24 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/bfa8d4524bfe2c638ce1ad1d020c2001.pdf 253ae86dde84adbdf159b5b60e9a149e PDF Text Text October 20th - November 2nd 2017 | Vol. 20 Issue 48 (No. 367) advocating justice | building community Photo Essay: Blink | 8 This Issue is sponsored By (Former) Judge Mark Painter INSIDE THIS ISSUE Out of Sight, Out of Mind? | 3 Education and Determination: Solution To Homelessness| 5 Religious Peacemakers: Jaipal Singh | 7 The Consumer Economy and its Crushing Assumptions | 5 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 LOCAL From The Director: Federal Judge Grants Injuction Against Hud O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 JOSH SPRING Federal Judge Granted the Alms Residents' Association an Injunction Against HUD which stops HUD from working to close the 200unit building while the Residents' lawsuit is heard. T his is a big deal. For years HUD allowed the Alms Hill Apartments to fall in disrepair. Bad landlords took all they could get out of the property, with zero concern for the hundreds of people who live there. For years, especially the last nearly three years, Residents of the Alms have been working to significantly improve their homes. The Homeless Coalition, Legal Aid and the Alms Residents' Association have pursued legal remedy to bring the Alms into quality, sustainable housing to stop the threat of eventually loosing these 200 homes all together. As the Residents of the Alms were finally seeing significant improvement, HUD decided to enter the process of closing the building. The Residents' Association sued HUD. The first step in this case was to seek an injunction from the court. On Friday, October 6 Residents continued to show their united, steadfast position that they will not leave their homes by appearing in federal court as Legal Aid wonderfully argued their case. On Thursday, October 12, the Executive Director federal court granted the injunction to the Residents. This means that the court has decided that the Residents' case is of such strength and the probable harm to Residents if HUD continues to work to close the building is great enough that HUD must stop all work to close the building while the case is being heard. Furthermore, while HUD had the building under closure orders, vacant units could not be rented, resulting in approximately 70 vacant units. Because of this injunction, these units can now be rented. We are not near the end of this struggle. The work to save the 200 homes in the Alms and the 550 other homes in this full portfolio continues with urgency, but this is a big deal, most notably for Alms Residents who are working so hard to save their cherished homes. 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 ----------------------------------------------- WHILE OHIO REFORMERS COLLECT SIGNATURES THE SUPREME COURT PONDERS WHAT TO DO ABOUT EXTREME GERRYMANDERING IN WISCONSIN R eformers in Ohio are busy collecting signatures to put a state constitutional amendment proposal on the ballot to end the practice of gerrymandering Congressional districts. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court on October 3rd heard oral arguments in a case challenging the extreme gerrymandered districts in Wisconsin. A long overlooked practice that both political parties have used to their advantage over the years, gerrymandering has received greater attention since 2010 because 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. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer computers have greatly aided politicians in drawing district maps that insure safe majorities for their parties. The Republican Party has been particularly successful in using this technique. The Party made a selfconscious effort to win majorities in state legislatures across the country at the time of the last Census. Their success gave them control of the redistricting process in a large number of states, and the results were the creation of a slew of safe state and Congressional districts for the GOP. Wisconsin and Ohio are examples of this partisan handiwork. Ohio reformers have used the ballot initiative to end this practice. In Wisconsin, opponents of gerrymandering have challenged the practice in Court. After the 2012 election in Wisconsin gave Republicans sixty of ninety-nine seats in the Legislature with only 48.6 percent of the vote, activists began preparing their case that the district maps drawn in 2011 deprived too (Continued on page 6) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Dr. Mark Mussman, Jason Haap, Peter Block, Abbey Smith, Saad Ghosn, Bobby Morris, Dick Croy, Jordann Sadler, Willa Denise jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, Dr. Mark Mussman, Economics of Compassion Initiative, Cincinnati Country Day, Saad Ghosn, Dylan Speeg, Laura Domet --------------------------------------------------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. 36 7 A 3 LOCAL Out of Sight, Out of Mind? | O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 s I sit here listening to Melissa Mosby, one of the Coalition’s speakers, talk about how people live in their “puffy pink clouds” I am forced to think about how recent actions in Cincinnati are having an effect on people’s lives. Melissa says that people don’t want to believe that people are experiencing homelessness because it will mess up their version of reality. If they know there’s a problem, then maybe they will be forced to do something about it, is essentially what Melissa is getting at. Recent events in Cincinnati make it impossible to not agree with what she is saying. A couple of weeks ago, our city started destroying the benches that line 3rd Street downtown. On any given night throughout the year, many individuals use the area as a refuge: it’s well-lit, close to the Shelterhouse, near bathrooms at Smale Park, close to event spaces that are amenable to panhandling, and there is safety in numbers. In the past, the Homeless Coalition worked for years to get the city to take crimes against people experiencing homelessness more seriously – after years of advocacy, we became the 3rd city in the country to add hate crime legislation to protect people experiencing homelessness. Evidently, these protections aren’t enough. The City Manager claimed that the benches provided an area for people to do all sorts of lewd and dangerous things, but really the call DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer to remove the benches came from Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), Downtown Cincinnati Incorporated (DCI), and other business interests. It did not come from the police or homeless advocates. As we are seeing with the wholesale destruction of the low-income housing in Over-theRhine, corporate interests don’t include people in poverty, and those experiencing homelessness are seen as vermin who must be removed from sight. Removing us from sight does nothing but create an unsafe situation. Is it a coincidence that the very week when the benches began to be removed, a woman who was experiencing homelessness was beaten to death in an alleyway a few blocks from 3rd Street? Is it possible that this was an attack by someone who simply didn’t want to be burdened by someone else’s circumstance? It’s definitely possible. When we remove people experiencing homelessness from the public view we are putting them in harm’s way. I encounter people all the time who stereotype people experiencing homelessness as “dangerous,” “criminal,” “evil,” or “uneducated.” These stereotypes are far from the truth, as people living in poverty or homelessness are actually more likely to be victims of crime, rather than perpetrators. We can readily see this in the youth demographic. Could you guess how many hours will go by before a youth who is experiencing homelessness will be propositioned for sex? Children as young as 9 years old (and younger, actually), are participating in survival sex because they want to have a place to stay tonight. It’s within a matter of hours that they will be asked, or forced, into sex with adults. And of course, since Melissa Mosby Spoke to Xavier University Students Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman drugs are a part of street culture, they will be exposed to, and often forced, into doing drugs. All because they are in the shadows, hiding from their abusers (often this includes their family), they are exploited and abused by people in the streets. This We need more empathy for those we disagree with D o you have Hulu, the online streaming television service? If not, maybe wait a couple weeks and get the free one-week trial so you can see Sarah Silverman's new "latenight" television show, "I Love You, America!" It is a singularly unique show, with its fair share of the crude humor you might expect if you know Silverman's stand-up comedy - but, more importantly, it has an approach to political discourse that our culture desperately needs right now. Shock-factor alert: in her opening monologue, Silverman shows a fully nude man and woman sitting in the audience. We see a close up on the man's flaccid penis. But as she points out, this image feels so jarring because we don't typically see non-sexualized, clinical bodies on television. This idea serves as foreshadowing into the rest of her show, where she takes us into political discussions we are not used to seeing on television, either. For her first segment, she travels to Louisiana to have dinner with a family of Trump voters. The family had never met a Jewish person JASON HAAP Contributing Writer before. But more significantly, for the liberals in Silverman's viewing audience, they likely have never seen a humanized version of Trump voters before. Contemporarily, Trump voters are not even depicted as real people - but instead as cartoonish and buffoonish symbols of hatred hatred of gays, Muslims, any nonwhite people, Jews, and on and on and on. Did Silverman choose a highly educated and articulate family of Louisiana Trump voters? No. This is a comedy show by a liberal comedian, after all. But did she dismiss them insultingly? No. As much as a comedian can achieve depth in a short segment on a latenight show, what we get to see is a very human exploration between a group of people who, on the surface, have nothing in common. Why did this family vote for Trump? They wanted change, and he was the "change" candidate. In an interesting twist, we learn that most of this family supports gay marriage. is not a drill, this is happening today. Today in Cincinnati. The same can be said for adults who are experiencing homelessness that are swept into the shadows. The Cincinnati Police are currently conducting sweeps of underpasses, citing safety and state law. Every time a camp is destroyed and people’s belongings seized, we are putting those individuals at greater risk. They are not getting into the shelters because they are already full. Most people are turned away from the shelters in Cincinnati, not because (There goes that stereotype of all Trump voters being anti-gay bigots.) But why, some of my liberal friends might ask, would people who care about gay rights vote for an anti-gay rights party? That is a great question. Instead of assuming the worst, I think more of us should take Silverman's approach: we should ask them! We should talk to them and seek to understand them. This is the kind of empathy that I've been very interested in recently, though it's missing these days on the left, I fear. The last segment of the show featured an interview with Megan Phelps-Roper, granddaughter of Fred Phelps, founder of the deplorable Westboro Baptist Church (the people who picket soldiers' funerals with signs that say things like "God Hates Fags.") Phelps-Roper left the church five years ago, and has been completely shunned by her family and former community since. We learn from Phelps-Roper some insights on what it's like to be an extremist. As crazy as it sounds, that group, according to her, acts the way they do from a position of THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED the shelters close their doors, but because they are already over capacity. Sweeping them away like trash doesn’t land them in a better situation, it may just land them in a body bag. --------------------------------------love. During the interview, PhelpsRoper made a powerful point, after discussing how a Twitter user engaged her in deep, one-on-one discussions over a long period of time (a user who ended up becoming her husband!): We can’t expect to, like, isolate these people and hope that those ideas will just fade into oblivion. We have to actually engage those ideas and find ways of, one, understanding the mind-sets of the people that we’re dealing with and then effectively constructing arguments and evidence and presenting those things. New episodes of Silverman's show will be released every Thursday. So, like I said, consider (if you don't already have Hulu) waiting a few weeks and then checking out a few episodes. More importantly, let them serve as a model for how to practice empathy. We all need to do better to listen to people who disagree with us, and to understand them. We will not make change by shouting people down. instead, like Phelps-Roper's example shows, we change minds when first we seek to understand them. This is a lesson we are never too old to learn. [To contact Jason Haap email him at jasonhaap@gmail.com] --------------------------------------- �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 �No. 36 7 5 LOCAL The Consumer Economy and its Crushing Assumptions | O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 W e can complain about the 1% who have all the money, complain about the sins of the rich and the suffering of the poor. There is truth in this, but it is an old and tired conversation that does not take us anywhere. It ends up trying to fix the current system by changing taxes, arguing about government, changing wage policies. These are trying to reform the effects of the current economic system without questioning the nature of the system itself. If you participate in a predatory and privatized economy – based where profit is the main point and low cost is the means to get there – you reach what we have. The option is to question the assumptions we act on which we think are in the nature of things but are, in fact, un-natural. The new assumptionalternative economy- is called by many names: Compassionate Economy, Well PETER BLOCK Contributing Writer Being Economy, Informal Economy, Cooperative Economy. These seek to tilt the economic system towards the common good and end the exiling effects of the current market system. To do this we need to question the basis of the dominant free market consumer economy. The consumer economy is based on certain assumptions: 1. Whatever you have is not enough. If what you have is not enough, then you are not enough. If you have less, then obviously something is wrong with you. This is a scarcity worldview. Scarcity is the engine that drives our economy. Only what is scarce has value. This idea of scarcity is constantly marketed. It is what keeps us constantly wanting. Rich people and poor people both constantly want more. 2. Whatever you need can be purchased. Everything can be outsourced. Want to raise a child, care for the elderly, be safe, and be healthy? Be happy? You can hire people and systems to do this. Schools will raise our children, police will keep us safe, medical services will keep us healthy, golden years residence wills care for the elderly. The service economy is a catchword for this. In this belief, we no longer need our communal capacity to produce much of what truly matters. Being poor in this context means that you do not have the means to outsource and buy these services. It also means that people on the margin pay more for everything. 3. Labor is a commodity. A person can be purchased at the lowest cost and is expendable, replaceable (Continued on page 12) Peter Block, Economics of Compassion Initiative Credit: Economics of Compassion Initiative S Education and Determination: The Solution to Homelessness o many of us live in our own little world. For some of us, that means waking up at seven in the morning, going to work, coming home at five, getting something to eat, and going to bed. For others, that means getting up, driving through a beautiful upperclass neighborhood to work, sitting down at a desk with the label PhD or DDS. But for millions of Americans, it means waking up on a bench in the city, asking for money, waiting in endless lines just for a shower, and not knowing where a meal is going to come from. We all live in our bubbles, and most of us don’t know what’s outside of them. But by bursting these bubbles, we can break down barriers. People that are homeless can buy a house. Saudi women can drive. Immigrants are welcomed. Slaves are set free. I knew homelessness was a problem in Cincinnati. I’ve walked downtown and seen people in need. But until Cleo came to my school and shared with us his life story, I couldn’t comprehend what it was like to not have a home, a comfortable bed, heat and air conditioning, and food whenever I needed it. Cleo, a man who overcame drug addiction, ABBY SMITH Contributing Writer would wait for hours upon hours to take a shower. He didn’t have some of the basic necessities all people should have access to. Public spaces becoming private, such as parks or various areas of the city, have negatively impacted Cleo and others who have relied on them for somewhere to sleep. As he explained to us, people aren’t homeless because they’re bad people. Many get into drugs and other bad situations because they’ve been pushed out of these previously public spaces. As the world continues to advance, people without a home have been left behind. The average homeless person is nine — yes, nine — which I had no idea about before Cleo informed us. I didn’t know about any of this before Cleo came and talked to us, which illustrates how clueless so many of us are. Education can be the spark that makes a difference. Spreading the word can make a huge difference. It can make a big impact on people; I can verify. By bursting these bubbles we all entrap ourselves in, focused on only our lives day after day, we can break down the barriers between us and make a positive difference. Knowledge is valuable. Because of worldly knowledge, Saudi women can drive now! The world is progressing and more people are gaining rights! If these things can be accomplished (which they have), through education and determination, we can get rid of homelessness too. Cleo Speaks at Cincinnati Country Day Credit: Cincinnati Country Day THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �6 LOCAL BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) many citizens from casting a meaningful vote. Last year, a Federal District Court agreed with that argument, and it ruled Wisconsin's recent redistricting had gone too far in establishing a safe, long term majority for the Republican Party. Writing for the majority in that case, Judge Kenneth F. Ripple wrote: "The map was designed to make it more difficult for Democrats, compared to Republicans, to translate their votes into seats." The District Court's decision was then appealed to the U.S Supreme Court. The October 3rd oral arguments provided the impression that another five to four decision would eventually emerge from nation's highest Court. For instance, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg showed her predilection to view extreme gerrymandering as an infringement on a person's right to vote. She remarked: "If you can stack a legislature this way, what incentive is there for a voter to exercise his vote.?" On the other side, Chief Justice Roberts expressed his YOU CAN SUPPORT THE O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 fears that the Court's interference in the redistricting process might make matters worse. Justice Anthony Kennedy appears to be the swing vote in terms of deciding this case, and both sides seemed to direct their legal arguments to him. Although he has voiced concern about the negative impacts of gerrymandering in the past, Kennedy has never seen an effective way for the courts to measure when states have gone too far in insuring a majority of seats for one party. To that end, the legal team challenging Wisconsin's current district maps offered the Court scientific criteria for measuring redistricting's impact on election results. The ruling by the Court may not be announced until next spring or summer. In the meantime, reformers in Ohio continue with their campaign to change the redistricting process with a ballot initiative. The next big push to gather signatures in order to qualify their proposal for a vote will be on Election Day on November 7th. --------------------------------------- • Donate by texting the word “Homeless” to 444999 • Join Community Shares Workplace Giving • Donate on our website through PayPal at www.cincihomeless.org/donate-2/ • Send us a check to show your support. 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 We receive NO public funding. We rely on the generosity of people like you. Log in to Kroger Rewards and search for the Homeless Coalition, or use our NPO 82944. Every time you use your Kroger Plus card, you will be supporting us. It will NOT affect your gas points! When you shop online at Amazon, sign up for Amazon Smile program at www.smile.amazon.com and select “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” as your non-profit. A portion of your smile.amazon.com purchase will be donated to us each time you shop at no additional cost to you! Participate in a 30 Day Challenge or book a speaker or activity. Learn more about homelessness, our speakers, and how to become a better advocate for people experiencing homelessness! Download a printable PDF on our website: cincihomeless.org/30-day-challenge Write a letter of support for the Coalition, affordable housing, or livable wages to City Council: CityCouncil@Cincinnati-OH.gov Donate NOW! GC_HomelessCoal THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED GCHomelessCoalition �No. 36 7 RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Jaipal Singh Lives to Be a Guru and to Spread Sikhism's Peace & Spirituality | O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 W 7 SAAD GHOSN hile a freshman at the University of Washington School of Architecture, in Saint Louis, MO, Jaipal Singh asked one of his favorite teachers what it took to be a good architect. His teacher responded that the world was in need of good people and not of good architects. This startled Singh at first, but the more he thought of it the more it became clear that his teacher was telling him not to focus on labels as such but rather to strive to be the best he can be as a human being and that all the rest will follow. This message has always accompanied Singh ever since. Actually, it was not foreign to him and very much in tune with the education he had received all along from his Indian Sikh parents. Since childhood, Singh's parents had instilled in him and in his older brother the basic Sikh values of reaching perfection in harmony with the spirit of a unique, everlasting, ubiquitous, loving and just God; to aim at becoming in some ways a "guru", similar in spirit to the 10 gurus who have founded and shaped Sikhism. "Every Sikh is a guru, a leader," says Singh. "God is everywhere and in every one of us. His name is truth, "satnam," and we each need to realize this truth within ourselves." Growing up, Singh was like an everyday American boy, active in sports and on the US karate world team, member of almost every club at school, playing music, excelling academically. Even though religious, he was rather secular in his approach Contributing Writer and did not pray every day. He grew his hair long, however, in accordance with the Sikh teachings, and at home, spoke penjabi with his mother, so to keep alive the connection to his ethnic origin. It is in high school that he started questioning who and what he was and became more involved in religion. "At age 15 spirituality found me," he says. "I went to a Sikh summer camp for one week and it changed my life. I found my home." At the camp, Singh decided, like strict Sikhs, to become vegetarian, and to devote, from then on, his life to the guru. He started learning the Sikh scriptures; also reading and writing Gurmukhi - a script tightly associated with the Sikh religion, created and standardized in the 16th century CE by the second Sikh Guru Angad, in order to make the reading of punjabi at the reach of every individual and not only the priestly class -; also reading and singing the hymns of the congregation. He also started wearing a turban, instead of only a hair bun, a sign for him of entering manhood, and at the same time of his identity. From age 15 to 21 Singh made strides in his spiritual growth, adhering strictly to the principles of Sikhism, letting himself be imbibed by its history. It became clear to him that, throughout centuries, Sikhs had not only defended themselves from persecution, but also other religions and humanity as a whole, and that the story of Sikhism had to be seen through the lens of justice for What Is SIKHISM Sikhism is the ninth largest religion in the world with a population of close to 30 million worldwide. There are an estimated 250,000 Sikhs in the USA. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab region in India, in the 15th century, by Guru Nanak Dev. It broke from Hinduism due, in part, to its rejection of the caste system. The fundamental beliefs of Sikhism, articulated in the sacred scripture Guru Granth Sahib, include faith and meditation on the name of the one creator, unity of all humankind, engaging in selfless service, striving for social justice for the  benefit and prosperity of all, and honest conduct and livelihood while living a householder's life. The Sikh place of worship is the gurdwara which means "doorway to God." Traditionally there is no official clergy within the Sikh tradition. Over time however, priests have become more commonplace. Now, many gurdwaras employ priests to conduct services, while others are run entirely by members of the local congregation.  Most Sikhs wear one or more of the Five Ks articles of faith as ordered by the 10th Guru Gobind Singh: •Kesh, or unshorn long hair, protected by a turban. •Kangha, small wooden comb to comb the hair twice a day. •Kara, iron bangle worn on the hand used most. •Kachera, specific undergarment for men and women. •Kirpan, short dagger. everyone. By then, Singh having finished high school, had joined the school of architecture. "My goal in studying architecture was to make the world a better place, to improve people's lives," he says. "I also saw social justice in building a space that could be inspirational, in particular a spiritual space of worship where people would connect to the divine and serve others." In fact, Singh contributed significantly to the building of the Sikh house of Jaipal Singh worship in West Chester, now home to close to 1000 families of the local Sikh community. At age 21, Singh was asked to join again the summer camp that had radically changed him, but this time as a teacher to the youngsters. "My role as an educator grew and became very important, forming youth and teaching them about Sikhism and its spiritual and social values," says Singh. "Half of it is Sikhism one on one, and the other half human activism; divinity and humanity hand in hand...," he adds. This was also 2001 the year of the terrorist attacks on the USA carried on by individuals who, because of their physical and wearing attributes (dark skinned, long beard, donning a turban), could be easily mistaken for Sikhs. "But they are not us," states Singh. "We're not related and we're different." Since that moment, Singh went on a mission to educate and enlighten others about Sikhism, its history, and its legacy fighting for freedom, for peace and justice, and for the underdog. Singh by then had also become himself an activist. In 2000, while at Washington University studying architecture, he was caught unwillingly in a demonstration protesting the presidential election's debate taking place between only major party candidates Bush and Gore, excluding Green Party candidate Ralph Nader. Witnessing, however, police brutality beating one of the protesters, he strongly objected to it, was arrested and temporarily jailed. This reminded him of the many Sikhs who, in history, opposed oppression, and determined in him Credit: Saad Ghosn social activism, not to be scared, and to always stand up for who he was and for the right things. Years later, believing in the social values propelled by presidential candidate Obama, then more recently by Hillary Clinton, Singh volunteered at their respective campaigns, canvassing neighborhoods, encouraging people to vote. [Editor’s note: The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition does not endorse political candidates.] In 2003, at the age of 23, and part of his personal spiritual evolution, Singh underwent the Khalsa baptism ceremony committing to total dedication to Sikhism, to shedding his ego and personality, and to fully living up to the high spiritual expectations of the guru. "My aim has been to live my life with righteousness under the direct authority of the only and everpresent God," says Singh. "Divinity is humility and love, in which one finds compassion and service, no strife, only peace." "It also requires equality and social justice," he adds. "I want to live like a guru, and contribute, in whatever I do, to peace and to a better world." 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 �PHOTO ESSAY 8 Blink Cincinnati, Ohio October 2017 DYLAN SPEEG Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 �No. 36 7 | O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 PHOTO ESSAY THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 �10 LOCAL O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 December 21 - 31, 2017 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 7 11 LOCAL THE DOG BOY’S ESCAPE | O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 DICK CROY … in which the Dog Boy Is Sprung from Day Camp hen Otz died, it was as if he’d merely turned up missing from the open-air toy chest that was the woods and fields and overgrown yard around the house where my brother the Dog Boy and I lived. Someone had taken him out and forgotten to put him back as far as Douggie and I were concerned. We knew Otz wasn’t coming back, but death was even more of a mystery to us then than it is now. My brother really missed the irascible little runt, much to my surprise, until it finally occurred to me that whatever his constant teasing had meant to poor Otz, to Douggie it had been no different from hanging around me when I didn’t want him there. In lieu of the kind of attention he would have preferred, he’d learned to turn being annoying into his own amusement; he really hadn’t meant to make Otz’s life miserable. But now he hardly knew what to do with himself. Unfortunately for Douggie, I’d begun to hang out with a roughneck kid about twice my size and age who lived across the pasture field from our house. Junior Cheaseley was always getting me to play football with him in the side yard, and I went around with a perpetual headache from our one-sided games of tackle. Gone were the rainy days in the summer when Mom would fashion loincloths for us so we could streak around the yard playing Tarzan. And the day-long cowboy sagas, starring me as Roy Rogers and the Dog Boy as Gene Autry, with Mom often as not playing the saloon-keeper when we’d come in for lunch or a drink of water. (She said that once or twice she became the madam of Ma’s Bordello for her own amusement, aware that we would be clueless.) “Howdy, pardners, what’ll ya have?” she’d say. “I’ve got some mighty cold cherry Kool Aid on tap, and I can rustle up a couple of egg-an’olive sandwiches pronto that oughta satisfy a cowboy-sized hunger.” We’d play right along with her unless our game had already ended, in which case (Mom has told us) we’d give her this condescending look as if she were a rank amateur reading for a part that was way over her head or for a casting call that had come and gone. Gone, too, were Douggie’s and my daily safaris on all the game trails between our house and the woods. With weeds and tall grass W Contributing Writer up to our heads and higher, the familiar territory never lost its allure. Adventure was always beckoning, leading us to the next turn or through the stand of underbrush that we knew as well as we knew the way to the bathroom at night with the lights off. What we could never know for sure was what might lie just ahead. Once it had been a copperhead coiled on the path to sun itself. I saw it just in time to jump back, and then Mom lobbed a rock at it. I’ve never seen anything disappear as fast as that snake did. There were a lot of snakes on our property and in the woods behind our house. Occasionally we’d discover a long thick blacksnake climbing the stucco siding; less often, Dad would bring one still very much alive up from the cellar where he’d been shoveling coal into the furnace. He’d hold the writhing snake pinched between thumb and forefinger just behind the head, unwilling to kill it because blacksnakes kept the rat population under control. The rats had been drawn to that dank subterranean setting of a recurrent nightmare of mine by black walnuts Dad had unwisely accepted from a farmer who’d sold him logs. His mistake was storing them in the cellar. Although I don’t remember it, Mom said the smell of roast rat, cooked in the furnace flue, would stay with her forever. Douggie and I never ventured down to the basement unless Dad was there, but we foolishly insisted on playing horse on our hands and knees in high grass around an old stone spring house in the back yard. Our parents had tried keeping the dogs there at night when we moved in, but they howled so piteously the idea was abandoned. Later when workmen demolished the spring house, they found it infested with copperheads and blacksnakes alike, normally mortal enemies. So, no more horseplay in the high grass, and with Otz gone, my younger brother had no one to play with other than his loyal band of dogs in the back yard when Junior Cheaseley and I were together. Concerned, perhaps, that the Dog Boy was adapting only too well to the four-legged company he was keeping, Mom decided to take action. Poor Douggie was sentenced to Day Camp. I thought it was so unfair. What had the Dog Boy done to deserve such punishment? Incarceration every summer afternoon when he should be “Breakdown Stereotypes” outdoors in the fresh air, swinging under the apple tree, feeding the hard-little green apples to Frank, the neighbors’ big workhorse, who almost always got a bellyache from them. Or making a splash in his underpants (Mom and Dad called them “training pants”) in one of the galvanized washtubs filled with water that were our wading pools in those days. Anything but being cooped up indoors with a bunch of little kids his age. When I told Junior he said, “What’s to stop us from rescuing him?” I just looked at him, remembering the winding 15-minute drive it had taken us to deliver the prisoner the first day. “I know where it is,” he said. “If we cut up through the woods, it’s not that far. What’s wrong, you afraid you can’t make it?” “No!” I said indignantly. “Only, what about the Mean Dog?” “Oh, he lives in the other direction, you big fraidy cat,” he said. “I’m not either afraid. Let’s go – you lead the way.” So off we started, much higher up the steep hill and deeper into the woods behind our house than I’d ever ventured, until the green leafy branches and a cool echoing silence closed over our heads. Soon there was no longer any path, just the thickly leaf-strewn slope punctuated with rock outcroppings and small trees struggling, as I was, for a foothold on the hillside. Junior’s long legs and arms served him well. He would take a big gallop and lunge forward to grab hold of the nearest sapling, then repeat the procedure over and over, churning his legs in the thick mulch of leaves and loose rock beneath us, pulling himself up the steep slope tree by tree. Though I watched and tried to imitate him, he got farther and farther ahead of me until I finally yelled, “Wait up!” It had suddenly occurred to me that I could get lost if I lost sight of him. But he waited and was true to his word, because when we finally reached the top of the slope and I looked back behind us at the seemingly endless, nearly vertical vista of trees we had climbed through to reach this high place – from which shimmering glimpses of the river were visible far below – Junior suddenly yelled, “See, there it is!” Sure enough: I turned to see ahead of us a long low building of cedar siding which I recognized from my visit earlier. This was where the Dog Boy was being held prisoner. We scurried bent over, as I’d seen soldiers do in war movies, toward the Day Camp. It was somehow sinisterlooking despite the absence of the cyclone fence topped with barbed wire that I’d been picturing in my mind for days. Somewhere inside the Dog Boy was being held against his will. As we got closer we could hear little kids’ excited voices. Then Junior motioned for me to get down. They were all outside, in some kind of playground – and there was Douggie! This was going to be easier than I had imagined. It took us a minute to get his attention, but when he saw us hunkered down behind some pine trees that ringed the Day Camp’s perimeter, the Dog Boy grinned goofily and waved. Junior cursed, gesturing angrily for him to get his butt over here, now. Douggie ran over, his chubby little legs appearing somehow pitiful to me when I thought of him locked up all day – well, most of the day: all afternoon anyway – in this creepy place. “Come on!” said Junior, “we’re gonna bust you outa here!” The Dog Boy just stood there for a moment with a puzzled expression on his face, looking from Junior to me, then back to Junior. “Get your ass in gear, Douggie!” barked Junior. “We’re blowin’ this joint!” I ran forward and grabbed his hand, and away we went, back into the forest and down that steep hillside. The Dog Boy didn’t say a word, he didn’t have a chance to; we were too busy trying to keep from breaking our necks. Once again Junior got farther and farther ahead of us. I couldn’t go any faster because I was holding my brother’s sweaty little hand. “Wait up, Junior!” I shouted. “Wait for us!” But there was no sign of him now. A vast stillness had taken hold of the forest. The only reply was the echo of my voice and the Dog Boy’s plaintive whimper beside me. “What’re you cryin’ for?” I said gruffly, to hide my own fear. “We can find our way home.” Although there was no path to guide us, obviously we needed to keep going downhill. Maybe I’d spot a landmark of some kind. Once that had occurred to me and we were on our way again, I began to feel almost as confident as I was trying to appear. We angled our way down the steep slope, grabbing small trees to slow our descent in the (Continued on page 12) “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Dr. Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 I Friends? meet her on the streets At the time, I was a geek I remember her smile Her ease of walk Someday Bob you two shall talk It began as HI’s Then more and more became those eyes I stuttered to speak My voice always got weak She laughed, she cried, She fell asleep by my side Should I touch her Do I dare? No I can’t that’s not fair We lost contact due to addiction She got sober PETER BLOCK (Continued from page 5) and a holding action for automation. Capital chases cheap labor. It commodifies us. It dehumanizes us and separates us from the human soul that provides the labor. Community and the common good pay the price for this often in the form of debt that will never be repaid. In an economy that only rewards market value, if you live on the margin, or are elderly, or a child or youth, or unschooled, then you are declared useless. And for what labor you do provide, you owe your soul to the company store. 4. There are a widespread number of legal ways for making excessive money off the poor. It is the Poverty Industrial Complex. Some examples: Payday loan check cashing services are open 24/7. They charge interest rates of 30-100% a year, many needing to take out another loan just to repay the last. Convenience stores, liquor stores, Dollar Stores, and others charge 20% premium in low income neighborhoods. Cigarettes 50 cents each. Day labor at low rates DICK CROY (Continued from page 11) same way Junior and I had used them to pull ourselves up half an hour earlier. Then we came to a deep rocky gully that I knew Junior and I hadn’t crossed, and my fear of being lost returned. “How are we going to get across?” asked the Dog Boy. Getting across isn’t the point, I wanted to yell at him. Where the hell are we? Then I had a Junior Woodchuck kind of brainstorm. (For you latecomers, the Junior Woodchucks were the scouting-like organization Huey, Dewey and Louie, Donald Duck’s nephews, belonged to. Before TV almost any kid could have told you that.) This was probably the same gully, just farther up the hill, that I had fallen into a few months earlier – egged on by Junior. If it was, there was a grapevine hanging in the middle of it a little farther down the slope, which the two of us used to swing on. ‘Til I cracked my skull, that is, and went crying all the way home, LOCAL BOBBY MORRIS Contributing Writer I stayed addicted 5 years later she’s still going strong Me myself just 90 days’ long We work together once a week Always I try just to peak Does she know I always wonder? Perhaps I should tell her But I know I will Blunder ????? is her name Sweet as can be Maybe I’ll do it just wait you’ll see ????? your Great, ????? your Awesome Someday I will tell you But for now, I am LONESOME O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information email: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org with deductions for transportation, uniforms- taxes that will never be declared. Landlords that rent their properties abandon them and enjoy tax incentives. 5. Debtor Prisons. We saw in Ferguson that penalties on tickets and infractions became a major source of income for the municipality. Crime does pay. That civil nonpayment became criminal charges and in so doing reinstated debtor prisons. All of these are part of the current system. Jubilee Call We are creating an Economics of Compassion Initiative to create an alternative to this free market consumer economy. It is a project of consciousness and commitment. It is based on the idea of Jubilee, which is to forgive the debts of the poor. But it is not so simple as forgiving debt. There is no financial solution to the breakdown in community caused by the consumer assumptions listed above. Those assumptions create a culture of isolation, class divide and fear. The loss of care for the commons. The solution is a communal enterprise, for many an expression of our faith and religion that commands our attention and generosity. In the context of the consumer assumption of nothing is enough and income and purchasing power is the key to well-being, the economic disparity and the burden on the poor cannot be solved by writing checks or creating new policy and legislation. Nor can financial literacy and economic education break the spell. They all help and are worth doing, but what is required is an act of imagination. To re-imagine our local, neighborhood economies and the capacities and financial sobriety of those who reside there. Of creating a neighborly social order instead of market defined social order. To replace consumption with neighborly covenant. It may naturally begin with acts of forgiveness. We can each begin in our own personal lives. Who owes us money and how might we authentically lift that burden? We also need communal structures to release people from debt burdens and de- facto imprisonment. We need Slow Money and Rolling Jubilee. We need a community conversation about reparations. This can occur within a local and national movement. We need to recognize this effort is occurring in every city and rural town in America. This is an alternative economic system. It shows up under many names: Localism, Food Shed, Social Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and Mondragon. It is publicized by the Our Harvest Coop in Cincinnati. This alternative economic system calls us to build resident controlled, neighborhood businesses. It demands that we, especially those who are economically isolated, be obsessive about where we spend our dollars. We must keep the dollars circulating locally. We need to support groups like Mortar who are building local minority businesses. We need to explode the myths of fast foods and big box stores being cheaper; the myth of cell phones or social media really connecting us; and the myth that more schooling is what will reduce the economic divide we began with. More on these later. with Junior pleading with me to shut up, lest his father hear me and make the grapevine off limits, which he did. “Serves you right,” I told Junior, still angry that he’d talked me into jumping from the side of what seemed to me like the Grand Canyon for the grapevine that he had no trouble at all reaching. He’d bolstered my confidence by swinging the vine – which was hard and as thick as my wrist – toward me from the other side of the gully and having me jump a little farther for it each time, until finally it was just hanging there over the abyss. Which, after much urging from Junior, I had leaped into. That was the first time I “saw stars,” as the saying goes. Now my place of pain might lead the Dog Boy and me home. I explained to Douggie why we had to make the treacherous descent into what was now the Grand Canyon to him, though I don’t think he really understood my reasoning. A few minutes later we were picking our way through jagged rocks like those I had learned my lesson on. There was just a trickle of water, but its happy bubbling sound kept us company as it flowed along with us downstream. In no time at all, it seemed, we were beneath the grapevine I hadn’t seen since my fall, and the hike home from there was a cinch. When we came out of the woods, who should we see but Junior’s father working in the field. My pride at leading my brother and me to safety was punctured when the Dog Boy called out to Mr. Cheaseley, “We were lost!” “We weren’t lost,” I said angrily, feeling humiliated in the eyes of Junior’s father, who had heard me bawling like a baby just a few months earlier. Douggie just gave me a look which, half a century before the evolution of the word as it’s used now, said clearly, “Whatever.” I certainly received no hero’s welcome at home. Mom was furious at me for the furor that had ensued when the Dog Boy turned up Missing at Day Camp. She’d been worried sick, she said. Just wait till your father gets home. “But, but we only did it for Douggie,” I stammered, feeling misunderstood and unjustly accused. “Tell her,” I said to him, “tell her how you hate the place.” Even I could see how confused the Dog Boy was, looking from my mother to me, then back to her again. I got a sick feeling in my stomach when I realized he was struggling to hold onto a semblance of sibling loyalty. If he was trying to defend me, that could only mean that I’d been wrong after all. “...It is kind of sissy,” he said, repeating what I’d said to him after hearing the description from Junior. But that was as far as he was willing to go. To my chagrin, he quickly added, “But I can go again tomorrow can’t I?” That night in bed I would nurse a feeling of betrayal (which didn’t last more than a day or two), but right then all I could think of was the utter certainty of being sent out the next day to the apple tree to cut a switch for my corporal enlightenment. To be administered of course by my father “Roshi” Nathan, the Zen master of punishment. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 7 | O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 13 STREET VOICE TRUMP TRUMPETS HIS IQ Are you puzzled about what's going on? Did Rex really call Prez Trump a moron? Then Donald responded right on cue, That his brain surpasses old Rex's IQ. Such words make us wonder the fate Of Trump's current Secretary of State. LIVING BY GODDNESS Each day God gives us life How merciful our creator He gives us a wonderful start To live life with breath In our lungs and a beating heart Living by goodness and by grace Thank you God for another day Living by goodness makes one feel good And thankful for Gods good grace BILL WOODS Contributing Writer KIM GREEN Signs are held in front of faces In the rain, in the snow, in the heat The signs are held by tired hands Who wait for food or a warm handshake Signs are held when doors are closed, and families Walk away, or bills becomes hammers Making sure each nail is pounded on the coffin. JORDANN SADLER Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer BELIEVE IT Believe it when you see someone bundled up sleeping in the street Believe it when you see someone looking in the garbage for food to eat Believe it cause all of these things are real and none are made up Believe that there are many men, women and children who are down on their luck Believe that with the economy all twisted and headed straight to hell Believe that there are many who just give up, commit suicide or take leave for a jail cell Believe that to the homeless, jail with three hot meals, cell buddies for friends and a cot Believe to some may mean nothing but to the homeless means one hell of a lot Believe with faith all things are possible for all including you and me Believe in God, have faith, and pray then change will come all you have to do is believe WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 136 Across Down 1. Large and scholarly book 1. Military lights out signal 5. Personnel 2. Merely 10. Halt 3. Dock at a wharf 14. At a later time 4. Power to withstand 15. Mistake 16. Starchy tuberous root 17. Trudge 18. Comparitive of bad 19. Panache 20. Sweet sticky liquid 22. A portion of medicine 23. Depend 24. Regret 26. Broaden 28. Changeable 32. Brine-cured smoked salmon 33. Block of writing paper 36. Similar 37. Chart 39. Misapply 41. Capture 43. Distilled from fermented molasses 45. Theme 46. Not awake 48. Also 50. Recreational facility 51. Very small 52. Any high mountain 54. Movie advertisement 56. Sedate 58. Used to control a horse 59. Reverberation 62. Small fastener 64. Jewish spiritual leader 68. Dreary 69. Part of a church 71. Golf club 72. Bloodshed 73. Relative magnitude of two quantities 74. Row or line of people 75. Pitcher hardship or stress 5. Darn 6. Trampled 7. Pointer 8. Remains from a past age 9. Liberty 10. Austere 11. Story 12. Examination by word of mouth 13. Small horse 21. Tavern 25. Hard tough wood 27. Way out 28. Long-tailed parrot 29. Edict 30. Heading 31. Sense organ SODOKU PUZZLE NO 266 - MEDIUM 33. Student 34. Stage whisper 35. Interior furnishings and design 38. Place 40. Game for one 42. Warmth 44. A clever remark 47. Advertising sign 49. Sphere 53. Column 55. Atmosphere 56. Not intoxicated 57. Repeat an action or statement 59. Surface boundary 60. Utter shrill sounds 61. Long-eared mammal 63. Symptom of hurt 65. A small nail 76. Stingless male bee 66. Alliance 77. Mini whirlpool 67. Dark cloudy appearance 70. Fish eggs PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 350 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 135 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 265- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 7 RESOURCES | O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 352-6364 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 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 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 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 First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th 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 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 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 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 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 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 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 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 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 $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 O c t 2 0 - N o v 2 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 7 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 GREGORY RAY SINCE 4/2015 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 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 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 2/2015 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2017 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource October 20-November 2, 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Out of Sight, Out of Mind? We Need More Empathy for Those We Disagree With Pg 4: 4th Annual Oakley Masquerade Pg 5: The Consumer Economy and Its Crushing Assumptions Education and Determination Pg 6: Bill Woods Continued Pg 7: Jaipal Singh Lives to Be a Guru and to Spread Sikhism’s Peace & Spirituality Pg 8: Photo Essay Pg 9: Photo Essay Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: The Dog Boy’s Escape Pg 12: Friends? 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 October 20-November 2, 2017 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Dr. Mark Mussman Jason Haap Peter Block Abbey Smith Saad Ghosn Bobby Morris Dick Croy Jordann Sadler Willa Denise jones Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Economics of Compassion Initiative Cincinnati Country Day Dylan Speeg Laura Domet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Abbey Smith Bill Woods Blink Bobby Morris Cincinnati Cincinnati Country Day Dick Croy Dog Boy Dr. Mark Mussman Dylan Speeg Economics of Compassion Initiative education Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition HUD Jason Haap Jordann Sadler Josh Spring Laura Domet Ohio Peter Block Photography Reforms Saad Ghosn Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/655819f3b6716492037babc2cca13a27.pdf 8fec14004ebe3a3097e7cfc13f918df4 PDF Text Text November 3rd - November 16th 2017 | Vol. 20 Issue 49 (No. 368) advocating justice | building community Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month 2017 | 9 This Issue is sponsored by The Jubilee Campaign INSIDE THIS ISSUE Chuck Collins will speak at Christ Church Cathedral at 7:00 PM on Monday, November 13. This event is FREE. Fighter, Pastor Rousseau O'Neal II Passed Away | 2 Dennis Banks, Warrior for Peace|3 Armistace Day 2017, Remembering to Remember| 7 The Poverty Industrial Complex and a Visit From Chuck Collins| 11 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 LOCAL Fighter, Pastor Rousseau O'Neal II Passed away O N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 JOSH SPRING n October 9 Reverend when the city tried to effectively Executive Director Rousseau O’Neal II passed stop the creation or expansion of away. Pastor Rousseau open doors to other strong voices and social services through the zoning spent 32 years behind the organizations. code.  As corporations, elected Through the years, Reverend pulpit, 17 of which were at Rockdale officials and some media outlets Baptist Church in Avondale. Reverend O'Neal did not only work from behind the pulpit though.  Reverend Rousseau was a permanent leader in the fight for social justice and human rights in greater Cincinnati.  Being a pastor means to be an empowering shepherd of people toward an ultimate destination.  Pastor Rousseau lived this role.  He was inextricably engaged in the acts of empowering strength among people in the march to justice.  Pastor O'Neal was dedicated, bold, charismatic and strategic. When I started with the Homeless Coalition he was one of the first people I had to meet, because of his committed partnership in our mission to eradicate homelessness.  For years Reverend O'Neal was the President of the Faith & Community Alliance, a leader in the Baptist Ministers Conference and Avondale Concerned Clergy.  Whenever I would call Reverend Rousseau to tell him about a fight we were engaged in, he would always ask, "what do you need me to do?".  He would Pastor Rousseau O'Neal II work with us to plan strategy, he Credit: Josh Spring would bring supporters together and he would lend us contact with his Rousseau stood beside us in many criminalized people who lived in the trusted allies.  Reverend O'Neal had difficult struggles.  He spoke in Metropole Apartments and openly through years of work, established a support of restoring the City's supported 3CDC's effort to remove strong and brave reputation and was Human Services Fund.  He joined us every Metropole Resident from always ready to allow us to utilize his in meetings with city council people.  (Continued on page 3) reputation and support in order to He vocally supported our lawsuit REFLECTIONS ON POLITICS - FALL 2017 I nstead of contributing a regular article this issue, I offer some random reflections on politics in late October 2017. One year ago, we were about to experience an election that is still having huge repercussions today. The election of Donald Trump as President has brought conflict and instability at almost every level of our social, economic, and political life. As I prepare to vote in the local elections, I feel my focus on candidates running for City Council and the School Board creates a healthy diversion from the horrors of the White House. Speaking of horrors, Halloween takes place this Tuesday. As a way of having some fun while many of us work on Congressional redistricting reform in Ohio, we organized a BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Halloween event entitled "the horrors of gerrymandering." This lunch at the Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church will actually provide an update on how the campaign is going as well as a meeting to prepare attendees to collect petition signatures at the polls on November 7th. My friend Catherine Turcer, the staff person for Common Cause/Ohio, will travel from Columbus, to brief us, and she promises to bring her witch's hat. A bit of humor goes a long way in these political times. Instead of getting deeply depressed by the daily news from Washington, it is better to conjure up laughable scenarios to lighten things up. For that reason, "the horrors of gerrymandering event" was planned. Although it will be a long and tough campaign to get a citizen initiated Ohio Constitutional Amendment passed in 2018, reformers need to have some fun during their critical work to renew democracy. Therefore, we invited folks "to view the scary and weirdly shaped Congressional Districts, and hear about the ghosts of campaigns past." The other gargantuan factor debasing electoral politics today is "big money," and the Supreme Court has made it almost impossible to effectively address it. In fact, huge campaign spending confronts us at the local level this fall. Some candidates appear to have an endless supply of money to run TV ads and (Continued on page 11) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: 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: Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Justin Jeffre, Steve Sunderland, Robert Park, Martha Stephens, Jim Luken, Saad Ghosn, Dr. Mark Mussman, Monica McGloin, Trenton Davis, Joele Newman, Jada Jones, Seynabou Niang, Jason Haap, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Josh Spring, Wikipedia, twincities. com, google images, Jim Luken, Saad Ghosn, Dr. Mark Mussman, book.google.com, Bill Woods --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 36 8 LOCAL AIM Co-Founder and Anishinaabe leader dies | N o v 3- N o v 16, 2 0 17 N ative American activist Dennis Banks passed away at the age of 80. The AIM leader was best known for leading sieges at Wounded Knee, South Dakota and Alcatraz Island in California. They also took over the Bureau of Indian Affairs building in Washington D.C. in an effort to raise awareness about the plight of Native Americans. Banks had moved to Northern Kentucky in the 1990s and was featured at length in an Enquirer article written by Mark Curnutte. JUSTIN JEFFRE Editor Banks told Curnutte, "Before Wounded Knee, we said there had to be a massive education movement to teach white America of the legal responsibilities Congress has to Native people." Adding, "The government owes Native people a great deal in exchange for the natural resources that were taken from our land. Since Wounded Knee, we have developed forum after forum in which to educate.” The legendary leader earned income by giving lectures and he also played in some movie roles, most notably Last of the Mohicans. According to the Enquirer report he had been hired as a technical consultant by producer Michael Mann and was later given a speaking role in the movie. Banks told Democracy Now in 2012 how he was taken from his family in the 1940s and forced to go to a boarding school with thousands of other native American children. Dennis Banks: “I was taken to a boarding school when I was four years Dennis Banks, Warrior for Peace I had the privilege of working with Dennis Banks for peace through his "Sacred Runs," his drum workshops, and his organizing of efforts to respect Native American burial grounds in Ohio and Kentucky. Dennis was a great teacher. He knew that many of us knew little of the realities facing Native Americans, especially knowledge about the violation of treaties, burial grounds, and the use of mascots. Dennis also led "sweats," an experience of meditating with him within a tent and around a fire that represented the " grandparents:" the respect for the land, the water, the many peoples, and the idea of peace. Dennis saw all of his activities as a learning process. No one could really be an "expert" on sacredness for anyone else. We were invited to shape our own definition as we travelled, as we meditated, and as we created action that could celebrate the lives of Native Americans. Whether we were trying to make our own drums, or running a few miles, or celebrating our progress, Dennis gently reminded us that we had accomplished a lot and there was more to do. And so, we ran another few miles, or drove as a support car, or prepared for a sacred ceremony of caring. Every event, Dennis seemed to say, was a sacred ceremony. Seeing the world from this perspective was a powerful method of bringing diverse people together for unbelievable projects, like running across country. One amazing experience that stays in my memory happened at a JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 5) their homes in the name of a lauded entertainment district, Reverend O'Neal stood with Residents and our fight to save these homes.  When Western & Southern sued Cincinnati Union Bethel and defamed the Women who lived in the Anna Louise Inn so as to steal their homes, Reverend O'Neal marched with us and addressed the crowds.  When we 3 STEVE SUNDERLAND Contributing Writer dinner ceremony in New Mexico. We had run all day and we were based at a high school for dinner and a ceremony of joining us all together. A drum started sounding a dance and on the floor danced many of us, including Dennis. He was wearing a beautiful shawl and it moved in swirls as he danced. Suddenly, his daughter appeared, unannounced, and joined him in dancing. Dennis reached out to her with his shawl, and placed it on her shoulders. They danced so old, and taken away from my mother and my father, my grandparents, who I stayed with most of the time, and just abruptly taken away and then put into the boarding school, 300 miles away from our home. And, you know, the beatings began immediately, the—almost the de-Indianizing program. It was a terrible experience that the American government was experimenting with. And that was trying to destroy the culture and the person, destroy the Indian-ness in him and save the human being, save the—kill an Indian, save the man.” beautifully, and it was only after the dance that we learned that Dennis and his daughter had not spoken in years. We all learned that forgiveness and gratitude danced together. Dennis was an "easy" person to work for peace if you were open to learning how deeply your heart was involved. He didn't suffer intellectual discussions if they didn't move toward action. He was a gifted citizen, a gentle teacher, and a friend of all those who take peace seriously. I will miss his drumbeat. Ho Dennis Banks during a radio interview Credit: Twincities.com Dennis Banks Dennis Banks Credit: Wikipedia Credit: Google Images protested the hypocrisy of Western & Southern's Nativity Scene in Eden Park, Reverend O'Neal was there, ready to explain the hypocrisy.  When neighbors in his church's community fought to stop the development of affordable housing, Reverend Rousseau spoke boldly in support of our people in need of housing. I could keep going with this list, but the point is that Reverend Rousseau O'Neal was a person of action.  He backed up what he preached.  He held people accountable.  He was willing to risk condemnation and relationships in the name of truth and justice.  As we took actions which were controversial and often unpopular among so-called leaders, we could always count on Pastor Rousseau O'Neal to stand with us. I keep using the phrase "stand with us" because anytime Reverend THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED O'Neal was present at a gathering and the media wanted to do an interview, Pastor Rousseau would always gather one or two people, walk up to me with these people, put his arm across my shoulders and whisper in my ear that we are not in this alone and that he and others would be standing there in active, visual support. We are thankful for and to Reverend Rousseau O'Neal and we stand with his family. �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 �OPINION No Such Thing as Free Speech… Never Has Been… Never Should Be No. 36 8 | N o v 3- N o v 16, 2 0 17 W hat is appropriate regulation of public speech (as opposed to private speech among individuals). Public speech means talking to large groups of listeners, ranging from crowds around a soap box to millions reached through mass and social media. No society has ever permitted anybody to say anything, in any the public venue of their choice. The control of speech takes many forms, usually structural permits and authorities (invitations, contracts, nominations, etc.) defining and allowing compliant speech but sometimes reactive controls after speech has occurred (libel suits, job terminations, withdrawals of permission, awards, promotions, blacklistforever,andworse(arresting/ murdering journalists, labor organizers, political opponents)). Speech has consequences and so the fundamental question is who decides what is acceptable public free speech? Many aspects of permissible public speech are informally accepted and enforced: just about everyone agrees you don’t falsely yell “fire” in a crowded theatre (a Supreme Court ruling). You don’t wantonly violate the privacy of other people, especially children for example (somewhat different rules for celebs) and you don’t divulge confidential information of significant importance to someone else without a good reason. These are the easy ones. What about if someone has something to say that someone else doesn’t like. They want to publish a book, write an article, write an Op-Ed, cover a story, report an investigation, research a problem, give a speech, be a TV host, run a twitter blaster. Would they have free speech? Could they have? Traditionally, mass media mongers make decisions based on lots of things (advertisers, ideology, markets, boards of directors, liability, copyrights) – there’s nothing resembling free speech here; decisions are scrupulously programmed and ROBERT PARK Contributing Writer algorithmed. Some shows get run, others are dropped, others never get proposed. Some stories are written, others not. Writers aren’t stupid, they learn the ropes. Networks, publishers, studios couldn’t function with free speech. Sometimes an unwelcome proposal in the better societies can find a taker, a publisher or producer willing to take a chance; never in some other societies. It’s a judgment call, not a right. Depends on how vulnerable a status quo is to pesky dissent. In many countries publishing (speaking) on the fringe is permitted – within limits – but largely dictated by financial concerns. In societies which have a relatively “free” press, this means the regulation of speech has been delegated to the private sector, private property, that there is an absence of state interference in private institutional discretion on permitting and promoting speech. If someone showed up at Proctor & Gamble and said I’d like to make a presentation to your workforce on how out-sourcing and global trade has destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of Cincinnati workers, they’d get laughed at all the way to the curb. While an outsider seeking genuinely free access for a dissident or contrarian rant in the private forprofit sector is a joke, what about inside the ivory towers –college campuses – incubators of society’s thinkers, leaders, techies, opinions and thought bullies: is there free speech there? Institutions of “higher learning” are somewhat unique: they have a large internal community of people who are NOT employees and who might believe the institution should not control everything they hear or see. There is some recognition of the value of critical thought and innovation not constrained by direct corporate interests. Useful wisdom can survive and flourish when private authority is relaxed. Even so, there was and usually still is seriously restricted communication access, especially for progressive challenges, especially at private institutions. The means of control include faculty advisors, registered student organizations and rules, permissions for use of facilities, etc. But lately right wing trolls have appeared on campuses and are being accommodated by college administrations on grounds of, you guessed it, “free speech.” Substantial institutional resources including exorbitant security costs are committed to provide communication infrastructure in support of climate change deniers, purveyors of racial purity/supremacy or other trumpian myths. Some stranger showed up at the University of Cincinnati (not exactly a freespeech mecca in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s) and demanded full access to promote an alt-right agenda to the university and surrounding communities, and the guy gets bathed in an aura of free speech purity and fawning cooperation. Other cowardly universities have declined this guy, not on principles concerning access to the communication infrastructure of public institutions but on public safety grounds. Rowdy objectors protesting these gifts of access are denounced as enemies of free speech. Sometimes an institution’s agenda is pretty transparent (boards of trustees like some ideas, not others). Implicit encouragement of racial conflict, even race war may be acceptable but not how to organize a general strike, with tutorials on sabotage. Complexities and challenges in waging the war on terror is an OK topic but not how global capitalism creates conditions and desperation from which “terrorism” is totally predictable. Similar considerations apply to other public media access like local cable networks, public radio and TV, community newsletters, websites. What should be off limits? Advocating genocide, pedophilia, War and Peace and a Poetic Response F RIENDS, let me say that I miss Jim Luken in these pages all the time, and I’m sure other readers do, too. Jim knows all the horrors of war, had once been a war correspondent in Europe. He writes passionately about the violence this country has created around the world, and we learned, for instance, a lot of fine anti-war songs from him that can be heard on YouTube. Today we all know we are living in a dangerous world, but Jim might have put it this way: we ourselves MARTHA STEPHENS Contributing Writer may be the danger most to be feared. Have we met the enemy . . . and it is us? Our country has forged the greatest war machine the world has ever seen. Can we who are living within this most militaristic of countries, work somehow for peace? IN RECENT YEARS the U. S. has established military bases around the world and is selling arms around the world. (See James Risen’s recent book Pay Any Price about the huge profits corporations are making on our bases and wars.) We have launched major wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, states which had not done us any harm! The Iraq Body Count, run by a website in Great Britain, is a daily count of civilian deaths in Iraq. The tribal conflict we created there has cost tremendous death and suffering over and over again, and now in the once peaceful city of Mosul. As this is being written, more documented deaths in Mosul and Baghdad are being added every day. Total since the U. S. invasion of 2003: 179,415 civilians killed! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 5 racial superiority, disseminating provably false news, assassination of corrupt leaders? Maybe we need some rules for access to traditional public media (not to mention to social media where Facebook and Google et al. are deep in a panic to patch their code in order to protect their advertizing cash cows). Here are some rules that colleges and universities could use: 1. a proposal for access to institutional communication infrastructure (a large meeting room, auditorium, stadium, TV hook-up, web connection..) needs a local sponsor within the institution (explaining the relevance and interest to the community) 2. the proposal addresses a significant issue or perceived need (e.g., intellectual, national, or entertainment) 3. if relatively non controversial (no apparent objections): fine, go for it (minimal security cost) 4. if controversial (strong positive and negative endorsements and inflamed opinions): put topic in a panel format with an open process for solicitation and selection of presenters with diverse perspectives (minimal security cost) 5. if profoundly objectionable to a significant segment even in panel format: proponents are required to organize their own protection and security; security waivers are required for speakers and promoters with explicit denial of assured protection; local police intervene at expense of local authorities. 6. there could be a fixed specific annual fund allocated for support of invited speakers. Maybe an elected committee from the community affected would make decisions. Perhaps require at least 80% opposed to veto a contentious request. The committee could simply decide against having one speaker whose presence would consume the entire annual fund in favor a 10 less onerous speakers with more to offer and civil followers. What if civil discourse and consensus has already been lost? Maybe, too bad, they let the creep do it. Response: rotten tomatoes, chants, blockades, civil unrest, following fine traditions. In Yemen, where we partner with the Saudis, people are starving, food ships aren’t allowed to get through to those still alive in the rubble of the Saudi bombs. These vicious bombs are dropped incessantly from planes made by us, and which we help to direct and to refuel! It is said that we’re causing the worst cholera outbreak ever known. The major media have kept the tragic war in Yemen virtually a secret. Many of us believe that if people in the U. S. knew what was happening there, they would not support it! Very few of us would want to be part of that massacre. MY HOME in Paddock (Continued on page 12) �6 LOCAL MARTHA STEPHENS (Continued from page 5) Hills, by the way, is safe. No one has come to tell me that I must be out of my house by nine of the clock, with invaders on the way to bomb and destroy my neighborhood. POETS have written through the ages about the pity and horror of war, and I’m placing below a few of their verses. We may wonder what such poets would have us do now in the Mideast, in North Korea. Would they ask us to talk with our enemies, try to agree with them that we not kill each other? Should we lift the sanctions on North Korea and be willing to freeze our military actions in that area if North Korea agrees to freeze theirs? Or do we want to drive that peninsula into war? PLEASE take a look at these tiny poems on war. War Dawn came slowly Almost not at all. The sun crept over the hill YOU CAN SUPPORT THE N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 Cautiously Fearful of being hit By mortar fire. By Dan Roth Planet Earth “A planet doesn’t explode by itself,” said drily The Martian astronomer, Gazing off into the air. That they were able to do it is proof That highly intelligent beings Must have been living there. The Day the World Ended The day the world ended Joe saw the flash out the window. He raised his hand to speak But was not called on For he was sitting with The social justice committee of his church And the minutes were being read. Of course Joe and the whole committee Were turned into stone that day. The minutes, too, were petrified -- By John Hall Wheelock (Continued on page 7) • Donate by texting the word “Homeless” to 444999 • Join Community Shares Workplace Giving • Donate on our website through PayPal at www.cincihomeless.org/donate-2/ • Send us a check to show your support. 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 We receive NO public funding. We rely on the generosity of people like you. Log in to Kroger Rewards and search for the Homeless Coalition, or use our NPO 82944. Every time you use your Kroger Plus card, you will be supporting us. It will NOT affect your gas points! When you shop online at Amazon, sign up for Amazon Smile program at www.smile.amazon.com and select “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” as your non-profit. A portion of your smile.amazon.com purchase will be donated to us each time you shop at no additional cost to you! Participate in a 30 Day Challenge or book a speaker or activity. Learn more about homelessness, our speakers, and how to become a better advocate for people experiencing homelessness! Download a printable PDF on our website: cincihomeless.org/30-day-challenge Write a letter of support for the Coalition, affordable housing, or livable wages to City Council: CityCouncil@Cincinnati-OH.gov Donate NOW! GC_HomelessCoal THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED GCHomelessCoalition �7 LOCAL Armistice Day 2017, Remembering to Remember No. 36 8 | N o v 3- N o v 16, 2 0 17 “A ll the gods are dead, except the gods of war.” Eldridge Cleaver This is either the fifth or the sixth year that I have written a “reflection” on Armistice Day (Nov. 11) for this newspaper. The first time, as I recall, I was “assigned” (asked by the editor Justin Jeffre) to write an essay for Streetvibes about this important, yet often ignored, day in history. I think he had asked me to do the piece because he recalled that I had worked (briefly) as a freelance journalist in “hot” war-torn places a half dozen times. He knew how much I hate war, and the whole government/military/corporate/ banking jackals that feed on the bodies of the dead. I welcomed the opportunity to write about a historic “moment when the world (finally) got sane (for a moment). Now I live far away from the Cincinnati scene in a small coastal town, Peace Dale, Rhode Island. I cherish the name of my new home town, just as I like the fact that Cincinnati was named after a Roman hero who (following the war du jour) exchanged his sword for a plowshare. Anyway, sitting here near the eternal sea, I made the decision to write yet another Remembrance Day story about the signing of the armistice treaty that ended World War I. I find it an honor to continue my Nov. 11 tradition. And I am grateful to Streetvibes for publishing these thoughts: The event and its commemoration WWI, which was later described as “the war to end all wars,” happened in Europe between 1914 and 1918. My own parents were very young children then. My dad's parents had been turn-of-the-century immigrants from Germany. When the war broke out between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the rest of Europe, dad's family was warned to stop speaking German in public. On my mom's side, her uncle from Saylor Park was a so-called “doughboy” in the socalled “great war.” He died of injuries shortly after the armistice was signed in 1918. Now, almost 100 years later, only MARTHA STEPHENS (Continued from page 6) Unapproved. By Martha Stephens May I ask: do you know, my friends, that the great American poet Walt Whitman worked in a Washington D. C. hospital during the U.S. War Between the States? He could be seen holding the hands of the wounded on both sides, redressing their wounds, writing letters home for them. His experience there JIM LUKEN Contributing Writer a few people in Europe have lived long enough to recall personal memories of WW I. Nonetheless, millions of Europeans choose to remember the ratification of the armistice, even the moment of that ratification, every year. Many of them will stop for two minutes at the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th month, in order to think about, or remember, the exact moment when the leaders of the warring parties chose to end the hell that was the First World War. 10 million people around the world will wear red paper poppies to commemorate that day. Although 11 AM comes six hours later here in the US eastern time zone, I will join them in reflection for those two minutes, as is my habit each year. If I run into someone selling poppies, I will wear one. I'm sure some of you conscientious Streetvibes readers will consider joining in this solemn moment. The reality of war No doubt only a few of you have been soldiers in war zones or have experienced the horrors of war happening firsthand, in your midst. But all of you hold an accurate inner sense of war being the most dreadful experience imaginable. You know that it is worse than a tornado or a hurricane or an earthquake. You know that the unimaginable brutality of a war can, and usually does, rage on for years. The most recent major war that I “covered” (for various Franciscan peace and justice publications) took place in Croatia, then Bosnia (1991 to 1996). Those experiences for me (the father of four teenage kids in Cincinnati at the time) were frightening beyond belief. If you were to visit either of those two now-quiet Balkan countries (situated just north and east of Greece), and talk to men and women on the street there, you would have difficulty finding a single person who hadn't lost a relative, or a friend, or a neighbor in that extended meaningless war. The same would be true of Syria, or Yemen, or Iraq, or Afghanistan, all places where war is raging to varying degrees at this moment. War, as they say, is hell, a hell in which men, turned him against that war -- and all wars. This poem is the famous anti-war poem Whitman penned during that time. Reconciliation WORD over all, beautiful as the sky, Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage must in time be utterly lost, That the hands of the sisters Death and Night incessantly softly wash again, and ever again, this women and children—civilians just like you—are trapped and dying for no valid reason. These wars could be stopped overnight by the leaders of the warring parties. They could be stopped if the ordinary soldiers and officers would cease committing “legal” homicide, put down their weapons, and refuse to engage in a fight that can't help but end badly for both sides. How Americans deal with war The majority of Americans have never experienced the horrors of war create the abomination of war. And “He” ain't gonna fix it. Thus, sitting or kneeling around praying for peace just might be a form of sacrilege. If the churches and their members really wanted to do something about preventing or ending a particular war, their priests, ministers, rabbis and imams could demand that their congregations, especially their young men and women of fighting age, refuse—on moral or religious grounds—to participate. The evolution to naming Nov. 11 “Veterans Day” Please forgive having gone off on that little rant. I need to return the focus of this essay to “remembering” Remembrance Day. In 1945, following another World War, the name was changed from Armistice Jim Luken in his new hometown Credit: Jim Luken in this, our homeland. Nonetheless, most of us choose to lend patriotic support in the endless series of wars that our military wages in countries far away. There have been at least two dozen of “our” wars, since WW II. Most Americans rally behind “our troops” no matter what. We shake our heads and shrug our shoulders, believing that each of “our” wars are inevitable, like the occurrence as the next solar eclipse. They go to their churches on Sunday and pray for peace. Let me say something here that readers may find sobering, even heretical. Prayer has never stopped a single war. Not one. Ever. If there is a God, then praying for peace probably insults this God. “He” didn't Day so as to include all those killed in both wars. In 1954, the US unilaterally chose to rename Remembrance Day (November 11), instead calling it “Veterans Day.” Many believe that in so honoring the warriors, living and dead, who fought in “our” (often illegal) wars, we forget the message of peace that Remembrance Day is intended to celebrate, and so we blur the absolute bottom line: too many millions of human beings have died, and continue to die, needlessly, in too many wars. Acknowledging those who served the military on this solemn day is inappropriate to say the least. It would be so easy to choose soil'd world; For my enemy is dead, a man divine as myself is dead, I look where he lies stone-faced and still in the coffin—I draw near, Bend down and touch lightly with my lips the pale face in the coffin. By Walt Whitman LET’S WRITE to our officials, my friends, whichever ones we think might listen to us, with a message decrying our continued actions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Korea. Perhaps calls to Senator Sherrod Brown are in order. Do we truly need to destroy whole villages in Syria with our bombs? What kind of people are we? [Martha Stephens is a writer of novels and non-fiction. Her book best known in Cincinnati is The Treatment: the story of those who died in the Cincinnati radiation tests. She blogs on peace and justice at marthastephens.wordpress.com, and can be reached by email at streetvibes@cincihomeless.org.] THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED (Continued on page 11) �8 RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Co-Creator to Better this World: Father Benjamin Urmston’s Faith Is Inseparable from Justice N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 “W hat I am is God's gift to me. What I become is my gift to God,” says Father Benjamin Urmston, S.J., adding: “This implies that I also participate in creation as a ‘cocreator’, helping this world become a better one now, preparing the heavenly one to come.” This dynamic and engaged view of his faith led Urmston to actively work for peace and justice from the beginning, wherever he was and whatever he did. It was his main focus while teaching, coaching baseball, working in campus ministry, instituting peace and justice programs and studies, hosting a community radio show, traveling around the world… “My faith is directly linked to justice as I cannot love God and ignore my sisters and brothers or the one earth on which I live,” he states. “Peace to me is the presence of justice, based on a proper relationship between ourselves, God, animals, the earth.” Born in North College Hill, Ohio, Urmston grew up on a farm in close contact with animals. His father, a kind, compassionate and hard-working farmer, developed in him, early on, love and concern for the earth and all its inhabitants, also a strong interest in food and its production advocating for widespread ownership of farms and for a democratic economy. His mother, a devout Catholic, and the Precious Blood sisters at St. Margaret Mary Grade School where he attended, determined his faith and religion. After graduating from high school, he joined the army, participating in World War II, serving on General Patton’s Third Army in Europe, then in the Philippines. In 1946 and at the age of 21, he entered the seminary to become a Jesuit priest; he has been a member of the Society of Jesus ever since. His experience in the army provided Urmston a strong sense of community and allowed him at the SAAD GHOSN Contributing Writer same time to see the world, opening his eyes to many human issues such as violence, death and poverty. He describes it as a rich spiritual retreat, one with time for reflection and prayer. It led him, however, to rethink the use of destructive wars to solve world problems; it also indirectly cemented his fate as a religious servant. “I thought becoming a priest was the best way to make this a better world,” he says. “I instinctively wanted to rid our planet of wars and poverty…” His priesthood studies earned Urmston several degrees, each bringing a different dimension to the understanding of his religious involvement towards peace and justice. Studying philosophy exposed him to the concept of natural human rights as promulgated by God's act of creation. It stressed the importance of human rights for a positive peace, every human enabled to become an independent and equal actor closer to God, to others, to the physical world. Theology equated peace with an improved relationship with God, to Urmston the most important goal of his life. Religious education, emphasizing the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, made him realize the need to be a co-creator with God; also, that peace studies and social analysis, integrating the wisdom of various disciplines, were an important way towards that objective and towards fighting an unjust and war-driven world. His academic education also led him to teach English and theology, initially at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, then at St. Xavier High School and later Xavier University, both in Cincinnati. In all three places Urmston coupled his teaching with the institution of a Christian Life Community involving students and faculty, combining faith and justice. At Xavier University, part of Urmston’s responsibility was campus ministry. While he felt it important A Catholic text Urmston likes to quote “The expectation of a new earth must not weaken but rather stimulate our concern for cultivating this one. For here grows the body of a new human family, a body which even now is able to give some kind of foreshadowing of the new age… After we have obeyed the Lord, and in His Spirit nurtured on earth the values of human dignity, brotherhood and freedom, and indeed all the good fruits of our nature and enterprise, we will find them again, but freed of stain, burnished and transfigured.”  From Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), No. 39, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (1965), Second Vatican Council. to promote a student’s religious life, he soon realized there was an added need for more involvement in peace and justice issues. He became active in neighborhood community councils, particularly in Evanston and North Avondale, served on the social action committees of the archdiocese, participated in the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. Wanting the students to be also directly involved, he proposed to the administration a new department, Programs in Peace and Justice, part of Student Life Father Ben Urmston and Leadership. It was approved and Urmston became its director. The Program offers co-curricular activities and sponsors off-campus service learning and field experiences that facilitate exposure to the poor, to those who serve the hungry and the homeless. He also initiated “rural plunges” that take students to family farms to learn directly about their daily life and the problems they face. “These field experiences provide orientation and trigger reflection,” says Urmston. “A first-hand witnessing of material poverty or injustice can shake someone’s state of apathy.” Also at Xavier, Urmston initiated a committee that started a Peace Studies Minor, an academic curriculum focusing on peace using an interdisciplinary approach and a social analysis methodology. He himself taught a course Faith and Justice. “My purpose was to introduce students to human rights, international law, active nonviolence, economic democracy, the social teachings of the church.” For twenty-eight years Urmston hosted a weekly radio show, Faith and Justice Forum, on WVXU. It served as an outreach service to the community, and featured local and national figures whose work had been instrumental for peace and justice. They included Cesar Chavez, Baldemar Velasquez, Monsignor George Higgins, Gar Alperovitz. For few years he also wrote a column on Faith and Justice, The Catholic Moment, for the Cincinnati Archdiocesan paper The Catholic Telegraph.  Now retired from his administrative and teaching role at Credit: Saad Ghosn Xavier University, Urmston, ninetytwo years old, remains as active as ever. He is Coordinator of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of Citizens for Global Solutions, a national group that proposes nonviolent and democratic means to solve the world’s problems. It joins his longtime interest and membership in the movement for a better world that promotes more equitable dealing with international issues such as the environment, world trade, terrorism, civil and ethnic strife, the war system. Urmston for instance has actively lobbied in favor of treaties to reduce nuclear weapons; and is very involved in raising awareness to the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli problem and the injustices caused by the occupation. “We need to listen to each other,” he says, “and let go of fear and distrust. We need to respect the equality and dignity of all human beings. Might does not make right.” Urmston summarized his entire philosophy, his Vision of Hope, in a 15-minute DVD that he placed on his website (www.xavier.edu/frben). It discusses what he perceives as the 5 (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 �No. 36 8 9 LOCAL Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month 2017 | N o v 3- N o v 16, 2 0 17 DR. MARK MUSSMAN O Staff Writer ctober is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month. It is not really an occasion to celebrate, but we work hard to increase awareness through our Speaker’s Bureau and Shantytown. The Homeless Coalition was welcomed at many area schools over the month and spoke to nearly a thousand students. We have a new speaker who is a veteran, which has opened new doors for our Speaker’s Bureau. We also welcomed a strong group of students from Xavier University to Over-the-Rhine for an immersive, educational, alternative fall break. We visited many member organizations and learned from experts who are working hard to eradicate homelessness by creating affordable housing, fighting for worker and tenant rights, and ensuring the availability of needed items. We hope you had a chance to reflect on the issues surrounding homelessness this month, and remember, we are always available to speak to your group. --------------------------------------- Speaker Melissa M. with students from Iowa after sharing her story Willa Jones shows off her book after speaking to a group in Northern Kentucky Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Streetvibes Distributor James Brown livens it up with Xavier and Mary Burke-Rivers Streetvibes Distributor Lee McCoy showed the Xavier University students the ropes Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Speaker Dionna Flowers after sharing with Ursuline Academy students Streetvibes Distributor and Speaker Cleo Wombles always cracks us up with his jokes Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman �10 LOCAL N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 December 21 - 31, 2017 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 8 T LOCAL The Poverty Industrial Complex and a Visit from Chuck Collins | N o v 3- N o v 16, 2 0 17 MONICA MCGLOIN TRENTON DAVIS he systems of our forefathers, put in place in the name of development and wealth accumulation, have become dated and laggard. Though well intentioned, they lack empathy and have divided our society. The result: we’ve created a world of economic exiles. This economic isolation is a threat to our society. The decal on my rear bumper acclaims, “WE ARE THE 99%”. This rallying cry for unity made popular by the Occupy Movement in 2011 awakened most of the nation to the reality of the gross financial inequity in our country. Educated and employed people, students and economic exiles aligned in a common effort to change a system which fostered poverty, greed and class warfare. Though short lived, the movement was startling to all, many of the common good or the rising tide lifting all was no longer valued. Instead our institutions (education, health, political, social, religious) taught that those who worked hard would prosper and those who did not prosper were lazy. This shift led to the Poverty Industrial Complex. Today we have an infrastructure that is dependent on having “poor” people (economic exiles). It has created a not-for-profit service system, modeled on corporations, that provides significant employment - a business model that relies on lowwage workers to assure its profits - and political and religious systems that are dependent on corporate contributions and some extremely wealthy people. Are we lost? Or can we find our of whom have not gone back to life as usual. A good twenty years before this movement, Chuck Collins was doing workshops on The Growing Divide. Using Street Theater, human graphs and other popular education modes, Chuck and his colleagues provided data that showed our economy had been and continued to move in a direction of a few amassing wealth while many were finding their paychecks shrinking. The concept way home…? Chuck Collins is now a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy studies and co-founder of Wealth for the Common Good. In his most recent book, Born on Third Base, Chuck offers us a vision for a future where all can participate fully. Chuck was born on third base and acknowledges the benefits he had as child and a young man. He had the courage and wisdom to reflect on his BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) send out almost daily mailings to Cincinnati residents. When we succeeded in convincing Cincinnati voters to pass a campaign reform Charter Amendment in 2001, we thought we had effectively dealt with the "big money" problem locally. Not only did the Amendment contain contribution limits, but it included the option for candidates to receive public financing. Unfortunately, Carl Lindner and other opponents of minimizing the impact of private donations knocked out the public financing section of the Amendment SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 2) pillars of a new world building: human rights, a global ethic, non- Contributing Writer experience in light of the experiences of others. He has the ability to be comfortable with economic exiles as well as the power brokers and from 11 this position he calls us to come home. To revision a society where the common good is central, where no one is excluded, where we can protect (Continued on page 12) Author Chuck Collins Credit: book.google.com in another Amendment vote in 2002. Now contribution limits have been watered down.. Although an individual is limited to giving $1,100 to a candidate for Mayor or Council, the City is currently authorizing limited liability corporations the status of individuals that can also contribute $1,100. Under this interpretation, a person can make a contribution, and his or her limited liability corporation can then make a second donation. Some contributors have set up multiple LLCs. This practice faces a legal challenge, but the case will not be heard until after the November election. I have argued informally with several Cranley supporters that even if they applaud his record as Mayor, they still should not support his use of money to dominate the mayoral campaign. The relentless spending of money to drown out the message of a less well funded candidate is to say the least very unhealthy for democracy. One very positive element in this fall's campaign is that there are a number of grass-roots candidates running for City Council who often speak for their neighborhoods. It is refreshing to see these able people on the stump articulating issues that are often overlooked by establishment candidates. The subject of affordable housing leads us back to the horrors of Washington, D.C.. Programs that comprise the safety net have suffered major cuts over the years, and the budget plans of the Trump Administration and Congress would further devastate such funding. This reality makes it even more important for us to vote for empathetic local candidates who support innovations such as an affordable housing trust fund. violence, democratic world order, and economic democracy. “I have a strong and deep passion for peace and justice,” he says. “My relationship with God has moved me outward toward my neighbors and the earth. I have a responsibility to contribute as a co-creator to improve this world. There is continuity between this life and the world to come and the better this life is the better the world to come will be.”  “Breakdown Stereotypes” --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Dr. Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 P LOCAL Girls’ Writing Circle Description N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 JOELE NEWMAN easlee Neighborhood Center has a continued relationship with Rothenburg Preparatory Academy, conducting Girls’ Writing Circles in Contributing Writer the after-school program. Our circles offer these students the opportunity to express themselves and be heard and validated by their peers through the process of helping these girls find and develop their voices, reading poetry and writing creatively; we then share our work and verbally affirm each other’s writing. The process is grounded in respect and an appreciation for each girl’s unique gift. ----------------------------------- BLESSED My lovely mother My name to me means blessed I wish that my mother can have Because my mom said that if I was born in June I am blessed. I like to be blessed because I am worth a lot of Anything she wants And quickly instead of working for it Because she done so many things that You can look her at the eyes and say things Thank you very much. To be the Jada. She always wanted me to be a leader, And always participate Jada came from Hebrew. And always go to school, Blessed is worth a lot of things. I like to be Stay out of trouble, blessed Showing leadership, That was how I was born. JADA JONES SEYNABOU NIANG Girls' Writing Group Participant A For a brighter future Girls' Writing Group Participant The Children are Watching t times in my life, I have prided myself on being someone who won't back down. In the past, this meant that if someone came at me crazily, I had no problem meeting them with an equal intensity of craziness. If you wanted to get in my face, I was perfectly capable of getting in your face right back. The other day, I was at the grocery store, looking at some varieties of beer. I feel 99.9% certain that I was standing perfectly still when I felt someone bump into my back. I was not upset, but I did turn to see who had jostled me. It was a girl, maybe around 14-15 years old, who was with her mother. But this girl was mean-mugging me with an anger and intensity that felt totally disproportionate to how someone JIM LUKEN (Continued from page 7) another day to respect our veterans. The great American writer, Kurt MONICA MCGLOIN (Continued from page 11) Earth and have sufficient resources. Chuck is a visionary, but he does not JASON HAAP Contributing Writer So, I am embarrassed to say, I matched this mother's hatred with a vitriol of my own. When she spit rage at me, I spit rage back, faster and hotter, determined not to "lose" whatever weird battle I found myself fighting. As we became a bit of a public spectacle, and as I continued to match the mother's angry speech with angry retorts, another part of my brain awakened, and I started to metacognate on the nature of the situation in which I found myself. The adrenaline-fueled lizard brain coursed the fight instinct through my body, but the more sophisticated analytical portion of my frontal lobe started to provide commentary while in the midst of this argument. I have never experienced something like that before, analyzing myself in real time during an adrenaline-inspired fightresponse. To my horror, I realized I was guilty of a great injustice in the development of this young daughter! should act after bumping into someone. I looked away, but a few seconds later, I had that feeling on the back of my neck like someone kept staring, so I turned around again. The furious face still glared back with intense hatred. "Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked. This was probably a mistake. But, from my perspective, the intensity and the disrespectfulness of her body language was so profound, I just had to ask. I tried to be careful that I didn't say it with a particular tone. As the daughter responded, the mother turned on me at the same time. Mama bear had been awakened, and she was not interested in what I had to say, but instead in defending her child. As the rage boiled into the mother's eyes at the notion I would dare speak to her daughter, the child responded, "Because you bumped into me!" She said this with great attitude, anger, and flare. The mother now had all the ammunition she needed: I had, according to her, dared not only to speak to her child, but to bump into her! Just who did I think I was? I found myself on the receiving end of a string of insults and profanity totally inappropriate for an aisle in a grocery store. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, and the associated rage that comes with an adrenaline surge. My lower brain told me this was a fight or flight situation, and for whatever reason my reptile instincts said this was a time to fight. Vonnegut, fought in the Second World War. He spent many months as a POW in Germany. He called WW II the last war that may have been worth the fight. In 1973, Vonnegut put it this way. “Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans Day is not. So, I will throw Veterans Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don't want to throw away any sacred things.” just paint imaginary pictures. He offers concrete suggestions for ways to rebuild community based on real stories of what people are currently doing. If you recognize the inequity in our nation and you want to live in a more just and equitable world, then you need to begin the process by coming to hear Chuck Collins speak at Christ Church Cathedral at 7:00 PM on Monday, November 13, 2017. This event is free and all are welcome. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- �No. 36 8 13 STREET VOICE | N o v 3- N o v 16, 2 0 17 CRYING RAIN Looking out the window The rain is falling hard, and fast CONGRESS TAKES UP TAX REFORM Income inequality is the norm In terms of current tax reform. Congress will surely take a pass There are intervals of thunder In aiding a shrinking middle-class. Slashing ever so often Forget about all the working-poor. And then it suddenly stops Until the next thunder slash appears Corporate cuts cause jobs to soar. If you seek the real explanations, Look at big campaign donations. It lets you know that God is, near BILL WOODS Contributing Writer So take heed GONE Listen to his might Because thunder and rain, Will, be coming KIM GREEN GONE ARE THE DAYS THAT WE ONCE KNEW GONE ARE THE DAYS NEVER TO RETURN SO NOW WHAT’S NEW? GONE IS LIKE TOMMORROW THAT NEVER COMES IT’S Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer ALWAYS TODAY GONE IS THE EMPLOYMENT RATE AND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME, FOR A CHANGE I PRAY! GONE ARE THE DAYS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JOHN F. KENNEDY AND SINGER LUTHER VANDROSS TODAY SOME PEOPLE SCREAM OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD AS THE WORLD YELLS BARACK OBAMA IS THE BOSS TODAY WE AS HUMAN PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED OR CONFUSED AS TO WHO IS RULING TODAY WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS GOD’S WORLD. SO WHY DO THE PEOPLE KEEP FOOLING I SAY STOP KILLING OURSELVES WHEN IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT WE LIVE IN ORDER TO DIE SO WHY NOT TAKE EACH DAY AS A BLESSING ABOVE GROUND AND JUST SAY HELLO AND WHEN WE’RE GONE JUST SAY GOODBYE WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 137 Across 4. Teach 1. Stateroom 5. Mesh 6. Impluse 6. Knock over 10. Cot 7. A strong line 14. Unaccompanied 8. Keep watch over 15. Decant 16. Allay 17. Perch 18. Box lightly 19. Cause annoyance 20. Portable shelter 21. Visionary 22. Large passenger ship 23. Ecstatic 25. Rostrum 27. Inhabit 30. Vignette 34. Travesty 35. Wide open 38. Misery 39. Worry excessively 40. Excavate 41. Prima donna 42. The night before 43. Shelf 45. Cloth cap with no brim 46. Mend 48. Wellbeing 49. Evidence of previous injury 51. Small hard fruit 52. Aromatic substance 55. Molecule 57. Edible fat 61. Step 62. Report or maintain 63. Fairy 64. Metallic element 65. Wheelwork mechanism 66. Edible bulb 67. Look after 68. Merely 9. Make a mistake 10. Color of ripe cherries 11. Precipitation 12. Small island 13. Ale 21. Secret agent 22. Resembling or similar to 24. Simian 26. Small snake 27. Bid 28. Sculpt 29. Go stealthily 31. Pirouette 32. Crave for something belonging to someone else 33. Uncultivated land with scrubby vegetation 35. Append SODOKU PUZZLE NO 267 - MEDIUM 36. Two-wheeled horsedrawn carriage 37. Historic period 41. Time at which something must be completed 43. Parasitic insects 44. Epoch 45. Hymenopterous insect 47. Travel up 48. Stitched cloth border 50. Corvine bird 51. Regretful 52. Skewer for holding meat over a fire 53. Whittle 54. Visual representation 69. Easily irritated or annoyed 56. Small duck Down 59. Public violence 58. Central point of rotation 1. Heavy open wagon 60. Abnegate 2. Succulent plant 62. In the past 3. Good fortune 63. Cooking vessel PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 350 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 136 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 266- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 8 RESOURCES | N o v 3- N o v 16, 2 0 17 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 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 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 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 First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th 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 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 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 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 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 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 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 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 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 $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 N o v 3 - N o v 16, 2 0 17 | N o . 36 8 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. 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For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2017 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource November 3-November 16, 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Fighter, Pastor Rousseau O’Neal II Passed Away Reflections on Politics Pg 3: AIM Co-Founder and Anishinaabe Leader Dies Dennis Banks, warrior for Peace Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: No Such Thing as Free Speech…Never Has Been…Never Should Be War and Peace and a Poetic Response Pg 6: GCHC Pg 7: Armistice Day 2017, Remembering to Remember Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month 2017 Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: The Poverty Industrial Complex and a Visit from Chuck Collins Pg 12: Girl’s Writing Circle Description The children are Watching 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 November 3-November 16, 2017 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Justin Jeffre Steve Sunderland Robert Park Martha Stephens Jim Luken Saad Ghosn Dr. Mark Mussman Monica McGloin Trenton Davis Joele Newman Jada Jones Seynabou Niang Jason Haap Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Wikipedia Twincities.com Google images Jim Luken Book.google.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF AIM Armistice Day Bill Woods Chuck Collins Dennis Banks Dr. Mark Mussman Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Jada Jones Jason Haap Jim Luken Joele Newman Josh Spring Justin Jeffre Kim Green Martha Stephens Monica McGloin Peace Robert Park Rousseau O’Neal II Saad Ghosn Seynabou Niang Speech Steve Sunderland Trenton Davis War Wikipedia. Twincities.com. Google images. Jim Luken. Book.google.com. Religion Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/543e93b132e5ea8e624f3156260d5431.pdf f28843d12dbe8d27e2629b05e8dd5d5a PDF Text Text November 17th - November 30th 2017 | Vol. 20 Issue 50 (No. 369) advocating justice | building community Shantytown: From Awareness to Advocacy | 5 This Issue is sponsored by (Former) Judge Mark Painter INSIDE THIS ISSUE Religious Peacemakers: Living Her Baha'i Faith, Deborah Vance | 8 What is Good Bus Service? | 9 Forum Looks at Tax Reform and Income Inequality | 2 Tax Reform? Or Compound Inequality! | 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: An article worthy of your attention F or this issue, I decided that instead of writing an editorial, we would reprint the following article. I spoke directly with Mr. Jamie K. Oxendine who is the author of this article and he has given us permission to reprint it. We have shortened his article somewhat. You can find the full version at http://www.powwows. com/a-more-accurate-view-ofthanksgiving/. Mr. Oxendine fulfils multiple roles, including being the director of the Black Swamp InterTribal Foundation. Please visit their website at http://www. blackswampintertribalfoundation. org/ to learn more and join in efforts for systems change. Their mission includes the following: “The Black Swamp InterTribal Foundation is a Native American Educational and Service Organization that believes in Native American SelfDetermination. BSIF was formed with the commitment to Native America and helping people (Native and Non-Native).” A More Accurate Historical Thanksgiving: What Are You Celebrating? By Jamie K. Oxendine, Lumbee/Creek Director, Black Swamp InterTribal Foundation PRELUDE Thanksgiving…oh that wonderful holiday in which we should give N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 JOSH SPRING Executive Director Thanksgiving account. HISTORICAL THANKSGIVING Long before any Europeans came to the New World, Native Americans had many feasts and celebrations of thanks.  Although the Pilgrims were searching for some religious freedom from the British Crown, they were really nothing more than English Colonists.  They came for many other reasons also but regardless of what those reasons may have been, they were still loyal subjects to the British thanks.  Something we should do Crown. In 1620 an English ship called the every day.  Where did this national Mayflower set sail for the Americas. holiday come from?  Well it is not The ship was charted by a religious what you think and definitely not sect known as the Puritans. They what you were taught in school.  Many scholars give credit to the Americans, were headed for what was called the but many cultures and countries had Virginias. Unfortunately the Puritans “national days of giving thanks” long ran out of beer and needed to make before the United States established land as quickly as possible. Beer was used more often than water on the such a day. With that being the case, why high seas since water on a ship could do we think of the Pilgrims and not be kept drinking safe. Thus they Plymouth, Massachusetts for the landed in December of 1620 on the national holiday of Thanksgiving?  shores of what is now Massachusetts.  Like most of our history it comes They did not establish a settlement from miss-history and the fact that right away as often thought and most people think of the Pilgrims as taught in schools.  They were not able these “incredibly righteous people” to settle at the original landing. These so called Pilgrims were that invited the “savage Indians” to not the first Europeans to the shores their first Thanksgiving so that the of the New England coast. In 1605 a “savages” would not starve.  This is incorrect history and information.  (Continued on page 12) Here is a more accurate historical FORUM LOOKS AT TAX REFORM AND INCOME INEQUALITY W ith the Republican controlled Congress attempting to push tax reform legislation into law before its Christmas recess, the Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral devoted it's November 9th session to a review of the major elements now under review in both the House and Senate. Nancy Bertaux, Professor and Director Economics, Sustainability and Society, Xavier University, examined the tax reform proposals and related them to the growing income inequality in this country. Her analysis concluded that this legislation would merely further the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us. Professor Bertaux began by providing some historical BILL WOODS Contributing Writer perspective. In the 1950s, a period characterized by economic growth, the graduated income tax was much higher for upper income Americans. The income gap between the wealthy and average people was also much smaller than today. Economists began to notice a widening gap in the 1970s, and the Reagan tax cuts in the early 1980s really seemed to accentuate it. By the 1990s, scholars agreed it was an accepted long-term trend. When looking at the features of the Republican drafted legislation in the House and the Senate, the large corporate tax cut and the elimination of the inheritance tax loom as major wins for those with economic power and wealth. Corporations would receive a fifteen percent cut. Since current federal taxation only kicks in with inheritances exceeding $2-million, only the very wealthy would benefit from this elimination. Proponents of this reform proclaim that a large corporate tax cut is critical to their plan. It will create millions of new jobs with living wages, and thus greatly benefit struggling workers. Professor Bertaux challenged this assumption saying that most economists fail to see a correlation between cutting taxes for companies and job growth. In our consumer society, average families and individuals buying things are greater drivers for creating jobs. President Trump and GOPlegislators herald the tax reform (Continued on page 7) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: 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: Josh Spring, Jamie K. Oxendine, Bill Woods, Bentley Davis, Jason Haap, Dr. Mark Mussman, Steve Sunderland, Ed Burdell, Saad Ghosn, Cam Hardy, Willa Denise Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Dr. Mark Mussman, The Jubilee Campaign, Alice Schneider, Saad Ghosn, Cam Hardy, Bill Woods --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 36 9 OPINION On Consent and Rape | N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 BENTLEY DAVIS I am a rape survivor. Starting when I was quite young, I was the victim of sexual assault in a variety of forms and by several perpetrators over the years. None of the perpetrators went to jail. Once, the last incident, I went to the ER and the police; but still nothing happened (not enough evidence to prosecute). I am writing this from that personal perspective. Rape is wrong and inexcusable. Sexual harassment is wrong and inexcusable. For decades, I have tried to raise awareness about this very serious problem in our society. Rapists seem to have two different, though sometimes intertwined motives. For some (most?), it is an act of violence. It is an attempt to establish, maintain, or express power. It stems from not seeing the victim (usually a woman) as fully human, but rather a tool. For others, they are so socially awkward and are so afraid being turned down; that they take what they want once consent can’t be given. They wait until the victim is unable to consent. She’s passed out or asleep or just too drunk to fight. What is common of all rapists, indeed, what is definitional; is they either do not seek consent or they continue even if consent is denied. When the #MeToo tag took off after the Weinstein accusations, many people shared powerful stories of survival and of being assaulted or harassed at work. But some told stories Contributing Writer of people they knew (not employers or people in a position of power over), simply propositioning them. For example, one male acquaintance of mine told a story of another man he admired coming to his place and instead of seeking conversation, asking for sex. The proposition was declined and no assault took place (at least according to the story my acquaintance told). He was appalled that the man he admired would think of him as a potential sex partner. Since then, there have been news stories of people facing unwanted propositions as if that was the same as facing unwanted sex acts. An unwanted proposition is not rape. If someone says “hey, you wanna do xyz”? And you can say no without risking your physical or financial well-being; then it is seeking consent. If one’s job is in jeopardy if one declines, then that isn’t really consent. (For a non-sexual example, most people cannot politely decline the invitation to the office party, even if it is described as an optional get-together.) If one says “no, I don’t wanna do xyz”, and it is done anyway; that is rape or assault. But most unwanted propositions end with a “no thank you” and the person making the proposition goes away. The risk of a proposition is that the person being asked might feel uncomfortable and no longer want to be in the same space as the person making the proposal. This is why workplace relations can be tricky at best. Sure, there might not be repercussions. But the person who you thought of as a colleague/friend/ acquaintance clearly sees you as a potential sex partner. You don’t see them in the same way. And that is awkward. It can be awkward enough that the previous relationship is damaged. But I do not want to live in a world where people — especially young men  —  are even more frightened of seeking consent than they already are. Making examples of famous people who once propositioned others can have this dangerous unintended consequence. In the cases where power is unfairly wielded or where there is non-consensual sexual contact we should most certainly believe the victim, not blame the victim, and call out the behavior. But I am afraid that in some recent cases, the accusers are saying “he asked me x, I said no, we didn’t do x, but it creeped me out.” Being creeped out isn’t rape. It isn’t assault. And it isn’t even harassment. It is not being into the proposition. As an example, I was once propositioned by someone who wanted to sniff my shoes. That person asked. I declined. No repercussions. But I was thinking, “Eww, shoe fetish, yuck.” I have seen that person again and became aware of my shoes. But I wasn’t the victim of harassment or assault by that person. I was Why I didn’t vote I did not vote in this past election, and I feel pretty good about it. However, if I were to believe the rhetoric I've heard from certain voters, I have neglected my "civic duty," and as a result of this negligence I have "no right" to complain about anything for the next several years. Put another way, over 70% of Cincinnati's voters have neglected their civic duty and have no right to be critical of anything related to politics for the next several years. Or, put yet another way, less than 30% of Cincinnati's voters think they are superior to everyone else, and have proclaimed their opinions as the only ones that matter for the next several years. What kind of narrow-minded, self-aggrandizing, and arrogant hogwash is this? Some of you probably wonder why I chose not to vote. Perhaps you want to analyze my reasons, determining if I actually have an acceptable "excuse" - or, maybe you want to deconstruct my reasoning to "prove" I am in error. Whatever the case, I'm not going JASON HAAP Contributing Writer to tell you why I didn't vote, just like you are not going to hear, analyze, and rebuke the reasons behind each of the 70% of Cincinnati voters who took the same actions I took. Instead, on behalf of my nonvoting brothers and sisters (who have not granted me the right to be their spokesman in any capacity), I have some important reminders about how to engage people with whom you disagree. Before throwing around phrases like "civic duty," let's make sure we all understand what that even means. Our collective civic duties represent those responsibilities we all must fulfill - such as serving on a jury, paying taxes, obeying the laws, and so forth. It is not my civic duty to attend protests or to practice a religion. That's the difference between duties and rights. Voting, like free speech and freedom of religion, is a right - and rights are not requirements. Civic duties, such as answering the call to serve on a jury or to pay taxes, actually are requirements. Voting does not belong in this category. So, for the sake of accuracy, please stop misusing the phrase. Instead of failing to meet my civic duties, what I have really done is made a choice unpopular among a certain self-important swath of voters. As for the next part of their beef: do non-voters have a right to complain about politics? Of course we do! That's how free speech works! I can complain about whatever I like, and that speech is not predicated on conforming to the preferred behavior of recent voters. I can already imagine certain counter-arguments. Perhaps some of these self-appointed arbiters of acceptability will say I have the "right" to complain, but that I shouldn't since I did not participate in selecting our political representatives. Why are they so concerned about what we decide to discuss in the public realm? Are these accusations just a tact? Are they trying to convince us to vote next time? Is it because they think we have made a bad choice, and they hope to change our future behavior? (I presume that's the intent behind their stance, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 3 propositioned with a proposition I wasn’t into. Again, to be clear, I am not talking about situations where consent cannot be freely given due to age, incapacitating intoxication, or power imbalance. In order for there to be any consensual sex acts of any type; someone has to make the ask. That ask really ought to be clear. It needs to be “Do you want to have sex with me?” and not “Do you want to come in for a nightcap?” Because with the latter, it is perfectly reasonable for the interlocutor to take one at their word and that a nightcap is a drink and not a night of cavorting. People are going to have sex. Let us encourage people to ask, to be able to decline, and for that consent to be real without fear that a decade or more later one will be called out for asking something that the recipient thought gross or creepy if that recipient was able to decline without repercussions. I want people to feel more comfortable seeking consent, not less so. I don’t want to create a culture where those who seek consent face the same level of approbation as those who don’t bother with that important step. We need to put an end to rape culture. And that means empowering people to ask instead of taking as well as empowering people to say no. PS: This is not an invitation for propositions. I am happy with my romantic situation and am not looking for anything else. --------------------------------------- as the alternative is that these people are nothing but jerks.) Here's some advice for how to interact with non-voters in a way that might actually be productive. Have you ever seen people so upset they cannot calm down or catch their breath? If you ever meet such a person, yelling "CALM DOWN" will not likely help anyone to calm down. Similarly, yelling at us for not voting is probably not going to make us vote. If anything (as this article demonstrates), you will just make us angry and defensive. Some people, as a result of this angry defensiveness, might actually doubledown, increasing their resolve not to vote. That's the opposite of what you want, so perhaps you should consider a new tact. Learn how to practice empathy instead of anger. Rather than judging non-voters and then demeaning them and characterizing them as morally irresponsible, seek instead to understand their decisions. And remember, seeking to understand is not the same as attempting to refute through argument. Being the highly motivated and civically engaged people you purport to be, I imagine you might learn some interesting insights about what (Continued on page 11) �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 �No. 36 9 E LOCAL Shantytown: From Awareness to Advocacy | N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 ach year, dozens of local schools take part in Shantytown activities. Shantytown is an opportunity for students to raise awareness about build community around issues of poverty, hunger, and homelessness. Schools are free to structure their activities however they see fit, but in general, there are some constants at each school. Most schools do a sleep-over at the school where students build “shanties” out of cardboard boxes and sleep in them over night. Usually, the night is cold and the experience is eye-opening for students who have lived in a warm home all of their lives. While this tends to be the most defining aspect of Shantytown, it is often the role of the Homeless Coalition that is most meaningful. DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer When we arrive, students may be eating a meal, a simulation of a soup kitchen. Our speakers bring with them unique experiences to share with the students while they eat. Imparting the highs and lows of life, the speaker exposes themselves with the struggles they have faced as well as the joy they have seen through finding a supportive community. Students listen intently as they learn about barriers to success, both interpersonal and institutional. I take note of student reactions, and they are often moved by the sincerity of our speakers who don’t hold anything back. I am always impressed by how mature students are who are now exposed to very real issues that are messy and complicated. They listen intently with an open heart. A good example was at Hamilton Badin High School this year. Willa Jones spoke to the group, who were engaged and asked thoughtful questions. They surrounded Willa with a ring of love after she spoke, and showed Willa interest in buying her book of poetry. The students were interested in getting a copy of the new Day By Day Calendar – a project in which Willa took part. Beyond that, they also asked questions and made comments afterwards that showed they understood the importance of affordable housing and creating a livable wage. The compassion of the students that night left us feeling exhilarated and ready for our next speaking engagement. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 5 After we left, they heard from another speaker who lives in Hamilton. This gave them an even more in-depth view, and one a little more local. They spent the night in their boxes and tore them up in the morning to create signs for the Cardboard Brigade. The Cardboard Brigade is a way to continue the awareness throughout the entire school by holding up statistics and statements to the students as they arrive on the bus or are dropped off before school. One of the statements that had a big impact on me reads, “I noticed that our eyes never meet.” This is certainly a response to the suggestions that we give on how to respond to panhandling. It gives me hope when students are taking the lessons they received from us and reworking it in a critical manner. These students may have the solution to ending homelessness, and until then, they are certainly making a difference in our community. (Continued on page 9) �6 LOCAL WHY IS CANCER MORTALITY SO HIGH IN CINCINNATI? PART ONE 1. N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 STEVE SUNDERLAND Introduction: I have been working for the past two years with the harrowing knowledge that Cincinnati is the cancer capital of Ohio for African Americans. Why? More minorities die of cancer in Cincinnati than in any other city in this state. Why? The more I visit with people with low incomes, and minorities that cannot obtain health insurance, or elders that are confused about how to get health care, the clearer it is that poor people have no place in the Cincinnati healthcare system. Why? I have not found one hospital that has a community education outreach program that explains the warning signs of cancer to citizens. Nor have I found a hospital that welcomes people for screening in the neighborhoods where life expectancy is lowest. Why? What I have seen, over and over again, is the that each hospital's Cancer Institute’s say: "This is not our job." The healthcare system in general is saying: "People of low income need to "take responsibility" for their own health needs. If they don't, or don't know how to, well, that is just too bad." I want to ask the following question: Is the high cancer death rate in Cincinnati, especially in the low-income population, the result of policies of indifference by our hospitals, healthcare providers, medical associations, and insurance companies? 2. Why we need cancer justice: Cancer does not discriminate. Rich, Contributing Writer poor, homeless, middle-class, elders, children, all get cancer. Sometimes cancer is lethal right away. Other times, a cancer can be treated by physicians who are surgeons, radiation specialists, and/or with specific kinds of chemo-therapy. It is known that early identification of cancer and timely treatment can stop most cancer. Or, turn cancer from a death sentence into a chronic disease like diabetes, with ongoing treatments that permit a normal life. Successful cancer treatment usually depends on a kind of education about health: people need to know warning signs and, once seen, what to do to have these signals checked out by medical specialists. Part of the education is to know how to gain entry into a cancer treatment program or how to gain access to people who know about cancer and can treat it. And, part of the education is to know what to do when doctors jump to conclusions, rush decisions, panic people, or leave areas of ambiguity. People need to know that there can be a step called, "second opinions." These are visits to physicians to review the first doctor's conclusions and to see if there is agreement and whether or not there are alternatives. Then, with more information, people may need help in making a decision about which path to choose. Sometimes the education involves talking with a specialist who can weigh the factors, both good and bad. Sometimes we need to go and have some basic questions answered for a second time by the doctor or nurse or specialist. In all cases of cancer, whether just beginning or advanced, health education is a form of justice. No one should be denied cancer justice due to having a low income, or because they are homeless, or because physicians have not treated people with respect due to their skin color, economic status, or prior conditions. Cancer justice is a realization that cancer is not the fault of the person, usually. Rather, cancer is an injustice when society, i.e., healthcare officials and institutions, politicians, foundations, and religious organizations turn their backs on people who are confused about how to find out about their critical health needs. Cancer justice involves a willingness by health care professionals to provide the basic literacy in cancer. People are worried about cancer and feel they do not have a basic vocabulary about what a disease like cancer can do to their bodies. Healthcare can step in, provide a clear explanation, offer alternatives, and provide reassurance that cancer can be faced and, in many cases, overcome. 3. The Cancer Justice Network Provides One Step in Cancer Education: For the past two years, a free city-wide program, the Cancer Justice Network, has provided cancer education to over 5000 people. Most of the people have been members of low income communities in Cincinnati. Through participation at dinners in churches, or, health fairs in schools and community centers, or in social service agencies, the education about cancer has been offered by people called, "Navigators." This is a new healthcare role. Navigators are helpers, guides, allies, and facilitators of discussions between low income people and health care officials and institutions. Navigators accompany people through the maze of finding a friendly physician who can answer questions and, when agreed upon, begin to have a test for cancer. Navigators defend their people precisely at the point when some people may be terrified that they will not understand the physician or the physician's information. Navigators provide support, compassion, and a total commitment to helping the person follow through with their questions, their tests, and their treatments. Navigators insure respect for the person no matter their level of anxiety and no matter how many times information needs to be repeated and understood. Navigators work with trust between the person seeking information and themselves. With trust, with respect, and with compassion, the possibility of finding out about cancer and what to do with a cancer diagnosis reaches a form of justice that can be lifesaving. In sum, Navigators work with the whole person as they face cancer: whether it be transportation needs, help with insurance or hospital forms, personal support as the fear builds, or help with discussing options, the Navigator stands with the person. (To be continued.) --------------------------------------- Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony Each year, the Homeless Coalition celebrates the accomplishments of its members, the community, and the supporters at our Annual Dinner and Award Ceremony. This has long been an opportunity for organizations to come together and to share in the success of another year working alongside those experiencing homelessness. Come celebrate with hundreds of individuals working towards this common goal. Help us recognize individuals who will be receiving awards for their hard work that evening, raise money for operating funds to help sustain our mission, and dance and celebrate another year of hard work! Wednesday, December 13th Doors Open: 5:30 pm Newport Syndicate 18 East 5th Street Newport, KY Tickets available at: Cincihomeless.org THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 9 T 7 LOCAL TAX REFORM? or COMPOUND INEQUALITY! | N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 he President and his Republican congressional confederates are promoting their tax code revisions as providing relief for all. They are especially proud of the few dollars that the shrinking middle class will receive. At a time when economic researchers are showing the growing disparity between the very wealthy and the shrinking middle class, one might think that tax reform would present an opportunity to redress these problems. In fact it appears that a deliberate effort is being made to this will exacerbate it. How one views the choices in governance turns on differing philosophies of government and its purposes. • The republicans apparently see it as their responsibility to protect the wealthy and give them even more. • A compassionate economic philosophy calls for building communities of joint responsibility for one another, an open system which encourages growth and innovation without the uneven playing field which privilege and special interests insist upon, and caring for those who need assistance to grow. The politicians speak in grand sweeping terms about growing the economy and putting more money in taxpayers’ pockets. However, when BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) proposal as a plan to benefit the middle-class, but Professor Bertaux doesn't find much evidence of major and permanent relief for average Americans. The tax percentages for middle income folks may be lowered a bit, but often helpful deductions such as state and local taxes are currently slated to be eliminated. One calculation using information from the House proposal shows people with incomes of $100,000 or less actually paying more taxes. Bertaux also pointed to one proposed change that will further the burden of young adults with huge college loan debts. They will no longer be able to deduct the interest from the payments on their loans. The tax proposal to date will increase the deficit by $1.5-trillion. This loss of revenue will increase the ED BURDELL Contributing Writer translated in the current proposed tax reform these goal results in very personal, individual impacts. Tax reform which supposedly reduces the taxes businesses and individuals is only one side of the equation. Paying for the lost revenue is the other. For example one deduction which will be eliminated is interest paid on Student Loan Debt. This is the largest non-real estate debt category and debtors are already burdened by special conditions which can make it difficult to refinance and impossible to discharge through bankruptcy. If education is the path to economic success and borrowing is the only way for many to afford it, this increases inequality by further penalizing those who try to become self-sufficient. The President’s assertion that the imagined resultant growth will grow the economy to such an extent that lower taxes on an increased GNP will fill the government coffers is a fairy tale. It didn’t work with the Regan cut. For a current example of the disaster this strategy yields, look at Kansas which has destroyed its public education system and reduced or abandoned may basic government responsibilities. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the proposed tax cuts will increase the National debt by almost 2 TRILLION DOLLARS pressure to cut programs and services, and the Trump Administration budget for 2018 would decimate the safety net for the poor and those in need. This budget includes cuts in Medicare, Food Stamps, affordable housing programs, and income assistance to poor families with children. Needless to say, such cuts as an indirect result of the tax legislation would be devastating to low-income families and individuals. Professor Bertaux spent part of the Forum discussion period talking with attendees about religious teachings and how they fit or don't fit in the process of creating a fair tax reform plan. The general conclusion was that our society and especially our corporate and political leaders have gotten too far away from the concept that those with means should naturally pay a larger share in helping to insure the common good. in the decade following passage. However even this debt increase which should be anathema to traditional Republicans will not suffice. The proposal calls for a $1.5 trillion increase which means that major cuts in our social safety net will be required. For it is not a matter of profiting one set of people more than others, it is a case of disadvantaging tens of millions of Americans to reap benevolences on a relative few. When giving more to the wealthy and businesses and the wealthy who invest in those businesses is achieved by adding 1.5 trillion dollars to the debt and cutting Medicaid, housing programs, child care assistance, health insurance for children, health insurance assistance for working folks, the environment – this is not compassionate economics, this is runaway greed and rejection of one of America’s core concepts, ‘that all are created equal.’ FOLLOW THE MONEY How will individuals and their enterprises fare? We know that the very lowest category of taxpayers is certain to be impacted. That is those whose taxable income is between $1-19,000. Currently the rate is 10%. Reform would increase it to 12%! We know that those making $50,000 will see few benefits, and some 30% are estimated to see increases! We Ed Burdell Credit: Jubilee Campaign can each look at the new system and calculate how it affects us. If we weren’t certain who benefits, think about this. Upon passage, 50% of the benefits from Republican tax reform will accrue to the 1%ers at the top of our economic totem pole. By 2027 the top 1% will receive 80% of the benefits! How much will the President and his family and the Trump empire gain from the tax changes? If we can trust his own words, the repeal of the alternate minimum tax will save him millions. Is the real total tens of million –even more? Who will ask, how can we get that answer? Just a side thought, wouldn’t everybody like to make up the rules so the game enriches us? Funny, that is not illegal when our President and Congressmen do it. It would be instructive to have a spread sheet showing in real dollars what congressmen and cabinet heads will gain. We could give them ranges so they could easily estimate the largess they will receive. Less than $1,000, 1-10,000, 10,001-25,000, 25,001-100,000, What is your answer Brad Wenstrup, Steve Chabot, Sherod Brown, Rob Portman ? CALL AND ASK THEM! Bill Woods with Brian Taylor and other attendees THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Alice Schneider �8 RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Living Her Baha'i Faith, Deborah Vance Wants to Contribute to Unity and to a Strong Community N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 SAAD GHOSN Deborah Vance, a Baha'i, grew up in a secular, not overtly religious, but spiritual family. She was raised with high moral and ethical values by very scrupulous, sincere and trusting parents. As a child in the 60's she attended Sunday school at the Congregational church in Wilmette, IL, where she and her family lived. She was very inspired by the then progressive pastor, Buckner Coe, who was trying to integrate the predominantly white church, inviting Blacks to join in; and who was openly critical of the Vietnam war going on at the time. "Reverend Coe taught us Sunday school and took us all 7th graders to visit places of worship of the various religions in the area, for instance, the Mormon temple, the Catholic church, the Jewish synagogue...," says Vance. "He had heard of Martin Luther King Jr., went to Selma, AL and marched with him for civil rights." Vance's social study teacher in 7th grade was also instrumental at introducing her to social justice. He gave her as assignments to research and write essays on current social issues. This is how she learned about Cuba and Fidel Castro, also about the prevalent poverty in the world. He got her also involved at tutoring in social sciences children from underprivileged backgrounds, in inner-city Chicago. In 1968 during her last year of high school, Vance went with a youth group from her church, part Contributing Writer of a cross-cultural/interracial service project, to Puerto Rico, to help other African American youth of her age fix a community center. While there Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. "I remember all of us gathering and discussing the news, what it represented and meant for our country and for the African American communities," says Vance. "I felt the pain of my newly made African American friends; it affected me deeply." Even though in a predominately white high school, the civil rights movement was discussed there daily by students and teachers. With some of her tutoring friends and sympathetic parents and teachers, Vance started a group they called POWR: People to Overcome White Racism. They demonstrated, picketed and marched; produced public programs; invited speakers; fundraised; targeting primarily white suburbs, in order to raise awareness of institutional racism in the metropolitan area. At the same time Vance began her open opposition to the Vietnam war, triggered in part by police violence against protesters during the Chicago Democratic Convention. Having graduated from high school and ready to pick a college, she opted for Boston University, Boston known then for the prevailing activism What is BAHA'ISM The Baha'i faith was founded in 1852, in Iran, by Baha'u'llah, a persecuted follower of the Báb. Bahá'ís believe that there is only one God, transcendent and unknowable, the source of all creation. He has sent great prophets to humanity, through which the Holy Spirit has revealed the "Word of God." They are: Adam; Abraham; Moses; Krishna; Zoroaster; Buddha; Jesus Christ; Mohammed; The Bab; Baha'u'llah. A new prophet is not expected for many centuries into our future. The Bahá'ís believe in the unity of the great religions of the world which they view as sprung from the same spiritual source. They believe that every person has an immortal soul which is not subject to decomposition; and that at death, the soul is freed to travel through the spirit world, "a timeless and placeless extension of our own universe..." Bahá'ís support gender and race equality; world government; freedom of expression and assembly; world peace; religious tolerance, and religious cooperation, and they actively promote these concepts. Baha'u'llah said: "The best beloved of all things in my sight is justice" Unlike many other religions, Bahá'ís view scientific inquiry as essential to expand human knowledge and to deepen faith. They feel that science needs to be guided by spiritual principles so that its applications are beneficial to all humanity.  Bahá'ís have no clergy, sacraments or rituals. There are currently more than 8 million Bahá'í followers throughout the world. within its universities. Over there she was quite active in demonstrating against the Vietnam war, marching, striking, participating in resistance group discussions and activities. "It all went well," she says, "until I started hearing discourses from fellow protesters and leaders encouraging violence and killing... I also found some of the protest leaders to be just looking for self-glory and charisma, and not really interested in a change..." Disillusioned, Vance decided to Deborah Vance move away, leave the United States and settle in Italy. It was 1970 and she had by then cut her ties with her Congregational church which, due to its increasing opposition to the progressive views and positions of its pastor Buckner Coe, had prompted his resignation; also, had embraced the Baha'i faith, having discovered it thanks to the soft rock duo Seals and Crofts, who were both Baha'i, and having realized that she adhered to all its tenants. In Italy, Vance tried to pursue her education, met her 1st husband and had children. Her stay was interrupted by a few returns to the States, a short one in California where she lived self-sufficiently, growing food, chickens and goats, with no electricity or running water. "I was extremely poor then," she states. "I can understand well poverty now, having been without and having experienced distrust and prejudice from people who think that something is wrong with you if you're poor." After 6 years of marriage, Vance divorced and returned to Wilmette. She resumed her studies and got a BA degree in Communication (Radio- TV & Film) from Northwestern University, an MA degree in Mass Communication from Towson University, and a PhD degree in Intercultural Communication from Howard University. In the meantime, she had moved to Baltimore, MD, worked in educational TV, did freelance journalistic writing and taught. "I wanted to work in instructional TV to teach children," Vance says. "I wanted to instill the idea that the US system is a commercial system which wants our money; that we are bombarded with fake news and that Credit: Saad Ghosn our children need to learn how to talk back to the media." To that effect, in the 80's, Vance got involved with the "Great Atlantic Radio Conspiracy", a group who researched in depth news topics in order to shed light on their truth, away from misinformation. The findings would then be scripted, radio recorded, and distributed to radio stations across the country. Vance contributed to 2 such episodes, one on air pollution caused by the use of chlorofluorocarbons in aerosol cans, the other on the true story of Guatemala. At McDaniel College in Westminster, MD, where she also was an Associate Professor, Vance taught media courses at the cultural level. "A person needs to know what it is about him/herself that's cultural vs. what is essentially him or her," she says. "To me, this is the basis for justice, seeing what role we play in continuing the system that oppresses certain people vs. being able to treat everyone as individuals while respecting their differences." (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 �No. 36 9 LOCAL What is Good Bus Service? | N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 W hat is ‘good’ bus service? There are several measures which gauge the effectiveness and quality of bus service. In short, a bus route is ranked based on how much access the line provides its riders, how much mobility it gives the communities it runs through, and how useful the service is to its potential riders. These terms are broad, but in terms of bus service they are defined as: •Access: A measure of how easy it is to reach places, services, and opportunities by bus. It is also based on how many and what kinds of places a rider can get to in a reasonable amount of time. High accessibility routes tend to have more stops so that more people and CAM HARDY Contributing Writer places are closer to a bus stop. These lines will also shorten walk times, as the distance between bus stops is shorter (about 300 – 600 feet apart) than a limited stop or express line. Consequently, these lines are slower than those with fewer stops as the bus picks up and drops off passengers more frequently. - Cincinnati's 78 bus illustrates access. With service from downtown to Springdale, the 78 has more than 100 stops over a 12-mile route, serving uptown and the historic Vine St corridor. Many other bus lines provide similar access. Indeed, nearly all of Cincinnati's core corridors are blanketed with bus stops, from Glenwood and Harrison on the West Side to Montgomery and Madison on the East Side. The bus goes almost everywhere within Cincinnati city limits and covers wide swaths of Hamilton County. particularly along the key corridors mentioned above. All things considered, Metro is probably best at providing access. •Mobility: A measure of how efficiently bus service moves people from place to place. This measure prioritizes faster travel times and the capacity of service in meeting the demand. High mobility routes tend to go to more places and at faster speeds. These lines shorten travel times, as riders can go farther distances in less time. If it takes an unreasonable amount of time to get from point A to point B, then the line gives its riders less flexibility as they have to spend an inordinate amount of time traveling which lessens the amount of time they can do other things. This means less mobility for DR. MARK MUSSMAN (Continued from page 5) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 riders. - Cincinnati has very few bus lines with high mobility, but the Metro*Plus is a good example, especially for service between downtown and uptown. You can save up to 10 minutes traveling from Government Square to UC on the Metro*Plus compared to the 19, 78 and other buses that serve uptown. That's a big time savings for a twoand-a-half mile trip. The Metro*Plus achieves faster speeds thanks to fewer stops. There are only 5 stops between downtown and UC, compared to 19 stops on the 78, which follows a similar route. Mobility on buses is a major problem in Cincinnati. With a few exceptions, taking the bus is never faster than driving. Typically, it's much slower, especially during rush hour. Expanding Metro*Plus service throughout the city, introducing bus-only lanes (common practice in many cities around the world) (Continued on page 11) �10 LOCAL N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 December 21 - 31, 2017 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 9 LOCAL | N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 JASON HAAP (Continued from page 3) SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) As a professor and a researcher, Vance always advocated for the oppressed, raising awareness of diversity. She constantly asked her students to consider ethics and morals in their judgments and analyses. In Baltimore, Vance met her current husband of 16 years. Both recently retired, they decided to relocate a year ago in Cincinnati. "We felt the vibes," Vance says. "Cincinnati is a culturally rich CAM HARDY (Continued from page 9) and reducing the amount of time it takes to board (tap cards, all-door boarding) are some of the steps that can be taken to improve mobility. Note: Commuter express buses often provide high mobility. But they barely connect to the rest of the system, often skipping entire neighborhoods and running only during rush hour. As a result, they should be seen as a complement to, rather than an integral part of a bus network. •Useful: A measure of how well bus service allows for flexibility in planning commutes and trips for the most people. A highly useful bus line will provide frequent, consistent 11 causes people to become disengaged from politics. Then, once you attain this understanding, perhaps you can work to make the system more amenable for these non-voters. That way, you could increase voter turnout in a compassionate and productive way - a way not predicated on your proclaiming your superiority over the majority of the population. city with a major league baseball team and a well-established Baha'i community." Since in Cincinnati, Vance has joined the League of Women Voters, and has lectured to them on public speaking and on understanding media. During the recent presidential election, she served as a poll watcher in Corryville. She has also been very involved in gardening and volunteers at the Civic Garden Center. She is particularly interested in community gardens and would like to start one at the Baha'i center in Westwood. "Community gardens enable people to attain freedom and control over the food available to them," she says. "They are also a great way to connect and build communities." Vance has a small garden of her own. She also volunteers at the Rothenberg school, downtown Cincinnati, where a rooftop garden has been created for students and their parents. In Cincinnati, Vance's other activities are now mostly centered around the Baha'is. She participates in study groups of the Baha'is writings and helps in youth programs trying to teach virtues. Her main purpose is to strengthen the community, and spread the messages of unity, peace, love and justice of Baha'u'llah, the founder of Baha'ism. "Central to teachings of Baha’i Faith is that on this planet, there’s one unfolding religion, one universal faith," she says. "Baha’i Faith is only the most recent revelation. At its core, this means there’s no “Them”, there’s just “Us.”" This unity is what Vance would like to continue to live for. service that connects people to where they need to go in a reasonable amount of time. These buses shorten waiting times, as service comes frequently throughout the day and at consistent intervals, in turn giving riders a wider variety of times that they can arrive at their destinations. - The 17 and 19, which serve Hamilton Ave and Colerain Ave, respectively, help illustrate this concept. At peak service (morning and evening rush hour), the 19 comes about every 25 minutes, dropping to around 50 minutes the rest of the day. Weekend service is even less frequent. The 17, by comparison, runs every 10-15 minutes throughout the day. Frequency drops early in the morning and late in the evening, but never below the 19. It's also a reliable option on the weekend. What does this look like in real life? Let's assume you just miss the bus. On the 17, that typically means a wait of 10-12 minutes for the next bus. For riders on the 19, however, it could be anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour before another bus arrives. Despite the availability of realtime bus tracking and set schedules, generally speaking, life is too irregular to plan around a bus that comes every 30-60 minutes. A couple extra minutes in the doctor's office, a slow checkout line at Kroger, or staying late to send one more email at work can mean an extra 40 minutes at the bus stop. Sure, some days, that's not a big deal. But when the weather's bad or you're in a rush, missing the bus can be catastrophic. Given the choice, very few people will take that risk, which is why high frequency and thereby more useful buses are so important when it comes to retaining and attracting new bus riders. One or two bad experiences with missing a bus can drive the choice rider away for good. In the end, the more that people can depend on bus service to live their lives, the more they will view the bus as a viable, reliable transportation option. Better bus service allows people to sit back and enjoy the ride; avoid traffic, parking, and the cost of driving; and get where they need to go on time. --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Bus rider exits broken down bus Accessibility ramp breaks on bus Credit: Cam Hardy Credit: Cam Hardy “Breakdown Stereotypes” “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Dr. Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 2 British expedition led by Captain George Weymouth had landed on this particular coastline. When they left in 1614 they took 24 Natives as slaves and left smallpox, syphilis, and gonorrhea in their wake. One of the Natives taken back to Europe was named Tisquantum (called Squanto by the white man). The 102 Puritans landed and built their colony called The Plymouth Plantation on the ruins of the Native village of Pawtuxet.  Pawtuxet had been destroyed by the Weymouth expedition. The Puritans survived by stealing the food stores of neighboring Native Summer Villages as well as eating corn that was still growing wild from abandoned cornfields near the ruined village. Strangely enough, Tisquantum, who had survived his trips to Europe, happened to come upon these Puritans while hunting with another Native named Samoset.  They observed the newcomers and finally one day Tisquantum send Samoset over to greet the Puritans with the word “Welcome.” Tisquantum soon joined and the Puritans were surprised to find two “savages” that spoke their language. The Puritans were terrible at survival, but with the help of Tisquantum they were able to harvest some late corn and learned to catch some game. Tisquantum also helped the colonists negotiate a treaty with the Wampanoag People near by who were led by Massasoit. Still many of the Puritans quickly succumbed to pneumonia and consumption. It was a hard winter and some 46 of the original 102 Mayflower people died. The next year, 1621, with the help of the Wampanoag People, the Puritans learned how to live and make a bountiful harvest. In celebration of their good fall harvest, the colony’s governor, William Bradford, declared a three-day feast after the harvest. The Natives that attended this feast were not even invited. The Puritans had only invited Massasoit the Wampanoag leader. It was Massasoit that brought the other 90 or more of his Native brothers and sisters that saved the colony to the chagrin of the rather rude and indignant Puritans. The Natives also provided most of the food. There were no prayers of thanksgiving of any kind and the Natives were not invited back ever again for any other such events. The following years the Puritans became pre-occupied with themselves and their superiority over the Native People. This along with spiritual pride, jealousy, envy, greed, bad relationships (adultery was rampant – remember the Scarlet Letter) and other sins, caused the Puritans to lack. Now at this moment most scholars write that the drought of 1623 was the cause for much of this. While the drought was hard, it was not an excuse for the many unrighteous things the Puritans were LOCAL doing. Now the peace settlement between this first colony of Puritans and the Wampanoag People meant that the Puritans were to have 15 years to establish a firm colony. By 1629 there were no more than 300 Puritans in present day New England in small and isolated communities. This survival prompted a wave of Puritans that soon established growing settlements north of Plymouth in Boston and Salem. Over the next 10 years the wave of Puritans greatly increased. Soon the Puritans begin to discuss “…the legal ownership of the land.” At this time Governor John Winthrop declared the “Indians had not subdued the land” and therefore all uncultivated land should be public domain according to English Common Law.  In other words this meant that the land belonged to the King of England. Thus the colonists decided that they did not need to consult with the Natives and that the land was theirs for the taking. As far as they were concerned they only had to inform the representative of the crown and that was the local governor. To Biblically defend the force taking of the land from the Native People, the Puritans embraced Psalms 2:8 “Ask of me and I shall give thee the heather for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” This forced taking of the land included murder. A company of Puritans led by Miles Standish actively sought out the head of a local chief. They eventually accomplished this gruesome trophy when they beheaded the Native Leader Wituwamat. The head was displayed on a wooded post in the Town Square of Plymouth. On May 26, 1637 a force of Puritans attacked about 700 Pequot People near the mouth of the Mystic River at Groton, Connecticut.  The Pequots had gathered for their Annual Green Corn Dance.  During the gathering they were surrounded and attacked by the English and the Dutch.  The Natives were ordered from the Gathering Building and as they came forth they were shot down and cut up.  The rest were burned alive in the building.  The English Captain John Mason and Commander John Underhill attacked the camp with the words “…fire, sword, blunderbuss, and tomahawk….” They also added that “…to see them {Indians} frying in the fire, and the streams of their blood quenching the same and the stench was horrible, but the victory seemed a sweet sacrifice to the great delight to the Pilgrims and they gave praise thereof to God.” The next day, the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared: “A day of Thanksgiving, thanking God that they had eliminated over 700 men, women and children.” A second Pequot Village was attacked, massacred and destroyed on June 5, 1637 near present day Stonington and a third Pequot Village was attacked, N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 massacred and destroyed on July 28, 1637 near present day Fairfield. The Puritan fathers believed they were the Chosen People of God and that this justified anything that they did. They were in a sense Calvinists that believed most of humanity was predestined to damnation. During this period of their history the Puritans along with other European sects declared days of thanksgiving to celebrate mass murder more than to celebrate harvest.  In fact for the next 100 years every “Thanksgiving Day” ordained by any leader (Governor, etc.) was to honor the gruesome “victories” of 1637 and thanking God that the “battles” had been won. Learning from the Puritans, in 1641 the Dutch began to offer scalp money for Natives. The Dutch Governor Willem Kieft of Manhattan paid money for the scalps of each Native brought to him. In 1643 Governor Kieft ordered the massacre of the Wappinger People. In this massacre, 80 Native People were killed and their severed heads were kicked around the streets of the village of Manhattan. One Native was castrated, skinned, and then forced to eat his own flesh while many colonist watched and laughed. Later, Kieft got Commander Underhill to carry out a massacre near present day Stamford, Connecticut. A village was set on fire and around 500 Natives were put to the sword. Soon the settlers launched an all out genocide of the Native People. The government of Massachusetts made an order offering 29 shillings bounty for every Native scalp and 40 shillings for every Native prisoner that could be sold into slavery. Colonial men were allowed to enslave and rape any Native woman and enslave any Native child under what was thought to be the age of 14. Any Native People that had converted to Christianity were accused of shooting into the trees during battles with the hostiles and were therefore enslaved or killed. Other peaceful Natives of Dartmouth and Dover were invited to a negotiating meeting in which they were taken captive and sold into slavery. Colonial Law gave permission to “…kill savage Indians on sight at will.” By 1675 Massachusetts and surrounding colonies were in an all out war with the Wampanoag People. The Wampanoag leader Metacomet (called King Phillip by the white man) grew angrier as he watched the steady destruction of his culture and his people. He was forced to strike out with raids on several isolated towns for food. Captain Benjamin Church tracked down and killed Metacomet. His body was drawn and quartered and the parts as Captain Church said were “…left for the wolves.” Metacomet’s hands were cut off and sent to Boston for display and his head was sent to Plymouth where it was set upon a poke on the newly declared Thanksgiving Day of 1675. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Metacomet’s son was to be killed because the Puritans proclaimed that “…the offspring of the Devil must pay for the sins of their father.” Instead he was sold to a slave ship bound for the Caribbean. On June 20, 1676 the Puritans governing council held a meeting to determine of a way to in their own words; “…express thanks for the victories in War with the Heathen Natives….” And from that moment they proclaimed June 29 as a Day of Thanksgiving.  The celebration over the “heathen Indians” became a major event and was celebrated semiannually among the New Englanders and the early colonies for many, many years to come. [To read the proclamation declaring this Day of Thanksgiving visit the website listed at the start of this article.] By 1704 the massive Holocaust and Genocide of the Native People caused Governor Thomas Dudley to declare a “General Thanksgiving for God’s infinite goodness to extend his favors… In defeating and disappointing… the expeditions of the Enemy Indians against us. And the good Success given us against them, by delivering so many of them into our hands….” THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY Now the holiday that most Americans celebrate has nothing to do with the Puritans or the Native Americans.  The holiday most are acquainted with came about during the American Revolution in 1777.  As President, Washington Proclaimed a Day of Thanksgiving to be observed by all on November 26, 1789.   The date has changed a few times with the most recent change done by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939.  At the request of many businesses, Roosevelt moved the Thanksgiving Holiday to the 3rd Thursday of November to make for a longer Christmas shopping season.  This change created a huge public out roar and finally in 1941 Congress made the 4th Thursday of November a legal holiday and our National Day of Thanks. CONCLUSION Should you decide to celebrate this holiday on the fourth Thursday of November, please remember the Native Americans.  Weather you be a teacher or a parent or both be very careful not to “sugar coat” what the Pilgrims did and how they treated the Native Americans, not even to the youngest age.  Please avoid stereotypic Thanksgiving pictures, stories, and programs that depict inaccurate images that are unfair and degrading.  By all means do not have children or adults make “Indian headbands, Indian vests”, do ceremonial war dances or such inappropriate things.  Also do not put on “Pilgrim and Indian” pageants or plays (unless they are historically accurate and tell the story from the true perspectives of Native Americans as well as the European immigrants). --------------------------------------- �No. 36 9 13 STREET VOICE | N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 ONE YEAR AGO MY FATHER’S HOUSE In my father’s house there are many mansions Can you believe one year has gone by? Many mansions, with many rooms to rest and pray in In good times, in bad times, day, night, sleep or wake times Last November's election still makes us cry. All the time I spend in my father’s house cause his house is mine When I was homeless, a drunkard, We pray that The Donald is the last nominee a drug addict and all alone I found much comfort and peace just praising in song When I was hungry, hair nappy, dirty and smelling really bad To get his training for office from Reality TV. I held onto my sanity, when my belief in prayer was all I had As in any house with rules, Almost 70-percent of us are sick and tired, my father has commandments of ten Even though I would make mistakes, I’d always repent of my sins And if we could we'd say: "You're Fired!" And ask for forgiveness with the understanding to make a change A change for the best so there would be no more fear or pain BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Taking what each day brings in prayer and always believe Having faith to know that my father’s will is best for me While searching for God’s love, wisdom and understanding I come into the realization of just what my heart was demanding I began to go to church to learn more about my father’s house I found peace and my soul was saved I could finally announce I learned that there is a place in my father’s house for everyone The young, the old, the lost and the sick at heart and mind I learned the mistakes I’d made were all of one kind I understand today that we must learn from the mistakes we’ve made And know only by the grace of God can our souls be saved So, won’t you come visit in the house of my father Learn the bible and know that with my father there is no other Take your time and search your soul to truly find yourself And understand that in our father’s house is where we’ll be forever safe with plenty of help WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 138 Across 1. Manage 5. Unit of power 9. Draw out 14. Presage 15. Currency unit 16. Animal toxin 17. Catafalque 18. Small nail 19. Endow 20. Minstrel 23. Make a mistake 24. Ineffective 25. Showily imitative 26. Combined 29. European mountain system 31. Not any 32. One, some, every or all 34. Musteline mammal 37. Misfire 38. Deity 39. Flow out 40. Poem 41. Edible bulb 43. Frequently 45. Connecting point where several lines meet 46. Nightspot 48. Relating to a tail 50. Happy 52. Irony 55. Rodent 56. Contemplation of things past 59. Speak up 61. Fortune 62. Part of a tooth 64. Square root of forty-nine 65. Succulent 66. In addition 67. Mixture of rain and snow 68. Center of authority 69. Endure 3. Look searchingly Down 1. Adult male swan 2. Leave out 58. Flip of a coin 4. On the way 5. Netlike 6. Pertaining to hearing or the ear 7. Used as part payment for a new one 8. Disorderly outbursts 9. At any time 10. Lair 11. Comprehended 12. Judicature 13. Mineral, used as an abrasive 21. Employ 22. Country, initially 25. Mentally quick and resourceful 26. Untie 27. Word used to refer to a person, place or thing 28. Pointing out or SODOKU PUZZLE NO 268 - MEDIUM revealing clearly 30. Tennis return in a high arc 32. Fuss 33. So far 35. Starchy tuberous root 36. Bobbin 38. Large African antelope 42. Past times 44. Collet 45. Represents a number 47. Fatal cattle disease, initially 48. Sarcophagus 49. Egyptian cobra 50. Twelve dozen 51. Part of a jacket 53. Book of maps 54. Beverage, usually drunk hot 56. Let for money 57. Carbonated drink 60. Indicating maiden name 63. Small indefinite quantity PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 350 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 137 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 267- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 36 9 RESOURCES | N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 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 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 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 First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th 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 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 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 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 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 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 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 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 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 $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 N o v 17 - N o v 30 , 2 0 17 | N o . 36 9 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. 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 GREGORY RAY SINCE 4/2015 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 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 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 2/2015 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2017 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource November 17-November 30, 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Forum Looks at Tax Reform and Income Inequality Pg 3: On Consent and Rape Why I Didn’t Vote Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: Shantytown Pg 6: Why is Cancer Mortality so High in Cincinnati? Pg 7: Tax Reform? Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: What Is Good Bus Service? Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Cam Hardy Continued Pg 12: Josh Spring Continued Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 17-November 30, 2017 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Jamie K. Oxendine Bill Woods Bentley Davis Jason Haap Dr. Mark Mussman Steve Sunderland Ed Burdell Saad Ghosn Cam Hardy Willa Denise Jones The Jubilee Campaign Alice Schneider Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Alice Schneider Bentley Davis Bill Woods Bus Service Cam Hardy Cancer Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Ed Burdell Inequality Jamie K. Oxendine Jason Haap Josh Spring Metro Religion Saad Ghosn Shantytown Steve Sunderland Tax Reform The Jubilee Campaign Voting Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/8a8d168223fed127400010d82c7acfbd.pdf a55472e7956094a944bec8b00c836c38 PDF Text Text December 1st - December 14th 2017 | Vol. 20 Issue 51 (No. 370) advocating justice | building community As Options Dwindle For Children: Coalition Members Create Opportunity | 5 This Issue is sponsored by (Former) Judge Mark Painter INSIDE THIS ISSUE Remembering Bobbie Sterne | 2 Earthquake Risk Keeps Heat on Vulnerable Nuclear Reactors | 11 Religious Peacemakers: Jennifer Morris | 8 Five Easy Places To Ride the Bus in Cincinnati | 9 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: Free-Market Means Profit At Any Cost JOSH SPRING P eople are being forced from their homes and affordable housing is being lost at an increasing rate in Cincinnati. We are being sought after by people being told they have to leave their homes due to the conversion of their homes to expensive housing at such a rate that it can be hard to even keep up with the list. We are learning of threats to households’ affordable housing and the quantity of affordable housing overall at a rapid pace. Already we are involved in organizing with: Tenants at seven properties with 750 homes owned by the out of town slumlord Puretz family, Tenants at the 100 apartment Parkway Tower, six households in townhomes in Walnut Hills, the Jurisdiction Resident Advisory Board (JRAB) in organizing with Tenants at properties totaling more than 600 homes and growing. These numbers will likely increase by hundreds over the next several months. The market is doing what the market does; making profit at any cost. Generally, the market and its developers don’t care if that profit comes at the cost of forcing people from their homes, increasing the already increasing numbers of people without homes, breaking up communities, making it more difficult for children to learn because of the regular uncertainty of housing, decreasing the health and life-span of B Executive Director people because of homelessness, etc. Companies can and are buying buildings and telling people they must leave because they are converting it to condos. Companies are increasing rents to the point that current Tenants cannot afford them. Companies are removing neighborhood-serving businesses and placing touristy, expensive restaurants, bars and breweries in their stead. Companies are renovating homes into expensive housing, thus increasing the market value of the property and getting an abatement on that value increase from the city for ten to fifteen years, while their neighbors’ property taxes increase to the point that they can no longer afford their homes. Our county has the tenth largest number of evictions annually in the entire country. And of course, the number of people in shelter, seeking shelter and living outside is increasing. There are plenty of people who say they think capitalism is the best economic system and the free-market is a part of freedom. Capitalism and the free-market work to keep us in bondage to a profit. In the freemarket people are not people, people are a means to a profit; whether that be the people purchasing the product, the people making the product receiving a low wage or the people displaced in order to make the product and thus the profit. People say that competition in the free-market benefits the “consumer”. Take note of words like “consumer” instead of people. Competition in general can be good, except in the capitalist free-market the competition is about making the company profit not about better service to people. We are taught that if two companies make and sell the same product and one of the companies sells an inferior version of that product, “consumers” will choose to purchase the superior product and the company cutting corners will improve the quality of its product or go out of business. Even in this flawed explanation, providing quality for people is not the motivation, getting people to pay the company and as a result render a profit is the motive. But the primary reality is even worse. Do you really (Continued on page 5) REMEMBERING BOBBIE STERNE obbie Sterne died the day before Thanksgiving. The first woman to be elected Mayor by Cincinnati's voters, her long Council career was distinguished by her leadership in support of progressive and reform policies. She must now be included in that small group of Charterite good government icons like Murrray Seasongood, Charles P. Taft, and Theodore M. Berry. I first met Bobbie Sterne in the summer of 1963. Fresh out of college, I had through a bit of luck landed a job with the Charter Committee writing press releases for several of its minor candidates. She was doing volunteer work in the Charter office, and I remember enjoying a number of conversations with her. Already very knowledgable about city issues, she was focused on electing Dorothy Dolbey and Theodore Berry to join BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Bobbie Sterne Credit: Google Images Charles Taft, the only Charterite then on Council. Eight years later, she won a Council seat, and except for a few years off, she served on this body until 1998. Sterne soon became a D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Key Beck Reception: Larry Johnson, Anne Evans Maintenance: Pete Roper ----------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE recognized leader on Council, and in 1976, her Charter and Democratic Council colleagues elected her Mayor. At that time, the Mayor chaired City Council, and the members selected their chairperson. I caught up with Bobbie Sterne's career when I returned to Cincinnati in 1977 after teaching at Wilmington College. Once again, the Charter Committee put me to work developing issues and cultivating press coverage for Councilman Tom Brush, Charlie Taft's replacement who was seeking to win the seat on his own. Bobbie Sterne's City Hall office was next door to Brush's, and the Councilwoman and her staff served as invaluable mentors to our operation. Sterne was already known for initiating policies to establish health care clinics and services for low income residents, (Continued on page 12) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Writers: Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Dr. Mark Mussman, Jason Haap, Steve Sunderland, Saad Ghosn, Harvey Wasserman, Andy Shenk, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Dr. Mark Mussman, The Jubilee Campaign, Saad Ghosn, Metro.com, Harvey Wasserman --------------------------------------------------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. 37 0 A LOCAL As Options Dwindle for Children: Coalition Members Create Opportunity | D e c 1- D e c 14 , 2 0 17 3 DR. MARK MUSSMAN few years back, I was told that the Emmanuel Community Center closed because “there weren’t enough kids in the neighborhood anymore” to sustain the programming. Almost 20 years ago, I volunteered there and helped to infuse what I was learning through the Peace Education program at the University of Cincinnati into the activities. I was also assisting in an afterschool program at Vine Street Elementary where we focused on art that addressed community and individual trauma. It was both refreshing and difficult to work with Antronette Black FLOTR Program Director Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman children – refreshing to take in their energy and difficult, soul crushing to see their pain. Today, there are only a handful of programs that focus on children in Over-the-Rhine. Peaslee’s Agents of Change, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing’s Children’s Creative Corner, Our Daily Bread’s afterschool program, Imani Center’s programs, and Future Leaders of Over-theRhine are all programs hosted by Homeless Coalition Member Organizations. We are lucky to have such programs in our community, but often the work they do is overlooked and minimized because of sexism, racism, and constraints related to poverty. Recently, I was fortunate to sit down and have a conversation with Antronette Black, the program director of Future Leaders of Overthe-Rhine to learn more about their program. Future Leaders of Over-theRhine is currently hosted at First Lutheran Church, on Washington Park. As First Lutheran goes through a huge renovation project, the days are numbered for Future Leaders Staff Writer at their current location. The need for accessibility of the old church will cause the small building where Future Leaders has been for the past few years to be retrofitted for accessibility options, like an elevator and ramp. Future Leaders is seeking a new home, please contact Antronette ASAP if you have any leads. The Homeless Coalition began working with Future Leaders a couple years back after one of the participants witnessed someone destroying an encampment under a bridge in Walnut Hills. The Future Leader spoke about the incident and desired to learn more about homelessness, so we got involved by doing much of our programming (Speaker, Tour, Streetvibes Shadow) and then some. We spent a wintery Saturday in a Lock-In where we focused on activities to put things in perspective – whether it be economics, social services, or simply empathy. The students became the teachers at some point, and began to share their stories and their knowledge. You should never underestimate the power of young people to make a difference. It was good to sit down with Antronette and learn more about her and the programming they are currently planning for the end of this year and next. Antronette has an affable smile and sense of confidence that is needed when working with youth. From what I’ve observed through her time with Future Leaders, she is a strong advocate for the youth participants and she sincerely desires the best for them. In 2016, Antronette graduated from Xavier University with a BA in Sociology and a double minor in Psychology and Political Science. She’s worked with children at the U.S. Bank Boys and Girls Club in Avondale, served as a Site Teacher to an after-school program in Mt. Healthy, and, in addition to her work in Over-theRhine, she is also currently a Site Director for an after-school program in Sycamore for 5th and 6th graders Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (Future Leaders meets Tues, Thurs, and some Saturdays). Her passion for our youth is contagious as she talks about how they have helped her see Cincinnati as her home (she is originally from Cleveland. We are lucky to have her in Cincinnati.) What makes Future Leaders somewhat different from other programs, is that it encourages students to learn more about financial literacy by providing them with a stipend to attend the programming. Some of their stipend is put in savings and will be available to them as book money when they graduate the program and start an educational program after high school. Antronette believes in bringing people to the group from diverse backgrounds, including professional backgrounds, because “our students come from many diverse backgrounds and living Financial literacy is not the only area that Future Leaders focuses on. Antronette explains that she looks “to build our young leaders through our rich curriculum which includes: leadership in Ryan Messer, FLOTR founder and CPS School Board elect, stands with Future Leaders Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman situations – to be such a young age, these young leaders have experienced a lot in their life.” She believes this is what fuels them to want to take advantage of the program. “It provides an outlet of positivity, a safe haven, and a place where they can just be themselves. That’s the beauty in Future Leaders we are a program who believes in molding the leaders of tomorrow, but we meet them where they’re at, and allow them to express themselves and feel comfortable doing so.” their personal and professional development, financial insight, college/career readiness, health and wellness, and community engagement, including environmental and community health.” Just over the past few months, they have been engaged in community cleanups, recycling programs, health programs, entrepreneurship, college readiness, and community activism. They have had many speakers and taken field (Continued on page 9) FLOTR attends mural dedication THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 �No. 37 0 LOCAL Transformation | D e c 1- D e c 14 , 2 0 17 5 s a pastor, I spend time learning ancient Greek. Which, can be fun. Greek and Hebrew words…as with lots of ancient languages, have multiple meanings. The Greek word for transformation is “metanoia”, it’s a great word which means a shift in thinking, a paradigm shift, a change of an inward reality. You find it throughout scripture in the Christian Bible. It seems as if the writers are trying to point us towards an evolutionary shift in our being. A movement towards growth, empathy, maturity. It’s also a word that is translated in many different languages and is something that is shared with most religions and philosophies. We live in a world that often says it wants transformation, but it settles for “transaction”. In other words, I’ll do this if you do that. I must give something to receive something in return. It reduces us to thinking that we can somehow achieve something if we can just accumulate more or get to the proverbial “top”. We become consumers or commodities ourselves and run the risk of losing our humanity. Yet, there is a movement towards a different way of being. We still must live in a transactional world, and not all transactions are bad, but what if we could move towards a conference exploring how change happens within our movements and institutions. The analogy that one of the facilitators used was of the need for “adaptive change leadership”. Often, we feel like when we have challenges put before us in the church, or in any organization or institution, that we can fix our issues that need fixing by own personal lives. If we just “work harder” or “smarter” (terms I’ve personally used!), we can “right the ship”. However, that’s not what our organizations, or we, need today. Working harder and smarter does not always produce movement or change. We do not simply have a broken foot, we must ask if we have transformational way of thinking? In order to establish a new way of thinking, we must be willing to take risks, ask hard questions of ourselves and others, and then work together towards deeper relationships and authentic community that can lead us towards healing and growth. A few years ago, I attended a simply making technical changes. For instance, if we break our leg, we can put it in a cast, take care of it, stay off it, and rehab it. If we do steps A through B, then our foot will probably come back stronger than before. That’s also the mentality in organizations when faced with a changing culture or challenging issues, as well as our lost our foot completely. We need to adapt and have “adaptive change leadership” and learn what it means to “re-function” in a new way of being. When I think of adaptive leadership that is transformational, I think of Robert and Erin Lockridge in Norwood. They were featured on PBS a while back for their work in a neighborhood in Norwood. They saw the need for healthy food and access to it. So, they started a restaurant that’s only open on Fridays, they make gourmet pizzas and pies from ingredients that they grow within the neighborhood. They show amazing hospitality and foster a genuine community atmosphere. All are welcome. They also don’t have a set price on any of their amazing food. It’s pay what you can or think it’s worth. They are sustaining themselves while also working towards transformational relationships and have adapted within their community in a new way. The transaction for good food, hospitality, and community? It’s what you can bring to the table. As you do that, you may find yourself in an atmosphere that can lead to deeper awareness of others and possible transformation within you and others. I like being around them. I also like being around organizations like the Parish Collective, Oasis, Economics of Compassion, and so many others that are doing and being the work of building relationships that are transformational, and highlighting others that are doing the same and connecting them. Places where trust is given and tested. People that believe in one another and work towards the betterment of communities. When we look around us, we know that the neighborhoods, the city, country, and world are in the midst of some major changes. Oftentimes those changes can be divisive and destructive. But, we can work towards transformation. It is our task to have our eyes and ears opened to a deeper reality at work within us and within others, and allow the shift to happen within us as we do the work that leads to freedom. If we are willing to take risks, to ask questions, to get involved in things and with people and organizations that are good, we can begin the task of working together towards a better way of being and experiencing the abundance that life can offer. Rev. Rich Jones, Economics of Compassion Board Member, Oasis Cincinnati, The Parish Collective, “Free Range” Pastor, PCUSA products we purchase. This also applies to housing. Think about it. A company comes into a neighborhood or onto a street that over the years people who didn’t live there said wasn’t desirable. The company purchases a property that needs some improvement, but generally functions because people have lived there or it is close to what is currently considered a “desirable” area. The company purchases said property for a relatively low cost and then hangs notices that everyone living there must leave. This can be scary for the folks living there, so some folks leave soon after the notice, costing the company only the price of the paper. Some Residents stay longer and the new owner files eviction and a couple more Residents leave before the hearing to avoid an eviction on their record. This again costs the owner virtually nothing. A few Residents stay through the eviction hearing and the owner pays an attorney a relatively small amount to push the eviction through the landlordfriendly court system. The company then either does minor repairs and puts in new modern looking finishes and appliances or guts everything and puts up cheap but nice-looking walls and finishes and then charges a rent that is three to five times higher than the previous rents or charges hundreds of thousands of dollars for the units as condos. People move in to what they see as a pretty building with modern finishes and nice appliances. They are told this used to be an unsafe and undesirable location, but we are bringing new life to this area and you are a part of something special by moving here. You are revitalizing. See that is a product that cost the company relatively little, provided a quick turnover with relatively cheap improvements, a fake marketing story and a quick sale at a significant profit. It was cheap and highly profitable to the company and extremely costly to the displaced household. That is freemarket. This, however, is not the end of the story. We will work with People to, yes, fight back, but to make systematic changes such that profit at the cost of Peoples’ housing is no longer allowed. A JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 2 believe that most companies are trying to provide people with quality services because it is the right thing to do? Certainly not. Do you believe that in order to get a profit companies are working to provide people with increasing quality? Primarily companies are trying to cut their own costs through paying poverty wages whether directly or through other companies they contract, purchasing parts cheaply and providing an end product that people think is good, but really doesn’t have the quality it pretends to have. It is about the façade to get profit. This applies to small and large REV. RICH JONES Contributing Writer Rev. Rich Jones THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �6 LOCAL Homeless Coalition Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony Wednesday, December 13th Doors Open: 5:30 pm Newport Syndicate 18 East 5th Street Newport, KY Tickets available at: Cincihomeless.org D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 Each year, the Homeless Coalition celebrates the accomplishments of its members, the community, and the supporters at ourAnnual Dinner and Award Ceremony. This has long been an opportunity for organizations to come together and to share in the success of another year working alongside those experiencing homelessness. Come celebrate with hundreds of individuals working towards this common goal. Help us recognize individuals who will be receiving awards for their hard work that evening, raise money for operating funds to help sustain our mission, and dance and celebrate another year of hard work! Join us on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 for a night of dinner, awards, dancing, and a silent auction. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 0 LOCAL Challenging our own views? 7 | D e c 1- D e c 14 , 2 0 17 JASON HAAP I think we all know our output is related to our input. If we feed ourselves nothing but ice cream and Twinkies (did you know there is Twinkie flavored ice cream?!), we should not be surprised to find ourselves overweight with cavities. If we eat nothing but beans and cabbage, we'll create a seemingly endless supply of methane. Imagine three people - one reads Shakespeare all day, one reads contemporary scientific non-fiction, and one watches nothing but trashy reality television on basic cable. The latter is likely to have a more limited vocabulary and a penchant for starting arguments over nothing. I think all of these examples are obvious and palatable. About 10 years ago, when I met my friend Andrew Warner, he was a college student running for Cincinnati City Council, endorsed by the Green Party. After graduating college with a journalism degree, he was a high school English teacher, a street magician traveling across country, Contributing Writer an employee at an Apple store, at a cell phone store, and currently he owns his own dog training business in Indianapolis. More than anyone I know, Andrew reinvents himself every few years. About a year or so ago, I learned he had become a Catholic and a Republican. For the last year, we've talked about politics and current events extensively with one another. We found in each other, I think, a kindred spirit interested in political dialogue that had more to it than me calling him a Nazi. A couple weeks ago, though, Andrew grew weary of our culture's contemporary political climate. So, he took some "radical" moves: he traded in his smart phone for a flip phone, to prevent himself from overusing social media, and he decided to stop consuming news from any conservative media outlets. He did, however, continue to go to church. We spoke about his experience recently. He shared how he can feel his attitude towards certain topics shifting as a result of his changed media diet. For example, the previous Andrew might go to church, and hear, for less than an hour weekly, about how Christ-like it is to care for people like refugees. But when he got home and re-entered his conservative echo-chamber, tons of time listening to conservative arguments made it easier to "square the circle" of these competing ideologies. Without consuming media, however, he finds himself influenced only by his church. Now he thinks it incredibly important to care for the downtrodden, and he wonders why he was ever against refugees in the first place. That's when we had an idea: what if we purposefully dove into a media environment the opposite of what we believe for one month's time? How would it impact our view of the world? What if he spent all day on the Huffington Post and Daily Kos, avoiding the echo chamber of social media, and what if I spent a month doing the same only swapping Breitbart and Fox News for HuffPo and the Kos? This is where it gets tricky. We probably believe ourselves to be above this kind of influence. After all, our beliefs are sincerely held (otherwise we could not hold them). But at the top of this article, most of us probably had no problem equating Twinkies to obesity and bad teeth, or an over-reliance on low-quality television with a weakened intellect. Why shouldn't this be true for ourselves, too? As I type this, I am about to try the experiment - and I welcome others to join me! For one month, let's only read things like Breitbart and Fox News. Let's listen to Gavin McInnes. If we're feeling really adventurous, we could check out InfoWars! Will changing our media diet impact our mental health? How will that work? Will I become more empathetic? Will my views on any issues change? How will it impact me? I'm going to find out. If I'm able to pull this off, I'll update readers next month. In the meanwhile, I wonder if any will consider joining me in this experiment! Why is Cancer Mortality So High In Cincinnati? Part Two: The Hospitals are Bystanders 1. Introduction: In Part One of this series I outlined the current dire situation facing minorities with the potential for cancer. In sum, Cincinnati is the cancer capital of Ohio for minority mortality (1). I suggested that preventing these deaths could happen if there were hospital outreach programs that educated communities about the warning signs of cancer and if there were a widespread program of helpers, "Navigators," that could visit churches, community centers, and schools to both educate and to offer to accompany people to exams for cancer. Such a program has been demonstrated to be the largest cause of a reduction in mortality for cancer victims (2). Cincinnati has no hospital based program; the only program is the independent Cancer Justice Network (3). 2. What could the Cincinnati hospitals do to reduce cancer mortality among minorities, the aged, and people with disabilities? The key program that could reduce "useless deaths," deaths that could have been prevented (4), is an educational outreach program in the neighborhoods of Cincinnati that have the highest death rates. Both the Cincinnati Health Department and the Hamilton County Health Departments have published life expectancy averages for every section of the city and county (5). Their findings agree: certain city neighborhoods, usually those closest STEVE SUNDERLAND Contributing Writer to a hospital, have the lowest life expectancy BY 20 YEARS for the residents (6). Christ Hospital in Mt. Auburn, University Hospital and Children's Hospital in Avondale, and Good Sam in Clifton Heights have some of the lowest averages of life expectancy (7). These trends are not new but reveal a pattern of standing by while the neighborhood population continues to suffer and needlessly die. These hospitals refuse to acknowledge that their backs are turned against the neighborhoods their hospitals occupy. Hospitals that have cancer programs are aware of the work of Harold Freeman, MD, former president of the American Cancer Society and chief of surgery of Harlem Hospital in New York City. In 1985, Freeman started a patient navigator program explicitly aimed at reducing cancer deaths for minorities. He was so successful in bringing people to early screening and timely treatments that his program became a part of the national accrediting of every cancer program or hospital (8). Now, according to the American College of Surgeons, since 2016, every hospital that has a cancer program has to have a patient navigation program if it is to achieve full accreditation. This decision was made because research on many navigation programs has revealed similar findings to what Freeman found: early screenings lead to early treatments and this results in catching cancer earlier and being lots more successful in stopping cancer's spreading (9). The latest research on navigation continues to underscore the benefits of navigation for both patients and hospital programs: patients can more rapidly move to successful treatments and hospitals can realize massive financial rewards from more effective treatments (10). Moreover, innovative partnerships with African American churches and hospitals have had powerful results in Memphis and other cities. The use of navigators to connect congregations and hospitals results in a kind of cooperation that dramatically reduces mortality and increases patient and hospital relationships (11). 3. What could University Hospital's Barrett Center and Children's Hospital do to make a difference? Both University Hospital and Children's Hospital are recipients of $15 million dollars in the recently citizen approved Indigent Care Levy. Two key questions need to be asked: 1. How has the monies in the past made a difference to caring for low income people? 2. How will the new monies be used to assist low income people? Answers to these questions are hard to come by. The Hamilton County Commissioners asked a consulting firm, Health Management Associates, to review these questions and to make recommendations. The lengthy report combed records of THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED both hospitals and was hard pressed to find concrete answers. The most surprising finding that was true of both hospitals was that neither hospital needed the Indigent Care Levy! Both hospitals, thanks to extensive fund raising, and the Affordable Care Act, have been banking millions of dollars while being unclear just how the monies were spent to reduce the suffering of low income people (12). Childrens Hospital, the report stated, has a reserve of 2 billion dollars and University Hospital has also greatly profited, although not at the same record level as Children's Hospital (13). Moreover, each hospital is required to provide a " community benefit" as part of its receiving federal funds. The report had difficulty in finding just how this money was allocated (14). The facts are that "(b)etween 2013 to 2015, Ohio experienced a 40% decrease in the number of uninsured residents. Over the same period Hamilton County's uninsured population was 47% lower... University of Cincinnati Medical Center experienced a 52% decrease in uncompensated care cost from 2013 to 2016, which is greater than the decrease in uninsured persons in the region. Children's Hospital Medical Center experienced a 40% decrease.... (15). Where did the money saved by these decreases in payment by the Levy go? There is no list of hospital based programs that (Continued on page 11) �RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS A Passionate Advocate of Women & Children's Rights, Jennifer Morris' Episcopalian Faith Informs her Life & her Actions 8 J D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 ennifer Morris' father always told her: "Don't let anyone ever tell you that you cannot do something because you're a girl." She grew up in a genderneutral family where both parents were equal and interchangeably tackled the needed domestic chores; she developed thus, and since childhood, a strong and committed sense for women and children's rights. When in 4th grade, she researched her elementary school library for books featuring women and was surprised to find only very few. Nevertheless, she read again and again the ones she discovered about Louisa May Alcott, the well-known American novelist and poet, author of Little Women and Little Men, also a feminist and an abolitionist; and about Amelia Earhart, the American aviation pioneer and author, the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Morris savored their success and took pride in their achievement. Born and raised in Springfield, OH in a typical midwestern family, growing up, she and her family attended the local Baptist church. "It was more for the community it created and the social activities it offered than for its specific denominational teachings," she says. Later on, engaged to an Episcopal man, she researched the Episcopalian church and, attracted to its openness, its nonjudgmental prefaces, and its inclusiveness, converted to it. She has been since one of its committed and active members. "I currently attend the Episcopalian Ascencion and Holy Trinity church in Wyoming, OH and SAAD GHOSN Contributing Writer am very involved in it," states Morris. "I serve on its Christian formation and ministry outreach commissions, work with its youth organization, and has functioned, until recently, as one of its Eucharistic ministers." Morris' awakening to community service and to social justice started at home. Her father, now 83, volunteered all his life in the community, serving on the Boy Scout board and the Senior Citizen forum; he still tutors children in the nearby elementary school. Her mother, an oncology nurse, smuggled, during the devastating AIDS epidemics, same sex partners of hospitalized patients to see their beloved ones, access to whom, otherwise, would have been denied. She was also politically active, always working the polls, getting very involved in the recent presidential election. Morris herself, following her parents' steps, always volunteered. In middle school, she donated her time to help younger kids; and in college, she was part of Amnesty International and participated in many of its human rights campaigns. She attended Miami University graduating with a Bachelor's degree in International Studies, and a Master and PhD degrees in History. Her specialty is modern Europe, modern India and Japan but most importantly gender and comparative women's history, and human rights and citizenship issues. At the Mount Saint Joseph University, a faith-based institution What is the Episcopal Church The word “Episcopal” refers to governance by bishops, who are to continue the work of the first apostles in the Church, guarding the faith, unity and discipline of the Church. The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion with 70 million members in 164 countries.   Episcopalians believe in the Holy Scriptures as the revealed word of God; in the Nicene Creed as the basic statement of belief about God; in the two sacraments given by Christ to the Church, namely the Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. The Episcopal Church follows the “via media” or middle way in its theology and discussions, because it believes that, whether or not we agree on a particular topic, we all are beloved by God and can have thoughtful and respectful discussions; and that everyone is welcome. Historically, bishops oversee the Church in particular geographic areas, known as dioceses. In the worldwide Anglican Communion, the Archbishop of Canterbury occupies a special position by virtue of history and tradition. The Episcopal Church celebrates diversity of people and worship styles, striving to live by the example of Jesus Christ, welcoming the stranger and the outcast, helping neighbors and offering love and forgiveness.  founded by the Catholic Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, where she is currently Professor of History, Morris teaches, among others, a semester-long senior seminar on women and children global human rights. She divides the course into 2 parts, addressing in the 1st one issues women and children face in general, such as education, health care, sexual safety, right to work, right to earn a wage... asking her Jennifer Morris students to research one specific topic that moves them and to write a detailed paper about it. And in the 2nd part she gets the students to put into action what they've learned and participate in a service project of their choice. Over the years her students have contributed to many projects including, collecting hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo...) for Bethany House, a shelter that serves Cincinnati homeless and disadvantaged women and children; raising money to build a water well in Southern Sudan; researching the most meaningful candidate for a $3000 grant and awarding it to Wordplay Cincy, a non profit organization which mission is to help Cincinnati's youth fulfill their potential, by making connections through reading, writing and storytelling; raising money to allow a recreation center that had lost its federal funding for its summer program to continue providing the service to its neighborhood; setting up a blog for a nonprofit organization short on resourrces and time, thus providing it with a media presence and exposure. "Through my course I intend to open my students' eyes, educate them on important issues and provide them with opportunities," says Morris. "They learn and grow, and getting involved in something local triggers their interest to continue volunteering in their community," she adds. When asked what triggers her interest and passion for women and children's rights, Morris is quick to answer that it is not just because she is a woman. "Telling the story of women's Credit: Saad Ghosn lives is important by itself," she says. "There are injustices and inequalities that need to be addressed, and the specific narrative has, therefore, to be shared." Morris is currently writing a book about Priscilla Parker, a devout woman from New Richmond, OH who, with her Presbyterian minister husband James, started in 1839, in Clermont County, The Parker Academy. It was the 1st co-ed and racially integrated school for children in Ohio - and possibly in the nation and emerged from the Parkers' belief that education for all (regardless of gender, class, religion or race) was a calling from God. The Parkers were also vocal in combatting slavery and unequality and their views antagonized many of their compatriots', putting their lives often at risk. The Parker Academy operated until 1889, and its site is now being excavated, part of an ongoing archaeological project, initiated by Northern Kentucky University, with the hope to make it a historical place. "We need to keep alive the voices of these women who served as examples and enriched our (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 �No. 37 0 S 9 LOCAL Five Easy Places to Ride the Bus in Cincinnati | D e c 1- D e c 14 , 2 0 17 I get it. The bus doesn't always get the job done. But if you live close to downtown and don't use the bus at least occasionally, you may want to take a serious look at your transportation choices. You can go places on the bus in Cincy. Here are a few of my favorites. 1. Peebles' Corner in Walnut Hills Love Fireside and Video Archive, but don't wanna drive or pay for an Uber? The 4, 11, and 31 provide direct access to the corner once known as Cincinnati's second downtown. These days, bus drivers aren't getting paid in cigars to yell out Peebles' Corner, but $1.75 ice cream cones at Green Man Twist are a pretty sweet reward. 2. Ludlow Avenue in Clifton Like I said, my wife and I love riding the bus to Ludlow. The 17, 19, and 51 provide easy connections to downtown, Northside, and plenty of neighborhoods in between. Ludlow Avenue is packed with ANDY SHENK ince moving to Cincinnati, I've picked up on a couple of things: 1) People love to go out. 2) Lots of people complain about parking. I am totally on board with #1, but living without a car, I've never had to worry about #2. I can't imagine hunting for a spot in OTR or Clifton or paying to park in a garage. Riding the bus (or biking) everywhere, I totally forget what a headache cars can be when you're trying to have fun. One of my favorite Cincy dates is taking the 17 or 19 to see a movie at the Esquire after work. Nikki and I love catching up during the ride from downtown or Mt Auburn and when we arrive, it's literally 20 feet from the bus to the theater. DR. MARK MUSSMAN (Continued from page 5) trips to various locations throughout the city. Antronette strives to give the participants the best experience possible. Each winter, Future Leader of Over-the-Rhine puts on a Holiday Home Tour in the neighborhood. This is their big fundraiser, so please consider joining them on December Contributing Writer Passengers board a Metro Bus (Continued on page 12) Credit: Metro.com 1st and 2nd. Tickets are available through their website or on Facebook (Future Leaders Over-the-Rhine). As we began to wrap our talk, she got excited about the future of Future Leaders: “The future is looking bright for our Future Leaders as our year winds down. We are all very excited for what is to come in the New Year. One of our goals next year is to find a new space for the youth to call their own by April 2018. Lastly, we are always looking to increase our numbers – we can never have too many youth! We meet every Tuesday and Thursday currently at 1212 Race Street, next to First Lutheran Church, from 4-7pm. All you have to do is walk through the door, try us out, and if you like it come back. We pride ourselves as a family here so no youth will ever be turned away!” --------------------------------------- FLOTR and Agents of Change at Peaslee work cooperatively Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Future Leaders with former program director T. Renae Banks on a field trip Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Participants learning about blood pressure screening Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Ms. Antronette with Youth Advocate Deanna Wilson and Future Leaders THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman �10 LOCAL D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 December 21 - 31, 2017 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 0 LOCAL Earthquake Risk Keeps Heat on Vulnerable Nuclear Reactors 11 | D e c 1- D e c 14 , 2 0 17 HARVEY WASSERMAN A proposal by a California administrative law judge has given safe energy advocates new hope that two Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors will be shut before an earthquake on the San Andreas fault turns them to rubble, potentially threatening millions of people. The huge reactors—California’s last—sit on a bluff above the Pacific, west of San Luis Obispo, among a dozen earthquake faults. They operate just 45 miles from the San Andreas. That’s half the distance from the fault that destroyed four reactors in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011. Diablo’s wind-blown emissions could irradiate the Los Angeles megalopolis in less than six hours if an earthquake destroyed the plant. The death toll could be in the millions, the property damage in the trillions of dollars. The owner of the plant, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), would not be legally liable. Last year, a deal to shut down Diablo’s two reactors in 2024 and 2025 was struck by the state, PG&E, surrounding communities and some environmental groups. Diablo’s federal licenses expire in those years, and PG&E agreed not to seek renewals. The power, it said, could be replaced with wind turbines and solar panels. But the $1.7 billion in rate hikes stipulated in the deal still must be SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) history," says Morris. "Billy Jean King, for instance, the famous tennis champion and avid advocate for gender equality, triggered in the 70s a wide discussion about women's rights. I still remember it growing up, also the excitement around The Battle of the Sexes tennis match that she won against Bobby Riggs." In addition to her students, Morris serves as a role model to young girls. For the past two decades she has been a girl scout leader, encouraging assertiveness and independence in STEVE SUNDERLAND (Continued from page 7) target chronic and deadly diseases. Nor any mention of how the hospitals redirected the funds. Indeed, the Contributing Writer approved by California’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC). A proposed decision by administrative law Judge Peter Allen would limit them to less than $200 million. The PUC must now factor Allen’s decision into how much it allows PG&E to charge. If it honors Allen’s opinion, the company must then decide whether it will continue to operate the reactors, which increasingly look like money losers. The company’s standing is not exactly sterling. Massive fires that swept through Northern California in October killed at least 43 people, turning some 5,700 structures and whole forests, rural communities and parts of Santa Rosa into smoldering ash (the Trump administration has just omitted from its latest budget any federal aid to the region). The San Jose Mercury News has speculated that PG&E may have been responsible for the conflagration by failing to maintain power lines that were blown over in a windstorm. Local fire departments were already complaining that trees and underbrush were being sparked by poles and wires PG&E had failed to (Continued on page 12) Arial View of Diablo Canyon Credit: Harvey Wasserman her team members. She would like, however, to become more engaged. Encouraged by her friends, she recently applied for a position on the Hamilton County Commission for Women and Girls. If selected, it would give her more influence and the possibility to work with a large diverse group of individuals to make a meaningful and impacting difference for the common good. All of Morris' actions are deep down informed by her faith. "I try to live by example, doing every day the best I can do," she says. "The Episcopalian church stresses personal responsibility and social justice, and that's also how i have been raised at home, always taught to be responsible for myself and for my actions." But Morris' faith does not distanciate her from others. As a good historian she has studied most religions and has found them to be similar with many commonalities. "The Episcopalian church encourages our questioning and wants us to understand what other people of faith believe," she says. "And at the end, all religions preach the same: Love one another and treat others the way you want to be treated." A pressing interest of Morris now is to figure out how to build a community; how to make people connect, hold a reasonable conversation and listen to each other; how to eliminate the fear that is often caused by difference. It joins the philosophy of her Episcopalian faith which is to be open and accept diversity. "We are all part of God's kingdom," she says, "all of us, the good and the bad. This can be scary to some; but it can also be liberating, thanks to the strength and bravery one gets from an inclusive community." Report suggests "...the County may bear best served by considering a further reduction in the hospital percentage of Levy revenue (16). The absence of programs by either hospital to address the crisis situation of cancer mortality, as well as the hoarding of monies that could be better spent on the cancer priority, brands the hospitals as bystanders in the plague of unnecessary cancer deaths. The pattern of ignoring the crisis, failing to reach out to communities in need, and to declare a major priority for healthcare further weakens this City's population, especially those in greatest need of every aspect of healthcare. The status quo can and must change. “Breakdown Stereotypes” --------------------------------------- “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Dr. Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 LOCAL BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2 and she, Brush, and David Mann led the progressive wing of Council. By 1979, a new process for selecting the Mayor was in place. The top vote getter of the Council candidates became the Mayor. Under this system, Sterne became the first woman to become Mayor by a popular vote. population of Cincinnati comprised a sizable but usually overlooked minority, she asked for a report from the Administration to provide ways to better identify the needs and perspectives of this community. AIR was hired by the City Manager to draft this report. Sterne should be recognized for another important City policy. Aware that a number of effective, non-profit groups had emerged to assist poor D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 policy that 1.5 percent of the City's general budget would be allocated to help finance human services. supported this successful effort. Then when an initiative to bring back proportional representation took Bobbie Sterne with Jerry Springer Credit: Google Images and homeless Cincinnatians, She believed it was important for City Government to financially assist these essential services. She played a leadership role in getting Council to pass an ordinance establishing the In effect from 1981 to 1994, this percentage was then cut drastically, and an ongoing grassroots campaign has continued to lobby for a return to the 1.5 percentage. Even after her retirement from Council in 1998, Sterne remained active in city affairs. When I helped organize the Fair Elections Coalition to advocate for a campaign reform City Charter Amendment in 2000 and 2001, she enthusiastically the form of a Charter Amendment proposal in 2008, she served as the campaign's honorary treasurer. Vice Mayor David Mann served on Council with Bobbie Sterne for nine terms. He perhaps summed up her public career best. "The City has lost one of its great public servants." No less than 7 bus routes (17, 19, 24, 31, 51, 78 and Metro*Plus) provide direct access to campus. If you are a student at UC and don't rely on the bus to get back and forth from downtown and OTR, you are doing something wrong. If you want to explore a little, the 31 goes to Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills, the 17 and 19 link to Northside, and the Metro*Plus has speedy service to Kenwood Mall during the week. 4. Downtown Cincinnati I love Lyft and Uber in a pinch, but seriously people, there are other options during a big surge. Whether you're at 21c or Goodfellas, chances are a bus is whipping by for $1.75 as you step into that $20 cab. Many buses run as late as 1 am. It takes about 10 seconds to look up an address on Google Maps and ask for transit directions. Who knows, you might save enough money to go out tomorrow night, too. 5. CVG You kinda need to live near downtown or in Covington for this to make sense, but if that's the case, TANK's Airporter bus is awesome. I typically use it on my way TO the airport. The bus stops on 4th St between Vine and Walnut with direct, non-stop service to CVG. You can't beat the price at $2. The return trip is a little slower with several stops in Covington, so I sometimes use Lyft on my way back into town. If you've got extra time, though, $4 roundtrip is pretty incredible. arrests. Linda Seeley of San Luis Obispo’s Mothers for Peace says the company faces impossible hurdles in dealing with its thousands of tons of radioactive waste. In addition, she notes, “Many very expensive components in the two reactors must be replaced far before the proposed 2024-5 shutdown dates. Our concern is that PG&E may try to sneak through without paying to maintain the reactors even at basic safety levels.” Michael Peck, a former Nuclear Regulatory Commission in-house inspector at Diablo, has warned that the reactors cannot survive a major earthquake and should close immediately. He has since been transferred to Chattanooga, Tenn. “Diablo may no longer be profitable,” Seeley has said on my “California Solartopia” show on radio station KPFK. “The cost of wind and solar has dropped so fast it may not pay PG&E to run those plants anymore, even without doing the basic maintenance.” Because much of Diablo’s aging workforce is retiring or looking elsewhere for job security, PG&E wants subsidies to retain skilled staff to run the place. Judge Allen specifically rejected much of the rate hike designed to meet that crisis. California’s State Lands Commission is being sued by the World Business Academy, a Santa Barbara think tank, over key leases granted in the 1970s. The commission granted PG&E a waiver on conducting legally required environmental impact statements (gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom was among those who voted in favor). Should the business academy win its suit, or should the PUC honor Allen’s decision, and PG&E alter its timetable, those leases might be revisited. Without them, Diablo would almost certainly be forced to shut. Challenges have also been raised over approval by the California Coastal Commission of Diablo’s cooling system. Seeley and other activists have asked the public to pressure the PUC, state agencies and politicians like Newsom to shut Diablo sooner rather than later. “Until they can specify the exact date and time the San Andreas and those other faults will go off,” Seeley said in a recent phone interview, “nobody should feel safe.” Bobbie Sterne Credit: Google Images A few years later, Applied Information Resources, the nonprofit corporation I launched in 1980, found itself working on a project initiated by Bobbie Sterne. Concerned that the Appalachian ANDY SHENK (Continued from page 9 historic establishments and one of Cincinnati's prettiest streetscapes. I can't quite put my finger on it, but when I hop off the 19 at the corner of Ludlow and Telford, I can feel the city's heartbeat pulsating from the sidewalk. 3. University of Cincinnati The area surrounding the UC campus is loaded with bus service to downtown and almost every neighborhood conceivable. HARVEY WASSERMAN (Continued from page 11) maintain, though maintenance is required by law. PG&E now faces a firestorm of lawsuits that could soar well into the billions. Criminal prosecution is also possible. In 2010, a fire killed eight people and torched an upscale San Bruno neighborhood. The cause was badly maintained gas lines—for which PG&E had been cited repeatedly. Fines exceeded $1.4 billion, but criminal prosecution remains unresolved. Other costly lapses have plagued PG&E through the years. Some involve Diablo itself, which opened in the mid-1980s amid America’s biggest “No Nukes” civil disobedience campaign, involving thousands of THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- �No. 37 0 13 STREET VOICE | D e c 1- D e c 14 , 2 0 17 XMAS Xmas is here It’s that time of year There’s lots of family And sharing Lots of love, lots of caring TRUMP'S ONE EXCEPTION Nasty tweets here, Nasty tweets there. Trump's nasty tweets Are sent everywhere. He attacks everybody Including the highfalutin, But never his new buddy The wily Vladimir Putin. BILL WOODS Contributing Writer THE UNDERSTANDING It’s the start of the New Year Understanding today about life and its meaning have come a very long way with me. Xmas is every day I had to come into the understanding that there was nothing outside myself that could make my life Especially when you have hope better! I had to understand that I have a choice. To know that I was no longer incarcerated by my own With cheer paving the way being and no longer restricted by my own soul! I could either come into the realization that to live is For a Happy New Year KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer right now because death is inediable!! We as adults can never forget that growing up as children everything was external. As children we were nothing more than human sponges!! Therefore, whatever the adults in our childhood fed us, we trustily ate. I believe that’s what they fed us became our internal instincts. Through my growing, school, jail, being homeless, I eventually came to the understanding of the meaning of choice. I had to understand that there is none other like me, only I could make the changes necessary to allow my uniqueness to shine. For I am unique! One of a kind! Understanding my uniqueness, understanding I have choices in this world only justified my decision to live and not die! These realizations seem to wake up my self esteem and many positive aspects for me. I Suddenly remembered that I did go to church, I remembered some of the best teachings of the bible whether it was about Moses or Mohammand. My understanding of life today is G.O.D. meaning Good Orderly Direction!! I understand today that to live now is my only necessity, for why kill myself or commit suicide when death for all is a sure thing. It’s gonna happen! To live is a job and I take it on with great pride. Keep in mind that you are the most important one and to know your size, your height, your weight, hair color and so forth is what makes you. So, my meaning is my understanding that: I Am Unique I Am Blessed I Am Living Until Death Do Me Part WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 138 Across 1. Development stage before metamorphosis 6. Steep rugged rock or cliff 10. Travel through water 14. Egg-shaped 15. Dwelling 16. Instinctive motive 17. New 18. One of a pair used to control a horse 19. Used in brewing and distilling 20. Female animal 21. Frozen 23. Carried out an action 25. Digit 26. Humiliate 28. Writer 30. Faction 33. Very intense 34. Hawaiian garland 35. Wan 36. Used as an astringent 38. Lukewarm 42. Employ 43. Lawful 45. Fuss 46. Send or direct for treatment 49. Waistband 50. Sleigh 51. State of decay 53. Definite article 54. In addition 55. Litter of pigs 58. Ahead of time 60. Anger 61. Indefinite but relatively small number 63. Indicating maiden name 64. Space between two things 67. Wear away by rubbing 69. Salacious 71. Curtain 73. Story 74. To obscure or conceal 75. A simulated semblance 76. Song of praise 77. A slight competitive advantage 78. Go in Down 1. Solitary 2. Declare solomnly 3. Wander 4. Compete 5. Extemporize 6. Pupa of a moth or butterfly in a cocoon 7. Fish eggs 8. In the middle of 9. Affable 10. Total 11. Ire 12. Ice hut 13. Measuring instrument 22. Camarilla 24. Song for two 26. Consumed 27. Develop by training and teaching 29. Bind 30. Incite or stimulate 31. Facilitate 32. Musical notation 37. Fumble 39. Sudden numbing dread 40. Parts of the Roman calendar 41. Extinct bird 44. At that place 47. Make a mistake 48. Protective covering 50. Express in words 52. Square root of a gross 55. Fractional equivalent of 20% 56. An impressive display 57. Domain 59. Shelf 62. Unwanted garden plant 64. A horse's manner of moving 65. Part of a church 66. Look searchingly 68. Japanese currency 70. Hairpiece 72. Operate PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 350 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 138 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 268 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 268- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 0 RESOURCES | D e c 1- D e c 14 , 2 0 17 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 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 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 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 First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th 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 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 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 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 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 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 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 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 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 $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 D e c 1 - D e c 14 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 0 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 GREGORY RAY SINCE 4/2015 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 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 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 2/2015 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2017 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 1-December 14, 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Remembering Bobbie Sterne Pg 3: An Option Dwindle for Children Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: Transformation Pg 6: GCHC Pg 7: Challenging Our Own views? Why is Cancer Mortality so High in Cincinnati? Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Five Easy Places to Ride the Bus in Cincinnati Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Earthquake Risk Keeps Heat on Vulnerable Nuclear Reactors Pg 12: Bill Woods Continued Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 1-December 14, 2017 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Dr. Mark Mussman Jason Haap Steve Sunderland Saad Ghosn Harvey Wasserman Andy Shenk Kim Green Willa Denise Jones The Jubilee Campaign Metro.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Shenk Bill Woods Bus Cancer Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Earthquake Harvey Wasserman Jason Haap Josh Spring Kim Green Metro.com Nuclear Power Religion Saad Ghosn Steve Sunderland The Jubilee Campaign Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/5dd922dd1b5871a14fed733ccb929171.pdf c109a4eb0599a2a1070a12f628cedf41 PDF Text Text December 15th - December 28th 2017 | Vol. 20 Issue 52 (No. 371) advocating justice | building community Looking Back At 2017 | 3 This Issue is sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral INSIDE THIS ISSUE Homeless In SF: A Walk in the Park | 2 Photo Essay: Annual Dinner | 9 Street Life Our Reality | 12 Forum Focuses on Local Responses to Trump's Immigration Policies | 5 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 LOCAL From The Director: The Worst Time of Year T his is the worst time of year. I know plenty of folks consider this the best time of year. A time of reflection, perhaps giving, family, celebration, etc. But for our folks without homes it is cold, potentially snowy and more difficult to get things done because of so much distraction caused by the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, we are thankful for the folks who donate and attend our annual dinner. We are also thankful for the root message of these upcoming holidays (which often gets overlooked). But the cold and holiday closures make this time of year especially difficult. There currently are not enough funds made available to open the Winter Shelter in time for the dropping temperatures. We are working and advocating for the City of Cincinnati to put in an additional $60,000 which would get the Winter Shelter open and operational by the fifteenth of this month. Getting public dollars to adequately fund something as simple as a Winter Shelter should not be difficult, but getting all the pieces to fit together to make this happen is difficult. Please stay tuned as we may need to solicit your vocal support. On December 21st, the longest night of the year we will gather in Washington Park to honor those who have died in our area over the past year due to homelessness. Last year there were 72 people we knew about. Certainly, the number was JOSH SPRING Executive Director actually higher, but these are the folks we knew about. Over the upcoming days we will be collecting names from our Member Organizations. If you know of someone, please let us know. You can also join us at 5:30pm in Washington Park on December 21st as we take part in National Homeless Memorial Day. As we end this year and head into 2018 we continue the fight we have been in since our inception; the fight to end and prevent homelessness. We will remain focused on several particular efforts that are a part of our larger strategy: the creation and funding of a local affordable housing trust fund to generate local revenue to build and sustain affordable housing, the organizing of Tenants in representing thousands of units of affordable housing which is threatened with closure or loss due to gentrification, displacement, slumlords, etc., our work to end the D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 1 criminalization of homelessness in local laws, our community outreach meant to educate people about the causes of homelessness and empower people to stand with us as we work for systematic solutions and our support and unity of our many Member Organizations working daily with people currently experiencing homelessness. If you are not already working with us, please do. Please call us, email us or stop in so that we can discuss how you can get involved in this struggle to end the systematic problem of homelessness which harms individuals and families and shortens lifespans. You are valuable, and your partnership would be valuable as well.believe that most companies are trying to provide people with quality services because it is the right thing to do? Certainly not. Do you believe that in order to get a profit companies are working to provide people with increasing quality? Primarily companies are trying to cut their own costs through paying poverty wages whether directly or through other companies they contract, purchasing parts cheaply and providing an end product that people think is good, but really doesn’t have the quality it pretends to have. It is about the façade to get profit. This applies to small and large products we purchase. This also Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Key Beck Reception: Larry Johnson, Anne Evans (Continued on page 5) Maintenance: Pete Roper Homeless in SF: A Walk in the Park G olden Gate Park knifes its rectangular finger for more than three miles from the Pacific Ocean into the center of beautiful San Francisco. You know: that city where Tony Bennett left his heart a long time ago. He's certainly not the only one to have done so. The park is half a mile wide, and is home to spectacular museums, ball parks, Japanese and Chinese gardens and shrines. A herd of Buffalo roam through one fenced-off area. The lakes and landscaping there are spectacular. It JIM LUKEN Contributing Writer might remind one a bit of Spring Grove Cemetery... without the dead people, and brimming with life. It is also “home' to many Bay Area people experiencing homelessness. San Francisco is mostly a city of soft edges. The red swooping bridge, steep hills, “little cable cars,” ferries scudding constantly around the Bay. The notorious Alcatraz island prison, now a major tourist attraction. By and large the city is clean and calm, famously welcoming to LGBTs for many decades. The weather never goes below freezing. The police force seems laid-back and “obscure” for the most part. The primary homeless district downtown is named “The Tenderloin.” How sweet is that? In short San Francisco has a huge appeal. And, although the skyrocketing rent structure makes it very unwelcoming to the poor (the African American community has become tiny and dispersed). Nonetheless, because of its weather, its history, and its awesome beauty, San Fran continues to attract a sizable homeless community. By all appearances, people ----------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: experiencing homelessness there look and live quite differently from their fellow homeless brothers and sisters in cities like Cincinnati. Very few of its homeless population generally were born in that uppity city. Like the Haight-Ashbury hippies of the '60s, many of them come there—as I was told— because, “it’s a great place to be homeless.” You see, San Francisco's homeless are by and large, young and white. Downtown, some own sleeping rights in favorite doorways, or storefronts, once the stores (Continued on page 5) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Spring, Jim Luken, Dr. Mark Mussman, Bill Woods, Saad Ghosn, Steve Sunderland, Ricardo Taylor, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Dr. Mark Mussman, Jim Luken, Saad Ghosn, Laura Domet, Bill Woods --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 37 1 3 LOCAL Looking Back at 2017 | D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 DR. MARK MUSSMAN E ach year, the Homeless Coalition works tirelessly to eradicate homelessness. We do this through various means, each department working separately, but also in concert with each other. When I say department, I really just mean our one employee in that department and then our member organizations and volunteers who assist us in our goals. We are fortunate to have so much support in the community, and we could not do it without the whole region’s efforts. For our advocacy department, Josh Spring, our Executive Director, and Daulton King, a Public Ally, countless hours were spent organizing tenants, working with community leaders at City Hall, and crafting documents to be used in legal cases, city motions, and other venues. Our advocacy has resulted in hundreds of families being able to stay in their homes this year. They have also continued the work to de- Staff Writer has crafted membership packets with great items and information. For me, in education, I work with schools,communitygroups,churches, and others to help educate the public about hunger, homelessness, poverty, displacement, and gentrification – among other topics. I do this by providing enriching educational programming to students and adults throughout the city, region, and country. In the course of a year, we bring our educational programming to about 5000 people. It is no small feat, when you consider how many days there are in the year! Our Speaker’s Bureau is certainly our flagship program. This program was started after people who were experiencing homelessness were being physically assaulted and brutalized by young people in our community. The Homeless Coalition realized that it wasn’t good enough to reach adults, but we need to shift the thinking of young people in the Education Director Dr. Mark and Development Director Mona Jenkins at the Burning the Mortgage Event Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman criminalize homelessness through the survey they have been collecting for well over a year. A huge change will come to Cincinnati because of the work Josh has been doing with the Affordable Housing Advocates on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. In March 2018, we should start to see some significant legislative progress on the Trust Fund, which will fund the creation and maintenance of affordable housing in Cincinnati. Our Development Director Mona Jenkins, has been recruiting new members, helping keep members in the loop about what’s happening in the city, and finding new and creative ways to help us to become selfsufficient. Mona has increased our membership by more than 10% this year, and we started doing the Mona and Mark Show on Facebook to keep people updated on issues we see in the community. We also started a weekly email update about our member organizations, and Mona process of eradicating homelessness. This shift in thinking doesn’t just represent the humanization of people experiencing homelessness, but also the understanding that solution lies in affordable housing and livable wages. We do speaking engagements year-round and whenever we are needed. The cost for the program is shared with the speaker, and is a great way to support people experiencing homelessness or those whose housing is threatened. Another one of our educational offerings is a Social Justice Walking Tour of Over-the-Rhine where we educate participants on the history and contemporary issues in the neighborhood. I focus on the Overthe-Rhine People’s Movement, which are the people and organizations that have been fighting for dignity in the neighborhood for the past 50 years. Each neighborhood block contains countless stories of individuals and organizations working together to bring a better life to the people living here, a story about the city neglecting those who need the most help, and years ago. Shelter Seekers put you in the shoes of someone working in a shelter, deciding who can stay the night, given limited room. Our Streetvibes Shadow activity also gives participants an opportunity to learn about Cincinnati’s anti-solicitation laws from a Streetvibes Distributor, then go into the streets and try to Distributor Lee with Xavier University CUE participants Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman neighbors banding together to find a solution. It’s a unique experience, and I highly recommend it to everyone who might want to understand what is exactly happening in Over-theRhine. Our CUE (Cincinnati Urban Experience) trips are ways in which local and national universities bring service-learning experiences to their students. We partner with local churches, organizations, and schools to create an exceptional program among Alternative Breaks in the country. Our program helps participants learn the ins and outs of community involvement, social justice, non-profits, and gentrification. CUE trips last 5-10 days, and are very intense. I am often drained, but this year we had great groups of students from all over the country, and we are looking forward to expanding the program beyond Spring and Fall Breaks with Keene College’s (New Hampshire) visit this month. Our education department also offers different activities like Shelter Seekers, which we developed here at the Homeless Coalition many get people to donate for the paper. This is an immersive experience that gives participants the feeling of panhandling, and with that, all the reactions from people walking by. Some students have left that experience in tears because of the horrible ways they were treated. It is an eye-opening experience for sure. Finally, our entrepreneurial program, Streetvibes, brings you this paper you are reading every two weeks. This is no easy task as several people work hard to get this paper to you. Justin Jeffre, Streetvibes Editor, picks which stories get published and encourages people to write and do photography on specific topics. Key Beck stays calm as the print deadline approaches to make sure the layout is exceptional. The writers are instrumental in crafting articles and poems from perspectives different than what you’d find in other newspapers. Finally, the Distributors, managed by Daulton King, do the leg work of making this paper available to you. When we look back at 2017, we will certainly have mixed feelings. (Continued on page 6) Josh being interviewed for a national documentary THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 1 �LOCAL FORUM FOCUSES ON THE LOCAL RESPONSES TO TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES No. 37 1 | D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 W hat are the local responses to the immigration polices put in place by the Trump Administration in 2017. At the December 1st Community Issues Forum at Christ Church Cathedral, a panel of speakers reviewed community efforts to date, and engaged attendees in a discussion of what is working and what still needs to be done. The panel included Brennan Grayson, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, Allison ReynoldsBerry, Executive Director of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, Samantha Searls of IJPC, and Magda Orlander of the CIWC. Brennan Grayson led off the forum by providing an overview of recent local responses on behalf of the area's immigrant population. Much of the work prior to this year involved advocacy for an updated JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 2 applies to housing. Think about it. A company comes into a neighborhood or onto a street that over the years people who didn’t live there said wasn’t desirable. The company purchases a property that needs some improvement, but generally functions because people have lived there or it is close to what is currently considered a “desirable” area. The company purchases said property for a relatively low cost and then hangs BILL WOODS Contributing Writer and fair immigration reform law. Meanwhile, organizations such as the Workers Center focused on assisting immigrant workers who were cheated in terms of their wages. Progress was also made when the Catholic Arch Diocese and MARCC were able to establish an ID that immigrants could use, and the Cincinnati Police would accept. When the more drastic deportation measures of the current Administration were announced, noted Brennan, local immigrants and their advocate organizations determined that further steps were needed to oppose the tearing apart of families, schools, churches, neighborhoods, and work places. IJPC and the Workers Center took a leadership role in calling people and groups together to plan new responses. Allison Reynolds-Berry described the process that ended up creating the Immigrant Dignity Coalition of Cincinnati. She emphasized the openness of the process, which included lots of discussion and the participation of many diverse groups and individuals. Out of these meetings emerged the Dignity Coalition with a current membership of twenty-seven organizations. Committed to fundamental human rights and dignity, The Immigrant Dignity Coalition of Cincinnati "stands united in opposition to unjust deportation and to anti-immigrant harassment of all kinds." It works with neighborhoods, schools, businesses, unions, religious institutions, and civic groups to educate the public and to forge a community that opposes "fear, racism and confusion emanating from our nation's capital." Better communication between groups has notices that everyone living there must leave. This can be scary for the folks living there, so some folks leave soon after the notice, costing the company only the price of the paper. Some Residents stay longer and the new owner files eviction and a couple more Residents leave before the hearing to avoid an eviction on their record. This again costs the owner virtually nothing. A few Residents stay through the eviction hearing and the owner pays an attorney a relatively small amount to push the eviction through the landlordfriendly court system. The company then either does minor repairs and puts in new modern looking finishes and appliances or guts everything and puts up cheap but nice-looking walls and finishes and then charges a rent that is three to five times higher than the previous rents or charges hundreds of thousands of dollars for the units as condos. People move in to what they see as a pretty building with modern finishes and nice appliances. They are told this used to be an unsafe and undesirable location, but we are bringing new life to this area and you are a part of something special by moving here. You are revitalizing. JIM LUKEN (Continued from page 2) have gone dark. Six years ago, on a visit I interviewed a number of these downtowners for a Streetvibes article. This time, because I was very busy taking care of a very sick friend, I observed the homeless scene mostly from a distance, walking or on a bike I had rehabilitated to use. Sometimes it felt as if I were outside the glass walls of a large aquarium of homeless sea creatures. After sixteen years living in OTR, life on the San Francisco streets seemed foreign, and in some ways exotic. I know other realities, of course, but nonetheless I could sense the appeal of the lifestyle, the way the lives of train-hopping hobos appealed to working people in the '30s and '40s. The house that my friend shares with an owner/roommate is a mile and a half from the ocean and a half block from the park. I spent most of whatever free time I could manage in either of these two locales. One afternoon, I climbed to the top of one of the 50' high sand dunes that line the five miles of beaches along the western edge of the city, all 5 San Francisco Bike Map Credit: part of the city's park system (thus open to everyone). When I got to the top, I found several mattresses nestled together providing tonight's residents an awesome view to the nighttime. These were pretty amazing sleeping arrangements at edge of the crashing waves of the Pacific. A large percentage of the city's homeless use Golden Gate Park as their sleeping quarters. As you move about the park you can often spy sleeping gear secreted away inside plastic bags in the heavy, abundant THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED been emphasized, because of the need to react quickly when news of a local deportation occurs. Samantha Searls and Magda Orlander then discussed some of the day to day work of the Coalition. They emphasized the need for quick response and effective action. After describing one failure to stop a local deportation, they followed with the success story of blocking the deportation of a young person who still had DACHA-status. They described frustration with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and the County Justice Center. Both seem to quickly communicate with ICE officials whenever an immigrant is in their hands. At the moment, the Coalition is actively promoting the continuation of DACHA-status and the passage of the Dream Act. See that is a product that cost the company relatively little, provided a quick turnover with relatively cheap improvements, a fake marketing story and a quick sale at a significant profit. It was cheap and highly profitable to the company and extremely costly to the displaced household. That is freemarket. This, however, is not the end of the story. We will work with People to, yes, fight back, but to make systematic changes such that profit at the cost of Peoples’ housing is no longer allowed. undergrowth. In the evenings you can see the homeless as they gather. Most spend their days moving about the seven-square mile playground of a city, the “City by the Bay.” Again, I'm not saying their lives are cushy, but winter in San Francisco is mostly damp and foggy. No one ever dies of exposure or loses toes and fingers to frostbite. There are homeless in the downtown business district of course, but they are not as visible as we are used to. Not many “fly” their signs. They panhandle more casually. “Sir, can you help me get some food?” Many find “fancy” food to eat, simply by digging half-eaten leftovers that tourists have pitched into trash cans. One guy, who survives by recycling, told me, “Shit, Man, it's usually better food than I could afford.” In the tightly-packed neighborhoods, you find various “strips” of businesses crowded with customers on the afternoons and evenings. There, homeless folks, mostly “kids,” gather in decent weather and try to talk you out of a buck or two. Often you simply see (Continued on page 12) �6 LOCAL "#METOO", "#USTOO": What's at Stake Is Liberating ALL, Women, Men & Society, by Eliminating the Pervasive Male-Dominated Culture D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 1 S SAAD GHOSN exual Harassment is the key word these days, and justly so. Our society allows men in position of power to prey on vulnerable women, children and occasionally other men, taking advantage of their "in control" prerogative to impose their unwanted sexual advances and actions on dependent, confused, and somewhat lost individuals. With most abusers, this usually starts with a paternalistic approach which, with time, implies being helpful, concerned and caring. It progressively captivates the mind of an otherwise emotionally or financially dependent individual, and thus facilitates the way for the abuser's intent. The victim may unwillingly fall in the trap or resist, but in either Contributing Writer case will embark on a road of pain, disillusionment, confusion, including guilt and shame. It is refreshing to see that this problem is now being seriously addressed and discussed in many states of our society, most recently entertainment, politics and sports. And that our media, the courageous women through the #metoo campaign, and the courageous men who came forward, keep raising awareness about it, strongly propelling the many voices of the victims. Sexual harassment should stop PERIOD and should not be tolerated. Our social and legal systems should DR. MARK MUSSMAN leave no room for it, and should provide strict rules, regulations, and control checks to eradicate it and penalize the offender. Imposing, however, only rules, regulations and penalty to address it, will not eliminate its real cause which is the prevalent ideology of our male-dominated society and world, where men continue to be the elite, in leadership and control positions, dictating the tone. In our society, males, from the moment they are born, are raised and impregnated with the idea of their dominant and supremacist role. In order to liberate for good, the abused, one needs most importantly to liberate the abuser, Politically, it has been pretty bleak, both nationally and locally, and I believe a lot of people are feeling frustrated about the direction we are headed. But, on the positive side, we have had a giant impact on the community through our advocacy, development, and education, and entrepreneurial programs. The Homeless Coalition is both a resource and change-maker in the community and we appreciate all the support we (Continued from page 5) and take away the conditions that allowed him to become such. One thus needs to eliminate the ideology for the prevailing dominating/ subservient gender relationship; and create from a very young age the premises for a relationship of equality where, everyone, irrespective of gender, age, background, socioeconomic status, contributes equally and as importantly, in harmony and respect, to the world. To achieve this in our current society one needs first to liberate the mentality of men from these early acquired notions, and distantiate them from the privileges and controls that they were born into, and that they feel entitled to their (Continued on page 7) receive through donations, program requests, and partnerships. We hope that we have made all our constituents – people experiencing homelessness, people whose housing is threatened, our member organizations and their clients – very proud of the work we do. We are certainly proud of the work and results they attain. --------------------------------------- Ms. Iolanda, front desk staff, moved on to a new job this year Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Josh speaking at the National Day of Action for Affordable Housing Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Education Director, Dr. Mark and Distributor Willa Jones with the West End AmeriCorps Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Speaker and Distributor Cleo with Roger Bacon Students Josh, Aquashia, and Allie at a Member Appreciate Event Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 1 LOCAL A NEW BEGINNING? | D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 J ust think it was 1 year ago that I started writing and getting my articles published. I have had a great time doing my writings. I thought I would write about the past year, but I don’t want to make this a recap of my up and down 2017. This is about my 2018. A New Beginning? What’s going to be “New” is my attitude mostly. I for so long have used my emotions to drive my behaviors and actions. So this year I will stop for that one SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 5) entire lives. One, therefore, needs to change these conditions at the root, i.e. the ideology that gave birth to them. But how to? How to get rid of this predominant male-dominated design of our world? We would need to address and remedy all aspects of our society where such a notion is deeply entrenched, and they are many. It will surely not be easy, but it is something essential to consider, recognize and start confronting in order to achieve the equal and harmonious world we should aspire to. In our society, and for the majority of families, this will start with the concept of patriarchal matrimony. Due to it, and from the beginning, the man is the one considered in charge, the leader, the head and protector of the household, providing for the family and responsible for its conduct; the woman playing a 2nd role, a helper to her husband whom she follows, taking care of the children and of the domestic chores. This model which originated early in history when men, thanks to their physical attributes and strength, were playing the dominant providing and protective role, is now being reconsidered in many modern societies. It is, however, still the predominant one across the world, and still effectively applies to the majority of the western societies, including ours. Of course, its persistence is facilitated and compounded by the actual on-theground reality, where women have less access to higher and control positions across the majority of jobs; have less access to higher education; suffer significant wage disparity when compared to men for equal positions; have less to say when it comes to many legal matters; and thus are kept inferior and in secondary roles. Unconsciously (or consciously), and due to the exacerbated de facto valorization of men and the indirect devalorization of women, many families and parents would rejoice more at the birth of a boy, and in some societies female embryos would be preferentially aborted, and sadly some newborn girls even killed. Boys BOBBY MORRIS Contributing Writer moment and analyze my attitude before I act. It’s called “maturity” in some circles, or rational thinking in the Academic world. I just want to make this upcoming year better than the last. A New Beginning? Having been employed for a while now, a new beginning is me working at the start of the year. For so many years I was unemployable due to my actions of would be raised differently from their sisters, given more independence and more freedom from a young age, encouraged more to pursue higher education, allowed more liberty in their social, sexual and extra conjugal life. In addition to matrimony, and surely of no less importance, is the role religions play in maintaining this inequality. In fact, most religions in particular the two largest ones in the world and in the United States, Christianity and Islam - are still in their deep selves’ male-dominated and contribute to, if not promote, such an ideology. In his text on marriage, Ephesians 6:21-33, St Paul states specifically: “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands” (2224). Yes, St Paul continues by asking husbands to love and respect their wives and be one with them, but still implies all along that the man is the controlling head. This notion of Christian patriarchy affirms, in addition and for many, that God Himself is masculine, not feminine; and that He intended distinct gender roles for men and women as part of His created order. Also in Christianity, when one analyzes the text and the ideological insinuation behind the ubiquitous prayer of "Hail Mary" recited by more than one billion individuals, one finds that the part humans added to the prayer**, i.e. "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death," assigns to Mary a secondary role, an interceding and not a direct saving one, contrary to the direct and specific power given to the Father in the seminal prayer "Our Father": "Thy will be done... Give us this day... Forgive us... Lead us not... Deliver us..." And in Catholicism, only men are permitted to hold ruling office in the church. Women are not allowed to become priests. Bishops, cardinals and popes, who dictate the path of the church, are all men. And nuns, despite devoting their entire lives to Christ, still have to rely on a man for most of their spiritual needs. In "Islam" also, women do not the past. I have a lot of gratitude for my job. Yet I feel there is more I can do for myself and the people around me. Being of service is the thing I pray for every day before I leave my home to go to work. “God help me be of Service Today”. That’s all I say, and then I go to work. This simple prayer has made me more of a man, a responsible hardworking, caring man. A New Beginning? Letting go of the past and moving on in my life is a have access to Imam-hood. They are kept separated from and behind men during religious practices. They have less a say and less freedom than men, and weigh less legally. They function mainly inside the home, as domestic providers. They are not allowed, contrary to men, polygamy. And in many Muslim countries, women have their rights significantly limited. This being said, the observations above may not be intrinsic to the essence of the religions themselves. They are, nevertheless representative of them and of the subtle (and often not so subtle) male-dominated ideology these religions implant in their followers, as presented, taught and determined by their man-controlled infrastructure and hierarchy. Matrimony and Religion in their current construct and understanding are only but two important areas which allow the status of men as an elite, dominating and controlling one to be perpetuated in our society. They need to be clearly addressed and their ideology made more egalitarian and not control-dominated. Education also, falling prey to the cultural stereotypes that affect the sexes, plays an important role in maintaining this gender disparity. Teachers, themselves victim of the gender bias they have already acquired, treat girls and boys differently. And there are some fields of studies and work, such as science, math, engineering, business, technology... that women, from an early age, are indirectly discouraged to follow and in which they are underrepresented. And this not to mention the significant leadership and wage gap that women are exposed to. This male-dominated culture, coupled with consumerism, also objectifies the female body, often limiting women to sex objects for the pleasure of men. This is reinforced at all levels of society and by all cultural means, such as entertainment, fashion, advertisement, beauty pageants, etc. rendering the woman, in addition to being a victim, an accomplice in the gender biased culture, thus perpetuating the discriminatory stereotype. It is clear that sexual harassment will continue to prevail unless we cut the roots to the patriarchal system THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 7 new beginning. What I am reluctant to mention is that I am talking about my social life or lack thereof. I have to move on from trying to find that special someone. I have spent far too much time and energy trying to find that girl. By doing this I lost what it was I was seeking, ME! I tried to put all my energy into making myself that “Guy” who every girl wants and not being me. So a New Beginning is being me. I have to make that a priority above all else. A New Beginning? Maybe the word “NEW” is not correct. Should it be “A Positive Beginning”? New (Continued on page 11) in which power is primarily held by adult men. In such a system men hold the privileges and play the major roles in the social, legal, political, religious and economic leadership of the culture. This position allows them easily to both, institutionally and personally, subordinate, exploit and abuse women. Both men and women need to be helped and liberated from these limiting stereotypical societal dictations of which they are both victims and that make them abusers and abused. Our society needs to be ideologically equal, one in which everyone grows with the basic values of equal rights, equal opportunities, equal contributions. It needs to be egalitarian and respectful, and its basic approaches to family, work, education, health, politics, religion, not based on control and dominance but rather on sharing and inclusive participation. Eliminating male dominance will get rid of the male controlling and subordinating attitude that accompanies it. It will achieve a lot but, alone, will not suffice. Control and subservience can reestablish themselves in different ways in society, such as, for instance, in personal relationships, work environment, physical and financial dependence, etc. In such situations, there will often be someone powerful and in control who might take advantage of his/her position to subjugate and exploit the vulnerable other. This could again lead to sexual harassment, but also to all other kinds of abuse. For all harassments and abuses to disappear from our society, we need, therefore, to work hard at not only eliminating the prevalent male-dominated ideology, but also, and as importantly, at establishing everywhere a culture promoting equal relationships, away from dominant power and control. **The prayer Hail Mary incorporates two passages from Luke's Gospel: "Hail, the Lord is with thee," and "Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb," and one from John 1:14: "full of grace." The newer part listed in the text above was added by the church in the 16th century, around the time of the Council of Trent. --------------------------------------- �8 RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS For Karthik Raghavan, Love Is the Way for Self-Realization, and Serving Others with Love Is Serving God B D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 1 orn in a Hindu family in the city of Chennai, South India, Karthik Raghavan grew up religious and from a very young age, participated in Hindu rituals, celebrating religious festivals and going regularly, at least once a week, to the temple, to chant, pray and meditate. "I was also vegetarian," he says. "It was the way to be and almost second nature. I never questioned it and just followed by example." Raghavan was also from the beginning, and throughout his life, guided by the moral duties of the Sanatana Dharma (or Eternal Duty), also called Hinduism, a code of ethics incumbent upon all Hindus, regardless of class, caste, or sect, and which, when closely followed, would allow one to reach enlightenment and liberation (moksha). In school and through a moral sciences class, Raghavan was taught virtues and was exposed to other religions, learning their creeds and their prayers. For college, he left his birth city and went North, to attend an engineering school near New Delhi. There he befriended many Sikh students, accompanied them often to their temple, and found commonality with their faith. Even though aware of social injustices all along, he had not been actively engaged until then. This was, however, bound to change. "While in college, our Indian prime minister was assassinated by her Sikh body guards, and full-scale SAAD GHOSN Contributing Writer riots ensued targeting the Sikhs," he says. "I had to protect my friends and hide them from the mob; this could have been me." Raghavan also ran for the student government; and protested cheating on campus by a hunger strike and by working at changing the college rules. In 1987, at the age of 21, he enrolled at the University of Missouri, in Rolla, to pursue a Master's degree, then a PhD degree, in chemical engineering. This was his 1st exposure to the US, where he has been living since, save for a 4 years hiatus, back to India, to take over his father's firm. His 6 years in Rolla were mostly devoted to studying, but also punctuated by social services to the community, mainly during the holidays, gathering clothes and food for the homeless and the underserved; also providing help and guidance to newcomer students on campus. Late 1990's Raghavan moved to the Cincinnati/Dayton area for professional reasons and got married around the same time. His wife and her parents were followers in India of Sathya Sai Baba, an Indian guru and philanthropist who passed for being the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, himself an Indian spiritual master of the early 20th century, regarded by his devotees as the true guru, a saint and an incarnation of God. Introduced to the spiritual teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, Raghavan was What is the HINDUISM Hinduism is one of the oldest known organized religions; its sacred writings date as far back as 1400 to 1500 B.C. It is also one of the most diverse and complex, having millions of gods. Hindus have a wide variety of core beliefs and exist in many different sects. Although the third largest religion in the world, with over 1 billion followers, Hinduism exists primarily in India and Nepal. The main texts of Hinduism include the Vedas which contain hymns, incantations, philosophies, rituals, poems, and stories from which Hindus base their beliefs. Even though Hinduism is considered polytheistic, it has one “god” that is supreme—Brahman, believed to inhabit every portion of reality and existence throughout the entire universe. Brahman is both impersonal and unknowable and exists in three separate forms: Brahma—Creator; Vishnu— Preserver; and Shiva—Destroyer. There are many schools of Hinduism and "Hindus" are very diverse. To be Hindu one has to recognize the Vedas as sacred. The Vedas are “theo-mythology” books deeply rooted in India's history and culture and a Hindu has to embrace to some extent the Indian culture. Because Brahman is everything, Hinduism asserts that everyone is divine. The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with Brahman, referred to as "moksha". Until moksha is achieved, a Hindu believes that he/she will be repeatedly reincarnated. quickly taken by their wisdom, their focus on love and on self-realization, and saw them as complementing his Hindu faith; he quickly became one of his fervent followers. "Sathya Sai Baba wants each of us to recognize the divinity inherent in us," says Raghavan, "to emphasize and experience the One in all we do or speak, and this principally through Love. He said: 'Love All; Serve All. There is only one caste, the caste of Karthik Raghavan humanity. There is only one religion, the religion of love. There is only one language, the language of the heart.'" In fact, in his teachings, Sathya Sai Baba always stressed the unimportance of a differing religion, sect, status or color, the main goal being to help each individual be the best he could be, in harmony with God. "Following Sathya Sai Baba actually helps me be a better Hindu," says Raghavan. "He gives me rules of conduct to live well my life; he guides me; he gives me the tool." In Mason, north of Cincinnati, where he and his family currently live, Raghavan joined the Sathya Sai Baba Center (SSBC) of CincinnatiDayton located there and recently became its president. All like Sathya Sai Baba who through his life stressed devotion through prayers; education through his teachings, writings and the many schools he founded; and service through the many free hospitals he started and the programs of free water distribution he established; the SSBC has also created 3 wings along the same lines. Raghavan in his position of president oversees them and helps coordinating them, and also as a member participates actively in each of them. At SSBC Devotion is achieved every Sunday by unison group singing and chanting in many languages and of prayers of many religions (bhajans), also by individual prayer and meditation. Education which focuses on values is achieved by different means. Classes are offered every Sunday of the school year to kids of different grades. They emphasize Credit: Saad Ghosn the universal human values of Truth (Sathya); Righteousness (Dharma); Peace (Shanthi); Love (Prema) and Nonviolence (Ahimsa), essential for leading moral lives. They are taught by parents who would have undergone themselves specific training for that matter. Study Circles also occur every Sunday during which spiritual writings and topics are discussed by a group of adults who will also examine their effective application to their daily life. "We are now discussing the topic of mindfulness," says Raghavan, "also finding ways on how to practice it in our lives. We will evaluate ourselves and our efforts afterwards." Speakers and lecturers are also frequently invited to come to SSBC to instruct and enlighten the community on various topics pertaining to spirituality and religion. The Services to the community that Raghavan facilitates and in which he and his family participate are numerous. They include: providing food, cooking and serving dinner and lunch several times a month at 3 shelters in both Cincinnati and Dayton (the David & Rebecca Barron (Continued on page 12) Religious Peacemakers is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati individuals who use their faith and religious beliefs for peace and justice. Saad.Ghosn@uc.edu is the founder of SOS (Save Our Souls) Art, an organization that promotes arts as vehicles for peace and justice and for a change. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 1 PHOTO ESSAY Homeless Coalition Annual Dinner December 13, 2017 The Syndacate, Newport, Kentucky | D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 9 Mona Jenkins, Director of Development welcomes guests to annual dinner. Bill Woods shows off his Distributor of the year Jacket. Bill Woods speaks about the legacy of buddy gray after accepting buddy gray Lifetime Achievement Award. Daulton King presents James Brown with Distributor of the Year Award Kimetta Carter, and Alms Apartments Residents Association, shares their community story and presents Legal Aid Society with Julie Martin Service Provider of the Year Award THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 LOCAL D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 1 December 21 - 31, 2017 For tickets please call (513) 381-2273 Purchase tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com AD Donated by Mark and Sue Ann Painter season sponsored by the Otto M. Budig Family Foundation THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �LOCAL Why is Cancer Mortality So High in Cincinnati? Part Three: Physicians are Ill Prepared No. 37 1 | D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 1. Introduction: The first two parts of these essays made two major points: First, cancer mortality is most serious in the neighborhoods that have minorities and, secondly, that hospitals have stood by doing nothing to change this epidemic even though funds are pouring into hospitals from federal, state, local and private sources. In this essay we explore the role of physicians in treating cancer patients that are poor, minorities, and un- or underinsured. It is my assumption that cancer mortality and life expectancy are linked to physician incompetence to work with patients in compassionate ways. I am not suggesting that all physicians fit into this category; rather, that a critical mass of physicians contribute to maintaining the high death rates and lower life expectancies. 2. Facing the Minority Patient: Physicians have little experience with poor people who are either healthy or sick. Sadly, this lack of experience is too often translated into the loss of life. Here is the reality of the chasm: "Three times as many African Americans were diagnosed with diabetes in 1993 as in 1963. This rate is nearly twice that of white Americans and is sorely underestimated: The real black diabetes rate is probably double that of whites. As with most chronic diseases, African Americans suffer more complication, including limb loss, blindness, kind eyes disease, and terminal heart disease. Cancer, the nation's second greatest killer, is diagnosed later in blacks and carries off proportionately more African Americans than whites. African Americans suffer the nation's highest rate of cancer and cancer deaths."(Washington, p. 3.) These statistics also exist in Cincinnati, the minority cancer capital of Ohio. (CDC) Where is the response of the Cincinnati medical profession to these dramatic losses in the minority community? Where is the hospital outreach to neighborhoods where the deaths are greatest? The deafness of the medical community to the individual and family's plight means that the whole quality of BOBBY MORRIS (Continued from page 7) makes me think what I plan to do this upcoming year is something new. NO! It’s a continuation of the past year but with more positive results (hopefully) and positive growth. I don’t know, I just know that it will be better and having that positive feeling going into the New Year is worth the effort it’s going to take to do what it is I want to do. A Positive Beginning? So as I end 11 STEVE SUNDERLAND Contributing Writer life of minorities is under constant threat from untreated or medical attention that is too late. What this means is that there is a growing number of unnecessary deaths: "In one generation, between 1940 and 1999, more than four million African Americans died prematurely relative to whites."(Roberts, p. 81.) Those who have survived are suffering from the reality that the health care community has chosen to avoid this public health crisis. 3. The Underlying Cause of Physician Incompetence: Bias, intended or unintended, toward African Americans. Many reasons may contribute to the health gap for physicians when it comes to minorities. The most generous interpretation is provided by a distinguished, former chair of orthopedics at Harvard Medical School: He notes: "Orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, gynecology, psychiatry...almost every specialty has its own grim history of disparate care. Unequal treatment is, in its way, the last frontier of racist prejudice, all the more fascinating because so much of it is a result of biases that function below the level of consciousness, that affect even doctors who have no intention of being anything other than compassionate, egalitarian caregivers." (White, p. 3.) Yet, coming face to face with minorities needing health care means facing the realities of the obstacles to productive, clear, and compassionate discussion. In our work in the Cancer Justice Network, we have been watching how a physician can reverse the expectations of clients when discussing chronic disease. Most of the low-income people we meet with on a regular basis have rarely had a long conversation with a physician. Our physician sits at a dinner table in a church, or community center, and listens and listens to the questions about health and the fears about health that a person carries with them. Our physician is a frequent visitor to these churches, to their dinners, and to health fairs. The low income or homeless person, over time, develops a trust, a feeling that the doctor is taking their fears, histories, and signals of disease seriously. Usually a navigator accompanies the physician and, if necessary, the navigator will accompany the person, at a later date to a health center or to a hospital. In one evening, of about two hours, the doctor and the navigator can meet and discuss with a dozen or more people with the result that many questions are answered, people can relax and know that they can be listened to, and that, if needed, more medical attention can be almost immediately reached. In another setting, first year medical students have a chance to interact with this same population at a weekly clinic. Prior to meeting people, the student expresses their anxiety about what will happen when they interact and try to take a person's blood pressure or blood/ sugar reading. The expectations of conflict, of fearing the questions, and reality that people will expect respectful and compassionate care, all build up in our discussions. Yet, the interactions are usually very pleasant as people who have come to the clinic seem to be looking forward to having a period of real time with a health care staff member. In the review that follows a morning of interactions, it is not surprising to hear how dramatically the student's attitudes have changed. Instead of "those people" we are now hearing about "Joe," or "Mary" and what their reaction was to having their blood pressure taken. The conversation reveals that the unconscious fears and biases about poor people can be examined and replaced by a caring and realistic perspective. 4. Changing Segregated Medical, Nursing, and Pharmacy Schools and Their Course of Study: Little will be expected to change if there is no change in the education of the healthcare provider. The lack of diversity in these schools reinforces the unconscious bias that only a few are capable of being health care providers. As one historian of medicine has put it: "...illness is highly segregated in this society, as are those who treat it." (Rothman, this 1st article for the New Year, I will say thank you to everyone who has been there for me. Especially those that believe in me. I needed all of the support you guys have given me to do what I do. Thank you so much and to those who read this and find themselves relating to it or not, thank you. This world we live in is for us all and it takes all of us to make it a better place. A New Beginning? YES! It is New and Positive. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED p. 5.) There is now a greater distance between healthcare providers and patients, especially those with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The knowledge of the sector of the community in greatest need of both health care and supplemental services is a kind of combined knowledge that is unknown to the students. Human relations, better and compassionate communication, awareness of medical practices that serve as obstacles (the procedures to gain access to a physician, a hospital, a screening, financial aid), skill in assisting with other life threatening problems (drugs, housing, jobs, transportation), and an recognition growing out of a study of racism in the health systems (admissions, ties to slavery, black medical schools), all would contribute to a different theory and practice of health care. Who can teach these areas of knowledge? What kind of continuing education is necessary? How will healthcare individuals and institutions be held accountable for changing their behaviors? Not facing these questions only postpones true justice in health care. A hurricane has descended on a very large population. Much has been long lost; yet, some people have been survivors, salvaging what they can of their families and communities. Health care and so much more is needed to rebuild the foundations of communities. A new partnership based on reconstruction of the soul of health care is needed just as the communities need a redevelopment of their neighborhoods. The wreckage is clear. What remains is whether or not healthcare will step up. To be continued. References: D. Roberts (2011). Fatal interventions: How science, policy,and big business recreate race in the 21st century. The New Press. D. Rothman (1991). Stranger at the bedside. Basicbooks. H. Washington (2008). Medical apartheid. Anchor. A. White (2011). Seeing patients: Unconscious bias in healthcare. Harvard Press. ------------------------------------------- �12 LOCAL Street Life Our Reality ‘L D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 1 RICARDO TAYLOR ife can often reflect, like images in a mirror, but never reflect like scenes of a mirage.’ For those of us who are invested in the life of the streets there are never moments of mirage; (times when we thought/believed) those instances where we saw or imagined relief from our self-imposed plight in life. It is always the same; that reflective appearance, like our reflect ion in a mirror. Our reality, existing, momentarily in hopes and dreams of a presupposition of what life is supposed to be only having to return to the reality of our true existence! JIM LUKEN (Continued from page 5) them sitting on the sidewalks. A half dozen years ago, the city passed a law against people sitting on the SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) Center for Men, formerly Drop Inn Center; the Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women; the St Vincent de Paul Gateway Shelter for Women & Families); participating in medical camps and health centers in the area, providing medical manpower, and helping in any task needed; singing, playing music and reading stories to Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer How easy is it to see that relief from the immediate sufferings which we often find ourselves with promises of tomorrow? “Well I know that Friday is payday, so I can spend what I have and then take care of my bills on Friday!” Only to find that when Friday comes my bills have doubled! So, often we find that our intent is not so much a reflective ion of our ability or our being, but better stated a mirage of our desires. Our experiences tell us that the reality we perceive is unreal, yet we continue to commit ourselves to acts which we know are non-beneficial towards our welfare or well-being. A mirage! Our image suffers the reflective ion of ourselves, and we hardly see ourselves in reflective ion and instead see ourselves in an arena of who we’d want or try to be! The self becomes lost in a sort of fantasy, losing the way we view the world, and of course our true selfimage. We often start to lose hope, that most fundamental grasp of sanity! We become that mirage of self, and we know from experience, that when hope dies; we prey instead of pray and our lives spin out of control! That oh, so, miserable feeling of self-image becomes the mirage sidewalks. Difficult to enforce, as well as be-smudging the image of SF as diverse and welcoming. Obviously, if the law still exists, no one heeds or enforces it. Please forgive this rather glamorous glimpse of homelessness in San Francisco. If you want a seamier depiction, look up my previous article. I'm recalling the feeling that the amazing Otis Redding captured in his #1 song, “The Doc of the Bay” (1967). Could Otis himself have been homeless at the time he wrote this iconic tune? Whatever. Clearly, the character, sitting there on the doc by the Bay was simply “chillin'” in one of the world's most beautiful cities. You could do worse. the elderly residents of Mason Health Center. Raghavan and members of the Center also lend their hand to Christmas in April, a program similar to the one Habitat for Humanity organizes. They help fixing houses, painting, cleaning, doing yard and landscape work. To strengthen interfaith exchange, collaboration, and to promote unity in diversity, SSBC also celebrates the holidays of the various religions (Christmas, Ramadan, Hannukah,...) by special gatherings and events. Raghavan would like to have a Walk for Values started in Cincinnati. He would see it as a culmination of many other widespread activities throughout the year, focused on moral values, peace and justice. Spirituality is an important part of Raghavan's daily routine. He always aspires to be mindful of his thoughts, words and deeds so that they are in sync with each other. His goal is to self-realize himself and serve his community. For him religion implies that: eternal duty to himself, to his family and to society. "By serving others, I am serving God," he says. "Love is responsible for everything. It is the only way to self-realize oneself and the God who is in each of us." “Breakdown Stereotypes” Ricardo Taylor of our longings in such that we find ourselves in the mirage of whom we’d like to be; allowing our reality to become the stage of that thin line between reality and the wishes we have for our well-being. ‘That no man’s world where only hopes and dreams exist; Our Reality. --------------------------------------- “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Dr. Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. We would like to send a huge thank you to all of the supporters that made the annual dinner possible. But, we would especially like to thank Christ Church Cathedral for their gold level sponsorhip and St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church for their bronze level sponsorship. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 1 | D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 LIVING BY GOODNESS 13 STREET VOICE Each day God gives us life THE REAL FACTS PILE UP There seems to be some confusion When Trump declares no collusion. How merciful our creator He gives us a wonderful start To live life with breath First Manaforte and now it's Flynn Were exposed to have a Russian-in. Mueller's dogged fact collection Leads us to a Kremlin connection. In our lungs and a beating heart BILL WOODS Living by goodness and by grace Contributing Writer HOOLIEO Thank you God for another day I ain’t Hoolieo I heard somebody say Living by goodness makes one feel good I ain’t out here conning and tricking people And thankful for Gods good grace for a raise in pay I’m trying to give others respect as I want for myself KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer I’m trying to keep my lively hood open to the hand I’ve been dealt I aint Hoolieo I heaard another person say I ain’t making up fairy tales trying to get sympathy for money today I’m trying to be honest to people I meet along the street I’m trying to receive God’s blessing with each heart beat I ain’t Hoolieo I finally shouted very clear out loud I rebuke thee Hoolie and vanish thee from my mind up to the clouds So if things are not going your way and you feel a Hoolieo attack coming on A urge to con, trick or lie to people for pay, just kick Hoolieo to the curb and curse the day he was born!! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 140 Across Down 1. Complementary ticket 1. Moue 5. Unit of weight for precious 2. Motor vehicle stones 3. Ignore 10. Health resort 4. Abrasion 13. Snow leopard 5. Religious song 15. Mindful 6. Veneration 16. Distant but within sight 7. Operated 17. Reversal of direction 8. Suitable for cultivation 18. Relating to the kidneys 9. Cogent 19. Horse-drawn vehicle 10. Sweet, sticky liquid 20. Nicotiana tabacum 11. Sang-froid 22. Top worn by women 12. A strong emotion 24. A tame parrot 14. Extra or repeated 25. Item of footwear performance 26. Particular environment 21. A fastener or walk of life 23. Eye 29. Portable shelter 25. Take without the 30. Beer owner's consent 31. Bird of prey 26. Heroic tale 34. Band that holds a saddle 27. Useful or valuable quality in place 28. Assist 38. Seabird 32. Juicy fruit 40. Delicacy 33. Allow 42. Remedy 35. Corrode 43. Savory jelly 36. Large woody plant 45. Book of maps 37. Perceive via the 47. Division of an ocean auditory sense 48. Part of a boot or shoe 39. Internal organ 50. Annoy persistently 41. Large, mainly nocturnal 52. Clique ungulate 55. Plant tissue 44. Leaves used in 56. A kind of heavy jacket soups and stews 57. Skilled worker 46. Small sofa 61. Uncooked 49. Gilbert and Sullivan 62. Wheeled vehicle opera, The ___ 65. Call forth 51. Tremble 66. Compete 52. Engrave 67. Worship 53. Live broadcast sign 68. Suggestive of the 54. Tall structure supernatural 55. A list of jurors 69. Wander off course 58. Painful 70. Warble 59. Similar 71. Rive 60. Requirement D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 1 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 270 - MEDIUM 63. Deity 64. Metal-bearing mineral PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 369 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 139 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 269- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 1 RESOURCES | D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 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 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 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 First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th 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 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 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 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 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 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 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 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 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 $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 D e c 15 - D e c 2 8 , 2 0 17 | N o . 37 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 GREGORY RAY SINCE 4/2015 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 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 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 2/2015 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2017 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 15-December 28, 2017 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Homeless in SF Pg 3: Looking Back at 2017 Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: Forum Focuses on the Local Responses to Trump’s Immigration Policies Pg 6: “#MeToo”,”#UsToo” Pg 7: A New Beginning? Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Photo Essay Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Why is Cancer Mortality so High in Cincinnati? Pg 12: Street Life Our Reality Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 15-December 28, 2017 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Jim Luken Dr. Mark Mussman Bill Woods Saad Ghosn Steve Sunderland Ricardo Taylor Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Laura Domet Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Woods Cancer Cincinnati Donald Trump Dr. Mark Mussman GCHC immigration Jim Luken Josh Spring Kim Green Laura Domet Me Too Photography Religion Ricardo Taylor Saad Ghosn San Francisco Steve Sunderland Street Life Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/1cecee01aa159fe0b73e807478553bdf.pdf a4235cec3bb8261d3de16a63cabaa0df PDF Text Text D e c e m b e r 2 8 t h - J a n u a r y 1 1 t h 2 0 1 8 | Vo l . 2 1 I s s u e 2 4 ( N o . 3 9 7 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Article on page 5 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION Nov 2 o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec. 28- -NJan. 11,22018 397 From The Director: 2018 In Summary And 2019 Plans T he human and financial support you add to our Coalition allows us to remain a vocal, active organization focused on organizing, advocating, educating and coordinating for systemic changes to end homelessness in Greater Cincinnati. In Cincinnati and Hamilton County more people are experiencing homelessness now than ever before. This includes single adults, couples, families with children and youth. Through research, we know that on an average day in 2018 the easily identifiable need for shelter is nearly double the capacity and 88% of families with children who sought shelter were turned away because there was no room. Our member organizations are constantly working and successfully assisting individuals and families in reaching sustainable housing. People are getting housed and receiving needed supports. Street-outreach workers are getting people into shelter. Food, employment assistance, medical and mental health care, detox and spiritual care are being provided. However, if we used all of the currently available resources perfectly, it would not be enough. In Hamilton County, we are short 40,019 affordable homes. 55,601 households or about 150,000 people are trying to fit into 15,581 affordable homes. In the last 15 years more than $2 billion in public and private funds have been invested in housing and yet we are in the throes of a housing and homelessness crisis. As a city, county and community we have spent funds on luxury housing for people who have homes, instead of investing in desperately needed housing for people without homes and on the edge. Currently the City puts almost no local funds into affordable housing, but we give tens of millions of dollars in property tax abatements to large market rate developers and the city doesn’t even asked if they plan to displace people from their homes or if they will include any affordable housing. Developers who displace and provoke homelessness get tax abatements. Of the 50 largest metropolitan areas, we have the tenth highest number of evictions. A person who rents can offer their rent to the landlord, who can refuse to accept it and then get the JOSH SPRING Executive Director Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition court to evict for not paying rent. In addition to the trauma of homelessness, the housing crisis gives bad landlords the opportunity to exploit need by not maintaining properties and providing housing in horrible condition. Over the year we have worked with families who sleep in the living room because the rats or cockroaches in the bedrooms bite, people who can’t use rooms of their homes because of leaks, people with unsafe drinking water because it moves through heating pipes, ceilings that have fallen on children, living without a toilet, tub or stove, living without electricity because of landlord retaliation and on and on. If all of this were not terrible enough, this summer, the City and County decided to invest in criminalizing people living outside. It is now an arrestable offense in Hamilton County to experience homelessness outside on both public and private land. Solving problems like these require a Homeless Coalition that is able to act with the focus always on people experiencing and on the edge of homelessness, and our many wonderful member organizations. We are organizing with Tenants in buildings with approximately 3,656 threatened homes, housing approximately 10,968 people. In the last year this work in partnership with Tenants and our Member Organizations resulted in 823 homes saved for approximately 2,469 people. We successfully convinced city council to continue the restoration of Human Services funding and to increase funding to the Winter Shelter. When a women experiencing homelessness was harassed and discriminated against by an employee of a local Dunkin Donuts, we were able to proactively partner with the owners of this franchise and several others in the area to provide education about homelessness and empathy to all of their management staff through our Speakers’ Bureau program. We have led people experiencing homelessness outside to federally sue both the City and County for infringing upon their basic constitutionally protected human rights. This effort has the potential to not only change how things work here, but to assist people in other cities, states and regions. After much advocacy, city council voted to create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and with our partners we started a significant effort to establish legislated protections for people who rent. In 2019 we plan to secure significant, permanent funding sources for the currently unfunded Affordable Housing Trust Fund. We will pursue the passage of protections from unjust evictions and the requirement that developers receiving tax abatements do not displace people and instead include affordable housing. We will continue to organize with hundreds of people living in threatened housing. We will fight for the end of the legalized criminalization of homelessness which only serves to deepen the trauma of homelessness. We will focus on joining with our Member Organizations and other partners to figure out what needs to be done on an immediate daily basis for people who currently can’t access shelter. If you are able, please invest in these systemic efforts to end and prevent homelessness. We need your investment. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Gabriela Godinez Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Brian Taylor, Micheal Earl Patton, Bill Woods, Willa Jones, Dr. Mark Mussman, Kim Green, Robert Park, Siqi Cheng, Leah Rutz, Yuliya Milkitin, Kristina McKinley, M.T. ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, pngtree. com, Gabriela Godinez, iStockphoto, pexels.com, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 211, - N2018 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec. 283-| Jan. | No. 397 COALITION 3 A Turbulent Year DR. MARK MUSSMAN Staff Writer A s we continue to fight for affordable housing, livable wages, and housing protections, there are powerful forces who oppose fairness, equality, and equity. Although 2018 has been a difficult year, it has been a time to remember that anything that comes easy is generally not very valuable. From our Education program, our Membership coordination, our Advocacy team, to Streetvibes, we have been working every day to ensure that our mission will be fulfilled: The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition is a unified social action agency, fully committed to its ultimate goal: the eradication of homelessness with respect for the dignity and diversity of its membership, people experiencing homelessness and the community. Our Coalition works towards this goal by coordinating services, educating the public, and engaging in grassroots organizing and advocacy. Over the course of the year, the Education program has been focused on quality programming that leads to action. We started off the year in Community Council Meetings, and we are ending the year embedded in student projects from middle school to graduate studies. The year included the first corporate training, which resulted in managers becoming trained from four local stores. The year also saw new faces for the CUE trips, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and also from Baldwin Wallace College. We are already booking new schools for Spring Break, and we are continuing the tradition with other schools that come frequently. We did two educational events, Left in the Cold and Know Your Rights!, at the public library in concert with all of the Homeless Coalition staff. We did this to help the public understand the complexities of homelessness in Cincinnati. Throughout the year, we engaged with many communities through our speaking engagements, social justice walking tours, and Streetvibes shadow activities. We worked with many schools and churches to provide top-notch experiences which give participants a solid foundation, both experiential and the vocabulary, to confront harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about poverty and social services in Cincinnati. We worked closely with one local high school to provide opportunities through their Service Week to learn about the history and struggle in Over-the-Rhine. Following an intense week of speakers and tours, one of the chaperone, a school counselor, gave us this unsolicited feedback: “I just wanted to say thank you so much for working with our students this week. I think this week with the Homeless Coalition was a big eye-opener — I hope that it generates some fierce community advocates. I am so grateful to have community partners like you that make this project work. You have definitely planted a seed with many of our students by giving them the opportunity to see their world through a different lens.” Our advocacy team has been working non-stop to ensure that people are able to stay in their homes. We help organize tenant organizations to create a unified voice to fight back against displacement. Over the year, hundreds of homes have been saved, while the strength of the tenants organizations has increased in private and public housing through the work of our organizers and the tenacity of the residents. When housing was threatened by the FC Cincinnati stadium project, the advocacy team stepped up to help illuminate the issues that were looming. Although FC Cincinnati received CPS and Cincinnati City Council’s unwavering support, the voices of the residents of the West End were heard more loudly. Meeting after meeting, our team worked with residents to craft their message and make sure that it was heard. The solidarity that we were able to create has bolstered our efforts, and will lead to stronger organizing in the future. As the Third Street encampment was threatened, the advocacy team stood up to the business, city, county, and law enforcement officials who schemed to remove people from public sight. The efforts to remove people from the underpass and Third Street were not informed by data, but rather by the whims of powerful people in the city. The leaders made unfounded claims of health issues, yet provided no evidence to back up their claims. While they worked together to skirt existing laws protecting people experiencing homelessness, our entire organization threw ourselves into making sure that people were not mistreated. We collected stories, coordinated services, advocated for housing and shelter, secured a lawyer, wrote legal documents, filed claims, and more. During this time, countless hours were needed to observe the police and city officials, who employed tactics meant to confuse residents of the encampment. Waking them up at 6am, telling them to vacate, but giving them no options, the Cincinnati Police Officers themselves expressed that they were just doing their jobs, and that they understood that there is no room in the shelter. The conditions of the court order required them to follow the order, or they themselves would be arrested. This condition applied to all city employees, including City Council. While we are still embattled in the legal suit to ensure that people have their federally protected Constitutional rights, we continue to aid our member organizations in negotiations, fundraising, coordination of services, and other support. Through membership we are able to take donations to the right location, help them improve their services, herald their accomplishments, get volunteers, and improve their funding. We are able to act as the political voice to our 65+ member organizations, who may have their lips sealed due to funding realities. This year, we were able to secure an increase in the Human Services Fund, including direct city funding to the THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Winter Shelter. Advocacy around a Affordable Housing Trust Fund, including writing the motion and legislation to support the fund, was successful in getting a fund established this year. The goal of the fund is to create and sustain affordable housing in Cincinnati, yet it is not funded yet. This year also saw a monumental change with Streetvibes, which gives people an opportunity to become an entrepreneur, by distributing this paper. Our long-term Editor was replaced by a new Editor-in-chief, who has employed new design and content techniques. The process in finding the new Editorin-chief was long and arduous, but has already yielded many benefits. We strive to include new voices, voices that are typically underrepresented in media, and the last few editions of the paper have done just that. The new graphical nature of the paper is eye-catching, and has elicited many positive responses. I am excited to see Streetvibes grow. The Homeless Coalition, and our staff, have quietly received many awards this year. The reward for the work we do is often non-tangible — knowing that we helped educate thousands of people about homelessness, affordable housing, and displacement; knowing that we were able to ensure that people are able to stay in their homes; knowing that our member organizations have the support they need; knowing that people who are just trying to survive aren’t swept under the rug; knowing that the opportunity to earn money through entrepreneurship — these rewards can not be quantified, but each piece helps us to stay engaged in the struggle to eradicate homelessness. Please consider joining the Homeless Coalition, as an organization, or an individual, because you will make our coalition stronger. �4 COALITION N o v 228 - N- oJan. v 19, 2 02018 18 | N o . 393 Dec. 11, | No. 397 How To Respond To Panhandling Hello, I am not able to give money, but I hope you have a great day. I have to keep walking but thanks for saying hello. Seeking Compassion Hi, how are you? Sure, here is a little bit. Have a good day. * Make eye contact * Smile * Have compassion When you meet a fellow human who is asking for help, it may make you feel uncomfortable.This does not mean that person does not deserve the same rights as you. Cities are increasingly criminalizing people who are financially poor with laws, such as making it illegal to sit on sidewalks.This works to remove people from sight, but is not a humane or sustainable solution. To learn more about the lack of affordable housing and inadequacy of services that contributes to panhandling, contact the Homeless Coalition at (513) 421 2701. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 3928 3 |-N ov 2 11, - No v 19,| 2 0 18397 Dec. Jan. 2018 No. 5 COALITION The Tired, The Poor, and The Huddled Masses GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief 7 year old Jakelin Caal Maquin was detained by border patrol on December 8th, 2018 along with “163 migrants, including 50 unaccompanied children” according to the Associated Press. There were apparently only 4 border patrol agents holding all these people in one bus on route to a station about 94 miles away. On this trip, Jakelin started to feel ill, vomiting, causing her father to notify the agents that she needed medical attention. According to NBC News, she would receive this medical attention 90 minutes later once they arrived at the station “but by then she had stopped breathing.” At this point in the news cycle we all know what happened. After being transported to El Paso, Texas she died. Still even almost a month later after her death we aren’t completely sure what happened. The general consensus seems to be that she died of septic shock, the third and final stage in infection resulting in sepsis. We still don’t have all the information and most likely never will because of a combination of medical privacy and lack of border patrol communication. Though many were surprised to hear such news, Washington Post reporters Scott Allen and Pamela McPherson, were not. They had sent a letter raising their concerns to the Senate Whistleblowing Caucus. The letter, sent to Chairman Charles E. Grassley and Vice Chairman Ron Wyden, read: “We have conducted ten investigations of family detention facilities, the Karnes and Dilley detention centers in Texas, the Berks detention center in Pennsylvania, and the one closed facility, Artesia in New Mexico, over the past four years. Those investigations, usually prompted by complaints, frequently revealed serious compliance issues resulting in harm to children, which we have documented in submitted reports to CRCL. Our close familiarity with past problems inform our belief that the current immigration policy poses the likely risk of noncompliance with existing family detention center standards that will directly result in harm to children.” In their article, Allen and McPherson include the original letter and describe their lack of surprise of this death. Jakelin Caal Maquin’s death was not a surprise to anyone keeping up with immigration conditions and policies in this country. To this administration, undocumented immigrants are seen as nothing more than disposable dangerous criminals, even the 7-year-olds. This level of dehumanization can be seen time and time again in. We saw it with the detention centers in Texas where underage children were forced to live outside in over 100-degree weather with nothing other than tents to cover them from the elements. Though it’s easy to blame Trump and his administration for the current climate of dehumanization, in reality this is rooted in America’s DNA. America was birthed from murder and colonization as a result of European migration. Europeans looking for a better life and fleeing religious persecution, might I add. Later in the 19th century America loathed the Irish refugee crisis, and wanted nothing to do with Italian immigrants. And don’t forget the 1911 Dillingham Commission Report that said, “certain kinds of criminality are inherent in the Italian race. In the popular mind, crimes of personal violence, robbery, blackmail and extortion are peculiar to the people of Italy.” Sound familiar? Coming back to the modern era, many want to romanticize the Obama Administration. We shouldn’t. It is important to realize and remember that deportation rates were higher under Obama than they are now, and death in detention centers was not unheard of. In 2015, José de Jesús Deniz Sahagun died under suspicious circumstances while being held in a detention center. NPR’s Latino USA reported on this story noting that he had been distraught in the days before his death, having run to the Arizona boarder patrol checkpoint “saying he feared for his life and needed help.” NPR reported that José de Jesús while was chocking, video showed the staff doing nothing to help him. While he asphyxiated, his family member called the detention center to talk to him; the staff told the family member that he was fine. His death was ruled a suicide after an orange sock was found logged in José’s throat. NPR said that ICE released a report saying that in José’s death “the detention center failed to meet several agency standards.” That’s not to say that this administration has done anything to better the “othering” mentality set in motion at the genesis of America. In May of 2018, Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez was shot to death by border patrol agents. In an article published by The Guardian, it is reported “Gómez died in circumstances that remain unclear, in an overgrown lot framed by ramshackle homes.” Originally the agents had said Claudia was a part of a group of “assailants” that attacked with “blunt objects” in an attempt to resist arrest. However, after a neighbor released a video of the incident, a new statement was drafter where according The Guardian Claudia was referenced as “a member of the group” instead of “an assailant”. They report the statement had “some details [that] were changed and there was no reference to ‘blunt objects.’” I could go on forever writing about all the times u nd o c u me nte d immigrants were seen as rabid dogs rather than people in need of help. Migrants are being pepper-sprayed and gunned down at the boarder. Children are being separated from their parents and permanently mentally scarred. There is no humanity at this militarized boarder. There is no compassion. There is no empathy. Yet, the hopeful still come with the American dream in their hearts and perseverance in their hands. We should be outraged by this administration and their dehumanization of migrants. We should be disgusted by these practices. While writing this article in an attempt to remind the public of these other unjust events, another child died. On Christmas Eve 2018, while in US c usto dy, 8-yearold Felipe AlonzoGomez died in THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED circumstances not yet known to the public, though we do know he was diagnosed with the common cold. We need to decide what kind of America we want to live in and unite to have it come to fruition. I implore you to donate to those at the boarder trying to work on this issue. I ask you to raise awareness and not let this lack of humanity go unnoticed. Though change seems like an enormous challenge, you can help by putting pressure on your political representatives to change immigration policies. Finally, I ask you to remember José, Claudia, Jakelin, and Felipe. I ask you to remember all of those who suffered and died in the pursuit of happiness. �GLOBAL 6 N o v 2 28 - N-oJan. v 19, 2 02018 18 | N . 393 Dec. 11, | oNo. 397 A Migrant Turned Saviour of Others Armand Laughy is a migrant from Cameroon. Her own experiences pushed her to campaign on migration issues, shifting from being a regugee herself to becoming an activist. Photo Credit: El Mahdi Hannane/IPS El Mahdi Hannane Inter Press Service S even years ago, when Cameroon began experiencing inter-regional conflict, Armand Loughy, a 55-year old Cameroonian psychiatrist, strapped her youngest child on her back and with her five other children embarked on the dangerous Journey from Cameroon towards Rabat, Morocco’s capital. They fled the deteriorating security situation in Cameroon, looking for a better life. Loughy, who is now also a migrant activist based in Morocco, listened attentively to the on-going discussions during the opening ceremony of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in Marrakech. Her own experiences pushed her to campaign on migration issues, shifting from being a refugee herself to becoming an activist—one of the most vocal personalities in the Moroccan civil so- ciety space. “We went through the desert and where the fear consumed us. Many of my fellow migrants got hurt by bandits and died—in the most horrible way with their bodies dumped in the desert,” Loughy recalls. After arriving in Morocco, she faced many difficulties in finding a job before finally securing work at a psychiatric clinic in Rabat. With a well-paying job, Loughy could easily have forgotten her traumatic journey and suffering and moved on. But she chose not to—her decision to start helping migrants came at the right time as Morocco was also establishing favourable policies on how to handle migrants. This policy shift, according to Loughy, enabled her to become “a candle that would light up the darkness of migrants.” In 2014, she founded the Association of Women Migrants in Morocco, working to attract other migrants. Gradually, her association gained respect in the civil society space. “In the beginning, the children of the poor neighbourhood where I was active threw stones at me,” Loughy says. “But after many months of continuous work, I became familiar and respected by locals and migrants.” Her organisation is active in the Sidi Musa district of Salé—about 330 kilometres north of Marrakech— where hundreds of migrants occupy small rooms, either working or begging on the streets, and then returning to the ghetto in the evening. The children of these migrants, some of whom were born in Morocco, until recently had nothing to do. Some accompanied mothers to beg, others played in the neighbourhood all day without any clear future—a painful reality that Loughy and her organisation acted upon. She presented a proposal to Salé’s Regional Directorate of Education and Training, and her ideas were welcomed. Classrooms were allocated within the public educational institutions for migrants’ children. These have now become independent departments with their own teaching staff, and now even teach local Moroccan students. “We are trying to use education THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED as a tool for integration,” Loughy says, adding the association is making a big drive to inform migrants about the importance of education to ensure as many children as possible are enrolled into school. Many migrants, especially those who do not have residence documents, remain sceptical of these types of initiatives, Loughy says. But the hope is that better educated children of migrants can inspire change at home and between communities. Loughy dreams of a united African continent and believes that the best way to achieve coexistence among the continent’s peoples is through education and knowledge. After listening to discussions at the GCM about the tools and partnerships needed to give that dream a chance, she will leave Marrakech to return to spreading education among the children of Morocco’s migrants “We have learnt that when students start living together, then parents can also learn how to coexist,” Loughy says. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �N o. 3928 3 |-NJan. ov 2 11, - N o2018 v 19,| 2 0 18397 Dec. No. GLOBAL 7 Former Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi: “We must not fear diversity” DANIELA PALUMBO Scarp de’tenis W hile visiting the boys and girls of the Manzoni Liceo Classico in Milan, Shirin Ebadi urged them to “Never be afraid to follow your dreams, even at the cost of sacrifices or one’s own life, because it is always worth the effort if they are dreams of rights and justice.” At 71 years of age, Ebadi – who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 – was the eleventh woman to be awarded the prize. She was also the first Iranian woman and the first Muslim woman to be recognized by the Swedish Academy. Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Prize for her work in defense of human rights and democracy. In September, the Iranian lawyer was invited to speak by the ACLI [Christian Associations of Italian Workers] in Milan, who were hosting a day of insight and study on the themes of democracy and active citizenship, promoted by the ACLI and Coordination Milanese under the title of “Peace in the City”. Ebadi has lived in London since 2009 and lives in voluntary exile in a secret location. However, she continues to fight for freedom and human rights in her home country. “Democracy has a cost,” Ebadi told us, “and the cost is high. One may pay for freedom with one’s life, but you must never cease to fight. In Italy, you owe your freedom and democracy to the sacrifice of your fathers and grandfathers. And we have to do the same. If people are not ready to pay for the price of democracy, they will never be free. In my country as well, we will have to pay that price.” Her words reflect a thought which Ebadi has always held to since before receiving the Nobel Prize: the Iranian lawyer sees no conflict between Islam and fundamental human rights and has always declared that she does not want foreigners to impose human rights in Iran. Rather, it must be the Iranian people who must lead the fight for freedom, but they must do this peacefully through resistance and the democratic process. Shirin Ebadi was the first female judge in her country before the Islamic Revolution of Khomeini in 1979 eliminated the laws of equality which had been laboriously achieved via the reforms of the White Revolution [series of social and economic reforms carried out by the Shah before the Islamic Revolution] of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Close to 40 years since 16 January, 1979, the day on which Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi left Iran for exile, the country still does not recognize equality among men and women. Even if it has been to simply put an end to imposed economic sanctions which sent the country into a state of severe crisis, the current president Hassan Rouhani has sought to come to terms with the West by resolving the nuclear controversy and promising minor reforms. Ebadi, however, is in no doubt. “There is a statistic which has led me to understand how far we still are from justice on the international level,” she says. “Currently half of all the arms produced in the word are sold and used in the Middle East. Today, Iran is still an Islamic Republic where women are harshly discriminated [against]. More she thinks of the walls that Europe continues to build in order to repel those fleeing from war and famine. “I am grief stricken by the walls that rise between people,” she admits. “Migrants could be an opportunity for development in Europe. If you teach them your language and a trade, then these people can be of use to you as workers. The population of Europe is aging, and too much water over the plant, thinking that it will make it grow as fast as it would in a year: we know that it would die [of overwatering]. A democracy is the same: if it is not watched over by the citizens, it dies.” Short Biography Shirin Ebadi was born in 1947 in Hamadan and, in 1948, her family Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi poses during a news conference to launch a commission to draft before the "International Declaration on Information and Democracy" hold by Human rights group Reporters Without Borders in Paris, France, September 11, 2018. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes than 60 per cent of the students in university are women, but the rate of unemployment among women is three times that among men. In Iran, many discriminatory laws against women have been passed after the revolution of 1979. We are fighting to change these laws. We succeeded, only in part, with the custody law for minors which was changed in 2004 in favor of the mother. However, today a man in Iran can have 4 wives at the same time. Without warning or reason, he can renounce his marriage, but, for women, divorce remains very difficult.” This coincides with the recent killing of the so-called child bride, Zeinab Sekaanvand, who was condemned to death for having killed her husband (in self-defence and as a result of the violence she had been subjected to), despite still being a minor. The appeals of Amnesty International were futile. According to the organization, which is dedicated to the protection of human rights, there have been at around 90 executions since 2005, of which at least 5 occurred in 2018. In jails around the country there are another 80 people awaiting execution who were minors at the time that they committed their crimes. We also asked Shirin Ebadi what you should take advantage of this opportunity. This way, you will avoid further betraying your own principles of justice and democracy upon which Europe is founded. Today, Europe is betraying those virtues.” Ebadi added, moreover, that she did not agree with the common perception that violence against woman is increasing. “Before, women did not have the courage to speak; now, they have become aware of their rights. The violence is the result of a patriarchal society and sometimes the law is wrong. I witnessed courts and judges affirm that violent practices are ingrained in tradition and, as such, must be accepted. It’s not right! When one accepts violence as a part of the tradition of the society in which one lives it perpetuates it.” An issue close to Ebadi’s heart, and one which gives her hope, is young people. “We must watch over children at school. We have to teach them the meaning of democracy,” she reasons. “We need to teach children that the duty of every citizen is not simply to go and vote, but that a citizen must also check the actions of the government. If you have a nice plant, you have to water it every day and check whether it is getting enough sunlight. You can’t pour THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED moved to Tehran. There, she studied jurisprudence in order to become a magistrate. From 1975 to 1979 she fulfilled the role of president for a section of the court of Tehran; however, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Shirin was forced to abandon the magistracy. After many struggles she was recognized as a “legal expert” and the only possible way for her to continue in her work was to be an advisor to the court. She refused. In 1992, she obtained authorization to operate as a lawyer and opened her own practice. As a lawyer, she continues to deal with cases of dissidents in conflict with the Iranian legal system. She is often part of civil cases in the midst of trials against the Iranian secret service. In 1994, she founded the Society for Protecting the Child’s Rights, a nongovernmental organization whose aim is the defence of childhood and of which she is still the manager today. On October 10 2003, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Her book, Until We Are Free (Bompiani) was published in 2016. Translated from Italian by Daniel Carroll Courtesy of Scarp de’ tenis / INSP. ngo �FEATURE 8 N o v 228 - N v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec. - oJan. 11,2 02018 397 As smoke clears, capturing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Above) Palestinian demonstrators shout during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest demanding the right to return to their homeland, at the Israel-Gaza border east of Gaza City, April 6, 2018. REUTERS/ Mohammed Salem. (Below) Palestinian demonstrators run for cover from Israeli fire and tear gas during a protest against U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Nakba, at the Israel-Gaza border in the southern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2018. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa MOHAMMED SALEM Reuters T he Israeli-Palestinian conflict is often framed in black and white, an outlook captured by this image of Palestinian youths shrouded by clouds of smoke that block out everything except an isolated moment of protest and defiance. Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem's photograph of a handful of demonstrators in a field of dying flowers and charred grass recorded a new phenomenon in an old war – the weekly Palestinian protests that began in the spring of 2018 along the GazaIsraeli border. The protests pitted thousands of Palestinian demonstrators against heavily armed Israeli soldiers on the other side of the fortified border fence intent on stopping the protesters from crossing or approaching the frontier. What became known as the "Great March of Return" dominated the headlines for months, evolving into a compelling but deadly form of attritional public spectacle, all covered by photojournalists risking their lives to document it. Taking place in a handful of accessible locations at prearranged times, the protests became battlegrounds of image and spin for both sides. The Israeli military published video footage, pictures and social media posts in Hebrew, English and Arabic to support its message that its forces were engaged in "riot dispersal". Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls Gaza, televised images of the Palestinian dead and wounded, and Palestinian protesters posted images from the front lines on social media. The primary stated purpose of the protests was to revive a demand by refugees for the right to return to lands that Palestinians were driven from or fled when Israel was founded in 1948. Israel has ruled out any such right, concerned that the country would lose its Jewish majority. But the immediate factor was Palestinian anger at U.S. President Donald Trump's decisions on 6 December last year to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to begin preparations to move its embassy to the city that is sacred to three of the great monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Trump's move delighted Israel's government, which regards Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish people, but infuriated Palestinians, who claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they hope to establish in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Gaza. The deadliest day of the protests was 14 May, when the new embassy held its opening ceremony. It fell on a THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED symbolic date for both sides - the 70th anniversary of the creation of Israel. That is a joyous day for Israelis, but an event regarded by Palestinians as their "Nakba" or Catastrophe when they lost their homeland. The Jerusalem-Gaza juxtaposition made headlines at home and abroad, and produced a worldwide split-screen television moment as Trump's daughter Ivanka attended the embassy ceremony, even as Israeli troops killed around 60 Palestinian protesters just over 70 kilometres (43 miles) away. The border protests continued and morphed into other forms. Israelis were angered by another new phenomenon first seen in 2018 the Palestinian 'fire kites' and balloons loaded with petrol bombs by Gaza militants and sent flying over the border. Palestinians continued to call for an end to an Israeli-led blockade on Gaza. The conflict switched to the skies in November when a bungled Israeli commando mission inside Gaza erupted into a deadly gunfight and then the fiercest Palestinian rocket salvoes and Israeli air strikes since the 2014 war. The skies fell quiet again as the year drew to a close, giving way to ceasefires and mediation efforts, as all sides waited for the Trump administration to unveil its long-expected Middle East peace plan. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �No. 39 ov 211, - N2018 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 Dec. 283 -| NJan. 397 FEATURE 9 (Above) A Palestinian demonstrator hurls stones at Israeli troops during a protest where Palestinians demand the right to return to their homeland, at the border fence between Israel and Gaza, east of Gaza City August 31, 2018. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (Below) Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Mosab al-Tamimi, 17, who was killed during a confrontation between Israeli troops and Palestinian stonethrowing protesters, during his funeral near the West Bank city of Ramallah January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED N o v 228 - N v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec. - oJan. 11,2 02018 397 �No. 39 ov 211, - N2018 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 Dec. 283 -| NJan. 397 11 GLOBAL Where Does Democracy Stand: A Year End Status Report BILL WOODS Contributing Writer A s 2018 comes to a close, what is the status of political reform in the U.S., Ohio, and locally? The end of the year offers a good time to evaluate achievements and failures, and 2018 brought both ups and downs for activists and groups working to restore the health of democracy in this country. With so much of the news media focused on the horrors of the White House, there is a tendency to emphasize gloom when writing about politics. A closer examination, however, reveals some positive results that reformers can celebrate. In Ohio, Congressional redistricting reform won a big victory in May. As 2018 started, the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and the other organizations that comprised the Fair Districts/Fair Elections Coalition were preparing their final signature gathering in order to qualify their Congressional Redistricting Constitutional Amendment proposal for the ballot. Suddenly, members of both Houses of the Ohio General Assembly began talking about putting their own proposed Amendment on the May ballot. The citizen Coalition let members of the House and Senate know that they were prepared to attack and to campaign vigorously against any proposal that failed to adequately eliminate gerrymandering. To the reformers' surprise, the Republican majority in both chambers worked with their Democratic colleagues to produce Amendment language that the Fair Districts Coalition could support. Although not perfect, the proposal included enough stipulations to insure that one party gerrymandering would end if the voters approved it. In the proposed new redistricting process, half the members of the two major parties in both Houses must approve the newly drawn Congressional districts. The process also requires public input, and besides public hearings, citizens are invited to submit district map plans to the drafting committee. Further, the proposal calls for compact districts that keep the splitting of counties and large cities to a minimum. With both major parties supporting this genuine reform proposal, reform groups viewed this as a win/win situation, and actively got behind what became know as Issue I in the brief campaign that ensued. Locally, the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and Applied Information Resources held forums, wrote newsletters and letters to the editor, and sought organizational endorsements. Examples of religious community involvement can be seen in the informal support of the Faith Community Alliance, and the formal endorsement of Issue I by Christ Church Cathedral. On May 8th, Issue I won a lopsided victory at the polls. This major reform win in Ohio, plus some positive court rulings on redistricting in several other states constitute the most tangible successes for political reform in 2018. Voting rights is another issue that received a lot of attention both national and locally. With the midterm elections taking place, protecting voting rights and helping people know the stumbling blocks that could prevent them from voting ranked high on the agendas of traditional reform organizations. Furthermore, some non-traditional groups also got involved in attempting to reach populations that tend not to vote in non-presidential election years. Locally, an informal coalition emerged last fall with a focus on voting rights and reaching out to those groups that often have difficulties with the whole voting process. The Ohio Poor People's Campaign, the Faith Community Alliance, the NAACP, For Our Future Fund, Project AMOS, and Applied Information Resources were part of this grassroots effort. Voting certainly was up in the midterms, but too little statistical data is available to measure the impact on reaching those vulnerable voter populations. The last and most disturbing problem confronting reformers is the warping impact of "big money" on our elections. The 2018 midterms provided a dismal example of this impact by ending up as the most expensive non- presidential election in U.S. history. When election costs at all levels were added up, this election cost 5.2-billion dollars. Locally, this provided reformers with a lot of data that showed the desperate need for change. Applied Information Resources, Common, Cause, and the League of Women Voters organized a Halloween event entitled "The Horrors of Money In Politics" to call attention to all the "dark money" that was flowing into Ohio and Cincinnati. Cincinnati took a small but significant step in terms of dealing with money in politics this November. By a large margin, local voters passed a Cincinnati Charter Amendment that restored individual contribution limits to Council and Mayoral elections. Such small steps, however, need to be celebrated in order to take on the bigger battles that must still be waged. Everyone has the right to reproduce Katharina Wasmeier Strassenkreuzer S imone Hartmann is a 57-year old social worker who has been working at the German NGO Pro Familia since 2000. The organisation gives people – and those with disabilities in particular – advice about everything concerning sexuality and pregnancy. Referring to people with either physical or sensory impairments, Hartmann says that “anyone living independently and self-sufficiently will, by and large, make decisions by themselves and will usually have the children they want to have.” But it’s a different story for those with severe or mental disabilities. “They are excluded from the whole topic from the very beginning,” Hartmann explains. Many people with mental illnesses have a legal carer, who is quite often also a parent. This is where the first issue crops up: how can concerned parents support their child objectively and neutrally, instead of making decisions for their child? Hartmann admits that this is “a difficult task for parents”, who often act unlawfully despite having their child’s best interests at heart. It’s a sensitive issue located between power and dependency; a fine line between assistance and freedom. A related sensitive topic is that of forced sterilisation, which was practised until just a few decades ago before it was “superseded by discouragement”, according to psychologist Ursula PixaKettner in one of her studies on the topic. Bullied into using contraception The criteria in Germany for those with mental illnesses looking to have a child are far from optimal. “As far as I’m aware, there is no permanent residential facility in the whole of Bavaria for disabled people with their children,” Simone Hartmann says. She laments the fact that the higher assistance needs are simply unaffordable. That’s why the criteria to get into this type of housing is to have three-month-injections administered, as these act as a guarantee of contraception. Hartmann calls this “a scandal”. “Every institution has the legal obligation to allow a person to have a child, but they’re not carrying through with this obligation,” Hartmann explains. Those who are “relatively happy with the idea of living and having a partner and receiving no assistance” find it most difficult to receive help. In addition to that, they are seen by some as a failure. “Just because it might be difficult having a child is no reason not to have a child,” Hartmann says. While non-disabled people are rarely questioned about starting a family, people are usually more critical when it comes to those with disabilities, and tend to “see what they cannot do, rather than what they can,” Hartmann reasons. The result, says Hartmann, is “discouragement and contraception [being given] without [the individual] having been adequately informed”. While sterilisation is now a thing of the past, healthcare workers will still knowingly or unknowingly exceed their authority and uninformed doctors will still supposedly act above board. So how can the individuals affected defend themselves? “It takes support and courage,” says Hartmann, who is one of the experts who restore such individual’s faith, find support for them and offer comprehensive advice. “I look at the couple’s living situation and then provide them with information,” THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Simone Hartmann, Photo Credit: Anika Maaß she says. “The couple’s finances, applications, abilities, assistance needs and possible changes in the relationship are all factors that will affect a child’s welfare and they also indicate areas where problems may arise. Rather than discouraging or encouraging them, I just look at things realistically with my clients, without allowing myself to judge their ability to be parents. No-one can judge that.” Translated from German by Heather Davies Courtesy of Strassenkreuzer / INSP.ngo �12 The Squirrel Was there But It wasn't known Until The sound Of the Leaves Were Crunching And his long Thick Floppy tail Was spotted And then In a blink Of an eye He Was gone Proceeding with Perfect balance Running STREET VOICE Up the Branches Of the tree Taking a peek At me Every now And then With His Little bitty eyes But the squirrel Was on a Mission To accomplish Its goal To get the acorn At the top of the tree The little squirrel That looked Back at me He got the acorn From the top Of the tree And gracefully KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer N o v 28 2 - -NJan. o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Dec. 11,22018 No. 397 No Title Still had connects Same areas went safe Labels cast in them Energy things isn’t what it seems to be. Equitable resources. Not too happy with this Not feelings sense of community Missed old time neighborhood store Keen to reach our destination Leaning on others for their help Respecting each other Listening is a job sometimes CLEO WOMBLES Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREET VOICE No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec. 283-|Jan. 11, 2018 | No. 397 The Haunted White House Mother Goose "It's just a witch hunt, " says Prez Trump, 13 Peaslee Neighborhood Center has a continued partnership with Rothenberg Preparatory Academy, conducing the Girls Writing Circle in the after school program. Both in his tweets and out on the stump. Our circle creates an open and safe space To us it's becoming more and more clear, for girls to express themselves, and be heard As all the scary witches begin to appear. and validated by their peers. Our hope is to give our girls an opportunity to discover and This White House should be living in fear display their creativity, opinions, and voices From major haunting in the coming year. through a process that is grounded in respect and an appreciation for each girl's unique BILL WOODS Contributing Writer gifts. The Joy You Gave Me Thank you For everything you did. You have gave me joy, In my heart. When I’m sad, You have been there. When I needed your help, You have been listening to me, When all the boys Got on my nerves. So you have taught me a lot of things Like--Joy Hope Courage Respect And you have taught me to be patient! MAYA HILL Junior Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 188 Across 1. Aquatic bird 5. Leporid mammal 9. Project 13. Judicious 14. Fragrance 16. Musical instrument 17. Song for solo voice 18. Ermine 19. Depend 20. Lustrous jewel 22. Spike heel 24. Fish 26. Spline 27. Ranch 30. Abrasion 35. Spoil 36. Slops 39. Conceals 40. Succulent 42. Slumber 44. Secret look 45. Tusk 47. River embankment 49. Travel a route regularly 50. Bear the expenses of 52. Luxury crafts 54. Wealthy 57. Definite article 58. Roamed 62. Desert haven 66. Edible root 67. Fragrant flower 69. Bad-mannered 70. Report or maintain 71. Greek letter 72. Woody plant 73. Ray 74. Rise rapidly 75. Time period PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #168 Down 1. Exchange 2. Finishing line on a racetrack 3. Continent 4. Closer 5. Possesses 6. Humanities 7. Origin 8. Electronic communication 9. Civil wrong 10. Assist in wrongdoing 11. Unaccompanied 12. Tonality 15. Book of maps 21. Residue from fermentation 23. Engrave 25. Rules enforced by authority 27. Unguent 28. Measure of alcoholic strength 29. Aromatic herb 31. Strech of turbulent water 32. Proficient 33. Removes the outer skin 34. Catch sight of 35. Female domestic 37. On the sheltered side 38. Impose and collect 41. Make a mistake 43. Kind of humate 46. Unit of length 48. Reverberation 51. Output 53. Cordial 55. Weeps 56. Greeting 58. Breaker 59. Length by width 60. Average 61. Information 63. Certain 64. Notion 65. Oracle 66. Restaurant bill 68. Caboose N o v 228 - N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec. - Jan. 11,2 02018 397 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 390 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 389- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 ov 211, - N2018 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec. 283 -| N Jan. | No. 397 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 RESOURCES St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 131 E. 12th Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 1125 Bank Street 45214 Shelter: Men Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 411 Gest St. 45203 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 2121 Vine Street 45202 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Starting Over 961-2256 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Parkway Center 661-4620 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Shelter: Youth Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) Housing: 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 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Advocacy Catholic Social Action 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 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Food/Clothing Health 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 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 Soup Kitchen 535-2719 15 Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 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 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 961-0600 business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, Center for Respite Care 621-1868 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org 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 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 228 - N v 19, 2 02018 18 | N o . 393 Dec. - oJan. 11, | No. 397 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 December 28, 2017-January 11, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: A Turbulent Year Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: The Tired, The Poor, and the Huddled Masses Pg 6: A Migrant Turned Saviour of Others Pg 7: Former Nobel Peace Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi Pg 8: As Smoke clears, Capturing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Pg 9: As Smoke clears, Capturing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Continued Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Where Does Democracy Stand Everyone Has the Right to Reproduce Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 28, 2017-January 11, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Brian Taylor Michael Earl Patton Bill Woods Willa Jones Dr. Mark Mussman Kim Green Robert Park Siqi Cheng Leah Rutz Yuliya Milkitin Kristina McKinley M.T. Homeless Coalition Pngtree.com Gabriela Godinez iStockphoto Pexels.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Woods Brian Taylor Dr. Mark Mussman FC Gabriela Godinez Homeless Coalition Israel iStockphoto Josh Spring Kim Green Kristina McKinley Leah Rutz M.T. Michael Earl Patton Migrant Nobel Peace Prize Palestine Pexels.com Pngtree.com protest Robert Park Shirin Ebadi Siqi Cheng Willa Jones Yuliya Milkitin https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/31712c1c3389e454555c81cf6582185e.pdf 34f5c5f3fef850a6f29f43aa5b099858 PDF Text Text December 29th - January 11th 2018 | Vol. 21 Issue 1 (No. 372) advocating justice | building community Photo Essay: Homeless Memorial | 9 This Issue is sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral INSIDE THIS ISSUE At Least 135 People Are Dead | 2 A Christmas Truce | 5 A Brand New Day | 3 "Regionalism" is a Buzzword Designed to Delay Transit Levy | 2 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 D LOCAL From The Director: At Least 135 People Dead ecember 21st was National Homeless Memorial Day. We gathered with about ninety people in Washington Park to honor those who died while without a home and because of homelessness in Cincinnati and Hamilton County in 2017. We honor those we know have passed and those whom we do not know about. This year we know of at least 133 people who died because of solvable systematic problems. The number of people dying because of homelessness in Cincinnati and Hamilton County is rising. In 2016 we knew of 72 people. This year that number has increased to at least 133 people. Homelessness is a systematic problem that shortens the lives of people. The average age of persons on our list was 51 years old. People shared memories, sadness, frustration and a commitment to fight homelessness. We lit candles and each person called out the name of someone who passed. Even with a larger turnout many people had to read multiple names. With enough affordable housing and full opportunity to meet basic needs these 135 important people and the people we don't know about would still be alive. These many people in our city and county have died because as a society, as a local government, and as a community we have not made the necessary D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 JOSH SPRING Executive Director Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition systematic changes to prevent death from homelessness. Can there be a stronger call to do what it takes to end homelessness than people dying from it? 135 people. 135 hurting families, sets of friends and service providers. This was not some predestined ordained time for these folks. It was not " their time to go". The time they died was established by our society, the way we govern, the way we conduct business, and our community's priorities. This is not exaggeration. It’s the truth. We and these organizations and people with us are working to change this and prevent the loss of life from homelessness. As we enter 2018 our Coalition will continue its work to create a Local Affordable Housing Trust Fund to legislatively generate funds to build and maintain affordable housing. We will continue to work for development practices that promote affordable housing instead of eliminating it. We will fight for increases in Human Services spending, decriminalization of homelessness, fund the Winter Shelter, put an end to the "not in my backyard" attitude of many of our neighborhoods, and for the (Continued on page 6) W 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 Ken Martin Credit: WCPO Maintenance: Pete Roper "Regionalism" is a Buzzword Designed to Delay Transit Levy e know that Metro is in dire straits. If the bus system does not change its local funding source, 20-30% of service will have to be cut in 2019. Fares will have to increase to pay for less service. The system is already running at bare bones as it is. In 2009, on the heels of falling earnings tax revenues from the Great Recession, Metro cut service by 20% and raised fares by 75%. The administration was gutted and open positions were eliminated. Metro’s CEO and other administrators make considerably less than their counterparts in the transit agencies of our peer cities. Over 100 buses are past their lifespan, causing frequent breakdowns and delaying service system-wide. 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. BETTER BUS COALITION Contributing Writer When asked what should be done with Metro, many of our leaders give the same answer but worded differently: Regionalism! The idea is that bringing in more communities to Metro’s service area will allow for better service to places where it is needed and will connect outlying job centers to the rest of the region. This is certainly a great idea; however, dig a little deeper and the idea falls apart given Metro’s immediate needs. One idea put forth is to seek the formation of a regional, 3-state, 8-county transit organization to serve the Greater Cincinnati region starting in 2020. Each county would chip in funding relative to the amount of service provided and we would finally have transit in our entire metropolitan area. “People will be able to have a one-seat ride from Mason to CVG.” Sounds good, right? Wrong. I can’t even get from Clifton to CVG without transferring, and it takes over an hour. Hamilton County has enough pressing transit needs to address before providing new service in other counties. Less than three years is not enough time to form a regional commission crossing 3 state lines. No suburban county will vote to raise their taxes to fund a system that is currently on its knees as it would clearly be a bailout. Pittsburgh’s transit agency, the Port Authority, has embarked on a push for a regional transit system with the 10-counties making up (Continued on page 6) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED ----------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Better Bus Coalition, Dr. Mark Mussman, Michael Earl Patton, Mike Brown, Trenton Davis, Jason Haap, Saad Ghosn, Ras Tafari, Kim Green, Bill Woods ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Bill Woods, Ras Tafari, Cam Hardy, Casey Sault, Trenton Davis, Saad Ghosn, 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. 37 2 3 LOCAL A Brand New Day | D e c 2 9- J a n 11, 2 0 18 DR. MARK MUSSMAN O ver the course of a year, we have many opportunities to engage students in the struggle for affordable housing, livable wages, and housing protections. These are the three pillars that hold up the fight to eradicate homelessness – without one, we will never move to an equitable and just society. We are always fortunate when a group of students comes from outside of Cincinnati to see what we are doing here, and take back what they learn to their own community. This helps raise the status of the city (here we are, fighting endlessly to Staff Writer These organizations include: First Lutheran Church, St. Francis/ St. John Catholic Worker House, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, Interfaith Workers’ Center, St. Francis Seraph, Power Inspires Progress (Venice on Vine), Overthe-Rhine Community Housing, Streetvibes, and Lighthouse Youth Services. While this is just a small number of our member organizations, the topics that we cover range from food insecurity, housing loss, affordable housing, gentrification, their week-long visit to a city gave them new experiences. Some of the experiences were uncomfortable – like when kids called us a bunch of “… crackers… whiter than a house!” But there was really something special about this group – they were able to take that experience and go deep with it. They immediately began to talk about how the kids must have been hurt by white people, that they see the development in the community and know they are being pushed out, excluded. The students came from a space of empathy and critical to Ohio Avenue. The leadership of the group was phenomenal: they listened; they built everyone up; they helped community members; they addressed issues as they occurred (as appropriate); they worked the entire time to ensure that the other students understood the purpose of the trip. I am always impressed and relieved with the youth leaders that show so many great talents and skills – it gives me hope for the future. Before they leave, I ask them to fill out a quick survey about their experience. Two of the biggest injustices that the students recognized were gentrification and hostile design. They saw how privatization of public spaces was pushing people further from CUE students reflect on the city from Fairview Park Credit: Casey Sault end injustice) as well as, and gives students a different perspective that they may have never seen before. For the most recent Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE) alternative break, 10 students from Keene State College, New Hampshire, spent the week before Christmas learning the ins and out of community organizing, social service, hospitality, and advocacy. I’ve written about this experience before, but I feel that there was something different about this group – whether it be their passion, their hopefulness, their willingness – they helped me learn a thing or two myself. And for that, I am grateful. Before their arrival, I spend time contacting our member organizations that help expand the students’ horizons while here. CUE students learn about the Homeless Coalition from Mona, Director of Development drug abuse, prison reform, solitary confinement, the death penalty, wage-theft, immigration rights, supportive housing, shelter, day programs, and entrepreneur opportunities. At times, I wish I was recording our activities because I feel that there is so much knowledge to be learned during the week – knowledge from which we can all benefit. I feel this group was different because they were fired up when they got here. Most of them knew very little about Cincinnati, but after I gave them the Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement Walking Tour, they were intensely set on understanding the history and contemporary issues we face in Cincinnati. Most of them were from small towns and rural areas, so Credit: Casey Sault thinking – which made my job a lot easier – thank you! From the first day, they began to develop relationships with people in the community – whether it be local pastors, Homeless Coalition staff, Streetvibes Distributors, or people experiencing homelessness. The Keene State students were never timid – they continuously jumped right into any task that was needed. They never asked for thanks. They didn’t complain one time. We even walked up to Belleview Hill Park, and they encouraged each other as we ascended the stairs up connections in their communities. But they also recognized racism and racial profiling as an issue. They saw this through interactions they had with people in the community as well as seeing people of color moved out of Over-the-Rhine (over the years and during their visit). They began to understand the central role of redlining in our current housing crisis. After they understood the historical context, they began to take to heart their abilities to make a difference in (Continued on page 5) CUE students volunteered their time with local agencies CUE students learn about wage theft and ways to disrupt its effects Credit: Casey Sault Credit: Casey Sault THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 �No. 37 2 5 LOCAL The Christmas Truce | D e c 2 9- J a n 11, 2 0 18 I MICHAEL EARL PATTON thought of the almost legendary 1914 Christmas Truce after reading Jim Luken’s recent Streetvibes article on the change from Armistice Day – celebrating the end of active combat in World War One on November 11, 1918 -- to Veterans’ Day. While there are many thousands of monuments to those who have fought in wars, there are virtually none to the peace and end of a war. (The World Peace Bell in Newport is one of several similar bells dedicated to peace in general, not the ending of any particular war. Further, it was funded by a private organization and not by a government with the power to wage war.) It is right to honor veterans, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that to have veterans there has to be war, or at least the threat of war. Wars are conducted by governments and continue until the governments directing the troops agree to stop. The one major exception of which I am aware was the 1914 Christmas Truce. This took place along most of the Western Front during the First World War. For literally hundreds of miles fighting stopped from a couple days to several. It was not arranged Contributing Writer home, many of which were published in the local newspapers on both sides. Some accounts were censored, but many slipped through and can still be seen in newspaper archives. The war started in August 1914 and by December the German offensive towards Paris had been repulsed. Both sides dug trenches for protection, which were close enough that one could shout to soldiers on the other side. Pope Benedict XV had called for a Christmas truce, an appeal that was turned down by officialdom on both sides. They thought that killing was far too serious of a business to even pause during the commemoration of Jesus’s birth, who most of the soldiers believed was the Son of God. Even before Christmas most of those in the trenches could see that the fighting was pointless and there were isolated incidents of “live and let live,” that is, not always trying to kill the other guy if he is exposed just because you can. Come Christmas Eve, though, and “live and let live” became open fraternization and even enjoying one another’s DR. MARK MUSSMAN (Continued from page 3) Farm Ruins company. Sometimes it started with an informal exchange of songs and carols, other times with a joint effort to gather and bury the dead which had been lying in no-man’s-land for weeks. Sometimes there were joint services with prayers in English and German. Groups would exchange items, such as food stuffs and gifts from Christmas packages. Photos were taken of the opposing soldiers together, and there were letters written home about soccer games being played with the Germans on one side and the British or French on the other. And there was more of the such actions were not fitting for Germans and refused to participate. And the generals did their best to turn things around and get back to the killing. They ordered the troops to fire, which they generally did but often only after warning the other side first that they had no choice but to resume fighting. Many troops were rotated out and replaced with fresh troops who had not experienced the weeks of pointless fighting over small tracts of mud. In the movie Wonder Woman Mars, the god of war, is defeated, but that was Hollywood. In actuality those who wanted war got their way and fighting resumed. And resumed again in 1939 when that sulking corporal who had wanted to keep fighting had become the dictator of Germany and invaded Poland. History would have been very different if in 1914 the leaders had worked on negotiating an honorable peace instead of how to resume the war. A friend whose great-grandfather had been part of the American forces and had served in the trenches told me a story that has been in his family for a hundred years. This would have happened in 1917 or ‘18. His great-grandfather was patrolling the trenches when he came across a German soldier doing the same thing. Apparently the Allied and German trenches were connected. This is not surprising given how extensive the network of trenches were and that the front line would occasionally shift a little after an offensive and their own communities. I am proud of the work that we do in Cincinnati. Our social service providers and community members who are working to eradicate homelessness are facing an uphill battle, but the possibility of ending homelessness was echoed throughout the week and, Ammo Trains going to the fort or agreed to by any government but by the troops themselves, on both side of the front. A few months ago I read the book Silent Night: The World War I Christmas Truce by Stanley Weintraub. I had heard about the truce but had thought it was small, local, and that there was almost no evidence for it except stories by a few soldiers. I was very wrong. It extended along most of the Western Front, from the North Sea to the Swiss border. Roughly a hundred thousand soldiers experienced the suspension of the fighting. And it was very well documented through letters same the next day. Not all partook, but most did. The future leader of Germany, Adolph Hitler, was there on the front but just a corporal at the time. He thought take over part of the trenches of the opposing side. These offensives were major in terms of lives lost but extremely minor in terms of territory gained. Anyways, the two soldiers could not see any point in trying to kill each other so they exchanged some chocolate and other items and each went back to their comrades. I told this story to an older friend THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED who had grown up in Germany and he told me that he had heard dozens, probably well over a hundred, of similar stories from former soldiers from both the First and Second World Wars. Live and let live. Here, at least, it was not the soldiers who wanted to kill each other (with some exceptions such as Corporal A. Hitler) but the politicians who had ordered them to do so. There were other, small and short informal truces during the war, but nothing with the breadth of the 1914 Christmas Truce. I will close this look back at the Christmas Truce with a stanza from the 1967 song Snoopy’s Christmas, which sadly I no longer hear at Christmas time. In this sequel to the hit song Snoopy versus the Red Baron by the Royal Guardsmen, Snoopy encounters the Red Baron again, on Christmas Eve. This time his wings ice up and he’s forced to land. Instead of being shot or captured, the Red Baron also lands and greets him, “Merry Christmas, mein friend!” The song continues: The Baron then offered a holiday toast, And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host, And then with a roar they were both on their way, Each knowing they’d meet on some other day. I know this may be a little late and that not all of you who read this believe as I do, but please accept this knowing that I intend only the best when I say, Merry Christmas, and all the best for you in 2018. I hope, it will be forever emblazoned upon their minds. --------------------------------------- �6 I LOCAL ICE rounds up 50 undocumented immigrants in Northern Kentucky CE agents are no longer handcuffed by Obama’s restrictive guidelines, and undocumented immigrants should be worried, says ICE official. Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 22 people as part of a two-day enforcement action on Dec. 6 and 7 in Northern Kentucky, according to ICE. Of the 22 arrests, 12 were immigration fugitives, according to Florence-based attorney Alexandria Lubans-Otto, who is a liaison to ICE for the American Immigration Lawyers Association of Kentucky. Immigration fugitives either JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 2) preservation of existing affordable housing as well as implement the most strategic use of the limited funds currently available to fight homelessness. BETTER BUS COALITION (Continued from page 2) Metro Pittsburgh. Talks have been ongoing for years. Additionally, Pittsburgh already has a strongly funded transit system that carries nearly 5 times as many people per day than Cincinnati’s. Their regionalism talks are going well because they are not doing so in order to save the system from collapse. They are inviting their suburban peers to join their already strong network. Our current system in Cincinnati is, at best, embarrassing. Additionally, these 10-counties are all in the state of Pennsylvania, eliminating the need to take into account multiple state laws governing transit. We only have 1 year before Metro goes broke. Unless we can magically find an extra $20 million a year until the regional commission is created, this is a nonstarter. Regional commissions take time to create precisely because of the nature of politics: no one wants to give up or share power, yet a regional commission only works with significant cooperation and compromise from all involved. Many, many years will be needed before this commission is ready to go, if it is ever ready, not including the extra time it will take to pass transit levies in the 7 suburban counties. In the future this will be great to have; in the short and medium-term, putting a Hamilton County transit levy on hold to seek this regional solution will be destructive to Metro and its current riders. Unless the goal is to gut Metro, we must focus on Hamilton County before reaching out to the suburban counties. D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 MIKE BROWN Contributing Writer re-entered the country after being deported or failed to leave the country after being issued a final order of removal. They are not eligible for an immigration bond or an immigration hearing. The 12 immigration fugitives were transferred to Chicago on Dec. 11 where a judge was to sign off on their orders of deportation, according to Lubans-Otto. After processing in Chicago, they will be transferred to a staging area near the border, then deported, she said. Of the remaining 10 detainees, four were subject to detention without bond and six were eligible for release on bond, averaging $10,000 for each detainee. The bonds must be paid in full by money order or cashier’s check. There is an opportunity for detainees to request a custody or bond redetermination by an immigration judge. ICE agents also made about 30 arrests of “removable aliens” whom agents encountered in Northern Kentucky during the lead-up to the targeted enforcement action on Dec. 6 and 7, according to Lubans-Otto. Removable aliens include undocumented immigrants–foreign We will do all of this in partnership with our 60 Member-Organizations who will continue to provide shelter to as many people as seam-bursting space will allow, to provide healthy meals and hospitality, healthcare, showers, fill every limited recovery bed, defending legal rights, to operate and work to open affordable housing, assist people in finding employment and accessing income, to treat mental illness, to keep families together and so much more. But we know that all of our Member-Organizations ultimately envision a day when they are no longer needed because there In Ohio, does anyone seriously believe that the residents of Butler, Warren, and Clermont counties will vote to raise their taxes to support a dying bus system in Cincinnati? I grew up in Cincinnati and I can tell you, 100%, that such a levy will go down in flames. No matter what new service these counties receive from a regional transit agency, they will not support a plan that is subsidizing Cincinnati’s bus system. Period. And that’s just in Ohio! Campbell, Kenton, and Boone counties will also have to approve a levy, likely a sales tax, to contribute to the new agency. Their current arrangement of each county distributing millions from their general funds in the form of grants every year is not enough. The amount can vary year to year and there is no permanence which prevents long-term planning. Dearborn County, Indiana? That county currently has zero bus service. What makes you think they will support paying for a regional system when they have no existing interest in transit? The fact is that bringing up “Regionalism” in the debate over fixing Metro is nothing but a stalling tactic. Creating a regional agency will take many years, but we cannot wait. In pushing for regional transit immediately, we run the risk of delaying a Hamilton County transit levy while we try to hammer out a ‘perfect’ solution. Should Metro be forced to make large service cuts as we wait for our political leaders to ‘try’ to create a regional transit agency, those who rely on the bus will face disaster and we will further poison the perception of public transit in the public’s eyes. nationals who may or may not have committed a criminal offense, but are unlawfully present in the United States. Removable aliens also include “green card” holders and visa holders who are lawfully present in the country, but have committed a removable criminal offense. President Obama, starting in November 2014, enforced immigration laws based on priorities of risk to public safety. In Fiscal Year 2016, 13 percent of the country’s 11 million undocumented immigrants were an enforcement priority, 87 percent were not, according to the Migration Policy Institute. (Continued on page 12) is adequate affordable housing and opportunity available to all. This is our ultimate goal: a day when a person dying without a home is an impossible thought because homelessness is dead. Please join with us. Transit Levy could aid overcrowded buses Credit: Cam Hardy We do not know why some politicians want to delay the levy even further by talking about regionalism, despite delaying it every year since the start of this decade. There will be no more waiting. We need to act now, not later, not next year, not in a little bit, but now. I look forward to voting on countywide transit in November 2018, and I hope Hamilton County will get the choice to decide before it is too late. Email your elected officials and demand that SORTA act to place a bus levy on the ballot for 2018: THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED County Commissioner Todd Portune Todd.Portune@hamilton-co.org County Commissioner Denise Driehaus Denise.Driehaus@hamilton-co.org County Commissioner Chris Monzel Chris.Monzel@hamilton-co.org Mayor John Cranley mayor.cranley@cincinnati-oh.gov Cincinnati City Council CityCouncil@cincinnati-oh.gov �No. 37 2 JUBILEE CAMPAIGN A Case for Empathy 7 | D e c 2 9- J a n 11, 2 0 18 M y family is originally from Bedford, Michigan. My parents are high school sweethearts and grew up a few miles from each other, so all our extended family lives in the same small town. The people of Bedford drive pickup trucks. They hunt. My uncle Rich has a stuffed 5-point buck in his living room that he personally shot. They drive a little differently up there: there’s less people speeding. Less police on the roads. The town is designed in squares with exactly a mile in between each road. People tell me it’s impossible to get lost in Bedford- but I still manage to. The quickest route to Bedford involves driving directly through Toledo, getting off just outside the city, and then taking backroads to arrive at my grandparents on Dean Road. The roads outside Toledo lead past plant after plant. There is a steel factory. There’s a GM factory. Before the crash of 2008, we passed malls and typical little box houses. I remember one specific little strip mall on the way into Bedford across from a BP; it never really stuck out to me until after the crash, however. Now, the drive to Bedford makes my parents disheartened. Many of the houses are boarded up. The streets are poorly kempt- Michigan roads are typically cracked from all their cold weather- but now the infrastructure is frail and waning. The malls and shops are gone. That strip mall across from BP, it’s now a Platinum Show Girls. The BP across the street no longer offers gas- just liquor. I’ve never passed more gentlemen’s clubs than on the way into Bedford. Over the years we’ve driven to Michigan hundreds of times for holidays, birthdays, and to see family- unintentionally we became witness to the changes that have occurred in America these past ten years. My uncle used to work for Fordit’s where his father worked. We got a discount on our first American-made van from his plant. However, during the crisis the plant shut down and now he works at Chrysler. He was one of the lucky ones. He was able to adapt when machines came to the car industry and now works on the machines on the line. My aunt is a realtor. During the crisis, as well as recently, she TRENTON DAVIS Contributing Writer has nearly lost her home. Her livelihood depends on the market. During the crisis, housing prices in neighborhoods like the one I live in went up. In Bedford and many other neighborhoods in the US, they plummeted. Many of my relatives to the north struggle with alcoholism. It’s an unspoken issue in our family. We keep it from the children, and we make sure to watch them during the holidays. It’s a difficult reality. When the plants close up and the jobs move away, the stores and shops follow. The laundromat at the corner and the ice cream shop on Dean are boarded up until a liquor store moves in and sets up shop to fill the real estate void. The community as we knew it disappears with divestment. We saw it first with town populated by houses with pools and hot tubs out back. My parents both possess doctorates, so their jobs never seemed to be in question. My family’s education gave us privilege, and we didn’t have to deal with the divestment in our community that was occurring back home in Michigan. For us, the recession never really hit. Privilege made me oblivious to what was in front of my eyes. During the last election, because of my liberal nature, I marginalized the voice of Trump supporters. It caused rifts in my family. We would speak in hushed tones about which aunts and uncles were supporting that movement. My aunt threatened to divorce her husband if he voted for Trump. That movement was bigotry. That movement was foolish. There Youth in the villageare supported through intentional work Credit: Trenton Davis urban plight, and now we’re seeing it in forgotten rural communities. Per numerous studies on the Great Recession, while the lower half of the income ladder’s wealth was drastically falling, the wealthy were getting wealthier. I was ten at the time, and my family was purchasing a new, bigger house in a subdivision of our was job growth. We were coming out of the recession. America was fine. I possessed animosity towards my family from the north. This animosity reveals something vital. Empiricism is a beautiful version of reality. We can experiment and measure things objectively. It’s a way of thinking that has sprouted so much knowledge. We only examine our own lived experiences, and when presented with facts, we select only the facts that back our version of reality. This creates a divide. Instead of asking my uncle why he was drinking so much, I assumed it was because he was working a lot. Our current way of thinking lacks empathy for those that are experiencing something different than the general “trend”. Empiricism doesn’t have feelings, it is by nature, objective. We need more empathy in our society. We need to care about our neighbors and our families. This way of thinking helps the wealthy and privileged distance themselves from those that are feeling the effects of disasters. We often think of charity as giving money to an organization that does good, and thus, we have created an industry of do-gooders. We call these non-profit organizations. Corporations, when wages rise, can simply divest and take their money to find other sources of labor- whether that be through technology or through a global labor market. We can’t fault the wealthy or the corporations. They are doing what they believe is best. Through empiricism, they can easily justify that they are doing what is right for society. After all, both the wealthy and the corporations offer us jobs that feed our families. However, this gap that our way of thinking leaves behind is ravaging our communities and dividing our society. The Jubilee Campaign believes we need to build an empathetic empiricism. We need to teach methodologies that will help us understand the human costs of innovation and globalism. Our business and urban planning schools should focus on instilling community and equity building. We need resilience. Rise with Jubilee in creating a new economy and a new way of thinking. We need a compassionate, local economy that cares about the people living there. Join the conversation and bring it to people that it matters to, so that we can get investments in our community. If we build strong communities, we will be able to withstand anything together. Homeless: Technology Leveling the Playing Field W hen the Housing bubble burst some time back, I lost my home, wife, and children. Day to day living became my new lifestyle; being homeless was not a part of my plan at this stage in RAS TAFARI Contributing Writer life but as we all know, life happens, and all I had left was my car and my one piece of equipment: my laptop P.C. Out in the Field The going got tough, so I got going, going where? I had to have a game plan, so I could eat, sleep and earn a living, so poof! I turned my car into a mobile office/mobile home/entertainment center. How? I purchased, at a flea market, a THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED car inverter that converted my car battery into A.C. (alternating) current. It plugged right into my cigarette lighter; boom Power. My laptop had Wi-Fi capabilities, a DVD player and a disc burner. My car (Continued on page 12) �RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Moved by His Faith, Randy Bruins, an Environmentalist, Tries to Always Add Beauty and Justice to the World 8 "S D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 SAAD GHOSN ocial justice is now linked to my understanding of religion," says Randy Bruins. "Growing up I was very skeptical about God and religion, and I was all the time searching for truth. In college I discovered Jesus and the Bible through a friend's church, and later the connection to social justice through a pastor in my church. Since then it has been an ongoing spiritual and engaged fulfilling journey." Bruins' parents were not particularly religious; his father was even an atheist, but one who would quote Jesus Christ when teaching forgiveness to his son. To provide him with a religious education, they enrolled him, nevertheless, in Sunday school at the local Methodist church. Not convinced, Bruins walked away at the age of 13. "I did not think that God existed, and nothing was supernatural to me," he says. "It may have been linked to the sudden accidental death of my father when I was just 11, and to the deep feeling of loneliness I experienced afterwards," he adds. These were the 1960's, the prevailing talks of transcendence; the search for a just, truthful, genuine society; the existential questions raised by the Vietnam war... All still translated to some degree, for Bruins, in a religious question, one, however, that he did not know how to solve. In 1972, Bruins joined Miami University, Oxford, OH and, inspired by the movies of Jacques Cousteau he had been watching, decided to study environmental sciences. Miami University, a predominantly white college, triggered then his awareness Contributing Writer of racism, and reminded him of his own concerns about disparity, having grown up in a separate, wealthy, privileged white Chicago suburb. "I became very conscious of institutional racism," he says. "I realized it was systemic, continuous and not willingly recognized, and I decided to do something about it." Bruins made up a sandwich board sign, front and back, on which he simply wrote "White Racism Lives". He carried it on his shoulders around campus and meant it to be provocative. But doing it alone and with no group support, he quickly felt isolated, and gave it up. He was not good then at creating connections, at forming coalitions; he was just a loner still searching for his convictions and how to express them. A couple of years later, and thanks to a Christian former friend who invited him to join his Christian fellowship, Bruins discovered them through religion and through his new belonging to a church community. "I met people who were pious worshipers, who were living a true and genuine relation with God, one not imposed on them but just motivated by their faith," he states. "It opened my eyes; inspired me to discover and learn the Bible and the Gospels; helped me, after deep and serious searching, find truth; and got me convinced to follow Jesus. I was 24, and it was the beginning of a new phase in my life." Bruins joined then officially the non-denominational and independent Christian fellowship church that his friend had introduced him to, and thus became a welcome What Is the UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN CHURCH The University Christian Church (UCC) is a nondenominational Protestant church which has for Core Beliefs Jesus and the authority of scripture. The essentials of its beliefs are in the identity and meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. It sees in everything else room for dialogue, with each other, our culture, the scripture. UCC's Mission is to share the love of Jesus with everyone and to encourage and equip its community members to share it in their home, their work, their life. UCC's Core Practices are: Ritual and Rythm of Life, where a commitment to a lifestyle of faithfulness (within the congregation, the community, home), teaches the faithfulness of God Submission to the Process, where spiritual, personal, relational growth are an ongoing process, God being the one shaping us a little at a time. Generosity, where by giving ourselves wholly, we're following Jesus' example and trusting God's abundance and generosity. Hospitality, where by opening ourselves and our lives to each other, we’re understanding the welcome that Christ extended to us. Patience and commitment in sharing love and developing relationships with each other. and active member of its family. After graduating with a Master's degree from Miami University, he moved to Cincinnati, took a job at the EPA, got married and started a family. He found locally a church, similar to his previous one in Oxford, and joined it. He is now, and for the past 15 years, a member of the University Christian church, also a nondenominational protestant city church which started as an outreach to the University of Cincinnati and Randy Bruin more recently also to the broader community in the same area. Ten years or so ago, Bruins added social justice activism to his own religious mission. "Our previous pastor, Troy Jackson, had begun a PhD in history, focusing on the publication of Martin Luther King's papers," he says. "Through his teachings, he introduced us to MLK, to his stands against injustice, and helped us understand and realize the Bible's general calling for social justice." Jackson also provided Bruins a venue for growing his social consciousness through the Amos Project, a federation of faith congregations in Greater Cincinnati, dedicated to promoting justice and improving the quality of life for all residents. The Project focuses on community issues that impact the poor and working families; it organizes and mobilizes with the most vulnerable, proposing and implementing solutions to their problems. Bruins has participated since in many of its actions: he has helped, for instance, previously incarcerated individuals integrate back society; campaigned actively for issue 44 in order to provide affordable quality preschool education to all kids, in particular those in poverty; worked to pass a levy benefiting senior citizens; protested to bring attention and justice to the case of Sam Dubose, an unarmed African American man, fatally shot by a University of Cincinnati white police officer, during a traffic stop. Bruins is also now part of the Cincinnati Community Coalition which consists mainly of interfaith get together dinners started right after the latest presidential election by Ismaeel Chartier, Imam of the Clifton Credit: Saad Ghosn Mosque, and David Meredith, pastor of the Clifton United Methodist church. Last year he hosted one such dinner at his church using as focus the work of an invited Moslem artist. For many years he has also been working with youth through City Gospel Mission. He reaches out to kids in the transient community of Winton Place, picks them up every Sunday and provides them with a teaching program to help them with their studies. Last summer he invited the youth of a Moslem organization to join the community garden where he lives, giving them plots to plant, and offering them educational programs linking gardening, the environment and spirituality. "Gardening has an inherent spiritual value," he says. "Looking at plants and getting in touch with nature connects one directly with what God has created." In his church, Bruins is actively involved in its interfaith engagement program, reaching out to other religious communities and coordinating the exchange between (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 �No. 37 2 PHOTO ESSAY Homeless Memorial December 21, 2017 Washington Park, Cincinnati, Ohio | D e c 2 9- J a n 11, 2 0 18 O n this night, we recognize all those who we have lost due to issues of homelessness. The names of 135 people whose lives were taken by homelessness were read. The memorial takes place as the tree celebrating the life of Joann Burton, who was murdered while sleeping in the park on July 27, 2010. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 �10 LOCAL D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 January 26 - February 17, 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 Living in a world with news that some perceive as fake and others see as real No. 37 2 | D e c 2 9- J a n 11, 2 0 18 JASON HAAP A couple weeks ago, I shared a media challenge I decided to accept - reading nothing but right-winged news sources for one month. After a couple weeks, I feel like I'm learning some interesting perspectives. For example, I had heard that Breitbart is a haven for white supremacist and Nazi thinking. In fact, when I have shared links to Breitbart on my Facebook page, I've been told that I have just linked to a white supremacist organization. But check out this recent headline: "Steve Bannon Touts Access to Capital, Economic Nationalism at Address to Black Small Business Leaders." That's a weird headline to advance if you are an organization filled with white supremacist Nazis. The article includes details like this: “The central part of economic nationalism depends upon you,” Bannon told the crowd of approximately 200 minority business owners. “It depends upon us empowering the black and Hispanic entrepreneurial community with one thing: access to capital.” Why would a bunch of racists want to encourage minority businesses to have access to capital? Another friend told me that Breitbart has recently taken to "cleaning up its image" so it could go more mainstream. He gave me a link that led to headlines like this: "Blackon-Black Crime: Blame It On The System and Ignore The Evidence." This seemed promising in terms of offering a "smoking gun" about the site's racism. But then I read excerpts like this: Refusal to come to grips with SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) them. He is also part of a justice team which meets monthly to read and discuss books about peace and justice and educate the rest of the congregation about the issues. Their focus recently was racism, also the "other" and immigration. Bruins' church is actually a part of the Sanctuary movement, providing solidarity and support to threatened immigrants. Bruins is also involved in the Rohs Street Cafe that his church started within the building of its Contributing Writer the racial aspects of crime, and instead to accuse the criminal justice system of being racist is to sentence a great many black victims to the consequences of violence. Why should racists be concerned with black victims of violence? Certainly, the position here might not be one I share, but does that make it racist? I'm not convinced. My social media right now is full of people outraged that Trump wants to steal restaurant servers' tips, giving them instead to the owners. Check out this excerpt from a Newsweek item titled "Trump wants you to tip restaurant owners, not servers" (December 7, 2017): This week, Trump’s Labor Department proposed rescinding an Obama-era rule that made the logical point that tips are the property of the servers and cannot be taken by the restaurant owner. The administration’s proposal would allow restaurant owners who pay their wait staff as little as $7.25 per hour to collect all the tips left by patrons and do whatever they want with them—regardless of what diners intended. Restaurant owners could even keep all the tips for themselves, without telling diners. Coming on the heels of the massive tax bills recently passed by the House and Senate, this “reverse Robin Hood” scheme—which will take money out of the pockets of lowwage workers and give it to business owners–is just one more example of “trickle-down” economic policy masquerading as pro-worker reform. Sounds pretty terrible, right? (I only found this piece from Newsweek when researching for this item. Otherwise, I wouldn't have read it. I really am trying only to consume right-winged news!) But I can't help but notice something in the first paragraph: Trump's decision would rescind an Obama-era rule. Why do I not remember how, for most of my life, restaurant owners were stealing tips from servers? And why does the article reference owners "who pay their wait staff as little as $7.25 per hour"? That's the federal minimum wage. I'm not saying I support the wage being that low, but certainly that is more per hour than many servers make. The whole reason we have a tipping system is because most don't even make the minimum wage. Anyway, how does this issue get discussed on the right? Here is an excerpt from a recent Fox News item titled "Trump's Labor Department aims to make tip-pooling legal again" (October 31, 2017): The pending rule change would only “rescind the current restrictions on tip pooling by employers that pay tipped employees the full minimum wage directly.” Meaning restaurants that pay servers the full $7.25 minimum wage, instead of the $2.13 tipped wage, can pool tips. ... The co-founder of ROC United, one of the groups fighting for a $15 wage, said, “It says it’s possible for employers to walk away with the tips and not give them to anybody.” The National Restaurant Association lobby told CBS that removing the restrictions on tip pooling alleviates the “disparity sanctuary in order to create a place for the community to meet, also to encourage fair trade coffee. The church in fact supports a coffee-growing community in Guatemala, and has helped it establish a cooperative to improve the production and the marketing of its coffee and facilitate its sale in the US. Bruins visited that community, participated in the harvest of its coffee and in educational programs targeted to its growth. Every year the church also sends their students to help in different ways, such as digging wells for water, implementing sanitation projects, etc. Working for Social Justice is now an integral part of Bruins' Christian faith. He adds his voice and his hand to fight injustice wherever he sees it, addressing its causes, attempting to right its wrong for a better world. He does it, empowered and enlightened by daily prayer and by Bible studies, alone or in group, always asking himself what he can do to put in practice the teachings of Christ. "We live in a fascinating world," says Bruins. "God created it and infused it with love. As an environmentalist I always try to share with others the beauty of nature, plants, animals... that connect us to God; but also as a humanitarian, the beauty of world cultures and places." “Breakdown Stereotypes” between the ‘front of the house’ and the ‘back of the house,’” since the back of the house employees are not tipped. It seems there might be more to the story than I thought - this rule would not take tips from people earning $2.13 an hour. Instead, it would be an opportunity to distribute them evenly between front- and backof-the-house employees. If both sets are already making the same wage, that does not seem entirely unfair. Also, did you notice that the Fox News item acknowledged the possibility of an owner keeping the tips? Does this make the Fox piece more balanced? Here is the bottom line: for those of us who read the news, our emotional realities are exploited and manipulated by media - and that fact is independent of how accurate our sources are. If you can find it in yourself not to blame news consumers if they read something you believe fake (regardless whether it is or not), then all of us are being played, in a drama the vast majority of us can or will do nothing about in any meaningful way. Instead, we will just feel stress and anger and suspicion, mixed with self-important indignation, and we will target it at one another. This probably drives more business to the news we already read, and the parties we already support. We foster these divisions between ourselves, and feel good about alienating those who disagree with us (or at least feel superior to them), but I still can't figure out the end game... --------------------------------------"We need to preserve that beauty and always add justice to it," he states. Now retired, this is what Bruins would like to continue doing with his wife when she soon retires, and possibly in different places of the world. --------------------------------------- “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Mark Mussman at (513) 421.7803 x14 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 MIKE BROWN (Continued from page 6) For the Obama administration, the highest priority group included removable aliens who were convicted of felonies or aggravated felonies, gang members, and national security threats. In FY 2016, 94 percent of all deportations came from this highest priority group, according to the Migration Policy Institute. On Jan. 25, just days after his inauguration, President Trump issued an executive order saying that “faithful execution” of immigration law “against all removable aliens” is the policy of the United States. “Under the current administration, everyone is a priority,” says Lubans-Otto. Unless specifically exempted, the executive order appears to target all 11 million undocumented immigrants for deportation, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The recipients of DACA–Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals– were exempted from the executive order under the implementing memo from the Department of Homeland Security. However, the administration subsequently terminated the DACA program in September. Without new legislation to authorize it, about 800,000 DACA recipients, who had entered the country as minors, will eventually RAS TAFARI (Continued from page 7) had air conditioning and heated seats that let lay flat at night like a Futon and a Bose sound system. First and goal to go. Logistics Armed with a Mississippihandmade-old-school quilt and skullcap for those knee-knocker nights, a plug-in fan if need be to catch the summer breeze, and his rod and his staff to comfort me (prayer and a pistol), I slept in the valley of the shadow. Morning brought on the day and the game began. I had some key places to park; my best spot was on Ridge Road where I used to live. A friend of mine who had a R.V. pulled my coat to the fact that the WalMart/Home Depot allows Campers, Truckers, and R. V’s to park on the lot all day. No hassles; hell, I would get some movies from street vendors get some popcorn and watch a flick or two to pass time and plan the next day. On the lot was a White Castle and across the street was a Mickey D 's. In the mornings, I would decide which bathrooms to use- Mickey D’s or the Castle (the best coffee in town)- to get the crumbs out my eyes, pop the trunk, grab my kit containing soap, lotion, wash towel, tooth paste, etc. and saunter in and handle my business. Had to get cool with the morning staff so they can be cool with what I was doing. After LOCAL D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 become subject to deportation like other removable aliens. About 12,000 DACA recipients who missed an Oct. 5 deadline, are already subject to deportation. That number is increasing by nearly 100 each day as other DACA permits expire. The stated focus of the administration’s executive order is criminal aliens, but the term “criminal” is broadly defined. It covers not just removable aliens convicted of a felony, but also those who have been convicted of a misdemeanor, charged with a criminal offense, or have committed a chargeable criminal offense, or, in the judgment of an immigration officer, pose a risk to public safety or national security. Also, the “criminal” activity may have occurred at any time in a person’s past. Based on ICE enforcement, there appears to be no statute of limitations. President Trump has “taken the handcuffs off of law enforcement officers who are charged with enforcing immigration laws,” said then-acting ICE director Thomas D. Homan in May. “If you are in this country illegally, you need to be worried,” said Homan. In the US, more than 8 million citizens live with at least one family member who is undocumented. Most of these U.S. citizens are children– almost six million–under the age of 18 who live with an undocumented parent or family member. Edgar is one of the four detainees being held without bond in the Boone County Jail, although his only offense is one citation for driving without a license, says his attorney LubansOtto. For her, Edgar is a typical detainee: young, hardworking, the family’s sole breadwinner, and the father of two children born in the United States, who are cared for by their stay-at-home mother. One child, who is just four years old, has “serious medical issues,” she says. Edgar’s case, including a request for release on bond, will be heard in immigration court in Chicago. But Lubans-Otto is unable to schedule a court date. She has been advised that the earliest date will be sometime in January. Fear of deportation can have significantly adverse effects on the long-term health and development of children. Detention or deportation of the breadwinner, usually the man of the house, can deprive families of the basic necessities of food, shelter, and utilities. Parents subject to deportation may face the difficult issue of whether to take their children with them or risk the possibility of losing custody to child protective services. The organization Supporting Latino Families in Northern Kentucky is organizing resources to address the needs of families affected by the ICE raids. Donations for basic needs can be made here and donations for legal assistance here. Meanwhile, immigration lawyers and activists are trying to better understand what happened in Northern Kentucky–who was arrested, why, and under what circumstances. Preliminary reports indicate that ICE did not notify local law enforcement agencies or seek their cooperation. There are also preliminary reports of pretextual traffic stops, searches without warrants or probable cause, using false pretense and force to gain entry to apartments, assault, a workplace raid, brief detention of a U.S. citizen, and the arrest of a long-term legal permanent resident. The agency responsible for the Northern Kentucky raids was the field office of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations based in Chicago, which covers a six-state region including Kentucky and Indiana, but not Ohio. ICE ERO agents from the Chicago office were supported by one or more ICE Fugitive Operations Teams, which are managed from a national office. [This article first appeared at https://c4ad.wordpress.com/ If you have information about the NKY ICE arrests, please contact the reporter: mbrown.c4ad@gmail.com] that I would go to my car and get my trusted P.C., order coffee and get the paper that would always be there. I liked Mickey D’s because they had free wi-fi, so I would check my emails and the internet to search for jobs and respond to inquiries. I had, at the time, some PC certifications and I had a business card I used to meet potential clients to consult on computer issues. This worked out great and hardly anyone knew I was homeless. I had a garment bag in the trunk so if I needed to suit up I couldlike batman. Room to Grow Using the technology at my disposal (mainly Microsoft Office), Word made letters, resumes, flyers, and folks never knew that I was sleeping in my car. Acrobat Pro turned me into the man on the flying trapeze of business where I communicated with contacts who could not in any way judge me based on the color of my skin or the wrinkles in my clothes. I just kept telling myself to cross my T’s and dot my I’s; spellcheck in word was my secretary and had my back. None was wiser. And email gave me an international address. I used my contacts from Outlook to query people on resources for the homeless. I went online and put in an application for Public Housing and got an Apartment. I connected with a friend of mine who was a professor at a community college and he said re-invent yourself, so now I have two Associate degrees in Networking and Information Technology Security. I hacked a lot of Wi-Fi when I was on the streets to get that info. I currently have a service contract with J-RAB Inc., a public housing advocacy agency for C.M.H.A. residents. J-RAB, Inc. has been able to help me grow my business through training, self-determination and empowerment; which I, in turn, give back to my community. Being homeless sucks and is stressful, but it gave me a new insight to living and surviving a very humbling situation. But it also brought the best out of me and motivated me to change my status. I started from the bottom now we are here! And I bought my whole team with me, I love this tune cause it’s the theme song of my life. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Ras Tafari --------------------------------------- �No. 37 2 | D e c 2 9- J a n 11, 2 0 18 CRYING RAIN 13 STREET VOICE WAKE UP YE COWARDLY CONGRESSMEN (Sung to the tune of Looking out the window "God Rest YE Merry Gentlemen") The rain is falling hard, and fast Wake up ye cowardly Congressmen. There are intervals of thunder Your voters show dismay. Slashing ever so often And then it suddenly stops Until the next thunder slash appears They wanted Trump's impeachment To get started yesterday. To save us all from nasty tweets And government decay. Oh tidings of glumness and woe - It lets you know that God is, near Glumness and woe. So take heed Oh tidings of glumness and woe. Listen to his might BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Because thunder and rain, Will, be coming SANTA CLAUS Today while watching the news I heard that Santa Claus arrived in a helicopter KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer They also talked about tax cuts and how the politicians were eating out at Red Lobsters What happened to the days when the bells rang for Santa Claus, his reindeer and sled What happened to the belief in miracles and all the little children went to bed Waiting for that glorious morning to open all the presents that Santa left under the tree Asking questions about how he brought all the gifts down the smoke-filled chimney Waiting day and night, trying to be good all for Christmas so we'd be granted the ultimate blessing Looking back and understanding that as a child I was tricked, Santa in a helicopter that's a new lesson Without the holiday's Thanksgiving and Christmas Day what else is there to really look forward too Without giving thanks for so many blessings and being thankful for Jesus’ birth just to name a few So, for me Christmas has somehow lost the true spirit and has been misunderstood by all We must always remember God's blessings, don't forget to give thanks and bring back Rudolph the red nosed reindeer driving Santa Claus!!!! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 141 Across 1. Part of the neck 5. Database 9. Visual display of information 14. Zeal 15. Reverberate 16. Wimble 17. Birdcall 18. Glows red in a vacuum tube 19. Indigent 20. A physiological need to drink 22. Air current 24. Type of spiny tree or shrub 26. Variety of kale 31. Relative duration of a musical note 33. Large semiaquatic rodent 34. Baffling question or problem 37. Clock face 39. A flock of quail 40. Appropriate 41. Move sideways 42. Regret 43. Approach 45. Bard 46. Provide food or sustenance 48. Misprints 50. Repulse 52. Ornamental framework 54. Clone 57. Orderly 59. Two-channel 61. Mixed food consisting of greens 65. A flat float 67. Cereal grain husks 68. Form of quartz 69. Group of three 70. List of names 71. Cringe 72. Musical instrument 73. Ground forces Down 1. Bird shelter 2. Hawaiian greeting 3. Overwhelming fear and anxiety 4. Carve 5. Edible round flat seed 6. Frozen water 7. Display 8. Restorative 9. Taper 10. Chromaticity 11. Historic period 12. Mississippi tributary, ___ river 13. Attempt 21. Evidence of past injury 23. Baronial 25. Sound 27. Research workplace, in short 28. Obviate 29. Variety show 30. Machine for extracting moisture 32. Type of duck 34. Dialog box 35. Drama set to music 36. Commence 38. Modify 41. A blank area 44. Rodent 46. Fractional monetary unit 47. Form of math 49. Material for starting a fire 51. Mechanical device 53. Underground den of a fox 55. Mistake 56. Domain 58. Edible tuberous root 60. Merely 61. Pouch 62. In the past 63. Jurisprudence 64. Consumed 66. Evergreen tree PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 371 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 140 D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 271 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 270- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 2 RESOURCES | D e c 2 9- J a n 11, 2 0 18 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 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 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 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 First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th 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 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 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 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 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 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 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 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 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 $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 D e c 2 9 - J a n 11, 2 0 18 | N o . 37 2 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 GREGORY RAY SINCE 4/2015 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 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 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 2/2015 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED � 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 December 29, 2017-January 11, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director “Regionalism” is a Buzzword Designed to Delay Transit Levy Pg 3: A Brand New Day Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: The Christmas Truce Pg 6: ICE Rounds Up 50 Undocumented Immigrants in Northern Kentucky Pg 7: A Case for Empathy Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Homeless Memorial Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Living in a World with News that Some Perceive as Fake and Others See as Real Pg 12: Mike Brown Continued Ras Tafari Continued Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 29, 2017-January 11, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Better Bus Coalition Dr. Mark Mussman Michael Earl Patton Mike Brown Trenton Davis Jason Haap Saad Ghosn Ras Tafari Kim Green Bill Woods Cam Hardy Casey Sault Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Better Bus Coalition Bill Woods Cam Hardy Casey Sault Christmas Cincinnati Dr. Mark Mussman Homeless Memorial ICE Immigrants Jason Haap Josh Spring Kentucky Kim Green Michael Earl Patton Mike Brown Ohio Photography Ras Tafari Religion Saad Ghosn Trenton Davis Washington Park https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/53c943460c1c97a4d2994765b9acfd66.pdf 29508671bd7f957a72562d3ef03ae84e PDF Text Text J a n ua r y 1 1 t h - J a n ua r y 2 5 t h 2 0 1 8 | Vo l . 2 1 I s s u e 2 4 ( N o . 3 9 7 ) advo cating justice | building communit y Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Article on page 8 I’M BIG, I’M BAD, I’M A BID! This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 11 2 - -NJan. o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Jan. 25,22019 No. 398 From The Director: Working Not Waiting Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Gabriela Godinez Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Josh Spring giving a speech. Credit:Amanda Meet JOSH SPRING I Executive Director n 2006 the musician John Mayer released a song which included the following lyrics: “…Now we see everything that’s going wrong With the world and those who lead it…” and “…To bring our neighbors home from war they would have never missed a Christmas No more ribbons on their door And when you trust your television What you get is what you got Cause when they own the information, oh They can bend it all they want” These lyrics are pretty good; identifying what’s wrong and who’s leading the wrong, ending war and not trusting mass media. But the rest of the lyrics of this song mirror a major problem among so many groups of people: “…With the world and those who lead it We just feel like we don’t have the means To rise above and beat it So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change…” and “It’s hard to beat the system When we’re standing at a distance So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change” and “Now if we had the power To bring our neighbors home from war… It’s not that we don’t care We just know that the fight ain’t fair So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change” What the hell! You know the problems, you know the problems need to be ended, but your waiting on things to change? He’s right that we may not yet have the “means to rise above and beat it” and that “It’s hard to beat the system when we’re standing at a distance” and that the “fight ain’t fair”. Duh, yes these are true statements. But these are not reasons to wait. In fact there are no reasons to wait on making change. If we don’t currently have the “means” then we have to make the means. So we have to strategize, execute, re-evaluate and organize people. The “means” are never going to magically appear or be given to us, we make them, really, as we hone ourselves, we are them. The best way to not be “standing at a distance” is to move forward, into the fray; strategically ignite the fray. And about the fight not being fair; yes the majority of resources are controlled by the few extremely wealthy people and companies and the very wealthy who envy them, but we have a whole lot more people than they do. I know some reading this may be thinking, “…oh don’t make it an ‘us and them’ thing.” It already is an “us and them” thing and allowing ourselves to be blinded by faux warm and fuzzies about everyone just needing to work together keeps poverty and oppression well fed. Instead we need to own the fact that we have many, many people and organizing our collective strength is how we recover the necessary resources to ensure just opportunity for healthy life. At the end of the song, Mayer sings: “One day our generation Is gonna rule the population So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change…” Perhaps he is saying he believes that once his generation “rule[s] the population” change will happen, so he and his friends are just “waiting” for that day. If we claim we are “waiting” on something to change the world or we are “waiting” on our having enough power to change the world, really we are just utilizing the word “wait” to act as if care, but the timing just isn’t right yet. This is faith without works. Having faith things will change, even having faith we will lead such a change, but doing nothing about it keeps the paths to destruction well-established. We should have faith justice will rule, but the faith is born in working to eliminate the paths to destruction and concurrently establish justice. We aren’t waiting. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Josh Spring, Reginald Black, Yonna Walterson, Chris Arenault, Robert Park, Jonas Fullner, Paul Boden, Bill Woods, Key Beck, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones, David McCane ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, pngtree. com, Gabriela Godinez, wraphome.org, Amanda Meek ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 113-|Jan. 25, 2019 | No. 398 3 U.S. NEWS Shutdown Easy ROBERT PARK I Contributing Writer t’s really very simple. The Democrats announce that two can play this disgusting game (shutting down our government that we pay for and that should be doing things we need, you know, like inspecting food supplies, protecting and fixing the environment, enforcing labor laws and protections, prosecuting discrimination, collecting taxes owed by the super-rich, making climate- change resilient infrastructure…). The Democrats (not known for backbone) would explain: we will not vote for any Budget that does not establish Medicare-for-All immediately. Period. And then they go home and wait. Catch-up with the locals, read some good books, attend rallies and picket lines. With a clear commitment for universal, publicly funded health care (like almost all modern countries already have), the details could then be negotiated: phase-in Medicare coverage by lowering the entry age each year by 5 years. If its 65 now, a year from now it’s 60; 5 years from now it’s 40. Includes dental and vision. Funds transition programs that liberate nurses working for insurance companies and gets them back into a health care system that works well for the people. Instead of Nancy Pelosi smiling and promising bipartisanism, she needs to cut off the corporate sugar daddies and learn how to street fight for us. Do the right things and small donations will follow, in the millions. Instead of projecting niceness, we need to hear from her and her colleagues sarcasm, ridicule and honesty. Tell the GOP to take his wall and shove it. It would help a lot if the Dems would explain the origins of the immigration crisis: the war on drugs and corporate super-exploitation in Central America by some of the Dems’ biggest contributors. These are not issues to smile about, they are life-anddeath propositions that the American people are already on top of or ready to be. One man’s journey through 19 years of homelessness REGINALD BLACK Street Sense D avid Gardner, 34, had been homeless since he was fifteen years old – the age at which he was taken away from his mother. He is a native Washingtonian and moved into his first place of his own this year. Gardner has had work on and off, and he has also bounced between jail and drug treatment programs. While he was homeless, he learned about gratitude. “I thanked someone for coming down and helping me out and uplifting my spirits,” Gardner says. “It is hard out here.” This is his lived experience, as shared during an interview at McDonald’s in downtown Washington D.C. Reginald Black: Over the years of being homeless, what kind of facilities did you encounter? Gardner: As a child, I was sent to shelter houses from the age of 15 until I was 19, when I was convicted of a crime I committed with some co-defendants of mine. I learned that I have to be independent if I want to be something out in the world. When I came home, I juggled with trying to get back into my family life. But I didn’t believe that my family had my best interest at heart, you know? I was dealing with a drug addicted sister and she was into prostitution, and it was just unsafe for me. Can you describe some of the shelters that you spent time in? I was told to stay out my neighborhood. That’s what lead me to come to the shelters and come downtown. That was in 2003. The shelters I have been to in Washington, D.C. are run by Catholic Charities for the Department of Human Services. You would think that a church would be a safe haven for people to go in to. But once you get there, you have to be there at a certain time. You could actually be hurt or harmed for standing in the line [waiting to get in], because people burst in front of you and try to take your spot. One thing that happened to me that I was afraid of was when my sheets were stolen off my bed. I can remember my first day there: I was excited to finally get my bed. I put my sheets on my bed and then they were stolen. I went up to the front desk and was like, “Oh my gosh, what’s going on here? Someone stole my stuff! I do not feel safe here no more.” One of the guys at the desk explained to me there was a lot of stealing going on and that there would be a lot of people that I’d meet who would not have my best interests at heart. I picked up some charges in the shelter because some guys decided to pick on me and we got into an altercation. I got arrested for assault, so I didn’t really have nowhere to go. But I also met a lot of good people and a lot of friends that I stick to and we are trying to progress and to become something in our lives. Before you were homeless, what kind of environment did you grow up in? Do you think it ultimately led to your homelessness? Well, prior to me being arrested, I was just a little kid – seven or eight years old. In my neighborhood, a lot of the boys used to hang around outside. My thing was hanging around outside. At some point, some people came around to try to help [my friends] out and explained that [my friends] were homeless. So that’s how I first found out about being homeless. I had a single mother and four siblings growing up. My father was dead when I was born. So, it’s been hard, you know? I don’t blame nothing on my family because they tried to do what they had to do, especially my mother raising four kids. I went to school and, like I said, I was arrested at 15 and sent out to Virginia. I went to grade school and always had good grades. I always studied and learned and listened to the teachers and did my homework. Once I came home from residential, I was able to get my GED. When I was a juvenile, I did two years in college and in between living in the shelters and going backand-forth – from what they call postto-post – I would pick up temp jobs and try to work and just try to better myself. Did the services at that time help you with employment? Well, at the programs I have been to, I feel as though I put forth a lot of effort to progress in my behavior. I believe they helped me strengthen my mindset so that I could get my life together. A lot of times it did help me just by giving me somewhere to stay at and not be locked up and arrested, and by giving me someone to talk to, you know? I made it my goal to see my case manager every two weeks when I was in the shelter, which was good. Little things like that really help a person out. It sounds like you have seen different services change over time. Have they gotten better? A lot of these services and a lot of the people that come with these services – I’ve learned they’re in there to just get THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED a paycheck. A lot of them will allow you to be hurt, harmed and put in bad hands. The people I was working with, they didn’t inspire me or assist me with what was going on at the time. But in a lot of the day programs that are opening now there are people that come out and serve and it’s really helpful. Where have you found direction or inspiration lately? Well, I signed up for a constituent scholarship and got accepted into to the National Alliance [to End Homelessness] conference [in July]. What I do is sign up for everything and let the people call me back. Focus is my thing. Everybody wants to sign up for the partying events or cookout events. I pick events where I have to go to places like the Wilson Building. Courtesy of Street Sense / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED NJan. o v 211 - N v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 - oJan. 25,2 02019 398 �N o. 39 ov 225, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18 Jan. 113 -| N Jan. 398 5 GLOBAL Mothers of Drug War Victims Demand Justice in the Philippines YONNA WALTERSSON Inter Press Service A basketball bounces. The heat feels almost physical against the skin. Young men dribble the ball playfully on the hot afternoon of Christmas Day. A mother approaches them asking to borrow a few pesos to buy water. A son grins back at her. For a short time, it’s only a moment among others. A few hours later, it has become a memory carefully imprinted on the mind of a mother - the memory of the last time she saw her son smile. That evening, he is murdered – shot to death alongside a friend. Two of the thousands of people killed in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. “They ride in tandem,” says Lorena Villanueva. “One steers the motorbike, one shoots,” says Emy Pagaduan. It’s their sons’ killers that the two women are talking about as they sit in a park in the middle of Manila. Those who appeared on Christmas Day 2016 and who shot their sons to death. 21-year-old Ray Justin Villanueva and 16-year-old Ramil Pagaduan were killed early in the war on drugs that is still underway. By now, “riding tandem” has become the mental image of how the killings take place. Motorcyclists quickly drive into an area and shoot the person next in line to be killed. “We thought it was fireworks that we heard, which is not surprising given we were in the middle of Christmas celebrations when we often have fireworks,” says Lorena Villanueva. In Caloocan, Manila, where the two women live, a handful of people die every day in the war on drugs. The area is poor, which has been a common denominator of murder locations. The political opposition suggests that’s because the country’s poor people have a harder time pursuing legal action and the police can therefore kill with impunity. But trade union activists, human rights lawyers and politicians are also among those killed and imprisoned, and a climate of fear has established itself in the community. The war on drugs began immediately after Duterte was sworn in as president in June 2016. During the presidential campaign, he promised that 100,000 criminals would be killed. Official figures now state that about 5,000 have been killed in the war against drugs. Local human rights organisations insist it’s more than neighbour using drugs? Are you going Lorena Villanueva adds: “I pray Ramil Pagaduan and Ray Justin Villanueva. Credit: Yonna Waltersson, Arbetet-Global/IPS 29,000 people. The official stance is also that those who have died in the war on drugs have done so because they were violent during their attempted arrests. It was only in September this year that President Duterte acknowledged that extrajudicial executions take place in the country. In a speech from the presidential palace he said: “My only sin is extrajudicial killings.” After the death of her son, Lorena Villanueva has left her job. She says she has to devote herself to protecting the children who are still alive. It’s usually young people that are killed. Sitting on the stairs in the park, she pulls a photo of her son out of her handbag. “He was always so happy. After my husband’s death, he had taken on his father’s role. He always had so many plans for what he wanted to do and things to fix in the house,” she says. At the headquarters of the democratic socialist party Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party, one of the party leaders, Machris Cabreros, tells us how the police operate: “The police knock on doors in poor neighbourhoods, asking three questions: Is anyone in your family using drugs? Do you have a relative or to cooperate?” That’s how the police compile a list of those to be killed so that they can meet their quotas, she says. An Amnesty International report on the war on drugs, released earlier this year, contained testimonies that a bounty is paid for each killing. Depending on who is shot, the killer is said to be able to get between 8,000 and 15,000 pesos. Akbayan’s Machris Cabreros says the system creates a culture of informers and establishes a fear in society. Emy Pagaduan agrees. “You do not know who’s the enemy.” Among those who have experienced the war on drugs, there is also a sense that it is the poor that are being killed. “Those involved in the drug trade are safe. It’s us poor who lose our lives,” says Lorena Villanueva. Lorena Villanueva and Emy Pagaduan are part of a larger group of women who have filed charges against the president in the International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC). A preliminary investigation has begun. With the application to ICC, the group hopes to hold someone accountable for the lives lost. “We want justice,” says Emy Pagaduan. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED every night for someone to have the courage to come forward and tell the truth about who killed our sons.” The fact that President Duterte has acknowledged that extrajudicial killings take place in the country can lend weight to the ongoing investigation. But few – if any – people believe the investigation will result in a drop in murder rates. “There is no indication that it is about to slow down, even though he is aware that there is an investigation. Maybe if he is forced to go to The Hague for questioning. But the investigation will take time and Duterte has also threatened that the Philippines will leave the ICC,” says Kith Melgar, one of the Akbayan party leaders. Another Christmas is around the corner; a much-loved celebration for many Filipinos, who start celebrating as early as September and continues until Christmas. But Emy Pagaduan says her family no longer join in the festivities. “We will be at the cemetery on Christmas Day. There is no joy left in celebrating Christmas.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �GLOBAL 6 NJan. o v 211 - N v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 - oJan. 25, | No. 398 Negotiating for Nature Concerned over the rate of biodiversity loss, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is calling for a new deal for nature and people. South Africaís white rhinoceros recovered from near-extinction thanks to intense conservation efforts. Credit: Kanya DíAlmeida/IPS THARANGA YAKUPITIYAGE Inter Press Service W ildlife is being wiped out in an unprecedented rate, and it’s our fault. But a new deal could provide a new pathway forward. Concerned over the rate of biodiversity loss, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is calling for a new deal for nature and people in order to accelerate and integrate action between three core areas: biodiversity, land degradation, and climate change. “The trends are shocking. We are facing a decline which is unprecedented and its accelerating,” said WWF’s Director General Marco Lambertini. “This is a global issue. Almost no country is completely exempt,” he added. And it’s not just the iconic species like pandas, elephants, and tigers, he noted. According the WWF’s recent Living Planet report, populations of vertebrate species have declined by 60 per cent around the world in just 40 years. Freshwater species alone faced a decline of over 80 per cent. Such population declines were especially prominent in South and Central America, where there is 89 per cent less wildlife than in 1970. Among the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss are directly linked to human activities, namely land conversion and overexploitation. Over 40 per cent of the world’s land has been converted or set aside for agriculture alone. The Amazon, which is home to over 10 per cent of the world’s species, has seen deforestation and habitat conversion to make way for agricultural activities such as cattle ranching and soy cultivation. Though there have been some efforts to halt and reverse such harmful activities, 20 per cent of the Amazon disappeared in just 50 years. In Indonesia, primates are facing a heightened risk of extinction as forests are destroyed to produce palm oil. “Food production is the single most important driver of wild habitat loss… very few people realise the connection between the food that they eat and the impact it is having on wildlife and wild habitats in the world,” Lambertini said. But it doesn’t stop there. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), unsustainable land management, which encompasses many modern crop and livestock practices, is causing soil and land degradation thus contributing to both desertification and further biodiversity loss. “With our current trends in production, urbanisation, and environmental degradation, we are losing and wasting too much land,” said UNCCD’s Executive Secretary Monique Barbut in the group’s Global Land Outlook report. “We are losing our connection with the earth. We are losing too quickly the water, soil, and biodiversity that support all life,” she added. Lambertini echoed similar sentiments, stating: “There’s not going to be a prosperous, healthy, happy, just future for us in a degraded planet.” Finding common ground UNCCD is one of three conventions that were established during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Its sister conventions include the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Though significant as separate frameworks, Lambertini highlighted the need for more integration between the three conventions as the three issues are interconnected. “We are calling for a new deal for nature…that really recognises those interdependencies and that they need to be integrated—land degradation, climate change, and nature conservation,” he said. The Executive Secretaries of the three conventions also recognised the intersectionality of the three issues during the U.N. climate change conference in 2017, calling for the establishment of a project preparation facility. The facility would help promote a coordinated action towards the convention’s common issues and finance large-scale multi-disciplinary projects. However, little has been mentioned of it since. Similar to the Paris climate accord, the proposed “new deal for nature and people” would ramp up the international community’s efforts through ambitious goals and targets to halt biodiversity loss and protect and restore nature. Unlike the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the end date of the biodiversityrelated targets under the SDGs is in 2020 and it is expected that many countries will not come close to reaching the targets given current trends. The new deal for nature would therefore be a post-2020 framework, helping governments to keep up, if not raise, their efforts. A recent U.N. Biodiversity Conference agreed to begin a preparatory process, marking a first step towards a new framework. However, WWF noted that ambition was weak. “The world needs to wake up to the risks of biodiversity loss. All stakeholders; business, government and people, need to act now if we are to have any hope of creating a sustainable future for all and a New Deal for Nature and People in 2020,” Lambertini said. “For this to happen, we need a cohesive vision and strong political will – something [Conference of the Parties 14] has unfortunately lacked,” he added. The value of nature THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED The Living Planet Index calculated that nature provides services worth $125 trillion annually while also providing us with fresh air, clean water, food, and medicine. Wildlife play an essential role, and can even help restore and conserve land. “We often forget that these creatures are fundamental to maintaining ecosystems like forests, oceans, wetlands, grasslands and make services that are fundamental to us,” said Lambertini. “There is a huge link between biodiversity and their ecosystems… and our fight against climate change,” he added. For instance, approximately 87 per cent of all flowering plant species are pollinated by animals, and crops that are partially pollinated by animals account for 35 per cent of global food production. Primates also help disperse seeds and pollen, helping maintain tropical rainforests which are play a crucial role in global rainfall patterns and carbon emissions reduction. During the recent U.N. climate change conference in Poland, many looked to natural climate solutions including forests which help cut emissions by up to 30 per cent. WWF is urging all stakeholders to come together to deliver on a comprehensive framework to help protect the environment by the next U.N. biodiversity conference set to take place in China in 2020. “It’s time to stop taking nature for granted—we are depending on nature more than nature depends on us,” Lambertini said. “Don’t leave nature and environmental conservation and climate change as an afterthought, they have to be driving the thinking and the planning at the policy level as much as the economic level,” he concluded. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 25, - N 2019 o v 19,| 2 0 18398 Jan. 11 Jan. No. GLOBAL 7 Dozens of indigenous women forcibly sterilised in Canada CHRIS ARSENAULT Reuters D ozens of indigenous women were forcibly sterilised by Canadian health authorities, including as recently as in 2017, said the lawyer leading a classaction lawsuit against the government. Alisa Lombard was speaking on Thursday after appearing in Geneva at the UN Committee Against Torture during hearings into Canada's human rights record. More than 90 indigenous women in the western province of Saskatchewan contacted lawyers to join the lawsuit over forced sterilisation, said Lombard of Maurice Law, the indigenous-run firm spearheading the case. "This practice needs to stop," she said, adding that she knew of cases in 2009, 2011 and 2017. "If it happened then and nothing was done to prevent it, I don't see why it wouldn't be happening now," Lombard said. A government spokeswoman said officials were still gathering information on the issue, and could not say with certainty that the practice had stopped. The UN committee will publish its findings on December 7. "This class action is there to stop it (forced sterilisation), punish it and prosecute it," Lombard said of the suit, which was filed last year. Health experts and human rights campaigners said the forced sterilisations, which the United Nations considers a form of torture, are symptomatic of the discrimination and abuse that Canada's indigenous women face. The government does not deny coerced sterilisations took place. However, a spokeswoman for the minister of indigenous services said she could not comment on allegations in the lawsuit as the matter was before the courts. ‘Serious violation’ Earlier this week, minister of indigenous services Jane Philpott told lawmakers the "coerced sterilisation of some indigenous women by medical professionals is a serious violation of human rights". "We know that indigenous patients can face systemic barriers in accessing medical services, including discrimination and racism," Philpott said. It remained unclear how many indigenous women were forcibly sterilised in Saskatchewan or elsewhere in Canada, said Alex Neve, secretarygeneral of Amnesty International Canada, who also testified at the UN committee hearings. "It is impossible not to conclude that this arises from a context of deeply entrenched racism and colonialism. People take part in a smudging ceremony organized by the First Nations Indigenous Warriors and the American Indian Movement on the Cote First Nation, near the town of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, August 6, 2017. Smudging is a common practice among some indigenous peoples in North America and is believed to cleanse a person or place of negative energy. REUTERS/Zachary Prong This is tied up with stereotypes of indigenous women as being incapable mothers," he said. Indigenous people comprise about 5 per cent of Canada's 36.5 million people, and are disproportionately affected by poverty. Nearly half live in western provinces such as Saskatchewan, according to government census data. During his testimony, Neve called on the government to appoint an independent investigator – ideally an indigenous woman, he said – to conduct a review to determine the scale of the problem and recommend solutions. "Under international law it is very clear forced sterilisation is torture," Neve said. Decades-long practice The lawsuit, which Lombard said could go to trial in 2019, names the Saskatchewan government, provincial hospitals, several doctors and national authorities. It is seeking C$7 million ($5.3 million) per plaintiff. Forced or coerced sterilisation which is defined as sterilising women without their proper, informed consent - began in Canada in the 1930s and continued until at least 2017, the suit states. The lawsuit cites a woman with the initials M.R.L.P. as the lead plaintiff. It said the Saskatchewan resident was sterilised without proper, informed consent immediately after her second child was delivered by emergency caesarean section in September 2008. Health professionals suggested she undergo a tubal ligation - a surgical procedure in which a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked, tied or cut - when she was "particularly vulnerable": in labour and about to undergo emergency surgery. "Her written consent was sought by health professionals moments before emergency surgery was affirmed, contemporaneously with the administration of opioids, and while she was incapacitated by the pain associated with active labour," the statement of claim said. When she later sought to have the procedure reversed, health professionals told her she would be unlikely to fall pregnant. Her relationship with her then-partner ended due to her sterility, the suit said. "Canada and the province were aware of these policies and practice and their disproportionate impacts on vulnerable Aboriginal women, historically and currently, and have done nothing to prevent them," the statement of claim said. Canada's universal healthcare is largely funded by the national government and provided by provincial authorities. The lawsuit said coerced sterilisations were an example of cruel and unusual punishment, which is illegal under the country's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The provincial health ministry said it had launched an independent review last year after indigenous women came forward saying they had been pressured into having tubal ligations after giving THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED birth. It changed its policies after that review, a ministry spokeswoman said. "It (the government) now requires that a woman must have had a documented discussion with her healthcare provider before coming into hospital," she said in emailed comments. "Otherwise, a tubal ligation would not be provided during the patient's post-partum experience ... Our priority is to engage, understand and better serve the health needs of all indigenous residents of Saskatchewan." The provincial ministry said it was implementing cultural training for all maternal services staff, and was working with indigenous leaders and elders to improve the consent process and healthcare in general. The spokeswoman could not comment on specific claims made in court documents as litigation is ongoing. Marcia Anderson, a professor of health sciences at Canada's University of Manitoba, said it was difficult to hold healthcare providers to account as the country did not gather data on healthquality performance by race. "There is very little (even no) ability to monitor the expression of racism in the healthcare system," Anderson said by email. "Racism is as present in healthcare as it is in our broader society, but it is acted out in different ways." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �FEATURE 8 N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. 11- -NJan. 25,2 02019 398 I'm Big, I'm Bad, I'm a Bid! PAUL BODEN P Western Regional Advocacy Project atrolling and controlling our public spaces— sidewalks, streets and parks— Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are privatizing our downtowns and main thoroughfares. Our public spaces are becoming corridors and shopping centers that are welcoming consumers with open arms and excluding everyone else. Most particularly impacted by this emerging trend are the houseless communities, who are seeing these areas to rest and sleep, free from harassment and criminalization, shrink. BIDs have been growing significantly across the United States. In California, BIDs have grown exponentially since the passage of the Business Improvement District Law of 1994, which expanded their budget, autonomy and authority. One hundred eighty-nine BIDs have been identified in 69 California cities surveyed. What began as a way to supplement public services within geographically defined boundaries has turned into massive beasts with large budgets, controlling public space and being significantly funded with tax dollars with little to no oversight. Even though BIDs control large swaths of private and public land, many people do not know what a BID is. However, most people could probably point out the BID Ambassador and street cleaning teams, whose brightly colored uniforms are a common sight as they give tourists and shoppers directions, pick up garbage, and pressure wash sidewalks. A positive sight for many, but behind the scenes, BIDs have become powerful lobbies, crafting or supporting ballot initiatives and legislation to push anti-homeless loitering, sit-lie, sidewalk obstruction and other laws, ensuring the further criminalization of homeless people and compounding the day to day harassment of the houseless community. As shown below, the increase in BIDs directly correlates to an increase in local antihomeless laws. BIDs are formed when business THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED owners and/or property owners come together, petition for their establishment and get approval from the local government. Once the BID is established, the local government collects an assessment (tax) from all the property owners within the district, including the local government on publicly owned parcels. Funds from this tax are then turned over “to a nonprofit or to a quasi­-governmental agency run by the BID organization’s board of directors.” Some BIDs are run by business owners, who are primarily focused on bringing in more shoppers, while others are run by property owners, who are interested in attracting tenants who can pay higher rents for storefronts and/or housing. In effect, our local governments are turning taxpayer dollars over to private businesses, which use that money to create a more “safe and attractive” consumer environment. There are well over 1,000 of these special districts throughout the United States, whose main function is to drive poor and homeless people away from the neighborhood by hassling them, enforcing the sit-lie law and other discriminatory tactics, including contracting with the cops to step up enforcement of “quality of life” offenses, thus criminalizing homeless and poor people’s existence. �No. 39 Nov 225, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 113 -| Jan. | No. 398 “It is my understanding that the people who ride around on bikes waking up the homeless are not supposed to put their hands on anyone… If I’m breaking the law a San Diego Police Officer is to do something about it- not some flunkie on a bike who has no badge, [and] won’t tell me his name,” stated a complaint filed by a homeless woman in San Diego, who was awakened by a BID security guard when he rode his bike into her. To be clear, we are not just talking about houseless people when we talk about BIDs criminalizing nonconsumers. BIDs do not want anyone in their districts from whom they cannot profit. This includes street vendors (Permit Betty), buskers and anyone who is hanging out in the neighborhood but not looking to purchase anything. Laws against sitting on the sidewalk and other such laws are always discriminately enforced, specifically with the goal of removing people, who are not wanted, from public spaces. From a study by UC Berkeley Law School Policy Advocacy Clinic FEATURE conducted for the Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) to understand the effects Business Improvement Districts have on houseless communities in California, “BIDs violate California law when they spend property assessment revenue on policy advocacy… BIDs may violate additional state laws when they spend assessment revenue collected from public properties within their districts on policy advocacy…. BIDs and their agents may violate state, federal and international law through their policing practices, including the infringing on the legal rights of homeless people.” This study, “Homeless Exclusion Districts: How California Business Improvement Districts Use Policy Advocacy and Policing Practices to Exclude Homeless People from Public Space,” is the first of its kind containing groundbreaking research on how BIDs impact our local communities. “Their entire job is to push homeless people out by harassment, pressure washing the streets, and calling the cops on folks. They are also hiring formerly homeless people to harass other homeless people and removing them from their economic corridors,” remarked Benjamin Donlon of Right To Survive in Portland, Oregon, on Clean and Safe, a 213 block BID that touts itself as the “oldest, largest and most successful BID in the nation” created by several adjacent BIDs, Clean and Safe controls all of downtown and Old Town Portland. As General Dogon, an organizer from L.A. Skid Row can attest, “Cops will pull up and go right up to the BID guard and pull him to the side and have a conversation with them, and then walk over to the homeless person and tell them what they did wrong. The BID guards then began to think that they are the police and that they have the power. The community ambassador is really the community oppressor.” A classic example of BID control of public space is the Urban Camping Ban in Denver, Colorado. Terese Howard of Denver Homeless Out Loud said, “When the unauthorized camping ban was passed in Denver, The Downtown Business Partnership (a prominent BID in Denver) listed in their annual THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 report that they were successful in the lobbying of the unauthorized camping ban. Further, the Downtown Business Partnership supports enforcement of sit-lie laws, enforcement of unconstitutional panhandling bans, and further architecturally pushes homeless people out of their districts by removing benches, water fountains, bathrooms and trash cans.” “BIDs will go Block by Block to ensure that every sidewalk, street and park serve to benefit the businesses that are in the district. Public Space has become nothing more than the hallways of a shopping mall, and if you are in that hallway you better be there to shop, or someone will chase you out,” said Paul Boden of WRAP. With the release of the study, “Homeless Exclusion Districts: How California Business Improvement Districts Use Policy Advocacy and Policing Practices to Exclude Homeless People from Public Space,” we hope to bring greater awareness to how our shiny new shopping spaces are created, and what goes into their creation— mainly our tax dollars and our freedom. �10 GLOBAL N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. 11- -NJan. 25,2 02019 398 The Sailors Haunted by Their Experiences in the Mediterranean Deacon Fiete Sturm leads the Seamenís Mission in Altona. The pastor takes care of sailors on land. Credit: Marina Kostian JONAS FÜLLNER Hinz&Kunzt F leeing across the Mediterranean has always been dangerous. The International Organisation for Migration has recorded over 13,500 deaths in the past three and half years alone. Aid organisations such as Sea Watch, Sea Eye and Lifeline have been deploying lifeboats to prevent this number from rising further, but now their vessels have been blockaded in Malta. While sea rescue operations are being obstructed, the dying continues. Italy won’t even allow entry to vessels carrying rescued refugees. It is not only lifeboats but also large cargo ships that have been taking in the shipwrecked. The international Law of the Sea obliges ships’ captains to help people in danger on the high seas if they are able to do so. To not do so would also deeply offend the sailors’ sense of honour. This is something that maritime deacon Fiete Sturm is certain of. The 36-year-old is the leader of the German Seamen’s Mission in Altona, Hamburg, which is located not far from the fish market. As a pastor, he talks to the sailors on a regular basis. Here, he speaks about his experiences and explains why sea rescue operations are essential: “A sailor once told me how he saw a child and mother drown right before his eyes. He was aboard a fairly large container ship. Life vests were floating in the water. Some people had clearly already died. Using their last ounce of strength, the mother and child drew near to a rescue ladder. But the ship was still moving a little and the sea was rough. Both were dragged under the water and weren’t seen again. “The sailor saw everything and had no way of helping. It shook him up very badly and it took months before he could go to sea again. To this day, he still doesn’t dare go out on the Mediterranean. “Other sailors try to repress what they've gone through. I can understand why. You need to be able to function at sea. It’s a tough job – 300 hours’ work per month – and sometimes you’re away for nine months at a time, far from home. Only when sailors stay at in port for a longer period, perhaps because they’re ill, for example, do they have the time to talk to a pastor such as myself. “Three years ago, a sailor confided in a colleague of mine that he no longer dares sail in the Mediterranean. He remembers sailing over children’s rucksacks drifting in the sea. Many people are still using this route to flee hunger and war. I know sailors who are unable to sleep at night in the summer months before a trip to the Mediterranean. “The fear that a rescue could fail is always there. Unlike rescue organisations’ boats, cargo ships are not equipped to enable people to easily come on board from the water. The side of the ship can sometimes be 30 metres above the surface of the water and there are no hatches to simply pull people through. Even in calm seas there can be a suction effect in the water. “When they use a rope ladder to climb down to the shipwrecked, the sailors put their own lives at risk. The mere thought that something like this could happen at any time off the Libyan coast is enough to make the sailors anxious. “Many of them would like to turn a blind eye, but they don’t. The law requires them to provide a rescue service to those in distress at sea. However, they don’t provide help just because the law says so: if you’re at sea, then you offer your help. It’s a guiding principle. It’s also got nothing to do with their morals. I’ve spoken with sailors who vote for right-wing parties and think that too many refugees are coming to Europe. But there’s no question that they would help refugees in distress, regardless of the fact that it’s dangerous and irrespective of their personal feelings towards these people. At that moment they’re not refugees, but castaways floating in the water. “Now that captains are facing charges for offering assistance – as happened with the boat Lifeline – it means that these fundamental practices are being destroyed. Saving lives at sea goes without saying. That principle can never be shaken. “Anyone who goes a step further and says that the expectation of receiving help in distress is contributing to migration is confusing cause and effect. The people who died came first. If that weren’t the case, then the rescuers and their lifeboats would never have gone out in the first place. Now people are saying that if there were no rescuers, then people wouldn’t dare make the dangerous flight across the sea. But there are plenty of studies that say this is not the case. People will continue to flee. And they will continue to do so across the sea, over and over again.” Translated from German by Hazel Davies Courtesy of Hinz&Kunzt / INSP. ngo Around 4000 people held a demonstration for sea rescue operations in Hamburg on 13 July. They threw flowers into the Elbe in memory of the refugees who have drowned in the Mediterranean. Credit: Tina Fritsche THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 225, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 113 -| Jan. | No. 398 11 LOCAL My Story DAVID MCCANE I Contributing Writer became homeless back in 20045. Been homeless for 13 years, 4 months, 3 weeks until last year when I got my place. I was on the streets in Mansfield too. I left here for about a year and three months but I realized I needed help. I got out of jail, came back here, got together with Alphonse who helped me get connected with Greater Cincinnati Behavioral (GCB) to work with caseworkers and get housing. He told me I had to give 110% and then the caseworkers would give 110%, so I did. I did volunteer work and I love it. My caseworkers got me on Social Security Income. They set up appointments with me, help me set goals, and they’re really there for me. They’ve been a lot better than other places. I finally found people who listen to me and help me with my problems. They make sure I stay out of trouble. GCB really works with me. They helped me get an apartment. When I had an apartment, I gave it up to my friends who had kids because they needed somewhere to live. I didn’t mind being on the streets. The caseworkers helped me stay on the right path. They helped me get into college and I’m almost there. Daulton King helped me out when I needed someone to talk to about apartment situations, or just what was on my mind. He gave me a lot of good advice and told me to keep my head up and stay strong. He’s the one who helped me get into Streetvibes in the first place. I’m going to Cincinnati State for culinary arts and I’m working on getting my license and a car. I’m starting this semester and just got my uniform. On the 7th, I’ll get a set of knives to complete the chef ’s uniform. I’d really like to do cooking and baking if possible. I have my own recipes and have my own signature dishes. A friend of mine let me stay with him until he got kicked out and I used to cook for him. I did a lot of experiments with steak and pork and that’s when I realized how much I liked it. I got praise from a pastor I knew up there. I’m trying to come up with new recipes with chicken right now. I like to use different ingredients that you don’t expect, like cinnamon and garlic Crisco together. I also like doing heritage cooking since I am part Irish, German, Scottish, and Cherokee. I like to mix them all together, like a main dish from Irish cooking and a side dish from Native American cooking. Cooking wasn’t my only option, but Cinci State doesn’t have a Masonair program for construction. I am somewhat qualified in masonry, but I need to finish scaffolding. I’d like to be a fully certified mason as well. I also do landscaping and I’m a masseuse. If it wasn’t for the people at the Homeless Coalition—including the people at Streetvibes—I would still be on the streets and I wouldn’t be going to college. I’ve had my place for a year and one month and I plan to keep it. The PATH team really worked with me and I got into XL, which pays half of my rent. The same landlord has a two-bedroom place in Price Hill, which would be good. I’ve been trying to tell other people that they should also try to get housing here but you have to give 110%. Getting Beyond Benign Neglect BILL WOODS Contributing Writer T he period connecting the end of the old year and the start of the new one often prompts thinking about past events and what will come next. This December, my thinking began earlier after hearing an update on homelessness in this region by Josh Spring at the annual dinner of the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition. Spring, the Executive Director of the Coalition, didn't pull any punches as he depicted a worsening situation with more homeless families and individuals and an enormous need for affordable housing in this area. This unsugar coated presentation jolted me to reflect about how we have evolved to such a dismal situation both locally and nationally. When Applied Information Resources, working under the auspices of the newly formed Homeless Coalition, conducted the area's first homeless study in 1986, the immediate response of people of good will was that resources must be quickly found to end this crisis that was impacting the lives of so many men, women, and children. One year later when I attended an international conference on homelessness in Delhi, India, delegates from other countries expressed disbelief that a rich nation like the United States could have a homeless problem. Those who knew their history would cite the programs of "the New Deal" and the 1960s "War on Poverty." In looking back now at the1980s, I believe that we had already entered a time frame that I am now calling "the period of benign neglect." By 1986, Ronald Reagan was in his sixth year as President. He came into office with the slogan: "Government isn't the answer. Government is the problem." He vowed to cut costly and unnecessary federal programs, and to cut taxes in order to unleash America's entrepreneurial spirit. When AIR did its homeless study it cited that funding for various housing assistance programs shrank from $24.9 billion in 1981 to $7.8 billion in 1987. A complimentary ideology also emerged at that time that government assistance actually entrenched poverty and caused a culture of dependency. Along with that philosophy came the mistaken notion of wide spread welfare fraud and welfare queens driving to pick up their checks in Cadillacs. Thus, a powerful new political force grew up in the Reagan era to counter the long prevailing concept that bold government action could solve major problems and assist families and individuals to get back on their feet. I label the time from the 1980s to the present as a period of benign neglect, because the dismantling of the federal safety net has gone on steadily but slowly. The federal housing cuts and cuts in other federal assistance that began in the 1980s have continued with stops and starts along the way. During the almost four decades under review enough progressive and moderate members of Congress have prevented any cataclysmic assaults on the safety net, and for sixteen of the thirty eight years, a Democrat has served as President. The new conservatism, however, subtly infiltrated the thinking of some Democratic leaders including Bill Clinton. As President, Clinton signed into law in 1996 a more punitive and limited welfare law that replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children- a long accepted entitlement program. Meanwhile, states like Ohio witnessed the cutting or elimination of anti-poverty programs by their legislatures. Groups such as the Homeless Coalition and other advocates for the poor fought against this continual whittling away of funding for affordable housing and other safety net programs, but this ongoing battle THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED with its stalemates and losses became almost numbing. Nobody did a very good job of keeping tabs on how these steady losses were mounting up and having a greater impact at the local level. This article has focused on one major factor that has led to the homeless situation that Josh Spring described at the Coalition's annual dinner. A complete picture would include other factors such as the impact of "big money" on the political process at all levels, the change to a global economy, and a culture that now emphasizes individualism, corporate greed, and polarized groups rather than any emphasis on "we the people." These factors and others would need to be blended into a complete story about how we became mired in this period of benign neglect. Perhaps the election and Presidency of Donald Trump serve as a wake up call to jolt us into acknowledging the critical problems that have slowly grown to gargantuan size over time. With democracy and most of our institutions and government programs now in jeopardy, maybe we will also be able to recognize that a city and a nation that can accept growing poverty and economic inequality no longer deserves to be called "great." �12 STREETVOICE It's Misting & It's Raining It's misty and it's raining But I'm not one who does much complaining As the mist comes in, before the rain starts to fall I hold my head up and there are no stars Just the mist and the rain falls As a child, I would cry when the dark clouds, would roll by, And I didn't see a beautiful blue sky, But now I smile, No more tears, no more cries I realize how our trees grown so tall When our wonderful God, Lets his rain fall No matter how dark I realize God always does his work Sometimes it's cloudy And sometimes it's dark But God always does his part N o v 11 2 --N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 398 393 Jan. Jan. 25,22019 You and I You and I must make a pact To be mindful of how we act Toward each other no matter what And not hold hatred down in our gut We must understand that everyone is unique And know that a change is what everyone seeks With time and patience, with help from up above We can conquer the hatred we feel and replace it with God's love For only with God's guidance and his so many blssings Will we understand living life together without ever guessing We'll finally know what it is to live on this planet together To love each other for who we are and not what we are for now and forever! WILLA DENISE JONES KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Contributing Writer Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher and Chris Wilkey for a group writing session! S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �STREETVOICE No. 39 Nov 25, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 113- |Jan. 2019 | No. 398 A Day in the Life of Sarah Huckabee Sanders Pity Sarah Huckabee Sanders. For Trump she always panders. To the press she has one song. "The President is never wrong!" Some say It's so reprehensible To defend acts so indefensible. Does she ever stop and pray? "Please no crazy tweets today!" BILL WOODS Contributing Writer 13 Creeping Thistle When I was picked by this pink flower, They told me it was a weed, I kept this flower, providing water as new roots grew, watered, even after the “thank you”s ended, even once I ran out of drink for myself, even when thorns appeared, even after those thorns prodded at my veins, They told me that this flower was feeding false hopes, They were worried that i was buried too deep in the dirt with this flower- weed, Once i tried to listen, there was nothing left to say, they had to go away, while I had to lay, next to the prickly pink flower, because it begged me to stay, I thought to plant it somewhere far, It convinced me to let it settle in my backyard, Stronger it grew with access to my sun, my grass, my soil, Its roots grew into my pipes and broke through to my living room, kept finding its way into my home, I called to get it removed, tweezers, pliers, shovels, bulldozers, They got it out of my house, no one could get the last green thorn out of my ear. GABRIELA GODINEZ Editor-in-chief THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 FUN N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. 11- -NJan. 25,22019 398 Pet Horoscopes by Dusty Changepurse About the Author: Dusty Changepurse is a visual and creative artist whom infuses spirituality, creativity and social justice into their work and everyday life. They have been providing pet horoscopes and tarot readings for a couple of years. They are an experienced empathy-based Tarot cart reader with many years of experience. The horoscopes presented should not be seen as medical/vetenarian advice. If you or your pet needs actually medical assistance, please see a medical professional. Libra (Page of Pentacles) - The inquisitive nature of the Libra pet will be in full force this month. I will say, be prepared for your pet to push the envelope of freedom -- meaning this is a time your pet will try to get free. Pay special attention to Aries (Queen of Swords) - Has your pooch been acting like pets who love a good jailbreak. A new toy may be the thing the top dog around the house lately? Well, that is because needed to distract them from running. If you have a bird, something shiny this month should do the trick. an sense of ease, imagination and dream-achieving is on the plat for them this month. An old dog may not learn new tricks, but they can refine the trick to make it a showstopper. Scorpio (Six of Swords) - This is time for closure, if you Also, this is the month for your puppy to find puppy love. just lost a pet. It is important to realize that our pets Love is in the air for Aries pets. continue to watch over us even after passing. This is a time for remembrance and understanding that pain comes in Taurus (Ace of Pentacles) - Yes, we get it. You are the cat’s ebbs and flows. Water-living pets should be prepared for meow. Your pet is on a roll this month with the blessings, some hardships, but know it is a needed process for them. Transitions abound for the Scorpio pet. so be prepared for them to leave you lots of gifts. A flailing bird is a gift right? Well, they have blessing on blessings coming their way so this is not the time to stop spoiling Sagittarius (Three of Swords) - Your Sag pet’s heart is in that feline. Your Taurean pet is super good luck right now, the right place, but their rambunctious attitude sure boils so consider betting of black (cats). your blood. This month will have some pain (especially in abdomen or hind legs). Your pet not only needs emotional support this month, but they may need actual physical support this month also. Your words are powerful tools that can be used for harm or helping. Right now, your pet needs some support: Mental, psychological and physical. Gemini (Three of Pentacles) - You ever have that one pet, that always needs something? Well, this won’t be the last they need a belly scratch or gentle boops on the nose. Your gemini pet may be acting out or not their usual self. This is their way of telling you that they are needing support right now. Don’t forget to share some extra love with your pet. Capricorn (Six of Pentacles) - Oh you Capricorn animal you! This month you are ballin’ and loving life. You my Cancer (The Hierophant) - That ferret of yours is plotting… friend, need some greens in your diet. Also, this is a month and plotting. Your Cancer pet is all about maintaining of fruition, so if your pet was hoping for that puppy-cation, order this month. Yes, that means they will try to rule well this is the month. Abundance will be your friend. This the house, so be prepared. Your pet is really receptive to is a month where bird-owners should start planting seeds spiritual energy right now, so I suggest giving them space and intentions. Red birds are especially good luck this month. and not forcing any meetings. Hey, your partner can meet your pet next week. Leo (Seven of Cups) - Ayye, your pet is on the glow up lately. The fur is so fresh and so clean clean. The other furries are jealous and your pet knows it. Be prepared for your pet to be the center of attention this month. Don’t hate, just take the credit. That luxurious coat didn’t brush itself. This is the time to live vicariously through your pet. Your Leo pet can handle more love, more food, more everything this month. The benefits will multiply for all involved. Virgo (The Devil) - So, everything is not sunshines and rainbows. For my Virgo pets, this is a time for grounding and keeping things simple. Simple foods. Simple joys. Simple tasks. This month will spell the end of certain important relationships with your pet. So if you are a dog park goer, prepare for a loss of a friendship or play buddy. Aquarius (King of Swords) - Structure, Structure and Structure. Get the hint. This month your pet will need some structure in their lives. This means you may need to double down on training, but know reinforcement is a good thing. If you have a rodent, then this may be a good time to keep your pets occupied with new things. May we suggest a new playmate (or a mirror). Either way give your pet something or someone to boss around. Pisces (Knight of Wands) - Full steam ahead. Your pet has the intuition to spare this month. That means you need to keep transparency with your pet and their pet buddies. Your pet will be full of energy… and attitude. So you can reprimand your Pisces if you like, but be prepared for pouting and plenty of attitude. They are sure on one this month. Sheesh. Proceed with caution. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 225, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Jan. 113-| Jan. | No. 398 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 RESOURCES St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 131 E. 12th Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 1125 Bank Street 45214 Shelter: Men Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 411 Gest St. 45203 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 2121 Vine Street 45202 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Starting Over 961-2256 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Parkway Center 661-4620 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Shelter: Youth Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) Housing: 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 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Advocacy Catholic Social Action 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 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Food/Clothing Health 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 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 Soup Kitchen 535-2719 15 Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 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 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 961-0600 business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, Center for Respite Care 621-1868 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org 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 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 211 - N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Jan. - Jan. 25,2 02019 398 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. 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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 January 11-January 25, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Pg 3: Shutdown Easy One Man’s Journey Through 19 Years of Homelessness Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Mothers of Drug War Victims Demand Justice in the Philippines Pg 6: Negotiating for Nature Pg 7: Dozens of Indigenous Women Forcibly Sterilized in Canada Pg 8: I’m Big, I’m Bad, I’m a Bid! Pg 9: I’m Big, I’m Bad, I’m a Bid! Continued Pg 10: The Sailors Haunted by Their Experiences in the Mediterranean Pg 11: My Story Getting Beyond Benign Neglect Pg 12: Street Voice Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Fun Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 11-January 25, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Reginald Black Yonna Walterson Chris Arenault Robert Park Jonas Fullner Paul Boden Bill Woods Key Beck Kim Green Willa Denise Jones David McCane Homeless Coalition Pngtree.com Gabriela Godinez Wraphome.org Amanda Meek Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Amanda Meek Bill Woods Canada Chris Arenault David McCane Drug War Gabriela Godinez Gentrification Homeless Coalition Indigenous Women Jonas Fullner Josh Spring Key Beck Kim Green Mediterranean Nature Paul Boden Philippines Pngtree.com Reginald Black Robert Park Sailors Willa Denise Jones Wraphome.org Yonna Walterson https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/437aa5003c0aa4b45328a6b078ff7f60.pdf e73feab779be2605d3eeea56b9b7ff92 PDF Text Text January 12th - January 25th 2018 | Vol. 21 Issue 2 (No. 373) advocating justice | building community New Year, New Services | 3 This Issue is sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cincinnati's Fascist Monument | 5 Economics of Compassion Initiative in Spring Grove Village | 7 Political Reform in 2018 | 2 Religious Peacemakers: Pastor Ennis Tait | 8 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: Very Important People Have Died K J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 JOSH SPRING en Martin was found dead at Government Square in the wee hours of December 26. Previous to this tragedy Ken lived without a home. Homelessness stole years from Ken’s life; he was only 55 years old. Since Ken Martin was found dead, there has been a significant amount of discussion in the local media about why Ken died, what could have prevented his death and what should be done in the future. Some have said there should be a day shelter/24-hour shelter space available. It has also been stated that there were 100 empty Winter Shelter beds a mile away from where Ken passed and that some people don’t feel comfortable going to a shelter because of mental illness, addiction and/or a lack of safety at the shelter. Further some have questioned if we need more adequate transportation Ken Martin Credit: WCPO.COM Executive Director Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition and/or more outreach workers to get people to the Winter Shelter. Ken Martin was an important and valuable person. It is correct that we should be asking why did this happen and how can we prevent it. The fact is that it was not Ken’s “time” to pass away; time was stolen from him. It is right to figure out how we can improve our existing system to increase accessibility and increase connection. In our questioning, however we most go beyond what happened just before Ken died. It is not adequate to simply ask why was Ken not in shelter? Though, correctly outlets are not directly blaming Ken for his death; victim-blaming is a common practice; only applying focus to figuring out why he may have chosen to not be in a shelter bed focuses too narrowly on his own mindset and individual communications other people may have had with Ken. Perhaps there should be 24hour shelter space, but if there were would that mean Ken would still be living? We don’t know. If we had more outreach workers perhaps Ken would have had more regular contact with outreach workers and he would have felt more at ease about working with the system. If there were transportation vehicles driving about looking for people outside, maybe Ken would have been offered a ride to the Winter Shelter and would have taken it. We simply don’t know. And the fact that we don’t know certainly does not mean we should not make any of these changes, but these sort of changes will not lead to the high level of systematic change we need. It is right to consider what gaps there are in the system, but the problem with doing it this way is that we are discussing what could be changed systematically to change the circumstances that immediately precipitated the death of Ken Martin, one very important person. But Homelessness is not an individual problem. Thousands of people in our city and county experience homelessness. Millions in this country. In fact, in 2017 in (Continued on page 6) Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Distributor Program Manager: Justin Jeffre Layout: Key Beck Reception: Larry Johnson, Anne Evans Maintenance: Pete Roper ----------------------------------------------- POLITICAL REFORM IN 2018 2 Contributing Writer (Continued on page 6) Writers: Josh Spring, Bill Woods, Dr. Mark Mussman, Michael Earl Patton, Derek Peebles, Adam Sennott, Saad Ghosn, Bentley Davis, Jason Haap, Bobby Morris, Ronald English, Willa Denise Jones BILL WOODS 018 begins with the U.S. and Ohio still badly in need of reforms that will help restore the health of our democratic process. One proposed initiative and one failed initiative, however, provide some hope that positive change can come about. Reformers in Ohio start the year working to place an initiative on next November's ballot that would end Congressional gerrymandering in the state. Meanwhile, President Trump's highly questionable Commission focused on voter fraud was disbanded during the first week of 2018. Trump's Commission came into being eight months ago to address the CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, Dr. Mark Mussman, Michael Earl Patton, Saad Ghosn, ATIS547/Flickr, Bill Woods, WCPO.com --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Bill Woods accepting the buddy gray Lifetime Achievement Award Credit: Homeless Coalition THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 37 3 3 LOCAL New Year, New Services | J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 DR. MARK MUSSMAN O ver the past month, we have seen two new places of refuge open in Cincinnati: the Sheakley Center for Youth and St. Anthony Building. Each of the buildings had a great opening ceremony, with a starstudded line-up. It’s important to keep in mind what each of these building represents: a new opportunity for people who are suffering from homelessness, hunger, and poverty. At the St. Anthony Building, Staff Writer does it help with cleanliness, health, and safety, but it also helps people raise their self-esteem. Another program that helps with health and self-esteem is Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart, which provides individuals with a new “do” and a new outlook on life. So many people have told me that they have never felt better than after they get a shower at Mary Magdalen and a haircut at Franciscan Haircuts for thousands of meals every month. They are also looking to expand their morning hours so people who are leaving the shelter have a place to stay earlier in the morning. They will have bagged lunches for people whenever they come through the doors. This, in addition to Welcome Home and other organizations in the St. Anthony Center, including a nurse’s station, will give people more access to services, on a near-daily basis. Finally, they have some flex space to This is a national issue, but Safe and Supported is tackling the issue here. Lighthouse just built a new facility just down the street from their main building in Walnut Hills on McMillan. The new Sheakley Center for Youth moved from Highland to Iowa Street, into a giant warehousetype building. The building was used to make textiles a long time ago, and now it has the chance to weave a new future for Cincinnati’s youth. In the Sheakley Center there are some of the same services from Highland, but many new beds for long-term and short-term residents. In the old space on Highland, youth could go to wash their laundry, get Community Kitchen at Sheakley Center Common Area with TV Soon to be Installed Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman which is located on the corner of Liberty and Republic Streets in Over-the-Rhine, several different organizations have come together to create a type of “One-Stop” service the Heart. This new facility will allow people to get a new outlook on life, but also access life-saving services like the Center for Respite Care. The Center for Respite Care gives people who are experiencing homelessness a place to offer short-term housing beyond the Center for Respite Care. When it comes to youth who are experiencing homelessness, we have one of the most active and robust some food, use the resource room, get medical care, and find shelter. The new space will contain all of that, but also have more permanent housing, many more shelter beds, and more room to grow. Each room Towels and blankets at the Mary Magdalen House Mary Magdalen House Dryers Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman center. Mary Magdalen moved from Main Street, where it had been for decades. Mary Magdalen gives people the opportunity to take a shower, use the phone, use the bathroom, and even get new clothes. They will take the clothes you have on, give you a new set, and wash your clothes for you. The next time you come back for a shower, they will have your clothes clean and folded for you. Not only go after receiving medical care. Have you ever wondered how people who are experiencing homelessness get a chance to recuperate after they have surgery? The Center for Respite Care enables people to rest after medical care. St. Francis Seraph Ministries is also moving their soup kitchen from the elementary school cafeteria to the new St. Anthony Center. They serve organizations in the country tackling this issue – Lighthouse Youth and Family Services. Lighthouse has a unique program called “Safe and Supported” that helps LGBTQi individuals and their families deal with issues. Did you know that roughly 40% of youth who are experiencing homeless self-identify as LGBTQi? This is likely due to family rejection and discrimination. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED has a small kitchenette, but there is a shared kitchen as well, that has full size ovens and will allow them to have group dinners. It is an amazing center that will allow closer access to residents seeking services in the main building on McMillan. We are lucky to have so much private support in Cincinnati for these (Continued on page 9) �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 �No. 37 3 I LOCAL Cincinnati’s Fascist Monument | J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 MICHAEL EARL PATTON really should not have been so surprised when a friend told me about the fascist monument from 1931 in Eden Park. After all, though we like to forget about it, there was a time in the 1920’s and 30’s when fascism was considered by many to be a superior form of government. This was because Italy had recovered from economic depression and seemed to be on the ascendancy while conditions in the United States were getting worse. The depression – which we call the Great Depression – started with the Wall Street crash of 1929. The economy had yet to bottom out and newly constructed shantytowns known as “Hoovervilles” were widespread. Predictions of prosperity being “just around the corner” failed to come true. In 1931 Hitler had not yet come to power in Germany and Italy had not yet invaded Ethiopia. There was hope that Mussolini’s talk of restoring Rome to its ancient power and glory was mostly rhetoric and did not mean military conquest. So when Mussolini offered Cincinnati a monument with a symbol of his “New Rome,” the city leaders accepted it. Today, however, it requires some familiarity with Roman legend and Italian history to appreciate the symbolism and inscription. The monument is of a she-wolf giving suckle to the infant twins, Romulus and Remus. There are several legends about them but the important parts here are that their grandfather was a king who was overthrown. They were thrown into the Tiber River to drown but somehow reached shore. There a shewolf found them and gave them her milk to drink. Eventually they were found and raised by a shepherd. One of them, Romulus, founded the city of Rome. The statue in Eden Park is a copy of the one in the Capitoline Museum, in Rome. Until a few years ago, most people thought that the statue of the she-wolf in Rome was the very same one that stood in ancient Rome. Recently modern dating techniques showed that the wolf did not date to ancient times but probably to sometime around the year 1100. Although it is not the original statue, it might be a copy of that one. (The statues of the two twins were known to have been added later.) The important thing is that Mussolini thought this was the she-wolf statue Inscription: "From the Governor of Rome to the City of Cinncinnati, Year 10" Credit: Michael Earl Patton Contributing Writer used in ancient Rome. It became a symbol of his New Rome and its image was widely used. There were at least three bronze copies made and sent to the United States. One is in Rome, Georgia; another is in Rome, New York; and the third is in Eden Park. They were, of course, articles of propaganda for his fascist regime. It is clear that these two Romes formed an organization to protect the young republic and named it after that ancient general – the Society of Cincinnati. When General St. Clair took command of Fort Washington in 1789 he changed the name of the adjacent settlement from Losantiville to Cincinnati, in honor of that society. So its name also goes back to ancient Rome, but by an indirect route. The inscription on the base states in Italian that it is from the Governor Facists monument representing a Roman legend of a she-wolf and twin children Credit: Michael Earl Patton Romulus and Remus drinking from the teat of the she-wolf Credit: Michael Earl Patton might be open to a gift recalling the original Rome, but why Cincinnati? This is another story that goes back to ancient Rome and is of the retired general Cincinnatus. In 458 B.C. there was a crisis and he was appointed dictator. When told of the appointment he was plowing in his field. He took command of the army and within 15 days had defeated the enemy and went back to his plowing. This story has inspired people for centuries – that here was an individual who could have used his popularity and command of the army to retain power, but voluntarily relinquished it instead. At the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War the officers of Rome to the City of Cincinnati. The year 1931 is given followed by “Anno X.” This is Latin for Year Ten, but the year ten from what? What was the year One and why was it chosen? Counting backwards from 1931 we find that the year One corresponds to 1922. In that year Mussolini took power when his Blackshirts marched on Rome and he cowed the king into appointing him prime minister. So, the monument is dated to the year Ten of the Fascist Era. (Technically each Fascist Year started on 28 October and ended on the following 27 October, but this is not important to the present discussion.) With a change in election law and new elections, and after his Blackshirts THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 5 assassinated the leader of the Socialist Party, he became dictator. The “Governor of Rome” refers to the head of the municipal authority in Rome. This person was not elected but was appointed by the National Fascist Party. Since Mussolini was dictator of Italy and the governor of Rome was only carrying out Mussolini’s policies, it is fair to say that he was responsible for the gift. The Blackshirts was the common name for the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nationale, or the Voluntary Militia for National Security. They were the paramilitary wing of the National Fascist Party and were controlled by Mussolini. They used intimidation, violence, and even assassination against those whom he perceived to be his opponents. Fascism, as practiced by Mussolini, was totalitarian, nationalist, and racist. It promoted the idea that the white race was superior to others but did not go as far as Hitler did in promoting the importance of the racial purity of a nation. This would have been obviously ridiculous to anyone who had traveled much in Italy and was a source of tension between the two dictators. It was nationalist in that Mussolini sought to add territories to Italy that he claimed had an Italian culture. This included parts of Switzerland and the islands of Corsica and Malta, among other places. It was totalitarian in that he, as dictator, had ultimate control. It was part of the ideology that individuals could attain their full potential only within a fascist state. Its economic philosophy was based on this. It is sometimes called corporatism, where the different parts of the economy would work together with the state arbitrating disagreements. Mussolini favored enforced class cooperation instead of the Marxist ideology of class struggle. Not surprisingly, the government tended to favor larger companies over smaller ones. Only unions that were recognized by the state were allowed and both strikes and lockouts were forbidden. There were some social welfare aspects, too, with the state spending on programs such as general healthcare, unemployment benefits, and old age and disability insurance. Much of this was very appealing to many Americans in 1931. Hitler, in fact, was inspired by Mussolini and adopted many of his techniques. I do not want this monument removed since the wolf and twins symbolism never was as firmly identified with fascism as the swastika was in Germany. The image of the shewolf and twins is still used today as a symbol of Rome, much like the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. Nor do I think the inscription should be changed since it is a part of history. But I do think a plaque should be added explaining some of this to aid in the understanding of that history. Let us use Mussolini’s gift as an opportunity to teach and not let it be just some odd statue in the park. �6 JOSH SPRING (Continued from page 2) our county at least 137 people died while without a home. Some people died outside, some people died at the facilities of service providers, people died after getting housed because of the toll homelessness took on their body. At least 137 people died without a home in 2017. In 2016 at least 72 people died. That means that 90 percent more people died in 2017 without a home than in 2016. 137 very important people, gone. We have to be asking what can be changed systematically to prevent people from experiencing homelessness at all. In the case of Ken Martin, what could have been different systematically to ensure that Ken was not at that bus stop and never needed shelter, because he never lost his home. What could have been different such that none of these 137 important people would have ever been without a home and had years stolen from their lives by homelessness. What does everyone experiencing homelessness have in common? This includes everyone in each of our neighborhoods, our city, our county, our state, our country and the world. No home of their own. That is it. Other than inherent value, and basic needs, the only thing all people experiencing homelessness have in common is not having a home. In order to make change that will positively affect all people without homes whether they be in a shelter, under a bridge, on a friend’s couch, in a car, a family with child, a man, a woman, young, elderly, middle-aged, healthy, sick, suffering from addiction, gay, transgender, heterosexual, with mental illness, outside in the heat, cold or comfortable temperatures and everything in between, we need to focus systematically on what everyone without a home has in common. This means, as we have known for a long time, that we must BILL WOODS (Continued from page 2) President's false conclusion that he lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton because of rampant voter fraud. From the start, the purpose, goals, and makeup of the Commission were challenged by legitimate reform groups such as Common Cause and the League of Women Voters. Not only did these groups point to all the available evidence that shows voter fraud not to be a problem in the fifty states, but they questioned the predilection of Commission members to promote initiatives that would make it more difficult for people to register and vote. Officially named the Presidential Commission on Election Integrity, the majority of its members were selected because they shared Trump's views about wide spread voter fraud. LOCAL J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 focus on building and sustaining housing that is affordable to people at every economic level and accessible no matter what an individual is dealing with. Why are so many people dying from homelessness in our area? We are short 40,000 affordable homes. We are not locally funding affordable housing at any significant level. We allow developers to remove people from their homes through faux revitalization and as a city we give them tax abatements when they renovate what used to be someone else’s home. In the last two decades we have literally lost thousands of affordable homes to so called revitalization. Will only having enough affordable housing alone prevent all homelessness? No, it won’t, but having enough affordable housing that is accessible to all people would have gone the furthest to preventing the loss of these 137 important people. Here is the thing, the number of people experiencing homelessness increased in the mid-1980s by at least 500 percent because as a country we cut spending on affordable housing by billions of dollars. A majority of shelters in this country were either formed at that time to respond to this problem or moved from being very small operations to large operations. The folks that started these shelters and made these moves, never intended for shelters to be the answer to homelessness. The shelters were meant to be temporary until we had reversed housing policy and developed enough affordable housing accessible by all people. Basic services, such as those provided by our many Member Organizations are extremely necessary: shelter, food, clothing, addictions treatment, mental health treatment, health care, spiritual services, employment linking, street outreach, hospitality, legal services and more. And what is the most common goal of each of these direct service providers: that each person has her or his own housing and the opportunity and necessities to make it sustainable. Our Homeless Coalition exists because these direct service providers created us and keep us going. Consider this: if you own a home and you hire a company to replace your roof and they show up and rip off your current roof and then leave without replacing it was it helpful? Implementing the legal and systematic changes necessary to build, sustain and save affordable housing and ensuring proper channels and opportunities for all people to access the housing is what will prevent death from homelessness. The city and county must establish an affordable housing trust fund. We must make it illegal to rip people from their homes because the owner wants to “flip” the building. We must hold landlords accountable to provide quality housing and we must change the attitudes in our neighborhoods that fight affordable housing, which includes ending the criminalization of homelessness. There is no doubt that we must do the work to improve our existing services. We must do the work to ensure that people without homes know there is a warm, safe place to be. We must continue to ensure that there is such a place to be. We must ensure that people can get there and can efficiently access available resources. We must continue to build relationships and earn trust. We must do all of this and more. Our Member-Organizations work very hard, many of them literally never completely close their doors. Together we are working to improve quality, access and we will continue, and we welcome existing and new partnerships. This is why we actively support and gather with our many member organizations. This is why we fight for the restoration of Human Services funding and why we invest much time into considering programmatic outcomes and holding each other accountable. This is why we fight for adequate funding for the Winter Shelter. This is why we partnered with the city and others to develop a jobs first program. This is why we take part in “point in time” counts and why we collect mail at our office for 3000 names. This is why we are deeply connected and thankfully bound to our many Member Organizations and the vast, difficult and always trying to improve the work we all are doing. This list can go on and on and on. But we can work until we have the best shelters possible, the strongest outreach imaginable, treatment (when people need it) with perfect outcomes, beautiful transportation, best healthcare, etc. and we should work for all of this, but without making the big, systematic, legislative and societal changes necessary to build and save affordable housing accessible by all people, homelessness will continue to worsen, and people will continue to die from this solvable problem. In our county we have a shortage of more than 40,000 affordable homes. Another way of saying this is that about 58,000 households are trying to fit into about 15,000 affordable homes. No matter what we do and how well we do it (and we must continue to improve all aspects at all levels) if we don’t build enough affordable housing and save the housing we have homelessness will get worse and worse and more and more people will die from it. 58,000 or more households will never be able to fit into 15,000 or less affordable homes. It sought to get private information about citizens compiled on state voter rolls, and a number of states had refused to comply with this request. In fact, Common Cause and several other groups filed law suits to prevent such a "partisan" Commission from obtaining personal information that might be misused. The Commission neglected to take up an issue that does need attention. Because the President remains in denial about Russia's interference in the 2016 election, it spent no time reviewing steps to protect U.S. elections from the types of manipulations employed by Russia to influence the Presidential race. Now the Commission is disbanded, and reformers can applaud their role in bringing about its demise. They can't, however, let down their guard, as the Administration proposes turning over the work of the failed Commission to the Office of Home Land Security. Meanwhile in Ohio, the campaign to bring about Congressional redistricting reform goes forward. The process to collect voter signatures to qualify the proposed Ohio Constitutional Amendment for next November's ballot will now intensify. The 300,000-plus valid signatures must be filed by next summer. Beyond this huge task, reformers must be on guard that the Republican controlled Ohio General Assembly does not pass its own watered-down version of redistricting reform in order to maintain the GOP's control of the process. Hearings have already been held by the Legislature, and Republicans possess large enough majorities in both Houses to pass their own amendment proposal and place it on the state ballot as early as the May Primary. In fact, Catherine Turcer of Common Cause/Ohio, a key leader of the Fair Elections/ Fair Districts Campaign, just sent a letter to supporters warning about the possibility of an Ohio House effort to sabotage the grassroots redistricting initiative. She urged people to write or call Representative Kirk Schuring, Chair of the Congressional Redistricting Reform Working Group, in support of "real" redistricting reform. The General Assembly should either pass a proposal that includes all the elements of the citizen initiative or else let the reform coalition get on with its work. It is critical, according to Turcer, that our members of the Legislature know that their voters are serious about ending Congressional gerrymandering in Ohio. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED --------------------------------------- �7 JUBILEE CAMPAIGN Economics of Compassion Initiative on the Ground in Spring Grove Village No. 37 3 | J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 A s the local economy evolves, the Economics of Compassion Initiative is having conversations in communities around the idea of a local economy that is resilient where the marginalized are given the foundation, relationships and support to take control of their economic lives. The Economics of Compassion Initiative is partnered with Econogy, Catapult, and the Spring Grove Village Community Council with the support of Christ Church Cathedral to co-create and implement a community building initiative called, Neighborhood Grow. This program was designed with the belief that neighborhood business districts, independent business owners and residents who share a neighborly identity are the catalyst to creating vibrant communities. The challenge for every community is not so much to have a vision or a plan or program of what it wants to become, it is to discover and create the means for bringing that vision, or possibility, into being. Our DEREK PEEBLES Contributing Writer work is based on the methodology that community residents, neighborhood associations, youth, business owners and faith-based organizations, with the knowledge of their community assets, have the power to affect change in their neighborhoods. To state more precisely, our community building and development approach is focused on creating vibrant communities that are not predicted by its past. Our neighborhood gatherings and town halls are we learned that some still see Spring Grove Village as Winton Place, a wonderful place where they grew up. Some see Spring Grove as quiet and safe. Some see it as endangered by drug activity. Through asset-mapping and gifts based conversations we truly learned that Spring Grove Village is a true hidden gem in Cincinnati where residents have skills to contribute to their neighborhood’s development and are passionately seeking to become more neighborly. intentionally focused on moving conversations away from problemsolving to possibilities creating new community narratives that are not deficient-based. Neighborhood Grow enlists young professionals, experts, and community members to bring positive change to neighborhoods through development projects and place-based activities. These projects typically occur in neighborhoods that would otherwise be unable to access the resources necessary to transform their community. Earlier this year we began engaging the residents and community council in Spring Grove Village. Through engagement We believe that neighborhoods with increased civic participation, knowledge of assets, relationships among residents, signs of neighborliness, place based activities for youth, and local economic opportunities for residents in the informal or formal economy will prevent displacement and welcome the marginalized in from economic exile. In Spring Grove Village we kicked off our engagement earlier this year with the community council president, Gary Robbins, and Industrial Design Professor, Steve Doehler, from the University of Cincinnati (UC). The community was matched with about half a dozen Industrial Design students from UC’s DAAP program where they canvassed the neighborhood with community council members talking to residents asking questions that were based on concepts of social well-being. At the end of the research the students shared their findings with the community and organized a showcase linking what people said they cared about with assets and economic possibilities in the community. This showcase resulted in a town hall meeting in the Village facilitated by Economics of Compassion and Econogy where over 100 residents including businesses, pastors, the local Fire Department, Village Development Corporation, and Winton Youth Center attended to get clear about who they were and what the neighborhood values – their identity. Many asset-based community development efforts since the town hall meeting have been underway. This process will lead into next year, in the fall of 2018, when Spring Grove Village formerly starts a process with the City of Cincinnati to develop a neighborhood plan. Bridging the wealth gap: Former U.S. Labor Secretary calls for ‘progressive populism’ to tip the scales for the working class I n November 1994, Secretary of Labor Robert Reich stood before the Democratic Leadership Council and warned that economic inequality was creating a “two-tiered society” and said he worried that a growing number of to get public policies that help them become even wealthier. It’s a vicious cycle that’s becoming increasingly more vicious, so that the rules of the game, the rules of the economy increasingly favor people at the top and hurt everybody else.” As an example, Reich said that Americans spend more for pharmaceuticals than people in any other advanced nation because pharmaceutical companies have used their political capital to make it impossible for people to buy drugs more cheaply from Canada, rigged the rules so it’s impossible to beat their patents for long periods of time, ADAM SENNOTT Contributing Writer Robert Reich speaks at Santa Rosa Unitarian Church in 2013 Credit: ATIS547/ Flickr THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED and barred the federal government from using its bargaining power through Medicare and Medicare to lower drug prices. He also pointed at the tax bill as it was making its way through Congress; a version of which was later signed into law. “That’s almost entirely they handy work of big corporations and Wall Street,” Reich said. “Average working Americans had no part to play at all.” He said Americans need to become more politically engaged and active. “There’s no substitute for American citizens becoming ever more actively involved in our politics,” Reich said. “If we don’t get more involved the vicious cycle I mentioned is just going to grow steadily worse.” Reich did say he was encouraged after seeing the support Bernie Sanders received during democratic (Continued on page 12) �RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS For Pastor Ennis Tait, to Be a True Advocate for Peace and Justice Requires Compassion and the Belief that God Can Change Hearts 8 J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 "T he practice of my faith is very important to me," says Pastor Ennis F. Tait. "It has always helped me maintain my composure and keep alive my hope." Tait grew up and lived most of his life exposed to and confronted to racism. Learning the true history of his African American people and realizing how often his race had been intentionally subjected to destruction could have made him easily angry, vindictive and prejudiced. Instead he always made a point to remain responsibly positive and to look at things in a different light. "Compassion and being nonjudgmental are very important in order to embrace all peoples, religions, races..." he says. "We have to get rid of our implicit and explicit biases and not allow hatred, even when justified, to poison our hearts." To which he adds, "We are all invited to become part of the body of Christ, brothers and sisters united by his teaching." Tait grew up in the 70's in Moss Point, Southern Mississipi, in a religious family, his mother deeply rooted in her Christian faith and imparting onto him, early on, the beliefs that Jesus is our salvation and the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God in us. He has been a practicing Christian all his life, belonging to the African American non denominational Church of the Living God, that he attended in his neighborhood as a child, and which exposed him, through faith, to the work his pastors, community leaders, teachers, were doing in his local area confronted SAAD GHOSN Contributing Writer In 1976 and as a little boy he participated in his 1st rally marching in favor of Chris Moore, a young black man accused with no proofs of having raped and murdered a white female schoolteacher in Pascagoula, MS. If convicted, Moore would receive the death penalty. A regular church goer, Tait also learned how to help people and respond to their need, meeting them where they were without prejudice or looking down at them. For college he decided to study banking and finance and went to Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, a historical black college located few blocks away from the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr Martin Luther King Jr. pastored. Montgomery was then the center of the civil rights movement and Tait met there many civil rights leaders and understood the history and the plight of African Americans. This empowered him, gave him a sense of confidence and legitimacy, exposed him to activism and thus shifted his mindset. "I got involved with the Board of Registration getting students to vote, marched protesting discrimination against our black college not receiving funding from the State while other white colleges were, helped celebrate African American history..." he states. All along, Tait remained, however, very faithful to his religion, going to church every Sunday, participating with his musical skills in religious What Is the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD The Church of the Living God was founded in 1889, in Arkansas, by Rev. William Christian, a former pastor of a Baptist church; it was during the desperate days of slavery, when blacks were not allowed to participate in white ministries. Rev Christian, through divine revelation and close study of the scriptures, was lead to the truth that his church bear the name of God and be known as Church of the Living God. The Protestant, non-denominational, non sectarian church is Bible-based and works at promoting the teaching of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes believers' baptism by immersion, the use of water and unleavened bread in the Lord's Supper and the washing of feet when one unites with the church. The Church of the Living God is in more than 30 states in the US and has several hundred thousand members. It has both male and female pastors and leaders. It was established in Cincinnati for the 1st time in 1914. with racism and injustice. "There were marches, Klu Klux Klan rallies, cross burnings," says Tait. "I saw all of these at work but also the power of the church as a true advocate for peace in the black community, and I embraced it as part of my life." services of other denominations, helping start a church and learning how to plan it and organize it. Graduating in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and now married with a child, Tait left AL and relocated in St Louis, MO, a large metropolitan city still segregated by its isolated geographical pockets of African Americans, striking by their disparity and poverty. Despite his academic degree and knowledge Tait was very discriminated against in his Fortune 500 company, and spent there many years fighting for equality and acknowledgment. This prompted, however, his community involvement with United Way, the Urban League, various projects to Pastor Ennis Tait help those in need, learning at the same time about collaboration and capacity building. In the meantime, he had decided to become a minister, studied for it for 3 years, got ordained in 1998 and became a pastor in 2000, still working during the day and ministering at night and on weekends. "My 1st church in St Louis allowed me to develop and acquire the skills of leading a congregation, caring for it, using my influence to advocate for it, and thus become a voice for its people and for peace and justice wherever needed," he says. Fourteen years ago, in 2003, Tait got a call from the late Chief Bishop W.E. Crumes, then 89 years old and pastor of the Church of the Living God in Cincinnati, inviting him to join him as a co-pastor to attract more youth into the church. Tait accepted the offer but still took a finance job at A.G. Edwards Investment firm downtown Cincinnati, since then acquired by Wells Fargo. He was the only African American on the job, but connected there with many supportive and genuine individuals open to embrace his culture. He found Cincinnati, however, to be a racist city, still experiencing civil unrest as a result of the 2001 killing of unarmed African American Timothy Thomas by a white policeman. This was nevertheless a great time for Tait, the city trying to heal, the Collaborative Agreement being negotiated, various justice issues being widely discussed. After few years, he decided to resign from his job and became in 2008 full time pastor of the church, also appointed regional Overseer for the Churches of the Living God in Colombus and Cleveland, OH and Midland, PA. Credit: Saad Ghosn In 2016 and due to a real estate disagreement with the Organization of the Church of the Living God, the community decided to separate from it and for the church to become independent; it also changed its name recently to New Beginnings Church of the Living God, but still following the same biblically-based beliefs and teachings as before. Coached by Tait, the members of the church, in addition to their religious involvement and, without proselytizing, try to bring evangelical awareness to others, participating as volunteers in various community and church events. They contribute to the church's Child Development Center; to an educational enrichment program tutoring students with academic difficulty; to a self confidence and self awareness program for young girls and boys; to a 2nd Sunday evangelism and walk the street of the neighborhood event, distributing cloth and food; to a toy give-away program at Christmas; to a food offering service at Thanksgiving... (Continued on page 12) Religious Peacemakers is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati individuals who use their faith and religious beliefs for peace and justice. Saad.Ghosn@uc.edu is the founder of SOS (Save Our Souls) Art, an organization that promotes arts as vehicles for peace and justice and for a change. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 3 PHOTO ESSAY | J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 DR. MUSSMAN (Continued from page 9) new facilities – representing millions on these two needed projects. The City’s goal to allocate 1.5% of the budget to Human Services hasn’t been realized for many years. The federal government is pulling funding for affordable housing through HUD. We are already in a housing crisis 9 throughout the country. In Hamilton County alone, we have 55,000 families trying to get into 15,000 homes, just among those who make less than $26,000 per year. While we struggle to create more affordable housing and raise the minimum wage to a livable wage, we rely on the generosity of people in the city to fill the gaps. --------------------------------------- Sarah Center, a place for women to learn crafts such as quilting, is also in St. Anthony Center Inside Cooking for the Classroom Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Keene State College Students with Dan from Lighthouse Private Room at Sheakley Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Cooking for the Family classroom at St. Anthony Center Celebrants getting food from the future soup kitchen at St. Anthony Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �10 LOCAL J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 January 26 - February 17, 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 �OPINION Civil Rights Laws, Discrimination, and Cakes No. 37 3 | J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 BENTLEY DAVIS I ’m distraught in seeing some reactions to the Masterpiece case before the Supreme Court. Just in case you haven’t followed the story, this is the case involving a baker who refused to even talk to a couple about their wedding cake because the couple getting married were two men. (For the record, the couple wanted a cake that would be like the cakes the baker made for straight couples  —  they weren’t asking for a special “gay cake”.) The baker claims it is against his religion to bake the cake — a cake that looks like any other wedding cake. The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act bars discrimination in public accommodations (businesses that are open to the public) on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, or ancestry. So, the baker clearly broke state law. At question is whether one’s religious beliefs can override Civil Rights. This question has been asked and answered since the Piggie Park decision in 1968. The owner of Piggie Park Barbecue claimed that his religion opposed any integration of the races, so he could refuse to serve Black people. The courts ruled unanimously that: Undoubtedly defendant Bessinger has a constitutional right to espouse the religious beliefs of his own choosing, however, he does not have the absolute right to exercise and practice such beliefs in utter disregard of the clear constitutional Contributing Writer rights of other citizens. If a business can discriminate based upon the religious beliefs of the owners, then all anti-discrimination laws become meaningless for things like housing, public accommodations, and employment — because racists, misogynists, homophobes, antiSemites, etc. often use their religion as their excuse for their odious behavior. And one cannot just say “take your business elsewhere”. All it takes is a quick look back in history to know that there was a time, not that long ago, when people of color had an incredibly difficult time finding a clean hotel room or a restaurant in many states. Or when businesses would post that they only hire men. Indeed, many states still have no protection for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. To make this even more frustrating, the majority of my interlocutors who were supporting the baker’s discriminatory actions were musicians (all white men, btw). Certainly, these musicians are aware of the difficulties Black musicians faced in the US when trying to tour prior to the Civil Rights Act? Surely these musicians know the story of Red Rodney, who had to be booked as Albino Red, so he could share the stage with Charlie Parker? I am worried that the court has swung so far to the right that this case will in practice overturn decades of civil rights laws (hopefully, they will look to the precedent of Piggie Park and rule in favor of the State of Colorado). But I am even more worried that so many people who should know better think that Civil Rights laws are unconstitutional. These are people who claim to have gay friends. These are people who claim to think racism wrong. These are people who claim to want their daughters to have the same access to opportunities as their sons. And yet these same people who SAY they believe these things, support the argument of the Piggie Park owner — that one’s religion can give cover to breaking the law and denying equal access to others. And just to rebut a couple of the arguments I have heard defending the homophobic baker: No, the government cannot force a halal restaurant to serve bacon. It can require that the restaurant serve all people regardless of the customers’ religion. No, the baker wasn’t asked to make a cake that said anything about the gender(s) of the couple. The baker was asked just to make a cake like any other cake that is in the baker’s repertoire. The couple and a mother of one of the grooms were kicked out before even discussing what the couple wanted in their wedding cake. No, this isn’t the same as whether a business can refuse service to someone who isn’t wearing shoes. Businesses can have a dress code — as long as that dress code doesn’t require removal of religiously Dave Chappelle and new stand up specials provide food for thought C 11 JASON HAAP omedian Dave Chappelle released two new standup specials on Netflix on December 31, 2017. Since that time, he has been blasted by critics for his "insensitivity" to various issues heralded by social justice warriors. It seems these commentators get lost in the weeds, looking for any phrase that can be deemed "politically incorrect" and used as the basis of a scathing criticism. In the second of the two specials, entitled "The Birdman Revelations," Chappelle uses these hot-button Contributing Writer social issues to springboard into some of the most insightful social commentary I've seen in a long time. With regards to the sexual assault allegations that seem to find a new target weekly, Chappelle points out how people are scared, but that fear is no pathway to a lasting peace. Eventually, fear will abate. Instead, we must analyze the system that authorized this behavior in the first place. Scaring some agents within a system may work for a while, but if the system doesn't change, neither “Breakdown Stereotypes” will its outcomes. Citing the "truth and reconciliation" that took place at the end of apartheid in South Africa, he goes so far as to suggest that some of the perpetrators of these crimes may actually be "victims" of the system themselves, by virtue of participating in a manner authorized by said system. In my earlier days, I always thought of feminism as being a movement to target patriarchy as a "system" in the way described by Chappelle. Increasingly, though, it does not seem as if contemporary required garments. Businesses can also refuse service to someone who is rude. Or someone who doesn’t have the appropriate means to pay. The law prohibits businesses from discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, or ancestry. No, one cannot just go elsewhere. In large metropolitan areas, sure, there may be a wealth of bakers to choose from. In rural areas, the choice often isn’t there. Moreover, the issue is far bigger than a single bakery. It is about treating a group of people as second-class citizens who need to check to see if a business is willing to serve them. Again, one only needs passing knowledge of US history to know that there was a time when these types of actions were rampant — and that is precisely why these laws were put into place to begin with. In closing, ever since the Civil Rights Act was passed, there were those who sought to overturn it. They wanted to be able to discriminate at will. But these laws have been tested by the courts and upheld repeatedly. I am disturbed that there is even the possibility of anti-discrimination laws being overturned. And while I know there are plenty of people out there who wish for them to be overturned, I am saddened to learn that this position is held be far more than I had supposed. I hope that those who support the baker in this case are just misinformed and don’t understand the gravity of the situation. But I fear that isn’t the case and the arguments of the bigots of the early 1960s are now given more credence than they were a half a century ago. [This article first appeared on medium.com] feminism has any such interest. Instead, it seems like we just want to switch some variables: keep the system in place, but allow women to occupy the space formerly occupied by men. I recognize this is a difficult claim to make, especially since I am a man who, so far, has only cited the ideas of another man. (Who wants to be accused of "mansplaining"?) This is precisely the problem. Much contemporary liberalism is so fixated on identity politics, the left is starting to behave hypocritically. For example, wouldn't it be the heart of sexism to dismiss a woman's ideas simply because she is female? A few years ago, there was an all-female reboot of the (Continued on page 12) “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Mark Mussman at (513) 421.7803 x14 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 H earing the word Homeless can bring many different emotions in a person. Some become sad, others become frightened, and then there are those who get angry and want to do something about it. For me I get sad and angry. The sadness is because I can remember being amongst the homeless. I recall the long days and nights wondering how I can fix my situation. The Anger I feel is for those people around me who try to ignore the fact that Homelessness is a serious problem. Sure, they give at the appropriate times of year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, but being homeless is and can be a 365 day a year lifestyle. Many things contribute to homelessness. For me it was my Addiction. I wanted that more than anything that was ADAM SENNOT (Continued from page 7) primaries. “There’s a huge craving in this country for progressive populism, not for Donald Trump’s brand of authoritarian populism.” Reich said. “All the energy in the Democratic party is with progressive populism, much of the energy in the Republican party is with authoritarian populism, but if many working class Republicans understood what was actually happening and understood how they’re being ripped off, they would become progressive populists.” SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) Tait himself is very involved in the greater Cincinnati community participating in many of its peace and justice organizations and programs. He is part of violence reduction strategies through Serve and Ceasefire, and of Concerned Clergy of Avondale, a cluster of pastors working together to improve quality of life in JASON HAAP (Continued from page 11) Ghostbusters movie franchise. To be fair, there were tons of sexist men hyperventilating about this for all the wrong reasons. But think about how our culture's media is establishing a new trend. This year, for example, we are going to be able to see things like all-female reboots of titles such as Lord of the Flies, Ocean's Eight, and even that cult-classic TV show The Greatest American Hero. So far, it appears these reboots are simply gender-swapped revisions of the originals. In other words, there is nothing "feminine" about the work. I don't mean that word in a stereotypical sense, either. From a "systems" perspective, this is more of the same, only the variables have OPINION Homelessness J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 BOBBY MORRIS Contributing Writer working at our jobs trying to do better. What the City can do I told him is to acknowledge the homeless plight, and not just push these people to one side and get them out of the way of progress. As if to try and hide our Skeletons in our Closets. The Homeless are people First and Foremost! We are not the scourge of earth. We are not the beggars, vandals, criminals, Addicts that people label us as. They use these labels to put themselves on a pedestal to feel better than others. God made all Man. He put me and some of you to be of Service to All Mankind. As a plea for 2018, I ask this: Put yourself in a Homeless person’s shoes for 1 day, 24hrs and do as they do. I promise you will see all the Homeless in a different light. Be Honest with who you are and then Reach out and help someone other than “Yourself”!!! positive, a Job, a Home, a Family. Hell, even to be alive somedays. It has been my experience with Homelessness that, it begins with “ME”. I had to want to change my lot in life and I had to swallow my pride first and seek help. It wasn’t until I humbled myself reached out to people who actually cared year round that I was able to change my life. I’m not saying that all Homeless people are like me. Each individual has his or her reasons for their dilemma. I spent many days with people who were incapable of caring for themselves due to Mental or Physical illness and being homeless was a way for them to escape from being looked down upon. You see that’s where the pride comes into play. (I think). We as humans are prideful people. We want or need to think that we can do anything by ourselves. Asking and seeking help is a hard pill to swallow and it took me waking up one morning so desperate and on the brink of suicide that I let go of my pride for that day. Then I got the help and support I needed. I’m writing this on the last day of 2017. 2017 was the year I became a responsible, productive person in society. I look back on this year as Rebirth of Bobby. I look at 2018 and beyond (God willing) as my road to bigger and better things. I’m writing this because a friend posed a question: Why doesn’t the City do anything about the Homeless problem? A man just died from being out in the cold Homeless? He and I both have experienced Homelessness and today we both are good citizens Reich said his biggest challenge has been getting throught the mountains of misinformation produced by Fox News and other conservative news outlets. “Millions of people are watching Fox News and falling for the venom and lies that Sean Hannity spouts every night, and others like him,” Reich said. “There are right wing personalities on the radio who continue to spout right wing propaganda that has no basis in reality.” Reich also said that while the mainstream media “have done a pretty good job of telling the truth” he also noted that “they’re easily distracted by the sensation of the day. “And Donald Trump offers a constant supply of sensationalism when he’s not lying,” Reich said. “So it’s easy to distract the public’s attention from what’s really going on. The combination of lies and distraction is a toxic mixture.” Now that tax reform is law, Reich said that he fears entitlement reform is next. “The tax cut will create a huge budget deficit, I mean much larger than they have today, and Republicans will use that increased deficit as an excuse to call for cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and programs for the poor, Reich said. “This is the bait and switch tactic that they have been rehearsing for a long time, and we need to be ready.” Reich said he now worries that if Americans don’t act, the consequences could be far more dire than they were two decades ago when they were in 1994. “I think that unless we join together and make out voices heard, it’s possible that we’re going to end up without a democracy,” Reich said. the neighborhood. He serves on the City Manager Advisory Committee, on the Every Child Succeed Board of Directors and on the Preschool Promise Board. He is also a member of the Community Police Partnering Center, the Avondale Community Development Corporation and the Poverty Collaborative. Tait also works with charter and public schools, and collectively with all faiths, as part of the Faith Community Alliance, to build capacity for causes and issues addressing the plight of the people. All of Tait's activities and actions are informed by his deep Christian faith based on the teachings of the Bible. He believes in Heaven on earth and that it needs to be cultivated for everyone and to invite all people to join in, come together and be saved by Christ, irrespective of who they are, their past or their belonging. "God gave us the church to take care of people," he says. "It offers a great opportunity for people from all backgrounds to be united, gain strength and move forward." Tait would love to open his church to non African Americans and embrace everyone. He would like to help all people go from one stage to another, become free in Christ, empowered by love and compassion. been switched. If patriarchy is to blame for any of the social inequalities against which our culture currently struggles, can the solution simply be to keep that system in place with the variables switched? Is feminism just an attempt to get women into the exact same seats of power as men? Like I wrote earlier, I thought feminism was supposed to be a critique of the system, and not just an attempt to take control of it in the same way as power-hungry men. Another man, Wendell Berry, once wrote a fantastic essay entitled "Feminism, the Body, and the Machine." He had previously published an essay which mentioned how his wife helps him to correct his manuscripts, and the resulting letters to the editor were so disrespectful to his wife, he had to respond. Here are some key excerpts: Why would any woman who would refuse, properly, to take the marital vow of obedience (on the ground, presumably, that subservience to a mere human being is beneath human dignity) then regard as “liberating” a job that puts her under the authority of a boss (man or woman) whose authority specifically requires and expects obedience? It is easy enough to see why women came to object to the role of Blondie, a mostly decorative custodian of a degraded, consumptive modern household, preoccupied with clothes, shopping, gossip, and outwitting her husband. But are we to assume that one may fittingly cease to be Blondie by becoming Dagwood? ... How, I am asking, can women improve themselves by submitting to the same specialization, degradation, trivialization, and tyrannization of work that men have submitted to? And that question is made legitimate by another: How have men improved themselves by submitting to it? The answer is that men have not, and women cannot, improve themselves by submitting to it. I agree. Feminism should be about (in the view of this man, anyway) creating more just and equitable systems. That's a cause I can get behind. If the goal is simply to overthrow the men so women can behave in the exact same way, then I'm not sure what any men are supposed to think about such a proposition. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- �No. 37 3 | J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 A CHRISTMAS STORY 13 STREET VOICE Christmas is a great time of the year full of spirit, blessings and dreams of happiness and love for one another and the birth of Jesus Christ YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT No wonder The Donald can never be quiet. Have you read about Trump's dubious diet? He drinks twelve diet colas while being rude, where people hope this time of the year to give love to one another’s life and share their thoughts and have compassion for one another in their hearts. Their Christmas singing carols, And that's topped off by gobs of junk food. Someone should study what the man eats, And trace it to some of his crazier tweets. songs, having food and games and coming together as one to love and BILL WOODS Contributing Writer unite as one to make A NEW BEGINING good of all joyful happiness around the holidays. GOD IS GOOD, NOT SOME OF THE TIME BUT ALL THE TIME 24/7 RONALD ENGLISH Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer I BELIEVE THAT BE THE REASON WE LIVE ON EARTH AND GOD LIVES IN HEAVEN LOOKING BACK ON MY LIFE AND THE SO MANY CHANGES THAT I WENT THROUGH LEARNING FROM REPEATED MISTAKES GOOD AND BAD UNTIL I LEARNED WHAT TO DO REALIZING TODAY KNOWING WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT PLUS THE METHOD TO USE I SEE NOW THAT HAVING KNOWLEDGE DOESN'T DETERMINE THE ROUTE WE CHOOSE I KNOW NOW THAT EVERYDAY ABOVE GROUND IS A DAY TO TAKE HEED AND LEARN I KNOW NOW THAT MY CHOICES WILL DETERMINE WHETHER I LIVE WITH GOD OR I BURN TODAY, KNOWING, UNDERSTANDING WITH THE REALIZATION THAT YESTERDAY IS PASSED PRAYING AND HOPING MY WORDS WILL LINGER IN YOUR MEMORY MAKING A CHANGE TO LAST IF YOU HAVEN'T PAID ATTENTION TO YOUR LIFE MAY YOU LOOK BACK AND SEE THAT A NEW BEGINING IS WHAT'S UP FOR THE POLITICIANS AND THAT INCLUDES YOU AND ME WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 142 Across Down 1. Wash with a mop 1. Fuss 5. Go across or through 2. Had on 9. Stringed instrument 3. Highly excited 14. Garment of ancient Rome 4. Elongated fruit 15. Dilapidation 5. Profligate 16. Maxim 6. Seabird 17. Metallic element 7. Father 18. Gumbo 8. Escargot 19. Scorch 9. Teller 20. Admiration or esteem 10. Way out 22. Square root of 324 11. Formation of people 24. Naive or inexperienced 12. Theater balcony person 13. Portent 26. Garland 21. Uncommon 27. Chemical weapon 23. Jewel 30. Amalgamation 25. Vertical surface of 35. Armed conflict a cliff 36. Apiece 27. Fuscous 37. Awaken 28. Mistake 38. Halo 29. Bundle 40. Parasite 31. Take away without 43. Morsel the owner's consent 44. Mar 32. Cunning 46. Region 33. Organic compound 48. Guided 34. Tall woody grass 49. Recluse 35. Launder 51. Person who shoes horses 39. Objective 53. Nocturnal mammal 41. Steep rugged rock 55. Profit or cliff 56. Blossomed 42. Armorial bearing 61. Munificent 45. Freedom 65. Flat metal tumbler in a lock 47. Elaborate song for 66. Rip solo voice 68. Catch sight of 50. Mariner 69. Broker 52. Provide with power 70. Parch and authority 71. Shantytown 54. Laconic 72. Verbose 56. Defect 73. Jittery 57. Toy construction set 74. Small gull 58. Finished SODOKU PUZZLE NO 272 - MEDIUM 59. Direct a course or way 60. A notable achievement 62. Small island 63. Branch railway line 64. Song of praise 67. Worry persistently PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 372 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 141 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 271- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 3 RESOURCES | J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 Central Access Point 15 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 557-2873 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 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 131 E. 12th Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Salvation Army 762-5660 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Men Shelterhouse 721-0643 1125 Bank Street 45214 411 Gest St. 45203 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 1437 Walnut Street 45202 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 2121 Vine Street 45202 Prospect House 921-1613 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 961-2256 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 First Step Home 961-4663 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 471-1100 Housing: 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th 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 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 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 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 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 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 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 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 for 26 issues 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 $100 859-491-8303 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 J a n 12 - J a n 2 5 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 3 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 GREGORY RAY SINCE 4/2015 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 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 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 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED � 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 January 12-January 25, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Political Reform In 2018 Pg 3: New Year New Services Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: Cincinnati’s Fascist Monument Pg 6: Cincinnati’s Fascist Monument Continued Pg 7: Economics of Compassion Initiative on the Ground in Spring Grove Village Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Dr. Mussman Continued Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: Civil Rights Laws, Discrimination and Cakes Pg 12: Homelessness Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Fun Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 12-January 25, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Bill Woods Dr. Mark Mussman Michael Earl Patton Derek Peebles Adam Sennott Saad Ghosn Bentley Davis Jason Haap Bobby Morris Ronald English Willa Denise Jones Homeless Coalition ATIS547/Flickr WCPO.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Adam Sennott ATIS547/Flickr Bentley Davis Bill Woods Bobby Morris Cincinnati civil rights Derek Peebles Discrimination Dr. Mark Mussman Fascism Homeless Coalition Jason Haap Josh Spring Michael Earl Patton Monuments reform Religion Ronald English Saad Ghosn WCPO.com Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/b6c1d39aed3170cab3a223cd7c048479.pdf 12d2992b4384361ef69866f7a98977b1 PDF Text Text January 26th - February 8th 2018 | Vol. 21 Issue 3 (No. 374) advocating justice | building community Photo Essay: 2018 Women's March | 9 This Issue is sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral INSIDE THIS ISSUE MLK and Beyond | 6 Investing In Our Future | 3 Monthly Biling Shenanigans At Water Works | 5 Left out In the Cold | 12 Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.org Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 13 �2 I LOCAL From The Director: Let’s Not Be Complicit JOSH SPRING hate it when people in popular seats of power fain care by offering small, shortsighted, often ineffective or even sometimes detrimental plans painted to be solutions to big systematic problems. This is especially bad when the folks offering these paintedpig plans sit in positions where they could actually make real change at the root of problems. It is common for good people to not call out this hypocrisy and ruse and instead look the other way and either act like they believe real care has been offered or convince themselves that it is better to accept almost anything offered than to demand truth and real systematic change. Acting as if hypocrisy and lying are not occurring when they really are supporting that hypocrisy and O Executive Director Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition lying. It also can harm both people and society that need the systematic changes, because it allows the same bad actions to continue because they now can receive a bit more pig-paint. We must call out this hypocrisy and this faux care as it occurs. We must not allow it to deceive and hold back real progress. Further, while we must continue to work hard to educate and empower and bring as many people as possible into the fighting for justice fold, we also must realize that we are not going to convince everybody to work for justice, nor do we need to. We have to mount enough justice-led people to complete the needed systematic changes. We must keep on pushing forward, not accepting the current systems, but instead changing them or replacing them. --------------------------------------- MIKE BROWN Contributing Writer agree with the Democrats’ decision. As things stand, the government is temporarily funded through Feb. 8. This continuing resolution extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through FY 2023, delays the medical device tax for two years, delays the “Cadillac” tax for two years, and suspends the health insurance tax for one year. It also ended a three-day government shutdown. There is a verbal commitment from Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to bring a DACA bill to the Senate floor for a vote before Feb. 9. Previously McConnell had said he would not introduce legislation unless it had been first approved by President Trump. But Speaker Paul Ryan has made no promise to introduce DACA legislation in the House. And Democrats have made no promise to abstain from taking the government hostage again. There is no assurance of a fair outcome for Dreamers. At best, there is some assurance of a fair process. But this is no comfort for Dreamers, who feel abandoned and do not have the luxury of time while politicians squabble. What happened? After discussions between President Trump and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Democrats were reportedly willing to make a $20 billion down Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org BLOG: streetvibes.wordpress.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor: Justin Jeffre DACA: A crisis for the Dreamers and the country n Jan. 19, the Democrats voted to take the government hostage by refusing to approve a stopgap measure for continued funding. It was gratifying to think Democrats had real power at a time when Republicans hold all the cards. For a moment, it seemed possible that things could be different. •That Republicans might be forced to join with Democrats to create a permanent solution for immigrant youth after the Trump administration ended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, on Sep. 5. •That the will of a majority of voters–both Democratic and Republican who back legal status for Dreamers–might be realized. •That a clean DACA solution might emerge without hawkish antiimmigrant measures being attached as the price for a deal. •That Dreamers might be free to pursue their dreams. But on Jan. 22, the Democrats voted to release the hostage, even though their demands had not been met. Did the Democrats surrender? Did they roll over, thereby missing an opportunity to implement important legislation, failing their base, and betraying Dreamers in the process? While many express their keen disappointment in the party, I find I J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 payment on a border wall, a symbol of immigration extremism, in exchange for an otherwise clean DACA bill. But conservative immigration hardliners–White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, and Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.)–overrode the proposal, claiming to better understand the president’s policy intentions. When Trump wanders from the path of “a race-based, religion-based immigration policy that prioritizes white Christians over people of color and Muslims, the hard-liners are quick to guide him back on course,” says Washington Post opinion writer Eugene Robinson in a column entitled, Trump is being used, and he doesn’t even know it. In the blame game, I agree with Catherine Rampell, opinion writer for the Washington Post. “It was always the #McConnellRyanShutdown.” “McConnell and Ryan, after all, not only lead the majority party. They also control the legislative agenda. They determine which bills come up for a vote and when. And they knew far in advance the drop-dead deadlines for keeping the government funded. They also knew the Democrats’ conditions for cooperating.” But, Rampell argues, McConnell and Ryan chose to do nothing. (Continued on page 6) THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 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: Josh Spring, Mike Brown, Dr. Mark Mussman, Michael Earl Patton, Justin Jeffre, Dr. Claver L Pashi, Saad Ghosn, Jason Haap, Kim Green, Willa Denise Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Dr. Mark Mussman, Steve Wuesthoff, Justin Jeffre, Dr. Claver L Pashi, Saad Ghosn, Patrick Cadieux, Michael Earl Patton, Key Beck, Bill Woods --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 37 4 3 LOCAL Investing In Our Future | J a n 2 6- F e b 8 , 2 0 18 DR. MARK MUSSMAN T axes are investments. Every time you buy something and you pay sales tax, you are making an investment. In Hamilton County, our sales taxes go to fund Paul Brown Stadium, since we voted to approve that increase over 20 years ago. Keep that in mind when you are buying something in Hamilton County – that your money is going to help a stadium sit empty 350 days of the year. We also approved a sales tax increase a couple of years ago for Museum Center Staff Writer are generally taken right out of our paychecks. Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare – all funded directly through our paychecks. These are not entitlement programs, these are programs that we fund and ought to be around when we need them. We should be angry that they are raiding our savings to fund their massive tax cuts for the rich. We should be angry that we pay taxes and multinational corporations are getting away with not only paying nothing in taxes, but people the power to avoid highcost, for-profit, tax preparers. It also gives people resources in their own community, as many VITA sites are scattered throughout the region. Tax places, like Jackson-Hewitt, essentially use free tax prep resources – and these businesses are happy to give out these loans to lock them in to monthly payments. It’s a vicious cycle. Sometimes, then things seem too good to be true, they are certainly worth looking more deeply into. These for-profit tax preparers are too good to be true, when they promise that you’ll leave with your tax return. It’s a loan, not your return. In fact, if The Benefit Bank Self-Serve Page Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Taxes for a residential building in Over-the-Rhine Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman upgrades. Music Hall was left out of that deal, since it was possible to fund it through private donations. Our property taxes too are an investment into local services. The vast majority of property taxes go directly to the City of Cincinnati. Most of this money goes directly to the police department. The greatest costs we have as a city are tied up into police, and to some lesser extent, the fire department. Other miniscule investments made through property taxes include DDS (Developmental Disability Services), the library, the zoo, senior services, children services, indigent care, park district, and mental health levy. Could you imagine what we could do if we didn’t spend so much money on police and stadiums? We all pay property taxes – even if you rent your home, the taxes are included in your rent. We all pay sales taxes, as there’s no way to avoid those. And most of us pay income taxes as well. Local, State, and Federal taxes receiving all sorts of subsidies of our money. We should be angry that they are getting advantages when they take jobs overseas, and that they are getting richer by putting our hardearned money into offshore accounts as well. Wealth inequality is getting drastically worse, and if the 1980’s are any indication of what’s to come, things are going to get drastically worse for all of us. The oldest, continuously operating, anti-poverty program in the United States is tied into the tax program. It is called the VITA Program and it utilizes regular people, like you and me, to staff community locations that will do your taxes for free. VITA has a long history in Cincinnati, working under a partnership between Legal Aid and United Way. VITA sites are places where you can go and have someone, who has been trained in all things income taxes, complete your taxes for you. This is a program that gives “Breakdown Stereotypes” Supports offered through the Benefit Bank The Benefit Bank offers Veteran Services Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman like Benefit Bank, VITA, or Turbo Tax free, and charge you for them. Not only do they charge you, they don’t actually give you your refund, they give you a high interest loan for the value of your refund. When your refund doesn’t come in, you are saddled with this high interest loan to be repaid. This is how they make their money – providing high interest loans on what you think is your refund. Many low-income Cincinnatians, who think they are getting their taxes done, are actually taking out a loan that they will never be able to repay you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, they won’t release your return until February 27th, at the earliest. Since tax filing won’t actually begin until January 29th, anyone making promises right now, is certainly setting you up for a loan. One program that is not too good to be true, but is actually good, is the Benefit Bank. This is an online self-filing system that I’ve used for over a decade to do my taxes at TheBenefitBank.org. I have been using the Benefit Bank every (Continued on page 5) “Eradicate Misinformation” The Coalition for the Homeless provides Education and Service Programs that help to portray a more accurate and holistic picture of homelessness in Cincinnati. We believe an educated public can be a more compassionate public, willing to dedicate time and effort towards creating solutions to homelessness. The “Voice of the Homeless Speaker’s Bureau” program is made up of individuals currently experiencing homelessness or who have experienced homelessness, who share their experiences. The program is designed to put a face on homelessness and raise awareness about those struggling in our community. To schedule a speaker, contact Mark Mussman at (513) 421.7803 x14 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 �LOCAL Monthly Billing Shenanigans at Water Works No. 37 4 | J a n 2 6- F e b 8 , 2 0 18 W ith some fanfare the Greater Cincinnati Water Works is going from quarterly billing to monthly billing. Why monthly billing? This exact question is answered at the City of Cincinnati’s webpage (www.cincinnati-oh. gov/water/): “Our customers, as well as City Council and County Commissioners have requested monthly billing for some time. In keeping with what is best for our customers and stakeholders, a monthly billing project was kicked off in early 2017.” So now you know that monthly billing is not only better, it is best for you. Furthermore, you were asking for monthly billing all along. You are not alone if you don’t remember asking for monthly billing – I don’t remember asking for it, either. I do remember sneaky charges in the billing and while monthly billing may make each bill smaller, it does not make the yearly total any less. In fact, there are increases now and future increases will be easier to hide with monthly billing. First, there is an increase in the base water charge once adjusted for it not being monthly. I calculate the base rate to have been $18.88 for a 91-day quarter in 2017. (I had to calculate this because none of my bills were for an actual 91-day quarter.) The new monthly water base charge will be $6.50. Multiply that by 3 months in a quarter to get $19.50. So there is an increase in the base charge alone. Second, there is an increase in water rates of 3.75% according to the city’s website, to $2.69 per hundred cubic feet (ccf). I looked at my last 3 bills and using each one I calculated the old rate to be $2.58 per ccf. All 3 bills had the same rate. This means the increase is really 4.26%. That number is if I use $2.58 as the base, which is the proper way to do it. A somewhat shady way to calculate the increase is to use a higher base such as the number after the increase, but even if I use $2.69 the increase is 4.09%. I can’t explain the discrepancy but it is just one more example of why customers need to be vigilant. Third, there is the matter of changing the minimum from a quarterly minimum to a monthly one. This pertains to the sewage charge where you will be charged for at least 300 cubic feet of usage in a month even if you used much less (that is, in fact, often my case). The old DR. MARK MUSSMAN (Continued from page 3) year for my own taxes, as well as others, and I highly recommend it if you make less than $65,000 / year. It takes me less than 30 minutes to do my taxes, and it’s simple to use. The great thing about it is that 5 MICHAEL EARL PATTON Contributing Writer quarterly minimum was 900 cubic feet so at first glance this might look like the change would have no effect. Wrong. Think of your checking account and the difference between having to keep a minimum balance and an average minimum balance for the period (normally a month). I have had both types in the past and I much prefer the account where I only need an average minimum balance. With that type I can have a very low balance, maybe even just a few dollars, but I won’t be charged system you would be charged for 900 cubic feet because that is the minimum quarterly charge. Under the new system you would be charged for 300 cubic feet the first month, 300 the second, and 400 the third for a total of 1000 cubic feet. The amount over the minimum is called the commodity charge and is $5.879 per ccf. This may not seem like much to many people, but why should it be there at all? Keep in mind that this charge affects many older people on fixed incomes – people without Is there a flush fund happening in the city? Credit: Steve Wuesthoff a fee if the average balance over the month is above the threshold. And that generally happens with the next deposit. Of course I would prefer to not to have to worry about keeping any balance as long as it doesn’t go below zero, but that is often not a choice. Something similar is going to happen here with the change to monthly billing. Suppose for example the usage during a 3 month period is a total of 850 cubic feet arising from 250 ccf the first month, 200 the second, and 400 the third. Under the quarterly children but still living in their houses. I myself, although I am not living on a fixed income, often use far less than the minimum. And it is an artificial charge. The county commissioners, who approve the sewage rates, could do a base charge plus a charge for usage. After all, this is how the gas, electric, and water utilities do it, but they chose this way. I had asked about this in the past and the response I got was that the commissioners did not think this affected many people. There was no substantiation provided. I pointed out you can do your FAFSA, apply for food stamps, and Medicaid, directly through Benefit Bank, using your tax information. Since I’ve been using it for the past 15 years, all my data is already in the system, and I can pull up any tax document that I may have used over the years. It is possibly the best tool out there for those of us with low incomes who may need assistance in some way. There are certain filers that may not be able to use Benefit Bank, but it will lead you through a quick process to figure that out. In general, if you have a couple W2’s, W9’s, and student loan interest, you THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED that it would be easy to do a computer search to see how many customers were charged for 900 cubic feet (the old quarterly minimum charge) and yet used less. I never heard back. In other words, they didn’t know and they don’t care. If those on fixed income are paying for more than what they are using, this means that the extra money is being used to help pay for those who can afford it. It is also a disincentive for people like me to conserve more water (I could, for example, get a more efficient toilet). And the monthly system only makes things worse. There are other expenses, too, such as more stamps and checks being used to mail in the bill payments for those who still do it that way. With some payment methods there may be a charge for each transaction, and now the number of times has gone up three-fold. And more time is spent balancing and checking the account. I do want to mention one positive and that is that if there is a water leak on the house side of the meter, it will show up quicker on a monthly bill than a quarterly one. It is relatively rare but it does happen. My suggestion is that if the water works is monitoring our usage anyways, they could send out a notice if there is a suspicious increase. It could be by mail, automated calling, or e-mail. A quick review here: the base water charge is going up, the commodity charge is going up (and more than what is claimed), more people will be trapped by the minimum sewage charges, and more time and expense will be involved in paying the 3-fold number of bills and reviewing charges. All this makes one wonder if the purpose is to hide the magnitude of future increases. A $15 dollar a month increase may not be as noticeable as a $45 dollar quarterly increase. No real difference, but I suspect that there is a threshold amount which causes us to pay more attention. Speaking of diminishing the psychological impact of increases, I wonder what’s next – maybe monthly property tax bills? --------------------------------------- should use the Benefit Bank, rather than pay someone to do your taxes. Keeping the money in your pocket is a tax investment into your self – the most important investment of them all. --------------------------------------- �6 LOCAL J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 Community Issues Forum kicks off JUSTIN JEFFRE T he 2018 Community Issues Forum kicked off at Christ Church Cathedral with Councilmember (and former Vice Mayor) David Mann. The focus was on giving an update on the issues confront Cincinnati’s City government. When asked about his position on the .3% of the earnings tax that goes towards Metro if there’s a transit sales tax levy Mann said, “I suspect that to make the transit sales tax levy attractive we’ll have to reduce the earnings tax. My personal position would be to give back .2% and keep .1% to help with some of the operating issues and challenges in the budget.” He noted that there’s opposition to the earnings tax in the business community. Adding, “If we want the city to be a quality city, a world class city, we have to talk about more revenues, as unpleasant as that is.” Mann said that one of the things they talked about on the campaign trail and need to bring about now was the need for better civic engagement. “We’ve had a lot of instances this last term where there would be projects MIKE BROWN (Continued from page 2) Worse than nothing, they were totally irrelevant. Worse than totally irrelevant, they were “actively destructive.” But Democrats did the right thing, I believe. First, continuing the shutdown held no assurance of a good legislative outcome. And the overall political costs and benefits were also unclear. Second, while the political leverage of a government shutdown remains, the urgency of a DACA fix by March 5 has passed. March 5 was the date when the Trump administration would no longer accept DACA applications. But a federal district court decision on Jan. 9 combined with subsequent decisions by the U.S. Department of Justice have given DACA a temporary O Streetvibes Editor of poor community engagement. “If we’re going to get passed paying lip service to community engagement we have to set up some procedures that they’re required to follow and be willing to say no if they don’t.” When it comes to the budget problems one of the culprits are the rising costs of health care for city employees and dwindling resources from federal and state governments. Mann also touched on the opioid epidemic saying how the book Dreamland describes how we became ground zero for the current crisis. The next forum takes place February 1st 12pm on the third floor of Christ Church Cathedral on 4th street. For more information go to airinc.org. David Mann discusses Cincinnati's City government Credit: Justin Jeffre that came through where not only were the community council’s opposed, but they said, you didn’t involve us. We need to have a voice along the way.” He said he reintroduced a motion for the development department to develop some procedures to make sure some engagement takes place. He gave the Children’s Hospital expansion and a development at Liberty and Race Street as examples reprieve into the summer and perhaps later depending on actions by the U.S. Supreme Court. Third, any DACA legislation that manages to get through the House and the Senate must ultimately be signed by the president, whose bargaining style makes people across the table feel like they’re “negotiating with jello,” according to Schumer. “It’s next to impossible. As soon as you take one step forward, the hard-right forces the president three steps back,” Schumer said. If the DACA legislation is the product of publicly forcing the president and his party into a corner, then what are the chances he will sign under such duress? The president is, in the words of novelist Philip Roth, “a massive fraud…devoid of everything but the hollow ideology of a megalomaniac.” There is no reason to think a megalomaniac could be coerced to sign. Fourth, government shutdowns have a history of hurting the hostage-taking party more than their opponents. Do current circumstances suggest a different outcome? I don’t think so. Fifth, it would be bad for American politics in the long-run if Democrats–the party that believes in government–adopted the strategies of obstructionists who want to shrink government and eventually drown it in a bathtub, in the infamous locution of anti-tax conservative Grover Norquist. “The central political problem in American life, for years now, has been that the Republican Party is a dysfunctional institution that has abandoned principles of decent governance in order to please an ever more extreme base,” argues Ezra Klein, the editor-at-large and founder The MLK March and Beyond n Monday 16th hundreds gathered at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center then marched to Fountain Square before making its way to the Taft Theater for the annual MLK program commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy. It was the 40th MLK Coalition march. Black Lives Matter Cincinnati held its own event at the Main Library. Their program focused on how Dr. King’s legacy has largely been white washed. While most people have heard King’s JUSTIN JEFFRE Streetvibes Editor “I Have a Dream” but King lived and worked for years after that and he became more radical in his later years. Many people don’t know that King gave an anti-war speech called “Beyond Vietnam” one year before to the day of his assassination. He was denounced by newspapers and magazines across the nation for giving the speech. The Cincinnati Enquirer ran a headline March 30th of that year saying King had, “Crossed the line” and was no longer useful to the civil rights movement. In his final months he was organizing a Poor People’s movement to go to Washington D.C. in order to demand real gains for the poor. Speakers spoke about gentrification, police brutality, exploitation, white supremacy, immigration, internationalism and the need for mass mobilization. You can find more information and watch the video of the event on the Black Lives Matter Streetvibes Contributor, Kim Green walks in the Martin Luther King Day March. Credit: Daulton King THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED of Vox. “But it would be doubly bad if their outrageous behavior drives Democrats to use the same tactics in response.” “When highly committed parties strongly believe [in] things that they cannot achieve democratically, they don’t give up on their beliefs– they give up on democracy,” says David Frum, author, conservator editor at The Atlantic, and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. While Republicans as a party have not yet given up on democracy, he says, “for some people on the right, they’re discovering they care about the culture wars more than they care about a constitutional democracy.” [To contact Mike Brown email at mbrown.c4ad@gmail.com. To read more go to c4ad.wordpress.com] (Continued on page 12) Cincinnati Facebook page. �7 JUBILEE CAMPAIGN Building a Jubilee Economy: the J-RAB, INC. Business and Service Coordination Center No. 37 4 | J a n 2 6- F e b 8 , 2 0 18 DR. CLAVER L PASHI, PhD Contributing Writer [Introduction by Trenton Davis: Part of the Jubilee Dream involves imagining a new economy. In forgiving the debts of our neighbors, reclaiming of the land by its rightful owners, and identifying the underlying cooperative economy that holds our communities together, we open the possibilities to a new ‘good’ life that is more accessible and equitable to all. However, in the United States, this dream comes with a price tag and a lot of red tape.] Our system restricts economic freedom- it’s incredibly difficult to start a business as a low-income entrepreneur. Often, our neighbors have ideas and talents that are valuable, even if they are ‘small’. We mustn’t always consider scale and funding rounds. We mustn’t always place value in profitability; we should, instead shift our mindset to that which invests in reclaiming our land and a sense of place. In business, this practice of sustainability goes by many names- micro-business, social enterprise, place-based investment, asset-based community development. J-RAB, INC.’s Business and Service Coordination Center is actively working to assist in building residents’ capacities so they can take their economic development into their own hands. The Jurisdiction-wide Resident Advisory Board (J-RAB), a public housing, resident driven and owned organization, actively works in partnership with the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), an asset management organization serving individuals who Dr. Claver L. Pashi have made a choice to live in public housing. There are approximately 11,000 public housing residents residing in 23 public housing developments situated in the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority. This partnership combines the vast resources of CMHA with talents and commitment of local stakeholders. At its 2nd Annual Resident Empowerment Conference held in June 2016, J-RAB, INC. showcased its Business and Service Coordination Center (BSCC), which had just opened its doors in May 2016. J-RAB, INC. has developed a local small BSCC to assist Resident Owned Businesses to improve their capacity and abilities to take advantage of missed HUD Section 3 employment and contracting opportunities. The BSCC facility is designed by the residents and for the residents. It is a social entrepreneurship business facility developed to nurture the needs of starting and developing Resident Owned Businesses (ROBs), and low to very low-income entrepreneurs, to be able to effectively compete for Section 3 sanctioned Housing Authority, City and County contract opportunities and projects. This model, through its staff, network of partners, and online resources, also facilitates capacity building training for public housing residents and low to very low-income individuals, to prepare them to be ready to access contracting, subcontracting, and training opportunities generated through HUD Section 3 regulations (primarily) and other The 2018 Women’s March O n January 20th around 10,000 people gathered just south of the Underground Railroad Freedom Center for the 2018 Women’s March. Hundreds of thousands gathered across the nation to mark the anniversary of last year’s historic Women’s March protesting President Trump’s inauguration. Last year’s march in Cincinnati had an estimated 14,000 people. This year an estimated 200,000 gathered in New York city alone. JUSTIN JEFFRE Streetvibes Editor — but everyone does have a voice.” The Cincinnati march was once again organized by United We Stand and they used the theme “Hear Our Vote”. Black Lives Matter Cincinnati asked that they change the theme to “Hear Our Voices” which got a lot of attention on social media. BLMC put out a statement saying, “Everyone in the United States does not have a vote — whether because of immigration status, age, prior criminal convictions, access to official identification, transportation issues THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED income generating opportunities (secondarily). The BSCC further offers its public housing resident members, and low to very low-income entrepreneurs, access to various services of general management skills, marketing, accounting, legal, banking, and much more at an affordable cost. The small businesses served through the BSCC have shown and exhibited a high level of motivation and potential for growth. We continue to see these small businesses aligned with mainly four industry categories where there are high levels of potential growth for them in the community. These categories include: •Construction Services •Janitorial & Landscaping •Professional Services such as accountants, architects, advertising services, graphic designers, data processing, etc. •Resident Management Development J-RAB strongly believes that the support provided by public housing residents, its network of professional providers, and CMHA, has helped to create a successful and sustainable environment for potentially investing in the skills, talents and gifts that are so much embedded in these public housing developments/ communities. J-RAB INC is in the business of promoting a strong partnership with the residents, with CMHA, and with the community and other partners within the city of Cincinnati. Such partnerships aim at allowing J-RAB to empower, advocate, inform, support and educate all residents who have made a choice to live in public housing. As one resident said: “Living in substandard public housing does not mean we have substandard education” (Ms. Luwana Oglesby, Stanley Rowe Towers B, and President of the Resident Council). This says it all. There are very talented individuals who have made a choice to live in public housing. --------------------------------------- (Continued on page 12) Women marched through the streets to show solidarity Credit: Justin Jeffre �RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS Called by his Christian Evangelical Faith Reverend Troy Jackson Lives with Mercy & Compassion, and Fights Systemic Injustice 8 J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 "How can one read the 66 books of the Christian Bible and not have a sense of the Christian mission in the world, which is not only what happens to someone after death, but also on this earth," says Reverend Troy Jackson, to which he adds: "In his Lord's prayer, Jesus said: 'Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,' pointing specifically to an earthly mandate for His followers." In fact, for Jackson, an Evangelical minister, God's call is not only for mercy and compassion for the afterlife but also, and as importantly, for justice and peace on this earth, achieved by recognizing and fighting the systemic causes that prevent their being. Growing up, Jackson at age six was sent to a white Evangelical church where he developed a discipline at reading regularly the Bible, a routine he has kept ever since. In his senior year of high school and part of a youth group event, he discovered the religiouslybased video series "You can make a difference" by Tony Campola, an Evangelical theologist. Struck by their strong social justice message, he was pleased to find that it resonated very well with his own biblical understanding. At age17 traveling to Haiti to do service work, part of a group his church connected him to, he was shocked by the massive poverty he SAAD GHOSN Contributing Writer encountered there. "Enlightened by Tony Campola's now familiar analysis, I quickly realized that poverty in Haiti was systemic in nature," Jackson says. "Major baseball leagues had their baseballs fabricated there and paid workers only $1 an hour. It was increasingly obvious to me that global inequity was shaping the world." From that time on Jackson became very animated about the importance of justice for the poor, the outcast, the immigrant, the widow and orphan, for racial and all other kinds of justice, convinced they were part of God's scheme and finding references to them in his readings of the sacred scriptures. Attending Franklin College in Indiana, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in religion, philosophy, and Spanish. He served also for a while as the president of its intervarsity Christian fellowship and facilitated a "miss a meal, make a difference" plan whereas students willingly skipped a meal and gave their saved money to fight world hunger. Having wanted from a very young age to become a minister, "wanting to have some impact on eternity," as he says, Jackson then joined Princeton Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master's degree in Divinity. What Is EVANGELICALISM Evangelicalism or Evangelical Christianity, is a worldwide, trans-denominational movement within Protestant Christianity, the origins of which are traced back to early 18th century, with various theological streams contributing to its foundation. According to the National Association of Evangelicals, a large network of American Evangelical churches, Evangelicals, in addition to a Trinitarian view of God, share the following beliefs: • Conversionism: the need for lives to be transformed through a “born-again” experience and a lifelong process of following Jesus • Activism: the expression and demonstration of the gospel in missionary and social reform efforts • Biblicism: the high regard for and obedience to the Bible as the ultimate authority • Crucicentrism: the stress on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as making possible the redemption of humanity Today, Evangelicals are found across many Protestant branches, as well as in various denominations not part of a specific branch. The movement gained great momentum during the 18th and 19th centuries in both the UK and the USA; and today, the Americas, Africa, and Asia are home to the majority of its members. Worldwide, Evangelicals are estimated at 550 million, their largest concentration being in the United States, where they form a quarter of the population, are politically important and based mostly in the Bible Belt. Evangelicalism, a major part of popular Protestantism, is among the most dynamic religious movements in the contemporary world, alongside Islam. While on the rise globally, the developing world is particularly influenced by its spread. During his study years he became increasingly exposed to the issue of racism and the injustices of the system. At the end of his 1st year in seminary, for instance, the Rodney King verdict came out absolving the police officers from his killing, and triggered, as a result, major racial riots in South L.A. Jackson, very affected by the situation, was at the same time very surprised to see the majority of white students at the Seminary not Reverend Troy Jackson reacting as if not concerned, sitting on the sideline, indifferent. Part of his field education then was also time spent in Plainfield and Camden, NJ, communities involved in racial unrest in the 60's, which still were experiencing racial tension and a growing immigrant population. "In my Evangelical church I had heard about challenges around the globe but almost never about American racism or poverty in America," he states. "White privilege refuses to acknowledge racism and behaves as if it did not exist. Elie  Wiesel,  the Holocaust survivor  and Nobel Peace Laureate, once said: 'The opposite of love is not hate but indifference' and we, white Evangelicals, are guilty of massive indifference when it comes to racism." After Seminary, Jackson moved to Cincinnati and joined the University Christian Church (UCC) where he was ordained minister and where he served as Senior Pastor for 19 years. During these years he was involved in an immigration effort to prevent the deportation of Bernard Pastor, the 18-year-old Dreamer, who, in 2010, was held in custody by the Springdale Police Department because he was unable to produce a driver's license after a fender-bender. Pastor had been in the US since the age of 3 but his parents had no asylum status. Jackson was also involved in passing a set of ordinances in City Council providing opportunities for returning prisoners to get service jobs in the city. He also worked as a faith outreach coordinator on the campaign to repeal Senate Bill 5, issue 2 on the 2011 ballot, which would have restricted Ohio's 400,000 Credit: Saad Ghosn public workers' ability to  strike  and collectively bargain for wages, health insurance and pensions. At the same time as his ministry at UCC, Jackson pursued his education and obtained a Master's then a doctorate degree in US history working specifically on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project. This culminated in the 2008 publication of his book  Becoming King: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Making of a National Leader,  which explores the critical role the grassroots Montgomery Movement played in the development of MLK. Spending time discovering, analyzing and reminiscing on MLK's writings and on his life, further determined Jackson to become himself more involved in grassroot activities, in community organizing and coordinating, in local work building power with regular everyday people, addressing economic and racial injustices wherever they were. He decided then to leave his church and 4 years ago joined the Amos Project as its Executive Director. (Continued on page 12) Religious Peacemakers is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati individuals who use their faith and religious beliefs for peace and justice. Saad.Ghosn@uc.edu is the founder of SOS (Save Our Souls) Art, an organization that promotes arts as vehicles for peace and justice and for a change. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 4 PHOTO ESSAY The 2018 Women’s March - Cincinnati, Ohio January 20, 2018 | J a n 2 6- F e b 8 , 2 0 18 PATRICK CADIEUX Contributing Photographer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 �10 LOCAL J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 January 26 - February 17, 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 OPINION 34th Annual Pro-Life Procession No. 37 4 | J a n 2 6- F e b 8 , 2 0 18 MICHAEL EARL PATTON Besides the second Cincinnati Women’s March there was another annual march on the same day, much smaller, but one that has been taking place for 34 years. This was the 34th Annual Pro-Life Rosary Contributing Writer annual Pro-Life Processions has been based on the date that the court’s decision was published: January 22, 1973. Obviously the close proximity in dates was not planned. and walk to Fountain Square. The speeches at the beginning are short since the focus is on the praying (there are more speeches at the end, but most people don’t stay around for them). The prayers are those of the Pro-Life Procession ended at Fountain Square Pro-Life Procession chanted the rosary as they walked through downtown Credit: Michael Earl Patton Credit: Key Beck Procession, which takes place on a Saturday around this time because this is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion. I find it interesting the two marches had been organized in reaction to decisions with which the respective participants strongly disagreed. One was the U.S. Supreme Court decision mentioned above and the other was the inauguration of Donald Trump on last January 20. The timing for the There is one other thing to note about this period of the year -- this is when, on average, the coldest part of winter occurs. I have prayed with my rosary in this procession several times over the years, as I did this year. This year the weather was great (for the middle of winter). It has been near zero some years and I could feel the cold come up through the soles of my boots. Still, every year there have been several hundred people who show up in front of City Hall and pray rosary and for different intentions such as for civil authorities. It may surprise some to find out how openended and affirming the prayers are. Example: “Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and Secular Morality O may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.” Abortion itself is not mentioned in any of the prayers, although several signs carried in the procession did. More information on what the actual rosary prayers are can be found in many places so I won’t take the space here except to note that praying the rosary is primarily a Catholic practice. But there is one ne of my favorite YouTube shows is The Atheist Experience - broadcast live from Austin, Texas every Sunday evening. Sponsored by The Atheist Community of Austin, a local non-profit promoting the separation of religion and government as well as the exploration of positive atheist culture, the show follows a call-in format with a preference for theistic callers. The hosts - my favorite of which is a guy named Matt Dillahunty - take a pretty straightforward tact: tell us what you believe, and why you think your belief is warranted. One of the most popular topics theists like to explore with the hosts is whether there can be a basis for morality without the existence of a god. With how often this issue gets raised, it really strikes me that a large portion of the population seems unaware of how to reach objectively moral conclusions without being told what to do by a supernatural agent. Many will be familiar with some version of what's called Euthyphro's dilemma - named after a character in Plato's book by the same name. In that story, Euthyphro's discussion with Socrates is famously summarized in this question: Is it pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious? Variations on JASON HAAP Contributing Writer this theme abound, including one specifically geared at morality: are moral acts good because God says so, or does God say acts are moral because they are good? Many theists engage intellectual acrobatics to avoid Exodus 21 - the chapter where God tells Moses what to tell the Israelites about rules for slavery. Here are two summarized bullet points from God's rules: 1) Hebrew slaves shall serve for six years, and in the seventh they shall go free. But if, during the period of enslavement, the slave gets a wife and children, the wife and children shall remain the master's property. If the slave does not want to be separated from his family, he can have a hole put in his ear and then remain a slave. This is a great loophole for how to keep Hebrew male slaves for life! 2) If you strike your slave with a rod, killing him, the slave's death shall be avenged. But, if he survives for a couple days and then dies, the violent and murderous slave master is clear and free. I think slavery is immoral, and if your god says otherwise, then I think your god is immoral. That's because my sense of morality is not related to following instructions from an authority figure - supernatural or otherwise. On The Atheist Experience, Dillahunty frequently talks about "well-being" as a measuring stick for objective secular morality. There are some objective truths about human well-being we can derive logically, such as the fact that pleasure is generally preferable to pain, health is generally preferable to sickness, life is generally preferable to death, and so on. (Note the use of the word "generally." It could very well be that some masochist actually wants to experience pain, but that is a separate matter entirely...) If we can agree that the goal of human society is to promote human well-being, then certain key facts become objectively obvious. For example, most of us know we do not want to be owned as someone else's property. It diminishes our well-being. As such, we can call it "immoral." Some may try to argue that slavery increases the well-being of the slave-master class, but on what basis can we determine whether a person should or should not be owned as property? A system of human rights also promotes human well-being, and any system which purports to remove those rights from some and not others is inconsistent and therefore immoral. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED thing that bothers me and I do want to touch on it here. Sometimes I hear others try to pigeonhole us by saying that we believe such-and-such because the Catholic Church says so. I heard a reporter say this recently on NPR, for example. Well, there is much more to it than this. My faith and my beliefs inform each other. All our lives matter, including those of the unborn. You do not have to be Catholic to believe that. This thinking works in tons of circumstances. Living is generally preferable to death. Human wellbeing is not promoted through killing a bunch of people. As such, murder is immoral. Pleasure is generally preferable to pain. Human well-being is not promoted through bullying children and causing psychological torment. As such, bullying is immoral. It is the case that the JudeoChristian-Muslim God has issued proclamations which comport with this thinking, but His proclamations do not always comport (as with the slavery example above). I'm not sure human well-being is diminished if people use "the Lord's name in vain," despite what the so-called "Ten Commandments" state. More importantly, secular morality teaches people to be critical thinkers in the moral arena, and not blind followers of an authority figure. If anyone's god said we need to start murdering newborn babies, that god is a disgusting monster, and I hope no one would have the desire to follow such monstrous commands. Whatever your take on supernatural claims, secular humanism includes a moral system that promotes objective human well-being without all the extra baggage of supernatural deities with weird ideas - like piercing a hole in a slaves ear so he can continue to be owned as property and not be split from his family. �12 O LOCAL Left out in the cold: How we can eradicate homelessness n January 17th the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition a community forum in the Tower Room of the Downtown Public Library to discuss the crisis of homelessness in Cincinnati. We spoke about the causes of homelessness, dispelled some of the myths, and reflected on how to get involved and be a part of the solution. Around 65 people attended. Josh Spring, Executive Director, and Dr. Mark Mussman, Education Director, talked about public policy changes that happened in the JUSTIN JEFFRE (Continued from page 6) J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 JUSTIN JEFFRE Streetvibes Editor 1980s that created the modern face of homelessness, families. Under President Ronald Reagan there were cuts to funding for housing and along with increasing stagnation in the minimum wage a lack of affordable housing and jobs that pay a living wage are the primary causes of homelessness despite the stereotypes some people think of. Since that time we’ve seen even more affordable housing because of housing policies that subsidize gentrification and displacement. In recent years the city, along with 3CDC have put these policies into overdrive. There currently is a shortage of 40,000 units of affordable housing in Hamilton County. The Homeless Coalition has been working with city council in recent years to restore funding for human services which traditionally has been at least 1.5% of the city’s budget. Over the last decade or more we saw more cuts every budget season to these funds until the last 3 years. The last council had moved funding in the right direction, but we must continue to be engaged to continue this positive momentum. We’ve also been working on the creation of an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The work is ongoing and we encourage you to contact your representatives to support these initiatives. If you’re interested in booking a speaker from our Speaker’s Bureau, please contact Dr. Mark Mussman at markmussman@cincihomeles.org. To learn more go to cincihomeless. org. Particpants were able to take part in small group breakout sessions to discuss issues with each other Credit: Justin Jeffre JUSTIN JEFFRE (Continued from page 7) BLMC held its own event later that day at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center which was well attended. Mona Jenkins, an organizer with BLMC said, “You want to vote, go SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) "Amos is a justice organization that is multifaith," states Jackson. "Our main focus is to build power with people affected by injustice in order to bring a change; and being multifaith enhances our work and makes it stronger." Under his leadership, Amos is growing, with new congregations involved, and is moving deeper into evangelical justice-based work. Some of the issues addressed since have been, for instance, the Cincinnati Preschool Promise that aimed at insuring paid pre-schooling for every 3- and 4-year-old child in the city. Pairing with CPS, the proposal was presented to the community as part of issue 44 on the November 2016 ballot and was widely passed. Amos has also been very involved at fighting mass incarceration, mostly of people of color and at undoing the detrimental effects of the war on drugs. It has also been concerned with wages and work conditions in the service sector vote. You want to march, march. But there are some things we’re not going to bend on. It was not about women today. Women were being used as a front for voting for the Democratic Party. That’s very hurtful.” At the rally before the march began speakers spoke about topics such as the privatization of public schools, immigration reform, raising the minimum wage, health care, housing and racial injustice. There was dancing, chanting and lots of signs. The march went up Race Street and made its way back towards the Banks via Vine Street. I walked ahead of the march to try to get some photos starting at 4th Street. I stayed in the same spot for nearly 15 minutes before I could begin to see the end of march approaching. and in the healthcare industry where positions are mostly filled by women of color, and where the average wage is $9/hour, resulting often in child poverty. Right now, its emphasis is on collecting signatures in favor of an Ohio wide 2018 ballot initiative or a constitutional amendment to retroactively make class 4 and 5 felonies for drug possession, misdemeanors. This change will result in a lower prison population, in the absence of felony mention on records, in increased opportunities for housing, jobs, public support, family reunion, and in saving the State, at the same time, $100 Million every budget cycle, dollars that could be invested in drug prevention, drug treatment, childhood recovery. Amos recently put together an agenda for the years to come titled "Forward Together" in which economic and racial justice are forefront. Working with Crossroads, Jackson has been involved for the past 2 years with a program called "Undivided" which offers participants a 6-week experience around racial reconciliation. Including lectures, small group discussions, interactive activities, the program looks at history, at the role of empathy versus sympathy, at systemic and structural issues, at personal culpabilities... and moves those engaged at living an "undivided" life. "My faith is very important to me at the personal level," says Jackson, "but it is not a personal piety faith alone. Evangelical beliefs have at their core that one influences the world, that one has a responsibility in the world... These beliefs are mine and are rooted in the scriptures." After leaving UCC Jackson joined for 4 years the diverse People church, and this year, in the wake of the Trump election, the predominantly African American New Prospect Baptist church, led by Reverend Damon Lynch III. "I wanted a faith experience more justice-oriented when it came to teaching and preaching," he says. "I also wanted to be part of a black congregation." Jackson likes to quote the revolutionary sermon of MLK, The one sided approach of the Good Samaritain, in which MLK expands upon the Samaritan’s good, calling attention to the need, in addition to mercy, for deeper actions to uproot from systems the evil responsible for the victims along the road. "We need to understand the reason for injustice which is baked in the system," he says. "If we limit ourselves to just charity without asking the why of the problem and trying to remedy it, we may be working in the vested interest of those in power, and indirectly perpetuating the problem." Jackson's relation to God and his commitment to a Christian community trigger his passion for justice and serve as his call. He is working now at bringing people of different faiths into the mix of justice, at addressing inequities wherever they are, at finding their root causes and at empowering people at solving them. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- �No. 37 4 | J a n 2 6- F e b 8 , 2 0 18 CRYING RAIN 13 STREET VOICE Looking out the window The rain is falling hard, and fast A NEW PRESIDENTIAL WORD Did you and your family feel terribly cheated Trying to figure out Trump's "expletive deleted?" There are intervals of thunder Slashing ever so often "Shithole" is the word that The Donald used. And then it suddenly stops Haitians and Africans now feel quite abused. Until the next thunder slash appears I raise an issue that makes me sad and tired. It lets you know that God is, near Presidential dignity has certainly expired. So take heed Listen to his might BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Because thunder and rain, Will, be coming ALL LIVES MATTER AFTER ALL I BEEN THROUGH BEING HOMELESS I LIVE TO BE A PART OF HISTORY KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer TO LIVE TO SEE A BLACK PRESIDENT AND A WHITE WOMEN NOMINATED WHAT'S THE MYSTERY IT SEEMS LIKE GOD HAS A PLAN FOR PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER AND BE AT PEACE AND KNOW WE ALL LIVE AND WE ALL DIE SO WHY THE RACISM DOESN'T CEASE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT MATTERS WHAT COLOR, RELGION AND WHAT CREED YOU ARE THINGS MATTER TODAY WHETHER YOU WORK OR FIND A PLACE TO LIVE SO WHO'S SCARED I BELEIVE WE AS A HUMAN RACE TEACH OUR CHILDREN WHAT TO BELEIVE IN AND HOW I BELEIVE IF WE DON’T SHOW OUR CHILDREN LOVE WITH UNDERSTANDING WE DEAD NOW ALL LIVES MATTER KNOWING THAT ALL LIVES END, LIFE BEING SO SHORT WHAT IS THE FIGHT LET PEOPLE BE BLESSED IN WHO THEY ARE RICH OR POOR JUST GIVE RESPECT THAT'S RIGHT SO WHETHER YOU SUPPORT THE HOMELESS OR NOT JUST PRAY IT WON’T BE YOU SOMEDAY SITUATIONS MAKING CHANGES GOOD SOME BAD CHANGING ONE’S LIFE ALL LIFE MATTERS I SAY WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �14 PUZZLES CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 143 Across Down 1. Talon 1. Refrain 5. A chance to do something 2. Very generous 9. Egg-shaped 3. Ornamental shrub 14. Fog 4. Fountainhead 15. A long walk 5. Surprise greatly 16. Jewelled headdress 6. Above 17. Ellipse 7. Gumbo 18. Fiend 19. Emlem of a clan or tribe 20. A small stream 21. Personal property 23. Employ 24. Supplement with great effort, ___ out 25. Typo 29. Cloak used to cover head and shoulders 31. Uncommon 33. Simian 34. Type of picture puzzle 36. A regular customer 39. Rain, snow, hail or sleet 42. Rough shelter 43. Person who makes a gift of property 44. Distant but within sight 45. Layer 47. Requirements 51. Native or of a certain region 54. Draw 56. On the sheltered side 57. Meat from a deer 59. Raise 60. Enthusiastic approval 63. Part of the jaw 64. Way out J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 8. Move unsteadily 9. Freshwater mammal 10. Stringed instrument 11. Cereal grass 12. Anger 13. Water barrier 22. Surgical instrument 24. Choose by a vote 26. Edible tuberous root 27. Au fait with 28. Males 30. Small bird 32. Stage whisper SODOKU PUZZLE NO 273 - MEDIUM 35. Vitamin of the B complex 37. Expiate 38. Become fatigued 39. Drudge 40. South African monetary unit 41. Usually herbivorous land turtle 42. Caustic solution 46. Frozen spear of water 48. Panacea 49. Sully 50. Small sofa 52. Dodge 65. Usher 53. Measuring instrument 66. Misplace 55. Located inward 67. Set of related records 58. Display 68. Command 59. Remaining 69. Pitcher 60. Self 70. Large woody plant 61. Mongrel 62. Movable cover PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 373 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 142 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 272- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 37 4 RESOURCES | J a n 2 6- F e b 8 , 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 241-1064 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 Other Resources St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 215 E. 14th St. 45202 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 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 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio FreeStore/FoodBank 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 Shelter: Youth Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 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 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 721-0643 City Gospel Mission 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 St. George Food Pantry 751-8771 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 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 241-2600 621-5514 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart Goodwill Industries Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Mary Magdalen House 381-0111 771-4800 579-8547 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 799 Ann St. Newport, KY ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 for 26 issues 859-491-8303 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Justin Jeffre at 513421-70803 x 12 or email streetvibes@ cincihomeless.org $100 981-4200 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Center Independent Living Options Peaslee Neighborhood Center $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 J a n 2 6 - F e b 8 , 2 0 18 | N o . 37 4 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 GREGORY RAY SINCE 4/2015 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 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 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 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED � 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 January 26-February 8, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director DACA Pg 3: Investing in Our Future Pg 4: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 5: Monthly Billing Shenanigans at Water Works Pg 6: Community Issues Forum Kicks Off The MLK March and Beyond Pg 7: Building a Jubilee Economy Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: Photo Essay Pg 10: GCHC Pg 11: 34th Annual Pro-Life Procession Secular Morality Pg 12: Left Out in the Cold Pg 13: Street Voice Pg 14: Puzzles Pg 15: Resources Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 26-February 8, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Mike Brown Dr. Mark Mussman Michael Earl Patton Justin Jeffre Dr. Claver L Pashi Saad Ghosn Jason Haap Kim Green Willa Denise Jones Steve Wuesthoff Patrick Cadieux Key Beck Bill Woods Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Woods Cincinnati DACA Dr. Claver L Pashi Dr. Mark Mussman Jason Haap Josh Spring Justin Jeffre Key Beck Kim Green Michael Earl Patton Mike Brown Ohio Patrick Cadieux Photography Pro-Life Procession Saad Ghosn Steve Wuesthoff Willa Denise Jones Women’s March