7 10 291 https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/bcfe68bceed3af9939426bde0928d1f7.pdf 2b5aeb8cef4c15d1d8071c458141c752 PDF Text Text . $ t Donation STRHE lv i IBH5 ' Your Progressive News Source BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY OCTOBER 2002 . -- Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless I �OCTOBER 2002 Downtown Protest. Urges TANF Re-authorization Members and supporters of the Welfare Rights Coalition (WRC) gathered in front of the downtown offices of Senator Mike DeWine last month to urge him and his colleagues to pass TANF (Temporary Assistance To Needy Families) re-authorization. TANF is a federal program for very poor families (parents with kids only) that gives them five years of assistance for their whole life time. In Ohio, the program is called OWF or Ohio Works First. OWF is only available for three years. In Ohio though, some families, after being off OWF for two years, can qualify for up to another two years. Members of the WRC are hopeful that Senator DeWine will follow the lead of Ohio Senator George Voinivich who has been urging his fellow Republican colleagues to pass the TANF ,legislation. · The issue of TANF 1 authorization is important, says the 1WRC, because many children __.-+--­ \ depend on the program. Two thirds of the people on OWF are children. Most of these children are under the age of six. According to recent census data statistics gathered by the WRC, poverty rates are on the increase and low-income families are the most vulnerable in a slowing economy. The WRC states that TANF needs to be re-authorized so that families have the opportunity to go to school. Education is an important component of the TANF program so that people can get and keep jobs that pay adequate or livable wages. According to current rent standards, a family needs at least $11.37 per hour to rent a two bedroom apartment in Ohio. The average wage of mom's leaving welfare is between $6.50 to $8.50 per hour. For more information on how to help please conta~ the Welfare Rights Coalition tt (513) 381-4242. \'~~~~--~~~~-~-~~- --·~~ ' ' (above) Protestors are confronted on the street by "security" at Senator DeWines downtown Cincinnati office the paper, editing and writing stories, graphic design and email • communications for the The Streetvibes Streetvibes newspaper production desk at the project. We have been Greater Cincinnati using the same old Coalition for the Homeless computer for production is in desperate need of a new computer. We will be for nearly six years and it is beginning to show its using your new, donated age. We are constantly computer for the layout of plagued by breakdowns STREETVIBES Needs Your Help...• and time in the repair shop. Can you help us? We are in need of a new computer that can handle large programs, sometimes running all at once. Photoshop, Pagemaker and the other programs needed for producing Streetvibes requires a powerful workstation that we just can't afford. And we can't afford the downtime and the repair bills for ou1 old computer. Can you help us? We are seeking a tax-deductible donation of a workstation for Streetvibes. Please call the Streetvibes Editor, Jimmy Heath at the Coalition office - 421­ 7803. Please Help! �STREETVIBES October 2002 Page 2 Oktoberfest Draws Re~ord Crowds, and protesters too by Jimmy Heath .. Oktobe1fest, held last month on 5th street and around Fountain Square, drew record crowds to downtown Cincinnati, over 700,000 people by some estimates. Beer and food vendors say it was one of the best years ever. But for the two dozen or so demonstrators on hand to support and promote the boycott of the downtown business district, it was a rowdy and threatening crowd. hand, but for the most part they ignored the taunting of the protestors by passing crowds. In spite of the aggressive nature of the crowd, the protesters quietly held back, holding their signs and staying close to each other. The protesters had designed a plan to deal with aggressors, by watching each others back and not letting things and each other get out of control. But things did get Asa photographer and concerned citizen, 1 watched and witnessed the threats made by the throngs of festival goers toward the small group of mostly African­ American protesters. to be there. Later in the afternoon the protesters left tbe festival, amidst jeers and whistles from the crowds, to bail their co-protesters o ut of jail. The anger of the white folks gathered against the protesters astonished me. I could not believe my eyes and ears. But there it was, as plain as day. The flashing hatred I saw in the eyes of Cincinnati citizens actually frightened me. I wondered what could bring on such malice. If this had been a white issue with white protesters, would the gathered crowds be as aggressive and intolerant? Do outer-city folks really care about the boycott, or downtown for that matter, except as a s Because of the Protesters face the crowds at Cincinnati Oktoberfest celebration place to park and large crowds, party, drive people were pressed together, and out of hand. In an earlier.-:--:--:;--:----«lt:OlLlgt1...0J:..gt::UC~oQJr~kJ__ ? Did the some were not comfortable sharing altercation, two protesters and a people confronting the prote festival goer were arrested and the closeness with boycotters and really understand the nature of the taken to jail for assault and boycott or what it was about? Had their signs and ehants. th disorderly conduct. A witness said " " hi ~ a w te person, 1 was any one of them ever tak~ both ashamed and disgusted by the that the altercation began when a time in their_ }iy_es..to-exanune their behavior of the white festival goers festival goer poured beer on a own racism and attitudes? How who, with beer cups and bratwurst black protester's head. Some many of us make assumptions about people based solely on what in hand, taunted and cursed the protes.ters were reportedly spit on. protesters. Some in the crowd Whether or not you support they look like or how they dress or yelled obscenities and pointed the boycott, the type of behavior 1 how they speak? Cincinnati is their fingers and others had to be witnessed once again proved to me slow in learning these lessons, and sometimes people don' t seem to held back by friends. I'm not the problems we have in this city easily frightened, but being near with race relations. The things I care. the protesters did not feel safe. On witnessed and heard, the animosity What do you think? I'd a nearby corner, a group of demonstrated by the festival goers like to hear your comments about policemen were gathered, ready to legitimized the presence of the the boycott. Please write me at protesters. In spite of the threats, charge in case things got out of Streetvibes@juno.com. and because of them, they needed Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $1. I also understand that 1 will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in termination from the program. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt to vend after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other ven­ dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influ­ ence of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 7. 1 agree not to deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a not-for-profit 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 will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise misrepresenting is a violation of a city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing papers, and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. I will not sell on private property without permission. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ supporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this effort, I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. �Page 3 STREETVIBES October 2002 Homeless News Linda J. Atkins is the running mate Greater Cincinnati Coalition for of Robert R. Fustero, who recently the Homeless Welcomes New Staff Digest retired after 28 years as a grocery systemic changes in support of the Stinks to be homeless in Orlando, Florida. In earlier August, the Orlando City Council approved an ordinance that could land anyone found sitting or lying down on downtown public sidewalks with a $500 fine and 60 days in jail, according to the Orlando Sentinel ( www.orlandosentinel.com). Giddy with the pleasure of criminalizing homeless people, the council's next vote will be on whether to limit the number of days a year volunteer groups can band out free meals. Turns out some organizations have no sense of propriety and are dishing up lavish grub " as often as once a week." By removing extravagant perks like unlimited access to concrete pavements and food once every seven days, the council appears to believe that Orlando's homeless population will finally concede theirs is not the luxurious, sophisticated lifestyle they once thought it was. Speaking of throwing homeless p eople in jail, New York City has skipped the step of actually finding a homeless person guilty of any illegal trespass, under the premise that unused jail space can double as emergency shelter. According to the New York Times, The Bronx House of Detention for Men will house 80 to 100 families in addition to the 8,400 families already in the city's shelter system every night. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg concedes that a former jail is not the ideal accommodation, but notes that it beats sleeping on the floor of the Emer gency Assistance Unit, where many families have previously spent the night. The Commissioner of homeless services, Linda Gibbs, stresses that the city hopes to only use the detention center for a month or two, after which homeless families will be free to return to the city streets just as winter begins. A woman who has been homeless for almost 10 years is one of the distant hopefuls among the candidates for Maryland's governor and lieutenant governor. Story, Editorial and Art Submission Deadline for the November, 2002 edition of STREETVIBES is Monday, October 14th. store clerk, according to the Baltimore Sun (www.sunspot.net). They will challenge the Democratic frontrunner Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in the September 10 gubernatorial primary. While Townsend is all but guaranteed the spot - she is the only candidate who can afford to run ads and even host her own website - Atkins and Fustero took advantage of the Maryland law that allows any resident over the age of 30 to run for the state office as long as they hand over a $295 filing fee. Atkins, 43, first met Fustero, 51 - who has run for political office twice before ­ when she lost her job as a manager at a fast-food restaurant and suffered a bitter divorce that eventually drove her to become an alcoholic. While homeless, Atkins used local church addresses so she could continue to vote for candidates who cared about issues facing homeless and low-income people. She's now registered to vote out of a motel she recently moved into with her boyfriend. "Everybody should count," Atkins told the Baltimore Sun, "not just the rich." Members Brendan Goodwin Dear Streetvibes Community: I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Brendan Goodwin and I am the new Administrative Coordinator at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Previously, I had worked in Administration at one of the local homeless shelters so I have seen the importance of both providing direct services and advocating for A city authority has admitted dumping dung in two empty houses to stop homeless people squatting in them. Police are investigating, saying Hengelo Council in Holland may have broken environmental laws. The council has promised the smelly houses will be cleaned up as soon as possible. Alderman Geert Ter Ellen said the decision was taken by a city wor ker without the knowledge of councillors. T he dumping was reported to police by two teenagers who came to meet at one of the houses and found the mess. Mr Ter Ellen told the Algemeen Dagblad newspaper: "They immediately informed the police who started an inquiry. Because the houses belonged to the city of Hengelo, the police asked the city administration about it, they said they gave order to dump the dung. "We didn't talk this out at our monthly meetings. It has been ordered by one single civil servant." Write Us! · We'd like to hear from IJOll.·­ ~ 11 - M"'l•:'J r Send letten or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Andy Erickson To the Streetvibes vendors and readers: Hi! I began working for the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless in September and I'm very excited to be here. I'm working on the National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project, taking over for John Halpin and Molly Lyons. The National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project is a collaboration between the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, and other organizations and individuals across the country. Cities across the U.S. are working on the project, and Cincinnati is one of its nine regional field cites. The main goals of the project are to end civil rights abuses against the homeless (like police harassment and poor homeless population. I am really looking forward to working with the Coalition for the Homeless and all of its constituents. In the past few weeks I have been able to see the positive impact that this organization has on both the lives of homeless individuals and the community. In my new position, I will be responsible for writing grant proposals, fundraising activities and other administrative duties. What I am most excited about is to show potential funders and donors the great programs such as Streetvibes and our Education/ Outreach program and why these types of programs are so essential to ending homelessness in our community. I welcome any suggestions, advice or partnerships that anyone may h ave in how we can better serve the homeless community and the Cincinnati area. Please feel free to stop by or give me a call to introduce yourself. Thank you for your support of Streetvibes and the much needed support you provide to homeless individuals citywide. treatment in shelters), to stop hate crimes against the homeless (like the 41 lethal hate crimes reported in the U.S. in 2000), and to end criminalization of the homeless. Criminalization of the homeless occurs when laws are passed to make illegal those things that the homeless have to do in public for lack of j obs, housing or shelter, such as panhandling, sleeping in the streets, and living in cars. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless formed the Civil Rights Work Group about a year ago. T he group works to end poor treatment of the homeless. The homeless and formerly homeless guide the group, as they know what the most important issues are surrounding their situation. T hey help us pinpoint some of the more pressing problems. Once we understand what those are, we can organize an appropriate campaign. Recently, the group successfully worked to keep poor treatment from occurring in shelters, among other places. The Workgroup will be meeting again soon. If you are interested in joining, please stop by. If you are homeless and you think someone is violating your rights, or if you know a homeless person whose rights are being violated, please let me know. I look forward to working with all of you. �STREETVI B ES October 2002 On the Road by Kenji Bengurion I won 't bore you with the details of my youth or where I'm from, but I will simply and honestly as possible try to relate some details of my life as a hobo. Which, I may add, is different than either a tramp or a bum. Nor will I go into tedious details and explanations of what these differences consist, since I haven' t the space or the inclination. However, I will say this much - that a hobo is more skilled in the different hustles and ways of making money on the street. Also at riding the rails. Now, riding the rails ain' t as easy as the uninitiated might imagine. There are many dangers - the "bulls", derailings and one particular problem that in my beginning adventures cost me much grief and almost my life. Let me illustrate what I mean by a short story. It was about two weeks before Mardi Gras, and I found myself broke in Jacksonville, Fla. I think the year was 1977. I thought Florida was supposed to be warm in the winter, me being a northern Yankee snowbirding person. Was I wrong. It was maybe 30 degrees and intermittent rain and sleet. Well, I figured I'll just catch me a freight like them guys in that movie "Emperors of the North." Anyway, here I was huddled in a clump of willow trees, looking like a fool with five shirts and high-water bell­ bottoms. Being as green as they come, and by nature a bit paranoid, I wasn't gonna ask one of the crewman which train to catch. Now, I didn't have any water or food or even a bedroll, but I wasn't worried - not me. Well, the train highballed out of the yard doing about 50 mph. I stood there exhilarated, heading into the P age 4 The Holidays are Near sun. I felt like Charles Bronson in "Hard Times" as the scenery flitted by - junkyards, families on their back porches, children playing. There's a rabbit, people in cars waved. I was as free as the wind. What: "Magical Evening of Giving,, - malls will close their This was all short-lived and replaced by a sinking feeling of doors and reopen them for ticket holders with special despair as the setting sun slowly but discounts, sales, prizes, food and live music surely started melting to my left. I was going north! When: Tri-County Mall This train was an express. Sunday, November 17, 6:00-9:00pm The first town I saw was Savannah ' Ga. Night was falling and so was the temperature. I paced back and Florence Mall forth all that night, trying to keep Sunday, December 8, 8:00- lO:OOpm warm and cursing my own stupidity. Morning brought Cost: Tickets are $5 each for both malls. All proceeds Baltimore, Md., and two feet of snow. benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless As I eased my chilled body off the boxcar, I heard a shrill voice Call Brendan Goodwin at 421-7803 for tickets or more info! call out. It sounded like something between a screech owl and a 10­ year-old boy. I glanced over and saw the engineer, a small man with by Jacquelyne M. Jordan why haven' t we figured out a way a red kerchief tied around his head to motivate all high school and an engineers' cap perched on Are we throwing away our students to graduate. With his head. future as we continue to allow our President Bush's goal of having "What ya doin' up there? young people to drop out of every child succeed, why do we Yer gonna freeze. Come here and leave our high school dropouts climb on that rear engine, but when school? Do we do enough to keep them from limiting their earning behind in the job market? we go past the towers, duck down. potential, as we watch them fail...!9 t is m humble opinion Don' t want the bulls around here. our at-risk youth wo complete their high school that I was surprsed and better served if our schools somewhat shocked. Then I thought education? Do we allow our schools to discard some of the designed programs to address their -man, I should' ve asked that guy in brightest minds because they are need for employment skills. the beginning. not able to fit the prescribed mold? Students not~ri.ng..ton to I climbed into the engine Have we fought hard enough to college can still benefit from and guess what. It was warm as keep our young people in school? vocational training. Why can't this hell. Felt damn good. People used We are in the twenty first century, type of training be obtainable to comfort and ease should try it legal for minors to quit before they give up on school so why is something like this. The contrast school? What are we teaching altogether? Before we can really makes you appreciate things them about life when they can so adequately address race relations we take for granted (like central easily forfeit the education and homelessness in our city, we heating). required for them to become self­ must deal with our education crisis Well, I made it to Baltimore, and our extremely high dropout sufficient as adults? With all of but that's another story. our advancements in technology, rates. Our future depends on it. From Home Words, a project of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless THIS WINTER, THOUSANDS WILL BE OUT IN THE COLD... CAN YOU HELP THEM? The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, Justice Watch, Mt. Airy Shelter, Interfaith Hospitality Network and Goodwill will be sponsoring a city-wide coat drive for the homeless from October 25 - November 22. Drop-off locations will be throughout the city. Please donate new or slightly used winter coats for men, women and children to Cincinnati's Homeless. For more information or specific drop-off locations, please call John Halpin or Georgine Getty at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 421-7803. HELP MAKE TIDS WINTER A LITTLE WARMER Already beginning your shopping? Why not shop for a good cause? Just a Few Questions to Ponder Extra! Extra! Advertise in Streetvibes! Reach thousands of downtown UXJrkers each month! Call 421-7803 for more information about how advertising in Streetvibes will work for your business.... While we make every effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. �STREE TVIBES O ctober 2002 Letters to Streetvibes Disposition for English Woods not Demolition Some residents of English Woods would like to see Disposition not Demolition at To Robert Manassa, (Streetvibes English Woods. Did you know Vendor) English Woods is scheduled for Today I bought demolition? (600 +families "Streetvibes" from you. I read relocated). While we face the your poem "Love Never Fails" and same issues as Huntington I thought it was beautiful. I was Meadows, we have a unique really nervous about coming opportunity to be involved in the downtown because of the poor revitalization of our community. race relations. But after talking to However, because we are you it felt much better and safer. I financially challenged and are hope you and your loved ones are viewed as the low-low class of the doing well. Sincerely, city, our opinions and our desires The Mason Family are overlooked. We could consider this 20 acres and a mule. This Looking for Mr. Mitchell could be our opportunity to own Having bought the land but it is being taken away magazine and meeting one of the from us. We are being told what is authors in the May 2001 going to happen instead of sitting Streetvibes, I was hoping to get in at the table making it happen ­ contact with him again. The Don't always believe the hype. article is called ''Inspiration" and it Ma,rcia Ma' Ree is signed by a man named D avid Steven Mitchell. The article is so wonderful and inspiring to me that I would love to talk to Mr. Mitchell about it again. I think that he was a member of the Streetvibes staff around that time, Send letters or so if you have any information comments to: concerning how I can contact him, Streetvi bes@Juno.com, I would greatly appreciate any and or write the Coalition offic~ all help. Thank you for your time attn: Streetvibes Letten, and please let me know if I can be of any service to your organization. 1506 Elm Street· Thanks. Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 E-MAIL: industrlgm l@yahoo.com Write Us! Page 5 Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine Limited Edition Print ·~ ~ 1 Now available, 18" X 24" poster-size; Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine, Winter 1999. Each print is individually signed by photographer Jimmy Heath. Purchase benefits the children's Literacy Through Photography program at Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine. Posters are $10 each, plus $3 for shipping. Send your order and check to: Peaslee Neighborhood Center Attn: Photography Program 215 East Fourteenth Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or call (513) 621-5514 for more information Universal Living Wage Campaign News web site at The U niversal Living Wage Campaign has come of age with the 500th organizational endorsement. The Bucks County Housing Group in Wrightstown, Pennsylvania has become the 500th organization, business, or municipality to call on the United States Congress to fix the federal minimum wage. Not to be outdone, Texas immediately followed suite as Colonias Unidas became the 50l st organization to endorse. With union support representing large blocks of teachers, auto workers, and communication workers, almost 800,000 people are represented endorsers. This four year grassroots national campaign was launched on April 15, 2001 . It is based on the moral premise: that anyone working a 40 hour week should be able to afford basic rental housing wherever that work is done throughout the United Sates. Please go to our interactive www.UniversalLivingWage.org, sign on and get your organization to sign on. Join the national movement to fix the federal minimum wage. IThe Head Hunter \ "Well, it 's a Fortune 500 company with ex,cellent stock options and a record of very modest j ail terms f or senior executives." �STREETVIBES October 2002 Page 6 Sierra Club Environmental Justice Meeting by Mike Henson On the weekend of August 23 - 25 1 attended the third annual Sierra Club Environmental Justice In-Gathering held in Chicago. There were nearly fifty other Environmental Justice activists from around the country. There were representatives from Chicago; Memphis Tennessee; Cancer Alley in Louisiana; Detroit, Michigan; West Virginia; Colorado; Georgia; and Arizona (including representatives from Hopi and Navaho communities). I was invited to attend as a member of the board of Appalachian Focus, an organization concerned with A Match Made in Heaven by Lois Cross, Homeless Voice News When you run a homeless shelter or a hotel for the poor, you soon find out that love is easy to come by. I think mostly because the homeless people are lonely. We always recommend to the clients who are trying to stay off drugs that they should not have any relationships for some time. Still, we see one relationship after another, and sometimes the same person will have three or four in one month. It is not easy to see a match made in Heaven. So what is a match made in Heaven? They are Frankie and Lizette .... The two of them got married at the newest hotel in - Hollywood - you guessed it, ''Hotel Cosac Quarters". This is our first catering event. The neat thing about having a wedding at the Hotel, which most people call a shelter, is that it is a success story. Frankie came to the shelter almost two years ago. He smoked a lot of pot back then. 1 gave him a drug test, which he failed, and I put him on property confinement and fined him as a consequence. He says that this consequence made him stop smoking pot and shares this -- thought over and over with new clients who have "no hope" in their situation. He is now the Director of Strategy and Circulation at our paper. He's the guy who brings the Homeless Voice to an intersection near you. Although Frankie thinks I am picking on him when I have to tell him he made a mistake, I try to have Frankie remember, "The coach always picks on the kid he justice in the coalfields of the eastern mountains. For the past several years, Appalachian Focus has partnered with the Sierra Club to develop an environmental justice focus for the Club in the coalfields. One aspect of this partnership has been the Listening Project, in which Sierra Club staff and volunteers worked with Appalachian Focus board members to plan the shape and purpose of the Club's coalfield efforts. We agreed that the Club would hire a Resource Person to be based in the coalfields to support communities in their fight against mountaintop removal, toxic dumping, and other environmental attacks. The EJ program of the Sierra Club is based on two documents, the Principles of Environmental Justice and the Principles of Environmental Justice organizing. The first document outlines the need for environmental concerns to take social justice issues into account. The second provides strong guidelines for SC staff and volunteers who want to support low-income communities. Respect is the key. The In­ Gathering was a chance to meet activists from around the country, share strategies, and to develop plans for future work. It was also a chance to encourage the broader Sierra Club to continue to develop its EJ program. Of the "big ten" likes best." And Ilive by that philosophy. Then there is Lizette, who has changed her life in a positive way too. She remembers exactly when she arrived at Helping People in America shelter. It was April 18, 2001 at 6pm. She was referred by a soup kitchen in Pompano who knew of her plight. Now you will often see her at the reception desk. This is an important position, because she is the first contact people will have with our agency. The same with any phone calls that come in. Sometimes situations and problems here, such as a new arrival who is drunk and smarting off at her, or even our own people's "bi-polar" outbursts, will stress her out. But when she bumps into Frankie it is all washed away. If she is stressed, Frankie · makes her calmer. Her facial expression changes, her eyes light up and her voice changes. But let me tell you, this girl can hold her own. She is strong enough to not let anyone push her around, yet gentle enough to speak the soothing words when needed. She keeps them in line and assures them that everything will be okay. She also has nursing experience, which has helped to bring a potential problem to our attention immediately. Then there is Beba (this is her nickname, her real name is Jocilyn). Although she will be 12 in September, we still call her "little." She is Lizette's daughter and her girlish looks very much resembles her mom's. Beba has had some rough times too, during the time her mom was struggling with her own life. For a while they didn't live together as a family, she had been staying with her aunt. Once Lizette started stabilizing, Beba would come for weekend visits. Her first visit was on Mother's day and I know that was so very special for Lizette. But now she and mom and Frankie are one happy family, a family that Beba longed for. She is a very quiet little girl, who likes to read and play with her Barbie dolls. Maybe this was her way of making a happy family for herself. She's a real down to earth young lady (I like to call her that), who doesn't worry about the latest fashions. Her mom says she's happy with a pair of sneakers from the dollar store. She's very sensitive though, just like her mom. She likes to please people and if she feels that she has done wrong or disappointed someone, she is sometimes reduced to tears. Sean has so many times comforted her. She's even overcoming emotional stress in school and brags to Sean that her grades are improving. "Sometimes when I am stressed and getting ready to call it quits permaneI!tly, Little Beba will come by and say to me , ' got an "A" on my test or 'my last grade was an "F' and now my report card shows a "C". Then 1 say to myself 1 guess I won't quit today," said Sean. Last night when we were all leaving the hotel, we stood around my car and did some more impromptu planning. It was late and past curfew when a husband and wife (they have been with us for a few days) came home. There was a lot of talk back and forth of plans for their future and when they walked toward the front door with Sean, Lizette turned to me and said, "You know when I first came to the shelter over on Lincoln street, I was still in a struggle with my life... but trying to do better. I would see Sean around the property and talking to people and I had heard people's comments on him and how he runs things." I environmental organizations, the Sierra Club is the only one to take on an EJ program. Environmental Justice is the only SC program with a full-time attorney; there are full-time organizers in Memphis, Detroit, and Arizona; two co­ coordinators serve the program. Yet EJ is still a small part of the Sierra Club picture. In parting remarks, Larry Wilson of Appalachian Focus, and the out­ going consultant for the SC/EJ program, reminded the group of the great strides the group has taken and of the task ahead. For information on the Sierra Club Environmental Justice program, contact the Sierra Club web site,www.Sierraclub.org thought, "He doesn't even know who I am." That was until one day I heard someone call my name. I turned around and it was Sean. He said, "You're doing much better." That's when I realized that he did know who I was and that he was really paying attention and that was the day my life started to really change. Ttrisiittle.famil lives off campus in their own apartment. They come to work every day; Beba sometimes does her homework here. W~..all­ one big happyfaffiily ... with all the love, anxiety and problems that go with all families ... but it is the love that overcomes all. We truly wish Frankie and Lizette and Beba a long and happy life. "May the best you have ever known, be the worst you will ever see." Charlton Heston said that, I think. Reprinted with Permission by The Homeless Voice , Davie, Florida. The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose. Heda Bejar Sometime in your life, hope that you might see one starved man, the look on his face when the bread finally arrives. Hope that you might have baked it or bought or even kneaded it yourself. For that look on his face, for your meeting his eyes across a piece of bread, you might be willing to lose a lot, or suffer a lot, or die a little, even. Daniel Berrigan, SJ �STREETVIBES October 2002 'T he Homeless Ethicist by Rafael Santana Homeless people, as you may know, are subject to being picked up against their will if ~ey're sleeping or laying about or just sitting outdoors when _the weather goes below freezing. Th.is law is said to be in effect "for the greater good." As we've seen in our overseas conflict, certain traditional American legal proscriptions-including sufficient warrants and right to privacy with counsel-have been abrogated for that same "greater good." What do you think of such measures? Is there need for the state to step in in certain "emergency" situations and act? Or is any curtailment of absolute liberty - even if it leads to death-to be avoided? RESPONSE by Harold Krinsky: We must maintain a balance to show a presentable city. It's unsightly to see people lying in the street. We are responsible for other human beings. We should do research on why people would lie in the street. The balance is; if we have an attractive city, tourists will spend millions of dollars and dollars being income and taxes, taxes pay for homeless shelters. I mean to enhance them with tax revenue. The state has the right to "step in" in case of "emergency", very cold weather or lying in front of a business establishment. We also must make the shelters comfortable and safe so the homeless populations would want to go there when in need. RESPONSE by Don Levit: Any "curtailment of absolute liberty," however small in theory, is dangerous, for who is to say where and when it ends? I do not care for others deciding where the state overrides my personal rights; who is to decide? For example, do socalled situational ethics justify state torture; and if so, for how long? If someone chooses to remain outside, even if only to avoid a shelter, that is his or her business - . a personal choice. The state, the police, should not get to make that decision. RESPONSE by Toby Van Buren: This is not easy to answer. There are times when for one's own good, certa1n liberties may need to be compromised, especially if survival is the concern. When it's simply a · matter of one being an "eyesore" on the streets, and nothing else, · then the only thing one can do is try to "persuade" these people to accept some kind of help, not to force them to. I believe in one's freedom to be where he or she wants to be, though being homeless on the streets is not where one would normally want to be (there are some exceptions). But to be forcibly taken to some place against one's will, nothing is really accomplished, tn most cases. Except perhaps in extremely cold weather, where life itself is at stake. It's a situation where you should (the police or whomever is taking the action on the homeless), see what condition a homeless person is in. If he is fit, seeming to be a "veteran" of the streets, having experienced going through a number of winters without any problems, and be appears well and robust, even mentally upbeat, I'd leave him be. Maybe it is good to check on known homeless on the streets duri.J1g severe weather, to see if they're okay, and if they seem okay and choose not to go to a shelter, then leave them be, wish them well, wave good-bye, etc. On Sireetvibes newspaper is publislied monthly on a shoe-string· budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Can you help us with some oftbeif.ollowingitems? o Electric Stapler - Heavy duty Page 7 SAVE THAT DATE!!! .. Saturday, December 14, 2002, 6:30pm GCCH Annual Dinner The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless will host its annual dinner on December 14, 2002. This dinner is a celebration of the past year 's accomplishments in ending homelessness citywide. Tickets are $15 or more (depending oil what you can affor d) If you cannot make it, please consider sponsoring a homeless individual to attend the dinner at $15 or sponsor an entire table for $120. For tickets or to sponsor, please call Brendan Goodwin at 421-7803 the other hand, there are those who are hanging on by a "thread" health-wise, mentally and physically, who are in no condition to make wise decisions regarding their welfare. Then I'd say it is our duty to get them offthe streets, but not necessarily permanently; one still must try to respect their rights. It's a thin line, really, between those who can decide for themselves and those who cannot. RESPONSE by Bryan Gerard Briggs: On the homeless situation, I would answer it by saying, if the w.eather is freezing, yes they do need shelter, no ifs, ands or buts; it is a necessity. Common sense will tell you that if you're going to be out in below-zero weather, you're going to freeze to death. (On the flip side of this, I would say make sure the shelter is safe.) On the topic of OlJ! "civil liberties at stake," I'd say that while I do not necessarily agree with racial profiling, as far as going after [those] who blew up the World Trade Center, I'd say to the government: Do what you've gotta do, because hey, if you' re going to be stupid enough to screw with America then you'd better be prepared to pay the piper! RESPONSE by Kristi: Particular actions can result in consequences that are not a reflection of "the greater good." To question one's ability to think for oneself and determine what freedom should mean is contradictory to the right to choose. Reprinted from Upward, January 2002. To submit your quandaries and dilemmas to their panel of ethicists, you can email us at upward­ nyc@ciol.com, f ax us at (212)883-0672, or send a letter to The Homeless Ethicist, ~Jo Rafael Santana, 211 E. 43rd St., Suite .1004, NYC 10017. Know Your Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati's homeless and covers a person's basic rights when interacting with the police, as well as some local ~t'~ } laws that might be of interest to the homeless population. If you are a p homeless person or if you work . with homeless people and would ~ ' like to obtain free copies of the ·· brochure for yourself or your ~ agency, please call 421-7803, or • stop by the Coalition office and ~ pick one up. r · �STREETVIBE S October 2002. Page 8 In the ''Git-Along Gang:'' My life as a Safety Ambassador from Real Change, Seattle. Ambassdors' ready and waiting to make your metropolitan Seattle "Sir? Sir, its 8:30 in the experience as enjoyable as morning and its time to get up and possible. You should consider the. get moving along, sir!" No Safety Ambassadors as your response from under the three or personal guides to Downtown four grungy blankets, on top of an Seattle." The DSA, a business old piece of carpet, insulated from association formed to support its the cold concrete by an extra­ members, runs the MID program. The fellow who we would roust thick cardboard box·near Sixth Avenue and Lenora Street on a that morning was not a rate-paying beautiful November morning last property owner or retail tenant in the downtown Seattle area. Why year. "Sir?" repeated my partner couldn 't we let him alone? for the eighth time, "You 'll have We returned 20 minutes to get up and get moving, or I'm later and the guy was s till there, going to call the police, and you '11 trying to sleep. Roger was definitely not going to make his get a ticket for camping." Third day on the job. I'm downtown experienGe as enjoyable as possible. The MID brochure a Seattle Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) explains that Ambassadors "help "Safety Ambassador" in training. reduce crime by acting as additiqnal eyes and ears for the According to the Safety Seattle police." I then learned Ambassador's promotional brochure, "your safety and about the only piece of equipment comfort are our foremost concern that Safety Ambassadors use to put some bite into their bark: the radio while you are visiting Downtown to the MID "Base." When they Seattle." This guy was obviously visiting downtown Seattle. I radio the base, ·Ambassadors speak asked my partner/trainer, whom · loudly into the radio in hopes that the people who are sleeping, I'll call Roust 'em Roger, how in the world was this homeless guy's partying, drinking, trafficking, sleeping out of sight our foremost skateboarding, propositioning or concern? panhandling in the doorway, at the "We' ll walk around the dock, on the sidewalk, or in front corner and come back in 15 of a store will overhear. They _ might get a little anxious and move minutes to make sure he's up and moved on," was Roger 's answer. on. Base will continue radio traffic I got a funny feeling that I wasn 't and try to determine whether or not the police, Emergency Services, or going to last lorig as a Safety Ambassador. I was getting angry, Detox should be called to the and said, "Roger, the dude is scene. The fellow who was trying sleeping there, minding his own business, bothering no one. What to sleep overheard Roger's radio do you want to get in his face for, call for SPD to come and roust the homeless guy for "trepassing," for just wa_nting to sleep?" According to the MID brochure, finally got up, wrapped up his stuff · Roger and I were "distinctively­ and moved on, as usually happens uniformed and friendly 'Safety in these sort of situations. After he left, Roger showed me how to roll up the guy 's piece of carpet and cardboard and put it in a dumpster, to make it difficult for him to come back the next evening. "Thanks for tjle training, Roger," I said. "Whenever I want to learn how to be a real prick, I' 11 ask if I can go out on patrol with you again ." For the rest of my time at this job, these situations occurred daily. I found it more and more difficult to be a real "Goodwill Ambassador," as some of the MID employees prefer to call themselves. Because the MID . hires people from shelters and other social services, I met homeless people who referred to us Safety Ambassadors as "homeless people who have jobs" - distinctively uniformed "bodies" just out and about, looking for and getting in the face of Seattle's marginalized and homeless population. For men and women who were homeless themselves j ust months before, the starting pay isn't bad. I took the job because I did sincerely want to be a goodwill ambassador. I wanted to give information to tourists and visitors, assist the local merchants with information about the many downtown activities, help homeless people get food , shelter and medical referrals, and try to be a deterrent to crime. As it turned out, I lasted less than 60 days. Why was I unceremoniously "terminated" at the end of December? I just didn't fit into the program. Only two weeks before I was fired, I started getting premonitions that I wouldn' t last long with the MID. Instead of feeling fearful that I might lose·my job, I took a positive view: it would be an honor to be fired for the first time in my life. Later, when Bill Dietrich, the DSA director of the MID program explained to me that I was entitled to appeal my termination, I thought, "I don't have any grievance about getting the axe from this bunch of DSA choreboys. Who needs it?" I toJd Mr. Dietrich, "Well, I'11 just go to the media and tell them about your overpaid, untrained and unprofessional flunkies, and see what they want to wlite." He laughed and told me that the media wouldn't be interested. ''I' 11 bet Real Change would like to use the story." He laughed again and said, "No one who matters reads Real Change. The DSA has been around for 56 years, and we' ll be around for another 56 years ; you can't change anything. "Well Bill, you might be right, but unlike you, I believe that every one of us is accountable and will eventually be held responsible for what we did and did not do to try to make things better. What got me was how insensitively the DSA's hireli~gs - some of whom were former and "reformed" homeless persons ­ acted toward their old peers. Wouldn't money be more wisely spent on initiating housing and job programs for the long-term homeless, rather than on these uniformed rousters? The MID program is just another get- 'em­ outta-my-face, don't-confuse-me­ with-the-facts, short-sighted fix-it plan. The issue isn' t "Why are you sitting here?" The issue is, very clearly, "Lets do something ab_o ut it, folks." Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (5.13) 621-5514 "I see the Accounting Department got hold ofourpaychecks." Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education �STREETVIBE S O ctober 2002 Page 9 iBienvenidos! Volunteer Opportunities at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless by Samantha Brockfield Ahora Streetvibes est.a dedicando una pagina a su comunidad. Este es el peri6dico escrito para crear una conciencia de las personas sin hogar, la injusticia social, y la pobreza en nuestra cuidad. Es la hora que se oye la voz de usted. l Ha pasado algo emocionante en su vida recientemente? l Tiene Ud. unas ideas que quiere publicar? l Ha escrito algun tipo de poesfa? Streetvibes quiere publicar sus historias, su poesfa, su prosa, y sus pensarnientos. Hay personas que pueden ayudarle a escribir y preparar todo para redactarlo. Tambien, Ud. puede ser un vendedor de Streetvibes y ganar dinero. La Coalici6n de Greater Cincinnati provee el peri6dico para las personas sin hogar en Over-the-Rhine. El meta de la coalici6n es eliminar la situaci6n , de personas sin hogar, con respeto a la dignidad y diversidad de sus miembros, las personas sin hogar, y la comunidad. La Coalicion y sus miembros pueden darle a usted lo siguiente: el refugio de emergencia, las habitaciones provisionales, la vivienda permanente, los servicios medicos, There are numerous opportuniti.es for volunteers at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. We are willing to work witb each individual in choosing a service opportunity that is right ~or them. The following are a ::few of the areas in which the Coalition could use your belP.! Designing a web site for our Natjonal Civil Rignts Organizing Project. This would include workin~with two Amerieorp Vista volunteers on how to prevent further criminalization of homeless individuals as well as preventing the increasing hate crimes against them. We need the help of people interested in doing journalism work. This includes interviewing homeless and formerly homeless iqdlviduals to document their stories of how they became homeless and the struggles that .result from homelessness. We need help with our quarterly newsletter and annual report. The Streetvibes newspaper los servicios sociales, los lugares donde Ud. puede obtener comida, y los servicios de salud mental. Nosotros creemos que es importante que Ud. sepa cuales son sus derechos civiles como persona sin hogar. Tenemos folletos que los explican. Nos gustaria que Ud. nos visitara algun dia para que le podamos dar servicios mejores. Para reunirse con La Coalicion: 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 www.cinci.com/ gcch Para ayuda, Harne- Su Casa Ministerio Hispano (513) 761-1588 115 W. Seymour Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 San Damiano House- Los Hermanos de Las Personas Pobres (513)241-8585 923 Bank St Cincinnati, Ohio 45214. Tambien, hay una lista de lugares (para el refugio, la vivienda, el tratamiento medical, y otros Servicios) en la ultima pagina del peri6dico. Local Schizophrenia/Schizo-affective Research Study * Financial Compensation * 45 years and over * Symptoms of depression * 13 visits (513) 861-3100 ext 4187 or toll free (888) 267-7873 ext 4187 National Homeless Civil Rights ,Organizing Project (NHCROP) Regional Office 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelessciv.i lrights@yahoo.com (513) 421-7803 D I SC JOCKEY C l i£.ford J ones ( 513) 761 - 3464 Offic e , The GCCH would like to th ank these Starb ucks l ocations for th e ir generous donation o f c o ffee and 3 3 66 Erie Avenue E a st Hyd e Park (51 3) 533-3402 -~ j y 7896 Montgomery Rd. Kenwood 891 - 7740 e-''nail: jon esaCV (513) ·230- 6353 et • •"o~·~ pastries. SEl~VICE www V o icemail ·C~~· '4r,_, tiexchang.e· c:P Extra! Extra! Advertise in Streetvibes/ Reach thousands of down town wor kers each m ont h! Call 421-7803 for more information about how advertising in Streetvibes will work for your business.... �STREETVIBES October 2002 Page 10 The Peace Village Lives on 9/11 lining v.:~crowdedbythelocalfirehouse, up to present flowers , a hearty by Dr. Steve Sunderland All of the activities of the Peace Village happened on 9/11/ 2002 with beauty, grace, and amazing participation. Our night long vigil at our Hillel Jewish Student Center was unforgettable, as we heard Islamic, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and others came to share in the reading of the names of those killed on 9111 as well as share stories of peace. Music was provided by folk singers throughout the night, heartfelt discussions of peace and 9/11 kept us alive to how special the conversations are. We realized that our efforts will need to continue if we are not to meet and read another long list of names of innocent victims of terrorism. What was amazing throughout the night, was that each speaker and performer broadened the perspective on what was lost on 9/11 and what we must do to increase our understanding of the causes of this tragedy. It became clear that many of us had never really faced, in a sufficient length of time, the deep issues underlying our place in the world. We started as bystanders and ended up, 8 hours later, as citizen participants, changed by the simple reading of the names of the deceased and the complex thoughts and emotions shared. In short, we were changed as we moved to the center of our grief and desire to know more about this world. As the morning anniversary of the planes crashing happened, we met in a serious and wonderful ~ Peace Village Global Phone Call, linking Africa, Israel, The Netherlands and the US. It was a wonderful effort, despite some technical issues, and continued our efforts to recognize our brothers and sisters all over the world for courageous and ongoing peace work. And, thank you Ed Irvin, of Convertgys, for your great support. What came through to each participant on the phone was something about the preciousness of lives dedicated to peace in places that have been deeply wounded by war, indifference, and apathy. We heard from young high school youths dedicated to building a bridge of "love" in their schools between people of different and often hateful cultures. We heard from our elders about the long - struggle for respect and rights that has been a part of long lives of faith in peace over war. We heard about the beauty of places that have only had persistent war, the beauty finding its way into the deepest parts of the heart of peace makers. We heard the good laughter of people who enjoyed the life of being a peace worker, and delighted in the joy of being with long lost members of the peace family. We heard that peace is directly related to the removal of disease and that the eradication of polio was now possible. We beard that peace can come through acts of courageous talk even when there has been great brutality, death and torture. And, we heard that peace is a form of healing, for the dying and the living. We left the phone call and vigil to join the Peace Village Interfaith Walk for Peace, touching base and sharing prayers and songs with 12 congregations. We started at the mosque in glorious sunlight, !earing the Koran, and slowly and with full hearts our walk toward the University of Cincinnati. It was an amazing first for our Cincinnati community, to hear and join with all of the faith groups in explicit acts of prayer and discussion. We were al least 200, moving slowly, mindfully, and with a building sense of joy. We paused at Hebrew Union College for water, for music, and for some reflection on what we were doing and then walked over to hear president Steger and vice president, Livingston honor our Peace Village and to make it clear that international students, and a welcoming of international students and faculty, will continue at the University of Cincinnati. How wonderful to hear words of courage and peace. I looked around as we walked to see how people of different faiths were experiencing this unusual walk for peace. While there was little evidence that anyone was confused, I began to feel that the many different faiths were taking some time to declare solidarity rather than competition and that this was both new and refreshing. We stopped 12 or 13 times at different houses of faith and heard the beautiful words of cooperation, mutuality, and hope. Our numbers swelled and so we had to squeeze together to hear these staterpents, becoming mixed into Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Islamic crowds of learning people. How rare this was to walk hand in hand with all of these faiths, now and then stopping for the refreshment of another form of wisdom. Some of the rituals and songs were not known by everyone and I am sure that there was a respectful deafness to some of the key words being offered by different faith leaders. Yet, I felt a constancy of gentleness with every pause to hear the morsel of words of peace offered. An elderly man, beautifully dressed, read from a weathered copy of the Koran. We heard and then, together, · ambled over to Catholics and Protestant statements and songs. All of the verses of "Amazing Grace" were sung ih the bright sunlight, each verse seeming to lift some spirits as if sunbeam by sunbeam. for, soon, the Cincinnati Public Library exhibit. Being with little ones, ages 6-10, made the questions of the day even more unbearable. Would these kids have a life of social peace? Would the world of violence, now so personal in our experience, become the dominant feeling in their lives? Who will make this world a safer and gentler place in Winton Place? The day was too warm and the spirits of the children too full to overdo these questions. We drew, we shared , we talked, and we connected to our place of peace. I finished this extraordinary day at team member, Rev. Jerry Hill's church, Clifton United Methodist, sharing with team members, Ed Irvin, Rabbi Sam Joseph, and others.some of our feelings about the day and what it means to us. Rabbi Joseph gave a brilliant talk about one of the transformative moments in Jewish history, the time when Jews chose the school over suicide during the battle with the Romans. Others spoke with clarity and feeling about their experiences. We ended with a poem of hope from Jerry's son, Jacob, and a singing of the peace song, "Let Peace Begin, and Let it Begin with You." I am full of so many emotions that I want to meditate on the prayers of gratitude for you all. I know that I have not mentioned the great work on 9/11 of the Center for Peace Education in our local schools yesterday. Over 800 kids were talking about peace and brotherhood. I am grateful to the children and parents of The Harriet Tubman Project,and for the spirit of Harriet Tubman who was with us for the whole time. And, of course, I am grateful for the whole team of Posters 4 Peace/Village for making this village an alive one, full of elders, the young, the blind, the disabled, the teachers, the doctors, the nurses, the artists, the musicians, the politicians, the friends, the families, and everyone. Our Peace Village lives, it is flourishing in every area of the globe, without publicity, and with great tenderness. Let us remember the work of all those who have created our village, those living and those who have recently died, whether in Cincinnati, in 9/11 , or in the loving arms of our family. Our work, your work, goes on, deeper, more beautiful for your involvement, more inclusive of those who are aware, and with the kind of hope that will live as our greatest teaching. handshake, and, most beautifully, to hear the words of thanks from the captain and his crew, tears running up and down everyone's faces. On we went, now 200 or more, toward Hebrew Union College, the first reform Jewish school for rabbis, and were happily greeted by 50 or more students and, a table of water bottles, necessary for our marathon of peace walking. We heard songs and prayers, felt hugs and delight, and completed our walk to the plaza · at the University of Cincinnati, hearts full of what we had done, and what it could mean to each of us, if but for a moment. I left the University and went of our Peace Village/Cincinnati Children's Hospital conference on, "The Roots of Violence in Children." Over 100 members of the hospital community bad the opportunity to discuss this very powerful topic, made more so by doing it on 9/11. Merrell Frazier and his group, "The Harriet Tubman Project," were featured in a 20 minute video exploring the voices of young people struggling with violence. Emory Livers, team member, and I I co-chaired the event. It was taped for sharing at a later date with our friends in other countries and states. It was clear that the interest in this topic would be part of an ongoing series at Children's Hospital, hopefully involving many members of the team. The emotions of the day were in evidence in the conference. Voices quivered as question and comments were offered by the audience of health staff that packed the Sabin Auditorium. And there was poise in the panel of pediatricians, educators and some of the youth that were featured in the film. Looking into the faces of these beautiful children as they found the eloquence to talk about how they were overcoming prejudice and first impressions, inspired us to want to find some way of protecting these children from the waves of violence so common. We wanted to find a way of breaking cycles of violence through adult and youth support efforts, perhaps drawing on the creative arts. We wanted these children to remember 9/11 as a starting place for humanity and tenderness on the part of a caring adult society. We ended the conference with simple words of_ respect and hope and with the belief that a Children's Hospital was a Dr. Steve Sunderla.nd's great place for a peace village to "Posters For Peace" project find roots. engages people ofall ages, races When the conference and beliefs in expressing their finished, I joined team member, visions ofpeace through art and Linda Wihl, director, Winton Place discussion. Dr. Sunderla.nd is a Youth Center, for a poster session on 9/11, with children ages, 6-12. A professor of Social Work at the wonderful sharing, with powerful University of Cincinnati pictures being created and heading �STREET VIB E S October 2002 Page 11 Hou5ing Services Job Services Free Breakfast ·and lunch Entertainment \Jy DJ Andy Glover · for more intorm . · at~ion ~ or to vo1unteer contact! Joh . with the · · n Halptn Greater Cincinnati Coalition for t he Homeless 1· . \ f ....,~, . T HE CITY OF : . C INCINNATI ld(t'S fmllidilll 421-7803 �STREETVIBES O ctober 2002 Ban the Beggars! by Becky Johnson Santa Cruz, Ca. - A casually dressed tourist leans against a building downtown on Pacific Avenue idly sipping his iced mocha cappuccino, as he soaks in the pageantry of the street traffic. Next month, this act will most likely be a criminal act. Although the dramatic changes to the sitting ordinance, the soliciting ordinance, .display of merchandise, storage of property, and the conduct on public property ordinance were pushed through, few of the problems merchants had complained about will be addressed. Instead of addressing perceived problems of vandalism, shoplifting, shootings, stabbings, drug sales, sexual harassment, and lack of bathrooms, the new laws target sitting, sparechanging, and resting an "unattended" backpack on the sidewalk with additional restrictions on street performers and political activists. Gentrification seemed to be the merchant agenda, for these r ·rdinances target the menacing acts of blowing bubbles, playing hackey-sack, Frisbee, football, juggling, jacks, people playing music, street musicians, tarot card readers, political tables, and beggars. Already illegal on Pacific Avenue are dogs, skateboards, putting a foot on the 8'' high concrete lip of a tree-well, asking for spare change after dark, sitting on a bench the wrong way, asking for spare change from a seated position or in groups of two or more, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, lying down, sitting ten feet from a building, dropping a cigarette butt on the sidewalk, "displaying" your artwork on or music for sale (or even for a donation), and, if you believe the police, chalking ou the sidewalk. Differentially effected by the ordinances are the street musicians who accept donations, street entertainers such as Mr. Twister and Wild Willie, two clowns who twist balloons into animal shapes to the delight of children. They accept tips for their work, so they will be ghetto­ ized. " Two and half weeks and three downtown commission meetings later, on August 13th, the RDA maps still failed to indicate all benches, some crosswalks, and at least one large planter area, exaggerating the area of the "opportunity zones" as Vice-Mayor Emily Reilly cheerfully renamed the small areas not covered or forbidden by her law. Her upbeat bigotry is not new. Last October she led the council to ban homeless parking in the Harvey West industrial area of Santa Cruz from SAM to 7 AM allegedly for daily "street cleaning." 400 - 500 homeless people, living in their vehicles, risk losing those vehicles if they cannot pay the expensive tickets that can accumulate quickly. Reilly described this homeless­ removal program as "a compromise". Councilmember Tim Fitzmaurice, who is the only incumbent seeking re-election this November, seems determined to bring his City Council rules of decorum to the public sidewalks of Pacific Avenue. He has banned hackey-sack players from Pacific Avenue. "How can banning hacky-sacks reduce drug dealing on Pacific Avenue?" Mayor Christopher Krohn asked. Councilmember Ed Porter answered back that drug dealers get bored waiting for a drug deal to occur and like to entertain themselves by playing hacky­ sack. Highlighting the public comment period on the downtown ordinances was the Mammary Manifesto. This ad hoc collective of three 20 yr-olds wrote a colorful and well-researched critique (see www. frazadelic.com) of the perceived crime wave on Pacific Avenue, and read it during the public comment period. Moments after passing the sweeping ordinance changes into law, the councilmembers planned to grant exemptions. "We won't ban professional bubble blowers," Councilmember Ed Porter confidently predicted. ~ut no such language appeared in the text of the ordinance they had just passed. The Downtown Commission was given the clean­ up job. In early August, the generally pro-ordinance commissioners walked Pacific Avenue looking for "traditional" areas to exempt from the 14 foot forbidden zones for street musicians, political tables, or street entertainers. No one advocated for the beggars. In fact, it's all about the beggars. Sexual harassment is already illegal under existing ordinances. The ordinances expand the prohibitions against peaceful sparechanging from a seated position, in groups of two or more, or after dark to include silent sparechangers, performers, or political activists on all Page 12 sidewalks in town. What does this have to do with women walking on Pacific Avenue who are getting unwanted come-ons from young men? Neither the Downtown Commission nor its "Big Brother" the City Council could say. But they worked furiously on "finding exemptions" for the "worthy" donation seekers (tablers and performers). Less hypocritical was Orlando, Florida - which banned sitting or lying on the sidewalk in August. While the Santa Cruz City Council and the Santa Cruz Sentinel said not one word about the main target of these laws: "commercially unviable" homeless people according to the Orlando Sentinel was more outspoken. The Orlando City Council had voted 6-0 to further crack down on the homeless after getting complaints that too many vagrants sleep in doorways or spend hours on sidewalks in front of businesses. The undeniable conclusion is that the purpose of these ordinances is to ban the beggars. Since the Santa Cruz soliciting ordinance is in place citywide, and most other sidewalks in the commercial districts are less than 14' wide, quite a chunk has been taken out of public space to "discourage" homeless people and panhandlers. An obscure part of the Santa Cruz ordinance bans the purchase of an item for an amount that is so much larger than the value of the item that both parties agree its a donation. One young woman commented. "I tried to get some items for my apartment on Pacific Avenue, $60 for a pot! Sheets for $125! I feel I must be donating well above the true value when I shop on Pacific Avenue!" After a two-week warning period the police will begin to ticket homeless people for standing and holding signs after dark. Violators must pay the state $162. If they don't pay the fine, they will be arrested and jailed for an additional $200 booking fee. Repeat offenders may face the irony of probation condition that ties them to the Santa Cruz area for three years, but bars them from the downtown area, as is being done with minor marijuana dealers in the latest police crackdown and selective enforcement. In August, the CPRB voted to hold a special hearing to look into police harassment and selective enforcement downtown. At the Downtown Commission, activists were asking the commission to use their positions to try to stop the new laws. "At least wait until you hear from Berkeley, Olympia, and Portland on alternative solutions" said an activist from Downtown For All, an organization that formed precisely to oppose the new ordinances. Downtown For All has begun plans to make citizens arrests of well-to-do citizens sitting down on the sidewalk waiting for a trendy breakfast at Zachary's or for jaywalking across the street by the Cinema 9. Selective enforcement is the key to banishing the beggars on Pacific Avenue. If well-dressed middle-class people and visiting tourists receive $162 citations for sitting or crossing a street, the council may just rush back to reconsider. Robert Norse contributed to this story. ------------------~--~--~ ~----"'!"""!!'~----~----~~ �Page 13 STREETVIBES October 2002 Sub-Prime Lenders Target Minority Neighborhoods Residents of Ohio's minority and African-Ame1ican neighborhoods are twice as likely to receive a subprime loan than residents in white neighborhoods. That's according to . information compiled·from the year 2000 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. It shows that Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) rank very high in aggressive marketing of subprime refinancing loans in both Afiican­ American neighborhoods and concentrated minority neighborhoods versus white neighborhoods. Application numbers for subprime refinancing loans in African-American neighborhoods for the year 2000 show that Ohio MSAs represented five of the top 10 MSAs in the entire country, and 9 of the top 50 (or 18% of the top 50 MSAs in the country). The same data for subprime refinancing loan application~ in concentrated minority neighborhoods for the year 2000 show that Ohio represents four of the top ten M SAs in the entire country, and six of the top 20 (or 33% of the top MSAs in the country). The information further supports the contention that the lack of prime lenders in these neighborhoods has led to the explosion of subprime lending in these same neighborhoods. When you're fmaUy up on the moon, looking back at the earth, all these differences and nationalistic ·traits are pretty well going to blend and you' re going to get a concept that maybe this is really oµe world and why the hell can't we learn to live together like decent people? Frank Borman "The unfortunate truth is, many of these borrowers could possibly qualify for prime loans but prime lenders have left these neighborhoods subject to the heavy marketing tactics conducted by subprime lenders," said Chip Bromley director of Metro Strategy Group. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have confirmed that anywhere from 10% to 50% of subprime borrowers could qualify for a prime loan. The exponential growth of the subprime market is not due to impaired credit but to a new form of redlinin g. This is further reinforcement of recent research by such groups as Center for Community Change, ACORN, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development showing that subprime products are over­ marketed to minority communities. This new data only confirms and supports previous research done on subprime lending in Ohio. Statewide, subprime lending is having dramatic and dangerous impact on minority and African­ American neighborhoods. ''The State of Ohio needs to devote its attention to this issue immediately. This is a serious civil rights is~ue to be addressed by a full-scale investigation by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission,'" said Bromley. From the Homeless Grapevine, Cleveland Ohio ART, MUSIC, AND WRITING OPPORTUNITIES! basic photography skills through Peaslee Neighborhood Center, introductory courses provided at 215 East 14th Street, hosts lots Peaslee. Call the Center for of aits opportunities for adults and children .to learn skills such class schedules. as p1aying a steel drum or piano, photpgraphy, making mosaic art, Writing - Any young person in the Greater Cincinnati area may or writing. Any resident of Over-the-Rhine or the West End submit poems and/or articles via email at for publication in is welcome! All sessions are FREE, including instruction and Streetvibes. Content should be related to homelessness, social materials. ·No previous artistic or poverty-related issues. justice, experience necessary. Contact Brenda Z. at 62 1-5514, or for Call For New Arts Advisory more information. Committee Members! - The OTR Steel Drum Band -Learn Arts Advisory Committee is looking for i:epresentatives from how to play the steel drums in an introductory series for adults. the neighborhood and the arts Parents may bring their children and business community. This (age 9 and up) to learn tog~ther committee helps to formulate the direction and development of if they like. Participant~ will Peaslee's arts programs. learn steel drum technique, rhythms, and how to read music. Community Mosaic Art Project - Community members are coming togetheF to make mosaic art for the Over-the­ Rhine neighborhood. The organizers are looking for id~as ·for the next project. Forward your ideas to Brenda Z. Photography - Teenager~ and young adults are invited to learn Looking For New Staff Peaslee is also looking for new music instructo rs, for the piano and the mallets program. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in teaching music in a fun and rewarding setting. Anyone interested in any of these opportunities, contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee, 215 East 14th Street, Over-the-Rhine, 621-55 14. . WHAT A80UT RETIRtMENT 8ENEATS? We ha~e grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount. Ours is a·world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living. General Omar Bradley Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe 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 October 2002 Roll Tape , Art & Poetry Page 14 by Steven Lansky In I I Im I iced coffee with cream more bitter a husk over the bean compared to fainter, weaker flavor of decaf :she sang under piano keys under her Icurled brown fingers pounding rhythmic I images releasing songs songs songs until : this quality product will complete your karina if you pay price. pay price for complete karma. gray price for cop karma. do not throw tomatoes I in Sitwell's drinking while NPR news echoes like dream of day past all news is war. opinion of war music over conversation. voices conglomerate faster paced than Gertrude Stein's voice on recording. gratefully, my laundry I Ipsychology of chirping children, stress I of segregatory pain pulled her out of Iher den to schools first to sing I Imothers tinkling guitars. the 60s rang Ifolk freedom when we stopped arnerika· at women when they run in the rain from the fear. pay instead. pay price for pizza and beer karma. pizza, pasta, burrito, music faint music fans swim on ceiling, tin ceiling, no smoke, radio press on nails not welcome here, press on nails, nail down press, Dow nailed down lower by pollution press :war children quietly echoing freedom product not worth quality rain swill Mill Creek I running down the street to escape from fear rattle rattle rattle fear freaks, future freaks, future fears tumbles in the Kenmore dryer at home. my home is rented and cluttered. at a marble table, tapping out gray letters : light shone by radical teens painted like Inatives, shouting in Chicago streets flinging I tear gas back to the police, remember to the clutter bothers no one the neighbor's cat never comes inside. my roommate avoids me. indifferent to everyone ·but I Iwear a glove on your throwing hand. Ishe got involved in the community, teacher Itailor, committee member, worker, human I religious wars, real war, not blue TV type fear wars. type gray black letters on live live live type click rattle phone, fear, phone for few rattles for ever heist the meek who inherit with me daily the rattle of sabers. religious wars define eons, echoes of dream pleasantry, images_gray : relations introduced blacks and women to civil service tests now it's n~t so integrated 1 lat this hour in Sitwell's but there are minority of future by rich suits in dark gray letters rattle black black black. is there a formula for song save karma yoga, the world prays for peace while I Iindividuals on police force. still simply not Isolved. not satisfied. Mother gave up classical Imusic, piano for children for children for children I Ipoem rattles sabers of argument. where are need for reading glasses. Mother goes blind reading but enjoys a postcard more I the children as the poem rattles, voices harp breath grows strong and dark cQffee husks music night comes in long strides, walks away leaving banks undamaged, underscored tight gray words. letters walking into boxes, falling open before bright brown eyes, lips moist a crumb clings, pursed cracker, no bank robberies, shopliftingly? down in the growth -of poetry we find music celebrated instead. war rings : in cells, cells of pirates, pirate radio weak or strong? than before she died of cancer. enjoys : happy despite NPR gray rattle.rattle of war? in memory, in dream, in open discussion of politics, religious wars, black black blacknotes on paper, is music words? \Down. Down. Dow down. the suits are taking : technology subverted to serve the meek walking Iit on the face. business has methods for deleting I up the hill to the iiistitution barely breathing bad beer into the eyes. waking dead Mother. unroll film. gray gray music as the futures darken darkness. ••••• •• • • • • ••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• • • •••••••••• ••••• •• • ••• • ••••••••• ••••••••••• Attitude One Day at a Time from Kristian Eide There are two days in every week about which we should not worry; two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is mpre important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than appearance, giftedness. or skill. It will make or break a company, a team, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thin g we have, and that is our... Attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our attitudes. One of these days is Yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever·beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed, we cannot erase a single word said ... Yesterday is Gone! The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow, with its possible blunders, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds ... but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is· yet unborn. This leaves only one day...Today! Any man can fight the battle of just one day. It is only when you and I have the burdens in those two awful eternity's - Yesterday and Tomorrow - that we break down. My Inspiration It is not the experience of Today that drives men mad,..it is the remorses or bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. The things of which I write about, are the things within my life. From the joyfulness that inakes me want to shout, to the pain that cuts like a knife. From the love that is void and unrequited, to the love both sure and true. From being overwhelmingly excited, to the morbidity of feeling blue. Things such as the way things used to be, and things that have touched my soul. These are the things that are dear tome, in this way, my story is told. This is the way that I feel a part, as I write without reservation. I write down what is inside of my heart, for this is my inspiration. Let us therefore live but ONE DAY at a time: Homeless Plight David Allen Nelson The lost faces known only as the bastards of the system pose the inseparable question as they defy the odds against the troublesome quarrels day in, day out they face the invisible bars of their external prison where only some belong as innocents tread wearily on their guilt. by Jeff Branham �STREETVIBES October 2002 History of the World by Mike Henson Sacrifice and betrayal: it1s the whole story. The red flags go out The palm branches are thrown down. Hope lifts The hea1t swells Brother looks at brother Sister looks at sister With a clear, unfettered eye. Out of the mangers of the earth spill wheat and martyrs. Then the legionnaires step up. The tanks roll. Dollars go on the march. The great red eye of television fills up with victims. Final Destiny by Fred White Could it be that we are all locked In a huge cage that has no gate Destined to rise and fall ­ In life, as determined by fate? Is there no real meaning? No real hope in this life we live? l s there anyone wise enough? To answer the equation I give? A rich man here, a poor man there; Social Injustice everywhere! Wars, Murders, and then there's dope. Is there anyone out there who can truly say there's hope? There are those who say ­ "Life is tough and then you die." As long as we live in this world We must all cry. We must wait 'til the day we die and our spirits float peacefully through space. There's nothing else to life, No new goals to chase! But when I look around At the majesty of the mountains ­ And the magnificence of the tallest trees I say to myself, "There's gotta be more to life than thoughts like these." Am I to think that all emotion And energy in a man Is for the living but a moment Then turns to tiny grains of sand? Well, I guess it's best left said We an must wait 'til we are dead Before we truly see - our final Destiny. Art& Poetry Page 15 Dreary Night Harlequin byjh by Elizabeth Brown She'll bus home alone, No children, no hubby. With mousy brown hair And a little too chubby. She dreams of that man, She may meet all by chance. And she goes home to leftovers And a dimestore romance. If they only knew, The deep passion inside, How she'd sing with abandon Her glorious sighs. That behind her pale lips There dwells a soft pout, A silk and lace woman, She craves to let out. Oh, how she longs to Have someone to love her. But they are all blind And judge books By their covers. Next Time you see her, Specks perched on her nose, Remember the seed That produces the rose. And take time to notice, Cause some lucky stiff, Will remember plain boxes Hide fabulous gifts. Sands of Time by Jeff Branham Remember how so all alone, we always used to feel. With the lights all on, but no one at home, when the torment was much too real, We always said that we didn't care, that we were slowly dying. But when the pain was just too much to bear, we realized that we were lying. We took ourselves to the ultimate low, where we can stay no longer. And after the emotional flood had its flow, we knew that we must get stronger. But now a brand new happiness, can be both yours and mine. And all the things we can afford to miss, will be lost in the sands of time. This poem was published originally in the April, 2001 edition of Calgary Street Talk. Shutter Speed Musicians at Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine The dreary night marks the haunted time for some, the time for creeping. The time is also for the toothy wolves, scratching, wild-eyed into the honey blackness. Propelled by desparation and fear, they hurtle themselves upon the pavement, looking for a neck. Racked by the beat of the throbbing trunk, the cursing and whirling rise up from the stained, concrete turf, creating the music of the night; horn, shot, scream, screech, siren, slam, voice. Don't die here, because the earth moves cautiously through the night. And the bones dry slowly in the heat of day. And many more will take the post. Don't live here, because it is death by fear of the tedious evening rabble, and rotting soul, and broken spirit.. .. Yet, sorrow brings us together, under the dreary night. by Jimmy Heath �STREETVIBES October 2002 News & Editorial The Troubling New Face of America by Jimmy Carter "Belligerent and divisive voices now seem to be dominant" Fundamental changes are taking place in the historical policies of the United States with regard to human rights, our role in the community of nations and the Middle East peace process ­ largely without definitive debates (except, at times, within the administration). Some new approaches have understandably evolved from quick and well­ advised reactions by President Bush to the tragedy of Sept. 11, but others seem to be developing from a core group of conservatives who are trying to realize long-pent-up ambitions under the cover of the proclaimed war against terrorism. Formerly admired almost universally as the preeminent champion of human rights, our country has become the foremost target of respected international organizations concerned about these basic principles of democratic life. We have ignored or condoned abuses in nations that support our anti-terrorism effort, while detaining American citizens as "enemy combatants," incarcerating them secretly and indefinitely without their being charged with any crime or having the right to legal counsel. This policy has been condemned by the federal courts, but the Justice Department seems adamant, and the issue is still in doubt. Several hundred captured Taliban soldiers remain imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay under the same circumstances, with the defense secretary declaring that they would not be released even if they were someday tried and found to be innocent. These actions are similar to those of abusive regimes that historically have been condemned by American presidents. While the president has reserved judgment, the American people are inundated almost daily with claims from the vice president and other top officials that we face a devastating threat from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and with pledges to remove Saddam Hussein from office, with or without support from any allies. As has been emphasized vigorously by foreign allies and by responsible leaders of former administrations and incumbent officeholders, there is no current danger to the United States from Baghdad. In the face of intense monitoring and overwhelming American military superiority, any belligerent move by Hussein against a neighbor, even the smallest nuclear test (necessary before weapons construction), a tangible threat to use a weapon of mass destruction, or sharing this technology with terrorist organizations would be suicidal. But it is quite possible that such weapons would be used against Israel or our forces in response to an American attack. We cannot ignore the development of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, but a unilateral war with Iraq is not the answer. There is an urgent need for U.N. action to force unrestricted inspections in Iraq. But perhaps deliberately so, this has become less likely as we alienate our necessary allies. Apparently disagreeing with the president and secretary of state, in fact, the vice president has now discounted this goal as a desirable option. We have thrown down counterproductive gauntlets to the rest of the world, disavowing U.S. commitments to laboriously negotiated international accords. Peremptory rejections of nuclear arms agreements, the biological weapons convention, environmental protection, anti­ torture proposals, and punishment of war criminals have sometimes been combined with economic threats against those who might dis-agree with us. These urlilateral acts and assertions increasingly isolate the United States from the very nations needed to join in combating terrorism. Tragically, our government is abandoning any sponsorship of substantive negotiations between Page 16 Palestinians and Israelis. Our apparent policy is to support almost every Israeli action in the occupied territories and to condemn and isolate the Palestinians as blanket targets of our war on terrorism, while Israeli settlements expand and Palestinian enclaves shrink. , There still seems to be a struggle within the administration over defining a comprehensible Middle East policy. The president's clear commitments to honor key U.N. resolutions and to support the establishment of a Palestinian state have been substantially negated by statements of the defense secretary that in his lifetime "there will be some sort of an entity that will be established" and his reference to the "so-called occupation." This indicates a radical departure from policies of every administration since 1967, always based on the withdrawal of Israel from occupied territories and a genuine peace between Israelis and their neighbors. Belligerent and divisive voices now seem to be dominant in Washington, but th~y do not yet reflect final decisions of the president, Congress or the courts. It is crucial that the historical and well-founded American commitments prevail: to peace, justice, human rights, the environment and international cooperation. Former president Carter is chairman ofthe Carter Center in Atlanta. PEACE.... ..... •..... • ~ --~· ·'~~~~ .'t~~ .:'"'..· •) ., .. ...·~·•. . .. ~, . Peace is not the product of a victory or a command. It has no finishing line, no final deadline, no fixed definition of achievement. Peace is a never-ending process, the work ofmany decisions. Oscar Arias ' . ... ,... :.\;;·.»: . #... •• x -~ ' ~"... .• . ·~.&·1!r••• • ,~~~· . ""t . ..• ;-:,•j.·~,.J.'.•1~··.• • '""· ~·>-,.· ·i·:·· • ·,~i:·:'t'; ...' ....... ....:... ... . :~. "'' . ....... '• .. Jc;... •• • l~~'tt:;:> •,,. ·1~'· :Ll~· ..• , , •·· -. >•. ... ... ... •• "I'm lookingfor a entry-level CEO position." The point of nonviolence is to build a floor, a strong new floor, beneath which we can no longer sink. A platform which stands a few feet above napalm, torture, exploitation, poison gas, A and H bombs, the works. Give man a decent place to stand. Joan Baez �STREETVIBES October 2002 News & Editorial Page 17 Portrait of the Single Issue Activist Refuse and Resist! It's all one attack. As Rev. Mccrackin used to say Justice will come when those who are not hurt are just as indignant as those who are hurt. All true revolutionaries are against all forms of oppression, all forms of racism, all forms of prejudice. Where are our principles? Do we stand for Principles? Are we only against oppression of "my people"? So should only "my people" fight for "my peoples" rights? Who are "my people"? Am I one of your people? - I am white. Are you one of "my people"? There is one race and that is human. These divisions based on Nationality or skin color are not reality. They are artificial, man-made bull-#$@ %. A true revolutionary Che Guevara was born in Bolivia - did he f!ght only on behalf of Bolivians. Of course not cuz he wasn't fighting for a race. He was fighting for principles. Freedom and Justice! Is there anyone of us who can claim a total purity of racial prejudice? l hear people speaking of my people as if they were some sort of pure-bred human. What is your people? Is it people from class transcend divisions of race. Is it skin color alone that If as some claim that all West Africa? If the slave owner raped the slave then isn't the child white people are evil and all black makes a person "my people" ? half-slave owner and half slave. 50 people superior Africans, then how What creates or defines race? Is it simply the color of the outer layer % white and 50% black? do you explain the fighting on skin on a human? between the Tivs and the Hausa­ Therefore aren't the descendents Animals have different Fulani in Nigeria or the Hutu and of these children also descendents breeds, which have of slave owners. Then isn't it the Tutsi in Rwanda. All people really a matter of who you identify have problems. Besides if as some characteristics, temperaments, energy levels etc. Can this be said claim that Humans started in with and not the blood that runs of the different human races? Is Africa then, we are all Africans! ­ through your veins? there really more than one race? including white people! I am against slavery - all Are the differences more cultural slavery whether it's the Africans .Whether it's getting rid of than physical, mental, emotional, nuclear bombs, rights for homeless who were enslaving the Jews for and spiritual? If a white person is 400 years or whether it's the people, rights for prisoners, adopted into a black family and abolishing the death penalty or any Japanese enslaving the knows only black people all his or Mongolians. I will stand up for all thing that promotes peace and her life is that person one of "your those enslaved regardless of their justice, - I'm for it. Some people fight only for people". What differentiates the complexion. black race from the white race? things which affect them or "their I stand against oppression Are we against whether it's the rich Somailians people". I fight for the rights of all discrimination as a principle or people, animals, clean food, and exploiting the poor Somalians, are we against discrimination only the environment. whether it's the rich Indonesians The di visions of class often if it's against my pet "Issue"? Let exploiting the poor Indonesians or us come together as one united transcend the divisions of race. whether it's straight people force against those who would For instance; a rich white person oppressing gay people. I stand seek to dominated and against all forms of oppression. will eat and socialize with a rich discriminate. Let us join forces Injustice is injustice black person. But ask that same and fight for "each others" issues whether is happening to me or you rich white person to socialize a poor person whether they are white just as ferociously as if they were or anyone else in this world. This our own. division between "issues" must go. or black and you will get a What is the color of the negative response. The same can We must see this all as one issue. water we all drink? That is the be said for rich black people. It is That most "issues" boil down to Justice. You know fairness - like much more likely that a rich black color of the air we all breathe? What is the color of God? what we learned on the playground person will be having dinner or Peace -Out, Brotha' B. socializing with a rich white as kids. Some say Africans are superior. What is this but the same person than a poor person of either Refuseandresist@fuse.net, (513) 236-4180 bigotry as white supremacy? color. Thus often, divisions of VOTE NO on ISSUE 8 by Jeneene Brengelman, Co­ Chair. Citizens for Fair Elections You and I can make history. Our ancestors fought and died for Democracy. Democracy means every voter has a voice equal to every other voter's. Democracy does NOT mean the rich run everything. But, because campaigns are so expensive, politicians have to keep the fat cats happy in order to be elected. You and I can change that! Last year a small group of committed volunteers, outspent 7­ 1, passed Issue 6, Campaign Finance Reform for Cincinnati. The fat cats didn't even let us have one election under the reform. They paid a bunch of people to collect signatures to put a repeal of the most important part, partial public financing, on the ballot. On November 5, we can show them that they can pay for signatures, but they can't buy our votes! They want to kill our campaign finance reform, and will tell lies and half-truths to kill it. Who are they? They fight every school levy in Cincinnati, none in upscale suburbs. M<;>st of them don't even live in Cincinnati, but they think they should be able to write big checks and control things here. Last year they haQ. only 12 donors, and just one of them lived in Cincinnati. Those 12 donated $70,000. The most trusted and respected people in Cincinnati all say VOTE NO on ISSUE 8. Bobbie Sterne, Marian Spencer, Roxanne Qualls, John Gilligan, Tyrone K. Yates, Minette Cooper, David Crowley and many others are working against Issue 8. They have been on City Council, they know that big money buys influence. We the voters should own the influence. Public Financing will cost money. The average citizen will pay $2 to $3 per year. For the cost of a fancy cup of coffee, we will get elected officials who owe us, the voters. That's a small fraction of what we each pay for the new stadiums. Partial public financing will allow community leaders to run for council on a level playing field. City council was designed to be a group of citizen leaders, not a few politicians using it as a stepping-stone. Public financing is the heart of Campaign Finance Reform. Without it, there will be little change. They know how to get around contributions limits; they've done that before. Only public funding will give us politicians who truly represent the people. They say that the city can't afford to use tax money for political campaigns. This will cost less than 2/10 of one percent of the city budget. In the long run it will save money, because we will have councilmembers able to stand up against the fat cats and their pet projects that benefit only themselves. They say that any clown will be able to get public money. Not so. A candidate will have to agree to spend no more than three times the salary for the office, and have 150 contributors of at least $10, adding up to $5000 before be or she starts getting matching funds. That won't be easy, last time only 11 candidates had that many donors. They don't mention that their tiny band of donors are the largest influence-buyers in the city, who want to keep on buying influence. That's exactly what this is about. Either we the voters buy influence for 2 or 3 bucks each of our tax money, or wealthy business executives buy influence with huge checks. And if they buy it, their voice will be far Jouder than yours. Cast your vote for Democracy. VOTE NO on Issue 8! 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 ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBES October 2002 Rulemaking to restrict Public Access by OMB Watcher Two recent polls present a mixed picture about public access to government information in the post-9/11 environment. When asked about whether specific information should be removed from the web, most people say no. But their views change dramatically if the government argues that the information could help terrorists. On One Hand One poll, conducted by the First Amendment Center and the American Journalism Review, found that 9/11 had very little impact on the public's view that they had too much or too little access to government records. In fact, 48% thought they had too little access in 2001 and felt the same way in the summer of 2002. Interestingly, many who were undecided in 2001 felt that there was just about the right amount of access in 2002, going from 30% in 2001 to 38% in 2002. Only 7% in 2001 thought there was too much access, and that number stayed virtually the same at 8% in 2002. Even when it comes to the war on terrorism, most people do not feel that they are getting too much information. About 40% of those polled felt they were getting too little information and 38% said it was just about the right amount. Only 16% felt there was too much information about the war on terrorism available. Yet when it comes to access to personal information, a clear majority, 60%, feel there is too much information being made available. Only 3% feel there is too little information, while 33% feel it is just about the right amount. The sense that there is too little access to government information was reinforced when they asked whether citizens should have access to a series of local information sources. But the strength of support weakened when the examples dealt with personal information about them. For example, well over 90% felt they should have access to records of health inspections conducted at local restaurants and even names of registered sex offenders. But only 73% agreed they should have access to employment records, including salary and benefits, of local school officials, and they are closely split between those who strongly agree and those who mildly agree. That same pattern exists when it comes to access to local real estate records, which includes the sale price, assessed value and taxes paid on residential homes, where 72% agreed. On the Other Hand The second poll, conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project at virtually the same time as the poll described above, finds a different trend when it comes to public access to "sensitive" information that might be used by terrorists. Nearly 7 of 10 people (69%) say that government should be given broad discretion to keep information out of the hands of terrorists, even if means limiting public access to the information. Roughly two-thirds of survey respondents feel government (67%) and businesses/ utilities (66%) should remove information from web sites that Page 18 "might potentially" help terr01ists, even if the public has a right to such information. Yet a plurality of respondents (47%) say that they do not believe that withholding or removing information from web sites will make a difference in deterring terrorist; 41 % believe it will make a difference; and 12% are uncertain. Like the First Amendment Center/AJR poll, this po11 finds broad support for access to specific information. For example, 80% believe that information about pollution caused by individual factories should be posted to the Internet. 76%, slightly lower than the above poll, believe names of convicted sex offenders who have finished their prison time should be posted on the Internet. And 57% believe that information should be posted to the Internet about how and when hazardous materials are transported through their communities. The poll found less than a majority support posting the information on the Internet when more specific details are revealed, such as lists of chemical plants and the chemicals they produce (43%). Although the numbers in this poll are far less supportive of posting personal information, the trend is the same as in the first poll - it is the least popular of items for public access. In this poll, only 27% support posting information about property tax records, such as what people paid for their houses. But all of this is turned on its head if the government says that the information could help terrorists. For example, 60% of those who believed the government should post information about chemical plants and the chemicals they produce agreed that the information should be removed from the Internet if the government said it could help terrorist. Similarly, more than half (54%) of those who supported posting information about pollution from factories and 58% of those who supported knowing about the transportation of hazardous chemicals through their communities felt the same way. Both Hands? The Pew Internet & American Life Project reinforces other findings that highlight the tension that exists since 9/11 between information as a breach of security and its use to promote community health and safety. When information is framed as promoting community safety - the chemical plant information can help reduce accidents and save lives - public access is strongly supported. When information is framed as aiding terrorists - that chemical plant information is a blueprint for terrorists - public access is not supported. That may be a lasting result of 9/11, the public can have two competing viewpoints at the same time. In some ways, the First Amendment Center/AJR poll raises this tension when it asked whether the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution goes too far in the rights it guarantees. There has been a large jump in those who strongly agree, going from 16% in 1999 to 41%in2002. Yet when asked about specific rights guaranteed under the First Amendment, those who believe the right is essential h as jumped in every case since 1997, and, in no case, is lower than two-thirds of the public. Light House Workers Win. Settlement On September 16, 24 workers on a long fight and returned to their jobs at the Light House plant in Thailand, a sub­ contractor of the U.S. luggage giant, Samsonite. Their reinstatement is part of a settlementreached on September 13, which provided assurances that the company will not " interfere with trade union activities." This settlement comes after months of struggle on the part of the Light House union beginning in October 2001 with the dismissal of 600 workers. Campaign for Labor Rights first alerted you to the situation in July, when workers presented a protest letter written in their own blood to the Thai parliament and a worldwide trade union campaign. Since July, you and others who receive our Labor Alerts wrote thousands of letters and emails to Samsonite (and also to Ricardo of Beverly Hills and Atlantic Luggage) in support of the Light House workers. Your support and action in this case have helped to win an important labor rights struggle, proving that U.S. corporations can not freely roam the world looking for the cheapest deal. TIME AS A WEAPON Our last Labor Alert on this campaign (September 9), stated that there were 73 Light House workers seeking reinstatement. Due to the length of this struggle, many of these workers were forced to look for other jobs. The agreement signed last Friday by Light House management would have allowed for the reinstatement of all 73 locked-out workers, but only 24 workers were actually still able to accept their hard-won return to the factory. As stated in a letter by Light House union leaders and supporters in Thailand, "Time is used as a weapon of management in most of the disputes, because employers know that workers will not be able to economically survive after a certain period. In all of the cases we've seen, the management always tries to drag out the dispute as long as possible, hoping that finally workers will give up their fight. But they were/ are wrong, even though, in most cases, there are some workers who drop out of the fight but many other courageous workers continue their struggle no matter how long it takes." �Page 19 STREETVIBES October 2002 Hunger News Updates From Agency Action: Food Stamp Program Trends Participation in the Food Stamp Program in June 2002 dipped by 7 ,067 persons from the previous month to 19,318,853, Food Research and Action Center according to FRAC's analysis of 1875 Conn. Ave. NW, Washington, preliminary data from USDA. DC 20009; 202-986-2200 Compared to June 200 l, www.frac.org. participation rose in 48 states and the District of Columbia, for a total national over-the-year gain of Congressional Spotlight: more than 1.8 million persons. For Nutrition Priorities Outlook details, check FRAC's web site FY 2003 funding for the (www.frac.org). WIC Program, The Emergency City Limits reports that Food Assistance Program New York State will implement (TEFAP), the Commodity new options available under the Supplemental Food Program Food Stamp Reauthorization law, (CSFP), and a one-year expansion including five-month transitional of a Summer Food Service food stamp benefits for those Program pilot are among items at leaving cash assistance, as well as issue in the FY 2003 Agriculture Appropriations Bills (S. 280 1, H.R. introduce a simpler program 5263). Both bills still require floor application next spring. While welcoming the state's actions, anti­ action. FY 2003 funding for tbe hunger advocates and New York Community Food and Nutrition City's Public Advocate Betsy Program (CFNP)wowd be$8 Gotbaum are calling on the city's million under the Labor-HHS­ Human Resources Agency (HRA) Education Appropriations bill to improve. Gotbaum released a pending in the Senate (S. 2766). report comparing the city's record The House has yet to move its on participation with other major companion bill through cities. " 'HRA is still riddled with a subcommittee or committee. culture that shows little Check the FRAC web site compassion for needy families (www.frac.org) for background seeking benefits,' charged Carlos and updates on developments. Rodriguez of the Community Food Meanwhile, low-income Resource Center." advocates and state stakeholders For details on new state are urging the Senate to take up the options available in the Food Senate Finance Committee's Stamp Program effective October TANF reauthorization bill. In 1, check the web sites of FRAC contrast to the House-based TANF (www.frac.org) and Center on bill (HR. 4737), the Senate Budget and Policy Priorities Finance Committee's Work ' Opportunity, and Responsibility for (www.cbpp.org). Among resources are FRAC's 11-page Kids ("WORK") Act of 2002 "Get Ready for Food Stamp permits states to use TANF, Reauthorization Changes in Your Medicaid and SCHIP funds to State" and CBPP's 86-page assist certain legal immigrant New Changes in "Implementing families; maintains the current the Food Stamp Program: A _ general requirement for 30 hours Provision by Provision Analysis of per week work participation by the Farm Bill." A special section most adwts; and omits any structural changes to the Food Stamp Program. A $5.6 trillion budget surplus already has been all but wiped out; m oney for the tax cuts is coming out of Social Security. The President should stop proposing new tax cuts; Congress should stop passing new tax cuts, and hold off the tax cuts scheduled for 2004 and beyond that mostly benefit the wealthiest one percent of taxpayers. Instead of tax cuts for a few, every one of us must think of the safety and well-being of all Americans and the future of our economy - keeping Social Security sound, putting in place prescription drug coverage for seniors, protecting children and families, and meeting our nation's education, environmental, security and other needs. FRAC of FRAC's web site links to USDA policy guidance on reauthorization implementation issues. To report on policy changes in your state and/or for technical assistance on food stamp reauthorization implementation issues, contact evollinger@frac.org. Web Watch: WIC Program CheckFRAC's web site (www.frac.org) for "WIC Partnerships and the Nurturing Parent," reporting on successful WIC parenting education collaborations, from a f arnil y literacy and nutrition education program at the Salinas (CA) WIC program, to peer counseling parents on feeding young children at the Lawrence (MA) WIC program. Other model programs reviewed are located in Missouri ' New Mexico, and Vermont. For more on WIC, from FRAC's web site link to those of the National WIC Association and USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The latter has posted "The Characteristics of Native American WIC Participants On and Off Reservations." FNS reports that in 1998, the WIC Program enrolled 121,000 Native American women, infants and children - representing 48 · percent of all Native American infants and children under age five and 65 percent of all Native American pregnant women. See also FRAC's publication, "WIC in Native American Communities: Building _a Healthier America." Live and let live! The following was written by an Iranian citizen who declined to be identified. The US seems to have decided to attack to Iraq as part of a "regime changing" project in Iraq. There are two questions here. 1. Is the US authorized to do it? 2. What is the feeling of the Iraqi people? Do they want a freedom whose price is being bombarded? Here are my answers to these two questions: 1. The US is absolutely not authorized to change regime in any country for any reason. Rather, the United Nations i s authorized and is responsible for this kind of political event. The United Nations can conduct a peaceful referendum inJ raq and help the Iraqi people to decide about their future. To say how, I suggest sending an international police force to Iraq, which is supported and made of many countries' military soldiers, not just those of the US or UK. This We'd like to hear from .... send lette~ or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.co.... ­ or write the Coalition office attn: StreeMbes Letters, 1506 Elm s-.:eet Cincinnati, Ohio 4520 2 While we make every effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. Vendor: 80 cents Where Your Dollar Goes Printing and Production: 20 cents The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost s o that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. �Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381 -1 954 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 SHELTER: BQth Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 926-2064 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 861 -1111 St. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: 721-4580 CMHA Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTA Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 639-7056 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 ~HELTERS:Womenand _ hildren YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241 -5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional Nving facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Greater Ctncinnoti Coalition For The Homeless • TREATMENT: Both 820-2947 N.A. Hopeline A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6660 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc. 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect ­ Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 .. TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 751-3260 . -­ � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2002 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource October 2002 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Downtown Protest Urges TANF Re-authorization Pg 2: Octoberfest Draws Record Crowds, and Protesters too Pg 3: Homeless News Digest Pg 4: On the Road Pg 5: Universal Living Wage Campaign News Pg 6: Sierra Club Environmental Justice Meeting Pg 7: The Homeless Ethicist Pg 8: In the “Git-Along Gang:” My Life as a Safety Ambassador Pg 9: ¡Bienvenidos! Pg 10: The Peace Village Lives on 9/11 Pg 11: Washington Park Pg 12: Ban the Beggars! Pg 13: Sub-Prime Lenders Target Minority Neighborhoods Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: News & Editorial Pg 17: Portrait of the Single Issue Activist Vote No on Issue 8 Pg 18: Rulemaking to Restrict Public Access Light House Workers Win Settlement Pg 19: Hunger News Updates from FRAC Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 2002 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Brendan Goodwin Mary Taylor John Halpin Cheryl Ware Andy Erickson Jimmy Heath Brian Garry Brendan Goodwin Mike Henson Jacquelyne M. Jordan Steven Lansky Robert Mannassa Dr. Steve Sunderland Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Activists Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Bienvenidos Brendan Goodwin Brian Garry campaign Cheryl Ware Dr. Steve Sunderland FRAC GCCH Georgine Getty Issue 8 Jacquelyne M. Jordan Jimmy Heath John Halpin Mary Taylor Mike Henson Minorities News & Editorials Octoberfest protest Robert Mannassa Sierra Club Steven Lansky Street Life Wages Washington Park https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/3576b5c6ab67b3636d87aa18aac7897c.pdf 8cd6bcdd3b37b694166349eaee887cdd PDF Text Text .. -- ------------~ --~--~ ­ -~-~ $1 Donation STREET IBES Your Progressive News Source BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLY NOVEMBER 2002 ~ National Peace . ·Movement Questions .. War With -Iraq-page 10 . Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �' E'f ~~l~rl~ -------------------' November2002 Dozens Gather at Me01orial Site in Over-the-Rhine Story and photos by Jimmy Heath Last month, several dozen people, which included media, church representatives and Over­ tbe-Rhine community residents, gathered in a dark alley near the makeshift memorial of the late Timothy Thomas. In April 2001, Thomas was shot and killed by Cincinnati Police Officer Steven Roach in the alley located near 13th and Republic after a lengthy chase through Over-the-Rhine streets. The shooting death sparked three days of civ11 unrest that was focused in Over-the­ Rhine and resulted in a curfew and lockdown of the community by Cincinnati 's Mayor Charlie Luken. Questions of police action in recent years, the resulting civil unrest, and police/community relations was, and continues to be the subject of worldwide media attention. Officer Steven Roach was later acquitted of any wrongdoing in the shooting incident. Nearly a year and a half -.. . . . . later, Over-the-Rhine and the family of Timothy Thomas continue to work to heal the wounds, and seek answers to questions on Cincinnati police behavior. Memories of the shooting and the resulting civil unrest still haunt the Over-the­ Rhine neighborhood. Construction and rehab of the Vine Street building directly connected to the alley is slated to begin, requiring the temporary removal of the memorial to Timothy Thomas. For the last year and a half, friends and family have marked the spot where Thomas was killed by leaving articles of clothing, signs, flowers and other personal items. Last month's gathering at the memorial was an opportunity to reflect and mark the removal of the memorial in a respectful manner. Reverend Damon Lynch III, of Over-the­ Rhine's New Prospect Baptist Church and leader of the Black Unit(fd Front led the gathered group in prayer and contemplation. Lit by candles, participants reflected on the state of Over-the­ Rhine and expressed a sense of hope for the future of the neighborhood. "This is the last place my son saw before he died," said Angela Leisure, the mother of Timothy Thomas, who was also present at the memorial gathering. c Angela Leisure, mother ofTimothy Thomas, and Rev. Damon Lynch III, at the memorial site where Timothy Thomas was killed. "So I have to!look at this as a bles~ing. I talce comfort that something better is coming," said Leisure, making reference to the ReSTOC building rehab project. ReSTOC, an Over-the­ Rhine community non-profit housing co-op plans to rehab the two buildings into nine apartments for neighborhood residents. Because of the project, the memorial will be taken down and eventually reinstalled in another form after the building reconstruction is completed. ReSTOC plans to continue to work closely with Angela Leisure and other members of the community in replacing the memorial. Leisure also revealed the location of her son's final resting spot in a · cemetery in Westwood. "I have no problems with sharing that anymore," said Leisure, who had previously kept the location of her son's grave a secret. "I would rather see you walk in than be carried in." c Tom Lee (left) oft. ..Jrop Inn Center and Bill Daily ofXavier University at the Thomas memorial 0 FO T �STREETVIBES November 2002 -Page 2 Memories of buddy Live On.... hospital were gathered together dead and remembered this way? I by Jimmy Heath there at the Drop Inn Center. It November 15th is the sixth thought that Buddy couldn't be would be a couple days until the killed. He had rescued me, but anniversary of the shooting.death details of why and what had could not save himself. .The of our good fliend Buddy Gray. happened during the shooting mindless bullets had entered his I'll never forget the details of that came to light. body and destroyed his flesh. day, the horrible reality of the At that moment though, Until that moment, until I saw that incident that took his life. there was the grief. The pain was indifferent headline, I hadn't My friend Donald caught inside each one of us. Like actually accep~ed the truth of Whitehead called me at work on a deadly, choking pressure that Buddy's death. Buddy was gone, tha~ dreadful day and gave me the begins in your gut and pulls at your taken by violence. news that Buddy had been shot to heart and bends your back. I worried about Buddy's death. The phone dropped out of Why do these horrible friends and loved ones who were my hands in disbelief and shock. memories become so indelibly I left work immediately and grieving what had happened, and I etched into our memories? I caught a bus back remember the into downtown carefree days of my Cincinnati and childhood, where eventually into the sun al ways Over-the-Rhine to shined and the join my friends at grass was cool and The Drop Inn green on bare feet. Center, who were I remember the gathering to try to feeling~ of first figure out what had love and the joy of Q.appened. I was my first car! But hoping in my the sad memories confusion for some are just as vivid. sort of kinship with And, I guess, that is the strangers on that the irony of the bus, some relief, heart, of being some recognition of human. All these my shock, some memories build us assurance that )""'tfillQ..JALUiltt we will Buddy Gray (left) with longtime friend, Rev. Maurice everything was eventually beco going to be all right. later in life. As Buddy's life was a was dreading the grief I was about It was a long and lonely ride on part of me, so is his death. to witness at the Drop Inn Center. that crowded bus into downtown The memory of Budd ' Access to the Drop Inn Center, Walking to the Drop Inn work_brou h ondolence where Buddy was shot, was __-;-. . . Center from the downtown bus . t db t h d and adrmrat10n from all across the . .. stop on that bright, sunny morning, res tnc e u some ow 1 ma e my country. And his work and spmt . li . I saw a late morning edition of the way through the front doors. The contrnues to ve on to this day. I 1 ong gone an d th e . . . . cops were Post in a paper rack that coldly see it everywhere, m the bml.drngs, . . . announced; BUDDY GRAY SHOT remnant s of what h ad h appened , rn the people, and m the work he f b hind This 1s . his 1egacy and had been DEAD. It was crude and . cleaned up. Buddy s 1e t e . . assassm had been arrested at the . . h k t d unattached and final, that blazing scene and taken away to jail. it is w at eeps me ocuse . 1 headline. Why was his death b · tak hope in the coming years I am up 's b d B uddy o y was erng en care already an insensitive ·ctrama for of at University Hospital. Staff to the task. 1 hope the good the news? How could a man, a and friends who were not at the memories of my friendship with man that had heiped s9 many, be · Buddy will always remain vivid. . Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed fpr a $1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $1. I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in termination from the program. 3. I agree.that I will not ask for donations or attempt to vend after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other ven­ dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influ­ ence of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a not-for-profit 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 will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise ffiisrepresenting is a violation of a city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing papers, and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replace~ent badges are $5 each. 9. There are no territories. I agree that I wi.11 not contest territories with other distributors. I will not sell on private property without permission. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ supporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this effort, I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible,. 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. �Page 3 STREETVIBES November 2002 North American Homeless News Digest by Molly Rhodes Homeless News From South Florida Homeless advocate and service provider Sean Cononie has had his hands full in south Florida the last couple weeks. On the down side, the director of the Homeless Voice shelter felt compelled to start a public awareness program highlighting the danger of railroad tracks, after three homeless people have died on tracks in his area in the last month alone, according to ~he Sun Sentinel. Cononie handed out flyers to people sleeping on the streets and put up 200 signs to warn people of the dangers of train tracks and to offer his shelter's services as an alternative to being depressed on the streets. On the upside, however, Cononie's work paid off for Edith Coleman, a 67-year-old homeless woman who finally began ....... receiving thousands of dollars in back Social Security benefits after Cononie helped to track down her former employer. Be~ telephone. Coleman is on track to receive $19,000 owed to her, a large step toward her eventual move back to the Northeast and into a home. Canadian Study Challenges Homeless Stereotype Calgary officials are finally beginning to see the light after a $60.000 study commissioned by Calgary's Homeless Foundation did not find that all homeless people are dmnk con artists who live on the streets because it's cool. According m www.CFCNplus.ca, the study did find that some of the main reasons people in the area become homeless included no access to an Alberta Health Care card, inadequate mental health care, and Story; Editorial and Art Submission Deadline for the December, 2002 edi­ , tion of S'FREETVIBES is poor access to phones and transportation that are essential to securing and maintaining a job. The study found that 50 percent of the city's homeless population works, 30 percent couldn't access health care, and 50 percent had a substance abuse problem. The study also found that 70 percent of people living on the street suffered from some form of mental illness. The study concluded the number of homeless on Calgary streets can be reduced by building more affordable, transitional, and supported housing. offering free transit passes. increasing access to mental health services, and raising Alberta's minimum wage. Monica just couldn' t take it anymore. For the past three years, they have been crying aloud about the "homeless proplem" as their number-one issue, and the city council finally listened. Two new laws passed by the council will make it harder for homeless people to get free meals and ban homeless people from sleeping in front of business doorways at night. In order to dole out food to the hungry, organizations expecting to serve 150 or more people have to adhere to community event laws and county health standards. If a business has put a sign in their doorway, anyone found sleeping there between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. will be arrested. Homeless advocates, while appalled, don't believe the laws will stand when New York Ruling Jeopardizes Homeless Families Santa Monica Laws Target Homeless ~ Elite liberals in Santa Write Us! .. ~ We"d like to hear ~ __._. \ _.~~ from 'JOU-. Send letten or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com,·•· or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Homeless Soccer Tournament And though it's not U.S. or Canadian news, maybe someone here will be inspired by the model of the Austrian city of Graz, which is hosting the first World Cup soccer tournament for homeless people next July. Sixteen teams are expected to compete in the games, including a group from the S_tyrian street newspaper Megaphon, which won the pre­ tournament this month. The idea behind the event is to use soccer as a way to build a better community among homeless people and to help them integrate back into the larger society. The Holidays are Near Homel~ss parents in New York state who aren't able to jump through all the welfare program hoops could easily see their children taken away from them and placed in foster care, thanks to a ruling by the state supreme court. The ruling by Justice Leanard Austin makes it easier for homeless families to be evicted from emergency housing if thy miss welfare or job training program appointments and deadlines, according to Newsday. This ruJing came after two women filed a suit against Suffolk County in Long Island. claiming their evictions from county shelters' jeopardized their family. In the case of one-of the women, she was evkted after missing a job interview because she was waiting for her children to return to school after a hurricane warning and did not have a phone handy to reschedule the interview. The suil had also sought to modify t)le service offered to homeless fam ilies y by the county so they could better prevent children, ending up in foster· care. None of the proposed changes were made. There are cuITently a record 527 fami lies living in shelters in Long Island. tested against the rights preserved in the Constitution. Already beginning your shopping? Why not shop for a good cause? What: "Magical Evening of Giving" - malls will close their doors and reopen them for ticket holders with special discounts, sales, prizes, food and live music When: - I ~ Tri-County Mall Sunday, November 17, 6:00-9:00pm Florence Mall Sunday, December 8, 8:00-lO:OOpm Cost: Tickets are $5 each for both malls. All proceeds benefit the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Call Brendan Goodwin at 421-7803 for tickets or more info! Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Welcomes new Executive Director I have spent my first few weeks at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless meeting folks: co-workers, Su-eetvibes vendors, board members. activists.and service providers. I am so impressed by the dedication and caring that I have seen demonstrated by everyone in and around the Coalition. I have also faced the reality of racial unrest, the increase of homelessness and the political invisibility of the homeless population in Cincinnati. In my new position, I hope to draw from the creativity and energy of the Coalition to work towards our mission: ending homelessness in Cincinnati. As a reader of Streetvibes you have already helped contribute to our mission. I Georgine Getty hope you will join us in facing the many challenges of homelessness in Cincinnati. Call me at 421­ 7803 to find out how you can help even more. With your support, the Coalition can continue to be a leading force for change in Cincinnati. �STREETVIBES November 2002 Page 4 • As Congress· Debates War, STANDDOWN Remembers Homeless Veterans Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless to provides veterans with meals, services, and health care during Standdown 2002 As Congress debates going to war, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, along with dozens of community volunteers, took the time-to remember and serve the veterans of past wars who now live in homelessness. Standdown is an annual event which gets its name from -a military term meaning a time of rest and relaxation. The Coalition for the Homeless, and other volunteer organizations, served nearly 300 people, including veterans and other people experiencing homeles_sness. Many homeless veterans and other people experiencing homelessness only need a helping hand, ·a conne·ction to valuable social services, in order to return to sel{-sufficiency. Nearly three dozen social service agencies were on-site in Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine last month to offer just that. Attendees were able to speak with representatives from such organizations as Legal Aid, Social Security, AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, and Lighthouse Youth Services. Here, people living on the streets were able to connect with emergency shelters, permanent housing providers, job opportunities, and much more. In addition to social services, health care providers were made available to do eye exams, blood pressure and glucose screening, massages, and HIV testing. Nearly 75 haircuts were provided by Project Daymakers, through Aveda and Franciscan Haircuts From the Heart. Foot care services were available as well. Everyone who attended received a free breakfast and free hot lunch and were able to enjoy the music of DJ Andy Glover, who continued to spin records late into the afternoon. "Many men and women who served our country in war have been forgotten. They live in our shelters, on the streets, and under bridges. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is pleased to sponsor Standdown which gives Cincinnati a chance to give back to homeless veterans who have given so much for ·our liberty," said Georgine Getty, Executive Direc~or of the Homeless Coalition. (above) Over 75 free haircuts were provided by the Project Daymakers mobile salon (below left) Andy and Pat ofthe Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (below right) On-site blood pressure and health screening �- STREETVIBES November 2002 --~ ~:--:.·_:·_~-~--~-: Reader Hail Yes, I know it may not be enough. As 1 said, recent events caused me to soul search and I find this cause to be to my benefit. I We would like to hear from you also believe I can really contribute - please address letters and to this cause .. Anthony Eversole comments to; Streetyibes, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202 (or) email to: Streetvibes@juno.com Dear Streetvibes, l am writing to you because l am interested in helping the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless in any way I can. Recent events this year have me questioning my life and my future. As a result, I want to give more support to the homeless because, who knows, I may be one accident or lost paycheck away from being homeless myself. Personally, I hope that's years away and I have a family to help when, or if it happens. I do know others are not so lucky. In the past, I have been scared and quite overwhelmed of the homeless people that come downtown to beg for change. I just don't have it sometimes, but I actually have an extra bed at my lovely one-bedroom _apartment. Finding someone trusting enough that I can get along with is another story. I have enclosed proof of my past efforts to improve human rights and Cincinnati's ' international image by lobbying for a display of a United Nations flag at the Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park. Then I donated my own to help the city of Cincinnati Park Board promote it to schools and events within Greater Cincinnati. - .;. ' . -. . . . .. - . *-,...-·. •-.,.. ~ L:~f"'"U• ..• ,*_;: -~~£~-:..?!"41j~J .:__ ·-~:·_ .... ' J~~-~~:~~·-. ~~ • 1 .{:-.~~;J.';_~Wi'!",.·,··.:.-:.~_.~;--=,:~ i._..:.:: . ·:r>~·-:~~-~~[-.:~~ ·~~-·:~J _Page 5 Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine Limited Edition Print Taking Issue With Oktoberfest Article I have to take issue with your coverage of the Oktoberfest protesters (Pg 2, October issue). I quit going to Oktoberfest a few years ago because the crowd ­ even in NON protest years - is just as you described: rowdy, obnoxious, drunken, threatening, loud, pressed together, too close for comfort, taunting, obscene, beer-spilling, pee-on-your-leg and just plain gross. I'm sorry the protesters experienced the sall!e thing, but it's like that all the time at Oktoberfest. Honest. Remember, it's a big, two­ day, all-day, drunken beer fest ... you get what you come for. And because most people go there just to have fun, the presence of the protesters probably touched off even stronger negative reactions in a few.. .it's j ust the way of the world. If you protest, you should be prepared for the flack and not blame it on the people you're protesting against...but that's my two cents. S. M. - College Hill The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed. · Steve Biko Now available, 18" X 24" poster-size; Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine, Winter 1999. Each print is individually signed by photographer Jimmy . Heath." Purchase benefits the children's Literacy Through Photography program at Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine. Posters are $10 each, plus $3 for shipping. Send your order and check to: Peaslee Neighborhood Center Attn: Photography Program 215 East Fourteenth Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or call (513) 621-5514 for more information National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) Regional Office 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com (513) 421-7803 Support your local Streetvibes Vendor! Your vendor keeps 80 cents of every dollar..... ':4.t last, the perfect health insurance group. No illnesses, no accidents, no annoying questions, no lawsuits." �ST REET VIBES November 2002 Page 6 PEACE VILLAGE: Drawings in the Shadows of 9/11 poster of our feelings that we by Dr. Steve Sunderland I am still grieving my sister could leave on a fence. in law's death. I find myself We walked in thinking more about grief arid the profound numbness, a preciousness of life and some of deadliness that is hard to the meaning of death for peace, recount, but no one's eyes · and for me in the Peace Village. I reflected the kind of good · know that Sandy, my sister-in-law, humor and recognition that I was a part of the effort in her own had seen at my sister in law's way, making a path for Native bedside. Here. for that day of Americans, African-Americans, visiting the killing site, we children on school buses, and her caught our breaths, holding family. Her spirit lives on in our them, step by step, and, memory and in the continued work seeking to awake from what for peace with these and other was certainly a nightmare. I ' groups. tried to breath with a Watching her come back to gentleness but kept losing my life for a moment, look at us, her breath and my mind. I almost closest family, in the eye, and then said, out loud: "But these people died without their slowly closing her eyes and stopping her breath, brought to familiesr without religious clarity just how amazing is the officials, without the rituals! " My spark of life, especially as it anger at the naked way they were flickers even right at the end. We killed grew until it dawned on me encircled her bed, forming a sacred that I was their family, I was walking by their death bed, I was space for her spirit to be honored breathing out a and depart. We. prayer of hope, I cried, held each "We realized that no words other, prayed a was making a could describe what we saw note of how Native andfelt about this enormous precious their American prayer, and felt hole in our ground ofbeing; lives were and the strength of no picture could record the how strange it family bound felt to be there, emptiness ofthis innocent together in the place, now alive with the with the other certainty of particles of life and death of members of the affection for a family, walking the 3,000...." back and forth, life we respected and pacing the cherished. amount of time it took to walk and Later on, two days to be realizing that the building fell in quicker time, the people were precise, Stef and I visited the burned to death in quicker time, World Trade Center on a brilliant and that it was all over in a kind of day. The sun shone, the streets of NY were jammed, and we time that I cannot reckon. followed the signs and the crowd Across the street from the to the site. We moved ever so WTC was the miracle. A little old slowly down the fence, hand hold church, St Paul's Episcopal, NY's letting go and making a new oldest church, had survived handhold, sometimes stopping and without even a window broken because a large sycamore that staring, sometimes shutting our stood between it and the collapse eyes, shooting pictures of the had taken the entire brunt. The families coming to look over the church, thanks to this miracle, edge at their special place. We became an emergency site for · -realized that no words could those working night and day. The describe what we saw and felt inside of the church is now a about this enormous hole in our museum documenting the many ground of being; no picture could activities that occuITed.. It is a record the emptiness of this innocent place, now alive with the small place, in one sense. It felt no bigger than a large living room. particles of life and death of the Yet, it rivaled the biggest church of 3,000. Two men unfurled a very France.with the ~ount of spirit long poster of American flags contained in its pictures and drawn by a high school class, spreading it out on the ground like stories. I finally had found a place to sit and c_ry. This place of a patriotic carpet of respect: It looked amateurish, unprofessional,. holiness had become a massage center for hurting workers, a food just right as a family card of grief. kitchen, a place for prayer, and, a The mourners walked around it, place to just sit and gain support. staring at it as if it came from Inside there must have been a kind another planet, getting up close to read the very clear and predictable of havoc I will never know; yet, I saw it as a refuge, too, a place to messages, and, finding ourselves wishing that we, too, had brought a gain a breath, to relax a heart, and to sip the drink of horror and amazingly important friendship, kindness that is so much a part of healing, supporting, lifting, and this experience. embracing those who come across I know that I am not back our be-numbed and sunlit paths. from either experience of the Thank you, my doctor friends, for deaths. I want to be back. Yet, I giving your wisdom to those who feel that this numbness of are near and far from you; thank recognition, again, about what the you those creating the orphanages human imagination can do when for all of us; thank you those driven mad with whatever reason providing the last cup of cool we want to give, persists. What is water to the dying; thank you behind this numbness I am waiting-­ ¥Oung_ peopl~ for walking to the schools of hate and intoterance_ to learn. I expect that those in the Peace Village living near and in with a different step; and, thank .carnage will know what I mean by you, all, for your continued efforts waiting. And, it is waiting for a to make each day, that day of peace with respect, a peace that is gentle and unforgettable peace. enduring and creating more peace, The shadow of the World a peace of the living, living lives of Trade Center reaches out and touches peace work in Cincinnati. support and caring, and, too, a peace of the dead, dying with all of Doing posters with young people, the respect and honor a people and sitting in their fear, is to watch a family can share. Does our work each one ·try and unfurl their anger and fear through a drawing or a get diminished by the shadow of sentence. It is hard to keep the the WTC? Does our belief in some kind of hope and meaning fear back for many of the people arising from this actively thinking about peace as horror escape " The shadow ofthe World they draw. What us? Can we ask Trade Center reaches out of ourselves a is this new fear and touches peace work in that has entered moment of Cincinnati. Doing posters confusion and and taken a front with young people, sitting in seat in the class, pain, experiences that their fear, is to watch each right near the even teacher's desk? one try and unfurl their Shakespeare I look into these ·anger and fear through a young faces for could not find drawing or a sentence." the words for? I signs of their courage, of their wait for peace to resilience, and, for the emerging break out, hopeful that with the new day of mourning comes also a beauty of what they hope peace new day of hope and resolve, a can mean in their lifetimes. I know these young people not only new day of walking in semi­ because they are or were the ages numbness toward some ways of supporting each other. J ask for of my children and students. I your continued work in·the know these people as some of what is best in our country and classrooms of creativity, for your continued work in respecting each world: people wanting to work at good jobs, helping people, fighting faith group, walking toward those disease and hunger, and wanting we do not know to learn their the time to breathe in what is so codes of hope, for your continued amazingly good about life. creation of art that reflects your voice, your gesture, your word of Sheltered from death truth, for your delicate and and riots until 9/11, > �STREETVIBES November 2002 they hold onto some fragment of a dream that is now distorted and shrunk. I can see in many of the little figures in their drawing a minimalist perspective being tightly held to: little people dreaming and living little dreams that may be more likely to be achieved in this new climate of exposure. And, there is the seriousness of the class, the_feeling that there rnay not be time to learn anything but a good escape route out of Blue Ash, or Cincinnati. I listen as the young professor reads off a list of books about terror and Islam, U.S: Government policy, and history books of American interventions. I wonder if any of these books will offer comfort or only make peace seem even more impossible. I wonder how people sit in. classes when young adults are in .states of readiness, on active duty, and, going without jobs in their future. "How did we get to this place of total fear?," many ask in their posters. And, while there are many answers and many books and many ways of staring into the bright light, the truth remains both elusive and attractive. Being blinded by fear may make us shut our eyes, as our Congress may be doing at thls moment; or, some of us, somehow, will continue to offer the space to reflect on a time when that blindness will end and a new perspective on our neighbor, our community, our village, and our world, is possible. Come see the posters for peace at the University of Cincinnati's libraries, at the Cincinnati branch library in Northside, and in the offices of the NCCJ and celebrate our passion for peace and justice. Page 7 "Hard work builds strong moral values. Fortunately, I inherited my money." National Freedom Center to Open in Cincinnati Center's location here can serve as Until we have the courage to recognize cruelty for what it is-whether its victim is human or animal-we cannot expect things to be much better in this world... We cannot have peace among men whose hearts delight in killing any living creature. By every act that glorifies or even tolerates such moronic delight in killing we set back the progress of humanity. Rachel Carson a modem day door to freedom from bigotry and racism. The National Conference for Community and Justice - a human rights organization dedicated to fighting racism and bigotry - first proposed the center in 1994. It will commemorate the 19th-century history of the Underground Railroad - th~ difficult, dangerous escape routes used by as niany as 100,000 fleeing slaves. Construction and development of the Freedom Center building and development of exhibits will cost about $65 million, with the rest earmarked for start-up operations, programs and an endowment. Know Your Wish List Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe...,gtring budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Can you help,,. us with some of the following items? o Electric Stapler · Heavy duty o Blank Zip Disks - For Streetvibes Archives o Supplies for Vendor's;Lounge ,(paper towels, cream and' s ugar, snacks, etc.) o Office and Cleaning Supplies The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will open on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, in the summer of 2004. Using the Underground Railroad as a lens through which to explore a range of freedom issues, the Freedom Center offers lessons and reflections on what freedom has meant in the past, means to today and will mean tomorrow. The shoreline of the Ohio River at Cincinnati once beckoned slaves to freedom in an abolitionist state. Ohio was a large point of entry for thousands of slaves who used the Underground Railroad, and many hope the Freedom . o Computers/components for Streetv.i(Jes story-writing, . editing, research. If you can lielp,-contact us at: Streetvibes, clo Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the lfomeless 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-780~ e-mail: streetvil>es@juno.com Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati's homeless and covers a person's basic rights when interacting with the police, as well as some local laws that might be of interest to the homeless population. If you are a homeless person or if you work with homeless people and would like to obtain free copies of the brochure for yourself or your agency, please call 421-7803, or stop by the Coalition office and pick one up. ~( ~; ' .. ' ' ~. 9'. �STREETVIBE S November 2002 Page 8 Theater Professionals Explore LA's "Skid Row" Struggles Formerly Homeless Develop Theatre Company in LA by Robert Bell Jr. This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles, California to work with some people on Skid Row. John Malpede has lived in Los Angeles since the 1980's and directs a theatre company called Los Angeles Poverty Department (LAPD). The name of the company mimics that of the L. A Police Department on purpose. The LAPD is a company made up of homeless and formerly homeless people and a few others like John who are concerned about issues that effect the ill-fated populations of our society. LAPD has developed a program called "Change/Exchange" to bring in guest artists from the outside to work with the company while developing a show. The guest artists share their skills and experience with the company members of LAPD and in return they get the experience of working creatively with people who are not typically included in the production of theatre. My wife and I spent two weeks working with LAPD on their show titled "Is There a History On Skid R ow?" The show deals with the area of downtown Los Angeles called Skid Row that was historically an area for older white men dealing with alcoholism. Over the years L.A.'s Skid Row has become predominantly African American, younger, more women and children, and the drug of choice is now crack cocaine. Part of our - assignment while working with LAPD was researching land use Guest artists and members of the Los Angeles Poverty Department (LAPD) theatre department wrote the scenes, help workshop planning and the city's of how this affects the people or development plans for downtown. the long term effects on the rest of and direct them, publicized, and acted in the show. We found many interesting the city. Some of the other shows The show itself ran for two patterns. The city continues to LAPD have done in the past that develop low income housing and weekends. The pe1fo1mance took dealt with the CIA involvement in social services in one area of the place in a small room with a bringing crack cocaine into •the city, Skid Row. Development storefront window in Skid Row. United States, homeless rights, and around Skid Row continues to Dming the perfonn ance multiple other topical issues. The company gentrify the downtown and contain presentations took place at the has also done non-theatre work the homeless into a tighter area same time. One scene was acted ilic1ucti n -g--voter r€-g istration while systematically keeping Skid out in the windows and broadcast projects. I gained a greater Row from developing beyond a in to the street, video monitors understanding of the life of a haven for low income and showed interviews with people homeless person and the forces treatment centers. w ho live and work in Skid Row that create, perpetuate and Some of the influences on and with the researchers, like crim:in~ze homelessness in our this area of Los Angeles were : lack myself. There were slides country. The members of LAPD of representation in the district projected on the wall and copies of are advocates for an under associations, constant surveillance legal papers from one homeless of Skid Row inhabitants, lack of man's fight against unlawful arrest represented population in Los Angeles. Their creative energies diverse development, and influx of were displayed. There were also spark debate and empower them to drugs from the outside. Word play live interviews with people who affect change in their community. live and work in Skid Row. The is another example of how The visiting artists and researchers outsiders ignore the situation. The performances lasted about four help the company grow and business community has begun hours each and each day was a investigate new territory. This· calling this area of downtown little different, with different process seems to work well for "Central City East", while the people being interviewed and both sides and is an example of residents of this area claim the presenting information. The how the arts can enrich peoples name "Skid Row" without shame. audience was off the street and lives and address important issues. These cycles continue and nobody came and went throughout the seems to realize the implications THIS WINTER, . THOUSANDS . WILL BE OUT IN THE COLD... CAN YOU HELP THEM? The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, Justice Watch, Mt. Airy Shelter, Interfaith Hospitality Network and Goodwill will be sponsoring a city-wide coat drive for the homeless from October 25 ­ November 22. Drop-off locations will be throughout the city. Please donate new or slightly used winter coats for men, women and children to Cincinnati's Homeless. For more information or specific drop-off locations, please call John Halpin or Georgine Getty at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 421-7803. HELP MAKE THIS WINTER A LITTLE WARMER performance. <;ompany Members Write Us! We'd like to hear ,,·~-~..,-,,... from IJOU-. Send letters or comments to: Streetvi bes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Story, Editorial and Ar t Submis­ sion Deadline for the December 2002 edition of STREETVIBES is Monday, November 11th. budi;fy's·place · Pe~anent Housing for formerly homeless individuals at 1300 Vine Street. For more informatio,., call Agnes Maci at (513) 784-0800 �STREETVIBES November 2002 P age 9 IBienvenidos! buddy gray 1950 . 1996 . The God of life summons us to life; more, to be lifegivers, especially toward those who lie under the heel of the powers. Daniel Berrigan Local Schizophrenia/Schizo-affective Research Study * Financial ~ompensation * 45 years and over * Symptoms of depression * 13 visits (513) 861-3100 ext 4187 or toll free (888) 267-7873 ext 4187 D I SC .J OCKEY SE l :::.Vt CE Cliffo r d J on.es (5 13) .230-63 53 (513) 7 61-3464 O.f.fice ~ • ~bo\.ne. Voicemail W.c~c:-· ww ~-l7>ail: jonesaCV ".14'1 "ir:iexchange.­ $ c:P~ The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations for their generous donation of coffee and pastries . 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park (513) 533- 3 402 7896 M ontgomery Rd. K eqwo o d . 891 - 7740 by Samantha Brockfield Ahora Streetvibes esta declicando una pagina a su comunidad. Este es el peri6dico escrito para crear una conciencia de las personas sin hogar, la injusticia social, y la pobreza en nuestra cuidad. Es la hora que se oye la voz de usted. £,Ha pasado algo emocionante en su vida recientetnente? (.Tiene Ud. unas ideas que quiere publicar? (.Ha escrito algun tipo de poesfa? Streetvibes quiere publicar sus historias, su poesfa, su prosa, y sus pensarnientos. Hay personas que pueden ayudarle a escribir y preparar todo para redactarlo. Tambien, Ud. puede ser un vendedor de Streetvibes y ganar dinero. La Coalici6n de Greater Cincinnati provee el pe:ri6dico para las personas sin hogar en Over-the-Rhine. El meta de la coal ici6n es eliminar la situaci6n de personas sin hogar, con respeto a la dignidad y diversidad de sus miembros, las personas sin hogar, y la comunidad. La Coalicion y sus miembros pueden darle a usted lo siguiente: el refugio de emergencia, las habitaciones provisionales, la vivienda Volunteer Opportunities at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless permanente, los servicios meclicos, los servicios sociales, los lugares donde Ud. puede obtener comida, y los servicios de salud mental. Nosotros creemos que es impo1tante que Ud. sepa cuales son sus derechos civiles como persona sin hogar. Tenemos folletos que los explican. Nos gustarfa que Ud. nos visitara algun dia para que le podarnos dar Servicios mejores. Para reunirse con La Coalicion: 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 www.cinci.com/ gcch Para ayuda, llame- Su Casa Ministe1io Hispano (513) 761-1588 115 W. Seymour Ave Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 San Damiano House- Los Hermanos de Las Personas Pobres (513)241-8585 923 Bank St Cincinnati, Ohio 45214. Tambien, hay una lista de lugares (para el refugio, la vivienda, el tratamiento medical, y otros Servicios) en la ultima pagina del peri6dico. to advertise in our paper, we offer very competitive rates for ads that reach about J 5,000 people per month! Our dream volunteer would be a self-motivated volunteer that would like to fundraise for our organization. This could include asking Y.our friends and family for donations to researching and w1iting grants for our excellent programs. The Streetvibes newspaper There are numerous project is always in need of people opportunities for volunteers at interested in writing articles on t he Greater Cincinnati Coalition social justice/poverty issues. for the Homeless. We are We need help in the willing to work with each afternoons at the front desk, individual in choosing a service answering phones and handling opportunity that is right for transactions with our Streetvibes them. The following are a few Vendo!s. This person will address of the areas in which the the needs of visitors, having direct Coalition could use your help: contact with homeless individuals Designing a web site for and should be available one our National Civil Rights afternoon a week. Organizing Project. This would There is always a need for include working with two help with bulk mailings. For Americorp Vista volunteers on Streetvibes, there are monthly how to prevent further mailings. Other mailings incli:ide criminalization of homeless the annual report, quarterly individuals as well as preventing newsletter, and various capitol the increasing hate crimes against campaigns. them. If you are interested in To enhance our Streetvibes volunteering at the Greater program, we are searching for Cincinnati Coalition for the volunteers to solicit Homeless, please contact the advertisements from local office at 421-7803, or visit us at businesses. If your business or a 1506 Elm Street in Over-the­ business you know of would like Rhine. �STREETVIBES November 2002 Page 10 Peace Village Rallie~ Thousands As Bush Visits Cincinnati by Dr. Steve Sunderland photo's by Jimmy Heath President Bush's visit to Cincinnati was greeted by 5,000 people rallying to express their concern about war and their hopes for peace. It was the largest peace rally in Cincinnati in the past 20 years. Two groups initially formed: one, a small group at our Federal Building walked with posters towards the large rally at Union Terminal, the site of the president's speech. A glorious sunny and cool day bathed the rallies as people walked, sang, prayed, and connected. Old friends met, old students in wheelchairs, and with posters appeared to say hello, team members from the Peace Village were everywhere, almost everyone carrying a poster disclaiming their belief in war. ·The entryway to our beautiful Union Terminal became the site of ralliers for and against the president. No violence was in evidence on anyone's part. The Cincinnati Police stood watch with a somber air, refusing to barely acknowledge the thanks offered by several for thier professional behavior. At close to 8:30, one e>f the main entrance streets spilled over with protesters, and, a festive, song filled, drumming, and embracing experience occurred. People were praying everywhere and the festivities were marked by a great seriousness, too. Yet, the overall mood, despite beliefs by many that president Bush has decided to invade Iraq, was light, friendly, and reminded many of the old timers of days in Washington protesting an old war. It could fairly be reported that this was a rally of young people as much as any group. I asked two very young teen age girls why they were there. Their response: ''This will be our war, too. It will effect us." A tall teenager, dressed in black, Nathan, heard their answer, and said: "I am out of a job and I don't want the job President Bush wants for me." All around there were families, Christian families, Jewish families, Islamic families, all gathered as if this was a celebration of peace rather than a protest of war. The most surprising consequence for me of the visit of the pres~dent was the rejuvenation of the Cincinnati Peace Movement. There were so many new people, people who had come to voice their feelings, so many that didn't want to hear speeches Rally · cont. on page 12 , �STREETVIBES November 2002 Page 11 The Greater Cincinnati Coalition ·for the Homeless corc;Jially invites you to attend their Annual Dinner "Many Missions, One Heart" Saturday, December 14, 2002 6:30pm Mt; .Auburn Presbyterian_Church Kat y Wilson of CityBeat, Keynote Speaker Silent Auction, Split-the-Pot Raffle, Dinner, Fun To Be Added to the Guest List, Please·send $15 Payable to: Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Consider Sponsoring Dinner for a Homeless Individual for a $15 donation or Have Your Company Sponsor A Table for $l20 Please Call Brendan Goodwin at. 513.421 .7803 with any questio.ns �ST REETVIBES November 2002 Rally cont. from page 10 as much as they want to add their hearts and voices to a concerted gathering, no matter how many turned up. Many of my friends said that they expected a very small turnout. We were all surprised and gladdened by bying wrong. Perhaps. we can say that the American people of Cincinnati wanted to represent the world for a moment, the world that is holding its breath hoping for something other than war, the world that has a place of honor for young and old people who believe in something other than war, a world, as we saw on our streets last night, when the smiles of Jews, Christians and Islamic people could be shared in a boisterous and affirming embrace of peace. I felt blessed to be in this march from the Federal B uilding to Laurel Park, walking with Rev. :rony Drake, singing old and new songs, and making a pace that was a signal of our enthusiasm. We were briskly moving in the :hythms of peace, feeling old drumbeats and eager to make it clear, on this night when the ·president came for approval, that we wanted to say that peace and justice wa~ what we approved. One of our group was in a wheelchair and I called ahead to my wife, Stefanie, to slow down, but Mark quickly corrected me: "We have to go faster to justice," he said with his kind smile. Tony and I, both over 60, realized that we needed a slower pace until the passion overwhelmed us, too. When we arrived at Laurel Park we were singing a Catholic prayer for peace and we were joined by the large group that was already milling and moving toward the Museum Center. Donald and Marian Spencer, both in their 80's, were smiling that s~le of victory that they have · · adopted. Marian, looking like she was ready for another game with QSU, wore a bright red UC sweatshirt. She grabbed me and said: "I earned the right to wear this shirt!'' And, we laughed our delight. There is such a wondertul light in these people's eyes, having seen so much, having lived so much, and, now, being ·hand in hand in love in a peace rally in 2002. No one was listening to the speech by the president. No one that !'saw was watching it on a television. There was a sense that whatever he said was already known; what was unknown and necessary, what wa~· vital and life supporting; was creating solidarity with all those who chose to be there in an affirmation of peace. Shutting our eyes and ears to the president but.opening our hearts and minds to peace, became the work of the evening. The sun set on the rally, candles emerged, and many of us walked back to the park to say our thanks to the organizers and to the people who had joined in this memorable evening. In the flickering l ight of candles, flashlights and cars, hope burned a little brighter, even as the cool of the evening·turned cold. We were better off for our efforts, and, just perhaps, our city and country and world was better off, too. Page 12 Police "subdue" p rotestor at Union Terminal !Jntrance gate Rev. Damon Lynch Ili (left) and Nate Livingston (right) at the Union Terminal rally �Page 13 TREETVIBES November 2002 ART, MUSIC, AND WRITING OPPORTUNITIES! Peaslee Neighborhood Center, 215 East 14.th Street, hosts lots of arts opportunities for adults and children to learn skills such as playing a steel drum or piano, photography, making mosaic art, or writing. Any resident of Over-the-Rhine or tpe West End is welcome! All sessions are FREE, including instruction and materials. No previous artistic experience necessary. Contact Brenda Z. at 621-5514, or for more information. basic photography skills through introductory courses provided at Peaslee. Call the Center for class schedules. Writing-Any young person in the Greater Cincinnati area may submit poems and/or articles via email at for publication in Streetvibes. Content should be related to homelessness, social justice, or poverty-related issues. Call F()r New Arts Advisory Committee Members! - The OTR Steel Drum Band -Learn Arts Advisory Committee is looking for represen.tatives from how to play the steel drums In an introductory serjes for adults. the neighborhood and the arts Parents may bring their children and business community. This (age 9 and up) to learn together committee helps to formulate the direction and development of .if they like. Partidpants will Peaslee's arts programs. learn steel drum technique, rhythms, and how to read music. Looking For New Staff ­ Community Mosaic Art Project - Community members Thousands ofprotesto rs took to the streets on. Western Avenue, · near Union Tenninal, to protest Bush war effort. are coming together to make mosaic art for the Over-the­ Rbine neighborhood. The organizers are looking for ideas ,for the next project. Forward· your ideas to Brenda Z. Photography - Teenagers and young adults are invited to learn Peaslee is also looking for new music instructors for the piano and the mallets program. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in teachi.ng music in a fun and rewarding setting. Anyone interested in any of these opportunities, contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee, 2 15 East 14th Street, Over-the-Rhine, 621-5514. Wish List - Can You Help? Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe-string budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Can you belp us with some of the following items? o Electric Stapler - Heavy duty o Blank CD-RW Disks - For Streetvibes. o Supplies for Vendor's Lounge (paper towels, cream and sugar, snacks, etc.) o Cleaning Supplies o Office Supplies - floppies, copier paper and other supplies If you can help, contact us at: r,l Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 . (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com Sayrah Namaste addresses peace crowd at Laurel Park near Union Terminal Streetvibes exists as a foru m f or the expression of the views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvihes staff or the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �~·:-=-==---...1 Art & Poetry STREETVIBES November 2002 That Day · Page 14 In Washington Park XXI by Michael Anthony Willis by J.M. Pleasant I met some people in Washington Park, A people so full of love. Not the kind of love that I see here on earth, But the kind that comes from above. I see this love on the face of the ones Who live their life praying to God They care for each other, they care for the poor, they care for he ones who .don't even believe in God. So, I told them some things that God had said, For they are my brother and sister you see, For the same God who made all of them Was the same God that made me, If we all could see what we should be, Evil would be no more. We would all be one with God up above And the people that I met in Washington Park. Everyone is boiled in time with the same view. by Mike Henson In the moment he died nothing stopped. The world continued rolling toward dark and the dark continued rolling toward day. In grocery stores, shoppers filled their carts. Some mounded their carts high. Some barely mounded them at all. The moles of the park raised up the grass on their small shoulders in search of grubs and worms. the sirens wailed above them but they did not hear. In the bar on the comer, a third shift man just iii for his shot and a beer wiped the foam from his mustache with the back of his hand and headed home to a dreamless sleep. On the Shopping Channel there was much excited talk on zircons and vacuum cleaners at attractive prices. On Wall Street, trading opened and the Dow began its daily march. And somewhere, perhaps in Bangkok, a girl, just brought in from the country on the back of a truck, is tired. They have given her something strange to eat and her mind feels so very strange. She is pushed into a room with a naked man and the door is locked. And somewhere, a boy is handed his very first gun. And somewhere, a nun is strangled. All these things went on. The stones of the earth continued to grind. Hillary teased out her latest hairdo And Bill ... Who knows what Bill was doing in that hallway? School bells rang on schedule. Fires were lit under steam tables. Trucks rolled into .weigh stations. Commuters pressed into the doors of a subway. A child looked out the classroom window past the playground past the fence past the suburban rooftops past the cell phone towers In our little city, editorialists stacked their words and sharpened their knives. And.the stars continued their subtle realignment of this galaxy and the next and the one beyond. In our squeaky swivel­ chairs, if they're facing west, where the windows sit like overworked simple machines, embedded sturdily into the plaster walls, there is ~ view that everyone has - that everyone who has a window has and detests. A worn out brick wall, gray and dusty orange from forever; from advertisers printing their logos in color again and again. No vanishing point out there-only In The Jaded and Jagged Mornings dusty brick. A black, square light post by J. M Pleasant runs up the wall, just so we can make clear In the jaded and jagged mornings here in this hiemal, iced city flat, after the sleep-sedated stumble the remains of the advertisements to the breakneck, blizzard bathroom, something happens and there is only blackness. There is only blackness between me and the yet lingering body warmth of back-to-bed. There is nothing; not those which give blows in the blackness between here and there. . There is no bleak, ~waying plaster; no hazardous, shattered tile; no rusted, falli!lg water Jines; no splintery, soft Door boards. Just the scathed body warmth of back-to-bed. No sight of me at interment and dead. To Whom It May Concern by Ron English I had a dream of Mr. Buddy Gray ­ for his poor man's vision of salvation, of his brothers keeper. Of the restoration and rehabilitation of the dysfunctional feeling of alcohol an-d drugs. For a legend he was made, freedom of Speech and Miracle of God's creation. ' late at night. Only a telephone line is strung forever across, splitting the brick background from wholesomeness. It's so close we could jump and swing from it with wet hands. Everyone has this same view-if · they have a window - they are sluggishly getting up and pulling .the curtains and . blinds tightly closed. �Art& Poetry ST REETVIBES November 2002 Mom, you are the only person I have known to love unconditionally. You loved your husband, your sons, your daughter, equally, unconditionally. A man I.respect and admire once said, "Success is not getting what you wa~t but wanting what you get." Well, you certainly were a successful wife and mother. You may not have "enjoyed" all that you got but you relentlessly kept yourself in play and played the and you were dealt, because you wee BOUND BY FAITH. That is the name ofthis poem for you. Bound by Faith by Dwight Turner Morn, you are my angel, that perfect piece of pie. How tiny and insignificant we are, yet rare ~d precious to Him. Mom, you're my angel, the answer to my Why! Oh Why! Oh Why! Behind you lay a wake of love, ahead of you, a translucent list of gifts soon to be called the archives. The nephilims were no match for you and Satan's playground (earth) was little more than a boy and his toys; for your giant Will and Spirit. Today we live by your example, tomorrow we will live by your wisdom and compassion. Now I'm filled with joy and sorrow, forever grateful and fortunate to live on until tomorrow. Your presence will be missed, and absentmindedness doesn't live here; shallow thinkers gravitate to .o ut of site, out of mind. So spread you wings, oh gentle spirit, for this too shall pass on to all of us, then and only then are we truly free. Page 15 Are You Rusty? byjba Where are the days? God has a sense of humor and you and I and all living creatures are its proof. The human body operates on Rust - iron oxide- Fen-ous Oxide FeO. It's what makes our blood red as - ­ by Ron Carter, Sr. Where are the days? When there was not so much violence. Where are the days When children idolized their parents. to repsire and bum its fule we literally have to rust to live. So if anyone ever asks if you 're Rusty respond: "I certainly hope so." Where are the days When neighbors looked out for each other: Where are the days When music was music, no gangsta' rap. I Got Them by J.M. Pleasant I got them 1 0 0 n g type-fingernails -cominout my- well . .. they really fake- 0 but they look like they cominout my fingertips! Where are the days When kids went to school to learn, not because they have to. Where are the days When news was good most of the time. Where are the days When the world was at peace. Where are the days They are gone but not forgotten. they got Where are the days? h e c by Ron Carter, Sr. c Where are the days? When there was not so much violence. r ve u r ve s on em like you ain't nevah seen and the redest paint you evah seen. Where are the days When children idolized their parents. Where are the days When neighbors looked out for each other. Why can't we all just get along? u Ron Carter is a former Streetvibes vendor, "CEO", writer and outreach coordinator for the Homeless Coalition. . - they more important to me than god Shutter Speed Where are the days When music was music, no gangsta ' rap. Where are the days When kids went to school to learn. not because they have to. Where are the days When news was good most of the time. Where are the days When the world was at peace. Where are the days They are gone but n<:>t forgotten. Why can't we all just get along? Ron Carter is a former Streetvibes vendor, "CEO", writer and outreach coordinator for the Homeless Coalition. Vine Street, Over-the-Rhine by Jimmy Heath �1i::~:-A·~;-.,:j••••-rr STREETVIBES November 2002 ~-..- • ·t~~...,..-;~~~..,.~·-~~~,.~~ ~ .. ·-'--~-~~··~ ··News:; &~ fiditoria/::.t~: ..:~¥ -. - -- . ._ . - - : - .. ~ ~ Page 16 , Bush Solution to Forest Fires: Remove the Forest f rom OMB Watcher The Bush administration sent a legislative proposal to Congress on September 5th that would allow increased commercial logging of old-growth trees in national forests, purportedly to reduce runaway forest fires that have plagued the West in recent years, even though such trees are not the source of the problem. Misleadingly labeled the " Healthy Forests Initiative," the plan seeks to eliminate legal tools to challenge logging initiatives ­ waiving provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act and exempting most forest management projects from judicial review - and would also exempt timber cutting from public notice and comment. Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) is expected to offer portions of the Bush proposal to.the Deptartment of Interior spending bill, according to this Earthjustice action alert. The catastrophic fjres of recent years are the result of a ~ u ildup of small trees "and underbrush, "due to a vadety of Forest Service policies, including the practice of extinguishing lowintensity fires" while allowing timber companies to harvest "the larger, most fire-resistant trees," according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Bush plan sets forth a "goods-for-services" arrangement in which the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management could pennit timber companies to cut large trees ­ which are not the problem - in exchange for removing the commercially worthless small trees and underbrush. To oversee the "Healthy Forests Initiative," Interior Secretary Gale No1ton has appointed libertarian Allan Fitzsimmons, who bas questioned the existence of ecosystems, calling them a "mental constrnct," the protection of which should not shape federal policy. A Report from the Streets of IRAQ byRamzi Kysia You get what you pay for in life. What are you willing to pay for peace? With George Bush as president, it doesn' t seem to be a problem any of us will ever have to face again, but you can't be a pacifist only in peacetime. You can't be a pacifist by yelling at your TV set, or forward­ ing a million emails to everyone you know. Pacifism isn' t that passive, it isn' t that easy. It is, and always has been, by definition, a radical challenge to every element of worldly power and violence. I'm in Iraq with a handfuf of. other Americans: Eric Edgio, an Indiana college student; Nathan Mauger, a recent journalism graduate from Washington State; Farah Mokhtareizadeh, a Pennsyl­ vania college student; Jon Rice, a history teacher from Chicago; Henry Williamson, a paramedic from South Carolina; and Joe Quandt, a ·writer from New York. More are joining us. By the end of October, we'll have over 30 people on our team. By December, our numbers will be over 100. We're here to tell the stories of the Iraqi people; to put our lives on the line to stop this war. Living in Baghdad, you wouldn't know there was a war. The streets bustle with people on their way to work or school. In the evenings the parks are full of kids playing soccer, people visiting with family and friends. There are no tanks in the streets, no soldiers marching, no civil defense drills, and-other than foreigners like us-no one here seems to be stocking up on·food or water. Is it denial? Disbelief? Some inner despair? I honestly don't know. It's painful that Baghdad is so beautiful. There's a unique and striking blend of traditional and modem architecture. I love the city's parks, its wide, tree-lined boulevards-each avenue sprout­ ing date palms and poplars. faciUtating the killing of countless This is truly a green city. I told more by our own government a cab driver that Baghdad was a through our silence and our tax beautiful city. He just looked hard dollars. We apologize for no one at me. "No," he said, "Baghdad is but ourselves. According to Human Rights not beautiful. Baghdad is tired." Ask an Iraqi about "liberation," Watch, Iraq has roughly 3,000 and they'll laugh at you. It'§. bitter extra judicial killings a year. According to UNICEF, U.S. policy mirth. If the U.S. doesn't bomb kills over 50,000 Iraqi children .the civilian infrastructure again, every year. Both are terrible. and if the government falls fast, They aren't equivalent. and if the army doesn 't break-up It's disgusting that millions of along ethnic and religious lines­ then only a few thousand innocent people being threatened with people will be killed when George massive destruction isn't "news," Bush starts his war. Bue if Bush and Americans joining them is. But if the only way to get anyone bombs the water and power sys­ to pay attention is to be in tems like his dad did in ' 91-tens Baghdad when the bombs fall, so of thousands will die from the be it. We' re here. resulting epidemics. If the army Our hotel isn't fancy, but at falls apart, there could be a civil least it isn't close to anything war that makes past conflicts in "strategic." Our risks are the same Lebanon or Bosnia look like as the other S million people in schoolyard brawls. Baghdad, ~e other 24 million And if food aid distributed by people in Iraq. As our team's the Iraqi government under the numbers grow, we'IJ tum the hotel Oil-for-Food program is disrupted into our own hostel-living 5 or 6 for more than a few weeks, ·uNICEF is. warning there will be to a room. We're volunteering with NGOs countrywide famine. When wilt Americans wake up already working in Iraq, and we're to the fact that we are not the only doing regular writing and real people on this planet; that our journaling. Some of that writing will be carried in alternate media security cannot depend on the and small-town papers, and, even insecurity of everyone else? after the U .S. destroys the electric­ Have we failed to notice that ity and phone lines, we' ll get the inmates are now running the reports out through the local press asylum? Some accuse us of being center on a satellite phone. We "fools" or "apologists" for the won' t let folks·back home forget Iraqi government. We don't often have the opportunity to speak with the human consequences of what they do here. Milan Kundera once officials here, but when we do we wrote, "The struggle of man always raise concerns about prisons, extra judicial killings, and against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting." state-directed violence. We're here to be part of that That isn't to toot our own horn. struggle. Mohammed Ghani Our status as Americans gives us Hekrnat is perhaps the most promi­ this luxury, in a way that Iraqis do nent artist in Iraq, and one of the not have for themselves. That's kindest men I've ever met. His uncomfortable and troubling, and sculptures decorate the country. if it strikes some as hypocritical He's proud to be the first Muslim for us to be here as pacifists, I can artist ever commissioned by the understand that. But it strikes me Vatican. In 1991, he was working as much more hypocritical to speak out against a foreign govern­ on a series of life-size reliefs of the Stations of the Cross, when the ment for killing innocents-while Gulf War happened. The explo­ sions blew out the windows in his studib. We asked him what he thought of the American people, and his voice filled with anger: 'They' re innocent," he accused, "Innocent! Like children." We're here because we know we' re not Uinocent Being here is our part in the war against ten-or­ ism: humanizing Iraqis in the eyes of Americans, humanizing Ameri­ cans in the eyes of Iraqis-taking direct responsibility for what's done in our names. Our government, ow- country­ our people-have killed hundreds of thousands of human beings in Iraq since 1990. We' re about to compound that atrocity with another war that, if it goes badly, will likely kill hundreds of thou­ sands more. In 1945, when the Allies liberated the death camps, the entire Western world was abso­ lutely shocked. We asked, "How could this have happened? How could the Gemian people have allowed this? Where were the 'good' Germans?" Today, I know where the good Americans are: they're in Iraq, and they ' re organizing in the streets of America-laying their entire lives on the line to prevent the mass destruction of human life. We get what we pay for in this life. I don't want to die. I am scared for my life. But this storm is fast upon on us. This is the moment when we all must ask-what are we willing to risk for peace? Ramzi Kysia is a Muslim-American peace activist, working with the Edu.cation for Peace in Iraq Cen­ ter. He is co-coordinator ofthe Voices in the Wilderness' Iraq Peace Team (www.iraqpeaceteam.org), a group ofAmerican peace workers pledged to stay in Iraq before, during, and after any future U.S. attack. The Iraq Peace Team can be reached at ivoices@uruklink.net �STREETVIBES November 2002 News & Editorial Page 17 Census Data ·show Increase in Extent and Severity of Poverty Earned Income Tax Credit, as its widest point in 2001 , although workers exhausted all of their income, while subtracting income unemployment benefits before the change between 2000 and 2001 and payroll taxes. This approach finding work during the first eight was not statistically significant for months of 2002, and this number is to measuring poverty is similar to all of these measures. the approach·recommended expected to top two million by the The average income of the several years ago by a National top five percent of the population end of the year. Some states also Center on Budget and Policy rose by $1,000 in 2001, from Priorities instituted cuts in programs for low­ Academy of Sciences expert $259,445 in 2000 to $260,464 in income households in 2002 as part · panel.) The average amount by 2001. The average income for Census data issued recently of the effort to close swelling which poor children fell below the every other income category fell in budget deficits. show that poverty increased in ''The increase in poverty is poverty line also increased; it, too, · 2001. The share of the national 2001 , while median household income that the top five percent of reached the likely to be larger income fell, and the income gap highest point on the population income receive in 2002 than the between the affluent and the rest "The average income of reached its highest level on record record, going increase of 1.3 of society either tied or set new the top five percent of the in 2001. By contrast, the shares back to 1979. all-time recorded highs. million people going to the bottom fifth (which The number of people that occurred in population rose by $1,000 These data living in poverty rose by 1.3 2001," stated in 2001, from $259,445 in indicate that the received just 3.5 percent of the principal reason national income last year), the million in 2001, to 32.9 million. Robert 2000 to $260,464 in 2001." poor children next-to-the bottom fifth, and the Greenstein, Median household income - the middle fifth fell to recorded lows. were poorer, on executive income of the household in the The share going to the next-to-the­ average, in 2001 than in any other middle of the ill.come spectrum ­ director of the Center on Budget year since 1979 is that government top fifth tied for an all-time low. and Policy Priorities. fell by $900 to $42,200. In Among the findings from _ safety net programs did less to addition, the share of the national The Center on Budget and Policy reduce the severit)I of poverty last household income going to the top the poverty data released by the Priorities is a nonprofit, year than in any other year since Census Bureau are the following: five percent of the population .. nonpartisan research Both the percentage of people who 1979. reached an all-time high (these organization and policy institute are poor (i.e., the poverty rate) and Median household income data go back to 1967), while the that conducts research and the number of people who are poor declined by $900 for U.S. shares going to the bottom, the households overall, a decline of analysis on a range of increased in 2001. Increases next-to-bottom, and the middle 2.2 percent. (These figures are government policies and occurred among the overall fifths of the population fell to all­ programs. It i.s supported adjusted for inflation.) Median population, non-Hispanic whites, time lows. primarily by foundation grants. household income fell among all people aged 18-64, and unrelated The poor also became racial-ethnic groups except men, among other groups. (The poorer. The average amount by which people who were poor ­ increase in the poverty rate for To ask questions, or send Hispanic households (for comments, write to and children who were poor - fell African-American persons was not Hispanics, the drop in median below the pove11y line reached bazie@cbpp.org income was not statistically statistically significant, but there their highest le.vels on record. significant). Large declines was a large and statistically These data go back to 1979. Both significant increase in the poverty occurred among African-American Center on Budget and Policy the increase in poverty and the households - for which median rate for African-American Priorities reduction in median income families, from 19.3 percent in income fell by $1,025, or 3.4 820 First Street, NE, Suite 510 primarily reflect the effects of 2000 to 20.7 percent in 2001.) percent - and among Asian and Washington, DC 20002 recession. Most Poverty Pacific Islander households - for (202) 408-1080 analysts expect which median income dropped by increased in "The average amount by poverty to metropolitan $3,678, or 6.4 percent. Peaslee Neighborhood areas and in · increase further which poor children fell Median household income Center - and income to below the poverty line also suburbs within fell in every region of the country 215 East 14th Street decline more these areas, except the Northeast. The largest increased; it, too, reached Over-the-Rhine in 2002. declines occurred in the Midwest, although poverty the highestpoint on Poverty rates rates remain where median income fell $1,662 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 generally rise or 3.7 percent, and in tl}e West, record, going back to considerably (513) 621-5514 and incomes fall 1979." lower in the where median income dropped by when $ 1,082, or 2.3 percent. The suburbs than in unemployment cities or non­ poverty rate, however, rose only in increases significantly, and metropolitan areas. The number of the South where it increased from unemployment is much higher in poor people in suburban areas 12.8 percent to 13.5 percent. The 2002 than it was in 2001. The South bas the highest poverty rate climbed by 700,000. unemployment rate averaged 4.8 ·of any region. T he Census data The depth, or severity, of percent in 2001. During the first show that income inequality either poverty increased. The average set a new record high in 2001 or eight months of 2002, it averaged amount by which those who were 5.9 percent, and the Congressional poor fell below the poverty line tied for the highest level on record. Budget Office forecasts that it will rose to $2,707 per poor person in The recorded data go back to 1967. A table that the Census remain at about six percent until 2001 . This represents the largest ~~ Bureau issued recently, entitled the second half of 2003. "per-person poverty gap" on Furthermore, the number of record. (These data go back to "Selected Measures of Household Empowering our unemployed workers who have run 1979. They are derived from Income Inequality: 1967 to 2001," neighborhood children out of unemployment benefits unpublished Census tables made provides five statistical measures through peace, art and before finding work is much larger available today and count non-cash of inequality for the years from education in 2002 ~han it was in 2001. 1967 to 200 l. Under every one of benefits such as food stamps and More than one million these measures, inequality reached housing subsidies, as well as the Decline in Household Income, Income Disparities At Record Levels Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe 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 November 2002 The Misguided Prison Building prison are there because of some Frenzy charge stemming from alcoholism or some other form of substance abuse. Quite apart from the expense of prisoner "care," think Maurice McCrackin was pastor emeritus ofthe Community what might be accomplished through life support programs? Church of Cincinnati, and a leading figure in the civil rights, financed by the $65,000 per­ person jail proposed for Camp prison reform and homeless Washington. people's movement. This piece was originally written in 1990. It is hard to comprehend The proposed Camp Washington why the political decision makers, nationally, in the state and locally. jail (River City Correctional Center) that Mac makes are so obsessed with the.building reference to in this article has of more jails and prisons. They are not a deterrent. They are since become a reality. The aiders and abettors to crime. They prison issues he addresses are still valid. "Mac" passed away are time bombs which explode when the prisoners can no longer in 1997. endure the psychological and physical abuse and "cruel and The frenzy to build new unusual punishment" of their life jails and prisons has ripped the in prison. entire nation, and caught up in The Reagan and Bush this frenzy are the Hamilton County Commissioners. They are administrations have destroyed or mortally wounded nearly all proposing the construction of a supporting services for poor and 1,500 bed jail in Camp low income people. Our society is Washington. sick and we spend exorbitant It will take millions of amounts of money on studying the dollars to tear down the old pre­ Civil War [Work House] strncture. symptoms, and then treat the victims with band-aids. The total cost of construction. On different occasions based on the 1,500 bed figure, over the years I have spent will likely reach $100 million considerable time in prison. I dollars - a cost of about $65,000 have become personally per prisoner bed. acquainted with hundreds of other Approximately 85 to 90 prisoners. They are a cross section percent of men and women in by Rev. Maurice McCrackin Page 18 of society, excluding, of course, the white collar offenders who seldom end up in jail. Many are caring people, considerate of me; considerate of each other. Yet by most of society, by most judges and by most jail and prison officials they are treated as non­ persons who have no.rights. An example of this calloused and immoral attitude is the proposal t~ use Fort Scott as a minimum-security facility. The Catholic Archdiocese closed the camp because it is next door to the Fernald plant. a hotbed of radioactive waste. No matter, it's all right to house p1isoners there! I sincerely hope that the Catholic Archdiocese will respond with a resounding " no! " if they are officially approached by the Hamilton County Commissioners. Some prisoner friends over the years have said to me, " they treat us just like animals." If only prisoners were treated as well as animals in the zoo! If a zoo keeper allowed animals under her or his care to be abused and mistreated as badly as is the lot of many prisoners, the zoo keeper would be fired. Poverty results in hopelessness and despair and an ever increasing loss of self-esteem and hope. People get into drugs as a way out of their misery, wantino.o to feel good at least for a little while. The answer is not to get tough with people who are hurting so much already, but to do all possible to restore feelings of worth and self-respect. For their own and other's safety, they may need to be separated from society, but it must be in an institution where there is a loving, caring atmosphere. Such an atmosphere can never be found in jail or prison. From a moral, economic and l<;>gical standpoint, public funds should be spent in creating a social environment which creates a climate of self-wo1th and well­ being. . Those working to prevent the use of drugs must first have a humane regard and caring attitude toward1 drug addicts and drug dealers. Many drug pushers have first become addicted and later become a dealer in order to feed their own habit. All are fe11ow human beings who need our help. Write Us! We'd like to hear from you•... Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com; ·:. or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, I 506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Weauo/ Natiom �P age 19 ST REET VIBES November 2002 one hour south 'o f Chicago, is an example of entrenched pove1ty in the heartland of America. One (Food Action and Research single mother described in the Center news) article skips dinner so that her children have enough to eat. She FOOD STAMP receives food stamps, but doesn't qualify for TANF because she's PARTICIPATION able to work. She can' t get to a job INCREASES IN JULY because she ha5 no 2002; IS 2.4 MILLION > transportation. The town lacks PERSONS HIGHER THAN many basic government services IN JULY 2000 and the residents have little access (FRAC Analysis, October 2, 2002) to public assistance, jobs, Participation in the Food Stamp transportation, or other ways out of Program in July 2002 (the latest poverty. Pembroke's average per data available) mcreased by 23,935 capita income in 1999 was $9,642, persons from the previous month, compared to $21,587 to 19,344,019 persons, according nationally. to FRAC's analysis of preliminary data from USDA. The July 2002 http :/lwww.nytimes.com/20021091 level of Food Stamp l9/nationa/129POVE. html Program participation represented (free registration required) a rise of more than 1.8 million persons compared to the July 2001 RISE IN U.S. POVERTY level, and of more than 2.4 million PARTLY DUE TO PUBLIC persons compared to July, 2000. It NEGLECT was, on the other hand, more than (Christian Science Monitor, 2.4 million persons lower than the September 30, 2002 level five years earlier, in July As poverty levels in the United 1997. Increases in participation in States rise due to the economic 2001 and 2002 likely have been downturn, experts point out that driven by improved access to the the United States bas the highest program in a growing number of poverty level of all the states, and by the weakened industrialized nations, regardless economy. of economic conditions. The http:/lwww.frac.org/htmllnews/fsp/ poverty rate for children in the U.S. during the 1990's was worse 02july.html than 19 other rich countries. Reducing poverty is generally a REPORT: STATES HAVE low public policy priority in SLOWED THEIR USE OF America. Many poor people in the TANF FUNDS FOR CHILD U.S. could be lifted out of poverty CARE simply by improving access to (Center for Law and Social Policy, current federal programs. .September 23, 2002) FRAC News Digest Since 1996, states have made broad use of their options to redirect TANF funds to provide child care assistance to a growing population of low-income working families, and to improve the quality of child care. A year ago, states reported the high point of that redirection at $3.89 billion. Since then, economic conditions and a host of other > factors may have changed the potential of TANF to help states meet child care needs. Use of TANF for child care has flattened, and some states have begun to make difficult choices that will have the effect of reducing access to child care assistance. http://www.clasp.org/DMSI Documents/I 032806810.141 2001_TANF_CC.pdf (Adobe PDF) IN TRENCHES OF A WAR ON UNYIELDING POVERTY (New York Times, September 29, 2002) Pembroke, Illinois, a small town NATIONWIDE (New York Times, September 29, 2002) The number of farmers' markets has increased by 79 percent since 1994, to 3, 137 markets in all 50 states. Approximately 3. rnillion Americans a week gerfresh food directly from farmers at such markets, which reported about $1 billion in sales last year. Because farmers at markets are selling directly to the consumer, they are able to earn 40 to 60 percent more than by. selling to wholesalers, allowing many small farmers at the urban fringe to stay in business. http://www. nytimes. com/20021091 29/nati9nal/29 FARM.html (free registration required) USDA press release on the nationwide growth offarmers markets: ttp :/!www.usda.gov/news/releases/ 200210910413.htm Farmers' market Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) pilot program. in Buffalo, New York received a $100, 000 USDA grant to improve access to nutritious fruits and vegetables for food stamp recipients: http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/ buffalol stor-ies/20021091231 daily36.html longer lunch periods, and fewer very early or very late lunch periods. The groups feel that improving the environment for eating is just as important as improving the quality of the food. http:llww w.philly.com/midi inquirer/living/education/ 4151415.htm CHILD POVERTY IN NEW MEXICO HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE (Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe, NM, September 19, 2002) The percentage of children living in poverty in many parts of New Mexico is higher than the national average, according to the "New Mexico Kids Count Databook 2002." In four of New Mexico's counties, 40 percent of the children live in poverty. The report also notes that if all New Mexicans who are eligible received food stamps, child poverty would be reduced by a quarter. T he Food ~esearch and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U. S. Department of Agriculture, around the network of nationa~ state and local anti­ poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. MEALTIME SEEN AS The Digest will alert you to 'trends, reports, news items and resources. OVERLOOKED SIDE OF Ben Winter EDUCATION Food Research and Action Center (Philadelphia Inquirer, September 1875 Connecticut Avenue, N W 26, 2002) Suite 540 The shortness of the school lunch Washington, DC 20009 period has gained attention as a (202) 986-2200 x3019 phone http://www.csmonitor. com/ source of poor eating habits for (202) 986-2525 f ax search_content/0930/pl 7s01­ children. USDA, along with the Email: bwinter@frac.org wmgn.html American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dietetic Association, FARMERS' MARKETS and other groups have endorsed 10 · key ways to achieve healthy eating GAINING POPULARITY in schools. Their ideas include t Where i Vendor: 80 cents Printing and Production: 20 cents Your Dollar Goes The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cos t so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. . �Need Help or Want to Help? If y~u need help or would like ·to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. ~HEJiTERS:Womenand _ hll__!en YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 762-5660 Salvation Army Welcome .House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for tHe Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Greater ,­ Cincinnati CoaJiflon J;a. The HomeJes$. • Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Hav~n House 863-8866 lnter1aith Hospitality 926-2064 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 861-1111 St. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTR Housing Net. ReSTOC Tender Mercies Tom Geiger House 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 381-1171 639-7056 961 -4555 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 751-3260 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 38 1-6660 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center tor Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency . 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile 352-2902 Health Van House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House . 721-481 1 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De, Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/ Singles) 423-4673 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2002 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource November 2002 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Dozens Gather at Memorial Site in Over-the-Rhine Pg 2: Memories of Buddy Live On Pg 3: North American Homeless News Digest Pg 4: As Congress Debates War, Stand Down Remembers Homeless Veterans Pg 5: Reader Mail Pg 6: Peace Village: Drawings in the Shadows of 9/11 Pg 7: National Freedom Center to Open in Cincinnati Pg 8: Theater Professionals Explore LA’s “Skid Row” Struggles Pg 9: ¡Bienvenidos! Pg 10: Peace Village Rallies Thousands as Bush Visits Cincinnati Pg 11: Annual Dinner Pg 12: Rally Continued Pg 13: Rally Continued Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: Bush solution to Forest Fires: Remove the Forest A Report from the Streets of Iraq Pg 17: Census Data Show Increase in Extent and Severity of Poverty Pg 18: The Misguided Prison Building Frenzy Pg 19: FRAC News Digest Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 2002 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Brendan Goodwin Mary Taylor John Halpin Cheryl Ware Andy Erickson Jimmy Heath Robert Bell Jr. Mike Henson Rev. Maurice McCrackin Robert Mannassa Dr. Steve Sunderland Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Bienvenidos Brendan Goodwin Mary Taylor buddy gray Bush Census Cheryl Ware Child Care Cincinnati Congress Dr. Steve Sunderland education Forest Fires FRAC Georgine Getty Iraq Jimmy Heath John Halpin LA memorial Mike Henson New York News & Editorials Over-the-Rhine Peace Village poverty Prison Rally Reader Mail Rev. Maurice McCrackin Robert Bell Jr. Robert Mannassa Skid Row Street Life Theater veterans War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/3170e7ec2cb7269ef44508fc51cb3a6c.pdf d7bf0d39c6ceb0d0a798f903179fa960 PDF Text Text I \ . St Doaatio11 VREET ur Progressive News Souli BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONL DECEMBER 2002 ~ Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �I / / rv l}~i,~' ~ December 2002 Huntington Meadows: Low-income housing complex saga continues Real Estate Developer Offer Rejected Everyi!lmily within the 1, 165 unit Huntington Meadows housing complex was recently evicted to make way for a project that will house middle and upper-middle class people. The current plan calls for tearing down all 58 affordable apartment buildings on the 65 acre parcel and build new homes for people who are more wealthy. The Huntington Meadows complex was deemed uninhabitable by the previous owners citing abestos and other problems with the buildings, which resulted in the eventual mass eviction ofall the low­ income tenants. The leaky pipes and abestos problems at Huntington Meadows were fixable. Budget Real Estate has owned several properties similar to Huntington Meadows around the country. The offer they made to purchase the housing complex was comparable to another company's offer. The difference is that Budget Real Estate would keep Huntington Meadows as affordable housing. Jorge Newbery, Budget Real Estate representative, also stated that he could double his offer with no problem, but doubted that it would be becuase the City w:as attempting to block the property from being used for affordable housing. There is further documentation in terms ofthe offer and the capability of Budget Real Estate Inc. to handle such a project as Huntington Meadows. Budget Real Estate has already ~ purchased the CQunterpart to Huntington Meadows, located in Columbus, called Woodland Meadows. Jorge Newbery, of BudgetReal Estate wrote: Our visit to Cincinnati on September 19th was very enhghtening. After meeting with the Vtce Mayor Alicia Reese s office and the Community Development ChiefPeg Moertl, we discovered that the City ofCincinnati is intent on limiting the supply ofaffordable housing within the City limits, · which, in my experience, appears to be a policy contrary to just about eve1y major city in the US. The City seems to hope that Huntington Meadows is demolished completely and converted to townhomes and single1amily residences, which will attract higher-income families ·and reduce the "burden" that the Oty feels saddled with when poor people reside within its borders. Thus, the City has apparently impressed upon Fannie Mae that they want to see a developer who shares the City~· vision for Huntington Meadows to be the purchase1: Therefore, Fannie Mae is reportedly proceeding with another developet: Honestly, even if the other developer were to f alte1; I do not believe that Fannie Mae would sell to Budget or any other affordable housing developer, unless the City s stance were to change. who has a track record ofturning I was in Columbus, Ohio around troubled projects. [on} Friday October 19, touring For me, I personally would the Woodland Meadows _have preferred making the deal in Apartments, which, as you know Cincinnati. However, we do not were owned by the same group as Huntington Meadows and suffered feel we were doing business on a level playing field in terms ofhow a shockingly similar fate. We intend to pursue the acquisition of · our offer was being evaluated. Thus we felt that business-wise the Woodland Meadows, using the most logical choice was to }ind financing which we had lined up another project and Woodland for Huntington Meadows. Jn dire Meadows appears to fit that bill contrast to Cincinnati, the sellers and City [of Columbus] appear to well. I wish you and the City be welcoming to a new affordable luck, especially the low-income housing develope1; particularly one residents ofCincinnati, as the challenges ofbeing poor appear to be compounded by living in a city that does not want you. The Huntington Meadows complex was deemed uninhabitable by the previous owners citing abestos and other problems withthe buildings, which resulted in the eventual mass eviction ofall the low­ income tenants. The leaky pipes and abestos problems at Huntington Jimmy Heath photos Meadows were fixable. Homeless Man Dies After He Was Set on Fire in Springfield by John Cartwright Dennis R. Wade, 47, suffered severe third-degree bums over 80 percent ofhis body as he slept on the front porch ofan abandoned house on August 13, according to Springfield Police Chief David Walters. Wade died from his injuries after eight days in the hospital. Walters said that he believed that Dennis Wade was doused with gasoline or lighter fluid and then set afire by person or persons unknown at that time. The flames on Wade were extinguished before the Springfield, Ohio, Fire Department arrived on the scene. ~ Dennis Wade reportedly told paramedics at the scene, "I can't believe they set me on fire." His brother, Johnny Wade, told the Springfield News-Sun newspaper immediately after the incident that he didn't expect his brother to survive the third-degree burns over 80 percent ofhis body. Wade's brother held out little hope that his brother would survive, and Dennis Wade died on August 21. ''He has no skin. The damage· is. done. He is not going to make it," Johnny Wade said onAugust 14. Johnny said that he had been asked to sign a do-not-resuscitate order by the staffat Miami Valley Hospital. "That is the choice they are giving Springfield paper. "This burn is not me." He told the reporter. "I don't trying to kill you, it's putting you in want to lose him. I can't bury him. I misery.". can't afford it. I'll figure something Reprintedfrom the August out." 2002 issue ofCleve/ands Dennis Wade was reportedly Homeless Grapevine. John sleeping on the porch ofan Cartwright is a former volunteer abandoned house in Springfield with the Northeast Ohio Coalition because be had nowhere else to go. for the Homeless. Springfield Police ChiefWalters said Hate Crimes Against the that the incident is being treated as a Homeless homicide, and are investigating the Over the past several years, circumstance to see if it is connected advocates and homeless shelter to another suspicious fire on August workers from around the country 3, 2002. "I can see people doing a lot ofthings to people, but this ... bum is Cont. on page 3 mi.sery." Johnny Wade said to the Hate Crimes.... GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 2 The ''Giving'' Season by Jimmy Heath During the holiday season, we see the spirit ofgiving manifest itselfin many ways. Here at the Homeless Coalition office in Over­ the-Rhine people ask us how they can volunteer to help the homeless. Every year it's the same; as the holidays approach, the volunteers start to pour in. One homeless man who stopped by the office recently for a cup ofcoffee remarked, "who are these people [the volunteers] and where are they the rest ofthe year, during the summer, or in the dead ofwinter after the holidays?" His question was not lost on me. Don't get me wrong - I think that all volunteers are important. The volunteers learn first­ hand and·are able to spread the word to their community. They take what they have witnessed back to the suburbs. And they lend a helping hand during part ofthe busiest winter months. But a staff member at a local shelter told me that after the season of giving has passed it is all they can do to keep the shelter running, especially during the summer months, when donations drop drastically, and volunteers disappear. During the winter, especially holiday time, they are booked up solid with folks.who want to come in and "serve food to the homeless." She had a complaint about the type ofdonations they receive at the shelter - used underwear, tom coats, furniture that was headed for the dump, spoiled food. "They think because it'.,c; for looking for a way ·to spot the unworthy beggars, and they are asking me to tell them how to do it. It's hard to give a straight answer anyway because I don't like to tell people how to give. How we give is a decision that needs to be made by the individual and the circumstances. What I stress in my conversations is that the real point ofcharity is not in judging the recipient, or giving with strings attached. When we encounter people on the street, these are real opportunities for us. People cross our paths for different reasons and we should be open to the possiblities ofthese chance encounters. The money we give them doesn't matter. Sometimes there are expectations that reinforce stereotypes - that come with the giving ofgifts to the less fortunate. We expect that the money we give won't be used for "getting high", that the receiver of the gift will be eternally grateful ~d ev!n~ submissive and that somehow we can change this person's life with 50 cents or a dollar or a bowl _afs rtainly people need those things, u o deep is our commitment ­ how do these small acts of Jimmy Heath photo giving address the fOQt .­ was painful to watch as my CaySes?-HOW-are-We to rffake a disheveled friend in his tattered deeper, more sustainable impact in clothes and confused state struggled the way our society treats the less to put on the coat while self­ fortunate? consciously posing for the man's We need to continue our camera. I've often wondered what small acts ofcharity and giving at the became ofthat photo and what was it shelters and on the street. It begins used for. with our individual encounters with When I talk to people about the stranger on the street. And in my work there is always the giving with grace, without strings attached, because it is the right thing inevitable question as to whether we should be giving money to to do. One question to ask yourself panhandlers. I think that some is not how much, or to whom, but why. people who ask that question are the homeless, we should be grateful for anything. They clean out their garages and bring it over here instead ofto the garbage." This exploration ofgiving also extends outside ofthe shelters. There is a young man I know who has a mental illness and spends a lot ofhis time on a bench in Washington Park. A while back, I watched as he was approached by a man who wanted to give this friend a new coat - but first he wanted to snap his picture wearing the new clothing. It · Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary ..... donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $1. I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents ofeach dollar collected. 2. Streetvibes may onJy be purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in termination from the program. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt to vend after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other ven­ dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 7. I agree not to deceive the pubµc by saying that I am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I am collecting for the "homeless" in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale ofStreetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise misrepresenting is a violation of a.city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing papers, and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. I will not sell on private property without permission. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ supporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this effort, I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 3 North American Homeless Hate Crimes .... campus newspaper the Daily Trojan Cont. from page 1 News Digest (www.dailytrojan.com), the money byMolly Rhodes St. Alban'sEpiscopal Church in Southern California, has decided to take on the city ofEl Cajon rather than give up a Tent City on its property. The city wants the makeshiftencampment removed from the church parking lot, and is threatening to fine the church for various municipal code violations, according to the San Diego Union Tribune (signonsandiego.com). The church countered that there are no other places for the people livmg in the camp to go. The rector o.(St. Alban's, the Rev. John Conrad, approached the city council about the lack ofhomeless services in the area this summer, in response to which the council passed a non­ binding resolution to build two -­ shelters. Nothing has been done to create these shelters since then. 'The very moment there is alternative shelter, I will direct (the homeless) there," Conrad told the Union Tribune, "and physicallymove them myselfif! have to." Homeless peopleliving near UniversityofSouthern California will no longer get food through the recently defunct program·that had allowed USC students to use unused meal points at campus eateries to buy non-perishable food for local LOsAngeles shelters. Students who had formerly worked with the three­ year-old Feed with Flex program balked at the idea that USC's Hospitality Servjces, which runs the flexible meal point system, was trying to control how students spent their points, even ifit was on food for needy people. According to the on- Call for all Witnesses and video Tape ­ We need any and all witnesses who witnessed or video taped any of the arrests at the anti-war protest while President Bush was in Cincinnati .. Please contact: Brian Garry 236-4180 or by email at bgarry@fuse.net will now go to fund other Hospitality Services areas, such as overhead costs and keeping products in stock. Yet while LA-area homeless are losing a collegiate source offood, New Haven-area homeless are poised to gain one through local Yale University. According to the Yale Daily News (www.yaledailynews.com), the Yale College Council recently created the BringingReliefEvery Day program, or BRED, designed to give leftover dining hall food to the inhabitants ofa Tent City that has sprung up on New Haven Green next to campus. SophomoreLeila Rastegar beljeves giving the unused food to homeless people would be a better use for the food than to chuck it all away. The food will be picked up seven days a week by different meal programs throughoutthe city, incluclingtheYale Hunger and Homelessness Action . Project pantry and the Harmony Place CommunityCenter. Humanservices officials in Portland, ME, don't think they can carry on like they are much longer. Because the city offers the only homeless shelters and an emergency overflow plan in the state, their shelters are frequently filled to capacity with people who come from outside the city. City officials are lookingto other neighborhoods in the state to pick up some ofthe slack. The city'~ primary shelter has reached capacity 12 times since September, and the Preble Stteet Resource's soup kitchen has seen the number ofpeople it services every morning climb from 240 to morethan300. A one-night count ofthe homeless people this month in Edmonton, Canada, revealed there are more people living on the streets than in any other time in the city's history, according to · edmonton.cbc.ca. Although the exactfigures will not be released until the end ofNovember, the preliminary results from the work of almost 200 volunteers showed the greatest increase in the number of children who call the streets home. The total figure is expected to be more than 5,000. crimes/violence against homeless people, there is no systematic method ofcollecting and documenting such reports. Many ofthese violent acts have seen an alarming increase in go unpublisizedor unreported, making reports ofhomeless men, women and it difficult the true situation. Often, even children being killed, beaten, homeless people do not reportcrimes and harassed. In 1999, the National committed against thembecause of Coalition for the Homeless, along fear ofretaliation, mental illness, with its Civil Rights Work Group, a substance abuse, past incidents, or nationwide network ofcivil rights and frustration with police. homeless advocates, responded to The National Coalition for the this concern and produced the first Homeless is urging the Justice compilation ofhate crimes against the Department to maintain a database homeless. Cincinnati is one ofnine that addresses the issues ofviolence regional Civil Rights Organizing sites against the homeless population to in the U.S. better identify this growing trend. People who are forced to live The NCH is committed to creating and sleep on the streets are in the systemic and attitudinal changes extremely vulnerable situation, and necessary to end homelessness, but a the NCH feels that it is unacceptable major component ofthese changes that they are not protected by hate must include the societal guarantee of crime prevention laws. safety and protection and a Hate crimes are commonly commitment by lawmakers to combat called bias-motivated crimes, violent acts and hate crimes against referring to the prejuclice ofpartiality people who experience ·o fthe perpetrator against the victim's homelessness. Currently, there is no real or perceived grouping or federal criminal prohibition against circumstance. The National Coalition violent crimes directed at individuals for the Homeless (NCH) and the because oftheir housirig status. Cincinnati Regional Site relies on For more information visit news reports and homeless shelters the NCH website at around the country for the data and www.nationalhomeless.org, or call the documentation that it includes in the Greater Cincinnati Coalition its reports. Although the NCH acts for the Homeless, 421-7803 as the nationwide repository ofhate ~ationa1 f.fomeless Civil Rights Ol'ganizing Project (NHCROP) 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 hom~lesscivi lrights@yalioo.com f513) 421-7803 Presenting Our Volunteer Staff by Pat Mitchell, Volunteer Outreach Worker PatMitchell Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@J~no.com,.''· or write the Coalition office attn: SheetvibesLetters, I506 Elm Sheet Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 I'd like to introduce myself My name is Pat Mitchell and I am a volunteer outreach worker at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, working with Cheryl Ware. on the Speakers Bureau and Streetvibes program. I have worked here before, doing the same job. I left to work at a homeless shelter, so I am capable ofhelping our vendors with referrals for food, furniture and housing, or whatever they might need. Ifyou are in need ofsome assistance, please contact me. �STREETVIBES Decem·b er 2002 THERE ISA NEW#lIN TOWN!! "New Number I vendor"? Frederick told me; d1ping his orientation he could "easily sell 900 papers in a months time." I told him to do it, and lo and behold he did! Frederick said he had New Vendor, New observed a female selling papers to a Number 1!! gentleman on the street. After the transaction, Frederick asked the man by Cheryl Ware ifhe could see the paper. Unfortunately, it was a City Beat "Hey Cincinnati", there is a newspaper; which we all know is new Number 1 Vendor in town; his FREE!!!. Later Frederick name is Frederick Morris. Frederick encountered one ofour Streetvibes came to Cincinnati by way of vendors and observed her selling Chicago. He hopes to return to technique. He asked how many Chicago sometime next year. papers she had, and bought two of Fredrick came to the them. He suggested to her to try coalition October 7 and signed up to talking to her customers about the be a Streetvibes vendor. Who knew content ofthe paper. He also asked when he came in the door, that less .how he could become a vendor. She than one month later he would be our told him about the coalition and how OfPain and Fabulous Wealth by Martha Stephens Coming home one day from the trial ofLynn Watts, (see A Day Jn Court, page 16) who was acquitted, in the end, ofdisrupting a public meeting, I met up with two incidents that seemed curiously related to the day in court. · I made my way to the bus terminal, and near the Public Library I was approached by a woman asking for money. I attempted to turn away from her, but finally I could not. Her face was wracked with pain and severe fatigue. She needed $4.80, she said, to buy her infant grand-daughter a gallon ofsoy milk. The child is allergic to cow's milk, she said. This grandmother offorty-nine had come downtown to seek help from a certain agency, but help would be slow, she said. She tried to explain her difficulties. "I have not changed these clothes in three days," she said. She looked at me intently as if judging whether she could tell me such things or not. "I have no underwear on ..... I don' t have the money to wash things ... I need groceries ...." No one should_have to tell a stranger such things. I could go with her to buy the soy milk, she said, and she rolled up her sleeve to show me that she did not do drugs. I gave her the cash I had with me, about twenty dollars. For this modest sum she blessed me over and over again, and her face was a picture ofreliefand JOy. Such encounters are, of course, an everyday occurrence in Cincinnati- but surely they do not need to be. On the bus down Reading Road to Paddock I counted the riders: fifteen A:fiican-Americans, one white - myself; and I remembered that in court we had seen in the jury five white men and three white women, plus one woman who was black. I sat up front beside an elderly black rider who had a sticker on which said Help the Elderly: Vote Yes on Issue Six. Th1s woman had been to a meeting at Findlay Market led by Todd Portune, hoping to head offan attempt to de-fund senior centers in Mt. Auburn and Over-the-Rhine. "They're all some people have," she said. "Otherwise people just stay inside; they never leave their apartments. My own sister did that." This citizen had lived in Huntingdon Meadows, as it turned out. When the mass evictions came this summer, by most accounts the largest forced exodus we have had in this city, she had been away visiting in Georgia and had been phoned the news by her daughter. It seemed unbelievable, she said. She had been Page 4 to sign up. He then went down the · street and sold those two papers. He was offered $5. 00 each for the papers. On October 7.. he signed up here at the Hornless Coalition office, and the rest is history. By October 31 ", Frederick had sold 958 papers, making him our "NEW NUMBER 1, TOP SELLING VENDOR!!" When asked what his selling technique was, he said, "You first have io get the customer to smile." "Once you do that, you begin to talk to them about the articles in the paper." Frederick also talks about the organizations )isted on the back cover of Streetvibes, and encourages his customers to contact the coalition office to volunteer. Here at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless we offer incentives to our vendors to sell the paper. For every 300 papers they purchase, they will receive 50 fre papers the.following month. We also offer opportunities to earn free papers by volunteering to help out around the office, active participation in the Civil Right Work Group, or submitting stories, poems, etc for publication in ti Streetvibes. These free papers however do not count toward the 50 free. Other vendors who received free papers this month were Grady Cook 887 Earlene Moreland 507 William Johnson 420 Terrial Pratcher 343 Mary Ann B ravo 310 Congratulation to these and ALL of our vendors. citizens to be shot down in the content in Huntingdon Meadows; streets. If there were decent jobs at her place was good and in aliving wage, decent places to live, reasonable repair; it was hard to understand why she must leave. No decent prospects in life for all ofus, frightened young men would not need drugs in her building, she.said; to be tracked down by other upstairs there were "poor people," as she described them, but no drugs frightened young men ... down dark allies ofno return. or disorder. Many know better than I do She had found another -~==---apartment that she thought would be tnarsociety1tsetr-sho11\d-be-b.eJQ -.,._ responsible for all such deaths and all' all right, but many others had no unneeded suffering. The.death of place to go, she said, and no ~me knows today where they are. I don 't Timothy Thomas had been a theme in court that day, and ofcourse thiS--­ know much, but I know this - ai:d shoollng was a tragedy in and ofitself like many others, have known it a - this youngster was not even a long time- that this is not the way violent offender; but this death has for people to live ...not in a country also become a symbol for offabulous wealth. We don't need all the wrongs we see about us, on to be experts on economics; we need only to look around us, and we our ow.n streets, perhaps, within our own families; and we need symbols know that everything is wrong and that concentrate our anger, our fear, that things could be profoundly our sense ofthe unnecessary different from what they are. nightmares ofmodem life we see We do not need pain and every day in the half-ruined cities of poverty and mass eviction. We do not need unarmed the U.S. Dick, I'm sure it's your turn to do the dishes tonight. �STREETVIBES December 2002 Reader Hail Page 5 .~ Dear Streetvibes,· but, I'm not really ofa mind to go I just read your article. While running all over downtown to find a I do not advocate violence against · vendor.... This is, therefore, all in non-violent protesters, you must regard to the October issue. We would like to hear from you understand the anger ofthose ofus in I must say, I was delighted to - please address letters and the suburbs. This so-called boycott see your first story, the picketing of is ran by white-hating racists. Of SenatorDeWine's office. (October, comments to; course, the Lynch crowd will say that 2002, page 1) While the story Streetvibes, blacks cannot be racist. What a doesn't say so, l gather from the fact 1506 Elm Street, bunch ofcrap! that there were pickets that some Cincinnati Ohio 45202 The problem in the inner city people were not happy with his (or) email to: is the lack ofa two-parent family and governmental services. I was not too Streetvibes@iuno.com a violent rap culture. I heard a happy with what were his statistic on the radio that a black girl governmental services some time ago; Letters Challenge the is more likely to get pregnant than but, I would have looked rather small Protestors graduate high school. So, what white picketing alone. Mr.Heath, In regard to the editorial person made her do it? At the end ofyour column inquiry, comments about the boycott: While racism is a fact and a (Oktoberfest Draws Record problem (on both sides ofthe aisle), This may be one few people would Crowds, and Protestors Too, the black community would rather offer. I'm not originally from October, 2002, page 2) you asked blame whites than take personal Cincinnati; therefore, ~ don't think it is what we think about the boycott. responsibility and make something of my place to be telling the people From my point ofview the worst thing their lives. (natives) ofCincinnati what to do about the boycott is that nobody As long as black leaders about THEIR town. It is THEY who understands it. When the media asks continue to blame the white man and will have to live with what they "people on the street" about it, no one not advocate personal responsibility decide. can answer. I am sure the media can in the.black community, folks like me On page 3 you had an take part ofthe blame but the will not care! interesting feature c.alled "Homeless organizers need to work harder at Regards, Steve · News Digest" which I thought "nifty" education. Isn't there at least and something you should continue. someone in the media who could help Among other things, it said a inform everyone? The public's image Where are the Streetvibes homeless woman is running for office Vendors? ofthis has become one ofchaos and (either directly or indirectly) against disruption. A couple ofthoughts for you Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. Great I have tried to find out about to look over, answer, or whatever: idea. It should be duplicated, the boycott but haven't any more clue Could you not, with very little expanded or some such thing. about it than anyone else. What are effort, make sure there is a vendor There might be a couple of the exact goals? How do they regularly - like the first two days of more thoughts worth including here; the month or some such thing - at measure progress? Or lack ofit? but, this will take up enough space. What did they try before the boycott? certain pre-determined locations? Good issue. Hope you get the How much ofthe goals need to be Perhaps a half-dozen places already computer you want. met before they stop boycotting? frequently covered? Carolyn Meszaros Why did they pick the downtown? There was a person on a Merchants and festivals? What is the certain comer promptly at the first of editor responds; background ofthe problems that led every month for some time. Evidently In regards to your request to the situation they are upset about? the man managed to get a job, since for the placing ofvendors at a The questions could go on and on. .this month he was gone and no one predeterminedplace or time in the Thanks for taking time to read my replaced him until the 18th. I rather downtown area - we don 't manage concerns. like the newspaper and ifI can get territories for the vendors, we Jeff Hahn one I usually share it with a friend; leave it up to them to find their Support your local Street vibes Vendor! Know Your Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati's homeless and covers a person's basic rights when interacting with the police, as weU as some local •i ft · laws that might be of interest to the ~' homeless population. If you are a ~1.t homeless person or if you work ~ · with homeless people and would ·.· like to obtain free copies of the •, brochure for yourself or your agency, please call 421-7803, or stop by the Coalition office and pick '' one up. ff f Your vendor keeps 80 cents of every dollar..... own placesfor selling Streetvibes. It may difjic_ull to sometimesfind a vendor and we are always worhng on ways to make the paper available to as many people as possible. One way to get Streetvibes is through a subscription, which will be mailed directly to your home, or you can stop by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless office in Over-the-Rhine at 1506 Elm Street. Pea/see Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine also has Streetvibes available for purchase. Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own goodness and act onit. Pablo Casals . Through Gandhi and my own life experience, I have learned about nonviolence. I believe that human life is a very special gift from God, and that no one has a right to take that away in any ca use, however just. I am convinced that nonviolence is more powerful than violence. Cesar Chavez Write Usl We'd like to hear f r om you .... · ., Send letters or comments to: Street vibes@Juno.com, or write t he Coalition off ice attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 6 Exploring issues of Homlessness In Our Nation's Capitol Xavier University Urban Academic Service Learning Group Get Firsthand Experience.in Washington, DC ~o w wants fair housing and better, more Afghanistan and will be spent in Akiem. He moved to the U.S. do you learn first-hand from Korea 10 years ago. accessible human services so his Iraq. And I wonder how much about the struggles of life in an family can have a chance ofgetting money is spent for the poor? Although he speaks very broken inner-city community like Over­ It was very ironic that after off the street. Before I could ask English and has been homeless tbe-Rhine? Xavier University Nicholas more about him and his spending an entire day since he moved here, he is filled devoted to Professor Bill Daily believes that homeless awareness with other with hope and gratitude. He liv ing and working in a community, life on the stre,ets, he turned the conversation to 01e, where I go to Xavier students, my friend Jon and spends his time being thankful for and having discussions with com­ what he has, instead ofworrying munity leaders and neighbors, is the school, what I study and what I like I were eating dinner at an Indian restaurant. Shortly after receiving and dislike. By the ti01e he finished about what he does not have. It is best way to learn and help a com­ asking all about me, I had to go our food, a lady approached us funny that by our society's munity make positive strides. It is asking where the closest homeless materialistic standards, I have a Jot catch up with my group. a great opportunity too for· the shelter was. Strangely enough, our more than Akiem, but, on a deeper I feel as ifthat five-minute students who work as volunteers conversation lasted two seconds. I group just returned from the largest level, he has so much more than I helping several neighborhood non­ do. profits do their work. The students know that it will stay with me for a homeless shelter in Washington lifetime. And even ifNicholas While I am truly grateful for D.C. Even though we gave her the learn about life in the community never gets to share his story with directions and that she was from all of the work being done to and are able to spread the message the world, he shared a tiny fraction the area, she insisted that we take educate our society, I am infuriated about the positive work going on, her that homelessness exists! I am ofhis life with me .... and challenged to the shelter ourselves. Jon as well as enrich their own lives and I once again explained to her me to be a voice for the voiceless. learning more facts, hearing more through the experience. Xavier stories and seeing more faces of how to use the public transporta­ University's Urban Academic Unsettling Dichotomy tion system and how easy it would homelessness. I am finding myself Service Learning Group maintains by Zakariah Wernecke angry and speechless that in such a be to find the building. We com­ an apartment on Race Street in Washington D .C. is such an promised settling on taking her and rich country and in our nation's Over-the-Rhine where the students ironic city. You walk around as a her belongings to the Metro stop capital, homelessness is a make their home for a semester. In tourist and you see the Capital, the (where she needed to get on). I am monumental problem that many do October, nine of the Urban Aca­ White House, the Lincoln and demic Service.Learning Group sure that she fou.nd her way to the not even see. In a nation built on Jefferson Memorials, and the shelter. equality, we are taught that the students got the opportunity to Washington Monument (such homeless are the exception to the travel ·to Washington DC, with rule. We are taught to ignore them Streetvibes editor Jimmy Heath and 01assive and expensive structures). Infuriated and Inspired Then you contrast that experience by Danyce Saul · to the point where they have Dr. Bill Daily. The purpose of the by exploring other parts of the I just spent five days in - become invisible! trip was to compare and explore district and you start seeing the -Washington, D.C. leaming about In D.C. , I learned that we are issues ofhomelessness in our homelessness. I am left confused, homeless resting in alleyways, all part_of the problem, so we nation's capitol. Here are the overwhelmed, heartbroken, sitting on benches in parks, and should all be part of the solution. I reflections of three of the travel­ wrapped in blankets on the sides of infuriated and inspired. It is am left asking, what is my role in ers... inspiring to see so many people streets. What an unsettling di­ ending homelessness? It is such a Nicholas' Story motivated and dedicated to ending chotomy. It is so hard to justify huge task, so I need to start simple. by Katie Meyer how America as a nation can stand homelessness! It was incredible to I have begun to see people without When I was in Washingfon, hear stories from people who have for the ideals of freedom and homes as individuals. Like Akiem, DC a few weekends ago, I met a made it out of homelessness and democracy when it can not even each person has their own story, young man named Nicholas. who are spending their time their own lessons to teach. All it help the well being ofits own Nicholas is 27, intelligent, educating others about their people. How can such a country takes is looking each person in the charming,handso01e,and with such a visible homeless experiences. Formerly homeless, eye, learning their name and homeless. This blonde-haired, as well as people who are currently speaking with them to recognize proble01 fight in a war over seas blue-eyed firecracker sleeps on the homeless, 4ave so much wisdom to that they are just like me. They, when it has problems that it needs street with his mother and brother. to first address at home? Billions share with us. too, deserve to be treated with By 8:30PM on a cold Saturday While walking in a park, I met respect and dignity. and billions ofdollars were spent in night, the three of them are huddled together under heavy-duty blankets on top of the closest beat grate they can find. While other 20-somethings are out bar-hopping or theater-going or doing any other Saturday night activity, Nicholas is trying to get some sleep and t1ying to keep his mother safe and warn1. He graduated from high school in DC and never went to college. After his mother and father separated when he was about sixteen, it was all he could do to work his butt off to help support his mother and brother. The three of them have been in and out of run down apartments, around the. block with slum landlords, and more-or-less homeless since Nicholas was 19. I asked Nicholas if he stays in any shelters in DC. He rolled his eyes, flashed me a sarcastic smile and told mw, "The warlords that run the shelters are no better than Donald Whitehead, (center), Executive Director ofthe National Coalition for the Homeless, walks the halls people who are in prison." He ofCongress with Xavier University group. �ST R EETVIBES December 2002 · Wish List - Can You Help? Streetvibes newspaper is published.monthlKon a shoe-string budget from. the offices ofthe Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Can you help us with some of the following items'? Page 7 A Great Holiday Gift.... Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine Limited Edition Print o Electric Stapler - Heavy duty o Blank CD-RW ,l)isks - For Streetvifjes. o Supplies for Vendor's Loun~e (~apertowels, cream and sugar, snack's, etc.) ··· · Cleaning Supplies o Office Supplies - floppies, copier paper and otl1er o supplies Now available, 18" X 24" poster-size print: Washington Park,. Over-the-Rhine, Wlntt:r 1999. Each print is individually signed by photographer . Jimmy Heath. Purchase benefits the children's Literacy Through Photography program at Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine. Posters are $10 each, plus $3 for shipping. Send your order and check to: ' Area Company Makes Generous Offer to Streetvibes Vendors Edwards & Kelcey Holiday Hug­ toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hats A-Vendor Program Kicks Off and gloves. Gifts will be delivered by Cheryl Ware, Streetvibes Vendor and distributed the week before Coordinator Christmas. Peaslee Neighborhood Center One afternoon late in Thank you to Edwards & ' ,· Attn: Photography Program Kelcey, and every one else.who October our organization was 215 East Fourteenth Street have donatedJto the Coalition to contacted by a young lady stating help the homeless of Greater she and the company she worked Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Cincinnati all year long. In closing, for would like to buy gifts for the .._ or call (5! 3) 621-5514 for more information please allow me to remind you that Streetvibes newspaper vendors. She identified her selfas Sheri those in need, are in need year Johnson and the company was round, not just during the holidays. National Homeless Civil Rights Organ.izing So in a couple of months when the Edwards & Kelcey. Christmas gifts have lost their Each holiday season Project (NHCROP) luster, and the batteries are dead, Edwards·& Kelcey chooses an -1506 Elm Street organization to help out during the and you are ready to pitch items Cincinnati, OH 45202 holidays. We are blessed and you have lost interest in, stop and this year they chose the if someone else could use or thankful think homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.com benefit from it and donate it to your Greater Cincinnati Coalition for (513) 421-7803 favorite charity. the Homeless and the Streetvibes vendors. Edward & Kelsey is lo­ cated on Fair Lane, with a staff of approximately 30 people. Thirty people, with generous hearts wiWng to give to strangers to make sure they (our vendors) have something for Christmas. Sheri Johnson, spokesperson for the firm stated in the past they have do­ nated to an Over-the-Rhine church and a residential home for AIDS patients. Vendors who are actively selling the newspaper, and support­ ing Streetvibes and the coalition have been selected to receive the necessities they need for the holidays. .Many need what we take for granted everyday; personal care items, long johns, blankets a1;1d food. I was surprised the requests were minimal, many vendors asked for very littJe. They simply need the bare necessities. They do not need name brand, "Right now I'd settle_for some Homeland Job Securitv." high-end expensive items, merely ____________________________________________ �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 8 Sell Cleveland to Settle Ohio's $4 Billion Deficit Dispatch from Cleveland Cleveland Homeless Grapevine by Brian Davis Ohioans have heard the projections for a $4 billion deficit by the end ofthe next fiscal year, and we have not heard very many credible solutions. As a public service, The Homeless Grapevine newspaper has come up with a solution: Sell Cuyahoga and surrounding cou_nties to Michigan for $5 billion. We have recently sent a letter to Michigan governor John Engler asking what steps we would need to take to initiate this change within the political boundaries. Michigan is the best state to buy Northeast Ohio because they are familiar with having a non­ contiguous geography. Lake County has a couple offine lighthouses, and Michigan is the the greatest hardship, with the state state with the Jargest number of budget balanced on the backs of lighthouses. Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the poor people. world and wquld only be The truth is that those of us augmented by Cuyahoga and Lake in Northeast Ohio have more in Counties. Michigan has some common with Michigan than we do wonderful city names including with Ohio. We are much more Bad Axe, Eden, Hell, Paradise, socially responsible than our strip Podunk, and Slapneck. Best of all, mining friends ofSouthern Ohio. it is iliegal in Michigan to kill a dog We are a union friendly environment, as is Michigan. We do using a decompression chamber. not understand how the state house The reality is that we face was hijacked by rural farmers and declining tax revenue in Ohio, in used car salesmen who don't give a part because in years past our crap about poverty. legislature gave surplus money Ohio has a larger population, back to taxpayers instead of but only 68% of the population own building the capital and infrastructure needed. The Ohio homes. Michigan has a 73% legislature is terrified ofthe words homeownership rate. With only 175 "tax increase," and has a court. people per square mile versus mandated I.O.U. to the schools. In overcrowded Ohio's 277 people per square mile, there is much more 2002, Ohio solved its deficit problem by raiding one-time-only space in Michigan for our homeless pools of funds (tob~cco settlement, population. Michigan had more housing starts in 2000 compared to rainy day fund, welfare surplus, Ohio despite their smaller etc.) When they go to the population, again benefiting our cupboard this year, however, they will find it bare. We anticipate that homeless population. We would move to a state poor and homeless people will face Local Schizophrenia/Schizo-affective Research Study * Financial Compensation * 45 years and over * Symptoµis of depression * 13 visits (513) 861-3100 ext 4187 or toll free (888) 267-7873 ext 4187 that does not have the death penalty, treats its welfare recipients with a little more respect, and does not have the problem of routinely allowing federal dollars to bypass the state. We are proposing that Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Medina Counties become the lower peninsula ofMicliigan. We anticipate beginning a petition drive to put this on the ballot in March, well before the end of the Ohio fiscal year. The Ohio legislators tell us that .we need to treat the Ohio budget more like our personal budgets and cut when times are tough. This is ~ctually not how the real world works. When times are tough we not only cut our expenses, but we get second jobs and have a garage sale. Since it is unlikely our legislators will get second jobs to raise $4 billion, we will need to stage the largest garage sale in history: we' ll sell Cleveland. Reprinted from the August 2002 issue ofClevelard's Homeless Grapevine. The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks loeations for their generous donation of coffee and pastries: 11379 Montgomery Road (513) 469-1111 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park (513) 533-3402 7896 Montgomery Road (513) 891- 7740 "May we borrow your credit card? We 're having trouble meeting the ayroll this week." �Page 9 STREETVIBES D ecember 2002 1Bienvenidos! by Samantha Broclifield vivienda perrnanente, los servicios medicos, los servicios sociales, los lugares donde Ud. puede obtener comida, y los servicios de salud mental. Nosotros creemos que es importante que Ud. sepa cuales son sus derechos civiles como p.trsona sin hogar. Tenemos folletos que los explican. Nos gustaria que Ud. nos visitara algun dia para que le podamos dar servicios mejores. Para reunirse con La Coalicion: 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 www.cinci.com/ gcch Ahora Streetvibes esta dedicando una pagina .a su comunidad. Este es el peri6dico escrito para crea.r una conciencia de las personas sin hogar, la injusticia social, y la pobreza en nuestra cuidad. Es la hora que se oye la voz de usted. lHa pasado algo emocionante en su vida recientemente? l Tiene Ud. unas ideas que quiere publicar? lHa escrito algun tipo de poesia? Streetvibes quiere publicar sus historias, su poesia, su prosa, y sus pensarnientos. Hay personas que Para ayuda, llame- Su Casa pueden ayudarle a escribir y Ministerio Hispano preparar todo para redactarlo. (513) 761-1588 Tarnbien, Ud. puede ser un 115 W. Seymour Ave vendedor de Streetvibes y ganar Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 dinero. La Coalici6n de Greater Cincinnati provee el peri6dico San Damiano House- Los para las personas sin hogar en -Hermanos de Las Personas Pobres Over-the-Rhine. El meta de la (513)241-8585 coalici6n es elirninar la situaci6n de 923 Bank St personas sin hogar, con respeto a la Cincinnati, Ohio dignidad y diversidad de sus 45214. miembros, las personas sin hogar, y Tambien, hay una lista de lugares (para el refugio, la vivienda, el la comunidad. La Coalicion y sus miembros pueden darle a usted lo tratamiento medical, y otros siguiente: el refugio de emergencia, servicios) en la ultima pagina del peri6dico. las habitaciones provisionales, la Peaslee Neighborhood Center Presents A Holiday Concert and Boutique Saturday, December 14, 2002 at 3:00 P.M. At St. Francis Seraph Church, 1615 Vine Street (NW corner o.f Liberty & Vine Streets-Over-the­ Rhine) Featuring The Over- the-Rhine Youth Steel Drum Band The Peaslee Piano Players The Mallet Music Makers And Peaslee Poets A $5 or Affordable Donation Appreciated Be sure to visit the "boutique" fable before and after the concert for crafts and other items for holiday gift-giving! Call 621-5514 For More Information The Music Programs at Peaslee Neighborhood Center are funded in part by The City of Cincinnati. The Ohio Arts Council. The Keyboard Club and The Fine Arts Fund. Extra! Extra! Advertise in Streetvibes! Reach thousands of downtown workers each month! Call 421-7803 for more information about how advertising in Streetvibes will work Jor your business_ We Can Be Proud! ,Judge MARK PAINTER Ohio Court of Appeals The Most-Published Hamilton County Judge Ever! Our own Judge Mark Painter has reached a milestone­ 250 of his decisions have been published nationally. He is the most~published Hamilton County judge ever, and one of the most-published Ohio judges in history. Judge Painter has: • Served on the Court of Appeals for seven years, after 13 years on Municipal Court. His opinions have been recognized as legal precedent more than 2000 times-­ in cases, textbooks, and encyclopedias. • Written 52 articles on appellate practice, sentencing, DUI, contempt, and legal ethics. He writes a monthly column on legal writing for Ohio Lawye!S Weekly. • Taught 85 seminars for judges, lawyers, and police officers, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at U.C. • Authored the textbook Ohio DUI Law, now in its 12th edition. His other book. The Legal Writer: 30 Rules for the Art of Legal Writing, was published in June. www.Judgepainter.org f>•.id for by The Judge Painter CoMtnlttee, Greg Ruehtmann. Chair, 312 Walnut. St., Clndnnatl Volunteef:, · Opportunities at the Greater Cincinnati for Coalition .. the Homeless .... ... There are numerous opportunities for volunteers at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. We are willing to work wJth each individual in choosing a service opportunity that is right for them. The foJJowing are a few of the areas in which the Coalition could use your help: Desi'gning a web .site for .o ur National Civil Rights Organizing Project. This would include working with two Americorp Vista volunteers on how to prevent further criminalization ofl1omeless individuals as well as preventing the increasing hate crimes against them. To enhance our Streetvibes program, we are searching for volunteers to s~licit advertisements from local businesses. lf your business or a business you know o£would like to advertise in our paper, we offer very cornpetiti-~e rates for ads that .reach about 15,000 people per ·· _month! t>ur dream volunteer would be a self-motivated volunteer that would like to fundraise for our organization. This could include asking your friends and family for donations to researching anckwriting g rants for our excellent progn1ms. The Streehlibes newspaper project is always in need ofpeople interested in writing articles on social justice/poverty issues. We need help in the afternoons at the front desk, an~wering phones and handling tran~actions with our Streetvibes Vendors. This person will address the needs ofvisitors, having direct contact with homeless individuals and should.be available one afternoon a week. There is always a need for help with bulk mailings. For Streetvibes, .there are monthly mailings. Other mailings include the annual report, quarterly newsletter, and various capitol campaigns. lf you are interested in volunteering at th~ Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, please contact the office at 4~ 1-7803 , or visit us at 1506 Elm Street in Over-the­ Rhine. �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 10 The-Peace Village The City Faces New Cha~lenges .in the Peace Process by Dr. Steve Sunderland councilpersons, and the mayor calling for _a cooling off period, a chance to My musings earlier last month reevaluate, and, a moving forward on got interrupted by a set of explosions the spirit ofthe agreement while in the peace process in Cincinnati. getting to know Dr. Kalmanoffand As many ofyou know, Cincinnati his staff. My letter and another one signed a peace treaty a few months were printed in our local newspaper, ago with its police, city government, "The Enquirer," and there has been the Black United Front, and, the no further news about either Dr. American Civil Liberties Union. The Kalmanoff, a meeting between all of treaty calls for implementation of a the parties, and/or any actions by the police-community agreement to both judge. problem solve and supervise What I have learned from this is relationships between police and another lesson in how difficult it is to citizen groups. All ofthese polices move into the substance ofpeace were to be supervised by a work. The signing ofthe agreement "monitor," eitherjointlyagreed upon occurred only because ofa by the parties or settled upon by the compromise by the City concerning Federal judge ifthe parties could not 'the payment ofthe plaintiffs lawyers' reach agreement. Following two fees. Now, the appointment ofthe extensions to permit the parties to supervisor ofthe peace process has reach agreement that were been placed in jeopardy for reasons unsuccessful, the judgefinally decided not all together clear. Developing a last month on Dr.Alan Kalmanoff, mutual and connected peace process University ofCalifornia Jaw professor ofall ofthe parties, including the and a team ofcriminal justice experts. police and the community groups, . Dr. Kalmanoff seems as difficult came to town, a step to achieve "The attitude ofthe city's met with the as anything. The mayor and the peace process, I leaders revealed such a council, suggested am learning, hostility to peace with that he needed requires a period Kalmanoff that little more time to see ofpeace work just how much where discussions seemedpossible... " time would be about issues in needed for full implementation, even conflicts, requires efforts and a time suggested that the extent ofhis work to make peaceful and trusting might even depend upon compliance relationships, and, most importantly, ofthe parties, and, le.ft town. The requires an attitude ofpeace, ifpeace arrival ofhis bill for 3 weeks work is to have a chance ofgrowing in the has been met with a firestorm of overheated and violated ground on protest by our mayor and the city which we all stand. I had the feeling council, charging Dr. Kalmanoff with that I had.lost this last point as the listing so many "horrors" as to month's actions seem to overwhelm endanger the agreement and the any thought that Dr. Kalmaiioffcould credibility ofthe council. So, in one be a positive force for peace in our ofthe..few unanimous actions in city. The attitude ofthe city's leaders recent history, the council and the revealed such a hostility to peac~ with mayor voted to immediately terminate Kalmanoff that little seemeCI possible. his contract and not pay his bill. Only the restoration ofsome other The immediate response ofthe perspectives by the Black l.::Tnited other parties were to accuse the city Front andACLU's spokespersons, council and mayor ofacting without seemed to change some ofthe consultation and inappropriately since climate. (ed note: Dr. Kalmanoff the agreement calls for all four parties has since resigned as monitor in to meet and discuss any problems. the federal settlement.) Dr. Kalmanoff has indicated he will The cross-burning and gay not continue to work unless he is bashing that took place surrounding paid. Thejudge has remained silent. Miami University had some important As many of news this week. you know, I have Four high "school "Dr. Kalmanoff has . been involved teens were 'indicated he will not with the police­ charged with the community continue to work unless cross-burning. conflict even Why these he is paid. The judge has before the riots of students.did these remainedsilent... " April, 2001, as actions is to be part ofthe ARIA explored and process to work on racial profiling. I whether they were connected to the continued to be involved after the hate email aimed at gays and lesbians, agreement was signed as chair ofthe is still to be determined. I am sure Citizens United for a Fair Settlement. that team members in Oxford, Ohio, I worked all week to get letters have more information and will give written to the judge, the us reports as they learn more going through our fear, through our information. distrust ofgovernment's·actions, These events go into the focal, through our anger at the regional and national news that adds incompetence ofour Democratic numbing fo our post-9/11 events and leaders, and going toward a spirt ofa feelings. Tcannot remember a time tender-hearted peace movement. when so many terroristic and Not to say this this would be easy or irrational events have seemed to avoiding tough issues. Ray spoke come at the same time. Making eloquently ofhis process ofbecoming sense ofsue}). events, even ifthere is a conscientious objector in WWII no conceivable connection, is a and how difficult it was to reach that daunting task, as each day brings a decision. I asked him about whether new story ofh.o rror. I feel that this he had ariy regrets, especially since recognition ofthe social numbing, so many ofEuropean Jews and accompanied by new assaults, may others were exterminated and even offer us some ofour most important more would have died ifthe allies had work as a Peace Village in the not stopped Htler's war machine. coming weeks and months. Ray did not hesitate with his tough Attending an answer: "The interfaith group, Peace-seekers, "/continued to feel that atrocities"could have driven me to chaired by Rev. tenderness was also suicide, but not to RayWoodruff . the military." made me smile needed, a kind of with wonder as a tenderness that could be "What an unusual statement of group came together to speak defined, built upon, and strength," I ofpeace, amidst expanded as a source of thought to myself Others suggested the storm ofall of resistance and as a that we look, too, our recent events. teachingfor a society · into Gandhi's It is too easy to tough non-violent minimize the that could turn to stances, and, of importance of productive acts of course, Martin such groups, cartng... " Luther King's especially when we have to deal approaches. with what seems like a call to the We continued to talk ofwhat might be needed in a peace president and congress for a more aggressive stance toward Iraq. Yet, I movement for today, with our complexities making it important that feel that the president has altered his we not lose sight ofthe horror facing plans for attack since the peace many people, both here and in other movement organized so many statements ofcaution, and resistance. parts ofthe world. I continued to feel that tenderness was also needed, a Who would have thought we would kind oftenderness that could be have seen the UN Security Council debate and vote just two months ago defined, built upon, and expanded as a source ofresistance and as a and/or to see the new Powell teaching for a society that could tum doctrine being implemented? The to productive acts ofcaring. Team peace movement, whatever we are, can take some credit for keeping the member Jane Yolen's two books on the holocaust war out ofthe were in my mind Middle East and, "Ifeel that this as I reflected on perhaps, other places in the recognition ofthe social how we can construct a peace world. We spoke numbing, accompanied movement that did at our little by new assaults, may not lose it's heart. meeting ofmany ofthe topics of I offer us some ofour most thought ofthe door in"The the day, agreed to important work as a Devil's meet again, and Peace VU/age in the Aritlunetic," that even sang a version of"God theyoung girl coming weeks and Bless America" walks out of, . months..." going from her with new lyrics by Monica and Ray comfortable l 990's Passover service, to the · Woodruff. ("God bless the whole streets ofa Polish village, in the early wide world, planet we love! Stand 1940s, about to be captured by the and guide us, through beside us, war's nigh to the light, filled with love. Nazis. In a powerful way, September 11 has been such a door FromAmerica, toAfghanistan, or to for me, as I find .myselfin a world that Tokyo, or to Rome, God guide us, everyone, tq make earth home! God with all, everywhere, .to make earth P('.ace Village.... home!") (Watch out Seegar family!) Cont. on page 13 I sensed that this meeting was . �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 11 The Grea er Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless cordially invites yOu to attend their Annual Dinner "Many Missions, One Heart" Saturday, Dece1 mber 14, 2002 6:30pm Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church Kathy Wilson of CityBeat, Keynote Speaker Silent Auction , Split-the-Pot Raffle, Dinner, Fun To Be Added to the Guest List, Please send $15 Payable to: Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Ho~eless ..... 1506 Elm Street ­ Cincinnati, OH 45202 . . • Consider Sponsoring Dinner for a Homeless Individual-for a $15 donation or Have Your Company Sponsor A Table for $120 " . Please Call Brendan Goodwin at 513.421 .7803 with any questions �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 12 Home Free: the Short, Happy Life of Tyrone Douglas Lewis by Davida G Breier Earlier this year my mother was reeling from another disastrous visit with my long-lost sister. We've been attempting to build a relationship for three years, with nothing more than a shaky foundation of blood relations. My mother was nearly broken from the attempts. She had seen a man standing around in Aberdeeµ, obviously homeless. He never begged, but he was visible on the highway and in the park behind the library. It was the start of a hot summer that would boast days upon days of temperature~ exceeding 90 degrees. The man, who was dressed in multiple layers of clothing, was noticeably suffering in the heat. She brought him some clean clothes, hoping this might help, but he simply added them to the layers. Concerned for his wellbeing, she began to stop and see him regularly, giving him cold drinks and a little cash here and there so he could get what he wanted from the convenience store. Then one day she decided to make a plate offood for him lild took it to him down at the park. He had been scared and shy around her, but this simple acknowledgement that he was hungry opened a door. He hadn't had food regularly until she started to bring him..dinner. They began to talk more and more. She would bring him at least one meal, sometimes two, snacks, and cold drinks. She'd continue to try and get him to take some of the layers offby bringing him new clothes, but they were either added to the huge duftle he .carried or tucked inside his jacket where he carried Photo Views Fountain Square, Downtown Cincinnati... Photo by Anthony Dent his soda and water bottles. He only asked for one thing : a small transistor radio. He would listen to it all the time, often playing classical music. She would learn his name was Tyrone, that he was from Connecticut, and that he was still suffering from gunshot wounds inflicted when he was asleep in his sleeping bag. At a distance Tyrone could appear imposing, standing over six feet tall and made bulkier by the multiple layers of clothes. He always wore a hooded jacket and knit cap pulled tight around his face. He had a dark complexion, and between that and his hood of his jacket, there were times his face was all but impossible to see. My mother looked straight past the exterior and saw a hungry, terrified man w ho needed both help and friendship. The Aberdeen police, three cops in particular, started harassing him. They chased him from place to place around town, threatening to arrest him if he didn't move on. The temperature was in the high 90s, and it was obvious he was both sick and suffering mental problems. My mother, who was in ·contact with a shelter in the next county, offered to drive him to a new location where he could be safe. They, like so many of the agencies she contacted, were a dead end. He disappeared over the Fourth ofJuly weekend. My mother was frantic. It took some doing but he was tracked down at the Harford County Detention Center. His crime: littering. When the police chased him from the small, seldom-used public park behind t~e library he was forced to leave behind the blanket my mother had given him. The police, eager to "get rid of the problem," charged him with littering and slapped a $50 fine on him that he obviously couldn't pay. They issued a warrant and arrested him. We arranged for him to be released into my mother's custody. This was July 9, 2002. Not knowing what el$e to do, she moved him into our home. I am going to admit there was some resistance to this arrangement, but she was detennined, no matter what, to help this man. In the weeks following his absorption into our home they became good friends. It became apparent he was autistic, with other unknown medical and physical problems. It turned out he loved watching movies as much as she did, so they frequently rented videos or went into Bel Air to catch a matinee. She told me he would often clap at the end of the movies. He liked Wesley Snipes action movies, as well as Robert Altman films. The more she got to know him, the more she saw he was like a child. He was a very gentle man. Sensing that my mother was having trouble crossing a high bridge (one of her fears), he offered to hold her hand. On another occasion he made her stop the car so he could place an inch worm on the ground where it would be safe. At the flea market one morning I caught him playing in a rain puddle. They were both survivors of childhood abuse. For Tyrone this meant an overriding fear of people. He would barricade his door and windows at night. My mother gave him a key for the bedroom door, so he could feel safe at night. He was afraid or shy around the rest of us, so we didn't get a chance to know him like she did. . He' d have good days and he' d have bad days. He loved my mother 's van and he'd often ask to go for a ride. She took him to a nearby state park and he said it was the most beautiful place he had ever seen. On other days he would hide in.the room, refusing to come out. He would often rock or tremor when. he was scared or nervous. ·He was ashamed ofthis and tried to hide it as much as he could. We realize now he probably had a seizure disorder, which is common in people with autism. It was obvious he needed to see a doctor but he refused. Far from being one-sided, their friendship helped my mother as well as Tyrone. In recent weeks my mother had taken a great deal of ribbing because she had begun to cook huge meals for him. None of us had ever seen her cook like this before. He didn't bat an eye when he found out he had been eating as a vegetarian for months. Tyrone told her he was in care of some kind as a child, state or·foster - it was never made clear. Recently he told her that this was the happiest he could remember being since he was a child. He bad never stayed at a motel until last month when she took him with her to an antique show in Virginia. He apparently had never had anyone care for him like this. She'd try to do a little something to make him happy each day, even if it was a simple little gift, and she did. They often spent the evenings watching movies in his bedroom. Last night my mother and I went out for a few hours, to spend a little time together. When we arrived home about 10:30 p.m. she knocked on his door, but there was no reply. Ifhe was having a bad day this wasn't unusual. She . came into my bedroom to talk to me about the situation. She feared his mental health was getting worse lately. He hadn 't wanted to leave the room for several days. She decided to get the other skeleton key and open the door. It looked like he was asleep on the bed. He didn't respond. He was cold to the touch. We called 911. The paramedics, who arrived a few m.inutes later, said he had been dead for abqut six to eight hours. They remembered picking_him up over the winter and taking him to the hospital. He had been living in a vacant lot, wrapped in three sleeping bags, exposed to the elements, and lying in his own waste. Though he refused treatment the first time, the second time he was unconscious and they were able to take him to the hospital. Tyrone had massive sores all over his body, and he had somehow interpreted these sores to be gunshot wounds. He spent months recovering in the hospital, explained the paramedic, wi.th an injury to his Achilles tendon so bad that he was left with a permanent limp. The paramedic was especially nice. The state trooper and coroner arrived next. Both were very compassionate. The coroner even started crying when she heard the whole story. She said it was the first time this had ever happened on a call. We have so many unanswered questions. His background is still a mystery. It is �STREETVIBES December 2002 · unknown how long he was on the streets and what aJI had happened to him. He was 47 years old, but his body appeared much older. His death may have been caused or mitigated by the heat, or from any one of many health problems. He said he wasn't feeling well, but he never said what was wrong or that he thought it was serious. It is also likely he was hiding how sick he was, so he didn't have to leave or go to the hospital. If my mother hadn't taken him in, it is likely he would have died on the street. His unclaimed, unknown body would have been donated to science, something this fearful, shy, modest man would have abhorred . We will have him cremated. He will be remembered. Most ofthe questions will remain - joined by sorrow. Last night about 4 a.m. my mother asked me to write about Tyrone. She wanted people to know who Tyrone was. She wanted people to stop and consider the person under the plastic tarp, 7 layers of clothing, or cardboard box. She is angry and mournful that Tyrone and people like him are invisible in our society. Most importantly, she wants people to know that this tragedy could have been avoided if someone had ·seen Tyrone and helped him sooner. Last week I gave a speech where I credited my mother with teaching me compassion. I think she could teach all of us a thing or two on the subject. Davida G Breier lives in Maryland. In Memory of Tyrone Douglas Lewis Peace Village.... Cont. from page 10 has little connection to the world just before the planes were . crashed. For many of us, at least as recorded jn so many posters, there has been a heart breaking experience of looking at the here and now as one serious act of terror after another, with the door opening even wider to show us the anthrax realities, the pressure of a "homeland defense, "the snjper, the war in Afghanistan, and the continuation of the war propaganda. Where is there room for tenderness, for acts of service that suggest a solidarity with the human condition that has been deeply violated, and, with others, perhaps many, who seek a non- Streetvib~s Page 13 In peace, shalom, salaam, vrede, military set of actions that are kiss to those who are wondering if grounded in the kind of affection our efforts really will make any Tubman .... so readily apparent in the many difference in the larger peace Dr. Steve Sunderland, effort. Choosing to "kiss" the activities ofthe Winton Place professor ofSocial Work at the figure of peace in our work, opens Youth Center, the Open House University ofCincinnati, is the efforts, the work of Doctors us to the chance to see the deeper Director ofthe Peace Village, possibilities for a kind of peace Without Borders, the work of a group ofindividuals from those in Nigeria for the orphanage that may not be ever obtained. the national and international for both Islamic and Christian Yet, we go on, one poster after community committed to another, one peace effort of youth, and in so many activities of examining all issues for peace friends working to understand the youth and adults continuing to in the world. Dr. Sunderland work in service? I feel that the efforts ofconscientious objection, also heads up Posters for one act of bringing respect to making of the posters is an act of Peace which engages people tenderness, a simple and gentle elders now in threatened symbol of some emotion that can be shared, within a group, and find by irrational expressing costs and respect, meaning,and support for their the questions of how to go dangers, one visions of act of through this door that has been peace, in operung our opened to us. Jane's book their own door to the describes the journey of someone words, orphans1 to going through the horror of the through Hplocaust as a young person, a the battered, the to the youth who grows up seeing ·creation prejudiced, horror replaced with individual ofposters. and to the acts of caring, before the forces of evil suffocate these acts and not isolated. of tenderness. Our the memory efforts within the Peace Village are also through this door, asking each of us what we can do, now, to make our time, a time. of young adults are invited to learn Peaslee Neighborhood Center, construction of the Peace Village 215 Bast 14th Street> hosts lots · basic photography skills through for all. Some of my old friend$ are coming back with some of arts opportunities for adults introd~ctory co,urses provided at strategies for making and children to learn skills Peaslee. Call the Center for organizations that might be such as playing a steel drum or class schedtiles. contributing to a kind of peace piano, photography, mafing that is not false, with justice, and, mosaic art, or writing. Any Wdting - :Any young person in without overriding fear, and resident of Over-the-Rhine or the Greater Cincinnati area may continual victimization. I am the West Enu is welcome! All submit poems and/or articles yia happy to reconnect with these email for publication :in sessions are FREE, including great thinkers and designers and ins~ction and materials. No Streetvibes. Content should be look forward to sharing their previous artistic experience related.to homelessness, ~ocial work, Lew, Al, Harry, Mel, Bill, necessary. Contact Brenda Z. · justice, or poverty-related Ron, Nurete, David, and others, issues. at 621-5514 for more with the Peace Village. Just as I want to hear more from Namaah's information. important work with the Reform Call For New Arts Advisory Jewish high school in Israel, OTR Steel prum Band -Learn Committee Me~bers! -The Emmanual's serious work with Arts Advisory Committee is how to play the steel drums in Jos, Nigeria, Tamara and Maria looking for representatives from an introductory series for and Lisette's important work in adults. Parents may bring their the neighborhood and the arts the Netherlands, and, the ongoing childien (age 9 and up) to·learn and business communify. -This work with the ·homeless ofJimmy, committee helps to formulate "together if they like. and the efforts of Steve to the direction and development Participants will learn steel connect, tenderly, the children of ofPeaslee's arts programs. dnuntechtrique,rhytlnns, and the affluent of Cincinnati with how to read music. those in greatest need. Looking For New Sta.f f - · We are through the door, friends, and as Thich Nhat Hahn Community Mosaic Art Peaslee is also looking for new ' reminds us, we are mindful of for the piano Project - Community members music instructors each step toward and in peace. are corrling together to make and the mallets program. This is There is a moment in Jane Yolen 's mosaic art for.the Over-the.. a wonderful opportunity to get "Briar Rose," when the "dead" Rhine neighborhood. The involved in teaching music in a Jewish girl, gassed and thrown in organizers ate looking for ideas fun and rew¥ding setting. a pile of bodies, is brought back to for the next project. 'Forward ' Anyone mterested in any of Life, through mouth to mouth your ideas to Brenda Z. these opportunities, contact breathing, a kiss, by a member of Brenda Z. at Pe«!islee, 215 East the resistance. It is another door Photography- Over-the-Rhine 14th'Street, Ov~r-the-Rhine, to think about as we go on with 621-5514._ and West End teenagers and our work, as we try and offer a ART, MUSIC, AND WRITING OPRORTUNITIES.! exists as a forum for the expression ofthe views and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBE S Decem ber 2002 Art&Poetry Christmas Eve, 2001: 6. For the Travelers by Mike Henson 1. A Fall of Snow Outside my window, a crisp, silent snow, the first in this strange season. The kitchen light flares against the glass and I cannot see the snow, but moments ago I stood in the yard. Snow curtained the woods beyond the yard. Cold snow touched its·fingers to my cheek. The frosted grass cracked beneath my shoes. Deep in the woods, the deer shook out their coats, bent at the knees, and settled like Benedictines into their cold beds. 2. Poverty and Birth This is the season when we honor poverty and birth, when we tell a story of the homeless and the cold, small people hustled out onto the roads by the whim ofthe powerful. Tiberius Enron. This is an old, old story. 3. Sick at Heart Day by day, the television flares with images of a ruining world and children huddle in the rubl;?le of a half dozen nations, George Bush, dutiful son, conjures gifts for the Magi. We stumble through the portals of a brutal new century and I am sick at heart. And so, I have turned at this late hour to the silence ofthis fall of snow. 4. Midnight Mass When I was a child this was the hour when we bundled together for Midnight Mass. The church was crowded, pew by pew. I sat beside my father and we sang together, hymns to the plaster child in his bower of pine. 5. A Sign Sometimes I think Herod found his Jesus. Caesar bought him and brought him t6 Rome and left us with the painted plaster baby in the creche. But still the Innocents are slaughtered. So maybe that1s a sign. Ifyou want to find the Exile look to the. roads. A midnight car turns at the bend in the road . Fugit ive lights spider across the kitchen wall - quickly!­ and pass away. For the travelers We keep our tree lights burning and a line oflights along the fence. Page 14 This is a hard, hard story. ' To think that a child is born to be pierced hands and feet to die naked on a hill. I would like to think that this is a story of redemption. I would like to think that God erupts in every womb. 11. Journeys The hours scroll toward morning. I must rest. What I hope to feel at dawn is hope, 7. In the Woods that this solstice dark will bend to the light. The woods behind my house And perhaps there is reason for hope. are silent Even now, dark and gravid a woman of the Pushtun leads a mule as the inside of a womb. From my kitchen to the manger of a refugee station. And even now, you would think that all is still. But this is the winter wait. a girl of the South Bronx In each gray bud pulls back the blanket I hear to look once more a dim cellular tick, at the child in her arms. leafand flower cramp and coil. Hope walks hobbled. Pulsing Hope has the stony path. · in the doe, Hope is crossed the raccoon sow, by the shadow ofthe Kalashnikov. The Holy Families ofthe poor the pocketed opossum I see: still trek the cold Gallilean hills. the pale zygotic lights of their young. I do not hope for much of hope. But there is everywhere, 8. The Hard Births of the Poor in spite of all, defiant Too many are born hungry. inexplicable amid all that centurion clatter. Too m~y are born cold. Too many are born to the chatter of guns. and the smoke and clutter of war Too many are born who will not live out the the persistent human impulse. year. Again and again Too many are born under a chemical haze. the angel carries Too many are born who will never see a school. the word to the womb and there is birth. Too many are born to be beaten. Too many are born on the wrong side of a 12. And in the Morning border. Too many are born who will know too much. Snow still pitters against my window. Too many are born after ten straight days of ram. A few more minutes Too many are ~om and where wiJl we get the and I will go to seek a restless sleep. money for the medicine? We cannot know what.marches toward the hard new Bethlehems Too many are born and the blood is infected and I fear for those I love from the moment it is and all who fall into the pat h . · blood. of the pinstripe Herods. Too many are born who will not sing. But the old story tells us . . 9. Those I Love compassion survives in the mangers of the poor. So ifl want a blessing Those I love most closely in the morning lie asleep. If I go to the door I will go to see I can hear them breathe. outlined in snow the pallets of the bedded deer. Some I love are far off, spread like the drift of snow across a continent. And I cannot hear them at all. by Ron English Song ofPrayer 10. What is the Story? for God's Wisdom for sorrow of sin ­ _ of damnation, I ponder the story we tell each year: The angel speaks. for brother's peace and the virgin conceives. dream of sister A star blazes in the sky. Hope for Love and Respect The world is in awe Because ofFaith, at God in a stall. and Worship of Speech Then, poverty, exile, slaughter ­ and freedom of God's Creation �Art& Poetry STREETVIBES December 2002 The Day Before Xmas by Ron Carter It was the day before Xmas at the Progressive Day Car; Center, it was good and cold ' after all, it was winter. With Kirn in her kerchief ' and her children ·taking a nap, Also, with Vanessa holding, a child on her lap. I was monitoring the hall, As kool as I could be ' and just wondering when, this day would end for me. About that time, Diane came by, ~nd said Ron, it won't be long, m an hour and a half ' I'll be gone. Those words were close to my heart, because I knew time was getting short. Betty and Rebecca were busy with their infants ' trying to stop them from crying, and they were loud, and I am not lying. SNAKE Irregular Ode to Man by J M Pleasant Everyday, five times each day, on the fifth hour in the evening, I languidly climb these seven steps ofmy stoop --everyday. Each time, I slip on the fifth step and spiral down, my chin cracking on the seventh -every time. My upper and lower teeth rip through my lazy tongue, then collide into each other, shattering themselves into enamely shards. I smile at the kids and kiss the wife, with my bastard mouth overflowing thick, soft blood. Tanya and Sylvia were catching it too, so many toddlers, until they didn't know what to do. The ladies were trying to get them in order, but al they wanted was some water. .P age 15 Let me tell you about this girl named Sweet and Petite From heavens above you would by Gary Lehmann think A soldier's eyes slam open She is a precious gift. interrupting the dead ofnight But in reality, she makes me sick. like a bayonet in the belly. See, in her mind, she says she's a witch. Ancient fears, forgotten features. But down on earth we know her as His lady brings him wat~r. a trick. "It'll be all right now, honey." Like fire and thunder, she often makes em wonder. You know, like Stevie Wond~r Calling herself Queen Bee But in reality she lied to me. She's the devil's child, running wild makes herself an angel to light You know, smooth, like Dolomite. But it's out of date, she's always late Or, her name might be Gail, she'll put You in living hell. Post with no bail. Darkness by D-Von Sanders There is darkness on the surface of the deep But is the darkness really bad Because with light comes life then death and emotions She's too fat, she might break her Ofpain and suffering, for the things you've never had back. So is the darkness really bad? Thinks she goes lovey-dovey, We was born in darkness she'atell-o-tubby ofthewomb She'IJ cut you up with her eyes. Of our Mother Earth, and we wilJ · You got a date with cake and can't return be late. · to Darkness Until the dawn of our new birth No, in reality, she's just a snake. Thinking that her heart is made of So is the darkness really bad? No I don't think so steel. Because in the Darkness there is That girl needs to chill before peace somebody breaks her grill. From Heaven above and Hell She's bad for your health. Get that poison·off your chest and below leave her to rest. Shutter Speed by Jimmy Heath So Kim said let them all get a swallow, or two becau~e in one more hour this day is done, you can befieve ' it has been no fun. ' Well, as you know, my name is Ron, · ·and I wrote this little story for your delight, it all cam to me last night. Now, l know this story was written too soon because Xmas is still weeks away. But when we do get to that day, I hope it's a Merry One, OK? Dedicated t o the ladies that work at the Progressive Day Care Center in North Fairmount. Zieg/e~ Park Pool Soldiers Song Over-the-Rhine .. �STREETVIBES December 2002 News & Editorial Page 16 district, and had had my first meal A Day in Court downtown in many months. by Martha Stephens When I arrived at the court in mid-morning, a jury was still being impanelled, and a large group ofpeople milled about in the hallway outside the room. The scene had very much the look of an important trial. I had come as an observer, but people were easy to talk to, and I was able to learn something about them for this report. By 11:45 the jury was complete, but the court was adjourning for lunch. The defendant came out and joined her friends in the corridor. Her name is Lynn Watts. She is a slender, dark­ skinned woman of forty-two, a resident of a community on the outskirts of Cincinnati, the Village of Evendale. What crime was she being tried for - and why was this crime of so much interest to people? In a meeting of the city council of Evendale on May 2, 2002, Watts had persisted in speaking beyond the ninety-second limit imposed on that occasion by the Mayor. She had been escorted out by the police, arrested, and charged with "disrupting a lawful meeting.:' The story of this council meeting - the events leading up to it, its early adjournment by the Mayor, and its alleged disruption ­ would unfold in plenteous detail that afternoon in court. The trial of Lynn Watts would explore the limits of citiZens' rights to speak out and confront the authorities, to be angry at the authorities - rights which seem more and more fragile in a time when order and policing and the security of the homeland have become the ruling ideas. the Watts family have two boys, fourteen and eleven, and this trial would have a bitter subtext. An infamous Cincinnati event, the death of an unarmed young black man, Timothy Thomas, his shooting by Officer Stephen Roach, would not often be directly referred to in court, but that event would fo1m the impassioned backdrop of the proceedings. Court would reconvene, we were told, at 1:45, and people drifted away for lunch. I walked over to a nearby eatery, ordered a sandwich, looked over my new copy of Streetvibes, and went to work on some notes on the case. Later 1 realized I had completely forgotten about another reflex of the death of Timothy Thomas, the boycott of the central business under the First Amendment, Citizens, but ninety seconds. The wrote Mezibov in his briefs on Mayor had anticipated trouble at this meeting and had met that the case. If public bodies The intense interactions morning with his police establish a space for political among the supp01ters of Lynn Watts, their closeness and their department. A plan had been made speech, the guidelines for this racial mix, had seemed encouraging for speakers to be taken away if speech must be "reasonable." ­ they exceeded a limit ofninety "It is simply absurd to believe," that morning. I had counted seconds; but that such speakers he wrote, "that ninety seconds sixteen whites; ten other citizens would be arrested, the Mayor said, offers ample time for anyone - a were African-Americans like the had not been specifically agreed to. citizen or a politician - to defendant. It seemed curious to me that so many would-leave their A cable company was filming this meaningfully address political jobs to be present all day in court. of Council, only the meeting issues at a public forum." Indeed, they all came back second such meeting to be aired, At 3:30 in court that day, and lawyer Mezibov's contention the next day; and the evening the jury was sent home, but the was that the Mayor did not wish before the trial, a much larger Judge then heard two motions the residents to witness on t. v. a group had staged a silent vigil in from the defense: one to dismiss the Evendale amphitheater. the case, and the other to acquit long line of people attacking his actions regarding Officer Roach the defendant for lack of evidence The courtroom of and had expected to find a pretext to support the charge. We heard Municipal Judge David Stockdale, these motions explained by for canceling the meeting. on the first floor of the Hamilton Mezibov 's associate, John Lynn Watts bad been tbe County Courthouse, is small; it has first to speak on the evening of Feldmeier, and court was seats for only about thirty people, May 2. She had begun with adjourned. and so it was a close squeeze to get cursory remarks about the The next morning the everyone in. No one is allowed to recreation department, where she is Evendale citizens were back in stand, and I had a quick warning a volunteer, but had proceeded their hallway. At 11 :00 all were allowed to re-enter the from the bailiff when I attempted to with harsh, angry attacks on the Mayor's actions. When she was courtroom, and again the room rise in a corner of the room to of the council watch the video taken away for refusing to cease was filled. The Judge read his and desist after ninety seconds, the ruling on the two motions of the meeting in question. The defense of Watts was defense. One of these he second speaker rose, Watts' conducted most skillfully, most husband, as it happened, and he too rejected, and he did not dismiss carefully, it seemed to me, and I did fired fierce challenges at the Mayor the case, but then came a not know at first that I was and attempted to speak on after surprise: he was ruling to acquit watching the work of a well-known ninety seconds. the defendant. Emotional sounds criminal defense attorney, Marc It was at this point that the rose up from the onlookers and from the defendant, and there was Mezibov. The prosecutor, a young Mayor disbanded the meeting, and a general air of celebration. woman named Deborah Casey, it was at this intersection of events The attorneys caucused that Marc Mezibov inserted in was also well-prepared, tightly with the Watts family in the focused on her precise logarithm of court his most pointed attack on the charge against Lynn Watts. The corridor, and the witnesses they questions for Mayor Douglas Lohmeier. Lohmeier's questioning meeting had not been ended by her had not needed to call, and in lasted for several hours; he was the personal testimony; it had time I had a brief exchange with Marc Mezibov. Had he ever had proceeded through another only witness called by the state, a case like this before? No, no, and at the end of his testimony, the speaker, and thus the meeting had he said quickly, not like this. I not been disrupted by her. The state rested its case. said I had Mayor had wanted to disarm this The video of the May 2 intended just to look in on this meeting had oeen shown, and we political speech against him, it was trial, but had found it strangely argued, and had not wished to find had learned that sixteen members compelling. I am no expert on a way that night for conducting his of the Concerned Citizens of Evendale had signed up before the normal business. Mayor Lohmeier law, I told Mezibov, yet somehow I seem to end up writing on legal conceded, on the stand, that he meeting to speak on the return of affairs. "Everything is legal," he could have moved the Items of Officer Stephen Roach to the said - ')ust as everything is Citizens to the end of the program, Evendale streets. After the death after other matters had been political," and I felt I knew what of Thomas, Roach had been hired by Evendale, over serious attended to. he meant. Political speech is protected objections from citizens, but he had been assigned to a desk job Martha Stephens is a writer and a retired professor ofEnglish. Her most following a report by the City of recent book appeared last March and is available in stores and libraries: Cincinnati that he had lied about The Treatment: the Story of Those Who Died in the Cincinnati why he had fired that night. Radiation Tests. 0 .c a. The citizens who appeared .c .,; to speak on May 2 had been r angered at the opening of the meeting by two surprise announcements by Mayor Lohmeier: that Roach was already being returned to the streets, without further consultation with the citizens, and that the speakers would have, not the three minutes Martha Stephens generally allotted for Items from 0 Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe views and opinions of our readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBES December 2002 News & Editorial Page 17 quickly; For the Senate the word is http://www.senate.state.oh.us/ of a very important event. It's simply "Senators," likewise for an Of course that's not all of been 99 years since man got off the alphabetical listing and some means the government. It IS enough to ground in what is called "manned to find one quickly. keep someone exploring for several flight" and someone interested in On to the states! For some background can find it at: hours ifhe/she is not familiar with by Carolyn Messaros frequent users, especially iflooking it, so SOME counties and cities http://www.aviationtrailinc.org/ and of special interest to the black will be listed some other time. In anywhere in the country, there's It 's called "The Information also a tip, below. the meantime: communities around the site (item Highway! " or, more commonly, the Tip for frequent users: # 2) leads to some information on Everyone should know Internet or Web. The days have people accustomed to going back about "Urban Legends." For those Paul L . Dunbar, the famous poet. come when almost anyone can get and forth with the back button A good many people know who have never found a source or on the information highway to find might find it handy to access the want another: http:// that there are homeless people's out things both important and newspapers around the country and site for Kentucky listed below as www.snopes.com/ (it is "the" nonsensical. one!). they have a national "umbrella" on the home page there is a link It seemed sensible to nicely marked "Other Web Sites" in Foreign news is important group (a site to be posted another provide some websites that people which there is a link marked "Other these days. The British time, possibly along with other might save for further reference. State Legislatures" which brings up Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is national organizations); but, not This is not so much with the everyone knows there is also an a U.S. map that connects to other a good source: http:// expectation of people sending (or state legislatures. news.bbc.co.uk/ should get one INTERnational group: http:// getting an answer!) by email. It's www.street-papers.com/ (and don't Otherwise, it's suggested there, although the web address more of a list to see what may be miss "dash" in "street-papers" !). that anyone somewhere else go one might find is longer and more "going on" somewhere or what's through the trouble of typing in complex. If copying it down, make They have postings, etc. , frorri claimed here or there. sure what's put is "co" not "com." around the world. The official their own state [something like: Some of these will government > state> (name of There are a number of good name is International Network of (logically) be repeated from time to state)] and find their own state sites for E-cards; this is just one if Street Newspapers. time; since they would seem to information. one needs some pretty nice Lastly, in case someone have some permanent value and didn't read the masthead of INDIANA postcards to send to friends and things do get lost.. .. Hoosierland does not lead others: http://bowcreek.com/ (that Streetvibes, http://cinci.com/gcch Another "great" election is the Greater Cincinnati Homeless someone directly to their "House" is, if one needs one or some in a time is over. Some "old" people Coalition's offerings on the web. It or " Senate," although it has both. hurrry! will have been voted out of office. Neither does it lead one to any December starts a year-long doesn't hurt to look in sometime to Some new people will take office, committees, although it seems rememberance in southwest Ohio see what's going on there. sit on committees, propose to unlikely there would be absolutely advise constituents on matters, and nothing equivalent somewhere. so forth. Government comes first What it does do is lead someone to and of that, the federal comes first. the political faction membership of U.S. House of Represen tatives: each branch of the legislature. http ://www.house.gov/ Possibly the best someone U.S. Senate: can do is locate their particular http://www.senate.gov/ representative or senator (or the Committees and sub­ one in the next district over) and committees are of major "explore" personally from there. importance since any legislation One can skip the state main page has to go through the committees. and go to the link below and click Both the U.S. House of on "legislators." Representatives and the U.S. Indiana General Assembly: http:// Senate have committees and sub­ www.in.gov/legislative/ cormuittees and both their names KENTUCKY and the names of the people who The Commonwealth calls it sit on them are listed different the Kentucky Legislature and it places. Be it committee or conveniently presents Committees, legislator, the various pages also Senate, and House of have different set-ups. Representatives one right after the So, in a search bar, for, other ifyou click on "Organization firstly, committees and sub­ & Administration" at the link committees, type in the appropriate below. Although the web link below, then: For the U.S. addresses are longer, frequent 'users m--+---+-'-'-""-¥---k..:._,_,__....M..-"'---~'---'--------...........--"""-'"--~----il.1 House of Representatives ofKentucky information might (Congressmen) click on want to list each part separately. "Committee Offices," then on one Again, one can skip the state main or the other of tb.e various pages. committees - somewhere in there Kentucky Legislature: http:// you should find committee www.lrc.state.ky. us/home.htm membership and sub-committees as omo well as other worthwhile Ohio likewise calls it a information; General Assembly, and again one For the U.S. Senate the can skip " official site," etc., and the first click word is simply governor's picture. One can also "Committees," then one picks one skip the confusing page marked from the Senate list of committees General Assembly and go directly to click on; and, again somewhere to the House of Representatives or in there one should find committee the Ohio Senate where both membership and sub-committees as members and committees are listed well as other worthwhile for each, however, one has to information. choose which way to "view" (that To get the websites of the is, by name, by district, or legislators themselves, use the whatever). same links: For the Ohio House of For the House of Representatives: Representatives click on "Member http://www.house.state.oh.us/ Offices" for an alphabetical listing For the Ohio Senate: and some means to find one A WORLD OF WEBSITES! �STREETVIBES December 2002 Page 18 Police Efforts Lead to Arrests of Homeless " I by Al Baker, NY Times Arrests of homeless people for offenses ranging from minor violations to felonies have sharply increased in the last month, reflecting a shift in the city's policy of dealing with what many h~ve labeled a rapidly growing homeless population. The arrest tally is, in part, a result of increased police attention to traditional homeless encampments and to complaints about homeless people violating public nuisance laws, police officials said. With the number of homeless people appearing to be on the rise, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said last month that such a conclusion was based more on perception than reality. But he later conceded that there probably were more homeless people and that the city has been pressed to find ways to move them off the str~ts. About a month ag~, the Police Department merged two units assigned to homeless outreach and assigned more officers to it. The merged unit has 80 officers, compared with about 50 in the separate units. But advocates for the homeless and others say that rather than trying to encourage the homeless to go to shelters, or to take them there forcibly in cold weather, the police have pursued a policy of making arrests. That has drawn an objection from the New York Civil Liberties Union. While officials in the Bloomberg administration and the Police Department acknowledged that there has been a sharp increase in the number of homeless people being arrested, they said the department's policy continues to be focused on outreach. "There is no question that the mayor and the police commissioner want more aggressive handling of homeless people in the streets and that's what is happening," said an aide to Mayor Bloomberg. "But there is no directive from City Hall to lock them up." Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said in an interview yesterday that the il'l:crease in arrests is a byproduct of more frequent interactions between homeless people and the police in the refashioned Homeless Outreach Unit, which now works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "I know our arrests are up,'.' Mr. Kelly said, "but our arrests are up because we have a lot more contacts and the contacts are up." Tlie latest statistics provided by -the police show that 580 homeless people were arrested for crimes and violations in the one-month period ending Nov. 11 , up from 499 in the previous month, a 16.2 percent increase. Of those, the total arrests directly attributed to police officers assigned to provide assistance to homeless people jumped to 172 from 142, a 21.1 percent increase. In nearly the same period, the police reported more than 30,000 arrests citywide. In the comparable month last year, 288 homeless people were arrested. Just 28 of those arrests were directly attributed to outreach efforts. Officials noted that the city was still reeling from the Sept. 11 attacks and that homeless enforcement had not been a priority. Michael P. O'Looney, Mr. Kelly's chief spokesman, pointed out that the number of contacts officers have made with homeless people has grown sharply, to 4,180 between Oct. 11 and Nov. 11 of this year, from 450 in the same period a year ago. Those contacts have resulted in more trips to intake and health facilities for the homeless, city officials said. Neither the city nor groups Vendor: 80 cents Printing and Production : 20 cents that advocate on behalf of homeless people keep a tally of the number of transient homeless people living on the city's streets, so it is difficult to say with certainty whether that population is rising, declining or holding steady. Over the last few years, the number of homeless people in · the city's shelters has surpassed records set in the 1980's and early l 990's, but it is believed that thousands of people shun the official shelter system. Police officials and other analysts have said that the homeless are more visible now because of the displacement that occurred on Sept. 11. Many qomeless people lost footholds in subterranean passages beneath the World Trade Center. Also, as the poli9e began patrolling beneath bridges and beside waterways for security reasons, they disturbed camps where homeless people lived, forcing them into public view. Still, some employees of the Police Department with firsthand knowledge of the Homeless Outreach Unit called the latest efforts misguided. "They want arrest numbers; it is that simple," one said. "They are discouraging services to be offered to the homeless. They are encouraging mass arrests. They want to try to change attitudes. They want to get the homeless to think twice about where they are going to put down roots." The arrests have drawn an objection from the New York Civil Liberties Union. The new approach is "selective law enforcement," said Donna _ Lieberman, the organization's executive director, who requested a meeting with Commissioner Kelly or his staff in a recent letter. "Being homeless isn't a crime, but what is a crime·is the policy of arresting people for being homeless," Ms. Lieberman said. Ms. Lieberman said the numbers of arrests belie the claim by the police that the increases are just a byproduct of more contacts. In the letter, she described how the organization was informed that officers were ordered to single out homeless people for arrests even if others who were not homeless were engaged in the same low-level 'criminal activity, such as being in a city park after closing time. Mr. Kelly said he had not yet seen the letter, but he said the iss':le was important and part of Mayor Bloomberg's effort to improve the city's quality of life by cracking down on noise, panhandling and other nuisances. "This is part of it," the police commissioner said. "We are committed to it." Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati , Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Where Your Dollar ·Goes The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cos t so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. Write Usl We'd like to hear from you .... 1~ Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 �Page 19 ;T REETVIBES December 2002 PRACNews Digest rhe weekly Food Research and \.ction Center (FRAC) News )igest highlights what's new on mnger, nutrition and poverty ssues at FRAC, at the U.S. )epartment ofAgriculture, iround the network of national, ;tate and local anti-poverty and mti-hunger organizations, and n the media. FOOD STAMP PARTICIPATION CNCREASES IN AUGUST ?002; IS 2.7 MILLION PERSONS ffiGHER THAN £N AUGUST 2000 Participation in the Food Stamp Program in August 2002 (the latest :lata available) increased by 353,483 persons from the previous month, to 19,696,785 persons, according to FRAC's analysis of preliminary data from USDA. The August 2002 level of Food Stamp Program participation represented a rise of more than 1.9 million persons compared to the August 2001 level, and of about 2.7 million persons compared to August, 2000. It was, on tbe other hand, more than 1.8 minion persons lower than the level five years earlier, in August 1997. Increases in participation in 2001 and 2002 likely have been driven by improved access to the program in a growing number of states, and by the weakened economy. http:l/www.frac. orglhtmllnews!fspl 02aug.html STUDY SHOWS THAT FOOD STAMPS BUFFER THE RISK OF FOOD INSECURITY (Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, October 2002) About one-third of the current and former TANF recipients in Illinois had difficulty feeding their families, according to the first two annual illinois Families Study surveys (in 1999-2000 and 2001). This proportion stayed the same between the two surveys despite drops in TANF and food stamp use over the time period. Also, the increased demand for emergency food assistance and other forms of informal support indicate a possible trend towards growing food insecurity in the future. The study found that families who consistently receive food stamps have reduced risk of food insecurity, while the loss of benefits may increase food insecurity. The report concluded that the Food Stamp Program can have a powerful impact on f arnilies making the transition from TANF to work. http://www.northwestem.edu/iprl researchlfoodinsecurity.pdf fAdobePDF) SENATE l)ESIGNATES DAY IN NOVEMBER FOR HUNGER AWARENESS (Senate Resolution, October 15, 2002) Senate Resolution 341, passed on October 15th, designates November 21, 2002 as "Feed America Thursday." The resolution notes that there are 33 million Americans who lack adequate food. The resolution, introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and others, hopes to build on the spirit ofThanksgiviilg and calls on Americans to give up two meals on that day and donate to anti-hunger charities the money they would have spent. http://thom.as.loc.gov/ (Type "S.R.S. 341" in search box.) SURVEY FINDS MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION FOOD INSECURE CALIFORNIA ADULTS (San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, November 4, 2002) The California Health Information Survey, conducted by researchers from the University of California, finds that more than 2.24 million low-income adults in the state cannot always afford food and that one in three (658,000) of these adults experiences hunger. The high cost of living in the state has made the situation so bad that families are forced to choose between paying rent, utilities and medical bills or eating. Only 10 percent of the 4.9 million Californian adults who are eligible for the Food Stamp Program participate. The researchers suggest streamlining the application process for food stamps and eliminating the practice of fingerprinting applicants, which discourages many applications. http ://www. chis. ucla.edu/ ST. LOUIS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOOD (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO, October 29, 2002) Operation Food Search, an anti­ hunger organization in St. Louis, helps host classes that teach children in local schools as well as low-income adults about healthy eating and food budgeting. The· classes are part of Share Our Strength's nationwide program, known as Operation Frontline, that dqtws chefs, nutritionists, and volunteers to provide the tools to make healthy and affordable food choices. The goal is to promote long-term solutions to hunger. Emergency food assistance providers in the St. Louis area are dealing with increased demand. http://makeashorterlink.com/ ?CJB731E52 FOOD BANKS IN MASSACHUSETTS SEE RISE IN DEMAND (Hampshire Gazette, Northhampton, MA, November 2, 2002) More than 400,000 people have visited food pantries in Massachusetts <?Ver the last year, many of them working poor. With food donations dropping and demand for emergency assistance rising, the boxes of food handed to needy people are getting lighter, according to food bank officials.> http://www.gazettenet.com/ 11022002/newsll474.htm IN omo, DEMAND INCREASES WHILE DONATIONS DROP (Toledo Blade, Toledo, Ohio, October 31, 2002) The Martin ·Luther King )r. Kitchen for the Poor in Toledo is currently having its toughest year out of 33 years of service. Attendance has swelled to 300-a-day from 200-a­ day four years ago as people are leaving TANF and losing food stamp benefits. http://www. toledoblade.com!appsl pbcs.dlll article?AID=2002JJ0310064 NUMBER OF HOMELESS AND HUNGRY PEOPLE INCREASES IN INDIANA (Star Press, Muncie, IN, November 1, 2002) High unemployment has resulted in record demand for rescue shelters and emergency food assistance in Muncie, Indiana. At the Muncie Mission, the shelter is full and people are sleeping on floors; "[i]t is the first time in 17 years that we had so many people," according to the mission's director.> http ://www.thestarpress.com/tsp/ news/loca/102/novl 11 OJ homelessnews.php INCREASED ·FOOD STAMP USE BOOSTS ECONOMY (Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL, November 3, 2002) The nationwide increase in Food Stamp Program participation over the past two years reflects the slowing economy. With an increase in food stamp users, "grocery stores sell more food, and farmers produce more food," says USDA Undersecretary Eric Bost. "That pumps more money, of course, into the economy." http:l/www.orlandosentinel.com/ news/nationworldlorl­ asecfoodstamps03110302nov03. story MORE PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOD STAMPS iN omo (WCPO-TV Channel 9, Cincinnati, OH, October 25, 2002) Food pantries in Ohio and surrounding-states are experiencing a huge increase in demand and hope to spread the word that many working poor individuals and families are still eligible for food stamps. Enrollment in the program has dropped in recent years because many people do not realize that they are eligible despite having earnings. http://wcpo.com/news/2002/local/ 10125/food. html REPORT: POOREST FAMILIES GET FEWER BENEFITS, INCLUDING FOOD STAMPS (Institute for Women's Policy Research, October 29> 2002) This report finds that children in extreme poverty (family incomes below 50 percent of federal poverty line) are living in deeper poverty in 2000 than they were in 1996. Cash assistance, health insurance, and food stamp programs that previously helped these children now are not as effective at reaching children in extreme poverty. The percentage of childr~n living in extreme poverty who are not receiving benefits increased by 32 percent for school-aged children and 44 percent for young children by the year2000. http://www.iwpr.org/pdf/d451.pdf (Adobe PDF) OIDOPROGMM SUBSIDIZES INTERNET ACCESS FOR BENEFITS (Federal Computer Week, October 25, 2002) Public housing residents in Indiana and Michigan are receiving free internet access and subsidized computers through a for-profit program called the Community Technology Network Project. One of the goals of the project is to help residents while at home to communicate with government agencies that provide food stamps, TANF and Medicaid. http://wwwjcw.com/geb/articles/ 200211021/web-ctnp-10-25-02.asp �--- -Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the .Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veteran~) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 ·£):••• Cineifl6fftf· CA.?alttiol) ; . 'fhe W~etJN·I I' Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith 471-1100 Hospitality Lighthouse Youth Center · 861-1111 (Teens) St. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTR Housing Net. ReSTOC Tender Mercies Tom Geiger House 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 381-1171 639-7056 961-4555 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 751-3260 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6660 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Food bank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (F:ood Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center . 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2002 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. 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 2002 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Huntington Meadows: Low-Income Housing Complex Saga Continues Homeless Man Dies After He Was Set on Fire in Springfield Pg 2: The “Giving” Season Pg 3: North American homeless News Digest Pg 4: There is a New #1 in Town!! Of Pain and Fabulous Wealth Pg 5: Reader Mail Pg 6: Exploring Issues of Homelessness in our Nation’s Capitol Pg 7: Area Company Makes Generous Offer to Streetvibes Vendors Pg 8: Sell Cleveland to Settle Ohio’s $4 Billion Deficit Pg 9: ¡Bienvenidos! Pg 10: The Peace Village Pg 11: Annual Dinner Pg 12: Home Free: The Short, Happy Life of Tyrone Douglas Lewis Pg 13: Peace Village Continued Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: News & Editorial Pg 17: A World of Websites! Pg 18: Police Efforts Lead to Arrests of Homeless Pg 19: FRAC News Digest 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 2020 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Brendan Goodwin Pat Mitchell Mary Taylor Cheryl Ware Jimmy Heath Brian Davis Ron English Brian Garry Mike Henson Carolyn Messaros Molly Rhodes Martha Stephens Dr. Steve Sunderland Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Arrests Arts & Poetry Bienvenidos Brendan Goodwin Brian Davis Brian Garry Carolyn Messaros Cheryl Ware Court Dr. Steve Sunderland FRAC Georgine Getty Jimmy Heath Martha Stephens Mary Taylor Mike Henson Molly Rhodes News & Editorials Pat Mitchell Peace Village Police prisoners news Ron English Street Life Tyrone Douglas Lewis Websites https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/493e5fb3c2228ac4b8b433e4ad6eb931.pdf 44874afe6fe2f8349e44a9b763d534d6 PDF Text Text St Do. ~lion • .ree v1 es Your Progres~ive News Source BUY FROM BADGED VENDORS ONLy January 2003 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �es ree -----------January 2003 ... Annual Homeless Memorial Remembers Those Who Have Died Advocates and Friends Gather -in .Over-the-Rhine's Washington Park As the sun set on one of the shortest days of the year, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless held a homeless memorial, December 20, in Over­ the-Rhine's Washington Park in downtown Cincinnati. Each year since 1990, the National Coalition for the Homeless has sponsored a National Homeless Person's Memorial Day to bring attention to the tragedy of homelessness, and to remember our homeless friends who have died. Over 100 community groups and service providers from around the country held memorial services to remember those who have died without homes. As darkness began to fall, a group of30 plus people gathered around a burning barrel fire to remember the homeless and formerly homeless individuals who passed away in 2002. Huddled around the smoking barrel fire for warmth, those present took pause to listen to a litany of names and remembered those that society has forgotten. Homeless Memorial Day is a nationally recognized event, traditionally held on December 21 , the shortest day of the year. Oftentimes homeless individuals pass away with no one to remember or mom them. Homeless Memorial Day seeks to remedy that by gathering family members; shelter workers, and concerned citizens together to quietly remember. Held every year on or near the winter solstice, Homeless Memorial Day brings homeless advocates and concerned citizens together to bring awareness to the hazards of living outdoors. Advocates place emphasis on the need for affordable hous~ng, a true living wage for all, access to substance abuse treatment and the need for transitional programs. In an attempt to put a human face on these problems the annual Homeless Memorial serves as a reminder of the countless who die needlessly every year in this country. In 2001, there were 202 known deaths of people without homes in Eastern Massachusetts arid Boston. In Indianapolis last year, nearly 400 people gathered together, including the Mayor and Indiana Governor Frank O 'Bannon. San Francisco has been holding a memorial service for 17 years - the longest running service in the country. Last year, 75 homeless people were remembered in that city. This year, a list of 14 names was read ofdeceased men and women and a candle was lit for each person who died in Cincinnati. People shared their memories ofthe individuals and prayer.s to end homelessness and memorial songs were sung. The event was a time for reflection on the lives of 14 extraordinary individuals and the problem of hor:lessness·in our sw ty. the City ofCincinnati. Cincinnati city residents can learn TV production, free of charge, and produce programming }Vhich can then be aired on the City's gublic access channel. For more information about Streetvibes TV, or ifyou would like to submit ideas for future programming, please cal the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at 421-7803. Streetvibes TV Returns in February On February 4th, Streetvibes TV will return to Public Access in Cincinnati. The Streetvibes TV program, a project ofthe Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, will begin at 7PM and will be aired on Warner Cable channel 24 through the studios ofMedia Bridges. The live show will broadcast once a month and also will be re-aired at various times. The program will be in a talk show format and will feature discussions about homelessness, poverty and other related local issues. Local community activists, service providers and politicians will be invited as guests on the show. There will also be the opportunity for viewers to call in to the live show to ask questions of the guests, and get involved in G discussions on the air. Homeless Coalition Executive Director, Georgine Getty will host the new Streetvi bes TV show and it will be staffed and produced by Coalition and Media Bridges volunteers. The award winning show was formerly hosted by Donald Whitehead, then Director ofthe Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, now Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless which is based in Washington, D C. The original live show was on the air for almost two years. Media Bridges is a non­ profit TV and web-based production facility, located in Over-the-Rhine, that produces programs for public access TV in IONFO TH 0 �STREETVIBES January 2003 Page 2 Ordinary Citizens Can Make a Change ... by Jimmy Heath Is Cincinnati government Grinch-like in its politics and its practices towards poor people? It seems so. Our town is always looking for ways to reorganize and distribute poor people and keep them away from certain places. The assault on downtown panhandlers was prominent during last years holiday shopping season, this year was no different. With holiday shoppers staying away in droves, our city wanted to appear to be doing something about downtown, that it was "safe" to come downtown and shop for the holidays. And so came the rhetoric. The public had to be assured that there would not be hordes ofcriminal panhandlers stalking holiday shoppers. It's an old tale, the preoccupation of City Hall with the homeless and panhandlers, especially in the downtown area. Never mind the inconvenience and expense of parking downtown that deters many shoppers. Or the lack of shopping choices. Or proximity. Or the over-pric~d restaurants. Shouldn't we be talking about the boycott, police/community relations, economic development and jobs instead of spending all of this energy on a handful of panhandlers? What about authentic crime? Shouldn't we be doing something about the real issues of crime facing this city? Citizens of Cincinnati have always rallied for its poorest citizens, speaking against discriminating practices, challenging the city on public policy that hurts people. The public may not always hear the truth but they know how to sort through the information and find the reality, and they know when something is wrong. Citizens wrote letters to the editor of the Enquirer that expressed outrage over the attack on panhandlers by city government and downtown business interests. Taking a position in favor ofthe poor in this city if you are a civilian is tough. But that is how the real work gets done; ordinary citizens rolling up their sleeves and taking a stand. We see it all the time here at the Coalition office, the outpouring of support is sometimes overwhelming. The courts too, have always ruled in favor of the rights of our less fortunate citizens, defending free speech and the right to be in public p laces. E ven the police, as an alternative to locking people up, sometimes bring intoxicated individuals, or people found sleeping outdoors, to the Drop Inn Center Shelter. But when it comes to doing business, some at City Hall reveal disdain for anything that might tarnish the look ofbeautified downtown Cincinnati streets. It's a strategy of desperation that makes you target the defenseless. Don't get me wrong, there are people at City Hall working hard for rights and social justice for the poor. They are a voice of reason amidst the din of negative verbosity. Sometimes their voices are heard. It must be a hard life. But there is a question for City Hall that suspiciously goes unanswered. Why? Maybe because it's easy, that's all. The smelly, dirty, crazy, criminal homeless. How could anyone stand those people? It's too easy. It is about positions of power in society too, of course. It 's an old story. The preoccupation should be in finding solutions, and addressing the root causes of the problems ofthe homeless. Many of us don' t see the hidden homeless; the senior citizens, the disabled, the youth. 25% ofthe city's homeless population are children. Half of OJJJ..kidS--att~nding public schools in Cincinnati qualify for free lunches because oftheir poverty. (Nearly 100% in Over­ the-Rhine!) This should outrage any decent citizen. When are we going to see a discussion and a sense of purpose about real issues, instead of cowardly attacks on those who are unable to defend themselves? I hope our city's real citizens continue to stay involved in these discussions. · Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $1. I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in tennination from the program. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt to vend after 12 midnight. 4.- I agree to treat others with respect - other vendors, customer~ and GCCH personnel. 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying t hat I <im collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I a·m collecting for the " homeless" in general. i will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale ofStreetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise misrep!esenting is a violation ofa city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. 8. I will always present m¥ badge when purchasing papers,.and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. I will not sell on private property without permission. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a selfsupporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this effort, I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. �STREETVIBES January 2003 Page 3 A Goo~bye, From the Vendor/ North American Homeless , Education C.o ordinator money, which list addresses and News Digest phone numbers of places homeless by Molly Rhodes SAN FRANSISCO - As early·as last December, homeless people in San Francisco will stop receiving most of their cash grants to pay for their needs, thanks to the Care Not Cash initiative that passed with 59 percent of the vote. The more than $13 million, which had helped about 2, 700 single adults, will instead go to pay for services Like housing, food, and utilities, according to the San Francisco Examiner (www.examiner.com). The initiative faced a lot ofcontroversy, especially from San Francisco and national homeless advocates who argued that many people who received up to $390 each month had come to rely on the checks and now would be unable to meet their most basic needs. Even now that it passed, how it actually gets put into effect over the next nine months is being closely watched. Most ofthe $13-million-plus is expected to go into a "master lease" program, in which the city leases single-room-occupancy - or SRO - hotels, renovates them, and then finds a nonprofit to run them. "The question is now, what's the plan going to be?" the Rev. John ·Hardin, executive director of the St. Anthony Foundation, which houses 200 men and women in shelters and drug recovery programs, told the Examiner. "That 's what everyone's waiting for. Let the care begin." PHILADELPHIA Business owners in downtown Philadelphia took their anti-homeless campaign to the streets last month with an · advertising blitz aimed at stopping people from giving money to panhandlers. Business owners say they fear the panhandlers are deterring potential customers from their area. Philadelphia city officials claim there are enough homeless shelters and free meals so that people shouldn't have to panhandle; the ads include cards people can give out instead of Write U$I We'd like to hear from IJOU-­ ~J-...r " Send letten or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, I 506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohi9 45202 With just seventeen days number of speaking engagements, where they occurred and which shy of my one year anniversary vendor spoke. My plans for the here at the coalition, it is now time for me to say good-bye. (Yeah, I Speakers Bureau is to offer Yi day really am leaving this time!) In just seminars to assist those interested • in improving their presentation a few short days I will begin a new chapter in my employment career. techniques and fine-tune their I have accepted a position as the personal stories. It is my hope my Director of the Over the Rhine and predecessor will follow through Evanston Senior Centers. with this goal. I would also like to (Cincinnati Area Senior Services) see the number of speaking Although I am leaving the jl' engagements increase, coalition I will still be allowing more speakers/ right here in the hood! An vendors the opportunity to area I have grown to share their experiences respect and care about. I with the community. Further, it is my hope the hope I will see some of the familiar'faces from Education Packets will be Cheryl Ware Elm Street and the available and offered to the Coalition, but look schools throughout forward to the new faces I have yet Greater Cincinnati school system i 2003 . This packet will include the to meet. I came to the Coalition homeless study (prepared by the "kickin and screamin", but now Coalition), the "Faces of with the thought of leaving, I get a Homelessness" video, the lump in my throat. I have Streetvibes newspaper and a promised my continue support of specific number of speaking the Coalition and hope to bring engagements assigned to the Cincinnati Area Seniors to the school. Coalition table. I hope many of So to Georgine, I wish you the best of luck. Remember, even you will stop by the Race Street though the Coalition has a location and say hello. As the Vendor/Education powerful past which has carried it Coordinator I have been able to to this day; you now carry the create and implement many new torch to lead it into the next procedures. I developed the chapter. In order to become a Vendor Intake form to obtain voice and power in the community, general demographic information build on your past, don't repeat it. about new vendors. These forms To Andy, keep that clean cut look, collect valuable information which it works for you. Remember can 'be used in our efforts to obtain Tarbell, Luken and the rest of the r knife. grapts arid funding for the pack, all put on their pants one leg WICHITA - 'Tis the Streetvi~es wograrn, and help our at a time. They can learn a lot season for cold weather shelters, as vendors. Incident fonns were also from you and the Civil Rights work cities around the country scramble created fo document major/unusual group. (Enjoy the comer office, _ to find overflow accommodations incidents involving Streetvibes but to tell you the truth, it ain 't no for homeless people who would vendors. Such incidents include, better). Brendan, what can I say. otherwise run the risk of freezing aggressive vending, abusive You are the glue of this outfit and to death on the streets. behavior, or medical emergencies. you guys are stuck! Don't let the In Kansas, the colder Other procedures implemented this vultures get you. Miss Mary, keep weather struck early this year, and year is the tracking of the number .'em all under control! Jimmy, I officials and homeless advocates of Streetvibes newspapers sold have learned well from the master. expected to open their special each month and t.h e individual Thank you for your quiet spirit and shelters a month earlier than usual, patience among all the chaos. vendor sales per month. This according to the Wichita Eagle tracking procedure allows us to Finally, to all the vendors, Elaine, (www.kansas.com). Normal reward those vendors selling 300 Bobby, Grady, Earlene, Mr. James, temperatures in Wichita for mid-fall or more papers each month. Ricky, Julie, Virgil, Aaron and all of are in the low 60's; temperatures Incentives of fifty free papers are the rest of you, thank you. Thank are already down around freezing offered to those vendors who sell you for supporting me, teaching me with chances of snow. In Wichita, 300 or more papers each month. and watching my back when I there are 280 beds for an Vendors can earn papers by helping needed it. - Cheryl Ware approximate 600 homeless people. out in the office doing The problem is administrative support, cleaning the compounded by an economy that vendor area, or by attending and has severely cut back on the participating in the Civil Rights number ofjobs available for people workgroup. Future goals would be looking to find other ways to afford to·offer other incentives to vendors a warm place to sleep. In addition, for sales, active participation and donations for homeless people have support of the Coalition and its dropped significantly since this efforts. tin1e last year, as some of the area's I recently began tracking Eriday, biggest employers, like Boeing, the speaking engagements of our January 10 have laid offthousands. Speakers Bureau. Tracking the people can go. The idea has already caught the eye of other cities who find putting up billboards and handing out cards a better bang for their buck than putting up new housing, like San Francisco and Key West, Florida. TAMPA - Another homeless man died in a confrontation with a police officer, this time in Tampa, Florida, even though witnesses pleaded with the officer not to shoot the unarmed man. Luis Rafael Obijo, 45, began yelling at Officer Greg Caulley on the street as Caulley walked by. Caulley reported to his superiors that Obijo got up and came towards him with a shiny metal object in his hand, prompting Calley to fire his gun within five feet of Obijo, according to the Tampa Tribune (www.tampatrib.com). However, other witnesses, who were familiar with Obijo on the street corner, said the man had never harmed anyone. Nora Melton, owner of the Prince Grocery store, said Obijo helped her open up each morning, and that morning he reacted to aggressive behavior from Officer Caulley. Another nearby business owner saw Obijo back away from Officer Caulley right before he was shot. Both business owners ran towards the confrontation, yeUing "Please don't shoot." The weapon in Obijo 's hands turned out to be a putty �STREETVIBES January 2003 . Streetvibes Editor Receives Mac Award Book Review by B ill Jon_er ·For over 50 years the Reverend Maurice Mccrackin ("Mac" as he is affectionately known) advocated for social justice in Cincinnati. He established a church which welcomed people of all r.aces, well before racial barriers were removed in other churches. He later became an activist in the civil rights movement, and a champion of civil liberties. He led protests against our Center. In addition to·receiving food and shelter, he was persuaded to enter the Drop Inn's six month recovery program, where he also found the support and friendship of the staff and residents. Among these was buddy gray himself, who was quick to recognize Jimmy's innate abilities and talents. Buddy encouraged Jimmy's photographic talent, and gave him the opportunity to dispJay his abilities in work for the homeless Radical Compassion; Finding Christ in the heart of the poor by Gary Smith, S. J., Loyola Press Review by J immy Heath FOF nearly ten years Father Gary Smith lived and worked among the poor of Portland, Oregon, in a low­ income section of the city known as Old Town. " ... through a scene played out in the poor areas of every large government's - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - community. city in the United States,: involvement in "For over 50 years tile Reverend One of his firstjobs war. He writes Father Smith, ''. ..the F IND IN G C H ~ I ST I N THE advocated for Maurice Mccrackin ("Mac" as lie after unemployed looking for work; H E A RT O F T H !! PO O R is affectionately known) advocated emergmg those who drug dealers furtively hawking were poor and for social justice in Cincinnati. " from the their heroin, cocaine, and fallen by the wayside. Through Drop Inn's homeless. He methamphetarnines; residents from had a special empathy for those program was as editor of the many SRO's moving in and out them and the writings ofFather Smith, we learn about their lives who were in prison, and was a Streetvibes. But Jimmy wanted to oftheir buildings; burned-out and something about ourselves. do and learn more, and when the strong opponent of the death alcoholics coming offor beginning He not only introduces us penalty. In every instance where opportunity came for a fellowship another day ofpanhandling and to the people he meets and has through the Congressional Hunger there was an issue of social justice drinking and misery; addicts come to know as family, but he Center, he was offto study the it seemed that Mac was involved engaging in the endless hunt for examines his own brand of Mac's courage and workings of a food bank in St. another fixi lines ofpeople waiting compassion and sympathy, and he determination were legend. He Louis and the work of the National to get food or clothes or shelter; challenges our own notions of how Coalition fo r the Homeless in often put his body on the line in the occasional nervous and we treat the less fortunate. His Washington D .C. (headed by protests, and his hunger strikes fatigued prostitute wandering by; work is a combination of tough were his way ofgaining leverage another of buddy's proteges, individuals talking incoherently to love, tenderness and, at times, even with the more powerful. He was Donald Whitehead) . themselves; staff persons from a fear. For Father Smith, the people Returning to Cincinnati, often reviled by those in power, but variety of agencies going about we come to know in his book are he was loved, and is still loved, by , Jimmy has again taken up the their work; alert police slowly "angels", placed in our path as a editorship ofStreetvibes, and those committed to socialjustice. surveying the streets on foot, on mirror of society and ourselves. It launched the Center for To keep his memory alive, each bil<es, in cars." This is the setting is a scary picture that he sometimes year Community Shares recognizes Community Photography at for the anecdot al recitations of paints for us, but one that is real, Peaslee Neighborhood Center. In those who share Mac's concerns, Father Gary Smith and the people the latter, Over-the-Rhine children and carry out those concerns by he encounters as a part of his work and cannot be denied . This is a book that should their actions, with a "Mac Award". in Old Town. For some of us, are introduced to photography and be required reading for anyone who In the latter half ofMac's are given the opportunity to these lost souls and the streets cares about our displaced and express their feelings and insights described in Father Smith's book Cincinnati activism, one ofMac's mostly ignored citizens. For some closest friends and allies was buddy through their pictures. While doing are all to familiar. of us working on the streets, the Radical Compassion is a all this, Jimmy has expanded his gray. Buddy was also well known faces in this journal are (amiliar. It for his concern for social justice. memoir, a journal ofFather own photographic art work, and is also for those who are struggling bis photographs and exhibits depict .Smith's encounters with some of Buddy's activism was also diverse, to understand the realities of the humanity of young and old, and the abandoned, overlooked and but he is best known for his poverty and life on the streets in the natural beauty in what is often activities in Over-the-Rhine where forgotten members of our society. our modem times. These are the homeless, the jailed, thought to be Cincinnati's poorest his advocacy for the poor and neighborhood . In Jimmy's pictures the addicted and abused that have homeless lives on in the work of Over-the-Rhine often becomes one the Drop Inn Center, R estoc, the of the richest neighborhoods in Homeless Coalition, and other ways that are more important than · important organizations. money wealth, and he is reversing It seems altogether fitting many ofthe unfortunate and proper therefore that one of stereotypes about the the 2002 Mac Awards this year went to Jimmy Heath, a protege of neighborhood. His art is world-class, as is buddy gray, whose concerns and his message, and his heart. He is activities follow those ofMac and T he Know Your Rights truly in the tradition ofMac and buddy. buddy, and a deserving winner of Brochure is now available at the Jimmy is Editor of Coalition's office. The brochure is the 2002 Mac Award . Streetvibes, founder and operator a legal guide for Cincinnati' s Three other distinguished of the Peaslee Center for homeless and covers a person 's community leaders also recieved Community Photography, and a this years Mac Award. ·T hey are basic rights when interacting with world class photographer who , Robert Harris, a local activist the police, as well as some local !. -. makes the humanity of Over-the­ recognized for his continuing work laws that might be ofinterest to the f' Rhine come alive in his work. for the rights of disabled people; In 1995 Jimmy was homeless population. If you are a ~ homeless person or if you work Father Ben Urmston, Director of homeless, his Life ruined, and his with homeless people and would health precarious after having spent the Dorothy Day House at Xavier University and a social justice like ·t o obtain free copies of the ~ nine days in ~ coma with liver failure and pancreatitis, a result of leader for 50 years; and Barbara brochure · for yourself or your · Wolf, a prominent social justice agency, please call 421 -7803 , or his alcohol addiction. Somehow advocate and award winning film after coming out oftbe coma, he stop by the Coalition office and pick one up. documentarian. found his way to the Drop Inn Know Your Rights Brochure Available! �ST R EETVI B ES Jan uary 2003 Reader Hail Disturbing Lack of Understanding This letter was written in response We would like to hear from you to the Enquirer 's Nov. 29 story by Gregory Korte: "Mayor puts - please address letters and pressure on city shelter" comments to; Mayor Luken has said, "It Streetvibes, doesn't make sense to spend 1506 Elm Street, $ 100,000 to fight panhandling, and Cincinnati Ohio 45202 t hen give money to an agency that (or) email to: supports it." Streetvibes@juno.com This statement reveals a disturbing lack of understanding on Get Caseworkers for the mayor's part. Mr. Luken, have you visited the Drop Inn Center Panhandlers lat~ly? Toured the c;ix- month For the panhandling aicohol/drug treatment program for situation: I would get some men? Or t he separate rehabilitation psychiatrists, sociologists, social program for women? Observed the workers and psychologists to supper line, serving dinners from volunteer their time to get 6:30 - 7:30 every night to men and information such as, where the women who are down on their panhandlers came from, what luck? The Drop Inn Center does happened to them and what can be not support panhandling; it sup­ do ne to get them back on their feet. ports social justice. I would also contact their families Mayor Luken criticizes if they are willing and maybe they Streetvibes, the monthly newspaper could be of more help than the about issues concerned with social panhandlers realize. Get the word justice, poverty, and the homeless. out to the panhandlers that there is It is published by the Greater help so they won't be so forceful in Cincinnati Coalition for the Home­ their attempts to get money Get less, has a circulation of about the people who are complaining 15,000, and is created by people about the panhandlers together and who are or were homeless. get ideas from them on how to help Streetvibes is sold by licensed get these people off of the streets. vendors who must sign and adhere I t h.ink sponsorship is the key and I to a strict code of corrduct. The would get different organizations, paper costs a dollar and vendors, businesses and universities to help trying to get a leg up and out of these people a little at a time to get homelessness, can keep 80 cents of them to be self-sufficient. Ask the that. Have you taken the time to panhandlers what their needs are. read a copy recently, Mr. Luken? People could help with job skills, If the mayor wants to stop more education, money for panhandling, he should work to education, money for child care or achieve the same goal as the Drop · substance abuse. The city needs to Inn Center and the GCCH: social focus on getting the panhandlers justice. back into society not just passing Jane Ruhmkorff, Downtown laws to regulate how they are getting money. Hope this helps!! Homeless Snowbird in Support your local Streetvibes Vendor! ground. One morning I bought a 'Sarasota newspaper. On the front page, three policemen and others were holding a giant anaconda snake. They had caught it one­ tenth of a mile from my camp. This thing was as big around as a dinner plate. If it had seen me, it would have grabbed my head in it's mouth. Then it would have squeezed me to death. It might have even suceeded in swallowing me. These constrictor snakes are found all over Florida. People buy them as pets. But they get too big and they let them go. Then they grow huge! Babies have been killed in their strollers in the backyard. Ownership of these constrictor snakes should be outlawed in the U. S. They can get into a house very easy. The homeless would be surprised at the number of dangerous animals and insects down here. Also, I would like to warn homeless people not to sleep along the shoreline of any body of water down here. Alligators! Many times I've seen cardboard laid out in the weeds near waterways. It made me wonder if they made it to mornmg. God bless. KCS Watch fo r the return of Streetvibes TV L Tuesday, February 4th at 7 :OOpm on cable access Channel 24 Streetvibes TV is a live program created by tile Greater Cincinnati Coalition/or the Homeless and Media Bridges. Watcll.as our panel discusses tile issues surrounding homelessness today. Call in and give your opinion! R~source Community / / ""'"" Cards Florida The homeless shelters ar~ mostly filled up here in Florida during the winter. So when I came down here I camped out and worked at the labor pools. Here's a story about camping out in Sarasota, Florida. I was camping out in the wooded suburbs of Sarasota. I was sleeping on a blanket on the Write Usl We'd like t o hear from you .... Your vendor keeps 80 cents ofevery dollar..... Page 5 Send let ters or comments to: Streetvi bes@Juno.com , or write 't he Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters, · 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Rock d a le Te mple has announced the r elease of the lat est in its serie s of Community Reso urce Cards. The new one, printed in Sp anish, is customize d for the needs of Cincinnati's rapidly growing Hispanic/ Latino population. The tri-fold, plastic cards are funded by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a project of Rockdale Temple, in consultation with Bienstar, Su Casa and Th e Gr eater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. In addition to the Hisp~i c Res ource Card, the Resourc e Card Project has also produced cards for senior c itizens, the homeless, and public school and Cat holic sch ool stu dents coverin g t h e Tri-state area. Card s can be ordered from : cc 5300 Hamilton Avenue, #210 Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 or send a fa x request to: (513) 541-0099 �STREETVIBES January 2003 Volunteers of America Homeless Coalition's Speakers Bureau. I've used this to educate these men on issues of homelessness, working with case managers in the Life Skills by Pat Mitchell program. Once a month, I supply The Volunteers ofAmerica information concerning resources (YOA) accepts referrals from the · that are available to a homeless Ohio Department ofRehabilitation person. Itµormation that program and Corrections for a structured participants can certainly use. It is common for convicted persons to program with a drug free be released from environment housing ex­ the system and become offenders, who homeless. have been just releadsed from One resident that caught my prison. All.are male adults age attention was a 18 and over. As 91 year-old man they enter the who was , program they released this past have to try to summer after achieve certain serving 15 years. I have been goals before they leave. The most working closely important thing is with VOA finding full-time because I believe employment or an education every problem has a solution. I felt program, or both. The stay is I could help. The man seems to be in good health. He has an income usually 120 days. But for most there are barriers for the and is a veteran. Yet, no one want.s participants in getting housing - no to rent to him because he has a record. So how can these men of rental histories and felony convictions are a few of the VOA, not only the senior citizens ' lead a productive life after paying barriers. their debt to society? Hopefully, The program is a tool to someone who reads this will be in a guide the resident to a drug-free, productive life. My involvement position to help or knows someone with Volunteers ofAmerica has that can help. Contact me at the been as a speaker with the Coalition office, 421-7803 . While we make every effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the p eople whose writings are represented here. Page 6 Myths by Morgan W Brown Among the many negative (as if there are any that are positive) stereotypes concerning people who are homeless (or any other perceived or actual group of people for that matter), which is probably more deeply cynical as well as the one that does some of the most prolonged damage, is the opinion that they generally lack an articulate voice of their own and therefore cannot be expected to speak intelligently and powerfully for themselves. ·This mindset dictates that people who are homeless most certainly are not able to advocate and take the lead either on their own or Qn their peers behalf. In fact it is frightening how many people living homeless there are whom too often and so easily believe this about themselves as well. Yet when people who are homeless speak up for themselves or for their peers and what they need, they can find themselves being quickly slapped down or simply blown offin various ways time and time again. Sometimes when people who are homeless speak out, they carr find themselves being treated, regarded and portrayed as either the one and only, the hero or, the overcomer type(s): as if what they are doing is not the norm and therefore unique or, is an amazing, heroic, accomplislunent "for someone who is homeless" or as if they are someone to be pitied: patted on the head and at best ' ' maybe given a star to w ear on their forehead for accomplishing (or even attempting) something either more or better than was ever expected. When someone persists in speaking up however, they are often ignored, belittled, punished, scorned, told they are being inappropriate or said to be outspoken. This in a nation prizing self­ determination. Ironically, ifseems that when either an individual or a group of people become or just want to remain self-determining, they are somehow expected to do it completely on their own, even against the most impossible of odds (e.g., in isolation). Though not intended as such, if the tone or manner of the above comes across as being offensive, etc.: imagine how it comes across to people living homeless when they are treated like this, or even worse, in one form or ., another on an ongoing basis by countless people as well as a society, which would never stand for being treated in these ways themselves. Morgan W Brown is a writer and activist living homeless in Montpelier, Vermont. Morgan . recentlyjoined Kevin Barbieux as a contributing writer and blogger on The Homeless Guy <http:// thehomelessguy. blogspot. com> blog (i.e., Blog or Web log: an online journal or diary). T he pens which write against disarmament are made with the same stee1 from which guns are made. Aristide Briand, French statesman, Nobel Peace Prize, 1926 T he pacifist's task today is to fi nd a method of he1ping and healing which provides a revolutionary constructive substitute for war. Vera Brittain, 1964 Beneath the rule of men entirely great The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward George Bulwer­ Lytton Violence in the voice is often only the death rattle of reason in the throat. John Boyes �TREETVIBES January 2003 Page 7 •hilip Berrigan, Anti-War Activist, >ies at Home in Baltimore, MD we could do to keep pace with it. .. l 960's that Phil was asking that And then he couldn't talk at all . question of God and her Christ. He kept asking it. And, over the And then - gradually - he left us. What did Phil intend to say? What years, he learned that it is right and Baltimore, MD - Phil mine for them, manufacture them, good to question our God, to plead is the message of his life? What ~rrigan died December 6, 2002 at deploy them, use them, is a curse message was he leaving us in his for justice for all that inhabit the 1out 9:30 PM, at Jonah House, a against God, the human family, and dying? Is it different for each of us, earth that it is urgent to feel this; nnmunity he co-founded in 1973, the earth itself." injustice done to any is injustice now that we are left to imagine lrrounded by family and friends. The wake and funeral was how he would frame it? During done to all that we must never e died two months after being held at St. Peter Claver Church in weary ofexposing and resisting one of our prayers in Phil's room, agnosed with liver and kidney West Baltimore. In place of Brendan Walsh remembered a such injustice that what victories mcer, and one month after flowers and gifts for the offertory, we see are smaller than the mustard banner Phil had asked Willa ~ciding to discontinue attendees may bring pictures or seeds Jesus praised, and they need Bickham to make years ago for St. 1emotherapy. other keepsakes. Mourners may Peter Claver. It read : "The sting of such tender nurture that it is vital Approximately thirty close make donations in Berrigan's name death is all around us. 0 Christ, to celebrate each victory ­ iends and fellow peace activists to Citizens for Peace in Space, where is your victory?" The sting especially the victory of sisterho<?d tthered for the ceremony of last Global Network Against Nuclear and brotherhood embodied in of death is all around us. :es on November 30, to celebrate Weapons, Nukewatch, Voices in the The death Phil was asking . loving, nonviolent acts. s life and anoint him for the next Wilderness, the Nuclear Resister, or us to attend to is not his death Over tlie months ofPhil's trt of his journey. Berrigan's any Catholic Worker house. (though the sting ofthat is on us illness we have been blessed a ·other and co-felon, Jesuit priest Philip began dictating this hundred-fold by small and large and will not be denied). The sting aniel Berrigan officiated. statement the weekend before P hil would have us know is the victories oyer an anti-human, anti­ During his nearly 40 years Thanksgiving. It was all clear - ·he sting ofinstitutionalized death and life, anti-love culture, by ~ resistance to war and violence, had it written in his head. Word for killing. H e never wearied of friendships - in and out ofprison ­ errigan focused on living and word I wrote... articulating it. H e never ceased and by the love that has permeated orking in community as a way to WHEN I LAY DYING ..of cancer P hil's life. Living these years and being astonished by the length and .odel the nonviolent, sustainable Philip Berrigan months with P hil free us to revert breadth and depth of it. And he orld he was working to create. I die in a community including my never accepted it. to the original liturgi~al question: mah House members live simply, family, my beloved wife Elizabeth, It was back in the mid " O death, where is your sting?" :ay together, share duties, and three great Dominican nuns ­ tempt to expose the violence of Ardeth Platte, Carol Gilbert, and National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing ~ litarism and consumerism. Jackie Hudson (em<!ritus) jailed in The community was born Western Colorado - Susan Crane, Project (NHC~OP) 1t of resistance to the Vietnam friends local, national and even 1506 Elm Street Tar, including high-profile draft international. They have always Cincinnati ,·OH 45202 1rd burning actions; later the been a life-line to me. I die w ith 1cus becaine ongoing resistance to the conviction, held since 1968 and homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.dom .S. nuclear policy, including Catonsville, that nuclear weapons (513) 421-7803 lowshares actions that aim to are the scourge of the earth; to iact Isaiah's biblical prophecy of a mine for them, manufacture them, sarmed world. Because ofthese deploy them, use them, is a curse forts Berrigan spent about 11 against God, the human family; ~ars in prison. He wrote, and the earth itself. We have ctured, and taught extensively, already exploded such weapons in 1blishing six books, including an Japan in 1945 and the equivalent itobiography, Fighting the Lamb's of them in Iraq in 1991, in far. Yugoslavia in 1999, and in In his last weeks, Berrigan Afghanistan in 2001. We left a ·a s surrounded by his family, legacy for other people ofdeadly eluding his wife Elizabeth radioactive isotopes - a prime LcAlister, with whom he founded counterinsurgency measure. For mah House; his children Frida, example, the people ofIraq, ~' Jerry, 27, and Kate, 21; Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and )mmunity members Susan Crane, Pakistan will be battling cance1; ary Ashbeck, and David Arthur; mostlyfrom depleted uranium, for 1d extended family and decades. In addition, our nuclear Jmmunity. Community members adventurism over 5 7 y ears has rdeth Platte and Carol Gilbert, saturated the planet with nuclear 18" X 24" poster print: Washington Park, Over­ ominican sisters, were unable to garbage from testing, from ~ physically present at Jonah explosions in high altitudes (four the-Rhine, Winter 1999. Each print is individually ouse; tht?Y are currently in jail in ofthese), from 103 nuclear power signed by OTR photographer Jimmy Heath. olorado awaiting trial for a plants, from nuclear weapons Purchase benefits the children's sarmament action at a missile factories that can ~ be cleaned up ­ lo, the 79th international and so on. Because ofmyopic Literacy Through Photography program at Peaslee. lowshares action. One of leadership, ofgreedfor Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine. errigan's last actions was to bless possessions, a public chained to Posters are $10 each, plus $3 for shipping. re upcoming. marriage ofFrida t<;> corporate media, there has been 11 Marvy. virtually no response to these Send your order and check to: Berrigan Vfrote a final realities... At this point in dictation, Peaslee Neighborhood Center atement in the days before his Phil's lungs filled; he began to Attn: Photography Program ~ath . His final comments cough uncontrollably; he was tired. eluded this: "I die with the We had to stop - with promises to 215 East Fourteenth Street mviction, held since 1968 and finish later. But later never came ­ Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 atonsville, that nuclear weapons another moment in an illness that ·e the scourge of the earth; to depleted Phil so rapidly it was all or call (513) 621-551 4 for more information • . 1 �Page 8 STREETVIB ES January 2003 Ohio Empowerment Coalition Observes International Human Rights Day Wellstone Death A Huge Loss to health care, and good jobs ir Homeless People good America." He was the only by Lynn Williams from the Cleveland Homeless Grapevine Senator up for re-election coming off his "no" vote on welfare T he Ohio Empowerment Homelessness is no longer reform. He was a critic ofPreside1 Coalition commemorated front page news. H ousing is too Bill Clinton for talking about high· International Human Rights Day complicated a problem to tackle, minded social justice issues, but by calling public awareness to the especially in this era of small providing little money to back his fact that 52% of single-mother government and big defense. rhetoric. families in America - or one out of H omeless people, and those who Senator WeJlstone did not every two- are poor. Poverty is a realize that the housing crisis is a always follow t he progressive vot1 Human Rights Issue. national disgrace, lost one of their having voted for the Defense of The Ohio Empowerment few champions on Capital Hill with Marriage Act and the terrorism bil Coalition lcicked offthe WAGES the death of Senator Paul that was passed in the days after Campaign. ("WorkAfter Good Wellstone. the September 11 attack on the Education is Success ") as a Paul Wellstone was often United States. His importance to solution to help lift more families the lone voice in the Senate to homeless people was not that he champion proposals that would out of poverty. Actions were held voted the liberal party line, but tha in Cincinnati, Columbus, and benefit disenfranchised populations. he was one of the few Senators The words " principled" and "deep Athens as part oflnternational that even spoke about the issues o Human Rights Day observances. convictions" were thrown around poverty. Homeless people and by the President and his Senate WAGES advocates that housing activis~s could take colleagues. Some ofWellstone's Ohio allow Ohio Work~ First comfort in the faet that he was most strident opponents in the recipients to count their full work there acting in our interests. We a Senate seemed to be using those requirement to receive cash could feel that at least someone in words to mean "wrong" and assistance for education and the Senate cared about our issues, " deeply flawed." vocational training. Sen. Eric and it was not hopeless. We felt He was one of the few that maybe t he lack of affordable Fingerhut, Cleveland, has Senators who used long forgotten introduced SB 302 in the Ohio housing would be taken up by our and unpopular words like government if at least someone w~ Senate; he also intends to homelessness and affordable talking about the issues. reintroduce it in the next legislative housing. He was one of the last The sad reality is that mos1 cycle beginning Ja!!.uary 2003. elected officials to follow in the Yasmiyn Irizarry, a homeless people and most low footsteps ofRobert Kennedy and income people do not vote. They university student and mother on the idealism of Camelot and the do not see anyone serving their Ohio Works First in Columbus, 1960s. He even retraced the steps interests, and so they see little poi1 states, "I applied for Ohio Works ofKennedy through Appalachia, in exercising their collective right First when I was pregnant with my Chicago, and Los Angeles public to vote. Paul Wellstone was the daughter. I am working to earn a housing properties- to mark the exception to a reality that we have bachelor 's degree in sociology at ofthe thirtieth anniversary all grown to accept: politicians are Ohio State on a full academic Kennedy poverty tour. While not beholden to big business and scholarship. Getting an education the attention of receiving near corporate interests. is extremely important to me so I American royalty wallcing among Wellstone gave us all hope can get a good job that will keep Dora Sharp the peasants of 1967, he did call that someday our issues would be my family out of p9verty. " attention to lack of progress in heard and we could realize the On International Human D ora Sharp, another in America in addressing poverty visions ofMartin Luther King Jr., Rights Day, we urged Ohioans to grandmother, stated, " I'm sixty­ the last thirty years. Senator Robert Kennedy, and George reflect on the following sobering We shouldn't four and she is three. Wellstone did not just have a fond McGovern. He proved that a statistics: 15.3% of Ohio's to go through this and I' m have recollection ofKennedy, but lived radical grassroots organizer could children are living at or below disabled . You can spend money on those values and pushed his be elected. He was the official poverty level. The infant other things, but not grandparents? idealism into his legislation. counterbalance to the hate-filled mortality rate for Ohio's Black Foster care parents get a lot more He was an outcast even rhetoric and scapegoating that so infants is 14.4%. The average age money; we get nothing." within his own party, much as often marks elections these days. of a homeless person in the Judi Mendfiski, a former homeless p~ople are often outcasts He stood in stark contrast to the Greater Cincinnati area is 8 years recipient who escaped a batterer by in their own neighborhoods. Clinton mantra of moving toward old. The wage needed to rent a on public assistance, Wellstone's was one ofthe view going the center in order to attract two bedroom apartment is $11. 37/ testified. "It's hard. I know I voices of dissent against the war voters. hour. to get myself together needed time resolution against Iraq. He was a We all hope for another The Cincinnati Welfare leader I would like of the Progressive Caucus, after being battered. decent politician to come forward Rights Coalition held a press and often told audiences that to have Ohio get the Family we into the most exclusive club in the conference featuri ng women need to focus on "good education, Violence Option because it takes United States, one who will talk testifying about their experiences to take care of yourself and time about issues like homelessness anc on public assistance. Bobbie P ugh, children after being battered. affordable housing. We hope that a grandmother raising a grandson Thirty six months is not enough the people ofMinnesota send fort on Ohio Works First, shared her We'd 6Jui lo bear time." another son or daughter to be a ~-..... story. ~you_ Afterwards, members ofthe leading voice on progressive issue "I am raising my two year Send letters or Cincinnati Welfare Rights Coalition in the United States S~nate. And old grandson. I had him ever since comments to: we bope that the improvement of deUvered letters requesting Streetvibes@Juno.com, -:1 he was a newborn. I don't think to area legislators. For education, universal health care, meetings or Write the Coalition office · there should be a time limit on universal living wage, and a right · more information and/or to find out attn: Streetvibes Letters Ohio Works First cash benefits how you can get involved in the safe deceqt housing becomes a when you are raising your 1506 Elm Street WAGES Campaign, call the reality. Senator Paul Wellstone grandchildren. A grandparent is Cincinnati, Ohio ever remain in our memory as a Cincinnati Welfare Rights Coalition really helping Hamilton County founding father of this progressivi at (513) 381-4242. 45202 Department ofJob and Family agenda. Services by taking care of her grandchild. A grandparent raising a grandchild becomes the child 's provider. She saves the state a lot of money by not putting the grandchild in foster care. She continued, "The Department ofJob & Family Services doesn 't give me a work allowance to get back and forth to · my worksite to do my work days for my food stamps. I use part of my grandson 's check of$223 and borrow money from the people I know in order to get to my worksite. After I pay the people back the money I owe them, half of my grandson 's check is gone. I have no other source of income except food stamps to live on. Please stop the clock from ticking while we are raising oµr grandchildren. Our grandchildren are our future." · �~ ' STREETVIBES iBienvenidos! by Samantha Brockfield medicos, los Servicios sociales, los lugares donde Ud. puede obtener comida, y los servicios de salud mental. Nosotros creemos que es importante que Ud. sepa cuales son sus derechos civiles como persona sin hogar. Tenemos folletos que los explican. Nos gustaria que Ud. nos visitara alglin dia para que le podamos dar servicios mejores. Para reunirse con La Coalicion: 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 www.cinci.com/gcch Ahora Streetvib.es esta dedicando una pagina a su comunidad. Este es el peri6dico escrito para crear una conciencia de las personas sin hogar, la injusticia social, y la pobreza en nuestra cuidad. Es la hora que se oye la voz de usted. l Ha pasado algo emocionante en su vida recientemente? l Tiene Ud. unas ideas que quiere publicar? l H a escrito alglin tipo de poesia? Para ayuda, llame- Su Casa Streetvibes quiere publicar sus historias, su poesia, su prosa, y sus Ministerio Hispano (513) 761-1588 pensarnientos. Hay personas que 115 W. Seymour Ave pueden ayudarle a escribir y preparar tod0 para redactarlo. Cincinnati, Ohio 45216 Tambien, Ud. puede ser un vendedor de Streetvibes y ganar San Damiano House- Los dinero . La Coalici6n de Greater Hermanos de Las Personas Cincinnati provee el peri6dico Pobres para las personas sin hogar en (513)241-8585 Over-the-Rhine. El meta de la coalici6n es eliminar Ja situaci6n de 923 Bank St personas sin hogar, con respeto a la Cincinnati, Ohio 45214. dignidad y diversidad de sus Tambien, hay una lista de rniembros, las personas sin hogar, y lugares (para el ref!-lgio, la la comunidad. La Coalicion y sus vivienda, el tratamiento rniembros pueden darle a usted lo siguiente: el refugio de emergencia, . medical, y otros servicios) en las habitaciones provisionales, la la ultima pagina del vivienda permanente, los servicios periodico~ Volunteer Opportunities at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless There are numerous opportunities for volunteers at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. We are willing to work with each individual in choosing a service opportunity that is right for them. The following are a few of the areas in which the Coalition could use your help: Designing a web site for our National Civil Rights Organizing Project. This would include working with the Americorp Vista volunteers on how to prevent further criminalization of homeless individuals as well as preventing the increasing hate crimes against them. To enhance our Streetvibes program, we are searching for volunteers to solicit advertisements from local businesses. If your business or a business you know of would like Page 9 January 2003 to adve1tise in our paper, we offer very competitive rates for ads that reach about 15,000 people per _ month! Our dream volunteer would be a self-motivated volunteer that would like to fundraise for our organization. This could include asking your ~ friends and family for donations to researching and writing grants for our excellent prog(ams. The Streetvibes newspaper project is always in need of people interested in writing articles on social justice/poverty issues_ • We heed help in the afternoons at the front desk, answering phones and handling transactions with our Streetvibes Vendors. This person will address the needs ofvisitors, having direct contact with homeless individuals and should be available one afternoon a week. There is always a need for help with bulk mailings. For Streetvibes, there are monthly mailings. Other mailings include the annual report, quarterly newsletter, and various capitol campaigns. If you ar_e interested in volunteering at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, please contact the office at 421-7803, or visit us at 1506 Elm Street in Over-the­ Rhine. We Can Be Proud! ' Judge MARK PAINTER Ohio Court of Appeals The Most-Published Hamilton County .Judge Ever! Our own Judge Mark Painter has reached a milestone­ 250 of his decisions have been published nationally. He is the most-published Hamilton County judge ever, and one of the most-published Ohio judges in history. .Judge Painter haa: • Served on the Court of Appeals for seven years, after 13 years on Munlcipa~ Court. His opinions haye been recognized as legal precedent more than 2000 times­ in cases, textbooks. and encyclopedias._ • Written 52 articles on appellate practice, sentencing, DUI, contempt, and legal ethics. He writes a monthly column on legal writing for Ohio Lawyers Weekly. • Taught 85 seminars for judges, lawyers, and police officers, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at U.C. • Authored the textbook Ohio DUI Law, now in its 12th · edition. His other book, The Legal Writer: 30 Rules for the Art of Legal Writing, was published in June. www.judgepalnter.org The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations ·for their generous donation of coffee and pastries: 11379 Montgomery Road (513) 469-1111 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park (513) 533-3402 7896 Montgomery Road (513) 891- 7740 ""' When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist. Archbishop Helder Camara, Brazilian liberation theologist Local Schizophrenia/Schizo-affective Research Study * Financial Compensation * 45 years and over * Symptoms of depression * 13 visits (513) 861-3100 ext 4187 or toll free (888) 267-7873 ext 4187 �STREETVIBES January 2003 Page 10 Report From the Peace Village warmth. old son, Arik, was abducted and seriousness to our proceedings by murdered by Hamas terrorists in lots of personal touches suggesting The P~ace Village is still alive in Cincinnati even when we 1994, woke us up at the "Peace both his own rising commitment to by Steve Sunderland knowing more about Islam and his stop searching for a public peace in Begins With Us: ADialogue," Welcome to new and old our racial conflict. The Peace conference by saying that the group awareness that most Americans do friends ofthe Peace Village. A Village is reassuring the invention he founded, Parents Circle, a group not know much about the Middle wonderful group are getting this of the of East, or, about the efforts to bring note for the first time. They will peace peace that are not in the headlines. Palestinians learn that we thrive on one poster and Israelis I did posters with the process at a time, one discussion at a time, that have conference as the last event, giving even while one relationship stretching out to had fami ly people a chance to reflect on what the burials another group at a time, and, one members they had experienced throughout are bolt of tenderness shared with each occumng killed, were the day and what they wished to person. share as the one main "Message of doing three in Israel. Starting in Cincinnati, In Nigeria, Repair" that we could be left with projects to connected to both the riot of 2001, as we read at the end of the day. The bring peace embracing the aftermath of this-note, outpouring of creativity surprised to the September 11, committed to Middle East: everyone not only because we had there are overcoming the massacres of 1) A group been going non-stop for 7 hours, friends at Nigeria, old and new, searching for work ·.of parents but because the many speakers had the end of the turmoil and tragedy really given us something to hope had seen knitting ofPalestinians and Israelis, learning whatever Dr. Steve Sunderland Jimmy Heath photo Arafat and for, something beautiful to believe from the ongoing shining example gained his in, and, examples of courage and we mean of Doctors Without Borders, and as peace between Moslems anadetermination that brought tears of agreemen,t to sign a peace treaty the individual joy. Each person held their poster Christians. some time soon. The group will acts of peace then take the signed treaty to and read its little sayings ofpeace, And, in The "We connect and connect making, like Netherlands, Sharon and ask him to sign it as some with tears and that special strongly to tile ideal tltat peace young people, well, " ... so that no more family JAMS (Jews sound we make when we are and Muslims can flourislt within, between and in the shadow members will die."; 2) Parents talking with our hearts. There was and Everyone beyond ourselves." ofAnne Frank, Circle members have donated no question that the talk on the Else) in Boca continue to blood in large amounts to the Parents Circle had made an impact, Raton, Florida, that are taking work for the freedom of the armies on both sides and organized but so had the Israeli and place in the bright light of hope and oppressed. Palestinian a shared blood affection everywhere, we are a drive amongst There are many in our city who educators who The Peace Village is that force for local and international bereaved spoke about one place we belong to that is are grieving both the loss of justice. parents from how education unembarrassed by the concept and young lives, whether they be We connect and connect for to.lerance is practice of peace. We are proud to both "sides;" police or community youth, strongly to the ideal that peace can wear the peace badge in all and, 3) most now seriously flourish within, between and and who have not given up the being amazingly, a languages. No bomb will end this beyond ourselves. ~veryone is undermined by phone relationship; no death by any form search for peace. invited to share their peace writings ofviolence will slow our energy for campaign 1s the state of via Streetvibes and the newsletter; I too long. Somewhere, if we can terror. And, the beautiful talk on underway to have Israelis call will print as many ofthe comments just look beyond the flashes of Palestinians and vice versa, seeking Gandhi had connected with many as I can. Everyone is encouraged of us who wanted to think through conflict, a child is smiling at the to talk about peace. Over 30,000 to feel respected deeply, and how methods of non-violence and calls have been made in the past handshake of peace. Thank you for admired for your and our work for making the Peace Village live. spirituality could continue to few weeks. µeace and justice.· It is with great sadness that Yitzhak 's talk was added to sustain a vital peace process. We search for the threads of I write of the sudden death of the by Dr. Rihab Issawi, a Palestinian ~ Several members of the group had repair, knowing that no one come from an amazing new group, who has seen her mother, brother Rev. Paul Stopenhagen, Cincinnati. method will work, and being open Paul, one ofthe founding Elders of and nephew die in the conflict. She JAM.(Jews and Moslems and to many approaches. Our "truth" the Peace Village, and a long time called for peace in the certain terms Everyone Else), and we heard of a is that there are many valid of someone who had driven two high level ofinterfaith and cross veteran of campus ministry for approaches to peace that are cultural work that included family peace, died beckoning, even at the time of after a set of "It is{air to say that the Peace members to the enjoying each other in festivals. gr~atest darkness. Like Harriet emergency unit The posters shined with hope and strokes last Village is everywhere we are, Tubman, we move in the darkness clarity and with an enthusiasm to week. His able everywhere we are reaching out only to have toward freedom, away from them die on the continue to be stubborn for peace. and lovely a ltand and feeling in our slavery, and toward one free house wife, Nancy, way. The many hours of talk and blindness for a flower, another after another. questions had stripped a~ay the continue on This Each person reading this with us. It is a hand ofhelp, and a gentle touch conference was superficial layer ofthe conference; note is the coordinator of a peace we arrived at that place when we organized by different world ofwarmth... " conference, bringing to were too tired for anything but the team member, without the consciousness a search for peace truth, too focused on peace to Wilma Greenfield, professor of mighty Paul, booming voice and and justice. Every reader of this believe that it was too far away; twinkling eye, story teller supreme, social work, Florida Atlantic note is a teacher and student of University, and took place in the· too much in joy to believe that any and, for a brief moment before his peace, a co-citizen in the school of death, co-researcher on the beautiful lifelong learning center on of the old divisions could stand up justice. Just like that, if we are campus before 200 active listeners. to our passion for a heartfelt development ofconscientious aware, the dawn of a peace process objector status in the Methodist journey to peace. An Asian Willie opened the conference with pops out and we can breathe in the Church during WW 2. Paul did not words from her heart, telling of her American professor ofsocial work, warm colors of hope and peace. Phil Tan, spoke for many of the dream that has come true. She allow much rooms for fools, It is fair to say that the turned the chairing of the day long posters when he showed us his making an exception in my case. Peace Village is everywhere we poster for the heart, done in He carried the peace flag every day session over to her long time are, everywhere we are reaching friend, Michael Dukakis, and his with unabashed glee. I shall miss out a hand and feeling in our wife, Kitty. Michael, former him. blindness for a flower, another Democratic candidate for Yitzhak Frankenthal, an cont. on page 16 hand of help, and a gentle touch of Israeli in his 50's, whose 19 year president, added his ·own Peace Village... �J STREETVIBES Ja~uary 2003 Page 11 Words from the Evangelist ..... Jim Crow is Alive and Well in Cincinnati by Rodney Sutton As I reflect on the grave issues facing our city, country, and the world I find it difficult to get into the festive spirit of the holiday season. As an African-American, I am reminded that my ancestors did not come over on the Mayflower, therefore, in celebrating the holiday ofThanksgiving I must focus my energies ofthankfulness elsewhere. Then t here is Christmas and its emphasis on the materialism ofthis world. I cannot enjoy this holiday knowing it contradicts the very values that Christ our Lord lived and died to exemplify. I cannot help but wonder where our true heroes have gone. Martin Luther King, Jr. is no longer with us, and his dream lies dormant. His was the last of a long line of prophetic voices. Who shall pick up the blood stained banner? Who shall answer the call? The systemic problems we struggle with today of racism, materialism, and militarism have been with us since before Christ. We only fool ourselves if we believe all is well in our city, country, or the world today. You may look out your window at your • well manicured lawn, your expensive car, and your clean cut neighbors and say: "All is well in my world." However, come into my Compare this reality of the poor world. Casually walk or drive and marginalized with your reality. through the less fortunate See the disparity. I ask you to look and see, because I have looked and I have seen. And what I see frightens me. It frightens me, because I know, as Dr. King knew; that such disparity and injustice cannot go on without there being a frightful explosion. I became fully communities in Cincinnati. Visit aware of this frightful situation as I the schools, the grocery stores, the shadowed a couple of Cincinnati parks, and the dilapidated homes. Police Officers. I saw what they see Go into the courthouse, juvenile everyday. The prostitution, drug centers, jails, and hospitals. sales and use, despairing youth ~-----------------------------------------. Annual Holiday Giving crowding our city streets, dilapidated housing, and a city government too immersed in itself to effectively c9mbat these life­ threatening issues. We can move to the suburbs and say: "It is not our problem", or "Those people created the mess they are in themselves", but in reality these problems are systemic and those who think they are privileg~d (whether black or white) have a responsibility to eradicate these evils. For evil it truly is, and it is purposeful. When on any given day seven out of ten booked at the Justice Center are African­ American, and seven out often in adult and juvenile court are African-American we should question the injustice or our justice system. When seven out of ten by Pat Mitchell picked up some dinners for the vendors that have children were being cut off the welfare rolls are Every year at Washington also invited. There was Santa needy and I'm happy to report, African-American, seven out often Park, Thanksgiving and Christmas with these ladies help, I was able to Claus, goodies for the parents and unemployed and denied housing time dinner is served to the accommodate a family often - a toys for children of all ages. Let's are African-American, and seven give a shout out to Darlene Hicks single mother with ten children. homeless sponsored by the Unity out of ten dropping out of school House, Mt. Ida Outreach, House of They will also gave a and her club members and a special are African-American, we should Refuge, Mission Servants of God, Christmas party for needy families thank you to the Homeless ask where has our city gone wrong. Club Kapri Korn and the 6th Street at 1018 William Howard Taft, on Coalition. Although we do not speak December 19th. Streetvibes Hill Club Mission. of Jim Crow law, it is alive and well This year food was served in Cincinnati. It is enforced subtly. at the Drop Inn Center because of Itis very intentional, and it denies bad weather in Washington Park. African-Americans the rights The menu included pinto beans, provided to others unquestionably white beans, corn bread, by our constitution. sandwiches, gumbo soup, coffee Tak~ a closer look at the and hot chocolate. Goodie bags issues that were struck down in our were given to each person. last election. True, they effect the For three years I have been poor and marginalized, but more working with Darlene Hicks, importantly they will have a lasting president of all these clubs, and effect on African-Americans in this founder ofMt. Ida Outreach. On city. November 23, 2002, these The Collaborative Process dedicated women feed over 3 50 and Community Problem Oriented people in Washington Park. They Policing are laughable unless the also give dinner packages to needy white citizens of Cincinnati buy into families, which consists of a turkey them, because the poor, and all the trimmings. This year I marginalized, and African­ ---;;.=;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;~;;;;;;;;~;;;;;;;;;;~;;;;;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;:=;;;;=;;;;:;;;~ Ameriean-citi zens have no power to make it work. No matter how much we may want it to work, it will only happen when the privileged decide it is in their best interest. We can form committees and coalitions to protest and support various issues, but until there is a collective agreement and - action taken we are just spinning our wheels. �,,, ... I I I I I I I I I I 1 1 I I I I I "'' STREETVIBE S January 2003 USDA REPORT: ACHIEVEMENTS OF FEDERAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (USDA Food and Nutrition Service, November.2002) USDA Under Secretary ofFood, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Eric Bost reports on achievements in nutrition programs during the first two years of the Bush Administration. He says "my goal for these programs is to sustain and continue their long history of helping families and individuals to secure a nutritious diet and build on this success with targeted improvements in three areas ­ . . mcreasmg program access, promoting better eating habits, and strengthening stewardship of taxpayer dollars-" Among the highlights of the report: a package that adds $6.4 billion in new funding to the Food Stamp '?rogram over a l 0-year period; an mcrease of over $400 million for WIC; increases in participation in the major nutrition programs over the last year (e.g. nearly 2 millipn more people receive food stamps); and a nationwide initiative to promote children's access to meals over the summer. http://www.fns.usda.gov/fncs/ real.pdf (Adobe PDF) REPORT: STATES' BUDGET OUTLOOK REMAINS BLEAK (National Governors Association, November 25, 2002) In its biannual fiscal survey, the National Governors Association fou nd that many states are in the worst fiscal crisis since World War II. They report that the current situation is due to several factors: the combination oflong-run deterioration in state tax systems coupled with an explosion of health care costs that is creating an imbalance between revenue and spending, as well as an overall loss of revenue attributed to the slowing economy. The report goes on to say that 37 states were forced to reduce their enacted budgets by about $12. 8 billion in fiscal year 2002 and plan to reduce budgets by more than $8.3 billion for fiscal year 2003 (mid­ way through the year). Many states have exhausted budget cuts and drawn down rainy day funds and now face the most difficult decisions. http://www.nga.org/nga/ newsRoom/1 MORE FAMILIES MAY HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HEAT OR FOOD TIDS WINTER health survey (the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System conducted annually by the Centers for Disease Control) conducted in all 50 states to which states can add hunger questions. http://www. ocpp. org/2002/ rpt021114.pdf (Adobe PDF) (New York Times, December 5) President Bush has proposed cutting $300 mmion in FY 2003 from the $1. 7 billion federal Low­ Income Home Energy Assistance • REPORT: HOMELESS YOUNG PARENTS AND Program, which assisted 4. 5 THEIR WELFARE million families last winter. The EXPERIENCES proposed cut could mean that (Cenrer for Law and Social Policy, 438,000 fewer families would November 2002) receive aid this year. Gas prices Homeless young parents and their are rising and this winter is children often lack basic expected to be colder than last resources, like adequate food, and winter, creating difficult choices need access to public assistance. for families who need assistance. According to Kathleen Walgren of DesRite being almost universally Detroit's heating-aid program, eligible for welfare, many when asked what families would homeless young parents are not do if they didn't the have receiving_needed services, and assistance, many recipients many aren't even aware that the respond that they "would have to welfare program ~xists, according cut back on food. Heat or eat." to this report. Even when http:/Avww.nytimes.com/20021121 homeless yout.ti know about 05/national/05HEAThtml (free Temporary Assistance for Needy reg;stration required) Families (TANF), they have trouble accessing or keeping GUIDE TO PRODUCING benefits. This report also STATE LEVEL REPORTS discusses how the TANF living ON HUNGER arrangement rule for minors may (Oregon Center for Public Policy) be operating as a barrier to TANF This is a guide for researchers at services rather than as an the state level to produce reports opportunity to help homeless on hunger and food insecurity. young parents find safe housing. The guide, entitled Hunger in http://www. clasp. org/Pubs!DMSI Your State, contains new findings Documents/1037307545.541 on hunger and food insecurity for edge_report.pd/ (Adobe PDF) a variety of groups (e.g. workers, rural residents, renters, Hispanics) in all 50 states. It is based on 1998-2000 data from the Food Security Supplement, part of the Current Population Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It includes insights from OCPP 's experience writing a state-level report and suggestions for gathering more data at the state level. For instance, the guide provides information abovt a J I I f I I oI I I I I 11 I :Page 12 Food Research and Action Center Report FRAC web site is http:// www.frac.org To subscribe to the weekly FRAC News Digest go to: http://capwiz.com/frac/mlm/ I RURAL POVERTY GROWING FASTER THAN IN OTHER AREAS (New York Times, December 8) This article examines the growth of rural poverty in America, comparing it to the growth of poverty in inner cities in the 1960s and 1970s. The 2000 census found that the percentage of people living below the poverty level is nearly 30 percent higher in rural areas than in cities. Workers in rural areas are 60 percent more likely to earn minimum wage than urban wage-earners. In Loup County, Nebraska, the poorest county in the nation, per capita personal income is $6,606. Most rural jobs are not agricultural, and about 25 percent of them pay wages below the poverty level for a family of four, according to Rep. Eva Clayton (D-NC), who is retiring from Congress but formerly served as chair of the Congressional Rural Caucus. http:/!www.nytimes.com/2002/12/ 08/weekinreview/OBEGAN html (free registration required) LONG ISLANDERS RELUCTANT TO SEEK PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AFTER SEPTEMBER 11th (New York Newsday, Melville, NY, December 5, 2002) A report entitled "Long Island: One Year Later," by the Health & Welfare Council ofLong Island, recomm~nds expanding eligibility for public assistance benefits to people who live outside the immediate area impacted by the events of September 11th. While people living in Lower Manhattan were identified as needing assistance by state and local social service agencies, those affected · living on Long Island were excluded from receiving most disaster relief benefits offered, even though 417 residents were killed or injured in the attacks. The report also found that middle class Long Islanders unaccustomed to reaching out for mental health services or public assistance suddenly had to seek help, and now understand how · difficult it can be for lower-income people. For the report: http:// www.hwcli.com/news! ?IDCateg01y=./5 ~TTHE EXEaJTIVES MADE OFF wrrn MILLIONS AND THE WORK'ERS GOT NOTHING. �STREETVfBES Nation's Homeless to be in Spotlight durng Radio Event Sixth Annual Homelessness Marathon to air from Maine this February For the sixth consecutive year, a 14-hour radio marathon will draw attention to the nation's epidemic of homelessness. To dramatize t he plight of the millions ofAmericans who become homeless each year, the program will originate from outdoors in Portland, Maine, where temperatures could easily be subzero. "The Sixth Annual Homelessness Marathon" will air nationally from 7pm, EST, Wednesday, February 5th to 9am, EST, Thursday, February 6, 2003. To raise awareness about the global extent of homelessness, the American marathon will periodically simulcast with a "Canadian Homelessness Marathon," being broadcast for the first time. The Canadian marathon will originate from Montreal, where it will be coordinated by C~UT. "'The Homelessness Marathon' is America's night for homeless people," said Jeremy Weir Alderson, the marathon's director. "This is the only chance most Americans ever get to hear The State of Cincinnati - a Grassroots Citizen's Report January 25th, lOam 4:00 pm, St. Joseph Catholic Church On Saturday, January 25th, a Sharing Session entitled "The State of Cincinnati" will be held, beginning at 1OAM, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 745 Ezzard Charles Drive in the West End. During this time groups can present information about their group and give a brief description of their written report. The sharing of reports of will be held Saturday from 1O:OOam - 4:00pm with lunch served at noon. We are calling on all local groups to submit reports on their particular issue. Reports should answer the following questions: 1) Where we are in relation to the issue. Where do we currently Page 13 January 200_3 ART, MUSIC, AND WRITING OPPORTUNITIES! Peas.lee Neighborhood Center, the stories of the homeless people 215 East 14th Street, hosts lots they see on the streets, and it's the of arts opportunities for adults only chance homeless people get and children to learn skills to address the nation about the such as playing a steel drum or obstacles they face." During the piano, photography, making most recent marathon, Karen, a mosaic art, or writing. Any homeless woman from central resident of Over-the-Rhine or New York, said, "I keep thinking the West End is welcome! All there's an answer out there. I sessions are FREE, incluiling know now. .. there aren't any." instruction and materials. No Comm.ents Alderson, "If t he previous artistic experience American people get involved, I know we can find those answers necessary. Contact Brenda Z. together. " at 621-5514 for more "The Homelessness information. Marathon," the longest regularly scheduled public affairs program OTR Steel Drum Band -Learn in America today, has grown from how to play the steel drums in being on one station in 1998 to an introductory series for more than 50 in 2002. Additional adults. Parents may bring their information, including photos, children (age 9 and up) to learn broadcast schedules and sound together if they like. clips from past marathons, as well as a list of current affiliates, can be Participants will learn steel drum technique, rhythms, and found at the marathon 's web site:www.homelessnessmarathon.org how to read music. "The Homelessness Marathon" is a consciousness Community Mosaic Art raising, not a fundraising, Project - Community members broadcast. The sixth marathon are coming together to ~ake will be funded, in part, by grants mosaic art for the Over-the­ · from The University ofSouthern Rhine neighborhood. The Maine, the Maine Community . organizers are looking for ideas Foundation, the Maine Charity for the next project. Forward Foundation Fund, and Ithaca your ideas to Brenda Z. Hours. stand on this issue? How is Cincinnati doing in relatiqn to this issue? 2) In what direction should we be heading? What goal are we trying to reach? 3) How are we going to get there, i.e. what specific steps should be taken to achieve the stated goal? These reports will later be compiled into a single compilation of all reports submitted. The goal of the workshop is to create a guide, a recipe so to speak, for building a better Cincinnati. Reports can be· as short as three paragraphs or as long as one wants. This is like taking temperature of, diagnosing and making a prescription for Cincinnati - a Citizens Agenda - a Community Conversation - t aking inventory - taking the pulse ­ keeping track in a holistic or comprehensive way. Our hope is that the reports will be used as a tool to galvanize communities around a common agenda as an insert to the cities budget young adults are ·invited to learn basic photography skills through introductory courses provided at Peas.lee. Call the Center for class schedules. Writing - Any young person in the Greater Cincinnati area may submit poems and/or articles via email for publication in Streetvibes. Content should be related to homelessness, social justice, or poverty-related· issues. Call For New Arts Advisory Committee Members! - The Arts Advi'Sory Committee is looking for representatives from the neighborhood and the arts and business community. This committee helps to fonnulate the direction and development of Peaslee's arts programs. Looking For New Staff - Photography - Over-the-Rhine Peaslee is also loqking for new music instructors for the piano and the mallets program. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved in teacliing music in a fun and rewarding setting. 1\hyone interesteO. in any of these opportunities, contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee, 215 East 14th Street, Over-the-Rhine, and West End teenagers and 621-5514. processes, as well as county, state and the United Way. As a grassroots, non-governmental effort, the report could be submitted to the city and state government for consideration from the viewpoint of the people. The report will be a vision quest or a blue print for building a real, people oriented Cincinnati. In addition the report could be utilized as a reference tool (available to the public), and used as barometer or measuring stick with which to assess our progress as a city. · Possible topics include, but are not limited to, issues regarding housing, the environment, children, homelessness, race/ ethnicity, including African American, IBspanic and other minorities, urban sprawl, economic inclusion, gender, inter­ religious respect, people with disabilities, poverty, sexual orientation, education, election reform, police behavior, black on black crime, minority business development, AIDS awareness, diet, city politics, animal rights, the judicial system, jails and prisons, healthcare, elderly issues, peace and justice, etc. Attendance at Sharing Session is optional. Reports can be submitted without attending Sharing Session. For more information contact Brian Garry at 236-4180 or email; bgarry@fuse.net Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe views and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBES January 2003 Art & Poetry Page 14 Ohio River Nocturne Late summer: an evening walk on the banks of the shining, remorseful river: There has been no rain for weeks to erode the upriver farms, and the water is a clear, oceanic green. .A cloud of minnows maneuvering to evade a marauding bass darkens the green. A pleasure boat the size of an Irish cottage putters near the Kentucky shore. Up at the bend, a string of barges bears downstream a broken mountain ofWest Virginia coal. The waterline is down; we walk along a bed of sand studded with gravel, mussel shells, shards of glass polished smooth as opal, and, left by fishermen, cans of corn cardboard beer cases odorous tubs of chicken liver. And here is the eyeless corpse of a washed-up catfish. And here, among the cakes of silt, shards of styrofoam driftwood a steel drum half-buried. And here is a social security card of someone-Let's not name herdrifted down from someplace upstream. Muddied and a little scratched and creased, it has survived because the I-won't-name-her woman from Someplace Upstream thought to have it sheathed in plastic. And this card is not the only plastic here, for we see, littered by the careless floods of spring, plastic balls in red and green, plastic bottles of every shape and shade, plastic bumpers from wrecked Toyotas, little, tragic-looking, lost, drowned plastic dolls, plastic weapon toys, plastic everything because it floats so well and is the emblematic product of our society. And it is all very sad. And yet I am glad to be here and if I squint a little and think a little backwards she is still a beautiful river, the ancient motherwater her surface bright and unspoiled her banks lined with sycamore and wiUow as she was before she was burdened with dams before the invasions of benzene and fecal coliform before she was crossed with the barges of broken coal. So we are only a little sad and we turn to go home. Up in the woods, a low lonely warble. Three men, arranged along a fallen tree.they have taken for a bench, listen: A fourth sings a tragic ballad. The voice ofthe singer is harsh as that of a heron and he is drunk-as the rest of them and I cannot make out the words nor can I follow the melody but I know it is a tragic ballad for ~e is high and he is lonesome and this is the river of tragic ballads. Perhaps it is a cirrhotic version of3Banks ofthe Ohio.2 It is impossible to tell. But the other men listen patiently to their friend and they nod in time to the song. I know these men and I know they are broken by labor, grief, and alcohol and I know they are eontinuing to break even at this moment, for it is clear from the spidering red in their faces and the sag in their shoulders and the patience they g!ye to this heron-croak baUad. I greet them briefly, so as to honor th~ song and to honor the shreds they retain of broken dignity. One salutes me with his can of beer and I would stay and listen and be their companion but I cannot bear to watch them dying by.the cluttered and darkening banks ofthe barge-bearing, silt-shouldered, fish-rich ballad-tragic river. War Protest: Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Termjnal by Sean Boda . When 5,000 citizens arrived At the museum complex With candles cardboard signs shouting ''Drop Bush, not bombs!" The police blocked the peace rally With metal barricades and horses. The oligarchy inside had cameras broadcasting Their agenda to millions While the citizens took to the streets yelling "This is what democracy looks like!" A man lay down in front of a cop car, As the uniforms made ready To protect the oil-slicked businessmen With chemical weapons and clubs. Peace, Piece From the book entitled "The Poor Man :S Journal" by Derrick Johnson, email: mrmansandthem@hotmail. com !jubmitted by Peaslee Neighborhood Center I've seen moments swept away like they were made of sand. And you know it was created by God 's own hand. But destroyed by man on the strength of a condition. We were first and goal now we' re 40 yds and inches. Off in the distance. You can see the sun give way. To rain clouds it 's the shroud of a gloomy day. The portrait was painted a sunny day and picnics in a park. A mother stares on a bridge as she's holding her heart. Now if it's art then it's art; if it's true then it's true. Everything's in black and white when abused it's black and blue. To give a clue look at the condition of time. The second hand is broke. Time starts to rewind, back to when. It was sunnier cartoons were funnier. Now the kids are running and they poking a gun to ya. And when a bullet flies it could hit anyone of ya. Including me. Sometimes ya hopes float on a breeze. Saying prayers silent but out loud, "Father help me please." They selling guns to our kids at stores on TV Out the back ofjeeps. When all kids want is peace. Not a piece. Cause one day we' ll all be free, realization is key. The revolution has begun and it is televised. Demons are beating on your children right in front ofyour eyes. Surprise lies is lies but when it 's twisted it's real. Let the media tell it to you we evolved from seals. But the world keeps rolling on some 20 inch wheels. Stabbin' us all in the heart tell me how does it feel. It's getting easy to bate and no problem to kill. Somebody once told me to vote with your feet. I been walking a long time so my ballot's for peace. Gimme some peace, so I can rest in peace. If I got peace you got peace. We don't need a piece to have peace. Peace. �STREETVIBES Art& Poetry January 2003 Page 15 When I See A Spirit dark days by Morgan W Brown hard, lonely and long moments happen when eyes faiJ to fall upon anything much more than what darkened cloudy, colder, days allow during the most difficult times, such dank chills, are found far too despairing faced alone seconds quickly slow down, becoming years, while nothing good or promising appears possible any longer unless one has enough light, strength and warmth stored within themselves, or is otherwise shown these from others, it ends up being far easier to stop hoping, trying and moving beyond When I see a spirit it makes me look high by Erica Cruz When toy look at the homeless What do you think? · so so so high in the sky I realize it is a gift that I will respect. Are the crazy, insane, do they stink? When you look at the homeless Does it make you sick to know They can't get the proper treatment To cure their sicknesses? When you look at the homeless Do you dare to care what their Life is like at night In this cold crisp.air. When I look at the homeless I.wonder to myself how I can Help make the heart melt With the overwhelm ofhappiness And the joy they deserve for Being strong and serving their Term ofbravery and survival Skills in this cold hatred world yet, no time gets worst endured, except that spent with the soul going untouched by thoughts, feelings, words or deeds blessed of a gentler, kinder nature not a brighter star or sun does shine, which can so deeply and plentifully inspire, nurture and rekindle aching, ail~g or dying spirits better; than those gifts offered from compassion, understanding and listening; freely given and openly welcomed by Andrea Bryant, Age 10, from Peaslee Neighborhood Center Daycare When you look at the Homeless Shutter Speed When the Fingers Point at Me by Rick AKA Vampire Is That What You Want? If you always think What you always thought, You'll always feel what, You always felt. If you always feel What you always felt, You ' ll always do what You 've always done. When the fingers point at me Because I dare to dream To be what I am. If you always do what When the fingers point at me, You've always done, A smile gently caresses my face, You'll always get what you always and I know they can never got. hurt; touch, bend or break me Is that what you want? to their rules. There are others out there like me, who chose to run, to hide, to flee. But I say to you now, Rise, Rise, Rise up, Into glory, and state what you are, and who you are, Because ofpeople like myself, And many others, That give them the authority of existence, Because without us, who or what would they have to taunt, or point at? · If! w0uld rather to be anything,­ It would be, not to be like them. by J immy Heath As I lay down to slumber, In hopes of dreams replete, lt's my corns and bunions That thank me for getting off my feet. byjba Rev. Maurice McCrackin at Homeless Memorial Service, Washington Park, 1996 �STRE ETVIBES January 2003 News & Editorial Cincinnati's Response to Uprising- Ship them Out Peace Village... neighborhood to be demolished? by Brian Gany Fifteen famiLies were set out the day before Thanksgiving. Their According to City of community is being threatened to Cincinnati administration- poor and be torn down and middle and upper black people have become too income housing built on top of prevalent and must go. They've where it currently stands. even passed laws to this effect. The buildings are of solid Cincinnati City administration brick construction with copper recently passed an ordinance which flashing and slate roofs, PVC down prohibits the use of federal, state, spouts and replacement windows, or city fund s to be used for low new entry and storm doors, new income housing_within the fences, new electrical service, Cincinnati city-limits. The totaJ mailboxes, patios and new trees. number of inner-city poor and Half of the kitchens are black people loosing housing since modernized. the Uprising c~uld exceed 20,000 if The City ofCincinnati has this current plan succeeds. made a concerted effort to get rid "Go where you want - but of poor and black people by forcing you can't stay here", is what the them to move out of the City city is saying to it's poor and black limits. residents. English Woods, one of The first to go was Lincoln Cincinnati's 52 neighborhoods, is Court with 885 units followed by scheduled for demolition. English Laurel Homes with 1,300 units, Woods contains 1,000 low income then Huntington Meadows the townhouses andapartments on a 90 largest apartment complex in acre hilltop overlooking downtown Cincinnati with 1, 165 units and Cincinnati. Aboutl50 units are now English Woods with l ,000 independent living for elderly and units. Why the is the City afraid of handicapped. English Woods is the Low-Income people? The City third in a string of m~:>Ves by the should spend their time fighting City to eliminate poor and black poverty and homelessness, not people from Cincinnati's urban poor people and homeless people? core. English Woods is under The City recently passed an attack and very mu~h in need of ordinance restricting citizens asking community support. other citizens for money in public The English Woods places. Show your support; neighborhood is in very serious English Woods Community Council danger of being demolished. How Resident Council Office, 11 East can the city allow an entire Heath Court (off Sutter) 513-661­ 8500. Chinese. "Look at t he openness of the heart," he said and we did and were touched. What I have learned from this confrence is that peace is being welcomed in -lots of groups that are not in the spotlight. As I listened to the Parents Circle and the JAMS groups I thought of the tough and beautiful road that peace workers are on. All of the hard questions have to be faeed, repaired, and then offered to people who are in pain. One vital qustion that was raised was: "Considering all of the years of bloodshed, and all of the years of bitterness, can there be peace with justice? Yitzhak answered: "No, there cannot be peace with either justice or forgiveness. Rather, there can only be a 'wise peace."' We wondered what he meant by this change in the way we normally think about peace. He went on to say that peace was too ellusive as it was to wait for justice. "The killing must stop and stop now," be emphasized. Our discussions and posters were largely in disagreement with his position even though no one felt confident about how a peace could be kept for any length of time without justice. Yitzhak forced us to look deeper, taking ourselves even more seriously, and to continue to search for a point that permitted the stopping of violence. Amazingly, we were being told by a grieving parent and cont. from page 10 "You 're insurance company is in Chapter 11... we 're going to need that liver back. Page 16 another fami ly member that they were ready to accept a peace that fit some concept of wisdom. Where are we to find this kind of peace? The conference did not speak to any real answers to this question but it did suggest that further meetings that brought peace workers together were of great use in clarifying these questions, and sustaining the peace discussion as a valuable effort. I felt that the speakers from Parents Circle and JAM had lit that old candle of hope in an incredible darkness of despair. Deeply breathing in their gentle and courageous actions and stories, I began to feel that we had only really begun to open the Peace Village to the horror of peace makers who are victims and facilitators of possibility. Right inside the gateless gate of our Village are those who have been waiting for us, waiting for others to help carry this effort for peace. They have been active in their waiting, building blood banks, . phone lines, dinners, common celebrations, and they have been burying family members, too. In Cincinnati, I think ofthe mother of the young man who was killed a year 112 ago, Ms. Angela Leisure. lier peace work, perhaps mqre than any one else's efforts, kept a kind of"wise peace" in our city. Now, she has gone deeper into the Village, leaving to others the task of GOmmemorating her work, and her son, with an active and viable peace. Her example also teaches me that repairing our city, getting and keeping peace, involves recognizing the heroism of those who have worked at the "hard" times of great gnef. There are many in our city who are grieving both the loss of young lives, whether they be police or community youth, and who have not given up the search for peace. So, our Peace Village opens to see the world working for peace as best as it can. Holding meetings to do posters gives the inner ­ expression of hope a chance to rise up and replace the deep feelings of pain and regret. Perhaps peace can come while we grieve, because we grieve, and with the energy that some grievers have for preventing any more violence, we continue. There is no time left for anything but to make peace work a dimension of our every waking activity. Elise Boulding 'J Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe views and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBES January 2003 News & Editorial Page 17 President Bush's (Revised) Address to the United Nations Everybody makes mistakes. And I am certain that the majority of you can relate to making a series of errors and finding yourself so far down a road of action that it feels impossible to turn back. Well, I stand before you today to say that it is never too late to alter your course. And it is not an act of cowardice but the ultimate act of bravery to reconsider a public position, and change direction when that is what your heart and mind tell you to do. No matter what you thought my motives have been in the Iraqi situation - oil, power, or revenge - I will tell you that up to this point, I thought that I was acting, at all times, in the best interests of our country. I felt aggression toward Iraq was the best policy - the only way for us to emerge from the threat of terrorism. But now my reflections tell me something else, and my conscience leads me in a new direction, which I am bound and determined to follow. First, I have thought more about the real effects of war - both immediate and long-term. Of course, the primary result ofwar i~ death - not only of soldiers, but oftotaUy innocent people including of course, children and babies. By itself, this slaughter is somethlng I cannot give my support to any longer. But these lives are not the only casualties. For the mentality that is bred in soldiers who are trained to be killers is something that is not easily reversed when they return to civilian life. This v~olence inevitably finds its way into families in both overt and subtle ways and is passed dow.n for generations to come. As a strong advocate for family values, I will do everything I can to avoid perpetuation ofthis cycle. · In another area, I have not been as strong - that of protecting our environment. However, I have seen enough to know that the effects of a war are so devastating to the surrounding land, air and water that bombing of any kind amounts to poisoning the general population for years to come following the armed conflict. I cannot engage in any activity that has such apocalyptic results, for again, this treatment of innocents is barbarian and unacceptable. But perhaps more than any of this, I cannot bear to leave a legacy - for the United States and beyond - ofdealing with conflict through violence. As the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, I have realized that foremost among my responsibilities is to set an example as to how to deal with threats, fear, aggression and conflict. We teach children conflict resolution in the schools, and I am compelled and determined, to the best of my ability, to teach it through our domestic and foreign policy as well. As a result, I will do all in my power to work for peaceful resolution in this and all situations, and to explore every ·opportunity for discussion and diplomacy. This doesn't mean that I think Sadaam Hussein will be receptive to any overtures I make toward a non­ violent solution to our current predicament, which I still maintain is extremely hazardous for the U.S. and the world. It only means that I refuse to use unnecessary violence in my attempt to eradicate terrorism. For I realize that a preemptive strike, or even the threat of one, looked at objectively, is itself an act of terrorism. This does not mean either that r·no longer consider Saddam Hussein a serious threat. There is no doubt in my mind that he is a misguided and extremely dangerous leader. But I don't think killing the people of his country will reform him or make him less dangerous. I think we can be sure that such an attack would have just the opposite effect and add considerably to the hostility toward America in an already volatile area. If you will aUow me an analogy, perhaps this will clarify my position. I wouJd not consider burning dow.n a school to get at one gun-carrying student. I would not open fire on an entire town to get at one murderer on the loose. And I will not bomb a country to get at one dictator, no matter how dangerous and threatening he may be. Instead, I have decided that henceforth, foll~wing in the footsteps of two great citizens of the world, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, I wilr do everything in my power, including putting my own life and body on the line, to avoid implementing violence anywhere, including Iraq. Furthermore, in this and all future situations, I will fully explore every conceivable alternative before taking the life of one single human being or asking one soldier to do so. Does this mean that I will not use self-defense if attacked? No. It means that I will never strike first and never strike at all unless it is absolutely necessary to preserve the safety of the people in my own country and.around the world. Lastly, to the American people, for those times when I have suggested that your dissent was unpatriotic, I apologize. And for my recent statement that America speaks with one voice, I am sorry. For it is our ability in the United States to express dissent and our tendency to speak from a multiplicity ofperspectives, with a huge diversity ofvoices, that makes our nation great. Thank you for listening, and God Bless America. But God Bless Iraq, too. Let's work for peace and justice for all people - for all nations. The preceding statement is the draft ofa speech that has been submitted to President Bush for his consideration. He has yet to give his full approval ofits contents. ­ Bruce Weil Wish List Can :You Help? Berta's Art Corner 100,000 march in Anti-War Demonstration, Washington, DC, October 26, 2002. Photo by Berta Lambert Streiitvibes newspaper is publjshed monthly on a shoe­ $tring budget from,tJie offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Can you help us with some of the following items? * Electric Stapler- Hea_vy duty * Blank CD-RW Disks - For Streetvibes. * Supplies for Vendor's Lounge (paper towels, cream and sugar, snacks, etc.) * Cleaning Supplies * Office Supplies - floppies, copier paper and other supplies If you can help, contact us at: Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for tlie Homeless, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OR 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com �, STREETVIBES J anuary 2003 OMB Watcher 1742 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 234-8494 (202) 234-8584 (FAX) Tax Cut Fever: What the Budget F uture May Hold With the shake-tip in the Administration's economic team, the recent rise in the unemployment rate to 6% (the highest rate in eight years), and absolutely no evidence that the massive Bush tax cut has done anything but send the federal budget on a rapid spiral into deficit, a reasonable person might think that it was time for the Administration to reevaluate the · idea that tax cuts are the solution to everything. The President's economic stimulus plan, currently in the design phase, however, is expected to consist of tax cuts aimed at corporations and individuals in the higher tax brackets. http:// www.ombwatch.org/article/ articleview/ 1221/1/1 57I It's the States' Turn States are grappling with $12.8 billion in cuts from FY 2002 and an additional $8.3 billion in cuts thus far in FY 2003. At this point, the President and Congress need to recognize that penalizing states for cutting taxes in better times (as the federal government, itself, did), while also placing some of the burden of costly federal tax cuts, as well as new homeland security needs on the states will only work against their efforts to stimulate the national economy. When Congress returns in January, it is expected to begin working on an economic stimulus package. Let's hope that this time the stimulus will not work against itself: if corporations are goi11g to receive federal income tax breaks again, the states shouldn't be le'fl: searching for ways to make up the- lo~t revenu~. Congress should see the states and their current budget crises as a source of quick tum-around on spending for services, workers and domestic security. http ://www.ombwatch.org/article/ articleview/1223/1/157I GAO Reports on Job Prospects of Former TANF Recipients with Impairments A recent study conducted by the General Accounting Office (GAO) examined the job prospects of people leaving the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Specifically, the study, shows that recipients of Page 18 TANF "who had impairments were found to be half as likely to exit TANF as recipients without impairments ... " Similar rates were seen among TANF recipients caring for children with impairments as those caring for children without impairments, even when factors such as marital status and age were taken into account. According to the GAO report, former TANF recipients with impairments are " one-third as likely as people without impairments to be employed," with 40 percent of such former TANF recipients reporting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) assistance. http:// www.ombwatch.org/article/ articleview/ 1224/l/157I Data Quality Invoked in Information Collection In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) dated November 6, 2002, the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE) raised data quality concerns ~ithNHTSA's recent Proposed Collection of Information. http ://www.ombwatch.org/ article/ articleview/1212/ 1/ 157/ Data Quality's First Test A request for correction of information under the new Data Quality guidelines th.at was filed on November 25, 2002, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by t he Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE), Kansas Corn Growers Association, and the Triazine Network could cripple EPA's ability to address endocrine disruptors. http ://www.ombwatch.org/article/ articleview/1210/1/ 157I FEC Approves New Rule on Coordinated Communications work. Over the next few months, the site will be refined in order to provide a more robust version for early 2003. Visit NPAction today, share your thoughts on our work, and help us to provide the best resources possible to assist your organization and partner groups in their policy participation. http://www.ombwatch.org/article/ articleview/1215/1/ 157I On December 5 the Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved new regulations that define when communications with a federal candidate, a campaign, party or their agent, may turn an otherwise independent expenditure into a prohibited in-kind campaign contribution. The rule implements the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of2002, which required the FEC to write tougher regulations in Bush Administration this area. The regulations will take Proposes to Gut Forest effect 30 days after publication in Protection Rule the Federal Register. The new Two days before Thanksgiving the rules use a three-part test to Bush administration quietly determine when an expense is approved a proposal that would considered "coordinated". It must gut current forest protection be for a public communication paid regulations by removing for by someone other than a requirements to protect forest candidate or campaign and meet wildlife and ecology, and by specific standards relating to both .eliminating the requirement of an content and conduct between the analysis that serves as the key candidate and group or person mechanism for informing the public paying for it. http:// ofthe environmental impacts of www.ombwatch.org/article/ forest management plans, among articleview/1215/ 1/157I other de-regulatory changes to the rule. http://www.ombwatch.org/ NPAction Greeted By article/articleview/1216/ 1/ 157I Positive Reception; State Advocacy Guides Added NPAction, O:MB Watch's new online resource for nonprofit advocacy, launched on November 22, 2002 in its pilot form. In the roughly two weeks since, the site has averaged roughly 1,300 unique visitors who have taken the time to explore the content offerings and features, and more importantly, to provide feedback on what's available. Recent additions to the site include Poll results and topic discussion around nonprofit . attitudes regarding IRS restrictions on candidate endorsements by charities; and a set of state advocacy guides for nonprofits to help identify key government agencies, rules, regulations, and guidelines regarding their advocacy tr Vendor: 80 cents Cheney Task Force Lawsuits: Courts Dismiss GAO Request, Delay White House Deadline On December 6, 2002, a federal appeals court issued a two-page order indefinitely delaying the December 9, 2002, deadline (or the White House to produce documents on Vice President Cheney's energy task force. The order stated that the court will schedule a date for arguments on whether to step into the case and consider the administration's request to put a halt to producing documents and providing testimony. http ://www. om~watch.org/artic~e/ articleview/1213/1/157I Where Your Dollar ' Goes Printing and Production: 20 cents The StreetV1bes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tiorrabout the program. Many thanks for your support. �STREETVIBES Page 19 January 2003 A WORLD O_F WEBSITES! Adams County: a n~mber of websites exist for various things, but no governmental records were • by Carolyn. Meszaros within a 50 mile radius of Streetvibes home base, Cincinnati, found. County seat: West Union. It was said, there is a thing Hamilton County, Ohio. There are . Brown County: http:// www.browncountyohio.net/ which, called "The Information Highway," over forty. They are all different, ofcourse. And, they all have the Internet. Anyone can get on it. like others below, doesn't seem to towns or cities called "county be an official site but which does This is a guide to some links that lead to elected officials; click on seem to be useful; and, at the seats" where elected officials and "Local Gov't... ". County seat: bottom, there's a capsule the like meet, which will have to Georgetown. ­ come after the counties themselves. presentation of those covered last This is not an attempt to Butler County: http:// month for those who missed those www.butlercountyohio.org/­ (or lost them). As previously reach any particular county elected officials can be found in the department or individual although indicated, government being of one might find something in left column and click on whatever importance, here's more on the is suitable. County seat: the city subject. · particular or a link to something in particular with the given links. The ofHamilton. Beyond (or beneath) Clermont County: http:// one thing that WAS searched for . federal and state governments www.co.clermont.oh,us/ - elected was some kind of a contact to the (already covered to a very small officials can be found in the left extent), there are, for want of a county commissioners. And, since better description, "local things." there are so many, even this is column and click on whatever is suitable. County seat: Batavia. covered in more than one part, Many important matters are under Clinton County: http:// with part of Ohio with it's couple the authority of districts, regions, ofmillion people first. www.co.clinton.oh.us/ click on townships, or other local authority For those outside that county agencies. County seat: as well as what usually comes to Wilmington. mind first: counties and cities. (roughly) 50 mile radius, the best There are literally that can be offered is a couple of Greene County: http:// suggestions. There is a thing called www.co.greene.oh.us/ click on thousands of such things as the "National Association of elected officials. County seat: districts, etc. Some kind of consideration should surely be Counties." After the home page, Xenia. etc., there's a U.S. map that Hamilton County: http:// given to remote notions like " OKI www.hamilton-co.org/ click on Regional Council ofGovernments" (insofar as possible) leads to individual state lists ofthe counties: · county sites. County seat: (reportedly a council of three http://www.naco.org/counties/ Cincinnati. counties in Ohio, three in counties/index.cfm where pertinent Highland County: http:// Kentucky, and one in Indiana). information (including elected www.highlandcounty.com/ click on Other things that immediately come to mind include: what area is officials) is posted. One can also government (there are two covered by something like a state try typing in a name in a search bar websites that look serni:-official, "welfare" district administration and (maybe) come up with a this seems to be the better one). office or a "Consolidated County seat: Hillsboro. number of different leads and/or Metropolitan Statistical Area" Montgomery County: links. On to "local". counties, (CMSA, what is sometimes called http ://www.co.montgomery.oh.us/ "the metro area"). But, space some of which are commonly in the - click on departments. County seat: prohibits listing them all. news and some ofwhich are rarely Dayton. The most sensible approach mentioned for various reasons. It Preble County: http:// seems to be to list a few should also be noted that all of www.preblecounty.com/ click on fundamental things that might them are only ROUGfilY within " community," then on"elected affect "ordinary people" where 50 miles since there was no way at officials," then again on "elected MOST of the readership MIGHT hand to precisely draw a circle officials." County seat: Eaton. be. That does leave many possible .. Warren County: http:// around Cincinnati (or Hamilton links up to those with particular county) in one ofthe library's www.co.warren.oh.us/ click on official atlases. One or the other concerns or where some particular elected officials. County seat: information might be regularly Lebanon. place with only a small "possible" fringe within the 50 mile range may needed. As before, with what is That's eleven websites all covered, there are suggestions for or may not be included. together. Here's one more to make people at a distance from Since Cincinnati itself is on it an even dozen, one leading to the the southern border ofHamilton Streetvibes home base as well as Ohio Lottery results: http:// the specific links for people in the county, which, of course, has a few www.ohiolottery.com/ in case immediate area. miles across it, there is also such a someone finds enough change thing as 50 miles from Cincinnati Fundamentally, states are somewhere to take a chance on usually sub-divided into counties and 50 miles for the northern som~thing . (or something equivalent but with a border ofHamilton county. The Recap oflast month: difference is six counties in Ohio: different name). The three states Federal government, House oflndiana, Kentucky, and Ohio Clark, Darke, Fayette, and Miami ofRepresentatives: http:// alone have a total ofthree hundred and just barely Madison and Ross www.house.gov/ and U.S. Senate: to be dealt with at another time. counties. Just counties. Exactly http://www.senate.gov/ for both three hundred: Indiana, 92; committees and representatives. Eleven more, including State governments: Indiana Adams county which is just barely Kentucky, 120; Ohio, 88 ­ according to one reliable reference in range from the city itself but well GeneralAssembly: http:// book. within rapge from the county line, www.in.gov/legislative/ and "The First Plan" now is to and Hamilton county itself follow. Kentucky Legislature: http:// www.lrc.state.ky. us/home.htm and cover the principle county The cities listed with them are the government websites (or Ohio General Assembly House of county seats and NOT necessarily all the sizable cities in a given Representatives: http:// something near to that) for www.house.state.oh.us/ and Ohio county. counties Oust counties) roughly Senate: http:// www.senate.state.oh.us/ and the "extras" were: Urban Legends: http:// www.snopes.com/ (the known site) Foreign news: http:// news.bbc.co.uk/ (the British Broadcasting Corporation) Some e-cards: http:// bowcreek.com/ (seasonal and other) Local point of interest: http://www.aviationtrailinc.org/ (historic) International homeless newspapers organization: http:// www.street-papers.com/ (not the same as the North American organization) Cincinnati Homeless Coalition: http://cinci.com/gcch/ (stop by and look things over!). Have a good month! Story, Editorial and Art Submis­ sion Deadline for tlie February 2003 edition of STREETVJBES is Write Usl We'd like t o hear from you.... Send letters or comments to: Sf reetvibes@Juno.<;om, or write f h.e Coalit ion office at tn: Streetvjbes letters, 1596 Elm.Street · Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the.aRhine Cincinnati , Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Empowering our neighborhood children t hrough peace, art and education �=====·-·- -------­ Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. SHELTERS: Women aod Children YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Meo City Gospel Mission 241-5525 (3arden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups seNe the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical seNices, social seNices, soup kdchens, and mental health/addiction seNices. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all ofits citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Greater ,--- . ._. , Cinclntiaii CooUtiC>M .Fer The Homeless • "ill' Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 • SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole {AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith 471-1100 Hospitality Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 861-1111 st. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA Excel Development Miami Purchase OTR Housing Net. ReSTOC Tender Mercies Tom Geiger House 721-4580 632-7149 241-0504 369-0004 381 -1171 639-7056 961 -4555 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961 -4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Meo Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921 ~1613 Starting Over 751L3260 TREATMENT: Both l N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351·0422 381-6660 C.C.A.T. Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center · 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside S91-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 · Fransjscan Haircuts651-6468 · Goodwill Industries 771 -4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Ment~I Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center357-4602 Homeless Mobile 352-2902 Health Van House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271 -5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 st. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863· 3184 Salvation Army 863·1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 - � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2003 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource January 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Annual Homeless Memorial Remembers Those Who Have Died Streetvibes TV Returns in February Pg 2: Ordinary Citizens Can Make a Change… Pg 3: North American Homeless News Digest A Goodbye, From the Vendor Education Coordinator Pg 4: Streetvibes Editor Receives Mac Award Pg 5: Reader Mail Pg 6: Volunteers of America Pg 7: Philip Berrigan, Anti-War Activist, Dies at Home in Baltimore, MD Pg 8: Ohio Empowerment Coalition Observes International Human Rights Day Wellstone Death A Huge Loss to Homeless People Pg 9: ¡Bienvenidos! Pg 10: Report from the Peace Village Pg 11: Words from the Evangelist Pg 12: Food Research and Action Center Report Pg 13: Nation’s Homeless to be in Spotlight During Radio Event The State of Cincinnati-a Grassroots Citizen’s Report Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: News & Editorials Pg 17: President Bush’s (Revised) Address to the United States Pg 18: OMB Watcher Pg 19: A World of Websites Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource January 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Pat Mitchell Mary Taylor Virgil Tuttle Jimmy Heath Berta Lambert Elain Coffy Brian Garry Bill Joiner Carolyn Messaros Molly Rhodes Dr. Steve Sunderland Cheryl Ware Bruce Weil Mike Henson Lynn Williams Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Activist Andy Erickson Anti-War Arts & Poetry Baltimore Berta Lambert Bienvenidos Bill Joiner Brendan Goodwin Brian Garry Bruce Weil Bush Carolyn Messaros Cheryl Ware Cincinnati Citizens Report Dr. Steve Sunderland Elain Coffy Evangelist Food Georgine Getty Grassroots Holiday Homeless Memorial Human Rights Jimmy Heath Lynn Williams MAC Mary Taylor Maryland Mike Henson Molly Rhodes News & Editorials Ohio OMG Pat Mitchell Peace Village President Reader Mail United Nations Virgil Tuttle Websites Wellstone https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/ccc087ef26276b33608cb746928059c4.pdf 9fd71dea49106fc1108b47d1fe7afa72 PDF Text Text @ ..u Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �April 2003 Cover Story ReSTOC celebrates 25 years of Over-the-Rhine Neighbor­ hood Development Grassroots agency leads Vine Street development improving the cond.itions on Vine Street? Maybe there is .s ome hope after alt Continuiµg my walk, I cross Thirteenth Street to find the by Michael Flood same sign on another building. The Walking north along the scaffolding on the front of the west side of Vine Street I pause to building holds workers above the street fixing the facade of another listen to the sounds ofbanging and bashing and knocking. Is someone vacant building. Before I reach the corner of working inside this building? As I listen closer, I hear the sounds of Fourteenth Street I find another building with the same sign, but saws ripping and zipping through this time, instead of watching out wood. I am suddenly·startled by the thump of something thrown from above, I have to be careful to into the bed of a truck, another avoid walking beyond a barricade load of demolition debris ready to and into a trench where workers have just finished up connecting a be hauled away for reclamation. I look up to see a sign on the shiny new copper pipe to the water building, "Coming Soon : H istoric main for service to a building Building Reha bilitation: A which is well beyond the demolition phase and very much Com munity Rehabilitation under construction. This building P roject by ReSTO C" as well as another sign that says the City of is being sheetrocked, after the plumbers, .electricians and HVAC -----~i~cinnati is he~pin?. ~building is ~-*b..,. 1'"'m""g-"rrm1gP"fba'.'"""cti-k--'"""1Tu'!11a<:fme""Cls--+Jr.oia,.,.ve-r+dnnone their first steps. housing to the City's " most I can't help but wonder, important street" - Vine Street. Is "who, or what, is ReSTOC?'1 someone listening to the Mayor I walk west on Fourteenth and dQing something about Street, then continue north on Republic Street. As I approach Fifteenth Street, I see for the fourth time an identical sign to the earlier ones_ proclaiming that this building, on the northwest corner ofFifteenth and Republic, is a project of ReSTOC. This building is the furthest progr.essed of all. It is being painted inside, a sure sign of the last stages of rehabilitation. Now I know for sure, I have to find out about ReSTOC. ReSTOC, short for Race Street Tenant Organization Co­ Operative was chartered in 1978, having begun with one property on Race Street in 1977. 2003 marks the 25th anniversary of the neighborhood housing co­ operative. It now owns forty­ seven properties in Over-the-Rhine. Most ofthe properties ReSTOC owns are in the Washington Park area. Its buildings and lots are o Vine, Republic, Race, Pleasant, Elni, Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Streets. The mission ofReSTOC to provide decent, safe, racially integrated, sanitary housing at th most reasonable cost possible in tenant-cooperative manner that i financially sustainable. ReSTOC works on the principle of a co-operative. Afte member/tenant has been with ReSTOC for one year, they are allowed to join ReSTOC's board owners and have a vote on how ' ReSTOC .... Cont. on page 10 Hate Against the Homeless National Coalition for the Homeless Ranks Ohio as the 4th Most Dangerous State for Homeless Citizens by Andy Erickson Kenny Segrest lived on the Ohio River just outside of Huntington, West Virginia. One evening in July, three teenagers walked through his campsite. One threw a beer bottle on the ground. Mr. Segrest asked them not to litter, because this was his home. The three teenagers responded by beating Mr. Segrest with their hands, feet, and sticks until he was dead. Unfortunately, this isn't an uncommon occurrence. According to a report soon to be released by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), in the past four years there were a total of 125 reported acts of violence against homeless men and women that resulted in death. There were 161 reported acts ofp.on-lethal violence against homeless men and women. Many more ofthese violent crimes probably went unpublicized and unreported. Often, homeless people do not report crimes committed against them because ofmental health issues, substance abuse, fear of retaliation, past incidents, or frustration with police. These hate crimes against the homeless occurred all over the Ricky White, 45, was followed down an alley by a group ofteens in country - in 286 different US Galveston, Texas and hit in the back ofthe head with a hard object. Photo cities - over the past 4 years. Many occurred here in Ohio. In courtesy of The Daily News, Galveston County. fact, you might be surprised to surpassed by California (3 2 that occurred in our state happer know that NCH so far has ranked separate incidents in 1.8 cities in Springfield. Ther~, inAugust, ­ Ohio as the 4th most dangerous resulting in 20. deaths and 15 non­ Denni~ R. Wade, a homeless mai state for homeless people to live. lethal acts), Colorado (13 separate was sleeping on the porch of an Over the past four years in incidents in 2 cities resulting in 11 abandoned house when he was s Ohio, according to NCH's deaths and 4 non-lethal acts), and on fire. He suffered burns on ov forthcoming report, there were 11 Washington State (13 separate 80% ofhis body. T hough initiali separate incidents in 5 cities . incidents in 5 cities resulting in 10 resulting in 8 deaths and 4 non­ Hate deaths and 3 non-lethal acts). lethal acts ofviolence against The most recent act ofviolence homeless pe~p le. Ohio was only cont. on page 3.... C NI A I ·I T �STREETVIBES Local News April, 2003 Exploring Change Since April, 2001 by Jimmy Heath Almost two years ago, the summer after Cincinnati's civil unrest, my friend Reggie and I were hosting a display of some of our art during the Over-the-Rhine Community Festival in Washington Park. Organized by the Ov~r-the­ Rhine Community Council, the Contact Center and many other grassroots organizations in the neighborhood, the festival is held each year during August to celebrate the community and bring neighborhood people together. Because ofthe civil unrest a couple months earlier, this particular neighborhood Festival gathering was especially important. It was still a hot time in Over-the-Rhine. The memories ofthe unrest had not begun to fade. City Hall was still reeling from the consequences of that disturbing weekend, (and still is to this day) the news media was still watching, and community residents were trying to figure out how to ease the tensions so that normal everyday life in the neighborhood could resume. The Over-the-Rhine Community Festival was like a temporary oasis, a retreat, in a troubled inner­ city community. I ran into Reggie recently and we talked about our .shared experience in the p~k on that summer day two years ago. On that hot afternoon in August of2001 , Reggie and I were standing near our art. displays, talking and watching the children and adult crnwds moving about the various festival booths. The civil·unrest and it's implications was the main subject of our conversation. There were a lot of folks from the news media wandering around the festival booths to witness the gathering, looking for a story. It wasn't long until a newspaper reporter, photographer in tow, approached us and began a conversation with Reggie. "What do you think is the current state ofOver-the-Rhine?" asked the eager reporter, note pad ready in hand. "Well, I'm not sure I'm qualified to talk about that. I live in Hyde Park," was Reggie's reply. Pointing to me Reggie continued, "But Jimmy here lives in Over-the-Rhine, maybe you should talk to him." "Oh," replied the newspaper reporter, after glancing at me. Reggie and I both immediately sensed that something was wrong with this meeting. It was unspoken, but we both sensed it. It didn't take .us long to figure out what the problem was. You see, Reggie is black, and I'm white. The newspaper reporter; with a story possibly half written in her head, saw her ideas and her stereotypes challenged by Reggie, Page 2 the black dude from Hyde Park, a neighborhood that is perceived as white and '.'upscale", and Jimmy, the white dude from the predominately poor and African­ American neighborhood ofOver­ the-Rhine. "We need to find someone else," the reporter said to the photographer, and they both walked away. Reggie and I share an indignant laugh over the memory of this encounter every time we run into each other. Maybe I was too white, or Reggie wasn't "black" enough. We still haven't got it completely figured out. Eventually, the reporter found a suitable person for the interview because I saw the piece in the newspaper the following day, along with a photograph. It wasn't a bad report - it told the story of an Over-the-Rhine resident and the frustration of living in the neighborhood surrounded by so much turmoil. But what Reggie and I found through this experience too was a (Continued next page...) . Childrens booth at the Over-the-Rhine Community Festival ·Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... the sale of Streetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise mis­ donation. I agree not to ask for donations of representing is a violation of a city ordinance and more than $1. I also understand that I will be may be cause for arrest. able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the papers, and I will display my badge at all times Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not papers, or from other vendors, will result in contest territories with other distributors. I will termination from the program. not sell on private property without permission. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ to vend after 12 midnight. supporting paper created by people who are 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other ven­ homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. effort, I will try to spread the word and write 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence stories ifpossible. of drugs or alcohol. ·6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination threatened. from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I time as deemed appropriate. am collecting for the "homeless" in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits froin 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary �STREETVIBES April, 2003 Page 3 sense of how many stereotypes " mission offenders," who believe Hate there are about who lives in what they are on a mission to cleanse the cont. from page 1 ... neighborhoods here in Cincinnati. ~orld of a particular evil. Others Segregation lives even in the are " scapegoat offenders," who Mr. Wade was in stable condition, subconscious mind ofCincinnati project their resentment toward the his brother reported, "He has no giowing economic power of a citizens. We assume and expect skin. The damage is done. He is particular racial or ethnic group black people and white people to not going to Qiake it." His brother through violent actions. Still come from certain communities in was correct. Wade eventually others are "thfill seekers" - those this city. On the surface this may succumbed to his injuries. who take advantage of a vulnerable not seem like much, but it reveals In October of 2001, a homeless and disadvantaged group in order the inherent and subtle racism that Cincinnati man was sitting in Piatt to satisfy their own pleasures. lingers in the white community of Park when a group ofyouths came Thrill seekers, primarily in their · Cincinnati. I think these up behind him, hit him with bricks teens, are the most common assumptions are at the core of the on the back of the head and then perpetrators of violence against the city's problems with race relations, ran off Two days later, a police homeless population. the quiet and unspoken racism that officer saw the back of the man's Donald Whitehead, director resides in the minds of the head and took him to the hospital of the National Coalition for the uneducated or uniformed. In our where he was given stitches. The Homeless, said in a press relea.se, minds, the miricfs'ofwhite folks man later had a series of strokes "Our country is in its darkest hour. especially, these minute notions and died as a result of the injury to As more and more men, women grow. We become guilty of covert his brain. and children are forced into segregation and racism. For some Because of stories like these, NCH poverty by worsening economic it may only be subconscious is calling on Congress to add conditions and the widening and racism. For others we know, housing status to pending hate growing gap between the rich and racism does not linger below the crimes legislation. In 1968, the the poor, their cries for help are not surface. U.S . Congress defined a hate crime being gre:eted with kindness or So much of what I read and as a crime in which the defendant benevolence, but are instead being hear about Over-the-Rhine makes intentionally selects a victim, or in greeted with apathy and hate. It is reference to my neighbors as the case of a property crime, the time that we expose these "those people." And it isn't only property that is the object of the cowardice acts against people about poverty, or the politics of crime, because of their race, color without homes. It is time we bring downtown Cincinnati; it's about or national origin. . this darkness to light." race. Hate crimes are commonly called At the time ofthis issue's As long as we refuse to bias-motivated crimes, referring to publication, NCH's hate crimes examine our relationships with the prejudice or partiality of the report had not been officially ~ple ofdifferent cultures, and perpetraJo_r against the victim's real released . For more information learn to understand how we or perceived grouping or about hate crimes and other issues subconsciously harbor certain circumstance. According to NCH, surrounding homelessness, please notions and prejudices, we will most hate crimes are committed visit NCH's web site at never learn to appreciate and love not by organized hate groups, but www.nationalhomeless.org. our neighbors. We will always be by individual citizens who harbor a separate, and we will certainly strong resentment against a certain never heal a community. group of people. Some are I'm sure that the next time I see Reggie this conversation will continue! Courage is,what it takes to stand up anH speak. Courage is aJso what it takes to sit , down ·and listen. fflnstomChurchill The cause of viol~nce is not ignorance~ It is self-interest.•• Only reverence can restrain violence - reverence for human life and the environment • Rev. William Slo@ Co/ji1f., Jr. ReST(!)C is now ee/ebrating 25 years of ·b11iltling a strong, community in ·o ver- Write Us! · ~. . . the-Rhine! Join us for ReSTOC's 25th Anniversary Dinner & Fund raiser We'd lihe to hear ~· frOm IJOU- jill~I' Send letters ol'. comments (o: ' Streetvibes@Juno~om, or Write the Coardion office attn: Streetvibes Letten, I 506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio,45202 * Blank € D - RW Disks - For Streetvibes. Sunday, April 27 at Elder High School Reserve your seat todayl * Supplies for Vendor's Lo'Unge (paper towels, cream and sugar~ snacks, etc.) * Cleaning Supplies * Office Supplies - floppies, copier paper and other supplies ·email: inffJ(#)Jiationalhomeless.org. http:!! www. nationalhome1ess.or.g If you can help, c01!tact us at: Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-1803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.co1J! Call 513-381-1171. . and James Barber Race Street Tenant Organization Co-Operative 114 West 14th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 381-1171 (voice), (513) 381-1314 (fax) �STREETVIBES April, 2003 by Molly Rhodes something else." A new exhibit in San President George W. Francisco's city hall celebrates Bush's 2004 budget request still the skills of the panhandlers fails to meet the needs of . Americans most in need, according to a statement issued by the National Coalition for the Homeless. While Bush claims·his budget provides the federal department ofHousing and Urban Development with the resources to help low-income families to buy homes, it does little for people who cannot even afford any kind of home, rented, bought, or otherwise. "The budget fails to include any significant resources for large scale housing production and is marked by level funding of programs serving homeless, disabled, and elderly populations," reads the statement. "President Bush's proposal thus continues the tragic historical trend that created modern homelessness and remains at its root. In a sad illustration of this fact, the Administration's proposed FY2004 HUD budget represents a 63% reduction since the last year of the Ford Administration; over the same period of time: requests for new Section 8 vouchers alone dropped from over 400,000 to a meager 5, 500 this year. " . Bush's budget also fads to help people meet their basic healthcare needs and provide for their children. As the statement concludes, "We call on the President to translate the "courage and enter.prise" ofhis rhetoric into meaningful, measurable actions to end the unnecessary disgrace ofthe most severe form of poverty in the richest nation in the world." Helping the homeless could become as easier as feeding a parking meter­ ..._ literally - in a new plan proposed by the Athens, Georgia, Downtown Development Authority, in which four refurbished parkipg meters would collect money for the homeless. The idea is supposed to be an alternative to giving money directly to panhandlers on. downtown streets, and instead put it in the meters which would then have their wares distributed to local service organizations, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. A similar program in Nashville, Tenn., has garnered the city $200 a month in homeless services donations. "I think it's worth a try," Athens­ Clarke Mayor Heidi Davison told the Baner-Herald. "We' ll see if it works, and if not we' ll try most people go out of their way to avoid. Local artist Dianne Platner paid homeless people for more than 1po homemade cardboard signs- the kind of signs homeless people are often seen holding up by the side ofthe road - and used them to erect a miniature makeshift tent city next to the elections department in city hall, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Platner is not trying to make a political statement about how homeless people should be helped; as she told the Chronicle, " I just hope [this exhibit] exposes the depth of the problem in another way and raises awareness about the complications involved in caring for people who are disenfranchised." Page 4 Asian poverty rates are as high or sometimes even higher than other ethnic groups, they manage to find ways to care for or find help from people from their local communities and families. "I don't know what we would have done without family," one Chinese immigrant told the Mercury News. "It allowed us to survive." Dwight Henson is poised to make Denver history as the first homeless person to run for mayor in the city. The 41­ year-old former rancher and cab driver has been introducing himself to as many Mile High City residents as possible, including a get-out-the-vote event for area high school stUdents. He surprised some students by announcing that, ifelected, he would actually reduce money for homeless programs because these programs contribute to homelessness rather than help end it. Yet most students were thrilled to open the debate to someone who had experienced a different side oflife. "He may not win, but he'll open a lot of people's eyes to the homelessness in Denver," said Michael Schaus, a Santa Monica is quickly senior at Denver School of the learning that just because you Arts, told the Denve~ Post ban sleeping on the streets (www.denverpost.com).. "He doesn't mean you've solved the, shows anyone who is willing can run for mayor. " problem of homelessness. A To look on the bright neighborhood in the eastern part of side, it's encouraging that th~ city has gotten together to figure out what to do about people wanted to give money homeless people who continue to to help the homeless. Ofcourse, sleep in their business doorways no homeless people will ever and alleys, according to the Santa benefit from the money collected Monica Mirror. However, rather by two women who instead than consider the fact that the high pocketed it all for themselves. No­ cost of housing the area means one at the Northeast Ohio people have no where to live, Coalition for the Homeless in residents are instead convinced that Cleveland is sure just how much liquor sal~s and the high quality of money the two managed to trick garbage put in alleys by locaL out ofpeople, though it's believed restaurants are the true source of they've been soliciting false their problem. With such a donations for the past six years, perspective, there's litt!e odds of according to the Cleveland Plain them solving their problem any Dealer (www.cleveland.com). time soon.. . Most recently, the two are believed While homelessness continues to be a problem in Northern California's Santa Clara County surrounding San Jose, it appears some ethnic groups have found ways to minimize the suffering. Although Asians make up 25 percent ofthe county's population, they make up just 4 percent of people who sought emergency shelter last year; nationally, they make up 3 percent ofthat group. In a report from the San Jose Mercury News, (actors such as the shame offailure and access to housing with relatives, even in tight living situations, appeared to be the main reasons Asian communities are shielded from experiencing as much homelessness. Even though to have duped people mere blocks from the Coalition's headquarters. The two women used to sell the Coalition's homeless street newspaper, the Homeless Grapevine, but switched to asking for charity donations - and kept those donations - when they realized how much more money they could make for themselves. "People who donate to these women will be hesitant to donate again," the Coalition's executive director Brian Davis told the Plain Dealer. "Certainly, this harms all homeless organizations." After three years of federal funds reforming and supporting hundreds of homeless shelters and related projects across the country, the Canadian government has now placed its focus - and $405 million Candian dollars - on the next layer of the struggle to get out of homelessness: transitional housing. What's more, provinces like British Columbia have decided to match the money from the national homelessness initiative with their own funds, according to the Vancouver Sun (www.canada.com/vancouver). The Supporting Communities Partnership Iriitiative has already helped 216 projects in British Columbia and the Yukon with $52 million in funding that has gone to cre~ting new shelter beds, . renovating crumbling shelters, and improved support sevices like food banks and soup kitc~ens. "The communities said to me, we have enough shelter beds, what we need is transitional houses," B .C. Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw told the Vancouver Sun. "We are going to save these kids." The announcement about money for transitional housing comes-as housing advocates have been gearing up for a big battle over Vancouver's ofd for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The advocates fear a repeat of the scene during the 1986 Expo, w~en low-income, long-term tenants were booted out ,,. of single-room-occupancy hotels,,.t o make .room for short-term tourists. Wary that the stereotypical image of homeless is a single male, the Salvation Army launched a new campaign in Tuscan, Ariz., to highlight the plight of homeless children. Posters with pictures oflocal homeless children, statistics ab'out homeless, and ways. for the local community to get involved can be found on everytliing from buses to businesses. The Salvation Army estimates over one-third ofthe approximately 5,500 homeless people in Tuscon - or 2,000 . people - are children, accordmg to the Tuscon Citizen (www.tusconcitizen.com). The campaign is not just to raise awareness but also money for housing for homeless families with children. The charity is currently looking at sites located near services and public transportation, but is already facing opposition from local officials and the greater community. The charity hopes educating the public on who really suffers from homelessness will alleviate their concerns about helping them in their own backyard. This news report is reprinted courtesy ofReal Change News, Seattle, WA. �STREE TV IBES April, 2003 Page 5 Formerly Homeless, Ri.sing Up To Help Others by Nasira Tullah I'm from Dayton Ohio and I'd like to share my story with Streetvibes. Seven years ago I was homeless with children coming out of an abusive relationship. I ended up living with my parent's in a room that a child's bunkbed could barely fit in with my four children. The Creator made a way where I landed a j ob working at a local newspaper as an assistant administer security guard. Soon after that one job became tWo. Realizing that two j obs would only take care of two children I appli~d for another job at the local battered women 's shelter as a security guard. The three jobs led to four. With that the Creator blessed me with a house under the (Dfvf.HA) Dayton Metro Housing Authority. I know it was the Creator that watched after my children because the landlord requested that no more than two children be allowed into the home. That day I cleaned all my children up and we headed out to the interview. Out of all the people there my family was chosen for the home. About a month later after settling in, God came to into my life and changed my heart and I was guided to use my home to help the community. Not less than one year after getting into my home I gave many of my personal items away and things left over. I sold them to help the needy. Since 1996, I've been feeding, clothing and sheltering those in need. I funded everything from out of pocket expenses or through donations from area businesses, fami ly and friends. I eventually quit working to support my mission on earth but soon the funds ended. I turned to the Montgomery County Job & Family Services for support. I received public asstistance for a time but the 36 month time limit had taken effect. I removed three of my children from the Dayton Public School System to homeschool which lead to no support from them. So things had developed to the point where no support came from that department. With no or little business knowledge I began to search for a way to help myself to become self sufficient. With that in mind I started developing programs for the youth ofthe Dayton community, working with parks and recreation, metro parks, etc. Anyone or anything that could support my efforts in the community. Rockdale Temple has announced the release of the latest in its series of Community Resource Cards. The new one, printed in Spanish, is customized for the needs of Cincinnati's rapidly growing Hispanic/ Latino population. The tri-fold, plastic cards are funded by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a project of Rockdale Temple, in consultation With Bienstar, Su Casa and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. In addition to the Hispanic Resource Card, the Resource Card Project has also produced cards for senior citizens, the homeless, and public school and Catholic school students covering the Tri-state area. Cards can be ordered from: cc 5300 Hamilton Avenue, #210 Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 or send a fax request to: (513) 541-0099 When I went to the Department OfHuman Services, they refused to see my need to help those in the poverty area where I lived nor what I was trying to achieve at that point. I applied for asstistance some time in 1999 and they refused me because they said I should stay home and be with my children for working was not a part of the plan. I received social security for a little while but that soon was cut off. Today I receive less that $300 a month. I'm still striving to support the homeless of my community. I've asked the F&J services for some support and this very day they won't return my call. I've become a grassroots community center. I'm not sure where God is trying to lead me with this but I believe I was chosen to make a difference in the I ives of people whether or not if its to provide shelter for a day, a meal or a listening ear. Today I'm known in the community as Movement 19, home of Euphoric Earth Healing. I seek help with food, clothing, etc. Right now, with the help of those that .believe in me this will manifest into something great. "I have a dream" of having my own grassroots non­ profit community center in the center of where its needed the most. Today I sit with and protest for the rights of the poor along side Streetvibes, OEC and many other interest groups. I'd like to thank you for your consideration and for reviewing my story. - - Know Your Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati's homeless and covers a person's basic rights when interacting with the police, as well as some local 'IL"- •• laws that might be ofinterest to the fJ ~ homeless population. If you are a j homeless person or if you work . with homeless people and would r, Like to obtain free copies of the ~ , brochure for yourself or your ' agency, please call 421-7803 , or stop by the Coalition office and pick , one up. �ST R EETVIB ES P age 6 April, 2003 Talking About Panhandling, Poverty and Homelessness earning the minimum wage would a lot oflime and a lot ofwork. have to work 99 hours per week in Many trends will have to be order to afford a two-bedroom reversed in order to do this. But apartment atfair market rent in we at the Coalition for the Cincinnati. Homeless believe that it can be Because ofthe state ofthe done. economy, many people are living Andy Erickson in poverty. Because ofthe Andy, state of the economy, many Thanks for your return people can~ find jobs. email. I was really happy to hear Because ofthe state of the from you. I am returning this Your Progressive News Source 8\IYfltOM IAOGfO VfNDOl!S omv Hnrdf :Z/)()J economy, the jobs people email because I don't want you 'it do find often won~ pay a think that I don' t care about the living wage. For many homeless problem that we have people, in times like these, here in Cincinnati. I just believe there is no choice that before I start to panhandle I sometimes but to askfor would give up so much to keep my change on the street. standard ofliving a little bit better I appreciate your than the streets. comments, but I think the When I was makiilg less problems surrounding than twelve dollars an hour it was panhandling are more never a difficult time. I never complex than what you are suffered nor did my children who ,,,.... saying. In your letter, you both are now in college. I was just seem to be arguing that if not willing to spend my money on you were able to make it, parties, cigarettes or fast food. I other people should be able paid market rent, I owned a car, I to make it, too. This argument get a job. " I must not have made had a checking and savings doesn ~ take into account the many this clear in my article: I do have account, and both of my children different circumstances that lead a job. I work at the Greater wore named brand clothes. people to poverty and Cincinnati Coalition for the I grew up in the 60's and panhandling. Nor does it take into 70's. I have seen what it was like. Homeless, where Streetvibes is account the different circumstances My parents had well paying jobs, published I work on their that keep these people from getting and they saw to it that all their Homeless Civil Rights Project. I out ofpoverty. Unexpected dabt, children had college educations so do not panhandle because (fortunately) I don t find myself in loss ofhousing, loss ofjobs, loss of we wouldn' t have to live without a situation where I need to. I work transportation, addiction, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ­ "It's not drink that with people who do need feelings ofhelplessness and "Just because you only to panhandle from time many other such problems causes p eople to panhandle, to time, though, and I c~ easily make things more as not all panhandlers drink. make seven dollars an hour difficult for one person than , • write from that doesn 't mean you have to another. Getting out of It s not laziness that causes perspective. panhandle or beg for money to Also, /feel poverty and offthe streets people to panhandle, as not comfortable placing the often requires navigation all panhandlers are lazy. It's make a living. " around enormous obstacles. blame on the state ofthe For someone to ''just get a poverty that turns people to best ends up first best. economy. The current minimum job ,, is often difficult, and panhandling, as all Andy, do you panhandle wage is $5.15 per hour. because you don' t look like you are Throughout most of the 60s and sometimes not enoug~. . panhandlers live in poverty. " You also menllon m making more than twelve dollars an 70s, minimum wage 'could keep a y our letter that "all you see are But I have seen the effects of family of three out ofpoverty. hour? poverty. People back then had Mrs. Juanita E. ifynn Today such a family is 24% below dnmks and dirty men " on the street. This is a stereotype. Not all more pride about themselves. You Mrs. Jfynn, the poverty line. The cw:rent panhandlers have an alcohol First ofall, I want to thank unemployment rate in the nation may have been poor but you were problem. Those that do will clean and you didn't beg openly. y ou f or your letter. It 's always right now is the highest it :S· been certainly have a rougher time good lo hearfrom our readers ­ You did odd jobs around the since 1994. Housing costs in gelling out ofpoverty. Addiction is neighborhood to help keep your . even if they disagree with what Cincinnati are nearly 15% higher we 're saying. I also want to say self-respect. than they were last year. A p erson a disease andpeople who experience addiction need help to Now, I know that things happen and they could happen to National Ho.meless Civil Rights Organizing end ii. Punishing or chastising p eople who have addiction anyone. There has always been a Project (NHCROP) problems will not help them. problem with the economy since 1506 Elm Street It's not drink that causes the world began, but you can't let people to panhandle, as not all that take you under. I feel instead Cincinnati, OH 45202 panhandlers drink. It's not of panhandling from time to time, homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.com laziness that causes people to get a part time job from time to (513) 421-7803 panhandle, as not all panhandlers time. Panhandling doesn't pay as are lazy. It's poverty that turns much so a part time job shouldn't people to panhandling, as all be that bad. If a person can deal panhandlers live in poverty. Only with being in the cold, beat, and by decreasing the amount of for a few dollars from Permanent Housing for formerly homeless people who live in poverty will we rain begging, then a part time job be able to reduce the amount of individuals at 1300 Vine Street. should be heaven. p eople askingfor money on the You have a full time job For more information, call Agnes Mack at street. It 's something that will take but is it really enough? What Ed Note: The following is an email dialogue between Andy Erickson, author oflast month's article on panhandling and Jaunita E. ifynn, Streetvibes reader. .. I just read the story that Andy Erickson wrote concerning the panhandling problem and was a bit concerned about his views as to why a person has to panhandle. Just because you only make seven dollars an hour doesn't mean you have to panhandle or beg for money to make a living. If you have a desire for a better way of living, panhandling will not be a choice for you. If you are getting help for Hamilton County and panhandling, too, you are breaking the law because those funds have to be reported. You can make it on less than twelve dollars per hour. I did for years with two children and I have never panhandled. Andy, stop placing the blame on the state of the economy and just get a job. It's not a stereotype to say they drink and are lazy when all you see are drunks and dirty men sleeping on the sidewalk. Your panhandlers spend over forty hours a day begging on the street instead of spending forty hours filling out job applications. A part time job is better than no job any day. What starts out second that it's remarkable that you were able to raise two children on less than $12 an hour. I'm sure it must have been difficult al times. You say in your letter that I should "stop placing the blame on the state ofthe economy andjust s treetVibes ... . buddy's place (513) 784-0800 > �STREETVIBES Page 7 April, 2003 happens when you run short from time to time? Will you panhandle? I know that times are tough for some more than others. I know that shelters are full of people who have medical problems and families that have fallen into some misfortune. I donate food and clothing all the time. The condition that creates poverty and keeps people in poverty is the greed ofman. Ask our mayor why he hasn't been more pro-active in t he homeless problem in Cincinnati. Why do11't we have enough low income housing for our poor? But we build more condos for the rich where the poor used to live. You will never be able to end poverty. It will never go away and neither will panhandling. It is an on going job. What gets me is the ones that smell and drink. They can't stand up and they beg me for money that J have worked hard for. I don 't want to see nasty, dirty men laying around on the ground begging me for anything. Now, t-0 help a homeless family? Yes. To help the Coalition for the Homeless? Yes. To help the Free Store? Yes. I give back as much as I can now that I make more that $15· an hour because you have to give back. But to aid a panhandler? No. Once again, thanks for getting back. And your work and fight to help the homeless is commendable. This city needs more people like you. I just don't like the idea of panhandling substituting a job no matter what the pay. Take care Andy~ I'm wishing you all the best in your fight to help the poor. Mrs. Juanita E. Wynn Mrs. Jfynn, I think I understand where you 're coming.from a little better now. I agree that having a job is better - in almost all situations - than panhandling. I don't recommend that someone start paf_!handling rather than getting a traditional job. The point I want to stress is that some people don't have much choice but to panhandle - because the jobs aren 't there. You say that ''you can 't let the economy bring you down, ,, but in times like these, people will sometimes be brought down no matter how hard they fight to stay out of poverty. For a lot ofpeople, a part-time job would be heaven, but even a part-time job can be hard to get. Searching environment. I have to admit that I had for a job costs money - busfare, a strong family backing. I had for example - and ifyou have no friends and family to give me an income, you might need to example and let me see that you panhandle for that money. can make it. Even though I was a Mrs. Jfynn, ifyou don't want to give money to spoiled child, I am a strong woman panhandlers, you don't have to. by nature and I wanted more than my parents could give me. I didn't Its your right to say no, just like it s their right to askfor money. care how hard I had to work, just Just keep in mind that a lot of as long as I met my goal. I guess I forgot about the those people on the street ­ drinkers or not - are 11ying _- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ­ to get to a better life, but it "I guess I forgot about the can be a hard road to travel. .• . . • might not be able true conditions that life can we to find a way to end all put a person in. The beat ­ downs that poor people have t t k d .1 Th t I 0 a e a1 [V. e men a pain offailure. Being between a rock and a hard place. I do understand " po~er1y. But w~1h the p~oper actions and allltudes. I m confident we can find a way 10 greatly reduce it. Volunteering and donating to agencies that.fight againsL poverty are great ways to help, and l 'm encouraged to hear that you are doing these things. Sometime, you might want to also L1y talking to the people who panhandle on the street. They could tell you a lot of things themselves. Andy Erickson · Andy, You are right about not having enough money to even try to get a job, or catch the bus or buy clothes to go on an interview. I do understand that. When you have nothing and no one to extend a helping band, it is so hard to stay focused. When you live in an area where all you see is drugs and alcohol it's hard to stay positive. People get caught up in their true conditions that life can put a person in. The beat - downs that poor people have to take daily. The mental pain offailure. Being between a rock and a hard place. I do understand. Panhandlers give true homeless people a bad rap. I do think, however, that the men and women who do panhandle need the same type of education on how to handle life's ups-and-downs as every one else. If they want to drink and drug don't ask any one to support your habit. People in general need to be more informed on the homeless issue, and on how to help. Then the misrepresentation ofthe homeless will no longer happen. Our cify officials need to address the issue more in their meetings. The leaders need to take a stand and help the poor men and women with medical needs who can't think for themselves. The only issues we see and hear about are the issues surrounding the panhandlers and what laws we have set up to keep them out of downtown. What about the stories of the families with children who go to school every day and have to return to a_ shelter? What about the elderly who walk around cold and hungry with no were to go? One day about 10 years ago at night on my way to work, I saw this old Lady standing in a doorway on 6th street where CVS is now. It was so cold and the wind was really blowing hard and to top it off it was snowing. There she was holding all she had trying to stay warm. And to beat all, she had to use the bathroom. I took her to my job and got her some hot chocolate and let her use the bathroom. I wanted to get her a room at a nearby hotel but she wouldn't let me. So I called the police to take her to a shelter because I could not take it that she ::. would be out in the cold. I cried all night. She could have been my family member. She could have been yours. My heart goes out to the true homeless people, but panhandlers I just can't see it. Cincinnati as a whole should take a stand on helping the poor. Mrs. Juanita E. Wynn "That :S· nothing. I can make my ·whole paycheck disappear just by standing in the supermarket checkout line." �- STREETVIBES April, 2003 Page 8 l2isnatch:>from Portland .& Trespassing Laws Against Homeless Intensified , on the street. In the end it punishes people for being homeless." The Portland Police This is not the first time Department recently announced policies criminalizing the homeless plans to intensify enforcement of have been implemented in Portland. trespassing laws on Oregon The camping ban in 2001 and the Department ofTransportation sit-lie-stand ordinance of 2002 are lands. Senior neighborhood two projects Mayor Vera Katz has Officer Jeff Myers presented the project he developed to homeless overseen. At the meeting, Myers indicated that increasing pressure activists at JOIN headquarters, a on trespassers oflands along the 1­ local organization that works to 405 corridor would reduce car bridge the gap between homeless prowls near those areas. and housed members ofour community, on Janunary 15. Audience members said People found on Oregon they appreciate the efforts Myers took in meeting with them and DOT lands will be given warnings and entered intQ a Police database. hope to build an ongoing dialogue. Iffound in these areas- again they "Building relationships with allies is will receive criminal trespass II easy. Building relationships with someone who disagrees is difficult citations with potential fines ofup to $600. but not impossible," said Steel J Fixler, director ofoperations and The action raised concerns among homeless activists that large organizational development for numbers ofpeople will be displaced Sisters of the Road, a grassroots and pushed into downtown organization that empowers poor and homeless people by providing business doorways. This situation could aggravate an already strained opportunities to work. An Oregon Department of relationship between downtown Transportation spokesperson David businesses and the homeless Thomson was unaware ofthis community. "It is wrong," said Rob project but did say the Oregon Justus, executive director of JOIN. Department ofTransportation did "Its timing could not be worse. We not initiate it. Mr. Thomson are anticipating a lot more people expressed concerns about syringes and other garbage being left in New York City discussing plans for these areas. He said that it is a a major league baseball team to come to Portland. Three of the hazard to both traffic and the proposed sites for a $400,000,000 people cleaning up. Sleeping under a freeway stadium,.would be over or next to overpass is not ideal, but some the I-405 corridor. people have no alternative. "A lot "Time and again law of homeless people are enforcement and city officials tell overwhelmed by the challenges of us that these laws will direct people getting off the street, and now the experiencing homelessness through state1s slamming the door shut on the community court system and to some ofthe few opportunities left," social services that will get them said Bob Durning, a former pro­ off the streets," said Rachel baseball player experiencing Langford, a volunteer with homelessness. "I guess the city crossroads. "At the same time they thinks it 1s easier to chase us out of admit that these social services are overburdened, under-funded, and town. Problem is we got no place to go." unable to meet the needs of many "Sleeping should not be homeless citizens." against the law. The lack ofsleep When contacted by Street leads to psychosis and Roots newspaper Myers declined hallucinations," said Jeff comment and referred questions to Sgt. Brian Schmautz, Portland Roundtree, himself.formerly homeless. "Sleep deprivation was Police Department 1s public used as a torture technique by relations officer. Schmautz said Japan on P.O.W's during WWII. this is not a part ot a solution to This law does not address the root homelessness. He said he was not cause ofany problems. It just aware who was trespassing on shifts them to other areas." ODOT land, nor was he aware of Jamie Manuel, project any data directly connecting associate for crossroads continues, homeless with larcenies. However "Resources for the poor are he said, "I have talked with officers overloaded. One night last winter and most perceive a connection 445 people requesting shelter were between transients and larcenies."· turned away." Crossroads teaches When asked if concentrated people to organize and peacefully enforcement in these areas will would like to advertise in out simply move people to other areas, advocate for their sisters and paper, we offer v~.cy comp~titive brothers. During the wihter Schm.autz said, '.'I don•t know, I rates for ads that reach about months there are only 630 cannot predjct the future." 15,000 people per month. emergency shelter beds available Activist Christian Parenti OU.r dream voloo~eer would for those seeking shelter. comments, "The government has a be a self-motivated volunteer that choice, either treat people well or A one-time street count would :like to fundraise for our . conducted last April by JOIN. incarcerate them." Jerry Martin, orga.aizaiion. This could ipclude showed 1,672 people sleeping also formerly homeless said, "Well ask'ing your friends and family for outside. Asked about the impact of it looks like the city ofPortland is donations to researching and displacement, law enforcement moving toward sheltering the poor writing grants for our excellent officials told crossroads that their in jail. Although this solution is progra!TI.Sjob is to enforce the law within probably the most expensive, it TheStreetvibes newspaper does have the allure of not Th-ere are numerous project~ always in need of people their jurisdiction. 'They do not consider themselves responsible for · requiring much thought." opportuniti.es for volunteers at the interested in connecting with the displacing the homeless into other This news report is reprinted Gremer Cincinnati Coalition for vendors and helpil)g them write courtesy ofStreet Roots newspaper neighborhoods. the H omeless. · we are willing to articles on socialjustjce/povercy in Portland, OR. Ultimately it is the police work with each individual in issues, poetry, or personal stories. , commissioner, Mayor Vera Katz, choosing a set'Vice opportunity w~ need help in the The fi rst principle of non-violent who is responsibJe for police that is righJfor them. The afternoons at the.front desk, action is that of non-cooperation policies. Mayor Katz was not following are a few of the areas in answering pl\ones and h~dling with e'Verything humiliating. available for comment, she was in Cesar Chavez which the €oalition. could use transactions with our Streetvihes your help: Vendors. This person wiij address Designing~ web site for ., the needs ofvisitors, having direct Local Schizophrenia/Schizo-affective our National Ci~'Rights contact }\Tith homeless individuals Research Study Organizing Project. ThiS would and should be available one include working with the afternoon a w~ek. ,. . Financial Compensation Americorp Vista volunteers on how . There 1s.al~ays ane~~ for · to pre:vent further criminalization · ~elp wit.b:bulk mailings. M~hgs ofhomeless individuals as well as mcludethe annual report, quarterly 45 years and over preventing the increasing hate n~wsletter, arid various capitol «rimes against tliem,. ' crunpaigns. Symptoms ofdepression To erihance our Streetv.ibes Ifyeu are interested in :volunteeO,ng at the Greater program, we are searching for 13 visits volunteers to s.olicit advertisements Cineinnati Coalition for the (513) 861-31 00 ext4187 from local businesses. Ifyour Homeles~, please _c?ntact the offiee business or a business you know of at 421-7803, or visit us at 150~ or toll free (888) 267-7873 ext 4187 Elm Street in Qver-the~Rh,ine. by DanNewth ...--.--.....-.......--.--.....--.,...-.......,,....,.-.....-.....-.....~-.....~--..,..-.....-.....-.....-...,.-.....-.....~.....----. ./ Cincinnati Coalition·:for the Homeless * * * * �STREETVIBES April, 2003 Page 9 I We Can Be Proud! Judge MARK PAINTER Ohio Court of Appeals The Most-Published Hamilton County Judge Ever! ~- Fighting Over Dirt - The War you would have others do unto Inside by Brian Garry War within War without War without a face War without end, Amen. Why do people fight? What are we fighting for? All things, all material things, comes from dirt, from the Earth. Nothing is made or brought here from outer space, so it all comes from the soil, from dirt. So why is the Federal Government fighting over oil, dirt. Money is liken to dust. All this war is dirty. It is soiled it is stained. Dirt is land and there is dirt in the heart of this American land. It's all one attack. There is one problem and one solution. Humans have two emotions: love and fear. Am I being loving or fearful right now? Collectively as a country and as a world we have collective emotions. I must conquer the war within first before I got out and expect peace in the world. How can I expect peace outside if I don't have peace inside? Collective fear and hate and collective love, trust and good will. It's our choice. The fear causes people to act selfishly and self-centeredly and inconsiderate of others. Others then react fearfully and selfishly and a vicious cycle in then tn effect. Injustice is caused by fear: generally people not trusting, taking from others to provide for their own physical or emotional security. People want dirt (land), material things oil, cars, money etc. (all of which comes out of the land). Why are we fighting over things? There is enough dirt for everybody. Why do I need a car? Why do I need oil? As within, so without. The exterior war is only a manifestation ofthe internal war in each of us. If each of us were at peace then the world would be at peace. No? " As you sow, so. shall you reap." What about "tum the other cheek", "do unto others as you", "Love your enemies?" "Forgive 7 X 7 times"? This is supposedly a Christian country and these are Biblical Christian principles. Would you have "others" bomb you? So why is the American Federal Government concerned about Iraq at all? Is it because a madman is in power? Or because they have nuclear warheads? The US seems to have these same problems. Perhaps the US should attack itself Why is it OK for America to bomb people but it i.s not OK for the Palestinians? Bonibs are bombs, killing is killing. Is America concerned about human rights violations in Iraq? Why didn'tAmerica go and intervene in Rwanda when Hutus and Tutsis were hacking each other to death with machetes. Could it be because there is no oil in Rwanda? Are we freedom fighters or terrorists? We found the enemy and the enemy is us. The Bush administration is scared s@#$less and they're gonna get us all in trouble if we don't stop them. Does anyone under the sun really believe that Bush is concerned with helping the peasants in Iraq? Is he not concerned with what he and his family have always been conc.erned with? Big Oil, getting more and more oil and money = greed. Gandhi said that religion is supposed to take us into the world (politics) not make you make you withdraw from it. "Until the color of a man 's skin is ofno more significant than the color of his eyes, there will be war" - Emperor Haile Selassie I. I want to take a good hard look at America, to look it in its guilty eyes and ask it - why is it so damn fearful? Humanity is marching . onward to better things despite the evidence to the contrary. The people ofthis world are turning out in record numbers - 30,000,000 in recent weeks have protested this dirty war. We are waking up and giving our time to save this Earth and turn things around. People have the Power! Our own Judge Mark Painter reached a milestone in November - 250 of his decisions (now 261) have been published nationally. He is the most-published Hamilton County judge ever, and one of the most-published Ohio judges in history. Judge Painter has: • Served on the Court of Appeals for eight years, after 13 years on Municipal Court. His opinions have been recognized as legal precedent more than 2000 times-in cases, textbooks, and encyclopedias. • Written 55 articles on appellate practice, sentencing, DUI, contempt, and legal ethics. He writes a monthly column on legal writing for Ohio Lawyers Weekly. • Taught 91 seminars for judges, lawyers, and police officers, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at U.C. • Authored the textbook Ohio DUI law, now in its 12th edition. His other book, The Legal Writer: 30 Rules for the Art ofLegal Writing, was published in June. • Is writing two more books to be published this fall: William Howard Taft-President and ChiefJustice and a new edition of Ohio Appellate Practice. www.Judgepainter.org Pa.id for by Tl\'& JUdge Painter Comm~ Gr&g Ruehlmann, Clleir, 312 Walnut St~Cincinnati 18" X 24" poster print: Washington Park, Over­ the-Rhine, Winter 1999. Each print is individually signed by OTR photographer Jimmy Heath. Purchase benefits the children's Literacy Through Photography program at Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine. Posters are $10 each, plus $3 for shipping. Send your order and check to: Peaslee Neighborhood Center Attn: Photography Program 215 East Fourteenth Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or call (513) 621-5514 for more information �STREETVIBES April, 2003 Cover Story Page 10 ReSTOC .... Cont. from page 1 organization is run. ReSTOC's by­ laws call for at least 51 % of the board to be tenants. Other board members come from the wider community, with broad backgrounds, for example, a high school teacher, an electrician, a college professor, an employee of a large multinational corporation. The fees tenants pay into ReSTOC stay in the community. The co-op fees pay for maintenance, salaries ofthe staff, the utility bills for the common areas ofthe buildings, taxes, insurance and other costs. Tenants can see where their money goes, into their own buildings, not into the pockets of someone they do not know. ReSTOC serves people from all backgrounds, many of whom have limited resources. A longtime ReSTOC member, recently said "I live on a limited income, getting by paycheck to paycheck, I wouldn't know what I'd do without ReSTOC. " Three of ReSTOC's properties are reserved for people with specific needs. Recovery Hotel, with twenty units of transitional housing, is for men in the process of recovering from the diseases of alcoholism and other addictions. All residents of Recovery Hotel have been through a program to help them overcome their addictions before being A building in the Vine Street Development Project, at the corner of Republic Street and 15th, in Over-the-Rhine. accepted for an apartment. While making their homes at Recovery Hotel, they attend daily·meetings of AA or NA to continue their recovery and strengthen their chances of overcoming the huge obstacles they face. One half block north of Recovery Hotel, on Vine Street, is buddy splace, also with twenty units. It is reserved for people who have been homeless, most being referred directly from local shelters. ReSTOC owns a building occupied by Joseph House, a program for Veterans of the United States Armed Services. The remainder of ReSTOC's properties are market rate apartments with low rents for people of limited means. ReSTOC accepts people who hold Section 8 vouchers, which allows the tenant to pay a lower rent with the balance subsidized through the Section 8 program. One way ReSTOC 's co-op fees are kept low is by using the help ofthousands they simply want to help. One regular volunteer is the international services director of a world wide service organization. He has traveled the world helping others in his everyday work, but he volunteers many weekends at ReSTOC because he wants to make a difference in a local community as well. For many of the young people coming downtown from the suburbs or small towns volunteering provides them with an opportunity to interact, communicate with and learn from people they don't normally meet. Any stereotypes they may have are frequently challenged by their work in Over-the-Rhine. ReSTOC co-op members also learn from the volunteers by working with the volunteers as crew leaders, taking a small group ofvolunteers to work on a task for the day. ReSTOC has frequently been accused of"stockpiling" buildings in Over-the-Rhine and preventing development ofthe neighborhood. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, ReSTOC only owns 2% of the property in Over-the-Rhine. There -· Donna Richards, from the City ofCincinnati Department ofDevelopment and Planning on a recent "walk through" · ofthe Vine Street Community Development project. of volunteers. Miss Jane, a longtime ReSTOC tenant and OverThey he\p the-Rhine resident. ReSTOC are hundreds ofbuildings, both perform normal maintenance such as cleaning lots, landscaping and occupied and.vacant, owned by many others. None of the other cleaning and painting apartments property owners are blamed for after a tenant leaves. Some volunteer groups have "adopted" a the plethora ofneighborhood abandonment issues that long single apartment or an entire predated ReSTOC's existence. building, providing not only the labor to renovate units, but also the ReSTOC has moved slowly and steadily through the years to materials and supplies needed for develop its properties while always their project. striving to maintain a presence in Volunteers come from all the market place for the people of over tile Cincinnati Metropolitan Cincinnati who have the least area as well as places such as resources. There is ·room for Dayton, Wapakoneta and beyond. everyone, the poor that ReSTOC Some groups come from Illinois, serves, as well as every other rung Michigan and Tennessee. They come from high schools and church ofthe economic ladder. As ReSTOC celebrates its groups, others from colleges. twenty fifth birthday, it is not Some come as individuals because > �STREETVIBES April, 2003 content to stand for the status quo. It is currently participating with the City of Cincinnati, the State of Ohio and private investors to use Low Income Housing Tax Credits to develop twenty five units of housing in five buildings, four on Vine Street and one on Republic Street. The development is called the Vine Street Community Project. Construction began in May of2002 and is scheduled to be complete at the end of2003. Affordable Housing Construction, Inc. is the general contractor. Roger Sexton, one of the partners ofAffordable Housing, Inc. recently stated, "we have the same aims as ReSTOC; to provide safe, decent, affordable housing and "to preserve the old buildings." At all stages of construction and rehab of each building, there are regularly scheduled "walk throughs" attended by the general contractor, the city of Cincinnati, the architect, and ReSTOC representatives. Each "walk through" affords all parties involved the opportunity to ensure that what is being funded is actually being done. What is being done is remarkable. Each building is gutted of all old systems, abated for lead and asbestos hazards, and rebuilt with new plumbing, electrical) heating and central air conditioning systems. Sections of the buildings are rebuilt where there had been water damage and up to date smoke and fire alarm systems are being added. Recently, Cincinnati City Councilman David Pepper toured the project. One of the many questions he asked, after seeing how much progress had been made, was, "where do I sign up?." ReSTOC tries to take a holistic approach to its involvement in the community. It has worked to provide green space for the neighborhood by organizing the Pleasant Street Garden in which raised planting beds can be rented; some neighbors grow vegetable gardens, others grow flowers, other grow both. The Civic Garden Center collaborates with ReSTOC to manage the Pleasant Street Garden as well as the Children's Garden on Race Street. Residents on Republic Street meet regularly at ReSTOC around issues that affect their lives and to plan activities to better their living environment. For example, each year, the Republic Street Block Club has several clean up days to clear out the trash on the vacant lots, most of which are owned by others, including the City of Cincinnati. ReSTOC also built and maintains the "Superheroes Playground" on Republic Street. As I walk through the neighborhood that I now call my home, and I hear the discussions about the need for development, I know that ReSTOC is helping to lead the way for revitalization of Vme Street in Over-the-Rhine. This year, ReSTOC celebrates 25 y ears ofworking in the Over-the-f!.hine community developing safe, affordable housingfor our neighborhood families. It has struggled to do this on minimal funding. As the organization moves forward into its next twenty five years, it plans to celebrate its accomplishments on April 27 with a fundraising dinner at Elder High School. Anyone interested in joining the celebration should contact Melissa at ReSTOC by calling 381-1171 for more information or to make a reservation. Donations may also be made direclry lo ReSTOC lo 114 West 14th Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Streetvibes Wish List is published monthly ona ~hoe-.st.ring budget from the offices of the Greater Cmcinnatj Coalition for the Homeless. Can you help us with S,O!JW· of the following items? Streetvib~ new·spap er o Blank CD-RW Disks - For Stree!Yihes Archives o Supplies forVendor 's Lounge (page.rtowels~ cream ana sugar~ $nacks, etO:). o Office and-Cleaning Supplies If you can help, contact us a(: Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 {513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com Page 11 The Peace Village is happening with "your" seeds in this major peace effort qf ours. I The Peace Village continues know that peace work, at our local to inspire me with so many gifts levels, has real meaning, changes from our team members. I want to ourselves and others into thinking share these with you as examples with greater clarity and hope about of an ongoing peace process that growing peace in our own areas. persists at an' unprecedented time Hearing about your efforts, even of terror. Yesterday, I sat with the new and fledging ones, adds beauty and color to what is a other members of a little peace process of caring that is powerful. support group called, "Peace I do not know what has slowed the Keepers." The Rev. Ray war machine in Washington down Wooddruff, another activist that is approaching 90, if he hasn't passed other than the increasing loud that age, opened our meeting with concerns of the peace movement. I a full agenda of concerns about do not know what has opened the how we could "resist" when the possibility ofa fundamental change in policing and war starts. He brought wonderful materials to community responsibility other hold a workshop .with us if we had little to than our local peace movement for a just talk about that was agreement, an more pressing. And, so this question floated agreement that stops around the group as we • the killing ofAfrican heard about Cincinnati . Americans and the Dr. Steve Sunderland reckless treatment of .and world plans to police and communities. meet at Spm at our Federal I don't want to ignore that I Building to show solidarity against the war, joining others in the world am scared about what is facing us who would be using Spm as some as a city and a nation. I live in a local "hot spot," in a country about kind ofrallying time. to make the world a "hot spot." I This is the first time in my life that I have asked myself this am afraid that too litt le is being question and thought about some done too late and that my efforts are only empty gestures, grandiose, choices for what I would like to do. I was inspired that people and ignoring the reality of what is truly out of my control. I am were already working on this question, seeking to find steps that scared for my children and might return peace to the world. I grandchildren and what kind of asked the same question today at world and city they are facing. As the morning service ofthe Clifton a trauma specialist I know that United Methodist Church and wounds from hatred and violence heard that the church would be are not easily coped with no matter open the evening of the attack for what age we are when they happen. community participation, thanks to So much seems on the line right team member, Reverend Jerry Hill. now, as humiliation and behaviors ofviolence seem to be ascending Reverend Bob Weaver, team member from Twin Towers and the voices of compromise, repair, and justice get lost in the Retirement Community told me he anticipation's ofglobal horror. I · would work to have the chap~l open for the. community, too. I am not comforted by false gods, false movements based on would be interested if other ignorance, or, comforted by .members ofthe Peace Village wilt be making plans and ifyou could bashing anyone, including the share them and I will send the info president. The success ofthe· to others. I know that some of our peace movement, to this point, is team have children in the armed historic and nonetheless, we face forces and they are either being the bullets and violence ofthe unknown. readied and/ or already in the Middle East. I want to be in I am comforted by what the support of these members of the Peace Village is doing and I want Peace Village, too. I remember the to share, now, what I am reading great lesson ofthe summer meeting and hearing you do. I share not with the Vets for Peace that said only because you are educating me in the planting of a peace they were not "welcomed" home after the Vietnam War or when they movement, or, because by sharing I joined the peace movement. can gain some momentary Yet, there are lots of distraction. I share because the inspiring signs, both here and efforts at peace are the threads of the present and future that tie me around the world of our Peace Vtllage, that the seeds are being into a coat of hope, a shawl of possibility, and warm me with your planted ahd nurtured. I want to encourage everyone to share what by Steve Sunderland �Page 12 · April, 2003 Peace Village (cont) over Zach :s entire project, his father was very moved and ve1y efforts. proud ofhis son. A child's heart Lisette writes from the Netherla"nds, from Doctors Without can teach us all. (ed. note; Zach s poem, MY ENEMY, MY FRIEND is Borders, that over 100,000 names included in the poetry section, are on a petition for the doctor missing in Russia. I hope you have page 14 and 15.) Team member, Paul Davis, joined this effort. We await further Cincinnati counselor, social news ofthe doctor's life chances. Thanks Lisette. worker, Vietnam Vet, returned to the place where he stepped on a Rabbi Naamah Kelmen, land mine. Paul writes: Jerusalem, Hebrew Union College, "Tomorrow I hope to find the site writes of a breakthrough in planning to use Posters 4 Peace where I was wounded in 1966". I with rabbinical students and a high was wounded and one American school in Jerusalem. I hope this is was killed by a land mine (one of ours that was captured by the the beginning ofa great exchange "enemy.") Over the past few days I with some our students in Cincinnati and throughout the US . have been composing a poem Eventually, with the addition of (using a structure common to Islamic youth, I hope we can have Vietnamese poetry) - I use the a peace conference using our voice of the mine.to capture the posters as a beginning. Thank you moment. (Please see Pauls poem in the poetry section ofStreetvibes) Naamah for your brave work. Team member, Shine, Team member, Karen writes from a NY hospital of Hordinski, Cincinnati Hills · gaining strength in calling up the Christian Academy, writes ofher words ofGandhi, a spirit that lives unusual family member. Please in her: "The good part of my read and be in awe, too: Hi Steve; journey...people! So many I have something I want to encounters with people who share with you and see ifyou have needed so much but were help~d by any direction. ..My 10 year old so little ... a smile, a patient ear, a nephew, Zachary Karabatak, from friendly voice. There were Centerville, Ohio chose to c(o an moments of peace and for moments Independent Research Projectfor that were a little more his school. The topic he chose is challenging...breathing came in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. very handy... " Ofall ofher Gandhi My nephew is Muslim. His father quotes, the one that I especially is from Syria. His mother like is: "For me, humanitarian converted to the Muslim faith from service, or rather serVi<?e of all that Christianity about 7+ years ago. lives, is religion and I draw no So this project has deep meaning distinction between such religion to Zach and his parents. When and politics." So much ofthis Zach first started this school battle for peace has been within the project, his father thought Zach language ofreligion, a language was being partial to the Israelis that polarizes and calls on deep and was very upset. After looking wellsprings in many people. Shine .... 4 J ~ <;. We left flushed with reality: our sees something very important by work made visible arid thereby, quoting Gandhi's perspective: she somewhat more caring. sees that.t here is a deeper religion Finally, some good words within both politics and religion. from team member, Ed Irvin, now· How do we reach for this, with off to England for a while, but respect, and widen our understanding of a prime source of connected to the pulse of compassion: You've identified an energy in all religions? interesting and potentially critical I was taken aback by some of my graduate student co-teachers insight when you say that we shy away from studying and discussing last week in class as they decided to "welcome" the voices of dissent. peace. We talk about "studying war no more" and all the other A team of co-teachers drew a anti-war diches, but you are "soap box" on the floor of the correct, I don't recall ever classroom with duct tape and invited any and all to come forward participating in an exercise to and share, to get off their chests "imagine peace" and actually what was hidden there, waiting for thinking through what that would entail nor how it might be encouragement. And so we did, with applause following each organized. Competition, anxiety, frustration, fear, and the battles that presentation. Out exploded the frustrations connected with doing result seem to be natural·human tendencies (original sin some good work in social work as resources are being drastically cut, would say, though I'm not a proponent ofthat terminology). workloads unilaterally increased, Peace, love, forgiveness, and hours extended, and shame about turning the other cheek when productivity not being met in this offended are not as easy to do. We new climate. Cutting into many can talk about them, but even in people who spoke was a common peace communities there are theme of having to face, day after day, the culture's humiliation about competitive schisms - just look at the history ofthe Christian church, working with the poor, the for example. Living in a "godly disabled, the needy, and the manner" takes tremendous effort homeless. The thin shield that protected these new workers, many on behalfof all participants, and a spoken and unspoken contract in their 40s and older,_is no:w gone that's very hard to create and as the state retrenches and life is sustain. even more precarious for those in greatest need. This story, ofthe Perhaps this is something the Peace Village can undertake. It war before the war, the old war, may be that, above al1, we need a needed voice and as people gained model to follow. Let's imagine confidence, a ki:nd ofcourage, a restoring of the.faith in what peace together... "Imagine there's no countries, Gandhi meant by love, was slowly It isn't hard to do, restored. We went around the Nothing to kill or die for, circle twice, finding deeper levels of story, good sto.ries that could be . No religion too, . better to listen to than the anger. Imagine all the people Photo Corner living life in peace..." Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues ofPeace in the world Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters­ /or-Peace which engages people in expressing their visions ofPeace, in their own words, through the creation ofposl.ers. Write Usl _... We'd like to hear ..• from you .... Smitty's on Vine Street in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhiii.e business district is an institution with a SO-plus year history of providing Cincinnatian's and others the very latest in snazzy, unique, one-of-a-kind, unparalleled fashion. Even the.windows ofSmitty's are smartly dressed! _... ~ STREETVIBES Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office att.n: . Streetvibes Letters, i506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 �STREETVIBES April, 2003 Page 13 Ohio Empowerment Coalition Organizes To Living Wage took me down another long Stop The .Race to the 'B ottom they Campaign hallway to another room and interrogated me on my mental on an escalator or an elevator by Lynn Williams News health. 'Do you ever feel before. We made it to speak Seventy Ohio Empowerment Coalition members climbed the long stairs to Senate President Doug White's Statehouse office on OEC's annual Lobby/Action Day March 11th. Because of our large number, his office moved our people to a nearby Senate hearing room where Senator White came out to greet us. Leaders in the OEC spoke on points in the OEC and presented him with a WAGES "race car". The race car, calling attention to one of the Senator's most loved hobbies, demonstrated the "race to the bottom" that families in Ohio are facing. The Senator agreed to meet with the Ohio Empowerment Coalition the next week to discuss the WAGES ("Work After Good Education is Success.") Campaign. He acknowledged that he lived in one of the poorest areas of Ohio, Adams County, and that many of his neighbors were hurting. "I'm aware of the deep poverty in my county." he stated. The OEC called on him to not only meet with the Ohio Empowerment Coalition but also to visit with families in his district who are affected by the state cutbacks in social services and Medicaid. Immediately after the action on White's office, the OEC members dispersed to attend many Lobby Day appointments with their legislators. For this Lobby Day we had representation from Cincinnati, Dayton, Oxford, Cleveland, Columbus, Adams Coi:mty, Athens, Lorain, Clermont County and Toledo. Pushing our WAGES Platform was the.main purpose of the Day, but urging was also done to stop the cuts in Medicaid for working parents and in child care vouchers. Later that evening at the conference, ~eynote speaker Shirley McClain , statewide. organizer of North Carolina Hunger Network, spoke of her work on behalf of the Nutrition Act of 2002 and her work ensuring that low-income children are fed in school programs across the United States. She shared how she began organizing low-income women in her state. "I took twenty-five women to Congress. This was the first time they had ever been to Washington, D .C. For some, it was the first time they had ever been out of North Carolina. They had never ridden paranoid? Do you ever feel before Congre~s and it made a anxious.' Yes, I was thinking, difference!" She continued to especially about how you are speak on today's issues. "We interrogating me now. It felt like need to be fighting a war on the Gestapo coming after me. I poverty in this country, not a war had to go through all this in order on Iraq. We must unite the war to get the cash assistance that I protesters with us so we can desperately needed because of a together fight to end poverty in job loss. I felt like I was treated as this country!" less than a human being. It She concluded, "We shouldn't have to be this cannot be quiet and polite in the dehumanizing to get help." face of our people's suffering! We need to be outraged! As long The second day was a full day of workshops on issues as there is poverty in this rich connected to the WAGES country, we must be outraged! Campaign. Participants We must keep on the struggle to brainstormed on. ideas for moving change things in this country!" Other speakers on opening the Campaign forward. In the night were people directly immediate future the Ohio affected by welfare policies who Empowerment Coalition will be testifying before the House shared how it feels to be in the Human Services Subcommittee welfare department applying for the last week of March. We are help. Priscilla Cooper of positive there will be plenty of Cleveland spoke on her experiences when she applied for opportunity to attend hearings throughout April and May as the assistance in Cuyahoga County. "They sat me down in a room and state budget bill is debated! For started questioning me fast and more information on hearings furiously. 'Do you ever drink? and/or the WAGES Campaign, Smoke? Do drugs? Have you ever please contact the Ohio Empowerment Coalition at 513/ taken another drink when you thought you would only have one? 381-4242. If you are outside the Do you ever have a hard time 513 area code, call toll-free 1­ 877-862-5179. getting up in the morning?' Then February brought support from national arenas when ROCK THE VOTE - comprised of students organizing to get out the vote across the nation, moved to support the campaign. In other national support, the Rainbow/ Push Coalition also lent its considerable influence when it too endorsed the Universal Living Wage Campaign. Today, 700+ organizations have pledged support to the ULW campaign which is based on the moral premise that anyone working a 40 hour week should be able to afford basic rental housing wherever that work is done throughout the United states. The Universal Living Wage initiative is considered the Economic Cornerstone ofthe National Coalition for the Homeless: Campaign to end homelessness- BRING AMERICA HOME. To view the Universal Living Wage formula, endorse the campaign on line and learn details ofour April 15th National Night Out at ·our Nation's Post Offices, go to the Whats New button at www.UniversalLivingWage.org "Money ~ill be raining on wealthy neighborhoods across America. Other areas can expect prolonged periods ofdroughf' �STREETVIBES Art & Poetry April, 2003 Page 14 Calamity Onion Poe,m by Steven Lansky got my onion. my onion, see. a pain. a hurt. pain, maan, see, hurt, see. the man want my onion. i say NO. NO you take pain. take pain. leave my onion. leave my onion alone, see. there's a window. a window, see. don' break no window, see, windowfrarne paint, need to paint my windowframe, see. ain't the same, man. -ain 't the same, man, see, i ain't been the same, pain. pain, man, the pain i feel, man. see, you do n' understand, see. so, i' m leavin '. gonna get on the plane and go away. not gonna live here no more, take my onion an' go, go, see. go away where there ain ' t no pain, see. where, see. where, see, sinners gonna drive me away, so many sinners drive me away, take my onion and go across the sea, where have all th e flowers gone? long time passing? flowers in the w indowbox. cactus flowers on the windowsilL red and pink and purple. lovely bruise. lovely, paint my onion pur ple. by James Curry I once sat upon, a shelf, al dusty and alone. No one cared to call my name, no place could I call home. I once sat lonely and neglected, sitting there all alone. No one stopped, no one looked, no one my pretty hair would_comb. My hair once pretty, my clothes once Oh so delicate, so fine. Had become all dusty, and dirty now, and hard to believe, were mine. My face once porcelain white, and rosy pretty plus. Now became all dirty, and my nose a cake of dust. But then one day, someone stopped and looked. They noticed me hig h upon that shelf Then had me taken down from there, to see fo r myself ..Some Jjttle girl loved me close, a little girl once held me dear." If I could cry I' d shed a tear, fo r bent I am and forgotten. Ifl could smile, I'd smile for her, even through my tears I'd gotten. And so these tears I can afford, for sharing so much with me. Her Life and my departure, were a disaster, as anyone can see. So that is why I'm called ... YOU SEE, they call me " CALAMITY ..." hello? hello? (my fri end hands me a cell phone) it's george W. bush for you ! george? how do i know it's you? dubya for warmonger? yeah, t hat's what i say. he says, "steve, couJd i use your onion for a few days?" no . "steve, you still hanging with that folksinger crowd?" my friend george, W'!- got two words for you. REGIME CHANGE! we want the same thing, just for different countries! lees disarm the USA. let the UN monitor US elections, and inspect US weapons of mass destruction. the phone goes dead. george is gone. gone. he don't know no onion. i had a mad dream that we snuck into the White House and removed the top three floors so there was just an empty shell and dubya was another homeless man. he had to waJk to another town ' cause all of DC was closed. morally bankrupt, socially stratified, politically isolated, and we all sat back, turned off the TV rattle of war and watched the children grow. »'atched the flowers grow. sat around in the onion patch hand in hand, peaceful as the wild city critters, squirrels, raccoons, pigeons, and robins. February 14, 2003 Miss Me .... But Let Me Go Author Unknown When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me, I want no rites in a gloom fi lled room. Why cry for a soul set Free? Miss me ~ little, but not to.o long, and not with your head bowed low. Remember the love that we once shared. Miss me, but let me go . For this is a journey that we all must take, and each must go it aJone. It's all a part of the Master 's Plan, A step on the rainbow to home. When you are lonely and sick of heart, got to the friends we know, and bury your sorrows in doing good deeds, Miss me, but let me go. The Man in the Glass by anonymous When you get what you want when you struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day, Just go to the mirror and look at yourself And see what that man has to ·say. For it isn't your father or mother or wife Whose judgment upon you must pass, the Fellow whose verdict counts most in your life ls the one staring back for the glass. You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum And think you' re a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you 're only a bum 1f you can't look him straight in the eye. He's the fellow to pleas, never mind all the rest, For he's with you clear up to the end, And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartache and tears If you've cheated the man the man in the glass. Message From a Black Man by Charles Bailey To all my brothers and sisters Who use drugs and crack and @#it How can you get what you want When you won't quit.using it You blame the white man for all the Things he did and did not do But you put the drugs in your body And it is making a fool out ofyou I'm a black man And my life is filled with nothing but hope I might be able to achieve whatever I want Because my body is not filled with dope But you want to sell this dope to the Brothers and Sisters Because you say you have no shame You let them out it in their systems And now you are destroying your Brothers and Sisters brains So ... Please quit it ! �STREETVIBES April, Art& Poetry ~003 Page 15 Diversity by Wanda (OTR Resident) The money people are attacking my hoine. On the west, they' re tearing down homes and the symphony wants Washington Park, in the name of cultural diversity. On the east, the business men and the rich landlords push for a ballpark and intervening districts, in the name of economic diversity. On the south, the downtown council wants to expand north and change all the streets to two-way, in the name of diversity. Bright morning Summer sun warms the ground. Under a blanket of earth I wait. Arms of wire exposed to the sun. Mindlessly, Marines approach unaware of my presence. Children laugh and play at a distance. Patiently I wait knowing there are others. Shadow ofboot blocks out the sun. As my hands come together I explode. Free from the earth I am transformed. I am wind pushing metal without thought. I meet flesh then bone and stop. Death, my purpose and destiny now complete. Be well - Love to all, Paul My Enemy, My Friend · In the center is my home and yours, the po.o r, working poor, handicapped, homeless, all live and survive, day to day. The powers want diversity. We already have it. They should help, not attack. I will stand up for the right to live where I want, I won't be in the middle of diversity. Inadequate by Zachary Karabatak she makes us all feel free we can't see any wrong she's done but we know why she's in alderson prison god had sent this woman of courage to help calm the fears the women were grateful and so was i she makes me feel worthy as she gets through the day she spoke of a brighter future everyday i thank the creator for introducing her to me it doesn't matter that i am locked up she makes me feel free. Lorry Thomas-Swain by Sonny Williams, London, Ohio prison, April, 1987 We met one day out on the street I never thought our worlds would meet. He said "Hi" and asked me to play. I didn't know ifl should stay or run away. Before I could.decide he kicked me the ball. I kicked it back with no effort at all. We played outside together all day. Until it was time to go our separate way. My parents say he cannot be my friend. But I knew in my heart this was not the end. We are different but we do not hate. We will not accept conflict and war as our fate. We know we can make a difference for tomorrow. If we could just stop the bloodshed and the sorrow. We could be friends forever if there was peace. What can we do to make this fighting cease? Leaders must look to us for the solution. Two states with peace is our resolution. by Lisa Weber It smells like something had just died. Down o'n hands and knees, I search the rug. My fingers rake the plush. Under these nails There is some dirt and blood, but no hope. Shutter ·speed Digital and vacant, a voice reaches me. Solace to silence. It reminds me how close I am, to becoming a simple whore. I want to tear that need from my skin, to expose what lies beneath. It just gets muted by a desperate quiet that even scares me. I bring my knees to the floor, come eye to eye. Rolling and rolling, covering myselfwith something, more pure. Something perhaps, human Protestors at CAFTA meeting (Central American Free Trade Agreement}, downtown Cincinnati.... �ST REETVIBES April, 2003 Seattle's Spare Change Newspaper celebrates ten being challenged. He started years showing up to work late, hung Early struggle turns into success by Timothy Harris When I started Spare Change, I was thirty and thought I knew everything. " Starting a streetpaper," I said confidently, "is easy. Put the homeless in charge, teach skills and democracy, and let empowerment take its course." In less than a year, I was out of a job and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Spare Change wasn't doing so hot either. The "Tale of the Two Tims" has been told here before. In the early 90s, I was at Boston Jobs with Peace; a little terrier of a group that thought it was a rotweiler. We were just about the grittiest grassroots organization in Boston. Our idea oforganizing for the peace dividend was to hold a three-day tent city ofhomeless people outside the Federal Building. We became expert at the logistics of cots, blankets, soup and security. Our role, we thought, was to make homelessness visible and draw attention to the underlying issues: misplaced federal priorities, scarce affordable housing, and low wage labor. In truth, we mostly staged a series of media events. After awhile, it began to feel like nothing, really, was happening. . We asked ourselves, "what else?" Homeless ·people told us they couldn't sit in the Boston Common without being harassed by cops. Burger King on Tremont refused to serve them at all. We formed the Homeless Civil Rights Project, which initially consisted of college students heading to shelters and soup kitchens in search of documentation. Our strategy was to build a pressure campaign on the basis of affidavits. Oddly, it worked. We got a sadistic cop transferred. We signed a public agreement with Au Bon Pain. We got great press. We looked much bigger than we were. We built a core ofhomeless and formerly homeless people to run the campaign. It wasn' t long before the underside of"empowerment" began to show. The HCRP devolved into a core group of middle-aged alcoholic homeless white men. The leader didn't like News & Editorial honeymoon, stormy ash was, came to an end. Members of the project complained to me, their organizer, about serious problems within Spare Change. The newspaper was being run by the rules ofthe street, with the toughest and most ruthless over, and, inspired by the United people in charge, and that wasn't Mine Workers, wearing combat working out very well. "It's not fatigues. As a peace organization, my role to fix this," I would say. we found this problematic. Into "You need to organize others who this odd assortment of characters think the yvay you do to challenge walked a smart, charismatic homeless man named Tim Hobson. things from the inside." For all my helpful organizing hints, people Being black, he stood out found me pretty useless. immediately. Tim also had the Meanwhile, Tim Hobson single thing that most defines a decided that our various self­ leader: a following. interests were very much at odds, In the late eighties, during and I was informed that my what I now refer to as my "boiled destruction was imminent. Things potatoes and shoplifted cheese" went downhill from there. To sum phase, I edited an obscure Boston publication called Street Magazine. up, Spare Change terminated the relationship with Jobs with Peace. We affected a certain amount of hipness while writing mostly about Tim broke in one night and stole all the computers, and drug addicts poverty issues, and, toward the had access to the bank account. end, even had homeless people selling it on the street.. New York's The results were predictable. By the end, the homeless­ Street News had by that time invented the idea of the streetpaper, led Spare Change was expelled from Boston Jobs with Peace to·go and, though we wouldn't have screw up their own organization. I admitted it at the time, we got the went on unemployment and played street sales idea from them. I a lot of SimCity. To add interest, asked Tim if he'd like to start one I'd print my cities out, glue the out ofthe Civil Right Project. He tiled pages together, and color loved the idea and so did his them in with felt-tip pens. I friends. The problem was, the covered my walls with maps. For leadership of the Civil Rights several months, this became my Project wanted nothing to do with life. them. · Yet, we both survived. This is not the time or place Spare Change had too much for the story of the long, sad, community support to qie. Slowly disintegration ofthe HCRP. and painfully, the newspaper Simply put, the whole thing was horrible, and, if I'd had my head on evolved to adopt a more stable model. I took a variety of straight about "empowerment," more or less avoidable. The lesson organizing odd jobs and soon after moved to Seattle to start over. I should have learned was that if Everything I saw in Boston empowerment goes unmanaged, convinced me that street people get hurt. It would be a few newspapers were the most more years before I got that. powerful tool for homeless I probably should have organizing I had ever seen. I still realized that Hobson was a thought I could do it. I just needed problem leader the day he to not screw things up. threatened to smash a computer Eight years later, Seattle's monitor over my head. In those Real Change is one of the most days, I was a little slo\.\'. on the stable and effective homeless uptake. Nonetheless, we managed organizing projects in North to keep things together for more America. Here's what I learned at than six months. Tim evangelized Spare Change's expense: the good news ofSpare Change Empowerment is for while I led liim and his following everyone. Empowerment is not a througli the process of building a mission and a business plan. I sold private revolution. Decisions constantly need to be evaluated on the ads, produced the paper, kept the basis ofwhether they move the things glued together, and, like a whole organization forward. The good organizer, gave all credit to goal is to build power as a group, the homeless. When the Christian not as individuals. Is it more Science Monitor did a full-page empowering, for example, to have color story on the launch, Tim an unreadable newspaper produced Hobson was cast as the founder. entirely by untrained homeless It wasn't long before the Page 16 people, or to have professionals working with the homeless to produce a quality product? You don't have to answer that. It's a rhetorical question. Power is up for grabs. Organizers should not be deluded about power. My biggest mistake at Spare Change was the decision that, as an organizer, I had to shun formal power. This left behind the scenes m~nipulation as my next best option. My hands-off attitude left a clear field to some very ugly internal politics. Homeless people, I learned, were .often very vulnerable. When confronted by a bully, most will either shut up or leave. I learned that ifl avoided power, others would take what was up for grabs. More often than not, their intentions were not benign. Clear ground rules need to be established and enforced. People need fairness and consistency, and the organizer's job is to make that happen. Homelessness is an economic condition, not an identity. Before we all got screwed up on identity politics no one needed to say this, but here it is: There is nothing especially great about being homeless. Homelessness does not, in and of itself, confer any great wisdom or insight. It is a shattering, degrading experience that far too many people are forced to endure. Homelessness is not an ideal to aspire to. That said, homeless people are often their own best spokespersons. Sometimes, however, homeless people make terrible representatives. Know the difference. This leads me to the biggest insight of all, namely, Homeless people are not alone. The idea that homeless people, acting by themselves, will solve homelessness is simply insane. It takes a lot of people to challenge capitalism. The good news is that plenty of people who have far more personal resources than the homeless are as disgusted as you are. They would love to walk out their door without confronting third world poverty on every street corner. Organizing homeless people is absolutely necessary, but it's not the answer. For that, we need all of us. Timothy Harris is Executive Director of the Real Change newspaper in Seattle, www.realchangenews.org. He can be reached at rchang~peakeasy.org. Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe views and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein a:re not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBES April, 2003 The Ten-Year Plan by Rodney L. Sutton, Sr. , The Evangelist News & Editorial Homes, and having police kick-in my door while I was in class. To be accused of being a drug dealer because I wore suits and carried a briefcase going to and from Cincinnati Bible College. I remember moving to 14th Street between Walnut and Vine, because at least there I was allowed to pursue my goals without opposition even when there was derision. Yet with the support and encouragement from Ms. Arrington a four-inch thick bound folder containing almost fifteen years of an incarcerated life, then you have It was March 23, 1993. I a·picture of what was placed before stood at 2121 Vine Street before Charlie's% House. I looked up at. Ms. Arrington. She declined to look at the offered record. She the warm sun and marveled at the events that had brought me to this simple said, " Let me talk to the man." city of Cincinnati. When I met Ms. Arrington I I was born and raised in learned quickly she was a no­ Akron, Ohio fo what most would nonsense kind ofperson. She came consider a low-to-middle income straight to the point. working family. We were What can you tell me to dysfunctional as most families tend convmceme to be in one form or another. I you are have four siblings and we finished with experienced the alcoholism, divorce, poverty and other factors a life of drugs, and . of our lives in different ways. My crime?" she experience led me to a life in the asked. streets, alcohol, drugs, gangs, Asl crime, and eventually to prison. During my fourth year of a looked across the l 0 to 25 year sentence for the Ohio Department ofRehabilitation table at her I could not and Correction, I received a help but Christmas card from my notice my Grandmother that changed the file there course of my sentence, and my between us life. If you have been to prison in the center of the table, Rodney Sutton in front 01 Charlie s 314 House then you understand the sense of hopelessness that can overcome and in you when your freedom is in the seconds I reviewed my life and the and my Grandmother I successfully hands ofsomeone else. I lived my many things that had gone before. completed two years of parole, I formed my reply to Ms. Arrington graduated from Cincinnati Bible life with no thought of the future, because it had not been my very carefully. "Ms. Arrington," I College & Seminary with a began, "While I was in prison I experience that the future held Bachelor's Degree in Bible, anything good for me. Then recommitted my life to Chr.ist, and married and began a family. during the last five and a half years suddenly my Grand!llother However, in the midst of God has given me a plan for the remi.nded me ofher love, and these successes I was shot while next ten-years ofmy life." God's love for me. doing a Youth Ministry Internship " A ten-year plan," she As I began to recall my in North Fairmount, lost my early upbringing in the church, ~nd replied, "I've never t~ed with a Grandmother, was arrested and felon before who had a ten-year my Grandmother continued to spent several days in the Hamilton encourage me I began to develop a plan." She listened. patiently as I County Justice Center, and then different view of the future. My began to outline for her the goals I found myself unemployed and homeless. Had it not been for my future in particular. Over the would work.to achieve upon my course of the next several years I release: I would first.get a job, ten-year plan I might have given up went before the parole board enroll in college, and get my own in despair, yet I forged on, and by several tim~s and was denied each apartment. This I would do in the the grace of God I found time, but I continued to put· first ninety days. employment and housing, and together the ten-year plan God When I had finished she again stepp~d into my future. was giving me. Here I was simply said, " I'll have you out in Altho~gh, at this point I planning my own future. I could · - thirty days, and I'll do what I can thought I would readjust my plan envision a future that held promise to help you reach those goals." and forget about a life in the for me. Ten years later and here I ministry. I did some sales and I began to realize that my stand before Charlie's % House. I catering, since cooking has always remember arriving in Cincinnati an future would be what I would been a hobby of mind that I find hour late, and Ms. Arrington make it. very relaxing. God was set on the coming to my defense against a original plan, because I was led Therefore, when I finally received a parole I was almost Parole Officer who was ready to back to the ministry with the devastated to learn I could not send me back to prison. I recall my development ofAW.O.L. (A Way return to Akron, and because of first job as a cook at Barleycorn's ofLife) Ministries. A ministry with on 6th Street, I recall ninety-days my criminal history there was not a mission to help all an alternate city in Ohio willing to after coming to Charlie's moving disenfranchised individuals with ·referral, support, and counseling into my own two-room efficiency have me either. Finally the coordinator of the pre-release on 13th Street between Walnut and services. program made contact with Vine, and I recall being accepted I found myself homeless again and questioning God about Juanita Arrington who was then into Cincinnati Bible College & the Director of Charlie's % House Seminary. I had stepped into my my lot, but I forged on and now at here in Cincinnati. She agreed to future. Yet it was a future that was the end of ten years I am asking come and ifiterview me. to be as unpredictable as a God, "What will the next ten-years Prior to talking with me rollercoaster ride. Because I also hold for me?" I ask this because I recall the objections of my parole know that it is only by the grace of Ms. Arrington was offered my prison record. If you can envision officer. The moving to Laurel the Creator that although I stray Page 17 from the course on occassion the guidance of the Spirit has corrected my steps. Currently attending Lexington Theological Seminary, serving the United Church of Christ locally as the Director ofthe Racial Justice Youth Ministry, serving as a Coordinating Committee Member ofthe Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, and renting a house in Silverton I have come a long way from the ex-felon who shared a ten-year plan with Juanita Arrington. I would like to take this time to thank Juanita, and all those who along the way gave an encouraging word or set me straight when I needed someone to do so. I would like to say to you, ex-felon, recovering addict, alcoholic, and homeless individual first and foremost. find God, then ask for a plan, and find someone who will support you in the development and pursuit of that plan. A ten-year" plan to end homelessness is a reality, but it must be done one individual at a time. If you cannot find help, call A.W.O.L. Ministries, 513-349­ 5119, and we will help you find that way of life that can help you step into your future. Peaslee Neighborhood Center. 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education �STREETVIBES April, 2003 Editorial Cincinnati City Council ­ Show me, don't Tell me Domination War? Could it be that most of the people parading around as "Democrats" on Council are really just Republicans in disguise? move in the right direction. With Then Council passed giving Two years in review ­ due respect to Valerie, she has 6.6 million dollars to Sax Fifth No Fundamental spoken up on a few occasions, Avenue, a huge corporation. Yes, Changes. which is good, but more often than that is a priority for me, to by Brian Garry not she has remained silent at times subsidize private companies to sell As City hall touts its' expensive furs downtown. Yes I when what was needed was, to set · the example by speaking out progress of"moving forward" I agree - let all the rioters wear fur against such atrocities as that will solve the problem. laugh so hard, I fall off my chair. Excuse me I think I'm going to Huntington Meadows and the Does the City forget about vomit. What's wrong with our removal of Citizen input from the the "Great White Boycott" of local city administration? Have downtown that has been going on CitiCable broadcast . they moved the city forward in the Later the Panhandling for y~ars before the "Rebellion of past two years? Ifso in what 2001"? Cincinnati's downtown has Ordinance was passed. This nasty specific areas have they done so? little, hate-filled piece oflegislation been struggling for years and white Are they fu)tjl)ing their job people have been terrified and seeks once again to attack the weakest link in our societies chain, fleeing a way from the black people description - that of executing the Will of the People? Where is the to the suburbs for years prior to people who have no place to call "home" -many ofthem mentally ill. tangible evidence that they have 2001. Lack of free parking and too done something? Show me how Why don't the pick on somebody many parking tickets is one of the their actions have translated into their own size like Chiquita, or P& reasons for these folks not going actually helping working-class G or, Cintas, 5"'/3<d, UDF or downtown. people. Ifhelping people were a Provident Bank. Address The Demands! Obviously Why? Because the the city should not be digging in crime, would their be enough evidence to convict them? If powerful corporations run this city their heels. They should be dealing helping corporations were a crime, and to attack them would be for with and re~koning with the our city leaders to attack their I feel that there would be a demands ofthe boycotters. The preponderance of evidence, (to use REAL bosses, - rich corporations. City has, as an excuse, and a one their legalistic terms.) Our Council and Mayor are mostly distraction, made the Boycott the As a celebrated American obstacle, instead ofthe demands. puppets to these International Corporations who happen to have statesmen put it, "Let's look at the The boycott is not the issue, the record". demands are. The boycott is a their Head Quarters in Downtown One ofthe first things our city Cincinnati. With a few exceptions, tactic, a means to an end - that end being meeting the Demands. (The administration did, after the they are punks, sell-outs, they do not represent you nor I. They demands can be found at forming ofthe CAN Commission, www.cincyboycott.org.) was to fire Rev. Damon Lynch, (the represent the upper-classes, as is only co-chair representing the What did the City evidenced by their voting records. But I digress. The "common people") off the Administration do for its citizens Impaction Ordinance encourages who live in Huntington Meadows committee. the police (troops of the rich) to Apartments? They gave nothing Soon after, Council passed arrest people for asking others for because they do not care. To them, the Impaction Ordinance. The these people are not Human. Impaction Ordinance is an evil law money. Theref9re the City The City gave Lazarus prohibiting the use ofgovernment Administration ought to arrest Department store $27 million. funds for the building oflow­ itself for strong arming money out Meanwhile, the City claimed that income people's houses and of it's residents. How can they limit the free speech ability of one the reason that they did not help its apartments. This law destroys Citizens at Huntington Meadows chances for the building of homes person to ask another person for was because the city did not own and apartments for people of low­ money? Why did Council not follow Huntington Meadows. Does the income within the city limits. The City claims that the the suit of Cleveland and Columbus City own Lazarus? The City offered Channel 9 hiring ofValerie Lemmie was a to oppose this Oil and World Page 18 $?million to pay for moving costs. The city offered the people of Huntington Meadows - Nothing for moving costs. The City also gave the Hyatt Hotel 2.3 million, while cutting funding for the GrassRoots Leadership Academy and teen mother counseling. I spend my money on my priorities. Looking at the City's expenditures, I say that the City's priorities a bit screwed up. OK, so maybe they got issue 5 on the ballot. I give them that. That was a good move, but it didn't go far enough. This latest move, with certain city council people entering the boycott fray, demonstrates an Administration which concerns itself greatly when white performers cancel, or mainstream white groups support the boycott, is another example ofinsecure politicians feeling the need for more attention. Not caring for the people which they serve but only for a story in which they are mentioned in the local Cincinnati newspaper. This seems to give them that necessary, extra self­ esteem they seem to be lacking. They seem to be using the boycott for notoriety for themselves, stepping on the backs ofthe boycotters to gain a name for themselves. White bread councilmen and their police chief buddies from Elder are just an obstacle to Justice and change in this great city of Gurs.. They boycott groups and any thinking person would agree that few ifany ofthe demands of the boycott have been met. So please, prove me wrong and Show me, not Tell me, where this City's Administration has made FUNDAMENTAL changes in relation to addressing the root causes of the Rebellion of2001 . Support your local Streetvibes Vendor! here Vendor: 80 cents Printing and Production: 20 cents Your oll.a r oes The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. Your vendor keeps 80 cents ofevery dollar..... �STREETVIBES April, 2003 Page 19 Food Research and ~.ction Center (FRAC) Report THE HOUSE BUDGET CUTS IN NUTRITION AND OTHER LOW-INCOME ENTITLEMENTS (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 20, 2003) The budget plan passed by the House Budget Committee includes more than $159 billion in cuts, between 2004 and 2013, to key low-income programs such as Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, SSI, EITC, Food Stamps, TANF, child nutrition programs, foster care and adoption programs, child care, and the Social Services Block Grant. This report includes a state-by­ state table that provides estimates of how the $159 billion in cuts in these key low-income mandatory programs would be distributed among states.http:// www.cbpp.org/3-20-03bud3.htm COLUMN: PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAX CUTS AND THE LONG-TERM BUDGET OUTLOOK put forth by the House Budget Committee, saying that the plan forces the federal government to drastically curtail vital programs in order to pay for tax cuts aimed at a wealthy minority ofAmericans. Two-thirds ofthe deficits throughout the coming decade will be caused by the tax cut proposal. The big tax cuts for the rich and the $12 billion cut in food stamps as well as cuts in Medicaid and Medicare proposed by the House Budget Committee are representative of how the House Budget Committee proposal provides "a boon for a fortunate minority while taking a cleaver to programs vital for most tax payers." http://www.nytirnes.com/2003/03/ 16/opinion/16SUN1 .html (free registration required) REPORT: FAMILIES COPING WITHOUT EARNINGS OR GOVERNMENT CASH ASSISTANCE benefit from the academic performance and student elementary schools in the CutlerOrosi Joint Unified district gets free breakfast in their classrooms, regardless of income. The food service director says most schools could afford to feed everyone breakfast for free. The schools have seen remarkable improvements in tardiness rates, behavior problems, and nurses' visits, and a jump in state test scores. In an attempt to make breakfast more accessible and reduce stigma associated with it, school districts and the task force are looking at ways get students to participate. Ken Hecht ofthe California Child Nutrition Task Force points to serving meals on the bus, offering packaged foods that can be grabbed quickly, and eating in the classroom. c;tassroom breakfast is the prefef!ed means. http://www.fresnobee.com/local/ story/63 82146p-7329879c.htm1 REPORT: STUDY OF "ABAWDs" LEAVING THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM IN SOUTH CAROLINA (New York Times, March 21, 2003} Columnist Paul Krugman suggests that the administration's 2001 and proposed tax cuts win create future fiscal problems that are far greater than the budget deficits expected from Social Security and Medicare. He notes that "the latest official projections acknowledge (ifyou read them carefully) that the long-term finances ofthe U .S. Government are in much worse shape than the administration admitted a year ago." A new study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities compares the size ofPresident Bush's tax cuts with the prospective deficits in Social Security and Medicare. The report finds that Social Security faces an estimated actuarial deficit of $3.8 trillion over the next 75 years; Medicare will face a $6.2 trillion shortfall. At the same time, $12.1 to 14.2 trillion in total revenue is estimated to be lost through the tax cuts. http://www.nytimes.com/ 2003/03/21/opinion/2 lKRUGhtml (free registration required) The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report: http:// www.cbpp.org/3-5-03bud.htm (Urban Institute, February 2003) This report examines what the poorest families need in order to work and what supports they need when work cannot be found. Interviews with about 100 families with children, all with incomes below 50 percent of the poverty level, show how very poor health, limited skills, and the lack ofjobs, transportation and child care raise serious barriers to employment. They also illustrate how sanctions, time limits, and other administrative hassles can prevent welfare participation for many families without work. Food stamps provided a base of support for about halfoft he families, but 50 percent ofthose not receiving food stamps had their benefits terminated for administrative reasons. Interviewed families coped by combining in-kind government support, child support, help from family or friends, "side jobs," and charity. http ://www.urban.org/ url.cfm?ID=410634 EDITO~: (Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA, March 17, 2003) The California Child Nutrition Task (News Channel 8, Portland, OR. Force, headed by Sharon Davis, the March 17, 2003} governor's wife, is pushing better Oregon state Senator Bill utilization ofthe federal School Morrisette (D-Springfield) has Breakfast Program so that schools sponsored a bill that would place PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAX CUTS HURT PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR (New York Times, March 16, 2003) This editorial strongly criticizes President Bush's tax cut plan, and the subsequent budget proposals CALIFORNIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS USING SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM SUCCEED (Economic Research Service of USDA, March 2003) This report presents the findings of a study of certain childless jobless adults between ages 18 and 50 (so called " Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents," or " ABAWDS") in South Carolina who left the Food Stamp Program between October 1998 and March 2000. South CarolinaABAWDs, including thos~ willing to work but unemployed, are limited to 3 months of food stamp benefits in a 36-month period unless they work or participate in an approved work or training program. Ofthose who were unemployed at the time ofthe survey, two-thirds appeared, based on income, to still be eligible for food stamps. Forty percent were food insecure and 23 percent food insecure with hunger evident. http ://www.ers.usda.gov/ publications/efan03002/ LEGISLATORS IN SEVERAL STATES PROPOSE BANS ON SODAS, CANDY SOLD IN SCHOOLS (OREGON, MARYLAND, MAINE) OREGON PROPOSAL nutritional restrictions on foods available at school in an attempt to limit consumption of non-nutritious foods in favor offruits and vegetables. At one high school in the state, vending machines are turned off during lunch, but soda and high-fat snacks are still available through the student center's a la carte window. Student groups also sell snacks (e.g. doughnuts and cookies) throughout the day. http://www.kgw.com/ sharedcontent/AP Stories/stories/ D7PQ013Gl.html (free registration required) MARYLAND PROPOSAL (Washington Post, March 17, 2003) The Maryland General Assembly is con~idering legislation that would require at least half ofthe vending machine products sold in schools to be healthful. Also, non-nutritious snacks and beverages sold in vending machines would have to be at least 25 percent more expensive than their more nutritious counterparts. http ://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/articles/A35565­ 2003Mar16.html MAINE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REJECTS SCHOOL JUNK FOOD BAN (Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME, March 18, 2003) In Maine, a bill banning candy and all soda sales in most schools was unanimously rejected in a legislative committee, and carried over into next year, pending suggested nutrition guidelines for foods sold in schools to be drafted by education, health, and food industry officials. http://www.pressherald.com/news/ statehouse/030318obese.shtm1 To view the News Digest archives and the latest issue in HTML format: http:// www.frac.org/htmVnews/ newsdigestldigestmenu. htm ­ Our web site is http:// www.frac.org - To subscribe to the weekly FRA C News Digest go to: http:// capwiz.comlfraclmlml Ben Winter, Food Research and Action Center 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 986-2200 x3019 phone (202) 986-2525 fax Email: bwinter@frac.org �Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency sf)elter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the neeas of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 .....,,.... ~ Cocll'-IG n. ·M!Qnwtl• • ,,, Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 4 71-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 861-1111 St. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 639-7056 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 IBEATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 961 -2256 Starting Over TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947· A.A Hotline 351-0422 C.Q.A.T. 381-6660 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in 591 -2246 Northside Cincinnati Health Network 961 -0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 381 -4242 Contact Center 241 -2563 Emanuel Center Freestore/ 241 -1064 Foodbank Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile 352-2902 Health Van House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241 -9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721 -4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 721 -7660 Travelers Aid 721-7900 United Way VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 863-i445 Salvation Army Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2003 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: ReSTOC Celebrates 25 Years of Over-the-Rhine Neighborhood Development Hate Against the Homeless Pg 2: Exploring Change Since April 2001 Pg 3: Hate Continued… Pg 4: Homeless News Digest Pg 5: Formerly Homeless, Rising Up to Help Others Pg 6: Talking About Panhandling, Poverty and Homelessness Pg 7: Talking About Panhandling, Poverty and Homelessness Continued Pg 8: Trespassing Laws Against Homeless Intensified Pg 9: Fighting Over Dirt- The War Inside Pg 10: ReSTOC Continued Pg 11: The Peace Village Pg 12: The Peace Village Continued Pg 13: Ohio Empowerment Coalition Organizes to Stop the Race to the Bottom Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: News & Editorial Pg 17: The Ten-Year Plan Pg 18: Cincinnati City Council-Show Me, Don’t Tell Me Pg 19: Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource April 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Steve Shockley Mary Taylor Virgil Tuttle Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Elain Coffy Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Bienvenidos Brendan Goodwin Cincinnati city council Elain Coffy Empowerment Evangelist Food Research FRAC Georgine Getty Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath Laws living wage Mary Taylor News & Editorials Newspaper Ohio Over-the-Rhine panhandling Peace Village poverty Reader Mail ReSTOC Seattle Steve Shockley Virgil Tuttle War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/674d08303529325d5d30af26e9241a17.pdf 5826eec5a0c03190f7f63f8251ddc100 PDF Text Text Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �• MAY 2003 Cover Story deaths and 4 non-lethal acts of violence against people experiencing homelessness. Ohio was only surpassed by California (3 2 separate incidents in 18 cities resulting in 20 deaths and 15 non­ lethal acts), Colorado (13 separate incidents in 2 cities resulting in 11 deaths and 4 non-lethal acts), and Washington State (13 separate incidents in 5 cities resulting in 10 deaths and 3 non-lethal acts). The most recent known hate crime that occurred in Ohio Dangerous to be homeless happened in Springfield. There in August, Dennis R. Wade, who was homeless, was sleeping on the porch of an abandoned house when he was set on fire. He suffered burns on over 80% of his body. Though initially Mr. Wade was in stable condition, his brother reported, "He has no skin. The damage is done. He is not going to make it.''. His brother was correct. death were committed against men, women and children experiencing homelessness over the past four years. There have been 89 reported acts of non-lethal by Andy Erickson, National violence against homeless men and Homeless Civil Rights Organizing women. Project Many more ofthese crimes In Champaign, Illinois, a Homeless .... probably went unpublicized and quiet college town of about unreported. Often, homeless cont. on page 3 100,000 people, Robert James people do not report crimes Nash, a homeless man, was beaten committed against them because to death by a gang of four youth. ofmental health issues, substance The doctor who performed the abuse, fear of retaliation, past autopsy stated that Nash had been incidents, or frustration with struck on his head and chest about police. 20 to 25 times. He had also been Hate crimes against the strangled. He had suffered from homeless occurred all over the bleeding and bruising in the brain, country - in 98 different US cities ­ six fractured ribs, a broken over the past four years. Many sternum, and five ofhis teeth were occurred here in Ohio. In fact, the knocked out. National Coalition for the A recently released report Homeless has proclaimed Ohio the by the National Coalition for the "Fourth Most Dangerous State" Homeless (NCH), entitled Hate, for the homeless to live in. The Violence, and Death on Main ranking was based upon the Street USA: A Report on Hate number of hate crimes that hav.e Crimes and Violence Against occurred against the homeless People Experiencing Homelessness here. in 2002, is full of these stories. Over the past four years in According to the report., a Ohio, there were 11 separate total of 123 hate crimes resulting in incidents in 5 cities, resulting in 8 Living in public can be dangerous to your health Jimmy Heath photo New report ranks Ohio as 4th Most Dangerous for homeless people Panhandling For Awareness On April 15th, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) and the Cincinnati Youth City Council (CYCC)joined together in an educational effort to increase empathy and awareness about ____ • homelessness. There were groups of teenagers stationed in key locations on downtown Cincinnati city streets passing out flyers with different statistics from the latest study on violent crimes directed towards the homeless. The youth around the city were not protesting, but informing Cincinnati about the recent statistical study released by the National Coalition for the Homeless on violence against the homeless. The report; Hate, Violence and Death on Main Street USA, developed by the National Coalition for the Homeless and its Civil Rights Work Group, hopes to educate lawmakers, advocates and _­ the general public about the problem of hate crimes against those who are homeless. (See cover story above). The GCCH, dedicated to ending homlessness in Cincinnati since 1984, is a local grassroots community organization. This was the Cincinnati Youth City Council's first major project as an active, youth-based group, striving for a better city. The CYCC and GCCH challenge the city ofCincinnati to unite in a collective effort to Director of GCCH says " Ohio is improve our community the fourth most dangerous state to live in if you are homeless. Over for all ofits inhabitants. To get involved or learn 20,000 people experience homelessness in Cincinnati each more, please call year. That's 20,000 men, women, Georgine Getty (GCCH) and children who not only 513-421-7803, or experience the horror of having no Jeremy Guttman (CYCC) 513-325-9001. shelter, they also face the fear of being raped, beaten, robbed or Emily Geier, a comurdered simply because they are founder of the CYCC homeless. It's great to see the stated, " As concerned local youth rally to address this youth, we feel that it is difficult issue. I hope all of not only our right, but our duty to confront the Cincinnati will follow their compassionate lead." present day city issues. Decisions made today will inevitably affect our future. It's our job as educated youth to open the community's eyes to issues, one of which being homelessness." Georgine Getty, Executive TH �STREETVIBES local News May, 2003 Page 2 Homeless Challenged by Stereotypes by Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes Editor children homeless than ever before. After a couple offalse So unless we educate starts, I think spring is finally here. ourselves about the homeless and For the homeless in Greater we have is who they really are, Cincinnati, . this time ofyear might what we see, or think we know. be regarded as an easy time for In the movies and on TV, we see the mentally disturbed man, living on the streets. If you are homeless and living outdoors you dirty and bearded, rifling through don't need to worry so much about the garbage, or yelling at an unseen freezing to death. The food in the antagonist. Or it's the "bag lady". dumpster stays warmer for a bit Or any number of stereotypes; longer after it's been thrown out. drifters, transients, mentally Panhandling may be a bit more disturbed homeless people. profitable because there are more Sometimes they are portrayed as people on the streets enjoying the drug addicted or alcoholics, weather! standing in groups around a barrel Of course, all of these so-called observations are terrible stereotypes. For one thing, who we see on the street represents only a small percentage of who is actually homeless. Most people base what they know about the homeless on what they see in public. If you don't educate yourself, (or ifyou don't care) this is all you will ever know. Most often, the homeless people you see in A~co~ding. ~o a recent GCCH ~tudy, 25~ of public are men, maybe Cmcmnatl s homeless population are kids. all middle-aged, standing on a corner with a cup or a sign. Seeing people .. live like this, for whatever reason, is unfortunate enough. But the real tragedy ofhomelessness goes unseen. Nearly halfofall the homeless are families. 25% .o fthe homeless are children. Homeless children do not live their lives in public. We rarely see homeless families huddled together on city streets. Nearly 25,000 people in Cincinnati experience being homeless at one time or other during the course of a single year. There are now more woman and fire in a dark alley in some seedy part ofanimaginarytown. With all of this, how else are people going to know who the homeless really are? We sometimes hear about the homeless when they commit a crime, and their housing status is pointed out, as if that alone is a misdeed. We hear about "housed" people committing horrible crimes all the time. Does the fact that they are not homeless somehow lessen the crime? Or worsen it? I'm just not sure, but ifyou are homeless and commit a crime the news media will point it out just the same. The dreadful things that occur in middle-class suburbia is sometimes hidden by class or economic status, or just the fact that they are not living outdoors. Homelessness exaggerates everything, especially suffering. Times are tough economically and things may not get better for a while. And this means that those at the bottom ofthe ladder will suffer even more. Ifwe don't know our brothers and sisters on the streets, if we don't know who they really are and what they need_ how can we help them? We shouldn't let fear or revulsion or mistrust or stereotypes make us forget about our sense of humanity. Learn to challenge your own stereotypes ofthe homeless. Take the time to find out who the homeless really are. Behind every man and womar who lives on the street is a family, a history, a yearning that we all share. When you pass a homeless person on thi: street in the coming months, take. ent to pause. Think about you · and what it means. In 2001, the Greater Cincinnafreoalition-for the .. · Homeless, Applied Information Resources and the Health F oundati~o'.!! n.s~ of~eat:er\ completed a report on . homelessness in Cincinnati. The report, Homeless in Cincinnati, gives statistics on Cincinnati's homeless population. The data from the report can be accessed at http :Ilwww. ihphsr. uc. edulhfgc! holdings.cjm. Select &fil Foundation Archive then Browse Archive Holdings and select Homeless, Year 2000 Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary the sale of Streetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise rnis­ donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $1. I also understand that I will be representing is a violation ofa city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless papers, and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not termination from the program. contest territories with other distributors. I will 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt not sell on private property without permission. to vend after 12 midnight. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other vensupporting paper created by people who are dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence effort, I will try to spread the word and write of drugs or alcohol. stories ifpossible. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of threatened. the above statements will result in termination 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I am collecting for the "homeless" in general. I time as deemed appropriate. will be honest in stating that all the profits from �ST R EETVI BES May,2003 Page 3 Homeless .... cont. from page 1 by Molly Rhodes relationship that has few While services for protections for both the employer homeless and poor people are and the homeless person. being cut back across the It may not look like nation, Portland, Oregon's only much to to the untrained eye, street newspaper, Street Roots but Dr. Randy Christensen's (www.streetroots.org), is roving camper can be a Jiteral expanding this month from a lifesaver for homeless teens in monthly paper to a bimonthly. Arizona. The camper, known as The volunteer-run, four year old the Crews' n Healthmobile paper had looked to double its Mobile Medical Unit, is equipped publication schedule for at least a like a doctor's office, with all the couple years; it has only recently basics from prescription amassed the volunteer base medicine and anti-depressants to needed to increase production. anti-fungal sprays and even room Sadly, the decision to expand is for minor surgery. The biggest also a response to the need for the disease Dr. Christensen is unable true voice of homeless people to to treat is mental health illness. A be heard. Said the paper's study conducted among his creative director, Israel Bayer, patients reveals that 40 percent "With the current economic crisis, admit to feeling depressed, while and dramatic growth in numbers only half those took some kind of of homeless, it only makes sense medication for this condition. to make that move now." More than 78 percent of Homeless day laborers in homeless teens receive no Salt Lake City fear they will feel counseling at all, even though it the aftershocks from the is available to them. Dr. discovery that Elizabeth Smart's Christensen makes screening for kidnapper was a homeless man mental helth issues part of his hired to work in the Smarts' first treatment for any new home. Jobs that are already patient. Yet neither he nor any of scarce could become scarcer as the other Arizona homeless city residents shy away from advocates can force teens to seek hiring anyone with a similar the care they need to survive. homeless background, according A small but important to the Salt Lake Tribune victory for homeless advocates (www.sltrib.com). Yet there have was won in San Francisco, been no noticeable drops in day where Supervisor Chris Daly laborer employment in the city managed to convince social since Elizabeth was recovered, service officials not to require and homeless advocates in the every person seeking shelter in area think most people who the city to be fingerprinted. would have been interested in The fringerprint plan was part of hiring day laborers would realize Proposition N, which stopped the that not all of them are like flow of money directly to Elzabeth's kidnapper. In addition, homeless people and instead will Brian David Mitchell was not funnel that money into new social offered the job at the Smart home service programs, according to through an established day laborer the San Francisco Chronicle. organization, but picked up while The fingerprinting was designed panhandling downtown - a to be a way to track who uses the new services, particularly new shelter beds and food sources, to make sure the people who need the services are getting them. Yet such an invasion into privacy would only scare off homeless people who are illegal immigrants or do not want to be so closely tracked. Those who had been receiving checks from the city will continue to be tracked - about 2,500 people out ofthe city's estimate of anywhere from 8,500 to 15,000 homeless people. Wade eventually succumbed to his injuries. In October of 2001 , a homeless Cincinnati man was sitting in Piatt Park when a group ofyouths came up behind him, hit him with bricks in the back ofthe head, and then ran off. Two days later, a police officer noticed the injuries to the man's head, and took him to the hospital where he was given stitches. The man later had a series of strokes and died as a result of the injury to his brain. Because ofstories like these, NCH is calling on Congress to add housing status to pending hate crimes legislation. The US Congress currently defines a hate crime as a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim because ofthe victim's race, color, or national origin. Hate crimes are commonly called bias-motivated crimes, referring to the prejudice or partiality of the perpetrator against the victim's real or perceived grouping or circumstance. According to NCH, most hate crimes are committed not by organized hate groups, but by individual citizens who harbor a strong resentment against a certain group of people. Some are "mission off.enders, " who believe they are on a mission to cleanse the world of a particular "evil." Others are "scapegoat offenders," who project their resentment toward the growing economic power of a particular racial or ethnic group through violent actions. Still others are "thrill seekers" - those who take advantage of a vulnerable and disadvantaged group in order to satisfy their own pleasures. Thrill seekers, primarily in their teens, are the most common perpetrators of violence against the homeless population. Donald Whitehead, director ofNCH, said in a press release, "Our country is in its darkest hour. As more and more men, women and children are forced into poverty by worsening economic conditions and the widening and growing dap between the rich and the poor, their cries for help are hot being greeted with kindness or benevolence, but are instead being greeted with apathy ·and hate. It is time that we expose these cowardice acts against people without homes. It is time we bring this darkness to light." For more information about hate crimes and other issues su.rrounding homelessness, please visit NCH's web site at www.nationalhomeless.org. The report "Hate, Violence, and Death on Main Street USA: A Report on Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness in 2002 " is available as a downloadable PDFfile. Finding a Great Job by Mary Anne, a Streetvibes Vendor It took me a long time to find a job I like to do. I love my job. It's fun and I meet different people. I have a great boss. Her name is Hope. She is caring, kind and has a good heart. She will go out of her way to help you if she can. It's not easy finding a job where your boss is great and understanding. · I thank God for giving me this great job and meeting Hope. My boss and I do cleaning work. Hope isn't just my boss, she is a great friend to have. God bless Hope and her family. ­ �STREETVIBES May,2003 Reader Hail use my perspective on homelessness, because I have been there, and may be on my way back. I will not, however, give ':1P on my mission to enlighten the world We would like to hear from you through my poetry. I am a certified - please address letters and artist in the branch ofEnglish Literature comments to; and I look forward to having you on my team. I've Streetvibes, submitted another copy of my 1506 Elm Street, poem "The Streets" with a copy of Cincinnati Ohio 45202 my biography as well. (or) email to: I look forward to seeing it Streetvibes@juno.com published in next month's issue of your newspaper that I still support, and I'll be at your rally on the 15th ofthis month if I'm still in town! Lawana T Luck Vendor Doing a Good Job I wanted to comment on one of your vendors. I believe his name is Tony ­ he stands around the comer of Central Parkway and Elm by the YMCA He is always very courteous, has a smile on his face and even when turned down wishes folks a good day. I try to purchase Streetvibes from him each month because of his attitude and positive presence. Too often we only complain and do not let people know when a good job is being done so I felt it was important to comment on this gentleman who represents your organization very well. DebbyNare Ed Note: See Lawana spoem, The Streets on page 15 ofArts & Poetry.... Finding a Way I'm from Dayton Ohio and I'd like to share my story with Streetvibes.readers. Seven years ago I was homeless with children, coming out ofan abusive relationship. I ended up living with my parent's in a room that a child's bunkbed could barely fit in with my four children. The Creator made a way where I landed a job working at a local newspaper as an assistant administer security guard. Soon after that one job became two. Realizing that two jobs would only take care of two children, I applied for another job at the local battered Greetings from the East. I hope that this message finds you in women's shelter as a security guard. The three jobs led to four. - good health and spirit. About a With that the Creator blessed me month ago I was on my way to the with a house under the (DMHA) main library here in downtown Dayton Metro Housing Authority. Cincinnati and I was approached by I know it was the Creator that one ofyour vendors. He' d asked watched after my children because me if I had a dollar to spare towards a good cause. At first I the landlord requested that no - thought that he was some bum more than two children be allowed trying to hustle me, but when he into the home. gave me the background of your That day I cleaned aJJ my organization I supported him by children up and we headed out to buying a issue ofyour newspaper, the interview. Out of all the people even though l really couldn't afford there my family was chosen for the to. home. About a month later after You see, I just returned to settling in, GOD came to into my Cincinnati about three months ago life and changed my heart and I because ofa financial crisis to was guided to use my home to help discover that I really have no place the community. Not less than one to call my gwn. I find myself year after getting into my. home I running from pillow to post in an gave many of my personal items effort to escape homelessness. away and things left over. I sold I called myself furthering them and helped the needy. my education to end the poverty Since 1996 I've been that I'd been exposed to as a child, feeding, clothing and sheltering but somehow found myselfright those in need. I funded everything back in it as an educated adult. from out of po·cket expenses or That day that I'd met the through donations from area vendor who had sold me the business family & friends. I magazine I felt hope and saw eventually quit working to support opportunity, please don't prove me my mission on·earth but soon the wrong. I know that others could funds ended. Running from Pillow to Post Page 4 So I turned to the Montgomery County Job & Family Services for support. I received public assistance for a time but the 36 month time limit had taken effect. I removed three of my children from the Dayton Public School System to home school which lead to no support from them. So things had developed to the point where no support came from that department. With no or little business knowledge I began to search for a way to help myself become self sufficient. With that in mind I started developing programs for the Y.<?,Uth of the Dayton community working with parks & recreation, metro parks etc. Anyone or anything that could support my efforts in the community. When I went to the Department OfHuman Services they refuse to see my need to help those in the poverty area where I lived nor what I was trying to achieve at that point. I applied for asstistance some time in 1999 and they refused me because they said I should stay home and be with my children for working was not apart ofthe plan. I received social security for a little while but that soon was cut off Today I receive less than $300 a month. I'm still striving to support the homeless of my community. I've ask the F&J services for some support and this very day they wont return my call.... I've become a grassroots community center. I'm not sure where GOD is trying to lead me with this but I believe I was chosen to make a difference in the lives ofa multitude of people whether or not its to provide shelter for a day, a meal or a listening ear. Today I'm known in the community as Movement 19, home ofEuphoric Earth Healing. I seek help with food, clothing, etc. right now with the help ofthose that believe in me this will manifest into some thing great. "I have a dream" of having my own grassroots non-profit community center in the center of where its needed the most. Today I sit with and protest for the rights of the poor alongside Streetvibes, OEC and many other interest groups. I'd like to thank you for your consideration and for reviewing m~ Nasira Tullah ~ ART, MUSIC, AND WRITING ,6PPORT1JNIUES! Peaslee Neighborhood Center, 215 East 14th Street, hosts lots of arts opportunities for adults and children to learn skills suclfas playing a steel drum or piano, · photography, making mosaic ~ or writing. Any resident ofOver-the­ Rhine or the West End is welcome! AU sessions are FREE, including instruction and materials. No previous artistic experience necessary. Contact Brenda Z. at 621-5514, or pea,slee_bz@hotmail com for more information. OTR Steel Drum Band -Learn how to play the steel drums! Participants will learn steel drum technique, rhythms, and how to read music. Ages 9 and up. flw.t.Qgrapja')'. gers and young adults are invited to learn basic photography skills through introductory courses provided at Peaslee. Writing - Any young person in the Greater Cincinnati area may suomit poems and/or articles via email at peaslee bz@hotmail com for publication in Streetvibes. Content should be related to homelessness, social justice, or poverty-related issues. The Center also offers classes in creative writing and "Rhyme-n-Rap" poetry sharing sessions. Call For New Arts Advisory Committee Members! - The Arts Advisory Committee is looking for representatives from the neighborhood and the arts and business community. This Community Mosaic Art Project ­ committee helps to f~rmulate the Community members are coming direction and development of together to make mosaic art for the Peaslee's arts programs. Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Stop by buddy's place at 13th and Looking For New Staff - Peaslee Vme Monday - Friday 2:30-4 :30, is also looking for new music and Saturday 11 :00-1:00. Children instructors for the piano. This is a must be accompanied by an adu!t wonderful opportunity to get Groups interested in participating involved in teaching music to should contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee children in a fun and rewarding to schedule a special group time. setting. Anyone interested should contact Brenda Z. at Peaslee. �STREETVIBES Page 5 May,2003 US Marines Raid Rooms at Media Look Up! by Jerome Manigan Look Up! If you find yourself in front of Christ Chapel on Hotel in Baghdad Masked US marines w ho said they were searching for weapons raided rooms at a prominent Baghdad media hotel last month, fueling rising tensions between the military and the press. A marine spokesman said the raids at the Palestine Hotel, where many journalists and the military have set up base, were in response to "reliable intelligence reports". Jean-Paul Mari, a journalist with the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur said three marines entered hi s room and ordered him at gunpoint to lie on the floor. He said the marines, in full body armor and wearing balaclavas, checked his press accreditation papers then searched his room. " It lasted 10 minutes," he told the press. Soon after the marines left another marine entered his room and apologized but then more troops arrived and searched his room a second time. Shingo Kinawa, of the Japanese-based K.yodo news service, said his offices in the hotel had also been searched. "They explained they were searching for a cache of arms," he said. Marine public affairs officer Corporal John Hoellwarth said room searches were conducted after reports were received by military intelligence, but he would not elaborate. "We reacted to security concerns that arose from intelligence reports. The marines are always ready to protect t he security ofjournalists, Iraqi civilians and marines on the hotel premises," he said. The raids came amid rising tensions between the marines and the media, with claims that troops are hampering efforts by the press to cover anti-American protests by Iraqis. Vine Street near 12th Street. The many different geometric shapes - lines, angles, squares, triangles, and rectangles all work together to form a structure known as a fire escape. Watch f or the return of Streetvibes TV Streetvibes TV is a live program created by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Media Bridges. Watch as our panel discusses the issues surrounding homelessness today. Community Resource Cards / / ' Check your local cable listing f or broadcast dates and times.... Prisoners Advocacy Committee ­ Ohio PO Box 1746 Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-1746, or submit a prisoner's name and jail number at chu-lai@juno.com Finding pen-pats for people inc.arcerated in jails throughout Ohio. National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.com Call Andy Erickson (513) 421-7803 Rockdale Temple has announced the release of the latest in its series of Community Resource Cards. The new one, printed in Spanish, is customized for the needs of Cincinnati's rapidly growing Hispanic/ Latino population. The tri-fold, plastic cards are funded by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a project of Rockdale Temple, in consultation with Bienstar, Su Casa and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. In addition to the Hispanic Resource Card, the Resource Card Project has also produced cards for senior citizens, the homeless, and public school and Catholic school students covering the Tri-state area. Cards can be ordered from: cc 5300 Hamilton Avenue, #210 Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 or send a fax request to: (513) 541-0099 �_ STREETVIBES May, 2003 Page 6 Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge our Misguided Drug Rehab untreated mental health needs of Shavelson met Darlene, worse and heads back to drugs, the System Mike, Darrell, Crystal and Glenda addicts is staggering. National program must increase treatment, by Alex Grabtree The alcohol and drug service system has absolutely failed most homeless people in the United States. Dr. Lonny Shevelson, an emergency room doctor in San Francisco set out on a tour of the treatment and rehabilitation programs in an effort to gauge the impact that these programs are having. San Francisco passed a treatment on demand initiative, and Dr. Shavelson wanted to see first hand how this had improved life on the city by the Bay. His 2001 book called Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge our Misguided Drug Rehab System, was intended to follow people in the system to find out which program was most successful. His conclusion was that all the systems fail miserably in serving people with addictions. This information is important to every local alcohol and drug addiction services board, which continue to base treatment on the person curing themselves and the agency that helps the person remain drug free. Shavelson followed five homeless people struggling with addictions to drugs or alcohol or both in a city that has recognized the need to provide treatment. Most cities have a waiting list and an inability to place addicted people into residential treatment without insurance. In Cleveland, - there are only a couple of beds reserved for homeless people or very low inco.me people. There is always open enrollment in the day treatment prograni which asks individuals to stay sober while returning to drug and alcohol saturated environments. Providers routinely report that 1S or more attempts at rehabilitation are typical for people with addictions. In California two initiatives passed, which to the general public, decriminalized drugs and provided treatment on demand to the citizens of San Francisco. It was expected that these two efforts would start the process of cleaning up the streets. The reality was that a new bureaucracy was constructed, but the appropriate level offunds never materialized. during his journeys. While this is a non-fiction exploration of a societal problem, the reader gets caught up in the lives of the drug addicts. All are amazing people with a talent for survival despite the punishment that their bodies endure. Darlene is severely mentally ill and an addict. Her self-medication allows her to function while moving from tents to bushes and underpasses to stay warm and dry. She stays with an abusive partner and rides around on a bicycle. Mike is separated from his family and is in and out of treatment. He wants desperately to have a good relationship with his wife and child. He puts up the most valiaht effort to live by the rules ofthe residential treatment facilities, but still is lured by his addiction. Darrell is the one who makes it off the streets. He pushes forward and patiently waits for housing, which in the end he finds. He is overjoyed and succeeded despite the system. He had the ability to adapt and give up his individuality to survive the system. Glenda was part native American and spent most of her life on the streets drinking. She finally was taken into custody by the Death Prevention Team and put in Detox. This program was working until they forced her to graduate into independent living which lasted only a couple of days. Shavelson met Crystal in the Drug Court after a severe tongue lashing by the courts. After a great deal of backsliding, she did make it to graduation from Drug Court. It would be wrong to reveal the ending ofthis b~ok because it does read like a novel, but the simple profile offive people ends with one dying of their addiction, and one ending up in prison for an extended sentence. The most difficult part of writing this book was seeing people destroy their lives as a journalist and not interfering. The interesting thing that many of these patients share is their personal experience as sexually abused children. The National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.c9m (513) 421-7803 experts report seven in ten people with substance abuse problems were caused or exacerbated by child abuse or neglect. Children of parents$hO abuse drugs are three times more likely to become addicts. Hooked looks at the San Francisco drug courts as well as the harm reduction outreach teams. Drug Courts provide a carrot and stick approach in order to move people into treatment. The men and women in drug courts are punished if they do not complete a treatment program and they do not maintain sobriety. Without effective referrals to treatment it is hard to measure the success of the Drug Court. Throughout the book, we read ofthe overbearing rules at both outpatient and residential treatment facilities. The author questions whether the rules are ways to screen out difficult to serve individuals. The result is often early death. Shavelson talks about the insanity ofturning people away after they relapse. If cancer patients were turned away when they relapse, we would see cancer patients walking the street being eaten alive by their own bodies. Yet, we allow the health condition known as addiction to go untreated until the person is "ready" for treatment. Shavelson ends the book by detailing his suggestions for how to improve the current system. He says: -When an addict in rehab gets not withdraw it. - Each and every rehab program must be required to have a formal structure association with a drug detox center where it can send relapsed clients for continued treatment. - Abuses and humiliation in the name oftherapy must cease. Cities must establish an ombudsman to monitor the rehab programs, and addicts must be allowed to access the ombudsman without repercussions. -All rehab counselors must be trained to recognize and treat the multitude ofaddicts who also have psychological disorders, and refer them to appropriately intensive additional care when needed. - Cities must establish a comprehensive case management system to guide addicts through the maze of programs and services. The case managers should not work for any particular rehab program, but rather represent and advocate for tl:!_e addicts in the overall system. ----­ - Government agencies that provide funds to the programs must assure that addicts are receiving comprehensive and effective treatment. ---­ - Federal funds and eff0rts must be shifted from drug interdiction aboard to drug rehab at home. Shavelson believes that rehab can work, but needs careful monitoring and oversight. Our community would do well to take to heart the advice in Hooked. The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations for their generous donation of coffee and pastries: 11379 Montgomery Road (513) 469-1111 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park. (513) 533-3402 7896 Montgomery Road (513) 891- 7740 / �STREETVIBES Page 7 May, 2003 Key Republican Not Sure on Sensenbrenner and House Patriot Act Democrats about the law and its will not be proposed to Congress, according to Justice Department officials speaking on condition of anonymity. Advocates say the current law has helped quash other terrorism attacks, but opponents claim it has eroded civil liberties. Among the advocates is Senate Judiciary Committee · Chairman Orrin Hatch, who isn't waiting on 2005 to craft legislation to extend the life of the law. _ Last week, Hatch sought to extend the act through an amendment to a bill that would further expand government wiretapping authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Lawmakers left for their Easter break before considering it. "It seems to me to be ridiculous to take away the best law enforcement tool against terrorism before we get rid of terrorism," said Hatch, R-Utah. "This bill has helped us protect ourselves from terrorism both . inside and outside the country. It's a tough bill, but it's constitutional and it works.'' The Justice Department likely will need full Republican support to renew the anti-terrorism law, with congressional Democrats are already lining up against Hatch's legislation. A renewal effort "will be highly controversial and is not justified by the Justice . Department's own record," said Sen. Patrick Leahy ofVermont, the Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat. by Jesse J Holland use in the war on terrorism. WASHINGTON - The Bush "The courts have upheld administration's plans to expand a our actions time and time again," post-Sept. 11 anti-terrorism law spokesman Mark Corallo said face resistance from a powerful Tuesday. But "we will do House Republican who says he's everything we can to cooperate not even sure he wants the with Congress and with Chairman government to keep its new Sensenbrenner in answering hi ~ powers. questions." James Sensenbrenner of Passed weeks after the Wisconsin, the House Judiciary Sept. 11 attacks, the USA Patriot Committee chairman, complains Act granted the government broad that the Justice Department isn't new powers to use wiretap~! sharing enough information for electronic and computer lawmakers to make a judgment on eavesdropping and searches and how well or poorly the USA the authority to access a wide Patriot Act i~ working. range offinancial and other "I can't answer that information in its investigations. It because the Justice Department has also broke down the traditional classified as top-secret most of wall between FBI investig~tors and what it's doing under the Pa~ot intelligence agents. Act," Sensenbrenner said when Justice officials won't say asked about the future of the anti­ what their new proposal would do, terrorism law in a recent interview. but "we will present Congress wit~ Sensenbrenner maintains an anti-terrorism package 'I that because the department sometime in the near future," ; refuses to be forthcoming, it is Corallo said. losing the public relation battle An early draft leaked to needed to extend the law beyond reporters iJ:i November suggested its October 2005 expiration, much creating a DNA database of Jess expand it. "suspected terrorists~" forcing ,._ will be on, .t he "The burden suspects tq prove w,hy.they should • J Justice Department and whomever be.released on bail, rather than 1 is. attorney general at that time to have the prosecution prove why convince Congress and the ·they should be held; and deporting_· president to extend the Patriot Act U.S. citizens who become members or modify it," he said. "But of or help terrorist groups. because of the fact that everything But that draft was nev~r has been classified as top-secret, reviewed by Attorney General John the public debate is centering on Ashcroft and about two-thirds of it (the act's) onerousness." For example, the American Civil Liberties Union this week used newspaper ads to attack one provision that the ACLU says allows the government to enter homes, conduct searches, download computer contents and Internet viewing histories without informing the occupai;it that such a search was conducted. "Enacting policies that allow the government to enter our homes in secret and to collect highly personal information won't make us safer, but it will make us less free," said Anthony Romero, the ..... ACLU's executive '' ... ... .. ' director. .""' •:... : .. ... "' ; •t' • ' 1 .•,:' ' . A Justice :.·•:..:...... ~~. ... , .... \·1:·. · ~.l'f •-., ., ~ •. -~~T..,·.-.:·.' t. Department spokesman ,, ~- ~., ,;. .. ., < ,...t. •• •r;. l.t ·,• said the Bush 1-. ...., tl.;T:.·'·'1. • • • • -~ ~' , •• .... ... -: •j-•. •.•. administration will do its •.• ,·.,...l \i:\......; .• • ... .. . . best to answer more than 100 questions from give ~ . . Permanent Patriot Act? OMB Watch Recently, the Bush administration and several lead Republicans in Congress have begun pushing to make permanent the governmental powers temporarily expanded by the USA Patriot Act. The USA Patriot Act, which greatly expanded the. government's ability to spy on citizens, only gained wide support when many ofthe critical provisions were designed to expire or sunset at the end of 2005, unle·ss Congress re-authorizes them. A recent proposal drafted by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) would repea~ the sunset provisions and · make all of the new powers permanent. The idea faces strong opposition from many Democrats and even some key Republicans. House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R­ WI) has already voiced deep reservations about making the new powers permanent. Sensenbrenner stated that the Department of Justice has not been sharing enough information with Congress to allow a fair evaluation ofhow ' well or poorly the USA Patriot Act is working. The debate may bring needed attention to the expansion of secrecy and reduction in government accountability that has occurred under the USA Patriot Act and the Homeland Security Act. .. . . .. , ... .. .. .....,...... .... _ "What do you mean the thrill·is gone? " -. �.. Pag~ , ~ : Rep·aijri ng Iraq, and our cities Fear and Anger i·n ·Syria·· by Steve Sunderland The task of rebuilding Iraq seems to be similar to nothing I know. What the war has left remains to be seen in terms of necessities. Ruth Messinger 's organization, American Jewish World Service, is collecting supplies for Iraqis. B ut the central questions remain aboµt who has the will to do what, when, and how. I was reminded by reading a biography of Frederick Douglass that little was . followed through for blacks by president Johnson in the aftermath ofthe Civil War. Reconstruction did not stop long held prejudices from reemerging and seriously damaging every attempt to help with land, employment, education, health and spirit Will Iraq be any different as the powers of terror see}< to reestablish control while American good wiU is eroded? ~ It is important in terms of peace efforts that the repair process move forward. But if Cincinnati is any model of repair on a very small scale, or, Washington, D .C.'s inner city, we are.in for a by Kim Ghattas long process of half steps and not always in the forward direction. The platitudes about only being against Saddam and not the Iraqi people will now be played out and it looks like some kind of heavy hand will be used. Satisfying religious sects seems unrealistic to say nothing ofthose who agreed with some aspects of Saddam's control and their role in the government. I think back to the way in which •9'!-•members of the Gestapo were brought to this country following WW II to work, under protection, in our science and bomb projects. What will we do with the scientists who have worked on t he alleged "weapons of mass destruction?" And where are they, the weapons and the people? Now, the next phase of the peace movement needs to be activated as guardians ofthe Iraqi people's right to I justice. How we do this, and · through what organizations, and when are all questions that I want to return to in subsequent writings. Please share your ideas about these issues. DAMASCUS - In a year's time, there will be American tanks rumbling through the narrow streets ofthis typical Middle Eastern city- at least that's what a lot of people here are starting to b,elieve as every day brings more US accusations against Syria. Under the vaulted roof of \ the beautiful souk al-Hamidiyyeh in the old city,.shoppers are going about their business. But, in the middle of the spice market, the carpet sellers and the ice cream vendors, there's a palpable tension. One woman told·me how worried she was. She didn't believe there was really going to.be an American war against Syria, but still she couldn't help wondering. A year ago, she said, the US was accusing Iraq of having weapons ofmass destruction and ties with terrorists. Now there were American tanks in Baghdad. Would that be the lot of Syria a year down the line, she asked. And, as very often in this region, the woman was convinced - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - that, as a journalist, I knew more than her about the American plans and begged me to tell her what I While we make evety effort to provide a forum for those thought was going to happen to without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of her country. THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION Well, what I do know is FOR THE HOMELESS, is not that the US and Syria have never responsible for statements, and do not necessarily been·great friends for many endorse the opinions of the people reasons, all .political. There's also a whose writings are represented here. strong sense ofnationalism in Syria. Many of my friends here tell ---------------------------11 modem me that although they want to be and connected to the rest PRO-PEACE and ANTI-WAR Items at IJPC Over the past two months Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center(IJPC) has been selling pro­ peace and anti-war items. Our first shipment of 300 "No War On Iraq" was sold in less than two weeks. We then ordered 500 eacb of"Peace is Patriotic" and "War Is Not the Answer". Two weeks later after a front page picture in the Enquirer we ordered 1,000 more of the "Peace is Patriotic" and 500 of"War Is Not the Answer." We have sold more than 2000 stickers and buttons. If you want any pro-peace/ anti-war items, please call IJPC at 513-579-8547. of the world, they' re proud Syria is still resisting American pop culture, there are no McDonalds or Levi Jeans. 'Imperialistic troops' There's always been distrust of the US here, but now there's also real anger, and it's very obviously whipped up by the autborities. I'm Lebanese and I speak Arabic and t hat's often helped me in my reporting ta get the t rust of people I interview around the region, but now even that's not enough to .convince some people to talk to me as a BBC correspondent - and I've had my share of insults from angry mobs. Even Iraqis aren't immune to angry Syrians. Just before the fall ofBaghdad, I was standing by the side of the road talking to some Iraqis who were telling me how much they hated Saddam Hussein and wanted to see him go. They said it didn't matter if the US was.waging the war because oflraq's oil - under .Saddam they had never profited from the oil gains anyway, and they didn't have any freedom. Maybe the Americans would take the oil, but at least they would give Iraqis their freedom. All of a sudden, a Syrian man came up to us screaming. How dare they criticize a leader who was :fighting against the imperialistic troops? How could they allow the Americans into their country? 'Traitor' The Iraqis started screaming back, saying Arabs had never done anything for the Iraqis, never said anything about Saddam killing his people by the thousands, and now anti-war protesters around the world were brandishing posters of Saddam. The Iraqis were furious. The shouting match went on for a while before we managed to escape to a nearby a shop and continue our conversation about the future oflraq: But then Baghdad fell without much of a fight and the Syrians were furious. How dare Saddam give up like that? Where were t he gates of bell he had promised to the Americans? Now there are rumors every day that wanted senior Iraqi officials are hiding in Syria. Syria is probably the best way out ­ better than any oflraq's neighbors where they would walk straight into the arms of the Americans, or in the case of Iran, into the arms of t heir worst enemy. A very lonely, sad-looking Mohamm~d al-Douri, Iraq's man at the UN, is now staying in my hotel in Damascus, but I haven't seen any wanted Iraqis here yet. And it may not be such a good idea for Saddam and his followers to head to Syria anyway. One man I spoke to in Damascus said that the rumors about Saddam fleeing to Syria were nonsense. Saddam, he said, was a traitor for not fighting the Americans and if.he even dared show up at the Syrian border he would be shot immediately for betraying the Arab cause. No one is so foolish as to prefer to peace, war, in which, instead of sons burying their fathers, fathers bury their sons. Croesus, King of Lydia, in Herodotus' The Persian Wars } / �ST R EE T VI B ES M ay,2003 Volunteer Opportunities ai the Greater Cincinnati Coalition f o.r the Ho_meless . would like to advertise in our paper, we offer very competitive rates for ads that reach about 15,000 people per: month. Ou~ dream volunteer would be a self-motivated volunteer that would like to fundraise for oun organization. This could include asking your friends and family'for donations to researching and writing grants for our excellent programs. The Streetvibes newspaper project is always in need ofpeople There are numerous opportunities for volunteers at the interested in connecting with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for vendors and helping them write the Homeless. JJie are willing to articles on social justice/poverty issues, poetry,.or personal stories. work with each ·individUal in We need help in the choosing a service opportunity afternoons at the front desk, that is rightfor them Tlte answering phones and handling f ollowing are a few ofthe areas in transactions with our Streetvibes which the CoaUtion could use Vendors. This person will address your hep: the needs ofvisitors, having direct Designing a web site for contact with homeless individuals our National Civil Rights and should be available one Organizing Project. This would afternoon a week. . . include working with the . There is al::ays a ne~i for Americorp Vista vol~~ee~s o~ how to prevent further cmmnahzat1oil ~elp with bulk mailings. Mai mgs include the annual ~eport, q.uarterly ofhomeless individuals as well as preventing the increasing hate newsletter, and vanous capitol crimes against them. campcugns. To enhance our Streetvjbes If you are interested in at the Greater volunteering program, we are searching for volunteers to solicit advertisements Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless~ please.contact tl).e aff~e from local businesses. ~(your at 421- 7803, or Visit us at 1506 business or a business you know of Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine. Story, Editorial and Art Submis­ sion Deadlineifor the Ju.ne 2oua , · edition <Jf You know, ifp eop le are n ot p acifists, it's not their f ault It's because society puts them in that sp ot You 've got to change it You don'tjust change a man - you 've got to change his environment as y ou do it Cesar Chavez Page 9 We Can Be Proud! Judge MARK PAINTER Ohio Court of Appeals The Most-Published Hamilton County Judge Ever! Our own Judge Mark Painter reached a milestone in November- 250 of his decisions (now 261) have been published nationally, He is the most-published Hamilton County judge ever, and one of the m ~st-pu blished Ohio judges in history. Judge Painter has: • Served on the Court of Appeals for eight years, after 13 years on Municipal Court. His opinions have been recognized as legal precedent more than 2000 times -in cases, textbooks, and encyclopedias. • Written 55 articles on appellate practice, sentencing, DUI, contempt, and legal ethics. He writes a monthly column on legal writing for Ohio Lawyers Weekly. • Taught 91 sem inars for judges, lawyers, and police officers, and is an Adj unct Professor of law at U.C. • Authored the textbook Ohio DUI Law, now in its 12th edition. His other book, The Legal Writer: 30 Rules for the Art of Legal Writing, was published in June. • Is writing two more books to be published t his fall : William Howard Taft-President and ChiefJustice and a new edition of Ohio Appellate Practice. www.judgepainter.org Paid for by The Judge Painm Committee. Gre9 Ruehlmanri, Chair, 312 Walnut St., Cincinnati Write Usl We'd like to hear from you.... Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, or write the Coalition office, attn: Streetvibes Letters, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 STREETVJBE$ is Eriday., May ·9 · ~ Youngpeople say, What is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at at time, take one.step at a time; · we can be responsible only, for the one action in the present moment But we can beg for an increase of love in our hearts that will vitalize and trans/orm all our individual actions, and know that God will take tliem and muldp~ them, as Jesus multipJiedthe loaves and.fishes. Dorothy Day, 1963 \ "Department ofHomeland Security, Economic Recovery Division. We have a report that you left the shopping mall without buying anything.'' �ST REETVIBES Page 10 May, 2003 GCCH Receives Generous Donation From Christ Church Cathedral Georgine Getty, {right), Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, accepts a generous donation from Christ Church Cathedral representatives Ed Burdell (left) and Bill Woods (cen­ ter). The money will used for the Streetvibes Newspaper Project. Getty was quoted as saying, "We are very thankful to the members of Christ Church Cathedral. Their donation shows that there is wide community support for the continuation ofthis wonderful program." Local Schizophrenia/Schizo-affective Research Study * Financial Compensation * 45 years and over * Symptoms of depression * 13 visits (513) 861-3100 ext 4187 or toll free (888) 267-7873 ext 4187 Opposition to "Beverly Hillbillies" TV Show The staffofRural Strategies Opposition to CBS' "Real Beverly Hillbillies" TV show is continuing to spread, most recently from the halls of Congress to the union hall. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil E . Roberts has sent a letter to the president and board chairman ofCBS 's parent company saying the proposed program is "repugnant to me and the union members I represent." Mr. Roberts, a Vietnam veteran, noted that a large proportion of men and women serving in the U.S . armed forces come from rural communities. "These soldiers deserve better than this," he wrote. He also said he was strongly considering sending union representatives to the next Viacom annual meeting to register their complaints to the corporation's board of directors. Viacom, which owns CBS, will hold its annual meeting May 21. On Capitol Hill last month, 44 U.S. representatives signed on to a letter to CBS President Leslie Moonves asking the network to drop plans for the show. The letter said the program would "only serve to propel outdated and erroneous stereotypes about rural Americans. " The letter received bipartisan support and was organized by Kentucky Congressman Hal Rogers. Read both letters on our web site at www.ruralstrategies.org <http:// www.ruralstrategies.org/> . In other developments, state legislators in Tennessee and Louisiana introduced resolutions asking CBS to drop its plans to produce "The Real Beverly Hillbillies." . Regrettably, CBS still refuses to say whether it is dropping the show. Thanks again to everyone who has written to CBS and enlisted others to support the campaign to stop "The Real Beverly Hillbillies." A proud member of ihe North Amerit.an 45trut Ne.~spaper 5freetvibes: SSOGia ·on.... I T '4pre.sentin9 over So strut ne"'spape..rs throu9hout the United 'btate.s and C.anada "'w~.nasna.or9 Write Us.... Wed like to hear· from you! Send letters . r comments to . Streetvjbes@Juno_com, or write the Coalition office attn: Streetvibes Letters 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati. Ohio 45202 War stirs in men's hearts the mud of their worst instincts. It puts a premium on violence, nourishes hatred, and gives free rein to cupidity. It crushes the weak, exalts the unworthy, and bolsters tyranny ... Time and time again it has destroyed all ordered living, devastated hope, and put the prophets to death. Charles DeGaulle �STREETVIBES May, 2003 Dispatch from Cleveland by Lisa Etling In case residents don't think Cleveland has its own housing crisis, consider the following information. Accordingto the last census, 50% of the 101 ,000 rental households pay more than 30% of their monthly income on rent, and 25% pay more than half of their monthly income on rent. The City ofCleveland Housing Court processed 11,500 evictions so far in 2002, the majority of which are for non-payment ofrent. The men's shelters that accept overflow have had as much as 144% of capacity; the women's overflow has operated on some nights at 172% of capacity. CMHA reports that the last time the voucher program was opened in 2000, 35,000 people applied for the 6,000 available vouchers. To draw attention to the issue of affordable housing, the Alliance of Cleveland HUD Tenants (ACHT), CMHA Progressive Action Council (PAC), Cleveland Tenants Organization (CTO), and Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) joined forces to organize a march, rally, and audience at the City Council meeting last November. Approximately 100 people gathered at 2100 Lakeside Men's Shelter to march Yz mile past the looming FBI headquarters carrying signs with quips such as "Housing Now," "Homes Not Jails," and "The Browns Have a Home, Why Not Us?" The march brought media from Channel 3 and the Plain Dealer, with Sun Press, and Channels 19 and 43 showing up to cover the rally and city council meeting. Marchers gathered at the Free Stamp outside of City Hall, where three residents of 2100 Lakeside spoke, along with Cleo Busby oftheACHT, Lillian Davis ofPAC, Brian Davis ofNEOCH, Mike Foley ofCTO, and Commissioner Tim McCormick. Billy Caldwell, a Christian drug/ alcohol outreach worker traveling here from the South, said an introduction and prayer, stressing the irony ofknowledgeable tradesmen who find themselves homeless. "There are craftsmen all over the U.S. who have built up this country and are living in cardboard boxes today." While many speakers stated the need for state and national dollars, McCormick went as far as to clai1,11 that Cleveland should have its own Housing Trust Fund, like the other major cities in Ohio. Most overwhelming were the individual stories from men who found themselves homeless for various reasons : Don works but doesn't make enough per hour to afford housing; Greg, a U.S . veteran, is disgusted that 6800 veterans in Cleveland find themselves homeless every year; "It 's a national embarrassment that people who served our country don't have a home." Willis has four debilitating diseases and noted the absurdity and danger (because of the risk of fire) of having 13 out ofthel 4 designated public housing projects for seniors and disabled, in high rises. Curtis has been on the CHMA list for three years now and stressed the need for housing for single people under 50. John is a veteran ofthe foster care system, was released from prison, dropped off at the greyhound station, and has been at 2100 Lakeside ever since. After the rally, the marchers were joined by members of CTO and ACHT and they milled up the steps to council chambers, filling the lower level, standing along the walls and even entering the balcony, reaching almost 400 in number. Council members from the 21 wards could look out at a sea of constituents wearing red ACHT hats stating "United We Stand, Divided We' re Homeless." Almost 25 residents ofthe endangered subsidized housing structure Park Lane Villa showed from Councilwoman Pat Britt's ward to express concern for the possible loss oftheir building. The energy ofthe gathering waned while Council Clerk read the agenda- a long list of ordinances and tax abatements. Thirty minutes, many yawns, and some shuteye later, council got to the two housing resolutions that had been authored and shepherded through by Councilwoman Merle Gordon: Resolution 2261 and Resolution 2272. Resolution 2261 recommends that CDBG and HOME Funds should be increased, or at least not cut, in the next federal budget. These funds provide housing and services for Cleveland neighborhoods. Resolution 2272 endorses the National Trust Fund Act of 2001, the Preservation Matching Grant Program, and the establishment of a secure and permanent source of revenue for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund. The matching program would "provide a federal match for dollars spent in Ohio on preserving federally subsidized housing projects." The Page 11 Ohio Housing Trust Fund was established in 1991 in response to Issue 1, which stated housing was a public purpose. The plan was to set aside ·so million dollars a year from the state budget of35 billion dollars for providing housing and related services to low-income households. Over ten years later, the state has provided 160 million , dollars, instead ofthe planned 500 billion dollars; currently the Trust Fund receives 23 million dollars, but faces constant threats due to budget cuts. Councilman Joe Cimperman gave a rousing speech to the crowd, commiserating over the lack of affordable housing and how long people have been waiting for housing to be a priority, stating "we have a greater need for affordable housing in t his city today than ever in the history of Cleveland." He also stressed the need for local businesses to join the already existing coalitions to find solutions to housing. He urged the audience to come back on January 9th, 2003 for a joint committee working on a ten year plan to provide affordable housing and eliminate homelessness. Councilman Joe Jones also worked the crowd, stressing the need for people to utilize "creative protesting" and "get out here on a level like no other before and organize politically on a grassroots level." He reiterated the link between "politics and money," a phrase that stuck with and was repeated by audience members long after his speech. He admitted that the resolutions will "probably sit on someone's desk" and it was therefore, even more imperative for people to remain vigilant. ~ ~ Streetvibes Mayor Campbell spoke last, declaring that this was an unprecedented act, to debate and. sign on a resolution in the same meeting. She also pointed out the need for more money at the federal level and more disbursement for housing at the state level. She lamented the sad fact that housing has never been a priority for government, commenting that " Affordable housing is what gets added when there is extra money. And ifyou 've been paying attention, there is never extra money." While city council finished up their meeting, audience members returned to their homes and shelters, discussing the events of the evening. Everyone was riled up by the power of people organizing in mass numbers to support such a pressing issue. However, many questioned what exactly had been accomplished. So the City Council agreed that housing was a major issue and would put pressure on politicians at the state and national level. But what then? What if people think that things are taken care of if no one shows up to protest or write letters to their representatives? What ifthese small housing coalitions offorce dispersed throughout the country, can never make noise at the national level? What then? Walking down the steps from the council chambers watching the crowd mill about, the man next to me saw my camera, smiled, and said "the reporters left early- this is where the real news begins." I Reprinted.from Cleveland's I 1 Homeless Grapevine. Wish List Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe-string budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Can you help us with some of the following items? o Dormitory-size Refrigerator o Desktop Paper Folder o Blank CD-RW Disks - For Streetvibes Archives o Supplies for Vendor's Lounge (paper towels, cream and sugar, snacks, etc.) o Office and Cleaning Supplies If you can help, contact us at: Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com �ST R EETV IB ES Page 12 M ay,2003 The Peace Village by Steve Sunderland Notes from Jerusalem... I have lived in Israel since 1976. In 1977 I joined the Peace Camp. There have been so many ups and downs that I have lost track. Nothing felt more exhilarating than when Yitzchak Rabin was elected in 1992, after 15 long years where nothing seemed to move. Then his dreadful assassination and Bibi! In 1999­ 2000, with Barak in charge, we were practically touching peace, breathing it. I was in and out of Bethlehem, so many ofus wanted it to work, without walls without guns. And then .. .Indifada El-Aqksa broke out...were we fools, were we delusional? Was the Israeli left totaUy blind to the realities in the West Bank and Gaza? And last year, March was living hell in JerusaJem. Sooner or later, we will have to put down the guns and break down the walls and find a way to live together. In the meantime, and this is where your wonderful inspiring work comes in. In the meantime, we just keep at whatever peace efforts we can muster: An inter-faith dialogue with Palestinian Christians; Jewish feminist programs for disadvantaged women, food drives for the growing ranks of hungry, protest rallies for getting back to the peace table, going to road blockades to monitor the behavior of soldiers, teaching the values of tolerance in whatever informal and formal educational settings you are in. The Peace Village reminded me that the big and the little efforts move us toward peace...just keep at it. Whether its creating hospitals that are more aware of diversity, high schools that talk about tolerance, teens from different religions that meet and share life experiences, etc, etc. Just keep at it. Thank you . Since I cannot move the BIG picture here one iota at the moment, the least I can do is stir up the little one. Naamah. ... Recently, I was asked, as a veteran, how can I oppose the war in Iraq and still support our troops. After reflecting on this question, I have concluded that these two issues cannot be separated and to try would be, for me, disingenuous. Sadly, to support American troops is to support the war. This is clearly my position and I realize that no two veterans have the same experience of war. I oppose the war without qualification. Still, I have a different feeling of sadness when I hear of the death of an American service man or woman. It is different, but not deeper than the sadness I feel when I hear of an Iraqi dying. These feelings are driven by my belief that it was only an accident that I was born into a working class American family. It was not my choice, just as it was not the choice of the child born into an Iraqi family, which set up a series of events that lead them to be in a building destroyed by a bomb dropped by an American plane. At an earlier time in my personal journey, I was able to define the value oflife by geography, citizenship!-?r religion. It was my experience of our war against the people of Vietnam that ultimately lead me away from this thinking. Of course, there were other events in my life, moments of insight that shaped my thinking, but it was the war that served as a bell to awaken me to a different reality. As I review what I have written, I'm not sure I have added much to the discussion on this important question. I do know that as my quest for understanding and peace turned inward I found a calmer place from which I can oppose what l see as Americas' unquenchable thirst for violence. May we all find greater peace ­ Paul Davis.... Team member Merrell Frazier, founder and director of the Harriet Tubman Project (HTP) and I went up to meet with team member Tina Vest and her co-staff of City Year and her over 100 Young Heroes for a posters 4 peace session. In his closing comment, following a wonderful discussion of how these junior high school activists saw peace and conflict resolution, Merrell noted the hope be felt in his heart that came from the spirit of these young people. I felt it so strongly, too. On a cold and dark Saturday morning in a bright community center, these young people continued their work to strengthen their hearts for the work of service ahead. Can we live up to our rhetoric ofjoining these brave youth in creating a world that is ready for their talents? I learned, again, the power of the posters to ignite in the "artist-citizen" an image of a world where peace is an acceptable word, a flower opening in the voices of the very young who have somewhere picked up the idea that peace and justice can be found right here, right now. Merrell and I flew back to Cincinnati, our wheels rarely touching the ground, as our goodbye to Tina and her staff warmed us and lightened our return. It was a difficult week in the Peace Village as we worked to keep the peace agreement with the city and the police together through testimony in City Council and holding our own meeting with some of the key lawyers and activists working for the implementation ofan agreement that joins the police and community groups in ongoing problem solving efforts. The week started with surprises as the city council moved to remove some lawyers from continuing as a part of the peace agreement due to the fact that some of their clients were leaders ofa "Boycott Cincinnati" effort that has been successful in keeping Bill Cosby, Winton Marsalis, Whoopie Goldberg, Spike Lee, and Barbara Enhrich, author of the best selling book, "Nickeled and Dimed," from Cincinnati stages and lecture halls. Many in our community did not understand this move. Another surprise was the release of a new data collection system of the police, a system that had the community known about sooner, may have been useful in both improving crime reduction and police-community relationships, at least in collecting and strengthening the crime data. Finally, the federal Monitor over the entire process came out with a report documenting the slow, if any, response ofthe city and the police department to the section of the agreement that calls for greater cooperation with the community. Both the mayor and the police chief tried to dismiss the report. The key planners in this effort refused to be deterred by the events of the week described above. Instead, they continued to move for greater efforts at community and police involvement and Stef Sunderland described the latest and perhaps the most elaborate community effort to stem the rising influx ofyouth gangs into our neighborhood. Other neighborhoods reported on similar efforts in various stages of movement; and, we heard of monies for a center to help neighborhoods and police work together more effectively. The various groups moving ahead seemed more worth focusing our attention on than the missteps and backsliding ofkey political leaders. I began to see that some aspect of our peace effort must move ahead despite counter efforts at disruption, whether conscious or not. Yet, there is a lingering feeling on my part that without political leadership that accepts the community as a partner of the police, the entire effort may be no more substantive than the paper it is printed on. Team member Barbara Hogan coordinated the meeting, inviting some key people to come, including one of our key politicians. What continues to happen in Iraq competes for attention. I cannot work with young people without seeing them in battle fatigues and/or as victims of a war that is out of control. Paul's note on not supporting the war effort, including the soldiers, was a hard message to digest. Paul and I will be meeting to talk more about this important point. Other friends chose to march outside a local church, today, in protest of proposed cuts in veteran benefits, a position alleged to be held by their speaker, Rep . Portman. The most amazing story out of the war was related to the Lynch rescue and the acknowledgment of the Iraqi family, Mohammed and Iman, I think are their names, that critically intervened in the rescue and comforting of the soldier ''. .. because she was a human." I hope someone tells Kurt Vonnegut about this family and I hope they continue to be safely protected. What does it take to step into the shadow and help those who are in harm's way? I sensed from the stories about him just the same thing I heard from Miep Geis, rescuer of the fami ly and friends of Anne Frank: "I really felt I had no choice. They are humans. They are my friends." Thanks Mohammed and Iman and Miep. In hopes for peace, shalom, sulhu, Tubman, and in the praise of the "normal" heroes. Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues ofPeace in the world. Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters­ /or-Peace which engages people in expressing their visions of Peace, in their own words, through the creation ofposters. ----------------------------i While we make evety effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. �STREETVIBES ~age May, .2003 Visions for a New Tomorrow by Patrick Mosolf Its been a long time since I initially requested that people send their visions to me, their ideas for a better world. I've been busy working in Cambodia, and let the newsletter that I write become a lower priority for a while. I received some good visions, including a statement from an environmental coalition, brief ideas from friends, as well as several well developed ideas from friends. My own vision is quite long, and I'm in the process of completing it. But its enough ~o say that my vision is that people around the world will make reducing the suffering of other people, protecting the environment, and improving the conditions in their own lives and communities more of a priority. If people focus on this objective more, I am confident that we will see an improvement in the world. Thank you to those people who took the time to write a vision and I hope many of you will take time to read what they wrote and compare it to your own vi·sion. Happy Earth Day! My vision of a better world is that of"Full Contentment" in life. It 1s hard to be someone,or do something if that simple trait is gone. It's all the wanting and aspiring that drives men to feel envy, unhappiness and sometimes even to kill. If only we were all content of what we have, the knowledge we were given, the wisdom we could share, then this could be a happier world and a peaceful place to raise our children and our children's children. For isn't it in children where our future begins? Let's all start now counting our blessings and work towards fulfilling the goal of Full Contentment. We should not seek for it for it is there and it's always been there. Trmi Mosolf A world with caring people taking care of their food and their · neighbors caring about the animals, and their environment, touched with the insight that we all are one and dependent on our mutual development. Giving is receiving.. Karen Jonkers Find people who need help, try to help them, feel you have got somewhere ifyou have slowed down the destruction, saved a fragment. Ifyou do better: then great. Mathew McDaniel I still have the same vision as before: Chapter 4 of The Jo)"'of Revolution: http:// www. bop secrets.org/PS/ joyrev4.htm. See also the preceding chapters for pros and cons ofvarious methods of getting there. You are welcome to reprodtice any or all of that text. Ken Slapb I I truly appreciate your efforts in trying to make people think about what they want and bow to shape the world. Although I feel visioning is very important in making dreams come true, I have long stopped dreaming on such things as "how the world should be like". I have a general idea about how things are going and what steps could be useful but I don't create a generalized utopia. But I do have a sort of utopia for myself and my community which still requires some changes in the world but no overall revolutions. I'll still answer your questions but my answer~ may be a bit forceful and not well thought of However, I'm leaving tomorrow for Tunisia and I'll be back after a week and then have time to do this. Till than keep on spreading the need for change. Another world is possible ... Aykut from Istanbul I haven't really thought about a vision for the world very much. I just try to be the best person I can and hopefully get my message across by setting a good example. I was talking with a guy from my course and .he 'says tha~ is . all everyone needs to do. You ~an raise the level of those around you by being a good person. And that will snow ball onto their acquaintances too. A vision for the world is just for everyone to be true to themselves. 13 ;Write Us! We'd like to hear fn>m VoU­ 11"- il:':A' Barney Thanks for accepting my view. I can tell you one thing. We have to start it from our siblings. Basically we first have to convince every member of our own family. Then we can look for the community where we are living. We can arrange sen'unars & meetings to convince the people. In this way we can start the job. He wh o can control bis rising anger as a . toacbman controls his card.age atfull ~eed, this JDan I call a good driver; others merely hold the reins. Gauta.ma Budd~a Sudeshna Know Your Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati 's homeless ·and covers a person 's basic rights when interacting with the police, as well as some local laws that might be ofinterest to the homeless population. If you are a homeless person or if you work witlr homeless people and would like to obtain free copies of the brochure for yourself or your agency, please call 421-7803, or stop by the Coalition office and pick one up. ~: ­ fJ "· ' .. : · ~~ "'' , · WE'VE DECIDED ~IT~ ONE THAT YOO CAN KEEP SMALL YOUR NOSE RING... MOPIAlATION �ST REETVIBES Art&Poetry May,2003 Page 14 59,196 Names Urban Wilderness Fighting over Dirt by J Michigaus byjh by Brian Garry 20 years later, how attitudes have changed but for so many, they still feel the pain Within the hollow of brick and mortar, concrete and glass, I seek my place along the vista, looking for solace in the darkest places ... Fighting over, over the dirt People are homeless, and out of work All because of fighting, over the dirt. Pain from the wounds, suffered from in battle Pain in head and heart, and the screams how they rattle · Deep to the bone, quite chilling in fact Each remembers the day, their world turned to black Now they have the respect, that they long ago earned Now they have the honor, now we have learned They fought for Freedom, for God and Liberty In that unpopular war, for the Land of the Free Sacrifices were made, by one and all Each and every one, who answered The Call They all paid their dues, some paid with their lives But ALL who answered, paid the price Along the windblown gutter, Through the broken pane, Searching the twisted souls, the eye, the nod, demands an answer... • ,. , , I'\ ·u • . My space behind the gate, from which I cannot see, but hearing the tainted curses, the thunder, the fear, I hide inside my skin... Sharing the concrete trench with the screaming ofthe bounded, bends my head, and breaks my gaze from fear, and challenge. I am only flesh ... They may be gone, but not forgotten Those that don't know, it's time we taught them So; when the final Taps, has been played Let's hope that peace has come our way Using us like, we have no feelings. I just need, some time for healing Did I forget about my self-worth. So many of us seem to get hurt My mind is reeling. All I do is sit around and look at the ceiling. I got to be Loving, in all my dealings Something happens and people get hurt Taking it all, out of the Earth but What about Our self-worth? They don't care, what people worth. People all over, they're over worked. People are fighting, over the dirt Something happens and people get hurt People sleeping all inthe 'sfreet. I will rise - the universe I will greet Everything, it speaks for itself From this spiritual poverty comes wealth. I'm gaining some inner health. Some guidance some mirth, re-birth. Rich people prepare to share the Earth. Some had their personal effects, sent home without them To their families back home, no more letters to send Some we still wonder, where they are now Prisoners or missing, how can this be allowed People are sick, in need of health car~. In my soul there is a tear. Do I care about the air? Something happens and people get hurt People are fighting, over the dirt .) . ., /\. The Streets by Lawana T Luck This pavement that lies beneath us it often teaches us about the ways of life. The many directions that they may go, being to, or fro one may never know. They could be the fate, or lead to destiny. At times they set tho.se free who are in need to release their minds; to catch up with time get reacquainted with this foundation that houses many nations. To study war - - no more, take to them with wisdom and they will lead. Their paths connect to places mostly known by faces, but try another route. Memories are held between them from independence to rehabilitation most don't even see them. They try to do the best that they can, some won't even lend a helping hand to maintain them, so, they begin to break up going to places where there are no roads. Watch out for ·potholes, but don't complain because from the sky view they were unimportant too, until they had to be walked or driven. And still they produce some ofthe highest ways That says goodbye to ways that have crossed many tough nights and days to find a place to call home, or just get alo'ng. Homeless Person Thoughts by Mark Augusta Patience by Mark Augusta As I sit here homeless tonight Thinking ofthings when my life was just right. .. Like a joh and a house to come home to But now it's all gone so what can I do To keep the tears from falling and being so blue. And my smile is gone and my energy too And now my life is on the edge of missing all ofyou. So help me Lord what can I do Close my eyes and come to you. Help me fast and jump high as trees And find me some hope for I can be free. As I sit here and look down at my hands That used to work so hard and provide for my family And come home and hug the prettiest woman in the world And sit down and play kid games with my kids But now I can't. But ifl ain't got the patience of a tall boat mast Holding the sails ofLife, The boat mast will break and the sail ofLife will blow away And I will too. (patience) �STREETVIBES Art& Poetry May,2003­ Page 15 My Eyes Could Not See by Michael Willis For information on submitting your poetry or art to STREETVIBES email­ Streetvibes@juno.com BodyBag President, BodyBag President by Allen Carpenter Dear Citizen will you take My War It took me years to do it but I think we' ll score Book on a book called Mein Kampf And I need a Cause Because I want to be a BodyBag President. It's a Dirty War against a Dirty Man And I like to kill whenever I can But those Stupid Euros don't understand My Dad is still working with The Cartyle Group It's a steady job And wants me too be a BodyBag President BodyBag President. It's a Hundred Thousand Dead give or take a few And I'll be killing more in a year or two I can make it quicker ifyou like my style We can kill anywhere anywhile And I want to be a BodyBag President BodyBag President. If you really like it we can grab all the oil We'll be Rich as Rockefeller with·a lot less toil (And ifyou don't like it I got a Camp for you) Cause I need a Macho Cause And I' d love to be a BodyBag President BodyBag President. Produce Seller - Havana, Cuba I was walking in the World doing all the things the World would have me do, but something was wrong, something just wasn't right. I knew I was living, but I didn't have a life, I didn't know how to filve love or to receive for that which I could not see, could not bring myself to believe and yet something was always there, Something that told me now you know that wasn't right, something that said I'm here all you have to do is call on Me, We sometimes act like litt le children when we should be acting like Kings and Queens, the choice was mine, and it had to be made before I could walk with Thee, ' I So I begin to believe, I begin to receive all ofthe things that my eyes could not see. My Enemy, My Friend by Zachary Karabatak We met one day out on the street I never thought our worlds would meet. He said "Hi" and asked me to play. I didn't know ifl should stay or run away. Before I could decide he kicked me the ball. I kicked it back with no effort at all. We played outside together all day. Until it was time to go our separate way. My parents say he cannot be my friend. But I knew in my heart this was not t he end. We are different but we do not hate. We will not accept conflict and war as our fate. We know we can make a difference for tomorrow. Ifwe could just stop the bloodshed and the sorrow. We could be friends forever ifthere was peace. What can we do to make this fighting cease? Leaders must look to us for the solution. Two states with peace is our resolution. �STREETVIBES May,2003 The War Against the Homeless by Peggy Lee Kennedy On January 3, 2003, homeless activists, local Outdoor Food Providers, concerned citizens, legal observers, and the founders ofAxis of Justice (Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello and System of a Down singer Serj Tankian) marched down Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade carrying signs and chanting slogans like "Human needs, not Bayside greed." The march ended at a press conference held by the National Lawyer's Guild Los Angeles, the Outdoor Food Providers, and Axis of Justice. That morning, the National Lawyer's Guild Los Angeles filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Outdoor Food Providers in order to challenge one of two anti­ homeless ordinances adopted October 22, 2002 by t he City of Santa Monica. The goals of the ordinances are to remove the charitable food providers and the homeless from Santa Monica parks and public places via police enforcement. In the press release, James Lafferty, Executive Director ofthe National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles, said, "I would hope that everyone who hears ofthis Lawsuit · will be shocked to Learn that the age-old practice of providing for the hungry- a practice that is central to virtually all of the world's religions and humanitarian organizations- has now been criminalized by t he City Council of Santa Monica. Santa Monica, to its everlasting shame, has made an immoral bargain with the devil. It has decided that its more important to shield its tourists and shoppers from having to gaze upon hungry residents lining up for food, than it is to provide enough food to shield its hungry residents from starvation." Carol Sobel, the attorney who filed the lawsuit and noted civil liberties attorney, said, "The real motivation behind Santa Monica's ordinance is a desire to run its homeless residents out of town. Sadly, emboldened by Santa Monica's new ordinance, some members of the Los Angeles City Council want to use the same kind of legal measures to clear the homeless ofLos Angeles out of the downtown area to make room for more commercial development. Well, Santa Monica's effort is Also, the St. Joseph Center's housing assistance program gave clearly illegal and just as we have my friend general rental listings and told her to not tell people she had a challenged it in court, we are prepared to do the same with Los Section 8 HUD voucher until she Angeles if it tries to follow suit." went out and met them. That was These words certainly have crazy, because my friend does not come true. Carol Sobel is now have a car and people refused to working with the ACLU of take HUD. After three extensions Southern California, which filed a on t he voucher's time limit, it federal lawsuit February 19, 2003, became apparent that, unless we seeking to prevent the City ofLos had an "in" somewhere, this was a Angeles from ticketing and waist of our time. arresting homeless residents who I can't help but find Jan sit, sleep, or lie on public sidewalks Perry's boast of3,000 subsidized at night. This lawsuit accuses the affordable, rehabilitated housing City ofLos Angeles ofcruel and units for extremely low-income unusual punishments used in the people completely ridiculous. recent LAPD "crack down" on Shelter Partnership, Inc. 's most public sleeping. recent study found that there are as On February 28, 2003, the many as 84,000 people homeless Los Angeles Times printed a each night in Los Angeles County. "Commentary" written by LA City Ohhis estimated homeless population, 9,000 are children. Councilwoman Jan Perry. She defends enforcement ofthe law There are approximately 15,000 emergency shelter beds in LA prohibiting sitting, lying, or sleeping on LA City sidewalks. County and "real" affordable Perry accuses the ACLU and other housing for extremely low-income critics ofbeing dishonest and self­ people is practically non-existent. Furthermore, many housed serving ifthey imply that the actions taken have to do with people are going hungry. Findings urban renewal of the downtown released at a MAZON-sponsored area or lack of affordable real conference by the UCLA Center estate. She further states that for Health Policy Research on more than 3,000 units of November 3, 2002, revealed that subsidized affordable, rehabilitated over 775,000 low-income L.A. County adults are food insecure housing for extremely low-income people have been developed. and report that they cannot always Subsidized housing often afford to put food on the table. In refers to the U. S. Department of fact, a quarter million of our }J:ousing and Urban Development neighbors experience episodes of (HUD) system. As it happens, I substantial hunger. In California the recently had the privilege of food insecure population includes advocating fo r an extremely low­ 29.5 percent of all pregnant women income recipient of a HUD Section who are low-income. Homelessness and hunger 8 voucher (after a long four-year wait !). A voucher is the piece of are growing. Poverty, joblessness, paper that verifies a person's job insecurity, the lack of affordable housing, and family acceptance for Section 8 instability are increasing while subsidized housing. social services are decreasing. At the HUD o~entation, which is where a person receives According to a study from the their voucher, it was explained that Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty at the only a percentage of all HUD Section 8 voucher recipients Weingart Center: -Families represent 34-37 percent actually move into subsidized of the national homeless population housing. The truth is that my friend has a ding on her credit from and the typical family has 2.2 minor an in-patient hospital doctor that children and is headed by a single mother (84 percent). did not accept her Medical after the Blue Cross ran out. She is - More than 25 percent of homeless adults are veterans. forthcoming and honest about the -The City ofLos Angeles problem, just unable to resolve it. 011e potential HUD Community Development Dept. estimates that 33-50 percent ofthe apartment managt:?r, who was informed of the credit issue, took homeless population is mentally ill. money for a credit-check only to - Nationally, 46 percent of turn around and ask me for an homeless adults reported one or enormous deposit to rent the unit. more chronic health conditions, Page 16 such as diabetes or high blood pressure; 26 percent reported an acute infectious condition, principally chest infections, bronchitis, and 1 percent reported having AIDS and 3 percent reported testing HIV positive. This study reveals that homeless people are veterans, people with disabilities or chronic health problem, and families with children. Skid Row, an area know for its homeless population, is an area being targeted by Los Angeles Police ChiefWilliam Bratton for his "broken window" theory. This theory holds that cracking down on the lower offenses, like sleeping on the street(!), will prevent more serious crimes. The real crimes are apparent: the police arresting and ticketing homeless people for sleeping on the street when there are not enough shelter beds, city officials creating ordinances that target charitable food providers when there is growing hunger and very limited social services, and public servants pretending that they want to help homeless people by disguising harassment as health and welfare projects. Criminalizin_g and punishing the poor is just plain evil. Our jails are overflowing with poor people and LA County Jail has been known for years as the largest mental health facility in the United States! So is it a "broken window" approach or really just more of the "breaking human rights" approach? To me, it is simple to see what side to be on: food not bombs, homes not jails, healthcare and a living wage not law enforcement against the poor! Bravo to the National Lawyer's Guild Los Angeles, James Lafferty, Carol Sobel, charitable service providers, and the rest of us standing up for homeless and hungry people! Reprinted courtesy ofMaking Change, Los Angeles Story, Editorial and,Art Submis­ sion ,Deadline for the June 2Q03 edition of STREETYIBES is Friday, May 9 Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe vi~s and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �~TREETVIBES Page 17 May,2003 Europe Seems to Hear Echoes of Empires Past "The key terms ofthe new imperialism will be the ability ofthe U.S . to provide security and As the United States began stability for other nations without imposing an American way of life," he task of finding Iraqi leaders to Karl-Otto Honrich, a sociologist at ake power after the war is over, Goethe University in Frankfurt, here were many in Europe and said in a telephone interview. After lsewhere who were reminded of the war in Iraq began, Mr. Honrich n earlier period in global.history ­ wrote a much noted article he era ofimperialism. subtitled "WitQ.out a Hegemonic "What cannot now be lisguised, as U.S. marines swagger Power There Can Be No Peace." "Over the last 10 years, round the Iraqi capital swathing oppled statues of Saddam Hussein U.S. hegemony has become clearer as a function of what America has vith the stars and stripes and leclaring ' We own Baghdad,' is the done in the world," he said. "It has taken on the role of world police in :rudely colonial nature ofthis :nterprise," wrote Seumas Milne, a several cases, and successfully done so. :olumnist in The Guardian, the "The function of the U.S. eftist British daily. right now is to tell the world there Mr. Milne's comment, in a is someone who is ready to fight in 1ewspaper that rarely misses a cases of big security and disorder," ~hance to cast the United States in Mr. Honrich said. "The U.S. has L negative light, was an especially 1irulent and hostile expression of a taken on this role, and hence its leadership has become a social riew that has become common in reality." ecent days. To some in Europe, the That view, which Mr. Milne operative word is not so much :hares with many other imperialism as it is unilateralism. :ommentators and government The frequently repeated American >fficials, is that the war in Iraq contention that the United States :onfirms the status ofthe United led a broad coalition into Iraq has )tates as no longer just a :uperpower, but an unambiguously not been very convincing to those who feel that the war illustrates a mperial power. It is seen as a new twist on imperial behavior: the :ountry that uses its might to use of pre-emption in the face of !stablish dominion over much of he rest of the world, as Rome once widespread opposition even from lid, or as Britain did in the 18th close allies. "The nee-conservatives in md 19th centuries. the U.S. have developed a new Many Americans will jmperial vision," said Guillaume 1uarrel with that view, convinced Parmentier, the director of the 10t just of the absence of any \merican ambition to control Center on the Unjted States at the oreign territory but persuaded by French Institute ofInternational he Bush administration's assurance Relations. Senior Bush administration advisers, like Paul hat power in Iraq will be turned >Ver to Iraqis as swiftly as possible. D. Wolfowitz and Richard N. Perle, are commonly seen in Europe as t is not generally part of the having gained decisive influence \merican self-conception to 1ssociate the United States or even over foreign policy to the disadvantage of Secretary of State . he Pax Americana with the great :mpires of the past. Colin L. Powell, who is viewed as But elsewhere in the world, a sort of defeated multilateralist. he United States is being seen in a The speed ofthe victory in Iraq is being seen as likely to 1ew way, as the latest - and >erhaps most powerful - ofthe bolster the prestige and influence of mperialist powers that bestrode those in Washington who, he globe over the centuries. As Europeans believe, would now like :vidence, critics cite not just the to embark on further military .udden collapse oflraqi resistance, conquests, in Syria, Iran or possibly 1ut the stunning American military North Korea. • riumphs in recent years, in "Traditionally, the U.S. has \fghanistan, Kosovo and in the emphasized its great convincing and coercive power on other >ersian Gulf war of 199 1. states," Mr. Parmentier said. "Its With this observation, that he United States represents what foreign policy managed to convince he respected German daily other heads of state that what they •rankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung this were doing was in their national veek called a "hegemonic interest, and this was American's great strength. nternationalism," comes the "Today, the U.S. is 1uestion: will it turn out to be a affirming a much more blunt and :ood thing or a bad thing for the brutal stance," Mr. Parmentier est of the world? y Richard Bernstein Tew York Times continued. "Its vision for foreign affairs has somewhat retrograded to a more national or even nationalistic definition, in the most limited sense of the term, as it was understood in the 19th century." Outsiders wonder whether the United States will use its power from now on as it has in Iraq, free ofthe constraints ofmultilateralism and dismissive ofits allies. Some answer that question with a stark new definition ofthe American goal, which is not so much to control unconventional weapons or to bring about government change in Iraq, but to establish unchallenged global dominance. This view, which would seem strange, almost paranoid, to many Americans, is heard in serious and respectable places in Europe. "The ' war against terrorism ' is certainly an excuse, and an organizing principle, but not in and of itself a primary motive for a strategic new direction in international relations and American world policy," Stef~n Frolich, a German scholar and a professor ofinternational politics at Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen, wrote in the "hegemonic internationalism" commentary in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, a conservative daily with a long tradition ofpro-American views. "In this sense, the war against Iraq can be seen as a logical and necessary defense ofAmerican predominance," Mr. Frolich wrote. Critics of"the increasing imperial assertion of the Bush regime," he continued, "are judged to be promoting a policy of ' appeasement' toward rogue states like Iraq." No historical period is exactly like another, and few people are arguing that the United States is a new Rome or a new colonialist Britain. In the main view·being expressed in Europe, it is not the classic imperialist goal of national wealth and resources that is driving the United States. In the more radical view of American power - represented by The Guardian or by Mr. Frolich ­ the U~ted States is seeking global dominance almost for its own sake. The more moderate view is that Washington has reacted, or perhaps overreacted, to the threat of terrorism. The American destiny, as the German newsweekly Der Spiegel put it recently, is "to bring peace to the world through war." In other words, the motive is good, even ifthe actions are violent and possibly unjustified . But there seems to be a strong emerging view that the immensity ofAmerican power amounts to something different in the world. "Throughout the history of mankind, certainly no country has existed that has so thoroughly dominated the world with its politics, its tanks and its products as the United States does today," Der Spiegel said. What are the consequences? Some commentators are waiting to see whether new military actions stem from the Iraqi victory, which, they believe, would be final confirmation ofthe new American 1mpenum. "Does the policy remain on this trajectory and they go off hunting other regimes that are judged undesirable and dangerous?" said Michael Emerson ofthe Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels. "Or do they say: ' Whew, that was a sweat politically, the Iraqi campaign. We better slow down and attempt to reconstruct multinational understanding and consensus.' " Echoing this view, but with eyes on another potential crisis, an influential South Korean commentator, Kim Young Hie, a columnist for the newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, worries that American success in Iraq will backfire when it comes to North Korea. "For Pyongyang, Iraq was the second shock and awe after Afghanistan," Mr. Kirn wrote. "When Bush is determined to do something, he just goes ahead. And America undoubtedly has the military prowess to carry out his will. This message is sinking in with Kim Jong II." Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 ~~ Empowering our neighborhood children through peace , art and education �STREETVIBES May, 2003 Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Report FOCUS ON THE SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM (Connect For Kids, April 2003) Children are not eating breakfast, either at home or school, because of long commutes, extended and non-traditional work hours that often make it difficult for families to find time to eat breakfast, late bus arrivals, and schools failing to offer breakfast. In many schools the breakfast program is seen as "just for poor kids," even though it is available (at full cost) to children who don 't qualify for a reduced-price or free breakfast. Of every 100 low-income children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch at school, about 43 receive a free or reduced-price breakfast. Universal breakfast programs reduce administrative burdens, draw no lines between students based on income, help everyone perform better in school and make it possible to serve breakfasts in the classroom. http://www.connectforkids.org/ benton _topics l 544/ bentoo_tq>ics_show.htm?d:ic_i<Fl 63137 FACT SHEET: FOOD PURCHASES OF FOOD STAMP SHOPPERS (FRAC Fact Sheet, April 2003) Among some people there is a perception that food stamp recipients often make poor choices when it comes to food purchases. However, studies over the last 20 years consistently show that this is not the case. Those studies include findings that food stamp recipients consumed less fats, snack foods, oils, sugars, sweets and beverages other than milk and juice than did nonrecipients; and that for each dollar of food stamps a household received, the households' Healthy Eating Index score went up -the higher the level of food stamps, the larger the positive nutritional effect. This fact sheet summarizes the studies. http://www.frac.org/pdfl Foodstamppurchases.PDF (Adobe PDF) EDITORIAL: PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAX CUT PACKAGE WILL INCREASE DEFICITS, DEBT; SHRINK PROGRAMS (New York Times, April 16, 2003) This editorial criticizes President Bush's support of the tax cut plan pending in Congress by pointing out that it would immediately increase the national debt by $984 billion (to $7.384 trillion), with annual deficits of $400 billion. Mainline economists warn the tax cut plan and extended deficits will crimp the economy in a grim future when the government must borrow more and more to stay afloat. Also, with high wartime expenses and increasing budget deficits, taxpayers can expect shrinking public programs down the road. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/ 04/ 16/opinion/l 6WED3 .html (free registration required) EDITORIAL: INCOME VERIFICATION FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES WOULD LEAVE CHILDREN HUNGRY (Los Angeles Times, April 12, 2003) This editorial criticizes the administration's proposal to require expanded income verification for the National School Lunch Program and points out that for each ineligible family screened out, five eligible families are deterred from applying. The proposal is based on a flawed 1999 study showing a 21 percent overcertification rate for the school lunch program. The study uses census data from annual income figures while the school lunch program depends on a one-month snapshot of income. Also, low income people are more likely than others to move throughout the school year, creating record­ keeping problems for administrators that can result in a child being counted twice. Furthermore, any estimates of money saved by reducing overcertification are too high because many children signed up for the program do not eat the meals. "Embarrassment is a key reason." http://www.latimes.com/news/ printedition/opinion/la-ed­ 1unchl2apr 12, 1,3 3 06959 .story (free registration required) MORE THAN 570,000 CHILDREN NATIONWIDE COULD BE ELIMINATED FROM AFTERSCHOOL Editorial PROGRAMS (Washington Times, Washington, D.C., April 15, 2003) The Children's Defense Fund recently released new statistics showing that more then 570,000 children nationwide could be eliminated from eligibility for afterschool programs because of the Bush Administration 's proposed $400 million cut from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program. In Washington, D.C., the public school system provides 8,000 students with afterschool services; 35,000 children in the city are eligible for afterschool services. The school system has had to eliminate 2,000 children from the program over the last two years due to budget cuts. "We are bracing for retrenchment on the domestic side for people in need," says Howard Brown, director of out-of-school programs in D.C. http://washingtontimes.com/ metro/20030415-4529544.htm SENATE ADOPTS CARE ACT, WOULD INCREASE FOOD FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE (Press Release, America's Second Harvest, April 9, 2003) The Senate adopted the Charity, Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act of 2003 (CARE Act - S. 476), a measure that will allow family farmers, ranchers and restaurant owners to deduct the costs of food donated to hunger-relief charities. The growing demand for emergency food assistance has in too many instances outstripped the food resources of local charities. A 2001 study of emergency food providers showed that demand at emergency feeding sites had increased 9 percent since 1997. "The food donation tax changes in the CARE Act result is a win-win for all parties ­ farmers, small businesses, charities, and most importantly, hungry Americans. Enactment...wi11 encourage increased donations of food," said Robert Forney, president of America's Second Harvest. http://www.secondharvest.org/ newsroom/pressreleases/ 040903. html NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH LOW PAY, BENEFITS (News and Observer, Raleigh, NC, April 13, 2003) Military reservist families in North Carolina and around the country have been struggling with Page 18 reduced pay and benefits since the reservists were deployed for the war in Iraq. Many families are seeking assistance; more than 850 military families showed up for a food giveaway at Fort Bragg. Bob Mullens recently retired as a first sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, said many military families are living on food stamps or the WIC program. Before the recent call­ up Food Stamp Program participation for military families was down nationally, with 4,200 military families qualifying last year compared with 19,400 in 1991 , due in part to the fact that some won't seek help. Nancy Mayo, of the Family Support Center at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, reminds military spouses that "asking for help is a sign of strength." http:// newsobserver. com/news/story/ 2436028p-2266320c.html See FRAC's web page on nutrition assistance available for military reservists: http ://www.frac.org/html/ federal_food _programs/military/ reservists. htm IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY FOOD IS IDGH (Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY, April 13, 2003) In Rochester, New York, many new people are coming every week to seek assistance from the Rochester Food Not Bombs emergency food pantry. They have recently lost jobs, they are fleeing a threatening domestic situation, or their wages are too low and their bills are too high. http:// www.democratandchronicle.com/ news/0414story 17_news.shtml The FRAC web site is http://www.frac.org To subscribe to the weekly FRAC News Digest go to the website: http://capwiz.com/frac/mlm/ Ben Winter Food Research and Action Center 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 540 Washington, DC 20009 (202) 986-2200 x3019 phone (202) 986-2525 fax Email: bwinter@frac.org �STREETVIBES May, 2003 Page 19 Libraries, others offer computer classes and free or affordable Internet access by John Zeh Newcomers to the Internet and current computer users will be treated grandly by the Cincinnati­ Hamilton County (C-HC) public library system and other agencies this spring and summer. Library branches and their downtown headquarters offer ongoing basic computer classes, instruction on using valuable search tools, and access to the worldwide web for free. Other operations such as cable TV companies and social service agencies also provide free instruction and access to the World Wide Web. Folks using computers anywhere who have (C-HC) Library cards can use fee-based research databases at no charge, order books online, and get updates on library services via www.CincinnatiLibrary.org, a new, easier e-address. "Technology has affected nearly every aspect ofthe Library's operations and services by providing new resources, and new ways to conduct research, allowing our resources to be accessed when our buildings are closed," said system director Kimber L. Fender. "Alibrarian from the l 850's could not begin to imagine the impact these changes would have on the Library." Classes for Internet newbies have been held throughout the region at various locations, times, and days this spring. The Library's popular "Introduction to Computers" classes will be held in May at branches in North Central, College Hill, Delhi Township, Norwood, Groesbeck, and Northside. On May 14, the Groesbeck library will host a class on Creating and Using E-mail. A sure-to-be popular session on how to access the Library's CINCH catalog online will happen there at 10 am on May 31. Summer promises more e-opportunities, with more classes to be scheduled as Streetvibes hits t he streets. At press time, only the Library's Northside branch had listed a June computer-related class, set for 1 PM on June 12. Even long-time Internet-users should appreciate sessions on using I-net search engines that were offered in April, if they are revived in May or June. To learn about classes and other programs for children, teenagers, and adults: pick up free monthly guides at any library location or go to the Library's home page at http:// www cincinnatilibrary.org/, click on the purple square in the upper right hand comer of the home page to learn all Library programs throughout the county. For computer classes, specify programs for adults; classes are open to teens, but they are not listed in the Library's website section for programs offered to youth. A direct link is at www. cincinnati library.erg/ happenings/programs.asp Pre-registration for classes is required. Call or drop by the branch offering the session to sign up. Branches not listed may have signs posted at the branch about joining a class or getting a one-on­ one session with the computer specialist there. Timeonline at libraries is limited. A day's allowance is best used at the main library (between Vine and Walnut and Eighth or Ninth Streets downtown), but branches will extend a user 's time if no one else is waiting. To receive regular, e-mailed updates on all Library programs and events, subscribe at www.cincinnatilibrary.org/pubs/ atlib.asp . The bulletins also list jobs available throughounhe system now that hiring has resumed. The 150-year-old institution quickly recovered from a severe state budget shortfall, but faces more cuts from the Ohio legislature and the governor 's office. The Law School library on the south side of the University of Cincinnati's Clifton campus offers non-students Internet access to work on legal matters. The three libraries in northern Kentucky (Covington, Erlanger, and Independence) also offer computer access, but users After basic training, students do are limited to one hour, a librarian tabling at a two-day festival in live Internet radio production in a studio funded by Fifth Third Bank downtown Covington told and Ohio Valley Foundation. . Streetvibes. Rawlins and her staffare planning a Other places around town fall festival outside its center, a also offer classes or Internet beautifully-rehabbed automobile access. The Urban League (3458 showroom sited between Reading Rd.) and Women's Connection (4042 Glenway Ave. in downtown and Over-the-Rhine. For details, see Price Hill) offer computer training, according to the Literacy Network www.MediaBridges.org. Institute for Learning in of Greater Cincinnati. Three Retirement, a unique school for recently-acquired computers are available for homeless clients at the seniors aged 50 and over, offers Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the classes three quarters a year at Maple Knoll Village, Union Homeless two days a week. Institute, Rockdale Temple, Computer skills are Deupree Terrace, Joseph-Beth taught through the Bookstore, and the University of Cincinnati Public School'sABLE Cincinnati 's campuses in Clifton program of basic and Raymond Walters College. See www.UC.Edu/cece/ilr, e-mail and literary education at Uptown Rosemary.Gauch@UC.Edu, or Towers (415 W. call513/ 556-9186. , Court St. 357-4510). Online, UC's Communiversity offered 75 classes The classes are this spring covering Internet use, publicized as free, certification preparation for _ but books must be purchased and ­ other fees may apply. computer-related technical skills, and personal enrichment courses on Free Internet access has been available at Ohio Bureau of grammar, digital photography, and basic genealogy. See Employment Services ( 1916 www.ed2go.com/uc. Central Pky. northwest of downtown) and Career Resource The College ofMt. St. Joseph has a "LifeLeam" project Network's multiple locations. for "senior horizons and Cincinnati's public access cable TV center has eight iMac enrichment" with spring classes on units av ailable for free use seven the Internet and both basic and days a week, and plans to offer intermediate word processing. computer classes soon such as On the business front, SoHo Flash, Photoshop Elements, Computer Solutions offers "affordable" computer consulting Dreamweaver, and others, said via www.sohocom.com or 513/ Media Bridges director Belinda Rawlins, a regular on WAIF 88.3 225-6018. FM's comedy squad. AU these efforts aimed at Other "bridges" to multi­ advancing computer literacy should media uses that the city agency help keep Greater Cincinnati on the offers include computer-based frontline oftechno-cultural courses in using digital video creativity. Let Streetvibes know cameras, state-of-the-art digital about your forays into the new editing, "i-movie" featuring basic media. Contact the writer at techniques for editing digital video. JohnZehl46@Yahoo.com Vendor: 80 cents Where Your Dollar Goes Printing and Production: 20 cents The S treetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. �.. - - ~ Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati . _ <;;oalition for the Homeless members listed below. SHELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 ·Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Greater Cincinnati CoaUtion For The ·HQmeJess • Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761 -1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471-1100 Lighthouse Youth Center 861-1111 (Teens) St. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 639-7056 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Meo Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6660 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721-0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421..7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Menlal Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2003 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Dangerous to be Homeless Panhandling for Awareness Pg 2: Homeless Challenge by Stereotypes Pg 3: Homeless Continued Pg 4: Reader Mail Pg 5: US Marines Raid Rooms at Media Hotel in Baghdad Pg 6: Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge our Misguided Drug Rehab System Pg 7: Key Republican Not Sure on Patriot Act Pg 8: Repairing Iraq, and Our Cities Fear and Anger in Syria Pg 9: Volunteer at GCCH Pg 10: Opposition to “Beverly Hillbillies” Tv Show Pg 11: Dispatch from Cleveland Pg 12: The Peace Village Pg 13: Visions for a New Tomorrow Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: The War Against the Homeless Pg 17: Europe Seems to Hear Echoes of Empires Past Pg 18: Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Report Pg 19: Libraries, Other Offer Computer Classes and Free or Affordable Internet Access Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Steve Shockley Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Elain Coffy Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Baghdad Brendan Goodwin Cleveland Drug Rehab System Elain Coffy Europe Food Research FRAC GCCH Georgine Getty Iraq Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath Libraries Marines Mary Gaffney News & Editorials panhandling Patriot Act Peace Village Reader Mail ReSTOC Steve Shockley Syria https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/1e42da204d44a3f431a9dbe7dbc237aa.pdf 9e90fcc199593b11353b761232a90736 PDF Text Text ' Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �• June 2003 Panhandling Registration: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly by Georgine Getty, Executive Director, Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Stop feeding them or they'll just keep coming back. This is what people say about stray dogs and cats. It's also recently become the mantra of anti-panhandling proponents. Whereas it may be a true sentiment, there's one problem: panhandlers are people. People with stories, families, self­ determination and needs. In November, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH) challenged city hall to address the root causes of panhandling, rather than making panhandlers register. To their credit, DeWine and Crowley did establish an Outreach Professional position to do street outreach to people who panhandle and direct them to services. The Coalition, as well as other well respected social service agents, worked with the city to draft this position. This is a fine first step, but it doesn't begin - to go far enough. Plus it was coupled with registration. Registration requires that panhandlers get a panhandling license through the City Health Dpeartment and the Police Less Disgusting . . . The Coalition also worked with the city to change some of the logistics ofthe registration process to make it, "less disgusting," to borrow a phrase used by a concerned citizen who spoke out at the public hearing on May 12. Originally, panhandlers had to register at the police station (now they would have to register at the Health Department, though the police stilJ track the registration), they had to have an address, they had to be fingerprinted, and they had to wear their registration. We changed all of this, but is it enough? We oppose the registration ofpanhandlers. Why? Because it's hard enough to be in poverty, without adding layers of bureaucracy. Because it addresses the end result of poverty and homelessness instead of trying to cut it off at the root. Because it makes panhandling into a bigger issue than it is in reality, relegating larger issues such as police protection, the boycott and even parking to the back burner. Because sometimes, people just need to panhandle to get by. p;: ~ However, panhandling is complicated. Nobody Likes aggressive panhandlers. They make life uncomfortable for the people they panhandle and also for other panhandlers who are given a bad name. There is already a very strict panhandling ordinance on the book that could be sufficient to address aggressive panhandlers. Must all panhandlers be licensed because of a few bad apples, or worse yet, the mere perception of a few bad apples? Here's the kicker... •1 1t t Mayor Luken piped in at Coucilmember David Crowley andMayor Charlie Luken the very end of the public hearing with his sentiments about Don't Like Panhandlers? Streetvibes vendors. He alleges Here are 6 steps you can take to end panhandling: that one vendor was unconsciou s in *Humanize and eoipathize. Once you look someone in the the middle of the street due to eye and say llello, they stop being a ''panhandler'' and start alcohol consumption, but managed being a person who happens to be panhandling. Most to regain consciousness long panhandlers are decent, law-abiding people who happen to enough to "bother" Luken by need money for some reason. If you believe them, and want trying to sell him a Streetvibes newspaper. When I asked for the to give, do it~ Hyou don't, don't. Ultimately, the choice is name of the vendor, Luken was up to you. unable to provide it and became *Work to increase low-income housing availability in the quite agitated, saying that he has city of Cincinnati. · long believed the Streetvibes *Work to insure a living wage for all Cincinnatians. program needs to end. Luken then *Fight unfair welfare "reform." began to actively campaign to keep (Numbers 2, 3, 4 sound too big to tackJe, but the Coalition is the panhandling registration currently working on several campaigns. Give us a call at ordinance from passing because of 421-7803 and find out how you can help.) its inclusion of an Outreach · *Support your local shelters, especially shelters with Professional. services attached. Call us for a list of names and ways you So it broke down into four can help. People are often concerned that panhandlers use camps ofthinking in City Council: those who liked the Outreach earnings to purchase alcohol or drugs. If this is the case, we Worker but hated the registration, need to increase treatment centers, not decrease our those who liked the registration concern. and hated the Outreach Worker, *Buy Streetvibest You have already heJped make a those who wanted both and those differ ence in someone's life. Streetvibes allows vendors to who wanted neither. So what fill the ga·p between wage earnings and the cost of living, happened? The registration passed thus preventing the need to panhandle. without the Outreach Worker. Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. (DCI) stepped up to the plate and offered to pay half of the amount needed to pay the salary of an Outreach Worker, but the City missed their opportunity to even attempt to make a distinction between aggressive panhandlers and people who have to panhandle to make ends meet. So now we stand blinking in the rubble and faced with an ug1y new reality: registration without the Outreach Worker. We need your help. Please call or e-mail your councilmembers and let them know your opinion. Registration with no outreach simply adds yet Georgine Getty, f;xecutive Director ofthe Greater Cincinnati another layer ofcruelty to the lives Coalition for the Homeless, addresses City Council ofCincinnati's poor. �STREETVIBES June,2003 Local News Perception Drives New Law by Jimmy Heath A local radio "personality" A new city ordinance, suggested giving one-way bus which requires all panhandlers to tickets to the next county for the register wjth police and get a panhandlers and "bums", with free license, will soon become law and malt liquor and cheap wine another tool for police enforcement supplied along the way. These and control of who gets to use kinds ofdiscussions fuel criticisms downtown Cincinnati. Of course, and ridicule our City's less we all know that this is really about fortunate. perception. It's about how people If Cincinnati had the who spend money perceive political will to end homelessness, downtown Cincinnati. to address issues of poverty and We all have a right to move injustice, then maybe citizens about freely in public without fear would rally of harassment or threat. It is the around this primary job of government to cause too. provide this type ofsecurity, within The media and the boundaries laid out in our city leadership Constitution. All citizens are set the tone protected by these rights regardless for these kinds of their economic situation, ofdiscussions. supposedly. If only they Panhandlers are categorized would look at it another way. as a threat by City leadership. Not so much an immediate economic But threat, but a threat to how things downtown look, and how the interactions . Cincinnati is make people feel. It's about not a place for poor people, perception. panhandlers and the homeless. According to David Unsightly panhandlers roaming the Ginsberg, president ofDowntown sidewalks and alleyways cannot be Cincinnati Inc, panhandlers are the permitted. Poor people are scary! number one reason that people stay (There is the nagging old stereotype-that-there-MUST be away from downtown. The new licensing ordinance is an attempt to something WRONG with "those" make it look like something is people, and they have CHOSEN to live this way.) being done to address these complaints. It's all about To appease opponents of perception. the licensing ordinance, who Cincinnati Councilmember criticized it for being too punitive Pat DeWme, the author of the new and uncaring, a social worker position was added, to be paid for ordinance, lumps panhandlers in with litter, broken glass and graffiti. by the city. This social worker wouJd roam the streets and try to (City Council Law Committee connect panhandlers and homeless Meeting, May 12th). If we do people with services designed to something about these unsightly things, people will return to help them get off the streets . It is downtown, he says. It is obvious to me that the purpose, the unfortunate that human beings are job ofthis street social worker, working out of the offices ofDCI, lumped into the same category as will be to shoo people out of litter and the like. Page 2 downtown and encourage them away from public view. But the commitment for a social worker paid for by the city has gone away as council wrangled over the new ordinance. Now, DCI says it will pay halfthe money for the position, about $25,000 for one year, which won't cover the costs of a professional social worker anyway. There is additional concern from those opposed to the ordinance that the new law will legitimize panhandling, others say that it just recognizes the probl.em. Some say that the truly aggressive panhandlers will continue to do what they have always done because they have been acting outside of the law all along. And people who quietly hold signs or cups will not be required to get a license. So who will get these licenses? It probably doesn't matter all that much~clu!n citizens won't read the ordinan~ or question its effectiveness, as long as it appears that something is being done about t~e "p.roblem' _ / IfCincinna~ polifical wi1T't()e;;d homelessness, to address issues of poverty and injustice, we would be having a different discussion. We wouldn' t be talking about perception or how to control the less fortunate of our citizens, and who gets to use our public sidewalks. But "appearance" and "perception" means everything these days. From where I sit, things are looking real bad in Cincinnati. Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $ 1 voluntary the sale ofStreetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise mis­ donatiop. I agree not to ask for donations of representing is a violation of a city ordinance and more than $1. I also understand that I will be may be cause for arrest. able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the papers, and I will display my badge at all times Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized 9. There are no territories. I agree that I wilJ not papers, or from other vendors, wiU result in contest territories with other distributors. I will termination from the program. not sell on private property without permission. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ to vend after 12 midnight. . supporting paper created by people who are 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other ven­ homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. effort, I will try to spread the word and write 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence stories if possible. of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination threatened. from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I time as deemed appropriate. am collecting for the "homeless" in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from �STREETVIBES June,2003 Page 3 homeless people ranked 16th ­ $26, 81 0 a year, or two cents a person - only better than Cleveland, which uses no local money for homeless services, according to the Houston Chronicle (www.houstonchronicle.com). The shadowing him for the day, "If we city 's total spending of about $.53 by Molly Rhodes million a year, including federal we can rebuild our can rebuild Iraq, Berkeley Mayor Tom cities." funds, is about $4.64 per capita, Bates didn' t want to be called less than one-fifth of the national On a note of good Easter chicken. So, as part of a campaign big city average of$21.86. On top cheer, All Saints' Kingsway "dare" he agreed to last year, he Church in Toronto hosted its of that, the city has no large-scale spent 24 hours on the street of bis job program for homeless people, annual Easter sale of art by fair city last month, getting to and no public shelters for families. know the life of a homeless person. homeless people. Nine homeless What shelter for families do exist artists created 177 pieces of work Stops along bis journey included are turning away people every for this year's sale, each of which meals at the Trinity United was offered for $25, according to night. Methodist Church, a tour of Yet lest you think no one services along Telegraph Avenue, a the Toronto Star cares about homeless people in (www.thestar.com). Last year, the sleep out in the Civic Center Park, San Antonio, an art school church made $1,700, all ofwhich and visits to homeless advocacy graduate has returned to his went back to the homeless artists centers, all followed by a weblog, themselves. "These artists express native city to embark on a pro­ from www.NewsBerkeley.com. bono project.to capture the themselves in vibrant ways, and While Mayor Bates did get a taste homeless population with you don't see a sense of angst, a of life on the streets, he still would sense of poverty and a sense of charcoal and easel. Seth Camm's have no idea what it would be like stint in San Antonio is part of his depression in them," Elisabeth to survive without a home while nationwide, four-year-old project of the Gibson, the co-coordinator also battling addictions and/or to document homeless people in art sale, told the Toronto Star. mental illness. At the end of his ofjoy." Philadelphia, Bakersfield, Calif, "They portray a sense day, when Mayor Bates had heard If things are bad in Bellingham, Wash., SanDiego, and dozens of stories from homeless they're worse in San Berkeley, Los Angeles. When he's finished, people, his first thought to share Camm hopes to put his discoveries with www.NewsBerkeley was, "It's Antonio, Texas, which ranked overwhelming." And with a state 14th out of 17 big cities surveyed and portraits into a book to be for the services and help the budget that's desperately short of offered as a guide to the streets for anyone to use. Every homeless cities offer homeless people. funds, it's only going to get worse. Local money given to helping person who agrees to let him As Mayor Bates told the reporters sketch them also gets a copy of their portrait. When asked to sum up his experience for the San Antonio Express-News (news.mysanantonio .com), Camm simply said, "Throughout my travels, I've seen an enormous amount of people crying." Sacramento homeless advocate~ thought they saw a lot of people being scammed when ­ they beard about local homeless people panhandling to raise money for a battered women's shelter that may not even exist. The women have been raising money for One Nation Under God Christian Church in Los Angeles, with promises that they get to keep 20 percent of what they make. Loaves & Fishes in Sacramento counters in a complaint filed with the state attorney general's office that these women are required to pay for rent, gas money, and "pastor appreciation fees;" costs that usually cancel out any money they might have earned, according to the Sacramento Bee (www.sacbee.com). On to.p of that, Loaves & Fishes stafffound no proof of the shelter even existing, although One Nation's pastor, Jack W. Robinson, has amassed about $1 mill.ion in real estate property in the past four years. Education is the First Step to Ending Homelessness by Andy Er;ckson, National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project Why don't homeless people just get a job? Are home­ less people just not trying hard enough? Should I give money to panhandlers or not? Why is it so difficult to get people off the streets and into homes? How many people are homeless in Cincinnati tonight? Why do people become homeless in Cin­ cinnati? I spoke to a woman who was in her sixties and who was a nurse for many years. She unex­ pectedly lost her job, and after a while, she lost her house. She had been homeless for months, but had finally obtained housing again. She hadn't obtained a secure job though, and was in danger of once again losing her home. She was crying when she said, "I just want to have a place where my kids can come visit me." Unsµre about some of the issues surrounding homelessness? You can learn a lot by asking the experts: the homeless themselves. No one knows more about home­ lessness than the people who have lived on the streets and in the shelters. People often have an image of the homeless as "bag ladies" or "drunk, dirty men," as one letter­ writer recently put it. Many years ago, a typical homeless person might have fit the stereotypes we have. But in the past twenty years, rising housing costs and other economic problems have caused a wide variety of people to end up on the streets. These days, the for­ merly housed population is lQoking a lot like the currently housed. You can see this ifyou volunteer your time at a homeless shelter or another organization that helps the homeless. Working with the homeless will help you shed stereotypes you might not even know you had. You'll learn where the roots of homelessness lie, along with the unexpected links it has to certain aspects of society (like temp~rary labor agencies, for example, who sometimes send people away with $25 after a full day's work). Volunteering at an organi­ zation need not be time consuming. Many organizations need volun­ teers for just a few hours a week. While you are helping people move out of homelessness, you will come to see the world from the bottom ofthe economic spectrum - which is a very illuminating perspective. Ifyou can't volunteer, you can learn about homelessness through our Speaker's Bureau program. The people in the Speaker's Bureau have all been homeless. They can come to speak at your church, school, or event for $35, nearly all of which goes to the individual speaker. This is a popu­ lar program in our organization, and another great way to learn about homelessness. Of course, you could also send any questions you have to Streetvibes@iuno.com. We work with homeless individuals every day here, and we, or one of our Streetvibes vendors, would be happy to respond to you. Homelessness in Cincinnati has grown 200% in the past 15 years. Education is the first step to reversing this ~ren<;i. With mory people losing their housing now than ever, it's important that the currently housed understand more about the issues surrounding homelessness. If more ofus reaily understood what it means to be homeless these days, I think we' d also understand that we need to be working harder to end it. People who have worked their whole lives are homeless. Children are homeless (one our of every four the homeless, in fact). Whole families are homeless. Some of the people who are serving you food when you go out to eat are homeless. Over 25,000 people each year in Cincinnati are homeless. And the numbers are growing. We have the means to end homelessness. It starts with educa- ­ tion. And the best education you can get is from those people who are or have been homeless. Volun­ teer at a shelter or have a speaker come out to your event to speak about their life. Make an effort to understand who the homeless really are. of �ST R EE T VI B ES . J u ne, 2003 Page 4 Reader Hail photo ID and several dollars of busfare to go seek work. Refer panhandlers and the homeless to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless We would like to hear from you (GCCH), where they will receive a - please address letters and picture ID and ten free issues of StreetVibes to sell for a dollar comments to; each. Streetvibes, The Coalition holds 1506 Elm Street, vendors accountable to a Code Cincinnati Ohio 45202 reached in agreement with city (or) email to: police that will help prevent or Streetvibe~uno.com even resolve complaints some residents have against aggressive panhandlers. Fighting.... The StreetVibes' vendor I have been fighting for the code does not allow vending the rights of the poor most my adult paper after 12 midnight. It requires life in Cincinnati and for the respect for others and prohibits a panhandlers. Where were you in "hard sell," deception, or vending 1987 when Pat Clifford started the under the influence of drugs or Cincinnati Grapevine, or later when alcohol. Failure to comply results Donald Whitehead sued Cincinnati in termination from vending and in federal court to protect the seizure of the StreetVibes picture constitutional rights of panhandlers ID by police. and won. When Streetvibes Ifhired, the new city social became the tri-states homeless worker assigned to directly helping paper, I wrote articles for the paper the down-and-out will have two and became the volunteer reporter inexpensive options to get for the prisoners' news column, panhandlers jobs through the which at one quarter covered three region's numerous resources, such pages. The former director would as the Career Resource Centers in not let Tom Billman print articles Over-the-Rhine and around town. that hurt the establishments Ifthe social worker plan feelings. He wasn"t permitted to has been scrapped, I'd suggest that de his editors job effectively, so he some ofthe money be spent in q&it, so he could sleep at night. placing more curb-cuts on city I The former director was sidewalks for the diabled not interested in the right for andrepairing inadequate. I'm prisoners to speak out against feeling really abused by the injustice, so I lost that column. So installation and up keep ofthe thats where I have been, sister.· curb-cuts now that I am using a This is 'get it offmy chest' day. wheelchair more often. The Ed (sonny) Williams condition or absense of many curb­ cuts, especially in Over-the-Rhine On Panhandling .... are a disgrace, for a city serving citizens and welcoming visitors Council should find other justly. options to licensing citizens and People .seeking work and visitors panhandling here. Neither the city Health Department nor the other networking resources may police farce (sic) need to burdened consult my article in the May issue of Streetvibes (p. 19) about free with such a task. access to the Internet and free or Send panhandlers to affordable classes to gain or METRO-TANK's Bustop in the Mercantile Building at Government enhance computer skills. Square with a voucher to get a bus John Zeh, Over-the-Rhine While we make evety effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati , OH 45202 homelesscivilrights@yahoo.com Call Andy Erickson (513) 421-7803 CALL FOR. OVER-THE-RHINE COMMUNITY ARTISTS SUtUrday, ~ugust ~-, . -~--· As ~rt of Cincinnati's celebration of the Festival of the New, the Over-the-Rhine.Community Festival will showcase artwork by neighoorhood arti.sts. Any artist living in Over­ the-Rhine, age 16 and up, r:nay submit up to two works of art for consideratiori of awards by a panel of local artist jurors. Call Peaslee Neighborhood Center at 621-5514 for guidelines JURORS: Gary Gaffney, instructor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati Jimmy Heath, Director of Pea . slee Center for Photography Jim Pendery, a Cincinnatj pointer with a lorig history, of • involvement in public art SPECIAL THANKS TO SUMMERFAIR INC. AND THE ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI FOR SUPPORT OF THIS EXHIBITION. Sponsored by the Contact Center, Peaslee Neighborhood Center, and the Art Academy Prisoners Advocacy Committee - Ohio PO Box 1746 Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-1746, or submit a prisoner's name and jail number at chu-lai@juno.com · Finding pen-pals for people incarcerated in jails throughout Ohio. / �ST R EETV IBES June, 2003 I am scared! I am so scared! I am so scared in Cincinnati by Elaine Cojfy Summer hasn't blessed us with her charm yet. Already we have 29 homicides in this area alone (at least none were homeless). In February of2003, I addressed members ofthe Cincinnati City Council about my concerns about homelessness and my personal experience ofbeing homeless. Panhandling became not an issue with me, but a need. Without permanent housing, employment became temporary labor. Then, unable to work in the field in which I am trained and certified, bad health ·s et in. I placed a copy of my resume' on each ofyour desktops that day, and stated that I would gladly clean your toilets if it would help me become gainfully employed and maintain the quality of life to support my family. With this proposal from DeWine to register all panhandlers, I have become very confused on what is important to the people of Cincinnati and the members ofcity Reflections in a river and pulls him out, only to see more drowning people. The young man then gets help as the by Donald Whitehead, National drowning people continue to be Coalition for the Homeless found in the river. Soon a whole Executive Director Moving Upstream: the Time community of people have formed to End Homelessness is Now on the river, all focused on pulling drowning people from the water. A couple of weeks ago, I The community has all kinds of was on a stage at Loyola College programs for the people they pull listening to NCH Board Member out, and they continue to create Neil Mitten speak about his current · new and more effective programs work. Neil shared the analogy as they continue to pull people about pulling drowning people from the water. Unfortunately, from t he water. Some ofyou may despite all the wonderful programs, have heard this analogy. For those they can't keep up. This continues that have not heard the analogy until one day when the original about the drowning p~rson, it is an young man decides to tak~ a day analogy about somebody who off and go upstream to find out stumbles upon a drowning person And where would a homeless person fit into this mix? Lacking. any transportation to the suburbs, how would a homeless person even reach the promised land of the Golden Corral? Once . there, would their presence be by Rhonda McKinney welcome? People don't like to look I recently had a person ask poverty in the face while they are me why homeless people don't go gorging. That might bring guilt. to the "Golden Corral" with their And it struck me; this is panhandling earnings to take America. My fellow diners and advantage of the all-you-can-eat myself were consuming "all-we­ buffet. "It just makes sense," he can" simply because we can. Eating assured me. It's what he would do. past the point of necessity, even Intrigued, I went to a past the point of comfort, we Golden Corral. I was ushered consumed and consumed and through line and given my one consumed. We didn't speak to one option " all-you-can-eat Steak bar with drink" and handed.a rolled up another because that would slow set of silverware. Stuck in a comer, down the consumption. Heaven forbid we pause to realize how full I proceeded to the nearest counter to begin loading up. All around me, we are. people were jammed in, mere feet away from each other; black and white, young and old, all ofus not talking to one another. I piled on a bland assortment of beige-colored food items and began to eat. Being a vegetarian, the fried chicken, steaks and infinite varieties ofpork products did not appeal to me. The food was mediocre. Not terrible. Not great. But, I could eat as much of it as I wanted to. America in . the "Golden Corral" Page 5 council. These are my exact embariassment to this city, with feelings about this situation, me double standards on life, race, trying to pe a viable citizen in this females, and safety. I would love city, I see no way out. to see another Mayor in Mayor '­ Is this just another·one of Luken's place, a Mayor that will the city's attacks on middle and promote self-esteem, higher goals lower income individuals for this city and would work on (supporting his low self-esteem) or , trying to improve the Quality of will this pass once he finds Life, rather than spending tax someone else to make nervous and money for two stadiums and a -pull another pie-in-the-sky purple bridge (What is up with harebrained idea to work on, biding that?). his time until some ofus wake up This city needs a severe and impeach him or just don't vote change. Come on people, drop me on him again? a line, let me know how you feel. I am sure that his dad is not Elaine Coffy - E-mail: aware that this mess is going like elainetcoffy@yahoo.com Until the /­ this. I feel that our Mayor is an - ··­ next time "Have a Great Day" ~ how people are getting into the river in the first place. The story is significant to me for two reasons. First of all, that night was a night that I will remember for a long time. It was a night ofinspired speeches, informative dialogue and a night that symbolized what the birth a movement must look like. If we are ever going to end homelessness students must be involved, and on this night they truly were. The second reason this story is significant is its relevance to what's happening within the homeless movement today. NCH was the first group to start pulling people out of the water, and now we have decided it's time to go upstream and address the root causes of homelessness: The Bringing America Home Campaign is the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact on the issue of homelessness. The Bringing America Home Act also allows people experiencing homelessness, providers and advocates an opportunity to show America that they are indeed committed to ending homelessness. Anyone who is truly committed to ending homelessness should endorse this campaign. The Bringing America Home Campaign is a chance for all ofus to move upstream. �ST REETV I BES Page 6 June, 2003 Wanted: suspected terrorist by Rhonda McKinney There once was a very compassionate New Yorker. He wasn't working at his job as an EMS provider on 9/11 , but he was close to the scene. When he didn't return home that evening, his family and friends feared the worst. They knew he was the kind of man who would go to help, even if he wasn't on duty. As the days went by with no word, his family joined fhousands in putting up posters. "Lost: friend, son, brother." Meanwhile, the U.S . government was putting up their own signs, "Wanted: suspected terrorist." The government came and harassed the man's worried family, demanding to know where he was. Why? Because the man's name was Muhammad, and he was a Muslim. The government got their answer when Muhammad's remains were found under the rubble in November. I recently had the privilege of attending the Aninesty International General Meeting in Pittsburgh. At this meeting, there was a panel discussion on racial profiling, pre and post 9/11. The panel started with Reverend William Rutherford from the NAACP who began with the · history ofracial profiling in America. Until 9/ 11, racial profiling was a product of the "war on drugs" and primarily used to target African Americans and Latina/o s, causing drug arrests to go up 510%. Since 9/11, Arab Americans, Muslims and South Asians h~ve become the target. Over 1200 Arab Americans have been held without charges. Many are still being held . The second panelist, Dalia Hashad, is the leader of the ACLU's post-9/11 campaign against racial profiling which focuses on Arab Americans. In the hours following 9/11, New York did a sweep ofMiddle Eastern men and gathered them up as "suspected terrorists." All of these men had minor INS violations (such as being tardy in announcing a change of address). When the ACLU and other groups began to question this practice, Ashcroft stopped telling us about it. Middle Eastern men are being required to register, or they can be deported without even a chance to tell their families. The registration was done in secret, so many people didn't even know they were supposed to register and were deported as a result. (At the registration, I am not making this up, people are asked, "are you a terrorist?"). The government has ordered " mosque counts" so they know how many wire taps to do in an area. The panel ended with Sharam Hasheni, a soft-spoken hero from 9/1 1. Blessed by a Catholic priest at ground zero, the Muslim Sharam rushed in and led a dozen people to safety before the building collapsed on him. When he was pulled from the rubble, his life was saved by a Jewish doctor. Mr. Hasheni stated that if all three maJOr religions could blend in a synthesis of harmony and heroism on a tragic day, there is no reason that this true dialogue cannot continue. However, two weeks after 9/11, Mr. Hasheni was forced to register as a suspected terrorist. He complies, but with a heavy heart. In conclusion, Mr. Hasheni called·for a renewed focus on unity, not division. He states that true dialogue is the only thing that will prevent terrorism in the future. Ms. Rashad added that looking for a terrorist is like finding a needle in a haystack. Racial profiling does nothing but increase the size ofthe haystack. She added, tongue in cheek, t hat not altwhite men were rounded up after the bombing in Oklahoma City. What is needed is crime fighting techniques and investigation, not racial profiling. Please join us in writing letters to Ashcroft, Ridge, and . Bush. Let them know that America cannot continue to violate the Constitutional rights ofits residents simply to promote a false sense ofsecurity. Do it today, in memory ofMuhammad and all the other brave_souls who are part of Americas proud and diverse history. The Jf.onorable John Ashcroft, Attorney General, J)epartmentof Justic~ 950 Pennsylvania A~enue, Nw, Room 440, Washington DC 20530-0001 (fax 1-202-307-6777). The Honorable Tom Ridge, Secretary ofHomeland Security, U.S. Department ofHomeland Security, Naval Securilj!Stati-011....___ Nebraska andMassachusetts "-... Avenue, Nw, Washington, DC, 20528 (fax 1-202-282-8404). The Honorable George Bush, President, the White Houie, Office ofthe President, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, J)C, 20500 (Fax 1-202-456-2641). - The Most Dangerous City to be Homeless: A Snapshot of shelter system have mental illnesses " quality oflife" laws disrupted the population for the state capitol Sacramento and other disabilities, and many of totals about 1600, but Lomazzi relative safety found in the loose­ dismisses this as a "low-ball" knit community of campers and folks living in their vehicles in that figure. Lomazzi lives .in her bus. neighborhood, and ultimately She used to park it in a light displaced an estimated I 00 industrial area in Sacramento that homeless people, leaving them at increased risk for hate attacks. was to become what is now the Richard Blvd. Redevelopment_ Joan Burke, Advocacy District - a location identified as a Director ofSacramento's local possible site to develop a proposed homeless service provider Loaves stadium project. "City.policies and Fishes, paints a darker picture. have been really hard on homeless " Sacramento doesn't have enough housing, or even the will tO create people, displacing them from it, so homeless hate crimes here are downtown areas to appease business interests and developers," crimes ofvulnerabiHty." says Lomazzi, who·was Burke cites factors such as "vehicularly housed." shelter beds reserved for specific Lomazzi says increased · homeless sub-populations (AKA "case-managed beds"), as well as police enforcement of so-called the entire Sacramento shelter system's lack of compliance with National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as major factors in what Project (NHCROP) she describes as "a game of musical 1506 Elm St reet beds." Cincinnati, OH 45202 According to Burke, most of the homeless people competing homelesscivi lrights@yahoo.com for scarce beds in Sacramento's by Chance Martin Paula Lomazzi is editor of Homeward - Sacramento, California's local street newspaper, and works with the Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee (SHOC), a CHCROP reporting agency. She reports that two homeless campers have been found murdered along the Sacramento River's banks already this year. Sacramento currently has only 3 50 shelter beds for men and 153 beds for women, famiH es and youth year-round, adding an additional 228 "overflow" beds during the winter months. The - estimated "official" homeless (513) 421-7803 them are older. "The leastfunctional homeless people are always losing this game," she explains, " So they are at increased risk ofvictimization. " Burke also reports that Sacramento's District Attorney wasn 't prosecuting homeless people's camping citations aggressively enough to suit local business interests. Exploiting the issue to further his poljtical ambitions (and denigrating homeless people in the process), Sacramento's City Attorney Sam Jackson then hopped on the pro­ development bandwagon, taking on the persecution of Sacramento's homeless campers as a campaign to increase his public name recognition. After a homeless camper there successfully employed the defense to defeat a camping citation last year, City Attorney Jackson took on the prosecution himself, enlisting the assistance of �STREETV I BES June, 2003 Page 7 Just Visiting - City Council Behavior is Shocking by Amy Allen While visiting Cincinnati recently, I had the joyous opportunity to attend two Cincinnati city council meetings. The first was to discuss the proposed ordinance that would require the Nazi-like registration of "panhandlers," and the other was to vote on it. At both of these events I was struck by the rudeness and lack of attention Cincinnati's elected officials pay to their constituents. Frankly, all I knew of this city was what I had seen in the negative press Cincinnati has received in the past few yeats from the national news. Knowing how the national media often spins things into generalizations that are not really true, I tried to keep an open mind during my visit. However, after witnessing the rude and destructive behavior at the city council meetings, I now understand a bit more why Cincinnati receives such a bad rap. First ofall, rudeness abounded at the civic proceedings I witnessed. I would hate to generalize ab.out all ofCincinnati from the behavior ofits elected officials, but these are the people who are selected by a majority of citizens to represent you. I was astounded at both meetings by the gt:?neral aura of disdain directed at public commentators from council members. Perhaps I attended these meetings on heated nights, perhaps . these meetings were not typical of the city council's normal behavior. However, while I was there, I witnessed council members twirling in their chairs, leaving their positions to go whisper like school children with other council members and with the mayor, and otherwise displaying obvious inattention during public comments. Nor was the rudeness merely directed at the public. At one point, a council member verbally attacked another council member, trying to silence or embarrass her into thinking she didn't understand how things worked because she was new. At the formal council meeting on Wednesday, May 14·, I counted the number of council members paying attention to two teenage representatives of a youth program. At any given time, only three of the nine council members were paying attention to the teens. The rest were whispering to each other, reading and highlighting their notes on other issues, or talking to their aides. Especially disturbing was to see the council member who had encouraged the teens to testify engaging in this behavior. After the high schoolers were done speaking, this same · :..... council member then took credit deliberate belittling ofthe non­ for bringing the youth ofCincinnati white, non-male public speakers. forward to active involvement in The mayor had a suspiciously the proceedings. Her hypocrisy consistent problem pronouncing was not lost on me, and most likely .names that had, as he said at one was not lost on these future voters, point, "too many letters." either. Secondly, I ·saw a decided Amazingly, the mayor was able to lack of compassion that is alarming pronounce smoothly all the names anywhere, but most significantly in ofthe whjte male administrators from the pniversity ofCincinnati elected officials." At the meeting regarding the so-called panhandling who were there to testify on behalf ordinap.ce, your mayor told a oftheir drunken and brawling delightful story ofhow he had been white (and largely male) students. "accosted" by a Streetvibes vendor Finally, through the whole while innocently walking a experience, I noticed a marked downtown street. H~ then went on trend am~ngst council members to to attack a program that, if I focus on the trivial surface detail of understand it correctly, employs social problems rather than larger Streetvibes vendors and allows problems. I know it is easier, on them to work with dignity and self­ the surface, to harass panhandlers respect. It seems that ifthe city is by placing them on a public roll. truly horrified by its panhandlers, After all, compared to all the more program,s like Streetvibes scared suburbanites who are afraid should be in place rather than to say no to someone asking for fewer. The national press tells me spare change, the panhandlers that Cincinnati is a racist city with don't vote in large numbers, do they? But if the council had been police brutality and a lack of concern for the safety of its non­ listening to the public speakers, empowered citizens. What I they would have heard that their constituents want a solution to the witnessed from the mayor and his irrational attack on a self-sustaining poverty and social inequity that causes panhandling and social program did nothing tb prove this negative press wrong. homelessness, not the vilification of · Thirdly, I observed a the poor. They want a clean city that is safe for all its citizens, not just those who commute to the downtown area and who are terrified to look at the poverty there. I heard one council member say that if Cincinnati cleans up trash and graffiti and registers panhandlers, then larger problems like theft, assault and murder will miraculously disappear. Leaving aside for the moment the implication in this statement that panhandlers and the homeless are the same as trash and graffiti, the .If idea that picking up around irt downtown will eliminate systemic poverty, racism, and class division is beyond asinine. What business of mine is this situation? Well, it's not really. But I can tell you that ifl didn't have family to visit here, I would never again visit, and neither would my tourist dollars. It is not the panhandlers that I fear, but rather the rude and insensitive politicians who represent you. One can tell a lot about a city by the way it treats those who are powerless, and from what I have seen from Cincinnati, it is not a place I would choose to call home again, even if it is for only a week. �STREETVIBES Page 8 June, 2003 Bringing America Home: the Volunteer Opportunities at on housing and that wages are Campaign. based on the local cost of housing. the Greater This Campaign is founded Temporary Wor ker F airness & on the principles and action of Protection Act public education, grassroots Temporary Workers work in Cincinnati organizing and support for an industry that is characterized by progressive policies and wage levels that keep workers in Coalition/or poverty as well as no job security, legislation. It is founded on the principles that people need no health insurance, and inadequate the Homeless affordable housing, livable incomes, health care, education, and protection of their civil rights. The Bringing America Home Campaign is composed of a variety of efforts that address these causes of homelessness, including the following key elements of the Campaign: T he Bringing America H ome Act This comprehensive bill to be introduced in the 108th Congress includes resolutions putting Congress on record as supporting housing as a basic human right, Universal Health Care - and a Living Wage; a dramatic expansion of federal resources for affordable housing and homelessness programs; a dramatic expansion of health care and services for people experiencing homelessness; greater income and work supports for people experiencing homelessness; temporary worker protections; and civil rights protections for people experiencing homelessness. The proposed legislation represents the most far-reaching initiative to date to address modem homelessness and is based on research, data, and the experience offront line providers and advocates. - The Nat ional Housing Trust Fund A National Housing Trust Fund (H.R. 1102) should be established to serve as a source of revenue for the production of new housing, and the preservation or rehabilitation of existing housing that is affordable for low-income people. The initial goal of the National Housing Trust Fund is to produce, rehabilitate, and preserve 1,500,000 units of affordable housing by 2010. H ealth Care Access R esolution The Health Care Access Resolution directs Congress to enact legislation that guarantees every person in the United States, regardless of income, age, employment or health status, has access to affordable, quality, comprehensive health care. - U niversal L iv ing Wage R esolution ULW is based on the premise that if a person works 40 hours a week, th~n he/she should be able to access basic hous ing, calling on Congress to enact _ legislation that Federal guidelines be established whereas no more than 30% of a person's gross monthly income should be spent worker protections. The Protection Act calls for federal legislation that offers day laborers the same rights and protections that are extended to permanent workers. Civil R ights P rotections for P eople Experiencing H omelessness Legislation to prevent the criminalization of homelessness is included in the Bringing America Home Act. In addition, NCH calls on Congress to ensure that no voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice, or procedure shall be imposed or applied by any State or political subdivision to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote because that citizen resides at or in a nontraditional abode. NCH also calls on Congress for a GAO investigation and subsequent report into the nature and scope of violent acts and crimes that occur against people experiencing homelessness. R eauthorization of the Head Start Act Preschool-age children experiencing homelessness often face unique barriers to enroJling and succeeding in p~eschool. NCH recommends rev isions to the Head Start program that will remove barriers to the full participation of children experienc~ng homelessness and increase their access to appropriate services. Reauthorization of the Indiv iduals with Disabilities Education Act The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act'(IDEA) provides students with disabilities with a wide array of substantive and procedural rights. In the upcoming reauthorization of IDEA, NCH recommends revisions that will ensure children in homeless situations are able to access the services and procedural rights that IDEA provides. Please contact your Representative and ask him/her to become an original co-sponsor of the Bringing America Home Act, the National Housing Trust Fun9, & the Health Care Access Resolution. To contact your member of Congress, please calJ the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. For more information on the Bringing America H ome Campaign, contact Brad Paul, (202) 737-6444 x13 or bpaul@nationalhomeless.org. would like to advertise in our paper, we offer very competitive rates for ads that reach about 15,000 people per month. Our dream volunteer would be a self-motivated volu nteer that wou ld like to fundraise for our organization. This could. include asking your friends and·family for donations to researching and writing grants for our excellent programs. The Streetvibes newspaper project is always in need of people There are numerous oppottunities f or volunteers at the interested in connecting with the Greater Cincinnati Coalition f or vend0rs and helping them write the Homeless. We are willing to articles on social justice/poverty issues, poetry, or personal stories. work with each individual in We need help in the choosing a service opportunity afternoons at the front.desk, that is rightf or them The f ollowing are a f ew ofthe areas in answering phones and handling transactions with our Streetvibes which the Coalition could use Vendors. This person will address your help: the needs ofvisitors, having direct Designjng a web site for contact with homeless individuals our N ational Civil Rights should be available one and Organizing Project. This would include working with the afternoon a w~ek. Americorp Vista volunteers on how . There is al~ays a ne~~ for to prevent further criminalization ~elp with bulk ma1hngs. Mailings ofhomeless individuals as well as mclude the annual report, quarterly newsletter, and various capitol preventing the increasing hate camprugns. crimes against them. Tfyou are interested in To enhance our Streetvibes volunteering_!t the Greater program, we are searching for­ volunteers to solicit advertisements Cincinnati Coalition fort e Homele.ss, please contact the office ~ from local businesses. If your bJJsiness or a bu siness you know of at 421-7803, or visit us at 1506 Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine. We Can Be Proud! Judge MARK PAINTER Ohio Court of Appeals . . The Most-Published Hamilton County Judge Ever! Our own Judge Mark Painter reached a mil~stone in November- 250 of his decisions (now 261) have been published nationally. He is the most-published Hamilton County judge ever, and one of the most-published Ohio judges in history. Judge Painte r h as: • Served on the Court of Appeals for eight years, after 13 years on Municipal Court. His opinions have been recognized as legal precedent more than 2000 t imes-in cases, textbooks, and encyclopedias. • Written 55 articles on appellate practice, sentencing, DUI, contempt, and legal ethics. He writes a menthly column on legal writing for Ohio Lawyers Weekly. • Taught 91 seminars for judges, lawyers, and police officers, and is an Adjunct Professor of Law at U.C. • Authored the textbook Ohio DUI Law, now in its 12th edition. His other book, The Legal Writer: 30 Rules for the Art of Legal Writing, was published in June. • Is writing two more books to be published this fa ll : William Howard Taft- President and Chief Justice and a new edition of Ohio Appellate Practice. www.judgepainter.org Paid for by The Judge Painter Committee..Grog Ruehlmano, Chui~ 312 Walnut St., Cinc!t>rnil.i �ST REE TV IB ES June, 2003 Page 9 Coalition for the Homeless Releases .Book P·rofiling downtown Cincinnati's Over-the­ by John Zeh Cincinnati's Homeless Rhine neighborhood . They Westside Cincinnati's f conducted interviews to learn about the issues through the eyes of people without homes or ones who recently lacked a home of their own. The 0 -T-R neighborhood, and the GCCH office on Elm Street became their classroom, with real-world lessons. Our Eyes: Reflections on Getty acknowledged the Homelessness, launching an work of several staff excellent exploration of homeless issues as members on the book's creation, seen trough the eyes of Cincinati's the creativity and including homeless. wordsrnithing ability by GCCH The celebration, at the outreach coordinator Steve Civic Garden C~nter in Mt. Shockley. Auburn, was enjoyed by over 40 Also honored were Kevin students and others who worked Pease and Serendipity Design for on the project. This book will be his direction of design, layout, and part of GCCH new, multi-media art direction which required long outreach effort for area educators. hours to ensure that all participants The book is full of color had their voice represented and photographs, personal reflections, their vision accurately captured in poetry, artwork, and nine .book form. Said Getty, "Kevin is interviews conducted by some 30 not your every-day graphic Mo~her of Mercy students. The designer," she added, "but one on a book will be packaged with a holistic journey, with an incredible videotape and supportive print work ethic, and infinite patience." material to educate students about Mother ofMercy educators Cincinnati's growing homeless Susan Staub and Kathryn Schnier crisis. were also recognized. "I am very proud ofthe The project was funded students ofMother of Mercy high with a grant from the Greater school for leaving their comfort Cincinnati Youth Grant-making zones and addressing the issue of Council, which has national homelessness head-on," said support from the Corporation for GCCH director Georgine·Getty. National and Community Service "Homelessness is a growing problem in Cincinnati and hopefully and locally by Xavier University and the Manuel D . and Rhoda this book will be used by future Mayerson Foundation. high school students to learn from Through Our Eyes: the experiences oftheir peers." Reflections on Homelessness is Researching the book, available for $10 at the GCCH students journeyed into the Over­ office, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, the-Rhine neighborhood and they Ohio 45202. For more worked at the GCCH office in information, call 421-7803 . Mother ofMercy High School students and parents and the Gt-eater Cincinnati Coalition (GCCH) for the Homeless gathered together on Saturday, May 17, to celebrate the release of their colorful 80-page book, Throug~ The book, Through Our Eyes, a collaboration ofCincinnati sMother of Mercy High School and the Greater Cincirmati Coalition for the Homeless T h e GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations for their generous donation of coffee and· pastries: :* 11379 Montgomery Road (513) 469-1111 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park (513) 533-3 402 7896 M ontgomery Road (513) 891- 7740 Book release party at the Civic Garden Center - unveiling ofthe project book. Far left, Georgine Getty, Executive Director ofthe Greater Cin­ cinnati Coalitionfor the Homeless with Mother ofM ercy High School Students While we make every effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do n ot necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. �STREETVIBES Page 10 June,2003 Building Community for 25 Years ReSTOC celebrates 25th Year Anniversary: Triumph and Struggle in - o ver-the-Rhine by Melissa Currence photo :S by Jimmy Heath Ms. Patricia Jackson, a ReSTOC tenant board member, spoke from the heart when addressing the audience at ReSTOC's 25th Anniversary Dinner on Sunday, April 27. ReSTOC. · ReSTOC was founded as a way to address the problem of homelessness in Cincinnati when Drop Inn Center volunteers quietly but steadily worked to rehab several buildings in Over-the­ Rhine; both abandoned and occupied, and ultimately, many years ago, saved a building from deterioration and three ­ Meyer has been organizing to recognized nationally in involve Miami University students developing ways to address the Patricia Jackson, ReSTOC resi­ many systemic causes of in Over-the-Rhine organizations dent speaks to dinner crowd for several years. homelessness, especially in the "ReSTOC is my world," area of housing development. The ReSTOC is a service site Ms. Jackson explained. ReSTOC shortage of affordable housing is for 3, 000 volunteers annually who come and contribute labor in was there when she needed housing the number one cause of in 1999. Ms. Jackson now liv es on homelessness in ReSTOC's community Republic Street in Over-the-Rhine the nation. building efforts. and is active with the Republic Bonnie Street block club. For some of the Neumeier, now a volunteers who ReSTOC tenant Ms. Jackson's words come on a board member inspired many from the Cincinnati weekly basis, served as the community who came to Elder High School in April to help master of ReSTOC ceremorues. provides a ReSTOC celebrate 25 years of unique learning David Crowley, a building a strong community in ReverendMcDad.e begins the Cincinnati City experience on Over-the-Rhine. evenings festivities with an open­ Council member, Councilmember David Crowley, - • the realities of ReSTOC, the Race Street ing prayer inner-city life, Tenant Organization Co-Operative, was the keynote keynote speaker at R~STOC 25th tenants from displacement. Bonnie speaker. He poverty and was chartered in 1978 with a Celebration \ Neumeier, Buddy Gray and other homelessness. mission ofproviding decent and spoke of devoted volunteers recognized the ReSTOC is a job-training ReSTOC's commitment to affordable housing for low-income serious shortage of housing for the site reinvest on Vine Street in Over­ for AmeriCorps National individuals and families. low-income and homeless people the-Rhine and wished the The evening fundraiser, Sei)vice, AmeiiCorps National the Over-the-Rhine in organization good luck in the held at Elder High School in Price Civilian Community Corps and the neighborhood of Cincinnati. · Hill brought over I 00 people American Association ofRetired future. ReSTOC and the Drop Inn Center Today, ReSTOC is a major Persons (AARP). together to share stories, to developer of affordable housing in celebrate and show their support of are pioneers and has been The sponsors for the Over-the-Rhine ReSTOC's 25th Anniversary Dinner included Elder High neighborhood of Cincinnati . School, JTM, The Coca-Cola Since 1994, ReSTOC has brought over $8 million of Company, and F&M Mafco Inc. investment to Over-the-Rhine. Currently, ReSTOC has 25 units offamily housing under construction in the Vine Street Community Project and an additional 7 units coming soon. All of this work is accomplished with a with a very small staff and a significant volunteer workforce. Ross Meyer, Miami University graduate, Harry S. Ross }.feyer, longtime ReSTOC Truman Scholar and graduate volunteer, student and Harry S. ofFinneytown High School, Bonnie Neumeier, Master ofCeremonies, talking to Councilmember Truman Scholar, shares his expe­ spoke ofhis involvement with David Crowley and his wife, Sherri rience ofworking with ReSTOC ReSTOC throughout his high over the years. school and college years. . --- �J une,2003 STREET VI BES P ag e 11 Just Chillin ' by Jerome M anigan - What better way to move along Vine Street on a bright, balmy spring day than on a bicycle -._vith your truted companion at your side? Community R~source Cards , ' ' Cincinnati Celebrates Baseball. Baseball Sculpture, Fountain Square. Mean­ while the Reds vie with the Bengals for losing status Does Stossel Deserve a Promotion? Rockdale Temple has announced the release of the latest in its series of Community Resource Cards. The new one, printed in Spanish, i s customized for the needs of Cincinnati's rapidly growing Hispanic/ Latino population. The tri-fold, plastic cards are funded by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a project of Rockdale Temple, in consultation with Bienstar, Su Casa and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. In addition to the Hispanic Resource Card, the Resource Card Project bas also produced cards for senior citizens, the homeless, and public school and· Catholic school students covering the Tri-state area. Cards can be ordered from: cc 5300 Hamilton Av enue, #210 Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 or send a fax request to: (513) 541-0099 ;::=======================~ Watch for the return of Streetvibes TV Streetvibes TV is a live program created by the· Greater Cincinnati Coalition f or the H omeless and Media Bridges. Watch as our p anel discusses the issues surrounding homelessness today. Check your local cable listing for broadcast dates and times.... From FAIR-L, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting ABC reporter John Stossel has a new job at 20/20: co-anchor. Barbara Walters' former partner John Miller departed inJanuary, and ABC chose Stossel to fill his role. According to a recent report in TV Guide (5/10/03), one source at ABC says that picking Stosselmakes sense: "These are conservative times ... the·network wants somebody to match the times." One might hope ABC would be more concerned with hiring a jou rnalist with a record of credible and accurate reporting than with matching the perceived political climate. For years, Stossel's work has been notable for bungled facts and twisted logic, all in service to his conservative "free market" agenda. (See Extra! , 3-4/ 03.) In a 1998 report (2/3/98), Stossel dismissed compl~ts about rising CEO salaries, saying that "factory wages were up, too- up 70 percent" in the last 15 years. But wages for manufacturing workers had risen only if you don't adjust for inflation; in terms of purchasing power, factory workers' wages had fallen by more than 6 percent since 1983. In a 1999 special (9/19/99), one of Stossel's J1 main sources claimed that Hong Kong is "the only government in the world that makes a surplus, a big surplus." In fact, I 1 countries-including the US. ­ had run a budget surplus the preVIous year. Stossel 's methods have also been called into question- most memorably when he cited research that didn't actually exist about pesticide residues in organic produce (New York Times, 7/31/ 00). In a recent email to viewers (5/16/03) Stossel lashed out at his critics,"the activists ofthe totalitarian Left, which try to get people like me fired, or silenced." FAIR, however, has never called on ABC to fire him. We have frequently asked for Stossel's reports- more opinion pieces than news stories- to be balanced with commentary from an opposing point ofview, and we've encouraged viewers to ask ABC whether the numerous inaccuracies and distortions in Stossel broadcasts meet the network's standards. Up until now, ABC has for the most part ignored the thousands ofletters pointing out the unreliability ofStossel 's reporting. Now, apparently, it's decided that the appropriate response is a promotion. CONTACT: ABC News mailto:netaudr@abc. com �ST R EETVIB E S June, 2003 Page 12 The Peace Village many different ways ofeducating for peace. I suspect that her workshop on how to use music, · enthusiasm for Posters 4 Peace w ill by Dr. Steve Sunderland spontaneously developed, as a Many new friends have expand and redefine my own method of gaining both freedom, joined the Peace Village and are understanding of this form of peace and peace. I want to learn joy work. welcome to comment on all that more about music and our I was also deeply moved by proceeds in these and future development of peace as I see the reports. Many ofthe newcomers the commitment to peace.in the limitations of so many ofus in the were presenters and participants at work and words ofRebecca Janke arts as part of the reason so few of a recent conference in Minneapolis and Burt Berlowe ofGrowing us understand the connections of on youth service education. Communities for Peace, the arts to creating peace. Minneapolis, and the peace pole Over 2500 people came, Humberto, a gifted magician and mostly high school youth who are work ofDebra Caron ofWorld Citizen.Inc., St. Paul. carrying out peace activities under the label, They are consultants "service education," and to peace programs, have a peace pushing back the bookstore and boundaries on education· mailing list and, for social justice. Thanks wonder of wonders, to the Mayerson Foundation, I was able to ~ Rebecca does a S week program in the attend and present the Peace Village idea of schools as Posters 4 Peace to about "Peacemaker," 7S eager adults and working with kids youth. Team members, and teachers to Steve Elliot and Donna create a deeper Mayerson, also presented understanding of and we were joined by peace and justice. teams from two She has a specially Cincinnati high schools, made peace outfit including team member, she wears. Wouldn't David Schur, who you love to see her Dr. Steve Sunderland works with youth on ways to explore brought along two and imagine a set of Peace busloads of the Clark uniforms, all gaily musician, br_9ught a 3 part musical Montessori Steel Drum Band, and representing peace? I hope that the expression out of a group of a group ofAiken High School connection with the Peace Village strangers with such delicacy and will lead to their participation in students. affection, that peace and harmony We had a delightful lots of events. broke out. workshop and I met Humberto Aliza Olson, working in Wanda Holland Stallworth, distance learning in northern Lopez ofBuenos Aires, Argentina, Texas Center for Service Learning, Minnesota, has a dream about a a peace worker in the disguise of a found the workshop a door to music director. Humberto led a museum and programs connecting war memorabili~ to peace work. While we make evety effort to provide a forum for those As I listened to her connections without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of with VFW, veterans, libraries, and THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION her programs in the schools, and FOR THE HOMELESS, is not her desire to link these activities to responsible for statements, and do not necessarily a museum, perhaps connected to endorse the opinions of the people her college, I began to think of whose writings are represented here. ways that this could be a site for peace conferences as well. I also had a wonderful connection with biology teacher and new team member, Joan Felice, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, about opening many programs to peace ideas. Thanks, Joan. Having a few days with team members Steve and Donna, The Know Yo ur Rig hts deepened my understanding of the Brochure is now available at the efforts being made to bring young Coalition's office. The brochure is a leg al g uide for C incinnati 's ~ homeless and covers a person' s basic rights when interacting with . We'd like to hear \~ fl'9m IJOU,_,r'_.-. the police, as well as some local ~ 1 laws that might be of interest to the ~ ~· homeless population. If Y?U are a !~ Send letters or 11 homeless person or if you work , 1 "' ~. comments to: with homeless people and would Streetvibes@;Juno.corn,·· ­ like to obtain free copies of the ~ Of' write the Coafdion office broc hure for yourself or your attn: Streetvibes Lette~ agency, please call 42 1-7 803, or I·506 Elm Street stop by the Coalition office and pick Cincinnati, C>hi~ 45202 one up. Know Your Rights Brochure Available! Write Us! " *"' f ... >' : ;;:;r people out of the classroom into the social settings that require a different orientation, almost like a junior level social work effort. Through their experienced perspective I began to see a network of schools connected to peace issues and justice issues in our city, a kind of Peace Corp of secondary education citizens, capable ofbringing their questions about why our cities and poor are continuing to be victims of poor social policies and declining allocations of resources. The kids of Clark and Aiken stood out at this conference because there were so clearly talented and many of them were African American and deeply involved in service education programs, thanks to deeply committed teachers and administrators. The absence of many black, .Native American, Hispanic and poor people at this conference reminded us that the "two Americas" also will exist in service and peace work unless we work for inclusion. One ofthe most inspirational workshops I attended involved the presentation ofwhat youth are doing who are disabled to provide service to different groups. Again, these talented kids, some With serious problems were not going to be deterred in the service and peace effort. But, they too, stood out as exceptional minorities at a conference that didn't provide signing to the general sessions. Donna deepened my understanding of how strengths can be touched and expanded and Steve broadened my amazement of how one person can have a deep impact on schools and agencies through building connections, spiritual and intellectual, between youth and those in greatest need. I left the conference amazed at the range of activities that youth are deeply involved in that connects to our efforts at peace. Their story is untold but their work expands and raises important questions about the designs ofeducational and political institutions. How many schools and boards of education are ready for unleashing the power ofyouth to make peace a priority? Dr. Steve S underlantl, professor ofSocial Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues ofPeace in the world Dr. S underland also heads up Posters-for-Peace which engages people in expressing their visions ofPeace, in their own words, through the creation ofposters. �STREETVIBES June,2003 Thinking Inside the Box nextmeaJis coming from. They are at the by Kelly Klein, Erinn Lewis, and Carrie Brokamp mercy ofthose around them. For photos by Grady Cook the students, this It was constricting, experience isn't nearly as harsh as limiting. The walls were barely enough to protect us if the weather it would be in a took a turn for the worse, but those real homeless situation because walls were enough to put us into a they are category and to strip away our surrounded by humanity. Looking up to the thin friends and sheet of plastic that served as a teachers who are roof, we realized how lucky we eager to help are. In a short time we would retUrn to the safety of our own them. "I feel admiration and homes complete with walls, heating, indoor plumbing and warm respect for people that are participating in Shanty Town. I meals. If the weather really aid don 't think I could do it." ­ become too dangerous we could Ashley Lukens. leave our shanties and sleep in the On Tuesday the school, but that is not a realistic participants hosted the option for the people who live this Empty Bowls Night which everyday; the city's homeless. included a simple meal of "I remember thinking how fun it would be to sleep in a shanty soup and bread. TheFe were with my friends. Late in the night I informational guest speakers, entertainment provided by the looked up at the box that was Bucket Boys, and students sheltering me and I had this horrible sense of worthlessness. I giving personal tours of their shanties. Proceeds from this was in a box. That is not where people belong" - Kelly Klein. event go to Our Daily Bread Shanty Town is a three Soup Kitchen in Cincinnati. . day awareness-raising event. "Listening to the speakers made me realize that Ursuline Academy students these are all people, not just construct their own shanties made statistics, and that I need to do oflimited materials and sleep in them for two nights to get a something about this. I need to glimpse of the experiences and help them." - Erinn Lewis. Although it is afar problems facing homeless people. reach from the true experience Activities this year included a trip ofthe homeless, this event to the Drop Inn Center where provides an opportunity/or students helped serve food before sitting down to their own meals at . students to get involved and the center. Dinner is followed by a learn what can be done to help ease the problem ofpoverty. tour of the facility and guest Even with this limited speakers who tell oftheir experience, the reality becomes experiences with addiction and glaringly obvious ofthe pain homelessness. During the day and struggle that people suffer.. students have to beg for their food Hope.fully, this will bring us from other students at the school. one step closer as people work This gives a minor feeling of what for a solution. it is like to not know where the Page 13 �ST R EETVI B ES June, 2003 The Curse o.f Poverty Art& Poetry Page 14 Mary, Forgotten You Are Not by Cherokee Homegirl Walker by Charles Bailey Do we be women folks of property Ph~aohs? Da.rnried to the curses of mountain peak corrupt altitude sins? The air sooo thin The air and homes be way up there at $650, $800 beyond our small budget deposit with one months rent. That thick penis landlord pride push gender lies, . . . they echo ringing from his mountain, I can't climb sharp cliffs, with clipped old shoes Yeah, Sally Sue Section 8, is sistah who gotta spread, or gotta go, or gotta fight, but some have a good brother, father, or son on our side. Ain 't nah sex on my mind, I got a no no baby like Sally Sue too. The Devil sent one of his followers and Took you Mary away, But you will never be forgotten, In the hearts ofmillions Each Day Though Mary your life, Here on Earth was cut so very Short - and it put Tears in so many eyes ­ But you are really . Protected NOW that you are standing By Jesus's Side And from all of us who love you.little Mary, Spread your wings and take to the sky - you may be gone But we who love you will N_ever say Goodbye.... April 10, 2001 by Melissa Currence A threatening ofwork and invention, of sin and rebellion, of responsibility and tightening of the screws. am tired. am despair. beyond repair. Praye;s jump rise and absolution slips from greased fingers. long enough to detect the edge of exclusion, embrace, not break. Or a way out happenstance for collected self-interest. when the church ofmy god becomes our god. white face on the dollar bill is us. our children. our responsibility. tightening of a choke hole, limited ground war. rubber bullets into our young and smiling faces upturned towards blue and down in red. Joe'z Bluz (The END of the Seventies) by Jesse James Once upon a Dream Freedom·was meant to be. But society's cruel reality Took it away from me. The Great Man by Mike Henson Sara's Art . .. \ ·~- .. The vigilance of a great man is the tooth of a fox at the neck of a vole. The breath of a great man blesses all his projects and withers the hopes of his enemies. The will of a great man rains on·his people. Day and night, day and night it drenches all otherwill. The voice of a great man rings like a metal dollar on a marble counter. The potency of a great man has no purpose but to bear all before it like a flood or a powerful wind. The mind of a great man is not bothered by contradiction, is not worried with truth or lie, is not disturbed by the thoughts of others. The stride of a great man is certain and is not broken by the bodies in his path. �ST REET VIBE S June, 2003 Cheap Diets Spread Through The Month Page 15 Attention Writers by Cherokee H omegirl Walker Tension be tight, lite quick steams with police bang bang sistabs hold bands, good cops get scared sistabs put out thier man, sistah rotate dip dodge then scoop swing city curfews timing Metro Bus revisions. Our fingers are strings tied streched for change or to bend, be rubber, be rope long for money, spaghetti, Jiffy rich cornbreads. Buttered toast, jeUy snacks again for my kids. We bounce spring cook mop, rinse, dry then copulate in secret. Hide love under our beds. Pompom weddings dance in our dreams but squeak tunes of low money plays, but I live I need a better home, I peter to paul, paul to peter to pay bills I do right by my God who forgives and knows me. But putterstroke Paula, put out her stuff herself. The Over-the-Rhine Community Festival and Writers Unlimited . will be hosting a booth at the Communjty Festivar in Wash ington Park, Saturday August 2, 2003 from noon to 5PM. L\mit ene page per subject - any topic. D,easline for submissions; July, 11 ttl. Stiomit your entries'to Judi l\11endrist<i, 1715 Republic Street, Cincinnati, 9H 45202 (513) 381-1893 My Name Ain't Money by Cherokee Hdmegirl Walker 77% they say. Households in this hot zone got 77% single mommy's so the pompom city shakes the state for federal games makes fouJ plans for suburbs migrations too far from our survival cultures. Good Metro rides coasting ~er 10:00 No four bus transfers with our cold January little kids For information on . submjttiny "J';,OUr;poet~ ·or arl. to STREE'FVIBES email­ Streetvi/Je'S@juno.com Shutter Speed 4 Days to Mississippi by Denise Crew Tossing and Turning Waiting and yearning Po pping aspirin like Pez calms the pain in my head . The only pleasure to seek In the food I eat I can't wait for the day W hen pain goes away I feel so weird, so strange A little deranged Almost insane I don't understand why My heart's in my hand After all, he's just a man Todd and James playing dominoes in Washington Park �STRE ETVIBES June, 2003 Book Review: Tyco, WorldCom, Xerox, Qwest, Merrill Lynch and the rest have exposed a brutal disregard in the boardroom for the fate of those in the office cubicles or on the factory floor." "More than a million U.S. corporations and individuals have be a better word for them) are registered as citizens ofBermuda greedy, cruel, and monomaniac, by Holly Hand to avoid taxes, a practice okayed with contempt for laws and other "What we have in this country is by the IRS. Although the exact peoples' well being. These pigs socialism for the rich andfree number is unknown, the IRS make their enormous fortunes by enterprise for the poor. "- Gore estimates that ' tax motivated committing business fraud and expatriation' drains at least $70 Vidal dodging personal and corporate Pigs. I must admit I've billion a year from the U .S. taxation. Living "high offthe always had a soft spot in my heart treasury." hog," they devour the lives oflhe for them. Probably because as a "If ypu were poor enough poor and the marginally employed child I was moved by the story of to apply for the Earned Income Tax who have to shoulder the tax Credit in 2001, your chance of Wilbur, the little piglet in E .B . burdens the wealthy have shrugged being audited was one in 4 7. If White's novel for children, off Huffington does a terrific job you made more than $100,000 a Charlotte's Web. Then as an adult of writing about some of these year, your chance ofbeing audited I loved the movie Babe, about a wealthy oinkers whose.blatant piglet that learns to herd sheep. was one in 208." greed and illegal action.s have made The drama for both Wilbur and "The richest 20 percent of the headlines in the past couple of .Americans earn about 50 percent Babe is that they' re destined to be years while the US economy has ofthe nation's income. The slaughtered and so they urgently slid down the drain and the rest of poorest 20 percent ofAmericans need to find a way to escape their fate. Wilbur escapes (with the help us have been picking up the tab in earn only 5.2 percent of the so many ways. Here are some of the clever spider, Charlotte), by nation's income." highlights from her book: growing big, beautiful and "In 2000, the average CEO "Between March 200 1 and outgoing and thus winning a blue earned more in one day than the March 2002 a record-breaking 1.5 average worker earned all year. In ribbon at the county fair. Babe 2000, 25 percent of all workers escapes by winning a sheep herding million Americans filed for bankruptcy. Investors have lost earned less than poverty-level competition. Yet, despite $9 trillion since March 2000 nearly wages." becoming winners, both Wilbur and and retirement assets lost 11 "How can there be talk of a Babe remain humble, helpful, shared destiny in a nation where percent oftheir value-$630 foving creatures, so we're billion- over roughly the same just over 1 percent ofthe delighted that they survive and period. Meanwhile the chairmen population (170 billionaires, 25,000 thrive. I can't say I have any of the and CEO's ofthese companies live deca-millionaires and 48 million in mansions, yachts, fly in millionaires) control approximately same fond feelings for the human corporate jets and walk away with 50 percent ofthe entire country's " pigs" Arianna Huffington personal wealth? .... Where since describes in her latest book Pigs at millions in bonuses and pensions the Trough: How Corporate Greed despite the rest ofthe people losing 1980, real income for the bottom their jobs." fifth of families fell by $800, while and Political Corruption are "The scandals at Enron, for the top fifth, it rose by Undermining America (2003). Arthur Andersen, Global Crossing, $56,000? These human pigs ("hogs" might Pigs at the Trough: How Corporate Greed and Political Corru·ption are Undermining America "This is your former captafn speaking... " Page 16 "Even as our count1y has taken steps to abolish welfare, forcing the poor to sink or swim, we've allowed the high-end corporate class to weave a giant safety-net for its members. Is this corporate welfare realJy any different or less costly than the kind most ofthese people inveigh against? To use their own argument how are we ever going to get then to act responsibly when we keep rewarding them for irresponsibility? To say nothing of criminality." "Like a lung-cancer patient reaching for a pack of smokes, the Bush administration has again and again greeted gloomy economic news with a nerve-settling puff of its favorite brand of economic relief: tax cuts for the rich." "Stock options ... a versatile form of compensation that is not counted as an expense on company ledgers, and yet is fully deductible when it comes to chiseling the taxman." "According to one estimate, the amount by which exercised stock options reduced corporate taxes may have as much as doubled between 1998 and 2000, from $28 billion to $56 billion. WorldCom, for example, used stock option deductions to trim $265 million off its tax bill between 1996 and 1998. Microsoft saved $2,7 billion, Cisco saved $1. 5 billion and GE saved $1 billion in tax bills through stock options." " Since the beginning ofthe new century over 570 public companies- including most famously Enron, Global Crossing, Adelphia, WorldCom and Kmart­ have declared bankruptcy. 2.7 million Americans have lost their jobs. Nearly $9 trillion in market value has been lost on Wall Street. But while the average American has suffered staggering losses in 401(k) and pension value, and many have struggled to stay afloat, the average CEO has added millions to his personal wealth. In corporate America, apparently, nothing succeeds like utter failure." " In corporate America crime pays. Handsomely. Grotesquely, even." Yeah, it's like that. And ther~ 's more good stuff in the book. Pigs at the Trough is a fine, incisive, and often witty work. Just one last thing I'd like to know: when is pig slaughtering season? Soon, I hope! Reprinted courtesy ofSpare Change News, Boston Streetvibes ~ists as a forum f or the exp ression ofthe views and opinions ofour readers and supp orters. T_he opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �ST R EET VIBES June, 2003 Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Report COLUMN: BUDGET PROPOSALS AND TAX CUTS THREATEN BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS ON POLICIES TO HELP LOW-INCOME PEOPLE (Boston Globe, Boston, MA, May 11 , 2003) This column, by David Callahan, director of research at Demos in New York City, and Tamara Draut, who directs Demos' economic opportunity program, draws attention to the recent bipartisan consensus that has emerged over policies aimed at helping low-income people. The authors note that this consensus is threatened by the Bush Administration and House of Representatives' budget proposals and tax cuts, which would restrict federal funds to states and result in additional cuts to social services. The earned income tax credit, a program which has done much to reduce child poverty, enjoyed bipartisan support in the 1990s when it was greatly expanded, as did the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) when it was created in 1997. http ://www.boston.com/ dailyglobe2/13 l /focus/ Broken_bargain+.shtml REPORT: EVALUATION OF THE USDA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PILOT PROGRAM (Economic Research Service ofUSDA, April 2003) This report to Congress is an early review of the U.S . Department ofAgriculture's Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (FVPP). The 2002 Farm Act provided $6 million for the 2002­ 03 school year to improve fruit and vegetable consumption among the nation's schoolchildren. One hundred schools in four states (25 schools each in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio) and 7 schools in the Zuni Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) in New Mexico participated in the program. Almost all schools participating in the FVPP consider the program to be very successful and would like the pilot to continue. Schools believed that 80 percent of students were very interested in the pilot. http://www.ers.usda.gov/ publications/efan03 006/ REPORT: ANALYSIS OF SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM REVENUES AND EXPENSES IN SELECTED STATES, 1996­ 2001 (U.S. General Accounting Office, May 2003) This report analyzes how revenues and expenses have been affected since the U.S . Department ofAgriculture implemented more stringent nutritional requirements for meals served in the National School Lunch Program. In the six states studied (Florida, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Texas and Virginia) for school years 1996-97 through 2000-01, federal reimbursements decreased slightly as a share of total revenues, revenues from food sales increased slightly, and the small amount of state government and other funding was stable. On expenses, food expenses decreased slightly and labor expenses grew slightly. Overall, expenses increased by about 22 percent while total revenues increased by 20 percent. Local school food authorities limited expenses by, among other strategies, buying in bulk and expanding a la carte menus. The six states had a small but growing deficit in their lunch programs. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/ d03569.pdf (Adobe PDF) MANY STATES LIMIT CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AS MORE LOW­ INCOME MOTHERS WORK (Center for Economic and Policy Research, May 6, 2003) This data brief examines the child care choices ofworking mothers as more and more women in the last few decades have started going to work. Currently, two­ thirds ofmothers with children under age six are employed. More than 30 percent of working mothers provide child care themselves or through the child 's other parent, 30.9 percent rely on relatives, and 22.7 percent of working mothers use formal day care. Low-income working mothers generally rely most on relative care and can only afford formal day care with financial • assistance. Since 2001, 23 states have limited eligibility for low­ income mothers (including former welfare recipients) in their child care assistance programs. More low-income mothers have had to tum to relative care, considered a lower quality form of chil.d care. http://www.cepr.net/ Data- Brief- Child- Care.htm THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S INCOME VERIFICATION PLAN COULD CAUSE ELIGIBLE CHILDREN TO MISS SCHOOL MEALS (Tri­ Val.ley Herald, Pleasanton, CA, May4, 2003) Anti-hunger advocates in California are worried that the BushAdministration's income verification proposal for the National School Lunch Program Page 17 could cause 750,000 children in the state to lose their free and reduced­ price school meals. "The whole idea is to feed kids and now we're looking at ways to not feed them," said Karen Candito, director of nutrition services for the Berkeley Unified School District. Administration officials claim there is a significant number of children using the program whose families make too much money to be eligible for free meals. The estimate cited by administration officials is flawed, critics note, as it is based on census data from a year different from that of the enrollment numbers being compared. Overenrollment virtually disappears when children who receive reduced-price lunches are factored in, according to FRAC. A state official says that for every child found ineligible through verification, five eligible children will drop from the program because their parents do not respond. http://www.trivalleyherald.com/ Stories/ 0, 1413,86-10669- 1369114,00.html# FOOD STAMP PROGRAM PARTICIPATION DROPS IN CALIFORNIA, RISES NATIONALLY (Associated Press, May 12, 2003) California has seen enrollment in the Food Stamp Program decrease by 4.4 percent over the past year, which means the state ranks last among states in signing people up for the program. Over the past year enrollment in the program has increased by 9.1 percent nationally, and only Hawaii and Rhode Island have seen decreases in enrollment, but neither have seen decreases as large as California's. The California Hunger Action Coalition wants the state to do more to boost enrollment in the program. With the current economic downturn, the state could boost its economy by boosting enrollment, which would bring in hundreds ofmillions of dollars in federal funds. http://www.bayarea.com/mid/ mercurynews/news/5842871 .htm IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE GOING HUNGRY (News and Observer, Raleigh, NC, May 13, 2003) Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that nearly half ofNorth Carolina's Latino farm workers faced food insecurity and 5 percent of the workers lacked adequate access to food and suffer from "severe hunger." The findings are based on a survey of 102 families in a five county area in central North Carolina and is part of a four-year project to devise ways to address issues affecting farm workers. Researchers believe that the nature of the work - jobs that start and stop during the year- contributes to the high rates of food insecurity. http://www.newsobserver.com/ front/story/2534056p­ 2353209c.html INDUSTRY OPPOSITION FORCES TEXAS LAWMAKERS TO DROP SCHOOL NUTRITION MEASURE (Corpus Christi Caller-Times, May 7, 2003) A bill in the Texas legislature would have eliminated vending machines in elementary schools and limited their use in middle and high schools. Opposition from the soft drink industry and school superintendents forced lawmakers to rework the bill. School superintendents argued that the money from vending machines is crucial in light of decreased education funding from the state in recent years. "It's unconscionable to me that we would not consider children's health over making a profit from these machines," said state Senator Eddie Lucio, sponsor of the bill. http://www.caller.com/ccct/ local news/article/ 0, 1641,CCCT_811_ 1943832,00.html FLORIDA GROUP FORMS POLITICALACTION COMMITTEE TO LOBBY FOR PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR (South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 13, 2003) A Broward County, Florida anti-poverty group has created the Economic Justice Committee, a political action committee to lobby for local ordinances and state legislation that supports "a fair and equitable society." The Broward Coalition for the Homeless registered the PAC in February 2003. The group's goals include lobbying for affordable housing, for living wage ordinances, and against funding cuts in programs for low­ income people. The PAC also intends to raise private funds to donate to candidates who agree with its agenda. Laura Hansen, executive director ofthe Coalition, notes that it is the responsibility of the government "to ensure people have access to food, shelter and clothing and that their [basic] needs are met." http://www.sun-sentinel .com/news/ local/broward/sfl­ cpac 13mayl3,0,3579380. story T he FRAC web site is http:// www.frac.org Food Research a nd Action Center 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 540 Washington, DC 20009 (202) 986-2200 x3019 phone (202) 986-2525 fa.x Email: bwinter@frac.org �STREETVIBES June,2003 Editorial Peace and Justice are Fragile in the Peace Village by Dr. Steve Sunderland The never-ending saga of Cincinnati's struggle with peace and justice continued with another fantastic twist. The community activist that shot a robber in an attempt to rob a bar was released by a grand jury without any charges against him for breaking laws about carrying a concealed weapon and bringing a gun in a bar. The grand jury felt, we can only assume, that the situation of danger warranted the activist's actions to protect the bar's patrons and himself from the danger ofalleged robbers. The robbers were charged with breaking laws that may get them 50 years in jail. Our local community and the larger city is struggling mightily with this decision. Self defense is understandable, but was this self defense or trying to stop a bad situation from getting worse? Were the robbers egged on to a more violent stance by some of the customers in the bar and thereby responsible in some way for a little of the violent response that led to an even greater violent response? And, of course, the racial "card" is being played: "Would the activist have gotten off if he were black and the robbers white?" Rain has been falling in Cincinnati, on and off, for the past few days. This, again, seems to be calming rising feelings of anger. Beneath the rhetoric is a sense of something fragile being broken as this neighborhood is stunned that private use of weapons is approved in certain situations. What is fragile is the delicate connections between people living in a neighbor~ood, particularly a voices when we think about and recount the details of the breaking of the threads of hope. People shut their doors solidly. Garbage suddenly appears and flies around diverse neighborhood racially and without any home address. No class-wise. There are "good" hand reaches for it. Glass dots the neighbors that participate in local gardens and only the youngest government, keep their streets children dare to play outside. The clean, our radios somewhat heart beats slower. A beat of moderated, our children watched depression followed by another for any danger, and our concern and compassion for those who also need thud of despair. Slowly, someone tries again to make a connection; a to be watched, helped and encouraged to participate. There is community dance is ~ailed, pizza offered as a peace gesture, and ever something quite wonderful about so slowly the tom fabric is held in the helping process in a neighborhood. It makes the streets the hands, bruised, of the wea~ers. And so this community shine with friendship. People looks for another road to peace and bloom in the light of mutual The Wise ones will wonder justice. concern shown for helping with how much resilience this fragile gardens, helping old people get.to can sustain. The rest of us thread church, or calling the police if will be looking for the short cuts, danger suddenly appears. Almost the summarizing rhetoric that everyone accepts the standard of makes it ever so simple and stupid, repairing some aspect of the too. Peace was.lost in a bar,-a dark community through an endless and sad place, where men had gone series of public and private actions. to feel companionship on their Stef(my wife) has led a movement journey into the world of alcohol. to give and plant trees for.free and Their trip was interrupted. So is this has planted more than trees. She has shared her secrets with kids ours. Stef reports that these men were crying yesterday as they and adults about how to grow realized that the community cared floW.ers in our and their front yards about them and was glad they were and more than tulips pop up in the alive. She danced with one who everyday lives as a result. Banners had to stop because the tears were have been hung to celebrate the too strong. We are all dancing and community and we have raised our stopping, looking out, still in a own flag of hope at the same time. haze, for the sounds and signs of A children's park has been created peace. from a field of broke~ glass and The monitor of our peace abandoned crap so that now · agreement between the police and children s';\'ing and climb in the community, Saul Green of beautiful safety and more than Detroit, came to town and gave a children feel liberated to be alive talk to a large number of religious and cherish life in our streets. leaders. Thanks to team member, But nothing, and I mean nothing, shatters these relationships Rey. Duane Holmes, I was invited. Green went over the reasons for the quicker than violence, and racially peace agreement and the fact that motivated violent acts drives us all no other peace agreement in any to our knees ·in despair. There is that blue look and gray sound to our other city has involved the "/ wouldn 't worry about being deported. We own lots ofsweatshops back in your home country." Page 18 community as deeply as this one calls for. But, he also noted that our city doesn't seem ready for implementation of the "contract." Every day there is another event that attacks the agreement and makes the possibility of success more remote. He spoke candidly but also indicated that he could not say too much as it is up to the parties to the agreement to take the leadership. Green's job is to monitor success, offer technical assistance when requested, and make reports to the city and the federal judge on the compliance with the agreement. What would promote peace and justice? Clearly, like many other places, the cessation of crime and especially murder would make a big difference. But what controls crime growth and who can stop murder? Our police have prevented many crimes of violence and even lost their lives in attempting to break up violent situations. Yet, the best of police philosophy only goes so far and then mystery seems to rule. The same can be said.for community action theories. What we are attempting in Cincinnati is to change police behavior by befriending the communities they work in and, thereby, foster more comprehensive approaches to crime reduction and, simultaneously, the creation of stronger communities. The hope is that a joint effort will make the difference in both intimidation of the criminals and offer a clearer ground for growing healthy communities. The big question concerns the effectiveness of this partnership. A set.of fragile behaviors is involved in this situation, too. Can the police accept citizen information and use this information as part of police decision making? And, is this more effective than continuing without citizen involvement? The blending ofpolice functions into citizen leadership efforts has not been disproved; or, in our case, tried as policy on a neighborhood basis. The theorists of our peace agreement are adamant about trying this effort. Some community leaders are in agreement. Some community leaders see this as the taking of a second job in the community, a job that should be taken solely by the citizen paid police. It is not easy to prove effe.ctiveness or to prove justice by just a theory. The test of Cincinnati's peace agreement requires implementation and evaluation. The monitor, the signers of the peace agreement, the community leaders, the criminals, and the average citizen are participants in what promises to be one of the major factors strengthening or destroying our city. �STREETVIBES Page 19 June, 2003 Boycott Current State - The Burr Und·e r the Saddle uprising occu_rred, then they seem by Allen Abrams to have decided that it was a " bad So there has been some in­ idea" to keep killing young black fighting. Hands down with no males so they stopped. That's room for discussion, the easy. They just stopped killing Cincinnati Boycott has .been the them. Therefore, whether strongest, most effective tool for through blatant disregard or social change that Cincinnati has through conscious action, the ever seen in its entire history. Cincinnati Police had been Disagree? Point to another choosing to use fatal force on element that has generated so . young black males. much discussion among The divide and conquer households, businesses, the City mentality has been employed Administration and the press. throughout history. We need to Name one, just one. Name one unite and get along. We don 't other tool of social change that need to agree 100% on all issues. has actually gotten the City In the minds of many, the Administrati.on to get up off its collective butt and decide to try to boycott has overshadowed the actual issues. In the media and in rebutt all the true things said minds of many, the personalities about them·by " the boycotters". of the boycott have become the Why has it taken so long for the issue. This is not about City to even think of addressing personalities, people. It's about the needs of the people? Why principles and the principles are have there been no unarmed simple; equal treatment and equal black men killed in the last two opportunity. So the city digs in its years? Apparently, it is actually heels and refuses to sit down and possible to affect an arrest of a black man without actually killing talk to the boycotters due to pride, arrogance and personal ·issues. him. And apparently cops don ' t The real issue is the addressing of have to use fatal force to the root causes which led to the apprehend a person. After they uprising. The boycott in many kiJJed Timothy Thomas and an peoples' minds has become a polarizing factor rather than helping us change and heal. But to others there will be no forward movement unless the boycott succeeds and the desired changes are made. To some, without the polarization, the uncomfortable feeling that the boycott instills in white people, there will be no burr under the saddle. The boycott provides a needed incentive, a sense of discomfort without which, this city will fall back asleep, into its illusory sense of placid numbness to the pain and plight ofthose less fortunate. We have swept them under the rug long enough, now we must face these boogeymen, the people our society has created but wishes it could ignore or pretend they don't exist - the throw away people. I've got news for you; we do exist and we will rear our ugly head again if our basic needs, our human i:ights aFe not addressed and met. The basic rights of food, shelter, and clothing. The right to choose our living location and sc~ools we wish to send our children to. The right to earn enough money to send our children to college and to go on vacation. You heard me right, a vacation. For the rich, vacations are an assumed luxury, but for the poor, vacations may be a once in a life time experience, if that. We need this boycott so badly. It must succeed. It is our only hope. We have always held the purse strings and now we are finally using our power of the withholding of the almighty dollar. We must spend our money wisely. Why are they running scared, blaming every problem or frustration on the boycott? If it rains too hard, then the City Administration will tell you that it's because of the boycott. People have a choice to spend money wherever they want. People have a choice to talk to ~ * Supplies for Vendor's. Lounge (paper towels, cream and sugar, snac~, etc.) * Cleaning Sup.plies . * Office Supplies - postage stamps, floppies, copier paper and other supplies If you can help, contact us at: Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cin~innati Coalition for the Homeless, 1506: Elm Street, Cincinnati, Oii 45202 (511)' 42'1-78<>3 e-mail': streetvibes.@juno.com tv1 Vendor: 80 cents whomever they want. People have the right to encourage other people not to come to Cincinnati until certain conditions are met. Let's call the "demands" conditions or prerequisites to ending the boycott. The boycott has been the only tactic to get the attention of the City Administration and business community. These are serious issues that need real solutions, now. Not in the future, at some far off distant time and place. These are life and death issues which cannot be evaded nor postponed. We need to face, admit and deal with these issues now - or there is no "moving forward" . . These issues are urgent, li~e the state of emergency that Luken called. Why isn't there that same °'state of emergency" with regard to addressing the inequalities in this city? Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th ·street Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati , Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education Where Your Dollar Goes Printing and Production: 20 cents The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. �Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. SHELTERS: Women ·and Children YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (foll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491-3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden st. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 st. Francis/st.Joseph House 381-4941 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 Drop Inn Center 721-0643 Haven House 863-8866 Interfaith Hospitality 471 -1100 Lighthouse Youth Center 861-1111 (Teens) st. John's Housing 651-6446 HOUSING: CMHA 721 -4580 Excel Development 632-7149 Miami Purchase 241-0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 381-1171 ReSTOC Tender Mercies 639-7056 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 IREAIMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Both N.A. Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6660 Talbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In Program 721 -0643 OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living 241 -2600 Options Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health.Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile 352-2902 Health Van House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 st. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 . l Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWNlHAMti:ION (Butler County) st. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863·3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 ' ' � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2003 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource June 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Panhandling Registration Pg 2: Perception Drives New Law Pg 3: Education is the First Step to Ending Homelessness Pg 4: Reader Mail Pg 5: I am Scared! I am so Scared! I am so scared in Cincinnati! Pg 6: Wanted: Suspected Terrorist The Most Dangerous City to be Homeless: A Snapshot of Sacramento Pg 7: Just Visiting- City Council Behavior is Shocking Pg 8: Bringing America Home: The Campaign Pg 9: Coalition for the Homeless Releases Book Profiling Cincinnati’s Homeless Pg 10: Building Community for 25 Years Pg 11: Does Stossel Deserve a Promotion? Pg 12: The Peace Village Pg 13: Thinking Inside the Box Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: News & Editorial Pg 17: Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Report Pg 18: Peace and Justice are Fragile in the Peace Village Pg 19: Boycott Current State- The burr Under the Saddle Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource May 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Steve Shockley Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Elain Coffy Grady Cook Berta Lambert Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Berta Lambert Book Boycott Brendan Goodwin Cincinnati city council Community education Elain Coffy Food Research FRAC Georgine Getty Grady Cook Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath Mary Gaffney News & Editorials Over-the-Rhine panhandling Peace Village Reader Mail Sacramento Steve Shockley https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/693ae3607d5fb888b2e7c3b27aea8556.pdf 8b447cb7e6de4736d6b0c2c0bc6bf04b PDF Text Text Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �ree • July 2003 City gives free, legal licenses _to panhandle politely by Andy Erickson National Civil Rights Organizing Project (NCROP) On June 161h the Elm Street Health Center, located on Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine, began accepting applications for panhandlers' licenses. On that day, nearly 60 people were registered in just two hours, though many were protesters rather than panhandlers. The registration process is actually very quick and easy. The difficulty will lie in understanding all the laws that apply to panhandling. Violating one of these laws means a hefty fine, plus losing one's license for 18 months. In order to get the panhandling license, an applicant must first fill out a City of Cincinnati/Temporary Registration for Solicitation form, which asks for a name, address, phone number, driver' s license or state ID number, and other identifying characteristics such as height, weight, race and sex. In the case that an applicant has no ID, they could opt instead to sign, under penalty of perjury, a declaration stating that they have none. Once the application is filled out, the applicant's photograph is taken. The photograph and the completed application are then sent to District One, the police department headquarters. At District One, the application is checked for any false or misleading information, and the applicant's criminal record is checked for any violations of the panhandling ordinance that might have occurred in the past 18 months. Provided there are no such violations, and the application contains no false or misleading information, the applicant's license is printed and mailed to JUs or her address within three weeks. For applicants who have no address, the $$$ millions • license can be picked up at r¢1oeate La2or District One on Ezzard $0 for Charles Drive in the West n~ighborhoo End. The applicant does Protesters gather in front ofthe Elm Street Health Center in Over-the-Rhine to not need to wait for the protest panhandler licensing. "Its a bad use ofresources and a waste oftime license to arrive in order to and taxpayer money, " said one protester. start panhandling, though. The to an inquiry by another person." one's circumstances, soliciting Elm Street Health Center gives when the sun is down, and So if you choose to use a out a temporary license on the soliciting in specific places such sign, you can panhandle without date ofapplication. As long as the bus stops, near ATMs and on having to register, but the person District One police check goes who verbally asks for a dime private property without the well, the applicant becomes a permission of the owner, to name a cannot. You can sit at a bus stop, licensed panhandler from the day few. A licensed quietly with a sign, but the person that he or she panhandler who verbally asks for a dime fills out the caught cannot. You·can sit within 20 feet application. A of an ATM with a cup or a sign, but panhandling licensed person the person who verbally asks for a aggressively needs only to dime cannot. You can sit with a would have his renew the or her license sign after sundown, but the person - . 06/20/2004 license yearly. (For ­ 911).12 only} revoked for 18 who verbally asks for a dime There The panhandling license cannot. months, and are, of course, could face a As long as you make sure some restrictions that come with never to verbally ask for money, fine ofup to $250 or 30 days in this license, such as those that goods, or any other form of jaiL limit aggressive panhandling Strangely, a person could gratuity, you have a lot more rights behaviors. Aggressive avoid entirely the registration than those people who use verbal panhandling is defined in the process and learning about the speech, have a license and are panhandling ordinance as aggressive panhandling laws by acting within the law. You have to intimidating, touching, blocking or simply choosing to sit or stand be careful, though: if you do ask for following people, lying about quietly with a sign that asks for money verbally, and you do not money - because this have a license, you can be fined ordinance only $250 or 30 days injaiJ, and you will applies to people become ineligible to receive a once they open up license to panhandle for 18 months their mouths to say after your arrest date. something like, If you would like more "Could you help me information about the city's out with some panhandling laws, feel free to change?" contact the Coalition for the The ordinance Homeless. The Coalition can get clearly states that it you a copy ofthe panhandling shall not apply to "the ordinance, or if you' d prefer, we act of passively can get you an easier-to-read standing or sitting "Know Your Rights" brochure, with a sign or other which details some of the laws that indicator that a could affect panhandlers and homeless citizens of Cincinnati. A donation ofmoney, goods or any other copy ofthe ordinance #0158-2003 , form ofgratuity is is also available at the City Clerk's Protester Lois Presser (r) signing up for panhandling license at the E lm Street Health being sought without office on the third floor of City Center. "Under the law, without a license you can~ even ask someone for change for a any vocal request Hall, 801 Plum Street. dollar to use a pay phone orf eed the parking meter, " say anti-license protesters. other than a response ... ­ Greater Cincinnati Coaliti n · or the Homeless �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Editorial Willy the Bully supplying them with "malt-liquor" and "cheap wine" along the way. Bullying Fills Void Left When I called in to protest that this was dehumanizing and disgusting, by Fleeting "Willy" told me that homeless Compassion people are "dehumanized by homeless advocates who need by Georgine Getty, Executive homelessness to keep working." Director, Greater Cincinnati He then told me to "go to hell" and Coalition for the Homeless hung up. Apparently he spent the According to next day making fun of my bullybeware.com, "Bullying in its appearance and truest form is accusing me of comprised of a series single-handedly of repeated causing the intentionally cruel homeless problem in incidents, involving Cincinnati while the same children, in continuing to the same bully and screech slurs abouf victim roles." Bullies how filthy ho~eless tend to remain bullies people are and how their entire life, they are leaving behind them a "degenerates." trail of destruction. Georgine Getty Now what What happens to would make an alleged adult childhood bullies when they grow behave in such a way? Part of it is up? ratings. For some reason, people One bully moved 'onto the enjoy listening to Willy, whether to airwaves ofWLW Radio. On June get angry, to laugh at him or 5, 2003 Bill "Willy" Cunningham because they believe him. and his lackeys at WLW conducted However, I think it's a bit more what they called a "Derelict than that. Again I return to Round-up", a boorish publicity bullybeware.com that states, stunt during which they ran an on­ "bullying usually, although not going live broadcast from a bus always, occurs between individuals taking "bums" to West Chester, What is Streetvibes? Page 2 who are not friends. In a bullying situation, there is a power difference between the bully and the victim. For instance, the bully may be bigger, tougher, and physically stronger or be able to intimidate others or have the power to exclude others from their social group. The intention ofbullying is to put the victim in distress in some way. Bullies seek power." They may be bigger and tougher, or they may just happen to have a far­ reaching radio show. Seeking power by bullying the weak. All of the major religions revolve around preventing this behavior. Great works of art, literature, film and dance have been written around this timeless theme. Heroes emerge from their ability to combat bullies. Take the time to be a hero today. Contacting Bill or the folks at WLW doesn't help. Contact WLW's owner Clear Channel c/o John Hogan, CEO Clear Channel Radio at clearchannel.com or 200 Basse Road, San Antonio, TX, 78209. Help us send a clear message that the 25,000 homeless men, women and children in Cincinnati should not continue to be the victims ofWilly 's bullying. the paper for a $1 donation. Over the years, tens of thousands of own Grapevine newspaper. In by Jimmy Heath dollars have gone directly to the early 1997, Streetvibes started Many people call or write vendors. publishing on its own, right here in the Homeless Coalition office The 20 cents barely covers Cincinnati out of the offices ofthe asking questions about the Streetvibes Vendor Program. What Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the the cost of printing, let alone staffing and overhead. From its Homeless. It took us many years is it? What does it do? Who is it very beginning the paper has lost to get to where we are now, for? Even many long-time readers money. But for the Greater becoming established as are sometimes confused about the Cincinnati's voice for the homeless Cincinnati Coalition for the Streetvibes project. For those Homeless, the paper provides a interested, here is an explanation of and the disempowered .. voice for current issues regarding Potential vendors sign up the program. Please continue to low-income people and an for the program, and are given an call or write ifyou have more alternative news outlet for orientation that includes the do's questions. We also encourage our concerns that aren't always and don'ts of offering the paper to readers to share their own stories represented by local mainstream people on the streets in Cincinnati. with us and the rest of the media. The Vendor is required to sign a Streetvibes readership. Just email We don't solicit Code of Conduct (see page 4) and your thoughts to us. advertisers, and we receive NO is required to adhere to the rules or Cincinnati's Streetvibes face termination from the program. government funding for the newspaper is a project of the program. The Coalition has Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Vendors are issued an official happily financed this project from vendor badge and are required to Homeless and is a founding early beginnings through private its display it at all times while selling member ofthe North American grants and donations. The Greater the paper. Street Newspaper Association Cincinnati Coalition for the All of the vendors are (NASNA). Nearly every state, and Homeless supports the program encouraged to take time to write most major cities in the US are because it provides an important represented in the street newspaper for the paper. There are computers voice to its constituency. at the Homeless Coalition office movement. There is also a large Although we are considered that vendors can use to write their street newspaper movement in a thorn in the side for many at City stories, poetry or any commentary Europe, Africa and many other Hall and the powers-that-be, we they desire for inclusion in countries around the globe. The still maintain our right to speak to Streetvibes. papers are as varied as the talents issues that the mainstream press The Streetvibes newspaper and resources of the individual often ignores. We are proud of program provides homeless and publishers. Some of our street low-income vendors a chance to do Streetvibes, and of our vendors. newspapers are modest If you have any further something for themselves, on their photocopied handouts; others are questions about how the program own time, and at their own pace, slick, mainstream-type magazines, works please call me at the with the profits going directly to with full color printing, major Coalition office at 4 21-7802, advertisers and a huge distribution. the individual. Vendors ~uy extension 12. Streetvibes at the Coalition office Streetvibes began in 1996 for 20 cents per copy and then sell as a supplement to Cleveland's' �STREETVIBES Page 3 July, 2003 ON A SCALE OF ONE TO A HUNDRED, HOW MUCH DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THE CITY'S TREATMENT OF CINCINNATI'S HOMELESS? ~-------------------------------~ 1will 10111E: []!] Is20 I IS41 I I s11 I Is11 I Is111I He's only 18 months old and already he's trapped in the cycle of homelessness in · Cincinnati. His mother needs an affordable place to live and a job with a living wage as she escapes a life of domestic violence. The current treatment of homeless individuals in our city means that he may never be able to live in a home of his own. There are 25,00~ people in Cincinnati that experience homelessness each year. More than one-third of those are women and children. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless believes that by addressing the root causes of the problem through education, advocacy and coordination of services, we can end homelessness in our city. The more support we have from the community, the more influence we have with our city's officials. Please cut the coupon and pick a box. It could mean that one less child will have to live in one. Send your donations to Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Greater Cincinnati Coalition For The Homeless ~-------------------------------------~ �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Page 4 ·Renters Have Rights Read·e r :.·- , . ." " Mail We would like to hear from you - please address letters and comments to; Streetvibes, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202 (or) email to: Streetvibes@iuno.com Translate Streetvibes into Spanish I was at the Salvation Army for lunch. I met a man named Phillipe. He says he is Mexican, and that he does not understand very much English. Yo conosco un mucho poco y mucho malo en el. espanol. You need to start printing a Spanish edition of Streetvibes. As I understand it, 20% of the American population is Hispanic/ Latino. Because most homeless are mentally ill, did you know they had a Star Trek bible? It is written in Klingon. This was a short story in the Sunday Enquirer about a month ago. Out in Portland Oregon, the mental health (sic) is hiring people ·that are bi-linguaOOingon/English, so you might also need to start printing a Klingon edition of Streetvibes. I must not be much of a Star Trek fan, I don't know . Klingon. Maybe someone at Rockdale Temple could check with the Salvation Army for distributing Spanish cards. I saw their ad on page eleven oflast month's Streetvibes. St. Julie Belliard has a mass at 12:30 AM for Latinos. Also, the Ninth Street United Methodist, now called Living Water Church, has an adult learning canter for Hispanics. The Mormons have some members that speak, read and write Hispanic. Phillipe has only been in Hamilton, Ohio about four months. Your help list is good, but there is no help line listed for Latinos. I tried to make him understand that he would be able to get help at all the places I have mentioned in this letter. Sincerely, Frank L Martin Hamilton Ed Note; while we have no plans right now to translate the paper into Klingon, we have looked many times at the idea of producing a spanish language sectionfor Streetvibes readers. We are aware ofthe growing Hispanic population and the significance of these new residents to the Greater Cincinnati region. We will provide a Spanish language Streetvibes if there is a significant demand for it. My daughter was illegally on March 10, 2003. She was three months behind in rent due to an unfortunate circumstance that she couldn't help. Her court date on the eviction notice was March 11, 2003. A landlord cannot evict any tenant before going to court. An immediate writ can't be issued until on the court date (to rid drug dealers, etc.). The judge told her on March 11 that she had ten days to get out. Do not let a landlord illegally evict you and get away with it. You do have rights. The lcwllQrd ~i!t !;lOt get away with it. You can get good advice fre.e from Legal Aid. Ed Note: The best advice, as you mentioned, ·is to seek legal counsel especially ifyou think that your rights are being violated There are laws that protect both the client and the landlord Contact Cincinnati Legal Aid if you cannot afford a lawyer at 421­ 9400. . Yes., I'm Back by Elaine Coffey In the last issue I wrote to the public to explain the fear that I have living in Cincinnati. One gentleman emailed me back and suggested.that I move. Well, the trick is no good. l am not leaving here until I'm ready. You know who you are! HAVE A NICE DAY! Now back to basics. It is amazing how dumb the city council can be. Now all panhandlers are required to register for a Panhandlers License. How is it that you can allow someone to be legally on the street like this? I'm sending out this message to individuals, to target the homeless. This license can not give a person a home, treatment, dental, or employment. So what is the reason for the registration? Now we are back to square one on every issue. Som~ agencies have asked that the city along with t Elaine Coffey DIC (Downtown Cincinnati, Inc.) pay for a component of social services to be put in place to help with outreach to help people recover and become viable citizens. I am calling for an understanding. What is the city going to do to help these individuals recover and become stable? How will the city inform new homeless that they must register? How are they going to address that? Where Your Dollar Goes Printing and Production: 20 cents The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. . Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct ... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations of '- more than $1 . I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in termination from the program. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt to vend after 12 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel. 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I am collecting for the "homeless" in general. I will be honest in stating that all the profits from the sale ofStreetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise mis­ representing is a violation ofa city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. · · 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing papers, and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. I will not sell on private property without permission. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a self­ supporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this effort, I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. �STR E ETVIBES July, 2003 To Know and to Understand the Homeless by Mary A. Gaffney It does not take much to understand and know them. We are all God's children, regardless of color race or creed. Some have gained fame and lost it through problems; family, job, service to their country, etc. By losing faith, they don't care about themselves anymore. And with this and their friends who are in the same condition, they have built a barricade around themselves to protect themselves from the outside world, because of some harsh words or kicks. I've found out, being around the families, that there is·some good in them. If you speak kindly to them they will watch your reaction to them. For almost 5 years, off and on, I have been around the homeless. Yes, some are overbearing but have you thought why they are t his way? Have you thought about what caused them to be this way? Think how it would be for you if you came into the position that they are in. You can be up on the high bills oflife, and the next day or hour you can be down. Remember, you can always come down faster than you went Page 5 DEAR READERS! . Send us your Vendor Stories Do you have a favorite Streetvibes Vendor that you would like to tell us about? Send us your stories or comments to: Streetvibes@juno.com or Ms. Mary A. Gaffney up. So while you are sitting comfortable in your home protected from harsh weather, you are able to get up and walk to your kitchen for a snack, or you are able to pick up your child for a hug. In doing this you are blessed. Remember, our most Heavenly Father watches over everyone and will not suffer even a little sparrow to fall. Remember, he still cares for the homeless too, and this is why they still survive regardless of what comes or goes. God loves us all. And if you just take a little time to think, maybe you could understand the homeless a little better. Remember, we are somebody in our Father's eyes. Just think about life, OK? Streetvibes 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati. Ohio 45202 We All Are Just One Step Away From Being Homeless If we lose our jobs, our business, we are in dire need of support by Stacy A. Smith I would like to share my story ofbeing homeless with Streetvibes and it reader's. It was January, 1995. I remember walking up Ninth street here in Cincinnati, and at that time I felt all alone. My dad had passed away in my arms on Christmas Eve, December 24,1993 . My mom is around but not feeling well herself. She is still faced with issues with her family in regards to Stacy A. Smith the Black and White issue, after 40 speak with me and said to me, years. I'm divorced and a mom of two children which are grown now "What can we do to help and how mµch could you afford to pay?" I and a grandmother of one. But explained what I when I was faced could afford and with no where to he mentioned go, it was really "I remember walking up that he could see an experience for M nth street here in what he could me. I stopped by Cincinnati, and at that do. the Regal Hotel time I f elt all alone. " We worked at that time and out a wonderful had a seat in the arrangement for my stay which lobby area to gather my thoughts. lasted about 4 months. That very A representative from the hotel asked me ifl was okay. I began to next day I received a job across the street working as a bartender. tell him my situation. He spoke Things were looking excellent. A with management and before I wonderful room with a view on the knew it, the manager came over to twenty-third floor. A view ofthe now have relocated my small , Ohio river, two kings size beds, business on West Ninth street. I eating area and bath. The room met the owner of the building and was a suite that rented for $2,000 a she believes in me, and I am so night. thankful for her and her daughter. I became so happy I felt We're building at this time and plan like I was Cincinnati's own star. to open in August. Serving the Also, at this commllnity is where time I have a it's at. I would like , small business "/ became so happy.../ f elt to thank the called like I was Cincinnati's community for its Certified own star. " Medical Affiliates. We provided medical equipment and medical supplies. We had some small contract's with our local government and Children's Hospital but payment from both became delayed. I was able to obtain housing since that time and was welcome to return to the hotel. I'm doing all right and I support throughout my struggle. Thank you Cincinnati for being there for me. Our local Government and it's Institutions should welcome all and be of support to an individual that is trying to make a living in America. �STREETVIBES Page 6 July, 2003 2000. We watch as a young black Close to the end ofthe 3 day exhibit, a poetry reading by man seems to buy cigarettes and peace poets was organized and then is accosted by the police as many very serious poems were soon as he reaches the door. A mature black man stands in front of read by poets who stood in front of by Dr. Steve Sunderland the film as it plays and describes a large flag, 15' X 15', of president So much to report and to what is happening to the young Bush with a U.S. flag taped across share. The center of it is that the black man and what will happen to his mouth. About 50-:75 people peace efforts of so many continue him. This man is the father of the sat, listened and applauded. I was to make deep impressions on young black man. He speaks the next to the last "poet," eager to citizens within the Peace Village. create a different kind of poetry, a There is not only a minimization of without bitterness or anger. He simply describes the ways in which poetry that reflected much ofthe what is happening in the peace the police killed his son. And, what hope that had emerged in this latest movements, and a reduction of was and was not done to bring the version ofthe Peace Village. I news interest in attempts to reflect murders to asked one of the on the past few months, but there justice. organizers, a is a shock and tiredness that I sit professor of overnihelms us, at times, as we try and watch, pathology from and make sense ofwhat is mum61ing ­ the University of incredible, i.e., thousands dead in questions to Cincinnati, and Iraq, UN rebuffed by US, an immigrant occupation of another country, lies him about the "facts." He from Lebanon, to about foreign intervention. Our answers each "start" my poem country and city may seem like question with. with "one they are spinning without a peace care and sentence" on rudder, without a continuation of detail. His · . ' . why he wanted the work of the past few months, son's death is to create this but I want this note to be a small the last Peace Village of measure ofwhat is happening out Dr. Steve Sunderland unresolved art, music, ofthe spotlight but in the poetry, and film. case facing illumination ofthe candles ofpeace Saad Ghosen, a wonderful artist, the Cincinnati criminal justice and hope. Serious people, here in system that has not given him said that he felt this exhibit was Cincinnati and world wide, are justice. "I just want to know what needed to strengthen ourselves, to lighting these candles, finding those police did to my son in his see what the arts can show us, and strength to keep them lit, and to break the loneliness he felt as sharing the experience ofsurviving last seconds oflife," he says with guarded passion. "I want to see someone seeking peace. I then in a world of terror and danger that them go to jail." His.wife, the turned to the rest of the group and seems without limit. asked those in the back ofthe hall mother ofthe young man, sits and I write as a reminder of to begin a sound in responsiveness watches. I talk to her as I leave what the peace movement stands and thank her for. being there and to Saad's beautiful statement and for. I write for those who are too just immediately, a beautiful moan busy to write. I write for those who thank the film maker. She is calm and appreciative, like hum began, first softly, then ofboth those have had unanswered deaths from louder, followed, with some who came to see the video and of police, false enemies, and her husband. "He won't quit," she beckoning on my part, by a solo by destroyed hopes. I write to heal, to says with pride, "until justice is one ofthe poets, then backed up by offer healing, to accept healing. I more sounds of happiness and realized." write these soundless words in the The Peace Village is a place seriousness, as we continued to place of speaking the sounds of join our voices in this poem. I where justice can still be searched voices lifting up notes ofharmony, for by parents who refuse to began t9 murmur Jewish prayers, melodies ofunity, and expressions Islamic words, in a melody that abandon their love and ofthe human voice seeking to sing came from so·mewhere as we responsibility for their son. I leave the songs of peace. deepened our voices, raised our this setting with the feeling that I just came from a Peace Village exhibit, at the SS NOVA, of there is a kind of feeling that knows volume, and lifted our hearts to the beauty of Saad's gift and our gift of peace posters, sculptors, paintings, no words to describe what these our voices. loyal parents are doing for the poems performed and music I was following the work of memory oftheir son. By staying played. A 3 story factory in the Humberto Lopez and his theory of heart of one ofthe poorest sections committed to finding out what that spontaneous expressions of really happened, they open ofCincinnati has been converted "sounds of peace" that are in play same door to any question about into a center for art and healing. I "peace", what is really happening in Buenos Aries. Humberto has want to tell you what was on the in these wars, in these areas of sent me some videos of his work third floor. Climbing up rickety cultures ofviolence that seem so with choral groups using his stairs, without rails, crumbling outside our knowledge. What philosophy and they are wonderful. walls, unpainted, to reach a large Thank you, Humberto. space is there to question the set of rooms, in darkness. On one The first and secorid floors police, the army, the governments, wall a picture from a video plays. the ignorance that is maintained, in ofthis immense building were filled It was the tape made of a gas with the work of 51 Cincinnati the Peace Village? station in Cincinnati in the year artists. Stef (my wife) and I were part of the exhibit, sharing our National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing posters on cardboard. The paintings and sculptures were Project (NHCROP) breathtaking, depicting violence at 1506 Elm Street its rawest as well as the beauty of Cincinnati, OH 45202 peace. I shall never forget the entrance way being a tiled version homelessciyilrights@yahoo.com of the floors of Iraq, the broken The Peace Village. t / (513) 421-7803 shards and tiles Qf great civilizations reduced to rubble. Or, the graves ofthe children with dirt and with little shoes, filled with dirt, and flowers, walking away from the graves in acts of hope. Or, the same artist's shocking silk screening of"The Bombing of Cincinnati," done at the same time as the bombing of Baghdad. Or, Steve Fox's painting ofthe citizen staring into a mountain of skulls, with the badge ofthe Cincinnati police included. Or, the beautiful and happy scenes ofMary Ann Lederer, calling upon images of children ofthe world dancing a great circle dance, or, the works seeking to put "peace" back together after the recent wars. In the two evening ofthe exhibit, we clustered together as artists and walked to each picture or art object and heard the artist's ideas until we were filled with every voice and interpretation. The next night we watched a film on the GulfWar of papa Bush and heard a scary talk by Elizabeth Frierson, UC history professor, on the causes ofthis episode ofviolence called, "The War in Iraq,' and how it was just a chapter in the 50 year hjstory ofviolence spurred on by U.S; policies in the Middle East. Elizabeth answered dozens of questions, many ofthem asking why this region's history is so unknown and, now, so mixed with biases of so many authors. Her good answers only raised more questions and there was a deepening sense ofhopelessness about stopping the "culture of violence" the U.S. government seems so organized to implement. She was no defender of Saadam; rather, we heard details that made us seem like we were spectators, children really, at a horrible game of world conquest. There was much food and drink, most of it donated. Very good conversations with people who did not know each other initially but who, over the 3 days, found the Peace Village a place of friendliness, hope, and healing. This entire exhibit, Saad informs me, was organized in less than 2 months. What an exciting model to bring peace out in all of its many colors. Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor ofSocial Work at the University ofCincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues ofPeace in the world Dr. Sunderland a!so heads up Posters-for-Peace which engages people in expre_ssing their visions ofPeace, in their own words, through the creation ofposters. �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Page 7 mental health issues. Freeman's death came just after the city released study calling for the city and Alameda County to · establish a detox center for Jow­ income and homeless people, according the Berkeley Daily Californian (www.dailycal.org). Next month, tj'le city's health by Real Change Newspaper refused to do more than tell one Miami Beach has become social service worker that a sweep department will present a report on the feasibility of creating such the latest city to move towards would occur," Witold Walczak, a center, which is expected to cost outlawing panhandling in prime the Pittsburgh ACLU's Legal hundreds of thousands of dollars Director who hanqled the case, tourist areas. The city joins 46 to build and run. Five years ago, of the largest 50 cities (including said in a statement, "and insisted the city pledged that building a that it had a right to immediately Cincinnati) in the country which detox center was a priority. destroy homeless people's already have bans or limitations The producers of the on who can ask for money and possessions. Now, th~ cify will "Bumfights" video managed to where, according to the Miami have one of the nation 's better escape the more serious charges policies for protecting homeless Herald (wWw.miami.com/mld/ earlier this year, but in mid-May people's property rights." Flyers miamiherald). Businesses have Michael Slyman plead guilty to for the first sweep under the new been the biggest push behind a lesser misdemeanor charge of these changes, arguing that agreement went up the end of conspiracy to commit a crime. May, for a sweep scheduled for panhandling outside their Slyman admitted he paid storefronts hurts their bottom line. the Tuesday after Memorial Day, homeless men to fight each other according to the Pittsburgh Post­ Yet such a criminalization of and perform dangerous stunts, activities that homeless people Gazette (www.post-gazette.com). according to the San Diego · . Homeless people in San rely on to survive flies in the face Union-Tribune of the protected rights, counters Francisco might not get their (www.signonsandiego.com). as checks after all. At the Benjamin Waxman, a board beginning of May, a fudge threw his punishment, Slyman has been member of both the American put on probation and has to out the Cash Not Care Civil Liberties Union of Florida arttl' of Miami. "Ifs one thing to proposition, which took money perform 225 hours of volunteer work to benefit homeless people. that now goes directly to criminalize me for grabbing your Three other "Burnfights" shirt," Waxman told the Miami homeless people and funnels producers plead guilty to into it social service programs, Herald. "It's another to criminalize me for asking you for because only the city's Board of misdemeanor conspiracy to promote illegal fighting. They Supervisors can make such change... That violates the will be sentenced in June. constitution." changes to welfare laws. The The American Civil supervisors responded in kind by working quickly to implement a Liberties Union has already version of what the voters wanted, won another small victory in Pittsburgh, where it reached an according to the San Francisco agreement with the city to stop Chronicle (www.sfgate.com). destroying homeless people's One version put before the property and to give them supervisors is exactly as the voters advanced warning of sweeps saw it; the other would be more through their makeshift specific about what kind of services the redirected money encampments. Under the three­ year settlement, Pittsburgh has to would go towards - particularly, that it would fund real, long-term give notice seven days before a sweep, including posting flyers in housing and not just emergency the area and notifying shelter beds. The supervisors are caseworkers who serve homeless scheduled to discuss both • populations that could be affected proposals in June. by the sweeps, according to the The recent death of a ACLU (www.aclu.org). The city homeless man being held in a Berkeley jail for public also agreed to store any personal property of value that it seizes drunkenness could have been The Peace and quiet of Spring Grove Cemetary if the city bad a detox avoided from the sweeps for at least one is an ideal place for these swans to enjoy them­ year; notices letting people know center. So say a number of selves.... how they can collect their Berkeley's homeless advocates property will be left at the site and city officials, who agree that where the sweeps took place. Kevin Freeman should not have Any items not claimed after a year suffered the fatal assault from his will be offered to social service jail cellmate, who had been agencies before being thrown arrested for an alleged knife attack INTEGRATED MARKETING SOLUTIONS away. "A week ago, the city and who was believed to have a STRATA•G~ communk:at1ons While we 1J1ake evel}' effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES atJd the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are representef! here. Brad Crawford Proofreader/Copy Editor Strata-G Communications 250 W. Court Street Suite 400W Cincinnati, OH 45202 513/381-8855 513/381-0385 (fax) �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Page 8 Editorial The Drop ·inn Center and Washington Park Development - by Pat Clifford, General Coordinator, Drop Inn Center (See the story on the Homeless Individuals Partnership for more.) Residents or members of our staff The drums are beating have participated in many again about the Drop Inn Center planning processes for a variety of and our location. It usually starts urban and homeless causes. I with a series of newspaper have been a board member of the articles dehumanizing the poor as Homeless Coalition for five years, "human litter" and "vagrant the chair of the Quality ofLife bums." This escalates into many Committee of the Over-the-Rhine editorials calling for the rem·oval Planning Process for two years of the human filth and those that and Board Member of the Greater "tarnish the gems" of the city. Cincinnati Arts and Education The question is: Is the Center. There is no reason to Drop Inn Center compatible with think that the Drop Inn Center progress in Cincinnati and Over­ cannot be involved in future the-Rhine? I recently attended a planning efforts. forum by John Alschuler-the Third, if the goal is to consuJtant that city business attract peopJe of different leaders hired to review downtown backgrounds to the Washington development. His focus was Park area, we are already helping naturaJly on safety and fostering to accomplish it. Many people great urban places downtown­ are not aware of it, but we are especially Fountain Square and host to thousands of visitors each Washington Park. He repeatedJy year who come to Washington · said that complete removal of the Park. In the first six months of homeless is not realistic or this year, we have played host to necessary to progress and over 2,500 individual volunteers revitalization. Instead, we should from school, church and civic focus on diversity, multi­ groups. Many of these people do culturalism and ·attracting people not regularly go downtown, but from a wide variety of -may stop off before and after backgrounds to add to an urban volunteering to patronize other ffilX. area attractions. Many will return .I think the Drop Inn again and again to receive a Center, current Over-the-Rhine positive feeling of expanding their residents and institutions are horizons, helping others and compatible with progress and this learning about people of different is why. races and cultures. First, the residents, staff Everyone is concerned and volunteers of the· Drop Inn about safety, the Drop Inn Center Center have valued and community included. No one implemented diversity in our day­ believes that crime should go to-day operations. Many of our unpunished or that illegal residents have gotten their lives activities should be allowed to together, are role models and continue out in the open. At the productive citizens in our city and Drop Inn Center we have staffing country. Residents who have a and polices to ensure that illegal stake in improving their activities do not happen on our neighborhood have more of a premises. If we can be successful commitment to the neighborhood at our agency, maybe we have and are the backbone for success. something to share witH others Including current residents m~kes about possible solutions. neighborhood revitalization not a I started working at the story of" eliminating the Drop Inn Center 13 years ago. I undesirables," but rather have seen a lot of development "working together for success." schemes come and .go. I have Second, the Drop Inn seen a l9t of hateful rhetoric and Center has been integrally animosity. I have seen riots and involved in planning for our racial/class division. Are we community and services. We are going to move forward with the committed to improving our same destructive patterns that services through collaboration have tom this city apart? Or do and looking at " best practices" for people believe, as I do, that it's services in our city and beyond. time to do things differently. While we make evety effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. / , / / / // / ,· The Drop Inn Center Shelterhouse, near Washington Park, downtown Cincinnati Voluatee~ . Opportunities at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition/or the Homeless There are numerous opportunities for volunteers at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition ;for the Homeless. ffi! are willing to work with each individual in choosing a service opportunity that is right for , them. Tkefollowing are afew ofthe areas In wliic}I the Coalition could use your lielp: Designing a web sjte for our National CivH Rights Organizing Project, This would include working with the Auiericorp Vista yoluhteers how to prevent fuither. crimina!ization.ofhomeless indi\cidua.ls as w.ell as preventing the increasing hate-crimes against them. on ., -veo: COJBPt},titive rates for ads that reach about 15,000 people per month. Our dieam volunteer would be a self-motivated volunteer that ':Vould like to fundraise for our organization. This could include asking your friends and family for donations to researching and writing grants • for our excellent programs. The Streetvibes newspaper project is always in need ofpeople interested in connecting w ith the vendors and helping them write articles on social justice/poverty issues, poetry, or personal stories. We need help in the '\fternoons at the front ·desk, answering phones and handling transact}ons with our Streetvibes Vendors. This person will address the needs of visitors, havj;ng direct contact with liomeless individuals and should .be available one afternoon a week. �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Page 9 Homeless Individuals Partnership (HIT Force) Shelter providers were hard at work this past year, forging a collaboration between all the service providers to single homeless individuals in the city. The effort is caJled the Homeless Individuals Task Force (or HIT Force). Parti.c ipants in this monthly committee are numerous, but contain .. representatives from the Drop Inn Center Shelter, Mt. Airy Shelter, the City Gospel Mission, Tender Mercies, St. Francis/St. Joseph Catholic Worker House and many others. When the Homeless Coalitions starts planning for the annual homeless Continuum of Care, the first step is to ask people who are experiencing homelessness what they feel is missing from the current system. This process is called the Homeless Think Tank. Consistently, the feedback received from this group is that -- -··- ­ homeless individuals need a worker who both "knows them" and "knows their stuff" For this reason, the first goaJ identified by the HIT Force was that each person who enters a shelter should have at least an initial meeting with a caseworker and an assessment of their needs. In order to do this, providers feit that they needed to work together and share the information they have. A new citywide database is being developed that could help be a conduit for information. · However, the current staffing at shelters was inadequate for the task. As a result, the group put in two major federal grants to fund a team of case managers that would pair with our existing counselors. Their goal would be to work one-on-one with the chronically homeless. Workers would be based at every shelter in the collaborative, but they The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations for their generous donation of coffee and pastries: 11379 Montgomery Road (513) 469-1111 3366 Erie Avenue East Hyde Park (513) 533-3402 7896 Montgomery Road (513) 891- 7740 would meet regularly together ahd There are many people to function as a team. thank for the success of this The effort was modeled process. Michelle Budzek from after Cincinnati's own Family the Partnership Center, as well as Shelter Partnership. This Ann Perrin from the Health collaboration includes all the Foundation, were integral to the family shelters in town, utilizes a success of the grant applications. common database and funds Other members of the committee caseworkers that meet and work include: John Briggs from as a team. The goal is to link ~ Goodwill, .J5imberly H~_~ser from homeless families with Mt. Airy Shelter, John Cosby from mainstream resources and the City Gospel Mission, Anthony permanent housing. The Weems from the St. Francis/St. Homeless Individuals Partnership Joseph Catholic Worker House, would try to emulate their success Chris Engle from CRI/PATH, and forge new ways to access Dennis Rogers from Tender mainstream services that don't Mercies, Bro. John Martin from exist for men. Mary Magdalene House, There are two other efforts Georgine Getty from the that are ongoing which would fit Homeless Coalition, Bob into the developing partnership. Littmann from the Freestore, First, the successful effort by the Donna Howard from Lighthouse HeaJth Network and the Health and Carrnil O' ConnQr from the Resource Center to establish a HeaJth Resource Center. Respite Center will temporarily This effort demonstrates house homeless individuals that homeless shelters, as well as recovering from illness or disease. all the providers in the Cincinnati Second, there are plans to develop Continuum of Care process, are a Damp House to house committed to collaboration and chronically homeless individuals continuous improvement in our who are not ready for abstinence­ services. based programs. Homeless Camps Under Scrutiny Recently, amid complaints about homeless encampments from unspecified sources, Cincinnati police say they need to do something about the dozens of homeless people living under overpasses and bridges in the downtown area. Advocates for the homeless acknowledged that at one count there were 170 people living outdoors, providing a snapshot of how many people actually live and sleep on downtown streets on a given night. Many homeless set up camps, the largest is under the ramp to 2nd Street at the base of t he Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. Because many ofthese camps are located at the doorstep, or welcome mat of Cincinnati, they pose a concern for the police and others who see the camps as an unwelcome sight to visitors driving into the city. Police know that they can not throw peoples things away while they are stored at these camps, because they are unsightly or appear to be garbage; the items are private property located on public land. Keeping items on state property is what keeps any items at the camp from being thrown away. Cincinnati Police are meeting with the Ohio Department of Transportation to try to figure out a plan to move the camps out. Write Us! We'd I~ to hear from IJOU..­ Send letters or comments to: Streetvibes@Juno.com, ·· or Write the Coalition office ·.~ "Let me know your vacation preferences so I can arrange the usual scheduling conflicts." attn: Streetvibes Letters, I 5b6 Elm Street Cincinnati; Ohi°"45.202 . ~ ~ �STREETVIB ES Page 10 July, 2003 Pendleton Heritage Center hosts summer photo workshop for East End kids Streetvibes News In June, over a dozen East End youth, ages 8 - 17, participated in a photo scavenger hunt designed to help the children learn more about the historically significant East End neighborhood of Cincinnati and explore, through the use of photography, the many issues that effect East End children and fam ilies. The summer program was sponsored by the Pendleton Heritage Center, and was made available free-of-charge to the participants, most of them children from the East End neighborhood. Some of the kids were recruited from the Le Blond Recreation Center Summer Daycamp, Linwood School, and the McKinley Elementary School, and others heard about the program through flyers and word-of-mouth. The three day workshop led by visual artists C. Pie Michel and Jimmy Heath and assisted by Pendleton Heritage Center manager Melissa English, encouraged the children to discover through photography the different issues affectjng the lives of the primarily Appalachian population of the East End. The workshop taught the children basic photography techniques such as lighting and composition. The children employed one-time use cameras for the project, and they had the chance to explore digital cameras and camcorders. A scavenger hunt list was developed to help the kids explore their feelings and perceptions of the community including gentrification, crime and safety, community service and kinship. The scavenger hunt list included people, buildings, Kyle selects photosfor the exhibit r Kyle photographs an East End neighborhood family the Ohio River, animals, signs and other significant East End landmarks. On their photographic tour of the East End, the children visited the Health Center, the Post office, a cemetery, places of business and churches. After completing the photo scavenger hunt the children were asked to write about their experiences exploring the East End. "I liked going on the boat and seeing the river", said Isaiah, age 6. "l realized that there is more to the East End than I knew before I did this", said Brittany, aged 14. The resulting writing and dozens of photographs were framed and are still on display for public view at the Pendleton Heritage Center. The photographic project was also a big hit during the 4th Annual East End Talent Show and Photography Exhibit held at the Pendleton Heritage Center, 2760 Eastern Avenue on June 28th. For more information about the Pendleton Heritage Center and its programs for East End kids and adults please call (513) ·321-4928. ' Kyle andAndrew photograph a neighborhood sign during the neighborhood scavenger hunt Andrew takes a photo ofJose �STREETVIBES Page 11 July, 2003 cont. from previous page.... Comn:'unity ~~source Cards , Artist Pie Michel (far right). discusses artistic techniques with the Pendleton Heritage Center workshop participants. During in-class sessions children learned about composition and lighting and were also introduced to video and digital photography. Watch for the return of Streetvibes TV Streetvibes TV is a live program created by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and Media Bridges. Watch as our panel discusses the issues surrounding homelessness, poverty and civil rights in our Greater Cincinnati community. Check your local cable listing for broadcast dates and times.•.. '""- Rockdale Temple has announced the release of the latest in its series of Community Resource Cards. The new one, printed in Spanish, is customized for the needs of Chicinnati's rapidly growing Hispanic/ Latino population. The tri-fold, plastic cards are funded by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a project of Rockdale Temple, in consultation with Bienstar, Su Casa and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. In addition to the Hispanic Resource Card, the Resource Card Project has also produced cards for senior citizens, the homeless, and public school and Catholic school students covering the Tri-state area. Cards can be ordered from: cc 5300 Hamilton Avenue, #210 Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 or send a fax request to: (513) 541-0099 SPONSORS Kids Talent Contest - 3 pm 'fracy Walker - 4pm Hip-Hop Jamz - 5pm Art .Activities, Games and fuod - All Dayt New thisyear: (J[R juriedArt$how! ® !!JldJtdt... Contact Center Peaslee Neighborhood Center P&G . Pr(nideot Bank Over-the-Rhine Communttr t-Ouncil Over-the-Rhine Community (e.nter/CRC Appalachian Community Development.A~wcia1ion Summerfair Inc. AL\fPPrinting l)owntown X'reruiipity Graphic D™gn fhe Kroger Company �STR E ETVIBES July, 2003 Page 12 Protests Against Play Sparks Eloquent Discussion of Art's Power, Censorship, Media Treatment by.John Zeh In the wake of controversy over the Know Theatre.Tribe's "Corpus Christi," the local Campaign Against Censorship in the Arts (CACA) produced a forum on freedom of artistic expression cleverly called "Censornaughti, Oh!" before the play's opening June 12. The free afternoon session focused on local and national examples of arts censorship to create "freely-assembled expression, " said CACA organizer William Messer. "One can indeed live and breathe Cincinnati freedom." Messer opened the afternoon panel with an incisive 40-minute overview on the arts here, citing changes in the local atmosphere such as the city-funded SS Nova gallery, which recently had a three-day panel on war, with a third floor already open, he said. "I shook my head in wonder. Imagine, a peace exhibit in 0-T­ R! " CACA partnered with the League of Cincinnati Theaters for the panel, with help from the International Art Critics Association-USA Section and the National Coalition Against Censorship. David Adams of Ensemble Theatre Co. agreed that it's not been as uncommon to see "controversial art" here as it once was. "I worked at the Kaffee Klatsch and saw huge lines out the door for 'Poor Superman,"' a play with nudity that police and prosecutors let play, he said. "Corpus Christi'' director and University ofCincinnati theater professor Michael Burnham offered first hand knowledge that when (then) prosecutor Simon Leis Jr. arrived at Music Hall for "Oh Calcutta," arts czarinas Irma Lazarus and Patty Corbett told ·him to "arrest us first" if he were to take any action against the run. When Burnham._ worked at Playhouse in the Park, "Ashes" with an infertile couple played the Mt. Adams' boards despite "scads of letters," which the company posted inside the theatre. This time, with 15,000 pieces of mail received by Know, "The cast became nervous worth it. There's tremendous a "very channeled information that the (volume) might get me to potential here, some really beautiful scheme that I am a horrible skew away from the play's places." necrophiliac." He accepts that message. In the culture at large Svetlana Mintcheva, a such portrayals come with the and still in this city, there's a more coordinator at the National territory here, but argues that insidious kind ofcensorship going Coalition Against Censorship in "Art's worth it and Cinc"1nati's on. Working on "Corpus Christi" New York, said she doesn't mind has been remarkably opposition·. "The worse thing that stressful," he told the can happen if art does not matter. audience. "Make it fun Cincinnati cares about art -enough for us." to censor it, to stop it." During the Government censorship is just "the Olympics, Burnham tip ofthe iceberg, she warned. noted, U. S TV networks "Much more dangerous is insidious "warped reality," airing censorship Michael mentioned, "plausibly live, re­ with chilling effects. And self­ arranged" events. censorship due to economical "Reality itself is being reasons is bad." It's sad, she said, censored," he charged. that some people avoid even " We manufactured the reading the play and will never go rescue ofJessica Lynch see it because of what they hear. ­ (that she was) under "Once you go into it, and think duress. We staged on TV about it, you will learn." a fake rescue. That's Those comments reflect this frightening to me. reporter's reflectionsafter seeing Censorship is happening Corpus Christi June 14. The acting in the real world, not just is awesome, the dialog a hilarious art." hoot throughout, and the work is David Knight, truly educational about Christ and galleries director at Christianity. The bloody harm Northern Kentucky done by opponents to such art is University, at which 14 Roy Ford, Corpus Christi supporter pro­ their own ignorance and failure to Catholic artists whose tests the protestors taste such an eloquent, moving exhibition "Immaculate Misconceptions" in 1995 drew nine months of hate mail and calls just because of the exhibit's title. "No one asked what it included. They and the media ignored the fact that its whole intent was to be healing," he said. Thomas Condon, the artist convicted for felony corpse abuse after taking photos in the County Morgue here, denied that his behavior was "evil," blaming Protestors gather across the street from the Know Theater, Sycamore and Liberty Street in Over-the-Rhine > �STREETVIB ES experience. I have not seen much theater here, but I really enjoy a movie ifl cry. At "Corpus Christi," I was in tears all night over the play's power and the cast's devotion to putting their work on the world media map. The real story worth media coverage is not the so-called Christians protesting the play, but what happened inside Gabriel's Corner. McNally's genius was matched by Burnham 's casting and direction. If most shows sold out and people were turned away, a new run is required, for Christ's sake! Over-the-Rhine resident John Zeh was profiled by CityBeat June 11, gelting credit for helping squash plans lo force the Drop Inn homeless Center to move. He :S also featured in the new book "Through Our Eyes: A Reflection on Homelessness" by the Greater Cincinnati Coalition/or the Homeless and Mother ofMercy High School. He thanks Media Bridges for use ofsoft- and hardware. Page 13 July, 2003 Ohio Senate Restores Pare.nts' Medicaid Empowerment Coalition also issue the Ohio Empowerment Coverage worked with the Emergency Coalition has been working on in by Lynn Williams, Ohio Empowerment Coalition The Ohio Empowerment Coalition applauds the Ohio Senate for voting to restore Parents' Medicaid Coverage in the State Budget Bill (HB 95). This vote is a step forward in the positive direction of getting Medicaid coverage continued for 50,000 parents who are working but earning below poverty wages. At this level of income, parents cannotafford to pay the high cost of health insurance premiums. The 2001 national average health insurance premium was more than $2,600 for an individual's coverage and more than $7,000 a year for families (Source: Families USA). Those who are earning less than poverty level ($15,260 for a Family Size of 3)'simply cannot afford the high cost of health care insurance. · The Ohio Empowerment Coalition conducted a postcard campaign, involving its member groups in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Adams/Brown/Clermonf counties and Athens, as well as individual members in other areas across Ohio. In April and May over a thousand postcards were signed and mailed to the Senate Finance Chair, Sen. Bill Harris. The campaign focuses on getting parents' Medicaid coverage restored as well as child care subsidies restored to 185% of the federal poverty level. The Ohio Campaign to Protect Ohio's Future and the Family Coverage Coalition (both organized by Have A Heart Ohio). It took the efforts of thousands of ordinary citizens across the state to convince the Ohio Senate to make these beneficial changes that will affect Ohio's low-income famil ies. Welfare time limits in Ohio mandate that low-income mothers lose their eligibility for cash assistance. Families on welfare are automatically eligible for Medicaid, but this is not guaranteed once they are off welfare and working a low-wage job. "Without Medicaid coverage continuing, we would lose our health care when we take jobs. Without health care we would be worse off than ever," states Carla P itsinger of the D.;:iyton Ohio Empowerment Coalition. According to "Families USA", Medicaid is the only source of health insurance for most low-income people. Only 55 percent of low-wage workers ($7.00 per hour or below) receive health insurance benefits paid for by an employer. Without health care coverage, many of the uninsured wait until a health care crisis, then turn to a hospital emergency room. The average cost of hospitalization for a heart attack is $25,000 and $7,300 for a · severe asthma attack. Restoring child care to the 185% of poverty level is another its postcard campaign. Although progress was made when the Senate voted to restore child care subsidies to 165% of poverty level, we will continue to advocate that subsidies be restored to 185% of poverty level. The budget bill (Sub. HB 95) now goes to the conference committee to reconcile differences in the House version and Senate version. The House version did not include restoring Parents' Medicaid Coverage or stopping the cuts to child care subsidies. The Ohio Assembly budget must be fin ished by June 30. It will also require the signature of Gov. Taft to take effect. (Unfortunate ly, Gov. Taft had eliminated Parent Coverage and also proposed eli minating child care subsidies above 150% of federal poverty leveJ in his proposed budget.) For more information or to find out how you can get invo]ved in the Ohio Empowerment Coalition or the local chapter, the Cincinnati Welfare Rights Coalition, call 1­ 877-862-5179. Wish List Cao You Help? Streetvibes newspaper is published monthly on a shoe­ string budget from the offices of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless·. Can you help us with some of the following items? * VCR for making copies of Streetvibes TV show and for educational packets * Blank VHS tapes * Desktop paper folder * Blank CD-RW Disks - for Streetvibes archives * Supplies for Vendor's Lounge (paper towels, cream and sugar, snacks, etc.) * Cleaning Supplies * "I've learned my lesson, your Honor. From now on I 'll only steq.l from other peoples companies." Office Supplies - postage stamps, floppies, copier paper and other supplies lfyou can help, contact us at: Streetvibes, c/o Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-780l e-mail: streetvibes@juno.com �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Art& Poetry Dismissed Remember Us Shock and Awe by Michael Henson Only men who have made their souls small can contemplate such things. Only men with minds abstracted can murder with untroubled hearts. These men have made their souls small but their minds are very large. The pages of their books ripple with muscular theory. The screens oftheir computers fill with graphics. Their powerful search engines discover and delete every micron of resistance. They have charted destruction down to the megabyte. The color ofsand, the taste of salt, the prickle ofheat, the weight ofa piece offiuit are nothing to these men. For their souls are small, made smaller with every lie, and their minds are abstracted and augmented. Fed daily on megahertz and silicon, the inflated minds stride down the broken avenues. They would be like gods were their souls not so small. by Chris Whitler i am unseen but i am not nameless. i live pretty close to you. my life is chaos but i don't really know it, as chaos is all i've ever known. i am not an alcoholic. i have never taken drugs. i am not irresponsible. i didn't make a choice. i live in a tent. i live in a dirty motel. i am surrounded by prostitution, alcohol and drugs. i am surrounded by violence. i am constantly hearing harsh and vulgar language. i am not encouraged. i am not educated. i do not have a dentist. i rarely have a hot meal. there is no one in a kitchen making anything for me. i get by. i am dirty. where i live is dii:ty. i use the bathroom in the park. i never leave this town. i do not think about the future. my life is today. i am 1, i am 5, i am 12. i am a homeless child. Page 14 No Pompoms-For Jackie by Cherokee Home/girl Walker I, Jackie, of the Ovah the Rhine slopes gotta say Pompom Cincy ain't cheering of me. No pretty tuft shake, flattering my hands just the landlord cop, he came pride piles standing on his shoulders, anchors for that fat hea<l-.MHe cuts leases, he locks public housebox homes. He listens to denial selectively blinding his eyes when I say, ghettopathnics jump on my daughter. Cuts scratched on her face so she bleed between her hands. She has no wings to fly from my side so he can not see. A piece written by Chris Whitler for the April Isme ofCurbside News It All Came Tumbling Down by Cindy Carlson They say that he watched over NH From 2 million years back. They made him famous Profiled him on currency, Postcar~s and crap. Friday he died. with a rumble Sliding down like Jack In a great tumble Ironic I think Since responsibiliti~s ofhis watch Most recently lack. No funding for schools No insurance for workers ~ousing cost soar Budget cuts hit hardest The elderly and poor Suddenly a Governor's task force formed For this one dead Meanwhile the rest ofus, Dealing with dread What will it cost? How much to spend? Special cash for this lost? Where will it end? Rebuild it? Memorialize it? Its just rocks! What about the people Li~ng the hard knocks? Manchester, NH by Peter A. Deane Oh judge, oh judge, please hear his voice, he's only a peacemaker, . and has no other choice, to bring truth to the story, and form to the plans, with words to paper; he's a witness with pen. Arrested he was, for standing his ground, handcuffed and locked up, but never thrown to the ground. What more couJd he do? He listens to reasons," and has affirmed the blinders placed tight on our leaders. He only wants them removed. Suddenly the court door opened, and as quick as a flash, the witµess stood before us, his time had come at last. But the prosecutor said, "For the great good of the people, there's only one word that can be said.. . and that is ... dismissed!" And the people of Cincinnati clapped, rr· and then clapped some more. Later that day, I thought about it all, while asking myself, what are we fighting for? The peacemakers! The witnesses with pens! The future generations! Our freedoms! Their freedoms! Freedom to think! Freedom to dream! Freedom to learn! Freedom to teach! Freedom to sit and write! Freedom to stand and speak! In our courts, in our halls, in our homes, and on our streets, free. Corruption of power lies to the people, is bullshit piled high, easy answers become hard to find. What are you fighting for? Oh, you witness - witness with pen. Thank you, Mr. Flannery, for your extra, extra, extra, read all about it, shovel it away, searching for truth stand. �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Art&Poetry Page 15 A Letter From God The Message by Sheila Lindsey by Aaron Pitchford Dear Child, I wrote you this letter so that you can see, · All you need in this world is me. There was a guy named Joe When his mother died he had nowhere to go His father turned his back And he cold-blooded didn't get no slack So he wouldn't collect his rent Because it might've made a dent Because his father had one serious fault He was fueled with greed So back to Cincinnati with a little more income And an apartment he sought So after time went on and plenty of rest His faith became strong as the power was heaven sent Because he didn't give it up. I You have to believe I can help you, I can. You can't do it alone, no, not one mortal man. Wasn't I there when you couldn't be strong? When all were against you and everything went wrong? I'm the one who created every rock, tree and bird. When you send me your prayers, I hear every word. I've given you every one ofyour bright, new da~s~ 'I've tried to show you my love in so many ways. I've watched you um to drugs when you were in pain, And I've watched as they drove you slowly insane. I watch as you go through your day, worry free, And you never take the time to talk to me. I wrote you this letter to let you know, I LOVE YOU, and I'll never let you go. If it's a shoulder you need to dry your tears, Or comfort your need to ease your fears, I am nothing but a prayer away, So call if you need my help today. With love Eternal, Your Father, GOD Go Go Jesus by Cherokee Homegirl Walker I got the nocontest Ohio Revised Code disorderly conviction, and he know this. My check did not tum like Sweet Jesus grace, mercy nah nah I tore up a wicked temple feastin, breeding beat up my pretty headstart child foes Oh, Dear President Johnson, too early to go J. F. Kennedy so she bleed between her hands. She has no wings to fly from my side so he can not see. Still in Love by Michael A. Willis I met this gentleman at this place Where I sometimes eat, I call him a friend Because he has been a friend to me He sometimes tells me stories of his past life, He tells about the up and downs that he went through With his wife. He told me something that I will remember for as long as I live if you want to know the secret to Wisdom you must learn how to forgive. For without forgiveness you w ill never make it home to God up above. This my Wife and I learned from each other and that's why We are still in love. Bill Clinton at the Indianapolis 500 • Boulders of Big Business by Laura E. Clisbee Let us move the stone gentleman to the toadstool wood where they may benefit. Their granite shoulders, a resting spot for the creatures of flight; their soles of rock, a roof to the burrowing kind. There amongst the fallen branches, atop the moss laden floor, the craggy corporate aristocrats will cohabitate with creation. Instinctively coalescing, tickled by the breeze, smelling the mud. Let us move the stone gentlemen to the toadstool wood where they may be reborn. Deliver them back to nature, that they may live again. Reprinted from Whats Up, Boston, MA. �STREETVIBES July, 2003 Page 16 almost anyplace would be better with others. But I've met many than here. Our city government who a~e so fa r into addictions and From a truly compassionate heart, really seems like it wants to make it the day by day routines that they we stopped and tried to help. The hard for the homeless here. are just wasting away time. Mind minute our money was in their If you think thei{ decisions you, many housed folks in north band, the tears stopped and they stink, you can tell them every Modesto do this same thing ... they jumped in their car and took off Tuesday at Spm. The first agenda can just hide it better. down the freeway. Here I was, item for every council meeting is Look up from your Life! someone who truly cared and I got public discussion. Go! Be a thorn Get clean (easier said than done)! taken advantage of. Don't do stuff in their side. Make them pay There are many resources available like that. It sucks. attention to the homeless. to you to recover from addiction. You don't need an Right now they are making We all have addictions, I'm not elaborate story to get folks to help. decisions about what to do with looking down on anyone but we If you're jonesing for a cigarette, some money for a day shelter. need to commit to working don't say you're hungry. Okay, so La Loma through our issues in order to make I have talked to so many Neighborhood Association makes it our lives work. If you want help, people that really respect those hard for you. Form your own go get it. Get clear, and you can guys whose sign says, "Why lie, I Neighborhood Ass~ciation!_ Jorm take action in your life and maybe need a beer!" In some ways, that's the Moose Park Neighbors United help others. Utilize the library. much more respectable than some or the Dry Creek Campers Find an interest. You can make the of the crazy stories I've gotten. Association and get involved. Isn't world a better place right where Foster trust among the it a right for everyone to sleep? Is you are. Are you angry that more housed folks you meet. Be honest there a way for monies provided to people don't care for the poor? with them. If you don't want to be spent more wisely? Do you Why don't you start doing open up and tell the truth then want a legal camping ground? Do something? don't say anything at all. It's better you want a day center? Should the Recently at Bob "Big for everyone. city make it illegal or hard to have Word" Helton's memorial I realized Be neat another shelter in the city limits? If what a simple dream can do in this I was at the police sweep of you are informed, involved and world. I did not know him well, Dry Creek last week. We come to vocal then the city could not feign but I am working with The make sure everyone is treated fairly ignorance. Coalition On Homelessness And and to lend a hand to the campers They would at least have to Poverty partly because of him and who are displaced. They do listen to you. All of the city council his ideas. He never fully recovered sweeps when the complaints build receive this paper...you can write from the hard realities ofhis life up about trash from the housed but he did leave the world a better an article for us. No one is going neighbors. to understand your situation better place because he was here and he They came across a really than you. so help them see. cared. Do you care? Get creative. tidy camp site but as they were Be Creative If you need a sounding board to down there they had to displace the I've met so many that are bounce ideas off of or a structure campers. Had it not been for the to help you implement your ideas, realty "working" their garbage at other sites, the sweep homelessness. They are let us know. We' ll see you in the would not have been necessary and volunteering, getting involved and parks! this nice site could have gone helping others. They travel, find Reprinted courtesy of Curbside unharmed. One source actually News, Stanislaus County, odd jobs, seek education and told me that if the camps are kept .._..._._.;. enrichment and create community California, May 2003. ~""":':~ neat and packed up every day that there would be less need for the sweeps. is published monthly on a shoe-stri It would be way better for budget from ces ofthe Greater Cincinnati Coalition fot the whole camping community to the Homeless. Can fOU help us with some ofthe following travel light, stay packed up and neat. Most parks have garbage items? bins. Keep your site clean and no o Desktop Paper Folder one will have reason to complain and there would be less ~weeps . I o Blank CD-RW Disks - For Streetvibes Archives get the feeling that the police really o Supplies for Vendor's Lounge (paper towels, cream and do not want to do the sweeps. sugar, snacks, etc.) They know there is no place for o Office and Cleaning Supplies you to go. Not trashing your site would make sweeps less frequent. Thoughts from a New Guy by Chris Whitler . I am greliln. It's been a year and a half since I began working with the Coalition (in California) and I still feel like I'm only getting started. I have been housed all my life. I am not rich but I get by. I care about homelessness and I'm trying to process why. Here are some thoughts to ponder out of my complete ignorance. I hope I do not offend you. Be Civil I have met so many nice folks in the parks over the past year and especially in the past few months. Folks that are glad to meet us and truly interested and helpful to guide us in understanding the homeless experience. But there have been a few folks that have made it pretty hard to keep a compassionate outlook. There was a table full of guys in one park on the West Side who when I approached them to give them a copy of this publication (Curbside News) they jumped all over me because there was a bible verse on the front. I proceeded to try and get them to just open the pages and take a look and they refused. They thought I was only interested in getting them to become Christians. But I just wanted to give them a little paper that may be helpful, comforting and interesting to them. I let them know that people like them make it hard for the housed folks to care. My skin's a little thicker as I've been around this a lot, but had I been a first timer trying to lend a hand I probably would never try to help again When someone approaches you to try and help somehow, with food or change or information, please be civil. If they are saying ignorant or misinformed things, gently help them understand your reality. If you want the housed population to open their eyes to the plight ofthe homeless community then engage them. Help them understand. Don't attack. A little kindness goes a long way. Be Honest Nothing makes people more angry thart being conned. My wife and I were in Chicago working with a homeless shelter and were caught in traffic (surprise, surprise). There was a couple on the side of the road by a car that were imploring us in traffic to help them as they had run out of gas. They said they only needed some money. The woman was crying. ____________________ Be Involved Remember those guys that yelled at me in the West Side park? They kept saying they wanted me to go to city council for them and get something done politically. We have done and will do that in the future, but so can you. Did you know that you could speak your voice at every city council meeting? Modesto is a terrible place to be homeless ...well, I know anyplace would be but an help, contact US at: SM bl!S, c/o Greater Cincinnati UOalition for the Homeless 1506 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 421-7803 • • • e-mail: streetvibes@JUDO.com Streetvibes exists as a forum for the expression ofthe views and opinions ofour readers and supporters. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those ofthe Streetvibes staffor the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. �STREETVIBES Page 17 July, 2003 Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Report FRAC News Digest (www.FRAC.org) The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) News Digest highlights what's new on hunger, nutrition and poverty issues at FRAC, at the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, around the network of national, state and local anti­ poverty and anti-hunger organizations, and in the media. The Digest will alert you to trends, reports, news items and resources and, when available, link you directly to them. SENATOR ELIZABETH DOLE DEVOTES FIRST SENATE FLOOR SPEECH TO HUNGER IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD (Wilmington Star, Wilmington, NC, June 10, 2003) In her first speech on.! he Senate floor, North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) spoke about hunger in the United States and abroad. Calling hunger "the silent enemy lurking within too manyAmerican homes," Dole said that 900,000 North Carolinians are not able to afford enough food. She suggested making more children eligible for free meals at school, and giving tax cuts to businesses that donate food to food banks or lend trucks to carry food. http ://www.wilmingtonstar.com/ apps/pbcs. dll/article'.?AID=/ 2003061 O/EDITORIAL/ 306100311 NEW STANDARD OF PROOF FOR SUBSIDIZED SCHOOL LUNCHES AND THE EITC WILL BURDEN THE WORKING POOR (The Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT, June 16, 2003) Beginning in August, the Internal Revenue Service will start sending letters to about 45,000 non-traditional child guardians who claim the Earned Income Tax Credit on their tax returns. These letters will require some taxpayers to produce official records and third-party affidavits in order to prove that the children they have claimed for tax purposes really live with them. Additionally, the US. Department ofAgriculture may require families to show proof ofincome in order to receive free school lunches. These extra burdens may discourage many eligible working families from applying for and receiving the services that they need. http ://www. ctnow. com/news/ custom/newsat3/hc­ taxcredit0615 .artjun16, 0, 1795010. story?coll=hc-headlines-newsat3 THE U.S. BOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCJIIl,D TAX CREDIT WILL GIVE BIGGER TAX BREAK TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAN TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES (The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, June 12, 2002) According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the child tax credit being considered by the US. House ofRepresentatives would give a far larger tax break to Members of Congress than to working low-income families. Members of Congress will receive a child tax.credit of $875 per child. A working family. with two children and an income of $20,000 will receive a child tax credit of $237.50 per child, a little more than one fourth what a Member of Congress will receive. http://www.cbpp.orgt'.6-12­ 03tax.htm NEW USDA WEB-BASED PRE­ SCREENINGTOOLWILL HELP ELIGIBLE PEOPLE GET FOOD STAMPS (National League ofCities, June 16, 2003) In early June, Secretary ofAgriculture Ann Veneman unveiled an online pre-screening tool for food stamps. Anyone can use the tool to find out whether he or she is likely eligible, and what benefit level he or she would receive. Jim Weill, president of FRAC, praised the new tool for four reasons: food stamps are critical to help families make ends meet, participation rates are too low, the pre-screening tool may help facilitate food stamp applications, and people are more likely to apply or food stamps if they know how much they may receive. http ://www.nlc.org/nlc_ org/site/ newsroom/nations_cities_weekly/ display.cfin?id=BB65D800-5F93­ 4EDA-ABA057F7Al C9A378 OREGON FOOD STAMP PARTICIPATION IS DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS IN 2000 (The Business Journal, Portland, OR, June 11, 2003) Oregon, known as the hungriest state in the country, has increased its food stamp participation rate by more than seventy percent since 2000. Oregon now has the ninth highest food stamp participation rate in the country. The participation rate has risen in part because of the bad economy, but also because of extensive outreach efforts by both statewide agencies and anti-hunger non-profit organizations. However, even with so many people on food stamps, many Oregon families find it hard to make ends meet. http://www. katu.com/news/ story. asp?ID=5.83 84 http ://portland.bizjoumals. com/ portland/stories/2003/06/09/ daily23 . html PHILADELPHIA IS INCREASING OUTREACH EFFORTS WITH GRANT FROM STATE (Jewish Exponent, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 15, 2003) A recent statewide grant from the US . Department ofAgriculture is allowing the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, a community advocacy organization, to increase its outreach efforts to potential food stamp participants. Sixty-eight percent of eligible Pennsylvanians receive food stamps, a number that local community advocates hope to improve. Volunteers have begun outreach efforts to encourage eligible residents to apply for food stamps. Realizing that complicated application forms sometimes function as deterrents, volunteers are helping applicants through the application process. http://www.jewishexponent.com/ ZOOMasp?stoiyID=16908&szparent=I 9&pubID=208&Archive=True FOOD STAMP DEMAND RISES IN SOUTH DAKOTA (Associated Press, June 9, 2003) Food stamp caseloads have increased in South Dakota for both households and individuals since 2000. An administrator for the state Department of Social Services suggests that the caseload rise is the result ofa bad economy. The state administrator also notes that although food stamps are in higher demand now, they are generally only needed for a short time, and seventy to eighty percent of recipients are working. The caseload rise comes at the same time as higher demand for health care and legal assistance for low­ income people. State Senator Gil Koetzle notes that even some people with full-time jobs cannot afford to put food on the t~ble or buy ~ealth insurance. http://www.aberdeennews.com/ mld/aberdeennews/news/ 6047988.htm PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CITY OFAPPLETON, WISCONSIN, BAN SODAAND CANDY VENDING MACHINES (Post-Crescent, Appleton, WI, June 10, 2003) The Board ofEducation in Appleton, Wisconsin, has recently voted to stop selling candy and soda on school grounds. The Superintendent of the Board of Education noted that there is "an obligation to provide the safest, healthiest environment" for children in school, and banning soda and candy from the schools is a step in that direction. One teacher noticed an improvement in student behavior after the elimination of soda and candy vending in his school. Principals and teachers support the board 's decision, while some students expect to start bringing sweets from home, or buying them from nearby stores. http ://www.wisinfo.com/ postcrescent/news/archive/ local 10713070.shtml HUNGER PERSISTS IN CALIFORNIAFARM COUNTRY (Associated Press, June 15, 2003) California's child poverty rate is twenty percent - three percentage points above the national average ­ and there are some farm counties~n California that remain pockets of much deeper poverty. This Associated Press article examines Tulare County, where poverty is so rampant that all six hundred children in the elementary school receive free meals. Most residents are farm laborers. The article nqtes that although Tulare County is rife with hunger, it is also the number two county in the nation for agricultural production. http ://www.billingsgazette.com/ index. php?id= l&display=rednews/ 2003/06/ 15/build/world/n-40­ hunger.inc SOFT-DRINK COMPANIES TO OFFER FLAVORED DAIRY DRINKS (The Wall Street Journal, June 9, 2003) Drink giants like Coca-Cola Co. and Cadbury Schweppes PLC are beginning to launch flavored dairy drinks aimed at teens. These companies hope to use the fact that dairy drinks are more nutritious than sodas as a selling point. Flavors will include blueberry, chocolate, vanilla-banana, and pina colada. The drinks contain just over fifty percent milk, which means that they will not be able to use the word "milk" on their labels. They will not need refrigeration. Although these drinks will contain some milk products, they will still be substantially less nutritious than regular milk. http://www.azcentral.com/business/ articles/0609dairydrinks-ON. html �STREETVI BE S Editorial July, 2003 Page 18 Media Silent on Clark's 9/11 Comments: General says White House pushed Saddam link without evidence from FA IR-L, Fairnes.<i & Accuracy 111 R eporting Sunday morning talk shows like ABC 's This Week or Fox ews Sunday often make news for days afterward. Since prominent government officials dominate the guest lists of the programs, it is not unusual for the Monday editions of major newspapers to report on interviews done by the Sunday chat sbows. But the June 15 edition of NBC's Meet the Press was unusual for the buzz that it didn't generate. Former General Wesley Clark told anchor Tim Russert that Bush administration officials had engaged in a campaign to implicate Saddam Hussein in the September 11 attacks- starting that very day. Clark said that he' d been called on September 11 and urged to link Baghdad to the terror attacks, but declined to do so because of a lack ofevidence. Here is a transcript of the exchange: CLARK: "There was a concerted effort during the faU of 2001, starting immediately after 9/ 11, to pin 9/11 and the terrorism problem on Saddam H ussein." R USSERT: "By who? Who did that?" CLARK: "Well, it came from the White House, it came from people around the White House. It came from all over. I got a call on 9/11. I was on CNN, and I got a caJI at my home saying, ' You got to say this is connected. This is state­ sponsored terrorism. This has to be connected to Saddam Hussein .' I said, 'But-I'm willing to say it, but what's your evidence? ' And I never got any evidence." Clark's assertion corroborates a little-noted CBS Evening News story that aired on September 4, 2002. As covering damaging revelations correspondent David Martin about the Bush administration's reported: "Barely five.hours after American Airlines Flight 77 plowed intelligence on Iraq, yet still seem into the Pentagon, the secretary of strangely reluctant to pursue stories suggesting that the flawed defense was telling his aides to intelligence- and therefore the start thinking about striking Jraq, even though there was no evidence war- may have been a result of deliberate deception, rather than linking Saddam Hussein to the incompetence. T he public deserves attacks." According to CBS, a Pentagon aide's notes from that a fuller accounting of this story. day quote Rumsfeld asking for the If you ' d like to encourage media "best info fast" to "judge whether good enough to hit SH at the same outlets to investigate this .story, time, not only UBL." (The initials please see FAIR's Media Contact SH and UBL stand for Saddam list: http ://www.fair.org/media­ Hussein and Osama bin Laden.) contact-list.html The notes then quote Rumsfeld as demanding, ominously, that the To make a donation to FA.IR: http:/ -/www.fair.org/donate.html administration's response "go massive.. .sweep it all up, things related and not." Please support FAIR by subscribing to our bimonthly magazine, Extra! Despite its implications, For more information, go to: http :// Martin 's report 'Yas greeted largely www.fair.org/ extra/subscribe. html . with silence when it aired. Now, Or call 1-800-847-3 993. nine months later, media are If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies. M oslie Dayan Someday, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, shall harness for God the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire. Tei/hard de Cliardin Very few people chose war. They chose selfishness and the result was war. Each of us, individually and nationaUy, must choose: total love or total war. I Dave Dellinger Know Your Rights Brochure Available! The Know Your Rights Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for C incinnati's homeless and covers a person's basic rights when interacting with the police, as well as some local ,. 1 ft ., laws that might be ofinterest to the ~! · W' homeless population. If you are a ~ ~. homeless person or if you work with homeless people and would ~ like to obtain free copies of the , brochure for yourself or your agency, please call 421-7803 , or stop by the Coalition office and pick one up. Advertise in Streetvibes! Reach thousands of downtown zrorkers each month! Call 421-7803 for more information about how advertising in Streetvibes will work for your business_ �STREETVIBES Page 19 July, 2003 AmeriCorps program to be cut by 58°/o From the National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness http://studentsagainsthunger.org/ americorps In today's world, we should be doing everything we can to provide opportunities for young people to serve their communities. AmeriCorps involves young people in civic life, helps them to expand their educational experience through participation in service, and encourages them to become active members of society. And AmeriCorps members perform countless important services such as teaching at-risk students, running mentorship programs, and cleaning up rivers and parks. President Bush has repeatedly praised AmeriCorps and promised to dramatically expand the program, even making it a priority in his 2002 State of the Union speech. Many homeless programs around the nation depend on the services ofthe AmeriCorp program in order to successfully perform their work. ...,,.1 But under President Bush's watch, the program is severely threatened, and the White House has done little to help. Now AmeriCorps is facing cuts in the next few weeks that will eliminate over half ofthe nation's AmeriCorps members. Some states would see their AmeriCorps programs cut by over 80%. These cuts would mean an end to hundreds ofvaluable programs. Despite his many promises to support AmeriCorps, the President has done nothing to prevent these cuts or challenge Congress to reverse them. In fact, the President's 2004 pudget request actually asks for $40 million less for AmeriCorps than he requested in 2003. President Bush has repeatedly failed to back up his promises to support and expand the program. Now, the best chance for AmeriCorps is for the President to request supplemental funding so that the program can hire 50,000 members this year. Take a minute right now to e-mail President Bush and tell him that he needs to request supplemental funding so that AmeriCorps is fully funded this year: ttp :// studentsagainsthunger.org/ americorps Head Start Bill Nears House Floor Vote: Action Needed On Head Start Reauthorization Bill From the National Head Start Association (NHSA): Last month, the House Education and the Workforce Committee voted along party lines to support the eight-state block granting ofHeadStart. AJl the Democrats on the·committee voted against block granting, while all Republicans voted for it. A floor vote js expected foJlowing the July 4th weekend. Please continue to bring the following messages to your members of Congress in the House and Senate. To contact your member of Congress, call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 225­ 3121. The new Castle bill is stiU a block grant and threatens to dismantle Head Start. AJthough the new bill limits the block grant to eight states, that is still eight states too many. Any measure that turns Head Start funding over to the states and without including the comprehensive services ofthe national Program Performance Standards will lead to the wsmantling ofa quality program that for 38 years has ensured that this nation's neediest children enter school "ready to learn. " Among our other concerns with the bill: - It provides little additional funding. With a proposed increase of only $203 million, the latest bill would not even allow Head Start to keep pace with inflation let alone add eligible children, pay for the proposed BA degree requirements, or provide enough resources to improve state collaboration. - It provides no meaningful federal oversight. AJthough slightly improved from the previous version, the new bill hands over primary oversight responsibility to the states. - It repeals civil rights protections for Head Start employees. The new bill adds a provision allowing programs to discriminate in hiring practices based on religion . . - It provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the discretion to prohibit the use of T/TA dollars for traveling to all training conferences. Reps. Michael Castle (R-Delaware) and John Boehner (R-Ohio) claim that their goal is to improve the quality ofHead Start, yet their bill would allow the Secretary to prohibit parents, staff, and directors from using T/TA dollars to travel to national, state, and local training conferences. For years these settings have enabled the Head Start community to benefit from high quality training's. Just to be clear, this would mean no T/TA funds could be used to travel to NHSA, NAEYC, or any other national conferences as well as any state association conferences, unless approved by the Secretary. - It does not improve quality by turning Head Start over to unknown, untested, and unproven state programs. On the other hand, there are ways to improve collaboration and coordination and the quality ofHead Start within the current federal-to-local structure. The Bush Administration argues that the only way to improve collaboration and coordination and school readiness is to dismantle the program through state-controlled block grants. Of course, there is no evidence that states can do a better job than the federal government and, in fact, studies have found the opposite to be true. Rather than dismantling Head Start, one way to improve the quality ofHead Start programs is to make sure every classroom ha~ an educated and weH-trained teacher. This can be accomplished by requiring 50 percent ofHead _Start teachers to have a BA degree and with adequate compensation to make it a reality. Collaboration and coordination can be improved through strengthening state collaboration offices, breaking down barriers between state pre-k and Head Start programs, and providing states a role in training and the technical assistance system. Ten to one it . was a non-unron project. �Need Help or Want to Help? If you need help or Mt. Airy Center 661-4620 Volunteers of Amer. 381-1954 would like to help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below _ SHELTER: Both Anthony House (Youth) 357-4602 Caracole (AIDS) 761-1480 Friars Club 381-5432 721 -0643 Drop Inn Center Haven House 863-8866 ·interfaith 471-11 oo Hospitality Lighthouse Youth Center 861-1111 (Teens) St. John's Housing 651 -6446 Sl:IELTERS: Women and Children YWCA Battered Women's Shelter 872-9259 (Toll Free) 1-888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 Welcome House 859-431-8717 Women's Crisis Center 859-491 -3335 l:IOUSING: CMHA 721-4580 Excel Development 632-7149 241 -0504 Miami Purchase OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381-1171 Tender Mercies 639-7056 Tom Geiger House 961-4555 SHELTER: Meo City Gospel Mission 241-5525 Garden St. House 241-0490 Joseph House (Veterans) 241-2965 St. Francis/St.Joseph House 381-4941 TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961-4663 Full Circle Program 721-0643 Formed in 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or.Gt• Cl\CIMai CoalMloft for .­. lMHolft•il• • .... TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1853 Prospect House 921-1613 Starting Over 961-2256 TREATMENT: Bo.th NA Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. .Hotline 351-0422 C.C.A.T. 381-6660 Tatbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491-4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-5011 DIC Live-In 721 -0643 Program OTl:IER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of Gincinnati 421-2437 Appalachian Identity Center 621-5991 Beech Acres 231-6630 Center for Independent Living Options 241-2600 Churches Active in Northside 591-2246 Cincinnati Health Network 961-0600 Community Action Agency 569-1840 Contact Center 381-4242 Emanuel Center 241-2563 Freestore/ Foodbank 241-1064 Fransiscan Haircuts 651-6468 Goodwill Industries 771-4800 Coalition for the Homeless . 421-7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mental Health Access Point 558-8888 Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7186 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Homeless Mobile Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221-3619 Legal Aid Society 241-9400 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. Center 271-5501 Mary Magdalen House 721-4811 McMicken Dental Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily Bread 621-6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center 621-5514 Project Connect Homeless Kids. 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471-4357 Travelers Aid 721-7660 United Way 721-7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helping Women 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/l:IAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-3184 Salvation Army 863-1445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2003 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource July 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: City Gives Free, Legal Licenses to Panhandling Politely Pg 2: Editorial Pg 3: Donate Pg 4: Reader Mail Pg 5: To Know and to Understand the Homeless We All Are Just One Step Away from Being Homeless Pg 6: The Peace Village Pg 7: Homeless News Digest Pg 8: The Drop Inn Center and Washington Park Development Pg 9: Homeless Individuals Partnership (HIT Force) Pg 10: Pendleton Heritage Center Hosts Summer Photo Workshop for East End Kids Pg 11: Over-the-Rhine Festival Pg 12: Protests Against Play Sparks Eloquent Discussion of Art’s Power, Censorship, Media Treatment Pg 13: Ohio Senate Restores Parents’ Medicaid Coverage Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: News & Editorial Pg 17: Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Report Pg 18: Media Silent on Clark’s 9/11 Comments Pg 19: AmeriCoprs Program to be Cut by 58% 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 July 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Steve Shockley Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Elain Coffy Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF AmeriCoprs Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Brendan Goodwin Drop Inn Center Elain Coffy Food Research FRAC Georgine Getty HIT House of Representatives Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath Mary Gaffney Media Medicaid News & Editorials Ohio panhandling Peace Village Pendleton Heritage Center Protests Reader Mail Senate Steve Shockley Washington Park Workshop https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/b4f0f7bb5ddcd924705c10a3f5c467d8.pdf 0763ef5ffa80f06ada2ca9d318edcb29 PDF Text Text · Your Prooressive News Source BUY FROM BADGED 9ENDORS ONLY Se tember 20113 // I I I' ,/ Cincinnati for the �September 2003 Homeless Under Attack; Protecting People Who Live Outside -----­ ---- Office (GAO) investigation injury, the youth videotaped their into the nature and scope of crimes, which ultimately led to violent acts and crimes that their arrests. It is easy to see why occur against people experiencing homelessness. Ohio has been named the fourth most dangerous state to live in.if Their efforts are driving a you are homeless. movement to position 123 homeless people have homeless people as a died in the last four years as a protected class against all result of this kind of hate. A study forms of discrimination. conducted by the National Malachi and Glenn . ., ' Cincinnati Civil Rights Project meeting at the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. Story and photos by Jimmy Heath All Malachi wants is membership in a designated group and because the victim was to be left alone. He lives quietly engaged in certain specified under a bridge near downtown federally-protected activities - such Cincinnati. Glenn lives in the camp as serving on a jury, voting, or too. But recently, Mal achi and Glenn have been the target of hate; attending public school. Hate crimes are commonly their make-shift camp near Lytle called bias-motivated crimes, Park and the Ohio River has referring to the prejudice or repeatedly been a target of partiality of the perpetrator against unknown aggressors, who have the victim's real or perceived thrown rocks and eggs at them and grouping or circumstance. Most their friends, and have vandalized the camp. Things have been taken from the camp and recently a pile of clothing was neatly arranged and then set on fire. Glenn has had his personal belongings scattered and hate crimes are committed not by organized hate groups, but by individual citizens who harbor a .strong resentment against a certain group of people. Some are "mission his vital kidney medication was offenders," who believe they are on stolen. The vandals come back a mission to cleanse the world of a regularly, usually when Glenn and particular evil. Others are Malachi and the others are away "scapegoat offenders," who project from their camp. their resentment through violence "They usually don't come toward the growing economic around and mess with us when power, media attention, or other there is a ball game or other event perceived positions of power of a downtown. They like to be sneaky when no one is around," says Glenn. The term "hate crime" generally conjures up images of cross l;mmings and lynchings, swastikas on Jewish synagogues, and horrific murders of gays and lesbians. In 1968, the U.S. Congress defined a hate crime as a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim, or in the case of a property crime, the property that is the object of the crime, because of their race, color or national origin. The first federal law to combat hate crimes, 18 USC Section 245, passed in 1 968; mandated that the government must prove both that the crime occurred because of a victim's particular racial or ethnic group. Still others are "thrill seekers" those who take.advantage of a vulnerable and disadvantaged group in order to satisfy their own ec Coalition for the Homeless join the ranks of homeless revealed that from 1999-2002, people around the country there were 212 acts of violence who have been brutalized by which resulted in the 123 deaths. people who can't stand the Further, 89 acts of non-lethal sight of folks living in public, violence were also reported. Many or hold unreasonable more hate crimes against homeless resentments against certain people go unreported because the vulnerable people. Over the victims are unwilling to contact law ,:__­ years hate crimes and violent enforcement because of fear of acts against homeless people have retaliation or distrust. All homeless been increasing with frequency and people have faced hate to some brutality. The killing of Hector degree, and most of it comes from · housed individuals. Robles in Paterson, New Jersey by Sometimes when given a a mob of high school boys sympathetic ear homeless people saturated front pages and evening will share their stories of these news reports with its horrid encounters. Malachi did not want brutality and inexplicable his photo taken for this story motivation. Hidden from most because he is worried about living rooms, however, were a retaliation. "I'm just not sure number of other shocking crimes who's behind this, and until we find committed nationwide against homeless people this year. A 22- out who is responsible, I want to stay anonymous," said Malachi. year-old woman was stabbed almost 1 5 times and thrown into the Charles River in Cambridge, MA. A man was drenched with gasoline and set on fire in New York City. An army veteran in Ventura, CA, was beaten to death while resting in his sleeping bag. Closer to home, Ohioans were horrified by the actions of a group of young men in Cleveland who shocked homeless people sleeping in doorways with a stun gun and tried to defecate and Malachi and his friends have seen the vigilantes, who once yelled threateningly atthe men in the camp, "You are finished ! " " I don't 11.ke t o be t eatened," says Malachi, "I don't want ariyone to get hurt." Glenn adde g/"Don't th y have anything better to do than pick on us?" · For more information and resources about the homeless and hate crimes against the homeless visit the web site of the National Coalition for the Homeless - http:// urinate on them while they were nationalhomeless. orglcivilrightsl incapacitated. To add insult to hatecrimes. html pleasures. Thrill seekers, primarily in their teens, are the most common perpetrators of violence against the homeless population. This may be the demographic that has targeted Malachi and Glenn and their encampment. A passerby told them recently that their attackers may be a group of young men from nearby Page Towers, an upscale downtown apartment building near the men's camp. The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) in .Washington, DC has called on Congress for a General Accounting Glenn (left) looks on during Civil Rights meeting Grea er Cincinnati Coal· ion for t e Homeless �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Editorial Page 2 Does War Mentality Sustain Us As Consumers? by Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes editor When the horrible tragedy of September I Ith transpired two years ago this month, we suddenly began to look at the world in a culture fully entrenched in cheesy billboards, boorish TV commercials, and lame displays of our flag. In Ohio, 22 cents_ of each different way, peering over our gallon of gas sold is tax money, political shoulders for enemies that most of it used for transportation we did not fully realize. Had we costs in the state. This means that foolishly stumbled through the . the bigger the vehicle, the more gas world without regard or you use and the more you pay in . consequence to the hate we were fostering in people we didn't even taxes. That seems fair. In fact, I think the tax should be higher. know? There are people "out Owners will continue to shell out there" who were and still are intent good money in exchange for the on our destruction. They are not use of their cushy vehicles. after us so much as a people but Americans will go to whatever extent to get and defend the right view. Some of the world sees us as rich, overpowering and bunkers and hidden cave's; and with weapons created out of imagination and bailing wire, cell phones and fanaticism. United Nations sanctions that stifled Iraq's economy for the past 1 3 years were lifted in May, when the United States and Britain won broad powers to run Iraq and sell its oil until a new government is established. Iraq has the world's second largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia. That's significant for rising cost of rebuilding Iraq, with be hated so much by so many. hate depends on your point of the oil field board rooms; in a number of reasons; chiefly, the Unfortunately, most more as a way of life. It is scary to The reason for this kind of waged against us will be fought in to use cheap gas. People are estimates now running as high as 1 00 billion dollars. As the world sees a failure buying huge SUV's in record numbers, no matter what the cost. In taxes, war, and environment, the imperialistic. Our own in Iraq to reveal weapons of mass destruction, Bush is now touting the war and the country of Iraq as a "linchpin" for government fosters this transforming the Middle idea by its actions, East. Before the war, taking an imperialistic President Bush stressed stance as the the limits of the mission, "responsibility" of a and promised to "remain democratic society. We in Iraq as long as do not bother to hide the necessary and not a day fact that we are more." More recently "promoting" democracy Vice President Cheney everywhere we go. said Iraq "will stand as an Invasions become a tool of national security and a kind of self­ righteousness. Our imperialism, or "world view", is also a tool for supplying our war, it has largely replaced products and control of "weapons of mass what we hold dear. I destruction" as think the appetite for oil justification. has redefined our On this anniversary patriotism as well. of the death of thousands Home-grown patriotism now means flying the flag inthe most unusual places. reasons for on insatiable lust for Banner painted by Eric Triantafillou, hanging outside of SSNOVA Gallery My favorite is in the window of the buying culture takes precedent. No huge SUV's that hog the road and wonder there are those in the world guzzle the gas that we depend on who hate us. from our questionable Middle East We spend over a billion _ "partners." I got stuck behind a dollars a day for national defense. huge Bumvee on Reading Road How do we use it to protect one day that was so big the driver ourselves from terrorism? The US couldn't keep it in his own lane. I is spending 50 billion dollars in the thought about the oil that was next six years to build a ballistic feeding this monstrosity and the missile defense system. Against young men and women who have who? The terrorists who attacked died in the Middle East to protect the World Trade Center used a our right to use it. The problem is strikingly simple home grown plan not that the owner of the vehicle is warlike, or selfish in nature, or that shook the world, rattling the ·United States military into a war in does not care; it is that he or she is Iraq and the occupation of caught up in de ire, a cornerstone Afghanistan. of our commercial culture. We Americans are fat in The continued and relentless Cold War mentality of a many ways, b_oth physical and previous generation that created philosophical. We consume these defense programs still lingers everything in sight like a plague of in Washington. How do we fight locusts. We defend our right terrorists with aircraft carriers, around the world to live this way. Comanche helicopter programs and Patriotism in the 2 1st century has sophisticated missile defense taken on the appearance of a systems? The war that will be of innocent people in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and with more recent tragedies from the war with Iraq, I cannot help but wonder if those who lost their lives would want to see the world as it is now. We have become a warring nation that hides under the cloak of patriotism and consumerism. Our own downfall, in spite of the sophisticated weapons defense systems and Homeland Security, will be here in om own home and rooted in our own desires, greed and consumerism. We depend on the world to supply our insatiable appetite for stuff, yet we are intolerant of the many varied cultures and customs of the world's people. We spend billions to defend our right to spend. At one time we-dreamed, celebrated and welcomed diversity into our immigrant land. Now we embrace our consumerism as a God-given right and sometimes, as a tool to undermine a world culture. For this we send our youth to war? �Page 3 STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 ON A SCALE OF ONE TO A HUNDRED, HOW MUCH DO YOU DISAG·REE WITH THE ·CITY'S TREATMENT OF CINCINNATI'S HOMELESS? ------------------------------- [fil I s20 I I S4o I I soo I I sao I I s1ool 1 Will DONATE: He's only 18 months old and already he's trapped in the cycle of homelessness in Cincinnati. His mother needs an affordable place to live and a job with a living wage as she escapes a life of domestic violence. The current treatment of homeless individuals in our city means that he may never be able to live in a home of his own. There are 25,000 people in Cincinnati that experience homelessness each year. More than one-third of those are women and children. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless believes that by addressing the root causes of the problem through education, advocacy and coordination of services, we can end homelessness in our city. The more support we have from the community, the further our efforts reach. Please cut tt:le coupon and pick a box. It could mean that one less child will have to live in one. Send your donations to Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 \ · Greater Cincinnati Coalition For The Homeless L------------------------------------- �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Page 4 From emails we have recieved .... I just have to tell someone whats happening to me. My children are raised and doing well after many years of struggling due We would like to hear from you to very little money, health issues, - please address letters and and my lack of higher education. comments to; My job paid 6. 1 0 an hour and was Streetvibes, 30 hours a week. My twin boys 117 East 12th Street, were in and out of the hospital for Cincinnati Ohio 45202 twelve years. Due to this problem (or) email to: I had to home, school them. Over Streetvibes@juno.com the years due to no money and no health insurance my health took a In response to "Get A back seat. Now I have several health issues which keep me from Job!" being able to work to support I am responding to the myself. I cannot get health care I readers letters in the August issue need because of no money. Now of Streetvibes. my three kids have told me I have I was really hurt by what to leave because they want to live people had to say. on their own. I am now joining the Ms. Georgine Getty, I want world of the homeless. you to know that what you are doing is what God wants you to could help Y OU succe d in your ·undertakings. Yes, my Friends and new office, the new home of the Buddies who are lost and have no Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the desire to better themselves or care, Homeless. It is very nice and a lot the homeless veterans after serving larger. in the armed forces; Life has made But my mind still went, as a bitter imprint on them. usualfo, my friends and buddies, But I still remember as a· the homeless. Yes, my friends and child in church in Sunday school buddies. For regardless of where lessons about our Savior and Jesus, they see me they greet and speak to who was always up in the square me - uptown, downtown or talking to people. One lady whereever. It is, "Hi Miss Mary." approached him and invited Him to They aren't asking for money, etc. And it is good to know that her home, and asked him to be a special invited guest. At he home, all Cincinnatians aren't against the there was a knock at the door. It homeless. I've found thaf out. By was a little child, hungry, dirty, just standing asking for and something to watching the eat. She told reactions to the child, "I some of the have no time people and to do this for do, so don't ever, ever give up. see how they you". The Organizer who do right. respond, second My name is Malachi. of Cincinnati. Things I don't like and things that I do like. Cincinnati needs a paper - desk admiring the new look of our who with help and understanding God is always on the side of those , I live under a bridge with 3 have learned so much about ny city · Today, I am sitting at my To GCCH Civil Rights I love to read Streetvibes. I · - God in the- Homeless by Ms. Mary other guys. . The next day after the city was told to leave the homeless - camps alone our camp and stuff in the last unheard otherwise. Keep up the 11 days we have been threatened and assulted. good work Streetvibes. _My camp mates were told Ms. Getty, I don't have no we're finished we're done. We money to give; but I do have have been insulted by eggs and avoice with words to be heard. rocks as we sleep. However, it has Marcella Brown, Avondale been quiet the last 3 nights. However I believe they will be back soon. A friend of mine, Sean, who works at the library told me he has been talking to you and he said you really seem like a nice guy. It just really bothers me that this city pushes the homeless around like they're nothing. We're human too, we have rights and God doesn't make no junk. Do homeless people have to be seriously injured or killed before any one takes notice? God bless, thanks for letting me vent my anger in this email. God bless you, thanks sincerely, Malachi Innocence Coalition Walk for Freedom September 27th, 2003 for more information: WJM Innocence Coalition Attn: Erica Farris WALK FOR FREEDOM P. 0. . Box 428617 ' Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 . ( knock was a to the man, all people who ragged an_d speak kindly dirty, asking to them. I for help. She said, was destroyed. Also about 5 times like Streetvibes because things go WJM quite kindly ) Call 513 891-0405 homeless tell them thanks and "God Bless You", when you drop something in their door. This time it was a tired, basket or bucket, whatever. elderly lady, hungry and weary, And this also brought to my dressed very badly. She asked if mind about our Savior Jesus. It is she could have some foo well known, by most everyone, the place ou story of Mary and Joseph, trying­ find a place on that eve. There were no rooms at the inn. Was it because the way they were dressed, pulled by horses. They were homeless, a child about to be born. But a person let them go to the stable for this child to be brought into the world, to grow, our Jesus. 1 sorry, I am very busy. I am expecting a guest". She was turned away. The hostess waited for or the way they came with a donkey? There was no fine Chariot · s usual, the answer was "No, Jesus to come, but he never showed up. This really _ disappointed the Lady. So she walked up to the square, and she saw Him. She asked Him why he did not come to her home? His The condition of the place he was reply, very quietly spoken; "I was born in remains a question. It had there three times, and you refused to be God, who saw ahead for this me and turned me away." child who would be Jesus, and who, at a certain age would see ·about a certain business. Not Joseph, but God.through His life, would be stoned and crucified. Was hung on the cross between the two thieves. He was told to come down and To make this short, I ask you would it be to much of your time or would it hurt to say a kind word to someone _on the street as you travel this road of life? You never know whihe or she has stopped you or come up to you. You might ask yourself why this save himself, but he would not man approached me and what come down. And the two thieves lesson is there that can be learned. And please remember, in asked Him if he would remember them in Paradise. He did not say no, or refused their question. He died, not for himself, but for our life and sins. To this I say to my Homeless Friends; you have people who care regardless what is said through the media, etc, clamoring for success, for buildings? parks, etc, - but no time for the little man, the sight of our most Heavenly Father, regardless of our race, creed or color, we are His children that he has placed in this garden of life. Until next time, may we all love one another, for it is said, how can you love God and harbor anger against your fellow man? �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Looking Away From the few people want to help to get the by Booger Love When someone asks for help, who will help them? Most people just look away and say nothing. Most people would rather have a hand up than a hand out, but where can they go? Nowhere. No one cares about what happens to the homeless, the children, only one, two, and three years old, out on the streets with their mother . · We need help to help these people, but don't know where to go. Some churches are trying; but they and the social services can't do it alone. It's sad that so people on the streets back into housing. No one needs to live on the streets. It's hell to live on the streets, not knowing where you are going to sleep and if if you're going to be alright at night. You never know who is going to come up to you when you are asleep and kill you or steal the few things that you have. Homelessness can happen to anyone, just like it happened to us and then who will be there for harder. I didn't know who to tum to for help. I 1 995, I moved to real father. It hurts. I hope and Cincinnati. I left in pray that one day I will see my back in father. When I ask my mother clothes on my back. I stayed at the 1 997 with nothing but the Drop Inn Center. There I met a grew up on the street at a young lady selling Streetvibes. When I age. My childhood was hard. I home. I have been adopted twice. I didn't like my adopted fathers at asked her about it she told me where to go. I went there. The people at the Homeless Coalition helped me get on my feet. all. There was one man, I loved I started selling Streetvibes. After him like a father. He just couldn't selling Streetvibes for a few weeks adopt me. His name was Julian. I left home very young. I It was not easy. My husband stayed gone all the time, and when my husband was home he used to beat me. You just want to have your broken over it. You go for days, weeks; heart fixed so that you can move and sometimes years and still don't ori with your life as if nothing ever get over it. For a long time you happened. carry a sad heart with you. But it takes time for a You go to talk to someone broken heart to heal, especially to fix your broken heart, to get when you are crying and the pain in over the hurt and pain. your heart won't go away with the You don't really want tears. PriS()Aers Advoca y Committee - Obio I got a place to live. I am still selling Streetvibes. It helps me make ends meet. Streetvibes did a lot for me over the years and still does. God Bless everyone at the Homeless Coalition. Ciru:in fi; Ohio 45201 ,r;submit a pri!2'! t'! name a cle. ·· 1?46, l !J flpmber at . i9?17@yahoo.co111 · .. .. 1 996, moved about him, she says nothing. I came from a alcoholic and abusjve broken it takes a long time to get thank you with all our hearts. by Mary Ann Bravo I grew up not knowing my you don't want to be alone either. we're houseless. Please help. We When I got married my life just got 1 7 years old. anything to do with anyone, but When someone's heart is you? We're homeless because Growing Up got married at Healing a Broken Heart by Booger Homeless ,, Page 5 u· ·L·· · r P. ;,,;'e ' fljroughout Ohio. Our New Address Still Downtown, still in Over-the-Rhine! Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 421-7803 "Okay. Your.'re self employed and you hate your boss. Go on.... " �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 The Peace Village barbarism? Since when did this by Dr. Steve Sunderland The killing and glorification of Saddam's sons and form of military murder gain acceptance from our leaders? grandchildren have "tuned" into me . I continue to wait for our in frightening ways. Has this religious, educational and political country lost even the shred of leaders to stand up and say that our decency and respect for law that it current military policies in Iraq had not so long ago? I cannot violate the rules of engagement for watch the pictures that are being war. We are silenced by brutality shown of the alleged dead sons when we see it because it violates without thinking that we have lost something very basic in the our understanding of just how American character. Bush and damaging these pictures are on our Rumsfeld and psyche. The killing of these two Powell and Chaney without any chance for surrender, should know this or, without a trial, or, without even from the Vietnam the chance to interrogate them experience. sends a violent message to all who Frightened though look for a different behavior on the we may be for the part of American soldiers and the moment, the policies they are carrying out. American people Stunned by the violence of the will not be silent army actions, numbed by the for long. Shocked by the trauma of blatant killing, the the dead, and having- to listen to All1:erican political pseudo-arguments for the brutality, culture will either warn me that we are readying for have to black out an even greater overwhelming of protest or try and the American people. persuade the believing that no violence comment on what is affecting you committed in exterminating at this time in terms of the rise in Saddam is extreme enough violence in our culture of war. Can considering what happened to the you feel it? And, if so, what can World Trade Centers? Is the very we do as a Peace Village at this important grief response tied up time? with a holy war in which we thirst Recently, at a lovely for the blood of the Iraqis and meeting at team member Ellen anyone else who gets in our way? Bierhorst's house, four beautiful In short, only terrorism that is _teenage young men and women listened to we elders as we · · discussed the horror that some of us are seeing in our world. I smart, so savvy about the world, so "perceptive." I felt we were · American people necessary along with the death of allegedly perpetrated against the our men and women. But I believe Iraqi people will justify the torture that the American people have seen and lawlessness of the American the "line" of civility crossed and actions. We, our soldiers and our will see our leaders as reckless families, are the "collateral unless controlled by our damage" this time. We are the by Constitution. Or am I misreading the sounds of our people, as team member Ken Manges suggests. what are clearly acts of a frightened "Now," he says, "is the time for the and defensive super.power. Was sounds of war." Are the American anyone in the peace movement people so scared by the experience prepared for this level of of September 11 as an "enemy." I urge you to America. We adults seemed so that the death of more Iraqis are 1 1 justifications for anyone who we choose to identify Bush read the public correctly in remain innocent about "our " brutal pill. No amount of violence September developments? Moreover, has wondered how long they could American people will swallow this under the rhetoric of post­ for a long war of violence against hope and our own sense of pictures shown everywhere on standers who are being buried along with this set of violent robbing these young people of their television of the faces and bodies of I do not believe that the Page 6 as to willingly go SIR, AS A MORALE OOSTER FOR THE EMPLOYEES... American spirit as well. Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues of Peace in the world. Dr. --..__,,, ---_Q Sun er heads up "good" can answer terrorism that is Posters-for-Peace whzc enga es "bad." people in expressing their visions . I hope that those in the of Peace, in their own words, Peace Village who are reading this through the creation of posters. _ note will react with your own ideas about the state we are in at this moment. Isolation may contribute to the brutality because we do not share our own feelings and ideas about the rawness of our current situation. Not so slowly, we are being drawn into conflicts that may · tum out to be humanitarian jokes on us, ways of "shaping" our souls .. .YOU MIG T CONSIDER A VOLUNTARY PAY CUT. · _Slpplies for Vendor's U:mnge(paper towels, cream and sugar, snacks, etc.) * t:... WHI OF THE EMPLOYEES SHOULD I VOLUNTEER? Cleaning Supplies 'Wce.,.§11pplies - p()stage ' stifmps, floppies copier Ify !l r aJ!d ot ,r sqep!ies . ca el 7 ont ft us at: n: "Stre, 'Jvib(! ;clo . ! Cincinna Bo Str 1( 1 5. . .. less;; reater . Coalitionf?:r the · l7 Jlt.;ist llth t, Cincin !ti, o:u 45202 l.. 42177803 y · ;· I: s etvilles@ · · _ · _ : , · · -_ 1 _ _· - _ . - · · · · · · _· _ . _ , _ _ _____ _ ,. · - · · _ · · · · · __ __ _ _J �' Page 7 STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 building these for the rest of their lives." For families staying at the Tedford Shelter, they've found not just a temporary home but the resources needed to get a place of their own. That's because the Brunswick, Maine, shelter is homeless families can use to get county services has dropped In Portland, Oregon, street youth are shunning services that require them to give up personal information, like their names and family history. dramatically from 993 in the fiscal year that ended in June of 2000 to an estimated 400 in the fiscal year that ended this past June, out of an estimated total population of As a result, even as the number of to street youth continues to grow, the 1 ,500 2,500 youth who have lived on the streets in the past year. "With number of these youth seeking some kids, the new rules aren't publidy funded services has pushing them into the services," a percent 50 library filled with information homeless y_outp being served by compiled by Molly Rhodes dropped by more than also home to a comprehensive took effect, the number of North American News Briefs young woman called Bright Eyes over the past four years, according told the Tribune. "They are to the Portland Tribune feet. The library was developed in partnership with the Curtis Memorial Library's Health Info1lnation Partnership, and the tireless efforts of Curtis librarian Paul Dostie, who also works at the shelter. The libr contains 54 titles, covering topics such as health, pregnancy, parenting, domestic violence, and substance abuse, as well as a collection of pushing them out." (www.portlandtribune.com). Over jobs, services, and get back on their fiction, according to the Times Families staying at Salt Record (www.timesrecord.com). Lake City s Road Home shelter A month-long protest to can now proudly claim to have bring attention to the plight of added their own artistic stamp to homeless people in Ottawa shows the home, thanks to four newly no sigh of closing down, even installed stained glass windows after the group's permit expired that were all made by children the beginning of August. The who stay at the shelter. The the past four tc;>_ five years, the Multnomah County Board of Directors began requiring that agencies that serve youth start keeping better track of who they're serving and funneling more street youth into education, job, and housing programs. These changes stained class window projec came in response to a local report as led by the Salt Lake Art Center, in that found that many of the city's an effort to brighten the services allowed kids to come and perspective of about take essentials like food, clothing, 60 shelter the windows, according to the Salt sense of who these kids or were Lake Tribune (www.sltrib.com). and little attempt to get them off interfere with the protesters, who have set up camp near the government conference center, as kids, who both designed and built and temporary shelter without any police said they have no plans to long as don't break any laws, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Panel designs included one the streets into housing and job · geometric shapes and a yellow sun in a corner, as well as ones with a house, a star, a snowman, ;:tnd hearts. "The process is llTH AMEIUCAN reef Newspaper ASSOC'IATJ.ON important," Lou Marzulli, the children's case manager at the shelter, told the Tribune. "They'll probably remember Streetvibes Vendor Code Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $ 1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $ 1. I also understand that I will be 80 cents of each dollar coilected. able to keep 2. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in termination from the program. 3. I agree that I will not ask for donations or attempt to vend after 1 2 midnight. 4. I agree to treat others with respect - other vendors, customers, and GCCH personnel. 5. I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel threatened. 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I ' the sale of Streetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise misrepresenting is a violation of a city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing papers, and I will display my badge at all times while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. I will not sell on private property without permission. 10. I understand that Streetvibes strives to be a selfsupporting paper created by people who are homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this effort, I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any am collecting for the "homeless" in general. I time as deemed appropriate. will be honest in stating that all the profits from charter of rights and freedoms," Ottawa police staff Sgt. Monique Ackland told the CBC, "and people have the right to demonstrate as long as it is done within the parameters of the law." The protesters plan to keep the protest going for a year. A Cleveland photographer has put a real face to the homeless population in area. Tuo years ago, with the support of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), photographer David Hagan began inviting the city's homeless people into his studio, providing food and music as he captured them without makeup and in their everyday street clothes. The culmination of his work is now available in a book, distributed by NEOCH, Face to Face: Portraits of Homeless People in Cleveland. "While photographing, we discovered that we were portraying our homeless subjects as they should be seen," reads the introduction to the book, "as diverse as the i:est of us; complex people in a challenging world, struggling to find happiness." For more information on the project or to get a copy of the book, visit, www.neoch.org/ face_to_face l .htm. Support your local Streetvibes Vendor! dominated by green, blue and red programs. Yet since these rules (ottawa.cbc.ca). There is the �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Page 8 Editorial The Lifestyles of the Rich and not because I made a bad decision Less Caring It has not always been this way in Cincinnati. We used to support all of our citizens, all who were poor, mentally or physically programs that would support our youth and seniors. Some where down the line we lost all of this interest in our Elaine Coffey Ms. Ruth Lyons, Oprah Winfry. b. Transitional living, Thanking God that there are other Now what is the next action that.we need to take? My main focus has always been the homeless and seniors, in Cincinnati and throughout our world. I commend those individuals and support them with all my heart for their strength to endure all that they must overcome. Steps I think can be taken to improve the Quality Of Life in our city; Evaluate each persons 1. circumstance; why are they in the place of un mployment and' homeless. 2. Set a goal of how many ) individuals can be served and work with that number for a year, (supportive services, Department of Human Services, Unemployment, and HUD for Housing). 3. . The caseload could be lighter if some extra special housing could be funded for that year. This space could be used as a. Housing, I would like to hear from interesting for the larger companies you. Give me some feedback. Let to come up with a think tank. me know if I am just becoming Even if you are downsizing your paranoid, or is it time for this city company there is there a way that to wake up? Until next time, I put you could hire two people for half this pen down for this month. Hopping that you will join me on Media Bridges, channel 24 I am asking for City Often we had some type of people who really do care. of employment. the price? handicapped. up in the caring years of Bob Hope, responsibilities and are also in need never forget ! It would be by Elaine T. Coffey citizens. Thank God that I came . twenty years ago and computers , c. Treatment and aftercare centers, and finally d. Comeback Center (Social Services). 5. Evaluate each person and each person's barriers and redesign their future to allow them to regrouP,. Allow them to lean and grow on 8. 1 8. they should now be setting in place It Real -N- Cincinnati". Good Bye an agenda for employment for our for now. Peace, Elaine T. Coffy youth. They now have (E.T.C.) The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations for their generous donation of coffee and pastries: 11379 Montgomery Road (513)469-1111 their strel}gth, skills, and education 3366 Erie Avenue or vocational training. East Hyde Park I am also suggesting to all My show is called "Keeping Council Members to realize that (513)533- 402 the high officials in this state to take action, revise and amend some of your laws. You must understand. .to repair these 7896 Montgomery Road (513)891r.- ·r17 4ttO)-- --- Homeless issues there has to be a change in higher places also ! I will not allow this cities officials to take the blame alone. If you want to have _:.;·.· dependent on this system, take a pl look at the felonies. Remember Lfrie :10 r income residents in Over-the-Rhine and they are going strong. ·Block clubs are forming in other parts of the neighborhood, too. Call the Contact Center at 381-4242 or stop by 1227 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine to learn more about how you can get involved with these resident led organizations. While we make every effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. s J1dJ ly forqpnµtions . eatthing and writing grants . .. for Our excel}ent}Jrogtams. cycle. Become gainfully employed Clubs are fighting for the rights of low­ in t wp}.ild J¥cy io _ And this might be the best The-Republic Street & Vine Street Block te · .• lffhi�tcoi!}d mtlude-askmg your! employment for me to break the Help build a ·powerful, resident led organizationl . .-:-:- · :< . undtaise for'oUr•orgallizatfon. that some have to pay child support, that FELONY COUNTS. for a job, because I was qualified, ·:.:;:·:·.: .. r<li:eaihv6lb leer 15e a·s lf--nrdtiV'titedi individuals independent and not .,;. ,, The Streetvibes . newspaper project is always in eed of peopl interested m There are numerous o parpnif!_es .l'!r '!-lunt ers at . the Great t Cincinn ti G:oalitio for thJ'.HomelJss.•.· We'are w!lling to !!'-or!{ witlJ. . ..ea€h individual in choosing g. service< " ' ·' ' opporlunify thilti� figlitfor tlJ m.·uTh fo#qwin_g.af:if. afew< · , · @ hieli tlie connecting with the vendors and . helping them write articles on social justice/poverty issues, .poetry, or personal stories. We need help in the ···afternoons at the front desk it!-nswerip.g phones and handlmg : trai c ns ith pur tj;re tviblffi ;l •Ve11c1orss This pe.. son.will j · .ddres '· · _em,tieds of visitofs, �Page 9 STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 On Getting Along by Howard Zinn You ask how I manage to stay involved and remain seemingly happy and adjusted to this awful world where the efforts of caring people pale in comparison to those who have power? It's easy. First, don't let "those who have power" intimidate you. No _matter how much power they have they cannot prevent you from living your life, speaking your mind, thinking independently, having relationships with people as you like. (Read Emma Goldman's autobiography LIVING MY LIFE. Harassed, even imprisoned by authority, she insisted on living her life, speaking out, however she felt like. Second, find people to be with who have your values, your commitments, but who also have a sense of humor. That combination is a necessity ! T ird (notice how precise is my advice that I can confidently number it, tlie way scientists number things), understand that the major media will not tell you of all the acts of resistance taking place every day in the society, the strikes, the protests, the individual acts of courage in the face of authority. Look around (and you will certainly find it) for the evidence of these unreported acts. And for the little you find, extrapolate from that and assume there must be a thousaqd times as much as what you've found. Fourth. Note that throughout history people have felt powerless before authority, but Sixth: When we forget the consciousness of people growing. fragility of that power in top we So you need patience, persistence, become astounded when it and need to understand that even crumbles in the face of rebellion. when you don't "win," there is fun We have had many such surprises and fulfillment in the fact that you in our time, both in the United have been involved, with other States and in other countries. good people, in something Seventh: Don ' t look for a moment of total triumph. See it as an ongoing struggle, with victories worthwhile. Okay, seven pieces of profound advice should be enough. and defeats, but in the long run the that at certain times these powerless people, by organizing, acting, risking, persisting, have created enough power to change the world around them, even if a llttle. That is the history of the labor movement, of the women's movement, of the anti-Vietnam war movement, the disabled person's movement, the gay and lesbian movement, the Movement of black people in the South. Fifth: Remember, that those who have power, and who seem invulnerable are in fact quite vulnerable, that their power depends on the obedience of others, and when those others begin withholding that obedience, . begin defying authority, that power at the top turns out to be very fragile. Generals become powerless when their soldiers refuse to fight, industrialists become powerless when their workers leave the jobs or occupy the factories. Peas lee Neighborhood Center 2 1 5 East 14th Street Over-the-Rh i ne Ci nci nnati , Oh i o 45202 (513) 62 1-5514 Empoweri ng our nei ghborhood chi ldren through peace , art arid education Write, Us! We'd ltk�>to h�:: from 'JO •• ,._ �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Page 10 North American Street Newspaper Association mem bers gather in Q uebec Story and photos by Jimmy Heath Believe it or not, Streetvibes is not the only homeless newspaper in the world as evidenced by a recent gathering in Quebec, Canada of the North American Street Newspaper Association (NASNA). Dozens of street newspapers from around North America gathered tn Canada " for the eighth annual NASNA Conference to share resources and ideas and to participate in business meetings and workshops. The schedule also included visits to city shelters and programs to explore the driving forces of homelessness in Canada. There are nearly 50 street newspapers in North Americ , all working to accomplish the same thing; empower homeless and formerly homeless people through the NASNA Executive Committee. programs like Streetvibes, and provide them with a voice in their There was also time during the conference to explore the city communities through their own of Quebec, one of the oldest and writing, artwork and poetry. The most historic cities in North papers also provide the vendors America. The vast expanse of with financial support - all vendors Quebec province, which rests keep the profits earned by selling . within the even vaster expanses of the various street papers. Some Canada, has made some NASNA member papers are major questionable contributions to pll lic.ations with tens of thousands global culture. This, after all, is the . printed monthly, others are place that inflicted Celine Dion, newsletters produced by social Corey Hart and Men Without Hats service agencies. Although every (remember Safety Dance?) on the. city has a different approach and world. In contrast, Canada has the street papers are varied, the provided North America with some goals of each are the same. of its best street papers including Every year representatives Street Sheet out of Winnipeg, of street papers gather together for L'ltineraire of Montreal, and this ·a conference in a city hosted by years conference host paper, that city's street newspaper. The LaQuete published from Quebec. 2003 conference began with Older than that of any other · keynote speaker, Jean-Paul l'Allier, city in North America (north of Mayor of Quebec. In his speech he Mexico), the bilingual and utterly praised street newspapers for European capital of Quebec coming together to share province divides its time between information and ideas· so that the an Old Town bristling with historic · larger problem of homelessness and ramparts, churches, narrow lanes poverty could be addressed and former everywhere. battlefields, and _ - The conference also included competitive awards that · honored street papers in different categories, including best artwork, best poetry and best writing. This year Cincinnati's own Streetvibes districts revamped with museums, cafes, bars, and restaurants. Conference won an award for best overall attendees visited street paper. Old Quebec During the business during free time, meeting of the conference, the new enjoying the Executive Committee of NASNA many was elected by the membership. · Tim Harris of Spare Change metropolitan newspaper in Seattle, Washington and crafts restaurants, arts was named chair and I was selected stores, and as co-chair. Michael Stoops, of the street vendors National Coalition for the that crowd the Homeless was selected as narrow streets Treasurer, and Nancy Roussy of of this historic Canada's L'ltineraire street paper neighborhood. was selected to be the secretary by �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Page 11 J : T -A-- rough Ou r Ey_ ·-e1 · , _ _,Jo·n-·1· NASNA conference keynote speaker, ean Paul f'Allier, Quebec. .. "' ' . "• >.; - - " • - • ii\i;.iA •11 . .• 74 , • ,.r., .;; I, • : t<>ii Ii\ '•· t 2t4' - j NASNA Awardfor Streeivibes newspaper I While we make every effort to provide a forum for those without a voice, STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. The book, Through Our Eyes, a collaboration of Cincinnati '.s Mother of Mercy High School and the Greater Cincinnati Coali­ tion for the Homeless. . :_. Through Our Eyes: Reflections on Homelessness takes you on a experiential journey of learning by high school students as they leave their suburban comfort zones to explore the world of the inner-city homeless of Cincinnati. A collaboration of Cincinnati's Mother of ST R A T A·G I N T E G R AT E D MARKETIN G Brad Crawford Proofreader/Copy Editor Strata-G Commun ications 250 W. Court communications SOLUTIONS Mercy High School and the Greater Cincinna i Coali­ tion for the Homeless, Through Our Eyes attempts to educate other high school students and the larger com­ munity about homelessness through stories of homeless and formerly homeless individuals, reflections, .art­ work and photography. The books are available from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for $10 each, plus $3 shipping and handling. · Make checks payable to the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202. For more information call (513) 421-7803 �Page 12 STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 M i dwest Ral ly Aga i nst Rac i s m held to chal lenge pol i ce , city's m o n oc h rome b i as by John Zeh The focus of the Midwest African-American depart the city for the suburbs or beyond. "I saw a sign saying 'No one benefits from racism, ' " she the International Socialist columnist and Co-keynoter Kathy Organization (ISO), "What are we Y. Wilson noted "a serious, going to do about homophobia in a but classism, sexism and profound classism problem in this city that denies us full civil rights? homophobia, were spotlighted as Rally Against Racism was racism, city among blacks and whites and We must organize at the grass roots other curses c:m contemporary while racism will never end, we level and continue to fight for society as a multi-hued cast-of­ must find a way to put some justice and equality." buffers up. That's one way to fight changes in Cincinnati on S aturday, classism." . Wilson writes a frank, ·giying large local corporations weekly "Yolir Negro Tour Guide" millions of dollars in corporate August 9 . The event held i n Washington Park near historic . and other articles in CityBeat. "Another part of racism's status quo," she said. "They don ' t on this same day the U.S. dropped hop in Over-the-Rhine, a working want to be class neighborhood on the edge of interrupted, downtown. Chanted one disturbed. While performer under an overcast sky; we' re comfortable "Don't just sit there in your 'hoods, with a computer, the build up neighborhoods ! " Internet, a Palm Pilot, and a refrigerator for instance, others are Advocacy in Resources and getting the crap beat Education (ICARE) said Cincy is out of them because "not the best place to be if you're they' re poor-whites Indian ! " Embracing "two-spirited" or Hispanics. There people, she said, "racism is not a must be mutual black-white issue, but in between respect for different are red, yellow, and a multitude of mindsets. Black colors." Adding that her people people must stop are tired of being "treated like people-of-color. Any year-old daughter was spat on and movement needs a told to go home when she chorus of voices. protested the Cleveland Indians Muslims and Asians baseball game here. count as much as the "We may never win this war Council candidate John Schlagetter said he vows to unite Council. "If you don't "'· keep important issues . on peoples' minds, we forget there's a problem. We must not let issues like the ones raised today fall off their radar and lose vigilance." A 37-year-old architect, Schlagetter owns a home in the racially-diverse Price Hill neighborhood. He teaches interior design at the College of Mount Saint Joseph rest of us." here. His website is Another part www.John4Council.com of this town 's problem, said an atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Wilson, is that city government that in New York City police fired "criminalizes the oppressed, 49 shots against a West African making (the issues) their fault. irllrnigrant in a case of mistaken Owensby, Sr. , whose son was killed . . . and selling Streetvibes is a job," identity. by city cops, said Roger Jr. was not enhanced panhandling as "ready to go back to college, but Mayor Charles Luken says about for all regardless of race, class, or the police claimed he was a thug. the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for sexual orientation," said Suhiith · They said I had a dysfunctional the Homeless monthly newspaper, Wickrema, a Sri Lankan native. family, despite being married for 34 calling it his "pet peeve." "Police here are profiling on the years. [Hamilton County­ "Let's be conside'rate of · "We stand for equal rights basis of sexual identity," he economic issues," Wilson said. charged. "We must repeal (the City disgruntled father. The fix was "We may not agree with the Charter 's) Article 1 2, protect on !" boycott, but those who seem womens' (family/abortion) choice, annoying show up and are and make structural changes in the working with you to correct the effective. Anytime the city loses local election system." system so it won't happen again. even 50 cents, the boycott is You must fight the system, don't working. We must show those in take the easy way out. We must city hall - by our work - that we are . .federal Empowerment Zone fight for justice for the murder of serious. Everything is not black program, observed that only one of my son, that's my life mission," he and white. There are gradations." six OTR citizen groups attended Prosecutor] Mike Allen said I am a He was not deterred. "I am challenged the small crowd. He said Mayor Charlie Charter Committee OTR activist Berta Lambert, who serves in the city's the event, saying, "people who candidate for City Council John claim to be progressive need to be Luken told him that "if the facts Schlagetter said he was chagrined where the action is." With over 70 about (my son's) case were that "not a single Council percent of OTR's 7000 residents disclosed it would tear this city incumbent is here," noting that African-American, "decisions they up." Regardless, Owensby said, independent candidate Brian Garry make affect people in this "The city must be told the truth. I and he were the only non- community," he noted, holding a will go to the U.S. Supreme Court incumbents here. "Council does colorful anti-gentrification sign to make sure everyone's safety is not take the high road. Where are saying "No Yuppieville in 0-T-R ! " assured and we stop the the social justice candidates? We institutional racism in this city. If it have to stop being afraid of being Coalition for a Just Cincinnati also doesn't come to en end, it will seen with each other! " condemned Council's funding to destroy all of us." order to keep its here. and tell my brothers and sisters in Co-keynote speaker Roger scrutiny, it has delayed the OK for a new garage that Kroger wants in grocery headquarters heaven I tried," ICARE's Whitewolf said. provider Cynergy stay and gave denigrating other mascots ." She noted that her 1 6- (on racism) but I ' ll work till I die recently helped gas and electric for patrons). Under renewed historical note, she mentioned that Native American, Vicky Council built a new headquarters with parking for (but forced it close a free liquor bar welfare "while it harasses the homeless and panhandlers." On a soundtrack of rap, poetry, and hip­ Whitewolf of Indigenous Cultural definitely are ! " the Saks store money to modernize economics is people accepting the Music Hall included a colorful Kroger, and Saks Fifth Avenue Delta Airlines reservations center, She railed about city council color gathered to urge critical said. "On the contrary, Cynergy, C:::hallenged Molly Seifert of Monica Williams of the make sure big businesses don 't The rally's status was unclear for some because the City park board had demanded that sponsors take out special insurance. A donor paid the bill. A short march to police headquarters had been planned, but police _ insisted that organizers pay overtime costs for officers to block Satll;rday afternoon traffic, so groups settled for a rally only. Four police officers, one of them horseback, were on hand. No police intervention was necessary. This reporter counted about 1 20 people at the rally an hour after start-up, and 80 at the conclusion 3 hours later, 90 percent of them white, with many newcomers who missed opening speeches and poetry. Wilson noted that "white people outnumber people-of-color here today." Saying it's okay because, "we have to be off the radar a little bit. Let's show some unity. It can be invisible. They don't have to know. I ' m tired of this classist city. Close ranks in a multi-hued frontline," she concluded. "Work gets done by the few and the mighty." Journalist John Zeh welcomes · comments at JohnZeh @ mail. com. �Page 13 STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 What's Happe n i n g With TAN F Rea uthorization ? (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Federal Welfare Policy) by Lynn Williams, Ohio Empowerment Coalition TANF Reauthorization. Deja vu. Weren' t we struggling with getting TANF Reauthorization changed & passed out of Congress fast summer at about this time? Well, here we are in August a year later and once again TANF Reauthorization has been put on hold in the Senate . . . . . . until the Senators come back from their Individual Development for Everyone Act. His bill makes the Representatives passed in for welfare reform. Some of the policies included in the PRIDE Act that would be detrimental and a step backward for TANF policy include: § himself has made press statements that three months is long enough for welfare recipients to get an extension of the current TANF education ! ! ! ) -§ Congress that the 1 996 TANF to recent bills that have been § that Senator Grassley, Senate sanctions § Fails to adequately increase child care funding * Instead of earmarking required to work ·more $300 million per year for than 20 h urs per week for "marriage promotion" their benefit check. activities, use this money Earmarks $300 million per for education and job year for "marriage training programs to assist promotion" activities low-income parents in supporting wages. You can educate your Ohio in Sen. Grassley' s bill. Senators by writing and calling them about these issues. The Ohio Empowerment Coalition advocates for policies that are going to help, not hinder, low--income parents to escape out of poverty. These include: * Senator George Voinovich United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 202/224-3353 Revive the tri-partisan 202/228-1382 (fax) WORK Act that was voinovich @voinovich.senate.gov passed out of the Senate Finance Committee last Senator Mike DeWine United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 summer * Increase hours that 202/224-23 1 5 recipients can use for Fails to protect families from unfair or illegal family members. parents with children policies that would be detrimental assistance for recipients or are disabled themselves recipients with disabled Eliminates protections for This is only a partial list of the Fails to create adequate disabled family members Allow exemptions for obtaining family who are caring for policy looks milder in comparison introduced: the PRIDE Act or Allows only 3 months out of 24 months for education ! (President Bush Committee or at least an Finance Chair, recently § I out of the Senate Finance Take, for instance, the bill and what President Bush states he wants - to fight for a better bill to come introduced. 4) * under 6: they would be what the U.S. House of good news; it allows us more time the mindset is so conservative in § is basically very, very similar to August recess. Actually this is policy. It's hard to believe that to 37 hours per week current TANF policy look good. It February 2003 (HR year yet increases work hours Personal Responsibility and * * education 202/224-6519 (fax) Keep work requirement at senator dewine@dewine.senate.2ov 30 hours weekly For more information call the Increase child care funding Ohio Empowerment Coalition at by at least $5.5 billion per 1 -877-862-5 1 79 . Community source Cards _/ ., Rockdale Temple has announced the release of the latest in its series of Community Resource Cards. The new one, printed in Spanish, is customized for the needs of Cincinnati's rapidly growing Hispanic/ Latino population. The tri-fold, plastic cards are funded by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati as a project of Rockdale Temple, in consultation with Bienstar, Su Casa and The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless. _ In addition to the Hispanic Resource Card, the Resource Card Proje t has also produced cards for senior citizens, the homeless, and public school and Get Ready, Get set...Go back to school! Workmen spruce up the exterior of Rothenberg School in preparation for the return of students, teachers, support staff and administrators for the 2003-2004 school year. Rothenberg, one of the oldest schools in Cim;innati, is a landmark for the communities of Mount Auburn and Ov-er-the­ Rhine. Photo by Jerome J. Manigan Catholic school students covering the Tri-state area. Cards can be ordered from: cc 5300 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224 or send a fax request to: (5 13) 541-0099 # 210 �Art & Poe try STREETVIBES Sep t:em er, 2003 Page 14 The Crack Attack is Over D ECEMBER 7th Wanting by P. J. by Cornelius Douglas by Delia Sizler I'm a quitter, that's right I quit Pearl of beauty, pearl of life Why do I plod along focusing only on what has to be done Within your channel deep, and fail to appreciate what all I've accomplished? Geek.in' & Seek.in' 4 my next hit 4 awhile I thought that crack was my friend Rest the men and tools of war Now I'm in a cycle where there's no en,d. For you and God to keep. I'm an American child, a "baby Boomer," All I wanted was something From northern skies an-early phase witp "baby boomer." 2 do But day after day my addiction grew Fell death and strife , As history wrote by early light, The affluence of America came right after I arrived. At 1 st• I didn't know that it was a habit A tearful memory tale. The boys were home again and life was going on. 2 have it Sometime I realized I just had 2 have it I'd do anything 2 suck the pipe What valor is there to be found Everyone was busy, making babies, making love, Until I realized I jl!st had W hen I hit the dipper 4 the very 1 st time In tragic human loss? making homes, making goods to feather the new nests. Man must begin to live as one Gradually prosperity happened to ordinary people, no matter what the cost. well, to some of them. . . the white ones especially. For all who died that Sunday mom What happened to the overflow of emotion then? That's when I knew that there wasn't enough We bow our heads and pray. Where did the trauma memory go? I had I beamed up 2 Scotty - past cloud nine 2 get more of this "redi roe" stuff For them, Please grant them Fifty plus years later we are awakened emotionally, On the street they call me a runner Peace. thrown out of our post war stupor, But mostly I was a cocaine hunter For us . . . . a better way ! ! our denial that memories matter, Search all day 4 that rush 2 my head And get mad cause my money was dead Yeah, the higher I got the lower my paper 2 pull off a caper 's low-down 2 steal But I always managed I know that's it our man made euphoria is interrupted. LORD WHY? I'm a "baby boomer," what do I know? Five decades to grow up focusing on what's yet to be done, ./ Lord, why did you put m_e_ here to · die, to bum, to learn? . It didn't matter, I had a crack deal Lord, why did you put me here to I still get a hooter around if I want it What is there to gain in this wicked I have 2 stop my own way when I part it Sometimes on purpose I even get broke die, in a world full with pain? game? What is there to gain when your That's also part of my strength, and it works ! back is against the wall, and you Now I can smile as I walk past the dealers try to get by you fall on your face? Cause I know dope boys R nothing but killers W hen I walk past the "dope fiend" puppets I laugh Cause I quit, I'm a quitter I put crack in my past. constantly fall, when everytime you What's left to save the human race? What is there to gain when-hope is gone and you are standing all alone? To bum in hell or die in a jail cell? When pain and sorrow, and it seems like no tomorrow, thinking back to the goodness we once had. It seems to me that the worlds is so sad when everybody professes to· keep it so real when it comes down face to face. They hold their head down in disgrace in J:hi-s wicked place. More Condos by Mike Henson Yellow dozers tearing up the hobo camps of Eastern Avenue: Bare clay, naked roots of the trees Black plastic tarps tangled · among the spllintered willows. When everybody's puffing on so much chronic smoke, it seems that life is one big joke. When kids play with guns thinking that this is a game of fun, and missing memories and the connections they have with the other "more" of life, more than growing, building, making, buying, economy fixated thinking. What else to be accomplished? We have wanted to ask that, but later, too busy now, more to do. Don't pause lest the economy slump. One day the comfortable shell that insulated us _was cracked open. Terrorists attacked. The activity stopped. We "baby boomers" and all brew a collected breath, sensing something new erupting from inside the shell, hope and a glimpse of enduring freedom. Some "old-timers" remember when freedom was won. I don't want to lose it now. not after paying so much for it with human life. I want freedom to endure and memories to surface. emotions expressed and real connections to deepen. I want to pause to experience what I've accomplished in these growing up times. I want all of us to trust the freedom we've been blessed with, so much that we want to share it generously with-the world. I want an economy of peace and justice that has a face of freedom for all. money rules the world, and its war and tears, and its man that they fear. Don't they know the Savior is near? And the heavens open up and I heard a voice say "My son, what I said will be, so always keep your faith in me." Then I said to the Lord, "Will I . drown in the sea or weaken like a willow tree?" Then in reply, the Lord said to me, "Stay strong even if you stand alone." So my brothers and sisters, we must have hearts like steel to keep it real, looking up to Gods beautiful grace in surrounding this wicked place. ; �STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Ar t & Poe try LOST Saint Francis of . the Entrepreneurs by Steve Sunderland by Mike Henson I lost my wallet yesterday At the Public Library. I was in the Education and History section Looking for books on the Stories of the first Jews and B l acks in the US. What was in my wallet And lost? I lost the peace plan For the Middle East for 2004-5 . I lost the formula for Reconciliation between poor and rich In our world. I lost the genetic code that explains why all the races are one. I lost the 1 0 items that Guarantee rec.onciliation Between husbands and wives In conflict. I lost the battered program Page 15 Pit Bul l by JH Tiny, warm pet on a rope, g I feed the birds outside my window. dra ging on the ground, My father made a bird feeder of cedar. cringing, It is small, square, and humble. sighing, The birds don1t care. begging, It is battered: the lid bright, innocent eyes. blew off the hinges in a storm years ago. Gettin' ready for the big fight, small puppy. The birds don1t care. Teach you how to kill. The nifty plastic shield that held up the seed in a stack Cinder block as play toy. and dropped it into a feeding tray­· Chewin ' on broken glass. that1s gone to6. Momma' was a killa' , The birds don1t care. don't know who daddy is. The feeder is nothing more than a three-sided box Chicken bones and bread for dinner, screwed to the window frame. drink.in' from the street oil-pond. The birds don1t care. Wantin' to run away, the sides of the feeder and the windowsill but can't 'cause the rope is too tight, are white with bird shit. and the grip is too strong, but the birds don1t care a bit. and there ain't nothin' on the other side they perch in a row, waiting for the bonanza- anyway. . . They scrap and chatter and argue over their places­ . sparrows, doves, an occasional pigeon and a jay -regular as the meter manwho calls, sharp and piercing if he is not fed when he demands. Time and Time Again by Robert Manassa Of the Bar Mitzvah Of Jesus. I ' ve been told since I was a lad Things are goo, but oft times sad I lost the list of all of The reason I can't imagine why My children's birthday and I laugh and then I cry all of my wives date of marriage. I lost the special picture No one knows nor can predict the out­ Of my older brother, Lew, come of things And me when we We can't run away from reality Were smiling on the beach Nor do we have wings to fly. At Coney Island. We sit do wn to reason it out I lost the pictures of We' re only left with a world of doubt My grandchildren- Time anti Time Again. the newest and the oldest ones, The brown, black and beige. With only a few ideas left unsaid I lost the key to my The only thing left to wonder about Safety deposit box that is dread Holds a list of what I ' ve Time and Time Again Forgotten I had put in it. by Jimmy Heath I reach for the phone to Call the police and see At my feet A brown wallet. I pick it up and look Inside and see The face of love on a message: "Nothing is ever lost." Bingo in Washington Park �News & Editorial STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Page 16 Words from the Evangelist, (Perilous Times) someone who five minutes before It is perilous times when Pepper and Monzel are preaching were sitting quietly enjoying the to the public that providing secure day is on their way to jail. My question to you communities is the motivation behind their decision to work for becomes does this make our an agreement that would keep community safe? Then we have the Shell Convergys in Cincinnati. It is perilous times when the station at Liberty and Walnut with communities, which are being its young entrepreneurs. On most secured, are being subjected to days they are very helpful to the unfair ordinances such as the no customers and the station loitering and panhandling attendant, but on others there registration. It is perilous times arises a need to call the police and when the Cincinnati Police are their arrival does not always bode being called to violate their oath to well for our young entrepreneurs; protect and serve, and asked to yet the ladies plying their trade in abuse and misuse the rights of our the same area seem to go disenfranchised and unnoticed. Again I ask, does this make underprivileged citizens. our community safe? The pictures you see here I also conduct ministry in were taken as I was doing ministry · in Over-the-Rhine on several Camp Washington, South different occasions. Twelfth and Cummingsville, Avondale, Winton Vine as we all know is an area Place, Pleasant Ridge, and Price where people tend to cqngregate as Hill. I also conimunicate with they conduct their business in the clergy and community leaders stores. Making purchases, and throughout other parts of the city. cashing checks. On any given day Therefore, I can tell you on some the police will have roused some authority that othe_r communities poor soul from their perch, and are not being made safe by the depending on the circumstances, abuse of the disenfranchised homeless and mentally ill. Nor can work, but only when all does the misuse of a loitering affected parties are at the table ordinance against young discussing the problems and entrepreneurs help make our producing solutions. City Council, communities safe. Cincinnati Police, and DCI must Is it going to take a federal court to make all our communities include the homeless and youth at the table. safe without the abuse and misuse Otherwise the pictures we will be of our disenfranchised and seeing are those of a underprivileged citizens? confrontational nature as the The Apostle Paul wrote to problems in our empowerment the Corinthian Church almost 2000 zone communities escalate out of years ago regarding their disregard control. of those they considered less than I have been doing some themselves. He reminded them that exciting ministry with the United those who considered themselves to Church of Christ here in Cincinnati, be of the body of Christ were many and have been privileged to members, yet one body. So the participate in some educational foot cannot say, because I am not opportunities that I will be sharing the hand, I do not belong to the with you in the months to come. body. God did not put us here to be AWOL Ministries will soon have a divided, but to have equal concern new Program Director so we can for one another (I Corinthian provide more Christian counseling 1 2 : 1 2-26) and referral services. Call As our disenfranchised and underprivileged citizens suffer we 349-5 1 1 9 (5 1 3) 36065, or write P.O. Box Cincinnati, Ohio 45236. suffer. We must find a way to include all in the decision making process to help provide safe communities for all. Community God Bless You All, Rodney L. Sutton, Sr. The Evangelist Problem Oriented Policing (CPOP) Race in C incinnati gourmet meals, golf, and have sex motivated. For instance, Sands with their spouses while locked up. Montessori School was visited by by Brian Garry Poor and blacks steal a package of in the job/employment/income Having grown up in Bond field? Let's go further. Let's look Al Gore while he was running for baloney and get shot in the chest by president, and called "a diamond." Hill, I was given a very different at education in Cincinnati. Public perspective on race than your the Cincinnati police, as I It was the only Montessori in the schools contain more than downtown area. Now it has been av rage white male in Cincinnati. I personally witnessed at the Walnut black students. Why is this when moved out of the "inner city" to the consider this experience a blessing. Hills Kroger's. Why this serious Cincinnati is only approximately disparity, this discrepancy, this privileged area of Mt. Washington. Cincinnati is approximately 50% 50% black, 50% white, with a sprinkling inequality of treatment? For three years, grades seventh, the white students go to school, of other races. All of our city and why? In addition, why is it that employment should reflect this 70% black? Tell me, where do all All poor and black people want in Cincinnati is to be treated eighth, and ninth, I attended Walrwt Hills High School. 90% of those labeled as LD are color balance. For instance, our equally, and to be given the same black? Could those numbers use a police force, city paid construction opportunity, and rights as rich and little evening up? white people enjoy. Is that leaned over to me and asked where difficult? Why? Please explain to I lived. I replied that I lived in contractors, Cincinnati public school employees, and city There are limited land and While there, in Latin class, a pretty girl from Mt. Washington limited units of living space in administration should reflect this me why this is so hard. Aren't we North Avondale. She leaned back Cinci nati. Therefore, for one racial balance, but it doesn't. Why taught as children to be fair, just, over and asked, "Isn't that where white person to move back, one honest, and to share? What is up . all the n------ live?" I mention this not? Some studies reveal black person must be displaced. with our current city not to paint Mt. Washington with a · Cincinnati to be the sixth most What gives these people'the right segregated city in America. That is administration, that when we rise broad stroke brush, or to make to just come back and steal up and demand what is. rightfully blanket statements, but rather to not a distinction to be proud of. In someone else's property? Is it right Cincinnati, the boundaries of ours, i.e. freedom, equal treatment, illustrate the deep division of the to engage in a hostile invasion into "inner city" from the outlying areas, neighborhoods are the boundaries and opportunity, do they dig in someone else's neighborhood? of race and class, and unfortunately their heels and resist allowing us to including East, West, and to the Over-the-Rhine is Palestine. And North. in Cincinnati, race and class, more have what God has given us? Why Vine Street is the DMZ. The riot often than not, go hand in hand. must Pharaoh harden his heart? was the rebellion of the oppressed One plague, the uprising, has come. o illustrate this concept, let's look I think I have talked enough about the problem: rich people not who want the right not to be How many more plagues must sharing, building their wealth on the Cincinnati. For example, the pushed into encampments. Do rich , white people have the "right ,- to come? What is next? Why do they hacks of the poor while isolating average income of a black person insist on tearing down homes and themselves from poor and black evict poor people from their moving poor and black people out people. Let's talk about the at income and color statistics in in Cincinnati is $ 1 6,000 per year, homes? Some rob with a gun. while the average income of a of the city? How can they justify solution. The solution is Some rob with a peh. The white Opportunity, placing neighborhoods white person is this? Where is our mass protest man robs with a pen, and steals against this obviously racially first, and Equality for all people. more than all the poor and black motivated closing of Cincinnati's O.N.E. Cincinnati means we cannot largest apartment community? truly move forward unless we all $24,000 per year. That means that for every dollar the average white person makes, a people steal put together, and do black person only makes vety little, if any time in jail. If they 66 cents. Could this fact demonstrate racism do go to jail, they get to eat · Cincinnati Public Schools: This whole CPS plan is racially move forward together as one, O.N.E. Cincinnati ! exists as a forum for the expres ion 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 �News & Editorial STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 Take a Wal k i n my Shoes you desperate. had that training. mad, but pounding on the door by Dan Newth That little hamster driving and yelling have little effect other the rumor mill has been working than swollen knuckles. It was a overtime lately. metal door. Isn ' t it funny that Several "grass roots" something air tight isn't water organizations heard comments, tight? You feel something dribble through the grapevine, that the down your leg. [Portland, Oregon] City Council was displeased with them. It restroom? You walk around - started after Crossroads had the well, more- like shuffle, asking at audacity to hand out sleeping offices and restaurants. The most bags, a demonstration of the common reaction is a scrunched needs of Portland's homeless, in up nose. front of city hall. Then, members . Congratulations. You have of Crossroads addressed the City acquired a homeless aura: The Council, presenting the radical combination of perspiration and concept that people should have a diarrhea make you authentic. right to sleep. Well you' ve made it to the ..... I have a friend who thinks Salvation Army. Relief at last. City Council members have an You knock on the door and the opportunity for spiritual growth; guy you see at the reception desk He' d like to extend an open through the glass ignores you. invitation to the City Council : Feelirtg the fuse shorten you yell Leave your cash and credit cards out the urgent need to use the at home, and spend a day and damn toilet. Suddenly, desk guy night in the homeless system. pays attention to you. He will You could challenge your now be able to exercise his small immune system by eating bit of power by refusing you breakfast at the B lanchet House, access to the bathroom. The irony after that you may decide to - that someone that has been purchase your lunch. Time to homeless (the desk guy) exhibits panhandle. Holding a sign will so little compassion to another most likely generate a visit from human being enduring the the friendly "Clean and Safe" powerlessness of being homeless cops. They present an - escapes you for the moment. that in reality they are little more your way. The Adult and Family than security guards. They may Services office is across the street. offer you a place to stay but don ' t We can always rely o n the believe them. The j ails are full . government, can't we? Why not You end up being ordered priorities. The pain is causing you McDonalds. You ' re still hungry, to walk stooped over. Your face you ask around for a place too eat. is pale and grimaced. As you S alvation Army feeds at walk by a couple of construction 2 3 :30 p.m. Waterfront Park and chill out comment, "Watch the tools. 90 There goes another junkie." You get a feeling it was directed a.t see hundreds of people laying around, enjoying the blue sky, So you enter the AFS dealers. The police know who the · office. About a dozen people are · waiting in the lobby for their numbers to come up. Three person lying down wrapped in a social workers are at the front blanket. Heck, it's too hot for counter, one with a client, the blankets, anyway. other two are chatting and joking A sudden urgency comes upon you: The-call-of-nature, red dispenser." And the social Then you add in a subdued tone, worker turns away. "May I please use another abdominal cramping with that with each other. You have just entered the "Client Zone." . Approaching the two social workers, you stand at the for public restrooms ! This is a counter for a few moments great time to practice the funny waiting for acknowledgment. walk. You know, short quick Social workers know damn good strides with the muscles of your and well they have a lot of power gluteus maximus clenched. to influence a client's life. Subconsciously, they understand outside the bathroom? Well, it it is OK to feel superior to the seems some druggie has been client. It takes training and effort occupying the restroom for the to maintain sensitivity to the past clients' needs. These two ain 't minutes. Now you ' re restroom." "THE B ATHROOM ! The security guard shows WHERE' S THE B ATHROOM ! " Your frazzled nerves have no give. "I'm going to have to snapped. ask you to leav now." Just as the anger starts to The social workers have now evaluated your case and overwhelm you it is replaced by determined it looks, sounds and humiliation. The Blanchet House smells like a nut. One social breakfast has broken free in a worker signals the security guard noisy wet slide to the floor. You while the other addresses you like now have the complete attention a child, "Yelling is inappropriate of everyone in the room. The behavior for this office. If you smell is making you feel ill, will please take a number. and sit people are moving away from down you will be helped as soon you. You tum and wall\_ out the as possible." · door, swearing to yourself you "Can I help you?" you hear will never show your face in that the voice of the secu ity guard. office again. "Yes I need to know where the restroom is," your voice is a Reprinted from Street little shaky and the pain is making Roots, Portland, Oregon. DEAR R EADERS ! Send us you r -Vendor Stories Do you have a favor ite Streetvibes Vendor that you would like to tell us about ? Send us your stories or comments to: Streetvibes @juno.com or Streetvibes 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati. Ohio 45202 Know Your Brochure The Know Your Rights got-to-go-now feeling. Thank god 45 UNDER THE INFLUENCE !" Available ! drug deal if they see a homeless Is that an angry mob defensively state, "I AM NOT Rights . you. sunshine and easy access to drug past a You feel insulted and "But I just need . . . " and. you' re' cut off again. Scottsdale pick-up, you hear the degrees. When you get there you dealers are but will race building." workers sitting in an old p.m. now. Head to because the mercury is at influence to re!Ilain in this counter," states the social worker. Today, you have other just enough to get a burger at It's be helped at the information while in the neighborhood? managed to scrounge up a dollar, don' t allow anyone under the "Take a number and you ' ll apply for government assistance to move along. Luckily, you closed," the guard says, "and we wondering . . . " and you ' re cut off. Desk guy sends you on intimidating attitude considering "The clients' restroom is "Excuse me, but I was "The numbers are in the Where is another Page 17 Brochure is now available at the Coalition's office. The brochure is a legal guide for Cincinnati ' s homeless and covers a person 's basic rights when interacting with . the police, as well as some local laws that might be of interest to the ' homeless population. If you are a homeless person or if you work with homeless people and would like to obtain free copies of the brochure for yourself or your " agency, please call 42 1 -7803, or • stop by the Coalition office and pick one up. �Page 18 STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 B u s h Sa i d . . . . A n d I Say. . . . by Ali Khalid Abdullah Fund reported that nearly one During the presidential election 0{ 2000, · George W, Bush said he would "leave no child behind." Well Mr. B ush, with all due respect, you have left many children behind. You have left them several hundred miles behind as you push for military conquest in foreign lands that promise the Big Pay Day in Oil and other natural resources vital to Big Business and capitalism. You have left children behind with your new tax cuts, which will benefit those who are making below poverty wages or poverty wages, thus causing the children of poverty to be pushed further back. 200 1 lived in a family with an annual income of less than half the federal poverty level (disposable . income below $7 ,064 for a family of three, including food and housing benefits). Over one million black children are left behind in extreme poverty, according to Children' s Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman. I say that the Republican Party has never been concerned for the poor. Not even Abraham Lincoln's Republican Party cared about the suffering of poor black children, or else he would not have told the borcl,ering slave You have said how the states (during the Civil War) that nations children is our most precious and vital resource, but when a mother can't afford to buy her child new clothes and must go to the thrift store and barely have enough money to feed them, what importance do you place on this precious and vital resource? And hoe far behind are those children that you promised not to leave behind, Mr. B ush? With the growing numbers of extremely poor black chi ldren, which is at its highest level in million black children in 22 or 23 years, according to the Children' s Defense Fu d, how do you j ustify your billions of dollars . per day expenditures for military ­ occupations of foreign countries? The Children' s Defense they could keep their slaves as long as they did not fight against the Union. I say the two-party . system (republican and Democrat) are both the same, only difference i s one is more open with their agenda while the other is more covert - but the end results are usually the same. I say we ought to stop believing in campaign slogans and speeches and begin to develop our own structures, ways . and means for our children and ourselves . I say it is high-time that so-called revolutionary activists for social justice take a stronger stand and begin tackling these "government", along with bug very real issues and not overlook corporations, the mil itary them because your focus is industrial complex and the prison outreached on global matters, industrial complex . while neglecting the more imminent needs domestically. I say to the revolutionary The B ush Administration plans to dismantle programs like START, and block-grant activists that if you can spend the Medicare, as well as the type of money it takes to organize Children's Health Insurance rallies and huge demonstrations ­ Program. why not use that money to help Though there is research our poverty-stricken children? that suggests that overall poverty Children of all races, nationalities has declined among black and ethnicity? Why not lobby for chi_ldren, this research has not them? highlighted the condition on the I say we need to shift our record-breaking increase of attention away from simply giving children living in poverty. workshops and talks on the subject matters that do not Extreme poverty. While Bu sh has the concretely include the needs of military so-called "liberating Iraq" children at its most basic level. and previously claimed to have All the parades; · "liberated Afghanistan" from demonstrations _and rallies, rock what he called an "axis of evil", and bottle throwing, or the then why aren't children being trashing of police cars will not liberated here in Amerikkka from help feed a hungry child, or give the political rhetoric of mass that child shelter, a balanced diet destruction which keeps them and health care needs. desperately in need and without We know B ush has left children behind. We know Bush · vital necessities? \ The time is NOW that we has lied to us (as all previous focus more attention to this politicians have done) to be national and international elected into office - so why not problem, rather than ignore these focus our attention on doing for grim facts in order to protest other the "left behind" child rather than issues while children go to bed continue to seek handouts and hungry: favors from the government, which no longer means you and I, but the billionaires and multi­ millionaires who control the course of direction for career politicians, who ' ve become the UDGET S U R PLU S �//F _,_�j}J Privatizing the budget surplus. Comments can be sent to Ali Khalid Abdullah, s/n #148130 16770 S. Watertower Drive, Kincheloe, MI 49788 . �Page 19 STREETVIBES Sep tember, 2003 F RAC ( Food Researc h· a n d Action Ce nter) N ews The News in Brief and a Look Ahead On August 12th, Representative Allen Boyd (D­ FL) visited Bellevue Middle School in Tallahassee to discuss with students the connection between good nutrition and good results in school and to present to Florida Impact a $1,000 Victory Against Hunger award from the Congressional Hunger Center (CHC). Florida · based nonprofit Food Rese rch community groups and public and Action Center. 'The Stat entities to sponsor" the Summer Education Office is not providing Food Program policies that will technical assistance and one-on­ allow the Summer Food Program one guidance to new sponsors; ' and Child and Adult Care Food and rural areas," and state options "With the federal government being limited by deficit, rece sioil, and obstinate conservative leadership, it will be left to the states and NBCSL members for pragmatic, progressive policies _which can improve the lives of America's working families. We want to (See "Mayor Seeks Review of Feeding to expand CACFP to suppers in Program," by Valerie Strauss, afterschool programs." NCSL Washington Post, 8/1 2/03) . Perry reaffirnis its longstanding support was also featured on News for school lunch and school more on these: issues, link to the but efforts to ensure that only award, noted that federal child web site (www/ncsl.org) of the eligible children are served must nutrition programs address National Conference of State not have a chilling effect on household food insecurity and Legisl tures (NCSL), whose program participation for hungry stimulate local economies. animal meeting approved ·a education and ultimate future self­ sufficiency of young children." NCSL cautions, "[A]ccurate eligibility determination i s important in any federal program · children." Also new on the NCSL technical assistance on setting up revised nutrition policy calling for site is "Use of Non-Cash Supports feeding site visits for elected greater access in Food Stamp and by Former TANF Recipients. " Stamp Program, including those "While the most severe forms of malnutrition and starvation that prevailed through the 1960s have largely disappeared, some 33 million people live in households that aren't sure where their next meals are coming from-those whom policy analysts call the food insecure. When the that restore benefits to many legal nutrition programs under the · Lieberman, The Nation, 8/ 1 8-25/ action center." Debra Susie, who accepted t e For in America," by Trudy 03). summer food program this year. Florida counties to sponsor the "Hung available in more neighborhoods breakfast programs "as critically aggressive outreach strategies in less inequality. "' (Source: Program (CACFP) "to be important to the well-being, helping to sign on five north bottom were higher and there was said Kim Perry, director o f D.C. Go to FRAC's web site (www.frac.org) for information about Food Stamp Program implementation as well as news on upcoming reauthorization of child nutrition programs. For and recognized by CHC for ·its 'Food stamps Hunger Solutions, a project of the Channel 8 TV. Impact was nominated by Boyd and Action Center. were more available, wages at the officials, contact child nutrition programs. NCSL evollinger @ frac.org or declares, "The Food Stamps, eteller@ frac.org. For more Emergency Food Assistance, WIC information on child nutrition and Child Nutrition program legislation, go to http:// alleviate and prevent hunger and www.frac.org/html/ enable families to improve their federal_food_programs/ health and be more productive at cnreauthor/cnrc.htin school and work." It applauds the "D.C. Mayor Anthony Wiiliarns yesterday asked his staff to review the city's summer feeding program for children, which has been criticized as ineffective by anti-hunger organizations," reported the Washington Post on August 12th. "Last school year, 42,2 1 0 2002 law changes in the Food children i n the District were in work with you. The United Food and Commercial Workers lritemational Union (UFCW) with 1 .4 million members, is North America's largest private sector union, and together, we can work for state-level victories* .As the recession spreads, hunger will grow. To ensure food sufficiency­ especially for children, retires, and the disabled-the food stamp program can be a lifesaver. However, a recent United States Agriculture' Department (USDA) report ·says hat four out of ten eligible recipients are not being served. As the program is 1 00% federally funded, with administrative costs · split 50/50 between state and federal governments, state dollars go a immigrants give states options to Older Americans Act were created long way. Additionally, USDA streamline operations and "quality in 1 972, authorizing special food provides funds for outreach control" measurements of programs for the elderly, it was payment accuracy. It identifies Richard Nixon who pushed for areas for further improvements in more funding. Tmoughout the in your community. A small benefit access and adequacy, such 1 970s few Americans would have investment l.n outreach pays big as elimination of the cap on the disputed the idea that the federal [the free or reduced price school shelter deduction. On the child government had a major role to (Source: "State B udget Deficits lunch] category. Last summer, nutrition front, its policy, · among play in feeding the hungry. Makes it Hard to be Optimistic," programs, further enhancing the ability to reach eligible recipients dividends in combating hunger." by Michael J. Wilson, Chief 1 4,848 children were served, a other things, supports : full ' Hunger was a problem we came decrease of 40 percent compared funding of WIC, " policies that much closer to solving in the Lobbyist, Legislative and Political with 200 1 , according to the D.C.­ will make it easier .for non-profit 1 970s,' says James Weill, Affairs Department, UFCW, president of the Food Research National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) News, July 2003 ) . Vendor.: 80 cents Printing and Production: 20 cents here our ol lar oes The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal o verhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. · Please call our office at 421-7803 for more informa­ tion about the program. Many thanks for your support. / Prepared by Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), 1875 Conn. Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009;. 202-986-2200 x3016 www.frac.org �.. ,....,., ... .,.,,,.. ... · .. --._..... ·-·- --- eed Help or 557-2873 762-5660 761 -1 480 Friars Club 381 -5432 . Drop Inn Center 721 -0643 Haven House 863-8866 471 - 1 1 00 72 1 -4580 Excel Development 632-71 49 Women's Crisis 859-49 1 -3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel Miami Purchase 241 -0504 OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 ReSTOC 381 - 1 1 71 Tender Mercies 639-7056 241 -0490 TREATMENT: Women 961 -4663 First Step Home 24 1 -2965 Full Circle Program 72 1 -0.643 Men TREATMEN , Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1 853 381 -4941 House Formed >}n 1984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitiona{ living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that Cincinnati is an inclusive community, meeting the needs of all of its citizens. Join the fight to end homelessness; contact the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless at (513) 421-7803, 1506 Elm Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 .C;rectfer Circ.ifUlQti Ceat AJ()I S\ lhe ·.,:. r- Prospect House 921 - 1 61 3 Starting Over 961 -2256 TREATMENT: Both N .A. _Hopeline 820-2947 A.A. Hotline 351 -0422 C . C.A.T. 381 -6660 Talbert House 684-7956 - Transitions, Inc 859-49 1 -4435 VA Domiciliary 859-559-50 1 1 DIC Live-In Program 72 1 -0643 OTH E R SERVICES: AIDS Vol unteers of 42 1 -2437 Cincinnati Appalachian Identity Center 62 1 -5991 231 -6630 Beech Acres Center for Independent Living Options 241 -2600 Churches Active in Northside 59 1 -2246 Cincinnati Health Network I t I 1 Coalition for the Homeless 42 1 -7803 Hamilton Co. Mental Health Board 946-8600 Mantal Health Access 558-8888 Point Hamilton Co. TB Control 632-7 1 86 Health Rsrc. Center 357-4602 Health Van 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission 221 -361 9 Legal Aid Society 241 -9400 Center 271 -5501 Madisonville Ed. & Assis. McMicken Dental 241 -5525 St. Francis/St.Joseph Goodwill Industries 771 -4800 Mary Magdalen House Garden St. House (Veterans) 241 -1 064 Fransiscan Haircuts 65 1 -6468 Tom Geiger House 961 -4555 Mission Joseph House 241 -2563 Homeless Mobile HOUSING: CMHA Welcome House 859-431 -871 7 Center 357-4602 Lighthouse Youth Center (Teens) 861 - 1 1 1 1 St John's Housing 651 -6446 872-9259 Salvation Army (Youth) I nterfaith 1 -888-872-9259 381 -4242 Emanuel Center Foodbank Caracole (AIDS) Hospitality Contact Center Freestore/ SHELTER: Both Anthony House S H E LTERS: Women and Chi ldren YWCA Battered Bethany House 661 -4620 Mt. Airy Center Volunteers of Amer. 381 - 1 954 please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below. (Toll Free) ,,.t"""" ...,...,,- . - 961 -0600 Community Action Agency 569-1 840 "-··· - -�� --·-··-- ..-..--, -!--.- ------------- Want to Help? If you need help or would like to help Women's Shelter ..----�'....-- 721 -48 1 1 Clinic 352-6363 Our Daily B read 621 -6364 Peaslee Neig'hborhood Center · 621 -551 4 Project Connect Homeless Kids 357-5720 St. Vincent De Paul 562-8841 The Emergency Food Center 471 -4357 Travelers Aid 721 -7660 U nited Way 72 1 -7900 VA Homeless 859-572-6226 Women Helpin Women g 872-9259 MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON (Butler County) St. Raphaels (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 863-31 84 Salvation A my 863-1 445 Serenity House Day Center 422-8555 Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Families/Singles) 423-4673 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2003 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: Homeless Under Attack; Protecting People Who Live Outside Pg 2: Editorial Pg 3: Donate Pg 4: Reader Mail Pg 5: Looking Away from the Homeless Pg 6: The Peace Village Pg 7: The Peace Village Continued Pg 8: The Lifestyles of the Rich and Less Caring Pg 9: On Getting Along Pg 10: North American Street Newspaper Association Members Gather in Quebec Pg 11: Through Our Eyes Pg 12: Midwest Rally Against Racism Held to Challenge Police, City’s Monochrome Bias Pg 13: What’s Happening with TANF Reauthorization Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: Words from the Evangelist, (Perilous Times) Race in Cincinnati Pg 17: Take a Walk in My Shoes Pg 18: Bush Said…And I Say… Pg 19: FRAC News 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 September 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Steve Shockley Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Elain Coffy Elizabeth Linville Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Bias Brendan Goodwin Bush Cincinnati Elain Coffy Elizabeth Linville Evangelist Food Research FRAC Georgine Getty Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath Mary Gaffney mental health Midwest News & Editorials panhandling Peace Village Quebec Race Racism Rally Reader Mail Steve Shockley Street Newspaper Association TANF War https://streetvibesarchive.net/files/original/8046db7c76c8d047894f2e20258a6a8b.pdf db67c81dc635d8b89c42bb6057ea5307 PDF Text Text Cuba in Photos p_age 12 Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless �• October 2003 City Hall; Move Homeless From Under B idges! and under the bridges. Working with the police and social service homeless and advocates. agencies, many of the homeless photo's and story by Jimmy Heath have been moved into programs or On Wednesday, September housing. A temporary restraining 17th, Cincinnati City Council voted order issued by U.S. District Judge on a resolution allowing the city Susan Dlott expired over a month and police to immediately remove ago, and many of the homeless homeless individuals living under people already have left the camps. bridges and highway overpasses. Attorney Jennifer Kinsley The city has already erected no filed a lawsuit in July on behalf of trespassing signs in areas used by Don Henry, a homeless man the the homeless. city attempted to evict from Although the areas are beneath an overpass at Third Street public property, according to the under the Clay Wade Bailey city solicitor the city has the right Bridge. (See Streetvibes cover to remove individuals who pose a story, August, 2003) Kinsley, who "public safety threat to themselves continues to represent the or to the general public." Although homeless, promised to fight in loosely defined, the "safety threat" court the legality of any new city is being used by city council to sweeps. A variety of people spoke move homeless people from areas against the current resolution that might be in clear view of the during the public speaking portion general public, thereby tarnishing the city's image. of the City Council meeting. Elaine The author of the Coffey gave an emotional response resolution, Councilman Chris to the resolution, "I've been onzel, was outraged when he homeless too, and I know what it is saw a person defecating in public like. Why don't you do something while driving in his car with his about the dope dealers that are family. Monzel said more needs to loitering on my street? Why areq't be done. trespassing laws enforced against "It's a public health issue, a them?" public safety issue," said Monzel. Roger, a man who is "I just believe the current situation currently living under a bridge in in this city is unacceptable." An downtown Cincinnati told council, encampment near the Spring Grove "We are human beings, just like Avenue exit from Interstate 75 has you all." been there undisturbed for about Georgine Getty, executive five months, Monzel said. director of the Greater Cincinnati The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless said, Coalition for the Homeless has "the people who live under these been working to help coordinate bridges are among the most outreach to people living outside "We Don't Need More Laws," say :l ·t$ .. ------ ---..... 0 TRESPASSING . TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH O.R.C. 2911.21 No Trespassing sign posteinear bridge homeless encampments Roger Kiskaden addresses City Council challenging for social services to find, engage and assist. The outreach network in Cincinnati grows stronger and more committed every day. However, when homeless camps are swept, it gives homeless people one more reason to distrust the system and frustrates the outreach workers attempts to keep necessary contact with people." Over the past month, the Homeless Coalition has worked diligently with social service agencies, police and homeless individuals to propose sustainable solutions to moving people out from under bridges. "We all agree that human beings should not live under bridges...The city has conducted sweeps before. This city still has people living under bridges," said Getty. "If we continue to.sweep people away without treating the reasons that they became homeless in the first place, we will continue to have people living under bridges." There continued to be much discussion among more compassionate members of City Council as to whether the current proposed resolution would just make life harder for people living outside. "Out of sight does not mean the issue of homelessness goes away. It does nothing but move them from one place to anothe,r place," said Council Member Laketa Cole who voted against the ordinance. "It seems to be an overreaction to the whole problem of homelessness," said Council Member David Crowley. "I view • "f"" this issue as almost one of meanspiritedness." "I don't think it is mean­ spirited at all," said Mayor Charlie . jl!JlU G Luken, m defense of Monzel s resolution. "What we are talking about are aesthetics. We are not talking about changing anything but the way it looks," said Councilmember Minette Cooper in opposition of the ordinance. 5'It's the city 's responsibility to stand up and protect properties, especially properties they own, for all the citizens," Monzel said. "The lack of compassion showed by the five city council members who voted for Monzel's resolution tonight was absolutely shocking," said Georgine Getty. · · · , Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Ho111eless �STREETVIBES October, 2003 Page 2 ON A' SCALE OF ONE TO A HUNDRED, . HOW MUCH DO YOlJ BIS-AGREE WITH THE CITY'S TREATMENT OF CINCINNATI'S HOMELESS? ------------------------------- 1 w1u DONATE: [fil I s21 I I S4o I I s&0 I I s11 I Is111I He's only 18 months old and already he's trapped in the cycle of homelessness in Cincinnati. His mother needs an affordable place to live and a job with a living wage as she escapes a life of domestic violence. The current treatment of homeless individuals in our city means that he may never be able to live in a home of his own. There are 25,000 people in Cincinnati that experience homelessness each year. More than one-third of those are women and children. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless believes that by addressing the root causes of the problem through education, advocacy and coordination of services, we can end homelessness in our city. The more support we have from the community, the further our efforts reach. Please cut the coupon and pick a box. It could mean that one less child will have to live in one. Send your donations to Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless 117 East 12th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Greater Cincinnati Coalition For The Homeless ------------------------------------- �·-·· ·· ' • 4- I . •. STREETVIBES October, Editorial 2003 Page 3 Life Under a Cincinnati Bridge sometimes people react in disgust. by Jimmy Heath, Streetvibes Editor There is certainly a serious story) This, in spite of recent and successful collaborations between and hurtful disconnection between social service agencies, the dream unfulfilled; living under a the general public, politicians and Homeless Coalition, and the police bridge, in a camp on the river, or in homeless persons. to move people out from the It's truly the American I was passing through a clump of bushes near the railroad bridges in a humane manner. tracks. Not exactly the future we Fountain Square one day, and I would hope for ourselves or our observed an interaction that some · children. How and why does a We can all agree that people should not be using the young men were having with a outdoors as a public toilet, but the homeless man who had asked them continued passing of ordinances for spare change. The men person's life reach the point of shows little depth in the analyses of the homeless homelessness? What happened along the way? And why, when condition. No one should there seems to be other options have to live outside, available, would a person choose to without the simple life­ live outdoors in sustaining things, like a 10 degree weather, in the rain, the snow, exposed to shower or a stove, that we not only these cruel elements, but sometimes take for an unforgiving society? What granted. In my drives a person to live outside of the so-called social order? neighborhood of Over­ The the-Rhine, I have answers are as diverse and complex as the varied personalities that witnessed many visiting make up this sometimes forgotten suburban folks partying and ignored segment of our society, New NO TRESSPASING sign posted near former homeless encampment the homeless. There are issues of on Main Street relieving themselves in our alleys and behind our buildings. addiction and mental illness, which entertained themselves by throwing brings with it fear and apprehension some loose change on the ground, and distrust of the systems designed laughing while the disoriented man to reach out to them. Social service agencies are pushed to the breaking chased after the rolling coins. point, hard pressed to find staff and sorry for; the simple-minded men time to devote to gently persuading who entertained themselves at homeless continue to be harassed folks to come in off the street. some poor unfortunate's expense or and ticketed for the same the man chasing the nickels. And for those reasons, and · scattered on the ground and in our parking lots. They walk on Main Street, the so-called entertainment I didn't know who to feel district, with drink cups in hand, while neighborhood folks and the infractions. The middle-class There was the radio talk more, the answers are never simple. The tourists leave their drink cups gentry who live in our To bring the homeless in out of the show host who called for a weather requires an approach that "homeless roundup" to remove of grass at our community center respects the individual nature of homeless people from the city as a toilet for their pets. each person. If their needs aren't because they are "nothing but met, they may feel fearful and run. drunks and derelicts." neighborhood use the small patch Our neighbors and community and the homeless see Part of the perception Blanket solutions and ultimatums these disparities, and they are not the answer. What works for problem is driven by public understand what it means. The one, will not work for another. discussions. A Cincinnati City message to the poor is "get out!" There is a fear by the sidewalk traveling public of Councilman recently spoke in and for those spending money, it's disgust and outrage that he and his "go about your business." engaging homeless people. family had witnessed a homeless Observe the homeless man holding man defecating in public. This so much fear and distrust on the the sign at a downtown corner as Council member sponsored and part of the homeless in Cincinnati. people pass and react. You see fear succeeded in passing an ordinance Apparently, it isn't enough to be in the general public manifest in that called for the immediate only a human being. Maybe living many ways. Most commonly, the removal of all homeless persons under a bridge isn't such a bad homeless person is ignored, others living under bridges and highway idea afterall. increase their distance, and overpasses. (See this month :S cover It is no wonder that there is Vendor Code of Conduct Each vendor must sign and agree to abide by the following code of conduct... 1. 2. Streetvibes will be distributed for a $ 1 voluntary donation. I agree not to ask for donations of more than $ 1. I also understand that I will be able to keep 80 cents of each dollar collected. Streetvibes may only be purchased from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (GCCH). Purchasing or selling unauthorized papers, or from other vendors, will result in the sale of Streetvibes will go to the individual vendor. Falsely stating intent or otherwise mis­ representing is a violation of a city ordinance and may be cause for arrest. 8. I will always present my badge when purchasing papers, and I will display my badge at al times. while vending. Replacement badges are $5 each. 9. There are no territories. I agree that I will not contest territories with other distributors. I will termination from the program. 3. I agree that I to vend after 4. I 12 midnight. 1 0. agree to treat others with respect - other ven­ I will not sell Streetvibes while under the influence strives to be a self­ supporting paper created by people who are effort, I will try to spread the word and write stories if possible. of drugs or alcohol. 6. I will not give a "hard sell" or make someone feel 11. I understand that failure to comply with any of the above statements will result in termination threatened. 7. I agree not to deceive the public by saying that I am collecting for a not-for-profit charity or that I am collecting for the "homeless" in generaL I understand that Streetvibes homeless or formerly homeless. To help in this dors, customers, and GCCH personnel. 5. not sell on private property without permission. will not ask for donations or attempt I will be honest in stating that all the profits from from the Streetvibes vendor program. GCCH reserves the right to terminate a vendor at any time as deemed appropriate. . �STREETVIBES October, Wearing Black 2003 Page 4 It Doesn't Take Much home from the welfare office. Sht by Mary Gaffney know the Lord's Prayer, or ever had no money to feed the meter for the Man in The fall season is slowly had a bible in their hands in their down near the welfare office. And approaching. In fact, by the time lifetime, but still, it is God who has that appointment could be for Black you read this, fall will be here. watched over them from the time many hours. by Gray Dog With the weather, we have had a they were born, until now. I've seen lately where the I remember when I first lot of rain all over the United Maybe some are alcoholic, City has made provisions for some heard Johnny Cash sing, The Man States. It makes you wonder; fires, etc. ·Some use profanity, have to have publicly subsidized parkin! in Black it was in 1971, in Adams storms, earthquakes, etc. and other served time in jail, and some have in the downtown area. But what County where I lived down a strange weather. It brings to mind served their country. What do they about th poor who have to attend hollow where my neighbors farmed a quotation, "Before the end of find? No family. No employment. a life-sustaining meeting and must tocacco and raised herds of beef or time, we cannot tell one season No friends that really understand walk blocks to park or have NO dairy cattle. Every wednesday from the other." them. Some of the homeless are money for parking their not-to­ night, we would gather around a During the weekend, I was not the same people they once good car. It seems if you are small, balck and white set to watch sitting and watching some birds were. Some of them have had homeless or are some category of The Johnny Cash Show. This was and squirrels. And I noticed that great disappointments in life, love poverty of needy people you are in a small farm house that had only they were gathering up leaves and and family affairs. They have stuck. recently gotten electricity and still debris. Some say these little reached a point in their life that The homeless have been had not gotten running water. Half creatures don't have much in the they just don't really care. run from one place to another. M) a dozen of us would meet there in way of brains! But whatever, they But I question is, the parlor, talk until it was time, have the knowledge to prepare for have been where do tum on the set, watch the program, the cold weather and the months to able to talk they want and then tum off the set and talk come. to them. Yes, them to go? some more. I remember a lot of The squirrels have begun to some are There are good music and a lot of good talk. carry food up to their tree shelters. bitter, and some Of course, he always wore The birds are doing the same. will not talk abandoned black, but we never questioned There was something else with you. buildings ­ why. Until the night he sang that that ran across my mind as I Remember as can't they be song. I wear the black for the poor ·observed all of this, watching these fixed up? and the beaten down, he told us, little creatures. The birds have No. Yet those livin' in the hopeless, hungry ·-t.he·m;-t.U<:1.1.-_ nests and the foxes ave ole..,.,.._ -i.-h>+-side of town. He wore black for some humans have no place to lay they are also the prisoner, a victim of the times. looking at their head. He wore black for the sick and the Ah yes, some of you you (Smile) old, for the burnt out druggies, and readers might say, "there she goes to see where projects. .for the dead in Vietnam. again. Talking about the homeless." you are coming from, and what and Yes, we have the Drop Inn And he told us he would Yes that is what I'm doing. why are you talking with them. Center, but it overflows with continue to wear the black until Be ause they are my friends and I These years I have not only needy people. And there are things changed. Things haven1t care for them. And regardless of been exposed to the homeless, but places for the mentally ill changed. The poor still suffer, the what people may say or think, they to many people who are having a homele . u h question still on prisoners still drag out their days, hard time. are children that belong to God my mind is where are the homeless the sick and the old are still left on who has seen fit to place them in A person who rkllew on to go, if they are not wanted? the sideliines of life, and we are this garden of life. welfare, knowing she had an Have you ever stopped to losing young men in a new Some will say, "What do appointment, could not handle the wonder why strange things are senseless war. expense of riding the bus to get you mean they belong to God?" happening in this world of ours? Johnny Cash wore black to Maybe they have not joined a there. The car had no gas, just When God said, "the least you do the end of his days. church or even worship, or even enough to take her there and back unto my little ones, you do unto me. " He didn't say anything about Three Boys and a Fountain age or whatever. He also said, "Love one another, as I have loved you." OK! So please remember, it doesn't take much to give a smile. If you don't want to speak, just give a smile - it won't take your strength or harm your health! For this time, may we all have peace and love for one another. It doesn't take much. Ms. Mary Gaffney is a working member ofAARP. She greets people, answers the phone and handles sales of Streetvibes from the front desk at the Greate1 Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless office in Over-the­ Rhine. · Congratulations 9l0-6 and 3Vii6 tin On Your Wedding 8/29/03 From your In the center of God's Bible School and College is a fountain that attracted the attention of Corey, JD and Jordan. The Methodist Bible School and College is located in Mt Auburn. favorite vendor Eadeae �STREETVIBES October, Page 5 2003 Bulldozing the Homeless by Elizabeth Linville, GCCH Civil Rights Coordinator On Friday, August 29•" at 11 :30 PM, Glenn Dominy and Malachi Prophet returned to their camp under a bridge near downtown Cincinnati to find all of their personal belongings destroyed. It appeared that their property had been bulldozed into nearby bushes. Further investigation by homeless advocates revealed that the camp had been bulldozed late Friday by a private company that had leased the land under the bridge from the city for Riverfest parking. Earlier in August, Glenn and Malachi started to work with homeless advocates and the police to locate individuals who had vandalized their camp. A group of men approached the bridge near Lytle Park where the two men reside and threw rocks and eggs at them and their friends. On another occasion, their belongings were set on fire and Glenn's kidney medication was stolen. While the police were not actually involved in the sweeping of their camp, Malachi and Glenn are now reluctant to work with them in resolving that and any other issues. "I trust no one dealing with thi "said Malachi after the bulldozing. Additionally, they are considering taking legal action for the destruction of their property. "We're going to try to fight this," Glenn informed reporters. While it was legitimate for the city to rent the land out under the bridges for parking, the issue is the destruction of Malachi and Glenn's property. The two men stored their belongings in the rafters of the bridge, not on the land under the bridge. The bridge and the rafters are the property of the Ohio Department of Transportation, while the land is city property. In order for Malachi and Glenn's belongings to be bulldozed, someone had to go into the rafters to remove the items. Also at issue is the fact that lawyers for the city and Don Henry, the homeless individual who sued the city regarding camp sweeps, have been attempting to reach an agreement on the amount of notice the police need to give an individual before their camp is swept. 72 hours would be the normal amount of time given for an eviction. Malachi and Glenn were given no notice. It is likely that the city had no idea that this particular camp would be swept, but they do need to take responsibility for what occurred at the hands of one of their contract employees. The day after the event, the city offered little to Malachi and Glenn. The men refused $200 from one city official, feeling that the offer was a bribe. The city of Cincinnati has a record of making life difficult for individuals who are homeless. In the past year, panhandlers have seen strict restrictions put on their activities and have been required to register at city hall in order to panhandle. Now, the city is focusing on cleaning out bridge camps. City Councilman Chris Monzel has put forth a resolution that would have the city immediately sweep the downtown area of homeless individuals without any notice. He and many city officials seem to have no concern for where these individuals would actually go once their camp is swept. Homeless advocates wonder why the city cannot focus energy on finding help for those who are homeless and solutions for the overriding problem of .homelessness, rather than making life even more difficult for those living on the streets. s� "Okay ... okay I know what your're thinking. I never should have votedfor Bush." . . . t Vendor: 80 cents Printing and Production: 20 here our ollar The Streetvibes program maintains a minimal overhead cost so that our vendors can keep as much of the proceeds as possible. Please call our office at 421-7803 for more information about the program. Many thanks for your support. Peaslee Neighborhood Center 215 East 14th Street Over-"the-Rhine Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (513) 621-5514 Empowering our neighborhood children through peace, art and education �STREETVIBES October, The Peace Village by Dr. Steve Sunderland Page 6 2003 peace, grateful for the Peace 90 years, still full of piss and Village, the Vietnam Vets Sangha, delight at breathing in our world of also in her 20s, about whether the people of Canada, the survivors loving hope. We breathe in and immolation or evisceration would of a year in Israel and the people of out, in and out, and we see our peace beckoning us to enter? I be the best course of action in my neighborhood, Northside, breath as a force for peace in our world. Thanks to all. Who stands at the door of want to believe that there are many awakening people. Sr. Khong Cincinnati, Ohio. The words and guides, many door and gate decides this is not the best course works of Thich Nhat Hahn and keepers, many who know how to of action. Her friend goes ahead Sister Chong Kung fill the posters points during the conference about point in the right direction. This and has a dramatic impact on the with hints of peace, awaiting my our addiction to "watering only the Hahn had made several summer I met at the gate of my peace movement in Saigon. How breath to fill in their meanings. I seeds of war" and ignoring the freedom door, Chan Khong. A do we ever get inside this form of breathe in my greetings to all, I "watering of the seeds of hope." radiant woman, filled with wise and thinking and acting? breathe out my feelings of peace As I listened and drew out my own Sr. Khong's quest for and health to all. I want to breathe picture of my life, I saw the truth in the details of her work for peace, her teamwork with Thay with you all every moment, this insight and the Vietnamese children still starving. Hahn, her role in the development knowing that the feeling of peace is underdevelopment of the mental brief statements about so many of really here right now and spiritual aspects of my touch the earth with in our lives, in our connections to peace. The beauty, and allow the efforts, in our influence of the war images, of Asking us to relax, deep peace of our attempts to touch seeing my self as a "warrior" had ancestors and our peace in our own and taken their toll in my attraction to hearts to fill our others' lives, and in violence and the prevention of being. One of the our facing of the violence. ln my shadows has been highlights of the beauty of the Peace a strong pressure to heal, to grieve, week with Thay Village, namely, you. to rise up as legitimate the unique Hahn and Kong is to I breathe in our way I have survived with remnants have the opportunity teachers' joy as they ofjoy and beauty. I have done this to submerge into her prepare for some usually by hiding my healing self evening program of connection between behind the attacking self I heard, deep relaxation. what we call peace in one of the poems during the Imagine a and the work of sangha, a writer say that she, too, 1000 peace workers stretched out on the Jimmy Heath photo Dr. Steve Sunderland floor, in a dimly lit and cooled gym, listening to Khong of the peace movement and the youtli athe--out had realized that her own life was the radiance of those just no who are carrying on father, just as her civil flgh1s OOtkmoug![' for her Harriet Tubman's story, and the struggle was to make all lives sing in English, then French, then attempt to provide aide to refugees breath of McAuley's story, and the "good enough." Her struggle to Vietnamese the most beautiful before and after the peace all are work of those who continue to honor herself, in her father's eyes, lullabies. Each song opening spelled out in humble and plain counsel vets, children, adults, and .took on the clothing of heroic work another eyelid in our hearts, each prose. Here is revealed many of friends broken by the with youth and vets. "How much sound ringing a distant memory of the efforts to create and sustain a misunderstanding of personal and of life, my life,'' I wondered, "is joy, each moment of the hour, a peace movement through activist political wars. I breathe in the misdirected into camouflaging lifetime of embracing beauty, a and Buddhist principles, all the celebration of those who have peace and joyful experiences in the wave within a wave of the arms time questioning whether peace is found the friend calle peace, in the clothing of war?" and fingers of the beloved. any closer or being driven apart, mirror's reflection, in the marker Shifting to a resonance with action by action. She writes, at the on cardboard, in the computer as my peaceful experiences, in the about this most unusual teacher end of her book, this inspirational words of joy spill out their golden past and in the moment, seemed and so went to the conference message: If tonight my heart rainlets. I breath out in song with more difficult than it was. bookstore to ·buy her ceases to beat, you will see me in our Argentine friends who have my posters beginning to share autobiography, Learning true love: all these sisters and brothers. taught us that singing can bring smiling pictures along with the I wanted to find out more I found how I learned and practiced social There are those who continue my peace and with our Nigerian stories of the horrors. "Where are change in Vietnam, (Parallax Press, work for hungry children, others brothers and sisters who are my happy pictures of peace?" 1993.) This book describes in who enjoy my work of listening to working to seed the hopes of wondered as detail the struggle for peace inside the suffering of people in order to another generation that might live stream within that flowed in this of Vietnam throughout the war and help them be healed. You can see in peace, and with our dear direction. And, so I continue to in the aftermath in such amazing my smile in their look and my children and family and friends who find ways of sharing this unrealized detail, honesty, and grace as to take voice in their words. But you will have kept the breath of peace alive aspect of my inner peace, watering my breath away. Clearly, there is not see my shortcomings in them. and waving in the smoke oflsrael. these seeds, reflecting on peace and no guidebook for making peace The samsara of my shortcomings And more: please breath with me, joy in this moment, and accepting and this is as close as anything I've will end the day this body is as you inhale this letter, your that peace can now have as strong read. Very early in her life she transfarmed into ash and then peaceful side, your side that has a place as war in my pictures and decided to work for peace and becomes a flower again. .. The work just again this moment smiled at work. took herself into the heart of the I have done is the work C!f the realization that you have made everyone. It is not just my work. this village alive with your gift of to unify the diverse groups working As you read these lines and know peace, and that by making your for peace. Everywhere there is that, in a remote area of Vietnam, breath the form of your hopes, you Buddhist and non-Buddhist efforts danger. Who wants peace when children who are severely have shaped the invisible boundary, war is what people have grown malnourished are receiving some the safe and beautiful boundary of accustomed to at the governmental funds from Plum Village, you can what we embrace in our Peace level? Who can get the attention of see that act of love as the Village. In a breath, we can honor the average person and bring them collective work of thousands of those who have come home from into working for peace when all of hands and hearts. All of us, Vietnam, from Iraq, from war torn the incentives are to choose sides indeed, inter-are. neighborhoods right here, and . and work for war? There is an I am sitting surrounded by breath that sound of caring, that unforgettable discussion between my posters from the past three whistle of delight, and the wisps of Sr. Kong and a close young friend, weeks, engulfed in a moment of a breath still hanging on, at 80 and I I began to find the Dr. Steve Sunderland, professor ofSocial Work at the University of Cincinnati, is the Director of The Peace Village, a group of individuals from the national and international community committed to examining all issues of Peace in the world. Dr. Sunderland also heads up Posters-for-Peace which engages people in expressing their visions of Peace, in their own words, through the creation ofposters. �STREETVIBES October, Page 7 2003 Information Systems (HMIS), according to Wired Magazine The discovery of at least seven (www.wired.com). The cases of malaria in southeast . Department ofHousing and Urban Florida has state health officials Development insists the tracking is worried about an even wider necessary because, although HUD outbreak, particularly amQng has.given more than $11 billion the area's homeless population. over the past 15 years, no,.one has One of the seven cases is already a any idea how many people 45-year-old man, and Palm •each federally-supported programs are Cqunty health officials are trying to serving or what kind of benefits. spread the word to other poople these services are having in who spend all their nights sleeping people's lives. Some homeless outside, according to the Palm service providers and community Beach Post,. and privacy activists counter that (www.palmbeachpost.com). The the details gathered through HMIS end of last month, o cials could be used for political agendas distributed fliers in soup kitchens, that only further harm homeless shelters, and even foraged into people. These activists.believe that deep woods hunting down reports of homeless people who had set .up general data on the homeless population would be just as shop in prime mosquito breeding grounds. They are also distributing e:ffoctive as gathering sensitive personal information on in ividual 370 donated cases of the insect people. Homeless advocates also repellents Offi and Cutter. question spending a chunk of By 2004, homeless service money on a tracking system when agencies will have to start ' the money can be used to fulfill tracking the homeless people much more pressing needs. "What they serve or risk losing all of are they trying to figure out, their federal funding. Personal details like social security numbers, whether someone has a shelter: bed on the east side and the west side HIV status, and mental health of town?" asked Chance Martin, history will be recorded through the editor of the San Francisco the federal Homeless Management by Molly Rhodes · street newspaper Street Sheet, in an interview with Wired. "I really don't think there are that many people double dipping for shelter beds. There aren't enough to go around in the first place." seekers from countries like Nigeria, whose love of soccer is all that keeps them sane as they struggle to find work away from their :family and home. After a week of intense summer, they :could.feel like any competition and teamwork, Thanks to a $25,000 scholarship grant, homeless kids living around Salem, Oregon, have a chance to participate in summer camps their families could not otherwise afford, according to the Statesman Journal (news.statesmanjournal.com). The grant, from Mid-Valley Partnership of Marion and Polk Counties, made '\ possible a joint vision between the . A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village and Salem-Keizer Public Schooi Homeless Educatjon program - a chance to clown and play as-other hildren take for granted. The grant not only covers the cost of the camp but will also provide after­ school programs for homeless children. There are an estimated 1,600 homeless children in the Salem-Keizer school district. At least for a couple weeks this other kid. Austria emer.ged victorious in the Homeless World Soccer Cup, Some expressed little surprise that the host team rod over the competition, but even teams that didn't fair as well - the United S ates team placed ninth ­ enjoyed the experience and hoped to see more soccer championship§ in ye s to come. The Cup was organized by the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), who saw the positive impact that similar, smaller leagues were having on homeless people in England; breaking their isolation and giving them a goal to practice for and teammates to support them along the way. The majority of the members of Austria's team were a:ctually immigrants and asylum besting England. · Caregiving, take one transportation is often not easy or Cincinnati and Hamilton County; by John Zeh source, dealing with the healthcare (800) 606-2560 in Butler, Clinton, "Remember to take care of system, jumping through hoops just available. To relieve stress and anger, and Warren counties). to get answers," he added. For yourself first, taking your own Practical issues covered they suggested that providers: feelings and health into account," relief from stress and anger, he identify exactly what is the cause included the importance of. moral recommended turning said Betsy Needles, outreach accept one's own health arid coordinator. of CSA's Caregiver support from people who truly responsibilities over to another feelings be realistic about what one Assistance Network (CAN), understand caregivers' concerns, person and getting respite care. can and cannot do to go that extra "Otherwise there is no way you can stress relief to take care of oneself Asked for how they've handled mile for the recipient recognize the while caring for others, resources such issues, participants urged provide care for someone else." to reveal where and how to get taking a long walk in a park, sitting loved .one's abilities help recipients Some 15 seniors help from several services in the down to read a book, going out for be self-sufficient early-on join a participated in the free area networ ng with other care care group to learn how to make presentation, presented by ice cream, and playing the piano. providers. Southwestern Ohio's Catholic Enjoying music really helps, decisions more maturely sleep· '·'CAREline is your realize it's okay to feel guilty try Social Services at the Clifton agreed Pritchett, because it can Senior Center's high-rise apartment . connection to expertis , resources, and find a balance in what one's relieve the caregiver, and can calm and support," said Pritchett, from doing. the care recipient. "It's important complex in wooded north Clifton Madisonville. Physical factors "Medical research," warned across from Cincinnati State and to find what gives you peace, and Needles, "shows that caregivers outlined by Pritchett included Technical College. The session rejuvenates your spirit," said fatigue from lifting a care recipient, Needles. The presenters stressed have increased fatality rates." At offered a fresh look at the rapidly­ back injury, anxiety, becoming least 25 support groups for changing environment of that obtaining full acceptance of caregivers exist in the region, but more prone to illness (especially caregiving, with timely, relevant help from the family provider is colds), not sleeping enough, and . none are in Clifton, the reports on the latest developments important or Adult Protective neighborhood running from the unhealthy/improper eating due to in the field deemed critical by the Services may step in and place the giving care responsibilities a higher older/ill person in a nursing home, northwest edge of the University of state and federal agii:ig officials. priority than personal needs. Cincinnati's campus and Burnet CAN provides free which even government officials "Caregivers can feel Woods to the Cincinnati State want to avoid. They also outlined consultations with licensed overwhelmed, and that can lead to . why some caregivers decline taking northern campus side. The professionals to families caring for anger, resentment, and an overall loved ones with long-term, a break for themselves, saying: they presenters showed a brief clip (and frustration," said Pritchett. debilitating illnesses. . don't trust outsiders proViding help have the entire 60-minute VHS "Coupled with stress from daily Needles and CAN family outsourcing is not a tradition in the tape to show in full) from last fall's specialist Kenny Pritchett outlined activities such as a job, these family, especially among Hispanics, PBS documentary "And thou Shalt feelings can lead to depression and Honor." '.'It's really well-done," services available to caregivers in who dislike a provider coming in social withdrawal. "Complicating said Pritchett. person or via the agency's 12-hour cost can be a big issu , since adult the problems is a new stress "CARElirie" (513-929-4483 in day care centers can be expensive · · �STREETVIBES October, 2003 Page 8 Editorial Dealing with the Homel·ess under the bridges by Elaine Coffy HOMELESS, HOMELESS. I would really love to hear don't-know what it will take to fix with the Homeless Females: this; you cannot hide these Do you know? go away! A bandage will not fix single parents? (2000) The homeless are starting to are homeless to escape domestic wake up and shake this thing off, violence sititutions. 3.4% of these females are chemical Elaine Coffey alcohol dependant. committees are design to they are starting to realize that they have rights too! They are waking supposedly keep your life simple, 2.9% -of homeless females suffer safe, educational and fun. There is from Hepatitis B/C, aids, herpes, none of this going on in Cincinnati and malnutrition. that I can see. I would like to see that the In October there will be a Homeless have a shelter be put faculties opening up for the into place and be staffed in a large scale, to provide direct services. homeless that have had major Direct services are so greatly surgery needing intense needed in this area in order to supervision, patient aftercare and return these females back into are too ill to go into a shelter or afford a nursing home. This facility society as viable citizens. It is will provide the medical aftercare the season of concerns are turning into fear. The winter that the individual will need until month of 2003 are going to be his or her release from the doctors care. (Approxitmly 30 - 90 days). bitter months. There are no funds After their release from the available to the individuals needing · doctor's care where will they go? shelter. The shelters are all ready On May 21, 2003 there filll on a nightly base. H. U.D. laws were teams of advocates who are so strict, that the old saying, combed the parks, under the "TWO HEADS ARE BETTER bridges, in doorways, and alleys THAN ONE" Makes the living looking for homeless people in situation impossible without the order to gain accurate picture of treatment of eviction that causes homeless in our community. Of the the individual to return to homeless count in the Cincinnati Homelessness again. area alone, we found 193 men, I am willing to bet, if the women, and children sleeping in city of Cincinnati city council the streets of Cincinnati. could review the books and There were 1018 men, provide a way to fund a shelter women, and children sleeping in providing Continuum of Care. the shelter of Cincinnati. In our With this continuum of care, it twenty-year history; GCCH has would allow at least the females to · helped to coordinate the social self -esteem, regain motivation and services of Cincinnati to ensure that become viable citizens. we form a u fied net of support for people experiencing homelessness. The re6ult: one of the best social service networks in they support, and how will their the country. 1018 people received decisions affect you, your family or shelter, clothing, and most inportantly HOPE! They formed a plan to get out from the shadow of these individual to make the homelessp.ess so that they can decisions that will last you in you create a brighter future for affect your children, maybe your grand-children's way of life. Remember that you pay City Council to provide these main issues: Quality of Life, Safety, and J1ealth and Economics. These · this situation. That· 12.1 % of homeless females lifetime and will consequently . individuals and think that they will That 26% of females are married/ Remember that you pay transitional housing);(B) an Kentucky to Indiana.to Ohio.) I This month I would like to deal someone that you know. hotels, congregate spelters, and (homeless going back from People too! candidates stand for, what issues accommodations (including welfare with someone else), floaters Recognizing that Homeless are I strongly suggest each to provide temporary living squatters (people that are staying with theses individuals. register to vote, review what your privately operated shelter designed homeless under the bridges, the of exactly what the city should do readjusts to society, .redeem their (A) a supervised publicly or This survey did not include the from you as readers, your opinions coming int individual who has a primary nig ttime place of abode that is: themselves and their families. The shelter life is better than on the street, but I want more. We ·met the homeless. I must admit that this word needs be repeated over and over again and again. HOMELESS, While we make every effort to provide a forum for those STREETVIBES and the staff of THE GREATER CINCINNATI COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, is not without a voice, responsible for statements, and do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the people whose writings are represented here. · up, voicing their options, needing services and demanding them. You cannot tum your heads and think that it will go away. Look around you the homeless are all around you if you acknowledge it or not, they are until this is taken care . going with direct services HOMELESS MEANS: Homeless person, child or youth" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:(!) an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime place of abode.(2) An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or (C) a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. Anytime you are not the person that the mail come in your name, the rental lease, the telephone bill, the utilities are not in your name, guess what? You Are Homeless! Don't hide the homeless, help them, and remember that the Homeless are people too.! Until next time, remember, send me some feedback, E-mail: elainetco:ffy@yahoo com Remember)" KEEP Y OUR HEAD UP, BECAUSE Y OU KNOW W HAT WILL!" Elaine Tamar Coffy (ETC) �STREETVIBES October, 2003 S U P PO RT E D U CATI O N instead of part-time, I would have By Katrina Furr-Hoffman, Women Blessing Women Toledo, Ohio an Associates Degree and I might not need assistance right now. I There are many changes would also be able to be at home that are taking place at the local when my children get off the bus and state level regarding welfare while saving additional funds reform. I am a welfare recipient from daycare. and I am also an employee for Women Blessing Women. I have been employed for Let's look at the overall picture instead of the here and now. If you want a better society 2 years without interruption. I have also that promotes a low poverty rate, been a student at the University of education is the only way. Toledo for In closing, the 3 years. When I first started my 36 . government has a responsibility months on cash assistance, I was to the poor. I think it's time to re­ pregnant with twins. I was a evaluate the objective of welfare recovering person working on reform. Is the obj ective to personal development. I was promote self-sufficiency or make informed shortly after receiving temporary cuts to the budget? signed by OTR photographer Jimmy Heath. my GED that I only had a short period of time to find employment. I wasn't employable. I lacked work ethics, skills, and the esteem that is needed to become a reliable employee. I was fortunate to find an employer who was willing to work with me, and help me build the skills that I lacked. Not all employers are patient with their employees. As a result, I have worked very hard to stay employed. I have learned new skills and abilities that promote good work ethics and maintaining employment. Although things are starting to look up, there are a number of women who struggle with the same barriers that I have faced. In the beginning of my college career, I maintained a GPA of 4.0. I now have a GPA of 3.320. As you can see, my grades have dropped dramatically. I should be given the opportunity to go to school without any added distractions. After three years of classes, I will have my first degree. It is very discouraging to go to school, build new debts, and maintain a family and excel in any area. Society is doing a great injustice by forcing single women into the workforce when they aren't ready. Give these women the opportunity to become educated. If they maintain a certain GPA and good attendance, they should meet the criteria for food stamps, cash, and medical. If l was given the opportunity to go to school first, receiving benefits until I graduated, I would receive about $4 12 in cash and $2 12 in food $624, plus stamps, totaling daycare for three children, six hours per day. I receive $4 12 in food stamps and the government pays for nine hours for three kids. If I was going to school full-time Makes a Great Gift! 18" X 24" lithograph : Washington Park, Over­ the-Rhine, Winter 1 999. Each print is individually Note: The WAGES ("Work After Good Education is Success'J Campaign of the Ohio Empowerment Coalition advocates that post-secondary education, vocational and GED education be counted as thefull work requirement of Ohio Works First recipients. Ohio Works First (OWF) is the public assistance programfor low­ incomefamilies with children in Ohio. For more informa.tion on W A GES call the Ohio Empowerment Coalition at 1­ 8 77-862-51 79. Purchase benefits the children's Literacy Through Photography program . at Peaslee Neighborhood Center in Over-the-Rhine. . Posters are $10 each, plus $3 for shipping. Send your order and check to: Peaslee Neighborhood Center Attn: Photography ·Program · 215 East Fourteenth Street · Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 or call (513) 621-5514 or visit the website for more information: www.jimmyheath. org �STREETVIBES October, 2003 To Believe Or Not To Believe Page 10 Old St. Mary's Church in Detroit's Greektown just as the news began to break concerning pedophilia in the Catholic Church. As I pondered the images on my website, I was not feeling the warmth from the previous Sunday when I photographed Holy Spirit jn Newport. The Old St. Mary's images from Detroit moved me to photograph Old St Mary 's at 13th and Clay Street in Over-the­ Rhine on Thursday August 7. I photographed one roll of Fuji Velvia slide film with images 1-22 of the church interior and images 23-37 of the exterior. At 12:08pm the sun suddenly broke through the clouds briefly as I was photographing the church's exterior for approximately one second. I felt the intense heat on my head and fortunately pressed the shutter for image number 33. I posted the image number 3 3 on my website on Thursday evening August 7 and began to receive e-mails referring to the "faces" appearing in the clouds and especially in the sunlight. I had not seen the faces, just the brilliant sunlight. I looked back at my website and also began to make enlarged prints of the original slide number 3 3 and also cropped detail images of the sunlight area. To my surprise and delight I began to see the faces also. It gave me a feeling of warmth. I continue to receive e­ mails from people referring to the­ faces in the photograph. I have enlarged and framed the image as a positive print and as a negative print and have exhibited on the comer of 13th and Clay Street three times to the delight of many who have stopped to gaze into the light. Several have seen the faces without any prompting and many have also seen them, once I begin to point to them. I am continuing my journey and am thankful for the light that cai:ne into my camera one Thursday afternoon in Over-the-Rhine. There is so much light in Over-the­ Rhine. One only has to go look for it to see it. To Believe or not To Believe. Story and photos by J. Michael Skaggs l PM on a Sunday afternoon. Not a soul was in sight. Undaunted, I Artists and writers are often spent approximately an hour . surveying the exterior and exposed taught and do best when they one roll of film. I had 37 photos produce their work based on and felt internal warmth as I intense unresolved emotions and launched a new project. feelings. I began a journey in the After seeing the slides from early 1970s as an agnostic after the shoot, I decided to place them completing a catholic education. on my website, While I have not practiced a (www.rohophoto.com) as To formalized religion, I have Believe Or Not To Believe. Upon maintained a sense of value and viewing the images onlipe, I justice for ;ill. Living in Over-the­ decided to place other images in Rhine, operating RoHo Photo . my portfolio that I had Gallery in my loft at 12th and Central Avenue and spending much photographed with religious subject matter. In 1997 and '98 I time on Main Street at Kaldi's had photographed a Passion Play Coffee House have been in Union City, NJ at the Park exhilarating experiences of enlightenment. Theater. It's the oldest continuous running Passion Play in the USA: With inspiration and However, in 1997 the play had a apologies to Shakespeare, I began Black Jesus for the first time. The a photographic journey on a role was alternated every other beautiful sunny day with bright weekend with a white Jesus. puffy clouds in the sky on Sunday I also photographed on August 3 , 2003 . I returned to the Good Friday 2001, the walking of beginning for me and the steps at the Immaculata Church photographed Holy Spirit Church in Mt. Adams with my on Washington St. in'Newport. Holy Spirit was St. Stephen's when photojournalism class that I was teaching at NKU. It was the I attended from grades 5-8 Friday one week after Timothy graduating in 196 1. Thomas's death in Over-the-Rhine I was able to only at 13th and Republic Street. In the photograph the exterior of church. sum.mer of 2002 I photographed The doors were locked and it was ,,, · "I have enlarged andframed the image as a positive print and as a negative print and have exhibited on the corner of 13th and Clay Street three times to the delight of many who have stopped to gaze into the light " "To my surprise and delight I began to see the faces also. It gave me a feeling of warmth. " �STREETVIBES October, Page 11 2003 Street Newspa­ Vendor Fe dback pers and the What customers say about our Streetvibes Vendor, North American Maryann Street Newspaper "She (the Streetvibes Vendor) was ASS'OCiation very well groomed, spoke up so that everyone could hear her. Streetvibes was one of the Keep up the good work. God has orginal founding members of the people out here who hear our North American Street Newspaper . cry! " Association. The mission of the North "Good thing we are all children American Street Newspaper of God We are called to love Association (NASNA) is to support him, love to care, to help all a street newspaper movement that people. It's a mission to help the creates and upholds journalistic and needy, etc. I get put down but I ethical standards while promoting do God's will " - BonlJi&•""'"'" ·'· self-help and empowerment among people living in poverty. NASNA "I always buy Streetvibes because papers. support homeless and very it wouldn t take much to b,e low-income people in 47 cities homeless. All it takes is to miss across the United States and the rent I always give money to Canada. street persons. " NASNA offers technical assistance to new and growing street newspapers, content sharing with the Street News Service , and an annual conference featuring skills building workshops and other topics of common interest. NASNA models itself after the International Network of Street Newspapers , which represents street papers in other parts of the globe. As a sister organization, NASNA is the only coalition that represents the street newspaper movement in North America. Visit the Website at www.nasna.org ·· · The book, Through Our Eyes, a collaboration of Cincinnati s Mother ofMercy High School and the Greater Cincinnati Coali­ tion for the Homeless. . . . Through Our Eyes: Reflections on Homelessness tak s you on a experiential j ourney of lea rning by high school students as they leave their suburban comfort zones to explore the world of the inner-city homeless of Cincinnati. A collaboration of Cincinnati's Mother of Mercy High School and the Greater Cincinnati Coali­ tion for the Homeless, Through Our Eyes attempts to educate other high school students and the larger com­ munity about homelessness through stories of homeless and formerly homeless individuals, reflections, art­ work and photography. The books are available from the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless for DEAR R EADE RS ! Send us you r Vendo r Sto ries Do you have a favorite Streetvibes Vendor that you would like to tell us about? Send us your stories or comments to: Streetvibes@j uno.com or $10 each, plus $3 shipping and handling. Make checks payable to the Greater Homeless, 117 East 12th Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45202. For more information call (5 13) 42 1-7803 Help build a -powerful , resident led organizationl The Streetvibes incinnati Coalition for th epu b l i c Street & Vi ne Street B l oc k C l u bs are fig hting for the rig hts of l ow­ i n come res i dents i n Over-the-Rh i ne and they are going strong. Block c l u bs are form i ng in 1 1 7 East 12th Street Cincinnati. Ohio 45202 The GCCH would like to thank these Starbucks locations for their generous donation of coffee and pastries : 1 1 3 79 M ontgomery Road (5 1 3 ) 469- 1 1 1 1 other parts of the neig h borhood, too. 3366 E rie Avenue Cal l the Contact Center at by 381 -4242 or sto p 1 227 Vi ne Street i n Over-the-Rh i ne to learn more about how you can get i nvolved with these res i dent led organizati ons. E ast Hyde Park (5 1 3 ) 533-3 402 7896 Montgomery Road (5 13) 8 9 1 - 7740 �STREETVIBES October, 2003 Cuba, Land of Political Contrasts Photo Essay by Jimmy Heath Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to be able to j oin a group of older students and faculty of Miami University on a 1 0 day trip to Cuba. The trip was organiz d by Ross Meyer, a graduating student at Miami University, and facilitated by the Washington, DC based organization, Witness for Peace. This was a trip of a lifetime country. A million Cuban expatriates live in South Florida, many fleeing the country in the early days of the Castro revolution, others second and third generation Cuban-Americans . Cuban­ Americans with immediate family still living on the island are limited to only one trip per year, which is why many travel to Cuba illegally. At the airport in Havana, our for me; to visit a country, a mysterious introduction to Socialist society place like non other in our hemisphere, began. Our bus ride from the plane frozen in time and isolated by its took us to a dimly lit building on the politics . Cuba is the land of legend, of airport property where sullen officials salsa music and swaying palm trees, carefully went over our papers . of Revolution and Fidel Castro and bearded revolutionaries on a dogmatic quest to free the poor. from the cruel and selfish ruling class. . Cuba is an anachronism too. It is considered by many to be the last holdout of the Socialist Soviet Empire, We finally loaded our bags in another waiting bus and headed to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Havana where we would be staying during our exploration of Cuba. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center is a non-governmental a remnant of the Berlin Wall. It is a organization whose main objective is grand experiment that has lasted one of accompaniment to the Cuban largest and least commercialized in Cuba. The Center focuses on nearly 44 years. It is the Caribbean's island and one of the world's last bastions of communism. The island's people and to the church community reflection and socio-theological Cuban Gothic. Jaime, neighborhood street cleaner training, popular education, relative political isolation has community service and the promotion prevented it from being overrun by of international solidarity. .tourists. Shrouded in suspicion and Under the leadership of Fidel Castro, Cuba has steadfastly resisted mystery and an almost self-imposed the outside world, especially the isolation, Cuba lies a mere 90 miles United States, and he continues to try from Florida. The average American to make it all work. But inside the knows little or nothing about the day to day life of the Cuban people and its government, yet both play a vital role Martin Luther King Center, in the Havana suburb of Mariano, it felt and sounded and looked like a third world in our world politics because of its Latin-American country. ties Cuba has with its people and our island began in 1 5 1 1 . The Spanish past. The Cuban Missile Crisis transformed Cuba into a supply base during the 60's, and the role that event for their expeditions to Mexico and played in the early stages of a Florida. As a result of savage decades-long cold war with our Soviet treatment and exploitation, the proximity to our own country and the counterparts set the stage for the Spanish Colonization of the aboriginal population became nearly extinct, forcing the colonists to depend decades-old embargo. on imported black slaves for the operation of the mines and plantations . restricted for American citizens . Between 1 774 and 1 8 1 7 the Because of the US embargo, American population increased from about citizens can not travel to Cuba, unless 1 6 1 ,000 to more than 550,000. a qualifying license issued through the rule became increasingly repressive, US Treasury Department. Many provoking a widespread movement under certain circumstances, and with Americans travel to Cuba illegally, circumventing the licensing process and entering Cuba by way of a third Spanish regime dominated Cuban political life throughout the remainder of the century. A movement during the years 1 848 to 1 85 1 for annexation of the · During the 1 830s, Spanish p among the colonists for inde endence. This movement attained particular momentum between 1 834 and 1 83 8 . the island until May 20, 1 902, when the Cuban republic was formally instituted. The Cuban constitution, adopted in 1 90 1 , incorporated the provisions of the Platt Amendment, island to the United States ended with U . S . legislation that established conditions for American intervention in the Spanish-American general Narciso Lopez. Offers by the U . S . government to purchase the island were repeatedly rejected by Spain. In 1 868 revolutionaries under the leadership of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes proclaimed Cuban independence. The ensuing Ten Years' War, a costly Cuba. U. S . corporate interests invested heavily in the Cuban economy, acquiring control of many of its resources, especially the sugar­ growing industry. The first of several serious insurrections against conservative control of the republic occurred in August, 1 906 . In the next terminated in 1 878 by a truce granting . month the U . S . government dispatched many important concessions to the troops to the island, which ·remained Cubans . under U . S . control until 1 909. In February of 1 895, mounting discontent culminated in a resumption of the Cuban revolution, under the leadership of the writer and Mounting economic difficulties, caused by complete U . S . domination of Cuban finance, agriculture, and industry, marked the patriot Jose Marti and General period following World War I . Maximo Gomez y Baez. The U . S . Economic conditions deteriorated government intervened on behalf o fthe rapidly during the administration of revolutionists in April 1 898, Gerardo Machado y Morales, the chief precipitating the Spanish-American accomplishment of which, an War. Intervention was spurred by the ambitious public-works program, was sinking of the battleship Maine in the achieved by floating huge loans harbor of Havana of February, 1 898, abroad. Before the end of his second for which Spain was blamed. An Hands of a tobacco farmer, Pinar Del Rio province American military government ruled the capture and execution of its leader, struggle to both Spain and Cuba, was eventual isolation of Cuba through a Travel to Cuba is severely Revolts and conspiracies against the term, he succeeded in acquiring �STREETVIBES October, 2003 ration of basic food. dictatorial control of the government. All opposition was brutally suppressed during his administration, which lasted until a general uprising in August Gladys Hernandez, a Cuban economist who met with our- group explains away the poverty and 1 93 3 , supported by the Cuban army, forced him into exile. A protracted begging by telling us that Machado's overthrow, with frequent and illegal schemes because period of violence and unrest followed not satisfied with what the state gives them. In Cuba, contest of 1 940. In December 1 94 1 the Cuban government declared war on Germany, Japan., and Italy; consequently it sacrifice is the order of the day. Cuban officials continue to preach the importance of the revofution became a charter member of the (UN) in people resort to subversive they are greedy - they are changes of government. Fulgencio Batista Zaldivar won the presidential United Nations and strict adherence to its 1 94 5 . tenets . But in private Fluctuations i n world sugar conversations with ordinary prices and a continuing inflationary spiral kept the political situation citizens on the street, there costs continued to rise leading to with the state imposed unstable in the postwar era. Living is a sense of dissatisfaction austerity.· Conversations unrest and political violence. · Page 13 that deride or speak against In the mid- l 950s the Batista the State are considered acts government instituted an economic of treason with severe development program that, together with a stabilization of the world sugar price, improved the economic and penalties, and many people will not talk to you, The Cuban countryside - Pinar Del Rio Province especially about Cuban politics, for political outlook in Cuba. On fear that you may be police in December 2, 1 95 6 , however, Castro, with some 80 insurgents, invaded. The disguise. Castro escaped into the mountains, we visited a rural doctor at his state­ force was crushed by the army, but On a trip to the countryside run medical clinic. We were shocked where he organized the 26th of July Movement, so called to commemorate the 1 953 uprising. For the next year by the age and condition of the medical equipment when compared to trying to do is against the ethics of diplomacy," he said. He insists that the 80,000 Americans who travel to Cuba each year, some legal, some not, are really corning to find the truth about what is going on in Cuba, and its relations to the US. Fatardo also insists that the embargo has taught the Castro's forces, Cuban people using guerrilla how to resist and tactics, opposed the how to prepare, Bush administration would have chosen to shut off the flow of nearly $ 1 billion in annual remittances Cuban-Americans send home to loved ones and dissident activists . In spite of the collapse of the USSR in the early 90's which heavily subsidized the island of Cuba, development and the tourist trade from Europe continues to be strong. · Castro has begun to create Batista government and that the and won Helms-Burton businesses to develop the tourist strengthens the problems caused by the collapse of considerable popular Law, which support. Batista eventually resigned embargo, is only and fled the country. another way to A provisional government was overthrow the . Cuban established. Castro, . government. "A although he initially new generation of renounced office, Cubans is became premier. prepared to carry Havana is the revolution," best seen by even after the wandering leisurely death of Fidel in the old city Castro, said enjoying the cafe Fatardo. Though society life much the Bush like Ernest Hemingway would have during the 1 940s and '50s. Old Havana tries its modem US hospitals - everything was worn and outdated. There was best to be a bohemian place of art and an old x-ray machine in one of the music. poorly lit rooms - it looked like it had The US embargo and lack of Cuban goods has made even small not worked in a long time. On a visit to the US Mission purchases out of reach for'most in Havana, Kathleen List, a refugee and lawyers have left their chosen the reason for the US being there is to coordinator for the mission said that Cubans. School teachers, physicians professions . The jobs pay so little in establish democracy. The embargo, comparison with the price of goods ­ she said, " . . . is used as an excuse by Instead they have taken to selling or with Cuba. " She also went on to hustling whatever they can to the describe the Cuban's as "wily," and tourists in the streets for the US dollar. that they steal in order to survive. they can barely feed their families . has been at pains to demonstrate a harder line against the Cuban government, recently amended regulations on Cuba travel actually loosen restrictions on Cuban-American travel. If U . S . policy truly aimed to economically isolate Castro's Cuba the Castro ·for everything that is wrong Posted in Havana to represent the If you wander in the old quarter of Havana, you will be United States, we visitors realized that approached by people asking for US the Mission suffered from isolation dollars . These beggars are usually_ and a serious disconnection from the children and old women - but they are Cuban people. "Cubans are happy with soap, hotel shampoo, and suspicious," she went on to say. . pens . There is obvious poverty, but no one looks ill or starving. The failing administration · For the Cuban point of view we visited with Marcelino Fatardo, a state-controlled economy still manages diplomat with the Cuban Ministry of to provide free medical care to all its Foreign Affairs . He considers the US citizens and although they must stand Mission a threat and questioned its in line; every Cuban receives a small intentions . "What outside forces are A coperative farm in Pinar Del Rio collaboratives with European industry in Cuba The economic Soviet aid, the continuing dependence on sugar, and a long-lasting U . S . · embargo has led Castro to reverse some ofthe . islands socialist policies . ln 1 992 and 1 993, the government allowed the use of U. S . dollars, authori;Zed the transformation of many state farms into serni­ autonomous cooperatives, and legalized individual private enterprise on a limited basis. In 1 994 all farmers were allowed to sell some produce on the open market. There will be an eventual lifting of the embargo. And Fidel Castro is getting on in age, now 77 years old. Analysts say the present system will fall after his death. Cuba remains a mystery in our own backyard, separated by. culture, time and politics . Time and politics seem to be all that is separating us from this important neighbor. # ,{' �ST REETVIBES October, 2003 · Art & Poe try I Bel i eve - Do Yo u Bel ieve? y Robert Savage Nati o n by .Michael Henson · Voices on the radio rumble and sting. The words seethe and spit. They punch and qig, blind as bullets. They are like small black bee·s . that rise from an underground hive. anassa I believe God made us all whether big or .small I believe in the birds and he bees I believe in trees Do you believe? I believe in all mankind Whether he can see or whether blind I'm only here for a short while · I'm ready to walk that last mile. . Do you believe? · These are the'voices of the muted heart. These are the voices of the disjointed soul. Now I repent all arrogance. Now I repent that I ever called any man fool. You are Love, You are Loved by J. D. Lyles An Eclecti c Americorps Poem Change creates the opportunity For serendipitous events. While the fluctuation of events Passes us passers-by, We, ourselves can know Only one thought ... Who am I presently? Then, the next thought... Who am I about to become? I .sit and turn into a stone And eventually the ·stone splits And a flower grows from the creVtce, The flower of my incipient being. The evanescence of our existence Becomes the bane of our present reality When once we resolve to stop listening And follow the mercurial nature of the wind. . .. .l I Don 't Know Peace , But. . . by Dr. Steve Sunderland I believe in the sunshine and the rain I believe in God's master plan I believe in whatever God does He's always true to his words Do you believe? One moment the voi es are oil. An;ther the voices are acid. Page 14 You are in fear because you are alone, But you are Loved. You have a lot of hate to hide your fear, But you are Love. You are going to form a thought that will materialize into· an action. Will this action be of hurt or Love? You are Loved. You have questions about life on earth; life after death. You are Love. You have dreams. You have goals. You don't succeed. You are loved. You have bills to pay, children to feed, You have lost your job. You are Love. Most important is to never underestimate the power of Love. I don't know who/what God is But I do know what It feels like to be with 100 Disabled adults blossoming into Peace Advocates. I don't know what peace is But I do know that Their loving signs and sounds Make me cry with joy. I don't know what compassion is If it is not 40 Aiken student leaders Finding the beauty to make A Peace House for all. I don't know what joy is But I did see it in the faces of the Peace Village youth's attempt To welcome Blacks and Jews home. I don't know what teaching is But I heard the ring of truth, compassion and love, From the lips of an Egyptian-American woman Who spoke of taking back her religion From those who sought to hijack it On September 11, 2001. I don't know what hope is But I heard it in the voice of a teenage Girl form Argentina as she made the Sounds of hearts and ears touching. l don't know what love is If it is not 100 people, so-called "disabled," Singing about and with Friends as tears of Happiness streamed down our faces. There is a peace For moments When the world sits down In front of a piece of cardboard, Markers grasped in bent fingers, And draws out the heru:t. Spi ritual Fee l i n g by Ronald English Love is feeling Spiritual Emotion, Of grief, made up of being involved in something of one's past relationships. Of understanding two people's happiness, Of doing the impossible. That means, where legends are made; Where dreams are born, To go where some men have gone before, Saying you are a man amongst men. Standing tall in a man's world, · Out of the eye of God. That means praying that you will go to heaven. For your freedom of speech, Of shattered dreams, For right to believe in whatever. Foe Mother'& salvation and Father's wisdom. That means peace and happiness of life, Of brothers respect and sisters dreams. And all, So that they will not go to hell, Because you are my brothers and sisters, Keeper of temptation. �STREETVIBE·S October, 2003 Mary Forgotten You Are Not Message From A Black Man by Sir Charles Bailey by Sir Charles Bailey The Devil sent one of his followers and Took you Mary awayBut you will never be forgotten In the hearts of millions Each day. To all my brothers and sisters Who use drugs & crack & shit How can you get what you want When you won't quit using it Though Mary your life Here on Earth was cut so very Short- and it put Tears in so many eyesBut you are really Protected Ilfill'. that you are standing By Jesus' side And from all of us who love you little MarySpread your Wings and take to The sky - You may be gone But we who love you will Never say Goodbye . ... ... ... . You blame the white man for all the Things he did and did not do But you put the drugs in your body And it is making a fool out of you I'm a black man And my life is filled with nothing but hope I might be able to achieve whatever !" want Because my body is not filled with dope But you want to sell this dope to the Brothers and Sisters Because y ou say you have no shame You let them put it in their systems And now y ou are destroying your Brothers and Sisters brain So. . . Please Quit Itl ! ! ! ! I ! Art & Poe try Shard Epi phany byjh by Robert Blanchard A bullet, a stone pierced the window. Shards, like blood, spattered on the abandoned floor, dark and dank. Puddles of broken glass on the ancient linoleum. Until another decade, until the invading rains and wind beat the room, into another kind of oppression. Of abandonment, of leaves, and failing structure, birds, bottles, rusted drain. Hope left behind, in the crumbling walls, and the echo of silent infants from the past, fall, like shards, on newly broken glass. Dawn pinked but briefly in the eastern skies, 'til it surrendered to the blue. Sleepy street lights dimmed and closed their eyes, it was the time to make it through. 4 Days to M ississi ppi by Denise Crew Tossing and turning Waiting and yearning Popping aspirin like pez calms the pain in my head The only pleasure to seek In the food I eat I can't wait for the day When pain goes away I feel so weird, so strange A little deranged Almost insane I don't understand why My heart's in my hand After all, he's just a man · Shutter Speed Texture, West End Page 15 Staccato accents bleated to traffic's roar and smoke, silencing the soft shuflle of feet. Broken men in broken shoes listened and in tum spoke, of their epiphany in the street. "I found a loaf of wheat bread," pointing to a door, "I got us some sardines to share." Here were loaves and fishes reverently eaten by these poor, in a communion of brotherly care. The day was slowly passing in its concession to the night, the world wound down still to rest. A single star was shining brightly as flowing light, surely, tomorrow, again would be blessed. Reprinted with permission of Robert Blanchard and Spare Change News, Cambridge, MA, USA. �STREETVIBES October, News & Editorial 2003 Ta ke a Wa l k i n my S h oes perspiration and diarrhea make you authentic. McDonalds. by Dan Newth That little hamster driving around for a place too eat. overtime lately. Salvation Army feeds at Several "grass roots" Well you've made it to the You're still hungry, you ask the rumor mill has been working It's 3 :30 p.m. 2 p.m. now. Head to Waterfront organizations heard comments, Park and chill out because the through the grapevine, that the mercury is at [Portland OR] City Council was you get there you see hundreds of displeased with them. It started people laying around, enj oying the after crossroads had the audacity blue sky, sunshine and easy access to hand out sleeping bags, a to drug dealers. The police know demonstration of the needs of who the dealers are but will race Portland's homeless, in front of past a drug deal if they see a city hall. Then, members of homeless person lying down crossroads addressed the City wrapped in a blanket. Heck, it's Council, presenting the radical too hot for blankets, anyway. 90 degrees. When I have a friend who thinks to-go-now feeling. Thank god for opportunity for spiritual growth. public restrooms! This is a great He'd like to extend an open time to practice the funny walk. invitation to the City Council: You know, short quick strides with Leave your cash and credit cards at the home, and spend a day and night in maximus clenched. the homeless system. You could challenge your at the Blanchet House, after that restroom or the past 45 mm tes. you may decide to purchase your lunch. Time to panhandle. Now you re mad but pou dmg on : the door and yelhng have httle Holding a sign will most likely effect other than swollen generate a visit from the friendly It was a metal door. Isn't it funny "Clean and Safe" cops. They that something air tight isn't water present an intimidating attitude tight? You feel something dribble considering that in reality they are down your leg. client's life. Subconsciously, they fuse shorten you yell out the urgent understand it is OK feeling superior need to use the damn toilet. to the client. It takes training and Suddenly, desk guy pays attention effort to maintain sensitivity to the to you. He will now be able to clients' needs. These two ain't had exercise his small bit of power by that training. "Excuse me, but I was wondering ... " and you' re cut off . "Take a number and you'll (the desk guy) exhibits so little be helped at the information compassion to another human counter," states the social worker. your way. The Adult and Family . but don't believe them. The jails shuffie, asking at offices and are full. restaurants. The most common "The numbers are in the red dispenser." And the social worker turns away. "THE BATHROOM! We can always rely on the WHERE' S THE BATHROOM!" government, can't we? Why not Your frazzled nerves have snapped. . while in the neighborhood? reaction is a scrunched up nose. Congratulations. You have managed to scrounge up a dollar, acquired a homeless aura: The just enough to get a burger at combination of "But I just need .. . " and you're cut off again. Services office is across the street. Where is another restroom? You walk around - well, more like to move along. Luckily, you have a lot of power to influence a the glass ignores you. Feeling the Desk guy sends you on uckles. They may offer you a place to stay You end up being ordered see at the reception desk through for the moment. ? druggie has been occupym the little more than security guards. know damn good and well they of being homeless - escapes you the ba hroom? Well, it s ems some immune system by eating breakfast , acknowledgement. Social workers apply for government assistance 1!' mob outside ; Salvation Army. Relief at last. You being enduring the powerlessness uscles of your gluteus Is that an ang for a few moments waiting for someone that has been homeless abdominal cramping with that got­ City Council members have an workers, you stand at the counter knock on the door and the guy you bathroom. The irony - that upon you: The-call-of-nature, right to sleep. Approaching the two social refusing you access to the A sudden urgency comes concept that people should have a Page 16 Today, you have other The·social workers have now evaluated your case and determined it looks, sounds and priorities. The pain is causing you smells like a nut. One social to walk stooped over. Your face is worker signals the security guard pale and grimaced. As you walk by while the other addresses you like a a couple of construction workers child, "Yelling is inappropriate sitting in an old Scottsdale pick-up, behavior for this office. If you will you hear the comment, "Watch the please take a number and sit down tools. There goes another junkie." you will be helped as soon as You get a feeling -it was directed at you. possible." So you enter the AF S "Can I help you?" you hear the voice of the security guard. office. About a dozen are waiting "Yes I need to know where in the lobby for their numbers to the restroom is," your voice is a come up. Three social workers are little shaky and the pain is making at the front counter, one with a you desperate. client, the other two are chatting "The clients' restroom is and j oking with each other. You closed," the guard says,'.'and we have just entered the "Client don't allow anyone under the Zone." influence to remain in this building." Berta's Art Corner You feel insulted and defensively state, "I AM NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE!" Then you add in a subdued tone, "May I please use another restroom." The security guard shows no give. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave now." Just as the anger starts to overwhelm you it is replaced by humiliation. The Blanchet House breakfast has broken free in a noisy wet slide to the floor. You now have the complete attention of everyone in the room. The smell is making you feel ill, people are moving away from you. You turn and walk out the door, swearing to yourself you will never show your face in that office agam. Reprintedfrom street roots, Broken Bottle On Fence. Over-the-Rhine, 12th Street near .Vine Street Portland, Oregon. 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 �STREETVIBES October, 2003 News & Editorial · The Life Cycle of Maggots by Holly Hand "Viewer Discretion Advised. Some Scenes Are Graphic." This is the caveat at the beginning of the A&E TV channel's recent edition of "Investigative Reports" with Bill Kurtis. "Tonight we're going to be watching members of the Los Angeles Coroners Department at work. The first segment is about dead homeless persons." More homeless people die in LA, Kurtis says, than anywhere else in the US. For example, during the month before this show was taped (February) 46 homeless people died: 27 homeless men, 1 1 homeless women, and eight homeless people whose gender couldn't be determined, due to advanced decomposition. The tape shows the discovery of a dead homeless person. First the EMTs find the man partially covered with debris in a garbage dump. They call him John Doe. They pull John Doe out. The EMTs are all wearing masks over their noses to keep out the stench of a corpse rotting in the warm LA sunshine. The dead man has no identification in his pockets. · All he has in his right pants pocket is a dollar bill anq 22 cents. In his left pants pocket they find an appointment book from 1975. They wrap him up in a plastic bag and put him in an ambulance for transportation to the LA morgue. Next, the EMTs (wearing masks again) recover a thin dead woman from a deserted area under a bridge. They pull her out from beneath the sofa where she was sleeping, probably, they assume, for protection. The woman they call Jane Doe is already in rigor mortis. Rats have eaten a bloody hole in her chest and have snacked on her mouth. Jane has no identification. There's a note in her pocket, written in pencil: "I'm very sick. Please bring me some tomatoes." The EMTs wrap Jane up and transport her to the city morgue also. In the coroner's office at the morgue, the coroner does autopsies. Then he cuts off homeless people's hands to try to identify them. They've cut off Jane Doe's right hand and have sent it over to the office of the pro, a man named Martinez. The - �� National Homeless Civil Rights Organizing Project (NHCROP) 1506 E l m Street Ci nci nnati , OH 45202 homelessc ivi l rights@yahoo.com Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless (513) 421-7803 problem with most of the hands, Martinez explains, showing us Jane's slightly withered hand, is that they are too dehydrated to get fingerprints off them. However, Martinez can fix this. He injects the hand with a solution of water and something else to re-hydrate it. The something else is Martinez' secret', he invented the formula and the patent is pending. We watch the hand plump up. So now with the hand re-hydrated, Martinez can get a fingerprint. To do this he cuts off the index finger, "the digit" as he calls it. He rolls the digit on an inkpad and then on the paper to get the fingerprint: (Hopefully Jane's print will be on file, although it's a long shot unless she has a police record.) Martinez also explains how he can determine how long Jane's been dead. He shows the camera a bowl with maggots in it. Maggots have life cycles and so are different sizes. Martinez can determine from how many generations of maggots are found feeding on a corpse how long the person has been dead. The segment on the homeless dead is over now and the show cuts to a comffierciaL While the commercials are on, I think about these people who died without homes in LA Then I think about how, on the opposite side of the country, in DC, the American president lives in a big white mansion. This middle aged president and his wife are wealthy and their college-going daughters will be wealthy. The president is the sop. of a president and a woman who were both born into wealth. 'We might have so1nething in your price range when the country fa lls into a rnajor depression." Page 17 These generations - grandparents, parents and children - have fed and will feed on the bodies of the men and women who die for them in their obscenely expensive foreign wars. They feed on the bodies of the men and women who work month after month, year after year to pay taxes so that the wealthy receiving massive tax cuts from the President will not have to pay taxes. They feed on the homeless, devouring money that could be used to house, feed and care for those sick in mind and body with nowhere else to go. They fed on John Doe who had only $ 1.22 when he died. They fed on Jane Doe, whose dying request was for some tomatoes. And the life cycle of the maggots continues . . . Reprinted with permission of Spare Change News, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA �#. ,; STREET V IBES October, " . " ' # I i • .. • t ,. I . 2003 Page 18 Questi o n i n g 'C h ro n i c ' H o m e l ess n ess the National Law Center on Street Roots Homeless and civil rights population, use up 50 percent of Homelessness & Poverty, the homeless shelter s rvices. On this advocacy groups are asking the National Organization for Women, analysis, the administration's policy federal government to scrap the Volunteers of America, and many Bush administration's chronic is to spend the largest money on others. homelessness initiative for more the largest body of consumers, The federal program, also effective legislation. known as the Samaritan Initiative, In a letter to the U S. thereby freeing services for According to the National Interagency Council on chronic homelessness within a Homelessness, the National decade. To date, Coalition for the Homeless, the been made available for fiscal year conclusions are flawed. The National Association for the 2003 through the Departments of , research, it says, was narrowly Housing and Urban Development, focused, and did not include and 24other national, state and Veterans Affairs and Health and families with children or local groups, say that the Human Services. The money is unaccompanied youths. It also did administration's plan is "all but available through bids by nonprofit not evaluate rural or suburban guaranteeing the perpetuation of or public housing and health areas or any service other than chronic homelessness," rather than programs. publicly funded centrally - Advancement of Colored People, · ending it in I 0 years as the plan is $ 5 million has The federal initiative Coalition for the Homeless, the research is informative but the · intended to do. The letter, defines chronically homeless an "an addressed on July 21, calls on the unaccompanied homeless individual administration to focus on the with a disabling condition who has be based on research that excludes causes of homelessness, not just its either been continuously homeless the data and experiences of symptoms. for a year or more or has had at suburban, rural, and smaller least four episodes of homelessness metropolitan areas, as well as less homelessness' initiative does not in the past three years." A traditional arenas of servi.ce address the reality of homelessness disabling condition is defined as a delivery (public schools, motels, in our states and communities," the diagnosable substance use disorder, community action agencies, etc)," letter states. "We have witnessed serious mental illness, the letter to the Interagency growth in the scale and severity of developmental disability, or chronic Council said. "Nor should homelessness among families with physical illness or disability, definitive conclusions be drawn children, unaccompanied youth, including the co-occurrence of two from this research - namely, that and other populations who do not or more of these conditions. The targeting resources toward a fit neatly into the 'chronic initiative provides that no more population that "uses up" a greater homeless' paradigm. Yet current than percentage of federal resources will "The ' chronic ifederal mandates are forcing our I 0 percent of the funds "Federal policy should not "free up" more for other communities to overlook these awarded will go to projects that populations. In the absence of any gaps and needs in favor of a will serve homeless families with a meaningful expansion of resources, narrowly-constructed national disabled family member. A disabled or in the absence of consideration priority." homeless family is defined as an of research that examines the adult person with a disabled impact of homelessness on the organizations signing on to the condition who is accompanied by populations assumed to be Jetter are the National Association at least one dependent child. unharmed by their relatively shorter Among the 27 for the Education of Homeless The administration is · housing. The NCH says there is not enough fundfrtg for permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless, or enough affordable housing for people "While supp.ortive housing is a critical component of ending homelessness for many individuals with disabilities, by itself it cannot prevent people with disabilities from becoming homeless," the letter states. " Similarly, ' discharge administered emergency shelter days. disabled people from losing their discharged from disability services. majority in need. is part of Bush's pledge to end nothing to prevent currently housed shelter stays, such a conclusion is unwarranted . " Children and Youth, the National targeting the subpopulation of Center on Family Homelessness, chronically homeless based on the National Coalition Against research that suggests that the address the underlying causes of Domestic Violence, the National chronically homeless who comprise homelessness, and therefore will do Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 10 percent of the national homeless Also, the program does not planning' is a laudable goal, but when no affordable housing exists to which people can be discharged, it becomes merely an exercise in problem management. Only a sustained effort to address the systemic causes of homelessness, including lack of adequate health care, affordable housing, and livable incomes, will prevent and end homelessness for people with and without disabilities. This is perhaps the most perplexing aspect of the "chronic homelessness" initiative: the complete absence of any discussion of poverty. To separate homelessness from poverty is to fundamentally distort its causes which is precisely what the chronic homelessness dialogue appears to have accomplished." Advocates with the homeless and civil rights groups are asking the administration to tum its attention to alternative legislation, including the National Housing Trust Fund and the Bringing American Home Act. These measures are more broad-based proposals, based on th experiences of providers and advocates from diverse geographic areas. The Bringing America Home Act, H.R. 2897, was introduced to Congress on July 2 5 by Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind. ) with nearly 30 co-sponsors. The bill features a broad range of components, from housing to civil rights. It proposes creating the National Housing Trust Fund which advocates say would secure funding to build and preserve 1. 5 million affordable homes over the next decade. Features of the bill include affordable housing, job training, civil rights protections, vo chers for child care and transportation, emergency funds for families facing eviction, living-wage guidelines, and increased access to health care. The bill has been endorsed by the U S. Conference of Mayors, which passed a resolution this year urging Congress to pass the measure. Several city and county councils also have reportedly passed resolutions in support of the act. Reprintedfrom street roots, "Me? I lost my life savings betting on tax cuts for the rich. " Portland, Oregon. �STREETVIBES October, Page 19 2003 Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Report NUMBER OF AMERICANS 60 MINUTES II: EMERGENCY USDA is accepting public LIVING BELOW THE FOOD LINES LOOK LIKE comment on these proposed rules II are creating a situation where "[s]chool finances across the until October 28, 2003. . POVERTY LINE ROSE BY SOMETHING FROM THE MORE THAN 1 .3 MILLION IN GREAT DEPRESSION (60 2002 (New York Times, Minutes II, August 27, 2003) frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi­ September 3, 2003) This story, reaired at the end of bin/wnisgate.cgi ?WAISdocID= country are teetering on Proposed rule: http :// horrendous," according to Michael Griffith of the Education Commission of the States in The Census Bureau's American August, was originally aired on 6959089235 Community Survey, released CBS News' "60 Minutes II" +O+O+O&WAISaction=retrieve recently passed No Child Left Denver. Added pressure from the September 2nd, found that the program on January 8, 2003. Since number of Americans living below the start of the economic recession COLUMN: EMPLOYMENT in several states to introduce Behind Act has caused legislators the poverty line jumped by more there has been a sharp increase in AMONG WELFARE LEAVERS proposals to opt out of the law if than 1 .3 million persons from 200 I the number of people seeking DECREASING; SAFETY-NET the costs are not fully funded by the federal government. By opting to 2002, to 34.8 million. The emergency food assistance. In PROGRAMS BETTER percentage of people in poverty Ohio, the lines at food banks are so UTILIZED (Christian Science out of the law, however, states will increased from 1 2. 1 percent to 1 2. 4 long they resemble something from Monitor, August 25, 2003) Sheila percent. The number o f children in the Great Depression. The R. Zedlewski, director of the poverty rose by 600,000 last year number of people receiving food Income and Benefits Policy Center to 1 2.2 million. For children under assistance in Ohio jumped from 2 at the Urban Institute, and Pamela 5 years of age, 1 9. 8 percent were million to 4. 5 million since 1 999. Loprest, of the Center, highlight found to be living under the Food bank officials cite the changing realities for former poverty line, up from 1 8.8 percent unemployment, housing and welfare recipients during the recent in 200 1 . This survey is different medical costs, and low-paying jobs economic downturn and how these HTML format go to: from the Bureau's Current as reasons for the increase. Many realities should affect the debate needy people are forced to stretch over TANF reauthorization. An http://www.frac.org/newsdigest/ Population Study, scheduled for release in late September, which what they have: one family buys Urban Institute survey shows that functions as the official barometer whole milk and cuts it with an tlie percentage of welfare for measuring natiOnal income and equal part water for their baby. In recipients who were in paid jobs poverty estimates. The American another family, one child's only dropped between 1 999 and 2002 Community Survey is considered to meal is the free meal she receives from 32 percent to 28 percent. be a more detailed report and through the School Lunch Employment also decreased among calculates for smaller geographic Program. Since airing the story recent welfare leavers, from 50 areas. back in January, CBS News reports percent in 1 999 to 42 percent in http ://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/ that emergency food lines in Ohio 2002. Federal safety-net programs 03/national/03CENS.html (free jumped by nearly 20 percent in the (e.g. food stamps, health registration required) first three months of 2003. More insurance) are being better utilized than 200,000 new families are by families that left welfare ECONOMIC VIEW: LOW­ standing in line for food, according between 2000 and 2002, due in WAGE WORKERS STUCK IN to food bank officials. http :// part to improved state policies that help eligible families receive also lose all federal aid to low­ income schools. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/ 3 1 /national/3 1 SCRO.html (free registration required) The web site is http:// Ben Winter (202) 986-2200 x301 9 phone (202) 986-2525 fax Email: bwinter@frac.org assistance. Compared to welfare In this Business section column, A description of the original story recipients who left the program Louis Uchitelle uses the occasion appears in the introduction to during the boom years ( 1 997 to of Labor Day to highlight the plight FRAC's State of the States of the 26 million American workers 1 999), recent leavers (2000 to report:http ://www. frac.org/html/ 2002) were more likely to return to news/022003stateofstates.htm the program or be subsi"sting in families with no employed member U.S. DEPARTMENT OF or one receiving disability AGRICULTURE PROPOSES payments. "Focusing narrowly on a cycle of poverty the new "servant RULES TO UPDATE THE class," he points out that increasing moving recipients into jobs - or off FOOD STAMP PROGRAM welfare without jobs - will divert income inequality is driving people (Federal Register, August 29, states' fixed number of welfare apart. "With so little income, too 2003) dollars away from policies that many Americans are pushed into On August 29, the U.S. help families access critical poverty, and getting out of this trap Department of Agriculture (USDA) supports and stay afloat." is increasingly difficult. " The bottom 20 percent of the work proposed to amend its regulations . by implementing two sections of force (in terms of earnings) made the Agricultural Appropriations Act only nine percent more in 2002 of 200 1 . One section raises the http ://www.csmonitor.com/2003I 0825/p09s02-coop.html STATE BUDGET CUTS, than 30 years earlier -$8.23 per maximum shelter deductions that STRAINED RESOURCES AND hour or less in 2002 compared to food stamp applicants can take PRESSURE FROM FEDERAL $7. 5 5 per hour (in 2002 dollars) or when applying for food stamps, LAW ARE HURTING less 30 years ago. Much of gain and indexes those shelter SCHOOLS (New York Times, was made in the economic boom deductions to the Consumer Price August 3 1 , 2003) period during the late 1 990s. The Index. The second section gives Many public schools across the federal minimum wage peaked at states the option of using TANF nation are "feeling battered and $7.08 an hour (in 2002 dollars) in rules for vehicle 1 968 and has· been steadily eroded worn down" by education cuts, as allowances. TANF vehicle rules are states reduce the number of by inflation. "Just restoring the often more lenient than Food teachers and close schools because minimum to its old value of $7.08 Stamp Program vehicles rules. of state-level deficits. In Alabama would also push up wages that are Both of these proposed rules will just above the minimum." http:// nearly one-third of the state's allow some food stamp recipients school systems are on the verge of www. nytimes.com/2003/08/3 1 / and applicants to receive more bankruptcy; Oklahoma City business/yourmoney/3 1 VIEW.html food stamps. Both provisions of schools are "reeling from the (free registration required) the 200 1 law are already in effect financial turmoil." The worst at the state and local level. The budget shortfalls since World War t1, Support your local ;J Streetvi bes Vendor! www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/ families, not teenagers at summer 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20009 0 1 /08/60Wmain535732.shtml jobs. Calling workers stuck in such Food Research & Action Center Suite 540 A CYCLE OF POVERTY (New of these workers are adults with archives and the latest issue in www.frac.org York Times, August 3 1 , 2003) earning $8.23 an hour or less. Most To view the News Digest · �Need Help . or Want to Help? If you need help or would like to. help please call one of the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless members listed below YWCA Battered 872-9259 1 -888-872-9259 Bethany House 557-2873 Salvation Army 762-5660 We lcome House 859-431 -871 7 Wo men's Shelter (Toll Free) Center 859-491 -3335 SHELTER: Men City Gospel M issi on Garden St. House Joseph House (Veterans) 241 -5525 241 -0490 241 -2965 St . Francis/St.Joseph House 381 -4941 Formed in 1 984, The Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless is a membership organization. Our member groups serve the homeless through emergency shelter, transitional living facilities, permanent housing, medical services, social services, soup kitchens, and mental health/addiction services. The Coalition also consists of individual citizens who want to take an active role in ensuring that 66 1 -4620 38 1 -1 954 Anthony House (Youth) Caracole (AIDS) Friars Club Drop Inn Center I nterfaith Hospital ity 381 -4242 241 -2563 Contact Center Emanuel Center Freestore/ SHELTER: Both Haven House SHELTERS: Women and Children Wo men's Crisis Mt. Airy Center Vol u nteers of Amer. Foodbank 241 -1 064 Goodwill I nd ustries 771 -4800 Fransiscan Hai rcuts 651 -6468 357-4602 761 -1 480 381 -5432 721 -0643 863-8866 Coalition for the Homeless 421 -7803 Hamilton Co. Mental 946-8600 Health Board Mental-Health Access 471 -1 1 00 558-8888 Point Lighthouse Youth Center 861 -1 1 1 1 St . John's Housing 651 -6446 Hamilton Co. TB Control HOUSING: Homeless Mobile (Teens) 632-71 86 Health Rsrc . . Center 357-4602 721 -4580 Excel Development 632-7 1 49 241 -0504 Miami Purchase OTR Housing Net. 369-0004 38 1 -1 1 71 ReSTOC 639-7056 Tender Mercies To m Geiger House 961 -4555 CMHA Health Van Legal Aid Society Madisonville Ed . Center 721 -481 1 Clinic Our Daily Bread Kids 820-2947 351 -0422 A.A. Hotline C . C .A . T. 381 -6672 Ta lbert House 684-7956 Transitions, Inc 859-491 -4435 VA Domici liary 859-559-501 1 : N .A. Hopeline OTHER SERVICES: AIDS Volunteers of citizens. Join the fight to end Cincinnati homelessness; contact the Greater Appalachian Identity Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless Center at (5 1 3) 42 1 - 7803, 1 506 Elm Street Beech Acres Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Center for I ndependent Living Northside " · 961 -0600 Community Action Agency 569-1 840 859-572-6226 Women Helping · 872-9259 (Butler County) St. Raphaels . Salvation Army 863-31 84 863- 1 445 Serenity House Day Center · 422-8555 · · C i ncin nati Health Network Un ited Way VA Homeless (Food Bank/Soup Kitchen) 621 -5991 , 231 -6630 591 -2246 471 -4357 721 -7660 721 -7900 Center Travelers Aid MIDDLETOWN/HAMILTON 421 -2437 A 24 1 -2600 357-5720 562-8841 The Emergency Food Wom e n 721 -0643 Cincinnati is an inclusive community, C h u rches Active in 621 -551 4 Project Connect Homeless St . Vincent De Paul meeting the needs of all of its 352-6363 621 -6364 Peaslee Neighborhood Center TREATMENT: Both Options & Assis. 271 -5501 McMicken Dental TREATMENT: Men Charlie's 3/4 House 784-1 853 92 1 - 1 6 1 3 Prospect House 961 -2256 Starting Over Program 221 -361 9 241 -9400 Mary Magdalen House TREATMENT: Women First Step Home 961 -4663 Full Circle Program 721 -0643 D I C Live-In 352-2902 House of Refuge Mission Open Door Pantry 868-3276 New Life Baptist Mission (Soup Kitchen) 896-9800 Hope House (Homeless Famil i es/Singles) 423-4673 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2003 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource October 2003 Subject The topic of the resource Homelessness Description An account of the resource Pg 1: City Hall; Move Homeless from Under Bridges Pg 2: Donate Pg 3: Life Under a Cincinnati Bridge Pg 4: Wearing Black for the Man in Black It Doesn’t Take Much Pg 5: Bulldozing the Homeless Pg 6: The Peace Village Pg 7: The Homeless Digest Pg 8: Dealing with the Homeless Under the Bridges Pg 9: Support Education Pg 10: Support Education Continued Pg 11: Through Our Eyes Pg 12: Cuba, Land of Political Contrasts Pg 13: Cuba, Land of Political Contrasts Continued Pg 14: Arts & Poetry Pg 15: Arts & Poetry Continued Pg 16: News & Editorials Pg 17: The Life Cycle of Maggots Pg 18: Questioning ‘Chronic’ Homelessness Pg 19: FRAC Report Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Streetvibes Archive Project Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Streetvibes Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 2003 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Georgine Getty Andy Erickson Brendan Goodwin Steve Shockley Mary Gaffney Jimmy Heath Jerome Manigan Elain Coffy Elizabeth Linville Berta Lambert J. Michael Skaggs Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Andy Erickson Arts & Poetry Berta Lambert Brendan Goodwin Bridges Caregiving Cincinnati City Hall Cuba education Elain Coffy Elizabeth Linville Food Research FRAC Georgine Getty J. Michael Skaggs Jerome Manigan Jimmy Heath Mary Gaffney News & Editorials panhandling Peace Village Reader Mail Steve Shockley