maika Arnold Andrew Anderson Paul Kopp Anthony Williams Aimie Willhoite Stephanie Dunlap Berta Lambert Joe Wessels Steve Novotni Andrew Freeze Georgine Getty Michael Henson Steve Gibbs Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Alecia Lott Andrew Anderson Andrew Freeze Angela Pancella Anthony Williams Ariana Shahandeh Berta Lambert Cincinnati College Dave Scharfenberger David Heitfield education Georgine Getty Gregory Flannery Jeremy Flannery Joe Wessels Lew Moores Lynne Ausman Maika Arnold Margo Pierce Mayors mental illness Michael Henson Mike Henson Musicians Orchestra Over-the-Rhine Paul Kopp poverty Sex Offenders Stephanie Dunlap Steve Gibbs Steve Novotni Students UCAN https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/65a8fab01a24a8bed957a5194c12fa69.pdf 44ad57d77e40a91ce5bb92c97fb1f0b0 PDF Text Text Distributor Profile: ST R EE T V IB E S James Brown Happy Birthday Amnesty International PG 11 M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 PG 3 M AY 2 7 T H - J U N E 9 T H 2 0 11 Putting Life and Death into Perspective PG 16 1 ISSUE 200 ADVOCATING JUSTICE • BUILDING COMMUNITY Celebrating Our History SUSAN LAKES Streetvibes Staff Writer T he city’s panhandling debate is partly responsible for the advent of Streetvibes. Now, 200 editions later, Streetvibes continues to offer its Distributors a dignified way to make a living as entrepreneurs. Trained Distributors purchase Streevibes from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for a quarter, and collect a dollar donation for each paper. Modeled after Cleveland’s street paper, Streetvibes started out with a print run of 500 and grew six-fold. The same win-win-win principles guide the publication today. It’s a win for the general public since the paper delves deep into issues that impact common ordinary people. It’s a win for those marginalized and underrepresented since it allow a forum for self expression, and it’s a win for the Homeless Coalition. Production changed throughout the paper’s 15 year life. At first, the staff of volunteers quickly, composed, typed, cut, waxed and pasted the stories and art to meet print deadlines. Nowadays, a staff editor directs story creation and computers transmit the stories to the print shop. But one thing remains constant: Distributors anxiously await each edition. It’s there to distribute, and distribute they do. They distribute a version of the printed word that keeps people in touch with what’s REALLY going on since the news is generated at the grassroots level. “It comes from the ground up, not the top down,” said Bonnie Neumeier, a longtime Over-The Rhine resident and activist. Neumeier was glad to see Streetvibes. It filled a void left by the ending of a previous local publication and organizing tool called Voices, which ceased publication a few years before the beginning of Streetvibes. In the early days, Streetvibes content was not only in print, but on cable access television and radio, a combination one of the founders, Pat Clifford, fondly refers to as the great media empire. There was even a group of musicians, the Streevibes band that provided introductory music for the television show. A Former Director Looks Back... D onald Whitehead published a book, recieved a Governor’s appointment to a drug policy committee and headed up a national level organization for homeless awareness. Although the former Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) director now lives and works miles away on the east coast, he hasn’t forgotten his beginnings. “My heart will always be in Cincinnati,” Whitehead, a Cincinnati native, said from Baltimore in a recent phone interview. Streetvibes is one way he keeps in touch with The Queen City. “It’s amazing to see how far the paper has come from the early days,” he said. The publication helps change the lives of people experiencing homelessness, and elevates the public’s level of understanding of homeless issues said the formerly homeless Whitehead. Whitehead now serves in a direct service position for an organization called Beans and Bread. Before that, he served as the Director of the National Coalition for Homelessness after moving from management and director positions at Goodwill and the local homeless coalition. At GCCH, Whitehead started as a volunteer, moved to an outreach position within a year and later to Executive Director. He served in that role for two years. For a Streetvibes Timeline see page 7. Turn to pages 8-9 to see past Streetvibes Covers. �Editorial 2 The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is the home of Streetvibes, these are a few of the great milestones for the GCCH over the years. 1984 Everlene Leary and Kathleen Prudence (two mothers of children at Peaslee when it closed as an elementary school in Spring of 1982) hand over a check for $209,239.13 to buy the former school so that the neighborhood can keep the building as an educational and cultural resources in Over-theRhine 1997 Congress finalizes welfare reform, imposing time limits up to five years for continued welfare benefits and granting states greater freedom to impose their own standards on welfare recipients. All homeless shelters in the city are full. 1999 GCCH forms the Voice of 200! Really, this is an accomplishment. To tell the truth when I came in and interviewed for the position of Editor of Streetvibes, my knowledge of the paper and its history was limited. I knew it was a street paper, I knew its purpose, but what I didn’t know and what I couldn’t understand until being a part of it was the incredible impact these words and images have on a community. I did not fully understand how much could be accomplished by the voices that often go unheard. In the research I did preparing for the 200th edition, I was certainly educated. Looking over the piles of back issues and books describing the accomplishments of the coalition, I thought to myself how amazing it was that this was all the formation of a vision. A vision that depicts a day where everyone is counted, everyone can eat, and everyone can rest their head at night in a place without fear. It is more than inspiring to see their words and feel the movement of the pictures. What Streetvibes has accomplished over the years was to give a voice to situations, people, problems, and anything or anyone else who was suffering. Streetvibes make’s community issues ‘front page news’ and forces Cincinnati to stand up and take notice. I am so proud to be a part of this and I celebrate and congratulate those who were here before, those here now, and those who will undoubtedly come after to raise awareness and make this community better for its Residents. There is not much I could write to do it justice, except to express my sincere and honest appreciation for this place and this paper. I also wanted to share a couple of my favorite things I came across when researching this issue. The first is an Ann Landers quote and the second is a cover of Streetvibes from August of 2003. When I was going through old issues to find covers to feature in this edition I was moved when I read these words… When life’s problems seem overwhelming, look around and see what other people are coping with. -Ann Landers rights site for the National Civil Rights Organizing Project. 2003 20th Anniversary of GCCH GCCH co-founds the Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) a group dedicated to advocating for safe, affordable, accessible housing. 2009 Metropole Struggle Begins 2010 Cold shelter saved with the inclusion of trained shelter workers. Metropole Tenants Sue Homeless Congress formed People’s Platform for Equality & Justice is formed Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax 513.421.7813 Email: jenmatrin@cincihomeless.org Website: www.cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff jenmartin@cincihomeless.org Layout & Cover Art: Jeni Jenkins To see the history of Streetvibes and quotes from those involved see pages 5, 8, & 9 2008 In partnership with AHA and Legal Aid, GCCH helps form Tenants United for Truth, a tenant-run advocacy group comprised of tenants, housing advocates and concerned community members organized to address the increasing attacks on affordable housing 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. Editor Jen Martin the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau, empowering homeless individuals to share their stories with groups throughout Greater Cincinnati. 2000 GCCH becomes a regional civil ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Interested in becoming a Streetvibes Distributor? Follow these six simple steps to be on your way: 1) Pick up a Distributor packet at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, located at 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati. 2) Fill out the Distributor Application Form, and initial each statement on the Code of Conduct and sign & review the Disciplinary Policy 3) Read the most recent copy of Streetvibes. 4) Attend an Orientation Thursdays at 10AM 5) Take and pass the quiz Tuesdays at 10AM. 6) Receive approval and have your picture taken, a badge will be made and you will be provided with 10 free papers to get you started! Questions? Call: (513) 421-7803 Contributing Writers : Susan Lakes, Corey Gibson, Josh Spring, Jeni Jenkins, Riccardo Taylor, Willa Denise Jones, Laura Osborne-Coffey, Saad Ghosn, Jennifer Martin, Bonnie Nuemeier, buddy, gray, Jessie Call, www. streetnewsservice.org Photography/Artwork: Reuters, Aimie WillHoite, Susan Lakes, Jeni Jenkins, Saad Ghosn, Jimmy Heath, Steven Finke, Dan Moore, Seth Tobocman. 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. �Distributor Program ST R EE T V IB E S 3 M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 STREETVIBES IS DISTRIBUTED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO PURCHASE THE PAPER FOR 25 CENTS PER COPY AND SELL IT FOR A $1 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 CAN BE FOUND SELLING THE PAPER IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, CLIFTON, NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND AREA CHURCHES. CURRENT DISTRIBUTORS Distributor Profile: James Brown SUSAN LAKES Streetvibes Staff Writer ames Brown, 40, was last featured in Streetvibes six months ago. At that time, he vowed he’d continue to work hard, do well for others and leave a good footprint. To that end, Brown has taken on a new role. He’s not into politics, but that didn’t stop him from joining an advocacy group called The Homeless Congress. For Brown, the congress will become a uniting voice for the homeless, somewhat like a union unites workers. “I hope we can let everyone know about it, and like for the congress to go to different soup kitchens and shelters” he said about the outreach efforts to find new members. “I like to lend a helping hand.” Brown works in Over-The-Vine distributing Streetvibes. May 7 marked his two year anniversary working in the same location. He’s built a customer base at Vine and Central Parkway, and offers a shout -out to all the Kroger employees who buy the papers each week. One time, Brown missed a week of work. The customers noticed, and a few even called the Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless looking for him. He’s so serious about the job and concerned about the customers, Brown shovels snow off the sidewalks so they can get to him to buy their Streetvibes. Brown says he’s healthy now, but it hasn’t always been that way. “I got stabbed through the heart in 1994 and have a mechanical heart valve,” he said, adding he’s had two heart attacks since then. He’s changed since finding a job and changing his outlook on life. “I stopped doing ignorant stuff,” he said about his transformation from lawbreaker to helper. “I ain’t got time to go back to prison.” Brown said he used to sell drugs, but he turned his life around by hanging out with positive rather than negative people. “…And I found a job and go to church,” he said. These days, it’s faith and hope that keeps him going. “Don’t let nobody try to get you down,” he said about the advice he’d offer to people who are struggling. “If I wasn’t selling papers (Streetvibes), I’d probably be out there doing drugs.” Over-TheRhine is a special place to Brown. He wants to keep J ANTHONY WILLIAMS SINCE 9/2006 ANTONE HEATER NEW 4/2011 BARBARA MURPHY SINCE 2/2009 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DAVID TOUGH 3/2011 ELISA HILL SINCE 9/2010 GRADY COOK SINCE 8/2007 JAMAL DARDEN SINCE 1/2010 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES BYBEE SINCE 9/2010 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2003 JAMES MOORE SINCE 11/2010 JEFFERY JOHNSON SINCE 8/2009 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 8/2010 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 JULIE WALKER SINCE 6/2007 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 KIM GREEN SINCE 1/2010 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARK DAUGHTERY NEW 3/2011 MARK ANTHONY SHEARS SINCE 12/2007 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 SHANNON MOATS NEW 3/2011 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WILLIAM BURDINE SINCE 8/2009 W. KENNETH BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 TERRY RANSON SINCE10/2008 James Brown, Proud Streetvibes distributor. Photo: Susan Lakes it that way by working cooperatively with the groups, such as 3CDC, that claim to be transforming the area.“They need to help out with low income housing. They are trying to run low income people out of downtown. It’s bad enough they closed Washington Park down,” he said. Brown said he visits the 3CDC office regularly, but just gets brushed off. “That’s one of my pet projects,” he said, adding that he gives 3CDC a copy of Streetvibes every two weeks. (So far, 3CDC has not offered to pay Brown the usual $1.00 donation, he said).But he remains hopeful, and offers these words of advice to 3CDC. “We can work together by building low income housing.” But that task, like all Brown’s others, is out of his hands. He hands them over to God. The Bible inspires him. “My foundation is Psalms 116, verse 8,” he said. First Peter 3, 13-24 is important in that it lets people know how to treat each other “said Brown, grinning broadly and declaring himself a people person. To find out more about the Homeless Congress contact Riccardo Taylor at (513) 421-7803, or stop by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 117 East 12th Street in Cincinnati. � 4 From The Director ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Who’s Talking? JOSH SPRING Executive Director D igging Deep. How often do you dig deep into a topic, discussion, statement and/ or controversy? Far too often we do not second-guess, much less third and fourth- guess. We don’t question. We don’t think critically. We just accept. We assume that everyone presenting to us truly has good intentions and we accept what they have to say at face value. We do this all time. Sure we sometimes talk about how we listen to tv advertisements for example when we really shouldn’t, or sometimes talk about how politicians really are not to be trusted, but do we really dig deep. There are so many issues that we are told are one way, when if we only thought a little bit critically and every now and then, did a little bit of research, we would realize that in fact what we are being told is a stretch or a complete untruth. Not digging deep (usually mixed with fear created by those that don’t want us to dig deep) is what leads whole societies to eventually believe it is justified to murder whole groups of people, or commit wars, or believe that certain people are less intelligent because of how they look or that other folks are by nature more dangerous or that we should primarily invest in exhaustible resources and the list goes on. It is interesting (and frustrating) to me that those of us who think of ourselves as fore-thinking and progressive- those of us that have figured out what is really going on with the aforementioned issues, so often are duped by good-looking presentations- especially by people that claim to have the same opinions as ours. It is sort of like sometimes in our need to be open, we act foolish. I cannot tell you how many times I have had great people exclaim to me that we no longer need to worry about a particular issue because the foe in the issue explained why it was not a problem to begin with. And if the person had simply referred back to the original reason that provoked us to agreed it was in issue and applied that critical thinking to the new strategic claim of the foe- they would realize it is still an issue. For example, someone may get impassioned at hearing that people are being forced from their homes through gentrification. This may even anger the person- so this person may ask the gentrifier why they are doing it and the gentrifier may respond by saying well we are trying to bring progress and better economics to the area and we are making sure everyone finds a new home. So the once incensed person comes back sayingoh everything is fine- we will have progress and people will have new homes. And again you have to say to the person- “So if you give someone a new home, that makes it okay to force them from their current home because you think who they are will stop progress?- Really?” “Is it okay to move people because you don’t want them?” And then the last question should be how did you so easily get convinced of something else? It often seems that we struggle to take stands. Everyone is afraid to draw a clear line in the sand. Those that are against us do it most clearly, but even they struggle. In action they show that they want certain people out of sight, though they don’t often actually claim it, they make it happen and then when asked about it, they claim they actually want something better for people . As children we are taught don’t believe everything you hear. Why do we forget that? Next time you hear directly or indirectly that people who are normally marginalized were helped in the name of progress, go ask the supposed “helped people.” I’ll bet they have a different story- a true story. By the way- that is often where you find passion too. joshspring@cincihomeless.org (513) 421-7803 Ex. 13 Making Music for a Cause Streetvibes thanks Tyler Walton and Point Five SUSAN LAKES Streetvibes Staff Writer M usician Tyler Walton saw a need close to home and helped. The Mason High School senior picked the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition as recipient of the proceeds made when his band performed at the 86 Club the first weekend in May. Walton’s performance with a band called Point Five met the requirements for a high school multicultural class assignment. A lot of his friends in the class picked causes and charities in other countries. Tyler’s money, though, will stay right here at home. “The Homeless Coalition seemed like the right way to go,” he said. “I wanted to pick something you Left to Right Jessie Cherubini, Tony Rood, Tyler Walton, Robby Wakilee, Chris Reynolds could do today.” Photo: Susan Lakes By that, he meant he wasn’t inperson a lift in his car, and Walton helps every chance he terested in picking a fund recipient gets. he hasn’t met. He and at least one other band member “It’s a group that doesn’t have a voice,” Walton said have met homeless people. “We’ve seen people outside asking for money,” said Chris Reynolds, guitarist for Point about his motivation for giving to the local coalition. “They know what best to do with the money so that it helps the Five. “We help every chance we get because we realhomeless.” ize how hard it is.” Reynolds once offered a homeless Walton continued, “What better way to help the homeless than to play music and We serve as a creative outlet raise money.” for women in need to uncover their talents and build relationships while making and selling jewelry, quilts, and other handcrafted items. We provide a welcoming environment and continuous support-our women do the rest. They are our voice. They are our mission. They are our Sarah Center. Artists receive 50 % from the sale of their items, while the rest goes towards materials and other support. Sarah Center HELPING WOMEN HELP THEMSELVES 1618 Vine Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 For more information visit www.sfoutreach.org susanlakes@cincihomeless.org (513) 421-7803 Ex. 12 The 86 Club is located at 2820 Vine Street. The club features live music 8 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday nights. It’s also open 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mon-Fri. More information is available at : www.the86club.com facebook.com/ streetvibes cincinnati twitter.com/ streetvibesnwes streetvibes.wordpress.com Great Books! visit www.cincybooks.com �ST R EE T V IB E S Meet Up 5 M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Meetup An Interview with one of able to care for me, my little brothers or my son” [In more recent years, Jeni reveals Jim Luken proudly, that Contributing Writer her mother has turned eet Jeni Jenkins, 31 years old. her own life Mother of two, Caleb 15 and around, reKirah 11. Born and raised in turned to colIdaho, this dynamic young woman lege in her describes herself as “highly ambitious 40’s and now and very creative.” works as a soJeni is someone who is very well cial worker]. known to the man or woman who, in Still in her all likelihood, sold you the award-winmid-teens, ning street newspaper you are readJeni left home ing. Jeni is the Director of Education again. First, and Outreach for the Greater Cincincouch-surfing nati Homeless Coalition. “Basically,” at friend’s she says, “my job is to advocate, emJeni Jenkins. Photo: Chris Kromer Photography houses, then power and educate the public about eventually conAs an early teen Jeni fought poverty and homelessness.” No small tacting social services and placing constantly with her mother, as many task indeed. herself and her child into foster care. One of the primary hats she wears teens do, but the addition of drugs “I walked in and asked them to help pushed the relationship over the edge. these days (which involves 30% of her me, help me raise my son, I was na“I remember being so frustrated with time) is to manage distribution for the ive thinking they could help me get a my mother and her erratic behavior, bi-weekly publication of Streetvibes. place of my own, but they told me my but at first I didn’t understand why Although Streetvibes Distributors ofoptions as a minor and I took them.” she had changed, I didn’t realize that ten come and go, Jeni knows most of Her experiences in foster care drugs were feeding the behavior.” So them by face and name. And they not were primarily positive, although one in a heated argument, Jeni left home, only know her, but they rely heavily on very caring family she lived with were, away from the unstable environment her skills, her care, and her intense by Jeni’s call, a little overprotective, and the strained relationship. “I was energy. But few of our Distributor’s especially of her son. For example: basically a runaway,” she says “relying know Jeni’s own story. “If he cried in the middle of the night, on friends from school for my basic That story mirrors, in a profound my foster mother would come in and needs.” way, the lives of many people with insist that I get my sleep for school. I After a few months, Jeni returned whom she comes in contact in her felt guilty that she was taking care of home and tried to get help for her work for the Homeless Coalition. him, and not me.” Nonetheless, she mother, to get her “clean.” It didn’t “I grew up in a family with a single remains grateful for the couple’s love work at the time. Within a few months mother who married three times. and care. Jeni had her first child, a son, while We lived in poverty most of the time, Eventually Jeni’s aunt learned that her niece was living in foster care and went to the courts in order to gain custody of the young mother and child. Her aunt became a “guiding light” and helped her to return to school, a special alternative high school that permitted her to bring her son with her each day. Living with this “stable” relative gave Jeni the opportunity to graduate from high school on time and a 3.5 GPA. While in high school she met the father of her second child a girl, now eleven. For awhile, Jeni says, “I had the ‘white picket fence dream’. I wanted Jeni Jenkins with son Caleb and daughter Kirah. Photo: Chris Kromer Photography that cookie cutter life.” They bought a house and a car, got she was fifteen, adding that as soon not abject third-world poverty, but a dog and Jeni attended college and as she knew she was pregnant her we struggled financially. When I was worked part time as a program coorlifestyle changed. Prior to her son’s young my mother and step-father dinator at a women’s center-but all birth she had dropped out of school worked hard to provide for me and the while her partner was emotionally and drank and smoked pot frequently. my siblings and our basic needs were and physically abusive. “I tried to keep But that all changed when she discovalways met with love. However, in my it together, for the kids, but at some ered she was pregnatn. She returned formative years my mother divorced point I realized they would be better when her won was 6 weeks “because and re-married. At this time my mother off.” After three long years of torment, I didn’t want to be that drop-out teen was struggling with depression that fear and abuse, Jeni gained the courmom.” During the day her mother she eventually began masking with an age to leave him. Jeni got the house would watch her son while she was in addiction. I was around a lot of drugs in the seperation, but couldn’t afford to school, and in the evenings Jeni would as a teenager.” And did she partake. pay all the bills on her own. Eventually, return home and take care of her son “Totally,” she responds, “it was the foreclosure set in. And, once again, and her little brothers while her mother thing to do.” She recalls that, on her Jeni became homeless for a brief went out. “My mom wasn’t abusive,” 13th birthday, she received a bag of time, “but, I was resourceful and with she says, “she was distracted and not weed from her stepdad as a present. Streetvibes’ own. M the help of friends and the community, I was able to secure housing almost immediately and move into my own apartment.” After graduating with a degree in Social Science, with minors in dispute resolution and art in 2005, she secured a job as an Operations Coordinator for a Gay and Lesbian rights group called, “Your Family Friends and Neighbors” and found herself planning the major gay pride event for Boise in 2006. She also describes a crazy job she had working for a “Funny Bone” comedy club in Boise. As the marketing manager, she worked to create ads and contact newspapers and radio stations on behalf of the comedians who would roll into town to work the club. She liked the job, but found it a bit crazy-making. “Here I was, involved with these non-profits (working on behalf of various minorities), and I was in this club where people were coming in and telling racist and sexist jokes all the time. My bosses were always kidding me about my feminist friends and lesbian friends.” Although the pay wasn’t great, she enjoyed meeting the offbeat comedians, many of whom had various forms of dysfunction in their own lives. “They filled my life with color, and they made me laugh,” she adds. In 2006, Jeni made a life-changing decision to come to the University of Cincinnati, to receive her Masters Degree in Women’s Studies. She graduated 2008. She still misses Idaho and Boise, which, she says, is known as the “City of Trees.” She smiles, pointing out that the nickname (like Cincinnati’s) is a kind of misnomer. “There are trees along the Boise river, but everything else is mountain desert.” The State of Idaho is a different kind of conservative than Cincinnati , she says, a new conservatism versus an old. “Cincinnati,” Jeni avows, “is old greed, old money, old hate, and old racism.” But she has found a place here combating age-old problems with new solutions. Although she runs up against these “old” realities often in her job at the Homeless Coalition, she feels very glad to have found the unique position. “My job requires that I be involved with multiple community partners. I am constantly networking and learning.” Jeni finds that she is so “connected” these days that she receives calls from all over the city from folks who know that she is a person they can rely on to find creative solutions to the many complex problems that arise out of poverty and homelessness, out of dealing with the ones who make the rules, while she is dealing with those who often suffer by the same rules. As for the future, her goals remain as wide as the western sky that surrounded her young life. “I always wanted to do everything,” she laughs, “own my own business, start up an arts organization, travel to every country, play in a band.” To her work and to her dreams, Jenkins brings the fire of an artist. “I have this desire to be a liberation artist,” she says. The men and women who sell Streetvibes, and so many other homeless people who are part of her everyday life, hope that Jeni Jenkins remains nestled in the Queen City and in Homeless Coalition office on 12th Street for a long time to come. �6 Interest ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Mark Twain Was Right: Stories from the 2001 Cincinnati Riots and Unrest Dan Moore Author & Illustrator 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 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. M 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. Radical Comic Illustrator Seth Tobocman shares his powerful vision with Streetvibes Jeni Jenkins Staff Writer A t a recent dinner party I had the pleasure of meeting Seth Tobocoman who was in Cincinnati for a book release event. When I explained that I worked for a street paper and that I was interested in covering a story on the upcoming event, he offered to let me reproduce some of his art in the paper. After a brief discussion about the work we do, he decided to draw an image on the spot representing our people and our movement. I’m excited to include this art here, as well as another piece he shared. Stay tuned in the next edition for a complete story on this radical comic and more graphics. For more information about Seth Tobocman visit www.sethtobocman.com. �ST R EE T V IB E S M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 7 Celebrating Our History Streetvibes: A Timeline Major Accomplishments and Major Stories Covered 1995 Cincinnati vendors begin to distribute Cleveland Homeless Grapevine; the paper eventually incorporates a four page section about Cincinnati news. 1996 buddy gray, Over-the-Rhine community activist, is shot and killed. 1997 First edition of Streetvibes published; Pat Clifford, director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless remembered the legacy of buddy gray on the first cover. The initial printing is 300 copies. All local homeless shelters fill in the city. Streetvibes becomes part of the North American Street Newspaper Association and representatives attend the annual conference. Opposition to the plan to move the location of the Cincinnati School for Performing Arts begins with article by Berta Lambert, longtime community activist and Streetvibes vendor. The testimony of Johnny William Byrd, Jr. from death row foreshadows Prisoner’s News Section. ReSTOC breaks ground on buddy’s place; Reverend Maurice McCrackin dies. 1998 Donald Whitehead becomes director of the GCCH; he raises Streetvibes circulation of 2,000 copies per month. on homeless and impoverished people. Alicia Beck becomes executive director of the GCCH; Berta’s Art Corner debuts, Streetvibes commemorates the sixth year anniversary of the Milner Hotel demolition and the subsequent loss of 115 units of low-income housing. Streetvibes printing reaches 8,000 copies monthly. Streetvibes gets full color on the front page; ReSTOC rehab project on Vine Street comes under fire from Cincinnati City Council; Hart Realty, largest property owner in Over-the-Rhine, opts out of Section 8 housing; Streetvibes debuts Veggie Vibes. Black United Front protests foreshadow racial unrest after Timothy Thomas shooting in April 2001; Streetvibes adopts magazine format. 2001 Greater Cincinnati Continuum of Care asks homeless people provide feedback on services, Dan Marschuner becomes editor. 2002 GCCH receives call from Mayor Charlie Luken demanding the Streetvibes stop publication. Upon realizing that Streetvibes receives no public funding, Luken is forced to stand down. Cincinnati mayor Charlie Luken asks City Solicitor’s office to examine ways to tighten restrictions on panhandling; years after previous ordinances were deemed unconstitutional and were overturned. In a GCCH campaign, thousands of citizens tell Mayor Luken that they support Streetvibes. City of Cincinnati’s panhandling ordinance ruled an unconstitutional limitation on free speech; Jimmy Heath becomes Streetvibes editor in addition to his other duties with GCCH. Despite concerns expressed by lowincome housing advocates, Lincoln Court adopts Hope IV federal housing program; Streetvibes debuts Prisoners’ News section. Laurel Homes joins Lincoln Court as Hope VI project; redesign plans indicate a loss of 1300 units of low-income housing. Demolition of Laurel Holmes begins; Tom Billman becomes editor. Tom is the first GCCH staff member to work exclusively on Streetvibes. 1999 GCCH forms the Speakers Bureau. The Bureau organizes homeless people to share their stories with groups, schools, and churches throughout Greater Cincinnati. Jimmy Heath is given a fellowship with the Congressional Hunger Center. 2000 GCCH becomes a regional civil rights site for the National Civil Rights Organizing Project Artists for the Drop Inn Center have a concept in support of the shelter’s efforts to oppose relocation The Civil Unrest of April 2001 is remembered in photographs. Protests against Hope IV development project which threatens displacement of lowincome families, continues. Huntington Meadows housing complex low-income residents face eviction for redevelopment project. 2006 Lynne Ausman, administrative coordinator, releases her research report “Criminalization of Homeless Individuals in Cincinnati” on the frequent criminalization and arrest of homeless individuals for minor misdemeanors that tend to only impact homeless people (open flask, loitering, jaywalking, etc.) and the great cost associated with arresting and incarcerating these individuals. The research is adopted by social service providers and earns GCCH a seat on the Hamilton Count committee looking at jail reform. 2007 Jimmy Heath dies on the night of GCCH’s annual dinner at which an outpouring of support, mourning and remembrance occurs. 2008 Gregory Flannery hired as Streetvibes Editor. Andy Freeze, Education Coordinator, initiates the Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE), an urban plunge designed to educate high school and college students from across the country about homelessness. Streetvibes vendors sell all copies of a new edition. Associated Press reports on Streetvibes increased print run because of circulation growth. 2009 Jeni Jenkins become Education Coordinator, managing the Streetvibes vendors. Lynne Ausman becomes art director for Streetvibes. Streetvibes continuing writer Margo Pierce is named a Peter Jennings Fellow. Josh Spring becomes the Director of GCCH. Georgine Getty becomes Executive Director of Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. After nearly tripling its circulation over the course of 16 months, Streetvibes begins publishing bi-weekly. Citizens gather in the alley where Timothy Thomas was killed. At a ceremony in Denver, Flannery receives “Best Streetvibes TV plans its return to regular broadcasting. 2003 Streetvibes reports on te Panhandling for Awareness Campaign organized by GCCH and the Cincinnati Youth City Council. Cincinnati City Council passes a law requiring all panhandlers to register and receive a license. Streetvibes reports a new effort by City Hall to curb panhandlers by requiring them to get a license. 2004 20th Anniversary of GCCH Cincinnati City Council votes to extend the controversial Panhandling Registration ordinance. GCCH mobilizes the homeless service provider community and registers hundreds of homeless people to vote. as part of the Kunzel SCPA plan. Streetvibes begins extensive coverage of opposition to globalization, examining the effects of free trade Feature Story” award from the North American Street Newspaper Association. Streetvibes produces its first collaborative article for street papers in the United States and Canada. The article details policies that criminalize homelessness. 2010 GCCH volunteers spend Election Day in the 9 highest poverty districts in town to ensure that everyone has a chance to vote. Gregory Flannery steps down as Editor of Streetvibes. New GCCH homeless education packet is piloted in Cincinnati schools. Jen Martin is hired as Editor of Streetvibes. Streetvibes celebrates its 100th issue. Streetvibes celebrates the past, present, and future in this, the 200th issue. Mayor Charlie Luken cuts Human Service funding to $0. This leads to a 6 year battle led by GCCH to get this funding restored. 2011 �8 Celebrating Our History ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 STREETVIBES: An Ever-Evolving Publication �ST R EE T V IB E S Celebrating Our History 9 M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Past covers tell of our history and guide our future. �International News 10 Caring for Criminals Drug dealers, rapists, murderers - in the Bewa, a special ward in the Bern University Hospital, in Switzerland, they are all patients. The unique security prison takes care of inmates with medical or psychological problems. A day in the only Swiss high-risk prison with high-end medical treatment. SURPRISE (SWITZERLAND) www.streetnewsservice.org Before we enter the prison cell, we will talk about who does what: left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, head. Then we enter the cell, lay the inmate on the floor and hold him down.” The woman wearing the lightblue polo shirt with a name tag and deep blue trousers looks serious, but not unfriendly. Her voice is calm, her words are carefully chosen. She explains the procedure when somebody “ come here: Murderers, rapists, child abusers- criminals, about which the tabloids like to report. That’s also why journalists have camped in front of the entrance, hoping to get a statement from the staff. At the Bewa not only violent criminals are taken care of: here there are men and women in the penitentiary system, in imprisonment on remand or about to be deported- or not tolerable anymore in the psychiatry. At first glance, the Bewa seems a normal ward. At the second glance: the metal doors have a closable window hatch, the so-called “Suppentörli”; in the hallway a security guard sits in front of surveillance monitors, and on the inside of the door there are no handles installed. “The only ones getting in here are the ones we let in and out anyway,” said Bangerter, with her her Bernese dialect which makes everything sound a little softer and rounder. Currently, not all rooms - or “Zäuä” as Bangerter calls it - are occupied. You can spot the occupied ones because the Suppentörli is closed, meaning the inmates are in bed. In Switzerland, more men than women are in prison and therefore often on the Bewa. Nevertheless, “There are some very dangerous women in Switzerland.” Two beds, a table, a TV and a toilet, which is separated by a curtain from the rest room: at the Bewa there are only double rooms, one has no privacy here. “It is sometimes very difficult for people who have been in prison for over 20 or 25 years. They are often solitary people”, says Bangerter and shrugs her shoulders: “We would A warden looking into the cell. Photo: Annette Boutellier loses his temper. “If the inmate doesn’t calm down, he has to go into the safety cell. There are neither lamps nor TV, no glass with which he could hurt himself. But you can still destroy things, for example, tear out the lavabo from the wall. Depending on their state, people can develop immense strength.” Therese Bangerter, 46, sits at the meeting table in her office; the sun shines through the window and makes her blond hair shine. Outside the snowdrops are blooming. At the beginning of the conversation the director of the Berne Inselspital (Bewa) is a little reserved; he had too many bad experiences with the media. The Bewa for example, discretely located in one of the many clinics of the hospital, is a security prison, where inmates with medical or psychological problems are treated. Because the institution is unique in Switzerland, they all ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 experience the same: with a stranger in the room and the toilet is separated only by a curtain ... that’s not nice.” The work of the Bewa-staff - the team consists of 24 people, three of them are women - has two parts: “In the past you have called us guardians, but that is obsolete. Today, we are carers and supervisors”, explains Bangerter. In addition to her job as a deputy chief she is also the head of service. On one hand, she has to provide security and order, but on the other hand she needs to care for the inmates, for example helping when someone receives a letter that they do not understand. This dichotomy is a challenge: it may be that Bangerter explains the content of a long-awaited letter from the authorities in the morning. Later that day, the inmate becomes aggressive and wrecks the room to pieces. Then Bangerter has to overpower him and take him to the Therese Bangartner, deputy chief warden. Photo: Annette Boutellier safety cell. “On a personal level is not easy, we walk on a narrow bridge”. No monsters Cancer, appendix, dental problems, and an accident during sport activities in prison - the reasons why prisoners are on the Bewa are very different. “I have the impression that many people primarily end up in prison because they are mentally ill,” said Bangerter. Who had a schizophrenic psychosis, often sees no limits anymore. It happens easily that boundaries are overstepped. “If drugs, such as cocaine, are involved it becomes easily to commit a crime.” Older inmates come frequently to the Bewa. First, a check and later a hospital stay. “And at some point they come to us to die,” said Bangerter, shrugging her shoulders. Normally, visitors can only be received in the visiting room once a week for one hour. “But we are no monsters. If someone is very weak we decide, for example, that the sister is allowed to make an open visit to her brother.” “For me it does not matter what someone has done, I treat them all equally,” clarifies senior physician Bidisha Chatterjee. The specialist in internal medicine, who in addition to the Bewa also looks after the women’s prison Hindelbank, doesn’t talk about inmates, but about “patients.” Her office is not as Therese Bangerter’s office in the administrative wing of the station, but goes off the corridor with the hospital rooms. The window is barred; across the office is a shower room, next to it a toilet and a bath. “Back pain,” explains the doctor, “ is a typical health problem for prisoners, just like digestive problems, weight increase and insomnia, too.” It is difficult to sleep after sitting 23 hours in a cell after something terrible has happened. “I have the impression that many people primarily end up in prison because they are mentally ill”. Even if the same medical principles are applied, the work here is different from that in other wards. When the senior physician visits the room of a patient, the supervisors need to let her out again and she always has a safety button in case a patient becomes aggressive. Chatterjee was never scared to see a patient. The 40-year-old shakes her head smiling. “We provide care to the patients; we do not have to negotiate with them about whether they should call again or something. Many are happy to be treated “Some patients send the nurses Christmas wishes, on the grey prison paper.” Handcuffs and pepper spray The cooperation between medical and prison staff in a confined space is not easy. Medical treatment and security conflict every day. “Of course people come to us because they are in prison. First and foremost, they are here because they are ill. That is why medicine is a priority”, says the deputy head of department Bangerter. “The security must be organized around it.” For certain tests neurological or dentistry - the inmates need to be transferred to other departments. For this, handcuffs are compulsory. “Depending on the impression we have of someone, we also put fetters, too,” Bangerter says. Despite the high security standards, there are prison inmates who want to be moved to the Bewa because they believe it will be easier to escape. Once they realise, however, that this will probably not work, they want to return to prison. “Yes... we would probably try it, too”, Bangerter thoughtfully says. Since 2000, only one inmate has managed to escape, and he fortunately wasn’t dangerous. “I do not want to be quoted with my real name in the text. Maybe someone doesn’t like me and will search for me.” The tall man with dark hair has been working for almost four years at Bewa. He was actually trained to be a painter. “Everyone working in prison is newcomer. Proper training is required to work in the prison”, he explains. At first he was skeptical about how he would cope with the patients, but he soon stopped worrying. “We have a wrong picture of prisoners, which probably comes from the jailbirds on TV. The cliché about the tattoos is true perhaps - but otherwise the people are like you and me. What you learn here is that the way to prison is not a far one. There are enough people who are imprisoned for minor offenses. “ A constant issue at the Bewa is privacy: “The security staff is always present during the medical examinations - whether it is at the dentist �International News ST R EE T V IB E S 11 M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 or the urologist. We see everything, even the diagnosis. Indeed, we try to stay in the background. But of course, the inmates can’t forget that someone is there. “ Like dogs “Those who work here must be philanthropists”, Therese Bangerter thinks. She and her colleague, who asked to remain anonymous, make a tour of the department: waiting room, quarantine rooms, drug toilet. The lat- ter is for body packers, people who have drugs hidden in the digestive tract. The toilet is designed so that everything that comes out of the body is immediately sucked. “Couriers from overseas have up to 100 drugs packages, called fingerlings, in the stomach. Thumb sized portions, usually packed in several layers of condoms “. “The most difficult for me are the women imprisoned pending deportation” Bangerter says, striking her hair behind her ear. “I go with them to the hospital to do the ultrasound examinations and talk to them about the babies to come. Even at birth I am present, these women have no one else. We had a woman here who was suppose to give birth on April 20. But recently a fax has arrived from the Foreign Service. It said the woman had been deported. Now I think, of course, about how she’s doing in her country of origin.” Her co-worker shares a story: “Right now we have somebody here who is violent and tied to the couch. Whenever the care staff is doing their job, I have to be there and hold him. He looks into my eyes and says: ‘I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you’. When you have a bad day you go home with an apprehensive feeling.” And yet, they don’t feel fear. Bangerter says: “It’s the same with dogs. They also realize when you’re afraid”. Happy Birthday Amnesty! Amnesty International turns 50 this month now disappearing them instead, or executing them extra-judicially. Amnesty International’s 30th anniversary saw the organization broaden its scope to cover work on abuses by LAURA OSBORNE-COFFEY armed opposition groups, hostage Contributing Writer taking and people imprisoned due to their sexual orientation. And after mnesty International turns 50 this 9-11, Amnesty took on the cause of month! Founded in 1961, Amworking against ‘rendition’ – cases of nesty International was the brain child people who were forcibly removed of British lawyer, Peter Benenson. He to countries where torture could and read an article about two students in did occur. Also in the last decade, Portugal, who were arrested simply the organization adopted a change for making a toast to freedom in a bar. to its mandate to work on the case of This incident was the incentive for Mr. social economic and cultural rights Benenson to write an article in the thus committing itself to advance London Observer, titled “The Forgotboth the universality and indivisibility Tissanaiyagam. Photo: Laura Osborne-Coffey ten Prisoners.” After writing this artiof all human rights enshrined in the office in Chicago. Mr. Haug discussed cle, which was reprinted in other coun- Universal Declaration. the Muslim Brotherhood’s beginnings tries, he started a program called as a liberal democracy and their cur“Appeal for Amnesty 1961.” It rent form and focus, and stated that it was to help what he termed is interesting that a peaceful protest in ‘prisoners of conscience’ – men Egypt succeeded where other, armed women and children who are arrevolutions have not, and Mr. Porter rested or detained for their race, discussed the history of human rights religion, work, or political view in the region, and the audience discov– be treated fairly and within inered that in April 1968 the U.N. Interternational laws. After the initial national Conference on Human Rights meeting that July, Mr. Benenson was held in Tehran, and the results of thought this would be a one year proIn honor of Amnesty’s 50th Birththis conference with a trend in the Midgram to help to free these ‘forgotten day, Amnesty International Group 86 dle East of state rights over individual prisoners.’ However, the incidence of held a very successful meeting at the rights, which he called the ‘rhetoric of such cases of prisoners of conscience University Of Cincinnati Law School acrobats’ and has been much used soon grew as international awareon Saturday May 7th. Fifty people ness of the plight of these people was from the community and the University since then. Ms. Frierson discussed the history of democratic leanings in the Middle East with Iran’s First Constitution in 1876, which was later broken by the Shah upon going to war with Russia, and shared that other democratic steps had been taken in the past. Mr. Lockwood discussed current legal issues relevant to the region and the human rights agenda. He stated that on the BBC, that the flows of refugees from Libya into Tunisia have been constant. The Interior Minister commented that he has ‘seen nothing like it’ – with all the troubles in their own country, the Tunisians have taken care of the refugees, and he ‘has never seen such a generous Tissanaiyagam and fellow supporter. Photo: Laura Osborne-Coffey pouring out of spirit.’ Bert stated that it is ‘not sexy work’, but there needs to be international of Cincinnati Amnesty student group human rights institutions built up in the known. Soon, Amnesty International attended. The morning panel, titled: area. The speakers also discussed if took on the cause of working against Egypt Libya and the future of Human any form of human rights agenda or torture in all cases. Rights in the Middle East was powerorganization be allowed in the region In 1977 Amnesty International was packed with speakers: Robert Haug, after the current unrest. awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In Stephen Porter and Elizabeth FrierAfter a great lunch of pizza prothe mid-seventies, Amnesty took on son, all professors of History at the vided by Marco’s in Deer Park and a work for abolition against the death University of Cincinnati and Bert Lockdonor, the keynote speaker J.S. Tispenalty. In the 1980’s and 90’s, Amwood, professor at the UC School of sanaiyagam (aka: Tissa) spoke. Originesty widened its focus to adapt to the Law and director of the Urban Morgan nally from Sri Lanka and a journalist changing nature of human rights abus- Institute for Human Rights. Moderator for the last 20 years, Tissa talked es, as many governments who used to for this panel was Debra Ehrenberg, about the past and current political imprison prisoners of conscience were the Director for Amnesty’s Midwest A “Like me, many journalists in Sri Lanka are reprimanded, arrested or shot just for what we write. I cannot go back.” climate in Sri Lanka, and the civil war between the Singalese Majority and the Tamil minority, which ended in 2009. Tissa shared that he wrote two paragraphs in a journal about Tamil issues that were critical of the government. He was arrested in March of 2008, then charged in August, and then on August 31, 2009 he was convicted. He was reluctant to speak of his time in prison as it brought back poor memories. During this time, Amnesty International adopted Tissa as a prisoner of conscience, as he was prosecuted solely for his legitimate journalistic activities. In a statement to mark the World Press Freedom Day, US President Barack Obama mentioned Tissainayagam. He said: “In every corner of the globe, there are journalists in jail or being actively harassed … Emblematic examples of this distressing reality are figures like J.S. Tissainayagam in Sri Lanka, or Shi Tao and Hu Jia in China.” Tissa was the first winner of the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism; Foreign Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards 2010. Tissa explained that he was pardoned on 3 May 2010, as the sentence he’d received couldn’t be commuted; only pardoned by President Rajapakse. The audience asked Tissa many questions, and gave him a huge round of applause for coming and speaking honestly about his situation in Sri Lanka. He told the group that due to his charges and his release, “I cannot go back.” He said “Like me, many journalists in Sri Lanka are reprimanded, arrested or shot just for what we write.” The attendees then did a ‘toast to freedom’ with Debra Erenberg, who led the group in a discussion of Amnesty’s current campaigns, such as the Maternal Mortality campaign and the upcoming Torture Awareness month in June. Look for more events throughout the year to help Amnesty celebrate its 50th anniversary! �International News 12 Hail to the Chief? Barack Obama had his Ground Zero moment after hunting Bin Laden, but the President’s speech, seen by many as soft, is already raising criticism. At the same time, conspiracy theories regarding Bin Laden’s death are stronger than ever. Adam Forrest The Big Issue (Scotland) www.streetnewsservice.org R emember the moment President George Bush stood with a megaphone on the rubble of the World Trade Centre? An arm round the shoulders of a retired fire fighter, eyes moist with emotion, Bush struggled at first to make himself heard to the gathered throng of rescue workers. “We can’t hear you George,” someone said. “Well I hear you,” the President shouted. “And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” Cue mammoth cheers. Say what you like about him - imbecile, cowboy, warmonger - but Bush grasped the power of symbolism. Will anyone remember the day President Obama visited Ground Zero after the death. A Daily Beast/Newsweek poll demonstrated no improvement in his numbers: an approval rating of 48 per cent before and after the killing. Predictions the ruthless dispatch of Public Enemy No.1 will hand Obama four more years appear hasty. Americans don’t allow lasting ‘Warrior President’ mythology to surround non-serving politicians (as opposed to actual soldiers like Ulysses S. Grant or Eisenhower). Bush Senior saw his approval ratings soar to 90 per cent after victory in the Gulf in 1991, but he was ejected from office in favor of charmer-in-chief Clinton a year later. According to Gallup, most Americans (89%) want the military to get most of the credit for Bin Laden’s demise, followed by the CIA, (62%) then Obama (35%). A slight short-term bounce aside, opinion about Barack Obama seems to have solidified in an increasingly shrill, polarized America. The election of 2012 will be won or lost on the basis of the President’s economic message to the relatively small number of moderates, and the abilities of the Republican candidate to offer an alternative. The elimination of Bin Laden will certainly make it harder for Obama’s opponent to attack him on national security, but Americans have been steadily less concerned with foreign policy questions for the past five years. U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White REUTERS/White House/Pete Souza killing of Osama Bin Laden? No-body expected triumphalism from this softly-spoken, scholarly man, but his stumbling speech to NYC fire fighters contained nothing distinguished; the days after al-Qaeda leader’s death no indelible summation of national mood. Instead, his administration is fending off questions over the changing details of the Navy Seal operation, a lack of clarity officials blame on the “fog of war”. Sarah Palin’s stock may be falling, but she will not be the only American to think Obama has “pussy-footed” over the decision not to release the photo of Bin Laden’s bloodied face. The hawkish right has also seized on the fact the President “slept on it”, waiting 16 hours to give the Navy Seals the go-ahead. And conspiracy theories - the fantastical stories of the never-convinced - continue to grow tentacles. Pundits in Washington are already puzzling over the state of the expected Obama poll bump. Although one showed an immediate nine point leap, a CNN survey later last week his approval at 52 per cent - up from just 1 point from polling before Bin Laden’s Internationally, the killing of Bin Laden promises more difficulties than advantages. The relationship with Pakistan and its Byzantine power structures becomes messier and murkier. Maintaining 100,000 troops in Afghanistan becomes more difficult to justify. Much of ‘Arab Street’ appears to have more important things on its mind, but widespread suspicion toward US military action, however small and carefully crafted, has been re-awakened in the Muslim world. To hear so many people in Pakistan state flat disbelief in any explanation America has to offer regarding Bin Laden should disturb the White House, even if such distrust is not entirely unexpected. The moment places new scrutiny on the Obama foreign policy: does he offer any more inspiring than cautious management of the mess his predecessor left behind? Even if he were able to do so, it might not matter much to a domestic audience in 2012. It’ll be the economy, stupid, once again; Bin Laden nothing more a bad memory in the commotion over dollars and cents. ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Conspiracy theories By Brendan O’Neill The Big Issue (Scotland) www.streetnewsservice.org Y ou couldn’t have asked for a better snapshot of the political jitteriness of the West than the epic tussle over what to do with Osama bin Laden’s body. On the one hand US officials wanted to get shot of it as quickly as possible, so that there could never be a shrine or a rallying point for possible future apocalyptic terrorists. So they dumped OBL at sea. Yet on the other hand they feared that the absence of a body might fuel conspiracy theorists, all those computer-bound cranks and socially inadequate bloggers who would claim that bin Laden was actually still alive and possibly hidden in Roswell alongside that alien. So they considered releasing a photo of the body in a desperate bid to nip such nonsense in the bud. However, they feared that publishing a pic of the body, with bulletwounded head and bloodstained face might rile radical Islamists and give rise to vengeful terrorism. So President Obama said no photo would be forthcoming. And there you have it. In the great weighing-up of whom it is more acceptable to annoy - conspiracy-minded loners or wannabe holy warriors - the Obama administration opted to irritate the former and try to placate the latter. Not releasing That Photo would have serious consequences, yes, giving rise to endless jibber jabber about OBL still being alive. But releasing That Photo might have an even more serious impact, possibly radicalizing more warriors against the West. It is a striking insight into the fear-fuelled machinations of modern Western governments that even when they successfully take out someone as reviled as bin Laden, still they tie themselves in knots over how to present their actions to the public, fearing doubt and ignorance from their own people and bloody reprisals from Johnny Foreigner. And so it is not surprising that their keen anticipation of conspiratorial rumors - the almost instantaneous headlines telling us there would be an “explosion of conspiracy theories” - became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because what the torturous post-OBL debate reveals is that conspiracy theories do not simply spring from the caliginous minds of men in anoraks who should try to get girlfriends. They are also unwittingly nurtured by the political mainstream itself, by the inability of our rulers to provide a coherent political narrative - and more importantly some *meaning* - to key world events. Such moral incoherence can act almost as an invitation to conspiracy theorists to come and pick at the official story, like the intellectual equivalent of vultures around a decaying body politic. Already, as prophesized, the OBL conspiracy theorists are in full swing. Some claim he is in American custody, others that he has been bought off by the US and sent to live in a nice pile on the condition that he never speaks publicly or wags his finger at the world again. Long-standing conspiracy theorists such as Alex Jones, 9/11 “truther” and friend of Charlie Sheen, have said that the photo of Obama and others watching the raid on bin Laden’s compound is “obviously staged”. Some have tried to present the modern-day propensity to believe BS as a peculiarly foreign thing. One journalist tells us that “the Islamic world is amazingly receptive to conspiracy theories”. Yet from the Princess Diana murder nonsense to the belief that weapons inspector David Kelly was bumped off by Tony Blair, it is clear that very respectable people with white faces also buy into the conspiratorial outlook. The Diana conspiracy theories are indulged by Middle England, being frequently rehashed in their bibles the Daily Mail and the Daily Express, while the David Kelly conspiracy theories remain the preserve of the more well-to-do classes, including broadsheet journalists, esteemed doctors and even politicians. Today, it is not only the uneducated who weave crazy stories to try to explain unexpected or major events - so does the so-called intellectual elite. Indeed, one of the most striking features of our age is the almost constant questioning of official truths. Often, the very fact that they are presented to us as “official” - as a top-down explanation of events - seems to make them instantly dodgy. A widespread and rather unhealthy anti-political cynicism, where figures of authority are now frequently viewed as grubby, self-serving liars or charlatans, has led to a situation where the phrase “official version of events” is automatically seen as a marker for something suspect - a cover-up, perhaps, or an exercise in myth-making. And this culture of cynicism, upon which conspiracy theorizing so joyously feasts, was nurtured not by rednecks in America or OBL supporters in the Islamic world, but rather by today’s fashionable, metropolitan opinion-forming elite, who often affect an attitude of profound distrust and disdain for anyone in a traditional position of power. It’s too simple to blame an army of Twittering doubters for the undermining of the concept of Truth today and for the rise of all sorts of “counter knowledge” and “alternative histories”. Because in truth, it’s the thoroughly mainstream fashion for a kind of teenage cynicism towards anyone in authority, coupled with the political classes’ inability to explain their beliefs and their actions in any profound way, which gives a green light to doubters and cranks. Why wouldn’t there be conspiracy theories about OBL’s death, when the Obama administration and its supporters were so panicked and confused and defensive in their attempt to explain how it happened and why? �ST R EE T V IB E S Story and Poetry Corner 13 M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 We remember buddy gray Decades ago, buddy gray and a group of devoted activists saw an emerging need for social services and housing solutions here in Cincinnati. They began by picking up homeless people off of the street and bringing them into their very own apartments in Over-the-Rhine. They took care of them as if they were family, coaxing them out of alcoholism, feeding them, and clothing them. buddy was one of the biggest inspirations in the development of Streetvibes. Here, Bonnie Nuemeier remembers and reflects on the impact one man could have to so many. b uddy gray (he preferred his name in lower case letters) was a war resister, carpenter, preservationist, poet, community journalist, baseball coach, and friend to many. And he was known best as a relentless and uncompromising advocate for low-income housing and other services for the poor. He came from a small-town, working class family to live in Over-the-Rhine because he believed in the cause of liberation. He had decided, when he was still a young man, that he could not tolerate the poverty and discrimination he saw in the world around him. So he entered what his brother Jack called “a journey of fearless, selfless service.” Many people are dedicated to feeding and housing the poor. Others are dedicated to organizing for change. buddy’s insight was to bring these two ways of service together. He saw the people of Over-the-Rhine, not just as downtrodden souls to be given a meal or a bed for the night, but partners in a struggle to change the system and heal society. Therefore, buddy worked to organize people and groups into an Over-theRhine People’s movement that includes organizations like the Drop Inn center, ReSTOC, the Over-the-Rhine Housing Network, and the local, state, and national Coalitions for the Homeless. He worked with many homeless people who are now leaders in that movement. His capacity for work was legendary. Within a day’s time, he might attend a City Council hearing, work on the plumbing of a ReSTOC building, help an old man get off a park bench and into the shelter of the Drop Inn, write a poem, and do the notes for the next day’s meeting. He lived very simply, in an apartment on Race Street, owned little, and cared nothing for fashion or show. As Jack Gray said at the memorial after buddy’s death, “He feared no man. He took nothing and he served everyone. He worked to feed the hungry, free the captive, and How Did It Happen? buddy gray i didn’t know how it happened… many events, witnesses, years… but more important-it has… i don’t desire to be happy unless happiness is a universal right i don’t care to be at peace when teenagers of the third world must learn to shoot anti-aircraft guns at American invading planes i don’t want to be acceptable as long as rape, racism/sexism, multinational profit, CIA destabilization of governments, joblessness, homelessness are acceptable i don’t intend to be calm, pleasant and likable if the stink of injustice must be raised i don’t expect to be patient until there is “HOUSING NOW” FOR ALL i don’t know how to be quiet when our voices may be the only counter to the Rich’s media controls, limits inversions of the truth i don’t think about being respectful when hunger exists in the land of plenty poverty exists in this nation of wealth uneducation and ill health run rampant in this place of advanced technology and toxic waste ravages this once-beautiful country now owned by a handful i don’t plan to be non-disruptive of the “order” around us Gone WILLA DENISE JONES Contributing Writer and Streetvibes Distributor Do you ever think of the days of the past? Do you ever think those being the good days, why they couldn’t last? Remembering when we were children doing everything our elders said Remembering eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and even what time it was for bed As time passed some of us traded going to church for drinking beer and wine Some of us grew up and changed so fast that we just simply ignored the signs buddy gray being interviewed by filmmaker Michael Moore for his movie 'The Big One.' Buddy was killed before the movie was completed. Photo: Jimmy Heath. heal the sick.” Many people are alive and living healthy lives today because the work of buddy gray. He earned, thereby, the respect and love of many. He also earned the bitter hatred of some real estate developers and some politicians, including, of course, some developer-politicians. For months before his death, an unknown person (or persons, or class of persons) maintained a hate campaign which featured death threats, a stop-sign-shaped stickers reading “NO WAY BUDDY GRAY,” and if you called a certain number, a sevenminute, anti-buddy recorded phone message. On November 15, 1996, during a meeting at the Drop Inn Center, buddy was shot and killed by a mentally ill, formerly homeless many buddy had befriended. buddy was 46 years old. No one knows if he had contacts with the NO-WAY-BUDDY-GRAY campaign. No one knows how he obtained the expensive pistol he used in the shooting. Within an hour of buddy’s death, the phone recording was disconnected. Eight days later, over two thousand people from Cincinnati, Boston, Washington, and Chicago, and other cities marched silently through the streets in buddy gray’s honor and in support of the homeless. -Bonnie Neumeier i don’t yet choose to be a carpenter If nuclear bombs production still steals the housing construction budget as long as churches and synagogues and temples do reverent rituals for rights and speak in pious platitudes of peace and take no angry action that stops American Business as usual to end homelessness, imperialism as long as business lunches still happen in the glass condos looking out over the homeless and hungry on the cold streets 10 stories below as long as the City Fathers can work 8 hours a week for $35,000 and do little to learn of the people’s problems over whom they rule i fully intend to dream of happiness and peace when I sleep. food clothing, shelter, medical care, education, equality, green space and peace for all… and meanwhile, awake to live as unacceptably, non-calmly unpleasantly dislikably impatiently loudly disrespectfully and disruptively and as contagiously collectively as I am able as long as is necessary -December 1, 1989 As time passed everything changed all the rules even people, places and things But time goes on carrying us with it, and we know it can’t end until the fat lady sings! So we keep going on trying to keep up with time and loosing our sense of being free Today we never forget to lock all door, windows and try never to go out alone, you see! So much robbing, back stabbing, short changing and all of the senseless killings I love to let my mind drift to the past because the present is so hard dealing! So for me taking my memory back as far as I can Keep me in tune and my eyes open to the future as I pray for people all over God’s land! I Remember buddy BONNIE NEUMEIER Contributing Writer Zipping through Washington Park on his bike Wearing his yellow hard hat fixing up housing Carrying a huge stack of documents to the podium at City Hall Drinking a carton of chocolate milk Hugging children on the street Putting his arms around friends homeless in the park Picking up Nannie to defend our homes from demolition Encouraging involvement in our efforts Sending little notes at meetings to keep us sane Calling his Mom often Playing an energetic game of baseball Remembering names and phone numbers by rote Watching election returns and naming senators in each state Riding around in his blue truck Wearing headbands of all different colors Saying so much in a small sound bite Taking lengthy notes for clarity and documentation Listening to Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, and Peter, Paul & Mary Carrying his tools in a big 5 gallon white bucket Offering ReSTOC housing to displaced neighbors Planting trees and seeds for change Sacrificing his life for what he believed in Making mountains of phone calls late at night Teaching others how to lead and live simply Dreaming big dreams Doing the seemingly impossible Building connections around the country Standing up for human rights Laughing to help get us through Loving Wilbur his friend who pulled the trigger Buddy was as ordinary as you and me But with extraordinary fiery determination to put all he had in the service of his vision Believing that one day we all will be free Demanding justice shine in Over-the-Rhine As well as all over this land. �Interest 14 ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 U.S. Woman Documents Homelessness in Memoir An Unfortunate life of sexual abuse, date rape, and homelessness brought Brianna Karp to document her struggles in a new book, “The Girl’s Guide to Homelessness: A Memoir” REUTERS www.streetnewsservice.org B rianna Karp has had an unfortunate life - sexual abuse, date rape, an unhappy Internet love affair and homelessness. But the 26-year-old from southern California, has still managed to find the joy in living and tells her story in “The Girl’s Guide to Homelessness: A Memoir,” which is published this month. It’s an ongoing story, reality television in print. After the broad brush memories in the initial pages the book moves to the central theme - homelessness and urban survival. All along the way it’s harrowing, even when the reader can suspect what comes next and the end result is a book deal. Karp now lives in a converted shed on a dirt lot. Whatever success she has achieved she attributes not to being brilliant or smart but perhaps to be more determined. “I have my sad times when I just want to cry and say I can’t do it anymore. Then I cry, get up and get moving. What’s your other option?” she said. Karp’s tribulations began early with a broken home but life started to look up when she was able to make her own decisions. Raised as a Jehovah’s Witness she rejected the church, moved away from her family and took care of herself until she lost her job. After an unsuccessful job hunt she inherited her father’s 30-foot (10-meter) Brianna Karp. Photo: www.girlsguidetohomelessness.com trailer after his suicide and learned she can camp She’s currently working as a marketing assistant out in the parking lots of certain Wal-Mart stores if for a non-profit theater company in Costa Mesa, Calishe remained discreet. The arrangement made her fornia and commutes 40 miles each way, every day. less than technically homeless, an advantage Karp She is trying to scrape together enough to secure a acknowledges but emphasizes there are various depermanent home for herself and her dog, who is one grees of homelessness. of her few joys in life. But “things can derail you when Karp seems highly organized and decisive. It’s you are homeless and struggling -- like a flat battery,” hard to fathom how she can suffer one calamity after she said. another and ultimately find herself camped out in a Her British fiancée, whom she met on the Internet car park. But as the book shows bad life changes are and supported while he visited the U.S., even though uncontrollable and can happen to anyone. “Homeshe was homeless, eventually went back to the mothless people are real people with real stories,” Karp er of his child. Karp was left on the street in Britain at said. Christmas to be picked up by the police in the cold Karp admits she still needs therapy though she Through it all though, Karp remain optimistic.“I is currently not talking to anyone. “I probably should don’t believe in ‘I’m a victim,’” she said. “I went to be but my therapist moved on and I need a new one,” pains to be as honest and as brutal about myself as I she admitted. “It is on my ‘to do’ list, definitely.” could. There was a temptation to gloss things over.” A Bad Bill SUSAN LAKES Streetvibes Staff Writer RESEARCH:JESSIE CALL Streetvibes Summer Intern roponents and opponents testified on the merits and drawbacks of a house bill that’s designed to upgrade Ohio’s election system in time for the 2012 presidential election. The bill, House Bill 194, includes technological advances, such as allowing on-line address changes. The advances aren’t what’s bothering some opponents. It’s the potential obstacles to registering that could impact thousands of Ohioans, rendering their votes uncountable. “Our research has shown that Ohio can dramatically improve the accuracy of the information on its voter lists,” said David Becker, project director of the election initiatives team of the Pew Center on the states, a division of the Pew Charitable Trusts. His research indicates that 1 and 8 active voter records nationally is no longer valid or contains a significant error. The proposed changes to Ohio’s election process presented in the 300 page long HB 184 may disrupt the system more than help, according to some of the bill’s opponents. Professor Daniel P. Tokaji is one of them. He is the professor of law at Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law, and has written extensively about the state’s voting laws and has served as counsel for plaintiffs in voting rights cases Tokaji testified that the massive election bill could potentially disrupt the stability of Ohio’s election system and make it more difficult for eligible citizens to vote and have their votes counted. The changes made when Ohio last changed election laws were partly constructive, but, on the whole, bad. “…it too had a destabilizing effect on our election system, resulting in multiple lawsuits and court orders----not to mention confusion for election officials, poll workers and voters, “ Tokaji said. It took years to sort out the confusion from the changes form six years ago, and Tokaji cautioned that the recent changes might have the same effect. “What’s the big lesson to be learned form recent history? Changes in election P Progress of House Bill 194 ○Passed by the Ohio House of Representatives on March 18 by a party-line vote of 54-40. law, however well-intentioned, invariably have unanticipated consequences,” the professor said. It’s the combination of all the proposed changes that concerns Tokaji.”Unfortunately, their net effect would be to make our election system worse rather than better.” Taken together, the provisions of the bill would likely be good for election lawyers since they would provide fertile ground for legal challenges. “But they are not good news for our election ecosystem,” he said. “They are especially bad news form the perspective of voters who want to (be) sure they can vote and have their vote counted.” Ohio Secretary of State, Jon Husted, provided written testimony that essentially places problem free voting on the backs of voters. To Husted, the house bill makes it easier for voters to fulfill their individual responsibilities to do the following: o Register to vote o Keep address updated, o Bring the proper ID to the polls o Vote at the proper precinct. ○Referred to the Ohio Senate on March 19 where it is awaiting assignment to a Senate committee. The bill’s provision provides ways for voters to make address changes online, resulting in cost savings, according to Husted’s testimony. In the last general election, voters who had changed addresses or names without notifying the election board accounted for more than half of the provisional ballots cast. The online change system, according to Husted, would reduce the number of provisional ballots and increase the number of regular ballots. At least two locals who had planned to testify before the committee left before getting a chance to testify. Ricardo Taylor form The Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Pat Clifford representing Common Cause did not speak, but did leave written testimony. Bill Paton reminded the committee that voting is a right and not a privilege. How the bill could impact voters experiencing homelessness: ○The Ohio Senate can ignore the bill, pass the bill as written, or amend the bill and pass it with changes and reconcile any differences with the House before sending it to the Governor for signature. Some changes to absentee voter process: ○Counties can no longer solicit absentee ballots, instead, voters must proactively request one. ○Counties cannot pay the costs of return postage on absentee ballots, instead, voters must pay these costs on their own. Some changes to provisional ballot procedures: ○Voters without identification at the polling place will no longer be allowed to sign an affirmation that they do not have identification in order to have their ballots counted. ○Voters without identification at the polling place will, however, be able to sign an affirmation of identity and provide name, address, last four digits of the voter’s Social Security number or identification number, signature, and date of birth. ○The procedure which allows a voter submitting a provisional ballot to provide proof of their identification within 10 days would be eliminated. ○Voters without identification or a Social Security number may have their ballots rejected at the polling place. ○Voters who have recently moved to another precinct will not be instructed on where they should go to vote if they arrive at the wrong precinct. ○Voters needing to vote absentee will have to be proactive in requesting a ballot and bear the costs of voting. Local supporters: ○The bill was sponsored by two Hamilton County Republican representatives: Robert Mecklenborg and Louis Blessing ○The two other Hamilton County Republican representatives, Peter Strautberg and Ron Maag, also voted for the bill. ○The remaining Hamilton County representatives, all Democrats, voted against the bill: Denise Driehaus, Dale Mallory, Connie Pillich, and Alicia Reece. �Resources ST R EE T V IB E S 15 M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Shelter: Women and Children St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 McMicken Dental Clinic 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 458-6670 PATH Outreach 977-4489 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Prospect House 921-1613 Other Resources 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 Anthony House (Youth) Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 First Step Home 961-4663 Goodwill industries 771-4800 Healing Connections 751-0600 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment: Both 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 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 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services 751-0643 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 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 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 621-5514 Treatment: Women 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 961-4080 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Shelter 661-4620 Shelter: Both Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Emmanuel Community Center 241-2563 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 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 St. Raephaels 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 Faces Without Places 363-3300 Stop AIDS 421-2437 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 Health Center for Respite Care Hamilton/Middletown 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 �Column 16 ST R EET VIBES M AY 2 7 - J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 11 Putting Life and Death into Perspective Steven Finke’s art is a meditation on loss and mortality a dragon, with human attributes, falling towards him. It alluded to the attraction to the unknown, to danger, to the unexpected path one often takes when dealing with I have been aware of human pain and suffering from uncertainty, in this case to Finke’s confused a very young age,” says Steven Finke. “Growing up handling of his new conjugal situation. I was introduced to the Holocaust and constantly Divorced and settled in Cincinnati, reminded of its horrors as it directly affected my family Finke met his new wife, ceramic artist Ana and the many families in my community. As a child I did England. When asked to have a joint show, not understand the ramifications of what I was told but both interested in the science/art relationwas horrified that people could act towards each others in ship they decided to produce works on the such destructive ways.” theme of Creation. Finke resorted to the Pain, suffering, death, the meaning of existence, book of Genesis and illustrated in mixed have all along permeated Finke’s thinking and art. His media sculptures each of its days. work, initially dealing with personal issues, progressively “I approached the work from both scientific and religious aspects,” he says. “I and naturally delved into the human, the universal, the wanted it universal, asking the fundamental generality of life in this world. questions of how we got here, why and Born in Queens and raised on Long Island, NY, for what, thus parting from my egocentric Finke belonged to a middle class family which placed strong emphasis on education. Interested in the sciences, concerns.” he was first leaning for a career in forestry and wild life His Day 1 sculpture, Let There Be management, but shifted later towards the arts, earning Light, consisted of a cone of stacked seca BFA from Ohio University, Athens, and a MFA from the tions of glass, held at an angle by a metallic structure. The cone reflects light and serves University of Miami, FL, both in ceramics. as playground for interacting lights and “I wanted to do pottery and live in the forest,” he shadows. The Creation of Humans, the says. “I became, however, quickly taken by sculptures as fine art objects and started creating them in outdoor and Day 6 sculpture, depicted 3 phases of life: birth, reproduction, death. Finke included in it personal elements, his father’s knee, his grandson’s navel, a vial of his and his new wife’s blood, thus indirectly commenting on his own journey. “Working on the Creation Stories, I was already reflecting on mortality and dissolution,” he Steven Finke stands in the forest in front of his sculpture, the Pedestal. says. “After birth comes death, Photo: Saad Ghosn. Saad Ghosn and it was natural that my work Contributing Writer progresses to address the imperfour separate sculptural elements, a Cabin, a Bridge, a manence of life.” Pedestal and a Vault, all connected to trace the journey before death, integrating forest, sculpture and human in indoor settings using various materials.” This is when Finke discovered the Tibetan Book of an aesthetic meditation on impermanence. Finke currently teaches sculpture at Northern Kenthe Dead and embarked on visualizing its content. He “I wanted to provide the serious visitor a place for tackled its first day which focuses on the Cessation of tucky University. reflection on mortality, loss and grief, hoping it leads to Breath, the moment before death. He created BreathRight after grad school, married and with two kids, greater insight into the nature of life, connection with ing Machine, a metallic structure that opens on a pair of Finke experienced the breakdown of his marriage and, the environment, inner peace,” states Finke, ”and at the mechanized lungs same time call attention to our responsible role in this world.” moving Starting the journey alone in the forest, the viewer forth and first experiences the solitude of the cabin, metaphor for back when one’s house, reminiscing on the inevitability of death; cranked, then borrows a path over a sculpted bridge, leading to a letting air pedestal composed of glass, metal skulls, a cast bronze in and cranium on which is engraved the Tibetan text describing out. The the moment before the last breath; then enters a sculpcycled air sounds like tural vault which shelters the breathing machine. “The impermanence of life is prevalent,” says Finke, breathing, “and we need to face it. Things come into being and also feeds others come out of being. We constantly die to the last a small fire moment and are reborn to the following one; and every started by moment affects the next. We have to be reminded that burning each of our actions affects our future and that of the a signifiearth.” cant item This is why Finke also wanted the forest to be the brought setting for his meditative artwork, the forest through its in by the constant living and dying a metaphor for life, also a link to viewer. the ecological protection of the land. By crankFinke will be working next on sculptures for the ing the Cessation of Pulse, the second day of the book. In the machine, meantime he is creating a series of small bronze pieces the viewer symbolical- he calls Peaceful and Wrathful Deities. Most have the recurrent image of a skull and include moving objects rely controls flecting the mechanics of life. They allude to death, to the his own Breathing Machine inside the Vault, mixed media sculptural installation. Artwork and Photo: Steven Finke nakedness of human beings, and are meant to be used breathing, as meditative toys during the viewer’s journey. in his mind, the disintegration of the myth of family. His and willingly parts with what may be considered impor“A root cause for our inability to live at peace with artwork, raw and expressionistic, became a narrative tant. each other and our environment is our avoidance or lack about his life, telling real stories with a mythological twist. Meant initially as a travelling piece, Finke later of understanding of the impermanent nature of exisIt reflected his personal feelings and the issues he was decided to include it in a permanent site specific artwork, tence,” says Finke. “By reflecting on mortality, we can dealing with, questioning where he stood and the part he The Cessation of Breath: A Mechanical Meditation on learn to live in a more sustainable way with our environplayed in the human condition. the Moment before Death. The installation stands in ment and a more compassionate way with each other. George and the Dragon, a large mosaic piece the middle of a forest on a 38 acre land he purchased This is what I would like my art to achieve.” from that period, depicts George holding a sword, and in the watershed of the Ohio River Valley. It consists of “ 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 May 27-June 9, 2011 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Celebrating Our history Pg 2: In My Shoes Pg 3: Distributor Program Pg 4: Who’s Talking? Making Music for a Cause Pg 5: Meetup Pg 6: Mark Twain was Right Pg 7: Streetvibes: A timeline Pg 8: Streetvibes: An Ever-Evolving Publication Pg 9: Past Covers Tell of Our History and Guide Our Future Pg 10: Caring for Criminals Pg 11: Happy Birthday Amnesty? Pg 12: Hail to the Chief? Pg 13: We Remember Buddy Gray Pg 14: U.S. Woman Documents Homelessness in Memoir Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Putting Life and Death into Perspective 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 May 27-June 9, 2011 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jen Martin Jeni Jenkins Susan Lakes Corey Gibson Josh Spring Jeni Jenkins Riccardo Taylor Willa Denise Jones Laura Osborne-Coffey Saad Ghosn Bonnie Nuemeier Buddy Gray Jessie Call Reuters Aimie WillHoite Saad Ghosn Jimmy Heath Steven Finke Dan Moore Seth Tobocman. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Amnesty Barack Obama Bonnie Nuemeier buddy gray Cincinnati Corey Gibson Criminals Dan Moore Jeni Jenkins Jessie Call Jimmy Heath Josh Spring Laura Osborne-Coffey Mark Twain Music Protests Reuters Riccardo Taylor Riots Saad Ghosn Seth Tobocman Steven Finke Streetvibes Susan Lakes Tags Jen Martin Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/c896327de8f22e9965a621c5571067dd.pdf 6022060a6cc541e5167260abdae84e01 PDF Text Text M ay 3 0 t h - J u n e 1 3 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 1 ( N o . 4 0 8 ) 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. INVISIBLE Disability Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 30 2 - -NJune o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 May 13,2 02019 408 From The Editor: KKK Rally In Dayton Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief A KKK affiliate group received a permit in Dayton, Ohio to rally on May 25th, 2019 in front of the city courthouse. Left wing groups such as the Democratic Socialists, the Black Panthers, and Antifa, along with many others, decided they would not sit idly by while a KKK group celebrated their racism. Activists decided to organize a counter protest at the same time as the KKK demonstration, making Dayton officials nervous they would become the next Charlottesville. When the day came, there were police on foot, horses, and bicycles surrounding the closed off rally and counter protest area, some police carrying rifles. There were about 4 people on the roofs of two different buildings, watching intently, as well as a helicopter that seemed to circle the area from time to time. Needless to say, the entire event was heavily policed. People protesting the KKK were fenced off from the original racist demonstration, making it difficult to see what the other side was doing or saying. Though, once the event officially began at 1pm no one seemed interested in looking at the KKK but instead were enjoying each other’s company. The environment was over all positive, folks chanting in unison and creating a sense of solidarity. Once it started to get later in the event, people started to wonder where exactly the KKK was. People started to gather around the fence and faced the area that was sectioned off to the KKK, were only about 9 members stood with racist propaganda. Their sign, “diversity = genocide” was barely visible from the other groups viewpoint. At this time, there were about 300 people counter protesting the KKK which apparently couldn’t get anyone to show up. The protesters headcount peeked at about 600, while the KKK group never got any larger. At this point all the counter protestors realized what a colossal failure the KKK rally had been and it seemed that people started to utilize their time to talk to like minded strangers. There were people from Cincinnati and Columbus, as well as other areas, that had gathered to show solidarity for one another against racism, and they were taking this opportunity to have a positive time. If you were at the center of the rally, you were surrounded by chanting, people passing water bottles and fruit, and had an overall sense of safety. However, if you looked at the edge of the protest you would see the intense police presence that might have left you a bit on edge. The city of Dayton estimates that all the police presence and resources they took for the protest ended up costing over $600,000. What can we learn from this protest/rally? Activist groups need to collaborate more often and show up for each other, because it might not just be 9 people we’re facing next time. The KKK is a threat to the black and brown community, and there weren’t just racial groups at the event. There were different socialist and communist groups as well as faith groups. When we show up for each other we are a force to be reckoned with. No one group brought hundreds of people, and no one group should be expected to. Each individual activist group needs to continue existing and working on their specific issues and passions. However we need to continue showing up for our neighbors when they ask us to, and May 25th was a beautiful example of what happens when we do. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Johannes Lehard, Aliza Saunders, German Orizaola, Josiane Kougheu, Dr. Mark Mussman, Simon Bland, David Cortright, Depthstroke the Cypher, June Alexander ------------------------------------------- S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Photography/ Artwork: canva.com, Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 213, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May 303- |June | No. 408 HOMELESSNESS 3 Homeless People Aren’t Just Sitting Around – They Actively Strive To Improve Their Lives Johannes Lenhard The Conversation W hen I first met Daniel* in front of Shoreditch High Street station in London, I didn’t know how exhausting begging was. He was constantly moving, often through cold and rain. He addressed random passers-by all day long, mostly facing ignorance from their side if not verbal and physical aggression. He told me: “Many people think, that if they give, that keeps me on the street – but it really makes life bearable. It’s not all about money … What I appreciate is respect. Respect and understanding make me feel like a human being.” Daniel was hustling to survive – in search of resources, like money and food, but also respect. Begging is a means to this end and hard labour in every sense of the word, both physical and emotional. It isn’t just a passive activity of passing the time to get through the day but an active form of engagement that is often reflected on and thought through. As a long-term unemployed homeless person, it was one of the only ways for Daniel to survive. This kind of activity – and others such as finding and making shelter – are forms of labour and work that are worth taking seriously, both in order to support people like Daniel on an immediate, personal level, and ultimately to adapt government policies accordingly. An active process Homelessness is exploding across the West. Rough sleeping in the UK alone has risen by almost 170 per cent since 2010. Altogether, one in 200 people is homeless in the UK. Similarly, in France, according to official government statistics, the number of homeless people rose by 50 per cent between 2001 and 2011. Based on six years of work on homelessness in London and Paris, most recently two years of full-time fieldwork in the French capital, my research has tried to generate a bottomup understanding of how homeless people survive and make a living. My research has shown me that most homeless people are not passively suffering but that they often actively try to make their lives better. Two examples of men – Pascal* and Carl* – help to demonstrate this. Pascal, a Congolese man in his early 20s. I met him in Paris in summer 2015, and found he had a well thought-through daily work routine to earn money through begging. In the mornings, he was trying to catch the commuters coming into the Gare de l'Est. At lunchtime, he stood in front of a specific, busy boulangerie in the ninth arrondisement, a rather well-off residential area of the city. In the afternoon, he was at Gare de l’Est waiting for the trains bringing German tourists he could easily relate to in a language he speaks. Pascal had developed these different spots where he could approach different groups – lunchgoers he would see several times a week, random but compassionate tourists, people that likely speak his language – with different tactics. For every group, Pascal also had a specific way of addressing them, a specific spiel touching on different points: he needed money for the train, or wanted to buy food, or to get himself a night in a shelter. He knew from experience that different groups are more likely to give when they hear a certain narrative. Pascal was the norm rather than the exception of the homeless people I engaged with on the streets around the city’s train stations. For him and the others, begging was not just sitting around, but an active process of labour, often a first step to order and routine. Seeking shelter Homeless people also don’t blindly rely on social services for housing, a process that can take from months to years. Many of them actively choose spots, collect material and symbolically construct shelters for themselves within the cities they live in. Carl, a young German I met early in 2015 in Paris, was one of them. “They call me the train man – even though I don’t even sleep there anymore. But I found it,” Carl explained to me with pride when I asked him about his shelter. He took me to see the train he was talking about, close to the metro stop Créteil in the south of Paris. It was an old inter-city train waiting to be moved to where it would eventually be recycled. “This used to be my job – intelligence, finding things – and finding this train was easy,” he said. “I just used Google maps, and a day later I started sleeping here … I just ripped out the old curtains and used them as a blanket. The compartments are perfect, a little home.” The fact that the trains were easy to reach, less than 30 minutes from the Gare du Nord, and were available for stable intervals of time, made them the perfect mid-term shelters for people like Carl. Many others followed Carl to the train in the months after his discovery. A different group of people I spoke Photo by Tom Parsons on Unsplash THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED to slept in a spacious parking lot under the banking district. Others preferred the security of a public place surveyed by the police such as the area directly around train stations. Most of them would come equipped with cardboard, blankets, duvets or plastic bags to keep their laundry and other utensils. All of them were actively trying to make a home on the street while being homeless. Daniel, Pascal and Carl are only three of the many people I have observed over my years of working with people on the street. Many are struggling to survive within both physical and institutional structures which in many cases try to support them, but in many others keep them on the street. Understanding the efforts these people go to to make their lives better will help institutions such as homeless charities, NGOs and government agencies to support them by building on their own efforts – rather than imposing new, and at times alien, initiatives on them. *All names have been anonymised to protect the identity of interviewees. Johannes Lenhard is a PhD researcher in social anthropology at the University of Cambridge Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT N o v 230 - N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N . 393 May - June 13, | oNo. 408 May 17 - June 2, 2019 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. 39 ov 2 13, - N o2019 v 19,| 2 0 18408 May 303 -| N June No. HOMELESSNESS 5 Stress On The Streets Aliza Saunders Street Roots S treet Roots wanted to learn more about what being able to relax means when you don’t have a home. We shouldn’t have been surprised that this exploration turned into conversations about the experience of stress on the streets. An intense job interview or narrowly catching the bus might cause an immediate and even thrilling dose of stress, which called acute stress– according to the Mayo Clinic. Not all stress comes in small spurts, however. Chronic stress is defined by the American Psychological Association as being a “grinding stress that wears people away day after day, year after year.” It’s a form of stress that can be debilitating. This form of stress can result in serious psychological and physical health consequences, such as anxiety, insomnia and a weakened immune system. The American Institute of Stress has compiled an exhaustive list of 50 common symptoms of stress that includes difficulty in making decisions, depression, trouble with learning, lack of care in appearance, and rapid and mumbled speech. Like many psychological conditions, chronic stress manifests in diverse and sometimes non-linear ways. In addition to daily uncertainties, such as finding the next meal or staying dry during a rainy night, people who are or who have recently been homeless have often also experienced childhood trauma, which can contribute to deep and sometimes crippling stress in adulthood. For 13 years, Mykel Garner lived on the streets and faced immeasurable amounts of stress. He was abandoned by his grandmother to Child Protective Services when he was 8 years old, and, since then, Garner has lived in more than 10 group homes, struggled with addiction, been shot three times, and spent time in a psychiatric hospital. “When I was on the streets, I didn’t have a choice,” Garner says. “I had to just be submissive and admit that I had been beaten and, basically, in the end, I just wanted to die. I tried so many times to just give up.” Despite these challenges, about three years ago, Garner felt the most relaxed he had in a long time. He was clean and sober with a sponsor and attending recovery meetings. Garner felt accepted, hopeful, and a part of something. Around that same time, Garner was also moving into his apartment, where he has lived for the past two years. While it alleviated many of the stressors he had faced on the streets, moving into an apartment also introduced new ones. According to Garner, the owners of his housing unit have tried to evict him four times, and now he has been getting ill and feels that he has not been effectively diagnosed. “Now, with housing, it’s like someone has control over me, and they basically have control over … (my) life or death,” Garner says. “If I go back to the streets the way I am, I don’t think I’ll make it without going to prison or getting killed,” he continues. “I just don’t see myself making it because it took everything I had to make it through everything I did this far in life.” Heather Harrington has been living on the streets for two years, and, like many homeless individuals, she faces the daily stress of making enough money, the struggle of keeping warm despite harsh weather conditions, and protecting her belongings from theft. She also has to navigate those living around her. “I’ve never seen so many people who seem lost, and they need help,” she says. “They’re just wandering around ... talking to themselves or sleeping in the middle of the sidewalk or screaming at the top of their lungs to someone who’s not there. It’s stressful. It puts me on edge.” Like Harrington, Amy Turco, who has been living on the streets for about two years, also finds it difficult to navigate other people living on the streets, especially with heightened noise levels under the Morrison Bridge and the lack of privacy. “When there’s more than a few people in the same area that [my boyfriend and I] are at, that becomes a little stressful because the privacy breaks,” she admits. Turco, though, has been able to find relaxation in both nature and through her job at Starbucks. Turco recently went to the Japanese Rose Gardens and visited The Grotto. Turco says that she loved experiencing nature – the streams, birds and flowers – as well as the peaceful church music. At her job, Turco is also able to relax and enjoys spending time with her coworkers. “I laugh a lot at work,” she says. “I like the people I work with, and they bring the laughter out of me, especially when I’m really feeling down. One of my co-workers brings in this Bluetooth speaker, and when we’re washing dishes and cleaning up at night, she’ll play it, so I dance.” Turco and her boyfriend are currently looking for apartments, but they both enjoy the occasional times that they can spend a night in a motel and relax while watching television. Finding that his health had become compromised after living in shelters for about 12 years, John Smith began living on the streets last year. Smith currently takes medication for high blood pressure, which he attributes to both his family history and the extreme stress of being homeless. “Being out on the streets, you never let your guard down because that’s when you end up getting hurt,” he says. Sometimes, he is able to spend time at his wife’s home, as well as visiting his daughters’ homes, where he can finally let his guard down and relax indoors. About a year ago, Smith went to his hometown, Sweet Home, Oregon, to spend his birthday with his high school friends. “I was in a safe place,” he recalls. Jerrick Harrenstein currently lives in a shelter, where he has gone every night this past winter. Harrenstein Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED battles daily with mental health issues and often feels like his stress is inflicted on him by his surroundings. “I’m stressed out all the time,” he says. “It’s part of life – my life.” He says that he is able to relax in the shelter in the evenings, after his day is over. Leo Rhodes, a homeless advocate, has been homeless for 30 years and has been in housing for the past eight. Rhodes was met with violence when living on the streets. “I fell asleep on the waterfront, and I got hit over the head three times with a pipe,” he tells me. “That brings a lot of stress on you.” Since he has been in housing, Rhodes still feels extreme stress, specifically due to several projects he is working on to aid and advocate for homeless individuals as a part of Right To Dream, Too and other similar organizations. Those who are or have been homeless often live with lingering and sometimes chronic stress due to the combination of years of trauma with the difficulties of daily stressors. Even so, these folks frequently show resilience in the way they are able to cope. However, many people living on the streets have been through so much trauma and loss, leading to this chronic stress, that they are now unable to simply relax. “I don’t ever feel relaxed living on the fucking streets,” Harrington says. “It takes a while to even feel relaxed again. I could go from here into a house, and I won’t be relaxed. I’ll never be the same. It’ll never be the same. It’s called PTSD, I think.” Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 N o v 230 - N v 19,13, 2 02019 18 | N| oNo. . 393 May - oJune 408 Chernobyl: How The Site Of A Nuclear Accident Has Become A Refuge For Wildlife 33 Years Later Germán Orizaola The Conversation R eactor number four of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant suffered an explosion during a technical test on 26 April 1986. As a result of the accident, in the then Soviet Union, more than 400 times more radiation was emitted than that released by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima (Japan) in 1945. It remains the largest nuclear accident in history. Decontamination work began immediately after the accident. An exclusion zone was created around the plant, and more than 350,000 people were evacuated from the area. They never returned. And severe restrictions on permanent human settlement are still in place today. The accident had a major impact on the human population. Although there are not clear figures, the physical loss of human lives and physiological consequences were huge. Estimates of the number of human fatalities vary wildly. The initial impact on the environment was also important. One of the areas more heavily affected by the radiation was the pine forest near the plant, known since then as the “Red Forest”. This area received the highest doses of radiation, the pine trees died instantly and all the leaves turned red. Few animals survived the highest radiation levels. Therefore, after the accident it was assumed that the area would become a desert for life. Considering the long time that some radioactive compounds take to decompose and disappear from the environment, the forecast was that the area would remain devoid of wildlife for centuries. Chernobyl wildlife today But today, 33 years after the accident, the Chernobyl exclusion zone, which covers an area now in Ukraine and Belarus, is inhabited by brown bears, bisons, wolves, lynxes, Przewalski horses, and more than 200 bird species, among other animals. In March 2019, most of the main research groups working with Chernobyl wildlife met in Portsmouth, England. About 30 researchers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Norway, Spain and Ukraine presented the latest results of our work. These studies included work on big mammals, nesting birds, amphibians, fish, bumblebees, earthworms, bacteria and leaf litter decomposition. These studies showed that at present the area hosts great biodiversity. In addition, they confirmed the general lack of big negative effects of current radiation levels on the animal and plant populations living in Chernobyl. All the studied groups maintain stable and viable populations inside the exclusion zone. A clear example of the diversity of wildlife in the area is given by the TREE project (TRansfer-Exposure-Effects, led by Nick Beresford of the UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology). As part of this project, motion detection cameras were installed for several years in different areas of the exclusion zone. Ian Bancroft/Flickr Creative Commons Henrik Isamrker/Flickr Creative Commons The photos recorded by these cameras reveal the presence of abundant fauna at all levels of radiation. These cameras recorded the first observation of brown bears and European bison inside the Ukrainian side of the zone, as well as the increase in the number of wolves and Przewalski horses. Our own work with the amphibians of Chernobyl has also detected abundant populations across the exclusion zone, even on the more contaminated areas. Furthermore, we have also found signs that could represent adaptive responses to life with radiation. For instance, frogs within the exclusion zone are darker than frogs living outside it, which is a possible defence against radiation. Studies have also detected some negative effects of radiation at an individual level. For example, some insects seem to have a shorter lifespan and are more affected by parasites in areas of high radiation. Some birds also have higher levels of albinism, as well as physiological and genetic alterations when living in highly contaminated localities. But these effects don’t seem to affect the maintenance of wildlife population in the area. The general absence of negative effects of radiation on Chernobyl wildlife can be a consequence of several factors: First, wildlife could be much more resistant to radiation than previously thought. Another alternative possibility is that some organisms could be starting to show adaptive responses that would allow them to cope with radiation and live inside the exclusion zone without harm. In addition, the absence of humans inside the exclusion zone could be favouring many species – big mammals in particular. That final option would suggest THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED that the pressures generated by human activities would be more negative for wildlife in the medium-term than a nuclear accident – a quite revealing vision of the human impact on the natural environment. The future of Chernobyl In 2016, the Ukrainian part of the exclusion zone was declared a radiological and environmental biosphere reserve by the national government. Over the years, Chernobyl has also become an excellent natural laboratory for the study of evolutionary processes in extreme environments, something that could prove valuable given the rapid environmental changes experienced worldwide. At present, several projects are trying to resume human activities in the area. Tourism has flourished in Chernobyl, with more than 70,000 visitors in 2018. There also plans for developing solar power plants in the area, and for expanding forestry work. Last year, there was even an art installation and techno party inside the abandoned city of Prypiat. Over the past 33 years, Chernobyl has gone from the being considered a potential desert for life to being an area of high interest for biodiversity conservation. It may sound strange, but now we need to work to maintain the integrity of the exclusion zone as a nature reserve if we want to guarantee that in the future Chernobyl will remain a refuge for wildlife. Germán Orizaola is a researcher at the University of Oviedo Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL No. 39 3 |- N ov 2 13, - N o2019 v 19, |2No. 0 18408 May 30 June 7 How the world’s largest democracy casts its ballots Emmanuel Eteme Biolo, a girls' U17 team coach, talks with his team during half-time of the match at the Rail Foot Academy field in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 4, 2019. The academy currently trains around 70 girls, most of whom come from poor backgrounds and would otherwise not be able to afford even their own soccer boots, said Biolo. "Here they have everything: coaches, jerseys, training equipment, a physiotherapist, and the guidance we give them all the time. Gaelle Enganamouit really wants these kids to be the next generation," he said. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Josiane Kouagheu Reuters W hen Gaelle Asheri first started playing soccer in the dirt streets near her home in Cameroon's capital, she was the only girl on the informal neighbourhood teams which used stones for goal posts and kept score by chalking results on a wall. Asheri, 17, and her teammate Ida Pouadjeu, 16, are now among the first wave of girls being trained by professional coaches at the Rails Foot Academy (RFA) in Yaounde. It was set up in January to foster female soccer talent in a country where many still see the sport as a man's game. "I used to train with boys, so with boys there were some exercises I was not allowed to do because I am a girl," Asheri said, describing how she was seen as more fragile than her male counterparts. "But reaching here it was just another world, I was forced to do abdominal exercises, forced to do all harsh work so you reach a level where tears usually come out with sweat." The academy gets its name from the train tracks that hem the playing ground and turn into informal stands for the local spectators, who gather to watch the girls' teams play all-male sides. Global interest in women's soccer is growing and FIFA hopes over a billion viewers will tune in to watch the Women's World Cup in June. Cameroon's national side, known as the Indomitable Lionesses, was one of three African teams to qualify. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Gaelle Enganamouit, the founder of Rails Foot Academy (RFA), is depicted on the facade of a hairdressers' shop in Yaounde, Cameroon, May 2, 2019. Enganamouit, the star player of Cameroon's team known as the Indomitable Lionesses, one of three African teams to qualify for the Women's World Cup in June, was the brains behind RFA - the West African country's first female soccer academy. Her own experience as a young player in Yaounde showed her that it was important for women to have their own space to train, she told FIFA in January. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra Its star player, Gaelle Enganamouit, was the brains behind RFA - the West African country's first female soccer academy. Her own experience as a young player in Yaounde showed her that it was important for women to have their own space to train, she told FIFA in January. The academy currently trains around 70 girls, most of whom come from poor backgrounds and would otherwise not be able to afford even their own soccer boots, said coach Emmanuel Biolo. "Here they have everything: coaches, jerseys, training equipment, a physiotherapist, and the guidance we give them all the time. Gaelle Enganamouit really wants these kids to be the next generation," he said. Asheri attends the academy on Saturday mornings and after school on Wednesdays, changing out of her uniform - a belted blue knee-length dress - into her team's matching kit. She is studying for her final baccalaureate exams, but the dream for her and Pouadjeu is to play soccer at a professional level like their benefactor. "I've seen Gaelle (Enganamouit) play on TV. I've never missed one of her matches. She plays so well, I want to be like her," Pouadjeu said. Both girls initially faced opposition from family members who were worried that the sport was unfeminine. But neither have been deterred by such prejudice. "I picked up the ball, I kicked it and I never looked back," Asheri said, recalling the childhood street soccer games with her male cousins and neighbours. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �FEATURE 8 Nov 2 o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May 30- -NJune 13, | No. 408 Invisible Disabilities Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer T here is a saying floating around the internet that goes something like “Be kind to people, everyone is fighting an invisible battle.” This idea, that people are struggling, seems to be particularly true in some neighborhoods. If half of Cincinnati’s children live below the poverty line, and 75% of Black children living below the poverty line, the struggle is not invisible, it is more than palatable. Institutional racism and structural violence are seemingly “invisible” to affluent, or even marginally wealthy, white people. We just can’t see the barriers that are put in the way of people who have a different experience than us. That is how the system is designed: create separate realities so that the discord between the groups is more visible than the structural, or systemic, violence that hides just below the surface. We are seeing this type of conflict play out today with the abortion (so-called) debate. Some people just want to be in control of their own bodies, while some people think this is debatable. the rest of the day to relax and selfcare. Selfcare isn’t a luxury for me, it is a matter of health. Invisible disabilities are wideranging and may affect more than 10% of the American population. Different conditions that cause chronic pain, fatigue, mental illness, and dizziness often lead to invisible illnesses. People are often accused of lying about their condition because it’s not possible to see the pain that someone is in, just their reaction. People with invisible disabilities often hide their pain because it is hard for other people to We see the same thing when looking at disability. One out of five Americans will have a disability at some time in their life. This statistic comes from my work 15 years ago, so I wonder if the number is actually higher today. I cannot imagine what life would be like without my disability. Every decision I make literally depends on what my disability will allow me to do. How much water I drink, what I eat, what type of exercise I can do, how many spoons I have, are all dependent on my disability. But from the outside, my disability isn’t very visible, so it is known as an “invisible disability.” I’ll let you in on a few disability secrets, like what I mean by the number of spoons I have. There is a metaphor that I was resistant to the first time I heard about it called the spoon theory. This idea says that when we wake up each day, a person has a set number of spoons, or energy that they can devote to simply just living. When you have a disability, the number of spoons you have varies from day-to-day, and each activity you do takes a spoon away. So for some, just getting out of bed and getting ready for the day may use up all the spoons that person had for the day. I may have days like that from time to time. My spoons are based upon the amount of pain I am in. I constantly experience discomfort, and most of the time, I am in pain. If I use up all of my spoons in the morning, I must take THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED understand what they go through on a daily basis. It would be impossible to feel what someone with fibromyalgia feels in their bones, or what someone with vertigo experiences when the world starts moving around them. We can only see how they respond to those feelings, and we must trust them. �No. 39 Nov 213, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18408 May 303 -| June No. FEATURE 9 the doctor more often and be forced to pay more co-pays, just by virtue of needing to go to the doctor more. Costly blood tests are paid out of pocket, because even though you’ve hit your deductible, it somehow doesn’t cover certain costs, like blood tests and physician charges in hospitals. When I bring up a health issue with my primary care physician, who generally listens, it often boils down to “it’s probably from your chronic illness, just showing up in this way.” Everything that is wrong with me is somehow connected to my invisible disability, which is frustrating because I want to get help, but also part of the reality - I will never be apart from my invisible disability. I am fortunate that my family has been so supportive of me over the years. They help me financially and morally. They give me hope that things can get better, and they also share with me the suffering they go through, so that we can commissurate on our experiences. When my doctors show compassion towards me, even through my disability, they make me feel important and worthy of their care. (I have had very bad encounters with doctors, who have misdiagnosed me, refused to look me in the eye, and had bad bedside manner.) My coworkers at the Homeless Coalition are also very supportive; they are willing to step in and help out when I need it, and to carry the load for me when I am too weak to carry it myself. I am forever grateful for the support that I receive, but I also have to struggle with autonomy as I am the one most affected by my invisible disability. One of the biggest stressors that people with invisible disabilities face is the medical industry itself. When someone is lucky enough to finally get a diagnosis, all other issues are often attributed to that condition. Our medical system then places this disability as a “pre-existing condition” which can raise our premiums, deny coverage, or even supplant “free” disease screenings with full-cost procedures. As someone who has been in and out of medical care for two decades with my chronic illness, I can say that our medical system is truly broken. The amount of time that I have to spend dealing with insurance companies, hospitals, doctor’s offices, billing, etc., is a heavy burden. Getting the insurance company to cover necessary procedures and medication can take months. A healthy person might be surprised at the out-of-pocket costs that I run each month. Medications that cost $7000 a dose, with 4 doses a month, is certainly a broken system. This amounts to $338,000/year in medication alone. What kind of world puts that cost on life-improving medication that prevents issues down the road, while simultaneously increasing the risk for other health issues? The system is clearly broken. Doctor visits can be difficult with invisible illness. First off, you will visit THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED At times I hear people talk about complaining as if it’s a bad thing. I know that I complain all of the time, and sometimes you just need someone to hear you. When it feels like the inside of your body is screaming, why should you be the only one to hear it? I don’t always complain, but I also don’t hold back when I want to say something. I recently was pulled over for speeding, and I made a point of telling the police officer that I was in severe pain, not as an excuse, but as a way to humanize myself. Ultimately, however, people with invisible disabilities like myself, should be in therapy for the pain and experience, but also for society’s inability to understand the extent in which we are suffering. Sadly, the access for mental health care is often difficult to navigate and is certainly expensive. When you only have so many spoons, how many can you use on fighting a system of inequality? �10 U.S. NEWS Nov 2 o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May 30- -NJune 13, | No. 408 Us Is Already Fighting A Conflict With Iran – An Economic War That Is Hurting The Wrong People David Cortright The Conversation Many are worried about the risk of war with Iran after the Trump administration leaked discussions of a troop deployment in response to claimed threats to U.S. warships in the region. And in recent days, the rhetoric has only gotten more heated, with President Donald Trump saying a war would be “the official end of Iran.” Iranian officials responded in kind. But the truth is, the U.S. has been fighting a war with Iran for decades – an economic war fought via sanctions that has intensified over the past year and has already been devastating to innocent civilians in the country. Not only that, it’s also undermining long-accepted principles of international cooperation and diplomacy, a topic I’ve been researching for the past 25 years. Carrots and Sticks Many nations have recognized that sanctions work best as tools of persuasion rather than punishment. Sanctions by themselves rarely succeed in changing the behavior of a targeted state. They are often combined with diplomacy in a carrots and sticks bargaining framework designed to achieve negotiated solutions. Indeed the offer to lift sanctions can be a persuasive inducement in convincing a targeted regime to alter its policies, as was the case when successful negotiations involving the U.S. and Europe led to the Iran nuclear deal in 2015, which ended sanctions in exchange for Tehran shutting down much of its nuclear production capacity. A year ago Trump withdrew the U.S. from that accord and not only reimposed previous sanctions but also added further restrictions, including so-called secondary sanctions that penalize other countries for continuing to trade with Iran. Multilateral vs. Unilateral Sanctions In an increasingly globalized world, unilateral sanctions like these – in which one country goes it alone - are rarely effective at achieving their end result, which in this case in regime change. Multilateral sanctions involving several or many countries have greater impact and make it more difficult for targeted individuals or regimes to find alternative sources of oil or other goods. And getting authorization through the United Nations or regional organizations provides legal and political cover. When the U.N. Security Council imposed targeted sanctions on Iran in 2006 over its illicit nuclear activities, for example, members of the European Union were able to join the U.S. and other countries in applying pressures that brought Iran to the bargaining table. That’s what led to the negotiated nuclear deal nine years later. The U.S. circumvented this voluntary multilateral process when it withdrew from the accord and unilaterally imposed “extraterritorial secondary sanctions.” These barred nations or companies that buy Iranian oil or other sanctioned products from doing business in the U.S. Although most countries disagree with the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran deal and some reject such sanctions as an infringement on their own sovereignty, they are powerless. They cannot afford to lose access to dollar financing and the U.S. economy and thus are forced against their will to do Washington’s bidding. Iranians pay the price Oil exports and national income are dropping, inflation is rising, and economic hardships are mounting. The Iranian rial lost more than 60% of its value in the last year, eroding the savings of ordinary Iranians. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for working families struggling to make ends meet. There are indications that the new sanctions are inhibiting the flow of humanitarian goods and contributing to shortages in specialized medicines to treat ailments such as multiple sclerosis and cancer. Cargill and other global food giants have halted shipments to Iran because of the lack of available financing. Punishment of the Iranian people seems to be a deliberate policy. When asked recently how the administrations expects sanctions to change the behavior of the Iranian government, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledge they won’t be to do that and instead suggested it’s up to the people to “change the government.” In other words, the pain of sanctions will force people to rise up and overthrow their leaders. This is as naïve as it is cynical. It reflects the long-discredited theory that sanctioned populations will direct their frustrations and anger at national leaders and demand a change in policy or the regime. Sanctions have never worked for this purpose. The more likely result is the classic “rally around the flag” effect. Iranians are critical of their government’s economic policies, but they also blame Trump for the hardships resulting from sanctions. Governments subject to sanctions are adept at blaming economic hardships on their external adversaries, as Iran’s religious and elected leaders are doing now against the United States. Tehran is likely to respond to tightening sanctions by giving greater authority to companies associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a major branch of the Iranian military, further empowering the very hardline forces Washington claims to oppose The White House is ignoring these realities and pressing ahead with draconian trade sanctions, hoping to increase the pain until Iran’s leaders cry uncle. There is no sign of surrender yet from Tehran, nor is there likely to be, but over time pressure may build on both sides to reach a settlement. The damage done to the institutions of diplomacy will remain, however, along with the need to restore confidence in the principles of international cooperation. David Cortright is director of policy studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Courtesy of The Conversation / Insp.ngo Men shop at a store in Murshid Bazar, the Iranian market in the old part of Dubai, United Arab Emirates November 5, 2018. Picture taken November 5, 2018. REUTERS/Christopher Pike THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 213, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18408 May 303 -| June No. 11 U.S. NEWS Public shaming, private grief Simon Bland Big Issue North A misjudged tweet and a wave of social media hate led to the 2017 suicide of porn star August Ames. But as author Jon Ronson discovers in his new audiobook The Last Days of August and its accompanying stage tour, the truth surrounding her death – and who’s to blame – is a much murkier tale. Ronson spoke to Big Issue North about his reporting, the porn industry and the dangers of social media. The Last Days of August is your second podcast set on the fringes of the porn industry, following 2017’s The Butterfly Effect. What keeps you coming back? When I finished The Butterfly Effect I thought that would be it. But when August Ames died I just thought that given I’m probably the only person in the world to have done stories about porn and also public shaming on the internet, that I should approach August’s husband Kevin because I’m uniquely qualified. What was it about the story that you wanted to uncover? My ambition was to be small. I thought I was going to write a 3,000word article for The Guardian where I would bring August to life, but also bring to life the people who tore her apart. I wanted it to be an equal opportunity exercise in empathy. It was only during fact checking that suddenly this whole new mysterious, extraordinary story presented itself. That’s when we decided to make The Last Days of August. You wrote extensively about the dangers of Twitter in your 2015 book So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – but you’re still on Twitter. Has your vigilance increased? I’m definitely Eve after eating the apple. I have no embarrassment in comparing myself to Eve but I try to always be positive, kind hearted and upbeat on Twitter. It’s been my little contribution to slightly rebalancing the tone of Twitter away from constant rage and judgement to something just a little bit more empathetic. Since you released Publicly Shamed, we’ve had the #MeToo movement. Do you think people are taking more responsibility for their actions on social media? I think there’s still a problem. Since Publicly Shamed came out, we’ve had shaming campaigns like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, Oscars So White and a bunch of others, which have been incredibly positive, but the negative side of things like that – the pulling someone out of the crowd who doesn’t deserve it and giving them a huge punishment for almost no crime – still exists too. What do you think the solution is? The really important thing people need to think about now is: how do you retain the really positive stuff while trying to eliminate the really negative stuff? We have power now in certain circumstances. It’s up to the people to decide how severe somebody’s punishment should be. We’re basically all judges but there are no leatherbound books on our shelves setting a thousand years of precedent. That’s the problem. There are detective elements to your investigative storytelling. Do you think you could have been a private investigator in another life? My producer Lina Misitzis could have been a private investigator because she loves that stuff and is brilliant at it. I think in another life I would have been a psychologist. When I work with Lina, she brings the investigative feel and I bring the psychology and humanness to it. Many of the conspiracy theorists you wrote about in your 2001 book Them now have a platform, thanks to Trump. Are you keeping an eye on that? Totally. At one point I thought I’d write a book about how the people that I wrote about in Them now have so much more power, but I decided not to because I just find it really hard to return to the same stories. If the mystery isn’t there then I don’t feel impassioned enough to do the story but I think I’m going to do an audio story soon about that – about the newfound power of these people I interviewed back in the 1990s. As someone attracted to extreme stories, have you ever considered writing about Brexit? I wouldn’t be the right person to do Brexit because I’ve been living in America for nearly seven years. I could do Mastermind when it comes to Trump – I know everything about what’s happening with Trump, Mueller and collusion. I honestly know less about Brexit than anybody living in Britain so I would not be the right person to do it. You’re a self-described anxious person but you’re regularly on tour. Is it difficult stepping out on stage every night? It’s increasingly difficult. I used to love being on stage. It used to feel like a place where nothing bad can happen, a safe space. I don’t feel that anymore. My anxiety levels have gone up. I had one bad show in London where I was jet-lagged and I’d taken a bit too much melatonin to try and get over it and I was a little too groggy and slightly disassociating. That became quite a traumatic memory and, as a result, being onstage did make me more anxious. The main reason why I do it is because most writers don’t do it well and I know that I can do it pretty well. It’s not because I love it – because I find it quite exhausting and anxietyinducing these days. What can audiences expect from your upcoming live show? I’ve got high hopes for this new show. I think The Butterfly Effect stuff is really funny but then the show will get increasingly dark and sad in a way that hopefully will be moving for people. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED It’s going to be a big range of emotions. I had a little bit of a mental collapse making The Last Days of August and I want to talk about that. I have these funny bespoke porn clips that I want to show too. It’s the summation of where I’m at in terms of my thoughts on journalism, mental illness and work. I feel like I’ve got a lot to say and that’s going to make it different to my other shows. Jon Ronson – ‘Tales From the Last Days of August & the Butterfly Effect’ is at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 18 May, Leeds Town Hall, 19 May and Albert Hall, Manchester 22 May. The Last Days of August is available as a podcast Courtesy of Big Issue North / INSP. ngo �12 STREETVOICE N o v 30 2 -- N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 May June 13,22019 No. 408 Weeping May Endure For A Night, I’m remembering my Mother; and my Mother’s mother; and my Mother’s mother’s Mother who was born into slavery. I use to wonder, “How?!” How could this gentle woman who always fed me bananas and cookies from a small paper bag still smile. Knowing someone chose to see her as property, livestock, and less than human didn’t make her hate; indeed, it made her more loving. I asked her how could she still be so hopeful. In her simple words she replied, “Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy is going to come in the morning They never told me what they meant. They never told me while they were alive, anyway. Then that day came. That day when The Black man and his Black wife, and his Black children, and their Black grandmother stood on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C. The day young and old alike found hope. Women took notice of The wife’s power and intellect. Although this family was its’ own altarpiece, The wife could stand alone, a forever masterpiece. A painting that called upon the “joy” of all in these United States. At that moment Hope My mother’s Mother (when she was young) sat in the living beaconed. Dr. King’s dream may not be fully realized, but it is no room of a white lady she knew and had nursed back to health. longer an impossibility. The elderly white lady took one look at my Grandmother and scoffed, “I never thought I would see the day a Nigger would sit That great morning cultivated and nurtured by centuries of up in my living room.” tears and death and struggle not only empowered those so long My Grandmother’s cool reply was, “...and you still haven’t seen forgotten, but it frightened the Plantation. ..Once I was blind but one.” After the telling of this story, I asked, “Grandmamma, why now I see…or rather once you were blind but now you see. did you ask God to forgive that woman? She laughed, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is going to come in the morning. You, the Plantation saw a mighty river of colors and creeds. You finally saw the sheep and the lion side by side chanting: we My Mother’s life was made harder by Jim Crow, misogyny, will no longer accept your excuses; we will not accept “someday”; and “you’re not as pretty as me.” I remember all the times we we will not accept “not enough”; we will not “know our places”; would go to eat out and white people got served before us. My we will no longer hide our dreams in closets. Hand in hand we Mother left these places screaming at the owner or manager will stand in this morning. A morning bought with the centuries while simultaneously hauling hungry and disappointed children of our Mother’s tears. Yes, they wept in the moonlight, they back into a hot Alabama summer, no air conditioned car. She prayed in the silence of the dark, transforming their tears to chanted her prayer, “No child of my will bow down to a white amniotic fluid protecting and growing a new Blackness: a true man. These white people don’t know, I’m the wrong Negro. They collective of many nations standing in the rays of a glorious might not overcome, but y'all will.” morning proclaiming this is our time! She took odd jobs during the day and went to school at night. So..? For all of you seeing and living through midnight and Yet, she still took care to make sure we were well dressed; well nightmares remember most of us, including the original tribes of groomed; well educated; well cultured and well mannered. A this land had no voice and were murdered trying to Vote. chorus of after school classes filled with educational games, Bible study, and stories of our people. After daddy was killed Mamma Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is going get us to managed to get us to college all on scholarships while she only vote in the morning! had one good Sunday dress. Whatever it took for her to see our black heads held high so we could look any white person in the eyes. And under her breath she would mutter, “I’m not raising JUNE ALEXANDER slaves. You get an education so you can be free!” I asked her was ContributingWriter all the sacrifice worth it? She took a deep cleansing breath and sang, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy is going to come in the morning.” Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREETVOICE No. 30 39 3- |June Nov 213, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 May | No. 408 J. C. TOLD D. C. TO MOVE TO CINCY No father… No Mother… Sibling rivalry Rivals sanity As I question My first lesson… “Family comes first.” You know what hurts? Having a dependency On inconsistency… There is a light at the end Of the tunnel but all I see when I look into the abyss Is the kiss That would relieve me of my pain… Sleep was greeted by Local law’s lullaby Of unjustified colors yet serene. Knowing that I was clean, This false comfort was home to me. My heart remains silent And accept the violent Acts of circumstance Remain in a lustful trance With events that some who call trauma… Reality TV has predetermine drama While my life is film in karma Yet I don’t feel balanced. Jersey City Made me. Resiliency Was from DC To JC Who will be a strong woman in her own right Some day. At the age of 8, that night When I was at an emotional low, Her suggests encourage my courage to grow… Moving closer to my happiness Was all that matters regardless Never visiting Cincy Outside of Who Dey on TV. Is unforgiving In this salary based economy… Words of encouragement Reminds me of the detriment Of what I have not achieved. I did believed However, Forever Entangled in compelling Arguments agree on telling My confidence Is nonsense… At the same time, I find Empty promises saying How she loves me While No child Here for the huggie… So my self esteem Has been impounded My motivation is grounded And anyone can drive me… CRAZY!!!!! Where is sanctuary For the broken, bruised and wary? Where I could take time? Make time For desires that I use to have… Depthstroke the Cypher Contributing Writer Is it helpful to have a loving pet to get you through these stressful times? May be I expect Too much Wanted people to treat me Like I treat them yet all I see Are reasons... Reasons to snap Reasons to take a forever nap Because bills, you can’t take them with you. If I apply For SSI I should qualify however These barriers are not forever. Poll Dog The cash assistance Offers limited existence And the quality of living Poll Question By Bill Woods THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 106 Across 1. Under-water breathing device 6. Domesticated animal companion 9. Unexpected slide 13. Ravine 14. In the past 15. Blank area 16. Relating to birds 17. Swindle 18. Claw 19. Pull back 21. Item of clothing 23. Father 24. Name of the plantation in Gone with the Wind 25. Astern 28. Molten volcanic rock 30. Homopterous insect 35. Snare 37. Saucy 39. Bulbous herb with single showy flower 40. A slow pace of running 41. Religious doctrine 43. Cleansing agent 44. Herbaceous plant with aromatic seeds 46. Annoy 47. Basic knitting stitch 48. Potent 50. Spline 52. Staining substance 53. Strong sweeping cut 55. Weep 57. Flower merchant 61. Legislator 65. Woven fabric 66. Simian 68. Gauntlet 69. Entertain 70. Pitch 71. Common 72. Persistently annoying person 73. Female sheep 74. Ahead of time PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #105 Down 1. Evidence of previous injury 2. Grotto 3. A single undivided whole 4. Supervisory committee 5. Toughen steel or glass by gradually heating and cooling 6. Treaty 7. Self 8. Polynesian country 9. Junk e-mail 10. Coarse curly-leafed cabbage 11. Symbol 12. Depression in a surface 15. Narrow sea channel 20. Adjust or conform 22. Part of a circle 24. Sully 25. Book of maps 26. Anterior 27. Perissodactyl mammal 29. Swerve 31. Point formed by two intersecting arcs 32. With relatively high volume 33. Personal journal 34. Fruit, malus pumila 36. Currency of Cuba 38. Relate 42. Taunt 45. Motor 49. Fuel 51. Part of a shoe below the laces 54. Condition 56. Lightweight wood 57. Excited state of agitation 58. Acidic fruit 59. Burden 60. Remainder 61. Scorch 62. Enlistment term 63. Elliptical 64. Depend 67. Foot of an animal Nov 2 o v 19, 18 | N o . 393 May 30- -NJune 13,2 02019 | No. 408 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 397 - EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 396- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 213, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18408 May 303-|June 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 230 - N o v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 May - June 13, | No. 408 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May 30-June 13, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: KKK Rally in Dayton Pg 3: Homeless People Aren’t Just Sitting Around Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Stress on the Streets Pg 6: Chernobyl Pg 7: How the World’s Largest Democracy Casts its Ballots Pg 8: Invisible Disabilities Pg 9: Invisible Disabilities Continued Pg 10: Us is Already Fighting a Conflict with Iran Pg 11: Public Shaming, Private Grief 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 May 30-June 13, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Johannes Lehard Aliza Saunders German Orizaola Josiane Kougheu Dr. Mark Mussman Simon Bland David Cortright Depthstroke the Cypher June Alexander Canva.com INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aliza Saunders Bill Woods Canva.com Chernobyl David Cortright Democracy Depthstroke the Cypher Disabilities Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez German Orizaola INSP.com Iran Johannes Lehard Josiane Kougheu June Alexander KKK mental illness Simon Bland Voting https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/9e1f5834b926ea03cb6c92bd87df1f40.pdf 7cf99bcea78890dfd754cac41bd20364 PDF Text Text M ay 4th - M ay 17th 2018 | Vol. 21 Issue 10 (No. 381) advocating justice | building community Exclusive Interview With Dennis Kucinich | 9 This Issue is sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral INSIDE THIS ISSUE The FCC Stadium Deal | 5 Police State Terror | 3 Religious Peacemakers: Deb Simons-Reeves | 8 I Walked into North Korea and Lived to Tell About It | 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: Paranoia M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 JOSH SPRING What would you say to someone you know who owns their home, has regular income and can spend a limited amount of that income however they see fit and decides to spend 66 percent of these limited funds on a security system, guards, weapons, cameras, smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinklers, which leaves 34 percent for all other expenses? Would you ask them if they were okay? Would you encourage them to seek mental health counseling? Would you be concerned that they might be experiencing paranoia? Would you offer the idea that if they invested more of these funds in basic necessities like their health, housing costs, food and basic repairs, they may feel healthier and their mental health might improve? What if when you said this, they told you they know all of those other things are important, but they just don’t have enough money to pay for all of it and that. In fact, they didn’t have enough money to continue paying for what they were currently paying for? Would you remind them that it was within their power to change how they budget? What if they told you they actually were going to invest some funds into adding a luxury addition to their house because they believe it will generate a better living space, more happiness, show progress and create some new options for them to bring in more income? Would you tell them they should instead focus on the basics by changing how they budget? Would you mention prioritizing needs? I don’t know exactly what you would say or do in this situation, but my Executive Director guess is that you would be concerned for this person and that you would not simply tell them their plan sounds good. I assume you would try to assist them in rethinking their situation. Well, guess what, this is where our city is. This is the everyday lifestyle of our city-government. Of the city’s operating budget, $395,778,798 constituted the unrestricted General Fund in fiscal year 2018. We budgeted to spend 37.82 percent of this on police and 28.15 percent on fire. We budgeted 34.03 percent for everything else like health, public services, planning, economic inclusion, community and economic development and fifteen other categories. Less than one percent was allocated to the Human Services Fund. Even if you consider all operating funds, which includes the funds that are restricted to a specific use because of their source; we budgeted 33.43% for sewers, water and storm water, 24.69 percent for police and fire and 11.71 percent for the collection and administration of income and left 30.17 percent for everything else (less that 0.38 percent for the Human Services Fund). If this were not problematic enough, the city is predicting at least a $30 million deficit next year and has decided to invest more than $30 million in a soccer stadium and to not require the payment of property taxes on this stadium. All while within city limits we have a shortage of 28,000 affordable homes and homelessness is the worst it has ever been. Living on one side of a street versus the Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition other can give or take 20 years from your life expectancy. In the case of your friend spending the same way the city does, you would express how problematic their decisions were and would hopefully push to work with them on making needed changes in order to have a healthier life. You wouldn’t tell them they should not have smoke detectors and a good plan for emergency response, but you would tell them the way they were prioritizing their life was not healthy. Please take the time to tell the city the same thing. However, in the case of the city, their lopsided budgeting affects the lives of more than 300,000 people and most detrimentally affects the lives of the many people in our city who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. In fact, these decisions are lessening not only the health of many people in Cincinnati but are literally decreasing the lifespan of tens of thousands of people. T BILL WOODS Contributing Writer 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: Assessing Issue I - It's a Major Reform of Congressional Redistricting In Ohio his edition of Streetvibes hits the streets four days before the May 8th Primary Election, and this article provides a last-minute review of Issue I, the proposal on the ballot to reform Congressional redistricting in Ohio. Issue I has recently been criticized for not going far enough as a reform, and this assessment is a response to these critics. Although the proposed Ohio Constitutional Amendment is complex and not without flaws, it still constitutes a huge improvement of the current process for creating Congressional districts. So much so, that the major groups that comprise the Fair Districts/ Fair Elections Coalition are vigorously campaigning 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. (Continued on page 3) Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Dr. Mark Mussman, Michael earl Patton, Trent Davis, Jim Luken, Saad Ghosn, Justin Jeffre, Steve Sunderland, Jason Haap, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, James Brown ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Dr. Mark Mussman, Michael Earl Patton, Saad Ghosn, David Little --------------------------------------------------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 Police State Terror No. 38 1 | M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 DR. MARK MUSSMAN F or most of my life, the only nightmares I had were dreams where the police showed up. I would struggle to wake myself up whenever they arrived on the scene. Waking up in a pool of sweat, I would find myself thanking my body for allowing myself to wake up from the nightmare. As a white person in America, it was just a dream — but for people of color it’s a daily reality. All of us feel a rush, a mix of fear, excitement, and shame, when the red, blue, and white lights appear on the interstate behind us. “Am I speeding? Did I change lanes illegally? Please don’t pull up behind me.” When the cruiser passes us by, we release of sigh of relief, wipe the sweat off our brows with clammy Staff Writer America today. It all makes sense when you consider the history of policing. Sheriff patrols evolved from chattel slavery when people were considered property, and bounties were placed, not just on the heads of specific people, but upon an entire race of people — Black people. Even the 13th Amendment, which outlawed most slavery, allows for people who are imprisoned to be used as slaves who create products that you and I purchase every day. Ultimately, this system of inequality is built on a foundation of capitalism, and the police are the executors of property protection. If the function of the police it to protect property, then what form tucked into alleyways or doing rounds around the block, bicycle police stopping on abandoned police creates a paper trail that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. When people of color are pulled over, even as passengers in a car, they are treated as criminals, and this may be recorded as an arrest, even though they aren’t charged with Police Cruisers slightly off of Vine Street Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman does it take? Recently, I have noticed an increase of patrols, arrests, and harassment in the northern part of Over-the-Rhine. Cruisers lots, arresting people. Less than a mile away, in the West End, police are passing out flyers saying that the area is dangerous, and people may face federal charges if they are caught in the area. This partnership with the ATF has been going on for years, and the Cincinnati Police have claimed that this is not part of the FC Cincinnati stadium being forced on the neighborhood. I disagree — it’s all connected as the process of gentrification takes many forms, and certainly the presence of the police is part of the removal of low-income people of color from the neighborhood. Police harassment is part of the strategy. The fact remains that the police do not help people rise out of poverty, but in fact create poverty. When students are harassed by the police in Clifton, the contact with the compactness of future Congressional Districts. Probably the most important sentence in this section of the proposed Amendment reads: "Every congressional district shall be compact." Then follows a series of criteria that define what is meant by compact. For instance, it stipulates that if a city has a population greater than the number of people designated for a Congressional District, then the map makers must attempt to include "a significant portion of the municipality in one district. This section concludes with a guideline that sixty-five of Ohio's eighty-eight counties must be contained in single districts, while eighteen counties can be split "not more than once." Five counties can be split twice. The most complex portion of the proposed Amendment deals with the consequences of the General Assembly failing to adopt new Congressional District maps within the designated time frame and with the required number of votes from the two major parties. If such a failure occurs, the proposal includes several alternative procedures for drawing and approving new districts. Under the first alternative plan, the Ohio Redistricting Commission assumes the role of drawing the maps. Comprised of the Governor, the Secretary of State, the Auditor of State, and four members appointed by the House Speaker, the minority party House leader, the minority party Senate leader, and the President of the Senate, the Commission also creates the new districts for the General Assembly. At least two Commission members who represent the minority party must vote for the final Congressional District maps before they are officially adopted. If the Commission process fails, then the third plan again involves the Ohio House and Senate drawing the maps. This time, only one-third of the members of both major parties are needed to adopt the new districts. However, if only a simple majority in Police Officer Searches SUV at a Vine Street Intersection Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman hands. Now imagine if those feelings were constant no matter where you are and what you are doing — this is the experience for Black people in BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) for it. What is the essential content of Issue I? The most important fact is that the majority party in the General Assembly would no longer control the process of drawing and approving new Congressional district lines every ten years. In fact, the adoption of the final district maps requires the approval of half the members of both major parties in both the House and the Senate. Three fifths of the members of each body must also approve these maps. The proposed Amendment also assures public input in the process. It invites citizens to draft and submit their own Congressional District maps for consideration. It also calls for at least two public hearings before the new districts are approved by the Ohio General Assembly. Issue I includes language concerning the geographic size and THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED anything. For people of color, simple contact with the police may show up on background checks, preventing access to work or housing. This is a separate world for white people, who don’t have to worry about any of this at all because things get recorded differently and white people have the opportunity to defend themselves against accusations. Recently, I was involved in a “routine traffic stop” after the CPD were scanning license plates on Main Street. If you want to hear the whole story, consider booking a walking tour with the Homeless Coalition, but I will just summarize one thing that I learned from it. I felt that the police treated the driver, who is Black, unfairly, so I filed a complaint (Continued on page 12) both Houses vote for the plan, then a series of criteria come into play such as further defining "compactness." The most important criterion says: "The general assembly shall not pass a plan that unduly favors or disfavors a political party or its incumbents." Furthermore, the districts adopted by this mere majority vote of the General Assembly are in place for only two Congressional elections. After two elections, the whole process of drawing district maps would begin again. The biggest flaw in the proposed Amendment is its failure to establish a non-partisan commission to draw the new district maps. Although I agree with the critics about this flaw, I still maintain that the proposal includes sufficient criteria to keep the members of the General Assembly from producing the kind of unfair, partisan, and non-compact districts that exist today. (Continued on page 12) �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 �LOCAL The FC Cincinnati Stadium Deal No. 38 1 | M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 O MICHAEL EARL PATTON ver the past several months we have been treated to what often looked like a staged spectacle as to where the new soccer stadium should be built – Oakley, West End, or even Newport. The question of where the stadium would be built obscured the question as to whether taxpayers should support the stadium at all. We were all assured that only private money would be used to construct the stadium and taxpayer dollars would be used only for some infrastructure, such as roads, utilities, and parking. That money would be (relatively) minimal. For the stadium in the West End we were told the amount would be a little T 5 Contributing Writer under $35 million. The ordinance hurriedly passed by city council even gives the estimate more precisely as $34,896,800, which is an amazingly precise number for something that supposedly was just recently decided upon. It is interesting that there are no details in the ordinance, 76-2018, on how exactly that money would be spent. I want to examine this deal in share of the tax burden. Services such as fire, police, road maintenance, senior services, the public library, and staffing city hall cost money which has to come from somewhere. The deal states that those of us who have not been granted such favorable tax treatment will continue to pay, but not FC Cincinnati. I do not see any language that says that FC Cincinnati more detail than what has been said in other media so far. First, let’s look at the property tax break. Every time city hall favors a project with a tax break they say it does not cost us anything, but it does. The tax break means that FC Cincinnati will not be carrying its fair will reimburse the city for any and all police, fire, and emergency medical runs, so there will be costs for the rest of us. As for the Cincinnati earnings tax, Ordinance 76-2018 states that the city will provide a tax credit equal to half of the earnings taxes withheld FCC: The Fight Has Just Begun oday, hours after his impeachment hearing was announced, I met with the embattled West End Community Council President, Keith Blake, at his home by the highway. I was interested in his narrative of events; I knew where I stood. Mr. Blake explained that, to his eye, there were two different groups that were fighting for what they believed was best for the West End. One side wanted the stadium; they saw opportunity, a chance at new economic possibility for residents, and they wondered why they needed to wait after living through hard times. The other side wanted a better deal. They worried deeply about the history of gentrification in our City and felt that we weren’t securing a good enough deal to protect the interests of residents. Beneath these conflicts, I found a struggle to communicate. I could have rebutted against some of his claims; we imagine different potential futures. Talking, would have been easy; everyone has an opinion. However, my struggle was to listen. This struggle is a metaphor for what happens in all our embattled neighborhoods. We are all tied to our own interests, passions, and efforts. More than anything, I wanted to express that once the stadium came, TRENT DAVIS Contributing Writer prices would rise, rent could go up, and the culture of the historically black West End would be inevitably changed forever. My fellow advocates justifiably want to decry the process; the vote of a community council was effectively ignored for the profit of some interest groups. However, we all end up as disparate voices, isolated, believing that we know the true wishes of the community. When I was seven, I had a single poster hanging in my room (I’m not great at decorating). It was a black and white portrait of Dr. King as he looked out on the endless crowd surrounding the reflecting pool. I was probably the only second grader that knew Dr. King’s I Have A Dream speech by heart and was never assigned to learn it in school. One line seems especially potent to how we proceed in this continuing fight; for the betterment of all our neighborhoods: “…the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land.” The roots of our neighborhoods have started to erode through the ebb and flow of time. How can we expect residents to feel they have the power to be a partner in development if they don’t own the home they live in? Effectively, when traditional development rolls into neighborhoods, residents can find themselves as exiles in their own land. Then, in response to this increase in isolation, the human response becomes to protect one’s own interests. I’d like to suggest that in the case of Mr. Blake, he probably feels as though he is becoming an exile in his own neighborhood; ostracized for a deal that he felt is in the wishes of the part of the community he sees. As Peter Block stated so eloquently a few weeks ago, ‘perhaps, we contribute to the power of the “powers at be”’. By creating exiles in our neighborhoods; we become exiles ourselves. I recently heard the rallying cry that “The fight is not over yet”. This is true. The stadium is not built, and the deal is not done. However, when this political fray settles, will our energy dissipate? Will we back down and wait to raise our voices again until the bulldozer is at the door? We don’t have to wait; there is a way forward. This is a “both, and” scenario. We can encourage building both personal and collective power. What innovative ways can developers engage residents to bridge the ownership gap? There is alternative funding for investment in place-based economics and THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED from the employees. Parking in the West End will certainly be an issue, as I wrote about in an earlier article. The preliminary Memorandum of Understanding requires that FC Cincinnati will work with “community stakeholders” in the West End to address issues such as light and noise pollution, litter, traffic, and safety. For stakeholders in Over-the-Rhine the issues are light and noise pollution, litter, traffic, PARKING and safety [emphasis mine]. The implication is that parking is going to be so bad in the West End that FC Cincinnati does not want to bring up the subject. The ordinance says that Hamilton County (Continued on page 11) resident-driven initiatives. Can we build partnerships among those stakeholders to create more individual power in our neighborhoods? How do we grow resident enterprise and ownership in our neighborhoods? Can we create a future for our city that is owned by people that live here? As well, there are community councils, collectives, churches, health clinics, social services agencies, and more that care for the well-being of our neighborhoods. The task is to connect these groups relationally within and across neighborhoods. That way, when the time comes, we can speak with a common, powerful voice. Ifyou’dliketojoininaconversation about creating resident owned land and businesses, go out and engage with companies and cooperatives like MORTAR Cincinnati or FII- the Family Independence Initiative. We must support the efforts we already have. And if you’d like to join in strengthening our relational structures in this city and create a common voice, reach out to this email: commonvoice2028@gmail.com. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but it can only be accomplished together. Finally, I would like to admonish everyone to listen to the media, headlines, and each other with a little more empathy. We may disagree on the deal at hand, but divided we are falling. --------------------------------------- �6 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 �WORLD I Walked into North Korea and Lived to Tell About It No. 38 1 | M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 “All we are saying is give peace a chance” -John Lennon W ell, it wasn't like I crawled through a barbed-wire fence in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) under a hail of communist bullets. No, I walked into that forbidden place, in much the same way as South Korean President Moon Ji-an did on Friday, April 27. It was the first time for both of us. His crossing the line was historic. Mine was a bit surreal. We seem to have crossed at the same place, outside a small third floor conference room that straddles the 38th parallel (latitude) DMZ, which has divided the two Koreas since 1953, when the cease-fire was signed, ending three years of horrendous bloodshed on the peninsula. Centered atop the third floor lies a conference room containing a large table. That room (and table) also straddle a dividing line, which, when I was there, had been physically painted onto the floor outside and inside the room. Every day soldiers from North and South Korea patrol either side of the painted line, glaring toward one another, at little more than arm’s length distance. It’s as if that war might resume at any minute, as indeed it could…and might. The situation has been described as “eerie,” ominous, an ongoing symbol of the Cold War, between the US and Russia. Although today, I understand the DMZ has become a popular tourist destination, with souvenirs and its own train running north out of Seoul, the (South) country’s capital. The situation would be funny if it weren't so maddeningly serious, if didn't involve nuclear weapons poised on either side of that painted line. Over the years, diplomats from both sides have sat at the negotiating table at various times, attempting to bring closure to the tensions and belligerence that have beset Korea and its people for the past 65 years. Both sides claim a desire for reunification, but the stalemate has held. The 2½ mile-wide DMZ has been called the JIM LUKEN Contributing Writer most dangerous border in the world, preventing the “communists” from escaping the horrible conditions of the north, and preventing family members (thousands of them) from having any contact for more than three generations. Korea serves as a poster-child for the insanity that pervades geopolitics and warposturing. My story. It is brief. I spent 17 days in Seoul in June of 1995 as a freelance journalist for the Peace and Justice Office of the international Franciscan Order (OFM). Korean Franciscans hosted about sixty peace and justice ministers (priests and brothers) from countries all over the world. I reported on some of the issues that were discussed at this meeting, inspirited as it was by the life of Francis of Assisi, the saint of peace. The highlight of my time there had to have been our visit to Panmunjom, what remains of the small town on the 38th parallel where many new buildings, such as Peace House and Freedom House have been built. Along with my Franciscan friends, from as far away as Bosnia, Pakistan, Vietnam and Morocco, I had the thrill—the privilege—of stepping over that line outside that conference room, just as President Moon famously did when he met and embraced his counterpart from the North, Imperial Leader Kim Jung-un. This historic meeting raised huge hopes of reunification, and an end to the ongoing North-South animosities that still carry with them the possibility of nuclear war. A bit of history The peninsula we call Korea (called Hanguk by in the south, and Choson in the north) has existed, dynasty after dynasty for more than 2000 years. In 1910, Imperial Japan annexed its much weaker neighbor, subjugating that country until Japan's defeat in 1945 at the end of WWII. The “victors” of that stalemate, Russia and the US, decided that Korea should be split down the middle between the communists to the North, and the “republicans” to the south. The division was arbitrary and unwise. These were all one people, the vast majority of whom had few ideological convictions. But the line had been drawn, and, in June of 1950, the North, supported by the Soviets and the Chinese, chose to cross it, sending its armies into the South, which had partnered with the US (then as now, almost panicking at the thought of Soviet expansion). The war raged for 3 years. With its Superior firepower, the US destroyed virtually every large town in the north. 3 million Koreans died, along with 33,000 Americans. But, as with Vietnam (55,000 US deaths) in the 1960s victory eluded the world’s greatest superpower. In essence, we lost. And we failed to learn from our mistake. A truce was declared at Panmunjom in 1953. That truce has held, tenuously. That was then, Now is now. A few months ago, after North Korea had conducted a series of impressive missile tests, our bellicose President, was taunting the North Korean “Imperial Leader,” Kim Jongun as a “madman.” Kim famously returned the favor, labeling Trump a “dotard,” someone whose age has impaired his intellect. Now our President embraces “Rocket Man” as “honorable.” The two are scheduled to meet sometime in May. Everyone hopes things will go well and that re-unification of the two Koreas will finally happen. It has been suggested by conservative pundits that Trump could receive the Nobel Peace Prize if things go well. If things go well? Of course they will, our president brags. What could possibly go wrong? The world knows for certain that one of these two leaders is genuinely a narcissistic madman. The other THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 7 one may be as well. Our “deal maker” asserts unequivocally that he will settle for nothing less than “complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.” Newly installed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo avows, “Make no mistake… there will be no concessions made.” This would seem to leave the former “Rocket Man” little negotiating room. He has seen his nukes as his only negotiating card. Will there be a breakthrough? A friend from New Jersey says his partner, a native of South Korea, is hanging on every positive sign that comes out of her home country, and so are her family and friends. No doubt, all of us would love nothing more than to sing along with John Lennon and “give peace a chance.” I was nine years old when the Korean War ended, and when the Cold War went into full swing. I had practiced curling up under my runner-desk at St. Al’s grade school in Saylor Park, preparing for a possible nuclear attack. The so-called “Doomsday Clock” still ticks its way toward midnight (at this writing, it is 2 minutes till!). The world doesn’t seem structured toward creating lasting peace. War is just too damn profitable. Jesus is reported to have said “there will be wars and rumors of war, such things must happen.” He seems to have had a godly insight. As I watched it play out on the “M.A.S.H,” the famous sitcom of the 70s, the Korean War seemed to be an odd, sometimes poignant comedy (with Klinger dressing in drag in the hope that his superiors will consider him crazy enough to remove him from the Korean “theater” of war. Gallows humor. Maybe we should let M.A.S.H. have the last word. Here is a verse from the show’s famous theme song. “The only way to win is cheat/ and lay it down before I'm beat/ and to another give my seat/ for that's the only painless feat. “/Suicide is painless/ It brings on many changes/ and I can take or leave it if I please.” Suggestion: Keep your fingers crossed. �RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Connecting with the Spiritual, Deb Simons-Reeves, a Christian Scientist & Practitioner, Extends her Help and Prayers to Others to Manifest the Presence of God 8 "I M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 SAAD GHOSN was born an activist with a natural inclination at helping people," says Deb Simons-Reeves. "Already as a child I wanted badly to help my father who was an alcoholic." Simons-Reeves grew up in Saugatuck, a small resort town on Lake Michigan, and from a very young age attended, with her mother, the local Episcopal church. At age 14 she discovered the stories and the teachings of the Bible through an illustrated cartoon-style book, and inspired by it, taught regularly Sunday school. She graduated at age 16 from high school and attended Ringling College of Art and Design, in Sarasota, FL, to study arts. A year later, however, she eloped, interrupted her college education, and became, like her husband, a river boat pilot, maneuvering an excursion boat on the Kalamazoo river. Thanks to her husband, a Christian Scientist, Simons-Reeves became interested in the Christian Science faith. Her interest deepened significantly when at age 19 and pregnant with her 1st child, she became very sick and believes she was healed by Christian Science prayer. She has been a staunch Christian Scientist follower ever since. Wanting always to help others, Simons-Reeves served for 9 years on the school board of her town, aiming Contributing Writer at improving its school system. In doing so she involved mothers in the community and insured the schools were running well and the best teachers were hired. She also served on the chamber of commerce helping develop the businesses of the town. Relocating later with her family to Murray, Western Kentucky, she volunteered in the Kentucky State penitentiary, providing Bible studies and counseling to the inmates. Working in the prisons prompted her to pursue her education and she joined Murray State university, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in both criminal justice and social work. She was then 41 years old. As a social worker, SimonsReeves worked for Brighton Center, in Northern KY. "I ran a government-funded program, helping high school drop outs find jobs, also reintegrate school whenever possible," she says. Simons-Reeves also always cared for and empowered kids. She has been a longtime cub scouts and girl scouts leader, guiding the youngsters and taking them regularly on camping trips. Now older and having difficulty facing the harshness and inconvenience of outdoor camping, she sets up, during the entire summer, a tent in her own backyard, inviting kids form the neighborhood, also their friends, to spend time there. What is CHRISTIAN SCIENCE Christian Science is a set of beliefs and practices developed in 19th-century New England by Mary Baker Eddy, who argued in her book Science and Health (1875) the need to return to "primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing;" that a permanent relationship with God results in physical, mental, and emotional healing; and that sickness is an illusion that can be corrected by prayer alone. The book, claimed to be divinely inspired, became Christian Science's central text, along with the Bible. The Church of Christ, Scientist, was founded in 1879 and in 1894 the Mother Church was built in Boston, Massachusetts. Even though a Protestant Christian religion, Christian Science theology holds key differences with other branches of Christianity. Its adherents believe that reality is purely spiritual and the material world an illusion; that humans are "incapable of sin, sickness and death" and that disease is a mental error rather than physical disorder; and that the sick should be treated not by medicine, but by a form of prayer that seeks to correct the beliefs responsible for the illusion of ill health. Eddy taught that the healing Christian Scientists do is in line with what Jesus taught his disciples to do. Christian Scientists refer to God as "Father-Mother." They believe that Christ's call is for all Christians, across denominational borders, to unite together to profess his message. The church is known for its newspaper, the Christian Science Monitor, which won seven Pulitzer Prizes, and for its public Reading Rooms around the world. Membership in the Christian Science Church has been steadily declining over the past 45 years. There are currently approximately 800 Churches of Christ, Scientist in the U.S. and approximately 85,000 members worldwide. She also has been regularly teaching swimming to children, initially in Saugatuck and Murray and now at the YMCA in Norwood where she currently lives. "I have a large van," she says. "I use it on a regular basis to pick up kids of various ethnic backgrounds and from various neighborhoods, taking them to Sunday school at my church, to the YMCA for swimming, to rollerskating, or simply to my backyard to Deb Simons-Reeves camp and do bonfires." For many years she also set up, with other members of her church, an after-school program at the Pendleton Arts Center, downtown Cincinnati. The program was open free, 3 afternoons a week, to any kids from the neighborhood who wanted to study, do arts, or get involved in other recreational activities. In addition to her community, Simons-Reeves remained all along very involved in her Christian Science church. On many occasions she represented it on church councils, meeting with ministers and other representatives, discussing what could be done to improve matters in the community. She has been working in the Christian Science Reading room now for 20 years, initially as a volunteer, and since last year as a head librarian. Interested in becoming a Christian Science practitioner in order to help people heal by prayer, she attended school for that purpose and obtained a certificate that allowed her to practice. "I wanted to ease people's suffering and pain, to help them heal, and I believed in the efficacy of the Bible," says Simons-Reeves. "Most people do not pray or trust in prayer, but I had seen wonderful things happen through Christian Science practice." "I wanted to help others deal positively with their fears, gain confidence, and understand the power of the Bible," she adds. When asked about her practice in relation to modern medicine, SimonsReeves is quick to answer: "It is not either or; they can complement each other." And she clarifies the essence of Christian Science practice stating: Credit: Saad Ghosn "It is not faith healing alone. It is based on connecting with the spirituality of human beings who are created in the image of God. A Christian Science practitioner heals by understanding that spiritual reality which is in fact the real person." Simons-Reeves stresses the importance of establishing a relationship with God thanks to which many wonderful things can happen. She mentions Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the Lord's prayer, and the psalms 23 (The Lord is my shepherd...) and 91 (The Lord is my refuge and my fortress...) on which Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, based her religion. "I try to live according to the Sermon on the Mount which teaches us how to behave as human beings, how to show compassion and love, how to lift up our fellow men, she says. "It is a daily discipline not always easy to follow; the human ego is a devil..." Now in her eighties, SimonsReeves would like to continue to grow, always trying to be a better person, learning by helping others. "When I was doing social work we (Continued on page 11) 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 �STATE Exclusive interview with Dennis Kucinich No. 38 1 | M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 J ust over a month ago County Commissioner Todd Portune endorsed Gubernatorial candidate and former Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich was in town campaigning last week and I was able to catch up with him for an interview. Streetvibes: I met you briefly at a media reform conference in 2008. What made you decide to attend? Kucinich: The paradox of media today is that the democratization of media is occurring as media ownership concentrates in fewer hands. There is a myth of control in media dominance. Each person is today a medium, empowered to reach to the world, with print, audio and visual content which can impact public consciousness and opinion anywhere. The conference represented advanced thinking on the evolutionary potential of media in today’s society and the quickening pulse of a public eager for information. Streetvibes: You ran for President in 2004 and 2008 on a very progressive platform, but didn't seem to get much traction in the Democratic Party primaries? Bernie Sanders ran on a very similar platform in 2016 and nearly beat the establishment candidate. What did you make of that, how has the political landscape changed and why? Kucinich: Each one of us stands on the shoulders of giants. When we journey through public life we may 9 JUSTIN JEFFRE Streetvibes Editor walk in a valley one day and arrive at a pinnacle the next. What matters is the journey, the integrity, the courage to express truth in the moment no matter where it leads us. Streetvibes: Currently Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati are facing very large budget deficits. Many are saying that the deficits largely match the amount that the state of Ohio used to invest in local governments, but under Governor Kasich this funding has all but gone away. How would you as Governor help local governments at the state level? Kucinich: I intend to restore funding for local government so that first response and other services provided by local governments can be fully funded. As a former councilman and mayor, I understand full well the urgency of the state returning to municipalities tax dollars which in fact originate at a local level. Streetvibes: The transportation system in Hamilton County lags behind counties that are of similar size. The state of Ohio under Kasich doesn't spend nearly as much as many other states in the Midwest and around the country. What would you do to change that? Kucinich: I have long been an advocate of public transportation, which is why the Transportation Workers Union is supporting my candidacy. I want to see fares reduced, and the frequency and distribution of service improved. This means the state must provide a subsidy for cities' mass transit systems. This is an economic and an environmental imperative. Streetvibes: Cincinnati had been awarded $50 million by the federal government for the second phase of our streetcar. Kasich sent the money back at the urging of a local anti-tax group. Do you support light rail and streetcars? If so why? If not, why not? Kucinich: Yes, I support light rail and streetcars! Cincinnati is one of America's great cities. I've travelled all fifty states, some dozens of times. I can tell you that Cincinnati would benefit greatly from light rail and streetcar service. It would be great for commerce, tourism, the environment and for enable people to reach their places of work, education, health care and worship much easier. I also favor an interurban high-speed rail. Cincinnati would be the key point of origin in the south of our state. I also favor rebuilding our infrastructure. I will fund replacement of the Western Hills Viaduct and work to find funding to rebuild the Brent Spence Bridge. I will pursue an inter-modal approach to transportation planning. Streetvibes: Streetvibes is published by the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. What would you as Governor do to create more affordable housing, jobs with living wages and to reduce poverty over all? Kucinich: As a child, the oldest of seven, I lived in 21 different places by the time I was 17, including a couple of cars. I understand the urgency of creating more affordable housing. I will lead the state in building new housing; a $15 an hour minimum wage; Medicare for All; universal pre-K, two-year free college and other transformational changes, to enable people to achieve their highest potential. Streetvibes: How would you change tax policies in the state of THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Ohio? Kucinich: I would systemically stop the acceleration of wealth upwards, which the current tax system perpetuates. Streetvibes: The state of Ohio spends a lot of money keeping people locked up. Many see this as a budget buster. How would you address this issue? Kucinich: I will use the power of commutation and power to empty the jails of non-violent first offenders, to put people on a path toward rehabilitation and reintegration into society, thereby saving the state tens of millions of dollars every year. Streetvibes: What sets you apart from your primary opponent Rob Cordray on the issues? Kucinich: He is for assault weapons. I want to ban such weapons. He is for fracking. I want to protect our water supply and end fracking. He is for the death penalty and I am not. He is opposed to marijuana legalization, I am for legalization. He is opposed to Medicare for All, I wrote the legislation in Congress and will fight for it in Ohio. Streetvibes: What makes you the better candidate to take on the Republican candidate in November? Kucinich: First of all, I'm a true blue Democrat who has the capacity to reach across the aisle. I can draw sharp distinctions on major issues which involve people's practical aspirations for jobs, health care, education and public safety. Streetvibes: I recently went to an anti-NRA protest where there were people calling for gun control. One of the speakers lost her granddaughter in the Parkland shooting. Although she acknowledged that Cordray doesn't have a good record on gun control she encouraged people to vote for him. You're seen as the underdog candidate. How do you think your chances are? Kucinich: I think my chances keep improving as people learn (Continued on page 12) �10 LOCAL M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 May 18 - June 9, 2018 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 �11 LOCAL Why Is Cancer Mortality So High For Minorities In Cincinnati? Part 7: Giving a Voice to the Impossible No. 38 1 | M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 STEVE SUNDERLAND 1. Introduction: We are speaking about the impossible: the life with cancer. We know that little is understood about the layers of pain and shock a person undergoes when told they have cancer. Even less is communicated about the realities of present and future existence by many health care providers. Too often the person stands in a space that is totally confusing, dangerous, and foreboding. We question why the healthcare system continues to maintain a situation of ignorance about what patients and their caregivers experience on a minute Contributing Writer by minute basis. While much of cancer care can be said to fall into a "grey area," a place where certainty is nonexistent, there are behaviors that provide support, caring, and compassionate partnership even in the unknown. We have started the only Navigation through Cancer program in Cincinnati by being unafraid of meeting with people and discussing the impossible world of detecting and living with cancer. We want to talk with people who have fears and questions. We want to accompany people on all of their steps into the unknown. We want people with cancer to know that they are in partnership, in the present and in the future, no matter what is found on an X-ray or a biopsy. What is most important is that we will listen, especially at those times when the impossible dominates the mind and heart. 2. A poem from the world of the impossible: This is a poem by my brother, an 80-year-old survivor with Stage 4 lung cancer. It is tough Remembering Mr. Pig Y ears ago, there was a barbecue joint near Findlay Market called Mr. Pig's. The eponymous owner had a reputation for his political acumen, and I remember talking with him in the mid-aughts about racism in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, he died a number of years ago. JASON HAAP Contributing Writer It was Mr. Pig who showed me a decades old Metropolitan Master Plan, which basically spelled out the intentional layout of our city's neighborhoods that would cause us to be one of the most racially segregated cities in the nation. He had theories about what would ultimately come to pass in OTR, too. He called the strategy "count 'em and move 'em." He told me that, after any census count, municipalities secure federal funding relative to poverty. He said the 2000 census documented poverty in OTR, and those federal dollars would be used to gentrify the area. He described MICHAEL EARL PATTON (Continued from page 5) has committed to building a 1000-car parking garage which will be available on game days; it does not state that 1000 spaces will be available in that garage for fans. And as a practical matter, does one expect the city to interrogate people wanting to use the garage if they are planning to go to the stadium and not, say, Music Hall or an event at Washington Park? The same goes for the 750-car space facility, either lot or garage, that the city commits to build. Parking will be wildly insufficient on game days. There will be noise and light pollution. The most will surely come from the new stadium which could be expanded to seat up to 30,000 fans – far more than the existing Stargel Stadium which can seat about 3,000. The noise and light will accordingly travel much farther. There is existing residential housing just across John Street from the stadium. Can the buyers get their money back if they don’t want to live across the street from a new stadium that is 10 times bigger? And what about those who will be living next to the new, relocated Stargel? That site, catty-cornered across Ezzard Charles and John, was SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) studied personality types. I am the helper type and have it in my genes. going to be more residential housing. Now all of a sudden it looks like there will be a high school stadium built there. Which would you prefer to be next to you? Why would you think the residents of the West End to be any different? Finally, a word about the funding. As mentioned earlier, the estimated cost of public improvements is $34,896,800, but how that estimate was arrived at is not stated. The ordinance proceeds to identify sources of funds, such as $7,383,000 from the sale of property at the old Blue Ash Airport, $1,000,000 from a capital improvement program account, and up to $8,000,000 in TIF bonds. This is much less than the estimated cost, but the preliminary memorandum attached to the ordinance also includes up to $1,500,000 per year for 30 years of the transient occupancy tax, that is, the hotel tax which is used to support the Convention Center. There are some differences between the ordinance and the attachment, making a precise sum impossible, but it looks like the city has committed at least $61 million to this project besides the earning tax credit. Further, the memorandum cautions that the Traffic Impact Study has not been I want to help everyone, humans, animals, you name it..." she states. During the winter months, for instance, Simons-Reeves is always concerned for the birds, making sure their feeders are full, and asking her relatives for bird seeds as Holiday gifts. She also takes care of several dogs and cats, domesticated and stray, in her own home. Living her life, Simons-Reeves is in tune with her spiritual being and THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED to read. Try and listen to what he is saying and think about what you might say in response. I reprint it with his permission: Prayers by Lew Sunderland My companion came today. I don’t like him, and I don’t know how to stop his visits. He’s always here, telling me I’m alive and to appreciate the moment. But, if the moment isn’t agreeable, I won’t be sure what to appreciate. My companion gives no guidance and (Continued on page 12) how, shortly after the census, the "white shirts" showed up in the neighborhood, causing general insecurity and making it easier for the political establishment to move in and force people out. He had other theories. When "they" were finished with OTR, he said, "their" next target would be the West End. All these years later, I can't help but think of Mr. Pig when people experiencing wealth start talking about things like a soccer stadium. done and the public improvements to be constructed may have to change once the study is done. I doubt if the estimated cost will go down. At least any disbursement of city funds is contingent upon council’s approval of a final Community Benefits Agreement. Whatever that turns out to be will be interesting. In sum, Cincinnati City Council hurriedly passed this ordinance in support of a major league soccer stadium in the West End and moving the current high school stadium, without knowing the impact to the neighborhood on traffic and parking, and how much it would cost to address those issues. Council does not even recognize parking will be an issue in the West End neighborhood where the stadium would be located, although they recognize it as an issue in Over-the-Rhine. Council does recognize that the neighborhoods have to have a say in this, but it is not clear who the representatives from the neighborhoods will be or how disagreements among the representatives will be settled. And, as I write this, Major League Soccer still has not committed to FC Cincinnati as an expansion team. Stay tuned. --------------------------------------with the presence of God in herself and in others. By her actions and her prayers she always try to extend that presence and make it manifest, wherever she is, and with whomever she deals. �12 STREET VOICE Life on Lifetimes I was born in 1970 November 13th My mama was 14 years old Her name was Senithia Brown My daddy’s name Ricky George They had me at a young age So I had to move with my grandma Her name was Frances Chapel Stayed with her for a couple of years Moved back in with my mom With my two little brothers I started selling Streetvibes March 7th, 2009 I came by one morning, 4, 5 o’clock in DR. MARK MUSSMAN (Continued from page 3) with the Citizen’s Complaint Authority whose official response was that the only description the police needed was “Black and Male.” Age, weight, height were not factors that needed to be considered. This system is built to suppress people of color at every turn, and the police are the major actors who have systematized harassing and, ultimately, killing, whether quickly or slowly, people of color. Finding ways to cope with police terror are imperative for people of color. Whether it be through learning self-defense, learning law, or tactics in dealing with the police (such as putting your wallet, registration, etc., on the dashboard so you don’t have to reach for anything), people of color are forced to create ways to physically and mentally protect BILL WOODS (Continued from page 3) In conclusion, I ask readers to remember the saying: "Perfection is the enemy of the good." Although Issue I is not perfect, it will eliminate JUSTIN JEFFRE (Continued from page 9) that I am with them. Streetvibes: Although you are the underdog candidate the Cordray campaign has been aggressively attacking you over a speech you gave about peace in Syria? Do you care to STEVE SUNDERLAND (Continued from page 11) often I wish to drive him away with drugs that will make me oblivious to his presence. However, if I do that, I lose “the now” and then, what do I have? What is the meaning of these visits? I wish it could be explained to me. Are these visits all I must look forward to? M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 JAMES BROWN Contributing Writer the morning My pitch is, “Good morning” Took me about a week Everybody was giving me dollars I would buy for a quarter, sell them for a dollar People would give me tips Doors open at 9 o’clock I get more papers For $5 I get 20 more papers The first year, I was number three in sales The second year, the paper went up to 50 cents, sold for $1.50 Third year we got to buy the paper for 75 cents and sell it for $2 If people want to add more to the donation, I tell them it’s for Streetvibes and let them read my badge. I always tell them, it’s a $2 donation but you can give more if you want. Selling Streetvibes is a privilege. You don’t have to be homeless or nothing. I don’t understand why people give up on life selling papers. I even call my cat Streetvibes. You get a full-time job, you sell Streetvibes, and it’s your gas money until you get a check. I’m a people person. I’m just livin’. I got no family. I have my good days and my bad days. I had a lot of people come in to sell Streetvibes and they quit the first week. I tell them not to quit. Sometimes I want to give up on life. We still dealing with 3CDC. They don’t care about nobody. P.S. A lady called the office and was looking for me. I ain’t wrote no article in about two or three years. My Kroger people look out for me. Some of them buy papers, some of them don’t. I still talk to people even if they don’t buy my papers. P.S. Love y’all. themselves — a terror white people can never understand. One outlet is through music, such as this older song, Underdogs, by The Coup: Whole family sleepin on a futon while you're clippin coupons Eatin salad tryin to get full off the croutons 'Crosstown, the situation is identical Somebody's getting strangled by the system and its tentacles Misconceptions raise questions to be solved Alot of b-boys are broke, alot of homeless got jobs You can make 8 bones an hour till you pass out and still be assed out Most pyramid schemes don't let you cash out They say this generation made the harmony break But crime rise consistent with the poverty rate You take the workers and jobs, you gon have murders and mobs A gang of preachers screamin sermons over murmurs and sobs Sayin "Pray for a change from the the ability of the majority party in the General Assembly to draw Congressional District maps that give it a lopsided majority of seats for a ten year period. Since extremely gerrymandered districts are the current reality in Ohio, the proposal would be a major step toward making elections fairer. Timing is the other critical factor that promotes endorsing Issue I rather than waiting for a more perfect reform. The Census will occur in 2020, and Congressional redistricting will take place one year later. Time is running out to pass a reform before the next redistricting process begins. Acknowledging the current flaws in our election system, do we really want to put off Congressional redistricting reform until 2030? For that reason alone, most good government groups and civic activists are endorsing Issue I. comment? Kucinich: Some Democrats vote for war. I do not. I have worked and voted for peace my entire life in public office. Streetvibes: Are there other issues you'd like to address? Kucinich: I am prepared to be Governor. If it is the will of the people, I am prepared to carry forth the aspirations of the people of Ohio, not only for safer neighborhoods, education for all, health care for all and jobs for all, but to redefine government as being a force for good in our society. Streetvibes: Anything else you'd like to add Kucinich: Yes. I would like the support of your readers and your followers on social media. Thanks so much! Am I only rearranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship? I am so lonely and afraid. SEE MY PAIN, SEE MY TEARS! 3. A poem reaching out to the world of the impossible: Standing By by Steve Sunderland I hear you, I hear the razor thin blade cutting deeply Into hope, into certainty, and into the known. I hear but do not understand your full pain. Who can? We walk on the icy edge together, holding onto some memories, Lifting up some emotions, resisting surrender, and Agreeing to continue in the fog for how long it takes. You are pushed by pain and I can listen and Touch the parts that can be touched. It's impossible to be here and yet I am Accompanying, friending, brothering, loving, And following your lead. We know that even Columbus had a map and Expected to fall off the edge. We have no map and expect to balance ourselves With only guesses, dreams, wishes, and prayers. Thanks for the navigation. 4. The promise: We agree to navigate in the world of the impossible. Until the time when compassion is as important as technology. Lord above you" They'd tear this motherf*****r up if they really loved you CPD Facebook Post Regarding West End Flyers Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED [Editor’s note: The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition does not endorse candidates. We will attempt to interview whichever candidates will appear on the November ballot. Thanks for reading Streetvibes!] �No. 38 1 | M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 13 STREET VOICE SON THE BOOK TOUR Son talk to me Mommy needs to know What you feel And what you see Son talk to me Mommy loves you With all her heart Seems like we have been drifting apart It’s a feeling, I feel in my heart I will never let anything keep us apart In the heart is where we need to start Like the good old days When learning and hoping were part of our start And we would talk Let’s start over son Because you are my heart Complete with a media allure KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer Is Jimmy Comey's book tour. His book is quite a vivid read. He says Trump is unfit to lead. He also says we better heed, Our Prez has no moral creed. In a rage Trump tweets to all, Comey is just a big "scumball." BILL WOODS Contributing Writer SPRING Spring has always been my favorite out all four seasons Spring has no snow and not too much heat, may that be the reason Spring with it so many misinterpretations and misunderstandings Spring to the light so we can see just what mankind is demanding Spring to the facts: Unemployment and homelessness on the rise, can these things be an illusion Spring into the reality: We as a people trying to control each other, now this is the confusion Spring into new horizons, now living with new politicians, new fights and new killings Spring into arrest which means nothing today for the facts state the state is doing the stealing Spring to the wakeup call so I sprung up one morning and realized my seasons had come Spring into the real understanding that the battles only God has won Spring is the understanding that like all things that come and go, spring is here Spring back to know that all men are created equal is that not what should be made so clear Spring to the knowledge that we as people have choices and can make positive decisions Spring into the word of God and believe with faith, with trust only then can we stop these collisions! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 150 Across Down 1. Chess piece 1. Persistently annoying 5. Sales talk person 10. Health resort 2. Showily imitative 13. Mistake 3. Enfold 15. Trap 4. Observe 16. Possesses 5. Song of praise 17. Condition 6. Tavern 18. Ire 7. Label 19. Residue of a fire 8. Place where children 20. Distinctive are taken in and cared for 22. Rough 9. Exceptional courage 24. Composure 10. Carnivorous fish 25. Domestic fowl 11. Out of fashion 26. Tranquil 12. Livid 29. Remainder 14. Abjure 30. Imitate 21. Attentive and 31. Group of people related by observant blood and marriage 23. Performer 34. Melodic theme 25. Top line of a wave 38. Small hard fruit 26. Waistband 40. Reliance 27. Fencing sword 42. Food grain 28. Spool 43. Serf (Middle Ages) 32. Feeling or showing 45. On the move extreme anger 47. Fish eggs 33. Public transport 48. Legal document 35. Wheel covering 50. Natural abilities or qualities 36. Visual 52. Inspiring admiration or representation wonder 37. Pedal extremities 55. Movable barrier 39. Wet thoroughly 56. Form a queue 41. Largest of the satellites 57. Live in of Saturn 61. Poem 44. Bother 62. Lightweight wood 46. Preferably 65. Elude 49. Make worse or less 66. Cloth border doubled back effective and stitched 51. Foliage 67. A long stay in bed in the 52. Hawaiian greeting morning 53. Broaden 68. Maverick 54. Foe 69. One, some, every or all 55. Colossus 70. Flare up 58. Infant 71. Marine mammal 59. Notion SODOKU PUZZLE NO 280 - MEDIUM 60. Narrate 63. Monetary unit 64. A small drink PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 380 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 149 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 279- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �RESOURCES No. 38 1 | M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 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 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 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 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 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 $100 241-2600 621-5514 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 M a y 4 - M a y 17 , 2 0 18 | N o . 38 1 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 May 4-May 17, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Assessing Issue I Pg 3: Police State Terror Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: The FC Cincinnati Stadium Deal FCC Pg 6: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 7: I Walked into North Korea and Lived to Tell About It Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Exclusive Interview with Dennis Kucinich Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Why is Cancer Mortality so High for Minorities in Cincinnati? Remembering Mr. Pig Pg 12: Life of Lifetimes 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 May 4-May 17, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Dr. Mark Mussman Michael earl Patton Trent Davis Jim Luken Saad Ghosn Justin Jeffre Steve Sunderland Jason Haap Kim Green Willa Denise Jones James Brown Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition David Little Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Woods Cancer Cincinnati David Little Dennis Kucinich Dr. Mark Mussman FC Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Issue I James Brown Jason Haap Jim Luken Josh Spring Justin Jeffre Kim Green Michael Earl Patton Minorities North Korea police brutality reform Saad Ghosn Steve Sunderland Trent Davis Willa Denise Jones