5 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/2266c3c061c2f7d95b7d70dd4f63ff15.pdf 3575aabe61588ec3b051cd28eaa1f062 PDF Text Text August, 2007 lar l o D e n O STREETVIBES Page 1 Streetvibes “I Am So Sick of ‘Out’ Food” Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other. Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other…Blessing of the Apaches by Elissa Pogue Children experiencing homelessness, a phrase, a concept, so unbelievable in this day and age in our society, it never really strikes home, settles in on that level of believability …. denial, any kind of protection from the truth, pops up after you come face to face with their reality. And their reality is not always one we expect. Homelessness, which conjures up images of shelters, overcrowded, maybe, but shelters, nonetheless, can mean many things to children and families experiencing it. Michelle, a young teenager, is attending school in the east end of Cincinnati. We spent time together on the school’s playground steps every time I was at her school. Today, she was more talkative than usual. “I am so sick of ‘out food,’ Ms. Pogue,” she said. She sat hunched over herself, head low, hair in her face. “I’ve never ever been this heavy! My dad gets me a hamburger and fries every night from Wendy’s. We don’t have a way to cook or keep things cold. So we eat ‘out food’ every day. The thing I really miss about having a home is a place to cook.” Michelle’s family is a somewhat rare one: two parents living together with their three children, Michelle and her two younger brothers. They have been homeless for three years, living in and out of their van, sometimes in motels, sometimes with family until they wear out their welcome. “We had a nice house. Then my dad lost his job. We are going back to that house, when we get the money.” We both knew the house she had been living in was condemned and her family could not move back there anytime soon. Michelle has never lived in a shelter. It was weeks after attending school that she opened up to a supportive teacher about her living situation. Parents and children experiencing homelessness are understandably unwilling to report their homelessness to schools, agencies and community organizations out of fear, shame, and a sense of frustration at having to tell the story over and over to Published by Jimmy Heath photos new people in new situations on a daily or weekly basis. Families Who Are Doubled Up Often Don’t See Themselves as Homeless Children and families experiencing homelessness are often invisible. They move in with friends or relatives for periods of time, depending on the situation. This is called doubling up and children in this situation are considered homeless and are, therefore, eligible for services under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act. In the school year, 2006-07, Project Connect identified and worked with 1036 children living in homeless shelters. A surprising 810 students lived in motels or a doubled up situation and received our services. The number of doubled up families served by us locally increased by 33%. Nationally, the numbers of doubled up children and families is growing so fast that there are new initiatives to help parents and professionals understand that children who are doubled up with family members, friends, or living in motels, trailers, are considered homeless and qualify for services. The following statements are true: Under The Federal Definition of Homeless under the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act of 2001: · Being doubled up with friends/ relatives is homelessness; · The right to choose to go to the school of origin (where the student attended prior to experiencing homelessness or school last attended) or to the school where the student is now staying is up to the parent/guardian/family/youth; ·Students experiencing homelessness have the right to remain in their school of choice for the length of homelessness and may finish the school year at that school EVEN IF they become permanently housed before the end of the school year; · Transportation to the school of origin must be provided if needed. Cross district transportation costs and arrangements are to be made by the school districts involved; ·Students experiencing homelessness must be immediately enrolled. Schools are responsible for acquiring school records, and cannot deny enrollment due to the lack of medical or residency records. result in losing what feels like everything to children like Michelle. Her story is one of family loyalty, love, and failed resources. Michelle is overburdened and fiercely committed to keeping the family together. Her story has roots in job loss, and all the upheavals this creates in the precious balance today’s families work hard to maintain 24/7. Her story is one of skewed economics, in which there is not enough decent and affordable housing for our children, jobs that pay less than what people need to support their families, and precious little support for all the things that families and workers need for their day to day living– affordable transportation, daycare services, loan assistance. Michelle will attend school next year at her school of origin, where her teachers know her. Finding her voice made this possible. How many children in Michelle’s situation do we miss because we put the burden on them to ask for help? And we wonder why so many of our children act like they are grown? Elissa Pogue is a potter, a teacher of mindfulness meditation, and a social worker with the Cincinnati Public Schools who has worked with children in neighborhoods all across the city. She is coordinator of Project Connect, a Cincinnati Public Schools program that works with families who are experiencing homelessness to help keep children connected with their schools. For more information, There are many other truths to please call 363-1060. address on the issue of children experiencing homelessness: unaccompanied youth, children not in physical custody of their parents; preschoolers; and recent immigrants. Michelle’s family is one of thousands of families that are taking the slow slide from self-sufficiency into homelessness. Many more live on the brink, where some combination of elements, can come together to The Greater Cincinnati Coaltion for the Homeless �STREETVIBES Page 2 STREETVIBES, Greater Cincinnati’s alternative news source, is a newspaper written by, for, and about the homeless and contains relevant discussions of social justice,and poverty issues. It is published once a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Becoming a Streetvibes Vendor is a great way for homeless and other lowincome people to get back on (or stay on) their feet. Streetvibes Vendors are given an orientation and sign a code of conduct before being given a Streetvibes Vendor badge. (See this page, right, for more.) All profits go directly to the vendor. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a group of shelters, agencies and individuals committed to ending homelessness in Cincinnati through coordinating services, educating the public and grassroots organizing. GCCH Staff Georgine Getty - Executive Director John Lavelle - Administrative Coordinator Andy Freeze - Education Coordinator Lynne Ausman - VISTA Kenneth Cheruiyot - AHA Coordinator Melvin Williams - Receptionist Linda Pittman - Receptionist Susan Smith - Volunteer Leigh Tami - Intern Vendor Code of Conduct 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for one dollar ($1). I agree not to ask for more than a dollar or solicit donations for Streetvibes by any other means. If a customer donates more than $1 for a paper, I am allowed to keep the donation. 2. I will only purchase papers from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Each paper can be purchased for a cost of 25 cents. I will always show my badge when buying papers and if I do not have my badge I cannot buy papers. 3. I will never buy papers from and/or sell papers to other vendors. 4. I agree to treat all others – customers, staff, and other vendors – respectfully. I will not use abusive language or force someone to buy a paper. I will not give a “hard sell,” be aggressive, continue to ask after a person has verbally or non-verbally said no or make someone feel threatened. 5. I agree to stay off private property when selling Streetvibes. I will not sell Streetvibes door to door. 6. I understand that I am not an employee of Streetvibes or GCCH but a contracted worker responsible for my own well-being and income. 7. I agree not to sell additional goods or products when selling Streetvibes. 8. I will not sell Streetvibes or purchase Streetvibes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 9. There are no territories among vendors. I will respect the space of other vendors, particularly the space of vendors who have been at a spot longer. 10. I understand that my badge is the property of Streetvibes and I will not deface it. I will present my badge when purchasing papers and display my badge when selling papers. If I lose my badge I will pay three dollars ($3) for a new one. If my badge becomes ruined because of weather or use, I will get a new badge for one dollar ($1). 11. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a paper that covers homelessness and poverty issues while providing a source of income for the homeless. I will try to help in this effort and spread the word. 12. I will not deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a nonprofit charity or that I am collecting for the “homeless” in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale of Streetvibes go to me. I will not use the word “donation.” 13. There are special rules for selling at Findlay Market. Only two vendors may sell at Findlay Market at a time. Other rules as established by Streetvibes and Findlay Market. 14. I will attend monthly meetings. Monthly meetings will occur on the first weekday of the month. The month’s paper will be released at this meeting. Anyone who cannot make the meeting must meet with Andy, the Education Coordinator, before selling Streetvibes for that month. Ten papers will be given to those who attend the meeting. 15. It is the responsibility of each vendor to police fellow vendors or former vendors. I will report violators of the rules to GCCH. The value of the paper depends on keeping it credible. 16. I understand that any infraction of the above mentioned rules will result in suspension of my privilege to sell Streetvibes and possible termination from the program. Badges and Streetvibes papers are property of GCCH and must be surrendered upon demand. Where your Dollar Goes Streetvibes Jimmy Heath, Editor, Layout and Design Photographers Jimmy Heath, Linda Pittman, Andy Freeze, John Lavelle Cover Kids on Sidewalk, Over-the-Rhine Streetvibes accepts letters, poems, stories, essays, original graphics, and photos. We will give preference to those who are homeless or are vendors. Subscriptions to Streetvibes, delivered to your home each month, can be purchased for $35 per year. Address mail to: Streetvibes Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com web: http://cincihomeless.org Member of: International Network of Street Papers North American Street Newspaper Assn. 75 Cents Goes Directly to Your Vendor Streetvibes is a program of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. 25 Cents Pays for Production Streetvibes Vendor Phone: (513) 421-7803 Streetvibes vendors purchase their papers for 25 cents per copy, then sell them for a $1.00 donation, keeping the 75 cent profit. The money used to purchase the paper goes to the individual vendor. GCCH does not profit from the sale of Streetvibes. Vendors are not fundraising for the Coalition for the Homeless. ANDY Buy Streetvibes From Badged Vendors ONLY �STREETVIBES Page 3 Bloomington, IN - A homeless man returned the missing wallet of a YMCA of Bloomington-Normal assistant swim coach and was rewarded with a free Y membership for one year. Derrick Clark found the wallet of swim coach Mandy Burge in the YMCA’s overflow parking lot near Home Sweet Home Ministries, said Jeff Boaz, Y membership services coordinator. Clark, who later told Burge that he was a resident of the mission, returned the wallet and its contents to the YMCA. Zandt was so moved by Clark’s action that she offered him the free Y membership. Burge said she got a telephone call from her grandmother on June 14th that Burge’s insurance company called to say that someone had found her wallet. Burge hadn’t realized her wallet was missing. I lost my wallet and didn’t even know,’” Burge recalled this week. She figured that she dropped her wallet earlier in the afternoon when she returned to the Y from lunch. Clark returned the wallet with its contents — debit cards, driver’s license, insurance cards, receipts and pictures — and Burge gave him a thank-you card with $10 and a pamphlet to her church. “I just thank God for putting it on his (Clark’s) heart to return it.” Ramirez, who is being held on $25,000 bail, had possibly been drinking, police said. Palm Springs, CA - A Palm Springs man was arrested last month after allegedly trying to rob a homeless man, according to the Palm Springs Police Department. Dion Clark, 41, approached the driver of a Chevrolet Cavalier parked outside Ralph’s Supermarket and asked if he could wash the windshield for money. The driver, German Reyes Ramirez, 37, took out a gun - which turned out to be a plastic replica revolver - and demanded money from Clark, who ran away and called police, police said. Responding officers found the vehicle, recovered the plastic gun and Clark positively identified Ramirez and the vehicle. Nashville, TN - Nashville police are searching for the driver of a vehicle that ran over a homeless man who ultimately died from his injuries. 69 year-old Wilbur Lee Helms was found shortly before midnight on June 18th by a police officer. Investigators said Helms appeared to be extremely intoxicated and may have been lying in the road when he was struck. Helms died from injuries that doctors said were consistent with injuries from being run over by a vehicle. Authorities do not have any clues about the driver’s identity, but said the hit & run incident happened in downtown Nashville, a few blocks north of Bicentennial Park. Salt Lake City, UT - A Utah woman believes she has found an answer for the world’s homeless: domes. Rebecca South works with the Domes for the World Foundation. In 2006, South and her husband worked with the non-profit organization to erect dome homes for those who survived the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia. “You can’t even imagine how the people were living,” she told KUTV. Instead of volunteers, each home is built by people native to stricken areas at a cost of less than $5,000 per domicile - money which goes directly into the affected community. The domes, built with rebar and cement, are able to withstand natural disasters - giving both shelter and security to families. Joliet, IL - The Plan to End Homelessness Committee of the Will County Continuum of Care called its recent Open Door Day a success. This event serves as a specialized outreach to people who are chronically homeless. The day is a collaboration of several continuum agencies, including the city of Joliet and Will County, which provide the services these individuals need. On June 18, Morningstar Mission hosted more than 20 agencies and providers of homeless services. Attendees accessed free services such as lunch; showers; laundry facilities; haircuts; health and HIV screenings; and assistance to procure a state ID, Mainstream Benefits information, veterans’ benefits, and employment training information. In addition, new clothing, shoes, phone cards, duffels, personal hygiene kits and bus passes were provided. St r Charlotte, NC - A 49-year-old homeless man was found dead last month in a wooded area in Gastonia, police said. Royce Mathis was stabbed several times, Gastonia police Sgt. Jimmy West said. West said Mathis and other homeless men occasionally stayed in the wooded area off South York Road. Police are trying to determine who made the 911 call around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, West said. Police do not have a suspect at this point, he said. This marks the second homicide in Gastonia this month. On June 9, Elma Ausrella “Jackie” Beard, 49, was fatally stabbed inside her apartment, Gastonia police said. Her boyfriend, Theodore Jordan Jr., was charged with murder, but he has not been located, police said. Daytona Beach, FL - A 10-year-old boy apologized last month for beating and stoning a homeless Army veteran, and a judge ordered him kept in custody until psychiatric evaluations show he is not a threat to others. “I’m sorry for what I did,” the boy said at his juvenile court sentencing, while shackled and wearing an oversized white jumpsuit. “I’m sorry for the names I called John D’Amico. I wish I could go back to that day.” Authorities say two 10-year-olds and a teenager beat D’Amico as he and a friend walked through a crime-ridden neighborhood. One of the younger boys threw a concrete block at D’Amico’s face. Investigators never determined which boy threw the block. D’Amico underwent reconstructive surgery, and he testified that injuries from the attack in March still linger. “He did a lot of damage,” D’Amico, 58, told the judge. “I can’t hear. I can’t see well. I just hope the kid gets some help. You don’t want him to turn out to be a little gangster.” The state Juvenile Justice Department will oversee the boy’s psychiatric evaluations and determine when he is released, said Linda Pruitt, a spokeswoman for state prosecutors. The boy was convicted last month of aggravated battery and has been held in a juvenile detention center. Defense attorney Tonya Cromartie argued he should be released on probation and ordered to receive counseling. “The help he needs can’t be accomplished in a detention facility,” Cromartie said. “It should be done under the direction of a doctor in a hospital.” “I want to do something with my life. I want go to college,” he said. His mother declined to comment outside court. The other young boy pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery in April and was scheduled to be sentenced July 13. He faces up to a year in juvenile detention and now is living with an aunt in Michigan. Cleveland. OH - An agency known for helping the homeless is in need of help. The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless is $70,000 in debt and could close at the end of July. In addition to the services it offers to the homeless, the agency holds candlelight vigils to raise awareness about the problem. The executive director said the situation is the most serious crisis the group has faced in its 18 years. To help, please send donations to: NEOCH, 3631 Perkins Ave., #3A-3, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 eet vib es Buy STREETVIBES From Badged Vendors Only �STREETVIBES Page 4 Mourning in my Own Way OSHA by Elizabeth Byrd and Curt Braman On June 6, 2007, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the U.S. Department of Labor, cited Rumpke’s Tire Shredders Division with seven safety violations, as a result of its investigation into Scott Johnson’s injury and subsequent death. All violations were classified as “Serious” and included; 1) Open sided floors and platforms not guarded by standard railings, exposing workers to falls of 4-10 feet 2) A lack of standard railings and toeboards adjacent to or above dangerous equipment 3) Exposure to falling into or being caught by feeder rollers of a tire shredder 4) A lack of stairs to areas needed for inspection and maintenance. Employees were observed climbing the guardrails of the shredder to perform these functions 5) Lack of machine guards and exposure to an amputation hazard around the drum drive 6) An amputation hazard from pulleys less than 7 feet from the work area that lacked safety guards 7) An amputation hazard from a belt guard that was not secured and was falling off 8) An amputation hazard from a missing guard around the sprocket wheels and chains on the drum drive. For these violations Rumpke agreed to pay $17,000. Scott Johnson paid with his life. International Network of Street Papers Anti-Poverty Statement of 2007 Street papers make a difference in the battle to alleviate and end poverty and homelessness. We are pioneers in the field of practical and effective intervention to making a positive change in people’s lives. As a global movement, the International Network of Street Papers has proven this model can be replicated around the world, on all continents, to major impact. The street paper model of empowerment and enterprise can be applied beyond the street paper movement. Today, despite decades of efforts by governments and social initiatives, homelessness and poverty continue to increase and erode our society. Therefore, we call on governments of the world to listen to the voice of poverty and create and implement new anti-poverty strategies based on the principles of empowerment and enterprise vested in street papers. We call on corporations to implement corporate social responsibility policies aimed at poverty in their communities and recognize the effectiveness of street papers to support that effort. We call on an informed society to stop viewing people experiencing poverty and homelessness as a threat and part of the problem, and see them as a part of the solution. Nobody should live in poverty in this world, and together we have the obligation and the power to change this. It costs us all more to perpetuate poverty than to end it. We call on all sectors of society to come together in ending the injustice of poverty and to engage street papers as part of that solution. A Tribute to Scottie Johnson by Cleo Wombles My name is Cleo Wombles. I first met Scottie when I was 10 years old. We played basketball, baseball, and football in our younger days. I knew him for over forty years and we became the best of friends. We would at times go to the movies with our friends. Over the years as Scottie and I grew older we used to drink a lot of beer together. We both worked together at various Day Labor jobs. It hurts one’s heart now to know that I will never see him again. He will forever be in my memories Scottie Johnson, from an old photo and in my heart as a friend and like a close brother. To his family, my prayers and condolences go to them. May God bless his family. by Georgine Getty On July 5, I headed to a memorial in honor of Scott Johnson, a day labor worker who died on June 18 from injuries he sustained on the job. Scott was loved by many in Over the Rhine, including Cleo, one of our Streetvibes vendors who knew him for over 30 years. Nast Trinity Church offered their facilities for the memorial and Church of Our Savior provided the food. John Morawetz was there to present on worker safety because Scott died as a result of faulty safety procedures at Rumpke’s Tire Recycling, a job he acquired through TLC temporary labor hall. But I never made it to the memorial. Instead I was detained by a young man and woman, both age 20, and their baby girl, just over a year old. The woman was crying because she had no place for her and the baby to go for the evening. It turns out that this young woman, who is pregnant with her second child, and her boyfriend are both day labor workers. They were homeless that night because they did not earn enough to pay for the hotel room they were staying in. Pastor Gale from Nast Trinity, the receptionist of Emmanuel Community Center and I pooled our mental resources and called around. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of these two extraordinary women as well as the compassion of the agencies we called. Lighthouse Youth Services set an appointment for the next morning to get the young woman into permanent supportive housing. Salvation Army agreed to provide them with emergency shelter for the evening. The Emmanuel Center, seeing how smart and curious the baby was, had the young woman fill out an enrollment form on the spot, even though the baby was two months shy of the age limit. Elizabeth and Thomas from the Day Labor Organizing Project sat outside and talked to the young man, telling him about DLOP’s regular meetings. All in all, it went as well as it could. As I handed back the sleeping baby on the steps of the Salvation Army, I sincerely wished this young couple all of the luck in the world. And then I got angry. I’m angry that Scott Johnson died. I’m angry that his employers couldn’t, no, wouldn’t provide him with the safe workplace he needed to survive. I’m angry that his death was so gruesome, his friends and family so bereaved. I’m always angry when a life is wasted, especially when it’s wasted for something so vile as the greed of the labor halls and the companies that use them to save money. And I’m angry that these two young people, and their beautiful baby, are homeless tonight. I’m angry that they work hard, every day that they can, so that they can support themselves and that today, they just didn’t make it. I’m angry that the young man had to gently lecture the woman on swallowing her pride tonight and going to a shelter, for the good of her babies; the one in her arms and the one on the way. I’m angry that she did have to swallow her pride, which seems to be one of the few things she’d ever been able to depend on. And why? Because the work day labor workers produce is not valued. Because to places like TLC and Labor Ready and Minutemen these two are just warm bodies to stick in terrible jobs and then underpay. It is time for this country to wake up and demand justice for the day labor workers who work every single day only to rest their heads at night in our shelters. It is time for us to stop blaming people for being homeless and look behind their stories to find the men and women who profit from their misery. So I didn’t make it to Scott’s memorial, not today. But I did participate in a wake for a young woman’s pride. And I hope I also witnessed the start of the re-birth of a young family into some sort of better life. Scott Johnson Memorial by Elizabeth Byrd & Curt Braman Forty Day Labor Workers and their supporters from the Clergy, Labor and Community Organizations gathered to remember Scott Johnson at a Memorial Service, called by the Day Labor Organizing Project (DLOP). It was held at Nast Trinity United Methodist Church on July 5, 2007. Following prayer and recollection from those who knew Mr. Johnson, the group reached a consensus that a fitting memorial would be to identify and work to improve the many unsafe working situations Day Labors encounter almost daily. A colleague of Mr. Johnson, who had worked with him at the Rumpke Facility that was the site of his life ending injuries, pointed out that neither she or any other temporary workers received safety training before or during their assignments at Rumpke. Other workers were quick to relate dozens of other hazards they have faced at workplaces across the Cincinnati area. They found common threads of lack of training, safety equipment, properly functioning equipment and oversight in many of these situations. The hour long discussion closed with workers recognizing the need for further discussion and activity that would address workplace safety for Day Laborers. Several workers volunteered to form a Safety Committee with the support of DLOP. Anyone interested in participating should contact Don Sherman at the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center located at 1415 Walnut; 621-5991. �STREETVIBES Page 5 AGENCY SPOTLIGHT Madisonville Education and Assistance Center (MEAC) The Madisonville Education and Assistance Center by Linda Pittman This newest member of our agencies has been in operation since 1986 when 12 community churches and the Madisonville Community Council pooled the community’s resources to better serve individuals and families who reside in the 45227 zip code area (Fairfax, Madison Place, Madisonville, and Mariemont) with critical needs such as food, clothing, rent and utility assistance. In 2003 the neighboring communities of the East End, Hyde Park and Oakley were added to its service area. Today, MEAC is a non-profit organization with the expanded support of 19 community churches and collaboration from the City of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency and the Freestore Foodbank. MEAC food and clothes pantries are located in the Eastminster Presbyterian Church on 4600 Erie Avenue and financial assistance applications are taken in the adjacent building. On-site applications are accepted for Food Stamps, medical benefits (Healthy Start, Healthy Families, and Medicaid) WIC, cash assistance (TANF), lowincome home e n e r g y assistance program (HEAP), child care subsidy, and federal and state taxes. In the month of June, 2007, MEAC was able to service 400 individuals, or about 150 families. The services include a food pantry and clothes closet, open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and is closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday nights is the Feed and Seed program, a dinner served between 5:007:00 p.m. Assistance is given with personal hygiene products, haircut/ haircare vouchers, bus tokens and case management. Financial help (as long as funds allow) includes rent (no mortgages), gas and electric, birth certificates, State ID’s and Lifeline phone service. You can call 271-5501 for assistance. Disenfranchised Peoples of God by Charles Evegan Although I do not have a college degree, I have a GED, some college, and a life time of experiences and talents that are usable in the world of employment. I can type 70 words per minute and my data entry keystrokes are between 8 and 10 thousand an hour. I am 44 years old and my people skills and talents seasoned with Grace and Salt makes me an ideal candidate for a good employee, wherever I may chose to be employed. I went to prison for robbery in 1991 and every time I go up for a job interview I am denied meaningful employment and fair pay. Even the temp services take advantage of the poor and homeless by denying them fair pay. Taking 7 to 10 dollars out of our checks for gas although the job may be at the stadium and is walking distance, most temporary agencies, refusieto let us walk or catch the bus. face. They say one thing but mean The constitution states in the 5th another. We create and perpetuate the amendment, “Nor shall any person be same injustices that the letter of the law subjected to be twice put in jeopardy was intended to protect. of life or limb.” The 14th amendment, Law makers interpret away the “Nor any person rights of the people by denied the equal making excuses for protection of the law.” doing so under the cloak A person with a of another law. Thus record is subjected to denying us the equal double and triple protection under the law jeopardy by being which is intended to denied meaningful guarantee that we will employment. We have not be punished twice already been convicted for the same offense. and paid for it. Now Cincinnati seems to be we are convicted again a testing ground for the socially, by being breaking of peoples’ denied positions in this Charles Evegan rights for monetary or world that limits chances of pursuing material gain. A few years ago the happiness. They do this by enforcing justice center was charging 30 dollars laws that discriminate against felons . to incarcerate any one arrested. Later These laws are contradictory on its the ordinance was ruled City Wasting Money Again by Leigh Tami On any given night, between 1,300 and 1,500 people are homeless in Cincinnati. Twenty-nine percent of those experiencing homelessness are children, and thirty-three percent of those children are under the age of five years old. Accessibility to affordable housing is at a low, and hate crimes against the homeless are at a high. Day Laborers are dying from limb amputations and other serious injuries resulting from unsafe conditions while being paid a laughably small and aptly named minimum wage. After reviewing statistics like these, it would seem that the financial priorities of the city of Cincinnati would drastically shift toward funding human services and resolving the ever-worsening problems of homelessness and poverty. Unfortunately, as far as spending is concerned, City Council has other things in mind. As of this June, new rules regarding sidewalk benches were approved by council in order to “improve the curb appeal” of Cincinnati. As if this were not ridiculous enough by itself, the city admits that the extra staff and money necessary to immediately fund this endeavor are really not there, so it aims to complete this project by the end of the year. Despite this apparent setback, City Council is very serious about said bench removal: the goal is removal of roughly one thousand benches on Cincinnati sidewalks. Oh, and incase any law-abiding citizens spot and want to report an “illegal bench”, the city has conveniently provided a phone number for you to call so that we unconstitutional and was repealed and then they were forced to pay back the people. But the city still profited an undisclosed amount of dollars because they may have only paid back 1/100th of the money they took in that time period. Although a public notice was made known, some people died, some left town, some were incarcerated and some people simply didn’t care. So the city profited millions. This is my first piece on disenfranchised people. I am a member of the LORDS GYM on 12th and Race Street, downtown across from Washington Park. If anyone has comments or suggestions or positive feedback on my first article or even a not so positive one please come and visit the Lords Gym or chuckevegan@yahoo.com Sincerely and Still unemployed can make sure that our time and energy is properly used in the removal of aesthetically displeasing benches. To summarize the situation, we have very real and very serious problems of poverty, homelessness, and social/ economic injustice plaguing the streets of our city, but are instead spending money we don’t have and staff that is not available on a ludicrous endeavor to remove sidewalk benches. It seems that instead of addressing the deep rooted problems that already exist in our city, we are instead wasting time and resources to create and then “solve” new ones. �STREETVIBES Page 6 “Bum Fights” Continues to Influence Teens by Andy Freeze One way in which I stay up to date on information regarding the homeless population is subscribing to Yahoo News Alerts. Each day Yahoo sends out a news feed with different articles that contain the word “homeless.” Some days the articles are about good things going on in different cities. I recently read that in Denver, they are using old parking meters to collect money for organizations that work with the homeless. In Fresno, the Fresno airport is taking all of the confiscated toiletries and donating them to homeless organizations so that they can be used instead of thrown away. It is always good to see these stories and to learn what we here in Cincinnati can do to continue helping those who are homeless. However, those articles have been far too few in recent weeks because I can’t seem to open a news feed without seeing an article about a homeless person being attacked. On Monday, July 9, I looked at the news feed and found two stories about teens attacking the homeless. One story was from the Orlando area, where six to eight teens were being sought after two men that were sleeping in an abandoned house were attacked, stabbed, and beaten with baseball bats. The teens they are looking for are between the ages of 16 and 22. Fortunately the injuries were not life threatening, but there is something wrong with this picture. What are teenagers being taught that they think it is okay or fun to go and beat the crap out of others because they are less fortunate? That same day, another story surfaced from Chicago where a homeless man apparently bumped into a group of men as they were leaving a nearby bar on a Sunday night. They beat the man with some sort of object, possible a sign, metal cable, or both. “They beat this homeless guy pretty good,” said a Central district Police captain. And a week later on Tuesday July 17, I got word of another group of teens that attacked a group of homeless people. This one occurred in Los Angeles where four teens were arrested for a series of attacks that they video taped on their cell phones with the intent of posting it on the internet. These teens threw bikes on top of homeless peoples tents, set smoke bombs off while people where sleeping, set blankets on fire, and opened tents up and shot people with an airsoft pistol. The teens in Los Angeles said they were influence by a movie series called “Bum Fights,” a video series that deliberately disregards the humanity of homeless people. If you have never seen the DVD series, it can only be described as barbaric and cruel. In some of the more graphic scenes a homeless man is convinced to drink his own urine because he thinks its beer, a homeless man is paid to pull his tooth out with pliers, and one homeless man breaking another homeless man’s ankle. These videos 20 - Total number of deaths as a result of homeless are the main reason behind hate crimes in 2006 the recent spike in crimes committed against the homeless. 189 - Total number of deaths as a result of But what is worse homeless hate crimes in the past 8 years is that many of the United State’s top retailers continue to sell these 122 - Total number of non-lethal attacks against the videos. These retailers homeless in 2006 include Tower Records, Borders Books, Best Buy, 425 - Total number of non-lethal attacks against the Amazon.com, Virgin Mega Stores, Yahoo Shopping, homeless in the past 8 years and Circuit City. Campaigns run from the 614 - total number of attacks against the homeless National Coalition and Go Figure GCCH work to eliminate the sales of these DVD’s; however, they only disappear for a few months. After the National Coalition’s latest campaign, Amazon and Circuit City have pulled them from their shelves. Our society allows the homeless population to be exploited and directly markets this exploitation as entertainment towards our youth. If this were occurring with any other group of people these DVDs would never be sold. But there continues to be no public outcry against this. Some will say that they have never heard of it or haven’t seen it. But these videos are marketed toward our youth and our youth are watching it and then going out on the streets and doing similar inhumane and cruel things. We need you to stand up against this awful injustice that is occurring. NO store should be carrying these DVDs and they should not be making it into the hands of our youth. Below, we have listed the names and addresses of the CEOs of the retailers that still continue to sell these videos. We have temporarily succeeded in the past, but we still need to fight. Nothing will change if they do not hear from the public and realize how injust and inhumane these videos are. If we don’t advocate for our homeless friends, who will? STOP the retailers who still sell the “Bum Fights” movies.... Borders Books George Jones, CEO 100 Phoenix Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Tower Records Joe D’AMico, CEO 2500 Del Monte St. West Sacramento, CA 95691 Best Buy Brad Anderson P.O. Box 9312 Minneapolis, MN 55440 Yahoo Inc. Terry Semel 701 First Avenue Sunnyvale, CA94089 in the past 8 years 68 - Percentage of accused/convicted who are between the age of 13 and 19 37 - Percentage of accused/convicted who are under the age of 17 88 - Percentage of accused/convicted who are under the age of 25 11 to 75 - Age range of accused 4 Months to 74 - Age range of homeless victims Dear Readers! Send us your Vendor Stories Do you have a favorite Streetvibes Vendor that you would like to tell us about? Send your stories or comments to: Streetvibes@juno.com or Streetvibes 117 E 12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBES Page 7 American people are Peace Village committed2. The to some form of good by Dr. Steve Sunderland The Supreme Court decided by a vote of 5 to 4 to throw out school board plans by Seattle and Louisville because of the use of race to balance schools. 4 Justices were agreed that race could not be used. One Justice said he agreed with the majority but race could sometimes be used. 4 other Justices said that the majority was wrong based on precedents of previous cases over the past 50 years. Dear Chief Justice Roberts: The recent decision of the majority of the Supreme Court to change systems of school discrimination from those that are race based to “colorblind” ones, ignores some of the important themes of the past 60 years: 1. The American people have tried to move from segregated frames of reference to integrated ones even though many states, local and federal practitioners along with religious and political leaders have fought almost every attempt. The good will of the American people stretches back a long way in the area of civil rights: early in our Revolutionary years, Benjamin Franklin, a former slave owner, led an abolitionist movement that had a deep impression on Washington and Jefferson. The failure to abolish slavery before the Civil War, as Britain did, has led to halting steps for justice in the minds of many Americans. We are caught, again, with confusion about whether our Constitution is a document of justice or injustice. Americans, taking the principles of this Court’s latest decision, can now avoid the good conscience effort to seek to break down segregated schooling and housing patterns, economic discriminatory rules, and religious bigotry. Traditionally, many citizens of this country know what is right; yet, our Supreme Court has chosen to act as if racial prejudice against children is a past experience and need not be corrected by plans for inclusion. “I fear the consequences... for the law, for the schools, for the democratic process, and for American’s efforts to create, out of its diversity, one Nation.” Dissent by Justice Bryer in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 et al. education for their children even though segregated systems of education, created as part of a private and parochial system, have too often sent a counter message: “We need to be separate if we are to have “good” education.” This Court’s decision makes it difficult to raise the standard of justice in education for all of our children and plays into the fears and biases of our public that “racially balanced” schools may lower educational standards. The American public knows that prejudice, hatred, and unfairness are not correct attitudes in terms of defining educational systems for children and neighborhoods. The legacy of racism has created a mind-set that says that re-segregation is “the best we can do.” The school systems of Louisville, Seattle, Cincinnati and other major cities reflects a stubborn racism only partially relieved by prior Supreme Court rulings. Rather than focus on the tremendous breakthroughs to improve diversity in teacher training, neighborhood involvement, and the political action of school boards since the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown, your Court’s decision reinforces the attitude of consigning children to poor schools, poor employment and deteriorating cities. “And what of law’s concern to diminish and peacefully settle conflict among the Nation’s people? Instead of accommodating different goodfaith visions of our country and our Constitution, today’s holding upsets settled expectation, creates legal uncertainty, and threatens to produce considerable further litigation, aggravating race-related conflict.” Justice Bryer for the minority in the dissent. 3. The American people are committed to education that sees the gifts of every child and builds on these gifts through creative, compassionate, and integrated education. The American experience of segregation fosters a negative and faulty perspective on what it takes to build good schools and educate healthy children. Children who are hated for their skin color, or, treated rudely because of their use of a language different from English, or, singled out to receive “labels” that hide their human potential, are citizens that will have to fight against your decision to make justice the central value of our schools. The Court’s decision goes against research in education that reveals the many gifts of children pervious excluded from integrated systems of education. These gifts cannot easily be seen without methods that respect the culture of each child and methods that can look past skin color, language skills and surface “disabilities.””...the plurality’s approach risks serious harm to the law and for the Nation. Its view of the law rests either upon a denial of the distinction between exclusionary and inclusive use of race-conscious criteria in the context of the Equal Protection Clause, or upon such a rigid application of its “test” that the distinction loses practical significance. Consequently, the Court’s decision today slows down and sets back the work of local school boards to bring about racially diverse schools.” Justice Bryer for the four dissenting Justices. 4. The efforts to build a strong America have never been easy. The questions surrounding prejudice have been very deep elements in our national character. Perhaps slavery has so frightened the average majority American that only very limited progress can be sustained in our schools. Perhaps our majority fears of difference will continue to construct temporary barriers to those students and their families, also Americans, who seek an America that is fundamentally welcoming of difference, . The ruling of your Court is a setback for parents and children in our schools. But are only a temporary slowing down of what is a stronger and more compassionate force in our society. Racial harmony can be obtained. Inclusion of students based on conscious and planned choices will occur. The Supreme Court, prior to 1954, walked backward on American justice. The last 60 years have taught us that the journey to change our society is rarely easy, frequently filled with conflict, and inextricably bound up with historical ignorance. Yet, the Supreme Court changed for the better and improved our country. Your decision threatens all of this progress. Yet, we see that we must raise our voices in protest of your ideas. The songs we sing shall inspire us until that day when, “We shall overcome.” �STREETVIBES Page 8 Streetvibes Float Saves the Day by Streetvibes Staff Vendors and the Streetvibes staff of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless joined with the Cincinnati Beacon and marched in the Northside 4th of July Day Parade. Streetvibes borrowed and then decorated a van from the Drop Inn Center. Streetvibes and the Cincinnati Beacon joined to form an independent media float. Streetvibes vendors passed out old copies of Streetvibes with information on what Streetvibes is. The Beacon also passed out copies of their July issue. The Streetvibes and parade walkers also carried signs showing their support for freedom of speech and the Northside Community. The signs included, “Truth, Justice: it’s the Streetvibes Way,” “Mom, Apple Pie, and Streetvibes,” “Happy Birthday America! Love, Streetvibes,” “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Streetvibes,” and “Free Speech is Patriotic.” As the Streetvibes float neared the end of the parade route, it was quickly pulled aside to be used to cut down a falling limb that was overhanging the parade route. Streetvibes saved the parade and everyone who participated had a great time. Thanks to Northside for coming out and supporting Streetvibes and the Cincinnati Beacon and thanks to all those who walked the parade route with us. The Streetvibes float (borrowed van from Drop Inn Center) and volunteers Marchers in Northside Parade for IJPC (Inter-Community Justice and Peace Center) What if the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless had a penny for every time you searched the Internet? Iraq War Realities by Jimmy Heath U.S.Monthly Spending in Iraq - $12 billion, in 2007 Lost & unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers’ money and $549.7 million in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors Lost & unaccounted for in Iraq - $9 billion of US taxpayers’ money and $549.7 million in spare parts shipped in 2004 to US contractors Search the web with www.goodsearch.com and money from Yahoo advertisers will go to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless without you spending a dime! Journalists killed - 112, 74 by murder and 38 by acts of war US Troops Wounded - 26,806, 20% of which are serious brain or spinal injuries (total excludes psychological injuries) Iraqis Displaced Inside Iraq, by Iraq War, as of May 2007 - 2,085,000 3,628 US Soldiers Killed, 26,806 Seriously Wounded Iraqis “strongly opposed to presence of coalition troops - 82% Iraqis who believe Coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security - less than 1% 90% of Iraqis say Iraq better under Saddam tyranny 59% of Americans say Iraq war “a mistake” �STREETVIBES Page 9 25,000 people will experience homelessness at some point in Cincinnati this year • 29% of the homeless in Cincinnati are children • In the last fif- Cincinnati Urban Experience College, High School, and Youth Group students will come to Cincinnati, Ohio to learn about issues of homelessness and poverty through service, educational experiences, and reflection. Participants will come to a greater understanding of and empathy for the complexities of poverty in an urban environment through experiential learning and guided reflection. Program Components: Service: Groups perform service at agencies and organizations in Urban Cincinnati that deal with poverty and homelessness issues directly. Through service work, participants have personal experiences with issues and gain knowledge. Education: Participants will take part in activities that teach them about poverty issues. Examples include speakers, education activities, experiential/simulation exercises, and videos. Reflection: Discussion of service, education, experiences, and observations among peers. Focus on drawing connections and learning. Living: Participants live together in a simple community setting. Ideally, they stay in the community in which they are serving and learning. For more information contact: Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Andy Freeze 117 East 12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: (513) 421-7803 x 14 Email: andytfreeze@yahoo.com www.cincihomeless.org homelessness in Cincinnati are lack of affordable housing and the loss of income • A person on food stamps in Ohio receives on average $1.04 per meal teen years the homeless population has risen 150% in Cincinnati • The leading causes of �STREETVIBES Page 10 National News.... Workers Lose As Senate Legislation Fails Human Needs Report - Legislation that would have boosted access to higher wages and better fringe benefits through unionization will not be going anywhere - for now. The Senate blocked a vote that would have ended the delaying tactic of further debate on the Employee Free Choice Act (S.1041). The motion failed 51-48, nine votes short of the 60 votes needed to invoke closure, effectively stalling the legislation. All Democrats (except for Sen. Johnson, D-SD, who is still recovering from a major health issue) voted in favor of ending debate, along with Sen. Specter (R-PA). All other Republicans voted against closure, which can be interpreted as opposition to S. 1041. H.R. 800, the House counterpart bill, passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 241185 in March. However, that vote was well short of the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override a veto promised by President Bush. The bill would have leveled the playing field in the workplace by allowing workers to join a union without employer interference, requiring mediation and arbitration between the union and employer if a timely agreement is not reached during bargaining on the first contract, and creating penalties for employers who intimidate employees. Currently, employers have the right to demand a secret ballot election before a union can be certified. In the proposed legislation, union organizers could bypass elections when a majority of employees sign cards in favor of establishing union representation, known as “card check.” Too many employers have carried out unjust practices against union employees. Currently, 92 percent of employers force employees to attend mandatory closed-door meetings against the union. One in four employers illegally fire at least one worker for union activity during organizing campaigns. EFCA would greatly reduce such illegal and intimidating tactics by increasing penalties on employers for violations against employees’ rights. Reports confirm clear advantages for union workers. For example, union workers’ median weekly earnings amount to around $833 while nonunion workers’ median weekly earnings only amount to $642 – a 30 percent difference. While 15 percent of nonunion workers are without health care coverage, only 2.5 percent of union workers are without health insurance. Other fringe benefits such as guaranteed pensions, short-term disability benefits and paid vacation days are improved for workers affiliated with a union. In addition, women, African Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans disproportionately receive better wages when they are able to associate with a union. According to a Peter D. Hart survey, 60 million Americans who are currently nonunion workers say they want to have a union in their workplace. Employment Issues for the Homeless by Charles Blachford Currently the Ohio job market is extremely competitive. With the unemployment rate above the national average hundreds of thousands of people are finding it very difficult to land a job that pays a livable wage. For homeless people throughout the state finding a job can be even more difficult. Dealing with the instability of not having a permanent residence and adding the rigorous process of finding employment can be overbearing for people. Sometimes the only opportunity for employment for the homeless is day labor jobs. Currently there are very few laws that prohibit unfair treatment on these types of jobs. Homeless people are sometimes brought to work sites and forced to wait for hours before they can work. For instance someone may be picked up at 8am to start a job and dropped off at 6pm but only get paid for 4 hours worth of work because they were forced to sit around idle for 6 hours. Some of the other obstacles that many homeless people have to overcome to obtain employment is; not having a phone number for employers to call them back at, lack of transportation in rural areas, the uncertainty of daily location, the absence of personal security, the desperation to fill immediate needs (food, clothing, etc), and little or no access to bathing facilities. If a homeless person is able to secure a job their troubles are far from over. To sustain a job and save money while living in such dire circumstances is extremely difficult because the same issues of uncertainty, insecurity, and cleanliness are still present. Also it can be a couple of months before enough money is saved to pay for a security deposit, first month’s rent, and utility deposits. Imagine juggling a full-time job along with the stress and difficulties of being homeless, it can be overwhelming to say the least. Often it is so overbearing dealing with homelessness and employment at the same time that people prematurely move into situations in unstable environments or move in with unstable people. This premature move can sometimes lead to the recurrence of homelessness and the need to start at square one. In America we are taught to believe that if we get a job and work hard everything will be alright. Unfortunately, in America this is not always the case. There needs to be more programs and public dollars available to help people get over the hump and stabilize when they are working but still struggling with poverty and homelessness. Hungry in Louisiana Almost 22 months after Hurricane Katrina, tens of thousands of Louisianans still need help providing food for themselves and their families. Charitable food services are no longer seeing the massive lines that existed in the storm’s aftermath but demand remains at twice pre-storm levels. That has food banks across the state pleading for help. Federal and state officials need to make sure existing food and nutrition programs are working as intended. But all of us can help fellow Louisianans by donating to food banks. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, which serves 23 South Louisiana parishes, estimates it will need 25 million pounds of food over the next 12 months. The organization handled 14 million pounds annually preKatrina. Demand remains high in part because of recent reductions in federal funding for nutrition programs, which state and food bank officials said dropped 35 percent this fiscal year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the money, said the cuts owe to the end of one-time emergency programs after Katrina. But federal funding for some non-emergency food and nutrition programs also was reduced due to population losses. The region’s recovery, however, is far from over. Federal officials need to examine the current need to evaluate whether additional measures are warranted. Other programs, such as food stamps, get federal funding based on enrollment. Thus Louisianans in need who are not enrolled should check their eligibility by contacting the state Social Services Department at (888) 524-3578. Groups serving meals also should pass along enrollment information. Money is not the only problem, though. Families can’t have more than $3,000 in assets, including bank savings, to qualify for food stamps. But charities report that some families are being denied because they have higher bank balances due to insurance proceeds or Road Home grants to rebuild their homes. Federal and state officials need to make sure that efforts to rebuild are not counted against people who need help purchasing food. In the meantime, all of us can help. To donate money or food to the greater New Orleans food bank, call (504) 734-1322. The group has a well-established reputation, and less than 3 cents per dollar go for administrative and fundraising costs, according to private services that rate charities. More importantly, the food bank is now part of the state’s emergency response plan, yet officials estimate it could face a deficit of 10 million pounds of food if disaster strikes. So what you give now could end up helping you during another storm. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Streetvibes wish to thank Panera Bread at Gilmore Square in Fairfield for their donations of bread, pastries, bagels and sweets. The Breads, Pastries and Bagels are used throughout the week by our vendors and people who visit the Homeless Coalition lobby to use the phone or get out of the heat �STREETVIBES Page 11 Looming Crisis: Housing for the Elderly by Brandon Lichtinger (Street Sense, USA) It’s 9:30 a.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day, and John Monte is busy ladling homemade mushroom soup for diners at the Dinner Program for Homeless Women, or as the servers casually call it, “The 9:30 Club.” Monte, 68, has worked as a cook for most of his adult life and has worked in this kitchen for eight months. He is also homeless, and is staying with one of his sons until he can find affordable housing in the D.C. area. “It’s difficult,” Monte said. “We can’t pay [D.C. rent], especially on a fixed income. The rent is too high.” Monte’s younger brother, George Eskridge, volunteers at the Lutheran Church when he is needed there. Eskridge, 58, has worked in construction, retail, and the food industry in the past. He is also homeless. He takes temporary work when he can get it, and mostly works construction and janitorial jobs. “The cost of living keeps going up, while our salary is not,” Eskridge said. “If you’re not a professional, with a professional career and a job, you can’t make it.” “Terrifying” is how Eskridge describes being homeless and facing his 60s in the District. And Eskridge is not alone in his fears. With the cost of housing increasing much faster than the minimum wage and Social Security income, and with two of the District’s largest elder-care facilities slated to close, many senior citizens – both homeless and housed – are worried about future housing. One diner over 60, who wished to remain anonymous, said getting housing in D.C. as an elderly homeless person is extremely difficult. “A majority of people directly associated with certain programs like Section 8 have problems,” he said. “The list is either backed up or the housing is unaffordable.” Section 8 is one of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s housing assistance voucher programs for low-income families and individuals. Under Section 8, tenants pay a portion of their rent, typically around 30 per cent of their income, and the local housing authority covers the remainder. HUD determines a cap on housing costs, called the “Free Market Rate” or FMR. For D.C., the FMR for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,134. In order to afford this rental price, a D.C. resident would have to make an annual income of $45,360; at D.C.’s minimum wage of $7, a full-time employee would only make $14,560 yearly. “I’m just trying to get a boost any way that I can,” Eskridge said. “I’m just working for minimum wage, and if you don’t have a professional career, you can’t do it. And companies are subcontracting their own employment, but if you don’t have references, you can’t get it. You have to know somebody to [get work].” Monte receives Supplemental Security Income of $603 each month, the amount established for individuals in D.C. “An affordable one-bedroom apartment for me would be $400 [per month],” Monte said. “At least that way there’s some leeway so I can feed myself. If I get a place to stay, I can maintain it. In a way, the older population can take care of themselves, at least the ones that [are physically able]. But those that can’t take care of themselves, they should be taken care of.” However, D.C.’s assisted living population faces increasing difficulty in getting that care. For many of the area’s elderly who can’t take care of themselves, a potential housing crisis looms on the horizon, as two of the area’s 20 assisted living homes are scheduled to close in the near future. Nine weeks ago, citing a decrease in Medicaid funding, the Beverly Living Center in the Northwest announced its plans to close. As recently as April, the assisted living home had 335 patients; now those patients are looking for housing alternatives. Grant Park Care Center, another area assisted living home, announced its discharge model plan last Friday. While the center has not specified whether it will permanently close its doors, there’s a definite possibility that its 280 patients will be seeking housing in the near future. Unfortunately, few viable options exist in the D.C. area. The city’s full-care facilities are currently running at 98 per cent capacity, and Beverly Living Center residents have been forced to move to nursing homes in Maryland and Virginia. Available spaces in those states are also filling up. As more and more former D.C. residents take up beds in the states’ 32 nursing homes, care centers are starting to create waiting lists for patients. Assisted-living patients also have to reapply for Medicaid when they move out of the District, which proves to be a huge roadblock for many. Patients cannot move until they get Medicaid coverage, and D.C. nursing homes could close before patients successfully maneuver past all of the red tape. “It’s a logistical nightmare,” said Gerald Kasunic, an ombudsman for the Office of D.C. Long Term Care Program. “My worst fear would be that places start closing their doors and leave no place for patients to go.” Kasunic, sponsored and supported by the Legal Counsel for the Elderly, AARP, and the D.C. Office on Aging, said that if places closed their doors, many of the city’s elderly would be in need of full-time care on the streets. “Housing providers need to understand that elderly and disabled people need low-income housing,” Kasunic said. For Monte and Eskridge, the need for cheaper housing in the D.C. area remains. “I’m just trying to make it to Social Security and retirement, living day by day,” Eskridge said. “Housing is my biggest worry. That’s it. Don’t ever get to my age and think you’re going to make it without some kind of help,” Barriers to Finding Work When Homeless by Jessica P. Morrell and Genny Nelson (Gray Sunshine Publishing) One of the biggest myths is that homeless people don’t want to work. I can name on one hand those who have fit that line during the last thirty years. Everyone else just wants the opportunity to earn their own meals. That’s why our customers said to Sandy and me when we founded Sisters, “Don’t be about free food: do this with dignity; either make it cheap enough that I can pay for it on my income, or give me the chance to work for my meal.” Over and over, people have come to us years later to say, “Thank you for not robbing me of my dignity.” Your humanity doesn’t go away just because society doesn’t see it. It angers me that we don’t have enough places that afford people opportunities after they get their lives together. While people have done some pretty inappropriate things in their lives, all they’re saying is, “I’m not proud of what I’ve done, but I’ve done my time.” This is not about feeling sorry for people or being a bleeding-heart liberal. It’s about justice and human rights. When talking about obstacles to finding work, all our narrators described that keeping up grooming was essential to obtaining work. Some also talked about how landing a job was impossible when you have bad or missing teeth, or other physical manifestations of homelessness. Logan: Keep your appearance up, and then people have to be motivated to want to go to work. I am a motivated kind of person. I want to work. Dale: Did you ever go look for a job with a backpack on your back? Boss says, ‘What’s your address?’ [When he discovers he has none]: ‘Well, we’ll call and let you know.’ You are not getting the job when they see you are homeless; you got no telephone, you got a week bed [in a shelter]. If you got an address and someplace to leave your stuff, you can actually wear your best clothes and go there without a backpack on your back and make your best presentation to the person. Like Dale, Steve believed that there was work available, but it required practical solutions and incentive to find it. Steve: Do not tell me that there are no jobs. And if there are not, it is because they are going to those who have an education or have the money or have connections or what have you. But it is impossible to find a job when you do not have an address. If you have an address downtown, especially in Old Town, any job you are looking for, you would hear, ‘Oh, okay, sure, we’ll take an application,’ and then it goes in the garbage can. And yes, I have worked in a number of jobs, odd jobs, under-the-table … but when they find out that you are from that class of people, well, then either they assume that you cannot do it and they let you go, or some convenient excuse comes along. Sisters: So, if you were looking at solutions to ending individual homelessness and ending homelessness in general, what would make a real difference? Steve: [For] those who are homeless now, I would suggest laundry services, clothing services, and I do not mean clothing from the 1920s, I mean, clothing that is appropriate for a job. Mack explained if there are jobs available, they are for low wages, which makes ending their cycle of homelessness impossible. Mack: I don’t want to spend the rest of my life at six dollars an hour. I can’t do nothing with my life. I’d rather walk around on the streets, eat out here and there and have some time to myself and work a day a week than to get out there and kill myself and have nothing. Worry about losing your job, trying to maintain a roof over your head, from that kind of money? I don’t even know how people pay rent for that kind of money. Do you? Unless you live at home with your folks. Trevor explained that some days he chose to miss work in order to get clean. Trevor: The shower times are horrible. I mean you can take a shower at 7:30 in the morning, but you know what? If you are not at day labor at 5:30 in the morning you are not going to go out. I would suggest an evening shower, like 7 or something like that, or something bright and early in the morning, four o’clock, or 4:30. If I had a roof over my head and a place I could shower, I think I could become a productive member of society. It is a matter of just having a place to lie down at the end of the day. �STREETVIBES Page 12 Going and growing organic: Consumers turning to home“People are looking for local food,” Uncles days,” Fernando said. “But they wanted corn for four grown produce to five months.” said. “That’s where these trends are going.” by Anthony DeAngelis North Andover, MA - Clutching an overstuffed plastic bag of snap peas, Bob Maclean emerges from J&F farmstand in Derry with a smile. He and his wife, Betty, have ditched the produce aisle at their local supermarket for their weekly visit to the farmstand. “It makes a big, big difference,” Bob Maclean says. “It’s not like the junk you buy in the store.” The Macleans are regulars at the farmstand. Whether it’s making a special trip to a local farmstand or looking for the organic label in the supermarket, more people are looking for fresh food and locally produced food. Finding it isn’t always easy. Much of the produce in local supermarkets has been shipped across the country, sometimes even from another country. That means more people are looking to local farms for food. “I won’t eat any imported fruit or vegetable,” said Gert Gagnon, 67, of Raymond, a regular at both Kingston and Exeter’s farmer’s markets. Gagnon buys almost all her fruits and vegetables from local farmstands, rarely from a supermarket. “When you go to the supermarket, you know it’s been sitting there a while,” she said. “I very seldom go into one.” Richard Uncles, director of regulatory services for the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, said he has seen substantial growth in the popularity of farmer’s markets over the last few years. Local supermarkets have tried to cash in on the trend and look for local produce suppliers. A Shaw’s Supermarkets spokesman said the company has found customers prefer locally grown produce to that trucked in from out of state. “It’s becoming a larger and larger category,” said Mark Hardy, produce manager at Shaw’s in Derry. “And we’re trying to keep up with the demands.” Shaw’s isn’t the only major supermarket chain thinking and acting locally. Hannaford Supermarkets has become a major supplier of locally grown and organic produce. The company’s strategy has been to identify all local growers in each store’s area and supply customers with as broad a selection as possible. “We will go out of our way to get it locally,” said Caren Epstein, Hannaford corporate spokeswoman. “We have one of the more aggressive locally grown programs you will find.” Hannaford looks to 24 growers in the southern part of the state alone, Epstein said, but even that’s not always enough. She said the company constantly tries to identify more local food producers to supply its stores. Phil Fernando, owner of J&F farm in Derry, supplied Shaw’s Supermarkets with fresh produce for more than 10 years, but when the demands became too great, he had to back down. “I could supply them with corn for 45 to 60 Know Theatre Presents: THRILL ME Cincinnati’s home for unique theatre mounts Stephen Dolginhoff’s taut, raw two-man musical, based on the Leopold and Loeb story. Know Theatre, Cincinnati’s home for fresh, provocative entertainment is proud to add Stephen Dolginhoff’s THRILL ME to its 10th anniversary season. This regional premiere musical will show Cincinnati audiences why relationships can be murder. The two-man musical, which premiered at New York’s Midtown International Theatre Festival in 2003, is told from the point of view of Nathan Leopold. Leopold and his childhood friend Richard Loeb were convicted of the Chicagoland murder of Bobby Franks in 1924. Franks’ murder was billed as the “Crime of the Century” and immortalized the two would-be lawyers as the “Thrill Killers.” Though, there have been many more “crimes of the century,” the Leopold and Loeb story remains one of the most interesting stories of psychological manipulation in American history. Dolginhoff focuses on the relationship between the two young Chicagoans, against the backdrop of the crimes they committed. The dynamics of their relationship with its twists, turns, manipulations and shifts of power takes center stage throughout the taught and unencumbered musical performance; right up to the surprise conclusion. Large cast Broadway productions often miss the mark in creating the same dramatic tension that Dolginhoff creates with two actors on a minimalist set. THRILL ME has been produced in cities all over the world, including Seoul, South Korea (Korean Best Musical Award nom.); Melbourne, Australia; (Green Room Award nom.), Seattle; Philadelphia; Buffalo; Chicago (Jeff Award rec.); Los Angeles; Dallas (Column Award winner); Orlando; Tampa; Boston (IRNE Award nom.); Richmond; San Francisco & Sioux City and was featured on the PBS national broadcast of the Drama Desk Awards. This premier engagement, directed by Jason Bruffy features the acting talents of Mikhail Roberts and Steve Copps, under the musical direction of Michael Flohr. THRILL ME is an extra for the 2007/ 8 season which includes John Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo’s pop musical, Bare, Martin McDonough’s Pillowman, Red Light Winter and the Pulitzer Prize winning Topdog/Underdog by Suzan Lori Parks. “We’re continually searching for the freshest Off-Broadway programming for Cincinnati audiences, and nothing could be more Know Theatre then this hot seductive and unsettling musical,” says Artistic Director Jason Bruffy. “Cincinnati is one of the country’s top markets for Reality TV viewership so this is a natural fit. It’s a beautiful score woven through a seductive tale of two individuals chasing the trill of a lifetime.” It’s not just locally grown food that supermarkets want, but organic products, too. Hardy, the Derry Shaw’s produce manager, has been with the company for 10 years. He said he has noticed a dramatic increase in the number of organic products on the supermarket’s shelves. Nationally, the organic industry is experiencing a 20 percent growth rate in consumers a year, according to Ronni Cummins, the national director of organic consumers associations. That’s a trend he expects to continue and grow. “People are concerned about their health,” Cummins said. “That’s a big trend across the country.” Still, organic products make up just 3 percent of total food sales, according to a 2006 survey done by the Organic Trade Association. One of the primary reasons for that less impressive bigger picture might be cost. Plain and simple, organic produce costs consumers more and not everyone is willing to pay the price. “I think there will be a market for organic products if more people buy them, because then the prices should come down,” said Carol Simone, owner of Natural Marketplace in Salem. “Right now, I think people are looking for the farms. They know it’s fresh and picked that day. I’d go out of my way for that.” The movement by consumers to farmer’s markets and farmstands is reminiscent of the past, according to Cummins of the national organic association. Back in the 1940s, most people got their food from their own farms or from local farmers. Cummins said he thinks consumers are headed back in that direction. “Sixty years ago, everything people bought came from a 100-mile radius,” Cummins said. “That’s probably going to happen again. People are getting back to the natural ways of food.” Quick Facts About Thrill Me: The Story: THRILL ME explores the manipulations and power struggles between two thrill seeking Chicago law students. The Leopold and Loeb story remains one of the most intriguing tales of psychological manipulation, set against the backdrop of 1924’s “Crime of the Century.” This taut, raw musical proves that relationships can be murder! If You Like: THRILL ME appeals to individuals who gravitate to crime dramas and film noir detective stories. One could say it’s “Chicago meets L.A. Confidential.” Dates/Times: August 9 – August 26, 2007. August 9 – 11, 16 – 18 & 23 – 25 @ 8 p.m. Sunday(s) August 12, 19, 26 @ 4 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased by calling 513.621.ARTS (2787) or online at knowtheatre.com . Tickets range from $12-$22, with student/ senior discounts available. Missed a copy of Streetvibes? Check out the Streetvibes archive on the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ website at http://www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes.html �STREETVIBES Page 13 Poverty Complicates Everything by Michael Henson This is part of a continuing Streetvibes series on poverty and addiction. Let’s start an argument. It’s an old argument, one that was settled long ago. But people argue all the time over things that were settled long ago, so we can do it too. We won’t argue long, since the thing is settled, but we can start by asking one question: Does poverty cause addiction? You’ll say, of course not. Addiction is a disease; it said so in Time Magazine just last month. Addiction is a physical ailment that afflicts all sorts of people —perhaps even Paris Hilton— at all sorts of economic and social levels. The science proves it. But a few years ago, it was common to blame addiction on social conditions. The social stressors of poverty, it was said, led people to seek relief in ways that were self-destructive but understandable and if only we won a war on poverty we could eliminate or reduce addiction, which we knew from the movies, was concentrated in the slums, and alcoholism, which we knew from a different set of movies, was concentrated in the same slums, but also in trailer parks and small towns, each of which had its own drunk. The first complication with this notion was that addiction, in one form or another, kept frustrating any and all attempts to win the underfunded and half-fought war on poverty. But that’s a story we’ll save for another time. The bigger complication with the notion was that there was never any real evidence to back it up. And there was plenty of contrary evidence that alcohol and other drug dependence spreads up and down the socio-economic ladder. And there was a very stubborn recovery community that insisted that this is a disease, not a political statement. Recovery belongs to therapy, not sociology. They were right, and they won that argument hands down. Alcohol and other drug dependence is a disease. It has a specific set of symptoms; if left untreated, the results are predictable and inevitable. As with other diseases, we can trace it to certain physiological causes and there are treatment regimens which will work in most cases if applied with some discipline. Why discipline? Because alcohol and other drug dependence is a chronic disease. And when a disease Mike Henson is a chronic disease, you can apply pharmaceutical solutions or surgery or therapy, but little of none of it works unless there is also life-style change. That sucks, because the person with a chronic disease may have done little more to deserve the disease than inheriting bad genes, but that person just can’t live like other people. But we’re straying from the point of this essay, which is something about the relation IJPC Calender of Events August 4 Over-the-Rhine Community Festival Noon - 6pm Washington Park Designed for Social Service agencies and churches to be a fun event for OTR children and families. For info contact Cassandra Barham 513-381-4242. August 6 Hiroshima-Nagasaki Remembrance 8pm at Friendship Park For more information call 513-579-8547 August 8 & 9 Creating Compassionate Classrooms (Nonviolent Communication) $150 Confluence Park Restaurant in Columbus For more infomration call 614-558-1141 or check the website www.nvcohio.org August 10,11 Communication That Works for Parents (Nonviolent Communication) $150 Confluence Park Restaurant in Columbus For more infomration call 614-558-1141 or check the website www.nvcohio.org August 11 Students Together Against Racism - Town Hall Think Tank 6-7:30pm Essex Place 7610 Reading Road For more information contact star@nku.edu or revol-radio@hotmail.com August 14 Ohioans to stop Execution:Cincinnati Chapter Meeting 7pm Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14th St. For more information call 513-579-8547 August 15 Before You Enlist Campaign 6-7pm Peasleee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14th St. For more information call 513-579-8547 August 15 IJPC Peace Committee Meeting 7pm Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14t St For more information call 513-579-8547 August 18-24 Holistic Directed Retreat Marydale Retreat Center This retreat provides a space to gather with women and men in a circle of faith, silence, and prayer. Come for two or more days. The retreat center is located in Northern Kentucky. For more information contact 513-751-3358 or 513-6818881 or www.centerwithin.org August 25 Day of Dialogue Faciliatator Training 9am-12:30pm Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E 14th St For more information contact 513-579-8547 between poverty and addiction. To do so, I wanted to kill off, quickly and decisively, the notion that poverty causes addiction. It doesn’t. It can’t. What poverty can do is complicate addiction. Why wouldn’t it? Poverty complicates everything. In particular, poverty complicates health. But here, we’re getting ahead of ourselves again, because, before I come back and talk about how poverty complicates disease in general and addiction in particular, I want to explore this notion that poverty complicates everything. Poverty even complicates things which ought to be simple. Take, for example, shopping. Let’s leave aside those who shop to relax –that’s not even an option here. We’re talking about basic, get-what-youneed-to-survive sort of shopping. For most people in this country, shopping is a remarkably convenient experience. The world is laid out for us in every Wal-Mart and Kroger’s. We pull up in our car, glide down brightly lit aisles, pick out what we want, pay our money when we’re done, load up the car, and take it all home. Or we can do it on-line or by phone. But in the other world of shoppers, there are many for whom shopping is an immensely complicated operation, one that involves a great deal of planning and calculation to be successful. Let’s say a woman in Lower Price Hill, on a fixed income, gets her check and decides to shop for food. She’s not likely to have a car, so all those convenient parking lots mean nothing to her. She could roll her collapsible wheeled grocery cart down the street to the Parkview Market. The people there are friendly, but the selection is small. Not as small as you might think, for there are a lot of odds and ends packed into those two aisles. But the selection is still pretty small and the prices are higher and, besides, it’s hard to get the loaded cart over those curbs and up her steps. Stocking up on staples, flour, rice, and so on, is out of the question. So she’ll probably go up to Kroger’s on the hill. It’s not one of those super-Kroger’s with a bank and a coffee bar, but it’ll do if she can get a way there. Maybe her sister, if she’s not working. Or she could take a bus up the hill and catch a bootleg cab back. That will cost her six or eight dollars, but her sister always wants a couple bucks for gas and she’s always in such a hurry. So it’s probably the bus and the bootleg cab. Then, there’s the problem of how to get her groceries upstairs. The cabbie might help, but then he wants an extra tip. So she’ll probably give a dollar or two to one of the neighborhood boys. She has the same sort of struggle if she needs to go to the pharmacy, or buy a pair of shoes, or see her ailing aunt, Anything she does is complicated by her poverty. Because poverty complicates everything. To be continued. �STREETVIBES Page 14 Our Selves Alone by Wendy Nakashima by Michael G. Sloan Frightened souls out winding wild Seattle streets Like maddened monks on our way to early Mass, The unbelieving faithful freezing in fear and beauty. From looking at my past, you can’t get a view; thru the window that comes up in front of you... to hear my story, you wouldn’t have a clue, that one could have a past so blue... Softly we tread lest the fury of invisible police Settle judgment upon our poverty. Slowly we steal sidelong glances into the grey pain Of a new day’s woes. Furtive and redolent of original Sin, praying for our own invisibility and the Forgetfulness of wine. Wine, the Communion of the Damned, The forty-ounce Sacrament of Cain ... Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa. Untouchable opulence envelopes us like mystic miasma And the iron-knuckle cop is ubiquitous reminder There is no room for Angel-sinners to drag our rags Through the halls of Xanadu. One more day is upon us and curses and prayers Are garbled, indistinguishable in the ears of a Distant God. The tiny niche of earth fate has lent my calloused Feet seem suddenly to turn into someone else’s gold. My lot is to somehow magically vanish like The fugitive hopes and hours of melting life..... Amen. To Be, to Become Life can be a vicious circle that no one understands, the only one to break is in the one that can withstand... Life can be a vicious circle and you’re the only one that can truly take command... Anyone can want for you and everyone can care but; no one can direct you, cause you’re the only one that’s there.... Outrage by Paula Nordstrom-Benaroya Come join me in my outrage in a city with a bus tunnel that belongs in the world of the rich and famous A sports stadium to be envied We have homeless people living and dying on our streets Am I the only one who is so hurt that my anger permeates my every word? Do I alone know that beautifying our buildings while citizens are sleeping in doorways is like putting on make-up without washing your face-or putting on your suit without taking a shower? Since a chain is only as strong as its weakest link A city is only as rich as its poorest citizens. Couples Only by Kris Schon We still have people dying in our streets. by Stan Burriss To be, to become to believe in yourself the inner voice that propels you forward a waterfall of wisdom of life fears and rejections triumphs and tragedies laughter and hope belly button stuff the main course at life’s banquet for those wishing to attend. grateful are the many who stand firm in a brisk breeze head up, eye to eye with the dragon. Flickering stars candles lit from your strength your courage your hope your faith, burning on. How rich a home can our city be? Enough time. A sense of belonging. Psalm of the Stranger by Michael Henson A man at the side of the road is red with the heat and he wipes the sweat of the road from his face with a limp bandana. He has a pack on his back the size of a small bear and I suppose he has camped the night in the willows near the river. But now, he has stopped just short of the Interstate, burdened by the heat and by his bear of a pack and it seems he has stopped here to ponder, or pray, for he is a stranger here, perhaps a pilgrim. Perhaps he is lost, or ahungered, or beset with the sort of grief that sets a man to seek the loneliness of roads. This thing of coming to meals, of finding enough. A place, and enough to be left with friends behind you, and where friends should have been inside through housing that City forgets to share, while you make a place. Then, you share it. Given enough time, you share it. The Golf Game by Cleo Wombles Father of the stranger, Protector of the pilgrim, Lord of the outcast, Shelter of the unsheltered, Guide of the misguided, Rock of the unstable, Haven of the lost, help me in my wandering. For where can I turn if not to you? Whom can I call on if not for you? What refuge do I have but for you? What rest do I have if not in you? There was Moses, Jesus and an old man playing golf. Moses knocked the golf ball a hundred feet in the air but it missed the hole. Jesus said, “Good job Moses but not good enough.” Jesus knocks the golf ball 10,000 feet in the air and it falls straight in the hole. The old man knocked the golf ball into a tree. A squirrel spots the ball and takes off running. An eagles sports the squirrel and picks it up and starts flying with it. A lightning bolt hits the eagle. The eagles drops the squirrel. The squirrel drops the ball and it falls into the hole. Jesus says, “Good job Dad.” �STREETVIBES Page 15 All Is A Circle Within Me Impure by Nancy Wood by Galaxie All is a circle within me. I am ten thousand winters old. I am as young as a new-born flower. I am a buffalo in its grave. I am a tree in bloom. Succumbing to the rape again There lies harm in your eyes You need me in order to escape Brutally, you take what you think is yours All is a circle within me. I have seen the world through an eagle’s eyes. I have seen it through a gopher’s hole. I have seen the world on fire and the sky without a moon. Leaves scatter and dance Birds sing and play Children laugh and run As I cry and struggle There are blind shadows That I throw myself into Whenever I must escape The disguise of everything ugly All is a circle within me. I have gone into the world and out again. I have gone to the edge of the sky. Now all is at peace within me. Now all has a place to come home. I Shall Die by Elizabeth Romero The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. You can see it in her eyes, her wary sidelong glance. Reclamation by Wes Browning Denied a face she hides beneath an ocean of uncried tears Cry the tears : now the ocean dries. A plain appears : Eden, in dying pains. Then sings a soft thunder yet living: It tells, “All time begins within.” “All worlds begin within.” Here IS the blood of the suffering of all Mankind. A coiling stream about the tree stains the soil. And though long dead the tree so fed shows: a light, a star, a fruit of her first-born. No faceless serpent, now she returns. Here SHE comes to dance if allowed to be. Just cry the tears and the ocean dries. So souls will drown the Lord of Lies. And joy will dance as jealousy dies. Timeline by Wendy Nakashima The Sun rises to touch the mountain peaks it touches the dew an turns it to a simple rainbow. It warms the sand that touches the toes. And as it sets it winks on the great day it created. The woman coming toward you is trying to hang on. Her clothes flap loosely in the wind. Her red shoes clash. Writers! Submit your Poetry to Streetvibes email your writing to Streetvibes@juno.com Circle of Friends by Galaxie Somewhere I am afraid The fear makes me exist The existence reviles me Hunger, pain, love My explanations will only frighten you We peddle moral hypocrisy Excused by our beliefs, we are blind Perfection is not easily attained My secret slivers and pieces Make me what I am Standing in the center I imagine myself running Circle of friends Reality kicks in The existence ends It was all a dream. The woman coming toward you carries the patient rage of her mother and her mother before that like that cracked plastic handbag. by Cleo Wombles Some do Some don’t Some will Some won’t Some like it cold Some like it hot Somebody is always wanting Something they won’t get. Jimmy’s Motorcycle Adventures by Michael G. Sloan The hollow streets shake like fear and echo with a granite noise. Buildings rumble back in anger; They, lead grey legs for a cobalt sky. Somewhere amid the million inhuman squeals, a new-born question screams its way into the world. Happy Birthday. Here on those boney rocks by the sea. Happy Birthday. You, born blind and infected, hungry for a gun. Sometimes in a welter of seasons, when the sickness in your soul is full blossom, you will lay your hand to the task of manhood, While all of heaven groans. Haiku by Reneene Robertson Are you threatened by the thoughts of others? Arm yourself Think your own thoughts HOGS are going to the Dogs Thanks “Sparky” photo submitted by owner, Linda Pittman Happy Birthday. You, unloved, uncertain and benumbed. Happy Birthday, Scion of the City You will visit your curse upon the hour when it comes. For now, hear the menace in the music. The dance has just begun. Happy Birthday. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2007 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 2007 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: “I Am So Sick of ‘Out’ Food” Pg 2: Vendors Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: OSHA Morning in My Own Way Pg 5: Disenfranchised Peoples of God Pg 6: “Bum Fights” Continues to Influence Teens Pg 7: Peace village Pg 8: Streetvibes Float Saves the Day Pg 9: Cincinnati Urban Experience Pg 10: Workers Lose as Senate Legislation Fails Employment Issues for the Homeless Hungry in Louisiana Pg 11: Looming Crisis: Housing for the Elderly Barriers to Finding Work When Homeless Pg 12: Going and Growing Organic Pg 13: Poverty Complicates Everything Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 2007 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty John Lavelle Lynne Ausman Andy Freeze Kenneth Cheruiyot Melvin Williams Linda Pittman Susan Smith Leigh Tami Jimmy Heath Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Freeze Elderly Employment Georgine Getty Homeless News Digest Jimmy Heath John Lavelle Kenneth Cheruiyot Leigh Tami Linda Pittman Louisiana Lynne Ausman Melvin Williams Organic Foods OSHA Peace Village poverty Scott Johnson Senate Susan Smith Teenagers Theatre https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/225e6b567f1b00e469582fea305188b5.pdf 91ad40b67b1ee50b0b562a380b5e8c7d PDF Text Text Carnival fun for all p.6 “Eight Minutes” p.3 STREETVIBES $1 A u g u s t 2 0 0 8 • I s s u e 1 4 5 • C i n c i n n a t i ’s A l t e r n a t i v e N e w s S o u r c e Can’t Afford to Get Sick Referendum would mandate paid sick leave By Gregory Flannery Editor and leaders, collected more than 275,000 signatures on petitions supporting the prooters in Ohio could posal last year. In Decemdecide Nov. 4 that ber 2007, Ohio Secretary of workers have a le- State Jennifer Brunner cergal right to paid sick days. tified the petitions as having Under current law, em“A number of ployers decide whether to pay workers when they independent are too ill to work. Aside studies have been from workers covered by a union contract, employees done that show this are subject to their bosses’ will save employers policies. money.” The proposed Ohio Healthy Families Act would require employers well over the 120,000 valid with 25 or more employees signatures required. to provide seven paid sick Under a provision in the days each year to employ- Ohio Constitution, howevees working 30 hours or er, the state legislature got more per week. Employees the first crack at the meaworking fewer hours would sure. have a pro-rated amount of “They then had four paid sick days. months to pass the bill or But putting the referen- pass something we found dum on the ballot hasn’t acceptable,” says Dale Butbeen easy. The Ohioans for land, spokesman for the Healthy Families Coalition, coalition. “They refused to a network of more than 190 even schedule a vote on the community organizations bill. They held a perfunc- V Council moves to limit human-services agencies ver-the-Rhine has too many people trying to help other people, according to a resolution passed last month by Cincinnati City Council. The resolution establishes a policy “that social-service agencies and programming shall not be concentrated in a single geographic area and shall not locate in an area that is deemed impacted.” The resolution doesn’t define “impacted,” an ambiguity that is one reason a O By Lynne Ausman Staff Writer he abuses associated with day labor are well known: Senseless fees. Long waits. Long rides. Moldy lunches. Buses that seems about to fall apart. Waiting in line at 4 a.m. Unsafe conditions. Hard work. Long hours. Dirty work. Inadequate or nonexistent restrooms. Small paychecks. Check-cashing fees. The DNR list – “Do not return.” One Cincinnati man and his co-workers had been packaging pizzas for For more 12 hours Luke, a volunteer, collects signatures for a ballot referendum information that would require employers to pay workers for sick days. straight – about Day Photo by Andrew Anderson. no break, Labor go to no lunch. tory hearing, on which we impossible. The bottom dlop.org As the got 24 hours’ notice. We rest of his wanted to bring in expert See SICK p.6 “line” started to leave, he witnesses, but that made it followed, ready to get on the van to go back to the labor hall, get paid and hopefully get some rest. But he was shocked when there was no van to pick him up, no phone call to the factory saying the van had “Some of the people who are trying been delayed – nothing, no to degrade us have never even consortium The reso- one; just the uncertainty of lution de- being left in the middle of of non-profvisited us. To make judgments scribes the nowhere, with no money, it groups is about us without even knowing number in no resources, not even a contemplatwhat we’re doing is pretty unfair.” terms that pay phone to use. ing a lawsuit challenging might be He and the rest of the line used to de- sat and waited – waited for the resolusenter. tion, according to Georgine Over-the-Rhine has too scribe drug abuse or infec- a ride, a phone call, the sight Getty, executive director of many charities, Bortz says. tious viruses. of another person. It was “The unchecked prolifer- freezing cold at 1 o’clock in the Greater Cincinnati Co“There are 120 socialalition for the Homeless. service agencies in Over- ation of these agencies has the morning. No one came The resolution, sponsored the-Rhine, more than one the potential to negatively until 6 a.m. by Councilman Christopher per block,” he says. “That impact the residential charThe van was dropping off Bortz, won approval in an doesn’t seem a very bal- acter and the neighborhood another group of day labor8-1 vote. Councilman Cecil anced way of approaching Thomas was the lone dis- it.” See SERVICES p.6 See LABOR p.12 An Excess of Good Deeds By Gregory Flannery Editor Nonprofit Day Labor Hall Coming to Cincinnati T �2 STREETVIBES August 2008 The Vibe Streetwise By Gregory Flannery I Am Not an Animal! Words matter. Otherwise sexist language, racial slurs and the linguistic trickery of right-wingers -- “family values,” “welfare reform” and “death tax” come to mind -- wouldn’t be worth getting upset about. A recent word fight among community activists in Cincinnati wasn’t so serious as any of that. In fact, it wasn’t a fight at all, but rather a spirited discussion among allies about terminology. The issue was how to help homeless people vote (see “Organizing the Homeless Bloc,” page 10.) If someone is going to educate potential voters, that person must first be educated about the procedures, no? That’s all Stacey Hall had in mind when she distributed an e-mail announcing a meeting. “The voices of the homeless and our collective service populations should be heard in the coming election,” she wrote. “The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is sponsoring a Train-the-Trainer session to give organizations the information and tools they need to do voter registration activities with their constituencies.” Josh Spring, a social worker at Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, supports the idea. But in a response to Hall’s e-mail, he objected to her choice of words. “I do believe that this title needs to be changed to something more humane,” Spring wrote. “Humans train animals, not other humans. It sounds demeaning to the people referred to in the flyer. It also puts certain people above others.” Hall, director of the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, was quick to say she’d meant no offense. But she didn’t hide her surprise – or cede the point. “Wow. Well, certainly not intended … It refers to training people to do voter registration, not be potty trained, obviously,” she wrote. Spring explained his motivation in another e-mail. “If I sounded angry at anyone in the last e-mail, I was not,” he wrote. “Language is just so important because without sometimes even consciously being done, language shapes the way people think and act toward other people.” Them’s Fightin’ Words Language is at the core of a fight between CityBeat and a group of 29 prominent people organized by Citizens for Community Values (CCV). Now the conflict has landed in federal court, with the alternative weekly newspaper suing the anti-gay, anti-porn lobby and its supporters. The defendants include Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr., Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis Jr., prosecutors from Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana, ministers and others. In June, CCV convened a press conference in Cincinnati City Hall, calling on CityBeat to drop the “adult” category in its classified ads, arguing the ads promote prostitution. CityBeat’s lawsuit, filed last month, says the CCV group violated the newspaper’s First Amendment rights and interfered with legitimate business activities. “As a direct result of the CCV coalition’s campaign, CityBeat’s advertising revenue, and in particular the revenues generated from adult-services classified advertisements, has been reduced by nearly 25 percent,” the lawsuit says. “In addition, CityBeat lost a longstanding advertiser – a family-owned restaurant – as a result of the CCV coalition’s campaign against the paper.” The lawsuit could raise interesting questions: Do people who dislike CityBeat have a constitutional right to criticize the paper? Does the use of City Hall and the involvement of Streicher, Leis and the prosecutors turn the coalition’s efforts into a government attack on the free press? The newspaper has a heavy hitter on its side – renowned First Amendment lawyer Louis Sirkin. Streetvibes is a newspaper that provides relevant discussions of homelessness, poverty, and other related social justice issues. It is published monthly by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513-421-7803 x 12 Fax: 513-421-7813 Email: streetvibes2@yahoo.com www.cincihomeless.org Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Contributing Writers Lynne Ausman, Margo Pierce, Larry Gross, Angela Pancella, Greg Olkhovsky, Michael Henson, Charles Cole, Mack Russell, Patricia Garry, Rachael Lawson, Tyrone Williams, Daniel Horner Photography/Artwork Andrew Anderson, Andrew Freeze, Anthony Williams Antonio Hodge, Berta Lambert, Bethany House Services, Angela Pancella Advisory Committee Joe Wessels, Steve Novotni, Andrew Freeze, Georgine Getty, Michael Henson, Stephanie Dunlap, Steve Gibbs The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Programs include Streetvibes, “Voice of the Homeless” Speaker’s Bureau, Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE), Homeless Curriculum, and Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project. All donations support these programs and are taxdeductible to the full extent of the law. We are Members of: Go ahead: Do something You want to make a difference, right? If you’re not sure where to start, check out “JustNews,” a comprehensive online calendar for peace and justice issues compiled by the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center. The calendar lists nonpartisan events that are “in the spirit of justice – whether economic, social, civic, or environmental.” For information about activities and events that can use your help, visit cworkers.org/webcal. To publicize peace and justice events, write to calendar@cworkers.org. International Network of Street Papers �STREETVIBES August 2008 Local News 3 Eight Minutes with the Breakfast Brigade By Margo Pierce Contributing Writer Making sure day laborers have a meal he volunteers of the Breakfast Brigade face the harsh reality of day labor and try to address one aspect of that experience – hunger. The college students who make up the Breakfast Brigade set up shop in front of two day labor halls every Thursday morning. Tables loaded with fresh bread, hard boiled eggs, fresh coffee and oranges offer free meals to anyone who wants one. “It is about being in solidarity as best as they can with these folks,” says Michael Schreiner, campus minister at St. Monica/St. George Newman Center. “After understanding the difficulties of the men and women in day labor – how early they have to wake up to go to the labor hall and not necessarily get a job – and understanding a lot of them won’t be able to get a breakfast because it’s so early in the morning, (the students) wanted to be able to provide that.” Inspired by a spring break “mission trip” to the Catholic Worker in Gainesville, Fla., a group of Cincinnati students wanted to emulate the Breakfast Brigade they saw at work there. “They asked, ‘Are there day labor halls in Cincinnati? Is this something that we can do?’ ” Schreiner says. “It was really the students’ enthusiasm and the students’ desire to make this happen is how it got off the ground. “We’ve been doing this for about 15 months now, and when we first started (the workers) were wary. And we still get this from people who don’t know who we are; they ask us how much we’re charging. When we say, ‘Noth- T ing,’ they say, ‘Where are you from?’ We say, ‘From St. Monica/St. George and University of Cincinnati students.’ They’re really receptive.” The TLC and Minute Men day labor halls have neither welcomed nor discouraged the effort, which works well for the Brigade. “Our Catholic social teaching tells us that each person has dignity by the very fact that they’re created … so we do this out of a call of faith. There’s no question about that and we “It is about being in solidarity as best as they can with these folks.” are not ashamed of that,” Schreiner says. “But we’re not proselytizers or evangelizers. I could care less what their religious persuasion is. I want them to get a good meal in their belly and know that there are people out there that are concerned about their well being – as best as we can, walk with and walk for each other.” Preparations begin at 2:30 a.m. when volunteers meet at the kitchen of the Catholic Center. Every week – with the exception of a few weeks when students’ schedules made it impossible – eight loaves of bread are baked while the coffee brews and the eggs boil. Before loading up two cars, the group pauses. “We eat one loaf … our celebratory loaf, our way of sharing in the meal with them in solidarity as best as we can.” Schreiner says. “We put all the food together on table and we pray a prayer to St. Vincent DePaul, and then we head out. We’re there until 5 a.m. Sometimes we leave a little later, if there’s enough people and we have enough food. Sometimes, if it’s a busy day, it might be 10 till five and we’re out of food Students from St. Monica/St. George campus ministry bake fresh bread and cook hard boiled eggs to pass out to day laborers on Thursday mornings before most people are awake. Photo courtesy of Michael Schreiner. Students from the University of Cincinnati prepare breakfast for day labor workers. They meet at St. Monica/St. George at 2:30am to begin preparations of their freshly made food. Photo courtesy of Michael Schreiner. already. We’ll drive back and clean up and people go home and go to bed.” The number of volunteers can range from four to 12. Given the cost of resources and a fluctuating roster of volunteers, the group has to limit its efforts to the current locations. But that’s OK with Schreiner. “I don’t want to see it become formalized,” he says. “I’d rather see it stay grassroots. I don’t want to see it be a 501(c)(3) kind of thing. “If people are interested in coming by and seeing what we do and how we do it, they’re more than welcome to come. We would really love to have people feel energized about this and say, ‘We can do this, too,’ and maybe do some other labor hall or do the same labor halls on different days. We can only do two labor halls. When we were doing three, it was really tough because we’d have to have a least six people come every week, and costs were getting pretty big. We’re very fortunate in terms of purchasing our food because we’ve been given a lot of assistance.” Members of the Breakfast Brigade have talked to schoolchildren, churches and other groups looking for a service project. “What we feel we’re doing is we’re trying to encourage our students to go beyond their boundaries, their safety zones, to minister to folks that maybe they wouldn’t, but also, as poorly as we do it, to show the workers that we’re standing with them in solidarity and we support them and we back them,” Schreiner says. “With a lot of our students, they’re like, ‘A labor hall – what is that? I don’t understand what that is.’ If you didn’t know you, could drive by Minute Men or Quick Staff or any of them and you might not even blink. It’s just a business. It’s one of those things that a lot of people don’t know about; and if they did, I think it would just open some eyes.” While working to educate people about the reality of day labor, Schreiner says he has a message for the workers, too. “We understand and we honor the hard work that you do,” he says. “We just want to show you that we appreciate that.” To request a speaker, make a donation or volunteer to help the Breakfast Brigade, contact Michael Schreiner at 513-381-6400 or ucnewma@yahoo.com Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in Greater Cincinnati. “Eight Minutes” is an effort to learn who they are and what motivates them. �4 Community News STREETVIBES August 2008 Mercy in Over-the-Rhine For the mentally ill, a place to call home By Larry Gross Contributing Writer Protecting the neighborhood oslyn lives in one of the six Tender Mercies apartment buildings in Over-theRhine. A cheery person who likes to prepare meals in the cooking facility in the lobby of her building, her face lights up when asked what she enjoys fixing the most. “Pork chops,” she says. “Candied yams, turnip greens and collard greens. I’m a good cook.” She’s only responsible for preparing her own meals, but she cooks for others in her building, too. “I can’t stand to see somebody hungry,” Roslyn says, “so I share.” She’s lived at Tender Mercies since her arrival from Birmingham, Alabama, five years ago. “It takes the pressure off, knowing that you’re not homeless,” says Roslyn, 51. “It’s just a warm atmosphere. The staff here is superb.” Since 1985 Tender Mercies has provided housing for homeless people with chronic mental illness or emotional disabilities and also provides support to residents, allowing them to live independent lives. “This organization stays true to its mission,” says Russell Winters, chief operations officer of the agency. “It doesn’t try to stray away from doing what it does best.” Tender Mercies, a nonprofit organization funded by various social service agencies, was founded by three clergymen working among the homeless in Over-the-Rhine. The Rev. Chris Hall, its first director, was working with two women who had been released from a local psychiatric hospital. He found the women housing in an apartment building on Race Street. Within two months one of the women was raped in her own apartment. The other was murdered. Realizing people with mental problems needed to be protected, Hall and the two other clergymen, Randy La Fond and Edward Slater, met with the owner of the building. The owner allowed them to manage the building, which eventually became home for 12 previously homeless women with histories of chronic mental ill- R “We’re out on the sidewalk serving breakfast to anyone who wants it, and we’re letting the drug dealers know that they’re not welcome on 12th Street.” ness. Along with this came 24-hour staff protection. Now Tender Mercies provides permanent and transitional housing for 150 adults. Rent is on a sliding scale. “It’s based on a resident’s income,” Winters says. “Technically we charge 30 percent of their income. If their income is zero, they pay no rent and we work with them to help establish a source of income.” Residents are free to come and go as they please and can stay for as long as they like – providing they’re not violent, don’t sell or use illegal drugs on the premises and live by Tender Mercies’ community living guidelines. While Tender Mercies has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, one thing they’re not relaxed about is illegal drug sales in the neighborhood. They stand up to the challenge. “Over-the-Rhine has definitely changed a lot in the past few years, and at Tender Mercies we see ourselves as being part of the solution here,” Winters says. “The corner of 12th Street and Republic used to be one of the busiest streets for the City of Cincinnati Police Department to patrol – lots of drug activity. Our staff put up a sign that said, ‘Do not sell or buy drugs here.’ ” This banner, put up in 2005, helped curtail a lot of the selling of illegal drugs in the area, according to Winters. Tender Mercies continues that fight. “We’re holding a community breakfast the first week “I don’t think a person really knows what community means until they come here and visit and get immersed in Tender Mercies.” of every month,” he says. “We’re out on the sidewalk serving breakfast to anyone who wants it, and we’re letting the drug dealers know that they’re not welcome on 12th Street and that we’re here and we’re watching.” Winters says Tender Mercies has a strong working relationship with the police department. “Recently on Baldwin Alley, right here next to our transitional housing building, there was lots of inappropriate activity behind a dumpster, and we worked with the Cincinnati Police,” he says. “They installed a camera, and it was motionsensored. It actually had a recording that would say ‘Stop, look up. Your photograph has just been taken by the Cincinnati Police Department.’ ” ‘What community means’ Tender Mercies has 45 employees. It’s often difficult to tell who are the residents and who are the employees, as the approach is one of friendship and togetherness. Rickia Cooper of Walnut Hills, a single mother of five young children, has worked in the facilities department at Tender Mercies for four years. “I’m a ‘people person,’ and this gives me the opportunity to interact with a certain group of people that some would stray away from,” Cooper says. “Some don’t understand this group of people. I just happen to be a person who does.” Derrick, 37, has lived at Tender Mercies for almost 10 years. “I became homeless, living on the streets, living under bridges, and then finally I went to the Drop-In Center,” he says. “I then went to the hospital, because I was hearing voices; and they diagnosed me with paranoid schizophrenia, and I ended up at Tender Mercies.” Now feeling better, Derrick was one of the first residents chosen to be on Tender Mercies’ board. “If residents had any problems, they would come to me,” he says. “Then I would take that problem to the other board members and help resolve it.” Derrick has been cutting hair since he was 12 years old, and that’s how he makes his living. Clients go to his room to get their hair cut. He has no plans to leave Tender Mercies. “I love it here,” he says. Tender Mercies doesn’t work out for everybody, Winters says. “Some people don’t do well in this environment,” he says, “and if it’s not a right fit, we’ll help them find more traditional housing in the community.” With 23 referrals from social service agencies in the past year, word-of-mouth about the agency is clearly positive. “I don’t think a person really knows what community means until they come here and visit and get immersed in Tender Mercies,” Winters says. Tender Mercies holds its summer festival from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 23. For more information, visit www.tendermerciesinc.org. Check out the new Streetvibes blog at streetvibes.wordpress. com �STREETVIBES August 2008 Community News 5 The Face of Hospitality Student photos highlight ministry’s guests By Angela Pancella Contributing Writer long one wall in Our Daily Bread’s dining area hang a series of photos of guests. They were taken by Norwood High School students who signed up for a photo workshop through the St. Elizabeth Arts Foundation. The students — Sara Daugherty, Amanda Glasgow, Tori Herre and Sylvia Hoyt — worked with lead artist Michael Wilson, a Norwood native who has done projects with Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris and the band Over the Rhine. He credits two members of the foundation for his involvement. “I got involved with this because Douglas (Horner) and Juli (Thompson) asked,” Wilson says. “I think Douglas just asked me, and I don’t remember us having long, drawn-out ramblings on how to make the workshop work. I remember him presenting this idea, and it sounded great.” The idea was to take students to Our Daily Bread to volunteer in the serving line one day, spend three days taking photographs and then hand out prints of the photos on the last day. They would also hang their best work for permanent display in the food and hospitality center. Throughout the week the students met in the afternoons in the Kids Café room at Our Daily Bread to learn photography techniques. On the last day of the workshop, June 27, Herre said she was surprised by the guests’ reaction to the students. “You expected people to not like you being here … but everyone was really nice,” she said. “They’re like, ‘Oh yeah, take my picture! Take my picture!’ It just made for a better experience, because if they didn’t really feel OK with your presence, it would have made it a lot harder. It made it nice to just be able to say, ‘Do whatever you want,’ and then we just caught some really amazing here every day. It just felt like we were intruding at first, but then they really accepted us and were like, ‘Yeah, we love taking pictures.’ It felt like, to me, they became models; they loved it. It just brought a lot of joy.” In the end, the students had about 400 prints to give to guests, and each student had five photos framed to hang on the wall. They plan to also exhibit their work in a gallery later in the year. A * Sara Daughtery, a Norwood High School student, participated in a photo workshop with the St. Elizabeth Arts Foundation. They teamed up with Our Daily Bread to learn photo techniques and to photograph people who eat at the soup kitchen. Photo courtesey of Angela Pancella. pictures from it.” Horner, who spent every day with the students along with intern Gene Edwards, says the sheer numbers of guests they met was overwhelming. “I would have assumed that there’s people everywhere, but there are people everywhere,” he says. Daugherty agrees. “It was an amazing experience,” she says. “Coming down here every day, you actually remember people and they remember you, which was really nice. You would expect people, like Tori said, not to accept you in this space where they’re * * * * * Our Daily Bread, 1730 Race St., is a food and hospitality ministry in Over-the-Rhine. The ministry provides a midday meal, serving more than 500 people each weekday. To volunteer or donate food, call Joan or Kathy at 513-621-6364. Everyone’s a Winner Carnival is annual Bethany House ‘friend raiser’ By Greg Olkhovsky Staff Writer B ethany House Services celebrated its 13th Annual Children’s Carnival on July 9 in Fairmount. Debbie McGarry, director of volunteers and special events, describes the event as a “friend raiser.” The Children’s Carnival brings together former and current Bethany House clients and their families to eat, socialize and engage in activities and games. The carnival also promotes awareness about the agency’s mission and values. “This event provides an excellent opportunity,” McGarry says. “It is something different. It is a fun summer activity for friends and family in the community to become a part of.” Bethany House Services is one of five non-profit family shelters in Cincinnati. Since 1984 it’s helped provide housing, education and other programs for homeless and disadvan- Friends spend a weekday evening at the Bethany House Children’s carnival. The Carnival is an opportunity for current and former Bethany House clients to mingle and enjoy food and fun. Photo courtesy of Bethany House Services. taged women and children through direct service and initiatives to effect systematic change. More than 150 volunteers helped set up the carnival, operated more than 30 game booths and cleaned up afterward. All of the prizes were donated, with support from more than 70 sponsors. Around $4,000 was invested in operating this year’s carnival event. “It is a great thing when all of the families can eat and do as much as they want,” McGarry says. “We’ve had kids grow up with the carnival for many years now, and they tell us that the Children’s Carnival is what they look forward to every year. Knowing that this event is genuinely loved by many people is an amazing feeling.” �Sick, continued p.1 line is the Republicans control both houses of the legislature. They made it very clear that they had no intention of moving this issue at all.” When the General Assembly let the proposal die, supporters of the measure got another opportunity – and faced a new set of 4 ballot, the coalition has to collect another 120,600 signatures from registered voters.But that’s not all. The state constitution requires the signatures on the new petition to be from voters who didn’t sign the first petition. “They have to be completely different people,” Butland says. “There also has to be a certain number in 44 of the 88 counties.” Even so, the coalition is confident it will succeed. “We’ve already got over 200,000 signatures in hand,” Butland says. Business groups lobbied state legislators, opposing the bill, and are organizing a campaign against the proposed referendum. Ohioans to Protect Jobs and Fair Benefits, based in Columbus, is among the business groups working to defeat the measure. “There’s overwhelming support of this among voters across party lines. The reason is pretty obvious: Everybody gets sick. That’s not a partisan issue.” If approved by voters, the proposal would make Ohio the first state to mandate paid sick leave, according to Ohioans to Protect Jobs and Fair Benefits. Several studies have shown that paid sick days actually improve productivity and save employers money, Butland says. Those studies were among the evidence that Ohioans for Healthy Families Coalition had hoped to give legislators, he says. “A number of independent studies have been done that show this will save employers money,” Butland says. “I know that sounds counter-intuitive; but when you factor in less lost proGeorgetta Rice, signs a ballot to require employers to pay ductivity, less spread of illworkers for sick days. Photo by Andrew Anderson. ness in the workplace, what A reporter’s calls to the nomic climate Ohio cur- these studies studies say is group were not returned, rently faces, an additional there is a net increase in but in statements on its mandate on employers productivity.” Web site, Ohioans to Pro- would slow Ohio’s recovUnder the current systect Jobs and Fair Benefits ery and discourage new tem, consumers often pay argues that mandatory paid companies from coming to the price for employers’ resick days would be a “job Ohio and existing compa- fusal to provide sick days, killer.” nies to expand,” the Web Butland says. “With the serious eco- site says. “There is a public-health Services, continued p.1 serving commercial uses of Over-the-Rhine,” the resolution says. Those aspersions aren’t accidental. Bortz says that what he calls the “hyperconcentration” of agencies trying to help people has the perverse effect of hurting the neighborhood. “The hyper-concentration attracts more than just the people who need services,” he says. “It attracts people who prey upon them.” Asked if he blames the human -services agencies for crime in Over-theRhine, Bortz explains what he sees as unintended consequences. ‘”Maybe I didn’t phrase that comment carefully,” he says. “Basically, you’ve got an at-risk population. They’ve lost a job, lost a home. Maybe they have an addiction issue. Usually it’s a combination of a lot of STREETVIBES August 2008 The Jump 6 things that get people to the point of desperation.” Where such people congregate, trouble follows, Bortz says. Drug dealers and others see the humanservices agencies’ clientele as a potential market, he says. “You’ve got other people who don’t want to help them,” Bortz says. “People end up gravitating to prostitution, for example, to feed an addiction.” Bortz’s resolution doesn’t accuse any particular agency of any particular wrongdoing, but Mary Magdalene House is presumably one of its targets. Since 1988 the agency has provided a basic service that often proves elusive for homeless people: a bathroom. The Rev. Giancarlo Bonutti, a Marianist brother, is director of Mary Magdalene House, which serves up to 1,600 people a year. “We provide 21,000 showers a year, besides people who come in just to use the toilet,” he says. “We have a very personal ministry here for the people we serve.” Bonutti says that, so far as he knows, Bortz has never visited Mary Magdalene House, located on Main Street. “Some of the people who are trying to degrade us have never even visited us,” Bonutti says. “To make judgments about us without even knowing what we’re doing is pretty unfair.” Like former Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell, Bortz says the number of human-services agencies in Over-the-Rhine stymies re-development. That argument ignores certain inconvenient facts. “In fact, we are one of the first groups to take an old dimension to this,” he says. “We have 300,000 food and restaurant workers in Ohio who have no paid sick days. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says over half of the restaurant-borne illnesses in this country aren’t due to bad food but employee sickness.” A worker at a fast-food restaurant in Kent, Ohio, infected with a norovirus, recently caused hundreds of illnesses, Butland says. “He couldn’t afford to take off,” Butland says. “Four hundred and 50 people got sick as a result. This happens a lot.” A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed 71 percent of respondents support the Ohio Healthy Families Act. “There’s overwhelming support of this among voters across party lines,” Butland says. “The reason is pretty obvious: Everybody gets sick. That’s not a partisan issue.” “I wouldn’t want to go to every neighborhood and say, ‘You’re going to have to have more socialservice agencies’. People aren’t exactly pounding on the door asking for more.” building on Main Street and improve it while maintaining its historic character,” Bonutti says. But council’s resolution overlooks a larger point, he says. “It seems to me some of the social-service agencies that are helping out in the area are actually helping the city,” Bonutti says. “A lot of us provide services for free, not costing the city any money.” Bortz’s resolution is his second attempt this summer to restrict human-services agencies. His earlier attempt to insert restrictions in the city’s zoning code prompted an outcry from churches and other non-profit orga- nizations. Council sent the proposal to the Cincinnati Planning Commission for reconsideration. The resolution doesn’t specify how many humanservices agencies should be in Over-the-Rhine. Bortz paradoxically suggests that’s not the point. “I don’t know what the number is,” he says. “I don’t know that it’s necessarily about the numbers.” Instead, he introduces parity as a measure. “Look across the entire region, not just the city See SERVICES p.7 �STREETVIBES August 2008 Services Local News 7 of Cincinnati,” he says. “Look across the 12 counties. There is no neighborhood that even comes close to having the number of social-service agencies that Over-the-Rhine has.” But Bortz admits there aren’t any neighborhoods in -- or outside -- the city asking for agencies to locate there. “I wouldn’t want to go to every neighborhood and say, ‘You’re going to have to have more social-service agencies,’ ” he says. “People aren’t exactly pounding on the door asking for more.” Bortz bristles at the suggestion that he or the city have an animus against the poor in Over-the-Rhine and the agencies that serve them. “I’m not talking about forced relocation by any stretch of the imagination,” he says. “There’s a little bit of confusion, particularly among the advocacy groups saying, ‘Oh, you’re trying to close down agencies.’ Of course we don’t. We want to help them improve their efficiency.” The resolution directs city administrators to “carry out any actions necessary to adhere to such policy” – again, without specifying a course of action. Bortz characterizes the measure as a “starting point” for discussions on ways to better serve people who need social services. “I’m not sure there are any folks who understand what’s going on in the social-services community who think the status quo is fine,” he says. ‘There is room for improvement.” Check out the new Streetvibes blog for discussion of issues between editions. streetvibes. wordpress. com Streetvibes archives from January 2004 - July 2008 have been uploaded to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition’s website. To view them in pdf go to www.cincihomeless.org/content/streetvibes �Poetry and Artwork 8 STREETVIBES August 2008 Thing I Carry By Charles Cole I carry my baby in my heart. I carry a vision of my baby’s face, in my heart and in my mind. I carry myself from here and there. I will carry you ‘cause sometimes I do. Sometimes I wonder who is going to carry me. God - that’s who’s going to carry me. Good things come to others that help one another carry each other, so carry me and I will you because carry each other is the right thing to dolike you carry me, me carry you. Let’s keep carrying on. I carry good feelings of Hope, love, and happiness. Food 4 Thought By Mack L. Russell Sr. I hear voices, but not in my head. I see dead people also, but only in caskets at the chapel. People talk about plenty but almost never say anything. I listen, but only hear what I want the message in this passage is only food 4 thought. Are you hungry for knowledge, food or just wanting to read? Do you feel with your hands that what you cannot see? This is just a simple passage that’ll probably never get read. Some parts are reality but to be deciphered in your head. Hear, see, feel, believe what you want but knowing the difference Is food 4 thought Life Changes By Mack L. Russell Sr. I’ve been through so many changes in my life. Some seem more severe than others. Not knowing from day to day the outcome. Somehow I mustered up enough energy to pull through. I’ve prayed timeless times over and over keeping the faith. In my mind I’ve wondered were my prayers useless but in my heart I knew everything would be all right. I’ve been through so many changes in my life some seemed more severe than others Not knowing from day to day the outcome Yet I still stand alive and well. Tomorrow is another day And I know not what obstacles I will face but my journey is to move on because chances will occur. Bearded Man Drawing by Antonio Hodge �STREETVIBES August 2008 Poetry and Artwork 9 “Gay Celebration” Northside Photo by Berta Lambert To Jim and Wife Happy Birthday Drawing by Anthony Williams Unexpected Reunion Cleo’s Joke Corner There was a criminal who stole a cement truck. The policeman caught up with him and dragged him through the computers. They found out that he was a hardened criminal. When the prosecutor took him before the judge, he told the judge that they had concrete evidence against him. There was a shipload of one-legged pirates who were singing, “Let’s go to the hop. Let’s go the hop. Let’s go to the hop.” The captain said that he was hungry and that he was going to a restaurant. His shipmates said, “Which one?” He said, “The IHOP.” Why did the skeleton go into the closet by himself? Well, he didn’t have any body. What do the letter A and a flower have in common? They both have a B (Bee) following after it. On May 1 I was downtown at Fifth and Walnut streets, my usual spot to influence people and make them laugh. Two years ago my daughter ran away. I hadn’t heard from her in those two years. I was very worried and concerned if she was all right or not. I prayed night and day that she was all right and that she would come back home. To my surprise, on May 1 I turned around -- and there came my daughter across the street from Fountain Square. I dropped everything I had. I ran to her, and she ran to me. We hugged each other and cried tears of joy. I will always be grateful to the Lord for bringing her back to me. I didn’t expect that by selling Streetvibes I would ever encounter my daughter. Some days this job seems very hard and strenuous; some days are easier than others. But the very fact that, after doing this for five years, I was able to see my daughter back in Cincinnati, shedding tears of joy -- I never knew what tears of joy were. But now I understand. I want to thank everybody who has ever bought Streetvibes from me and all the other vendors. All of you were also part of the answer to my prayers. May God bless each and every one of you. - Cleo Wombles �10 STREETVIBES August 2008 Column The Prostitute on State Street Sometimes painkillers create new pain I By Michael Henson Columnist stand at the corner of Gest and State in Lower Price Hill in the late afternoon and see a young woman stumble out of a car. The driver is Hispanic, probably from Chiapas or Guatemala; but it is no matter. If you watch long enough, you could see her stumble out of the car of a downtown businessman or a construction worker from Adams County. She stumbles, I say; and even as she rights herself, her body leans leftward like a bow, bent perhaps by the moons of heroin or the pressure of crack cocaine or by the distortions of her labor, serving men in the cramped front seats of cars, She is a small woman, not five feet tall, and very thin. She has a name tattooed at her neck like a shackle. Her teeth are gone clouded and gray, and there is something about her so twisted and damaged and childlike and holy (I do not use that word lightly) that I cannot understand how any man would want to have her. But the men do have her. Again and again, they come here because they know they will find her. ***** Lower Price Hill is a mostly white Appalachian neighborhood that is not a hill at all, but the place where the Mill Creek flows into the Ohio River and where in the late 19th century a number of industries and a collection of working-class housing came together. Somewhere in the 1950s the original German and Italian residents moved out, and the Appalachians moved in. There are now a growing number of Hispanic and African-American neighbors, but it is still a largely Appalachian neighborhood where young people speak a mix of downhome and hip hop and we still hold an annual festival of down-home music and culture. Lower Price Hill was never your quiet, tree-lined neighborhood. From the first, it was a hardworking, hard-drinking community, There is something about her so twisted and damaged and childlike and holy (I do not use that word lightly) that I cannot understand how any man would want to have her. impacted further by the effluents of the local factories and, since the ’6os, the Metropolitan Sewer Division’s Mill Creek plant, an 88-acre facility. Residents concerned over the effects of all these pollutants on themselves and their children put up a stiff fight, and things have gotten better in some ways. But other things have gotten worse. ***** In 1995 the Purdue Pharma pharmaceutical com- pany came out with a new drug it called Oxy-Contin. Used properly, Oxy-Contin is a very effective painkiller for cancer patients and people with chronic injuries. The particular feature of this opiate was that it was produced with a time-release mechanism to put just the right amount of opiate into a person’s system to keep the pain at bay without getting the person high or addicted. That was the theory, anyway. But people don’t always use a drug properly. People pretty quickly found out that, they could snort it or shoot it to get the whole dose at once. Demand for the drug -and addiction to it -- quickly took hold in Appalachian communities from Maine to Alabama and into the urban Appalachian centers such as Lower Price Hill. It didn’t help that Purdue Pharma took an aggressive sales strategy. In fact, they’ve been sued in several states for continuing their aggressive marketing even after, it has been said, they knew that addiction was spreading as a result. Oxy became known as “hillbilly heroin.” Communities were transformed as people became desperate for the drug. Burglaries, thefts, robberies increased. Treatment centers were overwhelmed. Prostitution became common in places that had never seen it. ***** Why did Oxy take hold so quickly in the Appalachian community? Three reasons: First, Pur- due Pharma had that aggressive marketing campaign that targeted the region. Second, high rates of cancer and chronic injury in Appalachian communities mean there is a lot of need for pain-killing. Third, sharing is a strong cultural tradition in the Appalachian community, including drugs. People in need and in “need” can usually find someone to share with them. So something like Oxy will quickly spread. If there is a fourth reason, it would be the perpetual economic and social crisis of Appalachian communities, where unemployment is high and chances are few. ***** So Oxy had fertile ground. Word got out about the disaster. There were articles in The New York Times and other media. Communities raised hell and supplies of Oxy-Contin grew short. Purdue Pharma, in a desperate attempt to clean up its image, started a drug-abuse prevention campaign. But the damage was done. Lives were upturned. Desperate addicts looked for alternatives, including Methadone. Methadone is another very effective drug when used properly and together with counseling. But addicts in Lower Price Hill and other communities figured out that at least one Methadone center was willing to let them forgo counseling and take more than what they needed to control the cravings. So they had a cheap, legal high; and the community faced still more Oxy became known as “hillbilly heroin.” Communities were transformed as people became desperate for the drug. Burglaries, thefts, robberies increased. troubles. The Oxy-Contin overdoses became Methadone overdoses. So we raised hell again, this time with the East Indiana Treatment Center, and Methadone got scarce. And the addicts shifted their tactics again -- this time to heroin. Now the Oxy-Contin overdoses turned Methadone overdoses have become heroin overdoses. There is a local group, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Lower Price Hill, fighting the good fight. The police do what they can. Families struggle with the problem one by one. A group of teens, angry because girls could not walk the street to school or work without being solicited, made a video talking about the problem. But the problem persists. It did not need to happen. The people who made it happen will face lawsuits, but they will not face jail time or the loss of a loved one. I doubt if any of them has a daughter or sister out on State Avenue, stumbling out of men’s cars and walking the street with a marked and bent body, holy and sad, a tattoo like a shackle at her neck. Organizing the Homeless Bloc By Gregory Flannery Editor I f all poor people voted, this country could be a lot different. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is coordinating a voterregistration drive, aiming to make it easier for clients of its member agencies to Agencies want to make it easier for clients to vote participate in the political process. “The point is to make sure that the voices of the people we serve collectively are heard,” says Stacey Hall, director of the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter. For homeless people, voting is at best a kind of luxury, she says. “First of all, you’ve got a lot of things on your mind, such as where you’re going to lay your head and dayto-day survival,” she says. Some obstacles are subtler. “There’s the issue of how you’re treated when you go to register,” Hall says. “There’s the stigma of how you’re treated when you’re homeless.” Practical considerations can also discourage participation: How do you regis- ter to vote when you have no address? Ohio law now requires voters to present identification at the polls. What if you have none? “The mechanics of voting make it difficult for homeSee VOTING p.11 �STREETVIBES August 2008 11 The Curious Case of Tracy Johnson Local News A little story about how things work By Gregory Flannery Editor In the annals of injustice, Tracy Johnson’s ordeal the night of June 13 was comparatively inconsequential: He was cited for jaywalking at Race and Garfield streets, an offense he says he didn’t commit. With the help of a volunteer lawyer, Johnson beat the ticket. When the case went to trial July 10 in Hamilton County Municipal Court, prosecutors dropped the charge. The reason? The primary witness didn’t show up for court. That witness wasn’t a police officer, but rather the driver who allegedly struck Johnson with her car, then fled. Instead of citing the driver for leaving the scene of an accident, Cincinnati Police cited Johnson for a pedestrian violation. Johnson says a driver entered the intersection after the traffic light had turned red, then suddenly reversed, backing into the intersection and striking him with the rear of the car. Officers at the scene didn’t write an accident report, according to Fran Cihon, a public information officer for the Cincinnati Police Department. “They said it was not an accident, so there was no accident report generated,” Cihon says. “The officers who went to the scene told me he was not struck. He committed a pedestrian violation when he was in the roadway.” But dispatch records and recordings of 911 calls, released to Streetvibes by the police department, support Johnson’s account. Three passersby called emergency dispatchers after seeing Johnson hurt. One caller gave a description of the vehicle that struck Johnson and the direction in which the driver fled. “I want to report a hit-and-run,” the caller said. “There’s a dude laying in the street.” “Somebody just got hitand-ran – a black car,” said the caller. The dispatcher asked, “So it was hit-and-skip?” “Yep,” the caller said. “He’s lying down in the middle of the street. It was a black car. Somebody else got the number. … (The driver) went straight up Garfield towards City Hall.” Another caller gave the dispatcher the license number for the car that struck Johnson. “I want to report a hitand-run,” the caller said. “There’s a dude laying in the street. The lady’s license plate that did the hit and run is MZNIKKI. The dude is still laying in the middle of the street. … The last time I seen the car, it was going down Garfield.” Tracy Johnson shows his homeless ID. His ticket for jaywalking was later dropped when the witness failed to show. Photo by Andrew Anderson. An “incident recall” log provided by the police department reports a call at 10:09 p.m.: “H/S (hit-skip), striking vehicle was blk veh, victim is in street.” Johnson says that after police arrived, the car that had struck him returned to the scene. This, too, is verified by police records. The “incident recall” log says that at 10:15 p.m., “Striking veh returned to scene … black vehicle with OH MZNIKKI." But instead of arresting the driver who struck him, police cited Johnson for jaywalking. When he declined to sign the ticket, officers handcuffed him and drove him to the Hamilton County Justice Center, releasing him after he agreed to sign it. A reporter’s efforts to contact the alleged driver of the car were unsuccessful. Johnson says he believes police behaved as they did because he is homeless. His Voting, continued p.10 less folks to get to the ballot box,” Hall says. Misunderstanding also plays a role – for example, the belief that people with criminal records cannot vote. “There’s a lot of confusion about criminal records and voting,” Hall says. “There’s a misconception that, if you’ve had any con- tact with the criminal justice system, you can’t vote.” Persons serving prison sentences for felony convictions are not allowed to vote in Ohio. But former felony offenders can. So can people serving time for misdemeanor convictions and people on bail or locked up awaiting trial. Part of the voter-regis- tration campaign will involve helping homeless people obtain absentee ballots. As with other generalities, it’s inaccurate to assume that homeless people have poor voting records. “Women at our shelter are made homeless by domestic violence,” Hall says. “We serve people all across identification gives his address as the Drop Inn Center. He says he fought the citation as a matter of principle. “You can’t leave someone like a dog in the street and do this to them,” he says. “I want to make sure this don’t happen to anybody else.” Attorney Jim Tomaszewski volunteered to represent Johnson, even going to the Drop Inn Center on Independence Day, his day off work, to interview him. While commiserating with Johnson’s frustration, Tomaszewski says there is nothing more that can be done. “The police are not violating his rights if they don’t cite someone else,” he says. “He felt he was probably slighted when they found out he was homeless. Unfortunately, I’m sure that’s something he deals with all the time.” An associate with the law “The mechanics of voting make it difficult for homeless folks to get to the ballot box.” “You can’t leave someone like a dog in the street and do this to them,” he says. “I want to make sure this don’t happen to anybody else.” firm Lindhorst and Dridane, Tomaszewski has been an attorney for two years. He says he agreed to help Johnson after being asked by a staffer at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. “For me, it’s part of what it’s supposed to be about,” Tomaszewski says. “It’s the old ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’ People call you and need a hand with something. It’s what you do.” tion drive is still underway. “We haven’t set a numerical goal, but we’re hoping to get member agencies excited about getting their clients to vote,” she says. the social and economic “We’re going to be workspectrum. There are people ing right up to the deadline. who have voted all their We’re going to give organilives and people who have zations all the information and the tools they need so never voted.” Planning for the registra- they can jump right in.” �Community News 12 STREETVIBES August 2008 Million Dollar Baby Major grant part of affordable housing “boom” By Patricia Garry Contributing Writer ver-the-Rhine Community Housing has “a lot of good things going on right now,” says Mary Burke, executive director. “It’s very exciting to have projects underway, and it’s especially exciting that we are providing the full range of housing types.” The agency has received a grant of $987,743 from the Federal Home Loan Bank, through Union Savings Bank, to transform five buildings on Odeon Street into housing for the chronically homeless. There will be a single point of entry for the 25 units, with 24-hour engagement staff. The Odeon Street Permanent Supporting Housing Project, the O first in this area, is based on a harm-reduction model successfully used elsewhere in the country. The concept is basically to house the homeless first, then work on sobriety and other issues. The buildings are being purchased from the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), which assisted Over-the-Rhine Community Housing in getting the initial architectural drawings. Other partners are the Partnership Center Ltd, GlaserWorks, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing. There’s more good news. City Home at 1400 Pleasant St. will provide 23 units of homeownership in Overthe-Rhine. “Right now, it’s just a big hole,” Burke says. Thirteen townhouses will be created on the site, five Mary Burke, executive director of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, stands in front of what will become the first permanent supportive housing project in the area. Permanent supportive housing provides individuals with housing and then works to address substance abuse or mental health issues. Photo by Andrew Anderson. in the 1500 block of Elm Street for affordable elderly housing. The proposal calls for 14 units, with new commercial space on the ground floor. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing hopes this building will be LEED-certified. LEED is an acronym for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” popularly referred to as “green construction” or “environmentally friendly.” Finally, El-Moe is hard at work in Over-the-Rhine. Elder and Moeller high schools are collaborating on rehabbing a vacant building into a home to be sold to a first-time affordable-home buyer. Most of the work is being done by the energetic volunteers, with some technical items, such as electricity, being subbed out. unfair standards and bad The new board includes pay is a non-profit day la- representatives of the three bor hall. sponsors of the non-profit The Cincinnati Interfaith labor hall: the Cincinnati ers and picking up the pre- college students who spent vious shift – the same shift their Saturdays preparing Workers Center and the Interfaith Workers’ Center, Greater Cincinnati Coali- the Archdiocese of Cincinthat had ended five hours them. earlier. By now this group Safety equipment for tion for the Homeless start- nati and the Episcopal Diohad been at the factory for working on the packaging ed the Day Labor Organiz- cese of Southern Ohio. The 16 hours. machine: $4, even though ing Project (DLOP) with rest of the board is comThey didn’t complain; the equipment was never the hope of organizing the prised of individuals with workers. The idea of a non- experience in staffing agenthey feared they’d lose provided. the little checks coming to Check Charge: $1. Yes, profit day labor hall is now cies, businesses and nonthem if they complained. they charge you for the Finally at 7 a.m. they ar- check your pay is printed “We’re not just trying to be nice rived back at the day labor on. to people. We’re looking to hall, exhausted, hungry, Net Earnings: $40 after make room for people in a global angry – and waited in line taxes. again, this time to get their The federal minimum economy and help them find an checks. wage is $6.55 per hour. upward path.” Thirty minutes later the The U.S. Department of line emerged from the la- Labor’s Wage and Hour Dibor hall, checks in hand. As vision says that wait time -- a realistic goal, with a new profit organizations. The non-profit day lathe workers examined their when workers are required board of directors assigned checks, they began to real- to be on-site as a condition to bring the plan to life as a bor hall will not charge for transportation, dispatch, ize the bitter bite that greed of employment -- is paid social enterprise. “The founders are op- check-cutting or safety takes out of their earnings: time. The day laborer in Gross Pay: $84, or $7 per this case should have been erating from a faith-based equipment. Workers will hour for 12 hours worked. paid for 17 hours of work. sense of social justice, and get larger paychecks beThe five hours waiting for But instead the net earnings they are looking beyond cause unjust fees won’t be the van: not paid. The hour of $40 for 17 hours come to simple charity,” says Mike deducted. The staff will Phillips, interim president also inspect workplaces it took to get to the job site: $3.50 per hour. not paid. The hour it took This is the day and the of the board. “We’re not and won’t send workers to to get back to the hall: not life of a day laborer. This is just trying to be nice to peo- places where conditions are paid. not a particularly grotesque ple. We’re looking to make poor or the management is Transportation: $7 to get depiction, but a typical day. room for people in a global unprofessional. In addition, the nonto the work site, plus $7 to We’ve heard worse, we’ve economy and help them get back. seen worse, we fear worse. find an upward path. That’s profit day labor hall hopes Lunch: $5, even though One solution to these ter- our strategy -- and for many to help workers move from the meals were donated by rible working conditions, of us, that’s our theology.” temporary employment to higher-paying, permanent positions. The hall also plans to provide a variety of training and referral opportunities to make workers more attractive and better qualified for higher-paying positions. This will be possible through partnerships with existing community services. The businesses that will hire workers from the non-profit hall will be encouraged to offer employment to workers who impress them. The non-profit day labor hall is considering possible locations, including the NuBlend Building, which houses a Freestore/Foodbank program, the Drop Inn Center’s HIP Team, McMicken Dental and the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center. The board is focused on finding grants to underwrite the expenses of the start-up period, establishing a nonprofit tax status and building relationships and partnerships with other non-profit groups. An opening date hasn’t been set, but organizers expect the hall to be self-sustaining within 12 to 18 months of opening. Labor, continued p.1 of which will be affordable for low and moderate income homeowners. Ten condos will be created through rehab in four buildings. The project will begin in the spring. For senior citizens, an application has been made to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 202 Program for funding to redo a building �STREETVIBES August 2008 News 13 African Women Take Charge Immigrants become entrepreneurs By Rachel Lawson Contributing Writer Sojourner Truth delivered a famous speech regarding the unnoticed plight of African-American women at a time when it was most needed. Her words hold true in regard to the struggles and the resilience of African women: “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, together women ought to be able to turn it right-side up again.” Africa’s most recent history has been overshadowed by the struggles for liberty. The 1960s have become synonymous with successful battles for freedom from European colonization. Along with freedom from the colonizers came bloodshed and struggles toward the restoration of each of the individual countries. Adapting to independence, negative stereotypical cultural perceptions were soon altered and recognized as false: The whole continent is not a jungle, there are not only lions and tigers, and Africa is home to extremely intelligent individuals. Ultimately, the oldest preserved skeletal remains of humans were discovered in Africa -- and were female. African women, regardless of their specific country of origin, have been able to turn the world upside-down in many ways. Recognizing the scope of their actions within the United States can heighten awareness of the intelligence and capabilities of women within the African culture. Data from the 2000 U.S. Census showed 56.5 percent of Africanborn females in the United States were employed, as were 66.2 percent of African-born males. This data pays tribute to the ability of both Africanborn men and women to successfully find work in a country with different values, habits and beliefs. Furthermore, although males have generally taken on positions at pre-existing jobs as teachers and scientists or in manufacturing, females have become innovative business owners. By using what might be considered common knowledge within their own countries of origin, they have started restaurants, become clothing designers and opened hair salons -- a much desired alternative that is welcomed and valued within the American culture. The fortitude of Africanborn females is most noticeable when recognizing the various obstacles that African immigrants face. For instance, although Africanborn immigrants have the highest level of education of all immigrants and often arrive with college degrees, their education is not always accredited within the United States. Some have had to start over, including taking temporary positions as factory and manufacturing workers. Imagine how American physicians would respond if told that all of their hard work doesn’t matter and they have to start all over by lifting and loading boxes. On the other hand, African women have taken to starting businesses that allow for both a connection to their culture and a steady paycheck. The ability to start and maintain a successful business relies on many qualities -- for example, persistence, communication skills and business sense. This pursuit also demonstrates to younger generations the importance of being independent and the capability of actually being your own boss. Female entrepreneurship is not an idea unique to the United States. Starting in the 1970s, females played a vital role in the stability of canoe fisheries in a variety of West African countries. They play dual roles as business financiers and mothers. Bringing a strong business initiative to the United States would be only natural. In a way, it’s not so surprising. After all, African women have put scientist on the tips of their toes, simply by successfully existing for more than 3 million years. Cincinnati is home to a diverse African community. For a volunteer position that offers the ability to work with a diverse population, call the International Center of Greater Cincinnati at 513-621-0284. Want more Streetvibes? Check out the new Streetvibes blog for discussion and coverage of other issues between editions. streetvibes.wordpress.com Streetvibes Subscriptions Are you intererested in having Streetvibes delivered to your mailbox every month? Send a check for $25 with your name and address to: Streetvibes 117 E.12th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 PAID ADVERTISEMENT �STREETVIBES August 2008 Guest Column 14 Intelligence, Environment and ‘Value’ Time to rethink the goals and methods of public education By Tyrone Williams Guest Columnist Poverty is neither an excuse nor a justification for academic or professional failure, though it does have an impact on one’s future prospects. Because poverty in the United States isn’t likely to be eliminated in any foreseeable future, educators and policy makers interested in the development of young African-American pupils must focus their attention on the other factors that contribute to the disparity between the success rates of white children and the success rates of nonwhite children. However, one can focus on these other factors only after dispelling a number of distracting myths regarding economic status and intelligence. It’s obvious that children with access to computers and electronic accessories, up-to- date textbooks, ample school supplies and parents and guardians who value learning are more likely to succeed as professionals or academics than children deprived of any, most or all of these factors. Nonetheless, children can and do learn and succeed in the absence of all of these factors, thanks in no small part to dedicated educators. I say all this not to give comfort to state and federal legislators and policymakers slashing away at educational program budgets but to emphasize that intelligence, the ability to adapt to changing environments, is largely independent of social, political and economic factors. Does this mean then that parents, educators and administrators should cease pressing state and federal legislatures for budget increases? Absolutely not. While it’s true that some needed educational reforms aren’t related to economics per se (e.g., parents “modeling” the importance of reading and studying), it’s unconscionable to downplay the importance of relatively “safe,” up-to-date and stimulating learning environments. At the very least, the continued linkage between tax bases and school funding, a relic of the once credible idea of community “control” over school systems, needs to be broken once and for all. Until Americans understand that we are all responsible for the education of all primary and secondary students, the educational system will continue to function like global capitalism in general — the artificial creation of “boom” locales/”safe” school districts until they, like all the former boomtowns/”great” school districts, suffer the ignominy of a “benign neglect.” Nevertheless what we witness today, all across the country, in debilitated and renovated school buildings, in state-of-the-art and impoverished classrooms, is a general scorn for learning among students, teachers, administrators and the gen- It goes without saying that certain academic values will be in conflict with the values that students bring to the classroom. eral populace. The state of American education is not an index of our collective lack of intelligence but a willfully obstinate underdeveloped intelligence. In the current cultural climate of tabloid television news, talk radio muckraking, corrupt political processes and unethical business practices, it’s im- Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so contact Greg Flannery at 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com possible to assess anyone’s intelligence quotient, especially since that process itself is little more than the institutionalization of a glorified house of mirrors. Given all of this, it’s not surprising that even socalled educated people tend to confuse causes and effects, means and ends. For example, in certain states with fairly large Appalachian populations, white and black Appalachian students tend to under-perform in academic settings, especially in pre-college environments. Indeed, they tend to do worse than some black students living in impoverished, often crime-ridden, urban environments. These environments, one largely rural, one largely urban, contribute to, but do not cause, students to perform poorly. These environments “contribute” in different ways. For example, rural Appalachian students tend to come from strong, familycentered social traditions and environments. Thus family values tend to override academic values. If a family member is ill or needs assistance, responsibility for that family member might fall on another family member of student age. Appalachian students thus tend to miss an inordinate number of classes due to their commitment to family responsibilities. This is neither good nor bad in and of itself. It is merely a social fact. It acquires a negative stigma only in a culture that places a certain premium on academic or professional success. However, rather than seeing Appalachian students in the throes of competing value systems — one academic, one family-related — some leap to the erroneous conclusion that Appalachian students are simply intellectually deficient. Black students living in At the very least, the continued linkage between tax bases and school funding, a relic of the once credible idea of community “control” over school systems, needs to be broken once and for all. urban environments also tend to come from strong, family-centered social traditions and environments. Here, however, the family might not resemble the “standard” nuclear structure. Indeed, it might not include any “blood” relatives at all. The proliferation of gangs in urban environs is driven not only by economic and social factors but also by a desire to belong, a desire to be part of something larger than oneself, a “family” of one kind or another. Yet even when black students grow up in stable, nuclear family structures, they still tend to lag behind their white counterparts. One could read this as an index of substandard black intelligence. One could do so only if one ignored another competing “value” system: the tremendous ambivalence blacks across the economic spectrum have toward the educational institutions in this country. Across the economic and social spectrum, blacks tend to regard the desire for higher education as a desire to act or be “white.” That this suspicion can be found across the economic and social spectrum suggests that acting or “being white” is not specifically tied to economic mobility. It is also bound to the question of language, the lexicon one uses, how one speaks, how one sounds. It is bound to the question of political affiliation. Again, this social phenomenon is neither good nor bad, right or wrong, in and of itself. It is obviously not a question of intelligence. Just as academic or professional success takes a backseat to family values in many Appalachian families, so too academic or professional success must compete with other values black people might find just as, if not more, important. Consequently educators and policymakers must begin — or for those already doing so, continue — to rethink where they begin. They must abolish the assumption that the purpose of general public education is to merely inculcate certain values in students whose own “indigenous” values must be eradicated or, at the very least, suppressed. They forget that all people elevate or suppress certain values in certain contexts, that the issue is not a matter of good or bad, right or wrong, values but a matter of context, what values seem appropriate in certain situations. In short, they — and we — must emphasize that education is about adding on to the values students already have, that education is about giving students more values from which to choose and pick. It goes without saying that certain academic values will be in conflict with the values that students bring to the classroom. This resistance is not something to avoid or regret. Rather, that moment or site of conflict defines, for me, the very condition of the possibility of teaching. Guest Columnist Tyrone Williams is professor of English at Xavier and a poet whose latest work is On Spec. He is a long-time supporter of Over-the-Rhine and the currentpresident of the board of InkTank. Only purchase Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the paper. �STREETVIBES August 2008 News 15 ‘Bum Bashing’ and Hate on the Rise Report shows shocking increase in attacks on homeless By Daniel Horner Street News Service Violent attacks against homeless people in the United States significantly increased in 2007, with the number of lethal attacks jumping by 40 percent from the previous year’s figure, according to a recent report by two groups that advocate for the homeless. Fatal attacks jumped from 20 in 2006 to 28 in 2007, while the total number increased from 142 to 160 – a rise of 13 percent – according to the study “Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA: A Report on Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness 2007.” Factors ranging from local laws that criminalize homelessness to a current fad for “bum-bashing” videos “send a message to society that homeless people are not human (and) do not deserve respect” says Tulin Ozdeger, the civil rights director for the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty. The law center prepared the report along with the National Coalition for the Homeless. Local laws that restrict public sleeping, sitting, storing property or asking for money create an “environment of hostility” against homeless people and send the message that “attacks against them will not be taken seriously,” she says. The two groups have not done a full “scientific analysis,” but Ozdeger sees a correlation between such laws and attacks. Florida, whose 31 violent anti-homeless incidents topped the 2007 list, has a number of localities that have passed anti-homeless measures. Another factor in the continued prevalence of violence against homeless people is “bum bashing” videos, according to the study. Over 6.8 million copies of such videos have been sold and teenagers have imitated the videos “by recording themselves beating up homeless individuals just for the fun of it,” the report says. Retail sales of the videos have slowed down, but that success has been offset by the rise of YouTube, where such videos are popular, Ozdeger says. After Florida, the states with the largest numbers of incidents were California (22), Nevada (14) and Ohio (13). But Nevada’s population of 2.5 million is far less than California’s 36.5 million, Florida’s 18 million and Ohio’s 11.5 million. But Ozdeger cautioned that the figures might well be low. The report draws its data primarily from media reports, because victims of the attacks often don’t report the attacks to law-enforcement authorities, she says. David Pirtle, who says he was the victim of several attacks when he was homeless, confirms that point. Pirtle says he didn’t report the attacks to the police. On the basis of his experiences and those of his homeless friends, the “best case scenario” is that “the police don’t do anything,” he says. When he was homeless, he lived in several sites across the country, he says. The worst attack was in New York City in 2004, he says. A “couple of guys” beat him with an aluminum bat or wide pipe, he says. He says he suffered a chipped tooth and probably cracked ribs. But rather than going to the police or seeking medical assistance, he “just found a spot to curl up for a few days to recuperate,” he says. His assailants didn’t appear to be homeless men or criminals, Pirtle says. They were “nicely dressed” and appeared to be college-age, he says. Of the people accused and convicted of violence against the homeless in 2007, 86 percent were 25 years and younger, with many saying they committed the crimes for the “thrill” or “fun” of it, the report says. Pirtle says he had “never been attacked by anyone other than young kids who are intoxicated and bored.” Some of the attacks seem to be motivated by “bias against the victims because they are homeless,” according to the report. For that reason, the study asserts that attacks against the homeless should be tallied as hate crimes. Brian Levin of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University-San Bernardino says that failing to count attacks against the homeless as hate crimes “denies the rightful communal condemnation of this prevalent, but often invisible form of violent prejudice.” There were 187 fatal attacks on homeless individuals from 1999 through 2006, according to the report. For that same period, FBI statistics show 85 homicides classified as hate crimes, the report says. The report includes examples of efforts to help raise public awareness about the causes of homelessness and the needs of homeless people. For example, Florida’s Miami-Dade County public school district’s curriculum for all grades includes lesson plans relating to homelessness. For pre-K and kindergarten, the goal is to “give children an understanding of the needs that we all have to be comfortable and comforted,” according to a section of the curriculum quoted in the report. There was also a Florida-wide public education project, initiated by the National Coalition for the Homeless in conjunction with AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers, the report says. Reprinted from Street Sense © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org A Surprising Generosity One man’s wallet contains a special treasure By Gregory Flannery Editor Ronald English gives $20 a month to help a child he has never met and probably never will. This is exceptional in part because English used to be homeless, in part because he lives on the minimal monthly benefit paid by Supplemental Security Income and in part because of the health problems and tragedy that he has endured. Asked about his life, English recites an undifferentiated litany of pathos, horror and pride. “I go to church,” he says. “I am a mental patient. My mother got raped and murdered when she was 19. I have five brothers, six sis- ters and 36 nieces and nephews. I like everybody and I respect everybody. I think I’m a nice guy, friendly, honest.” English used to sell Streetvibes. Today he supplements his income by selling drawings, frequently surrealist images of a human face. More often he donates the drawings, several of which grace the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, where he likes to visit. English has an apartment in Clifton. He likes to visit the Drop Inn Center. A social worker says he likes to socialize. In his wallet English keeps a photograph of a child he says he sponsors, donating $20 a month. He says her name is Lucy, and she lives in Africa. His wallet also holds a letter, folded down to the size of a square-inch lump, attesting to his generosity. The letter is signed by Larry Jones, president of Feed the Children, a nonprofit organization that arranges sponsorship of children in Third World countries by more affluent people. English is no one’s idea of an affluent person, yet he helps Lucy. “I donate $240 a year for medical, housing, clothing and food,” he says. Jones’ letter attests to English’s generosity. “Your gifts in the last 12 months have helped children like Lucy survive,” the letter says. “This is why I’m proud to present you with your certificate of ap- Ron English, an on-again-off again Streetvibes vendor, donates $20 a month to support a little girl in Africa. Photo by Andrew Freeze. preciation, honoring you for helping provide over 200 meals.” Drawings are not English’s only artwork. He delivers himself of a poem committed to memory: Where legends are made, Where dreams are born, Saying I am a man amongst men, Standing tall, Asking God for your mother’s salvation, father’s respect, sister’s love and brother’s freedom. Peace be with you. God bless America, and feed the children. That’s the kind of man Ronald English is. �16 Vendors Resource Guide STREETVIBES August 2008 Streetvibes vendors buy the paper for 25 cents and sell the paper for $1, keeping the money they have earned. The vendors can be identified with a white badge and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northern Kentucky and area churches. The money they earn helps them meet basic housing, food and health care needs. Not all vendors pictured. Josephine Baskerville Doris Binion James Bybee Mark Campbell Silvia Collins Grady Cook Orlando Craig James Davis Jon Darby Tony Drummond Michael Harris Kenneth Stonitsch Antonio Hodge Leonard Jackson Samuel Jackson James A. Jones Alfred Woolfolk Berta Lambert Mary Mueller Brandon Nelson Mark Shears Riccardo Taylor Julie Walker Anthony Williams Nell Williams Cleo Wombles Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Central Access Point...381-SAFE Cincinnati Union Bethel...768-6907 Bethany House...557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House...681-2365 Salvation Army...762-5660 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter...872-9259 Starting Over...961-2256 Treatment: Women First Step Home ...961-4663 Treatment: Both City Gospel Mission...241-5525 Justice Watch...241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Worker House...381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter...661-4620 AA Hotline...351-0422 CCAT ...381-6672 Joseph House ...241-2965 Hamilton County ADAS Board ...946-4888 Recovery Health Access Center ...281-7422 Sober Living ...681-0324 Talbert House...684-7956 Shelter: Both Advocacy Shelter: Men Anthony House (Youth)...961-4080 Caracole (HIV/AIDS)...761-1480 Drop Inn Center...721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network...471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center...221-3350 St. John’s Housing...651-6446 Housing: CMHA...721-4580 Excel Development...632-7149 OTR Community Housing...381-1171 Tender Mercies...721-8666 Tom Geiger House...961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services Inc. ...751-0643 Volunteers of America...381-1954 Food Lord’s Pantry...621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Soup Kitchen & Pantry..961-1983 Our Daily Bread...621-6364 St. Francis Soup Kitchen...535-2719 Treatment: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House...784-1853 DIC Live In Program...721-0643 Prospect House...921-1613 Oral Health Council...621-0248 PATH Outreach...977-4489 Appalachian Identity Center ...621-5991 Catholic Social Action ...421-3131 Community Action Agency ...569-1840 Contact Center...381-4242 Franciscan JPIC ...721-4700 Greater Cinci Coalition for the Homeless..421-7803 Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center...5798547 Legal Aid Society ...241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center ...421-1108 Peaslee Neighborhood Center ...621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids ...363-3300 Stop AIDS...421-2437 Health Center for Respite Care ...621-1868 Cincinnati Health Network ...961-0600 Crossroad Health Center ...381-2247 Hamilton county Mental Health Board...946-8600 Hamilton County TB Control ...946-7628 Health Resource Center ...357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van...352-2902 McMicken Dental Clinic...352-6363 Mental Health Access Point...558-8888 Mercy Franciscan at St. John...981-5800 NAMI of Hamilton County..458-6670 Resources Catholic Social Services...241-7745 Center for Independent Living Options...241-2600 Churches Active in Northside...591-2246 Emmanuel Community Center...241-2563 FreeStore/FoodBank...241-1064 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart...381-0111 Goodwill industries...771-4800 Healing Connections...751-0600 Madisonville Education & Assistance Center...2715501 Mary Magdalen House...721-4811 People Working Cooperatively...351-7921 St. Vincent de Paul...562-8841 The Caring Place...631-1114 United Way...721-7900 Women Helping Women...977-5541 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center...859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House...859-261-5857 Fairhaven Resuce Mission...859-491-1027 Homeward Bound Youth...859-581-1111 Mathews House...859-261-8009 NKY Homeless & Housing Coalition...859-727-0926 Parish Kitchen...859-581-7745 Pike St. Clinic...859-291-9321 Transitions, Inc...859-491-4435 Welcome House of NKY...859-431-8717 Women’s Crisis Center...859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary...859-559-5011 VA Homeless...859-572-6226 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels...863-3184 Salvation Army...863-1445 Serenity House Day Center...422-8555 Open Door Pantry...868-3276 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2008 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 2008 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Can’t Afford to Get Sick An Excess of Good Deals Pg 2: The Vibe Pg 3: Eight Minutes Pg 4: Mercy in Over-the-Rhine Pg 5: The Face of Hospitality Pg 6: Sick Continued Services Continued Pg 7: Services Continued Pg 8: Arts & Poetry Pg 9: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 10: The Prostitute on State Street Pg 11: The Curious Case of Tracy Johnson Pg 12: Million Dollar Baby Pg 13: African Women Take Charge Pg 14: Intelligence, Environment and ‘Value’ Pg 15: ‘Bum Bashing’ and Hate on the Rise A Surprising Generosity Pg 16: Resource Guide Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource August 2008 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Larry Gross Angela Pancella Greg Olkhovsky Michael Henson Charles Cole Mack Russell Patricia Garry Rachel Lawson Tyrone Williams Daniel Horner Andrew Anderson Andrew Freeze Anthony Williams Antonio Hodge Berta Lambert Bethany House Services Joe Wessels Steve Novotni Georgine Getty Stephanie Dunlap Steve Gibbs Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF affordable housing African Women Andrew Anderson Andrew Freeze Angela Pancella Anthony Williams Antonio Hodge Arts & Poetry Berta Lambert Bethany House Services Charles Cole Daniel Horner Entrepreneurs Georgine Getty Grants Greg Olkhovsky Gregory Flannery Hate Crimes Immigrants Joe Wessels Larry Gross Lynne Ausman Mack Russell Margo Pierce mental illness Michael Henson Over-the-Rhine Patricia Garry Photography Prostitutes Public Education Rachel Lawson Stephanie Dunlap Steve Gibbs Steve Novotni Student Tracy Johnson Tyrone Williams Voting https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/63002a5e8e058053809cdb6d6100078c.pdf 876160ed03a535a1f1cf7fd1f0549802 PDF Text Text A u g u s t 2 2 t h - S e p t e m b e r 5 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 7 ( N o . 4 1 4 ) advo cating justice | building communit y R e jec ting Title X Any opinions in this issue are of the authors and don't necessarily represent Streetvibes or The Homeless Coalition. Editorial On Page 2 This Issue is sponsored by (Retired) Judge Mark P. Painter Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Aug 22- -NSept 5,22019 No. 414 From The Editor: Rejecting Title X Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief I n February, the Trump administration announced a change in Title X policy. Title X is a grant program that allocates federal money to organizations on the basis of providing the public with information surrounding family planning and preventive health services. Planned Parenthood was the largest organization that receives Title X funding until August of 2019 when the organization refused the funding. This refusal is in response to the changes made in the policy, which is being referred to as a “gag rule.” Organizations receiving Title X funding will now be required to restrict the information they give individuals regarding abortions. They are no longer allowed to give referrals to doctors that preform abortions and are only allowed to ambiguously refer doctors that may or may not preform the medical procedures. According to the New York Times, Planned Parenthood receives about “$60 million annually through the federal program.” They have done so since the 70’s when the program was created. According to PBS News Hour, “more than 1.5 million low income women rely on Planned Parenthood for reproductive health services.” This sort of care varies from birth control to STI screenings, not only abortion information and counseling. The New York Times also reported that the Department of Health and Human Services made a statement where they accuse Planned Parenthood and other organizations refusing Title X funding of “blaming the government for their own actions…They are abandoning their obligations to serve their patients under the program.” However, these organizations don’t see themselves as abandoning their patients, instead they feel quite the opposite. Organizations like the American Medical Association say this new restriction negatively affects their work as medical professionals. They see that they, instead of providing health care, would have to ignore all of the options available to pregnant folks. Alexis Mcgill Johnson, the Acting President of Planned Parenthood, stated, “I want our patients to know: while the Trump administration may have given up on you, Planned Parenthood never will. Our doors are open today, and our doors will be open tomorrow. Our patients come to us because they expect the best information and health care available. But the gag rule would make it impossible for us to uphold that commitment.” Other organizations are now walking away from the Title X program feeling the same way. Maine Family Planning is also rejecting the program stating, “ the Domestic Gag Rule… would fundamentally compromise the relationship our patients have with us as trusted providers of this most personal and private health care. It is simply wrong to deny patients accurate information about access to abortion care.” Now all of these organizations are going to have to find funding from other donors. Though we have already seen these organizations such as Planned Parenthood have a surge in donations, it will be interesting to see how sustainable this will be. We don’t know yet how this will affect these organizations with the lack of federal funding, but we can be sure the care provided will be filled with accurate information with the patient’s well being coming first above all. S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Lacy Wallace, Peter Y. Sussman, Felix Winternitz, Nick Brown Dr. Mark Mussman, Anuradha Nagaraj, Roli Srivasta, Carey L Biron, Willa D. Jones, Bobby Morris, Kim Green ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: , Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, , ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 25, - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 223 -| Sept 2019 | No. 414 3 HOMELESSNESS Homeless in Trump’s America Peter Y. Sussman Street Spirit A man who lives at taxpayer expense in luxurious public housing in Washington, D.C. has started a campaign against those who aren't so lucky. There’s something that repels him about homeless people, and in two appearances in recent months, the president began to clarify what it is. Speaking in Iowa in June, Donald Trump took a double shot at immigrants and the homeless (whom he sometimes equates), saying, “You see what’s happening in California. ...The Democratic-run cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco—do you see what’s happening to those cities? Can you even believe it, what’s going on there? People are getting sick just by walking down the street. They’re getting actually sick, including police officers, who are incredible, the job our law enforcement does is incredible.” OK, so the problem is not primarily that people are being forced by economic, medical or social circumstances to live on the streets; it’s that other pedestrians—especially incredible police officers, for some reason—are repelled by their presence on our shared sidewalks. He mentioned the smell, and he mentioned needles, as he often does. In the fusillades of ridicule and rhetoric that President Trump has fired against various classes of American citizens, it would be easy to overlook any one of his many targets, but noticing and remembering are hallmarks of a thriving conscience. So before they slip from our collective memory entirely, let's consider Trump's words in early July on homelessness and consider what they represent. After Trump returned from Japan that month, he reported back to his base at Fox News that, as one fawning moderator put it, “the cities are clean. There’s no graffiti. No one going to the bathroom on the street. You don’t see junkies.” Trump took the bait and ran with it. “It’s very nice, isn’t it?” he said. There are addicts, of course, all over this country and abroad, with perhaps a higher concentration recently in America's rural white areas, but how very nice the president finds it not to see them on the sidewalks. American rural addicts are perceived as someone's more sympathetic relatives, unlike the more visible addicts who annoy him so much on "Democratic" city streets. Indeed, the very fact that addicts are visible makes them more useful for his political purposes. They're valuable, anonymous props that he can point to with theatrical horror and disgust. Egged on by his Fox cheerleader, Trump said it was “very sad” what was happening in “some of our cities. ...New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, they’ve got a major problem with… filth.” By “filth,” he meant homeless people and he meant excrement, as soon became clearer. As with many other fastidious and insecure people of outsized privilege, germs or excrement are particularly repulsive to the president. Areas that aren’t gold-plated to his taste are not simply unfamiliar or vaguely uncomfortable; they are “shitholes,” to use Trump’s inelegant term for vast, impoverished areas of the world. In a fleeting concession to conscience, Trump said that “...some of them have mental problems where they don’t even know they’re living that way.” He quickly discarded the notion that unhoused people might be the victims of circumstances beyond their control, saying, “In fact, perhaps they like living that way. They can’t do that.” Do you see what happened there? The president quickly switched from unsupported speculation to the assumption that people enjoyed living in poverty and squalor—and then he chastised them for the motivation he himself had just ascribed to them: They liked “living that way,” and “They can’t do that.” Climbing further out on a speculative limb, Trump began parading his historical ignorance and promising to take action—of some kind—on a problem he clearly didn’t begin to understand. “It’s a phenomena [sic] that started two years ago,” he said, with all the assurance of presidential authority. (That suggests that homelessness began with the start of his administration. It’s not what he intended to remind his audience, but his autonomous mouth frequently betrays him in that way.) Then, speaking as the nation’s leader, the preacher of our common values, he declared, as he so often does, “It’s disgraceful.” Trump returned later in the interview to his determination that “something” must maybe be done: “So we’re looking at it very seriously. We may intercede. We may do something to get that whole thing cleaned up. It’s inappropriate. Now, we have to take the people and do something. We have to do something.” In short, stand by for “some other things … important things.” The silver lining is that in the past this president has generally forgotten the important things his rudderless mouth had promised. And in significant ways, Trump’s ends are served by raising the spectre of a threat and then leaving it unresolved. He gives his THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED aroused “base” a common target for righteous indignation without going to the detailed, time-consuming and collaborative trouble of fixing the problem he’s identified and leaving his base content. Their arousal is his greatest strength, so he must leave them aroused. This president’s most dangerous impact is in identifying “the issue” for his followers. Granted, his policies have destroyed stable institutions, societal norms, and years of legislative consensus, but even more important are the ways he’s poisoning public values by reframing our perceptions. In the process, problems, to the extent that they are problems, become more intractable, more difficult to resolve. You can't legislate your way out of a fantasy. At another point in his July diatribe on Fox News, Trump betrays more of his motivation: “I own property in San Francisco. … [Y]ou take a look at what’s going on with San Francisco, it’s terrible.” With people like Trump, it’s always personal, often in ways only a psychotherapist could unearth. The implications of Trump’s mindset are clear. It is not that social dislocation and despair exist; it’s that he (or tourists, property owners or police officers) must see the homeless or smell them as they walk down the street; that it’s happening in areas where he himself has property. If you've spent your life with no greater ambition than to be at least one socioeconomic rung above the next person (a Queens guy dreaming of Manhattan status), then the higher you get, the more vulnerable you feel. Sadly, history has shown us that such fragile people often resolve their grandiose inner turmoil by imposing destructive forms of order on others, usually at the expense of easy targets on the lowest social and economic rungs. Even more sadly, this particular Queens guy is a rich professional brander who has persuaded many of his socially insecure followers that their own grievances are his. We've heard it again and again from diehards at his rallies: "He's one of us." We have paid, and for some time will continue to pay, a heavy price for this deeply troubled man's insecurity, and as usual, the first ones to pay that price will be those who don’t have the financial resources or inherited influence to buy their way into the corridors of privilege and power where the governing values of a country are articulated and its rules are forged. Courtesy of Street Spirit / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT Tours focus on the historical and contemporary struggles and successes of the Overthe-Rhine Peoples' Movement. Learn what gentrification looks like and how displacement affects community members. NAug o v 2 22 - N-oSept v 19,5, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 2019 414 Social Justice Walking Tours Cost: $80/Group (max 20 in each group). Sign up today: https://cincihomeless.org/ please-register-youreducation-event-here/ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |-NSept ov 2 -5, N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 22 | No. 414 5 U.S NEWS Could a national buyback program reduce gun violence in America? Lacey Wallace The Conversation A mericans own nearly half of the world’s guns, with approximately 120 firearms for every 100 U.S. residents. Gun control policies may someday restrict new gun sales. But what impact can they have when Americans already own millions of guns? Some have pointed to gun buybacks as a potential solution to this problem. I have spent years studying American attitudes toward guns and gun policies, including smart guns and open carry. I know that gun owners feel strongly about their identities as gun owners, making it difficult to create a strategy for taking guns off the streets. US gun stock The sheer number of guns is part of the challenge. The United States has the largest civilian-owned stock of guns in the world. At the end of 2017, the Small Arms Survey reported that there were an estimated 393 million firearms in the United States – and that’s not even counting guns owned by the police and military. That represents 45.8% per cent of the world’s civilian-owned guns. Yemen has the second-highest rate of gun ownership per person in the world, with just 52.8 firearms per 100 residents. More than 40 per cent of U.S. adults live in a household with at least one gun. About half of all civilianowned guns in the U.S. are owned by just three per cent of U.S. adults. These gun owners have an average of 17 guns each. Most other gun owners average about three guns at home. Reducing numbers Gun buyback programs are designed to reduce the number of firearms by purchasing guns from private owners, and typically destroying them. Gun buyback programs are not new. Following a mass shooting in 1996, Australia banned automatic and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and instituted a national gun buyback program. In a year, Australia purchased about 650,000 firearms from private residents, estimated to represent about 20 per cent of the country’s privately owned guns. Research evaluating the effects of the buyback found a 42 per cent decrease in homicide rates and a 57 per cent decrease in suicide rates in the seven years after the legislation passed. But some researchers are still uncertain whether this decrease was due to the buyback, or whether it was simply part of an existing downward trend. U.S. cities have experimented with buybacks on a much smaller scale, even though the Pew Research Center reports that more than 70 per cent of gun owners say they could never imagine themselves not owning some sort of firearm. One of the earliest examples occurred in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1974, Baltimore police paid residents US$50 per firearm, collecting roughly 13,500 over a two-month period. Rather than reduce crime, homicides and assaults spiked during the buyback. It is unclear why, but two months is a short time period for a clear pattern to emerge and crime rates in cities across the country were increasing through much of the 1970s. Baltimore is not unique. A 2008 crime and in youth violence. If the goal is to reduce crime, getting shotguns or broken firearms off the street will likely have little effect. Guns obtained through a 1994 to 1996 buyback in Milwaukee also differed from those typically used in suicide and homicide. The Boston Police Department tried again in 2006. Learning from their past mistakes, the police offered a $200 gift card for each handgun – but no cash or gift card for rifles or shotguns. At the conclusion of the program, the Boston Police Department reported that more than 85% of submitted firearms were handguns, closely matching the types of guns used in crime. to submit them to law enforcement. Gun buybacks are financed by taxpayer dollars and are generally paid for by local agencies rather than through state or federal funding. A local jurisdiction’s budget will limit the amount of firearms it can purchase and destroy, reducing the likelihood that a gun buyback will have an observable impact on local crime rates. Law enforcement involvement Typically, gun buyback programs are run by law enforcement. Understandably, criminal offenders may be hesitant to come to the local police station or interact with law enforcement – even if they are promised exemption from prosecution A man walks with his firearm during a community gun buy-back program in White Plains, New York, U.S., April 13, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton review of the existing research by Matthew Makarios and Travis Pratt in the journal Crime & Delinquency found that gun buyback programs have generally been ineffective in reducing crime in the U.S. Challenges include the types of guns purchased, the involvement of law enforcement, and the costs involved. Types of guns purchased Gun buyback programs often place no restrictions on the types of guns that can be purchased. Civilians frequently bring in old firearms, guns in disrepair, rifles, or shotguns. Sacramento, California, implemented a gun buyback program in 1993. Nearly a quarter of all guns submitted were not in working order. The Boston Police Department also attempted a gun buyback program in 1993 without a restriction for weapon type. Only about half of submitted firearms were handguns. That’s significant because we know from existing crime data that although some mass shooters use more powerful weapons, handguns are the type of firearm most often used in violent The number of shootings decreased by 14% in Boston in the year after the buyback and continued to decrease through 2010. Other jurisdictions followed Boston’s example. In 2015, 13 police departments in Massachusetts instituted a buyback program with higher amounts paid for types of firearms more frequently used in crime. As a result, they were able to collect more handguns. But three out of five people who sold their guns said they still had one or more guns at home. Cost and profit Experience shows that some people will attempt to profit from gun buybacks by submitting inexpensive or broken firearms worth less than the cash incentive offered through the buyback. In Baltimore, one buyback participant claimed she was going to use the buyback money to purchase a larger weapon. In Oregon, private citizens waited outside the gun buyback locations to purchase firearms and ammunition from owners before they could go inside THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for weapon possession. Boston attempted to address this concern in 2006 by designating sites like churches as drop-off locations. Other jurisdictions have held gun buybacks run by nonprofit groups, but law enforcement officials are frequently on-hand as security, or to help take the guns to be destroyed after the buyback. No sizeable US impact So far, gun buybacks in the United States have been a community-based, grassroots endeavor with limited impact. Their feasibility on a state or nationwide scale is unclear. Cost alone may be a prohibiting factor. Assuming a $50 per firearm incentive, reducing the U.S. gun stock by one per cent would cost $196.5 million. Inevitably, only some of the guns purchased would have been used in future crimes. Lacey Wallace is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Pennsylvania State University. Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo �LOCAL 6 NAug o v 2 22 - N-oSept v 19, 5, 2 02019 18 | |NNo. o . 393 414 A Deadly Disruption: The Invasion of Electric Scooters Felix Winternitz Contributing Writer T he streets of OTR can be dangerous, but perhaps not for the reason you might think. I've been nearly side-swiped – twice, yet – by the electric motor scooters that are so prevalent. As a pedestrian, I find the influx of these devil's spawns most alarming. Once, the scooter culprit who almost mowed me down was just 14 years old; he'd borrowed his mother's VISA card to achieve his audacious adventure, cruising the sidewalks without a driver's license. Like many riders, he wore no safety helmet. Think about it: These demonic, forrent devices can apparently be obtained with no confirmation that the drivers are schooled in the rules of the road. Or in the rules of the sidewalk, for that matter. They can reach a cruising speed of 15 mph. Some are evidenced being driven in a damaged condition. My first near miss occurred at the entrance of A Taste of Belgium restaurant. My favorite waiter could only shake his head and bemoan the state of the streets. By way of anecdotal evidence, the waiter offered sympathy while bemoaning "We hear complaints sometimes from our customers. Sometimes, these folks are driving with earplugs while listening to their music." The scooters roar by on the sidewalks or along streets, careening notably Vine and its connecting crossings. Some of the drivers can be seen exiting from the plethora of bars along Vine, combining with alcoholic intoxication to inflate the haywire mix. Adding injury to insult is that these sidewalk road warriors can often be seen absurdly checking their e-mails and social media accounts, even as they cruise along wildly. There seems to be no confirmation system to guarantee the driver on this motorized vehicle is insured, in event of a crash with an unwary walker. Is there any Cincinnati council person who represents the interests of Cincinnati's pedestrian population? Who regulates this overnight industry locally? There were 39 Cincinnati pedestrians struck by some kind of vehicle, just in February. All this comes on the heels of news reports that the number of pedestrian deaths in America has reach a 30year high. In fairness, the reports also blames smart-phone distraction and the increasing prevalence of SUVs. The Governors Highway Safety Association white-paper shows pedestrian traffic fatalities have soared, with more than 6,000 deaths in 2018. A frightening statistic. Pedestrian deaths now account for 16 percent of motor-vehicle crash deaths, up from 12 percent just a decade ago. "We're killing way too many pedestrians. This has got to be a top priority," observes Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the non-profit Highway Safety Association, which monitors stats from state and local police agencies and commissioned this report. Yes, many of these deaths have occurred as pedestrians cross at intersections on crosswalks, at their own risk. But many among the stunning body count are simply innocent walkers strolling along metro sidewalks, victims obscenely slammed to the concrete. "It's very bleak," comments Richard Retting, who wrote the report. "We're seeing a complete reversal of the progress that had been made in the 1980s." Retting's report notes fatalities have risen 45 percent since 2009. "Drivers need to keep in mind [that they] have a machine and capability to kill someone else." As the Enquirer recently noted: "They're here: The electric scooters so loved – and so hated – in other cities. Seemingly overnight, Bird, a vehiclesharing company, dropped off its electric scooters on Cincinnati streets. Want-to-be riders can download the Bird app and rent a ride to scoot around town. ... The rental process is quick – you'll need a credit card and a driver's license." Rides are $1 initially plus 15 cents per minute. The maximum charge is $100 for 24 hours. The company claims no responsibility for enforcing insurance coverage. According to the Bird terms of service: "All applicable laws (including, without limitation, those applicable to traffic, pedestrians, parking, charging and electric vehicles) must be obeyed, including any helmet laws in your area. ... Rider represents and certifies that he/ she is familiar with the operation of the vehicle, and is reasonably competent and physically fit to ride the vehicle. By choosing to ride a vehicle, rider assumes all responsibilities and risks for any injuries or medical conditions. You are responsible for determining whether conditions, including, without limitation, rain, fog, snow, hail, ice, heat or electrical storms, make it dangerous to operate a vehicle. You are advised to adjust your riding behavior and braking distance to suit the weather, visibility, surrounding environment, and traffic conditions." Bird says it recommends against operation of a vehicle while carrying or holding a briefcase, backpack, bag, or other item that can alter balance or impair safe operation. "If you choose to use such an item, Bird recommends that you ensure the item fits snugly to your body and does not impede your ability to operate the vehicle safely." Ha! Words of assurance can be cheap. These scooters are dockless, meaning riders can blithely leave them wherever they happen to stop. I've seen scooters lying sideways on the sidewalk, blocking passers-by, or leaned against doorways and against storefront businesses. Once, an abandoned scooter blocked a wheelchair ramp. A few times, I've even seen two riders piggy-backing along in tandem on one single scooters (both were carrying backpacks, yet another potential hazard to safe steering). And along with the e-scooter backlash have come the lawsuits. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Perhaps the most high-profile case was filed last October, when Bird and Lime, along with two manufacturers of the vehicles they use, Segway and Xiaomi, became the subject of a punitive classaction suit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Nine plaintiffs accused the companies of “indiscriminate, negligent, grossly negligent and/or unlawful ‘deployment’ … of fleets of defective” scooters in that city. The web site CityLab recently queried: "The rise of the rented e-scooter has brought safety fears and injury-related lawsuits. What happens when a new mobility mode meets the American legal system?" In other words, who gets blamed when something goes wrong? Back to the Queen City: "It's unclear what notice, if any, Cincinnati officials had prior to Bird's arrival" according to a recent Enquirer story. In other words, local public servants were blind-sided. After introduction of emergency interim rules, Cincinnati City Council’s Law and Public Safety Committee last September approved an ordinance that would change the city’s municipal code to specifically ban scooters on sidewalks. Currently, it's a general ban against riding any “powered means of transportation” on sidewalks. It’s a $100 fine for the first offense. For my part, I'm not seeing any riders getting a ticket. Councilman David Mann thinks Bird should be on the hook. “Because otherwise, they don’t have any real incentive to make sure this stuff doesn’t happen,” Mann told the newspaper. “I’ve been saying to myself, it’s just a matter of time before we have a serious injury. ... Bird is a profitmaking activity which has landed here for one purpose, to make money for someone,” Mann stated. “Profit is fine, but the damage inflicted by any enterprise must be assumed by the business, not an innocent public." Let's hear it for that. As Mann astutely observes: "It’s equally clear people are flouting those rules, and the company seems to be shrugging that off." Mann reports he sees people on a daily basis barreling down the sidewalks, blowing through red lights and going the wrong way down one-way streets. He’s also not sure the 18-and-up policy is being properly enforced. “I’m approaching it as a lawyer,” he said. “How can Bird be required to assume serious responsibility that will cause them to take serious steps? I’m all for having fun, but let’s understand that the sidewalks are a shared space.” The electric scooter industry is on a collision course with the rights of pedestrians. Here's hoping for, if you'll excuse the expression, a concrete resolution. �LOCAL NAug o. 3922 3 |-NSept ov 2 -5, N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18414 7 Cincinnati History in Perspective, Part 1 Dr. Mark Mussman I Staff Writer t has been said that Cincinnati has always been a city of immigrants, but perhaps it should be rewritten as a city of homelessness. Going back 40,000 years, people have always lived among these 7 hills. The Hopewell, Shawnee, Adena, and Osage were just some of the people who lived here before the invasion. There were major earthwork mounds and other features that were created over the span of tens of thousands of years. In a matter of a hundred years, we destroyed all the evidence in the downtown basin. The Cincinnati Tablet was found near the Shelterhouse’s new location, on Mound Street, but all the other evidence has been removed. Even Bald Knob, which I believe was a sacred place, was removed for infill of Union Terminal. To the south, the Cherokee and Chickasaw, among others, lived in the hills of Kentucky before removal. The French and Indian War ended in 1763, and the removal process started shortly after that. In 1788, Cincinnati was originally known as Losantiville, which combined several languages to mean “the city across from the Licking River.” 200 years ago this year, Cincinnati officially became the city’s name, named after a Roman general and farmer, and the society that bares its name. For many years, Cincinnati was geographically smaller than downtown today. With Fort Washington near the location of the Taft Museum, all the area to the north was known as “Indian Territory” and it was considered unsafe to travel, as Native Americans were being attacked, killed, homes destroyed, and captured, in order for the invaders to take the land, which would eventually become Cincinnati. Our policies have always pushed people into homelessness. In 1804, Ohio enacted the Black Code, which required all Black people to register with the local magistrate, have two white people vouch for them, and pay a hefty sum, just to live in Ohio. Ohio used that money to build and create systems of oppression for Black people that continue to exacerbate homelessness. Ohio was literally built upon the backs of Black people as these laws were in effect until 1849, just one year after the mass migration out of Europe began. In 1848 a social movement in Europe began. Seeking our First and Second Amendment rights, the Forty Eighters left Europe for North and South America, as well as Australia. More than 30,000 Germans settled here in Over-the-Rhine (before it was called that), and built the buildings we still have today. Over-the-Rhine has the largest collection of German Italianate architecture anywhere in the their idea of “native” had nothing to do with Native Americans, they pretended that they were more worthy of the land here. Many laws preventing Catholics from building and owning land were created by lumping them in with Native Americans and Black people, who were barred from owning land or even protection through the courts. There was even an election day conflict that involved shooting a cannon over the canal. Eventually, the Germans became “white” and were able to fully participate and benefit from societal advantages. Up until World War I, schools, newspapers, books and other minimum wage kept up with inflation - the cost of living - the hourly rate would be over $22 today. Contrasting that with the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which Kentucky follows, it’s clear to see that the minimum wage needs to become a livable wage. But there’s one thing that came out of the Great Depression that’s not so obvious, and that’s the home ownership program that created the suburbs that we know today. Most housing in Cincinnati was built before housing discrimination (based upon race) was still very much legal and practiced widely. The federal home ownership program was notoriously racist, as International delegation takes walking tour with Dr. Mark Mussman world because the World Wars largely destroyed the German buildings in Germany. The Germans came here, homeless, with little wealth, but many trade skills. Candle and rope making, beer and wine producing, masonry and woodworking, were some of the opportunities that the immigrants had. There was great conflict between the “Nativist” and immigrants. The white Nativists felt superior, even though Over-the-Rhine People's Movement Public Walking Tour August 2019 publications were in the German language. Many schools were bilingual, German and English. During the War, street names were changed (Bremen became Republic, Frankfort became Connecticut, Berlin became Woodrow, Hamburg became Stonewall, Hanover became Yukon, etc.), people were deported, and it is said that it became “illegal to speak German” in Cincinnati. After the War, the US weathered the Great Depression, and Cincinnati’s location along the river helped us stay afloat with cheap transportation. When it comes to housing the Great Depression has shaped the United States more than almost anything else. The Cincinnati that we know today was a result of Great Depression programs and post-war efforts. Even today, you can find WPA stamps on bridges, roads, playgrounds, schools, and other important developments. The Great Depression also set a minimum wage (except for tipped employees, incarcerated individuals, and people with developmental differences), which was supposed to be enough to buy a home, send your children to school, and put food on the table. If THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Black people were called “vermin” in our government documents. The resulting Redlining shaped our city and country. From 1934-1970, the federal government gave out $120 billion in low-interest, fixed-rate loans to build the suburbs. Over 98% of the loans went exclusively to white people to build generational wealth. Even though there was a generally level playing field after the Great Depression since no one had money, Black people were excluded from the home ownership program, denying them the opportunity to create generational wealth, or even housing stability. Today, we continue to feel the effects of this discriminatory practice as Black people are more likely to experience homelessness and have overall much less family wealth. Coupled with contemporary racism, Black people in Cincinnati face many barriers and obstacles. If you’d like to learn more about the history and contemporary issues facing Cincinnati, please schedule a Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement Walking Tour through our website: cincihomeless.org �FEATURED 8 El Paso attack upends white normalization plan Jeff Schoep, former chairman of the National Socialist Movement, speaks during a rally at the state capitol in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S., November 10, 2018. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart Nick Brown Reuters T wo years ago, America’s white nationalist movement stunned the country. NeoNazi demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia, had turned deadly when a far-right protester drove a car through a crowd, killing one and injuring dozens. Some movement leaders regrouped. Instead of stoking outrage, they set out to build support with another tack: Looking normal. The larger goal was what many white nationalists call “Phase 2” — gaining mainstream acceptance for far-right ideas widely rejected as repugnant and getting white nationalists into positions of influence. The normalization effort included softened rhetoric and social gatherings that, for many groups, would increasingly replace confrontational rallies. “The strategy is internally focused now — having families get together,” said alt-right blogger Brad Griffin, a self-avowed white nationalist from Montgomery, Alabama. He fondly recalled a river-tubing trip he organized in 2018 for friends who had attended a local white nationalist conference. The goal of such low-key gatherings, he said, is to spread far-right ideology away from the public spectacle of a public protest. “It’s a lot more fun to do that than to go out and tangle with Antifa” — members of America’s farleft “anti-fascist” movement — “and get hit with piss balloons in the street.” Griffin spoke in an interview before last weekend’s massacre in El Paso, Texas — an event that has scrambled the calculus for the movement’s aspiring normalizers. On Saturday, authorities say, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius shot and killed 22 people and wounded two dozen more shortly after a manifesto appeared online explaining his motivation and decrying a “Hispanic invasion” of the United States. The El Paso attack has also put new pressure on a man some white nationalists praise as helping advance their movement: Donald Trump. The U.S. president has come under sustained criticism for his racially incendiary rhetoric since launching his candidacy in 2015 — including his repeated use of the word “invasion” to describe immigration along the U.S.Mexico border. On Monday, Trump issued his most forceful disavowal of white supremacism to date. “In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry N o v 222 - N v 19,5,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Aug - oSept 414 nationalist and white supremacy,” Trump said in response to the weekend’s shootings. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated.” After Charlottesville, the lie-low approach was seen as a necessity by some in the movement. Many white nationalist groups were sued and lost access to social media, which has caused them to avoid public confrontations, said Heidi Beirich, who studies farright groups for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization that tracks extremists. “We haven’t seen many rallies since Charlottesville,” she said. The combination of bad press, prosecutions and lost access to social media, has “depressed people in the movement” and created a sense that “maybe the softer approach is the way to go.” The shootings, and Trump’s repudiation, leave the normalizers in a difficult, perhaps impossible spot. Their gambit was always a stretch. A Reuters photojournalist has observed the approach up close — at a children’s nursery in a “church” run by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK); a restaurant-and-bar that caters to white supremacists in Georgia; a barbecue held in Arkansas by the ShieldWall Network, a self-avowed neo-Nazi group with dozens of members. Even as they described their hopes of mainstreaming, many members of these and other groups also voiced the violent tropes that animate the movement. One is the so-called Great Replacement conspiracy theory, common in white nationalist circles, Members of the ShieldWall Network hold up balloons decorated as the face of Adolf Hitler and give a white-power hand signal as they celebrate the German fascist's birthday outside Atkins, Arkansas, U.S., April 20, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 5, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 22 Sept | No. 414 9 FEATURED Members of the ShieldWall Network, a white nationalist group, burn a swastika and cross during a party outside Atkins, Arkansas, U.S., March 9, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart which holds that leftist elites are engineering the replacement of white majorities globally through policies that encourage mass migrations as white birth rates decline. The manifesto tied to the El Paso shooting referenced the replacement theory in explaining why the shooter chose to kill Hispanic people. Asked in a May interview how whites could regain demographic dominance, ShieldWall’s leader, Billy Roper, told Reuters that promoting a higher birth rate among white people is helpful, but “bullets” would be faster. Roper said his organization doesn’t advocate anything illegal but that he “couldn’t disagree” with the goals of the mass shooter who murdered 51 people at two Muslim mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. That killer, too, had cited the replacement theory as a motive. In a phone interview after the Texas massacre, Roper said he didn’t support the killings. But the victims, Roper said, “were just pawns in the Jewish game of demographic replacement of whites,” adding that such “cultural conflicts” are an “unfortunate fact of modern life” in an increasingly diverse nation moving closer to racial “balkanization.” The strategy of trying to couch such extreme views in mainstream rhetoric is not new. One of the highestprofile examples of the normalization tack is that of David Duke, a former KKK grand wizard who traded the klan’s signature white robes and pointy hats for a business suit, adopted more mainstream conservative talking points, and made the runoff election for Louisiana governor in 1991. Duke lost by a wide margin but drew support from about half the state’s white voters. The normalization effort is also not universal. Some far-right groups are still known for confrontation, including the Proud Boys, who last October fought with people protesting a Republican Club event in New York City. In Draketown, Georgia, Pat Lanzo runs a restaurant-and-bar that white supremacists have claimed as their own. Lanzo insists the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar is merely a celebration of free speech. “We’re not racist,” he said. “We hate everyone equally.” The decor inside his bar is filled with the kind of racist tropes that remain a hard sell with mainstream America. His menus feature a drawing of a Klan member relaxing on a hammock made of two lynched black corpses tied together at the feet. And Lanzo has rented his property to neoNazis and klan members for cross burnings, a traditional show of force by the KKK in the American South. The image-scrubbing by today’s white nationalists belies a long history of violence by far-right ideologues. In the ten years ending in 2018, murderers motivated by far-right ideology took the lives of 124 people in 62 incidents, according to the U.S. Extremist Crime Database, a collaboration of criminal justice researchers from multiple universities. The statistics include white supremacists but also those with other far-right agendas that are not focused on race, such as anti-government militants. Thomas Robb, the national director of The Knights Party, a group formerly named the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, said the movement should think beyond confrontations and rallies. “When the rally’s over, what do you do?” said Robb in an interview before the El Paso shootings. “Our goal isn’t so much to get membership, but influence. When people come to our website, they see responsible people who aren’t using the ‘N word’ in every sentence.” Instead, Robb said, the aim is to “speak like Corporate America” as a way to make far-right ideas more palatable to a broader audience. White nationalists have always debated whether putting “reasonable clothing” on their movement would get them further than street clashes and violence, said Mike German, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, a left-leaning policy institute. But the approach appears to have gained momentum under Trump in part because of the president’s racially divisive rhetoric, said German, who previously spent years undercover with white nationalists as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “Before, white nationalists were trying to shove their way into the mainstream,” German said. “Now, they’re being invited in.” It’s far from clear whether many true believers are ready for life in the mainstream. This past April in Russellville, Arkansas, a lakeside college town, three members of the ShieldWall Network gathered to rent a houseboat and cruise around Lake Dardanelle. A Reuters photojournalist went with them. Moods were light; they toasted one another with Fireball whiskey shots, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED laughed when one of them dropped his phone in the lake and cooed as another cuddled with his pregnant wife. Later that night, the group would initiate a new recruit, Nicholas Holloway, and burn wooden swastikas. Two months later, in June, Holloway and two other ShieldWall members on the boat that day — Julian Calfy and John Carollo — were arrested for allegedly beating a gay man and holding a gun to his head after luring him to Calfy’s home with a false dating advertisement, according to police reports. Calfy remains in jail, while the other two members are free on bail, according to a spokesman for the Pope County, Arkansas, Sheriff ’s Office. Each is charged with thirddegree battery, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree criminal mischief in connection with the attack. Neither the defendants nor their attorneys could be reached for comment. Griffin, the alt-right blogger, condemned the El Paso shooting in stronger terms than other extremists who spoke to Reuters, calling it and other mass shootings by avowed white nationalists “insane tragedies.” At the same time, Griffin said he supported resegregation of the races, echoing one of the core principles of the manifesto that authorities tied to the Texas shooter. The continuing violence, he said, undermines any attempt by the movement to gain more mainstream acceptance. At this point, he said, most white nationalists would rather just “stay out of the debate.” Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo �10 GLOBAL N o v 222 - N v 19,5,22019 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Aug - oSept 414 Freedom, money, babies: Indian women rescued from slavery count their losses Anuradha Nagaraj and Roli Srivastava F Reuters ive months into her pregnancy, Soniya was still carrying heavy sacks up steps at the rice mill in south India where she was forced to work to pay off a family debt. By the time she was rescued, her baby had died. Soniya spent four years in debt bondage, the most prevalent form of slavery in India, to pay off a family loan of 50,000 Indian rupees ($725). Like many women in her situation, she had no access to health care. Her rescuers said she appeared malnourished, frail and on the point of collapse, had her hands wrapped around her stomach and refused to speak. "Health checks are not mandated after a rescue, but the lost expression in her eyes suggested that something was amiss," said Megraj Kasim, the local officer in charge of rescue and rehabilitation of bonded workers. "We rushed her to a hospital, but it was too late," he said, from Vellore district in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. A series of rescues this year have highlighted the plight of the hundreds of pregnant and lactating women working in brick kilns, rice mills and on farms across India, often to pay off debts they did not incur. "The women are silenced into submission by threats, which is why their trauma is often unheard," said Helen Barnabas, a counsellor with the International Justice Mission, an antitrafficking charity. "In almost every rescue, there is at least one pregnant woman or one nursing a newborn, who have been denied medical access, forced to work and gone through trauma that they are rarely able to articulate. The cruelty is unimaginable." India's labour ministry did not respond to emails or calls from the Thomson Reuters Foundation on the issue. ‘Heartbreaking’ stories India identified more than 135,000 bonded workers in its 2011 census despite banning the practice in 1976. It says more than 300,000 people have been pulled out of slavery since 1976 and has committed to rescue and rehabilitate more than 10 million bonded labourers by 2030. Kasim said the testimonies of women who had lost their children were the toughest to record, but gave the "true picture of the extent of exploitation". "The women don't speak easily and we work very hard on gaining their trust," he said. "But when they trust you enough to speak, their accounts are heartbreaking. Even the toughest officials are moved by their suffering, especially if they lose a child." Kasim has now mandated health checks in all rescues in his region, a move the Tamil Nadu government is looking to enforce across the state in the future. Barnabas said women from tribal areas were often told to treat themselves like their grandmothers did using traditional herbs, depriving them of access to modern medicine," "But the tragedy is that when they lose their child, they often don't blame the mill owners but themselves and say they have angered their gods and goddesses," she said. "It takes them years to understand that it was not their fault." Born into bondage Ashtama Devi, 35, spent the last trimester of her pregnancy in the searing heat of a brick kiln in the northern state of Haryana. She went back to work within 15 days of her delivery, leaving her baby boy in the care of her seven-year-old son in their tin roofed hut next to the brick kiln. When they were rescued six months later, the child had blisters all over his body that Devi attributed to the intense heat he was exposed to from birth. "I baked bricks and worked 14 hours every day (during my pregnancy)," said Devi by phone from Delhi after she was rescued last month. "My employer would beat up my husband when he asked for permission to take me to the doctor." She recalled how during her two earlier pregnancies, health workers in her home village ensured she had nutritional supplements and she also received 1,400 rupees cash from the government when she delivered. In bondage, she had no such care and gave birth to an underweight baby. "My baby weighed 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) when he was born. He is really weak," she said. Devi, who was lured into bondage with an advance payment of 15,000 rupees and the promise of a better life, was among 80 people rescued last month, 32 of whom were children. Nirmal Gorana, convener of the National Campaign Committee for Eradication of Bonded Labour - a network of campaigners - said Devi's baby was severely malnourished when he was rescued and his condition is still critical. "The children when we reached the site were all visibly weak, had skin diseases and none of them had any clothes on. They were living in the searing heat next to brick kiln under a tin roof shed," Gorana said. Manki Devi, who was among those rescued from Haryana, gave birth earlier this month to a baby that died within an hour. For Soniya, who still believes she is pregnant and is undergoing counselling, the days ahead will be tough, Barnabas said. "We find that they go through long spells of depression before they really understand what happened," she said. "And then the sadness will be replaced by rage." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo A girl carries bricks to be baked in a kiln at a brickyard on the outskirts of Karad in Satara district, about 396km (246 miles) south of Mumbai February 13, 2012. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 5, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 22 Sept | No. 414 GLOBAL 11 'We will become homeless': U.S. residents fear housing rule change could force them out of homes Carey L. Biron Reuters F ears are mounting across the United States over a proposal by President Donald Trump's administration that would force tens of thousands of families to choose between splitting up or being homeless together. The proposed rule change, on which a national public comment period ended in July, would deny public housing assistance for "mixedstatus" households — those in which at least one member is an undocumented immigrant. Housing secretary Ben Carson said in May - when the change was first proposed - that it was a necessary move to reduce long wait times for housing assistance. But housing researchers and advocates say the proposal would not have the desired effect and would instead lead to higher rates of homelessness. Analysis from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said the rule change would affect more than 108,000 people. That includes 55,000 children, many of whom are American citizens with an undocumented parent, according to the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA), a national nonprofit focusing on affordable housing. That is the situation facing Cari Torres in Los Angeles, California. The single mother from Jalisco, Mexico, is undocumented, but her son was born in the United States. "If the rule goes on, we will be homeless, my son and I," she said, noting that rental rates in Los Angeles are very high and affordable housing largely unavailable. Torres, 37, said she and her son would probably be forced to stay with friends: "I don't know, and, honestly, I can't imagine how bad this could be." She added that many other people she knows are in a similar situation and are "afraid of what could happen". Like many U.S. cities, Los Angeles is already dealing with an acute housing crisis. The city's homelessness rate rose by 16 per cent in the past year alone, according to government figures released in June. "There are over 50,000 people in the county experiencing homelessness, and we're going to add something like 20 per cent more through this policy," said Bill Przylucki of People Organized for Westside Renewal, a community development group in Los Angeles. "And the people who would be added are folks who are even more vulnerable because they would face challenges to employment and accessing benefits because of this status issue," he said. U.S. taxpayers do not subsidise housing for undocumented immigrants under current policy; rather, subsidy rates are prorated depending on the number of eligible members in a household. The rule change would do away with that prorating, instead making the entire household ineligible if a single member is undocumented. In a May meeting with lawmakers, Carson said he sees the prorating process as "giving aid and assistance to people who are here illegally". He also noted that residents who lose housing assistance under the The sun sets on a public housing project in Brooklyn known as the "Pink Houses", where Akai Gurley was killed by what the New York Police Department is saying could be an accidental discharge in New York November 21, 2014. A New York City officer shot and killed an unarmed man in a dimly lit stairwell of a Brooklyn housing project, in what may have been an accidental discharge of his weapon, the police commissioner said on Friday. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED new rule could get deferrals of up to 18 months to give them time to find somewhere else to live. The housing department did not respond to a request for additional comment. The proposal brought in more than 30,000 responses during the recent two-month comment period, which Przylucki characterised as unusually large for a housing policy. He also said 90 per cent of those comments - which were publically available - were negative. Several pending legislative changes from Democratic lawmakers, floated since the proposal was made public, would bar the housing department from implementing the change. For now, community advocates like Przylucki are pushing back against what he said is a wave of fear and misinformation, explaining to residents that the proposal may not go forward, while planning for people to remain housed if it does. "Fear has been effectively instilled on this and, of course, housing authorities are very concerned about that," said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the CLPHA, whose members manage about 40 per cent of U.S. public housing. "I think we've reached universal consensus that we have a (housing) crisis. And the scarcity of resources is what is making the waiting list so long — not mixed family status," she said. As with any U.S. regulatory change, the housing department is required to go through and respond to all submissions received during the public comment period before it decides on its next step. Zaterman and others said that process would typically take several months. "A lot of costs in the public sector are related to housing instability and homelessness, and to have a policy that clearly would result in exacerbating that problem is contrary to everything we stand for," said Zaterman. On Monday the Trump administration also announced that starting in October, it intends to make it more difficult for legal immigrants to become U.S. citizens or get residency if they have used public benefits, including housing assistance. "If implemented, the rule will grant immigration officers the authority to punish immigrants for accessing services legally," said Ali Noorani, executive director of advocacy group the National Immigration Forum, in a statement. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �12 Finding Courage STREETVOICE Having been in a state of fear for most of my adult life, I have struggled with “Finding Courage.” I looked for courage from others. My parents mainly. I looked for courage in drugs & alcohol, in pretending to be someone other than myself. What I found out recently, is my courage has to come from within. This is not a new revelation, it's just finally hit home or finally got through my thick skull. To be more clear about what I mean about “Find Courage,” I got my first apartment and began living on my own 9 months ago. May not sound like a big deal, but you have to understand, I'm 56 years old and I'm doing this. Imagine the embarrassment, the fear, the pride that's involved in this. It's been a struggle I must admit. I fell back into my old habits and have fallen on hard times. This is where the "Finding Courage" comes into play. I found the courage to not stay stuck. I've been doing what I can to seek help. I've swallowed my pride and gone out and told people, “hey I'm in trouble, help!" Never before would I have done this. Not doing it 100%, I'm still fearful of some hurdles I have to climb over, but I'm working on it. They call it "Fear of the Unknown" or "Anxiety.” I've reached out for help with that. My courage has come from within and my prayers to God. I have been praying daily for his help. He has been there for me. He has put people in my path to give me help and support and I have been open to accept it. One thing I must say is that I'm so afraid to give up what I have, but right now I can't keep the things I have if I don't get into action. I ruined my opportunity at this. Not saying I can't rebuild again, just have to have the Courage and Patience to start over. At times I forget that patience is another key component me "Finding Courage.” It's not going to happen in an instant, it's going to take some time. Also making a decision and sticking to it is another thing I have to be conscious of. Making good decisions. I haven't had much luck with that in the past, but at least I'm aware of it. So today I take a leap of faith and open up to get over the hurdle that is causing me sleepless nights. Realizing that it's me that is the biggest hurdle that I must climb over is the one that is the toughest. I have to get out of my own way in order to get back on track. N o v 22 2 - -NSept o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 414 393 Aug 5, 22019 I have to say that nothing is impossible in my life today. I can do the things that I have been so scared to face. I have the Courage I have been looking for and I have the confidence in myself to see it thru til the end. To bring this to a close, I just want to say to anybody like myself who have found themselves in a situation in life that seems unbearable. Breathe and relax. If I can do it so can you. It will take some swallowing of Pride which was hard for me to do, but it has been worth the temporary pain that I was having. I can sleep today, I can hold my head up and look myself in the mirror and see a man who is not the person he once was. I am a new man. A man who has " Found Courage!!" Bobby Morris Contributing Writer The Birds Your Birds are amazing Dear Lord What a wonderful Sound to hear Your birds singing their beautiful songs from all around They all join in with their little tweets and churks The older birds work hard to help the little ones learn to grow teaching them how to join in on the songs The baby birds grow So many different types of birds Some red robins Some hummingbirds Some baby sparrows Some wild Some loud each bird is so precious with its own different style The birds learn to fly and soar high Kim Green ContributingWriter Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 25, - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0 414 18 Aug 223-|Sept | No. A New Beginning STREETVOICE God is good, not some of the time but all the time 24/7 I believe that be the reason we live on earth and god lives 13 Reality Tv Or Fantasy Land? What has become known as "Reality TV," Is quite far from the realities of you and me. in heaven You see beautiful women vying for a hubby, Looking back on my life and the so many changes that i And rich housewives who rarely are tubby. The show, The Apprentice, was quite unreal. went through Learning from repeated mistakes good and bad until i It turned a failed realtor into a very big deal. A more accurate label would be "Fantasy TV," With "distortion-warnings" for you and me. learned what to do Realizing today knowing what to do and how to do it plus BILL WOODS the method to use Contributing Writer 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 When Trump read his teleprompter speech about the Dayton and El Paso tragedies, did you wonder why he mentioned Toledo? Today, knowing, understanding with the realization that yesterday is pasted 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 beginning is what's up for the politicians and that includes you and me Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Poll Question By Bill Woods THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 107 Across 1. Passport endorsement 5. Take notice of 9. Bitter quarrel 13. Golf club 14. Notion 15. Pointer 17. Young male horse 18. Grime 19. Tenet 20. Heavy block where hot metals are shaped 22. Prejudice 24. Notable achievement 25. Cereal grass seed 26. Not in use 28. Pastry item 30. Color 31. Animal coat 32. Travel a route regularly 35. Modernize 38. Charter 39. Regret 40. Narrow secluded valley 41. Part of a journey 42. Scintilla 43. On the sheltered side 44. Something intended to deceive 46. Small storeroom for food 48. High-pitched bark 49. Peculiar 50. Pack of cards 51. Append 52. Conceited 53. Small fruit seed 56. Endure 59. Slender 61. Evade 63. Theatrical performer 65. In addition 67. Region 68. Musical instrument 69. Without speed 70. Approach 71. Sketched 72. Rational 73. Small wooded hollow PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #107 Down 1. Clergyman 2. Satire 3. Figure out 4. Not in favor of 5. Concealed 6. Comestible 7. Spooky 8. Information 9. Craze 10. Wear away 11. Exhort 12. Concave shape 16. Batch 21. Rhythmicity 23. Incite or stimulate 27. Scheduled to arrive 29. Anger 30. Prohibit 31. Mediterranean fruit 32. Poke 33. Stringed instrument 34. Period of time 35. Horrible 36. Supplication 37. Unfathomable 38. Jinx 41. Boy or man 42. Irritate 44. Brick carrier 45. Betting ratio 46. Hawaiian garland 47. Skin condition 50. Sweet dark purple plum 51. Make amends 52. Country house in ancient Rome 53. Food processed in a blender 54. Paragon 55. Sometimes found in an oyster 56. Circuit 57. Turns litmus paper red 58. Celestial body 60. Young girl 62. Bring ashore 64. Angry dispute 66. Be indebted to N o v 222 - N v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Aug - oSept 5,22019 No. 414 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 2- EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 1- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 ov 2 5, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 223 -| N Sept | No. 414 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NAug o v 222 - N- oSept v 19,5, 20 18 | |NNo. o . 393 2019 414 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 22-September 5, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Rejecting Title X Pg 3: Homeless in Trump’s America Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: Could a National Buyback Program Reduce Gun Violence in America? Pg 6: A Deadly Disruption Pg 7: Cincinnati History in Perspective, Part I Pg 8: El Paso Attack Upends White Nationalist Normalization Plan Pg 9: El Paso Attack Upends White Nationalist Normalization Plan Continued Pg 10: Freedom, Money, Babies Pg 11: ‘We Will Become Homeless’ 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 August 22-September 5, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Lacy Wallace Peter Y. Sussman Felix Winternitz Nick Brown Dr. Mark Mussman Anuradha Nagaraj Roli Srivasta Carey L Biron Willa D. Jones Bobby Morris Kim Green INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Anuradha Nagaraj Bill Woods Bobby Morris Carey L Biron Cincinnati Donald Trump Dr. Mark Mussman El Paso Electric Scooters Felix Winternitz Gabriela Godinez Gun Violence India INSP.com Kim Green Lacy Wallace Nick Brown Peter Y. Sussman Roli Srivasta Slavery Title X White Supremacy Willa D. Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/7afde6c29cedf56075f782bdbd9e76c7.pdf 3ac9e75f143fc19777752db55308f02a PDF Text Text August 24th - September 6th 2018 | Vol. 21 Issue 15 (No. 388) advocating justice | building community Duke Energy's Dangerous Pipeline Proposal | 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker INSIDE THIS ISSUE Cruel and Unusual Punishment | 3 The Mystery of Fort Ancient | 5 Religious Peacemakers: Reverend Daniel Hughes | 8 Sorta Aborta | 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: It’s Not A Movie W hat would you think if a law was proposed that would make it illegal to sleep, rest, use the bathroom and protect your belongings? I assume you would think this would be terrible, a breach of basic rights, a breach of the constitution and just plain wrong. Perhaps you would think the chance of this coming to pass would be farfetched and only possible in a movie. Well, it has happened here. The actions of Mayor John Cranley, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters and Common Pleas Judge Robert Ruehlman have made it an arrestable offense to camp or live outside in Hamilton County on both public and private land. So now people without homes who desperately want their own home but are stuck living outside are now in hiding. A police officer or sheriff’s deputy could at any point decide that you have sat too long on a bench or that it wasn’t okay for you to fall asleep at a bus stop or that your neighbor doesn’t have the right to allow you and your child to pitch a A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 8 JOSH SPRING Executive Director Josh Spring Credit: Homeless Coalition tent for a night in their yard or that you have a couple bags with you and it looks like you are seeking domicile or that you laid down for rest on public or private land or any other mix of thoughts that could come into an individual police officer’s mind and then they could demand that you leave the location or be arrested. To make this happen it only took for Mayor Cranley to ask Prosecutor Deters to assist him and sue the City of Cincinnati. Deters submitted a proposed order to Judge Ruehlman that it be required that people be cleared from public land at risk of arrest. The judge granted this order. The judge then granted this order two additional times as Deters continued to expand the geographical boundaries of the order. The third time it was expanded to include private land in addition to public land and instead of the City fighting this lawsuit and unconstitutional order, the city attorneys signed it saying they would comply. This has all happened without a single hearing and without anybody living outside having a chance to defend themselves. This is not how laws are supposed to be created. It is necessary for the general public to continue to stand up, speak out and fight back. This is about basic human rights and the right to not have your attempts to live and survive threatened by the government. Instead as a city and county we should be pursuing the creation of affordable housing, the saving of existing housing and an end to the criminalization of homelessness. From the Editor: Six years at the Homeless Coalition and Streetvibes M y how time flies. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been working here at the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition as the editor of Streetvibes for over six years now. I started in mid-July in 2012 soon after the opening of the newly renovated and very gentrified Washington Park. It all started when I received a call from my friend, Josh Spring, the executive director of the Homeless Coalition. He said that their former editor, Jason Dean, was moving on and they thought I’d be a good fit for the position. I told him I didn’t think I would be, but I agreed to come to the office to talk about it. (It turns out, I was right for once Josh, but I do appreciate all the support you’ve given me along the way my friend.) I first learned of the Homeless Coalition’s great work back in 2005 after meeting one of the cofounders and current board members, Alice Skirtz. Alice is a retired social worker and tireless advocate for affordable housing and people experiencing homelessness. Alice gave me a real history lesson about homelessness in general and specifically here in Cincinnati. JUSTIN JEFFRE Contributing Writer (Spoiler alert: The primary causes of homelessness are a lack of affordable housing and jobs that pay living wages, btw.) She’s still an inspiration over a decade later and I highly recommend her book, Econocide: Elimination of the Urban Poor. It couldn’t be timelier with the city and county’s ramped up – and I think illegal - efforts to push poor people out of downtown, Over-the-Rhine and now even all of Hamilton County. It’s a must read for anyone interested in reducing and eliminating homelessness - which we believe is (Continued on page 11) 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, Justin Jeffre, Dr. Mark Mussman, Dick Croy, Michael Earl Patton, Robert Park, Saad Ghosn, Jim Luken, Bill Woods, Stacia Hollander, Kim Green, Willa D. Jones ----------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Homeless Coalition, Laura Domet, Dr. Mark Mussman, The Telegraph, Michael Earl Patton, Cam Hardy, Saad Ghosn, Justin Jeffre, Google images, Bill Woods --------------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Justin Jeffre served as Streetvibes Editor for over six years Credit: Laura Domet THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless do not endorse candidates for public office. �3 LOCAL Cruel and Unusual Punishment No. 38 8 | A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 DR. MARK MUSSMAN W hen Common Pleas Court Judge, Robert P. Ruehlman, signed the motion filed by Hamilton County Prosecutor, Joe Deters, in agreement with the City of Cincinnati, at the behest of Mayor John Cranley, he effectively legalized cruel and unusual punishment for people who are experiencing homelessness. Building upon the already dubious, potentially illegal, restraining order which demanded that Cincinnati Police remove persons homeless from the public eye, the new motion expanded the reach into private property, including the encampment at the corner of 13th and Republic, in Over-the-Rhine. Today, the encampment has been moved, most persons dispersed to secluded areas, without a community to support them. Throughout this entire ordeal, the City has maintained that there Staff Writer able to talk to an operator, I was told that there were only 4 beds available (at the time, more than 40 people were in the encampment), 2 beds for youth, and 2 for men who have a job, or who are willing to work. By the time we made it to the men’s shelter, the 2 beds were already taken. This gave the 62-year-old man I was working with little hope, and he is still out on the street today. Even as the police closed in on the camp, they expressed their frustration with the system, noting that they too could not get through, or if they had gotten through, there wasn’t any available space. Then there became another frustration, when people in the camp would be fast-tracked into housing, yet hundreds of people are languishing in the shelters already. People who heard they could get housing faster by staying at the camp began to show up, and while this is a good thing that people are having options, it also became frustrating when people who criminalization of homelessness at the State level, members of the camp had entered into a legal case at the Federal level, regarding the unconstitutionality of camp sweeps. It is seen as a Freedom of Speech issue, where tents represent the speech of persons who cannot access shelter or housing. The crux of the issue, as with the cruel and unusual punishment Public Service Employees remove remnants of an encampment Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman Sheriff and Police worked together to remove people from the camps Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman is “plenty of room” in the shelters to accommodate everyone at the site; however, City documents and personal accounts, including my own, have shown that there are not enough beds, and in fact, only overflow mats on the floor (sometimes on the laundry room floor) are available to select individuals. What seemed like a PR / funding move, the shelters bent over backwards to try to accommodate as many people as possible, sacrificing quality over quantity, and questioning whether the situation will be getting better or worse, during the upcoming winter months. The shelters are open 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, and work their hardest to not turn anyone away; however, some statistics show that more than 70% of people seeking shelter are turned away simply because there is not enough room. Spending time on the streets, at the encampments, I was able to see firsthand how difficult it truly is to get shelter. I personally called 381SAFE, the central access point line in Cincinnati, and sat on hold for over 25 minutes. After finally being had moved four times with the camp, were still not getting connected to housing. We have been working with our member organizations, such as Lighthouse Youth Services and Overthe-Rhine Community Housing, to secure housing for as many people as possible. Every member of the Homeless Coalition staff has been actively involved in the housing process, and we’ve been actively trying to improve the process from the beginning. Before the City and the County colluded to push forward the claim, is that there is not shelter or housing, and therefore, persons cannot be removed without a proper alternative. County Prosecutor, Joe Deters, admitted that the jail is also over-capacity, but said that people arrested for homelessness could “sleep on the gym floor,” but did not elaborate on which gym, and if that would create more issues, rather than solving them. In this whole debate, Cranley and Deters have been using stereotypes, (Continued on page 7) Document provided by Councilmember Jeff Pastor showing there is no room for adult men in shelter Credit: Dr. Mark Mussman THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 O LOCAL Duke Energy’s Dangerous Pipeline Proposal n September 10, 2010, as families in the Crestmoor neighborhood of San Bruno, California, sat down to dinner, a blast so strong it hurled a 3,000-lb. section of steel pipe a hundred feet through the air changed life in the San Francisco suburb forever. The fireball that erupted a thousand feet into the sky that evening burned several people alive, leaving eight dead and 51 injured. Thirty-eight homes were destroyed, 70 others heavily damaged. First responders and the media believed at first that a large jetliner had crashed. Fire fighters were held at bay for an hour by the intense heat. It took them nearly an hour to discover that a high-pressure natural gas transmission line had exploded. After dashing from their homes in the chaos that followed, first to see what had happened, then to run for their lives, residents returning when all the fires had finally been put out found almost three city blocks of houseless chimneys towering over a sea of ash. A recent Wall Street Journal review found that there were 1,400 pipeline spills and accidents in the U.S. from 2010 to 2013 alone. Four in every five pipeline accidents were discovered by local residents, not the companies owning the lines. From 1994 through 2013, the U.S. had 855 serious incidents involving natural gas transmission and distribution, causing 319 fatalities and 1254 injuries, with more than half a billion dollars in property damage. None, thankfully, has been as serious as the San Bruno disaster. That’s a DICK CROY Contributing Writer catastrophe waiting to happen. Pacific Gas and Electric, the utility company that owned the gas line, was indicted on 27 federal criminal counts for repeatedly violating the federal Pipeline Safety Act; fined $1.6 billion by the California Public Utilities Commission, the largest penalty ever levied against a California utility; and A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 8 it was there. That colossal error in judgment, lack of concern for public safety, or flagrant act of corporate greed is the brainchild of another public utility, our good friends Duke Energy, the $120 billion company headquartered in Charlotte, NC. The company operates 250 miles of high pressure natural gas pipelines in Ohio and Kentucky, and wants to add a new line right through the center of Hamilton County. Chart Map from Duke Energy's application Credit: Duke Energy Proposal inundated with hundreds of lawsuits filed by blast victims who suffered injuries and lost family members or homes. Yet despite this litany of criminal and ethical wrongdoing, one thing PG&E cannot be blamed for is laying this extremely dangerous, ultimately lethal pipeline through an existing residential community. The line was laid before most homes in the area were built, and most residents didn’t even know On Friday April 13th – a particularly inauspicious Friday the 13th – Duke submitted supplemental documents to the Ohio Power Siting Board in Columbus to their original application in 2016 for a highpressure 20-inch natural gas pipeline in greater Cincinnati through 19 communities and Cincinnati neighborhoods, with a combined population of over 700,000 people. Duke was requesting the OPSB to resume approval proceedings that San Bruno explosion and fire Credit: The Telegraph THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED have dragged out at least partly due to discovery of a Super Fund site near one of the two proposed routes. (The original application was for a 30-inch transmission line; it was reduced in size after an initial public outcry that Duke may or may not have anticipated. Some local residents believe the “concession” was planned from the beginning.) The suburban neighborhoods affected by Duke’s two proposed routes (reduced from three initially) include: • More than 40 public and private schools plus the University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash • 8 hospitals and 5 nursing homes • More than 40 churches and synagogues • The premier shopping mall in greater Cincinnati • As well as many businesses, with well over 100,000 employees, including GE Aviation and a Ford Motor Co. transmission plant. If the proposal is approved as it stands, it would be the largest pipeline project ever approved at the state level, according to Matt Butler, public outreach manager for the Siting Board, which has final approval. Laying a high-pressure gas pipeline through existing communities like this has never been done before. This is not just another gas main or service line distributing gas to homes and businesses. Most mains are anywhere from two to six inches in diameter while a typical service line from main to meter ranges from one-half to two inches at less than 50 psi. What Duke calls the Central Corridor Extension is a highpressure 500 psi pipeline 20 inches in diameter – similar to the 30-inch line that destroyed nearly three city blocks in San Bruno. In other words, it’s a transmission line, part of a nationwide high-pressure, highcapacity system for transporting natural gas thousands of miles across the country from processing facilities to local distribution networks. Extremely high pressure must be used to keep the gas flowing. Although local and county governments have no authority in the matter, Duke’s proposal has been formally opposed by the city councils of Cincinnati and many of the communities involved; by Hamilton County commissioners; by State Representative Jonathan Dever; and by residents, business owners and school boards and administrations all along the route. Duke will seek property easements requiring land to be completely cleared of all trees and landscaping for up to 100 feet, with pipe laid three to four feet underground. Duke’s claim that the routes it has proposed to the Siting Board are the best among 200 originally considered is very hard to believe. And if it is true, what in the world were their criteria? Public safety and human lives couldn’t have been their (Continued on page 7) �5 LOCAL The Mystery of Fort Ancient No. 38 8 | A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 Spangled Banner is sung. In my view the painting could be showing a scene similar to the lighting of the Olympic torch. Of course, the true answer might be something else entirely. I MICHAEL EARL PATTON F ort Ancient is the name the first settlers of European ancestry gave to the 3 miles of ancient Indian earthworks high on a bluff above the Little Miami River, north-east of Cincinnati. What the Indians called it and what they used it for, we do not know. To the early settlers the earthen walled enclosure looked like a fort, and why wouldn’t it? Not long before, in 1793 – 94, General Anthony Wayne had marched from Fort Washington in Cincinnati and on to Fort Hamilton, Fort St. Clair (present day Eaton), Fort Greenville, and Fort Recovery on his way to fight the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Other forts connected with his campaign were Fort Jefferson, Fort Defiance, and Fort Wayne (Indiana). Near present day Toledo the British had erected Fort Miamis. Forts were something the early settlers expected and this, at first glance, sure looked like one. Contributing Writer permanent settlement that would have supported such a work force. So the thinking is that people must have gathered there at a certain time of year to work on the structure. What could be such a motivation? Many think that it was some kind of religious site, and this is the view that is given at the museum at Fort Ancient. Some of the gaps in the walls line up with astronomical events when seen from one of four limestone-covered mounds within the enclosure. We know there were fires lit on the mounds because the limestone covering them has been burned. A painting in the museum imagines what such a ceremony marking the winter solstice may have looked like. Sunrise at Winter Solstice. Was This Only a Religious Ceremony or the Opening Ceremony of a Larger (Continued on page 11) The "Great Gateway" Which Divides the Northern and Southern Parts of the Complex Credit: Michael Earl Patton Inside Pond Next to Earthen Wall Credit: Michael Earl Patton Adopted from the Brochure for Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Preserve State Park Credit: Michael Earl Patton The enclosed area is about 125 acres. We know it was not a fort because there is no evidence of enough people living in the vicinity to defend such a large area, an area with numerous gaps in the walls besides. The construction time took centuries, from about 100 B.C. to 300 A.D. The amount of soil that was moved to fill 3 ravines and build the walls was astounding considering that it was done all by manual labor – there were no suitable draft animals at that time in North America. In modern terms think of 400 miles of bumperto-bumper dump trucks, each full of soil. On average, each year’s worth of work represented filling up a mile of dump trucks. Even with modern machinery that is a lot of work. But there is no evidence of a Another feature that argues against this being used as a fort is a series of moat-like ponds that were on the inside of the earthen walls, not the outside as in a European castle. Some of these hold water even today. Were these just incidental to the construction – formed because it was easiest to take dirt from close to the wall – or were they an intentional feature? As for the purpose of Fort Ancient, my guess is that it was some kind of games arena. I do not see why such a large area would have been needed for religious ceremonies. Even in the painting most of the area is empty. There probably was some kind of ceremony at the beginning of the games, just as there is with American baseball and football when the Star Sunrise at Winter Solstice. Was This Only a Religious Ceremony or the Opening Ceremony of a Larger Event? THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Credit: Michael Earl Patton �6 LOCAL THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 8 �LOCAL SORTA Aborta No. 38 8 | A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 T he Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) is the tax-supported public transportation system that runs the buses serving the greater Cincinnati area. It is a failing system. Even employers complain about it: the workers can’t get to work on it. It is sinking financially and as a consequence its service structure is imploding – routes are being cut or pared even thinner.  It’s a hub and spokes design that inflicts hours on many riders’ daily commute. So the SORTA Board in consultation with Hamilton County and the City came up with a plan for a big infusion of funds to keep the system on life-support and begin to craft a real public transportation system. How to pay for it? Did the County Commissioners decide it’s time for business to help pay the freight? Time to wean downtown employers off metastasizing parking structures, time to stop adding lanes to freeways? Time to take back our city’s future from 3CDC? No. SORTA said maybe let’s do a sales tax, make the bottom end of the wealth distribution DR. MARK MUSSMAN (Continued from page 3) rather than fact-finding to demonize people experiencing homelessness. They claim that everyone experiencing homelessness is a public health issue, that they are all drug abusers, and that they all have hepatitis A. However, other than one visit from DICK CROY (Continued from page 4) primary consideration. In fact, as absurd as it may seem to the blissfully ignorant, safety to human lives is not one of the criteria the OTSB has to consider. Another Duke claim that strains credulity is that the pipeline is “being designed in order to increase the reliability and dependability of the natural gas delivery system in the area.” But a 20-inch diameter pipeline supplying natural gas at 400 psi is enough for two million homes, while Duke has only 500,000 customer accounts in Ohio and Kentucky combined. Those opposed to the pipeline are skeptical of Duke’s less than transparent long-range plans. Some think it will ultimately be part of some non-local network such as an interstate transmission system to transport gas from northeast Ohio fracking operations all the way to the Gulf Coast. Duke’s proposed 12-mile line is an extension of a pipeline constructed in 2003 to provide gas transmission from cross country pipelines to northern Hamilton County. As planned, it would connect with an ROBERT PARK Contributing Writer pay the biggest percentage of their income for the public good compared to the middle and top tier wealthers. Oops, but the people didn’t go for it and it was looking bad for the careers of some candidates for public office so what did they do? They decided to do nothing. A minimally sufficient public transportation system was a reach too far. To be fair, County Commissioner Todd Portune has a People sitting on a crowded bus Credit: Cam Hardy 7 reasonable vision of a regional transit system which the other counties would not only benefit from but help pay for. This plan isn’t even off the drawing board. Recently, Nashville had its own transit meltdown. A heavily promoted, comprehensive project to bring that city into the 21st transportation century got soundly defeated by the voters. Businesses, real estate and the Chamber of Commerce figured out that if Nashville doesn’t get with the program on urban transit, they’re going to lose-out bigtime down the road. They developed a detailed plan including modern bus routes, light rail and even subway travel beneath the city center. Businesses contributed most of the money to design and sell the proposed plan. There was just one problem: they wanted everyone else to pay most of the more than $5 billion to actually make it happen, much of it from the sales tax which would top out at a whopping 9.75% and later increase further to 10.25%. Sound familiar? The people aren’t stupid. Why is it that every time the corporate bosses want important changes for their own benefit, they expect the rest of us to pick up the tab? Whether football (Continued on page 11) the Health Department on 3rd Street, there has been no other health related outreach. People in the encampment said they were vaccinated against hepatitis with a single shot, but most vaccinations require multiple shots. They were unsure if they needed follow-up shots to complete their vaccination, and they were unsure if there would be any issues if they didn’t receive follow-up shots. The funding for addiction services has also been called into question, as the CAT House receives very little City funding, and what they do receive we have to fight for each year. If the City wanted to end homelessness, they could with affordable housing, livable wages, and housing protections. If they want to cite health issues, then they could provide more health outreach, like mobile nurses, and easier access to health and addiction services. If this was a true health crisis, they would provide testing first, rather than blindly offer vaccinations. The issues that arise from homelessness should not be minimized, but they shouldn’t be used as an excuse to punish people who are already suffering. existing regulator station just north of the county and run through 19 heavily populated northern suburbs of Cincinnati to an existing pipeline at the south end of the line. Arguments against the pipeline have ranged from the obvious public safety problems if there were an explosion, to the loss of property values and damage to the environment and the local economy. For example, Reading, one of the communities affected, expressed concern about losing a major development grant because of the hazard the pipeline would entail. Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, one of many government officials against the pipeline, is pushing for Duke to inform any property owner within 2,000 feet, almost half a mile, from the pipeline. This is roughly the "blast zone" for a pipe of this size, outlined by a nonprofit organization known as the Pipeline Association for Public Awareness. The blast zone is also termed an “incineration zone.” When a 30-inch pipeline exploded in rural Salem, PA, in April it sparked a fire that left a man whose home was 500 yards from the explosion, critically burned over much of his body – not from flames but from radiant heat alone. “The heat was so intense it was burning him as he was running away,” said Bob Rosatti, chief of the Forbes Road Fire Department. “I parked a quarter mile away and I couldn’t get out of my truck because it was that hot.” “This is not a 'not in my backyard' issue,” declares Elizabeth RueveMiller, one of the founders of NOPE, a local grassroots organization, Neighborhoods Opposing Pipeline Extension. “This is a 'not in anyone's backyard' issue.” The local Sierra Club agrees. At an informal open house held by Duke in June 2016, club members passed out a flyer likening the pipeline to “a continuous oil train moving huge quantities with potentially catastrophic consequences.” Duke has already been cited by OSHA for not following workplace safety regulations and fined for a gas explosion in Lebanon, OH. North Carolina has  fined Duke for spilling waste into waterways.  “This is not about demonizing Duke,” said Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld, who authored the resolution of opposition signed by the Cincinnati City Council to fight Duke’s current options in any way possible. “We appreciate them as a major employer and business in our community. But we have a higher expectation of them that has not yet been met.” The community, he said, has let Duke “know that they are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole – or rather, trying to force a massive and potentially dangerous pipeline onto densely populated residential neighborhoods.” Blue Ash resident Glenn Rosen, a founder of NOPE, said, "It’s too big. It’s got way too much pressure. It’s intended to transmit gas, not distribute gas to anybody nearby here." He began organizing his neighbors in February 2016 to fight Duke’s proposal. "This belongs in a rural area where there are not a lot of people." Another Blue Ash resident, agreed. "What I'm saying is, circumvent. Why go through Hamilton County? Why go through the city center when we can go around? Go into rural counties where we won't have to train a massive amount of first responders. Accidents happen, 20-30 years from now. These pipelines have life expectancies." THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- �8 RELIGIOUS PEACEMAKERS For Reverend Daniel Hughes "Leaving Egypt" Takes Courage but Leads to a "Promised Land" Where There Is No Oppression & Where Justice Prevails R A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 8 SAAD GHOSN everend Daniel Hughes' personal faith was engrained in his family. Both his parents were ministers in the same nondenominational church they had established in a predominantly black neighborhood of Lima, OH. Even though growing up in a rural setting, on farmland 20 minutes away from the city, Hughes spent a lot of time, at least 3 days a week, at his parents' church, attending services and participating in religious teachings. "I grew up in a cross-cultural world," he says, "navigating very early on cultural differences." "I was black in an all-white middle class rural community, but connected with many urban African Americans whom I did not talk or act like. I felt like someone with no place, someone who did not belong in the social arena," he adds. Organized religion also did not resonate with Hughes. He got, however, from his parents and the church, his spirituality and his deep faith which informed his identity. He became aware of social justice issues at home, his family always helping the poor and the oppressed, and constantly reminding him that Contributing Writer everyone is called to be free and to also set others free. "I always had an aversion to see people mistreated," he says. "At school I would protect kids being picked on, and in the school bus I will leave an empty seat next to me for them." Growing up, Hughes also witnessed the gender discrimination his mother experienced as a female minister, churches then not being in favor of women in religious leadership positions. After graduating from high school, Hughes left home and got a job in California. In 1998, and 8 years later, he returned to Ohio to be next to his dying father. His parents’ church was then closed but, fulfilling his father's wishes, Hughes helped reopen its doors, getting it back into operation and serving as its new pastor. "I felt I was called to lead the community and serve its people," says Hughes, "and they selected me as their new minister. I was reading at the time Paul's letters to Timothy, his letters regarding the work of a pastor caring for his community, and I felt as if they were addressed to me." This was the fall of 1998. A few months later, January 1999, Hughes joined the Mennonite's Bluffton University, in Bluffton, OH, 20 miles north of Lima. He spent 4 years there, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Communication, and pursuing at the same time his pastoral work at his church in nearby Lima. "Studying at the Mennonite University raised my awakening to social justice, to pacifism and side of the oppressed," says Hughes. "And I was bringing that experience to my church community in Lima." After graduating from Bluffton University, Hughes went to the University of Bowling Green to complete a Master's degree in Communication, and then returned to Bluffton U. to teach. "But I felt the need and the call for something more," he says. Continuing his teaching, he accepted the position of Assistant Director at the Lima Housing Authority. What is the UNITED METHODIST CHURCH  The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a mainline Protestant denomination and a major part of Methodism. It was founded in 1968 in Dallas, TX by union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley in England as well as the Great Awakening in the United States.  The basic beliefs of The United Methodist Church are: • God is one God in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. • The Bible is the inspired word of God. • All humans are sinners and Sin estranges people from God and corrupts human nature so that we cannot heal or save ourselves. • Salvation is through Jesus Christ. • The grace of Sanctification draws one toward the gift of Christian perfection. • People, while corrupted by Sin, are free to make their own choices because of God's divine grace enabling them; they are truly accountable before God for their choices. • The church opposes social injustice and evils such as slavery, inhumane prison conditions, capital punishment, economic injustice, child labor, racism, and inequality. The UMC recognizes two sacraments: Holy Baptism (by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion) and Holy Communion. Confirmation, Ordination, Holy Matrimony, Funerals, and Anointing of the Sick are performed but are not considered sacraments. The UMC, with at least 12 million members (7.5 million in the US and 4.5 million in Africa, Asia and Europe) as of 2014, is the largest denomination within the wider Methodist movement of approximately 80 million people across the world. In the US, it ranks as the largest mainline Protestant denomination and the largest Protestant church after the Southern Baptist Convention. The Pew Research Center's 2014 US Religious Landscape Study concluded that the political preferences of UMC members was 54% Republican, 35% Democrat, and 11% Independent/other. Rev. Daniel Hughes to community," says Hughes. "My religious upbringing was predominantly spiritual, but my 4 years at Bluffton connected in a direct and inseparable way my faith to social justice." At the same time as being a student, Hughes worked as a staff member custodian cleaning the student union; he got to hang out with other staff members, custodians, cooks, etc. listening to their stories and resonating with their social problems. He served also on a university team called "Damascus Road" which had goal to address, identify and offer solutions to the systemic racism prevalent in the American culture, "a racism that robbed both white and people of color of dignity, equality and mutual respect," he says. Hughes also joined many peace and social justice clubs on campus, participating in their vigils and marches for various causes, such as, for instance, against t capital punishment. "During my college years and thanks to the Mennonite's influence, I was living liberation theology, knowing that God is a liberator on the Credit: Saad Ghosn "I thought it would be a good way for me to help and impact the lives of average poor people. I found out quickly, however, that I was not meant for politics and decided to quit." Hughes' experience working for the Housing Authority, nevertheless, exposed him further to the prevailing injustices of the system and to the unequal privileges many white individuals blindly live. It determined his deeper involvement in the community. A police shooting that killed for no reason Tereka Wilson, a young African American mother, at her home in Lima, presented him with a good opportunity. The police officer responsible for the killing not being indicted, the city erupted into riots, and Hughes, as one of the religious leaders, was pulled in the center of it. He started working with other black and white religious denominations and groups, with schools, with the mayor, trying to find common ground and bring real healing and change to the city. "When Tereka was shot I felt as if my apathy and selfishness had (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 �LOCAL The Worst Day of My Life No. 38 8 | A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 JIM LUKEN [I am sending this to Streetvibes from my new home in Rhode Island at the request of—and to acknowledge— the paper’s retiring, long-time editor, Justin Jeffre. He has done a fabulous job for many years, and will be greatly missed by present and former contributors.] O f course, everyone has had his or her share of really bad days, sometimes (often?) they are relational. And sometimes they occur within the context of our everyday lives. Hassles, losses, troubles of many kinds. They are real and should be respected, even honored perhaps. For many years (before and during the “revival”) I lived and worked in Over-the-Rhine. I wrote many “Meet Up” articles for this newspaper wherein I interviewed neighborhood people whose painful life stories made my own troubles pale by comparison. During the “druggie” days, I ran across Race Street during a hail of gunfire just down the street. Moments after one of the many shootings, I found myself standing over a dead body, a human being’s life-blood running over the curb and into a storm sewer. As the gentrification continues, no one needs to be told that “our beloved community,” as we often Contributing Writer from a book I self-published (The Strangest Dream) in early 2002. The book recounts my life as a father-of-four, peace activist who found himself in no doubt too many war zones as a journalist for the international Franciscan Order (OFM). Perhaps this story might help readers contextualize the travails and problems in their own lives. I begin it with a quote: On their foreheads and breasts are the little holes where death came in as thunder/ while they were playing their important summer games./ Do not weep for them, Madre, they are gone forever, the little ones, / straight to heaven with the saints/ and God will fill the bullet holes with candy. Norman Rosten, “In Guernica” Father Anto, another Bosnian priest and I make our way by car to the edge of the town of Vitez (Bosnia) to an area near a row of neat, modern stucco houses. As we drive up I notice that the wall of the first house in the row is pockmarked from shrapnel. We park beside what remains of a little playground. I am told that two Two girls' grave Credit: Google Images called OTR, continues to be the locus of suffering and displacement for many of its long-time residents. But I have also been witness to the pain that exists elsewhere on this beautiful planet. I have had the privilege—on numerous occasions— to spend time in places where war and terrorism were taking place. The deepest passion of my life has been an attempt to help Americans see And understand the horrors that people in other places endure (often at the hands of the US military and CIA), this on an all too regular basis. The following is an excerpt us. Cleary, they are still in a state of terrible shock that seems not yet to have yielded to tears. Father Anto tells me that one of the men lost his only two children in the blast. “He had to take small pieces of them from the branches of the tree,” Anto days earlier, on the afternoon of June 10, 1993 (my wedding anniversary), a Muslim artillery shell had exploded here, killing the seven children whose new graves I had just visited, and wounding seven others. A basketball hoop, net-less, hangs from a pole. A wooden picnic table is planted near a ragged, lonely tree. One of the priests explains that this makeshift playground had been set up by the neighborhood parents in order to keep their kids hidden from the sight line of Muslim snipers who often perched in the nearby hills. Zombie-like, three men, fathers of four of the dead children drift out from their nearby homes to join Jim Luken Credit: Justin Jeffre says. The man looks at me and nods. He speaks no English, I think. But he knows exactly what Anto has described. Then how could he not? “This was an accident, right?” I say. “A shell gone astray.” This shelling was not an accident, Anto tells me. The playground had been deliberately targeted. The man looks at me again. I must be registering my utter disbelief that anyone would (or even could) target a playground full of children, from so far away. The same man begins speaking in short bursts. Father Anto translates each line. It was deliberate (the man insists). The Muslim children who always played with the Croat kids (he says) were not there that day. Not one Muslim child (he shouts)! The day before the shelling (he says), one of the Croat children (he doesn’t say which one) had carved a faint Croat flag (he points to it) into the surface of the picnic table. He jabs at the flag again and again. This little checkerboard flag (he declares, weeping now) is why the playground was targeted by the Muslim artillerymen. He pauses, “That flag,” he says, “is why my children are dead.” The Muslim kids (he says, still sobbing, between phrases) had told their parents about that flag. Anto explains that the parents had taken the information to the Muslim soldiers. “They killed seven of our children for that flag,” (he screams). I stare at the silly checkerboard of the almost-childlike Croatian flag. Then the father speaks directly at me. He is asking me something THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 in Serbo-Croatian. Why is he asking me? What the hell do I know...about anything? I hear Anto translate the question as if he were calling out to me from another planet. “He is asking you, 'Where were the Muslim children that day?'' I stare into the man’s eyes, into a universe of grief. Those eyes plead for an answer he knows I cannot give. Without accusing me, those eyes indict me. Why can’t you explain for me, Amerikanka, the unfathomable, the absurd, the bottomless pit of inhuman behavior by humans? The translated story continues, spilling from the well of sadness inside each of these fathers. At one point in the telling, a huge explosion takes place at a distance that I cannot exactly calculate but seems frighteningly close to us. A football field's distance, or less. Boom!!! Louder than the loudest “Boom” I'd ever heard during fireworks displays. My head jerks back, my body lurches. A moment later, I look around at the five others. No one is running for shelter. As far as I can see, no one has even reacted...except for me. They all stand planted there, like gravestones. I can’t believe what I have heard. Moments after the most disturbing story I have ever heard another artillery shell blows up a short block away from where we are standing, and no one runs, no one seeks shelter. No one even reacts. I gather myself. I get it: everyone here is accustomed to this. The way we Americans get used to the occasional blast of a nearby cherry bomb, as the 4th of July approaches. Nobody seems to care in the least that the reality behind the ear-splitting noise we had heard might have been deadly. No one seems worried about where the next shell might explode? Obviously, not one among these fathers really cares if he is the next to die. They, we, can do nothing about it. This is the ongoing reality here in Vitez. There is no safe hiding place. This, I recognize once again, is the unspeakably evil face of war, a reality endured night and day, day after bloody day, by civilians living in the numerous war zones, which dot the face of the globe. Reader, I’m sure you see why the scenes at the playground and at the children's grave site are carved forever in my memory, more permanently, no doubt, than that weathered little flag is etched into the picnic table. The whole scene (touching upon my own fear of losing a child, and bringing me to tears once again as I describe it) is the reason I am writing this anti-war tract for you. When they come for the children, without first crossing over your body, cursed be your religion and your life.—Anonymous. [Editor's note: Jim Luken was a work horse for this paper going back to before I became editor. Thanks Jim!] �10 A LOCAL MONEY AND POLITICS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL s reformers know, addressing the problem of "big money's" role in political campaigns has become harder and harder. Citizens United and other rulings by the Supreme Court have given freedom to big donors and Super PACs to flood money into the political process. Meanwhile, an opportunity has arisen in Cincinnati to make a small step toward lessening the influence of "fat cat" dollars in Council and Mayoral elections. Back in 2001, Cincinnati voters passed a City Charter Amendment that put in place a series of reforms that dealt with contributions and spending in municipal campaigns. Since that election, this Amendment has been greatly weakened. Although the elimination of the public financing of campaigns remains the biggest loss from the initial reform package, the approval of a new funding source to campaigns also changed the contribution limits rules. The contribution's section of the Charter Amendment set specific limits on the amount of money individuals, groups, and parties can give to a Council or mayoral candidate. Parties could allocate $10,000 to A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 8 BILL WOODS Contributing Writer a candidate, while political action committees were limited to $2,500. Meanwhile, an individual could contribute $1,000 to a Council or mayoral campaign (now $1,100). These figures can periodically be raised slightly to adjust to inflation and the cost of living. The question of how to deal with local campaign contributions of LLCs (Limited Liability Corporations) emerged more than a decade ago. In 2005, the Cranley for Council Committee asked the City whether a $1,000 gift from an LLC would be regarded as the individual limit that would be allowed the person who established the corporation. The volunteer Elections Commission established under the Charter Amendment then over stepped its authority by determining that LLC's had lives of their own, and that a person could contribute $1,000 to a campaign, and then turn around and have his or her LLC write another check to the same candidate. This decision led to people setting up multiple LLCs that each gave $1,000 gifts to a candidate. Thus, an individual who controlled six LLCs could contribute $7,000 to a candidate for Council or for Mayor. This 2005 decision about LLCs was never published and was not widely known by the public. Nevertheless, candidates such as John Cranley took full advantage and several Council candidates also garnered LLC support. Last year, former Judge Mark Painter, Councilman Wendell Young, civic leader Don Mooney, and several people who were leaders in the 2001 Charter Amendment campaign challenged the City's determination concerning the legal status of LLC contributions. This finally led to a law suit against the Elections Commission and Mayor Cranley that stated the Commission had exceeded its authority when it gave Bill Woods accepting last year's buddy gray award Credit: Homeless Coalition of this contribution loophole. In his recent primary and fall campaigns, the Mayor collected an estimated $500,000 from seventy-five LLCs. His opponent Yvette Simpson LLCs individual rights to contribute to Council and Mayoral candidates. A settlement was reached when the (Continued on page 11) September 7 - 29, 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 �LOCAL No. 38 8 | A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 JUSTIN JEFFRE (Continued from page 2) possible - as well as those wishing to understand how we’ve gotten to where we are as a community, with a growing housing crisis. I’ll have more to say about my journey here at the Homeless Coalition and Streetvibes in the next issue. I’m writing this article now though to inform you, our faith readers, that in the coming weeks I’ll be moving on from the Homeless Coalition and this mighty little paper, to focus more on my work with my MICHAEL EARL PATTON (Continued from page 5) admit this is quite speculative, but it is fun – something like figuring out the clues in a mystery novel. Unfortunately, we will have to wait ROBERT PARK (Continued from page 7) stadiums, storm sewer upgrades, tax breaks or whatever. It used to be they could usually get their way on things like this; maybe times are changing. The system is rigged. The project would have been great for business: their workers can get to work, they SAAD GHOSN (Continued from page 8) allowed it to happen," states Hughes. "Her blood, like the blood of Jesus, saved me and gave me the courage, like the Jews in the Old Testament, to "leave my Egypt", i.e. the comfortable and secure system i was living in, for a promised land where there would be justice and no oppression." This is also when Hughes was introduced to the United Methodist Church (UMC) through a white pastor from one of Lima’s suburban churches who reached out to him. Finding similarity between them they decided to work together to fight injustice in the city. Few years later, he was offered the pastorship of Shiloh UMC at Price Hill. He has been there now for four years. Hughes' church in Price Hill is diverse in its membership and very involved in its neighborhood. It works, for instance, with the local Recreation BILL WOODS (Continued from page 10) City agreed to pursue placing a new Charter Amendment on the ballot that would allow the voters to decide the fate of LLCs as campaign contributors. 11 music group. As some of you may or may not know, I’m a member of the vocal group, 98 Degrees, and fortunately for us we’ve become more active in the past few years. Music has always been my first passion. 98 Degrees started getting back together after a long hiatus at the same time my journey began here at the Homeless Coalition. It’s been a pretty tough balance throughout these years, but now it’s time for the next chapter for all us. So, while I’m moving on, I will still remain an active supporter of the great work this organization does and this program/ mighty paper, Streetvibes. I sincerely hope that you all will as well. Through the years I’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside a lot of wonderful people. Far too many to mention here now individually though in this issue. I’d like to thank all of my coworkers both current and past, our volunteer writers and photographers, our hard-working distributors, our interns, board members, donors (big, medium and small, we’ve depended on and are grateful for you all.) I’d like to thank all of the people in our member organizations – which all do such amazing work. And to the people that they serve, we want you to know that we value you all very much as well. It’s been quite an honor and a pleasure to have been a part of an organization and program for which I have had so much respect. Thank you all for reading and supporting Streetvibes! In the back you will see a listing for this position. If you or anyone you know are interested, please contact Josh Spring. Onward! decades to converge on the right answer as more investigation is done, if researchers ever do agree. From April through November Fort Ancient is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from noon – 5:00 pm, closed Mondays. From December through March it is open only during the weekends. Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for seniors (60+) and students (6 – 17). If you want to just visit the outside park and skip the excellent museum the charge is $8 per carload. The recommended route is exit 36 / Wilmington Road off of I-71, then south on Middleboro Road and then west on State Route 350. See www.FortAncient.org for more information. can recruit employees to an attractive city environment, they could operate in a robust networking economy. In Nashville, maybe if the Chamber had proposed that all businesses (not just hotels and car rentals.) would shoulder a substantial part of the cost, people would have been more easily persuaded to join in. Some innovation in urban progressive tax strategies on income and business would help a lot. There are some lessons here from our southern neighbors. Like advice for the Cincinnati ruling class and its Business Committee: your greed is actually eroding your fundamental interests; to move forward, you have to give some back. For the rest of us, we need to reject regressive funding alternatives like a sales tax or even contributions from a flat income tax, and demand that our elected officials come up with ways to mine private and corporate wealth for public infrastructure. We need the tax lawyers working for us, not them. Center offering social programs and events, services, also free meals to the community there. It also partners with Shiloh Sober Living providing financial support to returning citizens who suffer from substance abuse and who have opted to live drug free. In collaboration with the nonprofit LIT (Living In Testimony), housing and a supportive community will soon be offered to men coming out from prison. The church also provides mentors for young juveniles with felony, part of the Block ministry, and offers its facility for narcotics and alcoholic anonymous, and to various Santa Maria activities. Hughes visits the jail at the Justice Center downtown Cincinnati every week. He provides faith and other support to the inmates and is planning a Returning Equity program which will offer them an alternative economy when released and ready to reinsert society. "When freed, these individuals do not feel they belong and are not being accepted," he says. "They are 'the others', a feeling at the heart of their many problems." Hughes also leads the Price Hill Faith Alliance, trying to create relationships between the various local Christian churches; and participates in the Faith Alliance citywide. With other faith leaders of the City he started a year ago the JustLove movement, a movement based on bringing people together to share their experiences, connect by love, and work for justice. Last April, Hughes' Shiloh Price Hill UMC separated from its Delhi sister church and changed its name to the Incline Missional Community. Its new goal is to love people the way they are, liberate them, lead them, and help them realize who they are. The Sunday service has changed as a result and with the parishioners' input is now based on a monthly theme which, in addition to the religious service, progresses with various activities and teachings throughout the month, ending up with an active community service in the neighborhood. "This helps us address important issues we face in our culture and our life, examine them deeply and plan our faith response to them," says Hughes. " Our members own the process and it gives all of us practical tools to apply." Going from there Hughes would like to create spaces for people to belong and be vulnerable. For him who studied Communication, communication is all about connections that these spaces will facilitate, letting people thrive and flourish. They will break isolation, foster acceptance and attract people to the Jesus who is both in them and in "the other". "They will incubate love and hopefully will help change the world," he says. That is where this issue stands today. At its first meeting in September, City Council is poised to place on the November ballot a Charter Amendment proposal that would remove the ability of an individual and that same individual 's LLC to make $1,100 contributions. It would also disallow multiple contributions by LLCs established by the same individual. Although a small step when looking at the overall situation of "big money" in campaigns, it is a step in the right direction. Remembering the dictum that "all politics is local," it is refreshing to be able to pass this reform in Cincinnati. Furthermore, it will reestablish the integrity of the contribution limits that were passed by the voters in 2001. “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 Mark Mussman at MarkMussman@cincihomeless.org. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �12 O STREET VOICE Tired of being tired A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 8 STACIA HOLLANDER ver the two years that I’ve been homeless it has put a whole new outlook on my life. Being homeless is not a laughing matter. It’s a very serious problem in our society. Today there are so many people experiencing Streetvibes Distributor &Contributing Writer homelessness on our streets. The hatred I’ve seen and that has been directed at me. Just last month a woman was fired from Dunkin Doughnuts at the East Court Street location for writing on my cup, “Stop standing in front of our store beggin’ when you get a full time job, Thanks Management”. I am so hurt and embarrassed. My feelings are in a million directions right now. They think this issue is Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Steetvibes Editor Summary of Organization: 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. Summary of Program: Streetvibes is an entrepreneurship program that advocates for justice and builds community through excellent, award-winning reporting. Streetvibes reports on topics related to economics, civil rights, race, religion, gender, LGBTQIA, immigration, the environment, and the struggle to end homelessness and poverty. The printed newspaper version is published bi-weekly by the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition and primarily distributed by people who are, or once were without a home in exchange for a $2 donation. Summary of Position: The Streetvibes Editor will produce a quality 16-page bi-weekly paper, maintain the Streetvibes website, cultivate a social media presence, strengthen the relationships among the Distributors within the community and the organization, and provide guidance to enhance distributor productivity and Job Description Part-Time development. This is a part-time position. Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Produce a 16-page, bi-weekly newspaper a. Strategic planning of articles b. Compose independentlywritten, thought-provoking, and original articles c. Story and photography assignments to volunteers d. Story assessment and editing e. Highlight member organizations, their events, work, staff, job openings, and volunteer opportunities f. Maintain an updated resource page, and other paper assets g. Adhere to a set production format and schedule h. Work directly with layout manager to coordinate distribution to printer 2. Create and post a local events calendar for Distributors 3. Assist Director of Education with Streetvibes Shadow Activities 4. Maintain database records of sales, Distributors, writers, supporters, articles, archives 5. Solicit and supervise freelance writers, volunteers, and field-related interns 6. Work with community members and member organizations to develop stories, ensure a diversity of voices, increase advertising, and improve sales 7. Raise funds for operation of Streetvibes through working with other staff to seek and secure grants, donations, sponsorships, and paid advertisements 8. Market paper to increase distribution 9. Manage Streetvibes website and social media, answer inquiries 10. Attend community events and newsworthy actions 11. Submit timely quarterly and annual reports 12. Plan annual Streetvibes fundraiser with assistance from staff and Board 13. All other duties as assigned Qualifications: • Degree in Journalism or related field preferred (not required) or equivalent writing experience • Photography experience preferred • Writing and Editing Skills • Proficiency with Adobe InDesign, Wordpress, and Photoshop • Ability to delegate, organize, and hold others accountable • Ability to challenge through writing • Familiarity and passion for social justice especially the eradication of homelessness and poverty • Comfortable speaking in public, and with controversial issues and stances • Good interpersonal skills, over and it’s not. I’m not going to let this go. I can’t, and I won’t. All of the (sorry)’s in the world aren’t good enough for me. I deserve more than that. I want Dunkin Doughnuts to be humiliated and embarrassed. Just like they done me. I’ll never forget this at all. People experiencing homelessness are human. Have feelings and stop the harassment of people experiencing homelessness. ability to communicate with a wide range of individuals • Ability to convert document file types and use Microsoft Office • Understanding of layout, design conventions, and image requirements for print Working Conditions: • Supervised by Executive Director • Ability to work with and collaborate strategically with other staff in a busy work environment and multi-task • Ability to adhere to strict deadlines • Flexible schedule; some work on nights and weekends Starting Wage: $16.84/hr To apply: Send resume, cover letter, and 3 references to: Josh Spring, LSW Executive Director 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 joshspring@cincihomeless.org The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Homeless Coalition does not discriminate based on race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, ability, veteran’s status, homelessness or housing status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Streetvibes Writing Circle THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREET VOICE No. 38 8 | A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 NO ONE ASKED RUSSIAN MEDDLING - PART II No one asked. Meet Boris, Ivan, and Fyodor, How are you today? No one asked, Because no one cared Maybe because everyone is too busy Members of Putin's spy-corps, Who make the cyber connections. Their goals and focus are steady. Someone went home today These wily Russians are ready Feeling, sad and empty To hack our midterm elections. No one asked, No one cared BILL WOODS Contributing Writer Sometimes no one should have to ask. HOME ALONE When was the last time you asked someone could you help them? It’s so sad when no one cares enough to ask! KIM GREEN Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer I feel so blessed that being homeless for me has ceased Ceased meaning yesterday looking at today I still pray for peace I just knew being home alone, finally after living in the street with a slide That I could finally rest with my memories and let my spirit glide I've learned that being home alone doesn't always make one happy Especially to wake up to the reality that the world you live in actually is crappy I hear a security guard involved in the death of a young man I hear for double murder you get twenty-five years in this land! I find myself after all is said and done. I'm lonely, bored, behind the time or missing people I need to be able to talk, enjoy, laugh, respecting history with loud chimes on the steeples I've learned in order to a make a change is some serious work and a lot of effort for me I've learned that I cannot change people I must take the challenge to change myself you see I 've learned to keep my spirit clean for only God knows the truth there is NO DOUBT I'm learning to be honest with myself and living my life is what it's all about For everyone needs to be aware rather it be now or later that the CONSCIENCE KILLS Whether you be good or bad to live in denial, just listen, your conscience will get you. YOU JUST BE STILL! WILLA DENISE JONES Streetvibes Distributor & Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 156 Across 1. Travel through water 5. Large African antelope 8. Journey 12. Giant 14. Lubricant 15. Letting agreement 16. Part of a Roman amphitheater 17. Appropriate 18. Expel from a country 19. Dismissal from office 21. Pit viper 23. Dream state, initially 24. A quick run 25. Tantrum 28. Acidic fruit 30. Harry 35. Exam by word of mouth 37. Suspiration 39. Door or gate fastener 40. Lawsuit 41. Homeless cat 43. Floating mass of ice 44. Express audibly 46. Story 47. Counterweight used to obtain net weight 48. Ride on a plank 50. Lacking hearing 52. Unit of play in squash 53. Cut into cubes 55. Place seeds in the ground 57. Lean back 61. Straight section of a racetrack 65. Assumed name 66. Lair 68. Jewelled headdress 69. A drawback not immediately obvious 70. In the past 71. Mistake 72. Leg joint 73. Angry dispute 74. Simpleton Down 1. Celestial body 2. Finishing line 3. Part of a list or collection 4. Landed estate of a lord 5. Successful scoring attempt 6. Pinch 7. Radical 8. Written matter 9. Complain bitterly 10. Small island 11. Look searchingly 13. Umbilicus 15. Deadly 20. Awry 22. Residue from burning 24. Demean 25. Concentrate 26. Very angry 27. One of the senses 29. Baseball glove 31. A flat float 32. Mythological Titan 33. Set of twenty 34. Bed linen 36. Sediment from fermentation of an alcoholic beverage 38. Showing vigorous good health 42. Leavening agent used to raise bread 45. Pungent edible root 49. Be victorious 51. With great loudness (music) 54. Durable aromatic wood 56. Uncanny 57. Cut of meat 58. Zeal 59. Make reference to 60. Delicate woven fabric 61. Form of precipitation 62. Starchy tuberous root 63. Harvest 64. Leporid mammal 67. Self PUZZLE SOLUTIONS ISSUE 387 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 155 A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 8 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 286 - MEDIUM SODOKU PUZZLE NO 285- MEDIUM PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �RESOURCES No. 38 8 | A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children Bethany House 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 131 E. 12th Street 45202 241-5525 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 Starting Over 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 961-2256 First Step Home 961-4663 Hamilton/Middletown 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Joseph House (Veterans) Northern Kentucky Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both 471-1100 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 241-2965 1522 Republic Street 45202 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 961-4555 381-1954 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Food/Clothing Health 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 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 859-491-8303 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 799 Ann St. Newport, KY Advocacy Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 961-0600 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Justin Jeffre at 513-421-70803 x 12 or email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 St. Francis Soup Kitchen 215 E. 14th St. 45202 784-1853 2121 Vine Street 45202 535-2719 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio $100 558-8888 351-3500 977-4489 Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Prospect House 921-1613 Housing: 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 562-8841 Charlie’s 3/4 House 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 Tom Geiger House Volunteers of America Anna Louise Inn St. Vincent de Paul 352-6363 Other Resources Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Youth 27 W. 12th Street 45202 271-5501 1125 Bank Street 45214 Parkway Center 661-4620 Interfaith Hospitality Network Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Shelter: Family 591-2246 621-7265 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Churches Active in Northside McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 Shelterhouse 721-0643 City Gospel Mission 751-8771 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 Shelter: Men 1437 Walnut Street 45202 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 1528 Race St. 45202 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 15 for 26 issues $150 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED for 26 issues and a $50 donation �16 A u g 2 4 - S e p t 6, 2 0 18 | N o . 38 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. 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 August 24-September 6, 2018 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: From the Director Where are we Headed as a Nation? Pg 3: Cruel and Unusual Punishment Pg 4: Duke Energy’s Dangerous Pipeline Proposal Pg 5: The Mystery of Fort Ancient Pg 6: How to Respond to Panhandling Pg 7: Sorta Aborta Pg 8: Religious Peacemakers Pg 9: The Worst Day of My Life Pg 10: Money and Politics at the Local Level Pg 11: Justin Jeffre Continued Michael Earl Patton Continued Robert Park Continued Saad Ghosn Continued Bill Woods Continued Pg 12: Tired of Being Tired 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 August 24-September 6, 2018 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Josh Spring Justin Jeffre Dr. Mark Mussman Dick Croy Michael Earl Patton Robert Park Saad Ghosn Jim Luken Bill Woods Stacia Hollander Kim Green Willa D. Jones Homeless Coalition Laura Domet The Telegraph Cam Hardy Google Images Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Bill Woods Cam Hardy Dick Croy Dr. Mark Mussman Duke Energy Fort Ancient GCHC Google Images Homeless Coalition Jim Luken Josh Spring Justin Jeffre Kim Green Laura Domet Michael Earl Patton Pipeline politics Religion Robert Park Saad Ghosn SORTA Stacia Hollander The Telegraph Willa D. Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/7ad49eb87f10bfeb3f5da2f43109d3fb.pdf 0b4adccf5dc990de265f1d18b1c2ffba PDF Text Text Life Saver! What Mouthwatering STwe R EE T V IB ES can learn from Pasta Salad A u g u s t Oregon? 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Portland PG 6 PG 8 A U G U S T 5 T H - 1 8 T H 2 0 11 G! OUR... E SEYMNIGHT LONNKINS FEED M E ALL BY JENI JE FEED M The title of this column is taken from the 1986 film “Little Shop of Horrors,” where a plant keeper must meet the demands of a ravenous plant that feeds on humans. Instead of plants that feed on people, this column is for people who feed on plants!! PIQUANT PASTA SALAD Artist as Activist: The End of a Two Year Chapter. PG 16 ISSUE 205 Fresh Summer S During the summer as the heat rises I find it difficult to eat a heavy dinner, so the perfect solution is something fresh from your garden or a local farmer’s market. I personally love salads and in particular I love the ability to mix it up a bit each time using a variety of ingredients. Here is the fourth from my fresh summer salad series I hope you enjoy! Serving size, 4-5 bellies. Ingredients: 4 cups cooked shell pasta, rinsed 2 teaspoons dried basil 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ cup Extra-virgin olive LOREM oil Praesent molestie lorem 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegerette IPSUM Sed turpis 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes 1 red onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1/2 cup shredded parmesan romano & asiago Cheese mix 1 cup mozzarella, cut in cubes Salt & pepper to taste • • • • • 1 ala d ! Etiam ac libero In a large bowl combine the pasta, tomatoes, red pepper and onion and gently mix together In a separate small bowl combine the basil, garlic, olive oil, vineger and salt and pepper Toss with the pasta Stir in the mozzarella & top with shredded cheese Voila, FEED! ADVOCATING JUSTICE • BUILDING COMMUNITY Can Cincinnati Protect the Homeless from Deadly Weather? Severe weather has raced through the Greater Cincinnati area in the past few months, including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and extreme heat. But not all local residents live inside and many face greater danger of not being warned in time of impending severe weather threats. Local emergency officials say there is little they are able to do to warn those living outside. JESSE CALL Streetvibes Intern Writer F ederal, state, and local agencies in the area all struggled to answer the question of how best to warn people experiencing homelessness living outside. “It’s a good question,” said Mike Kurhz, meteorologist with the local office of the National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio. Kurhz said the only resource available from the National Weather Service is the NOAA Weather Radio service, which sends text and voice alerts during severe weather and other emergencies. However, people must be able to purchase a NOAA Weather Radio on their own, which range in cost from $20 to $60. Some people living on the streets, under bridges, or in the woods do not have the resources to invest that amount on a weather radio. Yet, they are often living in the places where getting early warning is most crucial. Josh Spring, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, showed Streetvibes where some people experiencing homelessness in Hamilton County live in outdoor camps. Many of these camps were located under bridges and overpasses, which many feel is a safe location to be during a severe thunder- Large, open buildings like this Kentucky factory may be closest shelter to people living outdoors but the storm or tornado. However, the National Weather Service says they offer little protection during severe storms because they are so open. National Weather Service says Photo: FEMA nothing could be farther from the gency Management, said. He also warning system in their camps, the truth. suggested that residents in Kentucky sheriff’s office says there is no policy Underpasses provide an extreme purchase NOAA weather radios, and to specifically warn those in camps or danger during a tornado because living outside, or even check on them when warnings are issued, to seek they more easily expose people to after the fact. shelter indoors. flying debris, and winds are actually “The Sheriff’s Office Patrol SecHowever, many people living strengthened as they pass under tion is occasionally dispatched to and outside do not live near shelters or a bridge, according to the National have checked on reports of homeless public buildings. And both Rogers Weather Service. individuals who may be in need of in Kentucky and Kurhz in Ohio said Nonetheless, emergency officials assistance or requests to check on they were unaware of any programs in the area are reluctant to take on the the welfare of the homeless,” Stephen that provide free or low-cost NOAA responsibility of warning individuals Barnett, public information officer for weather radios to people experiencliving in these places. the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deing homelessness, but said that local “Clermont County encourages partment said, “but to my knowledge emergency management agencies or all citizens to be self prepared,” Beth we have never had a set policy that charities would offer the best chance Nevel, director of the Clermont County addresses a protocol for any type of of providing assistance, if any. Emergency Management Agency, Back in Hamilton County, the notification to specific areas within the said. She refers people to a brochure people Streetvibes encountered livunincorporated areas of the county for which she said is widely distributed ing in camps did not have any NOAA severe weather.” throughout the county, but not through weather radios, though some had One reason for a lack of policy any programs specifically targeting regular battery-powered AM/FM racould be a lack of resources for the people experiencing homelessness in dios. However, many radio stations in Sheriff’s Department. the county. the region do not broadcast all NOAA “With a limited amount of reAcross the river in Northern Kenweather alerts on their stations, unlike sources...on the street at any one tucky, the sentiment of self-preparedgiven time the county wide sirens and local TV news channels that can do so ness is echoed by statewide officials. media service have always been our without interrupting programming and “Every individual has a level of best early warning signals,” Barnett have their own weather departments. responsibility to be aware of their said. He did say that the patrol units No one had a television, let alone risk and prepared and have plans to electricity, in the Hamilton County do have a public address capability, protect themselves and mitigate those camps Streetvibes visited. risks,” Buddy Rogers, spokesperson Aside from not having a clear for the Kentucky Division of EmerSee Storm Warning, page 4 Meeting Up with a Rebelious Nun PG 10 facebook.com/streetvibes cincinnati Remembering The Grateful Dead PG 13 twitter.com/streetvibesnews New Approach to Poetry in Over-theRhine PG 12 streetvibes.wordpress.com �Editorial 2 Winning Hearts and Minds Brief Updates O hioans will be converging at John Boehner's office at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 9 with a question in mind: "Where are the jobs, Speaker Boehner?" Buses will leave from Longworth Hall, 700 West Pete Rose Way, and IBEW hall, 5179 Fishwick Drive, and travel to Boehner's office at 7969 CincinnatiDayton Road in West Chester at 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively. The event is being sponsored by Fight For A Fair Economy Cincinnati. V ouchers are being distributed for the PETS IN NEED basic health clinics which are offered two Sundays each month at the UCAN Spay/Neuter Clinic. The clinic is located at 1230 West Eighth Street. The program is a joint effort of UCAN and the Freestore FoodBank. Only a limited number of vouchers are available for each clinic date, and you must have a voucher for each pet. Please call (513) 762-0149 to hear recorded information about vouchers. Vouchers are distributed, when available, on Fridays, 10 a.m., to 2 p.m., but it’s best to call to get updates before you make the trip. Upcoming clinic dates are August 14 and 28, and September 11 and 25. REMEMBER TO CALL (513)7620149 FOR CLINIC DETAILS AND UPDATES. Generally, pets receive an examination, vaccinations and treatment for fleas and any minor health problems. You get information about “fixing” your pet and information about pet health. T hus far, 2011 has been an interesting year for Streetvibes. Editors have gone, editors have come and gone again, editors have been nameless phantoms, and now it is my honor to be your editor. Despite some changes one thing has remained consistent with Streetvibes, its dedication to social justice, building community and providing economic opportunities for the paper’s distributors. We thank you for supporting this dedication with your purchase of the paper that you are now reading So what course will the paper take under this new pilot? The primary focus of Streetvibes will always be on issues that affect people in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky who are experiencing life without a home. The paper’s progressive mission will continue to expose the unethical practices of those who would diminish affordable housing and social services while also celebrating the efforts of those who seek to help relieve the situation and ensure a safe home for everyone. When working for social justice one is constantly exposed to the mistreatment of those lacking the resources to protect themselves and the corruption of those motivated by power and greed. Frequently it is a saddening and very frustrating calling, our “bleeding hearts” hemorrhage from the emotional trauma of feeling compassion and empathy for people in need of assistance. This frustration can easily turn to anger and then the name calling begins. In our aggravation we dig in for political battle and seek to defeat our enemies. In many situations it is a civic battle that is worthy of being fought, but with it comes those who get caught in the crossfire of rhetorical missiles. American politics of the 21st century have become extremely polarized, everyone seems angry at something and desperately trying to find someone to blame for it. We fight with those who’s mission differs from our own and even squabble with those who share the same viewpoint. “If you’re not outraged, then you’re not paying attention,” stated a bumper sticker with which I heartily agree, but it is very difficult to convince someone of your viewpoint by shouting at them. Brute force offers the short term result of compliance through fear but it does nothing for the long term goal of winning the hearts and minds of people. Calm and confident, Streetvibes will always seek to reach out to the public of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky to educate, inform and challenge people’s perceptions of those without homes. There is, however, also more to Streetvibes. Despite our unveiled dissatisfaction with many unjust policies and practices that occur in Cincinnati, we love this place, it is our home, and we want to see everyone be able to enjoy the Queen City. Our mission of community building extends in many different directions such as music, poetry, literature, film, and other performing arts. Expect to see more about the fringe entertainment and arts that Cincinnati has to offer. To conclude my first Streetvibes editorial, I wish to extend an invitation to writers and artists who enjoy this paper and feel that they would like to contribute articles and art to help us continue to grow into the paper that is the heart of soul of the city, the vibe of the street. Sincerely, Jason Dean ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published biweekly by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Website: www.cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes.wordpress.com Email: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Staff Editor, Design & Layout Jason Dean Executive Director Josh Spring Director of Development & Operations Catie Dargue Director of Education & Outreach, Layout Assistance, Streetvibes Distributor Program Manager Jeni Jenkins Staff Writer Susan Lakes Civil Rights Outreach Coordinator Riccardo Taylor Reception & Office Administration Georgia Bohannon, Karen Chatman, Stephen Gentry, Rubye Goode, Della Woolens. Contributing Writers: Willa Denise Jones, Saad Ghosn, Jim Luken, Lee Mccoy Photography/Artwork: Susan Lakes, Jeni Jenkins, Josh Spring, Saad Ghosn, Bill Howes, Paul Davis, Aimie Willhoite Summer Interns Journalism, Media & PR Jesse Call Journalism, Media & PR Mark Grauhuis Research Alisa Balestra Education & Outreach Harrison Lott Development Corey Luthringer Statistics Brittany Fong �ST R EE T V IB E S Distributor Program 3 A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 STREETVIBES IS DISTRIBUTED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO PURCHASE THE PAPER FOR 25 CENTS PER COPY AND SELL IT FOR A $1 DONATION, KEEPING THE PROFIT THEY HAVE EARNED. BECOMING A DISTRIBUTOR IS A GREAT WAY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FINANCIALLY POOR TO GET BACK ON (OR STAY ON) THEIR FEET. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME FOR THOSE UNABLE TO SECURE OTHER EMPLOYMENT. MONEY EARNED HELPS MEET BASIC HOUSING, FOOD AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS. THE PROGRAM IS A HAND UP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN IN A PLACE OF GETTING ONLY A HAND OUT, OR EVEN NO HAND AT ALL. ALL DISTRIBUTORS WEAR A BADGE AND CAN BE FOUND SELLING THE PAPER IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, CLIFTON, NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND AREA CHURCHES. CURRENT DISTRIBUTORS ALFRED BRANDON NELSON WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 SINCE 4/2008 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DAVID TOUGH 3/2011 My Distributor Is… Many Streetvibes readers buy their copy of the paper from the person they consider to be their regular distributor. Every two weeks you walk by that same spot and look out for that friendly smile announcing that the latest issue of Streetvibes has arrived. We would like to hear from you and publish your positive thoughts about the person from whom you pick up your copy of this paper. We invite you to write a line or two, starting with the phrase “My distributor is,” that describes your Streetvibes distributor. Please email your observations to streetvibes@cincihomeless.org DELESA HENDERSON NEW 5/2011 ELISA HILL SINCE 9/2010 GRADY COOK SINCE 8/2007 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES BYBEE SINCE 9/2010 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2003 JAMES MOORE SINCE 11/2010 JERRY DAVIS SINCE 5/2011 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 JULIE WALKER SINCE 6/2007 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 KIM GREEN SINCE 1/2010 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARK DAUGHTERY NEW 3/2011 MARK ANTHONY SHEARS SINCE 12/2007 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 M y Streetvibes distributor is Julie Walker and I look forward to seeing her every Saturday morning when I go to Findley Market. I arrive by 8:30 a.m. and get a newspaper and a hug from Julie. We talk about the weather or cooking or family for a minute, and then I get a cup of coffee in the market house and read the paper. Not sure what I like best, the paper or the hug. What a great way to start a Saturday with a kind word from Julie, a hug, a great newspaper and a cup of coffee. Yesterday morning I got a late start and didn’t arrive till 2 p.m. I couldn’t find Julie as she had left for the day but I had a chance to meet Willa Jones, another lovely lady and Streetvibes contributing writer and distributor. She told me that there is an important article in the paper about House Bill 159 and how it could hurt many homeless folks as they may not be able to vote. We had a great political conversation and then I was on my way. Every distributor has been a joy to talk to, and the paper always has great articles Thanks Jean Sepate Five Extra Ways to Support Streetvibes Distributors. (Concept borrowed from our sister paper in Portland, Oregon). PAMELA TAYLOR NEW 6/2011 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAY BREWER NEW 5/2011 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY LUNDY NEW 5/2011 1. Traveling out of town? Buy extra copies of Streetvibes for the road. Who knows. Someone might notice the paper at the airport, bus station or on the road trip and strike up a great conversation. 2. Let out of town friends and family know about Streetvibes and the concept behind it. Let them know how it helps homeless and formerly homeless distributors pay for some basics. RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 SHANNON MOATS NEW 3/2011 TERRY RANSON SINCE10/2008 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 3. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Consider asking your distributor is they would like a bottle of cold water. Water helps keep the hydrated and strong. 4. Buy additional copies of Streetvibes and introduce the organization to at least one friend or Cincinnati newcomer. You can help spread the word and also raise awareness of progressive issues in Cincinnati. TOMMY THOMPSON SINCE 2/2009 VICTORIA MINOR NEW 3/2011 WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WILLIAM BURDINE SINCE 8/2009 W. KENNETH BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 5. Stop and talk to your neighborhood Streetvibes distributor. Introduce yourself and let her/ him know what you like and don’t like about the paper. This helps build community throughout the city, but more importantly, helps build what could become a lasting friendship. � 4 Storm Warning Continued from page 1 but that is probably not used often because the sheriff’s department is busy responding to reported emergencies during a storm, such as downed power lines, storm damage and lost traffic signals. In Kentucky, Rogers agreed that many local communities probably do not have the financial resources to send people out to warn or check on people living outdoors. He also mentioned outdoor emergency sirens as a resource for those living outside. However, he admitted these sirens cannot be heard in all parts of a community, including some of the remote places where people experiencing homelessness sometimes stay. A map of the tornado sirens in Kenton County, Kentucky, provided online by its emergency management agency, shows that most of them are in the heavily-populated residential parts of the county, despite the sirens being designed to warn people outdoors, not indoors. Few people living outdoors wanted to be quoted in the article, but some showed us their homes. Living in the woods or under bridges, they often had a tent or a small shack made of wood they had found or been given. These homes provide little shelter from the elements, including severe weather like heavy rains or hail, as well as from extreme heat or cold. Adequate warning can allow them to escape to someplace safer or better prepare, Rogers said. However, Rogers said there are no known cases of anyone in a homeless camp suffering injury during a severe thunderstorm warning or tornado in Kentucky. However, flash flooding is what often causes the most deaths due to severe weather in the Commonwealth. And, emergency managers rarely use outdoor sirens to warn of flash flooding, relying instead on NOAA weather radios and local media, to which many experiencing homelessness along riverbanks may not have access. • Seek shelter indoors, if possible, in a storm cellar or basement. If no basement is available, seek shelter in a small room in the center of the lowest level of the building. Stay away from windows, doors, and corners or the room. • Avoid seeking shelter in large shopping centers, stores, warehouses or anywhere that is “one big room,” because you want to be in a small, enclosed room in case the roof is ripped off the building. • A vehicle, trailer or mobile home does not provide good protection. Plan to go quickly to a building with a strong foundation, if possible. • If shelter is not available, lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. • Plan to stay in the shelter location until the danger has passed. Sources: Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service Wilmington Office From the Director To Be Set Free JOSH SPRING GCCH Director T ruth. Truth is so valuable. Most of us have heard the verse in the Bible that explains “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32, NIV). We have heard this statement in movies, read it in books, heard it exclaimed in speeches. If any of us of have been to many rallies, probably many of us have cheered to something like this statement. But what does it mean- “…the truth will set you free?” What will the Truth set you free from? Certainly within one’s self the Truth will set one free from lies- in terms of their own mind set. But there has to be more to it than that. The first part of that sentence, the part that is not often quoted, says “Then you will know the truth…” So one must know the Truth in order to be set free by the Truth. I think that in this case know means more than just a factual understand, I would assert that know in this case means to not only understand, but to take to hear, to be intimate with. So if you know the Truth, what does it mean to be set free? In fact if considered only from a micro sense, one might think the opposite is actually true, often once one understands the Truth, she or he is no longer freeat least no longer free to live as they formerly would have. Often this is because Truth, when known compels one to act accordingly- this means to change the way one does things, this means to stand for the Truth and to fight for the Truth- to be bound by it you my say and to defend it. In some cases this leads to persecution, imprisonment or even death for those defending Truth. So what about freedom. I think there is a certain freedom found within those that know, defend and operate according to the Truth- an inner release from all the lies society, politicians, developers, media, ceos, etc. want us to believe. ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Beyond this however, and probably more important, I am not sure that freedom in this case is something that is completely immediate. It is important to consider all of this in a macro sense- if we know the Truth it will set us free. If we as a people become intimate with the Truth, and we let it determine our actions- then we will be set free. To me this means when we realize that all humans are worth of love and everything it takes to live because all humans are terribly valuable and when we realize that we are to protect each other and care for and protect our earth and all natural things- then we know the Truth- and will be set free. I often see people disregard the Truth. In the immediate situation it may often seem easier to not operate within or defend Truth. In the immediate sense it may be easier to shake the hand of the oppressor and act like their friend than to tell them they are the oppressor. In the immediate sense it may be easier to Continued on page 5 Friends of the Anna Louise Inn Call to Action Ways Individuals and Organizations can Support the Continued Mission of the Anna Louise Inn • Share our story. Talk at parties, tell your neighbors, post on your Facebook page, Twitter feed, and LinkedIn page. Make your voice known through outreach to your personal contacts. • Sign the Statement of Support (or draft your own). • Encourage people to visit www.cinunionbethel.org where they will get updated information and opportunities to donate. • ‘Like’ Cincinnati Union Bethel on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @cinunionbethel and encourage all your friends to do the same. • Send letters to the editor. • Donate. • Tell us who else may want to be involved-individuals and/or organizations. • Attend the August 10th court hearing at 11a.m. in Judge Norbert Nadel’s courtroom at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 1000 Main St., Room 560. This is a hearing for Cincinnati Union Bethel’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Cincinnati Union Bethel – 300 Lytle St. – Cincinnati, OH 45202 – 768-6907 – www.cinunionbethel.org �ST R EE T V IB E S Local News 5 A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Insurance Giant Bullies Anna Louise Inn JASON DEAN Streetvibes Editor A fter continuous failed attempts to purchase the Anna Louise Inn, Western & Southern Financial Group now wants Cincinnati City Council to withhold $2.6 million in federal housing dollars allocated to renovate this historic Cincinnati shelter for women and families. The Inn, currently administered by the nonprofit group Cincinnati Union Bethel, stands in the way of the insurance firms plans to convert the coveted building into expensive condominiums; part of an over arching design to gentrify the Lytle Park neighborhood into a “gaslight district” surrounded by luxury housing, restaurants and boutiques. Western & Southern claim that the renovation plan of the Anna Louise Inn is inappropriate and that the shelter is not conducive to the neighborhood even though it has stood on that spot since opening in 1909. Western & Southern are playing the role of victim, accusing the city council of pushing through the measure to award funds to for women and families experiencing the nonprofit without a public hearing, homelessness. Some need the shelter but despite this the council appears due to low-income, some are escapto favor charity and compassion over ing abuse, and some are trying to rid acquiescing to big business interests. themselves Western from drugs & Southern is or prostitustalling for time tion. The in the hopes inn ofthat Cincinnati fers help Union Bethel to many will accept women and their $3 million families offer for the Inn seeking to and promises improve to help find a their situnew home for ation and families and find stability. the women In the who currently The historic and much coveted Anna Louise Inn . Photo: reside there. coming Kevin LeMaster To date, howmonths the ever, CincinAnna Louise nati Union Bethel are not interested in Inn will start its $12.5 million renovaselling their property that was donated tion project to modernize the building by Charles P. Taft and that they have and create 85 efficiency apartments successfully operated for the past to replace the current dormitories. Western & Southern have argued that 102 years. For over a century the this move would actually provide less Inn has offered short term-housing   Ten Facts about the Anna Louise Inn and Western & Southern Fact #1: The Anna Louise Inn was built in 1909 to provide safe and affordable housing for women. We have been in the Lytle Park district for 102 years and the neighborhood has successfully developed around us – serving women in need does not impede economic development. In fact, Western & Southern developed the Residence Inn knowing the Inn was across the street. Fact #2: The Anna Louise Inn serves the same purpose today as it did when it opened in 1909 ... to provide safe and affordable housing for women. We still do this. We have continued to respond to the needs of women. Of course, our residents’ circumstances have changed as society has changed, but women still need a safe and affordable home and that is what we still provide. Fact #3: Cincinnati Union Bethel received the number one ranking in its category from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and was awarded tax credits to renovate the Anna Louise Inn on July 1, 2010. The renovation will preserve the historic elements of the building internally and externally. Fact #4: When Cincinnati Union Bethel was exploring all options from 2005-2009, Western & Southern made two offers: $1.75 and $1.8 million. We now have a $12.6 million renovation project in hand. Fact #5: Western & Southern cut off negotiations about the Anna Louise Inn in 2009 and only tried to resume them after they learned that we had received $10 million in tax credits and $2.6 million in affordable housing (HOME loan) dollars to renovate the Inn. At that time, we were not entertaining offers. Fact #6: The $10 million in tax credits the Anna Louise Inn received are from a federal program specifically designated to support affordable housing. It provides an opportunity for investment for local corporations. The $2.6 million HOME loan funding granted by the city is money from HUD that brings funding INTO the city that requires only a small match. Both programs are win-wins for economic development. The tax credits are “use them or lose them” and we cannot use them in another location. If we don’t use the tax credits they do not go back into taxpayers’ pockets and the economic stimulus provided to our community will be lost. Fact #7: Western & Southern has used the same tax credit program on its projects, like Brackett Village. It was a good financing program for Western & Southern then and it is a good financing program for us now. Fact #8: Western & Southern offered Brackett Village to Cincinnati Union Bethel as a new location for the Anna Louise Inn. It had two major problems: (1) each residence has a separate entrance so we could not provide the same level of safety and sense of community for women, and (2) there are people living there who would have been displaced from their residence. Fact #9: It is not cheaper to move locations. (1) Our programs are not going to change. (2) As City Gospel Mission and the YWCA have shown, there is often community resistance for social service providers in finding new locations. (3) Our current location is ideal for our residents because it is close to Cincinnati jobs and Northern Kentucky jobs. It is close to a bus line, a park and downtown stores and restaurants. Fact #10: We own the Anna Louise Inn and we have a right, as homeowners, to make decisions about our home’s future. We don’t have to sell to someone just because they want our land. We merely want to continue serving women in need and consider the solution we have found to be an enormous win-win for our community. For more information, please visit www.cinunionbethel.org, or call 513‐768‐6907.    housing for the homeless; one argument amongst many that the property developers are throwing out against the non-profit organization. The most striking thing about this story is the audacity of Western & Southern’s claims. They move into the neighborhood three generations after the Inn opened and then claim that the shelter is not appropriately placed. They complain and threaten to sue when Cincinnati Union Bethel refuses to sell their property. Many people would laugh at Western & Southern, but be warned, when a lucrative financial institution has its sights set on something they will not back down. The successful Anna Louise Inn needs all the help the people of Cincinnati can give to ensure that this historic shelter does not become history. To Be Set Free, Continued look the other way when a group that has a lot of power says they will swing some of that power your way while on the other side they are still hurting people. It may be easier to not call out Truth in a meeting and keep things immediately calm- without considering what negative actions will be reaped upon other people after the meeting. The Truth is however, even though these actions may seem calm and freeing in the moment- they will never free us. Shaking hands with lies enslaves us, knowing and defending Truth sets us free. �6 National ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 A Lifesaver that Fits in Your Pocket In Portland, Oregon, a little red bag is helping the homeless to stay alive. The Vial of Life has a list of medical illnesses, prescriptions, emergency contacts, allergies and blood type – all to be available to medical staff in case of emergency. STACY BROWNHILL Street Roots (USA) www.streetnewsservice.org H ow much good can a small red pouch, zip tie and sheet of paper do for someone living on the streets? Turns out, a lot. Downtown Chapel is pioneering an innovative, potentially life-saving program for medically vulnerable people experiencing homelessness called the Vial of Life program. It's actually an adaptation of a nationally established program used by people who have homes, applied now to those who do not. Homeless participants can fill out a one-page sheet listing medical illnesses, prescriptions, emergency contacts, allergies and blood type, stuff it into a red plastic pouch no bigger than an index card, and attach it to their backpack. The "vial" provides an easily identifiable, relatively reliable record to emergency personnel, and Downtown Chapel keeps a copy in case the original is lost. Since June, around 40 homeless individuals have participated in the Vial of Life program at Downtown Chapel, meeting one-on-one for a few minutes with volunteer nursing students from University of Portland who help them fill out medical information and even call pharmacies if there are questions about prescriptions. Reviews by participants have been "over the moon," says Andrew Noethe, pastoral associate at Downtown Chapel who is overseeing the implementation of the Vial of Life program in collaboration with parish nurse Sharon Christenson. Participant Michelle says she recommends it to other friends on the street who have seizures or diabetes and thinks there should be "a lot more awareness" about the Vial of Life program. So far, people seem eager to sign up for the program. "When you're vulnerable and sick, you know it," says Michelle. Diabetes, seizures and cognitive disabilities are at the top of the list of health issues that the Vial of Life program hopes to track. The health record may be largely self-reported, but the volunteer nursing students at Downtown Chapel "help ask the right questions in a safe place," says Noethe. "Sometimes a participant will just open their bag and show a nurse all the pills they've been taking, and that's helpful if EMTs pick that person up," he says. Piloted with Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries and Providence Health Systems, the Vial of Life program is an enormous boon for homeless health care in Portland. People who are homeless are often mobile, without health insurance, especially vulnerable to injuries and illness, and prime candidates for reduced recollection, often the result of past trauma or head injuries. Emergency personnel, including EMTs, police and Central City Concern's CHIERS staff, are frequently forced to rely on guesswork when it comes to helping sick people on the streets. For instance, last year more than 8,400 inebriated people were picked up off the streets and taken to Hooper Sobering Center on NE Burnside and MLK. "One of the first questions asked is, 'do you have any medical conditions,'" says manager Steve Mattsson. But he admits that the homeless folks who come in are notoriously poor historians of medical history. Plus, alcohol can mask over many serious medical issues. "I meet first responders who wonder, 'did I make the right choice?'" says Noethe, who hopes the Vial of Life program will change that. "The bottom line is we need to make sure those in need - however that is defined - get the right help in an emergency," says Jean Marks with Providence Health & Service's Public Relations office. "Emergency responders seem to be excited about this program because it makes their job easier. They don't have to guess about their patients' allergies and prescriptions," says Marks. "It serves the poor and vulnerable, but it also helps everyone do a better job." Bruce Strade, executive director of Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries, says they are just getting a feel for how successful the program is, but thinks adapting the program for other agencies is "not out of our reach." Downtown Chapel's idea for the Vial of Life program originated from National News Summary JESSE CALL Staff Intern Writer I n Fullerton, California, a man suffering from schizophrenia and experiencing homelessness was beaten to death by police. Kelly Thomas, 37, died five days after being put on life support. His family said they could not even recognize him after the beating. Officers say that Thomas resisted arrest and they used an appropriate amount of force to detain Thomas, who was suspected of breaking into cars. Thomas was not armed and was described by the Los Angeles Times as being “slight and of medium height.” Witnesses say police continued to hit Thomas with the butts of their flashlight even after he stopped moving. His family says the force used was clearly excessive. Orange County prosecutors are investigating, but no charges have been filed. S ecret Service agents continue to search for the ringleaders behind a bogus check cashing scheme which has exploited people experiencing homelessness and with mental disabilities throughout the state of Arkansas, according to The Michelle is one of the people that benefits from the Vial of Life. Photo courtesy of Street Roots Northwest Parish Nurse Ministries' and Providence Health Systems' Vial of L.I.F.E. (Lifesaving Information for Emergencies) program - a traditional method of storing medical information of isolated elders' in readily identifiable pill bottles in refrigerators. Early this year, parish nurse Sharon Christenson asked, 'why not do this in the homeless community?' and approached Noethe with the idea of implementing the Vial of Life program at Downtown Chapel. Noethe says he immediately took to the idea, remembering times when homeless guests passed out mysteriously in Downtown Chapel's lobby. He is especially hopeful that the program will help guests with trauma history, including traumatic brain injuries, who cannot recall medical history. "They dont' always keep every- thing in mind," says Michelle, who is borderline diabetic combined with other medical issues. "And if (medics) don't know about it, that's a problem." Noethe agrees. "It is essential that first responders, especially in Old Town, are able to identify the Vial of Life pouches and make use of them," says Noethe. His plan forward is to replicate the Vial of Life program among other Portland service agencies. Noethe has even created a manual for other organizations to implement and evaluate the program. "I have no doubt this is going to benefit someone," says Noethe. "With Vial of Life, we're not doing case work where we follow people over time, and we won't always get to see the outcomes. "But I know this will improve lives." Jonesboro Sun. A man arrested for trying to cash the check at an Arkansas bank said that he was offered $100 to attempt to cash it. Several more cases came forward throughout the state. Secret Service agents say they are close to finding the producers of the counterfeit checks and they will be charged with federal crimes. in homelessness from the area. A hearing was held earlier at the state capitol to discuss the possibility of creating “safe zones,” or tent cities, where homeless people could stay in order to help keep streets clean for the dignitaries. "Let me explain or put it this way. You invite some guests into your home for a meeting, you're not going to have your home in shambles," State Representative John Mizuno told HawaiiNewsNow. The “safe zones” plan met opposition from homeless advocates and community leaders and has not yet been accepted. [Continued on Page 7] awaii officials say there is no plan to force people experiencing homelessness out of the area where the leaders of 21 nations, including President Barack Obama, will meet for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference. State legislators have asked that there be an effort to move people H �ST R EE T V IB E S 7 International A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Street Papers Divided on Campaign to Make Poverty Illegal Could poverty be made illegal worldwide, just as torture and other human rights abuses have been? MELANY BENDIX The Big Issue (South Africa) www.streetnewsservice.org I t's a radical concept, and one that's being vociferously debated at the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) annual conference following a call by Henrique Pinto, from CAIS street paper in Portugal, for street papers to support his campaign to make poverty illegal. What at first seems like an idealistic, never-achievable "dream" goal gains some weight when you consider that once slavery was legal, and it took a radical mindshift and support from a critical mass to make it illegal. There are countless examples of these shifts that throughout history, so why is it so inconceivable that poverty, like slavery, could one day be outlawed? As Pinto points out, like torture, genocide and other human rights abuses, "poverty is a serious violation of the most basic human rights". And, like slavery, "poverty is manmade - it is not a natural phenomena", Pinto argues. He makes a passionate, weighty argument, but I'm not (yet) convinced this is a realistic campaign, nor one that street papers around the world, which have a combined readership of five to seven million an edition, should use their considerable power in the media to drive on a global level. It's a grand ideal, but as Trudy Vlok, MD of The Big Issue SA, pointed out: If poverty is made illegal, that automatically means it's a criminal offence to cause poverty. But who or even what causes poverty is not always clear-cut, so who do you lay criminal charges against for causing poverty? Pinto reckons the buck stops with governments, which should be forced by their people to commit to goals to alleviate poverty. Should they not meet those goals, he believes they should be fined, as they do in the European Union when countries do not meet carbon emission reductions, for example. The money from the fine would then be put into a fund for poverty alleviation. There's an immediate issue here: if governments have to pay a fine, the money will simply be taken from the taxpayer's coffer, which has its obvious problems. Fining governments for breaking agreements also has its own set of problems; it's a slap on the wrist which they mostly shrug off and then go straight back to doing what they were doing before. Getting governments to seriously sign in on "dream" targets is equally tricky. Governments always seem to be all too happy to sign on Say What? “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th President and WWII Five Star General OFFICIAL distributor Tommy Thompson the dotted line when the cameras are clicking but, like we've seen with the overall implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, implementation is an entirely different story. That said, no one - not even the passionate Pinto - is talking about making poverty illegal overnight. It would be a long-term campaign, at least 20 years. Who knows, over that time the glitches in the campaign for poverty to be made illegal could be ironed out. Perhaps in 50 or 100 years we'll even look back at this time and be amazed that poverty wasn't illegal. Melany Bendix is editor of The Big Issue South Africa. She blogged from the INSP 2011 annual conference that took place in Glasgow from July 20 to 22. The INSP represents 113 papers from 40 countries. Follow her on Twitter: @melbendix Only Purchase STREETVIBES from BADGED Distributors [National News Summary Continued from Page 6] A n Anchorage, Alaska man has been charged with several crimes after police say he took in a family experiencing homelessness and then sexually assaulted the underage daughters, KTUU reports. According to police, days after the family moved in, Keone Jason Lee began sexually abusing the two daughters, age 6 and 11, and threatened them with a sword if they told anyone about the abuse. Lee is already a registered sex offender in Alaska and is being held on $100,000 bail. A SATURDAY Saturday, AUGUST Aug.13TH 13 talented singer has gotten quite a following on YouTube and iTunes after releasing a few cover songs--however, this singer is currently experiencing homelessness in Denver, Colorado. David “Dred” Scott has been singing on the streets of Denver to earn money, but after teaming up with His Love Street ministries, he got a stage to perform to the world online, Time Magazine reports. He recorded an album there, “Live from the 16th Street Mall,” and made $2,000 in two days on iTunes. He is debuting new songs next month and says he hopes to make a “decent living” from his music. 30 Registration 8:30AM8:Registration 9: 30 Walk begins 9:30AM11:Walk begins 30 Reception 11:30AM Reception We serve as a creative outlet for women in need to uncover their talents and build relationships while making and selling jewelry, quilts, and other handcrafted items. We provide a welcoming environment and continuous support-our women do the rest. They are our voice. They are our mission. They are our Sarah Center. Artists receive 50 % from the sale of their items, while the rest goes towards materials and other support. AM AM AM For more info visit: www.lys.org Lighthouse Youth Services provides a continuum of services for homeless youth, including Anthony House, a drop-in center for homeless youth between the ages 18 to 24. Visiting youth can eat a warm meal, visit the nurse, take a shower, and collect clothing and other vital supplies. Our drop-in center was visited almost 4,000 times in the past year. The young people served by the program often walk miles just to eat a warm meal or visit their case managers, regardless of the weather. Proceeds from Walk the Walk will provide the basic supplies – sturdy walking shoes, new socks, bus tokens, etc. – that make this daily trek possible. Lighthouse on Highland is under construction to become the first homeless shelter for 18 – 24 year olds. It will include the current drop-in center and expand to allow up to 28 individuals to stay overnight. Participants of Walk the Walk will be among the first to preview the facility, scheduled to open this fall. Sarah Center HELPING WOMEN HELP THEMSELVES 1618 Vine Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 For more information visit www.sfoutreach.org �Recipe 8 ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 ... MOUR T LONG! S Y E S E H IN FEED M LL NIG JENI JENK A E M Y B FEED The title of this column is taken from the 1986 film “Little Shop of Horrors,” where a plant keeper must meet the demands of a ravenous plant that feeds on humans. Instead of plants that feed on people, this column is for people who feed on plants!! PIQUANT PASTA SALAD Fresh Summer S During the summer as the heat rises I find it difficult to eat a heavy dinner, so the perfect solution is something fresh from your garden or a local farmer’s market. I personally love salads and in particular I love the ability to mix it up a bit each time using a variety of ingredients. Here is the fourth from my fresh summer salad series I hope you enjoy! Serving size, 4-5 bellies. Ingredients: 4 cups cooked shell pasta, rinsed 2 teaspoons dried basil 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ cup Extra-virgin olive LOREM oil Praesent molestie lorem 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegerette IPSUM Sed turpis 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes 1 red onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1/2 cup shredded parmesan romano & asiago Cheese mix 1 cup mozzarella, cut in cubes Salt & pepper to taste • • • • • ala d ! Etiam ac libero In a large bowl combine the pasta, tomatoes, red pepper and onion and gently mix together In a separate small bowl combine the basil, garlic, olive oil, vineger and salt and pepper Toss with the pasta Stir in the mozzarella & top with shredded cheese Voila, FEED! PainterTeam:Layout 1 6/15/2011 4:43 PM Page 1 Say What? “Anyone who has struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.” Buying or selling . . . The Painter Team James Baldwin (1924-1987) American writer. For all your real estate needs, call: Michael D. Painter, e-Pro, REOS, SFR 513.348.7999 Candace Kadivnik Painter, CRS, ABR 513.266.1025 Painting the town sold . . . 513.474.9100 �Exclusive ST R EE T V IB E S A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 The “Abandomeniums” of Over-the-Rhine SUSAN LAKES Streetvibes Staff Writer A s Over-the-Rhine’s facelift continues, “abandomeniums,” those vacant parcels that attract the desperate, disappear. There’s a lot of renovation going on in Overthe-Rhine, and that is limiting the number of places for visitors to drop out of sight and take cover inside dilapidated buildings. One person, Nate, knows what it feels like to be afraid inside one of the abandoned or uninhabited buildings. The thought of rats scares him. So does the thought of strangers wondering in or police busting in, crying “trespassing.” All the noise is scary. But the deafening silence can be bad, too. Nate spent a few nights on and off for six months in a local shelter, but left there and took up residence inside one of the city’s vacant buildings. Building Cincinnati website shows that there were 5,183 condemned or abandoned buildings a few months ago. That figure represented a 10.8% increase from the previous year and a 190% increase in the past five years. But for Nate, who lives in Over-the-Rhine, the statistics don’t matter. He watches bulldozers and other heavy equipment chip away at restoration projects, including the big one at the now barricaded park. All the activity won’t erase the memories of abandomium living. “It’s scary. You sleep in there and don’t know about the rats, or if someone else is there who might try to harm you, and if the police will come in and bust you for trespassing,” he said in a recent interview. Last winter was his last time he took up residence in one of the buildings. He slept with his back up to the wall on a nasty dirty floor. Fortunately, he picked a rodent-free one. “I didn’t see a rat, or I wouldn’t have stayed there. I wouldn’t have stayed there if I had heard one either.” It was cold, though. “It’s colder inside the building than if you get outside, “ he said about the harsh winter conditions, even underneath a roof. But the roof provided some relief from the chilly winds. Some nights, the shelter conditions were unbearable, even though he was inside. Nate said all the trapped air made it feel cold, sometimes too cold to sleep. So he moved elsewhere.” I would sometimes get in someone’s apartment building and sleep in the laundry room,” he said.“Forty degrees felt a lot better than 10 degrees outside.” Sometimes, company showed up. “Other people would come in, but I stayed to myself and they did the same,” he said. No entertaining here---and no cooking either. Nate had no light or heat, and usually crept inside after dark to avoid detection. He slithered out before dawn. 9 �Street Voice 10 ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Sister of Rebellion Meet Mary Beth Peters, SC. 51. Catholic nun. Social worker. Committed to the poor. Rebellious by temperament. JIM LUKEN Contributing Writer ary Beth Peters took her vows as a Sister of Charity at about the same time in 1985 that Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen came into existence. She maintains regular contact with the woman who founded Our Daily Bread (ODB), Cookie Vogelpohl, and seems to enjoy sketching the history of the invaluable resource she now heads. According to Mary Beth, Cookie was working in an office downtown, when out the window she noticed a man eating food out of a trash can. That night, disturbed by what she had seen, Cookie mentioned it to her aunt, saying something to the effect, “That shouldn’t happen. Somebody should do something about it.” Her aunt responded, “Well. You’re somebody.” And indeed, Cookie Vogelpohl was somebody. Not long after that incident, she quit her job, and began cooking at home and bringing the food down in the evenings to St. Francis Seraph School. The first night there were 10-12 hungry folks who came to eat. After sometime, Cookie found that the school was not the right place for what she wanted to do. The best time of day to operate a soup kitchen is at lunch time, and school kids were in the lunchroom every day at St. Francis. Cookie’s connections grew. She was able to raise the money to buy the spacious building at Race and Elder on the east end of Findlay Market. According to Mary Beth, this happened without many of the market shop M owners catching wind of it, and it was “much to their dismay” of many that Our Daily Bread became a prominent fixture there. When Cookie retired, Mary Jo Holohan, the wife of ODB’s first donor (Bill Holohan) took over the directorship. Sister Mary Beth came on board as Executive Director in 2005. The facility provides a complete meal (usually a salad, an entrée, several side dishes, coffee and desert) to 250 to 500, mostly adults (most of whom are men) five days a week. Understandably, Monday is usually the busiest day. Mary Beth explains that there Sister Mary Beth Peters contemplates her work with the homeless. Photo: Jim Luken is now a yearly operating budget of $650,000, with another $200,000 where she earned her degree in social “We have bingo and movies. coming in as food donations. She work. After college, she took on a We have a nurse through the visiting rattles off the figures: “85 % of our variety jobs which included work in a nurses association. And we have a funding comes from private donations, Head Start program. She taught first foot doctor. Any number of other agenwith 15% from grants. We get nothing grade for a year, and was the mancies come in and use the facility with from the government, nothing from ager of a home for pregnant homeless their clients who are also often regular the city, teens in Florida. ‘guests’ of the soup kitchen.” nothing Then Mary Our Daily Bread employs a full from United Beth was hired time social worker, “We have an open Way.” into what would door policy,” Sister Mary Beth says. There is no be a life changing The social worker helps people in bitterness job for her, this at the St. Joseph Villa various areas that are often compliwhen she says this. The generosity of orphanage. As a live-in “unit councated for the poor, like birth certificates individuals no doubt provides a degree selor,” she would work seven days and IDs. “We hold onto the important of freedom from outside interference. straight, and then have the next four papers for many of our guests,” she Sister Mary Beth Peters grew up off. The situation was ideal for a young explains. “Otherwise they can be easin Finneytown, one of four children. woman who had not yet even thought ily lost or stolen.” “I was the scapegoat in an alcoholic about becoming a nun. “You would I ask her about the best part family,” she says. Rebellious from the work hard for a solid week and then of her job. “People, no doubt,” she beginning, she got in “a lot trouble,” in- you would go out and raise hell.” She says, laughing. “There’s never a dull cluding doing drugs and alcohol while describes this as a time of “working moment, and the same thing never she was still in grade school. “I got it hard and partying hard.” happens twice.” She shakes her head, out of my system early,” she says. As fate (or grace) would have aware that what she is saying is a coin But not too early. The semi-wild it, there were a number of Sisters of with two sides. “Every day you see the behavior continued through high Charity working there at the orphanhopelessness and tragedy of mental school at MacCauley and through her age. “They were peers and friends,” illness played out in everyday life.” college years at Edgecliff College, says Mary Beth. “I was attracted to the Sister Mary Beth and her staff Meet Up  PRAYER VIGIL for the  Wednesday, August 10th, 9:30am WHEN: Prayer Vigil begins at 9:30am and the Court Hearing begins at 11:00am WHERE: Hamilton County Courthouse, the steps on the Main Street side Sisters of Charity because they were rebellious.” The sisters invited the young woman into their circle, and a religious vocation, evolved from those connections. “You reach a point in your life,” she says, “when play time is over. You understand that there’s got to be more to life.” For 25 year-old Mary Beth Peters, “more” meant a calling, a vocation. “It really appealed to me,” she says now. “I never had the desire to be married and have kids. But I always wanted to work with kids and to work with the underprivileged.” At Our Daily Bread, there is plenty of interaction with the underprivileged, and even some contact with kids. The soup kitchen closes at 2:30 p.m. and three days a week a “Kids Café” is provided from 2:30 p.m. to five. This is only one of a number of services that ODB provides, and Sister Mary Beth seems proud to list them. She points out that, while we are doing the interview, in the next room, a weekly women’s group is meeting, shepherded by a volunteer, Judy Frankel, who happens to be a licensed psychologist, retired. estimate that nearly 65% of their guests have mental issues of one kind or another. Although she works in an office off the main dining room, Mary Beth says she has lots of hands-on contact with the folks who dine in the lunchroom and others from the neighborhood. “I’m a smoker. So I go outside. I get to know them, call them by name.” When her work day is finished, Mary Beth Peters doesn’t drive to the big Sisters of Charity convent at Mount Saint Joseph. Like many nuns these days, she lives in a suburban house with a community of three other women. She is the youngest. The oldest is 80. “There are 20 legs in the kitchen at night,” she jokes. “The four of us and our three dogs.” I ask her for some closing thoughts. “I don’t have any words of wisdom,” she says briskly, intimating a bit of the old rebelliousness. But, in fact, she does have a few apt parting words. “Hang on tight. Each day brings something. If you can’t laugh, why even bother. And there’s lots to laugh at, even the sad things. You either laugh or you cry.” Meetup is meant to tell people’s stories in their own words. The views expressed in this column are solely those of the interviewee and not those of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, Streetvibes or the staff, volunteers and board members. �Street Voice ST R EE T V IB E S 11 A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Conditions of the Times RICCARDO TAYLOR Staff Writer W hen asked about the recession, the only response could be what recession? That one word which we all need to whisper has its effects on a majority of the people, as there is a group of us who have no idea of what recession they refer too? The recess of life has plagued us from times that we cannot even remember! In fact for many of us the times are ideal, as it allows us to watch, as people scamper to adjust their lives to the conditions we have lived under for a time. Yet, the tale of the tape, if you will, is predicated on something much broader than that. Let us take a look at what all the fuss is about. All of a sudden, many people are caught up in financial distress, not knowing how to overcome, or too, manage the newly created woes caused by government “under sight,” they find themselves in unfamiliar territory, at least where the power of the all mighty dollar is concerned. That which has always been routine now becomes conditioned! Foreclosure, civil suit of non- payment, financial disaster kicking at your front door pushing you to the edge, makes you want to put a gun to your head! The pressure can be more then one can stand! Hard times, or are they? We have to take into account the reality of some people and that is to say the Street people. Now here we are, facing all the hardship of economics, at least that’s what they will have you Learn to Flow E. HAYDEN Contributing Writer I stopped in at the store to get some lo mein noodles and chicken for $3.95. It's okay on a budget; the kinda food that will fill you up. I had my eye on this table in the corner but by the time I got my food and turned around two young giggling girls were sitting there. The only table left was one with this older man who was blowing his nose in a napkin; his clothing was very ragged looking and I noticed that he had a sandwich in a napkin. So I asked three older men, who were in the middle of a conversion, if I could sit down with them. “Yes come on,” they replied. As I sat there the men at the table were discussing how Cincinnati is behind other cities in growth. I said that Cincinnati has a slave mentally, believe only for those who know and live the life style there is no real change, life goes on as usual you see because if you didn’t have anything in the beginning then surely you cannot feel the pressure of losing what you have! About a year ago someone asked me what do you think of the recession and before I weighed in on what was asked I answered with mischief what recession? I had no concept of losing what I didn’t have so without consideration for what others may have lost I shrugged the question off. The nerve of that guy asking me about what I felt when I had been struggling over these past few years! I wasn’t bothered by the recession in the least! You see for those of us who suffer from not having or at best those of us who are used to struggling for everything we get there was no hardship! It’s business as usual hustle or perish! Nothing had changed and I didn’t have time for pity or empathy I had to get what I needed for the moment! For those of us who live the life of the street it’s never a moment of question, it’s do what you have to do! I realize that that doesn’t make a world of sense to many but think of it this way. When you are use to not having, or being without then it doesn’t matter when you don’t have. It’s get what you can and don’t worry about the rest! Of course I know every street person doesn’t feel that way yet that’s the norm for those of us who live this life style. Our worries only count or come along when we need what we need right now! A sad life indeed, yet that’s the way of the world! Ah! Ah! We have to look from a street perspective, what receswe made it cross the river, that good enough or what do we do now, mind set generation after generation gap they don't improve beyond that... “Where are you from?” one of the gentlemen asked me. “Kentucky,” I replied. He said “You came from an environment that had good flow. You were made accountable and everything you did was working for you. You came to a place where people live in dark clouds, where people believe in oppression as an excuse for everything. The leaders here; all they do is talk, talk, with no action. Just keeping people soft, they stop believing in themselves. People are hurting people just to have something to prove how smart they are. So they can be the one you look up too. They need to remember respect is not earned; give freely. They need to be improving on themselves with book education, not street education. There are too many free programs in Cincinnati for you learn how to use a computer, building houses and learning how to use a camera for television.” He kept talk- Anarchy in the Queen City I n 1976, Johnny Rotten of British punk band The Sex Pistols declared, “I am an anti-Christ, I am an anarchist.” But Cincinnati has London beat by 149 years. Meet Josiah Warren, the Queen City’s number one anarchist guy! Between 1827 and 1830, Warren ran The Cincinnati Time Store, a radical retail project in which the cost of products were tied to how much labor and time had been spent making the item. He replaced money with “labor notes” that allowed people to purchase things such as a pound of corn in exchange for an hour of physical labor. The experiment was designed to create a capitalist system in which no one got ripped off . The store was actually very successful and threatened to place other Cincinnati stores out of business; some of his competitors even adopted Warren’s system. So why did it only last three years? Weird Warren was not interested in making money, oh no, it would seem that The Cincinnati Time Store was merely the trial run for his economic experiment. In 1830, he closed up shop and moved on to start several intentional communities based on his newly proven system. The most successful of Warren’s anarchist colonies was Utopia, Ohio in Clermont County; however, now it is considered mostly a ghost town with its two dead end streets and virtual zero residence . . . but that’s another story. Riccardo Taylor. Photo: GCCH sion? Too often we have to learn to live the way it comes to us, not giving a thought about what others feel but what is in it for us! So we take it on the chin sort to speak and just keep keeping on. Yet, somehow I know and I think we all believe that there is another way, or that there is some hope. The bottom line is that we have to live life on life’s terms and get with the conditions of life. ing about learning to listen to my inner-self and to be one with my inner-self. “What is your inner-self?” I asked him “That's your wisdom,” he explained, “some people say common sense. It’s from God. God gave everybody wisdom, but he also gave us free will.” As I listened I was thinking “honesty, since I left Kentucky, I feel like my inner-self has been slamming up against a wall for the last ten years I have lived in Cincinnati.” “This is the secret to making it in Cincinnati,” he continued, “listen to me, and I am only going to tell you once okay? You have flow through "all oppression” of all the distraction that's in Ohio. When you see somebody that's not quite right, you can't let them stop your game (your flow).Stay on your goals. If you have to repeat your goals to yourself everyday, or write the down daily, to keep you going, do it. Pray every morning for peace for you and others around you to stay peaceful.” “Thank you,” I said, “I will work on my flow.” Great Books! visit www.cincybooks.com �12 Arts & Culture ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Cincinnati Spoken Word Series Is A Success With Writers And The Wider Community MARK GRAUHUIS & ROBBY WRIGHT Contributing Writers L et’s be honest: poetry readings are hardly everybody’s cup of tea. Except, perhaps, for The Things that My Friends Say. TTTMFS is a spoken-word series that privileges creative Cincinnatians from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds, styles, and interests. It is held at CS13 Gallery on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine once a month, in an informal and non-academic setting, and is free and open to the public. The series features writers, some first timers, some seasoned and published, all interested in presenting their work to a new audience. One problem that different “DIY” or creative communities often face is that they work rather well separately A new approach to poetry as friends listen to things that friends have to say. but seldom in conjunction. Interested Photo: Mark Grauhuis individuals interested in or inspired performances, in front of the memin challenging common-held assumpby the former: but both equally part bers of their communities as well as tions about literary events, TTTMFS of the evening’s potential. Suppleothers. It is born out a boredom for has at times been an uncomfortable spaces that privilege one approach to place for popular or established artists menting and sometimes even taking precedence over the actual readings, expression and art-making; it is born and performers, and a comfortable TTTMF features delightful unpretenout of a growing disinterest in seeplace for up-and-coming or unknown tious pre- or post-event discussions, ing Cincinnati’s go-to poetic heroes unobtrusive laughter, reading at events featuring out-of-town and the sharing of poets who get our full attention over creative ideas. Forgand over again, when there are many, ing a community of many people interested in being the otherwise disparate center of that attention, in having their artistic drives, it is one words published, in being part of that of the more welcomcommunity, their community, beyond ing regular events of its margins.” its kind in the city. Of particular note are the limitedThis inviting atmo- run, complementary chapbooks sphere has been ably featuring new or old works by previous fostered by series-orparticipants of the series. These allow ganizer Robby Wright, attendants to gather in an archive a sharp graduate of contemporary Cincinnati writing, from the punk music poetry or otherwise, and have included scene, who explains, a bi-lingual edition featuring very “it is born out of my fine South American poets. Of these nascent and utopian books, Wright suggests that they idea that people can “could considered a travesty for their be, or should be, artless smashing of styles and even comfortable in doing “skill-levels” (if you want to go there)… something as uncomfor their “unliteraryness,” so to speak. fortable as publicly I enjoy that.” And so have audiences, reading their writing, who have slowly grown and grown or performing their together as faces become familiar and conversations are started and taken up again each time. At a time when so much poetic output has shifted to an online and highly privatized environment, it is refreshing to hear Wright’s respect for what he notes as “the quiet, unpredictable, or even solemn atmosphere that reading events generate.” “I especially wanted to eliminate the aspect of competition,” he continues, “and the ‘step-up-to-the-mic’ vibe that comes with the territory in certain spaces. I wanted to put these aspiring (or notso aspiring even) writers/performers side by side in readings, in the same publications”. “TTTMFS, hopefully, can be representative, or even more representative, of Cincinnati as a whole, rather than Cincinnati as various compartments and sects of creative energy and collectives. The “Friends” aspect of the series’ title was meant to a little ironic; these painstakingly constructed works to be exhibited as simple “Things” “said,” rather than professed, poeticized, performed even is too deliberately sardonic. I like utter simplicity of that concept, the lack of importance of who or what, but the belief in some understanding or, godforbid, friendship, springing out of the often cold or unwelcoming environment as the “Art Space”. In this respect, the series has certainly been a success, bringing people together in such a way that one does not feel the imposition of a structure of an “us” (the audience) and a “them” (those smart-than-thou poets on stage). Each individual in the room, as a valued participant in the reading, performs a valuable service to the rest, who then take on the shape of a collective ear for the event, as words puncture and permeate the performance space and minds in unpredictable, often wonderfully anarchic ways. A reading that listens, then…. The series has earned a proud place alongside other notable local series past and present, and set a new bar for what other local events can hope to achieve. To keep up with events at the gallery and to learn about the next reading, visit: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CS13/73151372200 Megan Martin is a local poet who participates in the TTTMF series. Why I am Not the Amazing Poetess The amazing poetess wrote a sentence that gave me a dream where my ex was a torso hopping around in a bookstore where there were no good books, and where I was picking him up and hugging him and sobbing and feeling all the sadness in my life and his life at once. The next morning I vowed to pull the same stunt the amazing poetess had pulled: inspire a suicide in a perfect stranger. I wrote a story about Apple Jacks and turnstiles and barracuda roadkill in pink sunglasses smashed on the highway. I was not sure how to write something that would upheave anyone. Meanwhile, the amazing poetess definitely believes in and/or trusts completely in her own perfect and original version of God. When she reaches, her God reaches back, like on the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling. When you and I were in Rome, I don’t remember what happened, just that we didn’t go or try to go to the Sistine Chapel. My memory, among other things, is toast. Probably we were drunk. And maybe we walked around town and looked at buildings and maybe shoes and I helped hold you up while we stumbled home. This was the same thing we did every day in our town. I did not see a problem with this at the time. Or, rather: I did not have the guts to write it down. I spin a yawn. I make a furry pinwheel of language that goes whoop-de-do in a lax breeze. It is what I like. It is a failure. By Megan Martin �Arts & Culture ST R EE T V IB E S 13 A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 In Memory of the Grateful Dead SUSAN LAKES Staff Writer Dawn Renee warms up with Jerry Garcia at a Grateful Dead concert at Folsom Stadium on the University of Colorado campus in the early '80s. (Photo submitted by Dawn Renee). J erry Garcia died of a heart attack 16 years ago this month. Our request for memories of Garcia and Grateful Dead concerts yielded these responses. A local guy said, “I like them OK, had a couple of early albums, but I've only seen them once, at a really NOT typical Dead concert. Let me "set the stage": I grew up in the ‘60s in a San Francisco suburb. One year, my town had a concert series, which included the Modern Jazz Quartet, several other acts, and the Dead. This would likely have been either 1966 or '67. This was so early in their career, they had probably only just changed their name from the Warlocks, and the venue was my local high school gym; on the stage, but in front of the curtain! That's right, one of the bands most noted for early huge elaborate equipment setups, was in a five foot deep area, using one amp each, and even used a combo organ (just the one keyboard). I was escorted by my Dad, who liked quite a variety of music. However, the relatively empty gym was way too echo-ey, and he walked out, not because he didn't like them (he later said he'd enjoyed their music), but because it was hurting his ears. He was not the only one who left; at least half the audience did. Venue and reception unlike anything usually implied by a Dead concert.” A guy from Colorado said that while he didn’t have any special Dead stories about the band or the concert, he was a normal, “I’ll see you when you’re here” fan. He worked as an electrician at the University of Colorado’s Folsom Field. About the band, he said the Dead had the best group of roadies and that Jerry himself would always be available to hang out and talk with anyone, unlike was the case with some other groups. Not the Dead. “But the Dead along with Santana or Bonnie Raitt were always real people who appreciated the fans and crew.” Further, this fan got a surprise after the show ended. It seems that he and another person were very surprised to find a regular five foot tall dressing mirror laid out on a table in Garcia’s room. It was almost entirely covered with a white powdery substance. “Obviously left for the tear down guys,” the fan surmised. “Always thinking of others. What a guy.” Another Coloradian who now lives in California said she remembers the craziness at the Folsom concert that was sometime in 1981. Jerry Garcia’s Tiger wood guitar. Folsom Stadium on the University of Colorado campus in the early '80s. (Photo submitted by Dawn Renee). Jerry had just gotten a new tiger wood guitar and was showing it off, she recalls. She shared some concert photos. Outside the Loop: Ghost Hunting for the Spook Lights JESSICA HOPSICKER Contributing Writer S and over to Oxford in search of the supernatural and just plain creepy. What started out as an assignment to simply check out the famed “Oxford Light” turned out to be six hour tour through Southwest Ohio's back roads. It appeared we opened a Pandora's Box of the paranormal. There was Hickory Flats Cemetery outhwest Ohio is rife with legend everything from haunted highways and bridges and midget houses to hatchet wielding maniacs. Satanic rituals, hangings, massacres, more than one baby being thrown off a bridge. An astounding number of automobile, bicycle and motorcycle fatalities and other various nefarious occurrences have helped propagate these tall tales. There is so much of this perverse lore in Butler County alone that is hard to keep track of it all.“The Screaming Bridge of Maude Hughes Road” in West Chester, for instance, and the equally notorious “Crybaby Bridge” on Fudge Road in Gratis, are Paranormal activity or merely tales that capture just two of the supposedly haunted our imagination? Photo: Mary Ann McClusky bridges in the area. The “Phantom Bicyclist of Buckley Road” is a legend where unfortunate caretaker making that just about any other town in his nightly rounds was brutally murAmerica holds of transient lights of the deceased. This tale is often times dered by a hatchet wielding maniac. Dressed in dirty old clothes his ghost confused with quite possibly the still haunts the cemetery carrying most infamous, widely reported and documented haunting of them all, the the very hatchet that killed him. The “Oxford Light” at the corner of Earhart notorious Wehr Road itself where the cemetery is located Trenton and Milford Oxford Road. is teeming with tales of black clad Armed with cameras, a digital Satan Worshipers, sacrifices, and voice recorder, Google maps, and cell phone app designed to commune even mass murder. All we saw was corn. From there we ventured to the with the dead, my roommates Mary infamous and rather impassable Anne and Larry and I cut a 90 mile Fudge Road, where the locals clearly loop from West Chester to Gratis really don't want tourists. Needless to say we didn't stay long enough at Crybaby Bridge to call out “Mama” three times, and hear the poor infant's ghostly wails. We almost ended our trip in a jail cell. From there we set out to west to Oxford stopping to commune with the demons at the “Devil's Backbone” in Camden. Words popped up on the cell phone app like “payment” and “sacrifice” after considerable questioning and demands for the spirit of this notoriously cursed land to show itself. We tossed a quarter into the forest next to the ravine and left somewhat disappointed that nothing further happened. There was Hopewell Cemetery outside Hueston Woods, where it has been said that bad luck or even a spirit follows after you’ve ventured there at night. “Please wait,” the cell phone app read so we drove back around and did in hopes to pick up a ghostly hitchhiker to bring on the rest of our excursion. Then it was off to Buckley Road where nothing happened. Ironically, the “Oxford Light” was the only location where we did in fact witness something . The side of the road was marked with no parking signs. Over thirty years of sightings have accumulated, countless observers from college students to paranormal groups. We didn't even have to flash our headlights on three times as local legend states to sum- mon the spook lights. Sure enough, shortly after we stopped the car, a rather bright ball of light bounced and bobbed in the distance along the significantly hill-ridden road. There was only one of them bearing a faint halogen glow. Was it really the ghost of the young man on a motorcycle perpetually doomed to drive to his girlfriends house for all eternity? Rumor has it he was decapitated by a barbed wire fence after missing the ninety degree turn where Earhart and Oxford Milford Road meet. Perhaps it was distant headlights reflecting off the sun baked pavement. Rarely an actual car followed. We attempted to follow it once to where it stops at the girl's house where she signaled her star-crossed lover. There just so happened to be another vehicle ahead of us doing the very same thing. We closed out our amateur ghost hunting adventure in West Chester at the “Screaming Bridge of Maude Hughes Road.” Road weary and tired of waiting we decided to leave and head to the pub to get get a pitcher of beer and go over our findings before the bars closed. After carving out a sizable chunk of Southwest West Ohio, we barely begun uncover all the myths and monsters that surround the area. The motorcycle ghost was the only one we deemed plausible, the rest it seemed as always, that legends were far more convoluted and interesting than reality. �Arts & Culture 14 ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 HOOLIEO I ain’t Hoolieo I heard somebody say I ain’t out here conning and tricking people for a raise in pay I’m trying to give others respect as I want for myself I’m trying to keep my lively hood open to the hand I’ve been dealt I ain’t Hoolieo I heard 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 clear out loud I rebuke thee Hoolie and vanquish thee from my mind up to the clouds So if things are not going your way and you feel a Hoolieo attack coming on An urge to con, trick or lie to people for pay, just kick Hoolieo to the curb and curse the day he was born! By Willa Denise Jones You’re invited to ARTISTS AS ACTIVISTS a two-year anniversary ART SHOW of works by artists featured in the semimonthly column “Artists as Activists” in Streetvibes since September 2009 August 5 – September 23 @The Artisans Enterprise Center (AEC) 27 West 7th St, Covington, KY Opening Reception: Friday Aug 5, 6-10 pm Gallery Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm Artists: Farron Allen * Lauri Aultman * Gordon Baer * Keith Banner Mary Pierce Brosmer * Carmen Bush * Jeff Casto * Jan Brown Checco Halena Cline * Suzanne Chouteau * Cedric Cox * Scott Donaldson Andy Fausz * Steven Finke * Dorothy Fraembs * Gary Gaffney Barbara Gamboa * Stephen Geddes * Melvin Grier * Gena Grunenberg Kymber Henson * Barbara Houghton *Jimi Jones * Jerry Judge Kevin T. Kelly * Aaron Kent * Mary Ann Lederer * Gloria McConnaghy Paulette Meier * Kelly Phelps * Kyle Phelps * Tom Phelps * Ellen Price Matt Reed * Bill Ross * Kim Shifflett * Thom Shaw * Kurt Storch Steve Sunderland * Ken Swinson * Leigh Waltz * Roscoe Wilson Martin Zeinway Curated by: Saad Ghosn Closing Reception: Friday Sept 23, 6-9pm (music by "Just Earth" with Paulette Meier, Jamie Fota and Len Webb; poetry/story reading by Mary Pierce Brosmer, Jerry Judge and Keith Banner) ALL FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROZEN by P.E. Quince S itting; on the pavement back against the wall, her small tattered hand, and five fingers, raised palm up, facing up towards. “GOD.” Sitting there prayerful that, “GOD” will appear in that tattered, worn out hand….. Stretched out; reaching, frozen in time, her arm, Seared and writhed by so long a life under the unforgiving sun. Frail, so fragile it seems a miracle that the breeze doesn’t break it. The multitude of visible vines, are the road map of her life. A life, which has been lived in the poverty, of this, our world. Her hair, Long, unkempt but clean, parted in the center, and pulled back its length hiding in her blouse. The color, Grey, textured like straw, it frames her head, and her face, her face, once beautiful now, like old leather, dark and hollow, showing the strain, and her afflictions. She holds no expression at all. Her eyes, Unmoving regarding only the frozen hand that is turned up to “GOD” stretched out from the frozen arm. Maybe today “GOD” will take her hand maybe today he will embrace her? How long has she been longing for Him to come? Her face, Speaks, of her life, sixty, maybe seventy years old, maybe late forty’s? Her husband dead or just vanished, eight or nine children, all departed to live there, lives. Leaving, her, to her strength and to her, almost nothingness. One of twelve or thirteen, growing up, a slave to her family, always a slave to her household, cooking and cleaning at age four or five, Learning under the heavy hand, of her, father, mother, husband, grandmother and children, Crying, crying in the hell that she was born in to. Sex, Sex came, suddenly, all too early, not gently, not lovingly, a tender, secret age. Then, married, at thirteen or fifteen, walking, running shoeless, miles each and every day of her life, feet as tuff as her love of GOD, never a pair of shoes, her secret wish, to someday own a pair of shoes, maybe with a pair of shoes she would become somebody, maybe with a pair of shoes she would, just be seen? But eating, a bowl of rice twice a week is so much more vital. That it will stay only a dream, forever a dream. Praying, that if she like, Jesus lives a good life and suffers, like Jesus, that “GOD” may give her, shoes in paradise, so that she, may be seen by the angles. Her blouse, Her skirt, Submit your poetry and short stories to streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Let the streets of the city hear your voice. Handmade by her, like all of her clothing, and hand washed, hundreds of times. But, silently displaying, the stains, of years, of use. Old and out of date, just like her. GOD, “GOD”, who, appears in her palm as I…... Walk by. �Resources ST R EE T V IB E S 15 A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 Shelter: Women and Children St. Francis Soup Kitchen 535-2719 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House 557-2873 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John 558-8888 981-5800 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 NAMI of Hamilton County 458-6670 PATH Outreach 977-4489 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Prospect House 921-1613 Other Resources 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 First Step Home 961-4663 Goodwill industries 771-4800 Healing Connections 751-0600 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Treatment: Both 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 471-1100 221-3350 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Housing: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Dana Transitional Bridge Services 751-0643 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Food/Clothing 241-2965 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Hamilton County ADAS Board 946-4888 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 641-4300 Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 Faces Without Places 363-3300 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 621-5514 Treatment: Women 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Anthony House (Youth) 961-4080 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Shelter 661-4620 Shelter: Both Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Emmanuel Community Center 241-2563 Health Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY ECHO/Hosea House 859-261-5857 Fairhaven Resuce Mission 859-491-1027 Homeward Bound Youth 859-581-1111 Mathews House 859-261-8009 Homeless & Housing Coalition 859-727-0926 Parish Kitchen 859-581-7745 Pike St. Clinic 859-291-9321 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 Welcome House of NKY 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 �16 Artists as Activists ST R EET VIBES A u g u s t 5 - 1 8 , 2 0 11 “Artists as Activists”: A Two-Year Anniversary and Farewell And may the artist activist live and grow in each of us I have been blessed in the past two years to become familiar with the personal path and reflective artwork of many of our local artists who use their art to speak of themselves; of their values, beliefs, and concerns; of their quest for peace and social justice; of their dreams for a better world. I have been honored to make their voice heard and share it with the many readers of Streetvibes, this journal, through the regular semimonthly column “Artists as Activists” I have been writing since September 2009. The initial title of my column included in addition, and as subtitle, “Art for Life,” an accurate qualifier I reluctantly, however, had to omit for economy of words. These artists, in fact, perceived and created art not for the sake of art per se, but rather for their own sake, for the sake of their life and that of life in general. Saad Ghosn waving good bye to the readers of his column “Artists as Activists”. Photo: Bill Howes Saad Ghosn Contributing Writer uncover their past and present, and lead us through the meaning and purpose of their creative work. I am very thankful for the special and personalized perspective each offered us. Even though espousing Forty-four visual artists, four poets and writers different paths and approaches and using varying and one singer/songwriter graciously accepted, means and media, they all aimed through their art through informal exchanges, to reveal themselves, at enhancing our humanity, improving society, advancing our world. Their topics were diverse, yet converged in their focus towards freedom, equality, truth, spirituality, understanding, individual rights… They spoke variably but also in unison for the protection of the abused child; the empowerment of the weak, the oppressed and the “invisible” in our society; the equal and independent rights of women, gays and minorities; the abolishing of wars; an empathic solution to street violence and the negation of all violence; the respect of the environment; the well being of animals; the appreciation of diversity; the peaceful growing of communities… Most importantly they pleaded for justice, peace and compassion for every living creature, also for the kind and loving treatment of our mother earth. I had the pleasure week after week to listen to their thoughts, accompany them in their questioning and concerns, become moved and inspired by the strength and power of their creative expression. I had also the privilege to share, and each time with anxious anticipation, my discoveries with you, the reader. I am sad to say, however, that as of this issue, I will not be doing it anymore. This issue celebrates the two-year anniversary of my column, two years of joy, excitement and tribulations, in part thanks to you Flag I and Flag II, woodcut prints by Saad Ghosn. Photo: Saad Ghosn the readers, many of whom gave me encouragement and reinforcing appreciation along the way. It is time for me to tackle other responsibilities; I have to say good bye and I will be missing you… I dare hope, however, that the end of my column is not effectively its end. I would like it and the living example of the many featured artists to have opened a little window, triggered a different change, challenged the daily passive status quo, planted the seeds of an artist activist in each of us. Let these anticipated transformations grow and let us all become the committed persons who will use their talents, whatever they are, to make a difference and contribute to the bettering of this world. The featured artists all along reminded us that this was everyone’s responsibility, that each voice counted, but also that it needed to be nurtured in order to grow loud and strong and add beauty and harmony to the symphony of life. Living in the United States of America we may be led to believe that our government is the sole actor in the shaping of our politics, and indirectly in deciding the fate of our existence. As engaged citizens, however, we should never forget that our active role can be crucial in determining the direction our country takes, the values and structure our society espouses, the goals we choose for our lives, the messages we send to the rest of the word. We are each responsible in the molding of our flag. It can be a flag based on material values, money, military control, greed, class divisions and inequities; or on the contrary one reigned by the spiritual values of understanding, sharing, giving, equality, respect and love. The first sadly will lead us to isolation, violence and death, away from our inner self; the latter, on the other hand, to connectedness, community building, compassion for each other and the environment, justice, peace and harmony. It is our choice to make. It is definitely our call to become activists in the building and shaping of our lives and of life in general. May the activist artist prevail in each of us! Good bye, so long, and always, for a better world!!! An anniversary exhibit to include works by the artists who have been featured in the column will take place at the Artisans Enterprise Center (AEC), 27 West 7th Street, in Covington. It opens Friday, August 5, 6 - 10pm (Opening Reception) and closes Friday, September 23, 6 9pm (Closing Party). Regular hours: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Please come and visit. Artists as Activists has been a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be reached at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2011 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 5-18, 2011 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Can Cincinnati Protect the Homeless form Deadly Weather? Pg 2: Winning Hearts and Minds Pg 3: Distributor Program Pg 4: To Be Set Free Pg 5: Insurance Giant Bullies Anna Louise Inn Pg 6: A Lifesaver that Fits in Your Pocket Pg 7: Street Papers Divided on Campaign to Make Poverty Illegal Pg 8: Recipe Pg 9: Exclusive Pg 10: Sister of Rebellion Pg 11: Conditions of the Times Pg 12: Cincinnati Spoken word Series is a Success with Writers and the Wider Community Pg 13: In Memory of the Grateful Dead Pg 14: Arts & Culture Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: “Artists as Activists”: A Two-Year Anniversary and Farewell 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 August 5-18, 2011 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jason Dean Josh Spring Catie Dargue Jeni Jenkins Susan Lakes Riccardo Taylor Georgia Bohannon Karen Chatman Stephen Gentry Rubye Goode Della Woolens. Willa Denise Jones Saad Ghosn Jim Luken Lee Mccoy Josh Spring Saad Ghosn Bill Howes Paul Davis Aimie Willhoite Jesse Call Mark Grauhuis Alisa Balestra Harrison Lott Corey Luthringer Brittany Fong Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Alisa Balestra Anna Louise Inn Artists as Activists arts Bill Howes Brittany Fong Catie Dargue Cincinnati Corey Luthringer Della Woolens Georgia Bohannon Harrison Lott homeless Jason Dean Jeni Jenkins Jesse Call Jim Luken Josh Spring Karen Chatman Lee McCoy Mark Grauhuis Mary Beth Peters Oregon Paul Davis Portland poverty Riccardo Taylor Rubye Goode Saad Ghosn Social Worker Stephen Gentry street papers Susan Lakes Willa Denise Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/2b8492c1cdd5c7cbea6eab079b7bd687.pdf 11043f2a04646aac25b2984e2cb7c957 PDF Text Text A u g u s t 8 t h - A u g u s t 2 2 n d 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 1 6 ( N o . 4 1 3 ) 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 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 413 393 Aug 8 -- NAug 22, 22019 From The Editor: White Supremacy and Gun Violence Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief O n August 3rd, 2019 a 21 year old white supremacy terrorist opened fire in El Paso, Texas killing 22 people and injuring several others. Since we as a country know this story far too well we started the cycle. A rush of fear as we read the news that soon becomes a prolonged simmering anxiety followed by “thoughts and prayers” posts on social media. The news commentators fight with other commentators about whether or not gun control is an appropriate topic to discuss so soon after a shooting. As a society our nerves are heightened, as individuals we sink deeper into our political ideology. But before we could move on to whatever our next phase in the cycle might be, we wake up to news of another shooting in Dayton, Ohio. Not a full day later, we are forced to mourn 9 more people killed by a violence obsessed man who shot 41 bullets in 30 seconds. Now with our fear doubled we must continue the following days hearing debates that we’ve heard before. Some debates we shouldn’t even be having anymore such as “is it too soon to talk about this?” This deadly weekend helped answer that question relatively quickly given the fact that it is obvious there isn’t enough time between massacres to “mourn and give thoughts and prayers.” On July 27th there was a shooting at a Brooklyn festival where according to NBC news “gunfire killed one person and wounded 11 others at a community festival” There was another shooting in July 29th in a Wisconsin neighborhood that ABC News reported left, “five people dead — including the suspected shooter — and two others injured.” We don’t have time between shootings to fully mourn as a country or as a society. Candice Keller, an Ohio Representative from the Republican Party was quick to voice her opinion on her personal Facebook page after the Dayton shooting. Keller, from Middletown Ohio (a 33 minute drive from Dayton), accused “the liberals” of playing the “blame game” after a shooting occurs. She claimed to know exactly the causes of these shootings, including the lgbtq community, peaceful protestors, immigrants, and anyone who isn’t a straight white red white and blue blooded American. In one swoop she offended practically every marginalized group and blamed them for crimes committed by white male americans. Keller is not a violence obsessed armed gunman, and because of her statements and her lack of physical violence she shows us a very important truth about America. White supremacy is not a radical ideology in the United States, it is as common and as American as apple pie. That is the problem. These aren’t uncommon ideas. We need a dramatic social shift, but that takes a lot of work between community members, and it takes a lot of time. This is why we simultaneously need gun control policy now. Like the Dayton community members said to the Ohio Governor, “do something.” We can’t sit through debates about who is to blame or what is wrong, we can do that as a community and as a society, what we need our elected officials to debate is what is going to go into the new policies. We need our local government to do something, our state government to do more, and our federal government to follow suit. We can’t stop the Candice Kellers of the world from spewing ignorant hateful ideology, but we can stop the 21 year olds that want to drive 9 hours to kill Latinos. With all this said, there is another conversation that needs to be had that seems inappropriate to have. When we see so much hate and violence every day we can start to deteriorate mentaly, but paradoxically trying to take time to take care of ourselves can seem selfish. We need to take care of ourselves as activists, as members of our community, and simply as human beings. In New York City on the night of August 6th, a dirt bike backfiring sent the entirety of Times Square in a panic. The pedestrians thought that there was an active shooter among them and they ran for their lives. There was no shooter, but as the New York Times put it: “the panic was still real.” This is evidence that America is traumatized. We need to acknowledge that even if we aren’t personally affected, it is normal to feel afraid. We, unfortunately, have every reason to be afraid. Hopefully our work to change policy will also ease our fear but we cannot do so if we ourselves are emotionally drained. We need to take time to take care of our well being so that we can keep fighting for a better America. Be kind to yourself, be kind to your neighbor, and try to find peace however you can. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Carey L. Biron, Rachel Savage, Rebecca Rosman, Nadia Kanji, Dr. Mark Mussman, Vassilis Triandafyllou, Lisa Mauch, Angela Hursh, Willa D. Jones, Kenneth Weartz, Andy Shenk, Kim Green ------------------------------------------- S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Photography/ Artwork: , Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Dr. Mark Mussman, ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 | Nov 22, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 8 3- Aug 2019 | No. 413 HOMELESSNESS 3 'Medical Respite' Offers A Place To Rest In U.s. Cities Battling Homelessness Carey L. Biron Reuters H enry Jones had been living on the streets of Washington, D.C. for more than a decade when his health finally started failing. Sick, suffering from alcoholism, and increasingly unable to walk, he sought to check into an emergency room in the US capital — but intake workers there refused to admit him, he said, because he did not have an acute condition. He was at risk of falling through a major hole in the social safety net. A case worker told him he could go to a shelter, where he could at least get a bed for a few nights. Or he could try another option: a small organisation that offered medical services to the homeless, as well as a place to simply rest. Jones went with the second option, an organisation called Christ House that gave him medical care and a bed to sleep in. Later, it helped him stop drinking, get a permanent home — and even a job. "Being on the street, people look down on you, thinking that's the way you're going to live the rest of your life," said Jones, who now works at Christ House. "And that's what makes Christ House much different from any other place: The people help you get back up on your feet," he said, sitting next to the showers that he oversees for use by homeless people. Founded in 1985, Christ House was one of the first places in the country to offer a service that is increasingly being embraced in cities nationwide: medical respite, or recuperative care, which seeks to fill a gap between what emergency rooms and shelters can provide. "This is a grey area: If you're housed, you'd be discharged from a hospital and given instructions to stay off your feet," said Julia Dobbins of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) umbrella group, which published standards on the issue in 2016. "But people without homes don't have a safe, clean place to recover, and that's a gap in care," she added. While homeless shelters exist across the United States, these typically close during the daytime, Dobbins said: "We criminalise homelessness in this country, so people can't lay around — they have to be up and moving." Respite facilities offer rest and recuperation, but also give workers a chance to see what support patients A medical worker checks out a resident at Christ House in Washington, D.C., in March 2019. Handout photo courtesy of Vincent Hunter photography might qualify for, connect them to other services, and generally offer them "time to think about what is the next step in their life," she said. Complicated cases Christ House said it is an unusually expansive operation, offering 24-hour medical care, housing and more. Medical director and co-founder Janelle Goetcheus recalled one resident last year who before coming to the centre had been living on a park bench near a local hospital — and going back and forth for cancer radiation treatment. Christ House gave the man a place to stay during his treatment and facilitated his trips to the hospital. Some patients' needs are straightforward, said Goetcheus: for instance, a woman has surgery on her leg and needs a place to mend for a few weeks, the type of rest she would not be able to get at a shelter or on the street. Other cases are far more complicated, involving multiple acute and chronic illnesses and mental health problems, often exacerbated by years of sleeping rough, substance abuse and lack of medical attention. Goetcheus said that since the early days when Henry Jones came to the organisation, the health problems plaguing Washington's homeless population have worsened. This is particularly true for the increasing numbers of homeless elderly people, those with mental health problems and undocumented migrants, for whom complex medical care is often impossible, she added. "For the hospitals, there is a lot of pressure to have very discreet (specific) admissions for acute medical needs and then get people discharged," she said. "So more people are ending up on the street. Struggle for funding Medical respite programmes have grown by about a third since 2012, going from 60 to 80 initiatives nationwide, according to the NHCHC. Yet nationally, programmes vary widely, with little agreement even on what medical respite means, although that is starting to change. But there is growing consensus among researchers that the approach appears to offer significant cost savings for hospital systems and public coffers. In one 2018 study, researchers with Brandeis University in Massachusetts found that respite programmes could save several thousands of dollars per hospital patient by cutting down on expensive readmissions. As yet, however, long-term funding remains the single biggest obstacle for respite programmes, according to health and homelessness experts. Most respite projects have an THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED average of three funders, said Dobbins, and the vast majority of respite centres are unable to bill the federal government as medical providers, so they depend on philanthropy and a patchwork of public and other funding sources. Sean Barry, a spokesman for the American Hospital Association, said the industry group does not have a public stance on medical respite, but noted it has referenced "improved care transitions and reduced readmissions" as two benefits of such programmes. The federal government does support respite programmes, to some extent. A spokeswoman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said that although respite programmes are not covered as a matter of course, states can apply for federal assistance under Medicaid - a joint federal and state health program for the poor - on a case-by-case basis. ‘Really difficult place’ Interest in respite is growing significantly, said Dobbins, whose office oversees a respite network of more than 1,000 members, up from 840 in 2015. A respite initiative at Portland's Central City Concern, a non-profit, will soon include a specific focus on mental health — a factor that is largely missing among respite programmes, Dobbins said. Central City Concern, which has been running a respite care project since 2005, will seek to take in patients who have been newly discharged from psychiatric hospitals. But a coordinator stressed that mental health inevitably underpins their work anyway. "Anywhere there's homelessness, we should be expecting there is need for mental health support," said Jordan Wilhelms, a programme manager with Central City Concern. The vast majority of the organisation's patients have mental health issues, often undiagnosed, Wilhelms said. "We're looking to catch folks at a really difficult place in their life" and help them start to make progress toward their own goals, he added, which are usually finding housing, treatment and a community. "And without a layer of access to mental health support, those things are pretty well undercut," Wilhelms said. Ultimately, he said, the new mental health focus will be another opportunity to make connections with people who do not have many in their lives. "That's part of the magic" of the respite approach, he said. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �4 ADVERTISMENT Tours focus on the historical and contemporary struggles and successes of the Overthe-Rhine Peoples' Movement. Learn what gentrification looks like and how displacement affects community members. NAug ov 28 - -NAug o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 22,2 2019 413 Social Justice Walking Tours Cost: $80/Group (max 20 in each group). Sign up today: https://cincihomeless.org/ please-register-youreducation-event-here/ THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 3983-|Aug Nov 222, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug | No. 413 U.S NEWS 5 Lgbt+ Women Footballers Score As Male Players Fear To Come Out Rachel Savage and Rebecca Rosman W Reuters hen 'The Gay Footballer' tweeted, "I am a proud gay man" in early July, it seemed the 29-year wait for a top tier male player to come out publicly would soon be over. But the @FootballerGay account, which amassed 50,000 followers, was deleted last week after its anonymous owner, who claimed to be a Championship player - English football's second division - tweeted, "I'm not strong enough to do this." Real or not, the episode stood in stark contrast to the dozens of openly lesbian and bisexual female players who took to the pitch during the Women's World Cup, led proudly by the United States' winning captain Megan Rapinoe. After the team's 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final this month, Rapinoe tweeted, "Science is science. Gays rule," alongside a photo of her celebrating with teammates Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, who are engaged to each other. "I think homophobia comes from sexism," said Joanna Lohman, who played nine times for the U.S. women's national team. "Gay men have the stereotype of being more effeminate so ... (that) goes against the stereotype (of) what a male athlete should be. "Sportswomen are already viewed as more masculine," said Lohman, 37, who is openly lesbian and retired from professional football earlier this year. "So coming out as gay as a woman isn't necessarily going against the stereotype of gender roles." Discrimination People involved in men's football said it has never been more ready for a high profile player to come out. Justin Fashanu, England's first - and only openly gay player, went public about his sexuality in 1990. He died by suicide in 1998. In June, Andy Brennan became Australia's first professional male footballer to come out while still playing, after now-retired U.S. trailblazer Robbie Rogers did so in 2013. In Germany, Thomas Hitzlsperger, now VfB Stuttgart's head of sport, was the first star to come out, one year after retiring. "Homosexuality in football is something that continues to really bother people," said Yoann Lemaire who was physically attacked and received death threats as the first openly gay player in his French amateur football league back in 2003. "(Professional football players) are advised to avoid talking about homosexuality," said Lemaire, who in 2017 founded Football Ensemble, a group that works with students across France to break down stereotypes about gay people. The support shown for 'The Gay Footballer' was a positive development, whether he was real or not, said Eric Najib, manager of Stonewall FC, an LGBT+ club founded in 1991. "(But) if this is a genuine footballer who wanted to come out and felt at women's after transitioning gender. "There's a lot more emphasis on the social side in the women's game," Hamilton said. "Whereas in the men's game, it's so focused on winning I feel like that takes over everything." But Jim Hearson, a player with LGBT-friendly team London Titans, said men's football is becoming more accepting. "In terms of players, I don't think in the men's game, when evidence suggests they are "overwhelmingly supportive," said Rory Magrath, an expert on football at England's Solent University. But homophobic abuse can still be heard in stadiums around Europe. In March, France's Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu expressed shock after hearing multiple such chants during a game between Paris Saint- Keegan, 8, who identifies as gender creative, drag name Kween-Kee-Kee, poses for a photograph after completing his first drag performance during the Austin International Drag Festival 2018 near Austin, Texas, U.S., November, 18, 2018. REUTERS/Amanda Voisard the last minute unable to do so, for whatever reason, it's an indictment of where the national game is," he said. A spokesman for England's governing Football Association (FA) said it is committed to tackling all forms of discrimination and "to help create a safe and comfortable environment for any player to come out, if they wish." Sexism Female players said going against gender stereotypes by playing a traditionally male sport fosters a more inclusive atmosphere among women. "All women of my generation, and earlier, who play football have had to be brave in learning to defy sexism and what others in society think of them," said Becca Hirst, 23, who plays for London's Leyton Orient. "That creates a sense of solidarity and perhaps ... a more understanding culture around not subscribing to traditional prejudices about sexuality." Blair Hamilton started out playing for Aberdeen University's men's football team, and switched to the it's a dressing room issue at all these days," he said. Bigger problems, he said, are the larger financial stakes and public spotlight at the top of the game, as well as the perception that club chairmen and owners from countries with homophobic laws may take issue with an LGBT+ player, meaning an openly gay footballer may have more to lose by coming out. FIFA, which runs the World Cup, has come under fire for awarding the 2018 men's competition to Russia - where it is illegal to spread "gay propaganda" to children - and to Qatar, where gay sex is outlawed, for 2022. "FIFA is committed to ensuring that everyone will be welcome, to building bridges of cultural understanding and to creating an inclusive experience for all participants ... including from the LGBTI+ community," a spokesman said by email. Chants Football fans are often "treated as a scapegoat" for anti-LGBT+ sentiment THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Germain and Marseille. The French Football League issued a 50,000 euro ($55,700) fine against second division club Lens in May after its fans made homophobic chants against a rival team. LGBT+ female players are not safe from bigotry either. "I seem to offend people by the way I look, presenting as a masculine woman with a mohawk," said the U.S.'s Lohman. But the confidence of the openly lesbian and bisexual players at the Women's World Cup appears to herald change. "I was absolutely buzzing," said Hirst of Leyton Orient. "Growing up, we are starved of LGBT+ representation and seek it out where we can for validation and comfort. So to feel as if you belong naturally in a space is so important." Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation �GLOBAL 6 NAug ov 2 8 - -NAug o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 22,2 02019 413 Hidden In Plain Sight: Sex Trafficking In Canada Nadia Kanji Inter Press Service H uman trafficking for sexual exploitation has been steadily increasing in Canada. The most recent statistics indicate that 2016 had the highest recorded rate of human trafficking, with one police-reported incident for every 100,000 people in Canada. Despite these staggering numbers, reported cases make up just a small part of a larger, secretive industry where most incidents of sex trafficking fall under the radar. The effects of this are relatable for Rhonelle Bruder who, after facing discrimination and bullying in her small hometown outside of Toronto, Ontario, decided to drop out of high school and move to the city. When she ran out of money, she started living in youth shelters and was later on introduced to a man who would become her trafficker. Bruder explained that initially he was kind and attentive, and provided her with a sense of belonging. When the conversation came up about how she could make money to get back on her feet, he told her she would be able to buy a condo and travel if she danced for just a couple of months. “He was pitching a dream; a dream I was desperate to believe because the reality of my life was unbearable. I was willing to believe almost anything he said because he provided me with both a sense of belonging and was a protective figure in my life,” she said. Once women are trafficked, pimps typically enforce a debt trap, telling girls and women that they need to pay off their debt to them for things like entering the country or paying for motels. This was true for Timea Nagy, another survivor of this industry. At the young age of 20, while living in poverty in Hungary and facing a large amount of debt, Nagy responded to an advertisement in the newspaper to work as a babysitter in Canada. What looked like a legitimate recruitment agency was, in fact, a way to lure her into the sex industry against her consent. “We were starved, sleep deprived, and threatened constantly,” she states in her newly-released memoir Out of The Shadows. Nagy also states that she was frequently sexually assaulted until she managed to escape with the help of two people at the club where she worked. Her trafficker was eventually charged with sexual assault but was found not guilty. Law Enforcement Nagy, now a social advocate who works to bring about changes in the Canadian Justice System around human trafficking, says that law enforcement is more lax in Canada compared to the United States. Convicted traffickers in the US are given 155-year sentences, whereas in Canada, traffickers will get an eight-year sentence at the most for the same crime. Human trafficking is currently the third-largest crime in the world. Both Nagy and Bruder state that there is too much of a focus on law MeetMe are new recruiting grounds for traffickers. “Young people post everything about their lives online, so it’s not hard for traffickers to identify the most vulnerable victims and begin the grooming process,” she said. First Nations Women and Girls This is especially true for Indigenous youth in Canada, where there exists a colonial legacy of separating First Nations children from their families they make up only four percent of the population. “The focus needs to be on accessible services for Indigenous women and girls, with Indigenous-led community services,” Finestone said. “We cannot forget the feminisation and radicalisation of poverty [and how it intersects with this issue]. People need more choices to earn an income.” Other efforts have focused on providing resources to front line service Photo by Dmitry Schemelev on Unsplash enforcement to deal with this issue, and not enough on preventative measures and reforming services in vulnerable communities. “A lot of the focus is on helping survivors which is important. But we also need to be educating young people so that they aren’t vulnerable to traffickers,” said Bruder. “Had there been someone to talk to, or if I had guidance, maybe I wouldn’t have left home. There needs to be interventions in young people’s lives before they go down these paths.” Many pointed to the child welfare system as being one of the most targeted places for sex traffickers. “The child welfare system is a trafficker’s Costco,” said Nagy told. “They know where the group homes are and that children don’t feel welcome. No one reaches out to them the way pimps do.” Traffickers typically wait outside of youth shelters and target them as soon as they age out of the child welfare system, knowing that they are often vulnerable. Seventy-two per cent of trafficked victims in Canada are under the age of 25, and 51 per cent of trafficked girls have been involved in the child welfare system. Bruder added that social media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat, and and placing them in residential schools to forcibly assimilate them into a settler culture. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged and apologised for this cultural genocide, but a closer look reveals that this has taken on a new form. “There are currently more Indigenous children in the welfare system than there were in residential schools,” said Elana Finestone of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. “These are the intergenerational effects of residential schools, [basically] colonialism passed on through generations,” she said. Traffickers target First Nations youth in this way, by waiting outside shelters and nearby bus stops. Finestone added that First Nations’ communities are often over policed and under protected. “If women report physical violence, the police might not take it seriously, assuming they are homeless and alone and no one cares.” Canada’s National Inquiry to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women was released this past June and demonstrates the disproportionate impact of human trafficking on Indigenous youth. In 2016, nearly half of the trafficking victims were Indigenous women and girls, although THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED providers. The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking launched a multilingual hotline for trafficking victims across Canada this past May. The centre’s CEO Barbara Gosse said law enforcement is currently maxed out on this issue and underresourced, which needs to change. The hotline, which is strictly confidential, was created to collect data on the incidence of human trafficking in Canada and assist victims and survivors with a localised response. Moving Forward Through therapy, meditation, and mindfulness, Bruder says she is finally able to speak out about her experience. She is the founder of a grassroots organisation called the RISE Initiative which supports at-risk youth. Nagy worked as a mobile care worker for six years with Walk With Me Canada Victim Services to help law enforcement approach victims. She left that position and is now focused on rehabilitation of survivors through a social enterprise called Timea’s Cause. She believes there needs to be a national trauma-informed employment program for survivors. Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo �NAug o. 398 3 -| Aug Nov 222, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 | No. 413 GLOBAL 7 A Year Since Greece's Deadliest Wildfire, Wounds Remain Open Vassilis Triandafyllou Reuters A year since Greece's deadliest wildfire tore through coastal towns near Athens, killing 102 people, the road to normalcy for its survivors is long and dotted with burned down homes and barren land. On the side of one street, a giant white cross rises among black and wilting pine trees. "In memoriam 23-718," it reads. The resort town of Mati, a wooded area overlooking the sparkling sea east of the capital, was popular with pensioners and children at summer camps. On 23 July, 2018, a fire tore through it, killing people in their homes or cars and forcing others to jump off cliffs or into the sea. On the first anniversary of the disaster, it resembles a ghost town. A seaside cafe once humming with beach-goers is now empty, its charred tables and chairs long cleared away. A dry, golden thistle bush has grown outside a home where, a year ago, fresh flowers hung in memory of those who died there. Elsewhere, one house has a new roof and freshly painted walls, but stands desolate on a patch of scorched land. "It was hell. We couldn't do anything," Panagiotis Fragos, a Mati resident, said during a memorial service for the victims, recalling the night of the blaze. "I cry all the time since then. It would have been better if I had also died, if I had come to an end," he said. Across Mati, what used to be a pine forest has been reduced to tall piles of charred tree trunks. A plot of land where 26 people were found dead, some locked in a tight embrace as the flames closed in, has been cleared of any semblance of life. "It is very difficult to go on, day by day," said Giorgos Kariris, whose wife died in the fire. "It is very difficult for me and for others to wake up in the morning and not have the person you existed with in life - your child, your mother, your father - to embrace, to kiss," he said. "It cannot be described." Twenty people, including former and current regional and local officials, have been charged over the wildfire, including with involuntary manslaughter and causing bodily harm due to neglect. The previous government attributed the fire to arson and dismissed accusations it failed to evacuate residents in time. The newlyelected government has announced a series of relief-measures for the survivors. At the memorial on Sunday, where white roses were tossed into the sea, survivors said they were still waiting for permits and compensation to begin rebuilding their lives. Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo A combination picture shows a burnt slope following a wildfire that killed 102 people in 2018, July 24, 2018 (L) and the same slope a year later in the village of Mati, near Athens, Greece, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis A combination picture shows an electricity pole standing among burnt trees following a wildfire that killed 102 people in 2018, July 25, 2018 (L), and newly grown bushes on the same slope in Neos Voutzas, near Athens, Greece, July 22, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �FEATURED 8 NAug o v 28- -N o v 19, 0 18 | |N o . 393 Aug 22,22019 No. 413 Double Stadards Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer T hrough phrases like “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” and “Treat others how you would want to be treated,” we may be taught at an early age that judging people is wrong. When it comes to homelessness and poverty, the judgements are often part of mainstream American culture as well. Stereotypes of laziness, dirty, drug addicted, mentally ill, and uneducated people are often weaponized against people in poverty, as well as people from particular neighborhoods or regions. Appalachian people are characterized as poor even though their labor and resources continue to be exploited. Black communities are at a decidedly large disadvantage and portrayed as lazy and incapable, even before birth, yet our country’s wealth was literally built from the labor of Black people who were enslaved for hundreds of years. The stereotypes not only mischaracterize whole groups of people, but they say more about the people who hold them in their heads than anything else. The Homeless Coalition’s Education Program offers a series of events and activities to break down stereotypes and to instill an understanding of homelessness. We do this because a better informed public is more able and willing to fight injustice, such as the criminalization of homelessness, with the information and experience they gain through our programs. We have been working with schools, community groups, churches, and others to help gain a firm understanding of the issues facing the people experiencing are equipped with a pitch and they are able to go into the streets to try to distribute the paper. As a controlled panhandling experience, participants homelssness and our responsibility as active citizens. The issue of Double Standards came up again last week, and it is worth examining it further. During a Streetvibes Shadow Activity, where a Streetvibes Distributor (in this case, Lee McCoy) tells the group witness many things, including people ignoring them as they walk by. Last week, one of the youth was convinced that a businessman, who said he had no money to donate, was lying to him. As the youth was telling the story, he quickly said, “but it’s ok, because he homelessness who fly a sign and panhandle, who, by and large, are accused of lying about their need, their use of the money received, even if they are actually experiencing homelessness. The student quickly excused the businessman for lying, so why do we hold other people to a higher standard, especially when they have less resources to uphold the standard? Hearing from our Speakers, like Cleo, Sam, Willa, and Melissa, you can see how double standards created difficult circumstances in their lives. When you are being put in a box by society even when you try so hard to break out, the notion of becoming your true authentic self is challenged by people around you that are judging you for your past, rather than your current work. The work ethic of each of the Speakers during their homelessness was far greater than what someone who inherits their wealth is likely to pursue. Just trying to figure out where to sleep, bath, eat, or get work requires a severely high level of commitment and hustle. Yet, people experiencing homelessess are routinely judged as lazy, even though most men experiencing homelessness have a job - the wages are too low to sustain a high standard of living. On our walking tours, we see Double Standards in action where fancy restaurants are able to take half of the sidewalk for outdoor seating. The permanent barriers are required for alcohol sales and consumption on the sidewalk. A person works a hard day about themselves, Streetvibes, the program’s values, and the City’s AntiSolicitation Ordinance, participants was in a hurry anyway,” which made me question the double standard that we have regarding people experiencing and then wants to relax with a beer, if they can afford to do it in their home or get a craft brew at a fancy restaurant, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 Nov 2 - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 83- |Aug 22, | No. 413 they can do it on the sidewalk. But if they are experiencing homelessness and sitting on a stoop, they could be criminalized for that. The same double standard is seen in Washington Park, which has a liquor license and several craft beers from which to choose. If you bring in a bagged beer from the store, you may be hassled or fined for bringing it into the park. Is this Double Standard fair and just? People often wrongly believe that drug addiction and mental illness are the main causes of homelessness. This FEATURED enables us to feel better about society’s failures, and our desire to not help people. What is even worse is that drug addiction and mental illness are not the fault of the individual who is suffering, so even if these were the causes of homelessness, more compassion, not a turned back are what would be needed. Since homelessness is a result of policy decision about housing, wages, and civil rights, we need to seek justice in these areas, rather than focusing on what an individual experiencing homelessness can do to change their current condition. Drug addiction and mental illness are often caused by homelessness, so we need to expand our rapid rehousing programs along with affordable housing, livable wages, and housing protections to reduce homelessness in our region. While it may be easy for us to judge in our society, we must remember to move past the Golden Rule, which I cited above, and move to the Platinum Rule: "Do unto others as they would have you do unto them, not as you would have them do unto you." We THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 9 can’t just rely on our own values to craft how we interact with the world we must ascertain and use the wishes and values of others to create a world in which everyone is valued, regardless of our own personal worldview. In that world, the Double Standards fade to the back, and we are able to see people as who they are, not what they represent to us. If you are interested in participating in any of our education programs, or if you’d like more information, please visit our webpage: cincihomeless.org �10 Aug 8 - Aug 22, 2019 | No. 413 LOCAL Community Action Agency Partner With Library N o v 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 | N o . 393 Lisa Mauch Angela Hursh C Contributing Writer incinnati and Hamilton County are in the midst of an eviction crisis. There are more than 12,000 evictions a year in Hamilton County, a rate of eviction 34 percent higher than the national average. Legal Aid and Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency have created a new program designed to mitigate this crisis. The goal is to keep families stable in their homes by preventing evictions. The Eviction Prevention Assistance Program is conducting a series of information sessions on renters’ rights and options. The first of these information sessions takes place 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at the Miami Township Library, 8 North Miami Ave., Cleves. The next session is 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the Norwood YMCA, 2039 Sherman Ave. Advocates from Legal Aid and Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency help low-income renters, who are worried about potential eviction, understand and access the resources available to them. Through the Eviction Prevention Assistance Program, eligible renters, who are behind on their rent but are able to pay the rent going forward, may receive emergency cash assistance to bring them current. Renters may also be eligible for free legal representation by Legal Aid. ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY Founded in 1964 by the late Theodore Berry, Sr., CAA is a private non- profit organization that offers various services to low-income individuals and families. The organization was created as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s historic “War on Poverty.” For more information, call us at 513-516-1966 or visit www.cincy-caa.org ABOUT THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF GREATER CINCINNATI Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio, and affiliates, are nonprofit law firms dedicated to reducing poverty and ensuring family stability through civil legal assistance. They assist lowincome families and individuals in seven Southwest Ohio counties: Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland and Warren. Legal Aid is located at the Donald P. Klekamp Community Law Center Building at 215 E. Ninth Street, Suite 200, Cincinnati, OH, 45202. Visit www.LAScinti.org or call 513-241-9400. ABOUT THE YMCA OF GREATER CINCINNATI is one of the area’s leading nonprofits focused on engaging individuals and families in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The YMCA ensures these opportunities are available to everyone no matter their ability to pay, with generous support from community partners and donors. The Y strives to help members achieve goals, make friends and find a true place of belonging. The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati operates 13 membership branches, the Melrose Impact Center, an overnight camp and 80 early childhood learning centers across Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. For more information, visit MyY.org. Photographs From Protest Against Concentration Camps on the Border Kenneth Weartz Contributing Photographer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �N o. 39 Nov 2 - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 83- |Aug 22, | No. 413 11 LOCAL Compiling A Laundry List Of Critical Issues Bill Woods Contributing Writer A ugust is here, and it's all too easy to succumb to the summer doldrums. One way to shock oneself from falling prey to this lull is to compile a list of critical problems that need to be addressed. Here then is a laundry list of important issues that continue to confront us locally and nationally. The issue that haunts groups such as Advocates for Affordable Housing and the Homeless Coalition is the affordable housing shortage of 40,000 units that exists in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. This shortage has expanded over the years due to major cuts in the budget for federal housing programs and trends such as displacing low-income residents from gentrified neighborhoods. AHA and the Coalition developed a plan for an affordable housing trust fund and then convinced Council last year to establish it, but at this juncture it lacks an adequate funding base. The next step in the coming months is securing a large and steady source of revenue either through legislation or a grassroots ballot initiative. Related issues are growing poverty, insufficient wages for many individuals and families that keep them on the edge of poverty, and the extreme income inequality that now exists locally and nationally. The slow and steady shredding of safety net programs and services by Congress and the Ohio General Assembly over the years is one major cause for these human dilemmas. The current Administration continues this trend with efforts to cut thousands of people off the Food Stamp rolls, while it touts the huge corporate tax cuts that were enacted over a year ago. Activists need to continue to fight these cuts and advocate for creative new assistance measures. Protecting the environment looms as an issue that needs immediate attention, but the monumental impact of global climate change often causes us to just throw up our hands in despair. Furthermore, the Trump Administration continues to weaken environmental regulations dealing with air, water, and land pollution, while it slowly dismantles the Environmental Protection Agency. Beyond striving to encourage the U.S. House of Representatives to do what it can to stop this Administrative assault, it is difficult to pinpoint the best immediate steps for citizens to take. A conversation with David Altman, a noted environmental attorney, reveals that there are some steps that can be taken locally. He noted that City Council passed an ordinance several years ago aimed at protecting neighborhoods from various forms of pollution, but that this law has never been implemented or funded. This area's Sierra Club also needs members and supporters as it takes on polluters that create health hazards for citizens living in various communities. This same grassroots vigilance is needed to fight anti-environmental legislation proposed by the Ohio General Assembly. The emergence of virulent racism and the plight of immigrant families and individuals also call out for public involvement. Individual participation is probably most effective when people become involved with local organizations and coalitions that are already working on these issues. For instance, the Greater Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center is a good contact for someone concerned about immigrant rights. A topic that must be included in this laundry list is political reform. A major reason why so many critical issues confront us today is the fact that government at all levels isn't functioning very well. This unhealthy state of our democracy can be directly linked to practices that the economic and political establishment utilize to control the system such as gerrymandered districts and huge campaign contributions. "Big money" has become more and more of a driving force in our political process, and it leaves average citizens believing that their voices aren't heard and that elections are bought. Reformers at the local, state, and national levels must coalesce and work doubly hard to take back the system. Although in Ohio and several other states progress has been made in curbing gerrymandering, the Supreme Court has made reform extremely difficult especially in terms of addressing the crisis of big money in political campaigns. By equating campaign contributions with free speech, the Court has weakened the voices of average citizens while making dominate the speech of wealthy contributors. Campaign reform initiatives are daunting, but activists need to work with groups like Common Cause and the League of Women Voters in order to make government again work for "we the people." One issue that has recently been added to the laundry lists of a number of activists is the problem of how to make local governments more involved in the crises such as poverty that exist in their communities. Many of the current safety net issues and the affordable housing crisis stem from the loss of state and especially federal funds. City governments have been accustomed over the years to expect the federal government to pay for these programs and services. Thus they have focused on basic services like police and fire while emphasizing local tax cuts or tax abatements to developers. Most current public policy assessments would warn not to expect a sudden turn around in federal domestic spending. If this is the case, then it behooves activists to convince local elected officials to begin taking on some of the local issues that they have formerly left as the responsibility of federal agencies. Such advocacy will also require helping these officials get beyond the mantra of "no new taxes." Here in Cincinnati, the first battle in this campaign is winning adequate funding for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. This article represents a first crack at putting together a laundry list of critical issues. Obviously other important issues exist and deserve our attention. Nevertheless, this list should prevent us from succumbing to the summer doldrums. Why SORTA Needs To Put Metro On The Ballot Andy Shenk Contributing Writer O n Tuesday, September 17, SORTA (Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority), which oversees Metro bus service, will vote on whether or not to pursue a transit levy in 2020. This decision has been a long time coming. Cincinnati has not gone to the polls for transit since the ill-fated Metro Moves campaign in 2002 and has never approved a ballot measure for transit since bus service became a public enterprise in the early 1970s. Despite tremendous cuts to service and fare increases in recent decades, there has been almost no effort from elected or civic leaders to address the city’s lackluster public transportation. The Better Bus Coalition, founded in spring 2017, has worked hard to address that apathy. We have shown up to public SORTA board meetings, built benches for bus riders, introduced a bus-only lane downtown and helped ensure regular media coverage of SORTA’s chronic (and growing) budget shortfalls. Riding the bus in Cincinnati is not easy. My partner and I and now our one-year old rely almost exclusively on the bus to get around, as do thousands of other households in the city and county. Too often, buses are late, run infrequently, or simply suspend service on the weekends. There are no all-night buses for people who work late (or very early). Bus stops, even in the heart of the city, rarely feature benches or shelters and we know how fickle Cincinnati weather can be. A few days ago, I wanted to take my son on a little excursion on the 21. Waiting at a stop downtown (Race and 4th) with two other people, the bus inexplicably blew past us, turning left on Race before circling around to Elm via 3rd. We never had a chance to board. These are the types of things that happen far too often, making Cincinnatians late to work, school, daycare, and all of the important things we do on a daily basis. Everyone who rides the bus has a dozen stories or more just like this one. Why? Because Cincinnati has a long legacy of neglecting public transportation. Let me be clear, the Better Bus Coalition staunchly supports the bus drivers and hard-working employees that keep our patchwork system stitched together. When I missed the 21, the driver was almost certainly following instructions from a dispatcher. The oversight was not sending someone out earlier to tape a notice that the stop had been moved (at least temporarily). These are the kinds of mistakes that happen when you fail to provide proper funding for a bus system. Positions go unfilled, buses break down, and riders are left stranded on hot summer afternoons. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Fixing a bus system is not easy. It takes hard work from advocates to keep the pressure on our elected officials and a shift in civic thinking to stop treating buses as a necessary evil and instead respect them as an asset in the effort to build an equitable, accessible, and thriving city. The SORTA Board meeting on September 17 is an important step in this process. The Board, which features seven city appointees and six county appointees, has been notoriously reluctant to put a tax measure on the ballot, even as deficits balloon. If SORTA doesn’t act now, the entire system could collapse due to higher fares and further reduced service. The meeting is at 6:00 pm, September 17 in the SORTA offices at 602 Main St, 11th Floor. The Better Bus Coalition encourages everyone who is able to attend and voice your support for public transportation and the thousands of Cincinnatians who rely on the bus every day. �12 Deep Sea There's a story to be told about the Deep Sea and the Ocean's Roar Many treasures were lost in the sea far down below the Ocean's floor where there is no Sun just water below the surface of the ground But traveling Deeper STREETVOICE Nov 2 N o v 19, 0 18 || No. N o . 413 393 Aug 8 -- Aug 22, 22019 in is Green and Brown If youlisten to the underground Below you can hear the waves as they roll Are their Mermaids in the Ocean's Sea or maybe an Old wise tale let not to go free You have to travel Deep when you're in the Sea Just be Prepared for what you might see Kim Green ContributingWriter Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �13 STREETVOICE No. 39 | Nov22, 2 - 2019 N o v 19, 2 0413 18 Aug 8 -3 Aug | No. REMEMBERING Do you ever think of the days of the past? Do you ever think those being the good days, why they couldn’t last? Remembering when we were children doing everything our elders said THE RACIST TWEETS MOTHER GOOSE Citizen Simon met a newsman Who asked him for his views. Said citizen Simon to the newsman: "Trump's tweets give me the blues. Remembering eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and even He uses them to defame and bully, But now they've sunk to the basest. what time it was for bed As time passed some of us traded going to church for drinking beer and wine Some of us grew up and changed so fast that we just Trump's recent words show us fully, Our President is a racist." BILL WOODS Contributing Writer simply ignored the signs As time passed everything changed all the rules even people, places and things But time goes on carrying us with it, and we know it can’t end until the fat lady sings! So we keep going on trying to keep up with time and loosing our sense of being free Today we never forget to lock all door, windows and try When you listened to Robert Mueller Testify before congress, did you think to yourself “this guy is too fair and decent to be a civil servant in the Trump era?” never to go out alone, you see! So much robbing, backstabbing, shortchanging and all of the senseless killings I love to let my mind drift to the past because the present is so hard dealing! So for me taking my memories back as far as I can Keep me in tune and my eyes open to the future as I pray for people all over God’s land! Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Poll Question By Bill Woods THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 107 Across Down 1. Stalk 1. Male red deer 5. Possessed 2. Long hollow cylinder 8. Scorch 3. Panache 12. Bulbous plant 4. Stingy hoarder 14. Female animal 5. Part of a shoe 15. Desire 6. Veneration 16. Humiliate 7. Style of glazed 17. Snakelike fish earthenware 18. Building offering lodging 8. Black bird and meals 9. Detest 19. High ranking officer 10. Report or maintain 21. Ornate manner of speaking 11. Depend 23. Relieve from 13. Danger 24. Rapid active commotion 15. Part of a song 25. Mediterranean fruit tree 20. Worship 28. Deposit of valuable ore 22. Illuminated 30. Disorderly fighting 24. Sultry 35. Part of the eye 25. Number one 37. Let for money 26. Very angry 39. Beauty shop 27. Presumption 40. Rant 29. Depression in a surface 41. Come after 31. Grains of rock or coral 43. Small semi-aquatic 32. Slumber salamander 33. Further down 44. Warhorse 34. Way in 46. Change direction 36. Outstanding tournament 47. Cervid player 48. Bid 38. Divot 50. A great distance 42. Represent as if in 52. Inquire in a meddlesome a play way 45. Ten years 53. A small compartment 49. Color 55. Crib 51. Cook by dry heat 57. Bluster in an oven 61. Steadfast 54. Venue 65. Speedy 56. Private instructor 66. Actor's prompt 57. Boast 68. Took without consent 58. Complain bitterly 69. Part of a church 59. Part of a church 70. Employ 60. Despicable 71. Sum 61. Ooze 72. Mirth 62. Short letter 73. Deplete 63. Group related by 74. Rip blood or marriage N o v 28--N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Aug Aug 22,22019 No. 413 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 2- EASY 64. Contained 67. Country, initially PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #107 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 1- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Aug 83- |Aug 22, 2019 | No. 413 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 NAug o v 2 8- -NAug o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 22,22019 413 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 8-August 22, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: White Supremacy and Gun Violence Pg 3: ‘Medical Respite’ Offers a Place to Rest in U.S. Cities Battling Homelessness Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: LGBT+ Women Footballers Score as Male Players Fear to Come Out Pg 6: Hidden in Plain Sight Pg 7: A Year Since Greece’s Deadliest Wildfire, Wounds Remain Open Pg 8: Double Standards Pg 9: Double Standard Continued Pg 10: Community Action Agency Partner with Library Pg 11: Compiling a Laundry List of Critical Issues 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 August 8-August 22, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Carey L. Biron Rachel Savage Rebecca Rosman Nadia Kanji Dr. Mark Mussman Vassilis Triandafyllou Lisa Mauch Angela Hursh Willa D. Jones Kenneth Weartz Andy Shenk INSP.com Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Shenk Angela Hursh Bill Woods Canada Carey L. Biron Concentration Camps Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez Greece Gun Violence INSP.com Kenneth Weartz LGBTQ+ Lisa Mauch Metro Nadia Kanji Photography Protests Rachel Savage Rebecca Rosman Sex Trafficking Vassilis Triandafyllou White Supremacy Willa D. Jones https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/18b0f06650eefd6c536a841092244733.pdf a52b4eb6dd9175014286bdcf8b437811 PDF Text Text The Men Who Stare at Goats Film Review Youth Outreach Page 8 Page 5 Artists as Activists Page 16 STREETVIBES $1 Dec. 1-14, 2009 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 166 Hope for Chronically Homeless Jimmy Heath House starts with ‘housing first’ By Keara anita Mullen Contributing Writer O ver-the-Rhine Com­ munity Housing (OTRCH) celebrated the groundbreaking Nov. 12 of Jimmy Heath House, Cincinna­ ti’s first permanent supportivehousing project. Named in honor of the late former editor of Streetvibes, Jim­ my Heath House introduces the nationally recognized “Housing First” model as part of OTRCH’s efforts and mission to “build and sustain a diverse neighbor­ hood that values and benefits low-income residents.” About 1,685 chronically homeless people live in Hamil­ ton County, according to 2008 statistics from the Hamilton County Homeless Management Information System. Studies See Homeless, p. 7 The architectural sketch of Jimmy Heath House on Odeon Street in Over-the-Rhine. Jimmy Heath House is set to open in September 2010. Drawing courtesy of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing. Cincinnati Oracle Appears in India Buddhist guru visits new monastery By GreGory Flannery editor cate Shar Gaden Monastery, made up of monks who left the larger monastery in order to continue honoring Dorje uten Lama, head of a Tibetan Shugden. A wall separates the two insti­ Buddhist monastery in Cincin­ tutions. nati and leader Kuten Lama, abbot of of a lineage at odds with Gaden Samdrupling Mon­ the Dalai Lama, last Kuten lama is an oracle, astery in Colerain Town­ month helped inaugu­ ship, led a group of about channeling the spirit of rate a breakaway monas­ a dozen U.S. followers to Dorje Shugden, a deity tery in south India. the dedication ceremony. banned by the Dalai Kuten Lama is an ora­ Lama. Devotees believe While there he performed cle, channeling the spirit an invocation. Tibetan Dorje Shugden is a of Dorje Shugden, a de­ Buddhists believe that, “wisdom Buddha” and ity banned by the Dalai protector, while the Dalai during an invocation, Lama. Devotees believe Lama has declared him Dorje Shugden takes over Dorje Shugden is a “wis­ Kuten Lama’s body, using an evil spirit. dom Buddha” and pro­ him to convey enlightened tector, while the Dalai instruction. Lama has declared him an evil spirit. Though the practice is ancient, the Following the Dalai Lama’s ban, Gaden monks who preserve it are not without Shartse Monastery in Mundgod, India, or­ media savvy. Shar Gaden Monastery has dered its monks to sign pledges renounc­ a Facebook page and posted a photo­ ing Dorje Shugden. Monks who refused graph of the invocation. were shunned and denied food and other During the trance, Kuten Lama wield­ necessities – a policy enforced in Tibetan ed a sword, symbolizing the “wrathful Buddhist monasteries throughout India. compassion” of Dorje Shugden, severing Last month Kuten Lama helped dedi­ ignorance and egoism. K Kuten Lama performs an invocation in India. Photo by Shar Gaden Monastery. �2 The Vibe By The Numbers 11,000 the number of women and girls helped by Talbert House every year (see page 3) 18th the century in which Goya created a painting that inspired Matt Reed (see page 16) 1861 the year the city of Wyoming was founded (see page 13) 25 the number of housing units that will make up Jimmy Heath House (see page 1) $80 billion the estimated loss to the U.S. economy if employment of undocumented workers were further restricted (see page 6) $775,000 the annual cost per soldier of the U.S. war on Afghanistan (see page 13) 96 the age of Over-the- Rhine Kitchen’s longest serving volunteer (see page 11) 4 the height, in stories, of the Jim Tarbell mural at Vine Street and Central Parkway (see page 9) 1,162 the number of homeless people served by street outreach programs in Hamilton County (see page 5) 1 the number of times the head of the Army’s Intelligence and Security tried to run through a wall (see page 12) StreetWise By GreGory Flannery editor Remember the Suffering of Prisoners While many of us gathered for family feasts on Thanksgiving, many others were unable, some because they have no homes or no food. Others were unable to celebrate with loved ones because they were held in cages. Streetvibes recently received a letter from a woman at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville. She asked that her name not be used. “There is so much food that gets thrown away,” she wrote. “We are not allowed to opt out of something being put on our tray. Another thing is the rule here that we cannot take anything from our tray back to our room. Often this place pays a (corrections officer). to check our pockets; and if we do try to take a piece of bread back to our rooms and they check us, the C.O.s make us throw the food away and may punish us. I realize rules are rules but that’s a dumb rule that costs taxpayers money.” Health Care is a Matter of Justice Most faith traditions urge people to be generous toward the poor and suffering at this time of year. But charity is just one expression of faith. A more useful one is solidarity in the cause of justice. People of Faith United for Health Care Reform marched Nov. 24 to the Cincinnati office of U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), presenting an open letter calling for health-care reform. “As people of faith, we want to assure that 1 in 6 children and non-elderly adults will no lon­ ger have to live sicker and risk dying younger because they cannot get needed health care,” the letter said. “Medical care will no longer be the cause of financial ruin for families, institu­ tions, businesses and governments. All people must have the health care they need regardless of their income or the state of their health. “The 45,000 annual deaths due to lack of needed health care, as noted in the recent Harvard report, are a profound reminder about how important it is to make comprehensive and com­ passionate reform happen this year. This tragic and needless loss of human life is evidence that we as a nation have lost our moral courage and our faith-inspired call to care for everyone as a brother and sister.” Among the people signing the letter were the Rev. Damon Lynch Jr., the Rev. Thomas E. Bre­ identhal, the Rev. Sharon Dittmar, the Rev. Paula Jackson, Dean James A. Diamond, the Rev. Elmer Martin, Bishop E. Lynn Brown and the Rev. Joanna Leiserson. Tell Strickland to Stop Killing People Distressing though it is that in 2009 tens of millions of Americans lack access to health care, even more disturbing is the purposes to which some medical technology is put – namely, the deliberate killing of human beings. After a series of botched executions, the state of Ohio is now set to try a new method for poisoning condemned prisoners. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio is asking citizens to contact Gov. Ted Strickland and urge him to stop state-sanctioned murder. “In light of overwhelming problems with past executions, the state announced new lethal in­ jection procedures … (that) have never been used in any other state and are largely untested,” the ACLU says. “The state plans to implement these unproven procedures as soon as possible. There are currently seven men scheduled to be executed in the next seven months, with the first date rapidly approaching on Dec. 8. “By rushing to implement these experimental new procedures, the risk is greater than ever that something may go wrong in the execution chamber. These procedures do little to remedy the problems Romell Broom experienced during his botched execution. Also, they do not ad­ dress the reality that Ohio’s execution team is ill-equipped and unqualified to perform these complex medical procedures.” While you’re shopping and decorating for the holidays, please take a few minutes to contact Strickland at 614-466-3555 with this message: “Ohio's death penalty system is fundamentally broken. Please put a halt to all executions now.” Sweeping the Poor from Their Homes Not all government activity is quite so pernicious. Some is just silly, except when seen in the context of its larger goals. Thus the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is accepting registration for the 2010 Fountain Square Broomball League. Yes, your tax dollars at work. It’s worth remembering that, while 3CDC is turning Fountain Square into a playground, less than two blocks away it’s preparing to force out 200 low-income residents of the Metropole Apartments. The city-subsidized 3CDC wants to convert the building into a boutique hotel. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless urges people to contact Steve Leeper, CEO of 3CDC, and urge him to back off. Write sleeper@3cdc.org and tell him to let the residents of the Metropole keep their homes. STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Lew Moores, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Kelissa Hieber, Dan Rozier, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Keara Anita Mullen, Ariana Shahandeh, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams, Bill Haigh, Clarissa Peppers Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are members of: �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 8 By MarGo Pierce Contributing Writer A n addiction is an addiction and so all we need to do is get people into treatment when they hit rock bottom and they will get clean or sober. Right? Wrong. Women in particular must deal with a myriad of issues that could easily be dismissed as extraneous by a program that focuses only on getting the drugs out of a person’s system and teaching her to, “Just say no.” At Talbert House, this means assisting women in a variety of settings with getting the necessities of life for them and their children – shelter, food, mental-health services – so they can focus on overcoming their addiction for good. Cathy Jo Veroni, Talbert House’s director of Women’s and Court Services, oversees a halfway house for women; Pathways, a communitybased treatment program for women with misdemeanor or felony convictions; and a jailbased chemical-dependency program. The Rewards Jail Intervention program uses “gender-responsive techniques” to assess and treat female addicts, including education and intensive discharge planning that addresses chemical dependency, mental health, prostitution and other criminal behavior. These are proven drug rehabilitation methods that respond to the specific needs of women; it isn’t a men’s program with pink paperwork. “We know that women are very relational,” Veroni says. “In other words, relationships are really important to them, and the kinds of relationships that they’re in dictate a lot of the behaviors and the choices that they make. The other thing about women that’s really different about men in treatment is women are very verbal. They need to talk, and they need to talk about their feelings. Men tend to need to talk about how they think. They’ll continue to talk with you, they’ll debate with you. They’re there with you as long as you’re there with them … and on their side.” During that talking, lots of issues arise because women aren’t solely defined by their 3 Column M I N U T E S O pe ni ng a D o o r For female addicts out in the cold, Talbert House opens a door addiction, Veroni says. “The other thing that we have to touch on is the fact that most of them are parents,” she says. “When they walk in the front door, they want somebody to know that they’re worried about their kids. They want to tell somebody what it is they need to do for their children. “Financially, most of our women are living at a poverty level, so housing and food are major concerns that we need to address right away.” Most of the women Ve­ roni works with come to her through the legal system. Fre­ quently they have a charge of possession or using drugs and maybe something else related to their addiction that supports their habit, such as theft or prostitution. “Typically our women have been through trauma at some point in their life – many of them physical or sexual abuse as children by family mem­ bers; women are typically abused by family members, people they know,” Veroni says. “If you’ve been abused by someone in a trusted rela­ tionship, it’s more emotionally damaging, so we get a lot of mental illness symptoms as a result of that. “Consequently, the rela­ tionship choices they make aren’t healthy; they get into adult relationships that are also abusive. Almost all wom­ en who’ve engaged in prostitution have received some form of abuse.” In the midst of all that turmoil and dealing with what society has deemed inappropriate, these women live, love, laugh and really aren’t all that different from anyone else. “It’s the humanness in them that I find very easy to relate to,” Veroni says. “I don’t have a drug addiction. I’ve never been arrested … but just the way they view the world, their experiences, their spot in the community, is real close to mine. “They don’t love their children any less than I love my children. They don’t love their parents any less. Their friends are just as important to them. They’re just as sensitive – their feelings are hurt just as easily as mine are.” Unfortunately, most people see the addiction without bothering to acknowledge the person. Cathy Jo Veroni, Talbert House’s director of Women’s and Court Services, oversees a halfway house for women. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. “It’s gotten better over the years, but I certainly think that something all drug addicts deal with is the stigma associated with, ‘They’re bad people,’ ‘There’s something wrong with them.’ Women deal with that a bit more because women are supposed to be at home taking care of their children,” Veroni says. “They’re supposed to be the homemaker; and when they’re not, it’s looked upon with more shame than men.” A significant part of transforming that way of seeing themselves and their old behaviors is a cognitive-therapy approach called Truthought. It’s a way to help women identify thinking barriers, such as a refusal to admit fears as a way to avoid embarrassment, and provides examples of how to replace them with “responsible thinking steps,” such as admitting fears and trusting others to help. The Truthought pocket-sized bro- chure resides in many wallets and purses throughout Hamilton County, serving as a quick reminder, according to Veroni. Meeting women where they’re at with their fear, worry and addiction is what these female-centric programs are about, with absolutely no judgmentalism allowed. “It’s really an unconditional regard,” Veroni says. “We don’t want them to feel ‘less than’ even if they’ve made bad choices before they got to us or after they’ve left us. Not everybody gets it the first time. “Our intention is to always be there for them, for there to be an open door,” she says. “That’s our main message to the women – even if they’re not ready for treatment, and some of them are court-ordered … if we can just have a positive relationship with them, when they are ready, they’ll remember, ‘Oh, (this person) was nice to me even when I wasn’t in a good place.’ And so when they come back, we welcome them with open arms.” In 2008, Pathways served 350 women, and approxi­ mately 450 women were served through Rewards Jail Intervention. Talbert House assists approximately 11,000 women and girls every year with outpatient services, adolescents’ programs, com­ munity groups and welfareto-work job readiness assis­ tance. The newest initiative is a mentoring program for women recovering from addiction. For emergency care, call the crisis hotline at 513-281-2273. If you think you or someone you know has a problem with drugs or alcohol, call Adult Services at 513-641-4300 or Adolescent Outpatient at 513321-8286 so they can receive unconditional support. Many people work hard to make a difference for the less privileged in the Queen City. “Eight Minutes” is an opportunity to learn who those people are and what motivates them to be a positive influence. �4 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News Demanding Justice from Chiquita Company convicted of funding right-wing terror group By SaMantha GroarK Contributing Writer of dollars to the United SelfDefense Forces of Colombia, known by the Spanish acro­ hen investors nym AUC. George Washingarrived Nov. 16 ton University’s National Sefor a meeting at curity Archive describes AUC Chiquita, protesters stood as an “illegal right-wing antioutside company headquar- guerrilla group tied to many ters downtown in defense of of the country’s most noto­ those who have been affected rious civilian massacres.” by the company’s support of The U.S. State Department right-wing terrordeclared the AUC a ists in Colombia. terrorist organizaTwo human “We are here tion in 2001. rights groups – because Chiquita The protesters 8th Day Center gathered to demand has committed for Justice and justice for Colombihuman rights Witness for Peace ans who have been violations” – protested in - Sam Pettinichi harmed by Chiq­ an effort to hold uita’s economic and executives acpolitical policies, countable for the company’s according to Candice Cama­ payments to terrorist groups, rgo, an organizer for Witness payments the groups say led for Peace. to the murders of thousands Union leader Gerrardo of poor laborers in the re- Tajamarca, who has witgion. nessed terrorist activity allegChiquita is the only U.S. edly tied to Chiquita, spoke to corporation ever to plead the protesters. guilty to violating the U.S. “We are here so people can Anti-Terrorism Act. Carl H. see the truth about who got Lindner Jr., the billionaire rich off these murders,” he Cincinnati businessman, was said. “Chiquita does not reCEO of Chiquita from 1984 gret making these payments to 2001. During his leader- and refuses to give compenship, Chiquita executives sation to its victims. Chiquita paid hundreds of thousands does not regret paying terror- W Protestors gathered to demand justice for Colombians who have been harmed by Chiquita’s economic and political policies. Photo by Clarissa Peppers. ists to threaten its workers and their communities. They are still guilty.” In March 2007, Chiquita pleaded guilty to paying the AUC more than $1.7 million during a six-year period, from 1997-2004. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Chiquita will pay a $25 million criminal fine to the U.S. government over five years. In accepting the fines, the prosecution agreed not to name or prosecute the executives involved in ordering the payments. None of the money will go to victims or their families. In addition to 8th Day Center for Justice and Witness for Peace activists, several Xavier University students attended. “We are here because Chiquita has committed human rights violations,” said Sam Pettinichi, president of Xavier University Students for Economic Justice. “This is particularly important to us as students at Xavier because former CEO Carl Lindner has been a major donor to our university.” Art and Culture of Over-the-Rhine SCPA students explore neighborhood in pictures and words By olivia haMilton Contributing Writer ates art-education programs for youth and adults designed to foster community engage­ eginning in Au- ment. gust, 21 juniors and SCPA students began seniors from the the New Voices program by School for Creative and Per- learning basic photographic forming Arts engaged in a composition and technique. photography and The class met with writing program community leadthat sought to The dialogue that ers such as Bonnie connect them to resulted gave Neumeier of the the community of SCPA and the Peaslee Neighbor­ Over-the-Rhine in Drop Inn Center hood Center , Kelly new and meaningLeon of 3CDC and the chance ful ways. Jeni Jenkins of the to develop Students were Cincin­ cross-cultural Greater encouraged to understanding nati Coalition for form and express the Homeless to that could their own opinhave a positive gather information ions about issues impact on the about the comaffecting the comcommunity of munity that they munity as they un- Over-the-Rhine. could incorporate dertook a variety of into their art. Stuphotography and dents also toured writing assignments. Working Washington Park and learned with diverse institutions such about the history of the area. as the Drop Inn Center and Finally, students went out the Cincinnati Center City into the neighborhood and Development Corp. (3CDC), began photographing. students sought to broaden After touring the Drop Inn their understanding of the Center and learning about its community in which their mission, students began to new school will be located as work collaboratively with the of fall 2010. residents of the center who The class, called “New were involved in an ongoing Voices,” is produced by Prai- creative-writing group. The rie Inc., a non-profit organi- students began by listening zation in Northside that cre- to the residents read some B An image created by a student in the New Voices program. Photo by Asia. of their writing and in turn shared their photography with the residents. In later weeks students produced portraits of residents, and both groups engaged one another in an artistic collaboration using writing and photographic images. “We are: What this world has made us. What made me different in life. No better than what we think ourselves to be,” wrote Adrian, an SCPA student, and Calvin, a resident. The dialogue that resulted gave SCPA and the Drop Inn Center the chance to develop cross-cultural understanding that could have a positive impact on the community of Over-the-Rhine. Images and writing from the program can be viewed on the New Voices Web site, cincinnatinewvoices.com. The opening reception of the New Voices work will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the Miami University Center for Community Engagement, 1300 Vine St. The show will remain open from 2-5 p.m. the remainder of that week and through the following week. �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News To Get Youth Off the Streets 5 Youth outreach workers distribute necessities and offer hope By valerie FeSSler Contributing Writer T hree times a week Lea Drury and Nelson Troché drive a beige van marked “Lighthouse Youth Services” through the city of Cincinnati, passing out basic essentials such as food and water to homeless young adults. They are outreach and caseworkers for Anthony House, a dropin center for people, especially those who are homeless, ages 18­ 24. Anthony House provides food, clothing, showers, basic medi­ cal care, laundry facilities, social-service referrals, anonymous HIV testing, pregnancy testing, birth certificates and identifica­ tion, mail service, Internet access and housing assistance. But rather than wait for homeless youth to come to Anthony House, Drury, 31, and Troché, 32, go in search of them. They pass out sandwiches, water, condoms and harm-reduction kits, hop­ ing to make homeless youth safer in their life decisions. It is un­ realistic to believe prostitution will disappear from the city in the near future or that all drug use will cease, but educating homeless youth and giving them the tools to be safe is one step in the right direction. Troché and Drury approach people on the street when distrib­ uting items, asking, “Do you know anyone that is homeless who needs help?” Many often respond by saying, “Yeah, that’s me” or “I know someone who is.” Troché says they use this approach in order to not offend anyone and because sometimes it is difficult to distinguish who is homeless. Over time, the outreach workers learn where various homeless youth hang out, such as on the banks of the Ohio River. Drury began volunteering for Lighthouse Youth Services because she is interested in social justice and wanted to be a full-time case­ worker. She has been working full-time with Lighthouse for three years. Troché has been working as a full-time caseworker for more Anthony House is a daytime, drop-in shelter for homeless youth. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. Leah Drury and Nelson Troché, outreach workers at Lighthouse Youth Services, offer help and necessities to homeless youth hanging out at the library. Photo by Aimie Willhoite. than a year. He has a background in HIV work and community work with lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. Many young adults face homelessness because they are booted out of the foster-care system at age 18 with no place to go, no job skills, no rental history for landlords and sometimes with no highschool diploma. Others are raised in broken homes where violence and drugs might be all they know. Some suffer from mental illness and end up on the streets. “The most challenging part of my job is that they are just kids,” Troché says. “At the end of the day, I do good work by helping to give them the basics.” The youth who visit Anthony House are greeted with open arms. Caseworkers build relationships with their clients in order to teach homeless young adults the basic necessities of life. Through the transitional-living program, casework­ ers help homeless young adults move from the streets into apartments and help them find jobs. During a recent van ride, Drury and Troché stopped at a Kroger store to pick up fried chicken and side dishes in order to feed the youth at Anthony House. The first level of Anthony House contains several comput­ ers, a couch, a kitchen, tables, a shower and laundry facili­ ties. The next level holds office space and desks for outreach and caseworkers, along with a nurse’s station. The upper­ most level serves as a pantry for food and storage of donated clothes for the homeless. Drury says she has learned the necessity of knowing when to stop working. “I have learned not to bring my work home,” she says. “It is not helpful to my clients to be up all night worrying, because I am ineffective the next day.” In Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 1,162 men, women and children were served by street outreach programs in 2008, according to the Homeless Management Information System’s annual report. Anthony House recently extended its operation from 10 hours per week to five hours per day. It is now open from 1-6 p.m. weekdays. The outreach and caseworkers hope that one day Anthony House will be a 24-hour facility where beds and overnight services will be available. 1128 Walnut St Pizza by the Slice Become a Fan of Streetvibes on Facebook Tues and Thurs Buffet($7.00)-11AM-2PM Wed-Thur-Fri-Sat 9PM-3AM http://www.facebook.com/streetvibescincinnati �6 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News Wage Theft:The Forgotten Crime Workers organizing; new law proposed By eli Braun Contributing Writer L ow-wage workers and supporters gathered Nov. 19 in loca­ tions across Cincinnati to condemn wage theft – the illegal underpayment or non-payment of wages. The events organized by the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers’ Cen­ ter were replicated in over 40 cities across the country to commem­ orate the National Day of Action to Stop Wage Theft. Wage theft is a national crime wave robbing millions of workers of billions of dollars. On busy intersections, activists passed out educational fliers and held signs saying, “Thou shall not steal. Stop wage theft now.” The group could be seen at 5 a.m. in Walnut Hills, 1 p.m. in Carthage and 4 p.m. downtown. ‘End the robbery’ “The goal is to draw attention to wage theft in our communi­ ties,” said organizer Dan Moore of the Cincinnati Interfaith Work­ ers’ Center. “We need to connect workers to resources to end the robbery of working families and educate Cincinnatians that these violations cannot stand.” Low-wage workers are cheated of an aver­ age $51 per week out of $339 in weekly earn­ 1 in 4 were paid less ings, according to a recent study of workers in than the legally required New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The minimum wage, and 3 out report, “Broken Laws, Unprotected Workers: of 4 who worked overtime Violations of Employment and Labor Laws in America’s Cities,” was authored by scholars at hours were not paid the legally required overtime. several university and non-profit institutions. Among the workers surveyed, 1 in 4 were More than 2 out of 3 experienced at least one paid less than the legally required minimum pay-related violation in the wage, and 3 out of 4 who worked overtime hours were not paid the legally required over­ week before the study. time. More than 2 out of 3 experienced at least one pay-related violation in the week before the study. “We estimate that workers lose an average of $2,634 annually due to workplace violations, out of total earnings of $17,616,” the authors concluded. Employers were creative in stealing workers’ wages: promising higher wages but paying only the minimum, paying less than mini­ mum wage, not paying for all hours worked, misclassifying workers as exempt from overtime pay, deducting transportation or equip­ ment “fees,” stealing tips, misclassifying workers as independent contractors or simply not paying workers at all. Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune has formed a new Wage Theft and Worker Misclassification Task Force, which will attempt to quantify the impact of these violations. These violations impact not only the workers themselves, but every taxpayer as well. As many as 92,500 Ohio workers were mis­ classified in 2005, according to the county resolution authorizing the new task force. Misclassifications ultimately deprived the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation of $103 million in premiums and the Department of Revenue of $36 million in lost taxes. Legislation is moving at the state level to help rectify abuses. In Pedro Alverado speaks during a press conference to mark the Na­ tional Day of Action to Stop Wage Theft. Photo by Dan Moore. November, State Sen. Sue Morano introduced the Wage Protec­ tion Act (S.B. 212), which would empower the state commerce de­ partment to investigate complaints beyond minimum wage. Ohio is one of only five states that does not investigate disputes when workers have already received the minimum. On the national level, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Cal.) intro­ duced the Wage Theft Prevention Act (H.R. 3303), which begins the statute of limitations from the date an employer is notified of an investigation instead of the date of the alleged theft. Under current law, delays in pursuing lost wages, often at no fault of the workers, can result in permanent loss of back pay. Workers’ victories Client-based advocacy happens daily at the Cincinnati Inter­ faith Workers’ Center (CIWC), headquartered in Over-the-Rhine. Since its founding in 2005, the small organization has taken over 500 wage-theft reports and helped recover over $500,000 in unpaid wages. Last month CIWC assisted a group of 357 mostly AfricanAmerican day laborers win a $75,000 settlement against Laborworks and Schwans/Red Baron Pizza. The settlement will pay workers’ wages that were never paid or were decep­ tively withheld for “transportation fees.” CIWC assists in numerous individual cases, including, for example, a Cincinnati landscaper who was robbed of $30,000 when his employer refused to pay overtime wages. The land­ scaper had worked a year’s worth of 80-hour weeks, which of­ ten kept him away from his wife and children. Cincinnati resident Frazier Kidd spoke at the CIWC press conference marking the National Day of Action to Stop Wage Theft. He explained his struggle after being cheated of prom­ ised wages and CIWC intervention. “I had to make decisions on whether to pay rent or buy food,” he said. Day laborers and the CIWC recently succeeded in raising wages from below minimum wage to $10.90 an hour for near­ ly 50 trash-sorters at Rumpke Recycling. “This change allowed hard-working employees to move out of shelters,” says CIWC Executive Director Don Sherman. “CIWC is devoted to empowering workers to challenge dan­ gerous working conditions and to protect their hard-earned pay. Immigrant and low-wage workers are standing up against Activists gather at 5 a.m. in Walnut Hills to reach out to immigrant and low-wage employers that unfairly make their money on the backs of workers. Photo by Dan Moore. working people.” �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Local News Hope for Chronically Homeless continued FroM PaGe 7 1 show that chronically homeless people are often caught in a cycle that keeps them alternating between the streets and shelters, with jails and hospitals usually not far behind – an expensive and de­ structive cycle for the individuals themselves as well as the com­ munity. The Housing First model creates structured, supportive housing that gives homeless people a permanent residence. The approach is a rapid re-housing method that serves as an alternative to emer­ gency shelters and transitional living arrangements, decreasing the time that individuals remain homeless. Housing First is based on the belief that people are more responsive to in­ terventions and social services after they are in their Housing First is own housing, rather than in a temporary or transi­ based on the belief tional limbo. With permanent residency established, oncethat people are more responsive to homeless people can begin to reclaim their lives and confidence, which is often lost in the seemingly endinterventions and social services after less cycle that traps many individuals. With a focus on they are in their own self-reliance, Housing First residences provide crisis housing, rather than intervention to address immediate needs in order to in a temporary or transition people to stability. In addition to housing, transitional limbo. the model includes an individualized and structured plan of action and a support system, building skills to keep people in housing. Jimmy Heath House will actually consist of six buildings on Odeon Street. The 25-unit residence will be monitored, with only one entry to the facility and a front-desk staff with surveillance, but OTRCH encourages a balance of making sure that residents will have freedom to move toward independence. The hope is that common areas will draw residents out of their private rooms and into interpersonal relationships with other tenants. This peer-sup­ port network can be beneficial to creating a healthy community and encouraging positive steps toward larger goals. Residents will have access to a part-time clinician, a case man­ ager and a service coordinator, though they are not required to use these services. Each resident will have a case manager and will be encouraged to utilize supportive services, but as long as house rules are followed and rent is paid, the residents will be responsible for their own decision-making. Jimmy Heath House will partner with neighborhood services such as the Elm Street Heath Clinic, the Alcoholism Council of the Cincinnati Area, the Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Service, Health Care for the Homeless, the FreeStore FoodBank’s direct rent program, Consumer Credit Counseling Services and the Homeless Individuals Partnership Program. These services, as well as many other resources in the community, will provide the resi­ dents with a support system intended to help them achieve their goals, end the cycle of homelessness and support capable, contrib­ uting citizens in the community. Jimmy Heath House is scheduled to open in autumn 2010. Each resident will be screened, with help from organizations such as the Drop Inn Center. Residents will not have to leave the facility if they follow the house rules, but can work with caseworkers to find their own future housing if that is what they want. Heath, a photographer and community activist, died in 2007. He Jimmy Heath was the editor of Streetvibes until his death in December 2007. Photo by Jim Montgomery arrived homeless in Over-the-Rhine in 1995, eventually finding his way to the Drop Inn Center. He wrote that there he found hope and recovery, a new direction for his life and inspiration for his photography. After Heath graduated from the Drop Inn Center's Live-in Recovery Program, the late Buddy Gray – leader of the movement to create solutions These services, as well as many for homelessness in Cincinnati other resources in the community, – encouraged his involvement will provide the residents with a in the Over-the-Rhine commusupport system intended to help them nity and his use of the camera as achieve their goals, end the cycle of a tool for documentation. homelessness and support capable, Heath attempted to dispel contributing citizens in the community. myths and negative stereotypes associated with Over-the-Rhine. He depicted everyday life in an affirming way, showing the beauty of the people and places in his community, while at the same time documenting the struggles and the reality that many, such as the future residents of the house named after him, face on a daily ba­ sis. Don’t Grow Your Playoff Beard Yet Bengals relaxed against the easy foe By B. cliFton BurKe Contributing Writer I n Week 10, the Cincin­ nati Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second time in 2009 and the golden-brick road to the Playoffs opened up before them. Fans and pundits fi­ nally opened their eyes and agreed that, despite a dismal team history, the Bengals were a contender this season after all. The team was proud and the city elated. Then Cincinnati lost to the Oakland Raiders the following week and instantly fell back to the ranks of mere mortals yet again. If pressed to find a weak­ ness on this Bengal team, one might point to the pattern of letdown efforts they have produced following landmark wins this season. The first example of this trend came in an overtime win to the Cleveland Browns after Cincinnati's first win against Pittsburgh. A win is a win, but the game should not have come down to a field goal in the final seconds of overtime – a kick that some believed never actually went through the uprights. Then the Houston Texans caught Cincinnati by surprise and beat them in Week 6 after the emotional win against the Ravens in Baltimore. Most re­ cently, the Bengals handed Oakland a win by coughing up two fourth-quarter fumbles in a late-game meltdown. It's easy to forget that these teams are made up of human beings who are bound to ex­ perience stretches of physi­ cal fatigue and adrenaline dumps, but not even that excuse holds up in the NFL. Marvin Lewis likes to point out to his team that whoever they play that week gets paid to win football games, too, and if his team is unable to take the task seriously, they will fail. The situation was ripe for a setback. After five straight divisional wins and gaining a foothold atop the AFC North, the upcoming stretch of Oak­ land on the road, followed by two home games against the Browns and Detroit Lions, must have seemed like ap­ proaching the intersection of Easy Street and Playoff Way for the Bengals. Had they cruised through those three games, the people of Cincin­ nati could have comfortably begun to grow their playoff beards. But after the Oakland debacle, the razor remains on the sink. Letting up against lesser opposition isn't the worst characteristic a team can posses, but it's something the great ones have learned to avoid. The Bengals are a dis­ ciplined, well-coached team that out-muscles the toughest but relaxes against the softest of foes. The conundrum is proof that the coaches have a few more lessons to pound into the players' heads before January. The Raiders provid­ ed the valuable lesson that stresses: If you keep a team in the game long enough, they will fight back and put them­ selves into a position to beat you. Carson Palmer has said that his team is not yet good enough to win the Super Bowl; if they can learn to take their competition seriously, no matter what the record, they will be that much closer to doing just that. �8 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Issues Immigration Benefits Americans The road to poverty is paved with good interventions By denniS nicholS Contributing Writer T he past three decades in America have seen pretty near a consensus emerge that immigration is a drag on the economy, especially illegal immigration. That consensus is mostly wrong, according to a recent study by a well-known foundation. Various advocates have compiled data to buttress their ar­ guments that illegals are a pox on society and toxic to prosper­ ity, never mind that the influx coincided with record national prosperity and ended when jobs became scarce. A Google search Nov. 14 on the terms “illegal” and “immi­ gration” and “costs” turned up 3.06 million hits. The first three were these: • “Illegal Immigration Costs California $10.5 Bil­ lion Annually” (http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/ Latin American demonstrators at the U.S. Capitol. REUTERS/Jose Luis Magana. immigrationnaturalizatio/a/caillegals.htm). Excerpt: “A new study from the Federation for American Im­ migration Reform (FAIR) examines the costs of educa­ tion, health care and incarceration of illegal aliens and concludes that counters that allege costs of more than $800 billion resulting from il­ the costs to Californians is $10.5 billion per year.” legal immigration. It looks like Bill O’Reilly sounds. The introduction • “Cost of Illegal Immigrants” (FactCheck.org). Excerpt: “Q: Do illegal runs to more than 2,500 words, and its paragraphs average 364 words. immigrants cost $338.3 billion dollars a year? More than the Iraq war? A: A chain e-mail that makes this claim is loaded with errors and mis­ Fear wins votes leading assertions. Published studies vary widely but put the cost to government at a small fraction of that total. … The Urban Institute put Move down the list of hits, and you can find a few dissenting views, but the the net national cost at $1.9 billion in 1992; a Rice University professor, pattern is clear. The people posting this material are generally agreed: Immi­ whose work the Urban Institute criticized, said it was $19.3 billion in gration hurts. 1993.” Are they right? Or is the general agreement that immigrants are a burden • “Immigration Counters.com – Live Counters, News, Resources, Facts” one of those things that everybody knows, but just isn’t so? Excerpt? Not going to try. The Web site’s sulfurous home page features One reason we have so little objective information about the effects of im­ seven flashing links in red text and 12 – count them, 12 – numeric migration is that there’s so little demand for good research. Illegal immigrants aren’t a voting constituency, and candidates for office can usually do bet­ ter by raising fears than by suggesting contrary notions. And neither can­ didates nor bigots need research studies to talk like Lou Dobbs. Xenopho­ bia has been a winning tactic since at least the time of Xenophon. But some useful research is available. Much of it is advocacy, similar to economic studies done for hire at the University of Cincinnati, such as the one telling Cincinnatians what a great investment the stadiums would be. But even the advocacy studies can be useful, and some of the work is honest research by first-rate scholars. A pair of recent reports cast some light on the subject. The Immigration Policy Center has published “New Americans in The Buckeye State: The Political and Economic Power of Immigrants, Latinos and Asians in Ohio.” It falls into the category of advocacy. The Immigra­ tion Policy Center is part of the American Immigration Council, which supports the interests of immigrants. That’s fine, but it’s not impartial. This brief report summarizes the growing importance of immigrants, legal and illegal, in Ohio’s economy and civil life. It notes, for example, that “39.6 percent of Ohio’s foreign-born population age 25 and older had a bachelor’s or higher degree in 2007, compared to 23.3 percent of native- HOLIDAY SALE!!! See Immigration, p. 10 Refurbished G3 Mac Computers for only $39 through December! (regular price $64) Proceeds benefit Media Bridges Your local nonprofit media center Visit www.mediabridges.org or call 513-651-4171 for details, or stop by 1100 Race St. to pick one up today. Say ! ? t a h W “If the lower classes are strong enough, or, in other words, if the lower classes can cause enough disruption in the society, the elites and more affluent may be wiling to give them concessions in order to remove this threat to the overall status quo.” - Harold R. Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality _________ �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Reader’s Input ‘Just Another Brick in the Wall’ 9 We don’t need no gen-tri-fi-ca-tion By GreGory Flannery editor R esidents of Over-the-Rhine and Streetvibes readers have plenty to say about the four-story mural of Jim Tarbell at Vine Street and Central Parkway. More than 100 people have submitted cartoon “balloons” voicing what they imagine the humongous Tarbell would be saying. Artworks, a non-profit arts organization, placed the mural of the former vice mayor at a key entry point to Over-the-Rhine without soliciting input from the neighborhood. In a joint community engagement project, Streetvibes joined students from Miami University, Northern Kentucky University and Chatfield College in circulating photos of the mural with cartoon bubbles for residents and readers to fill in. Most of the comments received so far allude to Tarbell’s support for the kind of economic development that equates with gentrification – displacing poor people to make room for wealthier people; his opposition to the Drop Inn Center; and his disdain for the late Buddy Gray, its founder. Some comments refer to Tarbell’s costume, reminiscent of the late “Peanut Jim,” an elderly man famous for selling peanuts in downtown Cincinnati. Some of the comments are reproduced here. The college students hope to present all the cartoon bubbles in a public exhibit. ? m ? s y i c lit t? ust ul a “This way to the “R qua men . J utif e ce at a ethnic cleansing.” n I pla th s be ” s ind hi e. i D m f t ur t , o c r y l e d ve al it d e u !” N at rch B , ad k a y o e b lo H “ my t o g e’s n o e e h m t o “S carry ’s to e man t i h .” w n e d bur “For I wi my next ll ma ke a trick, home ll th less peop e disa le ppe ar!” “I am kind of a big “Welcom thee to deal.” that caRhine, a pl Overfor ace n be pean bought uts.” r u o d y is n i e m all th .” “H l p ey, Bu eo es, way p u box o a ddy, o c y a n g you sp “If ndow ould wi rty w us mo are re e v o p Vine? ” “Gentrif ication i s a myt Lalalala. h. I can’t hear yo u.” “Ec abs on here o o s s m a Inn lute ic m who p , have a l l a “I don’t hate poor “May osper nd help Ce ly. B ix? r p , e a nte ut Y thriv od time o the people. Just take d o o g t r w th es, really fellow man incinnati.” C mo ill h e D your problems your less b d o r G ve.” ave op . same elsewhere.” to �10 STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 National Issues Immigration Benefits Americans continued FroM PaGe 8 • born persons age 25 and older.” That’s interesting, and it’s important, but it does not refer to Mexi­ can drywall installers and lawn-care workers. The Immigration Policy Center has other, more extensive research data and reports available. Nevertheless, the organization has a mis­ sion, and we can reasonably expect its beliefs and commitments to inform its priorities and its conclusions. Remember this: The most profound bias in any research is not the slant, but the choice of what to study. Legalization helps everyone The Cato Institute has published a research report titled, “Restric­ tion or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigra­ tion Reform.” The Cato Institute is what most “The past three decades in America have people will call conser­ vative – very conserva­ seen pretty near a consensus emerge that tive – although the insti­ immigration is a drag on the economy, especially illegal immigration. That consensus tute disputes the term. Its Web site explana­ is mostly wrong.” tion leans towards the term “libertarianism” or “market liberalism.” Not everybody likes the Cato Institute, but it’s a respected founda­ tion. Here’s the center-left Wikipedia on Cato: “The Cato Institute is a pro-free market, right wing think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. … The Cato Institute is non-partisan, and its scholars’ views are not consistently aligned with either major political party. … During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Cato scholars criticized both ma­ jor-party candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama.” The last phrase was for Wikipedia users who forgot who ran for president last year. Cato commissioned Australian academics Peter B. Dixon and Maureen T. Rimmer to conduct the study. “Peter Dixon is the Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor and Maureen Rimmer is a Se­ nior Research Fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies at Monash Uni­ versity in Australia,” the report says. It explains their research model in more detail than most lay readers would require. (See www.cato. org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10438/print.) Dixon and Rimmer calculated the effect on the U.S. economy of seven different policy approaches. The scenarios were: 1. Tighter border enforcement. 2. Tighter internal enforcement. 3. Liberalized entry, assuming no change in immigrant char­ acteristics. 4. Liberalized entry with increased worker mix. 5. Liberalized entry with increased worker skills. 6. Liberalized entry with visa charge to neutralize immigration change. 7. Liberalized entry with visa charge to maximize economic benefits. They calculated six effects of the policies: • Direct effect: The change in U.S. gross domestic output di­ rectly attributable to illegal immigrants or guest workers, minus the change in the cost to the economy of employing them. • Occupation-mix effect: Restricting immigration opens up opportunities for U.S. workers in low-skill, low pay jobs, but at the same time makes the economy smaller, curtailing higher-skilled occupations with higher pay. Capital effect: Changes in the supply of labor affect capital formation and its ownership, foreign or domestic. • U.S. employment effect: Equilibrium unemployment is higher in low-skill jobs, so changes in the occupation mix will change long-term aggregate employment beyond that quantified in the occupation-mix effect for the current pe­ riod. • Public-expenditure effect: The change in the cost of schools, hospitals, police services and other public services. • Macro-price effect: The change in domestic and foreigntrade prices that would result from the change in the labor supply. • Here is the meat of their conclusions: • Border enforcement hurts average households. Approach 1, tighter border enforcement, would significantly dam­ age the economic interests of U.S. households. The loss to the U.S. economy to effect a 28.6 percent reduction in the employment of illegals by 2019 is forecast at 0.55 percent of GDP, or $80 billion an­ nually in today’s economy. One class benefiting from tighter border security would be the il­ legal immigrants who remained, as the worker shortage would drive up their wages, according to the study. According to the report, employment of illegal immigrants would grow from about 7.3 million in the base year of 2005 to about 12.4 million in 2019, a growth rate of 3.8 percent annually. Restricting growth to about 1 percent would result in a 2019 figure of about 8.8 million, a 28.6 percent decrease. With liberalized entry, workers could enter a broader range of occu­ pations, and they would be more stable and more apt to seek train­ ing for higher-level skills, according to Dixon and Rimmer. • Liberalized entry means more for everybody. The assumption of liberalized entry with increased worker skills yielded a forecast of 1.19 percent increase in GDP, or $170 billion an­ nually at today’s level. Computations with a visa tax produced simi­ lar results. The weakest forecast us­ ing a policy of liberalized “One reason we have so little objective entry was still an increase information about the effects of immigration in GDP of 0.57 percent, a is that there’s so little demand for good change about the same research. Illegal immigrants aren’t a voting size as with tighter border constituency, and candidates for office can security, but in the oppousually do better by raising fears.” site direction. The report says that public expenditures rise with immigration, legal or illegal, but that accounting does not consider taxes paid by the immigrants, produc­ tive output in the economy and increases accruing to U.S. house­ holds. “This study finds that increased enforcement and reduced lowskilled immigration have a significant negative impact on the income of U.S. households. Modest savings in public expenditures would be more than offset by losses in economic output and job opportuni­ ties for more-skilled American workers,” the report says. “Our anal­ ysis shows that the major ingredient in good policy is legalization. This would eliminate smugglers’ fees and other costs faced by ille­ gal immigrants. It would also allow immigrants (now guest workers rather than illegals) to have higher productivity. Both effects create a surplus gain for the economy by raising the value of immigrant labor relative to the wage necessary to attract it. This surplus can then be extracted for the benefit of U.S. households.” Dennis Nichols is an old journalist who has lived in Cincinnati since FDR was president. A Christian, conservative and Republican, he wrote this article because the editor of Streetvibes asked him to. Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this holiday season. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! Please use my tax-deductible contribution to purchase books and distribute them to children who need them most. $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book - Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 11 Community News Happy 96th Birthday to ‘Mr. Bill’ Still volunteering after 33 years 1 By vicKy c. Mcdonald Contributing Writer father said the man whom police killed in Chicago was not his son, claiming the gangster had undergone cosmetic surgery. incinnati’s oldest soup kitchen Nov. Kenny recalls when Over-the-Rhine was a 15 celebrated the birthday of a vol­ quiet area and the biggest problem was unteer who has given more than bootlegging. three decades of dedicated service. Dave Angevine, former manager of William M. Kenny, affectionate­ Over-the-Rhine Kitchen, ly known as Mr. Bill, celebrated his where he worked for five years, 96th birthday at Over-the-Rhine says Kenny is a great friend and Kenny recalls Kitchen, where he has volunteered very dedicated. Kenny volun­ when Over-thefor 33 years. Kenny says he doesn’t Rhine was a quiet teers even on days when there believe in retirement; he believes is heavy snow, according to area and the it’s not healthy. Angevine. Two years ago, when biggest problem “We sit down, we get stiff,” he was bootlegging. there was a snowstorm so bad says. that the city all but shut down, Therefore, when it was time Kenny showed up to work. for him to retire in 1976, Kenny began volun­ Over-the-Rhine Kitchen was the only soup teering at the Over-the-Rhine Kitchen, which kitchen serving that day, and people were opened that same year. grateful through the next week. “He’s the inspiration that gets us up every­ “Mr. Bill is an inspiration,” says Melody day,” says Executive Director Patricia Wakim. Byrom, who runs Walnut Hill Kitchen Pan­ Kenny has always had her back, Wakim try, which is affiliated with Over-the-Rhine says, even when she first started nine years Kitchen. “He keeps us going everyday. He ago and was “greener than grass.” The culture giggles at me all the time because not ev­ of the soup kitchen was different from what erything will go well.” she was used to, and Kenny was instrumental Kenny was born Nov. 18, 1913, the sec­ in guiding her, Wakim says. ond child in a family of 10 brothers and Kenny is a humble man, according to his sisters in Paris, Ky. He was married and has friend, Gwen Angevine, who says he has a two daughters. Before volunteering at the “wealth of knowledge, though (it’s) hard to soup kitchen he worked in tobacco fields, pull it out of him.” breaking horses, was a hotel valet, served Kenny sometimes reminisces about the as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1941­ days of notorious mobsters. He recalls seeing 46 and was a car finisher. He resides at the Al Capone and remembers that John Dillinger’s YMCA. C William Kenny, 96, has volunteered at Over-the-Rhine Kitchen for 33 years. Photo by Maria Campolongo. STREETVIBES Vendor Mary Only purchase Streetvibes from BADGED vendors. Vendors wear their WHITE badges while they sell the paper. aFFordaBle rateS etvibes? tre nS rested in Advert Inte isin gi Many SizeS (full page, 1/2 page, 1/4 page, 1/8 page) BlacK & White and color availaBle diScountS For nonProFitS Contact Lynne at 513-421-7803 ext. 11 or lynneausman@cincihomeless.org for more information. �12 Film Review STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Being All That They Can Believe “I do not believe that the free press is free anymore. It’s very expensive.” -Ret. Gen. Albert Stubblebine III By david heitField Contributing Writer W hat motivates you to get up in the morning when you no longer have anything to believe in? That's the question facing Bob Wilton, the fo­ cal character of The Men Who Stare at Goats, a journalist in Ann Arbor, Mich., whose wife has left him for the paper's one-armed editor. His answer is to go to Kuwait to become a combat journalist, looking for a way into Iraq. “I was on a mission even if I didn't know what kind of mission it was,” he says. Ultimately, what he finds isn’t what he was looking for, but hell, it's better than believing in nothing. Men Who Stare, as it was abbreviated at the multiplex, is a surprisingly topical fiction that winks upfront: “More of this is true than you The New Age philosophy would believe.” Again, isn’t a fringe philosophy, with the beliefs. In Kulimited to its place and time. wait, Wilton (Ewan McGregor) meets Lyn It’s the pervasive view of the Cassady (George Clooney), whom he sees American mainstream. as his ticket into Iraq. Cassady, a self-de­ scribed Jedi warrior, breaks up clouds with his mind as he drives through the desert, telling Wilton the back story of the creation of “psychic spies” – who could, among other mind games, stop a goat's heart by staring at it -- known as the New Earth Army. You see, the Russians had heard a rumor started by the French that the Americans were doing psychic research, so the Russians started doing psychic research, so now the Americans had to pre­ vent a psychic research gap. As ponytailed new-ager Bill Django (Jeff Bridges) sells the idea of the New Earth Army, “We'll be the first superpower to have superpowers!” As the movie points out, this all came down during the Ronald Reagan Highway era, be­ cause he believed in Star Wars and astrology and a strong military and, of course, American Exceptionalism. Men Who Stare shifts between flashbacks of the founding of the New Earth Army and its ultimate, demythologized version led by non-believer Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey) in Iraq in 2003, who is trying to find a way to win the unconventional war on terror. The movie is hilarious, and the performances are perfectly dead­ pan, with perhaps the exception of McGregor, who, as a veteran of the bad Star Wars movies, seems mostly to have been cast for the innate joke on Jedi warriors. It was “inspired” by Jon Ronson's 2004 nonfiction book of the same name, which also inspired a BBC documentary about those crazy American Army people. It’s too easy to watch this as a very broad satire of what happens when you let a group of hippie New Age freaks into the military. Satire is at its best when it reflects not on its target so much as its context. And that’s where I think Men Who Stare works better than most recent “satires.” And that’s because the New Age philosophy isn’t a fringe philosophy, limited to its place and time. It’s the per­ vasive view of the American mainstream. At one point Clooney asks McGregor if he’s always felt different or as an out­ sider – such was proof that he was a Jedi. It’s too easy to watch this as After returning home from watching a very broad satire of what this movie, I lazily happened upon Joel happens when you let a group of Osteen, telling his megachurch that, if hippie New Age freaks into the they feel like they don't have a meaning, military. Satire is at its best when well, you can manifest your meaning it reflects not on its target so and its subsequent success by coming much as its context. to God. As I watched Clooney breaking up clouds with his mind, I wondered how this was different from any Oprah episode or PBS fundraiser telling well-educated middle-class people that they can manifest their desires simply by focusing on them. The question isn’t whether you believe the bullshit. The question is to what degree you believe it. In a post­ modern world where the truth is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is what you believe. The Creation Museum is not the story of Christian paleontology; it’s a shining monument to postmodernism. And how is the story in Men Who Stare so much more fantastic than asking our boys in the volunteer army, who mostly have high school diplomas and have not exactly been exposed to the best social skills, to con­ duct a counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, where they are tasked with changing an entire culture or three? We train them to be soldiers, and then ask them to act like Richard Leakey on a mission from God? If you choose to believe that the psychic arts were first looked into by the Soviets – and there is at least some evidence that they used subliminal messages on their own troops to cut down on drunkenness – then you must also be struck by when these techniques were em­ ployed: during their losing war with Afghanistan. Ronson talks to Ret. Maj. Gen. Albert Stubblebine in the book (who’s quoted at the top of this article), who reportedly did try to run through his wall at least once, in 1983 (the movie begins with a fictional major gener­ al trying to run through a wall). A West Point graduate, Stubblebine was the head of the Army’s Intelligence and Security from 1981-84 and is a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame. He seems to have his biggest following now with the 9/11 conspiracy theorists, as he insists there is no evidence that a plane crashed into the Pentagon on that day. See Believe, p. 13 �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 13 Guest Column Suburbs Have Their Own Problems A meditation on the dark side of apparent tranquility By Paul KoPP Contributing Writer have received overwhelming support from residents who say their punishment was too ast month four Wyo- harsh and that they should be ming city employ- reinstated. ees lost their jobs for I grew up in Wyoming, drinking alcohol while work- and since I left, I haven’t ofing at city events. The Cincin- ten looked back on the time I nati Enquirer reported that spent there. I might not have in August the even read this workers drank story except while working It is supposed to be safer for the fact that at a drive-in than a big city, have better it happened in movie, a teen schools, fewer people, big Wyoming. It dance and a houses with pristinely cut made me think staff appreabout the way front lawns, etc. ciation party, things work in all of which suburbs. were at the city‘s pool and The idea of a suburban recreation center. town always seemed simple Several off-duty underage enough to me: It is supposed lifeguards were also suspect- to be safer than a big city, ed of drinking at a staff ap- have better schools, fewpreciation party but the city er people, big houses with was unable to identify them. pristinely cut front lawns, etc. Three of the ex-employees In what ways does a small city have filed a lawsuit against like Wyoming strive for such Wyoming, alleging that, perfection? In order to propamong other things, City erly construct a perspective Manager Bob Harrison has to further discuss the issue condoned and participated of the fired city workers, it is in city events where drink- necessary to provide a brief ing took place. At various city summary of the city‘s begincouncil meetings since the nings and demographics. incident, the ex-employees Wyoming has been around L for a while. Its roots go all the way back to 1861, when it was founded by Robert Reily, a prominent local resident of the area and a former infantryman in the Civil War. Wyoming’s current population is just over 8,000 people, and its total area is just over three miles. The population is about 87 percent white, with just over 9 percent AfricanAmerican, 1 percent Asian, 1 percent Hispanic and 1 percent other races. Wyoming’s sense of community seems more deeply engrained than in other suburbs I have visited. Other suburbs feel like a collection of upper-middle-class families lucky enough to have good homes but not necessarily a town-specific mentality. Growing up in Wyoming, it sometimes felt the city was surrounded by an imaginary force field, that nobody knew where anywhere else was. But no one wanted to go anywhere else, because this was the best place you could be. Though the city tries to protect itself from such negative elements as drugs and All They Believe continued FroM PaGe 12 And, apparently, there is a Lt. Col. Jim Channon, who originally proposed the First Earth Battalion, to use yoga and meditation and pri­ mal screaming to achieve battle readiness. Channon envisioned an army that an­ swered to the planet over the nation-state. Channon’s ideas were well received in part be­ cause of our failure in Viet­ nam and Channon’s obser­ vation that our soldiers were basically good people who did not want to kill anyone (a line also noted in the movie). It was through his grandiose optimism that Channon al­ legedly came up with the underage drinking, it can- right to fire someone who not eradicate them entirely. exhibits inappropriate beInstead there is a subculture havior, but not if the same created. Denial that it exists behavior is accepted among can become more harmful to other individuals within the everyone involved. same circle. Wyoming Every city seems to base has problems its identity on Growing up in Wyoming, unique to itexcellence in it sometimes felt the city self. Of course, education, was surrounded by an someone who public safety, lives in Overimaginary force field, and landscap- that nobody knew where the-Rhine has ing. Due to anywhere else was. But to worry about its small size, different things no one wanted to go the collec- anywhere else, because than a person tive mindset this was the best place in Wyoming. amongst longThe problems you could be. time residents of the inner is insular. Excelcity are more lence can mean many things, immediate, in the sense that but in Wyoming it sometimes they exist in plain view. Crime seems based on the image of a and poverty directly influence place so squeaky clean that it the well-being of the people. exists separately from the rest Though the ideological issues of the region. One result is an of a small suburban town are intensified focus on smaller not so immediate, they are infractions by members of worthy of examination due to the community – in this case, the subtlety with which they employees of the city of Wyo- reflect the problems of their ming. community. When the city employees were caught drinking, the incident threatened to tarnish the city’s image. It might be To the Editor To the editor: most popular marketing slo­ gan in the Army’s history: “Be all that you can be.” You can find out much more on the Internet. For example, if you take the words “stare” and “goats,” you'll come up with “Stargate” with the “OS” left over, which stands for the Occult Sciences division of the CIA, which reportedly in­ vestigated “remote viewing” from the mid-’70s through the 1990s. That’s why the fictional approach of Men Who Stare works so perfectly. The truth is irrelevant today. In a cul­ ture where most everyone feels somewhat disenfran­ chised, you too might be a Jedi warrior, or find success through Christ, or manifest your dreams, or even elect Sarah Palin president. All that matters is what you are will­ ing to believe. Don't believe me? The two long commercials before this anti-war satire were from the U.S. Air Force (where play­ ing with satellites in the sky looks a lot like playing a video game) and the National Guard (where "hero" was sung as people in camouflage car­ ried muddy people around). We've shot past irony and moved straight into stupid. Recently I saw the video, Rethink Afghanistan, where I learned that it costs us taxpayers $775,000 per year for each soldier. Here’s another statistic to blow your mind: So far we have spent more than $231 billion in Afghanistan alone. We are all concerned about the carnage in both Afghani­ stan and Iraq. Many of us are guiltily aware that we need to do something. So let me ask you: If you were in charge, is this how you would spend our tax dollars? In the past, many non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) have been working to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan. They do so by helping to build schools, hiring and training teachers, building clinics and staffing them. Unemployment is at 40 percent in Afghanistan, and many Afghans join the Taliban so as to have an income. NGO’s can help create jobs. Wouldn’t it be better to spend our money in humane, peaceful ways than through war? It’s time for all of us to accept the role we play in war when we do nothing. We all need to contact our president and mem­ bers of Congress and let them know that we do not support the destruction wrought by war. If peaceful demonstrations are what is needed, then we must demonstrate. In Cincinnati, Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center is organizing for peace. They can be reached at 513-579-8547and www.ijpc-cincinnati.org. We are Americans. We are kind, humane, generous. Let’s start to act that way once again. Judy Cirillo, member of Women in Black To the editor: In response to Gloria McConnaghy’s letter to the editor (is­ sue of Nov. 15-30), I was born in Over-the-Rhine and lived there for 50 years and was a patient at the 12th Street Clinic. I was a friend of Buddy (Gray) and fought against the wealthy displacing the poor from low-income housing in Over-theRhine, standing side by side with Buddy, Bonnie (Neumeier) and others. My God is a loving God, not one that takes housing from the poor for a high-end shop for greed of the almighty dollar. Sonny Williams Clifton �14 Annual Dinner STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 �STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 681-2365 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Treatment: Men 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men DIC Live In Program Prospect House 241-5525 961-2256 Treatment: Women First Step Home 961-4663 961-4080 761-1480 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky Advocacy 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Housing: Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Tender Mercies 381-0111 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 AA Hotline CCAT 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 621-5514 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 661-4620 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Drop Inn Center Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center Peaslee Neighborhood Center Shelter: Both Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 458-6670 977-4489 Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 558-8888 981-5800 784-1853 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 562-8841 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan JPIC Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless Brighton Center 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 721-4700 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 535-2719 Poetry Corner The Ground You Rest On By liSa Marie carBert Dirt on your cheeks, lint in your pockets, hunger in your belly, shame in your mind. A day’s beg for coins to the dollar. Thirsty for life, hungry for change, your circumstance is un-guiding. Eyes pass you, minds pretend you aren't there, the week lingers on you, your path is clear. A meal for today and maybe not one for tomorrow, nothing to claim but what you hold in your pockets. The ground you occupy is America's, but they say you’re homeless. Grateful for a quarter, blessed for a bill, you feel you're at your rope’s end. You’re a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a friend. The mistakes you've made coincide with your condition, or maybe life has just dealt you bad cards, the world, full of your kin, turn their cheeks the other way, and I ask... If we all believe that we derive from Adam and Eve, then why are we so easily deceived into believing the contrary? Aren't our brothers and sisters our responsi­ bility? You have a growling pain in this great land of opportunities, we can lift buildings and build dreams, but you’re falling with nothing but the pave­ ment to catch you. You rely on catchy cardboard words, but pressed white collars and fancy heels don’t always acknowledge worn jeans, I see it every day. But God has connected me with you. From sun up to sun down our bellies are empty simultaneously. Humbling for me, we are the same. Your hope is spooned to you everyday out of the pots and pans of those giving bless­ ings. When the thirst of the summer heat is urging me to drink up all of my nutritional opportu­ nities, I think of you. Where will your next meal come from? Does the world really care? Homeless... laid off, Homeless... divorced, Homeless... run away, Homeless... abused, Homeless... mentally incapable. Homeless... not heartless. God has inspired me to not forget our ances­ tries, the same earthly womb bore us all, and our creator planted the seeds that rooted you and I, the same. So I'll give my change, smiles, blessings, non­ perishables, and time. Not forgetting you are a part of I, The ground you rest on is America's, but they say you’re homeless, I say you're God's! �16 Column STREETVIBES December 1 - 14, 2009 Reason Awakens from Deep Sleep Matt Reed uses art to teach ethics A s a child, Matt Reed was very much into com­ ic books. His parents would buy them for him before he could even read. He would draw from them again and again. They were his first intro­ duction to art, also his first love in art. Born in Toledo, Reed, a visual artist, moved to Cin­ cinnati in his senior year of high school. He attended Columbus College of Art and Design and majored in illustration. He soon realized, however, that his real love was teaching; he enrolled at the University of Cin­ cinnati, obtained a teaching certificate and since then has taught art in high school and middle school. Reed has also been doing his own art all along, mostly detailed drawings influenced by his illustra­ tion training. His art usually expresses his interests and concerns, his political views and his obsessions, all mixed and mashed together. “It is a blend,” he says, “one that comes from within and finds its way out. Art is also my escape from reality into a newly imagined world. It helps me communi­ cate and make a statement.” Reed has been political all his life, growing up in a family where both parents were politically minded Matt Reed. Photo by Saad Ghosn. and where politics was regularly discussed. Different from his fa­ ther, who is conservative tion.” right-wing, Reed is pro­ At the bottom of his drawing, several silhouettes mimic an evo­ gressive and leftist, influ­ lution scene and progress from a caveman into increasingly refined enced early on by the po­ gunmen. The message is that we’re evolving into more sophisticat­ litical messages of punk ed and more efficient killers. In the middle, a mound of skulls is as rock bands. Social and surrounded by comic book-inspired panels depicting explosions; political issues concern and at the top, a soldier standing on a tank is approached by a sui­ him and transpire into cide bomber who blows up everything. The drawing links increases By Saad GhoSn his art. His satirical draw- in violence to current politics to death and questions the wisdom Contributing Writer ing You Will Be Recycled, and rationale of waging unending wars in the pursuit of peace. for instance, is about the His pen and ink drawing, Reason Is Still Sleeping, is a take on The environment and people Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, in which Goya reacts to the vio­ who refuse to recycle. Reed ironically points out that the Earth will lent events of the late 18th century – wars, the Spanish Inquisition, recycle them whether they like it or not. etc.. The drawing represents, in the midst of explosions and de­ There Is No Peace in Retreat is based on a direct quotation of struction, a woman smiling happily, embracing in her arms a large then-President George W. Bush regarding the Iraq War. Reed found bomb, her young child standing by her. It was Reed’s assertion that the statement arrogant; it reflected in his mind how the adminis­ mankind’s reason is lacking, also his expression of outrage at the tration was conducting its foreign policy relying mainly on might Iraq war, a war in he sees as based on greed and lies. and war, rarely conducive to peace. In addition to his personal art, Reed also uses his teaching to “As a strategy, retreat does not necessarily equal defeat or cow­ convey his values and beliefs and to trigger thinking in the fresh ardice” Reed says, “Sometimes withdrawal is simply the best op- and avid minds of his students; he does this, however, always cau­ tious not to impose his own views. Teaching is for him a type of activism in which one shows students how to interact with others, treat others with respect and tolerance, react appropriately to a difficult situation, develop social skills, appreciate the diversity of things. Reed thus does not only teach the techniques and skills of art but also works on building the character of his students, opening their minds and hearts to various important issues. He uses recycling paper in the classroom as a model and a trigger for environmental concerns. Discussing and deciding with his students what is ac­ ceptable and what is not when it comes to conduct, he helps them set ethical norms for their own behavior. Exploring the social or political content of artists’ work, he leads students into reflecting about the issues addressed, at the same time challenging them and empowering them to use their creativity and art to express their own concerns and beliefs. He recently used Keith Haring’s works as a trigger for a class show, Haring’s art being simple, straightforward and still full of messages. Not infrequently, in addition to visual art, Reed resorts to poems, texts, stories and events to interpellate his students and open their eyes. With the changes brought by the new administration, Reed’s outlook on the world is more hopeful. He is still concerned, how­ ever, by the persistent and powerful control big businesses exert over politics, often at the expense of the people. He will continue to use his own art and his teaching to address big issues such as war, environment, equality, freedom, choices in life, etc. but he would like to do it now in a more positive way, to be able to offer viable alternatives instead of simply being critical. “Art is a very important tool for change” Reed says, “It uses and triggers imagination, which is unfortunately undervalued in our so­ ciety. Imagination, however, is badly needed to recreate the world. The world does not have to be the way it is. We have to imagine something better; focus on something new for the good of every­ one and the survival of our planet.” A rtists ctivists There Is No Peace in Retreat, ink drawing by Matt Reed. Photo by Matt Reed. Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at saad.ghosn@uc.edu. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2009 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 1-14, 2009 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Hope for Chronically Homeless Cincinnati Oracle Appears in India Pg 2: The Vibe Pg 3: Eight Minutes Opening a Door Pg 4: Demanding Justice form Chiquita Art and Culture of Over-the-Rhine Pg 5: To Get Youth Off the Streets Pg 6: Wage Theft: The Forgotten Crime Pg 7: Hope for Chronically Homeless Pg 8: Immigration Benefits Americans Pg 9: ‘Just Another Brick in the Wall’ Pg 10: Immigration Benefits Americans Pg 11: Happy 96th Birthday to ‘Mr. Bill’ Pg 12: Being All That They Can Believe Pg 13: Suburbs Have Their Own Problems Pg 14: Annual Dinner Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: Reason Awakens from Deep Sleep Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 1-14, 2009 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Jeni Jenkins Lew Moores Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Kelissa Hieber Dan Rozier Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Keara Anita Mullen Ariana Shahandeh Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite Jeni Jenkins Anthony Williams Bill Haigh Clarissa Peppers Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF addiction Aimie Willhoite Annual Dinner Anthony Williams Ariana Shahandeh Bengals Bill Haigh Chiuita Cincinnati Clarissa Peppers Dan Rozier David Heitfield Eli Braun Gentrification immigration India Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Jimmy Heath Keara Anita Mullen Kelissa Hieber Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Margo Pierce Matt Reed Meditation Michael Henson Mr. Bill Over-the-Rhine Paul Kopp poverty Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark SCPA Stephanie Dunlap Suburbs Tags Gregory Flannery Talbert House Wages Youth https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/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/befa66a5da07a5cb4dbe96ed158fd24e.pdf a2dcc39eeb738117ace9f061a9b4caa2 PDF Text Text D e c e m b e r 1 2 t h - D e c e m b e r 2 6 t h 2 0 1 9 | Vo l . 2 3 I s s u e 2 4 ( N o . 4 2 2 ) 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. LOOK BACK AT 2019 Article on Page 8 This Issue is sponsored by Cecilia and Tom Kloecker Find previous issues of Streetvibes online at: cincistreetvibes.com Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition 113 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 streetvoice | 12 �2 COALITION N o v 12 2 - -NDec o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Dec 26,22019 No. 422 From The Editor: Articles Of Impeachment Gabriela Godinez Editor-in-chief O n Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the house judiciary committee presented two articles of impeachment against Donald Trump. The articles called for President Trump to be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. The first article states, “Donald J. Trump has abused the power of the presidency,” specifically stating, “ using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States presidential election.” Before the first article comes to a close it goes on to say, “ where for President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law.“ The second article goes on to accuse the president of “obstruction of congress”. It states, “Donald J. Trump has directed the unprecedented, categorical, and indiscriminate defiance of subpoenas issued by the house of representatives pursuant to its ‘sole power of impeachment.’” The second article continues by saying, “In response, without lawful cars or excuse, President Trump directed executive branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President Trump thus interpose the powers of the presidency against lawful subpoenas of the house of representatives and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to exercise of the “sole power of impeachment” vested by the constitution in the House of Representatives. in response, without lawful cars or excuse, President Trump directed executive branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President Trump thus interposed the powers of the presidency against lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the ‘sole power of impeachment’ vested by the constitution in the House of Representatives.” The articles end by saying, “ President Trump does warrant impeachment and trial, removal of authors, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States. Now President Trump is headed to the third step of impeachment: the house of representatives vote. Hear the house of representatives will vote to impeach the president; if the vote is “yes“ with a simple majority, then the president is officially impeached. However, this does not mean that his term is finished. The last and final step is the Senate trial, where there is a supermajority vote (67% vote yes) needed to convict and remove the president from office. The Senate will act as a jury and listen to evidence and cases presented by those in favor of removal and those defending the president. The Senate has never in the history of the United States voted to remove a sitting president. For historical references, President Andrew Johnson and President Clinton both were impeached by the House of Representatives but were acquitted by the Senate. President Nixon resigned before the Senate could even vote. President Johnson had 11 articles against him, President Nixon had 3, and President Clinton had 4. At the announcement of the articles of impeachment Representative Adam Schiff said, “Despite everything we have uncovered the president’s misconduct continues to this day unapologetically and right now.” The reason that there are only two articles of impeachment against President Trump is because the House Judiciary Committee suggested that these were the only two with enough solid evidence backing them up that it is very difficult to seriously dispute them. At the announcement, Schiff said, “For the members of Congress, this is not a question of facts because the facts are not seriously contested. It is rather a question of duty. The president's oath of office appears to mean very little to him but the articles put forward today will give us a chance to show that we will defend the Constitution and that our oath means something to us.” Representative Gerald Nadler said while announcing the articles of impeachment, “A president who declares himself above accountability, above the American people, and above Congress’s power of impeachment, which is meant to protect against threats to a democratic institution, is a president who sees himself as above the law. We must be clear: no one is above the law.” S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by individuals experiencing homelessness or on the edge of homelessness, in exchange for a $2.00 Donation. Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati. 113 East 12th St. Cincinnati OH, 45202 Ph: 513.421.7803 FAX: 513.421.7813 WEB: www.cincihomeless.org www.cincistreetvibe.com EMAIL: streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Editor-in-chief: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Executive Director: Josh Spring Director of Development: Mona Jenkins Director of Education: Dr. Mark Mussman Volunteer Editors: Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey Distributor Program Manager: Sallie Mascus Layout: Gabriela Godinez Feregrino Reception: Bonita Batton, Larry Johnson Maintenance: Pete Roper ------------------------------------------CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE Writers: Gabriela Godinez, Bill Woods, Samira Sadeque, Rina Chandran, Dr. Mark Mussman, Magali Druscovich, Willa Denise Jones, June Alexander, Kim Greene, Kiara Clark ------------------------------------------Photography/ Artwork: Gabriela Godinez, INSP.com, Blake Burrell ---------------------------------------------Thank You For Reading Streetvibes And Supporting Our Mission To Build Community And Advocate Justice. Streetvibes and The Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition do not endorse candidates for public office. �No. 39 Nov 2 - N o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123-|Dec 26, 2019 | No. 422 3 HOMELESSNESS Rent Subsidies, Mental Health Care Tied To Housing Stability For Homeless Reuters staff Reuters M entally ill adults e x p er i enc i ng homelessness may have an easier time finding and keeping stable housing when they receive rent supplements and mental health support services, a Canadian study suggests. Researchers focused on the effectiveness of Housing First, a program in Toronto that’s different from traditional approaches to housing for adults with mental illness that require aid recipients to achieve sobriety and or undergo psychiatric treatment. Housing First provides immediate access to housing and mental health services without any preconditions. All 575 participants in the current study did not have homes and were mentally ill, and some of them also had substance use disorders. Researchers randomly assigned them to receive Housing First services with community treatment or with intensive case management, or to a control group that only received access to more traditional support programs. Over the first year of the study, people assisted by Housing First spent 70-72 per cent of their days in stable housing, whereas people who received traditional support services conditioned on sobriety and psychiatric treatment spent 23-30 per cent of their days in stable housing, the study found. And by the sixth year of the study, people assisted by Housing First spent 86-88 per cent of their days in stable housing, compared with 60-78 per cent of days in stable housing for individuals who received traditional support services. Much of this difference might be due to the higher likelihood of unmet needs among adults experiencing homelessness who received traditional support services instead of immediate assistance through Housing First, lead study author Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto and colleagues write in Lancet Psychiatry. “Participants with high support needs in the TAU group maintained persistent low levels of housing stability during the study period, exposing persisting access barriers to appropriate services for this population,” Stergiopoulos and colleagues write. “These findings highlight the unmet needs of homeless adults with mental illness and high support needs, even within a resource rich service delivery context, and the limited effectiveness of usual services in supporting housing stability for this population,” the authors write. The study is the first to suggest that Housing First is associated with lasting increases in the number of days adults experiencing homelessness spend in stable housing, especially for individuals with more severe mental health needs, the study team notes. Housing First wasn’t associated with improvements in quality of life, reductions in the severity of substance abuse problems, or better functioning in the community, the study found. But the program didn’t make any of these outcomes worse, either. It’s also not yet clear what specific aspects of Housing First might have had the most positive impact on the lives of adults experiencing homelessness, or how easily a program like this might be replicated. Even so, the results add to the evidence suggesting that the Housing First program does meet the needs of many adults it serves, Emmy Tiderington of the Rutgers School of Social Work in New Brunswick, New Jersey, writes in an editorial accompanying the study. “This study adds to an extensive body of literature that has already demonstrated the positive effect of Housing First on housing stability over time,” Tiderington writes. “The major contribution of this particular study is the documentation of the effect of the intervention over a six-year period, which is the longest follow-up to date.” Courtesy of Reuters / INSP.ngo A man experiencing homelessness sits on a grate venting warm air in a steady snowfall in Toronto's downtown financial district. REUTERS/Andy Clark THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �4 ADVERTISMENT THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED NDec o v 212 - N v 19, 18 | N o . 393 - oDec 26,2 02019 | No. 422 �N o. 39 ov 226, - N2019 o v 19,| No. 2 0 18422 Dec 123 -| N Dec 5 U.S NEWS A Tale Of Two Proclamations Jaqueline Keeler and Desiree Kane S Street Roots ince 1990, Native American Heritage Month (or a similar variant) has been acknowledged in presidential proclamations every November and issued every year on the same day: 31 October. But this year is different. Trump did honor the tradition but also declared the month of November ‘National American History and Founders Month’, a celebration of America’s “dedication to promoting liberty and justice.” That proclamation and others signed that day were immediately available for viewing on the White House website, but not the one honoring Native Americans. The White House, five days late, on 5 November, unceremoniously posted a presidential proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month. Trump’s National American History and Founders Month proclamation, given priority posting on the White House website, clearly indicates where his priorities are. It could be just an oversight. Still, given the president’s predilection for petty and public battles, even with celebrities on Twitter, we cannot rule out the possibility it was meant to be a slight against Native citizens. In any event, the fact the proclamation was not posted and not noticed for five days, is evidence yet again of the near-absolute invisibility Native people labor under in terms of recognition. And I would go beyond that to say it is a preemptive move to block the fight for rights (rights to land, rights to safety) on every front that Native people are waging in this country. And no matter what Native American Heritage Month proclamation written by his staff Trump affixes his signature to, it cannot mask his true position vis a vis Indian Country. His legacy will be remembered as one that upholds the suppressive, abusive, colonizer narrative that harms Native people and the sovereignty of Tribal Nations of the United States. The Indigenous nations that the U.S. is People gather at the Oceti Sakowin camp in September 2016 near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota. The Oceti Sakowin camp was formed by groups protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. [Credit: Desiree Kane] supposed to employ a nation-to-nation relationship with respectfully. But then, is anyone surprised? This is America, after all. Genuinely honoring National American History and Founders Month would mean dealing severe blows to the story United States citizens are taught about America’s “promotion of liberty and justice.” Let’s not forget the opening salvo of his administration, which included a flurry of executive orders beginning in January 2017 that led to the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline and went on through that year to include an order that reduced Bears Ears National Monument by 85%. He then ushered in the opening of previously protected and sacred sites for drilling and mining. These actions reveal his true feelings and, in total, compose his actual proclamation of policy toward Native people. This “oversight” then should be correctly read as part of a continuum of aggression against our respective sovereign Indigenous Nations from a “domestically oppressive” (read colonial) political regime. Yes, we just People participate in one of many community prayer walks up to the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site in 2016. [Credit: Desiree Kane] turned the phrase Chief Justice John Marshall used in 1831 to deny our full sovereignty calling us “domestic dependent nations” on its head. Yet, we should also take heart and see these aggressions as a response by the “leader of the free world” to the undeniable rising power of Indigenous people. Because the reality is: Indigenous power is real. The fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline struck a significant (if not final) blow against the oligarchs who put Trump in power and who keep him there. The movement, if we include the reported successes of the divestment campaign, cost them upwards of $11 billion. Yes, they built their pipeline, and now we must monitor it to protect our water and our future. But united, we brought together a power based on kinship, on our traditions and our cultural understanding of the world, and we lead with our hearts, canté, and it is powerful. He knows it, and we know it. The National American History and Founders Month proclamation reads: “This month, we acknowledge the tremendous strides we have made as a people and recognize that our democracy’s survival is dependent upon a well-informed electorate. To ensure the success of our future generations, we pledge to continue to build a more educated citizenry. We heed the warning of President Ronald Reagan that ‘freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.’” So as California burns, Trump threatens to cut off funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, scribbles proclamations for tired ideas, erasing Native people, and he cannot escape the immovable truth. A new world is rising out of the ashes and the smoke. The camp we held together in the snow at Standing Rock is not gone. They can dismantle it, THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED but it lives on in our hearts. The Oceti Sakowin, the seven campfires of the Lakota/Dakota people, still lights the way for us all in this troubling time. We are committed to creating a world where Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls and two-spirit relatives go missing no longer. We are led by Native women in Congress and state legislatures, and are everywhere they said we could not be. So as Native women, men, two-spirits, children and elders take on the energy companies, their man camps, prevent the mining of our homelands for their profit, we are opposed by Trump, who invests in these schemes against us. We have taken them on and won. And we will win again, presidential proclamations or not. This is an undeniably true fact in a time of Trump’s rampant fake-newsmaking. So, even if the man in office slights us and tries to turn our victories against depredations into oil and uranium dust, ultimately, we know he recognizes us. We also know he cannot reconcile our collective power based not in colonial takings but in Indigenous concepts of kinship to one another and the land, our Mother. “We ARE power,” as the Dakota poet and leader John Trudell said. We are pollen. We are all the things he and the global 1% can never be: Indigenous, connected to this land, and the true children of our mother, this land, this world. Jaqueline Keeler is a Diné/ Ihanktonwan writer and the executive editor of Pollen Nation, a Native-led and edited magazine dedicated to issues affecting Indigenous people. Before being published in Street Roots, this article was originally published in Pollen Nation. Read more at pollennationmagazine.com Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo �LOCAL 6 NDec o v 212 - N v 19, 2 02019 18 | N o . 393 - oDec 26, | No. 422 Local Government vs. Federal Priorities Bill Woods ContributingWriter A s 2019 winds down, at least one must priority comes to mind for activists seeking to make a difference in 2020. Groups such as the Homeless Coalition and Affordable Housing Advocates (AHA) need to convince the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to start funding critical services and programs that they previously relied on the federal government to pay for. Local government's failure to respond to decades of federal budget cuts have led to crises such as the 40,000 affordable housing unit shortage in Greater Cincinnati. One problem exists in making the case for local action. The federal cutbacks didn't happen overnight. They have added up over a forty year period. This fact alone makes the story less dramatic, but what has evolved is every bit as devastating for those impacted by the cuts. The loss of federal money for a range of diverse programs began in the Carter Administration in the late 1970s, and the cuts intensified in the Reagan years. In 1978, approximately twentyfive cents of every City of Cincinnati budget dollar can be traced to federal funding. Slowly but surely funding for everything from health services to employment programs began to dry up in this period, and this trend has continued until today. Homelessness as a major urban problem did not emerge until the mid1980s when the initial cuts in various housing programs and other services for low-income families and individuals took effect. When Applied Information released Its study of homelessness in Greater Cincinnati in 1987, it reported that housing related issues ranked first as the cause of homelessness among families. It also acknowledged the local loss of federal dollars for federal housing programs as a factor. By the time AIR researched its second homeless report in 1993, it included a section on the lack of affordable housing as a major reason for the further growth of homelessness in Cincinnati. "There are numerous factors involved in the housing crisis confronting the homeless," reads the report, "but most of these factors relate to the clients lack of income and the absence of affordable units." The report cited that federal funding for publicly assisted housing programs shrank from $30-billion in 1981 to $8-billion in 1987. It noted that in Cincinnati alone, less than 30-percent of the households that qualified for some form of federal housing assistance received it. With some ups and downs over the years, federal cuts in affordable housing program and other safety net services have continued to this day. Although even activists have become somewhat numb due to the evolutionary nature of this trend, it is not surprising that poverty and homelessness have increased rather than lessened and that Cincinnati and Hamilton County have a 40,000 unit affordable housing deficit. Local officials must absorb these facts in order to convince them that they must assume some responsibility for this crisis. Cincinnati like most cities across the country has used a variety of policies such as tax abatements to lure business and to promote development. This approach that also dates back to the 1980s has succeeded to a large degree in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Dallas. Recent research shows that these cities have secured a lot of high paying businesses and upper-income residential development. The flip side of this picture, however, is that the highest degree of income inequality now exists in these cities. Low-income residents have failed to benefit from this wealthy urban development. In fact, they are usually the losers who are displaced from gentrifying neighborhoods. Over-the-Rhine and downtown Cincinnati are examples of this development trend. While gentrification has gone forward in housing and business in OTR, thousands of affordable housing units have disappeared from the area. Downtown is currently going through a burst of condo development, but it is all aimed at affluent clients. Very few apartments still exist for the working poor. Thus, city governments such as Cincinnati's have long catered to this high-end development, while they primarily denied any responsibility for their low-income citizenry. The parallel trend of the federal government's retreat from supporting and funding services for people in need of assistance have created the perfect storm for local income inequality and a hand to mouth existence for a large percentage of urban populations. These facts must be part of their argument when activists state their case that Cincinnati and Hamilton County Governments assume greater responsibility for the current crises brought about by these trends. It will not be an easy struggle in this era where politicians fear that voters will oppose any tax increase. It may require a grassroots campaign that ends up as a tax levy on the ballot in order to wake up the general public and elected officials to the necessity of adequately responding to long neglected problems. Region’s Largest Universities Join Cincinnati 2030 District Elizabeth Rojas. Green Umbrella G reater Cincinnati’s three largest universities – University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Northern Kentucky University – have officially joined the Cincinnati 2030 District as regional members. The collective commitment of the universities – 152 buildings with approximately 17.1 million square feet – increases the District’s total footprint to over 24 million square feet across the region. “These institutions symbolize the benefits of setting goals that help achieve higher levels of innovation,” says Elizabeth Rojas, new 2030 District Director, “The relationship between our universities and the 2030 District is mutually reinforcing: ensuring our largest institutions continue to uphold their role in the community as they simultaneously foster our future innovators.” By joining the District, each university commits to the 2030 member goals of 50% reductions in energy and water consumption and transportation emissions. For all three universities, the commitment is part of larger long-term sustainability efforts. “Joining the 2030 District shows NKU’s support for sustainability and that we are dedicated to our commitment to being carbon neutral by 2050,” says Tiffany Budd, NKU’s Sustainability Operations Coordinator. “Being a member of the District will provide NKU with external partnerships and resources that will allow us to more readily advance our sustainability goals while in turn contributing back to the group with our own resources.” Beyond working with each university’s building portfolios, the 2030 District will gain valuable access to a robust research base for collaboration across district members and partners. “The 2030 District is THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED a flexible, long-term framework for addressing the environmental impact of the built environment in our �N o. 39 3 |- N ov 2 26, - No v 19,| 2 0 18422 Dec 12 Dec 2019 No. community,” says Dr. Amanda Webb, Assistant Professor at UC’s Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering & Construction Management whose research informed the District’s initial phase focused on benchmarking LOCAL energy and water consumption data in downtown Cincinnati’s commercial buildings. All three institutions agree that the greatest opportunity of membership is the educational engagement opportunities for students. “It is a particularly important statement to our students and the greater Cincinnati community that all three major institutions of higher education have joined the District initiative,” says Dr. James Buchanan, XU Professor and Executive Director of The Brueggeman Center for Dialogue. In its inaugural year, the Cincinnati 2030 District has accepted twentysix members including developers, commercial building owners and tenants working to advance the bold sustainability goals of the 2030 Network. There are also opportunities to become 7 financial sponsors and professional and community partners. “We have a variety of professional partners who provide a wide range of expertise,” says Rojas. “They work collectively across the community, demonstrating why Greater Cincinnati is a destination where talented professionals and innovative businesses can thrive.” To learn more about becoming part of the solution to decrease our region’s carbon emissions and secure a sustainable future for all our community members, visit 2030districts.org/ cincinnati or email Elizabeth Rojas. Ayanna Pressley on Ending Homelessness Adam Sennott ContributingWriter A yanna Pressley remembers running for reelection to the Boston City Council in 2011, when a constituent asked her what she was going to do about the homeless people who were sleeping on park benches. “They used some other term that was very derogatory,” Pressley recounted in a recent interview with Real Change News. “They said, ‘what is your plan to make our parks safe?’” Pressley responded that her plan was “to end homelessness.” Now a U.S. congresswoman, Pressley said she has a plan that will not only help accomplish that, but will also transform the criminal justice and legal system, which she said perpetuates homelessness. On Nov. 14, Pressley unveiled a resolution titled “The People’s Justice Guarantee,” which “lays out a bold, new vision for justice in the American criminal legal system,” according to a press release issued by her office. The plan’s priorities include eliminating life sentences without parole, abolishing the death penalty, private prisons and solitary confinement, and decriminalizing sex work and other low-level offenses, “which are byproducts of poverty, homelessness, discrimination and/or addiction,” according to the release. The plan is based on five principles: shared power, freedom, equality, safety and dignity. Pressley said the status quo of the current criminal legal system is “fundamentally flawed” and that a new vision is needed. “It is xenophobic and racist, and just tinkering at the edges with legislative reforms is not going to be enough,” Pressley said. “We need to do something bold and transformative.” She said that by prioritizing decarceration, it is possible to cut the prison population by 80 percent or more. To accomplish this goal, Pressley said we need to stop punishing poor people for being poor. “In order to reduce our incarcerated population by the 80 percent plus that we believe is possible, it means that we need to decriminalize poverty, and that means decriminalizing those that are experiencing homelessness,” Pressley said. “That means decriminalizing fareevasion,” she said. “There are so many people experiencing homelessness who do evade fares [on] public transit just to get to [a] shelter before curfew, or to try to be gainfully employed,” Pressley said. “And they just don’t have the money, and they should not be arrested and experience punitive consequences simply for trying to get on a better path.” Another key aspect to her plan, Pressley said, is access to housing. “The People’s Justice Guarantee will invest $1 trillion in the modernization and expansion of social housing stock throughout the country,” Pressley said. “It guarantees housing for survivors of crime and, again, it decriminalizes homelessness, which we know eliminates reinceration for individuals who failed to secure housing.” And many who are released from prison currently do fail to secure housing, Pressley said. “In Massachusetts, I think at one point, 30 percent of those being released from correctional facilities were being released directly to shelter,” Pressley said. “That is not a recipe to support formerly incarcerated men and women in getting on a pathway to gainful employment [and] self-sufficiency. “In fact, housing is such a critical determinant ... that when people don’t have that, we know that it contributes to recidivism,” Pressley said. “So it is really disingenuous to say, ‘OK, now you’ve received maybe some training behind the wall ...’ and then to say, ‘now go into the world and make a legitimate contribution and make your best contribution’ when people are experiencing housing discrimination, employment discrimination and, again many are being released directly to shelter.” Too often, people will see those experiencing homelessness as the other and will marginalize them instead of seeing them as members of the community, Pressley said. “I think that often because most people are disconnected from their own reality, which is that many people are a life disruption away from experiencing homelessness,” Pressley said. “They are one government shutdown away, one illness, one layoff, one defaulted student loan away from experiencing homelessness.” As a child growing up in Chicago, she experienced firsthand the impact incarceration can have on families, as her father, who battled substance abuse THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED disorder, was often incarcerated. Pressley spoke about her father’s struggle during a congressional hearing earlier this year. She said that while her father was incarcerated and in the throes of addiction, “our entire family was serving with him.” “My father was in and out of the criminal justice system because of crimes he committed while battling a substance abuse disorder. I know intimately the destabilization, the stigma, the social shame and isolation of having a loved one who is incarcerated,” she said. Her father was later able to “do incredible things,” Pressley said, including obtaining two advanced degrees, becoming a college journalism professor and a published author. “I’m very proud of him,” Pressley said. When asked about her experience growing up, Pressley said that her story “is one of millions.” “I think my job as a legislator is not just to take up space, but it’s to create space,” Pressley said. “That’s something that we put into practice in the developing of every legislation that we have offered, which is to create space and to bring a seat to the table for those who are closest to the hurt and the pain who have been directly impacted. “And we know by staying acutely uncomfortable and listening to those stories, it ensures that we never grow complacent in the work,” Pressley said. “But it’s also by being in the proximity to the hurt and by actively listening and leaning in where we find the best solutions.” �FEATURED 8 N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec 12- -NDec 26,2 02019 422 Look Back At 2019 Dr. Mark Mussman Staff Writer A t the end of every calendar year, we like to look back at the year and see what we’ve accomplished. In the Education Program, we have developed a training module around homelessness that has been successful in different settings. The training includes people experiencing homelessness, and gives the audience an opportunity to ask questions and reflect on their own experiences. It also provides a thorough background and history of homelessness in America. In addition to the training we provided this year, we also had success in our Speaker’s Bureau, Walking Tours, Streetvibes Shadow, and Alternative Breaks. Reflecting on our program gives us power to make changes to enhance the program for 2020. Winter 2019 We continued our Speakers’ Bureau engagements this winter, speaking to small and large groups alike. We had the honor of speaking at the Terrace Park Women’s Club, a group of women who care deeply about their community and helping their neighbors in need. They help to run a program in nearby Batavia, making sure the residents of a local housing community are stably housed. We shared the floor with our member organization, the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN), at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Anderson, who is exploring becoming part of IHN. This was a powerful discussion because IHN was able to provide details, while our speaker was able to provide a first-hand account of staying in shelters, and the care that is needed. We also spoke with students through the Tau House and St. Vincent de Paul. Our speakers made an impact on students at Loveland, Gamble Montessori, Deer Park, Mercy McAuley, and Roger Bacon High Schools. Our speakers hope to instill empathy into the listener, but also a realism that helps people to understand that policy change is needed to end homelessness. This was especially true at the Urban League, where we spoke with a group of Black entrepreneurs, who struggled with their understanding of what homelessness actually means, and how their experience with homelessness affects their worldview. It was a positive event for the speaker, Melissa, as the entrepreneurs reached out to support her beyond the speaking engagement. Melissa remains in contact with members of the group even today. Our Alternative Break program, the Cincinnati Urban Experience (CUE), was in full swing this March as we hosted Central Michigan University and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) for the first time. We also hosted the University of Vermont, who has participated in CUE in years past. Each of the trips went smoothly Melissa at Ursuline Shantytown and gave the participants a new view into homelessness, poverty, hunger, gentrification, and displacement. The amount of learning participants receive over the week can’t really be summarized here. We are fortunate to work so closely with our member organizations who make the experience so fulfilling. CUE participants interact and learn from the Interfaith Workers’ Center, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, St. Joseph St. Francis Catholic Worker House, St. Francis Seraph Ministries, and Streetvibes. They hear Willa takes a silly picture with Bishop Fenwick after her Talk THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED from community speakers, such as Over-the-Rhine Community Council Board members, and leaders from Mass Action for Black Liberation. They complete each of our educational programs, from the walking tours, to Streetvibes’ Shadow, and our Speakers’ Bureau. They attended a City Council meeting, many for the first time. They experience Lunch on Food Stamps at Findlay Market, where they develop strategies to deal with situations of need. One participant summed up their experience: “I deeply admire all of the work you’ve done for Cincinnati and how much effort you put into making this week amazing for us. I really feel like I got to know the city, homelessness, and gentrification, on a personal level. Thanks.” Spring 2020 We started off the season with a set of tours for a national Rabbi Conference being hosted in Cincinnati. It was a great opportunity for people who had been away from Cincinnati, or who had never been here, to get acquainted with the area. It was a powerful group of individuals who understood the complex nature of gentrification and the pain and suffering that the neighborhood has experienced over the years. We also did tours for Aiken High School, Dayton’s middle school Clubhouse program, Camp Ernst counselors and staff, Over-the-Rhine Community Church, and University of Cincinnati Medical students. Our Speakers’ Bureau had the opportunity to speak to the entire DePaul Christo Rey student body at an end-of-the-year assembly. Hundreds of students listened intently to Willa Jones as she told her story using her book of poetry. Dozens of students surrounded Willa to give her hugs and �9 FEATURED No. 39 Nov 226, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123 -| Dec | No. 422 Sam Speaks to St. Barnabas Summer Program thanks her for telling her story. We then spoke with a smaller classroom about gentrification specifically, and students expressed their concerns about being displaced from the West End and Overthe-Rhine. We spoke about historical and contemporary issues that lead and sustain homelessness. One student passed along her grandparents’ names so that our Advocacy Team could look into their property. Our speakers, Deedee, Cleo, Willa, and Melissa also spoke with groups from: All Saints 1st Grade, McNicholas, Aiken, and Moeller High Schools, First Unitarian Church, Ameri*corps West End, local students from the St. Vincent dePaul summer program, and non-local groups at the Tau House. Summer 2020 Our relationship with the Tau House remained strong as we spoke with groups from various locations and backgrounds. At the Tau House, our speakers engaged with groups from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Washington State, as well as groups from Centerville, Grove City, Mason, and Cincinnati, Ohio. In general, the groups at the Tau House show compassion and are starting to understand the underlying causes of homelessness. Over the course of a week, we worked closely with St. Barnabas in Montgomery, bolstering their summer youth camp. We went to the Church to speak with the youth as an introduction to the week on Monday, then on Tuesday we took them on a Over-theRhine People’s Movement walking tour to help them gain historical perspective and see what is currently happening in Over-the-Rhine. The next day, Wednesday, they participated in a Streetvibes Shadow with Lee McCoy which proved to be eye-opening as many of them have had interactions with people panhandling, but didn’t know how to respond. Finally, on Thursday we went back to the Church Dayton Clubhouse after Walking Tour THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED with another speaker and wrapped up the week. The participants remarked that they have seen things with a new perspective, with hopefulness. Our Autumn program has included the Xavier University Alternative Break Program, which I wrote about a few weeks ago. We also supported several schools who participated in Shantytown. It has been a productive and rewarding year so far. If you are interested in hearing from one of our speakers, or participating in our education program, please sign up at cincihomeless.org/education/ Training at Central Clinic �10 GLOBAL N ov 2 o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec 12- -NDec 26,2 02019 422 The Story Behind The Gambia’s Lawsuit Against Myanmar Over The Rohingya Genocide Samira Sadeque Inter Press Service O n 11 November, the Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice for the southeast Asian country’s atrocities against the Rohingya population. Over the past years, hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh for refuge, sparking one of the more dire refugee crises of the decade. They continue to remain in camps in Bangladesh, where they are vulnerable to human trafficking and other forms of violence. Even though the crisis has been ongoing for decades, it’s a crucial time for the lawsuit to be filed, advocates say. And the Rohingya people’s continuing refusal to go back is only testament to the lack of security for them in Myanmar. “No one has been held accountable,” said Akila Radhakrishnan, President of Global Justice Center (GJC). “It’s the same forces [that] remain in Rakhine state, they remain kind of [as a] part of the military with no punishment. There’s no feeling that there’s safety and security to go back to Myanmar.” Radhakrishnan pointed out that even though the lawsuit may be “far away” from when the crisis began, the continued fear of Rohingyas to return to their home shows how deeply the crisis persists. “I think there’s a recognition of the impossibility of the return of the Rohingya, a solution to the humanitarian crisis,” she said, adding that the lawsuit will push for the Myanmar government to take actions that focus on changing the laws and policies that enabled the genocide. The lawsuit by the Gambia is supported in large part by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and is being led by Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Gambia Abubacarr M Tambadou, who decided to pursue actions after a recent visit to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, a region where about 900,000 Rohingya refugees are living in camps in that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has termed the world’s biggest refugee camp. Tambadou, who also worked to bring justice for the case of the Rwandan genocide, immediately recognised a similar pattern and was moved to take action, he said during an event held during U.N. General Assembly in September. One of the key things being asked in the lawsuit is the request for provisional measures that would require the Myanmar government, on a basis of “extreme urgency”, to set a hearing date for Myanmar government to “restrain certain conduct” by Myanmar that’s enabling the genocide, Paul Reichler, head of Foley Hoag, the law firm leading the lawsuit, explained. “When you file a suit, you want to make sure the very object of the suit is not destroyed while the case is pending in court,” he explained. “The Gambia will be asking the court to order Myanmar to cease all acts of genocide against the Rohingya.” But a challenge remains here: how can Myanmar stop actions they don’t acknowledge as genocide denial? “The court may wish to define what kind of acts should be stopped so the order makes clear what Myanmar is prohibited from doing,” Reichler said. “[The] main thing we’re asking for is final judgment…in the interim to prevent further irreparable harm.” In case Myanmar does not comply with the requirements of the lawsuit, Reichler says the court can take further actions or the international community “can react with political measures”. Within a few days of the lawsuit being filed by the Gambia, a lawsuit was filed by Argentina against leaders in Myanmar, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who is the first Nobel peace laureate to face such legal charges. Suu Kyi, however, has not budged from her position. She continues to justify the torture of Rohingyas while branding them as “terrorists” owing to a 2017 attack that sparked the most recent exodus. In the aftermath of the lawsuit, her government has set up a legal unit while she aims to lead the country’s defence at the ICJ, with a hearing expected on 10 December. “Aung San Suu Kyi and the civilian government failed to act against genocide in Rakhine State with any level of urgency and have taken no steps to hold the military to account,” Radhakrishnan said in a statement for Suu Kyi’s announcement. “Now, they are going to defend the military and government’s genocidal actions on one of the world’s largest and most influential stages. The international community should no longer have illusions where Suu Kyi and the civilian government stand and must act to support the Gambia and take other measures to hold Myanmar accountable.” Courtesy of Inter Press Service / INSP.ngo Rohingya after they fled Myanmar in 2017 arrive at Shahparir Dip in Teknaf, Bangladesh. On Nov. 11, the Gambia filed a lawsuit against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice for the southeast asian country’s atrocities against the Rohingya population. Credit: IPS THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 226, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123 -| Dec | No. 422 11 GLOBAL Afghan Women Brave Rockets For Rights I Rina Chandran Reuters n the decade since launching a radio station in northern Afghanistan, Sediqa Sherzai has braved mines and rocket attacks as the Taliban seeks to silence her. But she has kept going. Fawzia Koofi, the country's first female deputy of the lower house of parliament, has survived assassination and kidnap attempts. Last year, she was banned from running for re-election so she set up her own party. Women have made huge strides in the conservative country since a ban during Taliban rule of 1996 to 2001 from school, work, politics and going outside without a male relative. While growing numbers of women now complete education and work in previously male bastions, they continue to face harassment and hurdles, human rights activists say. "Women are half the population, and should have the same rights and opportunities as men in this country," said Sheila Qayumi, a programme coordinator at Equality for Peace and Democracy, which advocates for more women in politics. "But women are still denied education, forced to marry young, kept from working, and treated no better than animals in the provinces," she said. Four decades of war, from occupation to internal fighting, have destroyed the economy, rendering it among the poorest in the world, with few jobs for a mostly young population. Women occupy a particularly precarious place, as they face cultural barriers and hostility - not just from conservative family members, but also hardline Islamist groups - for pursuing financial independence and greater equality, Qayumi said. Open minds Nearly half of Afghan women would rather leave their wartorn country permanently if they could, citing poverty and limited opportunities, according to a Gallup poll in September. On her radio broadcasts in Kunduz, Sherzai discusses issues from education to independence, domestic violence, inheritance rights and women's right to vote - and stand for elections. Most women are not aware of their rights, or are too scared to exercise them, said Sherzai, whose staff are mostly women. "My goal is to educate women on their rights, and open their minds," she said, speaking through a translator. "I want to convince families to let their daughters study, to not marry them off young, and to respect their choices." Funding for the station is uncertain, and her family fears for her safety, but she has never thought about quitting, she said, even when she had to broadcast from home after the station was attacked and her equipment stolen. "My dream is that Afghan women can be safe and free to do what they wish to do, without men stopping them," Sherzai said in an interview on a visit to the capital. She asked that her picture not be taken for safety reasons. Across the country, efforts are underway to make public spaces safer and more open to women. While Afghan women lag on many measures, a quota that reserves 68 of 250 seats in the lower house of parliament gives them a higher representation than the global average of 24%. The quota makes it easier for women to enter politics, but they lack money and run greater security risks, said Koofi. "Being a female politician is hard everywhere - we are scrutinised for our looks and our clothing, and we are not taken seriously," she said in an interview in her office. "In Afghanistan, men don't accept An Afghan woman carries flowers as she celebrates Valentine's Day in Kabul, Afghanistan February 14, 2019. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED women in the public sphere, and our views are not respected even in parliament." Mayor, de-miners An international aid effort that arrived with foreign forces in 2001 prioritised girls' education and women's empowerment. From a female de-mining team in Bamiyan province to street singers in Kabul, women have since won more independence. But there are fears that a final withdrawal of U.S. troops, the winding down of international engagement and the re-emergence of the Taliban may reverse gains. Turnout of women voters in September's presidential election was low amid security threats and concerns over facial recognition technology. In the provinces, the challenges are still greater. Zarifa Ghafari, 26, mayor of Maidan Shahr in restive Wardak province, has said she expects to be assassinated. She was recently named on BBC's list of 100 women of 2019. Khadija Ahmadi is the only other female mayor in the country, in the city of Nili in the remote Daykundi province. It has taken her a while to assert authority locally and to get federal authorities in Kabul to allocate resources. "The men would not listen to me at first. Many have come around after they realised I am persistent and can get the work done," she said. Yet women are constantly thwarted. Last year, Koofi was one of several members of parliament disqualified from contesting the elections for allegedly running private armed militias and possessing illegal weapons - charges she denied and challenged. Koofi recently set up a political party, Movement of Change for Afghanistan, becoming the first Afghan woman to do so. The 44-year-old also took part in so-called intra-Afghan talks aimed at bringing together Taliban representatives and other Afghans to find a way to end the war. Women were also included for the first time in the Taliban delegation at the peace talks, as the militant group projects a more moderate image. "Women have been the worst victims of the war, so we must have a say in the future of this country," Koofi said. "It's not enough to just fill a quota; we have to bring women to the forefront of politics, to leadership positions, and be a part of national decision making," she said. Courtesy of Reuters / Thomson Reuters Foundation / INSP.ngo �12 I Am STREETVOICE N o v 12 2 --N o v 19, 0 18 || N o . 393 Dec Dec 26,22019 No. 422 Too Comfortable Have you ever had days where everything seems to be alright I am alive and hopeful I wonder if Cincinnati has turned into an alcoholic city Have you ever had days where your last problem seemed our of sight Have you ever had days where you thought you were at your I hear hope and fear very best I see good and bad And in that same day you felt a wet mop slap you back into a I want to keep improving my health mess Those are the days that I be mindful of everyday and all of I am alive and full of hope the time I’ve learned that with the good days I must not forget the bad I pretend to sometimes not be disgusted with our city days they’re all mine! For me I believe that the luxury of living and being able to I feel hopeful make a conscience choice I touch a person To know right from wrong, to make decisions and to take I worry about the economy heed to God’s voice Keeps me in tune to the understanding that living life can be I cry for the world very good I am hopeful And in past experiences I’ve been blessed so I try to live life as I should I understand the coalition is headed in the right direction I’ve come into the understanding of what living life should be all about I’ve learned to believe in miracles, believe in blessings and and Advocating justice God’s love no doubt! Just take the time to think about these words while you’re I say don't give up hope looking for that lucky day I dream of a place Consider these words that the good and bad days are what I hope God stays merciful with us I am alive and full of life Kim Green Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor you make them Just remember that I pray!!!! Willa D. Jones Contributing Writer Streetvibes Distributor Streetvibes Writing Circle If you would like to submit a story for publication in streetvibes, come join Katelyn Lusher, Chris Wilkey, and Alex McIntosh for a group writing session! THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 26, 2- N o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123- |Dec 2019 | No. 422 STREETVOICE Declaration of Independence How can you know my mind, my heart or my soul? You do not even acknowledge your very presense causes a toll. How can you say you can sympathize and understand? You have not even helped during the times I have asked for your hand. How do you see yourself in the mirror today I wonder? THE YULETIDE SEASON 2019 We just survived Thanksgiving, And now great merciful heaven, All the banal Christmas songs Come at us twenty-four-seven. Meanwhile multiple candidates Continue to orate on the stump, That they possess the chutzpah To defeat The Donald Trump. We best get on with Christmas, Shopping till we drop at a mall, And telling everyone we meet: "Glad tidings to us all!" Now that you have allowed your life to go asunder. Know this much about me today as I look upon myself. No longer will my needs or desires be put upon hold nor a BILL WOODS Contributing Writer shelf. Know it is not a broken shell I see in the mirror today. It is a stronger, fused sould that has learned to pray! Know there are moments of extreme doubt and feelings of being forsaken; Yet if you believe my foundation is broken then you are sadly mistaken! Know these last several years of torment and pain. They have not accomplished your desire to drive me insane. Know I have absorbed every single ounce of the devastation and pain. Know I am no longer going to feed you my tears from the strain. Today I reclaim my life for my benefit and my dreams. Hopefully, you will understand I will defend this by any means! Carolyn Cupp Contributing Writer THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED 13 �PUZZLES 14 CROSSWORD PUZZLE NO. 109 Across 1. Exchange 5. Curved masonary structure 9. Hold firmly 14. Present location 15. Commercial transaction 16. Artery 17. Fury 18. Leg joint 19. Promise solemnly 20. Start abruptly 22. Sodium chloride 24. Challenge 25. Staining substance 26. Heavy metallic element 28. Beam 30. Oval fruit 31. Snakelike fish 32. Consumed 35. Thoroughfare 38. Run away quickly 39. At this time 40. Support 41. Subdued 42. Shrivelled 43. Lubricant 44. At any time 46. Brief period of precipitation 48. Digit 49. Line 50. Water hen 51. Floor covering 52. Exchange goods for money 53. A quick short straight punch 56. Not in favor of 59. Malevolent 61. Musical composition 63. Tied 65. Shaft 67. Public violence 68. Boredom 69. Male red deer 70. Unit of area 71. Taunt 72. Novice 73. Rind Down 1. Small piece of cloth or paper PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CROSSWORD #108 2. Fatigued 3. Debate 4. A secret look 5. Request 6. Payment for the release of someone 7. Remove unwanted substances from 8. Part of a shoe 9. Fuel 10. Raucous 11. Length by width 12. Principal actor 13. Trim 21. Roofing material 23. Large woody plant 27. Furrow 29. Beer 30. Liveliness and energy 31. Tree 32. Afresh 33. Ripped 34. Pitcher 35. Blemish 36. Group of three 37. Theatrical part 38. Conifer 41. Condensation 42. Chronic drinker 44. Historic period 45. Referendum 46. Ancient Roman god 47. Cavity 50. Storage space where wines are stored 51. Arithmetic operation 52. Value of Roman numerals LX 53. Liquid extracted from fruit or vegetables 54. Worship 55. Asian pepper plant 56. Assist in wrongdoing 57. Not any 58. Large marine food and game fish 60. Immense 62. Snare 64. Perish 66. Self N ov 2 o v 19, 0 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec 12- -NDec 26,22019 422 SODOKU PUZZLE NO 5- EASY SODOKU PUZZLE NO 4- EASY PUZZLES from puzzlechoice.com and puzzles.ca THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �No. 39 Nov 226, - N2019 o v 19, 2 0 18 Dec 123-| Dec | No. 422 Central Access Point 381-SAFE Shelter: Women and Children RESOURCES Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 621-7265 1528 Race St. 45202 Churches Active in Northside Bethany House 557-2873 4230 Hamilton Ave. 45223 591-2246 FreeStore/FoodBank 241-1064 1841 Fairmount Ave. 45214 The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women 2499 Reading Road 562-1980 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 112 E. Liberty Street 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 4600 Erie Ave. 45227 Serves area codes: 45226, 45227, 45208, 45209 6037 Cary Ave. 45224 Salvation Army 762-5660 St. Vincent de Paul 562-8841 131 E. 12th Street 45202 1125 Bank Street 45214 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter 872-9259 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Men Shelter: Men Charlie’s 3/4 House 784-1853 Shelterhouse 721-0643 2121 Vine Street 45202 411 Gest St. 45203 Prospect House 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street 45202 Starting Over 961-2256 1805 Dalton Ave. 45214 Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Women St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 682 Hawthorne Ave. 45205 City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Parkway Center 661-4620 First Step Home 961-4663 Shelter: Youth 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Sheakley Center for Youth (18-24 y/o) 2522 Highland Ave. 45219 569-9500 Lighthouse Youth Crisis Center (10-17 y/o) 3330 Jefferson Ave 45220 961-4080 Shelter: Family Interfaith Hospitality Network Treatment or Supportive Recovery: Both AA Hotline 351-0422 CCAT 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. 45214 Joseph House (Veterans) 471-1100 1522 Republic Street 45202 Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 761-1480 CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 OTR Community Housing 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street 45202 Talbert House 221-HELP Tender Mercies 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street 45202 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 Volunteers of America 381-1954 Anna Louise Inn 421-5211 Cincinnati Union Bethel 768-6907 VA 977-6800 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Food/Clothing First Lutheran Church 421-0065 1208 Race St. Food - Last Monday 12-1 Clothing - second Monday 12-1 Lord’s Pantry 621-5300 OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert Ave. 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street 45202 St. Francis Seraph Ministries 549-0542 St. George Food Pantry 2554 Dennis St. 45219 751-8771 St. Anthony Center 1615 Republic St. Advocacy Catholic Social Action 421-3131 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 2401-2411 Reading Rd. 45202 2401 Reading Rd. 45202 241-2965 Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board 946-8000 Recovery Health Access Center 281-7422 Sober Living 681-0324 Talbert House 221-HELP Housing: 15 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Ohio Justice & Policy Center 421-1108 UpSpring 363-3300 Health Cincinnati Health Network 2825 Burnet Ave. 45219 Other Resources Center Independent Living Options 241-2600 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 215 E. 14th St. 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 381-0111 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. 579-8547 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 1223 Main St. 45202 People Working Cooperatively 351-7921 The Caring Place 631-1114 Talbert House 751-7747 United Way 211 Women Helping Women 977-5541 Off The Streets 421-5211 Hamilton County Office of Reentry 946-4304 138 E. Court Street Room # 101 First Floor Cancer Justice Network 404-3882 Hamilton/Middletown St. Raephaels 981-4200 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 Northern Kentucky Brighton Center (11-17 y/o) 859-491-8303 ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Women’s Crisis Center 859-491-3335 VA Domiciliary 859-572-6202 Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky 634 Scott St. 41011 859-291-4555 Want to advertise in Streetvibes? You can support our mission and spread the word about your business. For more information contact Gabriela Godinez Feregrino, 961-0600 email streetvibes@cincihomeless.org Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave. 45229 Crossroad Health Center 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. 45202 Health Resource Center 357-4602 McMicken Integrated Care Clinic and Mobile Medical Van 386-7899 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 NAMI of Hamilton County 351-3500 PATH Outreach 977-4489 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED �16 N o v 212 - N o v 19, 18 | |NNo. o . 393 Dec - Dec 26,2 02019 422 S treetvibes is distributed by individuals who purchase the paper for 75 cents per copy and sell it for a $2.00 donation, keeping the profit they have earned. Becoming a Distributor is a great way for individuals who are financially poor to get back on (or stay on) their feet. This program provides supplemental income for those unable to secure other employment. Money earned helps meet basic housing, food and health care needs. The program is a hand up for people who are often in a place of getting only a hand out, or even no hand at all. All Distributors wear a badge and usually a vest and can be found selling the paper in Downtown Cincinnati, Clifton, Northside, Northern Kentucky and at area churches. ALFRED WOOLFOLK SINCE 10/2003 ASRES AYENAW SINCE 2012 BERTA LAMBERT SINCE 1997 BETTIE BAILEY SINCE 10/2017 BRANDON NELSON SINCE 4/2008 BRIAN ADAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHARLES WILLIAMS SINCE 7/2017 CHRISTOPHER KAIHATSU SINCE 7/2017 CLEO WOMBLES SINCE 10/2003 CRANDALL COBB SINCE 2004 DARREL ROZIER SINCE 7/2017 DAVID MCCANE SINCE 2017 ERIC VALDEZ SINCE 2/2017 GERALD FRANKLIN SINCE 7/2017 GRADY COOK SINCE 1997 HENRY BRELAND SINCE 7/2017 JAMES BROWN SINCE 3/2009 JAMES DAVIS SINCE 8/2000 JENNY BURTON SINCE 7/2017 JIMMIE GIPSON SINCE 2001 JON DARBY SINCE 2/2006 JOHN HORN JOSEPHINE BASKERVILLE SINCE 9/2008 J’TORI TYMAN SINCE 5/2014 KIM NGUYEN SINCE 7/2017 KENNY BUSSELL SINCE 10/2009 KAREN COLLETTE SINCE 7/2008 LARRY BROWN SINCE 10/2007 LEE MCCOY SINCE 7/2009 LEONARD JACKSON SINCE 2/2005 MARY MUELLER SINCE 5/2005 MARK SHEARS SINCE 4/2012 MAURICE GOLSBY MELISSA MOSBY SINCE 9/2014 MIKE CARANO SINCE 4/2016 RAESHAWN GIPSON SINCE 3/2009 RAYNARD JONES SINCE 10/2008 RICKY WOODS SINCE 4/2015 RICCARDO TAYLOR SINCE 1999 RONNIE PHILLIPS SINCE 10/2009 SAMUEL JACKSON SINCE 10/2006 STACIA HOLLANDER SINCE 2017 STEPHANIE EAKES SINCE 7/2017 SYLVESTER WALKER SINCE 7/2017 TALINA HILL SINCE 2/2011 VICTOR MUMPHRY WILLA JONES SINCE 1/2010 WINNIE RICE SINCE 7/2017 QUEENACELASTINE SINCE 7/2017 TIA CASS SINCE 11/2007 THE VOICE OF THE STREET...UNSILENCED TONY THOMAS SINCE 3/2005 KEITH EUTSEY SINCE 2/2011 VIOLET COLLINS SINCE 2017 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2019 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 12-December 26, 2019 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Cover Page Pg 2: Articles of Impeachment Pg 3: Rent Subsidies, Mental Health Care Tied to Housing Stability for Homeless Pg 4: GCHC Pg 5: A Tale of Two Proclamations Pg 6: Local Government vs. Federal Priorities Region’s Largest Universities Join Cincinnati 2030 District Pg 7: Ayanna Pressley on Ending Homelessness Pg 8: Look Back at 2019 Pg 9: Look Back at 2019 Continued Pg 10: The Story Behind the Gambia’s Lawsuit Against Myanmar Over the Rohingya Genocide Pg 11: Afghan Women Brave Rockets for Rights 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 12-December 26, 2019 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gabriela Godinez Bill Woods Samira Sadeque Rina Chandran Dr. Mark Mussman Magali Druscovich Willa Denise Jones June Alexander Kim Greene Kiara Clark INSP.com Blake Burrell Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Afghanistan Ayanna Pressley Bill Woods Blake Burrell Dr. Mark Mussman Gabriela Godinez Genocide Impeachment INSP.com June Alexander Kiara Clark Kim Greene Magali Druscovich mental health Myanmar Rina Chandran Rohingya Samira Sadeque University of Cincinnati Willa Denise Jones Women Rights https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/20ea533eb460aeae4137d2c1af65d2c6.pdf 431654441a07cddb52fa2f6275224845 PDF Text Text Life on the Bloody Edge Page 12 School of the Americas Protest Page 9 STREETVIBES $1 Dec. 15-31, 2009 • Advocating Justice, Building Community • Issue 167 Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Bob Dylan’s Christmas CD to benefit food pantries By Bill Flanagan Street News Service Exclusive to the International Network of Street Papers. B Bob Dylan plays the harmonica at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans. REUTERS/Lee Celano. Homeless Crimes Laws and policies make necessities illegal By Vicky C. McDonald Contributing Writer A small group of Miami University students joined together Dec. 1 at Fountain Square to raise their voices against laws targeting homeless people. Legislation makes it illegal to sleep, sit or store personal belongings in public spaces in many cities where people are forced to live, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. In Ohio, an “open container” law prevents people from possessing an open container of beer or liquor on public property. Public-in- decency laws prevent people let, a simple necessity that from urinating or defecating those who have homes take for granted. Those without in public. homes must “(It’s) important for sometimes It costs $65 per bed per people to go in public, day in the county jail in know homewhich violessness is comparison to an average lates the law. out there and of $30 a day for permanent After the first it’s not necoffense, the supportive housing. essarily their penalties in- Greater Cincinnati fault,” said Coalition for the Homeless crease with each subBrent Eysensequent ofbach, spokesman for the students. “People fense. Eysenbach said that, in are being locked up for doing everyday things we do at quasi-public places such as fast-food restaurants, homehome.” Eysenbach was referring to things such as using a toiSee Crime, p. 8 ob Dylan has at variBF: Did you take him serious times revolu- ously? tionized folk, rock, BD: Well, sure I took him country and gospel music. seriously. However, any Dylan fan who BF: But it didn’t happen. says he was not surprised How come? that Bob has reBD: He wasn’t leased an album specific. Besides, of traditional Dylan has donated there was always Christmas songs a glut of records all of his proceeds is pulling your out around that from the record, leg. Christmas time of year, and in perpetuity, to in The Heart is organizations around I didn’t see how another surprisone by me could the world to help ing move by an make any differwith hunger and artist famous ence. homelessness. for surprises. Yet BF: What was when you hear Christmas like Dylan's direct and obviously around your town when you sincere readings of “O Come were growing up? All Ye Faithful,” “Little Town BD: Well, you know, plenty Of Bethlehem” and “The First of snow, jingle bells, ChristNoel,” this unlikely exercise mas carolers going from seems of a piece with the rest house to house, sleighs in the of Dylan's work. streets, town bells ringing, From the very first, this Nativity plays – that sort of was an artist who made us thing. look at the familiar with new BF: Your family was Jewish. eyes and ears. While some As a kid did you ever feel left critics tie themselves into out of the Christmas exciteknots analyzing Dylan's mo- ment? tives, it has usually turned BD: No, not at all. out that Bob Dylan means exBF: What’s your idea of a actly what he says. Featuring good Christmas dinner? members of his touring band BD: Mashed potatoes and along with Los Lobos' David gravy, roast turkey and colHidalgo and Chess Records lard greens, turnip greens, vet Phil Upchurch, Christmas biscuit dressing, corn bread in The Heart is Dylan's cel- and cranberry sauce. ebration of family, communiBF: Have you spent any ty, faith and shared memory. Christmases overseas and And a timely celebration it is. been struck by how the holiRecognizing the worldwide day is celebrated in other problem of hunger, Dylan has countries? donated all of his proceeds BD: I was in Mexico City from the record, in perpetu- once, and they do a lot of reity, to organizations around enactment scenes of Joseph the world to help with hunger and Mary looking for a place and homelessness. to stay. BF: How do you like to spend We sat down to talk in the Waterfront Plaza Hotel in the week between Christmas Oakland on a rainy, windy, and New Year’s? BD: Doing nothing – mayOctober day. Bill Flanagan: Is recording be reflecting on things. BF: Why do you think a Christmas album something you’ve had on your mind for a Christmas has better songs than other holidays? while? BD: I don’t know. That’s a Bob Dylan: Yeah, every so often it has crossed my mind. good question. Maybe beThe idea was first brought to cause it’s so worldwide and me by Walter Yetnikoff, back everybody can relate to it in when he was President of CoSee Dylan, p. 4 lumbia Records. �2 Editorial Quite a Year for ‘Streetvibes’ By The Numbers 15 Growth, awards and occasional rejection the age of a boy serving as a drug dealer’s lookout in the woodcut, The Sentinel (see page 16) Seventh the edition of For a Better World 2010 set for publication in February 2010 (see page 7) STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 By Gregory Flannery Editor I was standing outside the office when a man in a U.S. flag shirt said he planned to kill himself on Christmas Eve unless his girlfriend got out of jail within two days. She was locked up on a charge of domestic violence. A few hours later a man told me he’d gotten a job, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society had given him a voucher for a pair of work boots. He offered to buy me a sweater, thanking me for giving him some small encouragement and bus fare before his fortunes improved. That is the kind of year Streetvibes had in 2009 – some heartaches, some victories. 10 • the age at which Jacob started smoking (see page 11) Zero the number of times Bob Dylan has been to Christmas Island (see page 1) 50 the cost, in pennies, of a cup of coffee and two refills at a downtown café (see page 12) 3 the number of Streetvibes contributors who published books this year (see page 2) 6.57 the number, in millions, of people around the world who own slaves (see page 7) 150 the amount, in dollars, an abusive husband makes each week playing guitar at a club (see page 10) 173,000 the average number of workers for which a wage-theft investigator with the U.S. Labor Department is responsible (see page 6) 2…7…5 the highway St. Nick traversed while collecting bedbugs (see page 14) • • • • • • • • • • • • We were sad to see Andy Freeze leave at the start of the year. As education coordinator for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, he managed the Streetvibes vendor program and laid out each edition of the paper. But that loss was also a gain for Streetvibes and for dozens of other street papers across the country. As the first-ever executive director of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA), Freeze is working hard to help street papers grow and improve. When Freeze moved on, Lynne Ausman - administrative coordinator of the Homeless Coalition – began laying out each edition. She’s so good at it that I asked her to be our art director. This involved no extra pay and lots of extra work, especially after the Homeless Coalition decided to begin publishing Streetvibes bi-weekly. No extra pay – in fact, no pay at all – is what our writers, photographers and proofreaders got this year. All year long they have donated their work for free. They’re an amazing, diverse lot. Some are college students, some are homeless people, some are social workers, some are professional writers. Three of our regular contributors have published books this year: Michael Henson (They All Asked About You); Margo Pierce (Your Wills, Estates and Trusts Easily Explained); and Larry Gross (Living Out Loud). When Andy Freeze left, Jeni Jenkins took over as education coordinator and manager of the vendor program, bringing her own creativity and energy to the task. Josh Spring, executive director of the Homeless Coalition, has been very supportive. We’ve sold all copies of many editions of Streetvibes this year, thanks to the generosity of our readers and the hard work of our vendors. With the onset of cold weather, when sales usually decline, we’ve now adjusted our circulation to 3,500 every two weeks, which is about three times what we were selling in early 2008. The Street News Service has circulated worldwide several stories that first appeared in Streetvibes. We’ve introduced new columns (“Artists as Activists” and a sports column) and enjoyed continuing long-standing columns (“Hammered” and “Eight Minutes”). Twice this year Streetvibes has won awards for an article called, “We Are Their Slaves.” NASNA and the International Network of Street Papers named it the Best Feature Story of the Year. When the Denver Voice reprinted the story, its vendors were barred by a grocery chain affiliated with the issues covered in the story. Closer to home, a religious organization asked Streetvibes vendors to stay away from its annual festival because of an article it disapproved. Both articles were carried worldwide by the Street News Service, a prescient reminder that making a mark can help some people while upsetting others. Some of our vendors have been arrested for urinating in alleys at night. Wouldn’t it be nice if once – just once – a judge would tell a homeless person where she should go at night, when the public library is closed and restaurants don’t want homeless people coming in to take a piss. Public urination is a crime, all right, but the perpetrator is society at large, prosecuting poor people for doing what nature requires. One of our vendors was arrested for sleeping in an abandoned building. This, too, is a crime. Every night hundreds of people in Greater Cincinnati have to sleep in cars, on benches, on friends’ couches, on the Ohio River bank, under highway overpasses, in overcrowded shelters, in alcoves at the library, the courthouse, the cathedral, at City Hall. The crime is homelessness – not what homeless people do to stay alive. We have been fortunate to have students from Miami University, Northern Kentucky University, Xavier University, Ohio University and the College of Mount Saint Joseph contribute photography and articles to Streetvibes. A student contributor recently expressed some reservation about an assignment in Over-theRhine. Like me, she was raised to believe that Over-the-Rhine is a dangerous place, an area to be avoided. This is not an uncommon view, but nor is it insuperable. I took the student on a brief walking tour of Over-the-Rhine and tried to share what I have seen: Over-the-Rhine is a neighborhood, a place where people look out for each other. It is under assault by city policies aimed at driving out the poor and those who help them. It is under assault by people who use guns at night – cowards, all of them! In the end, I don’t know if I changed the student’s view. But that kind of thing is what I believe an editor should do. That kind of thing goes to the heart of what Streetvibes and the Homeless Coalition are about: breaking down barriers, advocating on behalf of homeless people in a society that can be in turns compassionate and cruel. For this final edition of 2009, we’re offering fewer news stories and more poems and short stories. It’s in keeping with the season when we celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, Tsongkhapa Day and Eid ul-Fitr. You, our readers, have been very kind to us this year. Thank you. In 2010 may we see a world more just, more kind, more peaceful. Streetvibes is an activist newspaper, advocating justice and building community. Streetvibes reports on economic issues, civil rights, the environment, the peace movement, spirituality and the struggle against homelessness and poverty. Distributed by people who are or once were homeless, in exchange for a $1 donation, Streetvibes is published twice a month by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Address: 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513.421.7803 x 12 Fax: 513.421.7813 Email: streetvibes2@ yahoo.com Website: www. cincihomeless.org Blog: streetvibes. wordpress.com Streetvibes Staff Editor Gregory Flannery Art Director Lynne Ausman Vendor Coordinator Jeni Jenkins Contributing Writers Lew Moores, Samantha Groark, Margo Pierce, Paul Kopp, Jeremy Flannery, Michael Henson, David Heitfield, Kelissa Hieber, Dan Rozier, Stephanie Dunlap, Saad Ghosn, Keara Anita Mullen, Steven Paul Lansky, Larry Gross, Eli Braun Photography/Artwork Aimie Willhoite, Lynne Ausman, Jeni Jenkins, Anthony Williams, Bill Haigh, Clarissa Peppers Proofreaders Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to eradicate homelessness in Cincinnati through coordination of services, public education, grassroots advocacy and Streetvibes. We are members of: �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 3 Local News Hamilton County Hidden Treasures Integration works when neighbors work at it By Jill Span Contributing Writer West End became known as the first ghetto in Hamilton County, housing most of Cinor the past 30 years cinnati’s African Americans cities in Hamilton because they could not find County have been housing elsewhere, accordworking toward neighbor- ing to Leininger. hood integration. A Human As Cincinnati made an efResource event Nov. 21 cele- fort to replace slum housing brated those neighborhoods. in the 1930s and ’40s, a large The event began with a number of African Ameriwelcome and introduction by cans were displaced from Cheryl Meadows their homes. By of the Cincinnati the 1950s the Human Relations “A lot of this is about city was lookCommission, ing for ways to partnership and who identified build more pubbringing everyone the successfully to the table. It’s not lic housing, but integrated comneighborhoods about government munities as “hidwere still very changing den treasures.” segregated by communities, or “Whenever we race, Leininger politics; it’s about get an opportusaid. everyone in the nity to celebrate community stepping With the Fair what’s been acHousing Act of up. Be the change complished, I 1968, discrimiyou want to see.” think it’s wonnation based on -Kathy Garrison derful,” Meadows race in the sale, said. rental and fiThere were 25 communi- nancing of housing was proties recognized at the pro- hibited, which became the gram, with the honor of “gold first real step toward change. medal” status awarded to After 1970 came a sharp Riverfront/Downtown, Cor- change in the racial stability ryville and Madisonville for of integrated neighborhoods, 30 years of integrated neigh- but “as late as the early ’90s, borhoods. there were still some landCharles F. Casey Leininger lords that were openly and of the Department of History explicitly discriminating on at the University of Cincin- the basis of race,” Leininger nati led a segment on the his- said. tory of segregation in HamilToday old fears of integratton County. ed neighborhoods are far less “It’s clear to me that over prevalent than in the past, at the last 30 to 40 years there’s least in some neighborhoods, been a shift in the way people he said. think about their communi“We found that not only are ties – a positive shift,” said those traditionally integrated Leininger, who attributed the neighborhoods stabilized, progress to a change in at- but others as well,” Leininger titudes among younger gen- said. Success is about having a erations. However, “the fact that we healthy mix of racial diversity live in a society that is large- as well as socio-economic ly segregated on the basis of diversity, according to Elizabeth Brown, executive direcrace is no accident,” he said. In the late 19th century the tor of Housing Opportunities F Charles F. Casey-Leininger (seated) and Elizabeth Brown speak about the success of integrated neighborhoods. Photo by Maria Campolongo. Made Equal. “The fact is we are all welcome to live wherever we choose for whatever reason we choose,” she said. The second half of the “Hidden Treasures” program began with a short documentary on one Pennsylvania community’s quest toward a vibrant integrated neighborhood, followed by a panel on trend-setting with representatives from some of Hamilton County’s stabilized integrated neighborhoods. Tim Jeckering, president of the Northside Community Council, represented that neighborhood at the event. Northside earned a silver medal for being integrated since 1980. “If you can do pro-active things in your community that involve all people, you’ll have much more success with integration,” he said. One way Northside does this is by having an annual Fourth of July parade, Jeckering said. Maria Kreppel, chair of District A Board of Directors, spoke on behalf of the Pleasant Ridge Heights and Kennedy Heights communities. Kreppel said she and her husband moved to the edge of Pleasant Ridge in the 1970s and found it to be a wonderful place to raise their family. “Today, looking over my shoulder, our wonderful family experience was because of human geography – not physical geography,” Kreppel said. District A includes neighborhoods that have committed themselves to working in the arts, including everything from architecture to welding, she said. District A is not an ordinary arts district because artists not only work there, but also raise their families there, as well, Kreppel said. Kathy Garrison, another panel member, has lived in Madisonville for the past 48 years. She said the key to integrating neighborhoods is recognizing the importance of reaching out and latching on to those who want to get involved. “A lot of this is about partnership and bringing everyone to the table,” Garrison said. “It’s not about government changing communities, or politics; it’s about everyone in the community stepping up. Be the change you want to see.” Proclamations from Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and the Hamilton County Commissioners declared Nov. 21 “Hidden Treasures Day.” Religious March for Health Care Faith leaders want Congress to act By Donald Washington Contributing Writer M ore than 50 “People of Faith United for Health Care Reform” gathered Nov. 24 on the steps of Christ Church Cathedral downtown to rally for health-care reform, now reaching a critical stage in Congress. The U.S. Senate began debate following its Thanksgiving break. The rally engaged people across many religious denominations. The Rev. Paula Jackson of Church of Our Saviour, Rabbi Sigma Coran of Rockdale Temple, the Rev. Elmer Martin of Brown Chapel A.M.E. and Canon Joanna Leiserson of Christ Church denied that blessing because Cathedral provided testimo- of lack of health coverage.” An open letter ny of the need for from faith leaders health-care reform. to elected officials The Rev. Damon “We have a Lynch Jr. of New moral obligation was signed by perJerusalem Baptist to families who sons of faith from Church closed out Greater Cincinare denied the rally with a fiery (health care).” nati and was made speech that chalavailable to the rally lenged the participarticipants to sign. pants to take action now to Participants marched with banners and placards to the support health care reform. “As families prepare to Cincinnati office of U.S. Sen. share a Thanksgiving meal George Voinovich to deliver this week, it is important to the letter. It was a remarkable recognize that our health is scene that generated many one of the most important on lookers from the lunchthings we say ‘thanks’ for,” time crowd downtown. This was the first action said one faith leader in attendance. “We have a moral taken by the People of Faith, obligation to families who are but more activity is to follow Religious leaders spoke out in support of health care reform Nov. 24. to secure health-care reform for individuals, families and society as a whole during this critical month. These religious leaders are partner- ing with Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, a statewide organization building a consumer voice for health-care reform. �4 Exclusive Interview STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Bob Dylan has just completed his first Christmas CD. The profits will benefit the hungry. Photo courtesy of Columbia Records. Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door continued from page 1 ing through the window at the congregation, hear their version of “Hey Jude.” wishing he were in there. Did any of these BF: The way you do “Winter Wonderland” their own kind of way. songs surprise you when you heard them makes me think of Gene Autry and Roy RodBF: Very often when contemporary art- played back? gers, the singing cowboys in the old movies. ists do Christmas records, they look for a BD: No, they were pretty much the same Even in John Wayne films, there’d always be new angle. John Fahey did instrumental folk going in as going out. You can already hear a scene back at the fort where an Irish band variations on holiday songs, Billy Idol did a them in your head before was playing, or the Sons of rock and roll Christmas album, Phil Specter you begin. the Pioneers were singing. “I love rhyming for rhyming put the Wall of Sound around the Christmas BF: Any Christmas Did you have a favorite sake. I think that’s an tree and the Roches did kind of a kooky left- songs you like but you did cowboy singer as a kid? field collection. You played this right down not think you could do? incredible art form.” BD: Yeah, Tex Ritter. the middle, doing classic holiday songs in BD: Not really. There BF: What about Gene - Bob Dylan traditional arrangements. Did you know go- were ones I didn’t want and Roy? ing in you wanted to play it straight? to do, but not any that I BD: Yeah, they were BD: Oh sure, there wasn’t any other way didn’t think I could do. The idea was to re- OK, but Tex Ritter was my favorite. He was to play it. These songs are part of my life, cord the best known ones. way more heavy. There was more gravity to just like folk songs. You have to play them BF: “Christmas Blues” is an old Dean Mar- him. straight, too. tin song. What attracted you to that? BF: Have you heard “Christmas on Death BF: There’s something new that hapBD: It’s just a beautiful song. Row,” the rap Christmas record? pens when your voice goes up against the BF: Stan Lynch once told me about you BD: No, I don’t think so. very smooth background singers and old- and him slipping out of a rehearsal with the BF: Do you listen to rap music? fashioned arrangements. It adds a new fla- Heartbreakers to go see Dean, Sinatra and BD: I don’t listen to rap radio stations and vor to the mix. When you do “I’ll Be Home Sammy Davis. What appealed to you about I don’t play rap songs on the jukebox, and I for Christmas,” it sounds really forlorn, like those guys? don’t go to rap shows, so, no, I guess I don’t you’re singing the song in jail and this is BD: I don’t know, maybe the camarade- listen to rap music all that much. your one phone call. Do you ever approach rie. On the other hand, I wasn’t much into BF: What do you think of rap music? singing a song like an actor? that whole scene, actually. It left a lot of BD: I love rhyming for rhyming sake. I BD: Not any more then Willie or Nat King people out. think that’s an incredible art form. Cole would. The songs BF: “Must Be Santa” is BF: There’s a lonely quality in the way you don’t require much acting. a real jumping polka. Did do “Silver Bells.” You were a young man when They kind of play them“I don’t know what my you hear a lot of polka you moved from Minnesota to New York City. selves. grandchildren think of any of bands growing up? Was Christmas very different in New York? BF: Do you try to go for BD: Yeah, I heard a few. BD: Christmas was pretty much the same my records. I don’t know if different emotions on difBF: I never heard that in New York, only more so. they’ve even heard them.” ferent takes? BF: Did it make you homesick? song before. Where did you - Bob Dylan BD: Not really. The emoBD: Not really. I didn’t think about it that hear it? tions would pretty much BD: I first heard that much. I didn’t bring the past with me when be the same on any singular take. The in- song years ago on one of those “Sing Along I came to New York. Nothing back there flections would maybe differ if we changed with Mitch” records. But this version comes would play any part in where I was going. BF: Hearing you sing “Adeste Fidelis” rethe key, and sometimes that might affect from a band called Brave Combo. Somethe emotional resonance. body sent their record to us for our radio minds me of being an altar boy at Midnight BF: When I hear your version of “Hark! show. They’re a regional band out of Texas Mass. The priests all had to lead the singing, The Herald Angels Sing,” it makes me think that takes regular songs and changes the See Dylan, p. 5 of a lonely fellow outside the church, look- way you think about them. You ought to �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 Exclusive Interview 5 Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door continued from page 4 you sure deliver that song like a true believer. BD: Well, I am a true believer. and it didn’t matter if they were singers or not – they belted it out. Have you BF: You know, some people will think that Bob Dylan doing a Christmas ever sung in a foreign language before? album is meant to be ironic or a put-on. This sounds to me like one of the BD: I’ve sung in French, Italian and Spanish. Over the years Columbia most sincere records you’ve ever made. Did anybody at your record comhas asked me to do records in those languages, and I recorded stuff here pany or management resist the idea? and there. None of the tracks have been released, though. It’s hard decidBD: No, it was my record company who compelled me to do it. ing whether to do a translation of one of my own songs or an original BF: Why now? song in one of those languages, which I’m BD: Well, it just came my way now, at this time. Actually, I don’t think I actually more partial to. I’ve always wanted would have been experienced enough earlier anyway. “Isn’t there enough to do some Edith Piaf songs. BF: Some critics don’t seem to know what to make of this record. irreverence in the world? BF: “La Vie en Rose”? Bloomberg News said, “Some of the songs sound ironic. Does he really BD: Yeah. That one and a couple of oth- mean “have yourself a merry little Christmas?” Is there any ironic content Who would need more? Especially at Christmas time.” ers: “Sous Le Ciel de Paris, “Pour Moi Tout in these songs? Seule” and maybe one or two more. BD: No, not at all. Critics like that are on the outside looking in. They - Bob Dylan BF: What stopped you? are definitely not fans or the audience that I play to. They would have no BD: Well, I can hear myself doing them in gut level understanding of me and my work, what I can and can’t do – the my head, but I’d need written arrangements to pull it off, and I’m not sure scope of it all. Even at this point in time they still don’t know what to make who could do that. of me. BF: Which singers do you BF: Derek Barker in the associate with Christmas? Independent compared this BD: Johnny Mathis and record with the shock of you Nat King Cole. Doris Day. going electric. So many artBF: What about Bing ists have released Christmas Crosby? records, from Bing Crosby to BD: Sure, “White ChristHuey Piano Smith. Why is it mas” was always a big a shock if you do it? song. BD: You’ll have to ask BF: I always get choked them. up at the end of “Going My BF: The Chicago Tribune Way” when the old priest’s felt this record needed more mother comes walking toirreverence. Doesn’t that ward him on Christmas miss the point? Eve and Bing watches from BD: Well, sure it does. the door of the church, then That’s an irresponsible statement anyway. Isn’t picks up his suitcase and there enough irreverence in walks off into the snow – the world? Who would need “Tura, Lura Lura” playing more? Especially at Christin the background. You can’t mas time. get any more Christmassy BF: The profits from this than that. Did movies have album are going to buy a big effect on how you saw Christmas dinners for folks the world growing up? who are having a hard time BD: I think so. I lived in financially. When I heard a small town, and movthat, I thought of the Woody ies were a window into the Guthrie song, “Pretty Boy outside world. Floyd”: “Here’s a Christmas BF: “Christmas Island” is dinner for the families on a wacky song! Santa’s going relief.” to sail in with your presents BD: Exactly, “Pretty Boy in a canoe. Where did that Bob Dylan’s Christmas CD. Photo courtesy of Columbia Records. Floyd.” “Pretty Boy grabbed come from? You ever been to the log chain and the depChristmas Island? uty grabbed his gun.” Did BD: No, I’ve never been you ever notice how Pretty there. I have no idea where Boy Floyd looks exactly like babe Ruth? the song comes from, who wrote or even if there is such a place. BF: Yeah, I have. BF: Your song, “Three Angels,” always reminds me of the holidays. Did BD: Did you ever think it could be the same guy? you ever sit down to write a Christmas song? BF: Maybe they’re interchangeable? BD: I have never done that. It’s something to think about, though. BD: Yeah, in the real world Pretty Boy would be batting clean up for the BF: You have grandchildren. What do you think they’ll make of this record? Did it occur to you making this record that years from now your Yankees and Babe Ruth would be robbing banks. BF: Yeah, and they’re both legends. grandchildren will play this album for their own kids? BD: Right. BD: I don’t know what my grandchildren think of any of my records. I BF: Why did you pick Feeding America, Crisis UK and The World Food don’t know if they’ve even heard them. Maybe the older ones. BF: You’re a lot more loyal to these melodies than you are to the melo- Programme to give the proceeds of this record to? BD: Because they get food straight to the people – no military orgadies of the songs you’ve written. Do you figure these tunes can’t be messed nization, no bureaucracy, no governments to with? deal with. BD: If you want to get to the heart of them, they can’t be, no. "I’ve sung in French, Italian BF: Do you still send out Christmas cards? BF: Your version of “The Christmas Song” is right in the pocket. You slide and Spanish. Over the BD: I haven’t for a while. into that song like you’ve been singing it all your life. You also sing the intro BF: Do you have a favorite Christmas al- years Columbia has asked (“All through the year we waited …”), which most people leave out. I don’t bum? think Nat King Cole used that intro. Why did you bring it back? me to do records in those BD: Maybe the Louvin Brothers. I like all languages, and I recorded BD: Well, I figured the guy who wrote it put it in there deliberately. It definitely creates ten- the religious Christmas albums – the ones in stuff here and there. None “I didn’t bring the past with sion, predicts what you are about to hear. Latin, the songs I sang as a kid. of the tracks have been BF: A lot of people like the secular ones. BF: I think you did drop the “goodies” on the me when I came to New released, though." BD: Religion isn’t meant for everybody. York. Nothing back there sleigh. Did something about that bother you? - Bob Dylan BF: What sort of gifts do you like to give? BD: No, not really. I don’t think I thought of would play any part in BD: I try to match the person with the gift. it until you mentioned it. I try my best to be where I was going.” BF: Are you a last-minute shopper? exact, but sometimes things just fall away. We - Bob Dylan BD: Always. probably recorded the song, got the feel right BF: Do you drop any hints about what you hope to get from your famand moved on. Most likely we didn’t even listen back, just moved on to something else. I don’t think that’s something ily? BD: Nope. Their well-being – that’s enough of a gift for me. I would have noticed anyway. BF: I know we’re out of time but I have to ask: What’s the best Christmas BF: You really give a heroic performance of “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.” The way you do it reminds me a little of an Irish rebel song. There’s gift you ever got? BD: Let me think. Oh yeah, I think it was a sled. something almost defiant in the way you sing, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I don’t want to put you on the spot, but �6 STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Local News Just as Bad as Highway Robbery Wage theft is a nationwide problem Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center (CIWC). The nonprofit organization, formed in 2005, works to educate and advocate for workers’ rights. CIWC is affiliated with the By Kelissa Hieber national network, Interfaith Contributing Writer Worker Justice, which as a whole recovered over $2 milage theft is a lion dollars in unpaid wages crime that oc- in 2008. curs all across the CIWC addresses the probcountry and affects many dif- lem of wage theft by directly ferent individuals. Wage theft confronting businesses or is the illegal practice of not employers that have cheated paying workers or not paying workers out of the wages they their proper are due. The wages. organization The ways Undocumented workers are also works that wage on lawsuits often the targets of wage theft is caragainst emtheft, because employers ried out in- believe they can easily avoid ployers or clude payindividuals paying these workers. ing less than who are parminimum ticipating in wage, no payment or im- these illegal practices. proper payment for overtime The U.S. Department of Laand incomplete paychecks or bor is supposed to make sure no paychecks at all. No one that all workers get their deis immune to the possibility served wages. Unfortunately of being a wage-theft victim, the Labor Department doesn’t but certain groups are affect- have the staffing to make sure ed far more than others. Im- that no workers fall through migrants, African-American the cracks. Wage and hour workers, temporary workers investigators are responsible and low-wage workers feel for ensuring workers receive the impact of this crime the their proper pay, but in 2008 most. there was only around one Many community groups investigator for every 173,000 across the nation have workers covered under the worked to educate and fight Fair Labor Standards Act. for the rights of these workThe CIWC press conferers. Nov. 19 was the National ence began with the stories Day of Action to Stop Wage of two workers who had been Theft (see “Wage Theft: The victims of wage theft. PeForgotten crime,” issue of dro Alverado had worked for Dec. 1-14). People in 40 cit- the same employer for three ies across the nation partici- years, but on his last job he pated in this day to educate ran into problems with his and discuss what has been boss. His employer wouldn’t done and what still needs to pay him for his last job and be done on this issue. claimed he wasn’t responIn Cincinnati, the obser- sible for Alverado’s problems. vation ended with a press Alverado went to CIWC for conference hosted by the help. W Activists gather in Walnut Hills to protest wage theft. Photo by Dan Moore. “I’m here today to get justice for so many others like me,” he said. One concern discussed at the press conference is how is that legislation alone isn’t enough; adequate personnel are needed to enforce these laws. Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune was unable to attend the press conference but an assistant spoke about Portune’s work on the issue. Last month Portune created the Hamilton County Wage Theft and Worker Misclassification Task Force. Its mission is to gather information about businesses and employers who are practicing wage theft. The task force will inform local governments and the Labor Department on their findings. Once they have this comprehensive data, they can work to bring these individuals and companies to justice and work to return the wages to the workers. The next speaker at the press conference said this is not just a state-by-state issue but also a national one. Dave Solhultz, general counsel of the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, discussed the steps that agency is taking to combat these illegal practices. Solhultz said his team is aggressively working to find employers that are committing these crimes, and then works to bring them to justice. The Kentucky Labor Cabinet recently retrieved $600,000 of unpaid wages for non-documented workers in Louisville. Undocumented workers are often the targets of wage theft, because employers believe they can easily avoid paying these workers. Immigrants often work in temporary jobs and contend with language barriers, making them easy targets for opportunistic employers. Many immigrants work as day labors and answer to contractors or sub-contractors. Often these workers are paid minimum wage or less, in violation of the Davis-Bacon Act, which states these workers are entitled to the prevailing wage – a rate higher than the minimum wage, established by local government. “Our stated commitment is that your immigration status does not matter,” Solhultz said. “You are still a worker covered under out national labor laws and therefore entitled to proper pay.” Often the workers whose wages are stolen have to decide between being able to eat or having a place to sleep. About $51 is stolen from lowwage workers across the nation per week, according to some studies. Green, Angry Works for Bengals But being the Incredible Hulk might not be enough By B. Clifton Burke Contributing Writer The Bengals are steadfast in their identity. They've found a look and lifestyle that they’re comfortable with and now they can't imagine living any other way. The problem is they've made themselves into something that resembles the Incredible Hulk: a big and strong team that often appears simpleminded and predictable in its attack. Last season they were still just plain old Bruce Banner: a below-average entity unable to make a difference in the world. They got angry with all the losing and turned green. This year they came out of nowhere and slammed their way into first place and are now a near lock to make the postseason. The physi- roll the other two at home, cal domination has worked; and the same mortar-andbut as the season extends, pestle style that turned them the foes come equipped with into winners now appears too cooler superpowers and fan- routine, too mundane for the critics. They cier weapsay that, if onry, and the Bengals the BenAs frost mounts in the deep gals will freeze of winter and each win are to succeed in the have to becomes more paramount, playoffs, quickly Cincinnati will learn if simply learn how being the more brawny team they must show the to counter is enough to end up on top. world now them. that they can The concern for Cincinnati's inability win in more dynamic ways. Losing wide receiver Chris to score points and move the ball more efficiently through Henry for the year with a brothe air was heightened dur- ken forearm has had more ing the struggles the team fallout than some expected. experienced against bottom- Expensive free-agent acquifeeders Oakland, Cleveland sition, Laveranues Coles, still and Detroit. doesn't appear to have an Cincinnati lost in Oakland established role on the team; and didn't necessarily steam- and second-year receiver, Andre Caldwell, has seen his production slowed after a tremendous start of the season. The only legitimate threat in the passing game these days is Chad Ochocinco who has kept the aerial assault alive nearly single-handedly. But with Chad double-teamed so often, it's become imperative that someone else rise to the occasion and be a viable secondary option for Carson Palmer when he drops back to throw. As of late, that hasn't happened. Losing Henry hasn't been the only limitation to the offense brought on by injury. Rookie running back Bernard Scott has shown genuine flashes of becoming the quintessential change-ofpace back that the best running teams in the NFL em- ploy. With his patient running style and field vision, Scott contrasts nicely with the bruising power-backs, Cedric Benson and Larry Johnson. Since his turf-toe injury, however, the Bengals without him have resorted almost exclusively to running more basic plays up the middle, even in the face of defensive schemes set out to stop exactly that kind of play. Sitting on opposing teams and waiting for them to yell “Uncle” will work against the dregs of the league, but against the premium heavy-hitters, the Bengals will eventually be forced to catch someone by surprise and have to win with some creativity. I expect to see a slight shift See Green, p. 7 �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 Guest Column Time to End Slavery; I Can Help 7 Chocolate bars and conversation can build a movement By Joanna Pogue Guest Columnist I bat slavery, we will never know what they could have done for the world, instead of making its clothes or chocolate perhaps. Of course, the most important reason for the combat of slavery all over the world is the feeling of empathy for our human neighbors. If we take a second and imagine the suffering of those in slavery, it is hard to not want to do something to stop it. If we put ourselves in their shoes, being beaten so much that the sores on your back cannot heal for they are being reopened everyday by a whip, we shudder at the thought. This should cause an uproar in our minds and t’s everywhere. When we get dressed, when we make lunch, when we drive to the store. It is 27 million people being used, and 6.57 million people as the users. What is this incredible force? Slavery. In the words of a former slave, slavery is “a complete hell.” It is violent, abusive, exhausting, inhumane and degrading. For all of these reasons, and because we are all humans in the world tothey like. Slavery steals life gether, it is of utter imporaway from them and replaces tance that we combat slavery it with hopes of death. around the world and in the We must begin to combat United States of America. slavery all over the world, As a human, there are so for so many reasons about many opportunities in the its inhumane style. But also world for you, and slavery because slaves have an unabolishes all hope of those. quenchable desire for freeSlaves lose basic rights that dom. If they fight for it and get everyone in the world beaten for it, then we, too, is born with. They are should fight for their freestopped from having dom. It is so important that Everyone loves chocolate, but freedom of movement, nobody knows that the blood and no one in this world misses which everyone should sweat of many hardworking slaves out on the basic right to a have, freedom of educa- went into the bar they are eating. life. It is important that we tion and a real job, and send a message to all the freedom of curiosity, people in the world that are which is the basis of all hu- in our hearts to start doing involved with buying, using man thinking. something to stop the slavery. and selling slaves. This mesCuriosity allows progress If we cannot even imagine be- sage needs to say that slavery in the world. It creates new ing in their shoes, then why will not be accepted, that evinventions and new ways should they have to be there ery single slave will be found of thinking. Through it, the in reality? They shouldn’t. and freed. People deserve economy, the government If that description does not more than a life as a slave. and the people all experience move you to start fighting This message should be sent growth in some way. When against slavery, then perhaps from every country of the slavery suppresses the curi- the thought of young kids, world, from every member of osity of 27 million individual even younger than 5 years the world community. These slaves are our people, thinkers, it is damaging the old, being enslaved will. When growth of the people of the children grow up in slavery, they were parts of our country world. One of those slaves live in slavery and die in slav- and we need to return them could have the potential to ery, they have not lived a life. to the lives they once knew. be a great scientist or a great Everyone born into the world The number of slaves today musician. If we do not com- should be able to live any way is 27 million people, higher A Call to Greater Cincinnati Poets Write for ‘For a Better World 2010’ It’s time to get your verse on. SOS Art, the annual exhibit of art on themes of peace and justice, publishes a collection of poetry each year. Saad Ghosn, who organizes SOS Art and writes the “Artists as Activists” column for Streetvibes, is now collecting submissions for For a Better World 2010, the seventh edition to date. Any poet from or connected to Greater Cincinnati may submit up to three poems related to themes of peace and justice. All submissions will be considered. The editors will be looking for quality, inclusiveness and appropriateness to the themes of peace and justice. If space becomes limited, priority will go to poets not published in previous books. The poems selected for publication will be illustrated in black and white by Greater Cincinnati artists. Poets included in the book will be invited to read their poems at SOS Art 2010. For a Better World 2010 will be released in May 2010. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2010. Send submissions as “Word” attachments or in full text By e-mail to saad.ghosn@uc.edu or On a CD to Saad Ghosn, 216 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229. than the number of slaves during the transatlantic slave trade from Africa. As neighbors, as friends and as humans we need to take a stand against slavery before the number grows even higher. Even though I am a mere senior in high school, leaving me little authority in my local community, there are many things I can do. To start, I can do the easiest thing for me, talk with my friends and parents about the movie I just watched and ask them to watch it, too. This will build a following of the issue through chain reactions of telling my friends, who tell their friends and so on. By simply doing this I have built some awareness of the issue of slavery which has until now seemed to be forgotten. Besides doing that, as a student I can begin posting signs around the school just to raise more awareness. Also in school bringing in a speaker, possibly a former slave or active member of Free the People to the school would make a huge impression. Parents would be invited to hear the speaker, while students are required to go. To follow on the presentation a new club could be formed to raise awareness, and begin involvement in the Free the People campaign. Once the club has a solid group of members, we can begin drafting letters or setting up talks with important figures in our community. For instance, the Cincinnati Art Museum or the Contemporary Art Museum could have a display of work done about slavery, which would promote awareness to a broader range of people than we could have reached through our school. Another simple and barely noticeable task that could promote much awareness of slavery is dealing with chocolate bars. Chocolate bars could be bought or made and little slips of paper with facts about slavery still in the world today could be sold at grocery stores, movie theatres, on the street, anywhere. Everyone loves chocolate, but nobody knows that the blood and sweat of many hardworking slaves went into the bar they are eating. If people knew how their chocolate was made, maybe they would make a big deal and start raising awareness of slavery themselves. The goal would be to start making a chain reaction, where I start informing people about slavery, who then inform others, who inform others, etc. This would cause so much uproar that a movement against slavery would be hard to ignore. Excerpted from the winning entry in a high-school essay contest sponsored by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. A student at Summit Country Day High School at the time of the contest, Pogue is now a student at Ohio State University. Green and Angry Continued from page 6 in the team's offensive philosophy for the last quarter of the regular season. It's been known that in the past the Bengals have reevaluated their strategy every four games. From the outside, the changes are sometimes detectable; other times they're too subtle or simply don't materialize as they were planned. The theory makes sense: Occasionally install new plays and shift the paradigm to keep the opposition on their toes; but Marvin Lewis and his men have been a stubborn lot, especially this season, and he might not feel compelled to stray from what has clearly worked for him. Yet the next two games at Minnesota and at San Diego feature opponents that score plenty of points; and if the offense can't keep up, they may end up learning this lesson the hard way. Still, they might not have to score much after all. The defense remains the team's inner core and has been difficult to criticize all year. After Week 13, they ranked first in scoring defense, second against the run and fourth in overall yards allowed. Coordinator Mike Zimmer collected discarded pieces from the flotsam and jetsam of the NFL this off-season, and has since composed a group that works diligently and efficiently but rarely ever looks good doing it. The strong play of the cornerback tandem of Johnathon Joseph and Leon Hall has allowed Zimmer to focus on stopping the run first, and has also resulted in a handful of timely coverage sacks. They truly are a group who are far more concerned with their numbers than their names. So as frost mounts in the deep freeze of winter and each win becomes more paramount, Cincinnati will learn if simply being the more brawny team is enough to end up on top. If the passing game can somehow spring to life, then most would agree that the Bengals could match up well against anyone. As it is now, they'll have to win by being green and angry. �8 STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Local Issues Homeless Crimes continued from page 1 ing needs to be clean and safe and perceived that way.” less people are arrested for trespassHis remark merely perpetuated the ing and police are called when they idea that those without a home are just want to wash up. dangerous – even though the courtBeing caught with an open flask house provides a sense of safety for or urinating in an alley is a misde- the homeless. meanor. But homeless people with The Miami university students criminal records find distributed literature it difficult to obtain and stickers that said, employment or hous- “(It’s) important for people “I support people ing. without a home.” The to know homelessness The city should statement was creis out there and it’s not recognize the fact ated so that people necessarily their fault. that social services would not perceive People are being locked are at maximum cathose without a home up for doing everyday pacity, according to as a label, which the things we do at home.” Eysenbach. More serterm “homeless” rep- Brent Eysenbach vices, along with afresents. fordable housing, are Tom Dutton – an needed, he said. architecture professor, director of The goal for the students was to go the Miami University Center for Civic to a public place, where the home- Engagement in Over-the-Rhine and less are not allowed to sell items such a longtime advocate for poor people as Streetvibes, and spread the word – said people must take a look at the about these laws. City ordinances nature of our economy. The homeless prohibit vendors from selling Street- are turned into criminals, largely due vibes on Fountain Square. to ignorance. The city’s punitive meaEysenbach said many see homeless sures come from a deep misunderpeople as “them” or “others.” They are standing of the nature of homelessnot seen as people and therefore are ness, he said. brushed aside. In May 2007 the Greater Cincinnati Last summer the Cincinnati En- Coalition for the Homeless produced quirer reported on homeless people a study of public records that revealed sleeping – and urinating – outside the that it would actually cost the city Hamilton County Courthouse. Coun- less to create permanent supportive ty Commissioner David Pepper told housing than it would to place homethe paper, “It’s clearly unacceptable less people in jail. It costs $65 per bed for it to be used this way. The build- per day in the county jail in com- HOLIDAY SALE!!! Miami University students passed out literature and spoke with the community about the criminalization of homelessness. Photo by Ryan Wellinghoff. parison to an average of $30 a day for permanent supportive housing, the report said. “Because our system doesn’t make sure everybody has the human right of Say housing, people are forced to do their living outside, in front of everyone else, and therefore they’re criminalized,” said GCCH Executive Director Josh Spring. ! ? t a h W “If the lower classes are strong enough, or, in other words, if the lower classes can cause enough disruption in the society, the elites and more affluent may be wiling to give them concessions in order to remove this threat to the overall status quo.” - Harold R. Kerbo, Social Stratification and Inequality Refurbished G3 Mac Computers for only $39 through December! (regular price $64) Proceeds benefit Media Bridges Your local nonprofit media center Visit www.mediabridges.org or call 513-651-4171 for details, or stop by 1100 Race St. to pick one up today. _________ �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 9 National News School of Assassins Tens of thousands want end to Torture U By Samantha Groark Contributing Writer E very third week in November, thousands of students, clergy, celebrities, politicians, human rights defenders, torture survivors, veterans and citizens gather outside the gates of Ft. Benning, Ga., to protest at the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA). Renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001, SOA is a 63-year-old combat-training school for soldiers in Latin America. Each year about 20,000 people gather at the gates to protest SOA’s history and its ongoing work, making it one of the longest-standing non-violent protest movements in American history. The School of the Americas has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. SOA graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own peoples, often resulting in massacres of entire villages, according to School of the Americas Watch, the organization that coordinates the annual protest. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders and others who work for the rights of the poor in Latin American countries. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refuge by SOA graduates, according to SOA Watch and other organizations. Initially established in Panama in 1946, the School of the Americas was kicked out of that country in 1984 by former Panamanian President Jorge Illueca, who said the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America.” Since then graduates from SOA, dubbed by critics the “School of Assassins,” have been involved in political coups, massacres and assassinations in every country where they have returned after their training. The first protest in 1990 came after the Nov. 16, 1989, massacre of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her teenage daughter in El Salvador. A U.S. Congressional Task Force reported that those responsible were trained at the SOA. In 1990, SOA Watch began in a tiny apartment outside the main gate of Ft. Benning with the help of the Rev. Roy Bourgeois. SOA Watch has Protesters marched outside the gates of Ft. Benning, Georgia. Photo by Angela Gray. Protesters carry crosses at a protest against the School of the Americas. Photo by John Rehak. two goals: first, to close the School of the Americas; second, by educating the public, lobbying Congress and participating in creative, nonviolent resistance, to change U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. Nearly 300 SOA Watch protesters have collectively spent over 100 years in prison as the result of illegally “crossing the line” onto the base at Ft. Benning. This year four people committed acts “It is up to us to hold those of civil disobedience by trespassing onto Ft. responsible accountable and Benning. to push for the closing of the “This is something I feel like I have to do School of the Americas and a to stand for human rights,” said the Rev. change in US foreign policy.” Louis Vitale the night before he crossed the - The Rev. Roy Bourgeois line. Five individuals were arrested for similar acts of civil disobedience at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., where the torture manuals used at the SOA were created. Since 1995 the Ignatian Solidarity Network has presented the annual Ignatian Family Teach-In near the gates of Ft. Benning. Jesuits, former Jesuits and lay pastoral leaders have gathered to call for the closure of the School of the Americas and to commemorate the deaths of the Jesuit martyrs and other victims of civil war and bloodshed tied to the SOA. The Teach-In includes a variety of sessions focusing on issues ranging from nonviolent strategy, successful lobbying and workshops on other social-justice and environmental issues. “It’s really great to be able to connect with people from around the country who are concerned about the same issues as I am,” said a Cincinnati woman who attended this year’s teach-in. “It’s amazing how many of us are concerned about the same things, but often have felt isolated and alone in our convictions.” Protesters from Cincinnati included high-school and university students and the Sisters of Charity. Next year the Ignatian Family Teach-In will move to Washington, D.C. The move is a change in strategy that the Ignatian Solidarity Network hopes will increase awareness and political pressure. SOA Watch says the campaign to close the School of the Americas is in a crucial phase. Despite promising comments from President Obama during his 2008 election campaign, the institution is still in operation. SOA Watch says the United States is pouring millions into failing military solutions to combat the drug problems in Mexico, and the Pentagon is moving forward with plans to use seven Colombian military bases in Colombia for offensive U.S. military operations. “It is up to us to hold those responsible accountable and to push for the closing of the School of the Americas and a change in US foreign policy,” Bourgeois said. “Too many have died and continue to suffer at the hands of graduates of this notorious institute.” Do you remember the magic of your First Book? Please consider giving the gift of reading to a low-income child in Cincinnati this holiday season. Established in 2001, First Book - Greater Cincinnati has already granted more than 45,000 books and over $60,000 to local nonprofit literacy programs serving thousands of low-income children in Greater Cincinnati. Make checks payable to “First Book - Greater Cincinnati” I Want to Bring the Magic of Books to Children Who Need Them! Please use my tax-deductible contribution to purchase books and distribute them to children who need them most. $20 (10 books) Please return your contribution to: First Book Greater Cincinnati 572 Northland Blvd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45240 Name: Address: E-mail: $40 (20 books) $80 (40 books) $100 (50 books) Other $ _______ �10 Creative Writing STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Postcards to America By Michael Henson America, I’m writing from a very far place called America, One of us is in the wrong place. America, I’m steering an eight-cylinder Conestoga down the Trail of Tears. There are no exits. America, It’s all very confusing. I’m blind and deaf and my heart is breaking but if I touch the hem of your garment, I might win the Lottery. America, The view from here is very strange. The eyes of the abandoned factories stare at me. The walls are slathered with graffiti. I can’t read a word of it, But I don’t think the news is good. Photo by Maria Campolongo. America, What’s up with these angry waves of grain? These toppled mountain majesties? These out-sourced fruited plains? America, I think the suburbs Are very close to hell. America, I can’t argue anymore. When I hear the blonde men bicker on the radio, I just want to go someplace and die. America, The rich get richer, the poor get AIDS. How does this happen? America, I don’t think I can bear the weight of your sins any longer. I’m letting Barabbas carry this cross. America, It’s all mixed up. Have you seen the pythons in the Everglades? America, You can tell the Sanhedrin Senate I’ve gone home to America. America, Is it me? Each part of you looks the same. Your elbow looks exactly like your elbow. America, You can tell the pin-stripe Goliaths I’m out in the yard with David, counting stones. Prisons Within, Prisons Without Not all have bars on the windows By Mike Henson Contributing Writer H e had known all along she was leaving – Debbie, his cousin. Even before she packed her borrowed bag and stole like a deer out of the before-dawn house and walked the dark mile out to the highway, he could see her, heavy handbag in hand, waiting at the crossing where she knew the bus’s lights would catch her, with the dew-filled wind pressing her jacket against her. And she would wave “They train these guards to use her arm slowly to stop the bus when those judo chops, to guard the its lights wrapped around her. And she would climb the steps and mumble to prisoners. And so he give her the driver where she wanted to go. And one of those judo chops right to the neck. Knocked her clean she would count out her money to him. She would hold her face down in the into the wall and she still can’t turn her head without it hurtin.” hollow of her collar. Her bruises were not yet healed. For a week he had watched her try to hide from him her plum-colored eye and her thick lip baked open like the top of a biscuit. She only talked to Granny, but he saw how she spoke without moving her bread-thick lips and he heard, without hearing what she said, the whispered, half-lisped way she puffed out her words, as if talking straight would hurt her. He had tried once to ask, “Granny, why … ” But he got a look that told him that this was one thing he was yet too young to ask. And he never would know but that he heard Granny tell the story. “She’s back with her man now,” she was telling the neighbor woman. The women were sitting, each of them, in one of the lawn chairs of the sunspilt yard. “I don’t see how she stands it. He’ll buy a little for the two younguns, milk and juice and so on, but if it weren’t for what folks give her, she wouldn't have nothin. And he goes to Athens, Ohio three nights a week to play at these clubs – they’re not just a bar, they’re regular clubs. He can pick up any old instrument and play on it.” The boy remembered the reunion at the church on the ridge: How Debbie had a way of leaning forward to people, then pulling back, on smiling, then unsmiling. Her man picked up a guitar that was leaning against a tree, passed one expert lick down the neck of it, then put it down. “She says he makes a hundred and fifty a week just off of that. But what he does with his money she don’t know, for she never sees nary a penny of it. And he makes good money at his job besides. He’s a guard, you know, at the prison in Lucasville, and he makes good money there.” Granny knew he had snuck up beside her chair, but she did not turn. She did not stop her story. “Well she tried to leave him, but he told her, if she ever did, he’d sue for takin his children from him. Well, her folks tried to get her to come home with them. They’d been givin her food and clothes for the kids, and she was studyin on comin home. But then he come home one night and accused her of havin a man in the house. “And you see, they train these guards to use those judo chops, to guard the prisoners. And so he give her one of those judo chops right to the neck. Knocked her clean into the wall and she still can’t turn her head without it hurtin. Well, after that, she was afraid to leave. Afraid he’d kill em all. “But she was afraid to stay. So she come here. Left them kids and come here. He’d beat her up and he’d run her out that night. And always before when he’d run her out, he’d let her back in. But she told herself, ‘I ain't goin back in. Not this time.’ And she run off to a friend, and they fixed her up some clothes in a bag and she come down here, where he wouldn’t think to look for her.” Granny was still face to face with the neighbor woman, but her eye had turned so that by now he knew For a week he had watched her try to hide from him her plum-colored that she was really talking to him. “He’s just the same way when he’s eye and her thick lip baked open like a guard. They give him a billy club the top of a biscuit. and even a gun and one of them electric cattle-loadin sticks – they’re illegal to use 'em on cattle but they do it – and he has to guard the big fence around the prison. And any one of them don’t like, he’ll stick ’em with that stick. Especially the colored ones.” She looked out to the line of hills where the wind was spinning a hawk. “And they all hate him. And they'll get him one day.” She shook her head and looked back to the neighbor woman. “I reckon it was bad to leave them children like that. But what could she do? She worried over ’em the whole time she was here. It was ever other word she spoke.” But he had known she would go back. In that last dark hour before daybreak, when he heard her footstep crack the warp in the floorboard outside his door, he knew it was Debbie, that she had packed her heavy bag, that she would soon be waiting with the highway wind and dew on her bruises. Michael Henson is author of Ransack, A Small Room with Trouble on My Mind, The Tao of Longing and Crow Call. �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 11 Short Story Church Bells, a Pea Coat & a Light Jacob finds something different By Larry Gross Contributing Writer He woke up to the church bells. He counted them out loud: “One. . . two. . .three. . .four. . .five. . .six. . . seven. . . eight.” It was 8 o’clock in the morning. He didn’t know what day it was. Jacob was lying beside him on the church steps opposite Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine. He shook Jacob, shook him and shook him, but Jacob was out like a light. This was typical Jacob – always making things more difficult than they needed to be. Why couldn’t he simply wake up and get on things, behave like a normal person? Standing up, he told himself he would check on Jacob later. Looking across the street to Washington Park, he saw there was frost on the ground. It was a cold, cloudy winter morning. Suddenly, he took notice of what he was wearing. The ragged old coat that he found last month in a doorway had been replaced by a pea coat, almost exactly like the one he wore when he was a kid, back then he was 10 years old. It was navy-colored with broad lapels and a double-breasted front. The wool was heavy and it felt warm. He walked across the street to the park and sat down on one of the benches. He thought about how this could have happened. Why would someone give him a new coat? Along with Jacob, he had gotten pretty wasted the night before. They had a bottle they shared, trying to warm themselves up with alcohol before the night and its coldness set in. Maybe he had passed out. Maybe someone passing by saw he needed a better coat. Maybe someone was trying to be generous. Maybe some people are still nice. He doesn’t meet a lot of nice people anymore. Since losing everything almost 10 years ago, because of too much drinking or too many women or too much gambling or a combination of any of those three demons, people don’t respect him anymore. They ignore him when he asks for a little change. Passengers move to other seats when he rides on the bus. People look down on him because he doesn’t have a home to go to. Most don’t want to help a homeless person. Looking at the pea coat, he remembered back to his days as a kid – actually back to when he was 10. He remembered that pea coat he always wore in the winter months. Memories, distant memories filled his head. He remembered throwing snowballs with his friends at some girls while wearing his favorite winter coat. He almost laughed sitting there on that bench thinking about how those girls screamed. His hands were cold. He put them in the pockets of the pea coat. A smile came to his face when he realized gloves were inside. In the right pocket, he Washington Park. Photo by Maria Campolongo. felt something else. He pulled out a pack of Winston cigarettes. He also found a book of matches. Grateful for the luck he was having, he opened the pack of cigarettes, pulled one out and lit it. He then put on his gloves. Sitting there smoking, he liked the idea of not having to beg for cigarettes. On this day, he had his own. The church bells were ringing again. He counted. “One. . . two. . .three. . .four. . .five. . .six. . .seven. . .eight. . .nine.” The library was now open. He could use one of their restrooms, throw some cold water in his face and start the day. Starting to make his way toward downtown, he looked over at Jacob again. He was still asleep on the church steps. He would have to make his trip to the library quick. While he didn’t like Jacob all that much anymore, he knew him too well and didn’t want a cop to pick him up for loitering. He took another cigarette out of his pack and lit it. Wintons. He hadn’t smoked them since he was a kid. He had wanted to grow up early and started smoking on his 10th birthday. Walking to the library, he couldn’t help but notice people were friendlier to him, making eye contact, some saying good morning. The world seemed like a better place on this morning and while not understanding it, he was thankful for it. When he got to the library, the first thing he did was look at himself in the restroom mirror to check out his left eye. A few nights earlier, while trying to find a place to sleep; a couple guys jumped him, hit him in the eye a couple times and took off with the few bucks he had managed to beg on the street. Yesterday the eye was black and blue and badly swollen. But on this morning, the eye seemed fine. He looked to see if there were still any swelling. There wasn’t. It looked perfectly normal, as if nothing had happened. He splashed cold water in his face while remembering Jacob. Something inside told him he needed to get back to those church steps quickly. He looked at himself one last time in the mirror, mostly looking at the pea coat he was wearing. A feeling came over him, a feeling not of sadness, worry or despair but one of happiness. Walking back to Over-the-Rhine, he felt each step to be lighter than normal. People were smiling at him. One of the women who did looked almost like his mother. As he walked, he thought he could somehow put all the bad decisions and wrong turns behind him. Somehow he knew things were going to change. He heard those church bells again. “One. . . two. . .three. . .four. . .five. . .six. . .seven. . .eight. . . nine. . . ten.” As he approached Washington Park, the sun quickly came out from behind the clouds. He looked over to the church steps where Jacob had been sleeping. In front of the church, he saw an ambulance and two police cars. Two Hamilton County deputies were putting Jacob in a body bag. He again looked at the coat he was wearing, suddenly realizing the meaning of the church bells. The sun started shining brightly over the church. Picking up his pace, he was filled with excitement. He ran as quickly as he could to the light. He looked up to the heavens, knowing he was heading to a better place. Looking for the perfect gift for someone? Why not give a donation to Streetvibes in a loved one’s name? What about a Streetvibes subscription? Streetvibes is the activist newspaper, advocating justice, building community. Your gift is tax-deductible and will go to producing the paper every two weeks. Started in 1997, Streetvibes is distributed by homeless and formerly homeless vendors who purchase the paper for 25 cents and sell it for $1, keeping the 75 cent profit. Make checks payable to “Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless” I want to support Streetvibes and the vendors this holiday season. $25 Please return your contribution to: GCCH 117 E. 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Name: Address: E-mail: $50 $100 $150 Other $ _______ �12 Short Story STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 Life on the Bloody Edge By Steven Paul Lansky Contributing Writer ‘Arjuna.’ Painting and photo by Steven Paul Lansky. 1982 A wandering buck stands on the shoulder of a two-lane highway in Texas. The sun is rising behind him. Along the road a grass field stretches as far as the horizon. A chest highbarbwire fence separates the road and the acreage. Holsteins are standing in the field. Some of the cows are lying down. They are getting up, though, one or two at a time, mooing and lowing. The young man extends his thumb to the road. A brown pack rests on his shoulder. A car passes with the rubber-onfreeway sound. The man can smell the dust. Across the road are railroad tracks. Redwing blackbirds chatter behind him along the fence wire. The young man looks back on the road, swings around walking east, shielding his face from the sun with the thumbing hand, listening for another car behind. He can smell the dew on the grass. As he walks he thinks about women. What else do lonely men think about while they walk highways. 1996 A pony-tailed man walks with a woman to a restaurant downtown. She wanted to sit and sip a cola. He suggested Mullane’s Café because he can get coffee and two refills for 50 cents. She walks slowly in small steps, stops to light a cigarette from a trembling hand holding a lighter. He feels his heavy wing tips on the concrete sidewalk; thinks of walking when he was leaner, poorer, more scared. The woman is older than he is. She would gravitate to fast-food restaurants with free refills on soda. She complains about the black teenagers at the bus stops and in the fast-food places. She has been knocked down. Her friends have had purses snatched. He wants her to improve her social standing by going to the café where there is a fortune teller in the late afternoon, where there is sidewalk seating, where the mayor sometimes comes for dinner. He believes she will be safer and more secure at Mullane’s than at the fast-food restaurants. He finds it difficult to explain this to the woman. She takes pride in her participation in the mayor’s campaign. The man is trying to covertly encourage her. They sit at an outdoor table. They order beverages. He pours cream in his coffee, enjoys it. She has a cola over ice and asks him if he remembers when they first met. He is worried that she might think this is a date. A thin black man with a little facial hair approaches the table with a sketchpad. He asks if either of them would like to be sketched, a portrait, for a donation: “Say five dollars?” “Are you an artist, too?” asks the man. “My girlfriend is an artist,” he confesses, trying to hide his reserve. “Go ahead,” says the woman to the artist. “She won’t mind,” she says to her Social Worker. “I don’t know,” he says. “You don’t have to show it to her,” says the woman. There is an awkward silence. He observes that the artist is missing the temple on one side of his eyeglasses. He needs the money. “OK.” “Good,” she says and sips cola. The artist uses two different pencils. The Social Worker tries to watch him work, but knows this is distracting to the artist. When he is finished, the woman likes the sketch at once. The Social Worker observes that it is a good likeness except for the nose, which resembles the woman’s more than his own. He withholds comment, pays the fellow. After he has walked her back to the hotel, he hides the sketch in the trunk of his car. He is never able to find the sketch again. ***** Arjuna enters a downtown residential hotel across the street from the new arts center. He signs in at the desk. He goes to see one of his clients. He is a Social Worker at the same agency as his therapist. He thinks about his life. Once he needed the system to heal him. Now he needs the system for a job. He gives to others who need healing. He gets in the elevator. He walks the carpeted hallway. The day is warm and the man is dressed in khaki shorts, short sleeves and running shoes. He set the timer on his chronometer as he left the car to time the parking meter. His client is on the fifth floor. He stands in the narrow hall knocking on her door. He is impatient when she does not answer. Perhaps she is sleeping. Possibly she has gone out. He was expecting to help her straighten up for her room inspection next week. It is the last day of May, a Friday early afternoon. He does not give up easily. At the front desk he uses the telephone. Her line is busy. He returns to the elevator. He goes up to floor five. He walks the corridor with more urgency. Again he knocks. No answer. He shouts her name. Now he knows something is wrong. She would respond if she were on the phone. He goes back to the desk in the lobby. He requests assistance in opening the door to her room. Fourteen years ago to the day he had returned to Cincinnati on his bicycle to restart his life. He does not think about that. He is fully occupied with getting the maintenance man to open her room. His patience is beginning to annoy him. The door is keyed and he can see that the carpet is dirty. The security chain is on the door. The maintenance man radios on the walkie-talkie for a bolt cutter. The other maintenance man is there. They both wear gray shirts with their names on them. The man with the sandy beard reaches through the gap in the door with a screwdriver and unscrews the chain. There were two screws. Time hung on the chain. The muscles in the man's neck stand out as he unscrews. She is on the bed bleeding. The man with the walkie-talkie has the desk clerk call 911. “She's alive,” he thinks, very relieved. He can see her breathing. She is alive. Fourteen years ago he was penniless. The bicycle tires were flat. He had ridden from Columbus to Cincinnati, over 100 miles. Overnight. Just after the hitch to Santa Fe. Fourteen years and a month ago he stood on that highway, watching cows. Listening. He hangs up the phone. It rings. The police and life squad are coming. He calls his supervisor. She is distressed. Blood red and blood brown. The footprints are everywhere. She’s a pacer. She had walked that room after she had cut the crook of her elbow with a 14-inch blade. Footprints. He had paced the edge of the road 14 years before. Looking for love. The cow-herding girl. The gopis. The bathroom tile blood-red strewn. The knife lay on the edge of the blood-filled tub. The empty pill bottles lined up on the top edge of the refrigerator like fence posts. On the table the emergency sheet with the therapist’s name and doctor’s name and parents’. Her face streaked with crusted black blood. The bedding red, soaked, red, deep gashed arm at elbow the blood of paint drip depression and the fear of fear of her luck in folding the arm up to breast in bloody night clothes, unconscious, breathing, rapidly, breathing but not wakeable with a shout. Life Squad comes in. Two men. At first they seem to think that someone had done this to her. “How old is she?” See Edge, p. 13 �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 Stort Story Life on the Bloody Edge continued from page 12 The young worker will never meet with the woman at Mullane’s Café. Fifty-one. She is fifty-one. Fourteen years ago she was 37. I am 38 now. Fourteen years ago I was 24. After the medics come the constabulary. Two mounted officers, one male, one female. Two officers from their high-tech cruisers, again both genders. Arjuna is interviewed as she is moved onto a stretcher, the gash wrapped tightly. A blond woman with blue pools for eyes that open into tomorrow; good clean fingers hold a tiny note pad and a yellow No. 2 pencil. Some questions … the pill bottles are examined for dosage, number, dates. Arjuna is lost in the eyes of this Miss and answers willingly, wantingly. The redhead from the mounted division has spurs on her boots and a sense of humor. Arjuna is impressed with his desire to keep his eyes in the pools. He reflects on how mystifying her presence is in the room where he had sat previously on the brown sofa, or at the tiny kitchen table, the lingering odor of cigarette smoke in his nostrils more pungent than the dust on the highway those 14 years ago. The uniforms are so blue, collars so white, pins of brass, and black shoes, boots with spurs; always back to the pools with the dilated black open pupils. The voice calm, reassuring, melodic. Arjuna wants to linger with these uniforms, feels comfort in their pacing, so much more secure than those of the missing client. His own pacing somewhere between the officious and the bloody unsteady footprints. He walks the corridor with more urgency. Again he knocks. No answer. He shouts her name. Now he knows something is wrong. ***** Sunday morning at the hospital Arjuna went to her bedside. Machines with lights and numbers flanked her. The room was glass and curtains. She opened swollen eyelids, a tube on her tongue and several in each arm. Her head looked puffed, inflated then partially let down; one eye stared off and didn’t track, the other bloodshot and milky looked at him with a flicker of recognition. She reached for his hand with hers and squeezed weakly. 13 “Do you recognize me?” “Arjuna,” she slurred, nodded once, a small gesture. He stood at the steel bed rail and watched her breathe. Black dried blood streaked her enlarged head, matted dark hair. They hadn’t had a chance to clean her up in two days. He felt very bad and very relieved. His pulse ran in his ears. He talked to her a little, He wants her to improve her said her name, glad to see her and scared. social standing by going to the Then he stood waiting for a thought or the café where there is a fortune moment to end; listened to her gurgling teller in the late afternoon, breath. When he left, he thought about where there is sidewalk other things. seating, where the mayor Arjuna meets her at the crisis center in sometimes comes for dinner. the city, but not downtown, where she is staying after the hospital before moving back to her fifth-floor room. A chaotic place, there are many ill clients sitting, smoking, milling. The doorways are wide to admit wheelchairs. Arjuna speaks privately with a staff member about her, both before and after he meets with her. Arjuna wants her in group housing. Not likely to happen. “I’ll never pull a stunt like that again,” she says. They walk to a fast-food restaurant, less scary perhaps because they are not “downtown.” He orders orange juice at the counter and she follows. They sit to talk under the bright lights in the seats that don’t move because they are attached to the tables and the floor. She cries, readily, freely grieving her father, a loss of long standing. She thanks Arjuna for finding her. He is nervous, curious about how it felt to be “gone,” near death. He doesn’t dare ask her but he wants to know. The knife edge of life can be explored among the living when life is that miserable. She suggests they walk. They make their way slowly around a large block, nearly half-a-mile, taking small steps. She cries; misses her father. “He was told he was schizophrenic just before he died.” The Social Worker, Arjuna, is glad she is alive. He is finished visiting her. Steven Paul Lansky teaches creative writing at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Lansky’s published works include ‘The Citizen,’ ‘Jack Acid’ and ‘Main St.’ Are you interested in helping with Streetvibes? Are you a proofreader, writer, poet, artist or photographer? If so, contact Greg Flannery 513.421.7803 x 12 or email streetvibes2@yahoo.com Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor Invitation to a dialogue with our readers Streetvibes vendors see a lot that you might not. For example, some can describe what goes on in an abandoned building at night when they sleep there. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand on a street corner selling newspapers? That’s hardly a common occupation anymore. How much money do Streetvibes vendors make – and what do they do with it? Do they have other jobs? If you have questions, some of our vendors would like to answer them. “Go Ahead: Ask a Vendor” will be an occasional feature, with questions submitted by readers and answered by Streetvibes vendors. You may direct your question to a specific vendor or we’ll invite one to respond. Only include your name if you want to. Send questions to streetvibes2@yahoo.com Or to Streetvibes, 117 E. 12th St. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Go ahead. Ask. �14 Poetry Page STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 What Happens When We Die? Pacifist Question By Spencer Ledyard By Jeremy Flannery Let's come right out and say it, Dispense with all the ironies and say, “I have always been able to depend on the unkindness of strangers.” I don't need to blanch the truth. Their underpinnings of unpleasantness are lifebreath; Their cantilevers of demure distaste hang Cartoon pianos by frayed roping, And the smallest comment by an outsider can act as a knife. I hear Mason Jennings crying in his song, “The Field.” It is written from the perspective of a parent Whose son died in the desert – at war for what, he asks. He sings, "”I don't want no victory/ I just want you back.” He chants this, his voice rising into the ethereal insanity of song. The leaves shake at the crescendo. I shiver at the wind. Where is there no animosity for the unknown Besides in the fantasy world of the idealist? Where are the valleys and mountaintops Festooned with wreaths of people holding hands, Black to white to Indian to Pakistani, To every racial dissenter to every community deserter; Where are the speeches of the King? Where are the lovers of life, unabashed by its universality? John imagined there were no countries; he asked if I could. About national boundaries, Vonnegut opined, “I can't believe that they mark the end Or the beginning of anything of real concern to the human soul. Virtues and vices, pleasures and pains Cross boundaries at will.” Is there somewhere the pacifist who, in the radiation of heart, melts The lead of bullets, emits enough heat to beat swords into plowshares? The trees are black and red today. The ants are battling And the streetlight haloes the autumn maple leaves against the night. For Greg Flannery We see God as omnipotent, caritas plena, Yet abuse "His Word" to condemn whom we despise? How did religions become conventions for hate and self-righteousness to be justified? Is there a Heaven that's so exclusive? Whose mortal insinuations engaged us to start this fight? If faith is hope, why are spirits so broken? ...a belligerent concept that begs the question: why? Isn’t it a tragic waste of life to fight over what happens when we die? Believing out of fear of the afterlife is no faith I accept to live by. But with guidance under, yes I do wonder if there is judgment waiting for me when I die. But life is a gift and I'm focusing efforts upon Earth. Who truly knows if we live a second time? So much violence inflicted upon “infidels”: Crusades and Jihads preach blasphemy cries, claiming throughout history that faith is just cause to commit unjust acts upon Humankind! No perfect theism. No “holy glory.” A selfish, vengeful god is a fool's conjured lie. If God is Love, why fear She will destroy us? Is it a sin to stop and question why? Happy Christmas to All By Adeline Rose 'Twas the night before Christmas, and St. Nick was pissed So Skyline came off of his long Christmas list St. Nick he wanted more soup for the poor A 3-way, a 5-way some chili, no more. For the hungry of 'Nati, the poor and the weak The homeless, the lonely who live on the streets So St. Nick made other plans this fine year And called on his reindeer to get up to gear. “Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On Comet! On Cupid! On Donner and Blitzen!" Sacks full of specials he put on his sleigh Photo by Maria Campolongo. And hazmat containers a suit and array To do this most specialist job of the year A job, Oh so special, he grinned ear-to-ear. The creepies he carried avenging the crime CEO sacks of the nastiest kind He made the loop round the 2..7..5 Piled to the ceiling, he lined up the sacks Dropping presents and candies and goodies inside Ready to go to attack, to attack. He ate the cookies and the milk that was left Collecting the creepies he everywhere met. He opened the sacks and they ran with a jitter Trillions and zillions of brown, creepy critters You know the creepies that crawl in your bed He thought the bags empty and then there were That wait till you sleep, then it's time to be fed more That munch on your skin and you never can find Bed bugs and bed bugs and bed bugs galore. Well, Nick found them now and it's Skyline time! From Cincy and Colerain and Blue Ash they're Kev's the last stop, St. Nick did he climb yours Up and down trips of the one thousand kind From Indy and Eastgate and Newport and more Through soot, dust and ashes, the awfulest trips From Norwood, Wyoming and too Lincoln Heights For someone as old and as mad as St. Nick. Communally we have been in one big fight. The bugs filled the stockings and then ate the mouse Creatures now stirring, Oh filling the house They covered the children and buried their beds They ate off their feet and the locks on their heads. Then there's Ma in her 'kerchief and Kev in his cap,' Throw a bushel on them for a fine midnight snack Too sleepy to waken, too sleepy to find The creepiest critters, the awfulest kind. So Cincy be grateful, so Cincy be glad All of your bed bugs are now stored at Kev's You serve the hungry and you serve the poor In thanksgiving for St. Nick and bed bugs no more. You see, bed bugs and hunger are not unalike Both are sure a community's fight So Loveland, and Beechmont, Mt. Healthy it's yours Mt. Lookout, and Clifton and Reading and more. Nick laying his finger aside of his nose He flicked off a bed bug, up the chimney he rose He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a tug And thought about those that he once dearly loved. St. Nick did return to that cold, old North Pole He cooked up some Skyline, a lonely old soul But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight: “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good bite!” Check out the Streetvibes blog @ streetvibes.wordpress.com �STREETVIBES December 15 - 31, 2009 15 Resources Need Help or Want to Help? Shelter: Women and Children Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 4230 Hamilton Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45223 Central Access Point Cincinnati Union Bethel 381-SAFE 768-6907 557-2873 241-1064 112 E. Liberty Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3600 Erie Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45227 St. Vincent de Paul 1841 Fairmount Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Grace Place Catholic Worker House 681-2365 1125 Bank Street, Cinti, Ohio 45214 Treatment: Men 872-9259 Charlie’s 3/4 House Shelter: Men DIC Live In Program Prospect House 241-5525 961-2256 Treatment: Women First Step Home 961-4663 961-4080 761-1480 721-0643 Joseph House (Veterans) 1821 Summit Road, Cinti, Ohio 45237 351-0422 381-6672 830 Ezzard Charles Dr. Cinti, Ohio 45214 217 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 241-2965 471-1100 221-3350 Hamilton County ADAS Board Recovery Health Access Center Sober Living Talbert House Hamilton/Middletown 421-3131 569-1840 381-4242 Northern Kentucky Advocacy 721-4580 632-7149 381-1171 114 W. 14th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 721-8666 27 W. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 961-4555 751-0643 381-1954 Food/Clothing Lord’s Pantry OTR/Walnut Hills Kitchen & Pantry 621-5300 961-1983 OTR: 1620 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Walnut Hills: 2631 Gilbert, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 1730 Race Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 St. Francis Soup Kitchen Catholic Social Action Community Action Agency Contact Center 1227 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 351-7921 631-1114 211 977-5541 Franciscan JPIC 721-4700 Gr. Cinti Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 117 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Intercommunity Justice & Peace Cr. Legal Aid Society Ohio Justice & Policy Center Faces Without Places Stop AIDS St. Raephaels Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center Open Door Pantry Brighton Center 863-3184 863-1445 422-8555 868-3276 859-491-8303 799 Ann St. Newport, KY 579-8547 241-9400 421-1108 363-3300 421-2437 Health ECHO/Hosea House Fairhaven Resuce Mission Homeward Bound Youth Mathews House Homeless & Housing Coalition Parish Kitchen Pike St. Clinic Transitions, Inc Welcome House of NKY 859-261-5857 859-491-1027 859-581-1111 859-261-8009 859-727-0926 859-581-7745 859-291-9321 859-491-4435 859-431-8717 205 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011 Center for Respite Care 621-1868 3550 Washington Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45229 535-2719 Poetry Corner Christmas, Inner City By Murray Bodo, OFM It’s the night before Christmas And police patrol cars are Keeping their slow watch by night. A teenage mother cradles Her baby against the cold. The streets are silent and dark When suddenly three angels Break through the dark, their voices High and sweet with “Silent Night,” Their parents hovering near. The young mother stops and listens, The small angels sing bravely. Suddenly light illumines Our inner city lot where All is still, patrol cars stop, And God’s a baby again. People Working Cooperatively The Caring Place United Way Women Helping Women 946-4888 281-7422 681-0324 641-4300 Housing: Tom Geiger House Dana Transitional Bridge Services Volunteers of America 771-4800 751-0600 721-4811 1522 Republic Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 3330 Jefferson, Cinti, Ohio 45220 Tender Mercies 381-0111 1223 Main St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 AA Hotline CCAT 2728 Glendora Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45209 CMHA Excel Development OTR Community Housing 621-5514 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Goodwill industries Healing Connections Mary Magdalen House Treatment: Both Interfaith Hospitality Network Lighthouse Youth Center (Youth) 1308 Race St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Franciscan Haircuts from the Heart 661-4620 241-2600 241-2563 214 E. 14th St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 2203 Fulton, Cinti, Ohio 45206 Drop Inn Center Center Independent Living Options Emmanuel Community Center Peaslee Neighborhood Center Shelter: Both Caracole (HIV/AIDS) 458-6670 977-4489 Other Resources 721-0643 921-1613 1437 Walnut Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Anthony House (Youth) 558-8888 981-5800 784-1853 682 Hawthorne Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45205 Starting Over 1419 Elm Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Justice Watch 241-0490 St. Fran/St. Joe Catholic Work. House 381-4941 Mt. Airy Shelter Mental Health Access Point Mercy Franciscan at St. John NAMI of Hamilton County PATH Outreach 2121 Vine Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 City Gospel Mission 357-4602 352-2902 352-6363 1800 Logan St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 762-5660 131 E. 12th Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter Health Resource Center Homeless Mobile Health Van McMicken Dental Clinic 40 E. McMicken Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45202 562-8841 6037 Cary Ave, Cinti, Ohio 45224 Salvation Army 381-2247 5 E. Liberty St. Cinti, Ohio 45202 Madisonville Ed & Assistance Center 271-5501 300 Lytle Street, Cinti, Ohio 45202 Bethany House FreeStore/FoodBank Crossroad Health Center Photo by Maria Campolongo. Women’s Crisis Center VA Domiciliary VA Homeless 859-491-3335 859-559-5011 859-572-6226 �16 Column STREETVIBES December 15- 31, 2009 From Malcolm X to Mountain Dew Thom Shaw’s woodcuts depict urban life’s hopes and hazards T hom Shaw took interest in making art in second grade when he was 6 years old. He overheard conversations among his teachers about two of his classmates gifted at drawing and who were given tuition for art school. He wanted to emulate them and started drawing. He soon proved very good at it and was sent as well to art school – initially the art museum, then Walnut Hills High School’s summer program. In college, he attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) and graduated, majoring in printmaking. The immediacy of woodcuts, close in many ways to drawing, and the boldness of black and white prints interested him from the start; this medium later became his artistic signature. As a child, Shaw’s drawings were innocent, based mainly on what he would watch on TV, heroes like Batman and Superman. At AAC he learned to draw from what he saw; his drawings were academic, often based on the human body. Social commentaries first appeared in his works during his senior year in college, triggered then by the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Tom Shaw. Photo by Saad Ghosn. After graduating from AAC, Shaw worked for a while as a graphic designer for Cincinnati Bell. His work during that period was non-representational, corporate-like, abstract large-scale The prints he made then led to a series he titled the “Malcolm X collage assemblages and color paintings. Even though it sold well, it Paradox.” They were exhibited in 1991 downtown Cincinnati. To his was not filling the void in surprise, they were very well received, finding an immediate echo in his soul and did not feel Over-the-Rhine residents who strongly identified with them. Shaw honest. had carved a gang icon which, irrespective of ethnicity or color, repreIn 1986 he became sented the many ills of society, the broken down family, the loneliness acquainted with Ger- of youth, the addiction to drugs as an escape, the resort to violence to man Expressionism and prove oneself. as the works of Kathe KollHis images were quite graphic, showing killings, prostitution and witz, Leonard Baskin and drug dependence. In one, a pregnant woman with a baby stroller is on George Grosz. Influenced her knees performing fellatio on a wealthy man in order to get money By Saad Ghosn by their imagery and its and buy drugs. Many dealt with drive-by shootings, often resulting in Contributing Writer content, he started mak- accidental injuries such as children being killed, in the name of busiing large woodcuts with ness as usual. One depicted a man at a bus stop shot just for his gym social themes that incor- shoes to be used as a trophy and proof of gang loyalty. porated the ills of his community. At the same time he happened to The Sentinel, a woodcut from the series, portrays a 15-year-old boy witness a gang fight, the members of which were wearing T-shirts de- serving as a watchdog, looking out to make sure no intruder was appicting the late Malcolm X. He found the association intriguing, Mal- proaching the gang’s headquarters hideout. The boy, however, is encolm X in his mind being a promoter of unity and good relationship, tirely oblivious of the danger awaiting him, portrayed in the print by a and not of destructive fighting. pistol behind him, and that could terminate his life. His pride at being Shaw decided to learn more about gang life, its roots and how it assigned the responsibility overshadowed his concern for death; he reflected the problems of society. He embarked on interviewing gang would do anything for his new gang family, one that makes him feel members, inquiring about their life and thinking, collecting at the valuable and trusted. same time a visual repertory of their stories for his own work. Shaw’s work at the time was often criticized as being derogatory to the black man, confirming the media notion that he was a menace to society. Shaw disagrees. “If at any time my images had negroid features, it was specifically to depict the negative effects society imparted on African-American males with whom I identify,” he says. “I wanted to show the black man as a victim, a target of the many societal ills; I wanted to raise awareness about his condition.” In 1994 Shaw was asked to show his enlarging Malcolm X Paradox series at the studio museum of Harlem in New York City and a year later at the Cincinnati Art Museum. In 1995 he also had a show at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, titled, “Hegemony: the Hidden Fury.” It consisted of woodcuts, murals and videos, all dealing with domestic violence. Social commentaries kept abounding in his works. His series “Zombies,” for instance, dealt with the lack of education and the illiteracy of youth. It pointed to family challenges, to kids not being fed properly before going to school, to kids lacking parental guidance and supervision; it was meant as a call to action for a serious and threatening problem facing society. In the past few years Shaw’s works focused more on himself and his health problems. He had suffered for many years from diabetes that affected severely his heart and kidneys, resulting in various surgeries and hospitalizations. He incorporated his health issues with his other concerns, wanting to share them visually with those who might be experiencing the same. His woodcut Stress Test represents Shaw with testing wires connected to his skin and heart, also with a Mountain Dew can, a forbidden drink in view of his condition. It alludes metaphorically to the bad choices he had made and to their serious health ramifications. Art is life for Shaw. It keeps him young and challenges him; it allows him also to challenge and sometimes confront the viewer. “Artwork can be controversial,” he says, “but we artists are ambassadors of truth, ambassadors of the human experience. We try to ‘The Sentinel,’ woodcut print by Thom Shaw. make sense of a world gone astray, and thus have an impact on people Photo by Saad Ghosn. whether we intend it or not.” A rtists ctivists Artists as Activists is a regular column highlighting Greater Cincinnati artists who use art as a vehicle for change. Saad Ghosn is the founder of SOS Art. Ghosn can be contacted at ghosn@uc.edu. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2009 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource December 15-31, 2009 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Pg 2: Quite a Year for ‘Streetvibes’ Pg 3: Hamilton County Hidden Treasures Pg 4: Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Continued Pg 5: Knockin’ on the Food Pantry Door Continued Pg 6: Just as Bad as Highway Robbery Pg 7: Time to End Slavery; I Can Help Pg 8: Homeless Crimes Pg 9: School of Assassins Pg 10: Arts & Poetry Pg 11: Church Bells, a Pea Coat & a Light Pg 12: Life on the Bloody Edge Pg 13: Life on the Bloody Edge Continued Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Resources Pg 16: From Malcolm X to Mountain Dew Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource December 15-31, 2009 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Gregory Flannery Lynne Ausman Jeni Jenkins Lew Moores Samantha Groark Margo Pierce Paul Kopp Jeremy Flannery Michael Henson David Heitfield Kelissa Hieber Dan Rozier Stephanie Dunlap Saad Ghosn Keara Anita Mullen Steven Paul Lansky Larry Gross Eli Braun Aimie Willhoite Jeni Jenkins Anthony Williams Bill Haigh Clarissa Peppers Jennifer Blalock Lynn Baker Jeremy Flannery Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Aimie Willhoite Anthony Williams Arts & Poetry Bengals Bill Haigh Bob Dylan Clarissa Peppers Congress Dan Rozier David Heitfield Eli Braun Food Pantry Gregory Flannery Hamilton County Hate Crimes health care Homeless Crimes Jeni Jenkins Jennifer Blalock Jeremy Flannery Keara Anita Mullen Kelissa Hieber Larry Gross Lew Moores Lynn Baker Lynne Ausman Malcom X Margo Pierce Michael Henson Paul Kopp Prison Protests Saad Ghosn Samantha Groark Slavery SOA Stephanie Dunlap Steven Paul Lansky Thom Shaw Wage